Bordeaux is one of the most famed and acclaimed wine regions in the world. Bordeaux has had a large influence on the New World and its plantings: from Carmenere in Chile to Malbec in Argentina, Semillon in Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc all over the world. Famed Bordeaux wineries have purchased property throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Many Southern Hemisphere winemakers consider Bordeaux as the benchmark to which they aspire. Our guest speaker, Mr. Stephen Bonner helped to educate us on these varietals, describe the style of Bordeaux wines and compare southern hemisphere wineries interpretation. Several of the wines in this tasting were provided by the Delf Group Inc.

Stephen started off in the wine trade in the early 1980's as a wine shop manager for Oddbins in London, England. Today, more than fifteen years later, he continues to write, teach, and buy wines and spirits for the restaurant trade. Stephen talked about Bordeaux's geography, climate and soils, and how these three elements combine to influences the wines of this region. He also pointed out to us that Bordeaux is about "blending" wines from classic varieties to form a wine greater than it's individual components.

Our reception wine was the Chateau Bonnet Entre-deux-Mers from Bordeaux. This wine was also used as our white benchmark to compare southern hemisphere white wines. This wine comes from the famous Lurton family, which has been making wine for 300 years. Jacques is the current winemaker and travels the world to assist in winemaking. This wine is a blend of 45% Sauvignon Blanc, 45% Semillon and 10% Muscadelle. The wine was citrusy and crisp. The Semillon added some softness to the wine. The Konrad & Co. Sauvignon Blanc (from Delf) was the first southern hemisphere white wine. This was had a bouquet showing capsicum, pine and gooseberry. The gooseberry continued on the palate. There was more acidity compared to the Bordeaux. The Wyndham Estate Semillon was noted by Stephen as the benchmark Semillon in the world. This wine, eventhough not aged in oak, had a oaky bouquet, due to the changes in the wine over time. This wine a 1997 vintage will continue to develop flavour and complexity over the next 5-6 years. The taste had tropical and citrus flavours with light acidity.

The last white wine was the Concha Y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is a sweet, after-dinner wine and could not be compared to the previous white wines. This wine was selected to show what a southern hemisphere winery can produce in comparison to the famous sweet wines of Barsac and Sauterne. The sweet Bordeaux wines again use blends of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. This wine from Concha Y Toro is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. This wine had a wonderful fruity nose and flavours of honey, apricot and peach on the palate.

Our red wines began with the 2001 Chateau de la Tour Reserve from Bordeaux. This is a Bordeaux Superior wine, which indicates better quality grapes, a slightly higher alcohol content (13.5%) and a more specific location for the picked grapes. This wine has 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and some Cabernet Franc and Malbec, and was aged in old oak. This was was deep red and had significant legs on the glass due to it's high alcohol content. Unripe blackberry and black current aromas were prsent. On the palette there was some tannins, but not much complexity. Overall a good wine.

The Porcupine Ridge Merlot straddles the new and old world styles. It has the intensity of reds from California or Australia but balanced by the firm structure and elegance from a French red. Porcupine Ridge is the sibling range to the illustrious Boekenhoutskloof label. This particular wine had a bouquet of black cherries, plums and other ripe red fruits. The wine had firm tannins (not too much), fruitiness and sweetness on the palate.

Malbec only makes around 10% of the Bordeaux blends. It has the richness of a merlot but a more complex flavour. It is used in small amounts in Bordeaux blends as it had a strong flavour that can take over the flavours of other varietals in a blend. The Finca Los Primos Malbec (from Delf) is 100% Malbec from Argentina. It is deep purple. The bouquet had light oak and plum fruit. The wine had rich mouth feel, with some tannins. An excellent value at $9.95. The Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Reserve was also a very aromatic wine. it has ripe fruit, black cherry and cedar aromas. The cedar we were told comes from the medium toasted barrels used to age this wine. This wine spent 18 months in French and American oak barrels. It has fruit, oak, tobacco flavours in the mouth. The Petit Verdot is another lesser used grape in Bordeaux that is found unblended in southern hemisphere wines. The Pirramimma Petit Verdot from Australia comes from the MacLaren Vale, South East of Adelaide. This area has a very hot mediterranean climate and limestone clay soil (a classic soil type of Bordeaux). This wine is big and bold. The colour is inky dark. It has a cedar and vanilla bouquet from aging in all American oak barrels as well as aromas of ripe, dark berries. The flavours are of oak, vanilla and black cherry. Our last wine was the Finca Los Primos Cabernet Sauvignon (from Delf). This wine is not as big or concentrated as you would find with an Australian Cab. This wine just recently came on the market in BC. This wine was aged in oak for 8 months. Aromas of black pepper, cedar, and berry notes are present. It has a soft, balanced mouth feel and flavors that are similar to the aromas.

Tasting Selection
Our favourite White wines are:
1. Konrad & Co. Sauvignon Blanc
2. Chateau Bonnet Entre-deux-Mers

Our favourite Red wines are:
1. Pirramimma Petit Verdot
2. Valdivieso Cab Franc Reserve

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