Par Corinne Conroy,
mercredi 30 juin 2010 à 11:36 ::Accueil
Lundi, Henri Lurton ouvrait ses portes au monde viticole de 'down under' en recevant Steve Smith, MW, directeur de Craggy Range, une winery de la région de Gimblett Gravels, située dans l'est de l'île du Nord de la Nouvelle-Zélande! Dans le cadre de nos dégustations 'extra-ordinaires' et sur une idée de Ch'ng Poh Tiong, écrivain et journaliste du vin, éditeur de The Wine Review, et de Steve Smith, nous avions convié voisins, amis et collègues à déguster 6 vins présentés dans 3 millésimes différents...
Une rencontre très intéressante, tout comme celle avec les Californiens reçus il y a deux ans.
On Monday, Henri Lurton opened his doors to the wine-making world of Down Under to host Steve Smith, MW, director of CraggyRange, a winery from the Gimblett Gravels region, located in the eastern part of the North Island of New Zealand! In the framework of our ‘extraordinary’ tasting sessions and on the initiative of Ch'ng Poh Tiong, wine writer and journalist, publisher of The Wine Review, and Steve Smith, we invited neighbors, friends and colleagues to taste 3 different vintages of 6 wines.
The event was truly interesting, just like the one that had been organized with Californians two years before.
Once again, Brane showed that Margaux and Bordeaux don’t rest on their laurels, that their producers are open-minded and not self-centered, that they are perfectly aware of the impact of global competition and that they are always curious about what's happening elsewhere in the world with their same grape varieties...A discreet but often cutting-edge property, Brane is constantly changing and instigating change...The next meeting? What not great Tuscan wines?
The Bordeaux owners in attendance reacted enthusiastically...starting with Henri Lurton, who made the following statement at the end of the tasting:
“Delicious wines…with freshness, a solid structure and a marked vintage effect.Very pure.’
Here is a series of comments from our guests noted right after the tasting:
‘Wonderful tasting! Remarkable 2007, great balance, finesse, harmony and complexity.’ Nathalie Schÿler, Château Kirwan, Margaux
‘A tasting of great New Zealand wines in Margaux…A welcome and enriching experience, with a shared objective, the quest for balance, in a different reality.' Jean- Emmanuel Danjoy, Château Clerc Milon-Rothschild
‘A unique opportunity to taste an impressive sampling of red wines from New Zealand. Some of them are fine, balanced, racy and elegant wines.’ Christophe Labenne, Château Poujeaux
‘Great red Bordeaux grapes, adapted to New Zealand’s territory by talented wine-makers. A fantastic idea that should be repeated as soon as possible! Thanks, Henri.’ Vincent Priou, Château Beauregard
‘An impressive tasting where we discovered the Cabernets and gravel of Gimblett in New Zealand which will delight connoisseurs.’ Anne Cuvelier, Château Léoville Poyferré
‘Wine-makers with character from New Zealand who showcase the country’s original nature by producing wines characterized by unexpected complexity and subtlety. Their wines are not competitors but rather ambassadors, as they express the classical academic bases which are harmony and balance and yet don't get caught up in excess to give an illusion of quality. Conclusion – Just like their rugby, they defend life’s core values!’ Jean Claude Berrouet, Château Pétrus
‘A fabulous tasting of Kiwi wines…Elegance, balance, wonderfully pleasant wines…We’re looking forward to sharing our own wines Down Under!’ Philippe Blanc, Château Beychevelle
‘We loved this tasting featuring this region in New Zealand. It was interesting to note that terroir is just as important there and that all the vintages are different. I found the 2000 wines to be fresh and well balanced. We had a wonderful time and we look forward to enjoying our next bottle of Gimblett Gravels!' Lilian Barton-Sartorius, Château Léoville Barton
The Bordeaux attendees’ three favorite wines in the district of Gimblett Gravels
Number 1: 2009 CRAGGY RANGE ‘SOPHIA’
Number 2: 2007 CRAGGY RANGE ‘THE QUARRY’
Number 3: CHURCH ROAD ‘TOM’ 2007 AND CRAGGY RANGE 'SOPHIA' 2007
In attendance for this journey to the other side of the globe:
Domaines Rothschild: Mr. Georges Alnot and Mr. Yann Buchwalter
Château Palmer: Thomas Duroux
Château Léoville Barton: Lilian Barton
Château Langoa Barton: Michel Sartorius
Château Carbonnieux: Eric Perrin
Château Léoville Poyferré: Anne Cuvelier
Château Léoville LasCases: Tamara McIntosh
Château La Conseillante: Bertrand Nicolas
Château Coutet: Aline Baly
Château Dauzac: Christine Lurton
Château Giscours: Alexander Van Beeck
Château La Tour de Bessan: Marie-Laure Lurton
Château Poujeaux: Christophe Labenne
Château Beauregard: Vincent Priou
Château Beychevelle: Philippe Blanc
Château d’Angludet: Allan Sichel
Château Pichon Baron, Petit Village, Suduiraut etc.: Christian Seely
Château Clerc Milon-Rothschild: Jean Emmanuel Danjoy
Château Calon-Ségur: Vincent Millet
Château Lafon Rochet: Mr. Basile Tesseron and Mr. Lucas Leclerc
Château Kirwan: Nathalie Schyler
Château Pétrus: Mr. Berrouet
Château Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande: Gildas d’Olone
Château d’Angludet: Allan Sichel
Eric Boissenot, oenologist
Mr Viaud, oenologist (Michel Rolland’s lab)
Laurent Ehrmann, merchant, Barrière Frères
Yann Jestin, broker
Philippe Chatonnet, Université de Bordeaux
Press members: Jane Anson, Decanter.com (press)
Thibault Reichell and Alain Aviotte, Planet Vins et Spiritueux (press)
Guy Charneau, Tast (press)
Captions:
Steve Smith, from CraggyRange and Henri Lurton, owner of Brane-Cantenac
Ch'ng Poh Tiong, wine writer and publisher of the Wine Review
Christophe Capdeville, Technical Director at Brane serving CraggyRange
