9 Apr - See Bordeaux haiku – the winners
Bibendum Wine is offering purple pagers a special deal on tickets to their big Annual Bordeaux Tasting on the evening of 22 April at Lords Cricket Ground, London NW1.
They're proposing that purple pagers interested in winning a pair of tickets to the tasting (worth £50 a pair) submit haikus on Bordeaux in the appropriate thread in members' forum. Pairs of free tickets will go to the writers of the five winning entries, judged by Bibendum on Wednesday 8 April. Those purple pagers who wish to buy tickets after this will be offered a specially discounted price. A haiku, as you will remember, is made up of 17 syllables, ranged in lines of five, then seven, then five. See the forum for a couple of examples. Overseas entries welcome. You could always donate your tickets to friends in the UK – or travel to London!
A galaxy of châteaux will be represented, including the home of the prominent Bordeaux proprietor* shown here, showing their 2008 (about which they are all, needless to say, awfully enthusiastic) and the additional vintage specified in brackets below. Properties include Chx Cheval Blanc, Léoville Barton, Angélus, Pichon Baron, Troplong Mondot, Montrose and Yquem.
Chx included are d'Agassac (2005), d'Aiguilhe (2004), Angélus (2004), Batailley (2004), Berliquet (tbc), Beychevelle (2006), Branaire Ducru (1999), Brane Cantenac(2006), Camensac (2005), Canon (2003), Canon La Gaffelière (2006), Cantelys(2004), Cantemerle (2000), Cantenac Brown (1998), Carbonnieux Blanc (tbc), Carbonnieux Rouge (2004), Charmes Godard (tbc), Chasse Spleen (2006), Cheval Blanc (1999), Clos de l'Oratoire (2004), Clos Fourtet (2004), Doisy Vedrines (2002), Domaine de Chevalier Blanc (2001), Domaine de Chevalier Rouge (2001), Du Tertre (2005), Durfort Vivens (2004), Ferrière (1998), Fieuzal Blanc (tbc), Fieuzal Rouge (2004), Figeac (2006), Fleur de Bouard (2006), Gazin (2004), Giscours (2006), Grand Puy Lacoste (2006), Gruaud Larose (2005), Guiraud (2001/2005), Haut Bages Liberal (2005), Haut Bailly (2006), Haut Batailley (2006), Haut Marbuzet (2004), Issan (2004), Kirwan (1999), La Conseillante (2004), La Prade (2004), Latour Martillac (tbc), Lafon Rochet (2004), Lagrange (2000), Langoa Barton (2001), Larcis Ducasse (tbc), Leoville Barton (1999), Leoville Poyferre (1998), Mondot (2005), Montrose (1998), Pavie Macquin (tbc), Petit Village (2006), Peyrabon (2005), Phélan Segur (2004), Pibran (2001), Pichon Baron (2002), Picque Caillou Rouge (2005), Picque Caillou Blanc (tbc), Pontet Canet (2001), Poujeaux (2006), Prieure (2006), Rauzan Ségla (2002), Siaurac (2006), Sigalas Rabaud (2004), Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc (1998), Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge (2003), Sociando Mallet (2004), Suduiraut (2002), Talbot (2006), Troplong Mondot (1999), Vray Croix de Gay (2006), Y d'Yquem (2005), Yquem (1995).
Bibendum reports that these Bordelais 'initially came with some trepidation, but the experience of the tasting each year in London has only opened up Bordelais eyes to the knowledge and experience of UK tasters.'
Christine Valette-Pariente of Troplong Mondot: "Tasting wine with private customers is fascinating and really needed. As a matter of fact the communication is too often reduced to a score. It is crucial for us to explain to the consumer the exact weather conditions of the vintage or for example the ideal temperature of service of our wines... But more importantly, finding out about one's individual taste is essential. This is possible through the Bibendum tasting, when producers can be directly addressed. As to us producers, there is nothing more exciting than meeting the wine lovers. Because it's for them that we work so hard every year."
David Launay of Gruaud Larose: "[It's a] Great opportunity to meet our loyal customers on our wines, great connoisseurs and new customers willing to discover the Fine Wines of Bordeaux. Plus, it is as well an excellent event for promoting and introducing an old vintage and the primeur wine by explaining the characteristic of the new wine by giving some directions of its ageing potential by through the taste of an old vintage. Plus, we are in a very nice venue in the heart of London."
Véronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly: "The discerning customers should logically benefit from the vintage since we all expect attractive prices, especially if they are given the opportunity to taste it before so that they can buy with full knowledge and appreciation."
Bibendum Annual Bordeaux Tasting
What – A tasting of several vintages from over 60 great chateaux of Bordeaux
Where – Nursery Pavilion, Lords Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, London NW8 8QN
When – 4pm-8pm, Wednesday 22 Apr 2009
How much – £30 each or 2 for £50 (full price)
How – email sales@bibendum-wine.co.uk, call 020 7449 4120, or visit the Bibendum website at www.bibendum-wine.co.uk/retail/events/BordeauxTasting
Trade tickets are also available – contact Bibendum on 020 7722 5577
* Anthony Barton of Ch Langoa, looking doubtful at a past Bibendum Bordeaux Tasting.