” Bordeaux, one of the world’s leading centers for fine wines”
Gerda Beziade : For the past three years, Excellence Vin, a courtier specializing in wines from outside the Bordeaux region, has been organizing a tasting of non-Bordeaux wines at the beginning of September. This wonderful tasting takes place at the Bassin des Lumières, a digital art centre that offers immersive and digital exhibitions in a former World War II submarine base. This tasting event marks the kick-off of the market releases of non-Bordeaux wines and also symbolizes the start of the new academic year.
“Bordeaux is one of the leading centers for trading the world’s finest wines.”
In September, many of those wines are brought to market by prominent negociant of the Place de Bordeaux, including Roland Coiffe & Associés.
While we specialize in selling the Grands Vins from our Bordeaux region, we are also proud to apply our expertise as exporters to the sale of these great wines from Italy, Argentina, Chile, California, Germany, and Spain. Through this activity, the Place de Bordeaux demonstrates its dynamism, expertise, and adaptability to a constantly evolving wine world. Wine enthusiasts are becoming increasingly diverse in their choices: they might enjoy a Bordeaux one day and an Argentinean wine the next, reflecting a new consumer trend. The Place de Bordeaux stands out as an incredibly efficient platform, offering significant added value for distribution, brands, and consumers in an open market.
Some of these wines have already been sold by La Place for two decades. Among them, we once again find the exceptional Solaia 2021, Toscana IGT, from the Antinori family. Commercial Director Francesco Visani was certainly not exaggerating when he told me that this 2021 vintage is one of, if not the, greatest vintages ever produced at the estate.
Everything was perfect during the growing season. Between April and the end of October, when the harvest was completed, the average temperature was 19.2°C. The grapes had time to reach perfect ripeness while retaining their freshness. The sun was abundant, and rain fell at the right moments. This vintage is undoubtedly as remarkable as the prodigious 2016, which, like the 2015, was awarded 100 points twice by The Wine Advocate and James Suckling.
The sales manager of Bibi Graetz, Vincenzo d’Andrea, explained to me that Bibi made the radical decision not to include grapes from south-facing hills in the Testamatta 2022, Toscana IGT, or in Colore 2022, Toscana IGT. More than 50% of the harvest was sacrificed to produce the best wines possible, as Italy, like Bordeaux, also experienced heatwaves during the summer of 2022. Bibi Graetz once again demonstrates his uncompromising dedication to his wines, which are made from the native Sangiovese grape, a refined variety sourced from six different terroirs. In 2022, these wines offer good freshness and acidity, but with a rounder profile.
The wines from the Mazzei family, who have been producing wine for 25 generations, are a reliable choice, bringing a unique complexity to each vintage thanks to the diversity of their 650-hectare estate, of which only 110 hectares are planted with vines. The estate features seven different terroirs spread across 114 varied plots.
Concerto 2022, Toscana IGT, whose first vintage dates back to 1981, is one of the original Super Tuscans. Thanks to its blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 vintage has developed very well. It has retained its structure and balance despite a summer with some heatwaves. It is a wine to be enjoyed in its youth, but like Siepi, it also has excellent ageing potential.
The Siepi 2022, Toscana IGT, has been in the family’s hands since 1435. This unique blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Sangiovese owes its distinctive character to Merlot, which was planted in the 1980s, long before it became fashionable in the wine world.
Orma 2022, Toscana IGT, comes from a small 7.5-hectare estate beautifully situated in Bolgheri, on the famous “boulevard of three lines,” where the Mediterranean breeze brings constant freshness. Acquired by the Moretti Cuseri family in 2005, this estate produces a powerful wine in 2022, with a blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc, showing a pH of 3.56.
Luca Sanjust, owner of Petrolo, also succeeded in producing a brilliant Galatrona 2022, Toscana IGT, in what was certainly a more challenging year. James Suckling awarded this wine, made from 100% Merlot, the ultimate score of 100. The vines are planted on clay soil with layers of schist, marl, and sandstone, surrounded by magnificent wooded hills. This exceptional microclimate allowed the wine to retain its freshness, even in 2022.
