Goes out to nearly 20.000 Bordeaux Wine Lovers all over the world!
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First Growth Chateau Latour, the perfect venue for dinner…
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A Personal Note From Ronald,
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Last week we were actively involved in Vinexpo, the largest fine wine show in the world and hosted of course in Bordeaux, the wine capital of the world. I will tell you something about our experiences last week. We attended so many spectacular tastings and dinners that I simply don’t know where to begin.
First I will give you some background about Vinexpo as a wine and spirits event and I will concentrate on one extraordinary gala dinner at First Growth Chateau Latour where Margaret and I tasted amongst others: Chateau Latour 1975 from Magnum! More experiences will follow in future issues of this Magazine.
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Ronald and Margaret ready to go dine at Latour
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Ronald with fellow wine writer James Suckling at Latour
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New friends and old friends
The beginning of summer means meeting new friends on our Bordeaux Wine Tours. We loved making connections with people from all over the world. Last month it was a special privilege for Margaret and me receiving so many guests for a second run in Bordeaux. Some even brought friends and family with them to enjoy the experience.
I will share with you a TripAdvisor review that says it all. Victor, the reviewer, said it better than we could possibly do. He ends his review with: “If you are contemplating signing up for this tour do yourself a favor and book right away before it is sold out!”
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2018 Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule
I am afraid Victor is not wrong: Two of our 2018 Tours already have sold out, two are almost sold out and two tours have limited availabilities. You can check out our 2018 Bordeaux Schedule and I am inviting you to join us in Bordeaux for what in the words of many of our guests is an experience of a lifetime. Keywords for our tours remain: Tasting all five First Growths plus Yquem combined with outstanding meals, many at venues not open to the public. And all of this in a carefree and fun atmosphere. Don’t be fooled by this Magazine: Leave your ties and tuxedo’s at home. Check out our schedule here or ask us for the Itinerary of the tour of your choice.
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Learn about Bordeaux wines, winemaking and history
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Back on earth
Our tuxedo’s and evening gowns are back to the dry cleaners and we are back on earth after this whirlwind week. I hope you enjoy reading about our experiences and I wish you a great summer.
Any questions or remarks? I am open to feedback so email me and simply reply to this magazine. I love to hear from you.
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Ronald and Margaret love to share
their passion for Bordeaux with you
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And please remember: Don’t drink anything I wouldn’t drink!
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Vinexpo, the world’s largest wine and sprits trade event
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Vin-what?
That is how people sometimes react when I tell them about Vinexpo. And I completely understand because Vinexpo, the world’s largest wine and sprits trade event is only open to professionals. Professionals from the wine and spirits world travel from every corner of the globe to taste and order products from over 2300 exhibitors from around forty countries. Of course all French appellations were present and we could also taste wines or spirits from countries like Croatia, Chili, Argentina, Germany, Italy, England, Ireland and Switzerland –and even Georgia, Lebanon and Russia. The country of honor was Spain that received a very special platform to showcase their wines. Here Wine Spectator selected 110 of the best Spanish bodegas. Margaret and I tasted these great wines in the historical Place de la Bourse in down-town Bordeaux accompanied by delicacies prepared by12 of selected Michelin-rated Spanish chefs.
The four-day trade event was visited by some 45.000 trade visitors from over 150 different countries.
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The Minister of Agriculture meeting Philippe de Rothschild
(in the back on the left, Julien de Rothschild)
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WOW
The exceptional heat we experienced during Vinexpo, with temperatures touching the 40C (104F), underlined the threat we all face with climate change. Acting more responsibly with our planet is now fortunately entering the wine world as well. And Vinexpo underlined that with a special pavilion dedicated to organic and biodynamic wines. WOW! Is short for World of Organic Wines. In this special section of the fair some 150 producers showed that one can make great wines with respect for the environment.
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Official opening of Vinexpo
France’s new Minister for Agriculture, Jacques Mézard, along with a number of local members of parliament, were present for the official inauguration of the 19th edition of Vinexpo Bordeaux as was Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppé. The opening ceremony; originally planned for Sunday 18th, had to be pushed forward to Monday due to France’s legislative elections on the weekend.
