Business Class
Quest
for the right wine to give company VIPs begins
1:15 am | Sunday,
October 5th, 2014
One
of the questions I am often asked at this time of the year is: What wine can I
give my boss, my most treasured clients, company VIPs? Something that he or she
will appreciate but won’t cost my entire month’s paycheck?
There
was a time when any supermarket bottle would do, as long as it was wine.
Today,
however, the greater knowledge and appreciation for wine has upped the ante on
the gift-giving challenge.
The
good news is that the age of wine snobbery is over. The P70,000-per-bottle
wines are still around, of course, but you won’t need to mortgage your car or
pass up on the latest Balenciaga bag or golf club set to have a sip of decent
red.
In
fact, even the most prestigious winemakers have expanded their lines to include
accessible versions of the finest from the estate.
One
of these winemakers is Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite).
12th
century estate
 |
| http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Chateau_Lafite.jpg |
Château
Lafite Rothschild is a wine estate in France whose history dates back to the
year 1234, when it was owned by Gombaud de Lafite, abbot of the Vertheuil
Monastery north of Pauillac .
Although
the property did not produce wines in the Renaissance period, Chateau Lafite
has been producing—since the 17th century, when the majority of the vineyards
of what we know of as Lafite Rothschild today were set up—what many people
think is the best Bordeaux wine in the appellation.
It
was the Ségur family that organized the vineyard in the 17th century when
Lafite started to earn its reputation as a great winemaking estate.
It
is also interesting to note that Alexandre, the heir of Jacques de Ségur, who
was credited with the planting of the Lafite vineyard in the 1670s and in the
early 1680s, married the heiress of Château Latour (another great wine) in
1695, joining the wine histories of the fiefs of the Lafite and Latour estates.
It
was their son, Nicolas-Alexandre, marquis de Segur, who refined the wine-making
techniques of the estate in the early 18th century, and introduced its wines to
the upper echelons of European society, giving it a reputation for producing
some of the most famous and expensive wines in the world.
First
growth
Lafite
later became one of four wine-producing Châteaux of Bordeaux originally awarded
First Growth status in the 1855 Classification, the first official
classification of Bordeaux wines.
Since
then, it has been a consistent producer of one of the world’s most expensive
red wines.
In
1868, the Rothschild family acquired the chateau. Today it is known as Chateau
Lafite Rothschild, run by fifth generation Baron Eric de Rothschild who
maintains “the Lafite spirit”.
World’s
most expensive wine
The
“Lafite spirit” apparently cast a spell on US President Thomas Jefferson, who
loved Chateau Lafite so much he purchased multiple cases of the wine while he
was in France.
The
well-loved US President’s spirit must have merged with the Lafite spirit
because Fortune Magazine reports that, in 1985, Christie’s Auction House sold a
1787 Chateau Lafite with Jefferson’s etched initials for $160,000!
Don’t
worry, though. You won’t need P7 million just to appreciate good wine. Even
family and friends of the Rothschilds have requested for more accessible wines.
Reserves
des Barons
The
estate has created the “Réserves des Barons” under the Legende tag from four
major Bordeaux appellations: Bordeaux, Bordeaux Blanc, Médoc and Pauillac.
These
wines are made under the supervision of the estate’s oenologist, who ensures
that the same care and attention to detail given the Grand Vins are extended to
these wines.
We
had the occasion to taste a few of these wines at an event last week at Maria
Luisa’s Garden Club. (Yes it is still open except you have to be a member of
the Garden Club for a fee of P500.)
The
Legende Bordeaux Blanc 2012, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, in its
simple elegance, won over even the red wine lovers at the table who usually
frown upon whites. It was described by the dinner host as “exquisite.”
I
found it to be fresh, crisp and clean without being too thin or boring. (If you
are are hosting, make sure to serve it at a temperature of 10-12°C). A wine lover
at the table guessed it had apricots.
Close
enough, the tasting notes enumerated lime, lychee and passion fruit. It was
perfect with escargot.
The
2011 Legende Bordeaux Rouge, which is said to be made from “selections of the
finest production in the Entre-Deux-Mers region,” is a pleasant red.
But
this was outstaged that evening by the 2010 Medoc.
This
Medoc, which is half and half Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is full bodied
even if it is young.
It
was true to its description of being “aromatic, dominated by smoky, toasty,
spicy notes.”
I
was impressed by its velvety feel in spite of its being an “accessible” wine.
The
lovely resident wine connoisseur of the group said, “I like its bouquet.” And
the rest agreed.
It
was paired with the restaurant’s delicious jambalaya, so you can imagine it
would go well with the rich Spanish-Filipino dishes we love to eat at Noche
Buena.
The
evening was capped with a 2011 Legende Pauillac.
The
connoisseur said that, while she loved the bouquet of the Medoc, she preferred
the Pauillac’s finish. This is made from grapes grown in Rothschild-Lafite’s
own vineyards albeit from younger vines.
However,
because its “structure is less concentrated than their prestigious elders,” it
ages more quickly. So, even after just a few months in the bottle, it already
offers the fullness and complexity for which Pauillac is famous.
Accessible
wines
 |
| Chateau Lafite Legende Bordeaux Blanc went well with Makati Garden Club/ Maria Luisa Garden's escargot |
Don’t
think you will miss out on these “expensive” wines. Like I said earlier, wine
snobbery is so yesterday.
These
wines are now available here in the Philippines at affordable prices. The
Lafite Legende Blanc and Rouge are just P900 a bottle.
The
Medoc is a reasonable P1,200 while the Pauillac is pricier at P2,650. Still, a
real steal for something that reflects the freshness and elegance of Bordeaux.
Put
it in a nice wine box and tell your giftee that he or she is drinking something
from a domaine that has produced a bottle that was once auctioned off at P7
million.
Chateau
Lafite Reserves des Barons
Including
2012 Legende Bordeaux Blanc, 2011 Bordeaux Rouge, 2010 Legende Medoc and 2011
Legende Pauillac
Available
at major S&R outlets.
For
orders, e-mail artisan.ph@gmail.com
Landline
5217392, 5223920 or 5222027
Mobile
09209218870.
Blog:
margauxlicious.com. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook: @margauxsalcedo.
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