Picture: Annette Schiller and Stephan von Neipperg, Owner of Château Canon La Gaffelière, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
At the beginning of the year, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC), the association of ultra-premium Bordeaux producers (excluding about a dozen or so super ultra-premium Bordeaux producers), regularly tours North America with stops in about a dozen or so American and Canadian cities.
2016 UGC Tastings in the USA and CanadaThis year, the tour took place from January 21 to January 31. Some of the events were only open to members of the trade. Most of the 2016 UGC tastings are open to the general public. In some cities, you had 2 tastings, one trade only and one open to the general public.
January 21, St. Johns, Nova Scotia, Canada. Open to the general public. Tickets: Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation.
January 22, Toronto, Canada. Open to the general public. Tickets: Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
January 23, Montreal, Canada. Open to the general public from 3pm to 7pm at the Bonaventure. Tickets: Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ).
January 25, New York, USA. Trade only from 1pm to 5pm at Ciprani.
January 27, Chicago, USA. Two tastings: Trade only from 1pm to 5pm at the Drake Hotel. Open to the general public from 6pm to 8pm at the same location. Tickets: Binny's Beverage Depot.
January 28, Phoenix, USA. Open to the general public at the Hyatt Regency. Tickets: Total Wine & More.
January 28, Vancouver, Canada. Open to the general public from 6:30pm to 9pm at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel. Tickets: BC Liquors.
January 29, Los Angeles, USA. Two tastings: Trade only from 2pm to 5pm at the Fairmont Hotel. Open to the public at The Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport. Tickets: Wally’s Wine and Spirits.
January 30, San Francisco, USA. Open to the general public at the Bentley Reserve. Tickets: K&L Wine Merchants.
January 31, Washington DC, USA. Open to the general public from 5:30pm to 8pm at the Four Seasons Hotel. Tickets: Total Wine & More.
Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux (UGC)Founded in 1973 by a group of Bordeaux winegrowers, the purpose of the UGC is to join forces in order to promote and defend the interests of its members. The UGC consists of 135 member estates located exclusively in the most prestigious Bordeaux appellations. The UGC has a permanent staff of 5 assisted by a public relations agency in each major market. The Union organized 50 events in 15 countries last year.
UGC Tasting in Washington DCAnnette Schiller and I were invited to the trade tasting in New York and we joined the consumer tasting in Washington DC. Unfortunately, because of the bad weather, we did not make it to New York.
Picture: Capitol in Washington DC
The UGC had been absent from Washington DC for a decade, but returned 2 years ago. Pearson's Wine and Spirits hosted the UGC at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel's Grand Ballroom in 2013. Last year, Calvert and Woodley organized the event, at the Park Hyatt. This year, Total Wine & More organized the event, at the Four Seasons in Georgetown. More than 50 chateaux poured the 2013 and 2010 vintages.
Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Cyrus Hazzard, Concierge Wine Sales at Total Wine & More, and David Trone, Owner of Total Wine & More, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
2013 VintageJean-Christophe Mau of Château Brown in Pessac-Léognan: (…) After 1971, 1972 and 1973, and then the frosts of 1991, 1992 and 1993, here we go again with the trio of 2011, 2012 and 2013. What a difficult vintage this one was, coming after a decade or so when we had got used to things being on the easier side.
One thing is certain today: 2013 has been one of the hardest vintages, or perhaps even the most complicated, in the last 30 years. The disastrous spring set the tone for the year, combining severe delays in the vegetation cycle and the loss of a large part of the harvest, due to all the rain during flowering. (…)
2010 VintageWill Lyons: Robert Parker on Bordeaux 2010: Another Great Vintage (…) So what has Mr. Parker made of the 2010 vintage? (…) Parker argues that the wines will enjoy “astonishing longevity” on the back of high alcohol, fresh acids, lower pHs and huge tannins. He also argues that 2010, like 2009 and 2005 may be the “three greatest Bordeaux vintages I have tasted in my career.” At this early stage, nine Châteaux have scored a possible 100 in 2010, those are: Ausone 98-100; Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse 96-100; Haut Brion 98-100; l’Eglise Clinet 96-100; Lafite (98-100); Latour (98-100); Mouton Rothschild (97-100); Petrus (98-100) and Pontet Canet (96-100).
