2012 Intermediate Wine Course 6: Vertical Tasting

Intermediate Wine Course: VI

18 July 2012

Vertical tasting

Copyright © Brian Jamieson

Vertical tastings

In a vertical tasting, different vintages of the same wine type from the same winery are tasted. This emphasizes: differences between various vintages the effects of ageing.

1. Domaine Du Grand Clos AOC Bourgueil 2009, 2008, 2007 & 2005

2. Château Langoa-Barton St Julien 2004, 2002 & 1998

FranceWine producing areas

•

Red wines of Touraine

* Chinon

* Bourgeuil

* St Nicolas de Bourgeuil

AOC Bourgueil

Located west of Tours, its vineyards are planted with Cabernet Franc on calcareous clay and sandy soils gently inclined south towards the river Loire.

The wines are tannic, medium-full bodied and fleshy, possess rich, perfumed raspberry/forest fruit character and are underpinned by a fine structure with the potential for up to 20 years ageing.

Wines are vinified for up to 18 months in French oak barrels.

Maison Audebert & Fils

Jean-Claude Audebert(Owner)

Président of theCommanderie de la Dive Bouteille de Bourgueil et St Nicolas

Domaine Du Grand Clos AOC Bourgueil 2009 Appearance: Clarity, colour intensity,

Colour – body and rim Nose: Intensity, Aromas – fruit, vegetal,

ageing Palate: Intensity of flavour; flavours –

fruit, vegetal, ageing; body, length. Development:

Too young, cellar Drink now, but will improve with ageing Drink up, past its best

Domaine Du Grand Clos AOC Bourgueil 2007 Wonderfully complex aromas here, with herbal

notes intertwined with prominent cherry, blackberry, cedar, bell pepper and spice. A clean limestone minerality adds further depth.

The palate is dry, medium bodied, layered and satisfying.

Enjoy with meat lasagne, or before the meal with a blue-cheese appetizer.



ageing Palate: Intensity of flavour; flavours – fruit,

vegetal, ageing; body, length. Development:


Domaine Du Grand Clos AOC Bourgueil 2005 Warm, rich flavours of berry and cherry

are accented by hints of green pepper and spice. It's a big, densely ripe style that's just this side of being pushed too far.

The fruit is ripe and warm, just on this side of turning tomato-like in flavour, yet the acidity holds everything in a firm grip, focusing the aromas and promising further development.

[Wine & Spirit Magazine April 2009]

Loire vintages (Red)

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

FranceWine producing areas

Chateau Langoa-Barton

Chateau Langoa-Barton

Chateau Langoa Barton is located in the Saint-Julien commune of the Medoc district.

3rd Growth in 1855 classification Nearly 37 acres producing 6,000 to 8,000

cases depending on the vintage. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 8%

Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.

Owners:Anthony Barton & Cie

History Chateau Langoa Barton was purchased by the

Irishman, Thomas Barton in the 1820's. The Barton Family had been associated with the Bordeaux wine business for over a century at that point.

Thomas Barton also purchased the neighbouring "Second Growth" Chateau Leoville Barton later in the 1820's.

Both Langoa Barton and Leoville Barton are still owned by the Barton family today – the only two of the 1855 classification chateaux.

Vinification and ageing

Langoa Barton uses the traditional methods of fermentation in oak vats with aging of 18 months in oak barrels. 50% of the barrels are replaced each year.

Chateau Langoa Barton is the site of all winemaking for it's neighbouring sister property, Leoville Barton, since the latter chateau has no winemaking facilities.

A new chai (winemaking facility) was put in place by Anthony Barton in the mid-1980s. The traditional wood fermenting vats were retained rather than replaced by stainless steel vats.

The Barton family Anthony Barton took over ownership and

management of the properties from his uncle Ronald Barton in 1983.

Under Anthony's oversight, both properties dramatically improved in quality from the position of average performers to being consistently, very highly rated.

Anthony has recently passed ownership to the next generation, daughter, Liliane, but he remains involved in both properties.

