Bordeaux Superstars with our 3 VPs

If ever a title of a tasting was understated, it was this one. Last night our three Vice Presidents treated us to one of the most eagerly anticipated tastings we've ever had at the Institute. From the time the circular went out and the wines were revealed, it was clear we were in for something very special. A First Growth; a First Growth second wine; a Second Growth; a Second Growth second wine; a Third Growth, and to start us off, we only had Bollinger and an Imperial sized bottle of 1970 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron from the personal cellar of Alastair & Mildred Bell. There can't have been too many occasions that we've kicked off with a Second Growth wine! Despite it's age, it was still drinkable, however it's Madeira-like qualities were not to everyone's taste.

The 2003 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is the second wine of one of the most famous First Growth vineyards of Bordeaux. The dominance of merlot in this Pauillac wine gives it rich aromas of black fruits and strong tannins. Next, the 2009 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande was a wonderfully light wine with spice and blackberry, followed by the 2009 Reserve de la Comtesse also from this Second Growth label.

The Chateau Teyssier should have been familiar to anyone in attendance at our Annual Wine Dinner this year, where it's merlot dominance went especially well with our main course and cheeses.

The Third Growth Chateau Palmer from Margaux was one of my two favourites of the night, but at over £250 per bottle, maybe a little out of my price range!

That brought us to the star of the evening - the First Growth 2006 Chateau Haut-Brion. Coming in at over £500 per bottle and well out most people's wine budget, the oldest and southernmost of the First Growth vineyards, based in Pessac-Leognan, has a rich chocolate with purple and red fruit flavours.

To finish off such a wonderful evening, a 2005 L'Angelot de Seguin, also courtesy of Mr&Mrs Bell.

A huge thank you must go to Peter, Alastair and Susan for selecting the wines and for arranging a truly memorable tasting in which the estimated cost of the wine came in at over £2000! And for only £35 each for members - where would you find value like that?

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