Vinifera Boutique has just added two more producers to it’s list from the Bordeaux left bank. Both wines are from the Médoc area of Bordeaux, more specifically from Haut-Médoc.
Cru Bourgeois “Classification”, or more correctly “Labelling”
The Cru Bourgeois Classification has an interesting, yet controversial history. In short, it was started almost 80 years ago in 1932 with 444 Chateaux, then in 2000 a law was passed to reassess the Chateaux. In 2003 the number of these Chateaux were considerably reduced. Accodring to the 2003 rules, the classification is made up of 247 Chateaux in three categories, 9 wines of ”Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel”, 87 ”Cru Brougeois Supérieur” and 151 ”Cru Bouregois”, to be reassessed every 12 years.
More recently in 2007, the 2003 classification was cancelled, the Superieur and Exceptionnel terms were removed and it would be illegal to use these terms. Complaints were made and impartiality was also blamed. Later it was decided that the term ”Cru Bourgeois” would however be maintained but that in the future it would signify quality, not be a classification as such.
Most recently, at the end of 2008, the ’Alliance des Crus Bourgeois’ is looking to assess the 2008 wines in order have these wines be the first recognized in 2010 under the new rules. This will be an annual exam to assess the 8 AOC medoc areas. It will consist of a visit to the vineyards and an audit through a blind tasting. There are 270 members currently in 2009, covering roughly 50% of Médoc.
*Below the old 2003 classification is included in order to remind us of the 2003 classification while we await the new results and to see if this will hold, hopefully this time.. Our 2006 Aurilhac and 2007 Mayne Lalande are both part of the older classification and the new one to be used in 2010. These wines fall right in between the cancellations, legal changes and new rules being introduced. The basic principle ofcourse remains that great bottles of wine will be the same regardless of the labeling, but many of these bottles can remain in history as unique in terms of labelling.
Chateau D’Aurilhac – Cru Bourgeois – Saint Seurin-de-Cadourne – Haut-Médoc
This is a wine from the Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne with a clay-limestone soil, made by Erik Nieuwaal. The more recent vintages of Aurilhac wine have changed considerably since the 1990’s. This can be clearly be seen through the labeling which has changed from a traditional white to a strong yellow and blue, but also the style is more approachable for the modern wine drinker. The Aurilhac 2006 wine we have chosen is definitely one to keep for many years in terms of its style and the vintage. It is an extremely dark, almost black wine, with dark berries and chocolate, showing good depth.
Chateau Mayne Lalande – Cru Bourgeois (Superieur) – Listrac-Médoc
Listrac-Médoc is a sub-region in Bordeaux just under the more famous St-Julien, Pauilac and St-Estèphe, and just above Margaux. Chateau Mayne Lalande is located in this Listrac Médoc region. Very strictly this region is sometimes considered inferior to the other three very best Haut Médoc sub-regions, however there are definitely great wines here. The Chateau Mayne Lalande has been very popular in recent years where some vintages sell out quickly. We will be featuring the 2007 full bodied bordeaux blend of Chateau Mayne Lalande and the 2007 Emotion de Mayne Lalande.
