Agenda 2008
Blending Workshop 2008
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon… The best vine varieties come from Bordeaux, and produce unique blending made in the region. Each year, depending on the vintage, the wine grower create different wines by assembling in variable proportion these type of vines, which are planted in different parcels. From the all process results quality and diversity of the wines from Bordeaux.
The Médocaines suggest initiative worshops on blending Mondays 18th and 25th of February, and Fridays 7th and 21st of March 2008. These workshops are held over half-day and include a visit of the property, a presentation about the concept of blending. The workshop which follows comprises a separate tasting of the three principal vine varieties from the Médoc. To finish with a blind tasting, to guess the blend of the 4 properties.
English and French guided tour leaving from Bordeaux:
8 persons maximum
Bordeaux departure: 9:15 - Return: 13:00
- February 18, 2008: visit of the Château Paloumey and workshop with the Château du Taillan
- February 25, 2008: visit of the Château La Tour de Bessan and workshop with the Château Paloumey
- March 7, 2008: visit Château du Taillan and workshop with Château La Tour de Bessan
- March 21, 2008: visit of the Château La Tour de Bessan and workshop with Château Paloumey
Price: 40 € - (transport, visit, workshop-blending and guide included)
Information and reservations:
Tourist office of Bordeaux tel. +33 (0) 5 56 00 66 24 resavisit@bordeaux-tourisme.com
PRESS REVIEW
11 october 2005
Experiencing the vintage in the Médoc
Four female winegrowers and owners of cru bourgeois estates in the Médoc have decided to offer visitors an opportunity to see their vineyards and cellars in full swing during the harvest — a time of year when wine châteaux are traditionally closed. These women — Florence Lafragette (Château Loudenne), Armelle Falcy-Cruse (Château du Taillan), Martine Cazeneuve (Château Paloumey), and Marie-Laure Lurton (Château La Tour de Bessan) — who call themselves "Les Médocaines", have decided to capitalise on interest for visiting the wine country during the vintage season from people who wish to follow wine production from picking the grapes to crushing and fermentation in the cellar.
Visitors spend the morning in the vines, where they learn about criteria for maturity, grape varieties, and selective harvesting. They taste the grapes and learn about the importance of the picking date, which varies according to plot, even at the same estate.
For example, Merlot is an earlier-ripening variety than Cabernet Sauvignon, and so is picked sooner. Lunch is enjoyed at the Lion d’Or restaurant in Arcins, where visitors bring a bottle from the château where they have spent the morning. The vintage lunch traditionally consists of: a tourin à l’ail (garlic soup), followed by grenier médocain (a spicy tripe sausage), a meat dish, and dessert. Visitors go on to spend the afternoon at another estate, where they see how the grapes are processed: grape reception at the cellar, sorting table, crushing, etc. However, our Médocaines wish to go even further, and are planning another round in the spring so visitors can see how the assemblage, or final blend is done. This gives each wine its unique personality. The wine is then aged for eighteen months to two years in the cellars, and then a few more years in consumers' cellars before reaching its peak. The length of time depends on the vintage.
From left to right.
Martine Cazeneuve, Château Paloumey, Marie-Laure Lurton, Château la Tour de Bessan,
Armelle Falcy Cruse, Château du Taillan, Florence Lafragette, Château Loudenne.
The latest news on the website:
http://www.lesmedocaines.com
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