Bordeaux Tasting at Cafe Maxx

"...Once upon a time, I drank a little wine,
 was as happy as could be..."

Get Down by Gilbert O'Sullivan

That's why we are so happy here at the Wine Watch, we're always drinking wine!! And we are starting out the New Year with one of our favorite subjects Bordeaux.

The most expensive wines in the world come from this wine growing region located in the Southwest of France. 

Some of the cheapest wines in France come from Bordeaux as well and the wines are not as far apart as you would think in terms of the proximity from Pauillac to Bordeaux Superior!

You always want to look at the best real estate in town that is close by to the real expensive stuff as you get to enjoy the view at a fraction of the cost.  The same can be said about the appellations of Bordeaux like Medoc, Lussac St. Emilion, Premier Cotes de Blaye and other lesser known regions that are right next to the better known areas like Pauillac, Pomerol and Pauillac which you will pay big money for.

Join us as we explore the last few recent releases from the world's most famous wine region.  With over 300,000 acres of vines Bordeaux is one of the largest in size.  In addition to making some of the best red wines which Bordeaux is most famous for, they also make some of the most age worthy whites and arguably the best dessert style wines in the entire world in the Sauternes region.

These tastings at the Cafe Maxx for $35 are the best value of any event that we do. You get to try 8 different wines at the same time, pre-poured so they have a chance to open up and so you can go back through the line-up to get a second and third look at everything. This is how you learn about wine and with master chef Oliver Saucy sending out a few small courses to accompany the wines; you get a taste of Cafe Maxx and an education in wine all at the same time, a great way to spend happy hour!  This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and is limited to 25 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $35 + Gratuity + tax for reservations call 954-782-0606.

Bordeaux wine Tasting at Wine Watch
Wednesday, January 11th
7pm

Graville Lacoste Graves Blanc 2015         
Price: $17.00       Sale $14.96          Case $194

Hervé Dubourdieu’s easy charm and modest disposition are complemented by his focus and ferocious perfectionism. He prefers to keep to himself, spending most of his time with his family in his modest, tasteful home, surrounded by his vineyards in the Sauternes and Graves appellations. Roûmieu-Lacoste, situated in Haut Barsac, originates from his mother’s side of the family, dating back to 1890. He also owns Château Graville-Lacoste and Château Ducasse, where he grows grapes for his Graves Blanc and Bordeaux Blanc, respectively. In the words of Dixon Brooke, “Hervé is as meticulous a person as I have encountered in France’s vineyards and wineries. Everything is kept in absolutely perfect condition, and the wines showcase the results of this care – impeccable.” Hervé is incredibly hard on himself. Despite the pedigree and complexity of the terroir and the quality of the wines, he has never been quite satisfied to rest on his laurels, always striving to outdo himself. This is most evident in his grape-sorting process for the Sauternes. Since botrytis is paramount to making great Sauternes, he employs the best harvesters available, paying them double the average wage to discern between the “noble rot,” necessary to concentrate the sugars for Sauternes, and deleterious rot. Hervé is so fastidious that he will get rid of a whole basket of fruit if a single grape with the harmful rot makes it in with healthy ones to be absolutely sure to avoid even the slightest contamination. Another thing that we love about Hervé is that he would rather entrust the selling to us than be away from his vines, so he lets us buy the lion’s share of his production. This is an important factor in keeping wine of this quality at so low a price.

Roûmieu-Lacoste is in the climat of Haut Barsac, an area famous (and in fact more renowned historically than the Sauternes appellation as a whole) for its particularly robust, powerfully styled moelleux with pronounced acidity. The vineyards are just across the road from First Growth Château Climens on a similar soil: calcareous clay on fissured rock, peppered with red iron, white limestone, and grey flint gravel. The Graville-Lacoste property produces a Graves Blanc, known primarily for its stony soil composition and fresh minerality. This wine and the Bordeaux Blanc of Château Ducasse are very different from others from their appellations: Hervé blends a high proportion of Sémillon (60%) and a splash of Muscadelle (5%) with Sauvignon Blanc (35%), creating a rich, full, aromatic mid-palate to complement the clean finish. These are the perfect go-to whites that pair well with anything from fish to poultry, picnic fare to Indian curries.

Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac Leognan Blanc 2013
Price: $47.00       Sale $41.36          Case $480

(92 points)  This has lots of energy, with enticing thyme and tarragon notes flecking the core of lemon zest, white peach, tangerine and straw flavors. The long salted butter finish crackles with life. Rock-solid, and will be fun to cellar for a touch. (4/2015) Wine Spectator

Chateau Du Pintey Bordeaux Superieur 2009
Price: $16.25       Sale $14.30          Case $166

Dark ruby color. Red fruit, apples and currants, in a pleasant perfumed aroma, and a juicy, tart flavor that's consistent with the nose. Clean, light, a bit short in the finish, it's a good table wine for the price, if atypical Bordeaux.

Chateau La Louviere Pessac Leognan Rouge 2010            
Price: $46.50       Sale $40.92          Case $475

(92 Points)  The team chez La Louvière has produced a great 2010 that surpasses my expectations from barrel. This has a ripe, lifted nose of baked cherries, raspberry preserve and attractive, wet clay-like aromas that complement the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins. The balance is very good here, the oak neatly folded into the fruit profile with great tension and vibrancy on the finish. Do not overlook this little gem. (Neal Martin) 01.11.2012, RobertParker.com

Chateau Paveil De Luze Margaux 2011  
Price: $40.25       Sale $35.42          Case $411

Sarget De Gruaud Larose St Julien 2009
Price: $50.00       Sale $44.00          Case $510.00

This has a nice beefy edge, offering roasted fig, plum and warm tobacco leaf notes, with bittersweet cocoa inlaid on the slightly gutsy finish. On the rustic side, but solid and winey. This second wine is also released under the Larose de Gruaud label. Best from 2013 through 2020. (3/2012) Wine Spectator

Pastourelle De Clerc Milon Pauillac 2009             
Price: $55.25       Sale $82.87          Case $564

The product of an exceptional terroir, Pastourelle de Clerc Milon is the second wine of Château Clerc Milon, an 1855 Classified Growth at Pauillac.Made from grapes grown in the vineyard of the famous Classified Growth, it is vinified and bottled with the same meticulous care: the grapes are harvested in small crates and the wine is fermented in the Clerc Milon vat-room and matured in oak barrels in the traditional way. All the conditions are in place to obtain the elegance and richness of a great Pauillac.

La Fleur D'Or Sauternes 2013     
Price: $33.00       Sale $29.04          Case $337

La Fleur d'Or Sauternes has an elegant yellow appearance with aromas of candied apricot, peach, mango along side toasty hints.  The palate has a vivacious attack with a remarkable balance between freshness and botrytis.
This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and is limited to 25 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $35 + Gratuity + tax for reservations call 954-782-0606.