Schiller’s Washington DC FavoritesHere are my favorites. This selection is a very subjective selection, based a number of factors: The quality of the wine, the price/quality ratio, personal relationships and friendships, memories from visits.
Please not that my list only includes producers that were present in Washington DC and thus excludes a number of chateaux that I like very much, but did not attend the Washington DC.
During and the week following the Washington DC event, Total Wine & More had a special sale, where all the wines poured were on sale. I am adding in parenthesis the event prices.
Château Chantegrieve - Graves/Pessac LeognanRepresented by: Marie-Hélène Lévêque, Owner
2010 blanc: US$ 020
2013 blanc: US$ 020
2010 rouge: US$ 018
2013 rouge: US$ 015
Château de Chantegrive is one of the largest wine estates in the Graves appellation, in the commune of Podensac, with 97 hectares of vines. The Château produces a red wine and a rose wine from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as white wines based on Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from 10 hectares of 30+ years old vines.
Picture: Annette Schiller and Marie-Hélène Lévêque, Owner of Château de Chantegrive, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
In 1966 Henri and Françoise Lévêque purchased some vineyards around the village of Podensac and gradually set about creating the Chantegrive estate. The baton has now been passed to the younger generation and the progress continues.
Domaine de Chevalier - Graves/Pessac LeognanRepresented by: Hugo Bernard, Owner
2010 blanc: US$ 090
2013 blanc: US$ 090
2010 rouge: US$ 078
2013 rouge: US$ 040
Domaine de Chevalier is Cru Classé de Graves in the AOC Pessac-Léognan. In 1983, Domaine de Chevalier was acquired by the Bernard family, leading French producers of industrial alcohol and major Bordeaux wine merchants. Domaine de Chevalier has been managed since then by Olivier Bernard, who took over the presidency of the UGCB last year. Stéphane Derenoncourt is retained as consultant oenologist.
Picture: Annette Schiller and Hugo Bernard, Son of Oivier Bernard, Owner of Domaine de Chevalier, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
From a property of 80 hectares, the vineyard area consists of 35 hectares of red grape varieties: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.5% Petit Verdot; and 4.5 hectares of white grape varieties: 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Sémillon.
Pitures:
Tour and Wine Dinner at Domaine de Chevalier with Director Adjoint Rémi Edange and Owner/Director Olivier Bernard – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
The Grand Vin, Domaine de Chevalier, is annually produced in 7,000 cases of the red wine and 1,200 cases of the dry white. The red and white second wines, L'Espirit de Chevalier, has a production of 5,800 and 800 cases, respectively.
A few months ago, we had a lovely tour and wine dinner at Domaine de Chevalier. We will be back this year on the 2016 Tour.
See:
Tour and Wine Dinner at Domaine de Chevalier with Director Adjoint Rémi Edange and Owner/Director Olivier Bernard – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Announcement: 5 Exciting
ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Château Malartic Lagraviere - Graves/Pessac LeognanRepresented by Jean-Jacques Bonnie, Owner
2010 blanc: US$ 065
2013 blanc: US$ 050
2010 rouge: US$ 055
2013 rouge: US$ 035
Château Malartic-Lagravière, a Cru Classé de Graves, was previously owned by the Champagne house, Laurent- Perrier - in 1997 it was bought by a Belgian couple, Michele and Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie, whose son and daughter-in-law, Jean-Jacques and Severine, have now assumed control.
Picture: Marleen Reddoor and Jean-Jacques Bonnie, Owner of Château Malartic-Lagravière, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
There are 47 hectares of under vine, but only 7 of which are dedicated to white grapes, situated on a fine gravel ridge and now almost encroached on by the suburban outgrowth of Léognan. The estate produces high quality reds as well as tiny amounts of Sauvignon Blanc-dominated white wine. The red is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc.
