Comments on: Tasting Chateau Margaux 16 ways

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:37:55 +0000

Nate – great question. I really thought the unfiltered one would be Bretty and that was what I was looking for in the blind pairing. But neither was, which was odd.

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:55:44 +0000

Great post! Question: how was the prominence of the Brett on the unfiltered vs the filtered?

By: PhilippeN

PhilippeN — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:14:46 +0000

Thank you Tom. I would just define terms more clearly when referring to ‘Bordeaux’. There are a lot of winemakers working very hard for not much return and they should not fall prey to being bundled with the rarefied-air pricing of a small minority. I hope you can appreciate that perception sometimes turns into reality as the baby is thrown out with the bath water. As someone who works closely with the full spectrum of properties, I feel that we should recognize the good efforts of many. As for Margaux, I applaud their taking the time and money to openly discuss what they are doing. I believe that it is not only good marketing but also instructive to many. And I am sure they relish the opportunity to take feedback from the individuals that they invited to attend the tasting.

By: “Tasting Chateau Margaux 16 Ways”: An Excellent Post on Dr Vino’s Blog « Clicks & Corks

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:15:53 +0000

[...] a very quick note to give heads up to our wine enthusiast readers as to an in my view excellent post that got published yesterday in Tyler Colman’s wonderful wine blog, Dr [...]

By: “Tasting Chateau Margaux 16 Ways”: An Excellent Post on Dr Vino’s Blog | Flora's Table

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:15:22 +0000

[...] a very quick note to give heads up to our wine enthusiast readers as to an in my view excellent post that got published yesterday in Tyler Colman’s wonderful wine blog, Dr [...]

By: Thomas Pellechia

Thomas Pellechia — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:26:53 +0000

Phillipe,

I am not questioning the petites chateaux of Bordeaux. I doubt, however, that Chateau Margaux pays all that money to send someone around the world with all that luggage to show us how the the rest of Bordeaux wines are doing…and while I fully understand that “the market” exists, prices are set by producers and shippers, not by consumers.

It’s always been the case that certain “named” wines have commanded lofty prices, but even a loft has a roof on it–until the roof is blown away by an indifferent storm.

By: PhilippeN

PhilippeN — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:35:34 +0000

Thank you Tyler for reporting on this. It is great to see Margaux reaching out to explain how they keep trying to learn and improve their wines. I am sure they feel an obligation to seek perfection given the stratospheric pricing that the market is willing to bear. This is an important point – the market has taken the prices up and clearly the top chateaux haven’t been embarrassed to accept this.
As for the comment about the pricing of ‘Bordeaux’ and on ‘whom these presentations are meant to make their mark’ it is important to note that Bordeaux is the largest single appellation in France and that there are hundreds of great value wines priced well below premium priced Napa reds that are worthy of our attention. So much press attention is paid to the top classed growths that for many this is ‘Bordeaux’. The truth is the quality consciousness across Bordeaux writ large (get to know the petits chateaux) continues to improve. The work of top chateaux such as Margaux continues to move the bar higher and we all benefit in the form of exceptional quality across the spectrum. Don’t miss the great 2009s and 2010s priced at retail for under 30 dollars. The quality and price are there for those willing to look a bit deeper. Bordeaux may be larger than they make us aware – and it is well worth broadening the perspective.

By: NMS

NMS — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 04:56:00 +0000

“This was perhaps the most discernible difference in these last three pairs of wines. The first wine was slightly more evolved, making it better drinking today. The second wine was tighter, younger, fresher tasting almost, making it seem to need more time. I preferred the first but ten years’ hence, would that be the case? Who’s to know. The difficulty in determining the “better” wine was apparent as the show of hands in the room was evenly divided.”

Wait, so which was under screwcap and which was under cork?

I’d guess the “fresher” one would be the screwcap one, but the writing doesn’t exactly say that.

By: Jessica Fialkovich

Jessica Fialkovich — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:47:02 +0000

Wow, all I can muster is jealous.

By: RobinC

RobinC — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:18:27 +0000

Very interesting and educational seminar. I also wonder who is the intended audience. As in, who is buying?

By: Thomas Pellechia

Thomas Pellechia — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:27:02 +0000

Tyler,

Nice report.

The resistance (and rightly so) to the price of Bordeaux leaves me to wonder on whom these presentations are meant to make their mark?

By: Jack Bulkin

Jack Bulkin — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:40:37 +0000

Tyler, you didn’t invite me.