Bordeaux - the most Seminal fine wine region of the world?

It's yet another day at the Prowein 2018, this time it was Dr Jackie Ang. who provided the lead into the most reverred? of France? Jackie, armed with a diploma with WSET, led us thru the history of Bordeaux, and critically, mentioned that having 'Cabernet Sauvignon' on any bottle, or even the Bottle shape of Bordeaux, will yield a higher price.

Regarding En Primeur and weather reports, Gavin Quinney has an extensive weather report on Bordeaux yearly and you can chart the weather versus price ratings. Even before the wine critics land on Bordeaux for the yearly EP tastings, other wine lovers are able to access to these information and gauge the wine prices before a single point is awarded.


On the Banks of Bordeaux,

The left bank is suited for Cabernet Sauvignon as it's more gravel based, hence retaining heat to allow for faster ripening for the difficult grape such as Cabernet Sauvginon. On the right of the Garonne river, there's more clay, which retains water and doesn't have as retains head as well as Gravel, hence early ripening varieties such as Merlot would do well here.

Who sets the price? The insider question would be: Who makes the most  money - the wine marker/chateau, broker , negociant,  importer or retailer? The La Place de Bordeaux, the centuries old mechanism set in place in Bordeaux has the entire chain of the above, with the Courtier (or broker), setting the pace in the early times (they're instrumental to set up the 1855 classification). In modern times, the lines are blurred, as retailers or even end consumers are buying directly from the wine maker. More information on La Place de Bordeaux is detailed by Wendy Narby here.

Austrian Master Class ProWine Asia by Annette

1 2015 Niederosterreich Klassik Gelber Muskateller "Strass im Strassertal" 11% RS 4.7g/l AD 7.2g/l

Light and fresh, nose almost like a sweet german riesling, touch of lychee, bit sweet, very light/straw colour. Yellow muscat, some oak. decent

2. 2016 Kamptal DAC, Gruner Veltliner "Loss" Jurtschitsch 12.5% RS 1g/l AC 5.7g/l

cripsy, light, less aromatic and 1).

3. 2016 Weinviertel DAC reserver, Gruner Veltliner Ried (single vineyard) Hochstrass 14% 3.7 6.1

more rounded, touch of orange peel, high acidity, slightly oily, touch of pepper.

4. 2017 Wagram reserve riesling "Alte reben" 13 4.7 6.5 Uberacker

light clear straw, some plum, very light.

5. 2016 Kremstal DAC Riesling Ried Ehrenfels 13.5 2.5 6.5

a little steely, taut, quite mineral, very different from a german. lack of 'kerosene' note (TDN), which is a good thing.

6.  2015 Thermenregion Rotgiplfer 12.5 4.2 6.0 Johanneshof Reinisch

a blend of ? pretty rich mouth feel, tinge for bitter finish. only white wine in oak of the entire flight.

7. 2014 Sudsteiermark Klassik . Sauv blanc 'Vom Sand' 11.5 1.0 6.3 Sattlerhof

orange peel, similar feel to 5. only a ting of grassiness, different completely from NZ sauv blanc

8. 2015 Burgenland Klassik Zweigelt . Heinrich Gernot und Heike 12.5 1.0 5.5

purple ting, medium body/acidity, hardly any tannins, short, soft . quite pleasant. doubt can age?

9. 2014 Burgenland Resever Cuvee 'Big blend'. 12.5 1.1 4.6 60:20:20 ZW BF ME Blaufränkisch 

longer, more oak, better balanced in all departments.  BF and Merlot lending body/structure /fruit to the ZW. 

10. 2017 Burgenland Saptlese Muskat Ottonel. 8.5 80 6.0 Hafner family estate

clear bright, late harvest, muskat, lychee, but yet different from a german spat or gerwuz, slightly more 'yellow skin fruit' zucchini?

11. 2012 Niederosterreich Eiswein Riesling Ried Schneiderberg 8.5 240 7.5 Weinrieder

sweet, with acids to balance. long. nice. :)

Beaujolais Beyond Cliches

A lovely presentation by the French booth at ProWine 2018 on Beaujolais, a region with rising status!

1. Grille Midi 2015, Domaine des Terres dorees, Jean-Paul Brun. Poor sandy soils over pink granite, 12.5% aging up to 5 yrs. Bright ruby with medium acidity, fresh, nose slightly muted at first and opened up to have methol/perfume with a tinge of gameyness. The most 'Gamay' of the 5 wines. 

2. Saint-Amour. Domaine des Billards, Maison Jean Loron 2015. Importer: vin atelier, ling@vinatelier.com. Ruby-Garnet,very soft and plush, with tons of rose/perfume, 13%, with caly-siliceous soils, with slightly sweet firm tannins and the longest finish of the 5 wines. 

3. Julienas . Chateau des capitans, georges duboeuf 2015. le.vigne@singaporewines.com. Darkest wine of the lot, plenty of oak, blackcurrents, a bit of milk-chocolate fefel, pretty powerful, 14%, tannins pretty hidden.

4. Morgon, Domaine Mee Godard Grand Gras 2015. WEA. Dark Ruby with some purple tinge, pretty fine, some peppers on the nose, plums, cherry on palette.

5. Moulin-a-vent, champ de cour 2015. Grand Vin. Tons of pepper on the nose after opening up, ala cote rotie, pretty sweet palette on entry, quite smooth and pretty sweet on the finish.

Stash of 2016

impossible to list ....a wonderful 2016.