Château Pape Clement - Graves/Pessac LeognanRepresented by: Nicou Amélie, Oenologue chez Chateau Pape Clement
2010 blanc: US$ 150
2013 blanc: US$ 140
2010 rouge: US$ 200
2013 rouge: US$ 075
Château Pape Clément is part of the empire of Bernard Magrez, which comprises about 40 wineries around the world. Château Pape Clément is a Cru Classé de Graves. The winery and vineyards are located in the commune of Pessac, in the larger Bordeaux City area.
Pictures:
An Afternoon at Château Pape-Clément (in 2013), Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux
Pape-Clément has one of the longest and best documented histories of all Bordeaux châteaux. The vineyards were planted in 1300 by Bernard de Groth, who later became Pope Clément V and moved the papacy to Avignon.
We visited Château Pape Clément both on the 2012 and the 2013 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasyPR.
See:
An Afternoon at Château Pape-Clément (in 2013), Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux
An Afternoon at
Château Pape-Clément, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux (2012)
Château Smith Haut Lafitte - Graves/Pessac LeognanRepresented by: Fradin Ludovic, Commercial Director
2010 blanc: US$ 100
2013 blanc: US$ 090
2010 rouge: US$ 135
2013 rouge: US$ 065
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Bordeaux producer from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the Grands Crus Classé for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959. The winery and vineyards are located south of the city of Bordeaux, in the commune of Martillac.
Picture: Fradin Ludovic, Commercial Director of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
The estate originates in the 14th century with the house of Verrier Du Boscq who planted vines on a gravelly plateau named Lafitte already in 1365. In 1720 it was bought by the Scotsman Georges Smith who added his name to the lieu-dit and who built the manor house of the property.
The Louis Eschenauer Company bought the estate in 1958, after having already distributed the wine from the early 20th century. In 1990, Florence and Daniel Cathiard bought Smith Haut Lafitte and embarked on a major renovation and investment program.
The vineyard area consists of 67 hectares, 56 hectares of which are planted with red grape varieties (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc). The remaining 11 hectares are cultivated with white varieties (90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris). The vineyards are located on a gravel ridge to the east of Château Haut-Bailly.
Pictures: Visit, Tasting and Wine Lunch at Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Château Smith-Haut-Lafite has been transformed during the last decade from being a perennial underachiever to being one of the leading estates in the Graves region. Before the arrival of the Cathiard Family, Château Smith Haut Lafitte - though a Classified Growth of the Graves region - bore the nickname of Sleeping Beauty.
During the 2015 tour, we visited Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte in the morning, followed by lunch at the 2 Michelin starred Restaurant La Grand' Vigne, which belongs to Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. We will be back in September 2016.
See:
Visit and Tasting:
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Wine Lunch at
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte’s Restaurant La Grand’ Vigne (2 Stars Michelin, Chef: Nicolas Masse) – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Château Canon La Gaffeliere - St. EmilionRepresented by: Stephan von Neipperg, Owner
2010: US$ 100
2013: US$ 055
Château Canon La Gaffelière is – along with La Mondotte – the flagship of the von Neipperg portfolio. Both chateaux were promoted to the extremely closed circle of Premiers Grand Crus Classés B in the new St. Emilion classification last year.
Picture: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Stephan von Neipperg, Owner of Château Canon La Gaffelière, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
The von Neipperg family not only owns these two estates in France, but also owns/co-owns 6 other estates as well as a property in Bulgaria. Furthermore, in Germany, the brother of Count Stefan von Neipperg runs the family winery in Wuerttemberg.
Pictures: With Stefan von Neipperg at Château Canon La Gaffelière
Count Stefan von Neipperg hails from the German wine region of Württemberg where his family has maintained its existing vineyards since the 15th century and bottles its wine under the family label, Weingut des Grafen von Neipperg. In fact, the von Neipperg counts are descended from a noble line dating back to the Holy Roman Empire. The first record of the Count von Neipperg goes as far back as the 12th century.
