The Decanter Fine Wine Encounter

So I headed off for this year’s Decanter French Fine Wine Encounter on Saturday. For me, this was an opportunity to taste some of the best French wines as well as to talk about them with the producers.


On the way... the sun...

It has featured ca. 300 wines from various regions and producers in France.

Couple of halls at the Landmark Hotel in central London, were occupied with ca. 70 stands offering different blends and vintages. You name it, they’ve got it: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Côtes du Rhône, Languedoc…

The event also included special Master Classes and I’ve attended Three Great Terroirs, Master class and tasted some of magnificent wines from three legendary chateaux, Chateau Palmer, Vieux Chateau Certan and Chateau Haut Bailly. All were presented with a range of exciting vintages, as well as a speaker.


Véronique Sanders, Thomas Duroux, Alexandre Thienpont and Sarah Kemp, the publishing director of the Decanter.


I’m pleased to share with you some of my tasting notes and remarks.


1995 Château Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Eye: Deep ruby
Nose: Chocolate, red currant and spices… very elegant…
Palate: Cigar box, cedar, dark fruit,. It is very rich, rounded on the palate …
Finish: Once more… ridiculously long and seductive finish…
Decanted: 2 hr.
Note: Amazing complexity and elegance. (95 pts.)

1999 Château Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Eye: Deep purple
Nose: Licorice and earthy-leathery notes… mmmm…
Palate: Very complex black fruit, tar... Perfectly rip tannins and soft french oak feels elegant and velvety. A full boded wine and in the same time so rounded and charming…
Finish: Long and charming …
Decanted: 1 1/2 hr. (96 pts.)

2005 Château Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Eye: Dark red
Nose: Some minerality, but it is very, very closed…
Palate: Creamy black fruit... also some spices…
Finish: Long …
Decanted: 0 hr.
Note: Today, I can’t rate this wine, but I feel that this is a Great wine and looking forward to taste it once more in the near future.


1998 Vieux Château Certan - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Eye: Dark red
Nose: Dark chocolate, pencil shavings and game...
Palate: Quite concentrated. The fruit aspect is very strong, but also some mineral flavors. Fantastic balance, almost as cashmere like on the palate. This is a complex vine…
Finish: Very long and almost seductive.
Decanted: ca. 1 hr.
Note: I’ll definitely buy this wine. (95 pts.)

2000 Vieux Château Certan - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Eye: Dark red
Nose: Cigar box and liquorices...
Palate: Quite forward, dark fruits and black pepper, round on the palate, balanced with good acidity...
Finish: Long and memorable.
Decanted: ca. 1 hr. (90 pts.)

2005 Vieux Château Certan - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Eye: Dark red
Nose: Floral…
Palate: Much better on the palate. Vibrant, round and balanced, but to young…
Finish: Very long and almost seductive.
Decanted: 0 hr. (90 pts.)


2001 Château Haut-Bailly - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Eye: Dark red and clear
Nose: Cigar box, and black berries …
Palate: Quite fresh and forward with very pleasant taste of black, almost juice like
Finish: Long…
Decanted: ca. 1 hr.
Note: I’m looking forward to taste this wine in about 5-6 year from now. I suspect it will be wonderful. (90 pts.)

2003 Château Haut-Bailly - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Eye: Dark red and clear
Nose: Cigar box, and black berries …
Palate: Quite fresh and forward with very pleasant taste of black, almost juice like
Finish: Long…
Decanted: ca. 2 hr. (89 pts.)

2005 Château Haut-Bailly - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Eye: Dark red and clear
Nose: Dark fruit purée with cream…
Palate: Walnut and coffee characters…. Concentrated, complex and marvelously silky on the palate…
Finish: Ridiculously long and pleasant finish… I’m talking about 40 – 50 seconds!
Decanted: 0 hr.
Note: I’ll go for it. (95 pts)

The 100-point Rating Scale
* Extraordinary (96-100 points)
* Outstanding (90-95)
* Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
* Good (80-84)
* Average (75-79)
* Below average (70-74)
* Avoid (50-70)

It is amazing how 2005 is deep, big and strong, and yet so balanced and silky…

In addition, I had a chance to talk with Oz Clarke :-) and during our discussion regarding Macedonian wine and why it is not promoted in Decanter, in a split of second, he managed to introduce me to Sarah Kemp and Steven Spurrier!


The champion of French wine, Steven Spurrier

This was a wonderful experience and I’m looking forward for more!