Commanderie
January 23, 2023Bordeaux Wine Education Tasting on Monday 16th January 2023, at the Midland Hotel Manchester
Maître Colin Smith - Commanderie de Bordeaux in Manchester
Despite being impacted by snow and train strikes the Manchester Commanderie Wine Education Tasting went ahead on Monday 16th January 2023 at the Midland Hotel in central Manchester.
Staff from a number of venues used by the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Manchester for their events gathered in the Lancaster Suite to taste a sample of the wines of Bordeaux and to further their understanding of what makes the wines of Bordeaux different and unique.
Prior to sampling any of the wines the following objectives were outlined:
• To identify the influence of the different grapes on the taste and structure of the wines
• To develop an understanding of the different wine regions in Bordeaux
• To appreciate the influence of ‘terroir’ on the wines from the ‘left bank’ and ‘right bank’
• To improve our knowledge and understanding of the wine of Bordeaux.
The tasting commenced by sampling the three white wines Chateau La Rame 2021, (Bordeaux) , Chateau Couhins 2018 (Pessac Léognan) and Grand Théâtre 2021 (Bordeaux Supérieur) . Three wines with different attributes.
Château La Rame Château Couhins Grand Théâtre - Univitis
The group were interested to find that three wines of predominately Sauvignon Blanc could differ in taste so much. It was also interesting that no one white wine was chosen in preference over another and that each of the attendees had their favourite.
Before moving on to taste the red wines some time was spent on explaining the primary regions of the Left and Right Banks and the differing terroir of each appellation as summarised below:
It was then explained that due to the differing terroir the predominant red wine grapes differed from Cabernet Sauvignon in the Left Bank and Merlot in the Right Bank – something which should be considered when sampling the red wines.
A total of eight red wines were tasted from the 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015 and 2005 vintages these being:
• Château Jalousie Beaulieu 2019 (Bordeaux Supérieur)
• Château Quintus 2015 (St Emilion Grand Cru)
• Château de la Grand Cuvée de la Chartreuse 2018 (Château de la Grenière) (Lussac St Emilion)
• Château La Brande 2018 (Fronsac)
• Château Deyrem Valentin 2018 (Margaux)
• Château Patache d’Aux 2005 (Medoc Cru Bourgeois)
• Château Cantermerle 2016 (Haut-Médoc Grand Cru Classé)
• Château Clos Floridène 2016 (Graves).
Château Jalousie Beaulieu Château Quintus Château de la Grenière Château La Brande
