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the Grand conseil du vin de bordeaux
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Commanderie

January 23, 2023

Bordeaux 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


Château Deyrem Valentin                Château Patache d'Aux                        Château Cantemerle                            Clos Floridène

It was interesting that as we travelled from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon to 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, how it became evident that some of the ‘tasters’ preferred the Merlot based wines and some the Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Each of the ‘tasters’ thought that the addition of Cabernet Franc and/or Petit Verdot did not detract from the wines and in some instances improved the wines both on the palate and on the bouquet.

As the different vintages were tasted, whist the 2016 vintage was voted as being the best, there was an understanding that some of the younger vintages may develop further in the next couple of years.

When discussing difference ‘price points’ there was agreement that price should not be the main influence on purchasing a wine from Bordeaux but also the style of the wine and the area from which it is made, i.e., the influence of terroir.

One delegate outlined that he would have no problems paying and extra £5.00 a bottle in order to have a better quality of wine. Another delegate asked whether the minerality he could taste on the palate would be due to the difference in terroir over the previous wine.

Before tasting the final wine, the ‘tasters’ were surprised to learn that they were about to taste a wine highly influence by ‘rot’. The conditions required for developing ‘noble rot’ were outlined together with how the botrytis adds additional levels of sugar, glycerine and acidity to the grapes, whilst helping to concentrate flavour.


The final wine tasted was a Chateau Laville 2018 (Sauternes) . Whilst most of the delegates had previously tasted wines from Sauternes, they did not appreciate the influence of ‘noble rot’ or the time-consuming process of picking the grapes to produce such sweet, yet interesting wines.


Château Laville

In summing up the tasting session it was agreed that the afternoon had been both interesting, informative and educational in terms of helping to further increase appreciation of the wines of Bordeaux and to better understand the influence of terroir on wine production.

Here is the list of the names & job titles of those who attended this tasting event: 

Midland Hotel
Julia Wisniewska – Events Manager
Peter Henderson – Head of Event Operations
Lee Middlemas - Bar & Lounge Manager
Augustus Romanovas – Mount Street Restaurant Supervisor
Sebastian Wood -Champagne Bar & Lounge Supervisor
Amthony Daniel - Bar Supervisor
Eleanor Suker - Midland Regional Meetings and Events Office Manager – North
Dale Cull – Meeting & Events Bars Manager

King Street Tavern Hotel
Amy Mcclelland – Meeting and Events Coordinator
Luis Baessa – Events supervisor
Mael Hanet – Senior F&B Assistant
Alexander Papadimitriou – F&B Assistant

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