The Wines of Bordeaux tasting event, hosted by the NLC, took place last week.It presented over 100 wines from the region featuring the 2011 and 2012 vintage years. For a moderate entry fee a large turnout of avid tasters were able to sip some very good (and some very expensive) wines.
Tasting every wine at such an event is not possible. Besides the time required simply for pouring, sipping, and contemplating you need to take the time to talk to the suppliers about their wines. Sharing your thoughts, and perhaps your special finds, with the wine-loving friends you bump into is also part of the enjoyment of such events. Of course spitting is required (and appropriate containers are readily provided), if you hope to remain somewhat sensible at the end of the show. All this means is that you need some sort of plan.
Bordeaux is red wine country with almost 90% of total production in that category. I tasted a portion of the reds, and in a recent column previewed some that were included in the event. My plan, however, was to ensure I tasted the white wines in the show.
The 10% of non-red wine from Bordeaux is made up of dry whites, sweet whites, rosé, and sparkling wines. You won’t find any Bordeaux sparklers at the NLC, and there is just one lonely rosé.
Sweet wines from Sauternes and Barsac are well represented at the NLC with over 25 producers and labels covering many vintages. The single Barsac sweet wine I had time to taste at the show,the Château Doisy-Daëne 2012, was marvellous – complex, enticing aroma, and wonderful balance of freshness and weight in the mouth.
There are nearly 50 dry white Bordeaux labels available at the NLC, so investigating this category is worth the effort. I did manage to taste all of the 18 dry white wines on offer at the tasting. Not a single one was disappointing! Some were clearly more affordable, but it seemed that the more, and most, expensive wines had earned that right for the qualities they displayed – aromas that kept revealing new facets as you sniffed and contemplated; flavours and finish that unfolded over considerable time; all in wonderful balance. Some brief notes:
My highest rated whites were the Domaine de Chevalier 2011 and 2012, Château Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc 2011, and Château Malarctic-Lagravière Blanc 2011. My best value pick was the Château de Chantegrive Cuvée Caroline Blanc 2012.
I managed to taste only a handful of the red wines. I wouldn’t normally be looking to drink young Bordeaux of recent vintages such as 2011 or 2012, but at least it was a chance to look for wines that were approachable now, or showing good signs for the future.
The wines that caught my fancy included the Château Phelan Segur 2011, the Château Leoville Poyferre 2011, and the Château Beychevelle 2012. Both the 2011 and 2012 vintages of the Château Beaumont I rated as my best value purchases.