Friday, April 14, 2017

Best Value of Bordeaux Tasting with Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society, USA/ France

Picture: Best of Bordeaux Tasting with Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ John Marshall Chapter

At the April tasting of the American Wine Society (John Marshall Chapter in Virginia), Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR & WineTours, provided an introduction to Bordeaux in the Barrel Room of Pearmund Vineyards, a leading Virginia wine producer.

The focus was on good value Bordeaux wines. The American Wine Society charged US$25 for this event, including wine and food. As a result, the focus was not on the ultra-premium wines of world class Bordeaux producers that are known all over the world. The wines Annette poured were mostly in the US$10 to US25 range. Yet, Annette managed to pour many wines of famous Bordeaux producers.

Pictures: Best of Bordeaux Tasting with Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society, John Marshall Chapter

Almost all of the wines Annette presented were from producers we know personnally and have visited on a Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours. Annette Schiller organizes wine tours to Germany, Burgundy and Bordeaux.

See:
Heads up for the 2017 Tours - to Germany and France - by ombiasy WineTours
Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

Picture: Annette Schiller at the 2016 American Wine Society National Conference. See: The 2016 American Wine Society National Conference in California, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens

The John Marshall Chapter of the American Wine Society meets at Pearmund Cellars, a leading producer of Virginia wine, every 2nd Sunday of the month, 6:30pm.

See for recent tastings led by Annette Schiller: A Visit of the Vineyards of Alsace – Presented by Annette Schiller at the John Marshall Chapter of the American Wine Society, USA/ France

Picture: Owner/ Winemaker Chris Pearmund at Pearmund Vineyards, Virginia

Invitation

Bordeaux – the name is synonymous with the wines of legend: Chateaux LafiteRothschild, Latour, Margaux, Mouton, Petrus – wines that cost thousands of dollars a bottle, that Robert Parker routinely gives 95 points and up.

You and I can’t afford to even smell the corks on these suckers, but come Sunday 9, we are going to learn what Bordeaux does hold for us straphangers. Because experts know that wines from lesser–known producers of Bordeaux can sometimes offer comparable quality for north of $30. Per bottle. Not per taste.

Pictures: Chris Pearmund and Annette Schiller

And Annette Schiller is an expert. She leads wine tours thru France and Germany – just got back from one – and hosts wine events here in DMV. She has 10 wines selected for this event, coming from the important Bordeaux appellations including Médoc, Saint-Emilion, and Graves.

HOWEVER – because wines from this region are more costly, she has had to spend a bit more, so the charge for this evening will have to be $25 per person. But this will be a special evening with some fascinating backstory and wines not to forget.

So if you’ve been thinking Premier Cru is a French street gang, here’s your opportunity to see what the posh people drink, for pretty much a pittance.

This event is expected to be a sellout, so we will start a waiting list after 34 reservations. Your confirmation will tell whether you made the cut.

Pictures: The Tasting in the Barrel Cellar of Pearmund Vineyards

PLEASE – email your RSVP quickly to the link below, tell us how many you will be so we can plan food and space. Then set your calendar for 2nd Sunday in April.

A bientot!

When:
Sunday, April 9
6:30 PM ~ social time
7:00 PM ~ meeting begins

Where:
Pearmund Cellars winery
6190 Georgetown Road
Broad Run, VA 20137

How much: $25 person – special charge this evening only

RSVP: Please email JMarshall_AWS@yahoo.com, tell us how many people attending

ALSO – consider bringing a wine for the social tasting. Perhaps a plonk you’re proud of, a great value you’ve found and want to share. Let us know in your RSVP.

ALSO ALSO – if you’d like to help out with the foods by bringing something in (you’ll be reimbursed), note that also, and our Queen of Cuisine will contact you.

Thanks and see you soon!

Best Value of Bordeaux Tasting

Picture: The Line-up

Best Value Wines

All wines were "best value" wines, for a variety of reasons:

First, two wines were petit château wines (Château Haut-Sorillon and Château Les Arromans) wines made by the 7.500 no-name Bordeaux producers that are not in the limelight but make excellent wines at reasonable prices.

Second, one wine was an entry-level wine (La Petite Lune) made by a world-renowned, classified producer (Domaine de Chevalier) with star wine consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt, with grapes bought from other producers.

Third, three wines were the second wines of world-renowned, classified producer: La Parde de Haut Bailly is the second wine of Château Haut Bailly; Les Pélérins de Lafon Rochet, Saint-Éstèphe, is the second wine of Château Lafon Rochet, Saint-Éstèphe; Baron de Brane is the second wine of Château Brane-Cantenac,a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855 in Margaux.

Fourth, one wine was the little brother (Château Daugay) of a  world-renowned, classified Bordeaux producer (Château Angélus).

Fifth, there one classified wine (Château Moulin), classified as a Cru Bourgeois only. Generally, Cru Bourgeois wines are "good value" wines.
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Sixth, one wine was from a non-classified producer (Château Chantegrive); but Château Chantegrive is a member of the prestigious Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC).