A recent study of a division of BNP Paribas showed that French wines remain the undisputed leaders in the US top-segment for wines and rosé. Since 2013, the USA has been the world’s top market for wine consumption. But let’s return to France for a minute and look at some tidbits.
France has 800.000 hectares of vines in production.
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Temperatures touching the 40C (104F)
during Vinexpo
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Bordeaux tidbits
Wine growing makes 15% of France’s agricultural revenues while accounting for only 3% of the land used.
France produces 50 million hectoliters of wine in an average year.
France produces 15% of the global wine production.
In 2015 France was the world’s second largest wine producer after Italy.
The wine industry accounts for 600.000 jobs in France.
30% of French wines are sold in export.
The total export value (2015) of French wines were € 8.3bn
The export to the USA is the fifth in sales volume but with €1.3bn is leading in terms of revenues.
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Margaret with Alain Juppé at the official opening of Vinexpo
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Taking the time for a well-deserved lunch at Vinexpo
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What Bordeaux does best
But Vinexpo is more than numbers and business. During Vinexpo Bordeaux does what Bordeaux does best. Business is for daytime and at night there are countless dinners and receptions. Don’t go to a Michelin-rated restaurant during this week because -more likely than not- your chef will be in Bordeaux where chateaux need him to showcase the brilliance of their wines. We attended so many events that I can’t name all. The absolute highlights were the celebrations of 20 years of Almaviva at Mouton Rothschild and the society event of the year, the “Fète de la Fleur” at Graves Classified Growth Chateau Malartic-Lagravière and I will tell you all about these in a future edition of this Magazine.
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A First Growth Experience at Chateau Latour
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Understated class in the chai at Latour
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Ronald thanking his host François-Henri Pinault for a
memorable night
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A very special dinner at Latour
Today I will tell you about the spectacular dinner organized by the Conseil des Grands Crus Classés at First Growth Chateau Latour.
Over the years I have dined at all First Growths plus Chateau Yquem and many other Classified Growths as well. Although I have been at Latour many times I had never dined at this First Growth in Pauillac, but this was about to change.
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Something special
We knew that we were in for something special when we received the invitation to dine at Latour. The owner of Latour is François-Henri Pinault, one of the richest men in France and Chateau Latour is one of the five famous First Growths from Bordeaux.
The night before we drove past Latour and there was no visible sign of any action so we were rather certain that the dinner would not be in a tent but in the beautiful minimalist “chai” of Latour. Given the heat wave that was hitting our region, this was good news to us. The cellar’s air-conditioning would be appreciated.
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Margaret sharing a moment with Salma Hayek,
our host’s wife
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Understated class and vegetables
The next day we arrived at Latour and walking past the iconic tower and were welcomed by two waiters serving magnums of Roeder Blanc de Blancs 2010 Champagne. During the cocktail hour we mingled with many of our friends from the Bordeaux wine world but also with many friends from the international press. The decorations in the courtyard at Latour were surprisingly made out of vegetables. When dinner was announced we walked to the mercifully well-air-conditioned cellars where the vegetable decorations were continued on the simple wooden tables adding a touch of understated class. The chef of the night was Michelin-three-star Michel Guérard.
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Some are more equal than others
The wines are always served “au hazard des tables”, or randomly. Well, some tables are more random than others, but the first (Haut Brion white) and the last 2 wines were the same for all. The dry white wine of Chateau Haut Brion 2009 from magnum was magnificent. I rated this wine 19,5-20 points on 20 on futures. Now I would go for a full 20!
Speaking of tables, our host was sitting right behind me and across the able I could see his wife Salma Hayek exchanging jokes with Philippe Castéja, the president of the Conseil des Grands Crus Classés.
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Salma Hayek exchanging jokes with Philippe Castéja
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Margaret with Michel Guérard
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Margaret’s favorite chef
Michel Guérard is by far Margaret’s favorite chef in France and as our culinary specialist she will take over the description of the meal here.
Michel simply combines great taste, skill, and creativity with a charming personality. The amuse Michel served of a Parmesan leaf with sweet green peas was an edible work of art. And it completely fitted the theme that was chosen for the evening of forest and nature. Vegetables were used instead of flower decorations to brighten up the large hall where normally the bottling takes place and where this evening the happy few were sipping champagne. Leeks, green peppers and broccoli made a statement statue of over a meter high.
