Blanquito in Burgundy and Bordeaux October 2021

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:38 pm

Patrick and I drove down to Meursault on Sunday and spent two nights in burgundy. On Monday we had a tour of Louis Jadot which lasted two and a half hours in which we tried at least 12 different Jadot wines. There were several highlights. Then we dined at Le Soufflot where we enjoyed an excellent meal with a 2014 Raveneau Chablis Chapelot and a 2017 Felettig Chambolle Gruenchers. The Raveneau had plenty of time in hand and improved through the night while the Felettig was outstanding (tap on the photo and it should straighten):

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:47 pm

We then drove to Bordeaux yesterday where Alex served us one white and two red wines blind. The first white wine we did not get but turned out to be a delightfully light semillon based wine from Fronsac that Alex said cost only €8. The second wine we thought was a right bank Bordeaux merlot, with plenty of up front fruit and extract, still primary with not much complexity. I pegged it as a 2015 from Cotes de Bourg or Cotes de Blaye and Patrick came closer and got the vintage right. It turned out to be a 2010 Troplong Mondot. It did have a bit of burn at the back end but did not feel like 16% abv. Not a great wine and not my cup of tea. The third wine seemed to be an even more attenuated right bank merlot, I thought perhaps Pavie Macquin, but it was a left bank: Chateau Clarke 2010 from the Rothschild stable, with 60% merlot and 14% alcohol. This did not float my boat either, but it was fun to taste them blind.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:51 pm

Today we visited Ch. D’Issan, Ch. Brane Cantenac, Ch. Margaux and Lillian Sartorius Barton at Ch. Mauvesin

Blanquito at Chateau D’Issan with moat and ducks in the background:

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:00 pm

Our charming hostess Marian with Blanquito

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:04 pm

We tried two 2017s, the Blasson and the Grand Vin D’Issan. Quite light elegant wines, the Blasson is ready to drink already but the Grand Vin still needs time.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:28 pm

Nice trips ya'll had!

jal · Post by **jal** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:55 pm

Fantastic! Patrick looks in his element. A moat and ducks are necessary to repel the hordes of invaders coming from across the seas, but they didn't seem to stop you guys!

Aren't 2016 and 2017 red Burgs amazing? They seem very open and ready to play.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:30 pm

Thanks, guys. We had a 2017 Chambolle 1er Cru which was really magical.

dstgolf · Post by **dstgolf** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:54 pm

Envious and happy to see some enjoying the French wine country. Yes Patrick is looking very comfortable.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 9:25 pm

Patrick looks positively ecstatic LOL

I echo others envy…on top of the London dinners this looks like an ideal trip!

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 10:46 pm

Looks like a great time. You should have told me, i would have probably skipped my moose hunting trip to go to France!

Have fun! (And let us know which Jadot we should look for!)

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 11:08 pm

Blanquito looks like he's in a state of nirvana. There are even nymph like figures near him among the grapes. He is my Bacchus god.

OrlandoRobert · Post by **OrlandoRobert** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 11:25 pm

Comte Flaneur wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:00 pm Our charming hostess Marian with Blanquito

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Damn! Pat is quite debonair! What a killer trip, keep posting notes and pics!

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 12:09 am

I have never been to either Bordeaux or Burgundy. They are mystical rumored places to me, fairylands that somehow produce these magical bottles of wine

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 2:10 pm

Sounds like the perfect little getaway. I hope to get out there in the spring or summer of 2022. Especially if there is a BWE trip.

Are there cleansing ales in wine country or is that only when you're in London?

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 10:12 pm

Joel we have not had time for a cleansing ale. We have been so busy, it is midnight here and we have to leave the house tomorrow at 820am for our first appointment in St-Emilion, so a few more pictures from Wednesday. After D’Issan we went to Brane Cantenac, before we had lunch, then on to Ch. Margaux then to see Lilian at Mauvesin.

At Brane-Cantenac:

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 10:18 pm

At Chateau Margaux, recognise anyone?

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 10:20 pm

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 10:21 pm

Racer Chris · Post by **Racer Chris** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:03 am

Looks like the two of you are barely standing in that last photo.

Racer Chris · Post by **Racer Chris** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:09 am

Comte Flaneur wrote: ↑Thu Oct 28, 2021 10:12 pm ...
After D’Issan we went to Brane Cantenac, ...

I had the 2015 Baron de Brane one time, last November, which I quite enjoyed. So I have high hopes for the 6 pack of the first wine resting in my cellar.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:59 am

Nice. Keep us posted with the next stories!

