Bordeaux was almost deserted this morning when we got up. Due at Calon Segur at 8am (7.00 am in the UK). Saw Madame de Baritault and started with the Capbern Gasqueton (Cru Bourgeois) owned by Calon Segur which was excellent – Great black currant and well balance before trying the excellent Calon Segur. Then back in the car and round the corner for a tasting at Phelan Segur. We had a vertical tasting of 2010 down to 2007. All good but the 2007 was a little thin. 2009 and 2010 were very close in quality. Slightly firmer tannins in the 2010.
Next stop was Cos Labory where we tried the owners other property called Anderon- Blanquet and Cos Labory of both 2009 and 2010. We had an interesting conversation about the Medoc owners always preferring the more tannic vintage.
Montrose was the next destination – Tried Tronquoy – Lalande as well as Dame de Montrose and Montrose – Big nose of condensed black, sweet, ripe fruit and a hint of spice. Multi-layered and structured with added black currants, cassis, smooth sweet with under-lying minerals. Very long finish ( could still taste it when I got back in the car!)
Cos was the next stop, Tasted Goulee, Padades de Cos and Cos. All impressive, modern in style. Cos was huge.
Mouton Rothschild for 11.30am. Tasted Petit Mouton, D'Armailhac, Clerc Milon and Mouton. I think the Petit Mouton and D'Armailhac were good. Clerc Milon was a little tight. Mouton is showing well good, mega structure but un-revealing in many ways – As one of the Amercian buyers in our group put it "Mouton, she was only showing her ankles but the Petit Mouton – was a slut – twice nightly – sexy, open and easy to taste"! I couldn't have said it better myself..
After Mouton we headed to Grand Puy Lacoste, where we also tasted Lacoste Borie (2nd wine of GPL) and also Haut Batailley. Having a soft spot for GPL I was really pleased by the outcome, Very ripe, sweet brambly fruit, underlying minerals and refined tannins…A quick dash around the town of Pauillac and we were at Pontet Canet. Pontet Cantet has now been certified Bio-dynamic and organic (first Medoc Grand Cru Classe) to receive this. Ponet Canet was awesome – One of the top five wines I have tasted. Power, depth and structure but with great purity and elegant. Brilliant.
We then went to the Queyside in Pauillac for a spot of lunch (20 minutes) before rushing off for a 2pm appointment at Pichon Lalande where we tasted Bernadotte, Reserve de Comtesse, Haut Beausejour and de Pez. The Pichon Lalande was first rate but I was really impressed by the de Pez – Excellent balance and structure with abundant sweet red and black currant fruit.
Next stop was the Union Grand Cru at Braniare Ducru which was for the Northern Medoc Grand Cru (St Estephe, Pauillac and St Julien) where we tasted Ormes de Pez, Lafon Rochet, Haut Bages Liberal, Grand Puy Ducasse (disappointing) Batailley, Talbot, St Pierre, Gloria, Leoville Poyferre, Leoville Barton, Langoa Barton, Lagrange, Gruaud Larose, Branaire Ducru and Beychevelle.
Back to the Car (Little Polo) but luckily with air con…as it got up to 26 C and was getting a little hot for the Yorksire blood. Then off to Citran where we tasted a few Cru Bourgeois and La Lagune (excellent – Pure and precise) We tasted Greysac, La Tour de By, Beaumont, Belgrave, Citran, Coufran, de Camensac, de Lamarque, La Lagune, Maucaillou, Fonreaud, Fourcas Dupre and Fourcas Hosten.
We were then trying to go to the Cru Bourgeois tasting at Ch d'Agassac but decide to pull stumps as we had to go to the 2010 D'Yquem tasting at the Opera house in Bordeaux and then onto the Cammanderie du Bontemps dinner where we tried some excellent wines from Ducru Beaucaillou 1989, Smith Haut Lafite Blanc , de Fargues 2005, Climens 2003, Kirwan 2001, Suduiraut 1997, Pontet Canet 2004 and Mouton Rothschild 1988 to complete the marathon.
Got back at midnight ... alarm set for 6am…. we are picking up some of the team and are headed out to La Lagune for 8am.
Jamie
