Joël Duffau is a „Prêt-à-porter“ producer (in contrast to an „Haute Couture“ producer) in Bordeaux, said Elite Wines Virginia Sales Manager Hugues Beaulieu at a recent wine luncheon with Joël and Sandrine Duffau at L’Auberge Chez François in the Greater Washington DC Area. Joël and Sandrine Duffau from Bordeaux were in Washington DC for their annual wine promotion tour.
Joël does not belong to the group of elite wine makers like Latour, Margaux, Petrus, etc that produce expensive „Haute Couture“ wines that are out of reach for many consumers but he belongs to the large group of „Prêt-à-porter“ producers that make wine at very favorable prices for the average consumer for every day consumption. See:
During the luncheon, Joël Duffau and Annette Schiller agreed that on the 2017 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours, we would visit them in the Entre-Deux-Mers Region.
Bordeaux – Left Bank, Right Bank and Entre Deux Mers
Bordeaux wine takes its name from the region’s main city, which derives from the French bord de l’eau, meaning “along the waters.” The Bordeaux region is the second largest winegrowing area in the world, with more than 287,000 acres under vine. More vineyard land is planted in Bordeaux than in all of Germany, and ten times the amount planted in New Zealand.
The Gironde estuary dominates the regions along with its tributaries, the Garonne and the Dordogne rivers. These rivers define the main geographical subdivisions of the region:
The Left Bank is situated on the left bank of the Garonne, in the west and south of the region, around the city of Bordeaux itself. The Left Bank is further subdivided into: Graves, the area upstream of the city Bordeaux and Médoc, the area downstream of the city Bordeaux, situated on a peninsula between Gironde and the Atlantic. The five First Growths are situated here.
The Right Bank is situated on the right bank of the Dordogne, in the northern parts of the region, around the city of Libourne.
Entre Deux Mers is the inland region sculpted into a somewhat irregular wedge by the two rivers that give it its name, the Pyrenees-sourced Garonne to the west and the Massif-Centrale-sourced Dordogne to the east.
The Wines of Joel Duffau: Château La Mothe Du Barry and Château les Arromans
Joël Duffau follows the tradition of nine generations of winegrowers in his family and has inherited their passion for making superior wines. He grows grapes organically at both Château La Mothe du Barry and Château les Arromans in the heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers Region, between Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion.
Château La Mothe Du Barry and Château Les Arromans have their origin in one larger château founded by Jean Duffau in 1965. It was called Château Les Arromans and grew to 30 hectares over the years. When Jean retired in 1998, he devided the vineyards and the winery into two, the (new) Chateau La Mothe Du Barry and the (remaining) Chateau Les Arromans between the two brothers Joël and Eric. Both Chateaus are now owned and run by Joël Duffau. He is the winemaker of both estates.
Joël Duffau's Web Site: Joël took over Chateau La Mothe du Barry vineyard here in Moulon, the family home (nine generations of winegrowers), in 1985. The vines are planted ont the clay & limestone slopes of the village, a terroir the the Merlot grapes thrives on. From his studies and work palcements in France and abroad (Burgendy, Beaujolais, Rioja, California…) he retained his natural curiosity and a taste for discovering all things new which enable him, vintage after vintage, to evolve in his winegrowing and winemaking techniques.
This, in turn allows him to produce ever more expressive wines, of which the Cuvée le Barry praised every year in several wine guides. His other wines are also renowed for their quality, like his Entre-Deux-Mers, produced from vines palnted on boulbene ( finesiliceous soil) terroirs, situated in Naujean et Postiac (white grape varieties absolutely love boulbene terroirs!)
It’s because of Joël's passion for this terroir, so typicla of Entre-Deux-Mers area, but also because of his motivation to go back Nature and its core values that he started the process of converting to organic viticulture in 2009. The certification is obtained for all Bordeaux Superieur and Bordeaux Clairet with the vintage 2013.
Chateau Les Arromans was founded in 1965 by Jean & Sylvette Duffau, Joël’s parents, who were among the first in the region to bottle and sell their own wine, which tkey sold exclusively to private individuals, who became loyal clients thanks to quality and reputation of the wine
The vines planted around he cellar and along the gentle slopes of the vineyard are essentially Merlot grappes. The wines made from these grapes are reputed throughout the Bordeaux Appellation and are regular prizewinners. When Jean & Sylvette retired, the vineyard were divided among their two sons, Joël and Eric, thus carrying on teh name of Les Arromans in keeping with their father’s savoir faire. Joël has kept the flag flying ever since and the Chateau Les Arromans wnes are regular prizewinners.
