The reason I Like Bordeaux wines

Hello!

I'll start with a tiny bit of background:

First off, what many people should realise is that Bordeaux wines were marketed by the English tradesmen who invented modern day marketing by announcing the arrival of the new wines for the season, ahead of time to the buying public at home. The trip was treacherous over the channel up to the early 18th century and wine was preserved with great difficulty in small tuns made of French oak. But realize that even if you hate the French, you have in fact contributed to the fortunes of Bordeaux directly or indirectly through your English ancestors, who simply put, had a passion for "Claret". For more historical facts please refer to the wine god Hugh Johnson's fabulous book The Story of Wine.

So the wine we have today is the culmination of many different and painstaking trials to get wine to your table in a stable form. Bordeaux wines are all bottled in tall straight bottles which are distinctly different from the Burgundy bottles which often resemble the New World bottles, tapering to a slightly larger bottom.

My opinion is that Bordeaux's distinctive characteristic can be expressed in three words: blend,blend and blend. It is blending the grape varieties the way they do in each and every vineyard which is the secret of their centuries old wine-making method. Most winemakers will tell you that their product is unique and they would probably be telling you the truth.

With 10,000 different vineyards in the entire Bordeaux area the choice is vast and should you wish to taste them all, there is little doubt that the average non-professional  wine amateur would probably take an entire lifetime to do so..After all there are so many hours in a day.

However, not all Bordeaux are created equal. And not all the more famous ones are necessarily much, much better that the wines made by a very dedicated wine-maker in an unknown vineyard, struggling to be known and doing everything, save the harvest, on his/her own. Not all budgets or starting capitals has ever been created equal either. This, the wine market, although not yet mature is extremely competitive..

But I digress. I am partial to wines from Bordeaux, not obviously because I do trade in them but for the following reasons, which I know you will appreciate:

• they are blends of up to 5 different grape varieties
• they are always lower in alcohol than the other French and other regions for a same vintage.
• the French oak used for its ageing is an essential part of its refinement and gives off essential aromas for subtlety and distinction.
• they are very natural, short of organic, due to very strict laws retricting the use of strong chemicals during the growing and wine-making.
• this makes them easier to "process" in the body and wake up refreshed rather than poisoned

But the main reason for me is the subtlety of taste and aromas which makes each wine a complete "package".

So, what can you do with this information?

• Just try Bordeaux wines. Anywhere and everywhere.
• Sign up to a wine tasting event: Many pubs and restaurants will promote their establishments and wine list by inviting you to such an event to get more customers interested in them, charging you a minimal fee and without any purchase obligation to the wine merchant.
• Or sign up to an informal class in wine-tasting at the many events available accross the country specializing in Bordeaux
• Go visit Bordeaux!
• Or come as a guest in my networking group in the BNI

I hope this helps seduce you to the wonderful world I live in, with, through and by: Bordeaux.

Happy tasting!

Catherine

Hand Picked Wines

"If you have a nose for wine, make sure yours is hand-picked!!"

Comments

[Daryl Carter - making you stand out from the crowd]

Catherine I am very impressed.
You are clearly very passionate about your wines.
You have a massive knowlegde about wines and you have definetely seduced me into the world you live in!
Please can I have a case before we leave this afternoon.

[Nick Osborne Safety is our Business]

This is a very well laid out and informative site
I always ask the restaurant if the sell bordeaux wine.