PETIT WEEK IN WINE | January 15th-19th | |
A TASTING FLIGHT FEATURING: | |
The Basics of Bordeaux:
Bordeaux Blanc, Left Bank Blend, & Right Bank Blend
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Join us this weekend as we take you on a journey through one of the most renowned and diverse wine-producing regions: Bordeaux, France. Separated into Left Bank and Right Bank by the Gironde, Garonne, and Dordogne Rivers, Bordeaux features a variety of sub-regions each with their own unique style of winemaking.
With 13 grape varieties permitted to grow across the region, Bordeaux produces an impressive array of signature blends that make it one of the most diverse and expressive wine-growing areas in the world. Exploring Bordeaux wines offers the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge of Old World wine regions and better understand how small changes in terroir can lead to vastly different wine styles.
For this week's $29 tasting flight, we’ll guide you through three distinct sub-regions of Bordeaux, each showcasing a unique winemaking tradition. You’ll experience:
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A Bordeaux Blanc from the Pessac-Léognan AOC — a region known for its refined, aromatic whites with a perfect balance of freshness and richness.
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A Merlot-dominant Bordeaux Rouge from the Right Bank Saint-Émilion AOC, offering a soft, fruit-forward profile with depth and elegance.
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A Cabernet-dominant Bordeaux Rouge from the Left Bank Saint-Julien AOC, showcasing structure, complexity, and the powerful tannins typical of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Keep reading below for more details on these incredible wines, and join us in the tasting room Thursday through Sunday as we walk you through the essential knowledge to navigate the world of Bordeaux wines.
Santé!
Mark & the Petit Philippe Team
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Can't make it in person for this week's tasting?
Secure your Bordeaux Basics 3-pack from our online shop below!
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5:00 - 9:00pm Thursday
5:00 - 9:00pm Friday
1:00 - 9:00pm Saturday
1:00 - 7:00pm Sunday
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L'Esprit de Chevalier
Pessac-Léognan Blanc 2020
Pessac-Léognan AOC, Bordeaux, France
$52 btl/retail (available online HERE)
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An elegant white Bordeaux blend produced by Domaine de Chevalier, one of the most renowned estates in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. "L'Esprit de Chevalier" is the second label of this esteemed winery, which focuses on offering a slightly more approachable, early-drinking style compared to the flagship wines of Domaine de Chevalier.
Varietal: 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Sémillon grown from the estate's vines in the heart of Pessac-Léognan, on the left bank of the Garonne River. The wine undergoes fermentation in barrel (33% new French oak, 66% neutral oak) and spends 18 months aging on the lees.
Tasting Notes: This wine has a pale gold color and aromas of white peach, citrus, and vanilla. On the palate, it is full-bodied and complex with flavors of stone fruit, honey, and a hint of toasted nuts. It has a creamy texture, a vibrant acidity, and a long, elegant finish.
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La Closerie de Fourtet
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2020
Saint-Émilion AOC, Bordeaux, France
$56 btl/retail (available online HERE)
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An easy-drinking Bordeaux blend from Grand Cru vineyards in the Right Bank appellation of Saint-Émilion. La Closerie de Fourtet is a second label of the esteemed Clos Fourtet, known for its exceptional quality of Right Bank Bordeaux. This Merlot-dominant blend is meant to be smooth on the palate and ready for immediate consumption compared to other styles of Bordeaux that require longer aging.
Varietal: 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc sourced from 25 year-old-vines on a 5 hectare estate-owned plot. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel with maceration on the skins for 21 to 28 days. The wines goes through malolactic fermentation in tanks and barrels, before aging in 15% new and 83% neutral oak barrels for 14-18 months.
Tasting Notes: Characterized by a deep garnet color with touches of violet. The nose is intense and complex, with an initial burst of ripe red and black fruits like black cherry, blackberry, and plum. It’s complemented by subtle notes of spice, such as clove and cinnamon. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured. The rich fruit flavors of blackcurrant, dark cherry, and plum are the dominant notes, while subtle nuances of oak and smoked vanilla from barrel aging emerge, offering a lovely complexity.
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Château Léoville Poyferré
'Pavillon de Poyferré' Saint-Julien 2018
Saint-Julien AOC, Bordeaux, France
$66 btl/retail (available online HERE)
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This is an exceptional example of Left-Bank Bordeaux from the renowned 2nd growth estate, Château Léoville Poyferré. The vineyard of Léoville is the largest on the Left Bank of Bordeaux and has been divided between multiple highly-regarded estates. This second label wine, 'Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré, is made from the youngest vines on the property. However, it is held to the same production and quality standards as the primary Château Léoville Poyferré wines.
