Bordeaux Basics with Madison Park Cafe

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Our October program will be a truly special event, featuring wines from this incomparable region. Bordeaux, which produces about one third of the fine wines of France, has been blessed with some wonderful vintages in the past five years. We will be pouring wines from both the right and left bank focusing on the 1999 and 2000 vintages.

Although top-quality Bordeaux wines certainly merit the hefty prices they can command, there is a seemingly endless choice of wines in every price range. To narrow the selection for this event to only six wines, vintage quality and value were the main criteria, along with the ability of each wine to show off its unique terroir. Tasting wines from the various communes is the only way to really get to know the differences and nuances that distinguish each subregion and discover what makes them famous.

There is a lot to learn about the wines of Bordeaux and this evening will provide a good base, giving a broad overview of the region, looking at what grapes grow best in which areas, and discussing new trends and food pairings. Please note the increased ticket price for this program due to the cost of the wines.

Madison Park Café
Our food bites for the evening will be prepared by the Zagat-rated Madison Park Café. This is a great choice for the wines as the Café serves French bistro cuisine (think cassoulet and coq-au-vin) and was voted one of Seattle’s “Best Places to Eat Outdoors” (Seattle Weekly) as well one of the “Top Ten Brunches in Seattle” (Citysearch).

The Region's Left, Right and Center
Bordeaux, one of France’s largest cities, is surrounded by vast, historical vineyards, as well as a particular tradition of growing and making wine. Bordeaux is the largest and most legendary winemaking region in the world, dating back to the first century. There are now 284,320 acres of vines under cultivation. The 57 appellations, nearly 10,000 wine-producing châteaux and 13,000 wine growers here produce about 85 percent red wines and 15 percent white. Located in southwestern France, Bordeaux is broken up into many smaller districts, but in the most general terms, it is divided by the Gironde Estuary into the left bank to the west, which includes the Haut-Médoc and Graves regions, and the right bank, home to St.-Émilion and
Pomerol. In between the right and left bank is the area known as Entre-Deux-Mers. Our October tasting card features wines from some
of the most important areas of Bordeaux.

CHÂTEAU LA GARDE is in Pessac-Léognan, an important appellation in Graves, the only region in Bordeaux famous for both its red and white wines. We will be tasting a red and a white wine from this château.

CHÂTEAU CHASSE-SPLEEN in the Haut-Médoc, the higher, southern part of the Médoc region, is considered to be an outstanding property that still adheres to traditional practices. The vineyards here benefit from the well-drained soil and exposure to hot summer sun.

CHÂTEAU LA POINTE is in the southwest part of the Pomerol district, where the red wines are dominated by the Merlot grape. It boasts a
large production which is widely promoted.

CHÂTEAU GRANDE-PONTET is located in the highly-regarded western limestone plateau of St.-Émillion and has been called a “property to watch,” as a winery which many believe deserves elevation to a higher classification status.

CHÂTEAU LAMOTHE-GUIGNARD is located several miles south of the renowned Château d’Yquem in Sauternes, a region dedicated to producing the legendary sweet white wines of the same name. Sémillon is the principal grape here because it is especially susceptible to botrytis (see sidebar). The moist climate in this area helps create the perfect conditions
for developing noble rot.

Wine Grapes of Bordeaux
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the primary grapes used in blending red Bordeaux, with lesser amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The wine regions of Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillion are the predominant grapes used in Bordeaux whites.

The Ninaud's and Champion Cellars
Enological Society charter member Emile Ninaud and his wife Stephanie, frequent visitors to Bordeaux, will present the wines at our October program. They are the owners of Champion Wine Cellars on lower Queen Anne which was opened by Emile in 1969 and which has the distinction of being the
oldest wine shop in the state of Washington. They have a large section of Bordeaux wines, from high end first growths to inexpensive cru bourgeois for everyday enjoyment. As a special benefit for Seattle Wine Society members, they are offering a 15 percent discount on the wines from our Bordeaux program.