This is day two of my En Primeur Tastings in Bordeaux. Its been a busy day and well attended, lots of people and not enough time in the day...
Started in the morning at the Syndicat St Emilion tasting at the Salle des Dominicans is St Emilion. Tasted 47 wines in total. Over all quality is very good, only one faulty wine. Fruit and structure in the wines was very good. A couple has issue with tannins and a few others were a bit hot (high in Alcohol) Some stars were Faugeres, Clos de Madeline, Clos de Jacobins and Fleur Cardinals.
Then we went to the St Emilion Grand Cru Classe tasting at Chateau Villemaurine where we tasted the majority of the Grand Cru Classe that we hadn't already tasted (another 30 wines) I was impressed by L'Arrosée and Larcis Ducases.
After a ten minute lunch break we rushed off to the Syndicat de Pomerol tasting at Mairie de Pomerol (Village Hall) where I taste 17 Pomerols. Favourites were L'Enclos, Feytit-Clinet and Gazin but was impressed again within by the fruit and entry level Pomerols like Bourgneuf.
After the Pomerol tasting we went to the Circle de Rive Droite tasting which was in a large Marquee at Ch Grand Barrail – hotel on the Libourne to St Emilion Road. Tasted a few Bernard Magrez wines like Magrez Fombrauge and Fombrauge but also most good Grand Cru like Trimoulet that I have never tasted before. Ended up tasting a few Bordeaux Blanc to cleanse the palate a bit – Thieuley Blanc 2010 showed really well.
The Final destination of the day was the La Grappe Tasting which is Stephane Derenoncourt portfolio of wines that he consults for which was a total of 65 properties. To be honest I started cherry picking the wines. It was held at Chateau La Gaffeliere. Some real favourites, Pavie Macquin, Smith Haut Lafitte, Poujeaux (again) and Domaine Chevalier Rouge but also some surprises like Petit Village and Berliquet
Tomorrow is just as manic. Back to St Emilion for some of the big boys…Pavie for breakfast at 8.30am – think of me when you have your cornflakes at 7.30 am – I will be trying Pavie!
Jamie