Guest Rooms
Joël Duffau: At Château La Mothe Du Barry there are 3 different rooms available, all located in the stone buildings in our private courtyard. Three very different worlds, each inspiredby the wine of which it bears the name: the Design room, the Cuve à mon Loup room and the French Kiss room.
Tasting
We tasted at Château La Mothe du Barry in the former wine cellar, standing next to the concret tanks, which are no longer in use.
The Wine Portfolio of Joël Duffau
Château La Mothe du Barry
Château La Mothe du Barry
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur
This 100% Merlot Bordeaux Superieur has an elegant robe and a powerful bouquet; it’s an easydrinking wine to be enjoyed on any occasion.
Cuvée French Kiss
AOC Bordeaux Clairet
The startlingly intense colour of our claret is an indication of the freshness and fruitiness of this enchanting wine. The perfect red wine for summer enjoyment.
Cuvée French Kiss Blanc
AOC Entre-deux-Mers
Our Entre-Deux-Mers is a veritable concentration of fruit aromas, with the Sauvignon aromas predominating and a hint of Muscadelle for that extra freshness.
La Cuvée Design
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur
Our Cuvée Design is a fine example of what an elegant Bordeaux Superieur can be: the Merlot grape at its very best, bringing ripe black berry fruit aromas that are nicely se off by subtle oak ageing.
Cuvée le Barry
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur
Un vin d’exception primé tous les ans. A subtle blend of Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the oldest vines on the estate, with low yields. This is a wine for cellaring; the fleshy potency of tis youth will evolve to velvet subtlety over time.
An exceptional wine and annual prize winner. In the Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2003, Cuvée le Barry 2000 received the "Best Red Bordeaux for under Euro 10" Award.
La Cuve à mon Loup
AOC Bordeaux
Challenged by Manu and Mon Loup (2 of the best when it comes to making me ask myself all the right questions), I decided to try something completely different – making a sulfite free wine.
This was an out of the way move for me, belonging as I do to a rather conservative line of winegrowers (ninth generations!). I learned a lot of over those few months and in particular realised that I enjoyed working differently, daring to go off the beaten track and taking up the challenge of supposedly impossible.
Despite my many doubts and concerns at outset, the resulting wine surpassed my epectations. Strange as it may seem to say so, these doubts and worries gave rise to the name of this wine, for when I came home tired and pessimistc about the outcome of the experience, it was my life Sandrine ( my nickname for her is « mon Loup ») who bolstered me and encouraged me to continue.
With this wine, my aim isto enable my terroir to express itself as fully and simply as possible.
100% Merlot, 0% Sulfites!!!
L'entre 2
Château Les Arromans
Les Arromans Blanc
AOC Entre-Deux-Mers
This expressive, balanced wine is aromatically intense, revealing intense floral and fruity notes.
Les Arromans Rosé
AOC Bordeaux rosé
Made from 100% Cabernet Franc grapes, this is fresh, light and well rounded wine. A fruity, flowery treat!
Les Arromans Rouge
AOC Bordeaux rouge
This fruity Bordeaux attains a fine balance between the merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. Great care is taken during vinification to retain teh fruity character of these grapes and it shows in this rounded, full-bodied wine.
Cuvée Prestige
AOC Bordeaux rouge
This rich, well balanced Bordeaux is made from 100% Merlot grapes and reveals toasted notes mingling with aromas of stewed fruit.
Bye-bye
Thanks Joël and Sandrine for a great tasting.
Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France (Published and Forthcoming Postings)
Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy
Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics
Tour and Tasting at Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Grave - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
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Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City - An Update
Schiller’s Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France - An Update
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Tour with Dany Rolland: Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Tasting at Château La Mothe du Barry in Moulon, Appellation Entre-deux-Mers, with Owner/ Winemaker Joël Duffau
Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, with Owner Bérénice Lurton, Bordeaux, France
Lunch at 1-star-Michelin Restaurant Claude Darroze
Visit: Château de Chantegrive, Appellation Grave, with Owner Marie-Hélène Lévêque - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
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