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Signature dish
The tables were set with wooden plates, and decorated with herbs growing out of round zucchinis and tomatoes planted in hollowed-out artichokes. Our starter was a papillote (a folded pouch of parchment-paper) delicately holding a half potato with caviar and cream served with a tiny crepe decorated with a leaf of fern. The second starter we were served was one of Guérards signature dishes: an oreiller (pillow) filled with delicate mushrooms and wild asparagus. Ronald and I were lucky to be seated at the table with Marjolaine Maurice de Coninck of Chateau Marquis d’Alesme Classified Growth of Margaux and Emeline Borie of Chateau Grand Puy-Lacoste, Classified Growth of Pauillac. Both estates offered a 2009 to accompany this dish. An excellent choice because the minty flavors of the 2009 Grand Cru Classé wines went very well with the hint of asparagus.
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Chateau Latour 1975 from magnum
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Lovely and non-edible on the same plate
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Non-edible and delicious
The main dish was a pastry with foie gras and small fowl; we enjoyed a Marquis d’Alesme 2010 and a Grand Puy Lacoste 2000.
Our plates were decorated with a branch of oak and a dried oak leaf. I had never seen anything like that before and we all shared a moment of trepidation and hesitation: were we supposed to eat the branch or not? We decided not to and this was a good choice. This was a first for me that a plate was decorated with something non-edible.
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The emotion of a 40-year-old wine
But this night was also a first for me to taste Chateau Latour 1975 served from a magnum in the cellars of the estate itself. The emotion that comes from drinking a wine surrounded by the vines it was harvested from over 40 years ago is indescribable. Sometimes the emotion a wine evokes doesn’t always come from its taste and that was the case here. The pairing with a truffled brie was a complicated one. There are no fresh truffles in June and the wine was very delicate in comparison to the strong flavor of the Brie. I know that in France it is the classic choice to serve an older wine on the cheese but in this case it was not my favorite combination.
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Possibly Ronald’s favorite desert ever
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Perfect pairing
The Chateau d’Yquem 2005 we tasted over dessert was an example of a perfect pairing. Michel Guérard had created a delicate Mascarpone cream with candied apricots and a verbena ice cream. And it’s subtle sweetness and aroma was the perfect canvas for the delicate aromas of apricot, caramel and honey in the Yquem: Simply divine.
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Back to the wines
As wines are Ronald’s specialty, he will take over here again.
It comes in handy to have friends. I went to see some friends and Julien de Rothschild shared some of the outstanding Mouton Rothschild 2009 with me.
Saskia de Rothschild, his cousin from Lafite turned this into a horizontal tasting by sharing the Lafite Rothschild 2009 with me. But as a lover of older wines I must say that I was struck by the vibrant youth and profound complexity, length and elegance of the Lafite Rothschild 1985.
On the cheese it was our host’s turn to serve all with a magnificent Latour 1975 from magnum to accompany the truffle cheese.
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Ronald’s wine of the night:
Lafite Rothschild 1985
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A First Growth fireworks
After dinner we were invited to go outside in front of the tower. There, a part of the vineyards was decorated with candles, an ocean of candles, reminding us of an inversed version of the highly original lighting in the cellars. And if that was not enough, there were fireworks. But this was to be a First Growth fireworks, with layers and layers of complexity, announcing an apotheosis and then going on with yet another new level of an unexpected surprise.
Even the most-spoiled chateau-owner or journalist-who-had-seen-it-all must have been awestruck. I know I was.
Yet another incredible wine experience that I will never forget.
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An ocean of candles in the vineyard
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“Do yourself a favor before it is sold out!”
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“You really feel immersed in the whole process of wine making during the tour”
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TripAdvisor an important source of information
Many guests rely heavily on TripAdvisor reviews and it is with great pleasure that we share one of the latest reviews with you. Victor C. wrote the following review after experiencing the Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour with us:
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A TripAdvisor review
“My wife and I found Bordeaux Wine Experience based off some Google searches and TripAdvisor. We just returned from the 5-day tour and have to say that the experience was beyond our wildest expectations. Ronald and Margaret were superb. Their hospitality, knowledge, and generosity really made the experience. The chateaus that we visited in the area were all wonderful, and our favorite was definitely the long lazy lunches we had at a few of the chateaus. Aside from all the hedonistic pleasures of eating and drinking, you really feel immersed in the whole process of wine making during the tour.