We regularly visit Château Canon La Gaffelière on the ombiasy Bordeaux tours; the last two times, we had a wine dinner there.
See:
The Wine Empire of the
von Neipperg Family in France, Bulgaria and Germany
Tour and Dinner at
Château Canon La Gaffelière, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Château Coufran - Haut MedocRepresented by: Frédéric Vicaire, Owner
2010: US$ 030
2013: US$ 015
Château Coufran was bought in 1924 by Louis Miaihle, the great grandfather of Frédéric Vicaire. Frédéric Vicaire is the son of Marie-Cécile Miailhe-Vicaire, who, with her brother Eric Miailhe, took over Château Coufran in the 1980s. Since 1793, the Miaihle family - one of Bordeaux’s best known wine dynasties - has been involved in wine, back then as well-known brokers and more recently as wine producers.
Picture: Annette Schiller and Frédéric Vicaire, Owner of Château Coufran, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
Château Coufran is the most northerly château in the Haut-Médoc. Its 76-hectare vineyard is located on an outcrop of gravel-rich soil close to the Gironde estuary. It has the highest proportion of Merlot (85%) to be found in any Médoc wine.
Picture: Annette Schiller, Frédéric Vicaire and Christian Schiller at Château Coufran
See:
A Tour and Tasting at Château Coufran, Haut-Médoc, with Co-owner Frédéric Vicaire, France
Château Brane Cantenac – MargauxRepresented by: Marie Hélène Dussech, Directrice Commerciale du Château Brane Cantenac
2010: US$ 085
2013: US$ 040
Originally known as Chateau Gorce, Château Brane Cantenac was one of most venerated Left Bank estates in the 1700s and 1800s. During the Gorce family’s 100-year tenure, the wines fetched prices similar to those for Chateau Brane Mouton – the precursor to Mouton Rothschild.
Picture: Charles Bullfighter Reddoor and Marie Hélène Dussech, Directrice Commerciale du Château Brane Cantenac, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
Château Brane Mouton owner Baron Hector de Brane sold Brane Mouton in 1833 to purchase Château Gorce and renamed it Château Brane Cantenac. In 1920, the Société des Grands Crus de France purchased Château Brane Cantenac and 5 years later, M. Récapet and his son-in-law, François Lurton, took over Château Margaux along with Château Brane Cantenac. Lucien Lurton inherited Château Brane-Cantenac in 1956. He passed it on to Henri Lurton in 1992.
Pictures: With Owner Henri Lurton at Château Brane Cantenac
Brane-Cantenac’s vineyard totals 94 hectares. The grape varieties are 62.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 0.5 Carmenère.
We visited Château Brane Cantenac on the 2013 Tour. A tasting with Henri Lurton is included in the schedule of the 2016 Tour
See:
Château Brane-Cantenac, Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, Margaux – A Profile, France
Henri
Lurton and his Chateau Brane Cantenac Wines
An Afternoon with
Owner Henri Lurton at Château Brane-Cantenac, a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, in Margaux, France
Château Kirwan – MargauxRepresented by: Sophie Schyler Thierry, Director of Communication and Development, Owner
2010: US$ 060
2013: US$ 037
Château Kirwan is a 3ème Cru Classé Margaux property that has hit form in the last decade after years of producing wine not meriting its Cru Classé status. Kirwan takes its name from its Irish proprietor who was, rather unfortunately, guillotined in 1792.
Pictures: Sophie Schyler Thierry, Director of Communication and Development, Owner, Pouring at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC and at a Private Dinner with Annette and Christian Schiller and Marlene and Charles Bullfighter Reddoor following the Tasting
Since 1925 Kirwan has been owned by the négociant firm, Schröder and Schÿler. Jean-Henri Schÿler and his three children Yann, Sophie (who poured the wines in Washington DC) and Nathalie now head the domaine. The property is located in the commune of Cantenac and consists of a beautiful 18th century château and 35 hectares of vineyards. The wine is typically a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. Michel Rolland has been consulting at Kirwan since the early 1990s.
