Under the Influence had the great privilege of visiting the Bordeaux wine region in France this month, to meet with Chateaus, better understand their wines and bring this understanding back to South Africa.
Why Bordeaux? Certainly, this region is the birth place for many great wines and is often used as a benchmark by winemakers around the world. Kevin Arnold, winemaker of Waterford Estate in the Stellenbosch region, has likened the Helderberg pocket to the Pauillac appellation in Bordeaux, due to wines from these regions often having a stronger and more austere tannin finish. Further, many of the Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and to a lesser extent Petit Verdot and Malbec are planted in South Africa. The opportunities for comparison are certainly there. In this quick overview of the visit, with more details to follow, we aim to give you a better understanding of Bordeaux and just what it takes to visit this region.
Firstly, one needs to understand that Bordeaux is massive.How does one go about arranging a visit to this region? It must be said that visiting Chateaus in France is not simply a matter of arriving at the door with an empty glass and a smile. Some preparation is certainly key!
The first step is to gather as many contacts and introductions to people in Bordeaux as possible and personal introductions are key. If you are planning any trips please let us know, we would be happy to assist. The second step is to draft a beautifully written email and send it to those Chateaus that you wish to visit. The third step is to not get frustrated when nobody responds! Rather, translate your original email into French and resend. Watch that inbox because the replies will fly in! Then, after numerous translations and counter translations your dates will be set. Some Chateaus like Mouton Rothschild will charge you, but nothing excessive.
Once in Bordeaux some more challenges are presented, especially if you cannot speak English, drive on the wrong, or is it right, side of the road or read maps. These need to be covered in a separate blog post as we explore St Emillion and then the Medoc.
Labels: bordeaux, france, medoc, st emillion, travel, Wine
Once in 
2 Comments:
I am curious to see what you make of the Bordeaux wines. When young, nothing sounded more romantic than sipping on a Bordeaux. Now older (but not necessarily wiser), and a bit better traveled,I must say that the quality of Bordeaux wines differ hugely.Cheap (under 10Euro) ones can be particularly nasty if you don't know what to buy. And i can't afford > 10 Euro wines every night. The wine seems to have a bitterness inherent to it that us South Africans are not used to. It took me a while before I could start to appreciate it, but now I even enjoy the bitterness now and then, even though it is definitely my least favourite taste (sweet being the second least favoured). I found that almost all spanish wines appealed more to me, probably because they are similar to what we get at home. So I am looking forward to reading your reviews. Enjoy the trip!
Bordeaux wines are a bit of an enigma for South Africans who have grown up drinking the same varietals but certainly not the same flavours! I have actually made the trip to Bordeaux, but haven't had the chance to write about it. It certainly did dent the wallet but I was lucky enough to visit some of the top Chateaus, including Mouton Rothschild, Talbot, Angelus and Lynch Bages. These were under the auspices of a "negociant" although eyebrows were raised when I presented an Under the Influence business card! The wines of the Medoc are probably the most foreign to us, these are tannic, earthy and more savoury than fruity. I think a better way to access your "Bordeaux palate" might be the right bank wines? These are more Merlot dominated, with vineyards situated inland, showing much more rich, almost creamy black fruit. In a recent Bordeaux tasting we did at the Roundhouse, the South African clan attending voted a right bank the top wine. An unfortunate South African Bordeaux blend was written off as too jammy and rich. Its amazing how drinking some Bordeaux can make you a wine snob! I think that a good walk to the Medoc for a South African should definitely start with Rioja, in Spain, which is more similar to us, but perhaps has the beginning of those earthy old world notes, then the right bank of Bordeaux, then let the tannic, but clear and dark fruit laced, grip of Pauillac take hold. What a great journey!
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