The B Final of the Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés tasting for the 2011 vintage took place at a stunning country house located almost right in the heart of Montpellier. Thank you Régine and Francis for your hospitality and for organizing the sightseeing activities that complemented this wonderful final.
This one was preceded the day before by a small appetizer following the same principles (blind tasting) and showcasing seven great wines from around the world (Italy, Hungary, South Africa, Japan, the Golan Heights, and the United States) made from a single Bordeaux grape variety: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon. Paleo, Le Macchiole, Bolgheri, Italy, made from Cabernet Franc, narrowly edged out Canon la Gaffelière, which served as the benchmark for this exercise. Also noteworthy were the tied third-place finishes by the Japanese Merlot (Solaris) and the South African Cabernet Sauvignon (Kanonkop).
Returning to the Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés Final B, ten wines were selected. These were the winners of the eight appellation finals (Graves, Margaux, Médoc, Pauillac, Pomerol, St. Emilion, St. Estèphe, and St. Julien), as well as the runners-up from the Pauillac and St. Emilion appellations. Here is the list:
Canon la Gaffelière, Clerc Milon, Clos de l’Oratoire, Domaine de Chevalier, Duhart Milon, l’Evangile, Gruaud Larose, Lascombes, La Tour Carnet, Montrose
Here are the results for the first six wines :
Château Lascombes, winner of the Margaux appellation final, brilliantly triumphed in this blind tasting by combining complexity, power, and balance. It is worth noting that it had already won the Margaux appellation final for the 2008 vintage, though it failed to make it into the top six in the 2008 Final B.
The three representatives from the Right Bank (Pomerol and St. Emilion appellations) fell just short of the podium, and only Canon la Gaffelière will advance to the Final A, alongside, of course, Ausone, Cheval Blanc, and Petrus.
Already fully focused…
A harmonious tasting featuring wines distinguished by their depth, balance, elegance, and even… a certain wisdom! Without a doubt, a fine selection for a vintage sometimes considered challenging.
In a tasting session where opinions were remarkably consistent, the tasters stood out for their low standard deviations. And this was achieved without anyone sharing their views on the relative quality of the wines during the tasting… What a challenge! In any case, kudos to all the participants for their professionalism.
Cathedral of Saint Pierre de Maguelone: An invitation to meditation.