One wine was the little sister (Château De Fargues, Sauternes) of a  world-renowned, classified Bordeaux producer ( Château d'Yquem). The owners of .Château De Fargues, the Lur-Saluces family, also owned Yquem for more than two hundred years.

Rouge

2015 Château Haut-Sorillon, Bordeaux Superieur
Trader Joe`s (US$8.99)

Château Haut-Sorillon is not one of the 300 or so winemakers in Bordeaux that produce a premium Bordeaux which sells en primeur for 50 to 500 Euros per bottle. No, Château Haut-S0rillon is one of the other 7.500 producers or so that are not in the limelight and that make so called petit château Bordeaux wines. These producers have to struggle against the competition of wines from all over the world, including the New World. In my view, many of these petit château Bordeaux producers, such as Château Haut-Sorillon, offer very good value for the price.

Picture: 2015 Château Haut-Sorillon, Bordeaux Superieur

2015 La Petite Lune, Bordeaux
Chain Bridge Cellars, McLean (US$16.99)

2015 La Petite Lune, Bordeaux

La Petite Lune is the new entry-level wine of Domaine de Chevalier in the Pessac Leognan region. Domaine De Chevalier is classified as a Graves Cru Classé, both for its red and white wine. Stéphane Derenoncourt is consultant winemaker. The wine-searcher average price for the 2005 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge is $91.

La Petite Lune is a collaborative effort of the Bernard family that owns Domaine de Chevalier and Stéphane Derenoncourt. The grapes are bought from selective producers. The wine is made at Domaine de Chaevalier by the Domaine de Chevalier team.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Olivier and Hugo Bernard, Owners of Domaine de Chevalier, in New York. See: Bordeaux Vintage 2014 in Bottle: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on 2017 North America Tour in New York - Schiller’s Favorites

Pictures: With Owner Olivier Bernard in the Cellar. See: Tour and Wine Dinner at Domaine de Chevalier with Director Adjoint Rémi Edange and Owner/Director Olivier Bernard – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

2012 La Parde de Haut Bailly, Pessac
www.mycanals.com (US$25.99)

Picture: 2012 Château La Parde de Haut Bailly, Pessac

La Parde de Haut Bailly is the second wine of Château Haut Bailly. Château Haut-Bailly is in the Pessac-Leognan appellation, classified as a Graves Cru Classé. The estate was established in the 16th century but got its name in the 17th century, when it was purchased by Firmin Le Bailly, a Parisian banker. It was bought and sold numerous times during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Today it is owned by an American banker, Robert G. Wilmers.

Picture: Annette Schiller with Daina Paulin and Robert G. Wilmers, Owner, in New York, See: Bordeaux Vintage 2014 in Bottle: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on 2017 North America Tour in New York - Schiller’s Favorites

Picture: Champagne Reception at Château Haut-Bailly with our charming host, Diana Paulin. See. Tour and Wine Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

2012 Château Daugay, Grand Cru, Saint-Émilion
MacArthur Beverages, DC (US$21.99)

Picture: 2012 Château Daugay, Grand Cru, Saint-Émilion

Château Daugay is linked through ownership to Château Angélus. In fact, there was a period where the vineyards of Château Daugay were part of Château Angélus. Château Daugay is owned by the Grenié-de Boüard family that co-owns Château Angélus. Château Angélus is one of the only four (Angelus, Ausonne, Cheval Blanc, Pavie) wine producing estates classified as premier grand cru classé A in the Saint-Emilion appellation.

Jacques and Christian de Boüard de Laforest ran Château Angelus until 1985, when Hubert de Boüard de Laforest took over. He was joined in 1987 by Jean-Bernard Grenié, then by Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal in 2012. Looking ahead, Angélus is henceforward helmed by Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, soon to be joined by her cousin Thierry Grenié-de Boüard. Both represent the eighth generation of the Boüard de Laforest family.

Pictures: Jean-Bernard Grenié, Annette Schiller, Panos Kakaviatos  and Christian Schiller in Washington DC. See: Owner Jean-Bernard Grenié and Wine Journalist Panos Kakaviatos Presented the Wines of Chateau Angélus and Chateau Daugay at Black Salt Restaurant in Washington DC, USA

2010 Château Moulin, Cru Bourgeois, Médoc
www.fassselections.com (US$18.99)

Picture: 2010 Château Moulin, Cru Bourgeois, Médoc

This is the only classified wine of the evening, a Cru Bourgeois. See: What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

 
Pictures: Wine Dinner with Stefan and Heike Paeffgen, Château Le Reysse and Château Clos du Moulin, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

2010 Les Pélérins de Lafon Rochet, Saint-Éstèphe
MacArthur Beverages, DC (US$22.99)

Picture: 2010 Les Pélérins de Lafon Rochet, Saint-Éstèphe

Les Pélérins de Lafon Rochet, Saint-Éstèphe, is the second wine of Château Lafon Rochet, Saint-Éstèphe.

Château Lafon-Rochet is a 4th Grand Cru en 1855 in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of the Medoc. It is one of the 5 classified properties in the appellation of Saint Estèphe. Its grounds are separated from those of Château Lafite to the north by the width of the road and from Cos d'Estournel by a dirt path.

