ボルドー最高評議会
the Grand conseil du vin de bordeaux
CommanderIES, wine brotherhoods

After a very enjoyable and successful tasting of Saint-Émilion wines in NL last year, the Pays-Bas chapter of the Commanderie was contacted with the idea to attach a dinner and extra tasting for ‘Grands Amateurs’ to a professional tasting to be held in Amsterdam. A grand total of 29 producers showcasing their 2020 plus an extra vintage provided an overview of some of the best that the appellation has to offer.

Invitations were sent out to the known connoisseurs and they showed appetite. We’ve had to resort to a ‘reserve-list’. Although limited by time constraints, with a tasting of 1,5 hours due to the professional tasting beforehand and a dinner after, the ‘Grands Amateurs’ showed up in great numbers. As the offering was free, this was a bit of a concern for the Executive Committee consisting of Commandeurs Huizer and Timmers. This concern proved very difficult and those ‘Grands Amateurs’ that could in the end not come duly notified so those on the reserve list could be invited. The hall was in the end filled to maximum capacity.

The dinner following the tasting was unique. The producers had kindly provided different 23 magnums, which after an aperitif donated by the Commanderie were poured out by the representatives of the respective chateaux to 40 diners in four flights of 6.  A golden prize was promised to the one finishing the bottle with the 40 glasses most equally filled. Hakima Dib of Chateau Fonplégade eventually went home with the travel size bottle of Sauternes: Coutet 2005. All 22 producers, 8 representatives of Dutch importers/wine traders and 10 Commandeurs had an eventful, tiring but fulfilling and, most of all, memorable day.

Thank you to all.

The Executive Committee: Wouter Huizer & Leo Timmers