Chateau Bligny Cotes de Bars/Aube Champagne Tasting with Special Guest Jean-Remy Rapineau-Proprietor

“If I were an alcoholic, I’d work at a wine farm, where grape booze grows on trees, bottled and ready to chug.?”

? Jarod Kintz, So many chairs, and no time to sit

Alcoholics go to meetings, connoisseurs of the grape call our meetings wine tastings and we have a lot of them in November- two more Champagne tastings next week!!

We just found out our good friend Jean Remy will be here next Wednesday so instead of doing a formal sit down tasting I thought it would be fun to have a meet and greet type reception with one of the top winery personalities from Champagne- my favorite wine region on earth.  This will be a walk around event and is limited to 35 tasters and the fee for this tasting is $45 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Chateau Bligny Cotes de Bars/Aube Champagne Tasting with

Special Guest ( Jean-Remy Rapineau-Proprietor)

Wednesday, November 20^th

7:30pm

This magnificent property overlooks the village and was built on the foundations of the feudal castle by the Marquis de Dampierre, a French peer who had bought the estate in 1773 in order to hunt wolves. The tower and wing were added in the 19th Century.

Solidly built of dressed stone and firmly sited at the base of a mound, the Château overlooks the village and the valley of the Landion, the source of which is situated under the Château cellars and still supplies it with water today. The main door of the Château comes from the former feudal castle demolished in 1770 and is in the Louis XIII style with its fine sculptural decorations of grapes and vine branches.

Vines have been grown on the slopes of Bligny for many centuries. The Marquis de Dampierre, who owned the Bligny glassworks, lived in the château in the heart of the village. He also owned the surrounding hillsides. The vineyards provided for his personal wine consumption, and the wine was mostly still.

In 1871, the Marquis de Dampierre lost his son, killed at the front. Contrary to certain draft schemes, the railway did not come through Bligny: it was routed instead through Bar-sur-Aube. The glassworks was therefore moved to Bar. Phylloxera sounded the death knell of the Bligny vineyards.

Its reconstruction began in the early 19th Century when the château was passed on to Baron de Cachard. Louis XVIII had made him a noble and given him the title of Baron. Baron de Cachard gave the estate a new lease of life as a wine-producing establishment: he decided to plant a large vineyard, which earned him the nickname of “Gentleman Wine-maker”. Baron de Cachard had been aware of the former excellent reputation of the wines in the region. He had also bought the vineyards of the former Sainte Eulalie Priory, founded in the village in around 1000. The vineyards that he planted and bought now form the Château de Bligny estate.

In 1930 the vineyards covered forty-four hectares. After the war, the estate was bought by a gentleman from Tours, Mr. Lefèvre, who wanted to add a champagne to his range of sparkling wines. His plans did not come to fruition and the property was divided up. In 1952, the Lorin family bought the vineyards in several lots and replanted in 1954.

 

Chateau Bligny Brut Grand Reserve Champagne NV 

Price: $36.00       Sale $31.68

(90 Points) This balances a streamlined frame and racy acidity with integrated flavors of ripe Honeycrisp apple, apricot, tangerine, toasted nuts and a hint of brioche. Lingering nut-tinged finish.  Wine Spectator

Chateau Bligny Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV 

Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60

(90 points) A hint of toasty brioche adds subtle richness to aromatic notes of white peach, yellow apple, mandarin orange and ground spices in this juicy Champagne, which has a delicate finish. Drink now. 2,000 cases made. (6/2012) Wine Spectator

Chateau Bligny Brut Rose Champagne NV 

Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60

(91 Points) Ripe black cherry, plum and spice notes are framed by juicy acidity, fine texture and a chalky base note in this well-knit rosé. Very approachable as an aperitif, but with structure to match light dishes.  Wine Spectator

Chateau Bligny Clos du Château Cuvee 6 Cepages Brut Champagne NV

Price : $112.50    Sale $99.00

Menu

Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie

Hog Snapper Ceviche with Jalapeno Coconut Lime Swag

Sonoma Chicken Salad Sliders with red grapes and toasted Pecans

Mango and Prosciutto Pizza with Caramelized Onions

Grilled Shrimp with Papaya BBQ

This is a walk around tasting here at the Wine Bar and we will be pouring these four champagnes along with the appetizers for the fee of $45 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.