And yes i guess i remember all the persons on the Château Margaux pictures!

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 4:57 pm

Hmmm. Blanquito's visit to the Holy Land seems to have made him younger as well as happier. Wonder if a visit there would work for me.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:53 pm

We arrived at Ch Margaux on time and got a warm rather than frosty reception from Emily who has matured into a fine young woman and delightful hostess. The 2010 Pavillon was excellent, but not a patch on the GV while I liked the 2006 GV more than Blanquito, who thought it was a tad overoaked, and Alex who detected some brett. But the 2006 was not a patch on the 2001 we drank later that day.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:03 pm

Next up Thursday morning Haut-Bailly with their new state-of-the-art sci-fi winery:

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:58 pm

These are the wines we drank over the trip and our ratings

WINE BLANQUITO COMTE DATE (OCT)
Walter Massa Timorasso Derthona 2018 91-92 91-92 21
Mauro Veglio Barolo Rocche Dell'Annunziata 2010 90 94 21
Marcarini Barolo Brunate 2001 93 91 21
Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint Hillaire 1995 94 92 22
Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou 1961 95 95 22
Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou 1962 96 96 22
Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou 1971 93 93 22
Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou 1983 90 91 22
Ch. Lafite-Rothschild 1978 97 97 22
Ch. Lafite-Rothschild 1979 93 93 22
Ch. Lafite Rothschild 1995 95+ 97-100 22
Ch. Lafite-Rothschild 2001 94+ 94-97 22
Ch. d'Yquem 1990 95 95 22
Francois Carillon Chevalier Montrachet 2013 91 93 22
Francois Carillon Puligny Montrachet Combettes 2011 93 92 22
Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne 1991 95 95 23
Ch. Figeac 1995 (half bottle) 93 94 23
Ch. Magdelaine 1970 95 95 23
Ch. Magdelaine 1982 96 96 23
Saint-Romain 'Clos Sous Le Chateau' Monopole 2016 92-93 92 24
Volnay Clos De Chenes (unidentified producer) 2017 87-88 87 24
Louis Jadot Chablis Fourchaume 2016 91 91 25
Louis Jadot Saint-Aubin 2017 90 91 25
Louis Jadot Santenay Clos Faubard 2017 (Blanc) 90 91 25
Louis Jadot Meursault Charmes 2018 93 92 25
Louis Jadot Puligny Montrachet Les Combettes 2018 ? 93 25
Louis Jadot Chateau Jacques (Beaujolais) 88 89 25
Louis Jadot Beaune Les Theurons 2015 ? 90 25
Louis Jadot Beaune Clos Des Ursules 2017 92 92 25
Louis Jadot Nuits Saint Georges Boudots 2014 ? 91 25
Louis Jadot Corton Pougets 2016 93 93 25
Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St-Jacques 2017 93 94 25
Louis Jadot Clos Saint-Denis 2007 94 95 25
Raveneau Chablis Chapelot 2014 92+ 92 25
Felettig Chambolle Musigny Gruenchers 2017 95 95 25
Ch. Coustelle 'Surprise' Blanc 2018 88 89 26
Ch. Troplong-Mondot 2010 88 88 26
Ch. Clarke (Listrac) 2014 86 87 26
Blasson D'Issan 2017 90 90 27
Ch. D'Issan 2017 91 91 27
Ch. Brane Cantenac Blanc 2020 90 90 27
Baron De Brane 2020 88 89 27
Ch. Brane Cantenac 2020 90 91 27
Pavillon Rouge Du Ch. Margaux 2010 92 94 27
Ch. Margaux 2006 93+ 94 27
L'Impression de Mauvesin Barton 2015 85 86 27
Ch. Mauvesin 2012 86 87 27
Ch. Mauvesin 2019 89 89 27
Ch. Langoa-Barton 2019 93 92 27
Ch. Leoville-Barton 2019 95 94 27
Domaine De Chevalier Blanc 1994 83 85 27
Ch. Margaux 2001 95-96 97 27
Ch. Mouton-Rothschild 2001 90 93 27
Ch. Cheval Blanc 2001 94-95 96 27
Dow Port 1977 97 97 27
Parde Haut-Bailly 2017 89 90 28
Ch. Haut-Bailly 2016 94 94 28
Ch. Haut-Bailly 2010 92 92 28
La Chapelle Mission Haut-Brion 2017 90 91 28
La Clarence Haut-Brion 2017 92 92 28
Ch.Haut-Brion 1971 93 92 28
La Tache 1996 98 99-100 28
Ch. Petrus 1990 95+ 96+ 28
Le Pin 1990 100 100 28
Ch. Beaumont 2016 89 91 27
Ch. Belair Monanges 2015 92 94 29
La Fleur Petrus 2018 95 95 29
Ch. Corbin 2015 87 87 29
Vieux Chateau Certan 2014 97 97 29
Vieux Chateau Certan 2020 99+ 98-100 29
Ch. Cheval Blanc 2011 94 93 29
Ch. Pichon Lalande 1979 93 93 29
Ch. Belair 1979 87 88 29
Ch.Lynch-Bages 1983 93 94 29
Niellon Chassagne Montrachet Vergers 2014 95 95 30
Ch. Talbot 1985 95 95 30
Ch. Couhins-Lurton 2011 90 91 28

