2010 Bordeaux Archive

Bordeaux 2010 En Primeur Tastings – Day 6

So the last day of the trip started, later than usual, with another dose of glorious sun. We had just one tasting and then lunch but a real highlight it turned out to be. Helen drove us out of Bordeaux to the base of Ets JP Moueix in Libourne, where...
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Bordeaux 2010 En Primeur Tastings – Day 5

Percy, our Chairman, started right at the top of the tree, with a tasting at Pétrus. Pétrus 2010 is 100% Merlot, which makes little difference as it has only ever had a tiny amount of Cabernet Franc in it. Only 50% new oak as Olivier (Berrouet) said it was a vintage...
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Bordeaux 2010 En Primeur Tastings – Day 4

We didn't have far to travel to the first appointment of the day, but then you don't turn up late to the First Growths... Even so, being ready and raring to go at 7.25, outside La Mission Haut-Brion (where we tasted the Haut-Brion too as well as the respective second...
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Bordeaux 2010 En Primeur Tastings – Day 3

The wheels on the bus...sorry no need to break into song...got into action at 7am and by 7.35 we were outside Branaire Ducru to taste with Patrick Maroteaux. We had tasted at Branaire the day before as part of the UGC, but it is better to taste in isolation and...
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Bordeaux 2010 En Primeur Tastings – Day 2

We woke on Day 2 to a cloudless sky and the amazing weather was to remain from then on, finally reaching a peak of 32 degrees on Day 6. Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse at 8.15 was the first tasting of what was to be a long day. We tasted the Grand-Puy-Ducasse, also...
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Bordeaux 2010 En Primeur Tastings – Day 1

Having arrived in Bordeaux on Sunday evening and had a quick dinner at Le Noailles, Alison (Buchanan), Paul (Marus) and myself set off early for Latour. The day was one of Châteaux visits as the big Union des Grands Crus (UGC) tasting did not start until the Tuesday. Wherever possible,...
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Château Phélan-Ségur Vertical Tasting

The C&B tour bus pulled into Château Phélan-Ségur’s gravelled courtyard with a cloudless blue spring sky as a backdrop. Phélan-Ségur was our first stop of the day, so we were on time for once and had a few moments to take in the rows of vines stretching away from the...
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A Medieval Tasting at Château de Lamarque

With the inspirational philosophies of François Mitjavile ingrained in our thoughts, we headed to our next appointment. Château de Lamarque, a gem of a property in Haut-Médoc with whom we have enjoyed a long and strong vinous relationship. The drive from Saint-Emilion would take a while but as a South...
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“We are forbidden to create” François Mitjavile – Tertre Roteboeuf & Roc de Cambes

The C & B pilgrimage from Domaine de l’Aurage to Tertre Roteboeuf, (owned by his father, François Mitjavile) just down the road in Saint-Emilion took no time at all. We were warmly greeted by François, escorted to the back gardens of the house and perched carefully on a wall with a dangerously...
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C&B Trip to Louis Mitjavile’s Domaine de l’Aurage

From immaculate topiary and raked gravel to a vineyard governed by passion alone. The contrast between the Ch. Hosanna and Domaine de l’Aurage is extreme, yet the journey is only 10 minutes by bus, and the owners are the best of friends. We were here to visit Louis Mitjavile (pictured above),...
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