Style

Elegance and finesse are the hallmarks of Langoa's wines. The Cabernet Sauvignon is dominant but not overbearing or overpowering.

Ideal with venison, duck and all red meats.

DVD Interlude

Jancis Robinson

Cabernet Sauvignon & Bordeaux

Château Langoa-Barton 2004 Appearance: Clarity, colour intensity,





2004: Robert Parker

Exhibits deep, concentrated, chunky, black currant and cherry fruit intermixed with notions of forest floor and aged beef blood.

This impressive, full-bodied, powerful, age-worthy St.-Julien is atypically backward and brooding. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025+.

Score: 90[Robert Parker, Wine Advocate June 2007]

Château Langoa-Barton 2002 This Langoa Barton '02 is on the verge of

readiness, mulberry/plum fruit nose and grippy tannins that fade to make way to cedar.

Some greenness at an early stage but could be due to the vintage/early harvest?

90+ pts as still some improvement to come if left in cellar for a while.

[September 2011]

Recent opinion on 2002

The wine opens with cedar, cassis and earth and forest floor scents are found with time and animated coaxing.

Austere and tannic, the wine demands at least another decade before the wall of tannins begin to be resolved.

[February 2012]

Château Langoa-Barton 1998 Colour: A glorious, glossy, very pure colour. Nose: Piles of fruit on the nose, with exotic notes

and some oak still. Palate: Pure, glossy mouthfeel, plenty of fruit

and good tannin. Good concentration. Very good balance. Perfectly decent wine for the vintage; lovely in fact.

Needs ten years. 16+/20 [October 2004]

1998: Recent tastings

Tobacco, cassis, well balanced. Smooth tannins. Drinking beautifully.

Classic Bordeaux. Very consistent with past bottles. Black currants, cassis. Lovely.

Blind tasting Appearance

Colour, rim, density of colour? Nose

1ary, 2ary or 3ary aromas? Palate

Flavours: Intensity Fruit Tannins, oak, ageing flavours,

Body, length

Blind tasting tie breaker: 1

Which Australian wine region has a strong Silesian influence from its 19th C settlers?a) Yarra Valley

b) Hunter Valleyc) Barossa Valleyd) Margaret River


Pouilly-Fumé is made from:

a) Sauvignon Blanc in the Loire Valley

b) Chardonnay in Burgundy

c) Chardonnay in the Loire Valley

d) Sauvignon Blanc in Burgundy


Opus One is:

a) A fine Bordeaux-like wine produced in the Napa Valley

b) A Champagne served during the interval at concerts in Paris

c) A dessert wine produced from late harvested grapes in the Finger Lakes of New York State

d) A fine Australian Shiraz produced in Coonawarra that will age for 10 or more years


Which of these countries produces the largest volume of wine?a) Australia

b) Chile

c) South Africa

d) New Zealand


Grüner Veltliner is:

a) A greenish sparkling wine produced in the Rhine region of Germany

b) A grape variety, common in Austriac) A method of training vines in Switzerlandd) None of the above

Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2007, Marlborough Black cherry and spice notes have evolved

to allow hints of savoury, dried herb and earth characters whilst retaining layers of fruit harmoniously entwined with velvet tannins and seamless texture.

The wine is drinking beautifully now, exhibiting power and poise, it will age gracefully for a further 5 years.

Today’s wines

1. Domaine Du Grand Clos AOC Bourgueil 2009 £7.00 *



4. Domaine Du Grand Clos AOC Bourgueil 2005£12.00 *

5. Château Langoa-Barton 2004, St Julien £32.00 WS

6. Château Langoa-Barton 2002, St Julien£39.00 WS

7. Château Langoa-Barton 1998, St Julien £44.00 WS

8. Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2007, Marlborough£11.25 HM

* At Chateau WS Wine Society HM Hatch Mansfield

Best value

Which of today’s range offers best value?

Intermediate Wine Course 2012

Thanks for your interest, attention and participation!

Tricia, Carol & Brian

2012 Intermediate Wine Course 6: Vertical Tasting

Education

Transcript of 2012 Intermediate Wine Course 6: Vertical Tasting