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:26 pm

Lunch in Pessac before going to Ch. Haut-Brion and La Mission, this was a lovely bottle for €31

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:31 pm

Unfortunately the BWE photo upload system is so dysfunctional and randomly unreliable it is difficult to post photos without investing a lot of time trimming them. I just don’t have the time. So we hope to put together an album from the trip. Every post with photos has taken an age.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:42 pm

That’s quite a list, Ian.

A few random thoughts:
-the QPRs of the trip were the Bohrmann Saint-Romain 'Clos Sous Le Chateau' Monopole 2016 and the 2019 Langoa Barton. I thought the same of the 2016 Langoa at the UGC. It’s not as good as the Leoville but it’s not far off the pace and it’s almost half as expensive.
-the most head-turning wines were the sublime 2014 VCC and the stupendous 2020 VCC, which is a 100 year wine in the making.
-my favorite new wine was hands down the 2017 Felettig Chambolle Gruenchers, which is already drinking wonderfully. Ian and I both ran out and bought some.
-I came away impressed with Domaine Louis Jadot, which is also quite reasonably priced by Bourgogne standards. Ian and I both bought 5-6 bottles from their shop. The Meursault, Corton Puegots, Clos St. Jacques and Morey St. Dennis wines were all outstanding.
-tasting the 83 Lynch Bages double blind, Alex had (for me) the most perfectly apropos comment of the trip when he called the wine most likely a mature example from Super Second chateau! 1855 and all that.
-the silkiest, sexiest wine of the trip was probably the effortlessly seductive 2018 Lafleur Petrus.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:13 pm

Tasting the 2020 VCC from barrel...

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:14 pm

In the avant garde tasting room of Cheval Blanc...

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:16 pm

Autumn in Pomerol... paradise.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:18 pm

In the limestone caves and barrel room of the former (sob) Chateau Magdelaine...

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:20 pm

A glorious fall day in Graves, visiting Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion during the racking process (where the old school practice of using candles to check for clarity is still used)...

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 3:05 am

Great trip, guys. Really enjoying the stories and pictures.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 10:04 am

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

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 10:06 am

The 2020 was something else with a more exuberant personality a future legend

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 10:14 am

Before dropping into VCC last Thursday afternoon, we had lunch at La Terrasse Rouge, the restaurant owned by La Dominique and over looking Cheval Blanc.

The 2015 Corbin was one of the very few distinctly underwhelming wines we encountered on our travels

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 10:29 am

The day started with an excellent and - especially for Patrick - and emotional visit to Ch. Magdelaine’s cellars.

We were pleasantly surprised and impressed by how good was the 2015 Belair Monange. We feared a spoofy mess, with the 15% on the label, but that was so far from it. While it had been picked ripe less than 50% new oak was employed and the haunting terroir expression cascaded through this beautiful wine.

You often only get half the story, and when you visit you tend to get a fuller picture. Nathalie our delightful host was mortified when I suggested that the soul of these wines may have been purged in the interests of modernity, and was genuinely relieved that we liked the wines so much. What you don’t hear so much is that in both Belair and Magdelaine’s original vineyards some of the old vines had been somewhat neglected and had to be replaced. Of course it takes a while for new vines to bed in and deliver complexity. Even Patrick conceded that 15 B-M was excellent but we agreed that the 2018 La Fleur Petrus was a sex bomb by comparison.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 10:38 am

On Wednesday afternoon, after leaving Ch. Margaux, we visited Lilian Barton-Sartorius at Ch. Mauvesin…Langoa is undergoing extensive renovations. She was most welcoming and on good form, with plenty of astute - and some cryptic - observations. Perhaps the the most erudite ambassador of Bordeaux?

The Mauvesins were so so, but the Bartons impressed as you would expect them to in 2019: