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The Ponds November 10th, 2000
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Wine List
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Guillaume, a first-year student at the University of Michigan Business School, took command of our November 2000 event. The following are the wine notes that Guillaume created for our website... Chablis,
Albert Picq, Vieilles Vigne 1999
The
Picq family produces three wines: the Chablis Picq, the Vieille vines,
and the premiers cru that comes from different “clos” (i.e. the name
of a specific plot within a vineyard). We tasted the Old Vines, which
are approximately 30 years old. The
Old Vines have deep roots which produces great complexity in the wine.
It is a clear wine, with a pale color at a young age.
It has the characteristic green line on the rim. There
are two distinct methods in Chablis. The "traditional" method
did not exist prior to 1960. The new method is taking over the position that it never
should have left. So the
“traditional” method is where the wine are fermented into stainless
steel and bottle early to produce a crisp, acidic, clean style. The
acidity enables the wine to grow in complexity. This wine can be stored
in a cellar 5-8 years prior to opening.
The traditional method, of course, ferments the wine in oak. Oak
add to the wine’s softness. It
is easier to drink when young, but loses some of its complexity. To be
enjoyed with any crustaceous or sea food! At around 42 degrees
Fahrenheit. Cote
du Rhone Guigal 1998
This
wine from one of the best chateaus in south of Lyon: Guigal.
The Cote du Rhone is a blended wine, primarily comprised on
Grenache. You will notice
that this wine is a little bit cooler than the room temperature. It is
suppose to be served at around 60 Fahrenheit. Beaune
Premier Cru, Bouchard et Pere et Fils, Clos de la Mousse, 1996, Pinot
Noir.
This is a feminine and complex tasting wine. This wine is from the Clod de la Mousse, just on the hills overlooking Beaune! It is a medium body wine with a delicate taste of the pinot noir fruit, and can be aged 10-20 years. Entering the Bordeaux region... Medoc,
the region between the sea and the Gironde. The body of water acts as a
heat regulator and produces a microclimate that is one of the main
factors that contributes to the style of the Bordeaux region. The Gulf
Stream is provides a long autumn that is great for the ripening of the
wine. Finally, there is a long coastal pine stop that protects the
region from the western wind. |
Margaux,
Segla, Chateau Rauzan- Segla, 1996
Margaux
where the finesse resulted in a complex and powerful wine.
Rauzan-Segla was a very disappointing wine in the early 80’s. However, it was sold to a major Bordeaux wine merchant that
invested a significant amount of money into the winery, and later sold
it to Chanel in 1994. The improvements
during this period have been enormous. Even today, this Chateau
is considered the most improved in the Bordeaux area. We tasted the “second
label” of this Chateau. Why
a second label? The producer and the legislation are very strict on the
quality of there “first label.” They taste every cask individually
to determine if the quality is good enough to use release.
After the buyout, the new owner continued to increase the
standard of winemaking to the point that the “second label” wine is
now considered one of the very best ever produced in the region! It is a
lot more affordable than the "first label," at $40 a bottle. Saint-Estephe,
Chateau Le Boscq 1995
St.
Estephe is not the sexiest region in the Bordeaux, but in addition to
producing the great Clos d'Estoumella, it produces a high quality cur
bourgeois. It is
usually the bargain in its price bracket ($35 to $45).
It is North of the St Estephe area.
This
property has always produced good wine, and the quality has been
dramatically improving. It
is sublimely aromatic, almost exotic, full bodied wine that is elegant
and rich with a lot a flavor of summer fruit, and is nicely backed up
with new oak. The wine is a
blend (Cabernet 60% Merlot 40%), and can be aged 7-12 years. St.
Emelion, Chateau Trimoulet, Grand Cru Classe, 1995
St.
Emilion, before the World War II, was on the wrong side of the river…but
its reputation has improved since then. It is producing some of the best
and most exclusive wine in the world.
This winery is on the plateau over-looking St. Emilion.
Trimoulet is an old property over-looking the St. Emilion.
The wines are aged in 100% new oak during the first 12 months.
It grows on sand and graves.
It is a colorful wine, overly ripe, with a fruity aroma, creamy
and oaky character, with fruit flavor and supple tannin comes from its
60% Merlot (20% cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet franc).
This wine can age in the bottle for 7-20 years. We had a 1995
which is good vintage. It could wait at least 15 years. Pessac-Leonian,
Chateau La Louviere, 1996
We
are south of Bordeaux... and the people who were there to taste will
remember it! It was big,
yet complex... A wine that finishes with a exclamation mark! Guillaume Manuelle, The Wine Geek
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