Hi guys,
Bordeaux was in a celebratory mood this weekend.
First of all, there was the Fête de la Fleur on Friday evening for the noblesse du bouchon and then the Fête du Vin all weekend long for the more plebian of us.
http://www.bordeaux-fete-le-vin.com/uk/ ... index.html
This Fête consists of a mammoth tasting of wines from Aquitaine (Bordeaux & elsewhere in SouthWest France) as well as concerts, meals at wine châteaux, son et lumière shows, fireworks, etc.
It's all on the program.
Some friends and I (including Randy & Evelyne Resnick) went to the Pique-Nique Géant de Bacchus last night. This is simply the opportunity to bring your food and wine and share it on picnic tables with other wine lovers in a great atmosphere.
Two of my friends had brought "Clarendale" red and white. This is the AOC Bordeaux sold by the Dillon family of Haut Brion. The white was OK, but the red was really very enjoyable.
I had brought two wines from the Côtes de Bourg. A 2005 Château de Tayac white http://www.chateau-tayac.fr/versGB/index.html which was sort of New World in style with lashings of oak. Château Tayac overlooks the Gironde estuary and the castle is gorgeous. I have liked their red for some time. The second Bourg wine we had was a 2003 Château Les Tours Séguy http://www.chateau-les-tours-seguy.com/ which showed very well indeed with ripe red fruit flavours and good tannin on the finish to back up the full body and alcoholic strength.
The Wine Festival is a huge success and very international.
It is held every other year (in non-Vinexpo years), but in light of the success they have encountered, I think they would do well to make it an annual event.
I might add that some of the wines on offer are, obviously, pretty pedestrian, but there are special tasting workshops with some of the best Bordeaux can offer.
Best regards,
Alex R.