A despatch from Bordeaux

I am writing this from Bordeaux (Chateau Pey La Tour to be precise) where I am attending the Master of Wine Education Seminar.  In contrast to the Melbourne Seminar held in January where outside temperatures peaked at 43 degrees yet the main lecture room was so chilly as to necessitate the wearing of jumpers, here in Bordeaux things are a little different. Outside it is cold, slightly misty and damp whereas the lecture room is so balmy that student faces have turned pink and clothes are being shed.

I have just tasted through Practical Paper One (exactly the same 12 white wines as shown in Melbourne) yet here in Bordeaux the wines taste quite different.  2007 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc seemed slightly tired in Australia whereas here it looks vibrant, pungent and quintessential Marlborough.  Similarly Louis Michel Montee de Tonnerre 2005 which seemed quite forward and open, here tastes tight and minerally.  It surely can't be shipping issues as all the wines were airfreighted.

But delicious both here and there, is Vincent Delaporte's 2006 Vieille Vignes Sancerre a wine that makes a truly convincing case for barrel fermented and matured sauvignon blanc. Admittedly the vines are old (50 years) and the barrels too, but it is an excellent wine.

I will post again tomorrow once  have worked out how to upload images from my new digital camera.  I could read the instruction manual but that would be too easy . . .

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