I was looking forward to the return of Bordeaux Tasting, this unmissable event for lovers of great wines. With no equivalent in France, Bordeaux Tasting brings together the greatest wines of Bordeaux but also great guests from other French regions and other countries. This tenth edition (11-12th december) lived up to my expectations, with a rich programme, entertainments, shows, workshops, in short a historic weekend in one of the most beautiful places in my city, the Place de la Bourse. My overview in pictures, discoveries and recommendations!

Pomerol wines (1st floor)

Château Maillet

Château Gazin / Château Clinet

Château Mazeyres

Saint-Emilion wines, Médoc & Graves…

Château de Pressac – Saint-Emilion

Château Arbo – Montagne Saint-Emilion

A pleasant tasting with the young and bubbly Astrid! The 2016 vintage aged in barrels for 14 months. The wine is fruity, dense and expressive, with well rounded tannins. The pairing with the chocolate is perfect, revealing the peppery side. 14,50€ TTC

I will not miss the opportunity to visit this property when I am next in Montagne- Saint-Emilion !

Château ARBO, is nothing but a story of life(lives).
Founded in 2015 by Astrid and Dorian Arbo, it was born from a common desire to undertake
and from a same passion, Wine.

The ARBO Castle covers 6.5 hectares, with 12 plots, of an average age of 35 years. 3 different types of soil: clay-limestone, silty-gravel and clay-sandy. Their wine blend consists of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. The breeding of Château ARBO lasts between 12 months and 14 months depending on the vintage. They chose to use 50% of new barrels and 50% of one wine barrels (*having already served once) to offer us fruity and woody wines.

Website: https://www.chateau-arbo.com/

13 Route des Faucheries
33570 Montagne – France +33(0)7 83 29 91 66 – hello@chateau-arbo.com

Château Cos Labory: Saint-Estèphe

Haut-Médoc – Margaux

Saint-Estèphe – Pauillac – Saint-Julien

Graves

Sauternes

Foreign wines

I spent most of my day discovering wines outside Bordeaux, either from other regions or from other countries.

Hubert de Boüard Consulting Oeno-Lab (Winemaker)

Very happy to have been able to discuss with Hubert de Boüard, and to have tasted the wines (especially foreign) for which he is a consultant. And above all, really delighted by my tasting of the wine of Constance (Klein Constantia), a sweet wine from South Africa, 100% Muscat de Frontignan, sun-dried… An impressive aromatic power, an explosion of apricot in the mouth, a real nectar! https://www.kleinconstantia.com/our-wines/vin-de-constance/vin-de-constance/

Read my article here about Hubert de Boüard , interview at the Cité du Vin: https://french-wine-love.com/2020/01/25/dans-lintimite-de-lhomme-dangelus-conference-avec-hubert-de-bouard-de-laforest-a-la-cite-du-vin/

Derenoncourt Consultants (Winemaker)

Château de la Salade Saint-Henri: A.OC Pic Saint Loup

The vineyard, facing south, is backed by the first hills that announce the Cevennes.
It is dominated by two highlights: the Pic Saint Loup (658 m) and the Causse de l’Hortus (512 m). The Terroir Pic Saint Loup vineyard is the northernmost of the Coteaux du Languedoc appellation.

Hérodias vintage- Appellation: IGP Saint-Guilhem-Le-Désert I really enjoyed this 100% carignan, it is a change from our typical Bordeaux grape varieties! Intense garnet colour, its nose presents aromas of red fruit including morello cherry and raspberry. The harmonious, tender mouth delivers notes of tapenade and eucalyptus. 14°C / 12€ bottle

A domain to discover, I hope next summer! 1050, Route de Saint-Jean-de-Cuculles 34270 Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers https://www.chateaudelasaladesainthenri.com/

Other vineyards/wines…

Le musée des douanes: Cognac, Armagnac, vins étrangers

Château Saint-Aubin: Armagnac

The domain of Saint-Aubin is located in the Gers, near Eauze, capital of Bas-Armagnac.

Tasting of the wines then of the white of Armagnac, and finally of the Armagnacs, 4 and 10 years old

Saint-Rémi Church: paradise of Champagnes!

The estate covers 12.50 hectares of vineyards in the five neighbouring municipalities of Rilly, and all the plots are classified Premier Cru de Champagne. The three Champagne grape varieties are cultivated: pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay. Baptiste made me taste his Nature 2014 cuvée first of all, a blend of Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%), a balanced vintage. This zero sugar dosage allows a pure expression of the vintage. Perfect for the holidays and to keep fit ! I was then able to tatste an extra brut Blanc de Noirs, the cuvée Paradoxe, with a low sugar dosage (4gr per bottle), giving it a great originality.

Champagne Paques & Fils 1 Rue Valmy, 51500 Rilly-la-Montagne
Téléphone : 03 26 03 42 53 https://www.champagne-paques.com/

The workshops

Cheese and (white) wine-pairing

Merry Christmas to everybody !!