Cellar Series – Bordeaux Blends from Premium Regions

This edition of the Capital Branch Cellar Series was a spiritual homecoming of sorts by focusing on Bordeaux. Admittedly, ‘home’ for Bordeaux now has a decidedly global character. No other style in the red wine universe has been replicated in regions around the world as with Bordeaux varieties, made principally with the vaunted trinity of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. The bottles are often considered the best wines that those countries have to offer. We focused on six of the most celebrated regions – Napa Valley, Aconcagua Valley in Chile, Margaret River in Australia, the coastal area of Tuscany, the Western Cape of South Africa, and Bordeaux itself. We also tasted the celebrated Chateau Musar from Lebanon. The wines were served blind to let our palates explore the differences and similarities. How did Bordeaux fare against its imitators?

The wine line-up was a super premium selection that were poured in two flights: well-aged and more recent vintages. They were principally sourced from members’ cellars at favourable prices:

Celene Bordeaux - Ballarin Blanc Brut (Cremant Bordeaux)

 Lebanon (Bekaa Valley) - 2000 Chateau Musar

Napa Valley – 2001 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Tuscany (Maremma) – 2006 Fattoria Le Pupille 'Saffredi'

South Africa – 2009 Kanonkop Paul Sauer

Chile (Aconcagua Valley) - 2013 Seña

Australia (Margaret River) – 2013 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon

Bordeaux (St Julien) – 1996 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou

Amongst the non-Bordeaux bottles, participants showed clear preferences for the Aussie Moss Wood and the always-popular Lebanese Musar. However, when the evening wound around to the Ducru Beaucaillou, the Bordeaux fell all that came before it. And nobody could mind, really. All in all, the night turned into a tribute to a French wine style that has provided inspiration to the entire wine world. Hail to the original!

An always-outstanding three course dinner by the 67 Pall Mall chef was included.