We plan to visit Château Kirwan during the 2016 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Announcement: 5 Exciting
ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Château Rauzan-Segla – MargauxRepresented by: Sandrine Begaud, Responsable Relations Exterieures
2010: US$ 115
2013: US$ 050
This château came into being when Pierre des Mesures de Rauzan bought many vineyards in Médoc, including the plot which belongs to Rauzan-Ségla today. By the time of Pierre de Rauzan’s death in 1692, 100 acres of vineyards belonged to Château Rauzan-Ségla and their wines were highly regarded. Throughout the centuries the Château changed hands several times and lived through ups and downs.
Picture: Sandrine Begaud, Responsable Relations Exterieures, at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
In the 1960s the estate was in bad shape and the new owners Liverpool shipping magnates John Holt and Brent Walker started the long process to turn around Château Rauzan-Ségla. Heavy investments went into vineyards in decline and into the outdated cellars and technology. Signs of improvement were visible in the 80s and this shows in stunning wines from those years.
Pictures: At Château Rauzan-Ségla
In 1994 the Wertheim family of Chanel bought the Château. This is a perfect match. The philosophy of the Wertheims concerning their products: top quality, elegance, long term thinking – all this applies to wine as well. Estate manager and winemaker is John Kolasa, who has been working in Bordeaux for 43 years and who was for 10 years the manager at Château Latour before the Wertheimers asked him to oversee the operations at Château Rauzan-Ségla.
We visited Château Rauzan-Ségla on our 2015 Tour: Bordeaux
Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), FranceChâteau Langoa Barton - St. JulienRepresented by: Lilian Barton Sartorius, Owner
2010: US$ 060
2013: US$ 048
Château Léoville Barton – St. JulienRepresented by: Lilian Barton Sartorius, Owner
2010: US$ 135
2013: US$ 069
The Barton family is able to trace its Bordeaux roots all the way back to 1722. That was the year that Thomas Barton left Ireland for Bordeaux. Like many successful owners, Barton started out as a Bordeaux negociant.
Picture: Lilian Barton Sartorius, Owner, and Annette Schiller at the UGC Tasting in Washington DC, 2016
The first foray into ownership for the Barton family was in St. Estephe, with Chateau Le Boscq in 1745, which was awarded Cru Bourgeois status in 1932. In 1995, the Barton family sold it to Dourthe.
Also in 1745, the Barton family partnered with another powerful Bordeaux family to form a Bordeaux wine negociant company, Barton and Guestier. It was controlled by the Barton family until the Seagram Group got control in 1986. Today, Barton and Guestier is part of the international wine and spirit company Diageo.
The next major purchase for the Barton family took place in 1821. That was the year they bought Chateau Langoa Barton. Following the purchase of Langoa Barton, they bought a second St. Julien estate: Culled from the vineyards of Château Leoville Las Cases, that estate became Chateau Leoville Barton, a deuxième cru en 1855. Interestingly, because no wine making facilities came with the purchase, they were forced to make the wines at Château Langoa Barton. Until today, production of both wines takes place at Langoa Barton.
When Ronald Barton, who had inherited the family’s property from his father, who was tragically killed in a hunting accident in the 1920's, died without an heir in 1986, his nephew Anthony took control of the family properties. Anthony had already moved from Ireland - where the family maintains a home - to Bordeaux in 1951.
Picture: Christian Schiller with Lilian Barton-Sartorius at Ruth Chris Steakhouse in Washington DC in 2013
Château Léoville-Barton is a Deuxième Cru en 1855 in the Saint-Julien appellation.
There are now 47 hectares of vineyards at Château Léoville-Barton, planted with 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Vinification is performed in the cellar at Langoa-Barton, as there is in fact no château at Léoville-Barton.