Varietal: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot from the youngest estate vines. The wine is barrel aged for 18-20 months before removing the lees during bottling. The wine then rests in bottle for an additional 4 months.
Tasting Notes: Deep, vibrant ruby with purple tinges at the rim, indicating its youth and potential for aging. The nose is expressive, revealing a complex bouquet of ripe red and black fruit—think blackberries, cassis, and plums—intertwined with hints of vanilla, cloves, tobacco, and subtle notes of cedar and graphite. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with a smooth, velvety texture. On the palate, the blackcurrant, cherry, and blueberry flavors are prominent, showcasing the ripeness of the fruit. There’s a certain freshness and balance, which is characteristic of the Saint-Julien terroir.
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Domaine de Chevalier is one of the most prestigious estates in the Pessac-Léognan appellation of Bordeaux, located in the southern part of the Médoc. The estate has a long history, with documentation of its existence dating back to the famous map of Pierre de Belleyme in 1783. Domaine de Chevalier is particularly renowned for producing wines of remarkable balance, elegance, and longevity. The estate’s terroir, which includes gravelly soils over limestone and clay, contributes to the complex and refined character of its wines. The vineyard’s meticulous approach to viticulture and winemaking, including hand harvesting, low yields, and strict sorting, ensures high-quality fruit, which is then crafted with both tradition and innovation.
Domaine de Chevalier is under the stewardship of Olivier Bernard, a pivotal figure in modern Bordeaux winemaking. As both the owner and the visionary behind the estate, Bernard has played a significant role in the estate’s transformation into one of the leading producers in Pessac-Léognan. After taking over Domaine de Chevalier in 1983, Olivier implemented a series of changes that emphasized quality at every stage of production, from vineyard management to winemaking. Under his guidance, the estate adopted more sustainable viticultural practices, focusing on reducing yields, ensuring rigorous sorting of grapes, and employing environmentally conscious techniques to enhance the expression of the terroir. His deep respect for tradition is matched by a keen interest in innovation, blending time-honored Bordeaux practices with cutting-edge technology.
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Château Clos Fourtet is a renowned estate located in the Saint-Émilion appellation of Bordeaux, a region celebrated for producing some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world. The estate’s vineyard spans approximately 17 hectares, situated on the Côte Pavie plateau, which is one of the prime locations in Saint-Émilion, known for its limestone-rich soils and excellent exposure to the sun. The property’s terroir, combined with its location near the top of the hill, allows for optimal ripening conditions for its vines. The vineyard is predominantly planted with Merlot, the dominant grape of Saint-Émilion, complemented by Cabernet Franc and a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Clos Fourtet has a long history dating back to the 18th century but truly rose to prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In the 1990s, the estate underwent a significant transformation under the ownership of the Cuvelier family, who invested in both the vineyard and the winemaking facilities. The focus shifted toward sustainable viticulture, ensuring the health and quality of the vines while allowing for minimal intervention in the cellar. Matthieu Cuvelier, the director of the estate, now partners with Jean-Claude Berrouet and Stéphane Derenoncourt, experienced oenologists with deep roots in Bordeaux, to guide the winemaking process with an emphasis on balance, precision, and respect for the terroir.
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CHÂTEAU LÉOVILLE POYFERRÉ | |
Château Léoville Poyferré is one of the most prestigious estates in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, renowned for producing wines of exceptional depth, power, and finesse. The estate's history dates back to the 17th century, and it was classified as a Second Growth (Deuxième Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Situated on the Left Bank of the Gironde River, Léoville Poyferré benefits from an exceptional terroir, with gravelly soils over limestone that promote excellent drainage and ideal growing conditions for the vines. The estate spans around 80 hectares, primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. The property has long been recognized for its consistent quality, producing wines that combine power with elegance and showcase the distinctive characteristics of the Saint-Julien region.
In recent decades, Château Léoville Poyferré has been under the ownership of the Cuvelier family, who have invested heavily in both the vineyard and winemaking facilities, leading to an even greater focus on quality. The estate is overseen by Sara Lecompte Cuvelier, the director of the property, and Isabelle Devin, the head oenologist and winemaker. This winemaking team has brought a more modern, precise approach to winemaking, with an emphasis on sustainable viticulture, hand harvesting, and strict selection in the vineyard. These wines are not only among the finest in Saint-Julien but also in all of Bordeaux, with remarkable aging potential that allows them to evolve beautifully over several decades.
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mark@petitphilippe.com | www.petitphilippe.com
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