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Owner Basile Tesseron in New York. See: Bordeaux Vintage 2014 in Bottle: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on 2017 North America Tour in New York - Schiller’s Favorites

Pictures: At the Invitation of Owner Michel Tesseron: Private Dinner at Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

2009 Baron de Brane, Margaux
MacArthur Beverages, DC (US$27.99)

Picture: 2009 Baron de Brane, Margaux

Baron de Brane is the second wine of  of Château Brane-Cantenac.

Château Brane-Cantenac is a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855 in Margaux. In 1922, it was acquired by the Lurton family. In 1992, control passed to the current owner Henri Lurton.

Picture: Christian Schiller and Henri Lurton at CityZen in Washington DC. See: Tête-à-tête Dinner with Henri Lurton, Owner of Château Brane-Cantenac, a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855 in Margaux, at CityZen in Washington DC, USA

Pictures: An Afternoon with Owner Henri Lurton at Château Brane-Cantenac, a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, in Margaux, France

Blanc

2015 Château Les Arromans, Entre-Deux-Mers, Blanc  
Unwined, Alexandria, VA (US$11.99)

Picture: 2015 Château Les Arromans, Entre-Deux-Mers, Blanc  

Château Les Arromans is a petit château Bordeaux producer. Joel Duffau is owner and winemaker. The wines of Joel Duffau are widely available in the Washingtin DC area.

Pictures: With Owners/ Winemakers Joel and Sandrine Duffau. See: Entre-Deux-Mers Wines and Alsatian Cuisine: Lunch at L‘Auberge Chez Francois with Winemaker Joel Duffau and Chef Jacques Haeringer, USA/ France

2012 Château Chantegrive, Pessac-Léognan, Blanc
www.grapesthewineco.com (US$15.99)

Picture: 2012 Château Chantegrive, Pessac-Léognan, Blanc

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with with Owner Marie-Hélène Lévêque, Château de Chantegrive, Appellation Grave, in New York. See: Bordeaux Vintage 2014 in Bottle: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on 2017 North America Tour in New York - Schiller’s Favorites

This is the white wine of Château Chantegrive, a member of the prestigious Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC).

Pictures: Wine-pairing Lunch at the 1-star Michelin Restaurant Claude Darroze, with Marie-Hélène Lévêque, Owner of Châteaux Chantegrive - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France.
Visit: Château de Chantegrive, Appellation Grave, with Owner Marie-Hélène Lévêque - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

2002 Château De Fargues, Sauternes (sweet)
MacArthur Beverages, DC (US$74.99)

Picture: 2002 Château De Fargues, Sauternes

Château de Fargues produces a noble-sweet Sauternes wine that was not classified in 1855 for the simple reason that the property did not make any wine at the time. After more than 500 years, the owner is still the Lur-Saluces family, which also owned Yquem for more than two hundred years. Not surprisingly, the two wines are quite close in style, if only for the reason that both wines receive identical care and attention to detail in the vineyard and in the cellar.

Pictures: Tasting with Prince Eudes d’Orléans, Managing Director at Château de Fargues. See: Tour and Tasting at Château de Fargues, Sauternes, with Prince Eudes d’Orléans - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France and: Tour and Tasting at Château de Fargues, Appellation Sauternes, with Prince Eudes d’Orléans – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Picture: Philippe de Lur Saluces, Owner, in New York. See: Bordeaux Vintage 2014 in Bottle: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on 2017 North America Tour in New York - Schiller’s Favorites

After Tasting - Special Wines

Three of us brough very special wines to the event, which we tried at the end of the tasting.

Pictures: Special Wines

1996 Château Lynch Bages Pauillac

Picture: Christian Schiller and Kinou Cazes-Hachemian, Owner, in New York. See: Bordeaux Vintage 2014 in Bottle: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on 2017 North America Tour in New York - Schiller’s Favorites

Picture: Christian Schiller with Jean-Charles Cazes, Owner of Lynch-Bages, at Château Lynch-Bages in Bages. See: Tour and Tasting at Château Lynch-Bages in Bages, Bordeaux, France

1996 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron, Pauillac

Pictures: Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Appellation Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé. See: Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron with Chef à Domicile Bernadet Damien - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Picture: Annette Schiller and Jean-Rene Matignon, Technical Director, in New York. See: Bordeaux Vintage 2014 in Bottle: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on 2017 North America Tour in New York - Schiller’s Favorites

Good Night 

Picture: Pearmund Vinyards

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Heads up for the 2017 Tours - to Germany and France - by ombiasy WineTours

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

Bordeaux - En Primeur, Negociants, Courtiers, the Quai de Chartons and the Place de Bordeaux – A Short Introduction

How Does the Negociant System in Bordeaux Work? Tour and Tasting at Millésima - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

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Visit: Château de Chantegrive, Appellation Grave, with Owner Marie-Hélène Lévêque - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

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At the Invitation of Owner Michel Tesseron: Private Dinner at Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

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Wine Dinner with Stefan and Heike Paeffgen, Château Le Reysse and Château Clos du Moulin, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Tour and Tasting at Château de Fargues, Appellation Sauternes, with Prince Eudes d’Orléans – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

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