2nd Annual Christmas Party
Maitre's Home
Friday, December 13, 2002
Members - $50 p.p.
Festive Attire
Each couple was responsible for bringing two bottles
of wine to share with the other guests.
One bottle from the Pomerol region and the other from the Saint-Julien region.
The council (special thanks to the cook's: Stanley Waterman, Howard Bell and Greg Stebbe) prepare
a wonderful meal of the classical Spanish dish Paella. Following the meal with a huge selection of cheese (thanks to Ann Addison).
Thanks to the Commandeurs, the wine selection was outstanding.
Here is a list of the wines that everyone had a chance to sample:
From the commune of Saint-Julien
75 Leoville Poyferre - this was the cook’s wine in the afternoon!
82 Leoville Poyferre
83 Gruaud Larose
98 Sarget de Gruaud Larose
89 Gloria
90 Lagrange
94 Lagrange
96 Les Fiefs de Lagrange
93 Clos du Marquis (2nd of Leoville Las Cases)
95 Clos du Marquis
95 Leoville Barton
98 Amiral de Beychevelle
98 La Croix de Beaucaillou
From the commune of Pomerol
75 Nenin
89 Domaine de L’Eglise
90 Gazin
98 Gazin
93 La Fleur-Petrus
94 Chantalouette
95 La Croix de Gay
96 Le Bon Pasteur
97 Fugue de Nenin
98 Feytit-Clinet
98 Clos Rene
99 Petit Village
From the commune of Lalande de Pomerol
98 Siaurac
98 La Croix St. Andre
99 Sergant
And two strays…
98 Des Laurets, Saint Emilion
98 Carignan, from Bordeaux!
And finally three whites: 98 Carbonnieux, Graves, 97 Bouscaut, Graves, and de Cerons, Sauternes.
Special thanks goes to our hosts for the evening Catherine and Maitre Greg Stebbe.
Footnotes on the Wines
Pomerol Wine
Pomerols are the smoothest, richest, instantly appealing wines. The intense
plummy fruitiness and velvet richness come from the overwhelming use of the
Merlot grape (usually 80% - 100%). The wines are gentle with a lush ruby colour.
These can be drunk at a younger age than most of the Cabernet Sauvignon based
wines of the Medoc region. However, there are so many different producers on
these small estates that the style of Pomerol is quite individual. Chateaux,
such as the revered Petrus, produce a more concentrated powerful wine whilst
some estates, for example L'Evangile, are smooth and silky.
Terrain
The most famous Pomerol chateaux are found to the east on the
'plateau of Pomerol'. This gravel bank, which contains some clay,
is terrain that supports both the Merlot and the smaller percentage
of Cabernet Franc grapes that are planted. Petrus sits as an island of
clay rich with iron on this plateau, and this heavier soil suits the
Merlot grape used substantially at this Chateaux. The usage of these
grapes give Pomerol wines their smooth suppleness, and usually allow
them to mature faster than Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. Further
west the ground becomes more sandy which produces wines which are
light and less substantial.
The desire for Pomerol wines is generated both by the exceptional
quality and by their rarity, due to the small size of the vineyards.
Whilst the virtues of most Chateaux have been recognised there remains
a small number of Chateaux producing wine for more modest prices.
Saint-Julien Wine
St-Julien produces wine similar to its close neighbour Pauillac. However, the classic
St-Julien has an elegant smoothness, without the knockout power of many Pauillac,
especially from those Chateaux closer to the commune of Margaux. Typically St-Julien
wines are rich, yet balanced, with plenty of body and a wealth of fruit. These wines
are often ready to drink relatively young, yet age well, developing a superb, gentle maturity.
Terrain
The wine-growing terrain of St-Julien is exceptional. It is predominantly gravel, although not as
deep as Pauillac, with a subsoil of sandstone and clay. Both the gravel and the proximity of
most of the Chateaux to the Gironde river allow excellent drainage. This leads to supple wines,
and also explains why St-Julien is an excellent choice for the wine lover in a wetter vintage.
The sandstone and clay provide more body and richness than found in the lighter soils further
south of St-Julien.
Click here if you would like to be added on to our invitation list!
