CHÂTEAU BRANAIRE DUCRU VERTICAL TASTING
December 15 2022
This excellent château from the commune of St-Julien is reputed for its consistency. Branaire Ducru is the first Chateau (1991) to benefit from a state-of-the-art cellar where everything is operated by gravity. The blend is obviously dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (70%). In a full-bodied yet elegant style, the Château regularly attains perfect ripeness. This charming and underrated estate offers great value. Excellent vintages should confirm the high level of quality and the great staying power of this consistent Château from St-Julien.
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2003 NORTHERN RHÔNE vs SOUTHERN RHÔNE
February 9th 2023
The 2003 Rhône Valley vintage was unusually hot and extremely dry. The temperature at one point exceded the 50 degre mark ! Despite the extreme climatic conditions, some appellations did manage to produce high quality reds. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is reputed for its full bodied ample reds and Cornas for its structured rich reds. Which will perform better ? The Grenache based reds from the south or the northern Syrahs ? Come compare four (4) southern reds (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) to reputed northern appellations (Cornas et Crozes-Hermitage) to determine which better performed in this scorching atypical vintage?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Exceptionnelle, Domaine du Vieux Lazaret
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chante Le Merle, Bosquet des Papes
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux, Lucien & André Brunel
Châteuneuf-du-Pape La Truffière, Domaine Saint-Benoit
Cornas La Sabarotte, Domaine Courbis
Cornas Les Ruchets, Jean-Luc Colombo
Cornas Chante Perdrix, Delas
Crozes-Hermitage Les Machonnières, Charles & François Tardy
REGIONAL TOUR CONTEST 2003
February 23rd 2023
Because of the remarkable success of this tasting format, Les Conseillers du vin is repeating with a horizontal tasting of eight 2003 reds from a diversity of reputed regions. While blind tasting and evaluating these fine reds you will be asked to identify as many as you can. How many will you correctly identify ? The person who successfully identifies all eight wines will receive a gift certificate for a future tasting at les Conseillers du vin (maximum value 150$). If no participant successfully identifies all eight wines, a bottle of Champagne will be awarded to the person who recognized the most wines. Come evaluate and identify, in the usual blind tasting format, this selection of fine reds from reputed regions which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
France – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux, Lucien & André Brunel, Rhône Sud
Espagne – Ribera del Duero, Bodegas y Vinedos Alion
USA – Cabernet Sauvignon Knight’s Valley, Beringer, Sonoma, California
Canada – Syrah Fairview Cellars, Okanagan, BC
Italia – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Emidio Pepe, Abruzzo
France – Château La Fleur Cardinale, St-Émilion, Bordeaux
Australia – Shiraz The Struie, Torbreck, Barossa Valley South Australia
France – Château de Viella Madiran Cuvée Prestige, Sud-Ouest
BORDEAUX 2003
March 9th 2023
Mother Nature imposed an extremely hot and dry 2003 growing season on the Bordeaux producers. Because of the extreme conditions, it is very difficult to identify districts that have better performed. Areas with colder soils (clay-limestone) and/or soils with excellent water reserves generally better performed. These important factors (soil types and water reserves) paired with old vines were a guarantee of success for many well established Châteaux. The 2003 Bordeaux are rich, ripe and full bodied with excellent aging potential. The châteaux chosen for this tasting should confirm the high quality level and evolution of this atypical vintage. Twenty years later, come and rediscover this scorching Bordeaux vintage.
France – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux, Lucien & André Brunel, Rhône Sud
Espagne – Ribera del Duero, Bodegas y Vinedos Alion
USA – Cabernet Sauvignon Knight’s Valley, Beringer, Sonoma, California
Canada – Syrah Fairview Cellars, Okanagan, BC
Italia – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Emidio Pepe, Abruzzo
France – Château La Fleur Cardinale, St-Émilion, Bordeaux
Australia – Shiraz The Struie, Torbreck, Barossa Valley South Australia
France – Château de Viella Madiran Cuvée Prestige, Sud-Ouest
CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019
April 6th 2023
In 2019 all of Southern Rhone, but especially Châteauneuf-du-Pape, benefited from Mother Nature’s generosity. According to La Revue du Vin de France: «Châteauneuf–du-Pape produces wines of great complexity and longevity. Despite high alcohol levels, the wines from the outstanding 2019 vintage are sun soaked, rich, robust, and yet perfectly balanced». Superb Châteauneufs that should satisfy the fan of Grenache based reds. A selection of reputed producers should confirm the quality level and aging potential of the star of the southern Rhône in this outstanding 2019 vintage.
Château de Beaucastel
Télégramme, Famille Brunier
Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, Tardieu-Laurent,
Cuvée des Cadettes, Château La Nerthe
Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Chante Cigale
Cuvée Omnia, Rotem & Mounir Saouma
Boisrenard, Domaine de Beaurenard
Vin mystère/Mystery wine
BORDEAUX 2019
May 4th 2023
Like 2018, many French wine regions also excelled in 2019. Almost perfect weather in the second part of the growing season (no excess heat or drought), enabled producers to craft perfectly balanced reds. With less structure than 18, and more charm than 20, the 19s offer perfectly ripe fruit, soft velvety tannins, great balance and amazing aging potential. Many experts tend to favour the elegance and ripeness of the seductive 2019s (and I tend to agree!), over the bulkier 18s and fresher 20s. More elegance than power, these perfectly balanced Grands Crus should evolve favourably for the next 20 to 30 years. All Bordeaux districts have come through beautifully. The châteaux chosen for this tasting should confirm the high quality level and amazing potential of this outstanding Bordeaux vintage.
Château Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux
Château Clinet, Pomerol
Château Beauséjour-Bécot, St-Émilion
Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan
Château Larcis-Ducasse, St-Émilion
Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan
Château Léoville-Poyferré, St-Julien
Vin mystère-Mystery wine