Bordeaux
Saturday, September 27th
1:00 - 3:00
1:00 - 3:00
The wines of Bordeaux have been so long revered and renowned that the name Bordeaux, similar to Champagne or Chablis, is now used to describe a style of wine as well as a wine region. Oh, but what a region it is! Arguably the world's most famous wine region, and certainly one of it's most prolific, the majesty of Bordeaux wines comes down to four main components: diversity, quality, quantity, and the art of the blend. It is home to some 10,000 producers, making everything from affordable everyday quaffers to the legendary First Growths that demand some of the wine world's highest prices. Much of the diversity comes from the climate, well moderated by its proximity to the Atlantic and the presence of various rivers (the Dordogne, the Garonne and the Gironde Estuary into which they flow). Merlot is the dominant red wine grape in the vineyards of Bordeaux, followed closely by Cabernet Sauvignon and then Cabernet Franc. Petit Verdot, Malbec and even Carmenere are also permitted, and with the changes in the climate even more red grapes are slowly being allowed. When used in combination, these varieties are variously referred to as a "Bordeaux Blend". The best wines come from the appellations around the area where the Gironde Estuary splits the land: Left Bank wines tend to be dominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, and include such appellations as Margaux, Graves, Pauillac, and more; Right Bank wines tend to be based on Merlot, and include the appellations of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, among others. Bordeaux's white wines are generally blends of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle, and the area also produces one of the most revered dessert wines in Sauternes. We are going to have some examples of all of the above on Saturday.
For the last few years, the best Bordeaux we've been finding has been through the importer and distributor Monsieur Touton, as they find not just an amazing selection of top estates, but usually have a number of excellent vintages to offer as well. In a market where we are usually stuck with whatever the current release might be, it is wonderful to have a chance to get some wines that have a touch of age to them. Joining us for this great tasting will be Mike Ruocco of Monsieur Touton, kicking off his first Saturday with Hope Valley Wine! We don't get to do this theme all that often, so we've made sure to get some top tier selections to try, so please come join us for this extraordinary chance to sample some of France's best.
Château Lespault-Martillac Blanc
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Château Saint-Hubert Rouge
Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France, 2015
L'Esprit de Chevalier Rouge
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2014
Petit Guiraud
Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2019
For the last few years, the best Bordeaux we've been finding has been through the importer and distributor Monsieur Touton, as they find not just an amazing selection of top estates, but usually have a number of excellent vintages to offer as well. In a market where we are usually stuck with whatever the current release might be, it is wonderful to have a chance to get some wines that have a touch of age to them. Joining us for this great tasting will be Mike Ruocco of Monsieur Touton, kicking off his first Saturday with Hope Valley Wine! We don't get to do this theme all that often, so we've made sure to get some top tier selections to try, so please come join us for this extraordinary chance to sample some of France's best.
Château Lespault-Martillac Blanc
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2020
Château Saint-Hubert Rouge
Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France, 2015
L'Esprit de Chevalier Rouge
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2014
Petit Guiraud
Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2019