The grand vin is Château Léoville-Barton, the second wine is La Reserve de Léoville-Barton. Total production is 20.000 cases.
Château Langoa-Barton is a Troisième Cru en 1855 in the Saint-Julien appellation.
Located along the banks of the Gironde river, Langoa-Barton has 15 hectares under vine: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot.
About 7,000 cases of Château Langoa-Barton are produced.
In September 2011, the Barton family purchased an additional Bordeaux estate, Château Mauvesin, in Moulis. It is an estate with 48 hectares of vines in a single block surrounding the château. 40 of those hectares, which are planted with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in roughly equal measure, are in the Moulis appellation, the rest being Haut-Médoc.
See:
A Vertical Blind Tasting of
Châteaux Léoville-Barton and Langoa-Barton plus the 2011 Chateau Mauvesin-Barton with Lilian Barton-Sartorius in Washington DC, USA
Château Lynch Bages – PauillacRepresented by: Kinou Cazes Hachemian, Owner
2010: US$ 155
2013: US$ 090
The history of the estate reflects the interesting history of English and French rule in Aquitaine. The original owners, the Lynch family from Ireland, could trace back their roots to an ancestor who was a companion of William the Conqueror. Without an heir, in 1824 the estate was sold and was in the hands of two other families before the Cazes family took over the property in 1933. Since then, the Cazes family has developed the estate with passion and tenacity and started an in-depth modernisation in the 1980s. They are committed to making the most of the terroir, and are devoted to attain the ultimate in quality and prestige of a classified growth.
Picture: Kinou Cazes Hachemian, Owner, Pouring at the 2016 UGC Tasting in Washington DC
The vineyards total 90 hectares, with 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The white wine vineyard, planted on 6 hectares, is located to the west, with vines 20 years old on average, it’s composed of 53% Sauvignon Blanc, 32% Semillon and 15% Muscadelle.
Picture: Christian Schiller with Jean-Charles Cazes, Owner of Lynch-Bages, at Château Lynch-Bages in Bages
We visited Château Lynch Bages in Pauillac on our 2014 Tour: Tour and Tasting at
Château Lynch-Bages in Bages, Bordeaux, France
Château Lafon Rochet - St. EstepheRepresented by: Anaïs Maillet, Chef de Culture
2010: US$ 055
2013: US$ 035
Château Lafon-Rochet is a 4th Grand Cru en 1855 in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of the Medoc. It is one of the 5 classified properties in the appellation of Saint Estèphe. Its grounds are separated from those of Château Lafite to the north by the width of the road and from Cos d'Estournel by a dirt path.
Picture: Annette Schiller and Anaïs Maillet, Cf de Culture, at the 2016 UGC Tasting in Washington DC
The history of Château Lafon-Rochet starts in the 16th century, when a portion known as Rochet (because of its rocky terrain) eventually passed by marriage to Etienne de Lafon, who established Lafon-Rochet. The estate then passed down through the Lafon generations for almost 300 years.
Pictures: At Château Lafon-Rochet with Owner Basile Tesseron, Directeur Technique Lucas Leclercq and Vineyard Manager Anaïs Maillet
When Guy Tesseron became the owner in 1959, it needed a serious restoration and Guy Tesseron did restore it to its former glory. Guy Tesseron was from a Chanterais family, specializing in the Cognac production.
In 1975, Guy Tesseron also acquired 5th growth Chateau Pontet-Canet from the Cruse family. Both châteaux subsequently passed to the next generation with Lafon-Rochet coming to Michel Tesseron. Currently the property is in the good hands of Michel’s son, Basil Tesseron.
Lafon-Rochet's vineyards covers 45 hectares and are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon 54%, Merlot 40%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 2%.
Picture: Annette Schiller and Anaïs Maillet at B Too in Washington DC at a Château Lafon-Rochet Winemaker Dinner, Organised by Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR and WineTours (Picture: Charlie Adler,
TasteDC: Upcoming Food and Wine Events in DC )
Today, Basile Tesseron is steering Lafon-Rochet towards biodynamic viticulture, following the example of his uncle at Pontet-Canet. But Lafon-Rochet has not yet been certified.