The dynamic Adrianna Catena was present to showcase the excellent wines of her family: Catena Zapata 2021 and Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae 2021. Adrianna, along with her sister Laura, represents the 4th generation of Malbec pioneers in Argentina. Since 2018, La Place de Bordeaux has been marketing these two ultra-premium Argentine wines.
Catena Zapata 2021, Mendoza, Argentina, is the main cuvée, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon: 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Malbec, and 10% Cabernet Franc. The massal selections of Malbec and pre-phylloxera Cabernet Sauvignon come from ungrafted vines, which are still very rarely found in Bordeaux.
The Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae 2021, Mendoza, Argentina, is a rare gem: a 100% Malbec planted on a 1.4-hectare plot. The soils of this plot are scattered with limestone and marine deposits, remnants of millions of years, at an altitude of 1,500 meters. It is a rare, unique wine and a must-have for serious Malbec enthusiasts. James Suckling awarded it 99 points, and The Wine Advocate gave it 98, well-deserved ratings for this exceptional and unique Malbec.
Among the French wines we sell is the exceptional Château Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin 2022. We will soon publish an interview with Charles Perrin, a representative of the 5th generation of the family to cultivate and vinify wines, and one of the seven cousin-owners. The family created this cuvée in 1989 as a tribute to their grandfather. The cuvée is only produced in exceptional vintages, and what makes it unique is the predominance of Mourvèdre in the blend. The production is very limited each year, around 3,000 bottles, and this wine is among the greatest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
This year, for the first time, we are pleased to offer you three new wines in our selection of wines outside Bordeaux:
Domaine Chapuis 2022, Burgundy: This magnificent 17-hectare family estate has been in the hands of the Chapuis family for over 170 years. The eight crus from the 2022 vintage that we will offer on September 19th are: Savigny-lès-Beaune Village, Chorey-lès-Beaune Village, Aloxe-Corton Village, Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru, Corton Languettes Grand Cru, Corton Perrières Grand Cru, Corton Chaumes Grand Cru, and the exceptional Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2022.
Beaulieu Vineyard, Georges Latour Private Reserve 2021, Napa. This is a French story in Rutherford, Napa Valley, that began in 1900. In 2015, Treasury Wine Estates became the owner and had the excellent idea of hiring the talented winemaker Trevor Durling a year later, in 2016, to continue producing one of Napa’s greatest wines. As the Americans say, “a Cult Cab.”
Zuccardi, Canal Uco 2021, Mendoza, Argentina, is under the direction of Sebastián Zuccardi, a member of the third generation of the founding family. The estate is renowned for its dedication to innovation and the faithful expression of the Uco Valley terroir, considered among the highest vineyards in the world. The high-altitude parcels benefit from an optimal climate for various grape varieties, including Malbec and Chardonnay. Their rigorous approach to viticulture is reflected in a state-of-the-art winery, and their constant pursuit of perfection earned Zuccardi the title of “World’s Best Vineyards” in 2019, 2020, and 2021, solidifying its international reputation.
And there is no better way to conclude the tasting of these great wines from around the world than with a glass of Domäne Serrig, Grosse Lage 2021 and Kabinett 2021, Serriger Vogelsang Mosel, which I enjoyed at the end of the evening while chatting with its owner, Markus Molitor. It was an unforgettable moment surrounded by his fascinating Rieslings, whose balance of sweetness, complexity, vibrant freshness, and great length is truly memorable. Unfortunately, allocations will be small this year, as a significant portion of German vineyards were devastated by frost in April. Domäne Serrig was also heavily affected. But as Markus said, “we can hardly fight against the will of Mother Nature.”
Gerda BEZIADE has an incredible passion for wine, and possesses a perfect knowledge of Bordeaux acquired within prestigious wine merchants for 25 years. Gerda joins Roland Coiffe & Associés in order to bring you, through “Inside La PLACE” more information about the estate we sell.