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“Our favorite was definitely the long lazy lunches”
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“The chateaus that we visited were all wonderful”
(Here at Haut Brion)
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Hard to imagine other people drinking as well as we did
Getting to see the different nuances between various chateau, and especially learning about the meticulous processes at the First Growths really gives you a greater appreciation for what you taste in the glass. Finally, the wines tasted on the tour are really wonderful and delicious.
Our farewell dinner especially, it was hard to imagine many other people in the world drinking as well as we did that night.
Cheers to Ronald and Margaret!
If you are contemplating signing up for this tour do yourself a favor and book right away before it is sold out!”
For this and more reviews go to TripAdvisor.
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The food and the venues are as outstanding as the wine and the fun
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Our 2018 Bordeaux Wine Tour Program
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Because you want a Bordeaux Wine Experience and not “just a tour”
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The Grand Tour of Bordeaux
The Grand Tour maybe the most special tour we offer, with meals as exceptional as your visits. Imagine tasting all five First Growths and Yquem. And there is more: Superb chateau meals and Michelin rated dining… Add to this the best of Pomerol and Saint Emilion and you’ll see that this dazzling Grand Tour of Bordeaux is your chance to see and taste the very best that Bordeaux has to offer.
Ask us for an Itinerary here.
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Seeing the medieval chateau at Superior First Growth Yquem is a highlight on all our Bordeaux week tours
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A master-class on tasting Classified Growths marks the
start of each of our Bordeaux Week Tours
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The Bordeaux Grand Cru tour
This is probably our most exclusive tour. This ultimate wine tour for Bordeaux lovers is as good as it gets. Can you believe that you’ll see and taste all five First Growths and Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem including some older vintages! Of course we include the best of Saint Emilion and Pomerol as well. Add to this outstanding meals at exceptional venues not normally open to the public and you’ll see why this tour usually sells out early.
Ask us for an Itinerary here.
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The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour
The Harvest Tour is Grand in every way, both in food and wine. Enjoy chateau meals and Michelin rated dining. The most exciting time in Bordeaux is harvest time. You can sense the anticipation in the air.
And the food is superb as well: Exclusive meals at extraordinary venues not normally open to the public. On top of that you’ll see and taste all five First Growths and Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem and many of them will be older vintages!
Ask us for an Itinerary here.
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Bordeaux in full harvest swing
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2018 Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule
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_____________________________________________________________________
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What makes our Bordeaux Wine and Culinary Tours so special?
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Carefree and truly effortless travel in Bordeaux: We take care of everything, really everything |
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See and taste all 5 First Growths and Château d’Yquem! |
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Expert (and humorous) guidance by Bordeaux specialist Ronald Rens |
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Air-conditioned accommodation at our privately owned 18th century chateau |
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Taste more Classified Growths than on any other Bordeaux wine tour! |
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Grand Cru Farewell Dinner with all Grand Cru wines (including Chateau d’Yquem!) |
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Gourmet meals at Bordeaux Chateaux and a Michelin starred restaurant! |
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Grand Cru wines with all meals (except breakfast…) |
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Air-conditioned, luxury motor coach transportation throughout the tour |
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Great food and wine and a lot of fun in a small group |
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Chateau Coulon Laurensac, without a doubt the best place in the world to taste all five First Growths and Yquem…
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The Bordeaux Wine Experience
at Chateau Coulon Laurensac
1, chemin de Meydieu
33360 Latresne (BORDEAUX), France
Website : www.BXWINEX.com
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Call us:
1-877-203-2665 (toll free from USA & Canada) or
+33 556 20 64 12 (from anywhere else in the world)
(These lines go directly to our Chateau in Bordeaux so please remember that we’re on Paris time!)
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Copyright © 2017 by The Bordeaux Wine Experience. All rights reserved. The content, design and graphical elements of this Magazine are copyrighted. The Bordeaux Wine Experience is a Dutch company specializing in wine and culinary tours in the Bordeaux region for an English speaking international clientele.
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