Blanquito in Burgundy and Bordeaux October 2021

[Comte Flaneur]

Between our visits to Ch. Brane-Cantenac and Ch. Margaux on Wednesday we had lunch in a delightful little restaurant called Le Bontemps just north of Cussac where quite a few winemakers gathered, including Lilian B-S. This half of Ch. Beaumont was delightful, if quite simple, luncheon claret - though the number 2016 and the word luncheon sit uncomfortably together. I preferred this to the lacklustre Corbin we had for Friday lunch, but then again it was not as good as the 2011 Couhins-Lurton we enjoyed for lunch on Thursday before heading over to Ch.Haut-Brion. I must start drinking my case of 2009 Beaumont in bottles:

[JimHow]

You guys represented BWE very well.
How are things with Covid restrictions, any limitations?

[JoelD]

I chose the 2014 rather than the 1947 but what a brilliant wine - kudos Musigny 151

What an awesome trip. So many cool pics and stories. I hope that my first Bordeaux trip is half as fun!

Quite the choice here. Did he give you the full pick of the cellar? Guess I have to stop waiting for the price on the 2014 to go down..

[Blanquito]

You guys represented BWE very well.
How are things with Covid restrictions, any limitations?

COVID restrictions in France were pretty chill and nonexistent in England. Everyone wore masks at all the times in France and our vaccine status was almost always promptly verified in places where masks might be removed like restaurants and chateau*. Otherwise, it was business as usual.

*No one seemed oppressed or even a little bothered by this tyrannical regimen where freedom has been replaced by a socialist hell. But that’s just because the French are chardonnay sipping commies who don’t appreciate NASCAR, I guess.

[Comte Flaneur]

Goodfellas…

[Comte Flaneur]

The above picture was after our last appointment of the tour at Cheval Blanc.

The interesting tidbit from there is that some of the cab franc vines are now over 100 years old and lend the wine its extraordinary complexity.

Cheval Blanc 2011 in halves - useful bottle, classy wine, still on the young side for drinking - 93 pts.

[Comte Flaneur]

I chose the 2014 rather than the 1947 but what a brilliant wine - kudos Musigny 151

What an awesome trip. So many cool pics and stories. I hope that my first Bordeaux trip is half as fun!

Quite the choice here. Did he give you the full pick of the cellar? Guess I have to stop waiting for the price on the 2014 to go down..

He just asked me which vintage he wanted me to open Joel. Honestly it was an easy decision given all the discussion on here regarding the 2014. It would have been inappropriate I think to ask for anything from the 1940s. I was eager to try the fourteen having bought a half case. It was every bit as good as I hoped. And then some. I wasn’t going to ask for the 2016 which is probably a bigger wine, which btw Alexandre described as an “intellectual” wine compared to the more “frivolous” 2015, which you guys did not really dig a month ago in DC. He was quite interested to try the 2014 because he said he hadn’t had it for a while.

Failing the 2014 I would have asked for the 2010 or anything between 2005 and 2010. He compared some of his best wines to the wines between 1945 and 1950. He said the 2020 may turn out like the 1950 and the 2010 may turn out like the 1945 and the 2016 like the 1947. I may have gotten that mixed up, but I think he is quietly very proud of what he has achieved there. These days his son Guillaume, who is 40, does much of the day to day work, and he described himself as Guillaume’s assistant. When we asked him whether Guillaume now calls the shots he broke into a wry smile and shook his head. Alexandre is still in charge.

[JoelD]

I chose the 2014 rather than the 1947 but what a brilliant wine - kudos Musigny 151

What an awesome trip. So many cool pics and stories. I hope that my first Bordeaux trip is half as fun!

Quite the choice here. Did he give you the full pick of the cellar? Guess I have to stop waiting for the price on the 2014 to go down..

He just asked me which vintage he wanted me to open Joel. Honestly it was an easy decision given all the discussion on here regarding the 2014. It would have been inappropriate I think to ask for anything from the 1940s. I was eager to try the fourteen having bought a half case. It was every bit as good as I hoped. And then some. I wasn’t going to ask for the 2016 which is probably a bigger wine, which btw Alexandre described as an “intellectual” wine compared to the more “frivolous” 2015, which you guys did not really dig a month ago in DC. He was quite interested to try the 2014 because he said he hadn’t had it for a while.

Failing the 2014 I would have asked for the 2010 or anything between 2005 and 2010. He compared some of his best wines to the wines between 1945 and 1950. He said the 2020 may turn out like the 1950 and the 2010 may turn out like the 1945 and the 2016 like the 1947. I may have gotten that mixed up, but I think he is quietly very proud of what he has achieved there. These days his son Guillaume, who is 40, does much of the day to day work, and he described himself as Guillaume’s assistant. When we asked him whether Guillaume now calls the shots he broke into a wry smile and shook his head. Alexandre is still in charge.

That all makes sense. I figured, but I was curious to see if he had specifically offered something from the 40's. I'm glad the 2014 turned out well. I always like to hear your's and Patrick's notes. When they line up, it's almost always a wine to seek out. 2014 VCC and 2005 Conseillante are a few wines I need to suck it up and source immediately, apparently.

I hope to make it to Mark G's VCC vertical whenever it goes off. I believe Alexandre will be in attendance for at least the 40's-70's tasting.

[Antoine]

Unbelievable haw many wines you managed to taste or even drink!... sounds great!

[Jay Winton]

Great thread! Vicarious living at its best.

[JimHow]

JimHow wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2021 7:49 am
You guys represented BWE very well.
How are things with Covid restrictions, any limitations?
COVID restrictions in France were pretty chill and nonexistent in England. Everyone wore masks at all the times in France and our vaccine status was almost always promptly verified in places where masks might be removed like restaurants and chateau*. Otherwise, it was business as usual.

*No one seemed oppressed or even a little bothered by this tyrannical regimen where freedom has been replaced by a socialist hell. But that’s just because the French are chardonnay sipping commies who don’t appreciate NASCAR, I guess.

Amen my brother. We were in Florida the past three days, the lack of mask compliance was disturbing. We spent a night in NYC on the way back, what a contrast. I really wish Florida and Texas would secede.

[Comte Flaneur]

It looks like there is a good chance of civil war in the US in the mid-late 2020s. Is America doomed?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... dApp_Other

[JimHow]

I read that article Ian and I concur with it 100%.
There are real bad things happening in the electoral process at the state and local levels.
I truly believe there is a substantial risk we will not survive the combined shock of the 2022 and 2024 elections.