Bordeaux blurb

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Bordeaux Blurb 23.05.07

Climatic conditions: 

Climatic conditions Temperate with short, mild winters, reliably warm summers and long autumns. Gironde is seriously wide (up to 12 k). Helps maintain even temperatures by day and night. Good ripening conditions for late ripening varieties even at latitude of 45º N.

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Top soil is gravel ( up to 1 metre thick) with an increasing amount of sand/ clay as you move away from the Gironde. Excellent drainage and deep root systems.

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Red varieties permitted by Appellation rules: Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Petit Verdot Malbec (very little) Carmenére (negligible) White varieties permitted by Appellation rules: Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Muscadelle Minor quantities of others in lesser appellations.

57 appellations - the most important:: 

57 appellations - the most important: St Estephe * Pauillac * Saint-Julien * Margaux * *Located on Médoc peninsula Barsac and Sauterne Pomerol Saint Emilion Others include Pessac-Leognan, Graves, Bourg, Entre-Deux-Mer and Blaye.

Bordeaux Classification of 1855: 

Bordeaux Classification of 1855 Wine brokers created classification . Only the best wines of the Médoc included ( with one exception ). The rating was based (mostly) on price. Wineries into 5 classifications. These classifications are known as crus or 'Growths'. Lower classifications are Cru Bourgeois, Cru Artisan and Cru Paysan.

Winemaking: 

Winemaking Temperature controlled ferment (28-30º C) in stainless or large oak ( ~5-10000L) 15 -25 days ferment with limited / intense pumpovers 40-70% new oak for ~ 18 months Egg white fining No filtration

Saint-Estèphe: 

Saint-Estèphe Saint-Estèphe wines are dark, earthy, robust and tannic. They reach their maturity slower than other Médoc wines. Saint-Estèphe contains 5 Grands Crus Classé wines eg. Château Montrose and Château Cos d'Estournel.

1982 Château Montrose: 

1982 Château Montrose Classified 2nd Growth Typically 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot 25% and 10% Cabernet Franc. 1982-~ $AUD 160

1982 Château Montrose: 

1982 Château Montrose dark ruby/garnet colour, followed by a fragrant, sweet nose of black fruits intermingled with new oak and floral scents. Full-bodied and opulent with dusty tannin in the finish, gorgeously-proportioned, rich and concentrated wine. R.P. 91/100 (1995) Drink now – 2017.

Pauillac: 

Pauillac Pauillac is often considered the best appellation of Bordeaux. Three First growths (out of 5) with 18 grands crus classés in total.

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Pauillac is rich, dense-coloured, full-bodied elegant mix of blackcurrants and cedary oak. Pauillac varies from elegant Latour wines to the more tannic style of Lynch-Bages.

1981Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande: 

1981Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande Second Growth 40-50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30-40% Merlot, 10-15% Cabernet Franc +/- Petit Verdot. Known for its soft and fleshy character due to the high proportion of Merlot, is a supple, fruity velvety wine which can be drunk while quite young. ~ $AUD 90

1981 Ch Pichon Lalande- Comtesse: 

1981 Ch Pichon Lalande- Comtesse Robert Parker - Bordeaux - November 1998 "This has always been one of the sexiest, most delicious wines from the 1981 vintage. It still possesses a dark ruby/purple colour. While the 1981 is less powerful than the 1982 and 1983, it reveals copious quantities of sweet blackcurrant fruit, good flesh for the vintage, and a pure, nicely textured and balanced style. This wine remains vibrant and youthful. Anticipated maturity: Now-2002."  Serena Sutcliffe – Sotheby's Tasting notes – April 1995"Very good colour, and scented nose. Finesse and cedary fruit. Slips down with all the silky elegance of the cru. Beautiful drinking."      Clive Coates - Grands Vins - 1995"Vigorous colour for the vintage. Only a touch of brown. Good nose. Ripe, medium weight. Slightly more evolved and with less grip than the 1983. Charming. Very good

1982 Chateau Lagrange : 

1982 Chateau Lagrange Saint –Julien similar wines to its close neighbour Pauillac. Classic St-Julien has an elegant smoothness, without the knockout power of Pauillac wines 65% CS, 28% Merlot & 7% PV 1982 : Savoury, blackcurrant with spicy notes ~ $AUD 90

Margaux: 

Margaux Margaux wines have a full-flavoured bouquet and are considered elegant and refined – but with firm structure as the backbone. Higher % of Merlot than other appellations. 18 Grands Crus Classés including Chateau Margaux and Ch Palmer

1978 Chateau La Lagune: 

1978 Chateau La Lagune One of only 5 classed growths outside the four main appellations. In Haut-Medoc 16kms N of Bordeaux city. 3rd growth. 55% CS, 20% CF, 20% M, 5% PV Often 100% new oak Big, tannic, masculine wines 1978 - ~ $AUD 80

Saint Emilion: 

Saint Emilion ‘Right bank' or north side of the Dordogne River. receives frost earlier than the Medoc region. Primarily Merlot. Next most important is Cabernet Franc.

Saint Emilion classification: 

Saint Emilion classification Latest classification in 2006 Premier grands crus classé A. Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval Blanc. Premier grands crus classé B ( next 14) Include Chateau Angelus, Chateau Belair, Chateau Figeac, Chateau Pavie and Chateau Canon. Saint-Emilion Grands Crus Classé (47)

Cháteau Canon: 

Cháteau Canon Wines are ~ 50-75% Merlot with remainder Cabernet Franc. Plummy, rich ,ripe, spicy, fleshy wines without harshness and dryness of Médoc wines . 1982 - ~ $AUD 180 1995 - ~ $AUD 60

Pomerol : 

Pomerol Plateau(~30m!) adjacent to St Emilion Gravel with important clay pockets. Wines usually contain > 80% Merlot. Remainder CF. No appellation ! Mouth-filling, opulent, perfumed with silky tannins - often attractive early (5-10yrs)

Cháteau Bourgneuf 1999: 

Cháteau Bourgneuf 1999 Dense ruby/purple, with an attractive, , plump nose of plums, raisins, prunes, black cherries, and some dusty earth notes, well-made, medium to full-bodied, with considerable corpulence, flesh, and structure. RP "Chunky red, with lots of heart. Fantastic aromas of chocolate, berry and licorice. Full-bodied, with firm, silky tannins and a long, mouthpuckering finish. WS

1996 Cháteau Carsin Cuvee Noire Premiere Cotes De Bordeaux: 

1996 Cháteau Carsin Cuvee Noire Premiere Cotes De Bordeaux Entre-Deux-Mer Merlot 50-60%, CS 20-30% & CF 10-20% The Premières Côtes de Bordeaux wines have a dense colour, ranging from purple to almost black. Plummy / blackcurrant aromas are accompanied by a rich, full palate. Tannic structure allows them to age between 5 and 10 years, with the development of gamey, mocha or leather aromas.

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……… and a nice way to finish is to have a look at a bottle of Château d'Yquem……