Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/711666
{ SOMMjournal.com } 63 center of Graves, shows the gravely miner- als abundant in the vineyards along with a rich, dark-berried core. Keeping on the Left Bank, was the 2009 and 2012 Château Mouton Rothschild, the 2010 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, the 2010 and 2011 Château d'Armailhac, and the 2010 and 2011 Château Clerc Milon, all presented by Erwan Le Brozec, Export Manager of Baron Philippe de Rothschild. One of only five Premier Grand Cru Classé – ranked wines in Bordeaux, Château Mouton Rothschild of Pauillac needs no introduc - tion. Interestingly enough, Le Brozec said he was there to "try to open the minds of those who look only at label. Most normally want to taste only the Mouton. But the tar - get today is to try the show the differences in terroir in these other wines." The 2010 Château d'Armailhac did exactly this, show - ing ripe black fruits, blue fruits and even red raspberry, all against a bit of smoky cedar and a decent backbone of acidity. Angeleno sommelier Alicia Ajolo volunteered to pour wine and was assigned to this table. Says Ajolo, "Pouring for the Bordeaux event for Mouton was such an amazing experience. It's not every day that you are offered the opportunity to experience First Growth Bordeaux vintages side by side. The lineup consisting of their other labels, Ch. Clerc Milon and Ch. d'Armailhac, showed how two châteaux in such close proximity could have such a variance in soil type and how it changes the textural mouthfeel of each. Reading about the prolific vintage of '09 can't compare to tasting it—it made my knees weak!" Coming to us again from southwest of the Gironde—the estuary that separates the Left Bank from the Right—were the 2007 and 2011 Château Palmer and the 2012 Alter Ego de Palmer, presented by Château Palmer CEO Thomas Duroux. Château Palmer, ranked Troisième Grand Cru Classé, sits on 163 acres in Margaux. Says Duroux, "Most of the savvy attendees on this tour already know our wines, so it seems as though they taste mainly to discover how the vintages are showing. They also want to know what's going on in Bordeaux. We have a very long history, but we also have a lot of great ideas for the future, and these tours are a great oppor - tunity to not just to show our wines but to offer news from Bordeaux. For example, there are more and more of us moving to biodynamic and organic farming. Also, being here spending time with these sommeliers is so important because it's not just about selling, it's about feedback." Last but certainly not least to represent the Left Bank—and more specifically Pauillac and St. Estèphe—was Nicolas Glumineau, General Manager and Winemaker for Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, presenting the 2006 and 2010 Château Pichon-Lalande, the 2006 Réserve de la Comtesse, the 2012 Château Haut- Beauséjour, and the 2011 Château de Pez. Currently owned by the great Champagne house Louis Roederer, Château Pichon- Lalande is ranked Deuxième Cru Classé and consists of 89 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot bordering Château Latour. Highly respected winemaker Christian Moueix, President of the négociant house Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, was there representing the Right Bank, includ - ing the 2010 and 2011 Château Certan de May, the 2008 and 2012 Château Hosanna, the 2008 Château Lafleur-Gazin, the 2012 Château de Sales, the 2005 Château Magdelaine, and the 2012 Château Puy- Blanquet. Moueix enjoys the tour partly because "it brings the producers together. It's important to give an image of unity in Bordeaux, as we're normally known for being competitive with one another, but that's not always the case! It also seems like Americans are showing more interest lately in Bordeaux, especially with the exciting 2015 vintage." One of my favorites of the entire lot, Château Hosanna comes from an 11-acre plot in Pomerol, with vines averaging 40 years of age. The vineyards, made up of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, face Château Pétrus, between Château Lafleur and Vieux Château Certan. Erwan Le Brozec, Export Manager of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, with Angeleno sommelier Alicia Ajolo. The 2012 Château Ducru- Beaucaillou from Saint-Julien. The 2012 Château Haut- Bailly from Pessac-Léognan. The 2011 Château Palmer from Margaux. The 2010 Château Pichon- Lalande from Pauillac. The 2012 Château Hosanna from Pomerol.