Vinexpo 2013-Day 5

Monday, June 17, 2013
posted by: William

Sunday morning was filled up by registration; and visiting old friends Some producers were that I wanted to see would only arrive on Monday, so one of my highlights  was re-acquainting myself with Fabiana Brooks, now export director for a brand new winery in Uruguay, Narbona.  Taste all 6 wines that they produce and while all were of high calibre, the one that stood out was was their 2010 Tannat Roble; a full bodied round wine that certainly  offered the tannat profile but with so much more elegance than the one previously tasted by others.  Cannot wait for the line to arrive to Alberta but they need an agent.

At noon I had to zoom on over to the St. Emilion tasting area where I was invited to be a judge to the St; Emilion Challenge; we were about 100 judges that were  rotated through several stages of elimination rounds all the way to the finals. I was asked to stay to the finals, but with other tastings on my list, I had to decline. Will inform you the winners at a later date.

Having a small lunch break consisting of a Parisien sandwich we returned to the press centre to compliment our sandwich with some free glasses of Bollinger Brut. An ideal combination, I thought. The afternoon was filled up with the tasting of the St. Emilion Grand Crus. With over 50 châteaux participants, it took a couple of hours to not taste them all, but to select the ones I wanted to evaluate and to chat with some friend producers. Each chateau was only to allow 2 wines at their table so there was very little occasion to sample the 2012. But as I tasted many 2010, there is little doubt that this not a great vintage;

Sunday night I attended a  special press dinner at Chateau Mouton Rothschild.  The beautiful chateau became even more beautiful because of the newly constructed glass gazebo that needed to hold 700 invited guests. First we all had to be received by Baroness Phillipine Rothschild, her family and Mr. Philippe Casteja (president of the 1855 Grands Crus Classe). then we were encouraged to visit the brand new vat room along with the wine label collection. then we proceeded to our dinner tables. I had the pleasure of sitting with the owners of Chateau Cos d’Estournel and Chateau Palmer. Every table had two chateau owners and therefore each table received the Chateau’s own wine. Our table tasted the 2005 Cos and Palmer for the 1st course; 1985 Cos and 1983 Palmer for the main; then everyone had the 1975 Imperial of Mouton and we all finished with 1986 Chateau Coutet; The evening was spectacular by long as we returned to our apartment at two in the morning. (see Facebook pictures)

Monday will be another tasting day, so stay tuned.

Cheers everyone