Château Lafon-Rochet is one of the regulars of Annette Schiller’s Bordeaux tours by ombiasyPR. In 2013, Annette organized a winemaker dinner in Washington DC with the lovely Anaïs Maillet, vineyard manager of Château Lafon-Rochet.
See:
An Afternoon with
Owner Michel Tesseron at Château Lafon-Rochet, 4ème Cru Classé en 1855, in Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
Tasting the Wines of
Chateau Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ème Cru Classé en 1855, with Owner Basil Tesseron at the French Embassy in Washington DC, USA/France
Winemaker Dinner with Château LAFON-ROCHET Wines and
Winemaker Anaïs Maillet at Chef Bart Vandaele’s Hipp B Too Restaurant in Washington DC, US/France
Bordeaux
Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France Bordeaux by ombiasy WineTours in September 2016This year again, Annette Schiller and I will take 10 wine lovers on our Bordeaux by ombiasy WineTour.
This year’s tour is scheduled for September 6 – 15, 2016. It is one of five ombiasy WineTours scheduled for 2016. See: Announcement: 5 Exciting
ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Spend 10 days in Bordeaux! ”Bordeaux” embodies more than just wine. In France the interplay of wine and food is very important and almost every day we will have a wine pairing meal at a famous château. Drawing on our love and deep knowledge of the region as well as our personal ties to many of the players in the Bordeaux wine scene, we will visit many of the hidden gems -such as visiting a cooperage, an oyster farm, some small, top “petit Châteaux” - that other tours pass by, but which are essential to feel what Bordeaux is all about. In a nutshell: this is a hands-on Bordeaux wine class on the ground.
For more information, contact Annette Schiller at aschiller@ombiasypr.com or check the
ombiasy web site.
For what we did on the 2015 tour, see: Bordeaux
Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Franceschiller-wine - Related Postings(ombiasy WineTours)Bordeaux
Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), FranceAnnouncement: 5 Exciting
ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Tour and Wine Dinner at Domaine de Chevalier with Director Adjoint Rémi Edange and Owner/Director Olivier Bernard – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
An Afternoon at Château Pape-Clément (in 2013), Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux
An Afternoon at
Château Pape-Clément, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux (2012)
Visit and Tasting:
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Wine Lunch at
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte’s Restaurant La Grand’ Vigne (2 Stars Michelin, Chef: Nicolas Masse) – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
The Wine Empire of the
von Neipperg Family in France, Bulgaria and Germany
Tour and Dinner at
Château Canon La Gaffelière, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Château Brane-Cantenac, Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, Margaux – A Profile, France
Henri
Lurton and his Chateau Brane Cantenac Wines
An Afternoon with
Owner Henri Lurton at Château Brane-Cantenac, a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, in Margaux, France
A Vertical Blind Tasting of
Châteaux Léoville-Barton and Langoa-Barton plus the 2011 Chateau Mauvesin-Barton with Lilian Barton-Sartorius in Washington DC, USA
Tour and Tasting at
Château Lynch-Bages in Bages, Bordeaux, France
An Afternoon with
Owner Michel Tesseron at Château Lafon-Rochet, 4ème Cru Classé en 1855, in Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
Tasting the Wines of
Chateau Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ème Cru Classé en 1855, with Owner Basil Tesseron at the French Embassy in Washington DC, USA/France
Winemaker Dinner with Château LAFON-ROCHET Wines and
Winemaker Anaïs Maillet at Chef Bart Vandaele’s Hipp B Too Restaurant in Washington DC, US/France
Picture: Christian Schiller with Armin and Caroline Diel at Schlossgut Diel in the Nahe Valley
Pictures: In the Vineyards with Caroline Diel and Anouk
Picture: Christian Schiller with Katharina Pruem at Wegmans in Virginia
