History and Science at Château Grand Corbin Despagne

Historically it was the robust oxen that  worked the dense blue clay soils in the vineyards here in the north western corner of St Emilion and over the border into Pomerol. Horses were too fragile for the job, explained François Despagne, who has run the family estate of Château Grand Corbin Despagne, St Emilion Grand …

Launch ‘Oeno-Apero!’ Bordeaux

For friends and family - an hour's fun aperitif to practice the language of winetasting in French and English! 6.30 to 7.30pm (any evening) - 1 hour of fun and tasting 3 classic wines from Bordeaux from great undiscovered smaller producers. Other timings possible 😉 Where? In your own home (St Emilion area) or a …

What makes a Great wine in 2020

When I first came to Bordeaux in the 1980s, the sign of a good well-made wine had always been one that would last for 20 or 30 years. Ripeness was not understood. It was about waiting for a minimum alcohol level and harvesting as quickly as possible to avoid the risk of losing the crop. …

Celebrate Christmas in Bordeaux with food and wine matching and cooking classes

Come to Bordeaux in-between Christmas and new year in 2019 and enjoy a series of food and wine tasting sessions and cooking classes with your own chef! Here is some text from my book about the region's specialities to whet your appetite"Bordeaux Sip by Sip - getting to the heart of Bordeaux." Bordeaux’s Food Specialities …

Step by Step how to Taste Bordeaux wine

What makes great wine? In France they say that a GREAT wine has the 4 'E's; E for Equilbrium (Balance), that its éléments are in harmony E for Elegance its subtlety, its class E for Expression of its birthplace and time E for Emotion that it stirs in you Every wine has a story but …

Top Tips at the Bordeaux Wine Bar to understanding the region in 4 wines

The CIVB wine bar (open from 11am through until 10pm) is a great place to start your wine holiday in Bordeaux (no booking just turn up). It is located opposite the Tourist Information not far from the Grand Theatre. There are a number of wine bars in Bordeaux since the last 10 years or so. …

Top 5 Misleading Wine Myths

There are a number of beliefs in wine that are untrue and misleading. (Many of them seem to come from or be spread by so-called ‘wine experts’ themselves) Here are some of my favorites that have popped up over my 25 years ‘in wine’ (part one): “To correctly age wine you need to turn the …

Bordeaux’s Key Grape Variety Aromas

RED GRAPE VARIETIES Cabernet Sauvignon Blackcurrant, blackberry, violets, spices, cedar, eucaplyptus, green pepper  -  unripeness (green pepper, IBMP), mint, chocolate With Age: Leather, nutty, toast, toffee Characteristics: high tannins due to thick skins, good ageing potential, ‘skeleton’   Cabernet Franc Raspberry, violets, pencil shavings, leafy, earthy, spicy, tobacco With age: musk, nutmeg, sandalwood, savoury Characteristics: …

The 13 Different Aroma Families in Wine

Why do wines smell and taste like other natually ocurring substances like fruits or spices? Because they are made up of the same chemical compounds. These come from several sources. Primary aromas – come from the fruit, within the various grape varieties these aromas exist as non odorous elements that are transformed by fermentation. Each …