The best from Bordeaux
IN STORE
| For, of course, no two wines are the same. Terroir is an important concept that we all now understand but even when the wine is made in the same vine, its vintage still makes a difference, as you can well discern. |
| Five of Bordeaux's most respected chateau-owners were in India recently (from Pessac- Leognan, Saint Julien, Pauillac from the Right Bank, and Saint Emilion and Pomerol from the Left Bank.) They guided Anoothi Vishal through a tasting and a tour of their terroirs. |
| The year 1999 |
| Chateau Pontet-Canet (Pauillac), 1999 The chateau is one of the dozen Pauillac properties ranked as fifth growths and is neighbours with the famous Mouton Rothschild property. |
| Alfred Tesseron, owner, has a fascinating way of describing how tough it is for him to choose the exact moment to pick the grapes (each vine gives just half a bottle of wine) which gives you an insight into the quality. |
| The style of wine goes well with French food though very spicy Indian may not go down too well with it. He suggests that instead of the 2000 vintage, prices for which went through the roof all over Bordeaux since it was the millennium year, 1999 is a very good buy, well-priced too. |
| With Indian food |
| Chateau Branaire-Ducru (Saint Julien) 2002 The wine, with its good structure, according to managing director Patrick Maroteaux, should go well with most Indian food, though he recommends you pair it with a quiche for starter or a duck main course. |
| Made from 70 per cent cabernet sauvignon (the Left Bank is known for the varietal), it has a fruity beginning but assumes interesting complexities with 10-20 years of ageing (cabernet sauvignon is best for ageing). |
| "Sexy" vs "intel" |
| Chateau Canon-la Gaffeliere (Saint Emilion), 2002 As a child, owner Stephan von Neipperg recalls how he was not allowed to drink wine by his parents without having to speak about it! That's education, you could say. Though if you were to question what a German "small farmer" is doing in Bordeaux, he would point out that there are now many Japanese and even some Indians around! |
| He describes the 2003 wine as a very "American" wine; fleshy, hot and, well, sexy. On the other hand, 2002, that we also tried, is distinguished and "intellectual". Choose your pick. (Wines available at leading restaurants.) |