I didn't sleep well at all last night - I simply couldn't shut my eyes and close down my mind on what was probably the most enjoyable and fascinating Primeurs tastings I have ever done.
Wines with the WOW factor, exciting, vibrant, gentle giants, pure pleasure, exquisite definition, style, class, elegance ..... I shouldn't go on. It shows a lack of imagination perhaps to use such superlatives - but I'm not the only one. Ask Abi and the team - we were all bowled over, over and over again by what we tasted.
It poured down all day, the roads in the Medoc are flooded, the vineyards awash, a miserable miserable day to be out on the roads. But we ploughed on and what we found at the Chateaux made up for the muddy misery!
We covered Mouton, Lafite, Latour and Margaux. Oh boy - Mouton is a velvet gloved boxer, Lafite a charming powerhouse, Latour a wild and wildly exciting child and Margaux a timeless flawless beauty. We also visited Cos d'Estournel (an exotic dragon), Montrose (elegance in a glass), Leoville Lascases which left us all reeling with the pleasure of it, and Pontet Canet - fresh, classy, vibrant and exciting.
They were all, apart from Montrose, immensely approachable now, generous, giving, textured like velvet, creamy tannins, vibrant fruit.
We were particularly struck by the second wines of the great Chateaux this year - Carruades, Fort de Latour, Dame de Montrose, Pagodes de Cos - we loved them, they stood on their own and sang beautifully.
I will assemble more 'serious' notes next week, but will end this blog by saying yesterday was unique, it has marked me and will remain with me for a very long time. I believe we had a taste of Magic in a Glass.
Clare Tooley
Visit laithwaites.co.uk
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