Dudley Craig tasting

Richard and Frédérique in discussion with a customer

I was invited to this tasting by Frédérique Vaquer of Domaine Vaquer, whom I met last year at an event  held at the Maison du Languedoc-Roussillon.

I knew the wines of Domaine Vaquer would be on show and looked forward to it for this reason. Not disappointed either. The Rivesaltes all showed exceptionally well, and a Muscat de Rivesaltes (probably 2000) was simply extraordinary.

The rest of the wines on show were mainly from France (Bolney Estate also featured with some English sparkling and a red), and struck one as having been very carefully selected for their individual qualities. Each stood out as a fully-fledged distinctive example of their region or style and also as the expression of a winemaker, getting the very best wine possible from their vine/soil/site combination.

Highlights for me included some interesting Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny wines from Domaine de Montcy; very well made and good value Chablis from Domaine Louis Moreau; a Fleurie 2011 from Château de Durette, a white Provence 2011 from Domaine du Deffends, a lovely Bandol Rouge 2000 from Château Vannières - this wine having shed its forbidding tannic acidity and taken on the dark fruit and leathery forest floor mantle of good aged Bandol. A Cahors 2009 from Château les Hauts d'Aglan also stood out as a wine drinkable now but with a long life ahead of it. A Macvin du Jura from Caves Jean Bourdy was delightful, with an aroma of rose petals.

An added bonus was a selection of Château Cheval Blanc - almost a vertical - 1982, 1989, 1995, 2000 ... For those of you who are looking to purchase some I can confirm that the 1982 is drinking wonderfully and will still be delicious in 10 years, the 1989 is now perfect, and again will be going strong in 20 years. Leave the 2000 for now, but look at it again in 5 years. It was a rare privilege to have been able to sample these wines.

All in all a very characterful tasting, and I am sure that many of these wines will find favour with the trade, being well made, great with food, and offering excellent value.

Dudley Craig Wines, 2a Ledbury Mews North, London W11 2AF
richard@dudleycraigwines.co.uk
Mobile 07880 694840