On to Sauternes, the area where the greatest sweet wines in the world are made.
Raymond-Lafond was our next stop on Monday. The Chateau is owned by the Meslier family and our guide for the tour and tasting was Jean-Pierre Meslier. Jean-Pierre was educated as an attorney but has spent much if his life making wine. He actually lived and worked in San Francisco for a while and was a member of the French Club and Commanderie de Bordeaux there, but the winery needed him and he returned to Bordeaux. His sister is the general manager of the estate, his brother is the wine-maker and he is responsible for sales and marketing, PR and tours. An absolutely wonderful guy. The Chateau is among the most famous in Sauternes and literally across the road from Yqem. The land, the microclimate and just about everything else is identical to Yqem. And, the price is the wine is about one fifth what it is a Yqem.
Peter, Kent Baum, Jean-Pierre and fellow traveler, Jeffrey Poage, a Doc from Danville, CA, discuss the vineyard.
The family, including their retired father all live at the Chateau, a rather simple place by Bordeaux standards. But they have a wonderful garden with a lot of different trees from all over the world (including palms from California). They also have an interesting collection of birds including this peacock.
Patricia and Peter with Jean-Pierre at the entrance to the Chateau.
At the Chateau we tasted only one wine, their 2007 Raymond-Lafond Sauternes.
Grapes for Sauternes are intentionally left on the vine until they are "infected" with a mold called Botrytis. It attacks the grapes grows on and penetrates the skin so the grapes begin to dehydrate. Typically pickers will make 5-10 passes through the vineyards and pick only the grapes that look the worst. In the photo above, the yellow grapes and red looking grapes would not be picked, only the are grey and very moldy. Because individual grapes are picked, it is a slow and very expensive proposition. The pickers, usually women with smaller hands, use scissors to clip on the grapes one by one.
The evening dinner after Raymond Lafond. The restaurant was one of the most beautiful settings I have ever seen in a restaurant and the weather was perfect. We dined at the Claude Darroze Restaurant in the town of Langon, near Sauternes. I highly recommend it. The dinner was started with ta Lobster Salad with a Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing and a 2002 Chateau Raymond-Lafon. It was followed by a wonderful veal dish accompanied by a 2003 Reserve de la Comtesse, Pichon LaLonde's second wine. Third course was Roquefort cheese accompanied by a 2005 Chateau Raymond-Lafon Sauternes and finally a Croustillant of red fruits accompanied by a 2003 Raymond-Lafon.
The winemakers and Chateau owners in Sauternes are all quick to point our that Sauternes is NOT a desert wine, but rather a sweet white wine that pairs well with many things. It can particularly compliment Foie Gras and things like lobster, but it also a great foil for salads and particular citrus based salads. Pairing it with Roquefort cheese is standard.
One cannot talk about a visit to Chateau Raymond-Lafon without mentioning the dog, named Eddie (after Eddie Murphy ..no kidding). He grew up licking the hands of the vineyard workers when the returned from the vineyard with the sweet juice from the grapes on their hands, so whenever people are near the vineyard, he wants to lick their hands. But what a beautiful and friendly dog. This one could really qualify as man's best friend. So long for now. Off to Coutet, another sweet wine Chateau in Barsac tomorrow.
Looks like a fabulous trip, so many interesting experiences. Thank you for sharing.
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