Beaucoup de Vins de Bordeaux!

With Count Stephan von Neipperg of Château Canon La Gaffelière and my purple teeth at the private 2010 Vintage Tasting event of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Great Wines) this past Saturday in Los Angeles, the second of four cities on the UGC tour. The Count was pouring his own wine!

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The 2010 Bordeaux vintage has been touted as one of the best in our lifetime, along with the superb 2000, 2005 and 2009 millésimes (French for vintages).

Riedel tasting glass in hand, I navigated the California Room at the Century Plaza Hotel with purpose and a game plan to taste the highest rated wines first and then move on to find those little gems. Wines from all of the appellations of the region, including the great Sauternes dessert wines, were represented at this event. Tasting newer vintage wines is especially difficult as one must imagine what they will be like at least 10 years down the road, especially those with bold tannins.

For me, the standouts were Château Clinet and Château La Conseillante of Pomerol, on the right bank and Merlot based and Château Troplong Mondot and Château Canon La Gaffelière of the neighboring Saint-Emilion appellation and also Merlot based. For the Cabernet Sauvignon based wines of the left bank, the Château Phelan Segur of Saint-Estèphe, a relative bargain at $63, was the standout for me. For white wine, the Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, was outstanding. And for Sauternes, the elegant Château Suduiraut‘s taste resembled a very fine honey.

I have been fortunate to have visited 13 châteaux in the last few years, and can count Château Troplong Mondot and Domaine de Chevalier, that I visited in 2011, among them.

Until next time…à votre santé!

Photos by Christine Humphrey ©2013

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