Fine Wines from St Émilion, Pomerol & Fronsac

It is impossible to be absolutely precise as to the exact date when vines were first planted in this region of Bordeaux. During the Roman occupation of Gaul, the poet and Consul Ausonius (circa 310 – 384 and born in Bordeaux) owned vineyards in the area.
The vineyard areas of Saint Émilion and Pomerol which, together with Fronsac, make up the Libournais vignoble, are known to have more charm and individuality than their distinguished rivals in the Medoc some 45 kilometres away to the east and slightly north. The Medoc is generally flat, low-lying country, intensively planted principally with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes on gravel soil compared with the steeper slopes of the region’s wines being tasted tonight which are planted predominantly with Merlot grapes on a limestone soil.
Our 9 fine wines tonight have been collected jointly over a period of time by Jeffrey Benson, who will lead the tasting, and the organiser and are as follows:
1986 Château Manieu, Fronsac
1990 Château Fombrauge, St Émilion Grand Cru Classé
1990 Château Couspaude, St Émilion, Grand Cru Classé
2001 Gravette de Certan, Pomerol
1976 Château Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse, St Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé
1989 Château Canon, St Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé
1996 Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol
1988 Château Ausone, St Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé
1986 Château Trotanoy, Pomerol
with our highlight being the 1^er cru Château Ausone, a wine you do not get to taste very often. David Peppercorn says “Everything seems set for Ausone to become the new Pétrus in terms of extraordinary wines produced in small quantities” - and probably at the same prices too!!!
Thanks to Roger Ellis and Alan Shepherd once again we have the use of the Livery Hall of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists which boasts a well equipped kitchen and an excellent dining hall where we shall be holding the tasting. Consequently the organiser’s first thought was to make this an extra special event with a cooked dinner afterwards as it was not appropriate to have “snack” food to accompany such fine wines.
This is likely to be a two course dinner as follows:
Duck Paté with Grand Marnier, leaf salad and French toasts
Chicken poached in red wine with shallots and button mushrooms, accompanied by baby pearl potatoes and Salsify
This will be accompanied by an appropriate wine – hopefully from St Emilion, but sadly not of the quality of those in the tasting!
If you have any specific dietary requirements, please notify the organiser direct.
If his schedule permits, we are hoping to have with us Jack Rubin, Chairman of The Marin Branch – Haskell Norman Chapter, as a visitor to London Branch from USA.