Wine tasting may be an art. Importers who focus on the art
of sampling thousands of wines before choosing the few to import may have the
most difficult job of anyone in the wine industry.
That challenge was recently executed to perfection was I
attended what was billed as the ‘Pasternak Prestige Event’.
The event focused on six winemakers and an emcee that created audience involvement with the theme of “Why Terroir Matters?”.
After an hour and a half discussion about why terroir matters, including Q&A from the packed house, many obvious conclusions resulted. It’s the soil, the location, the land that the vines grow on that is most important. To me, it’s that magic spot where nature takes over and vines mature like none other.
Enough of that—we all know that with the best terroir and help from the winemaker and his staff, the resulting wine, given normal growing conditions will result into excellent wine—way above the norm.
The defining quote from Diane Flamand Collection Wine Manager for Les Domaines Barons De Rothschild (Lafite) regarding the definition of terroir was simply put: “ Terroir is a word to define something we can’t define”.
The event focused on six winemakers and an emcee that created audience involvement with the theme of “Why Terroir Matters?”.
After an hour and a half discussion about why terroir matters, including Q&A from the packed house, many obvious conclusions resulted. It’s the soil, the location, the land that the vines grow on that is most important. To me, it’s that magic spot where nature takes over and vines mature like none other.
Enough of that—we all know that with the best terroir and help from the winemaker and his staff, the resulting wine, given normal growing conditions will result into excellent wine—way above the norm.
The defining quote from Diane Flamand Collection Wine Manager for Les Domaines Barons De Rothschild (Lafite) regarding the definition of terroir was simply put: “ Terroir is a word to define something we can’t define”.
The six wine presenters
We sampled six wines from the finest estates and properties that President Stephen Brauer of Pasternak import from “Bordeaux and Beyond”. The results were as anticipated—well over the top—in body, character, length of finish and aromatics.
Terroir does matter.
Rather than describe the incredible properties of each wine, I will leave that
task to you.
The journey is amazing and the price points are reasonable.
We sampled six wines from the finest estates and properties that President Stephen Brauer of Pasternak import from “Bordeaux and Beyond”. The results were as anticipated—well over the top—in body, character, length of finish and aromatics.
Terroir does matter.
The journey is amazing and the price points are reasonable.
The order of the wines is naturally from the lightest to the
heaviest.
If you take this wine adventure to heart, follow the order that is suggested.
If you take this wine adventure to heart, follow the order that is suggested.
Champagne Barons De Rothschild, Blanc de Blanc NV (Champagne, France)
100% Chardonnay made from the crus Avize, Cramant,
Mesnil-Sur-Ogar, Ogar and Vertus. Low
sugar and long aging after disgorgement (6-9 months). Three years of cellar
aging.
Le Domaine Saget Pouilly-Fume 2012 (Loire Valley, France)
Saget La Perrere
The 2012 is very characteristic of its appellation. The acidity shines. Yeast is not added before fermentation. Saget is aged on lees and is further aged for six months in the bottle.
Clos de Beauvenir Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010 (Rhone Valley, France)
Chateau La Nerthe
A ‘cooler and wetter’ year for the Roussanne, Clairette nad Grenache grapes created a higher degree of color in the Grenache grape. 2010 was known for cool nights and warm, not hot, days. The vines average 40 years and grow in sandy-clay soil.
Pensees de Lafleur 2007 (Pomerol, France)
Chateau Lafleur
Hand harvested, bunch by bunch, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes are aged in oak barrels for at least eighteen months. Only 500 cases are made of the second growth Pomerol.
Lafite Reserve Speciale Pauillac 2010 (Pauillac, France)
Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)
Difficult weather conditions combined low yield somehow help produce a wine made of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot into a historic wine that will be known for its acidity and balance.
Carruades de Lafite 2008 (Pauillac, France)
Chateau Lafite Rothschild
The combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in 10% new barrels and 90% one use barrels from Lafite’s cooperage has helped create what may, in the future, be considered one of Lafite’s ‘classic wines’.
Philip S. KampePhilip.Kampe@TheWineHub.com
Your author
The 2012 is very characteristic of its appellation. The acidity shines. Yeast is not added before fermentation. Saget is aged on lees and is further aged for six months in the bottle.
Clos de Beauvenir Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010 (Rhone Valley, France)
Chateau La Nerthe
A ‘cooler and wetter’ year for the Roussanne, Clairette nad Grenache grapes created a higher degree of color in the Grenache grape. 2010 was known for cool nights and warm, not hot, days. The vines average 40 years and grow in sandy-clay soil.
Pensees de Lafleur 2007 (Pomerol, France)
Chateau Lafleur
Hand harvested, bunch by bunch, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes are aged in oak barrels for at least eighteen months. Only 500 cases are made of the second growth Pomerol.
Lafite Reserve Speciale Pauillac 2010 (Pauillac, France)
Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)
Difficult weather conditions combined low yield somehow help produce a wine made of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot into a historic wine that will be known for its acidity and balance.
Carruades de Lafite 2008 (Pauillac, France)
Chateau Lafite Rothschild
The combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in 10% new barrels and 90% one use barrels from Lafite’s cooperage has helped create what may, in the future, be considered one of Lafite’s ‘classic wines’.
Philip S. KampePhilip.Kampe@TheWineHub.com
1 comment:
Great article..
Post a Comment