Ronald and Margaret ready for the Fete de la Fleur
A Personal Note From Ronald,
Bordeaux is buzzing with activities this month and our calendar is filled. One of the events that I loo forward to in particular is the Fete de la Fleur this week. During the Fete de la Fleur Margaret and I will both be inducted as Honorary Commandeurs of the Brotherhood the Commanderie du Bontemps du Medoc, des Graves, de Sauternes et Barsac. And we are very proud that it was First Growth Chateau Mouton Rothschild inviting us to join the ranks of this brotherhood.
Margaret at the Fete de la Fleur at
Chateau Malartic-Lagravière
Ronald is a member of the Hospitaliers de Pomerol
Recognition
I am already a proud member of the Jurade of Saint Emilion and of the Hospitaliers of Pomerol. And it will be with great pleasure that I will swear loyalty to the Left Bank Wines of Bordeaux. It is a very special recognition for our passion and enthusiasm we spread to promote and support Bordeaux wines, French cuisine and lifestyle to Bordeaux lovers all over the world.
We’ll tell you all about this year’s fete de le Fleur in a later edition of the Bordeaux Wine Magazine. In this edition we will look back on the festivities of last year at Chateau Malartic de Lagravière.
More than Bordeaux
We taste wines from all over the world on the Farewell dinner and I would like to tell you about two very special wines we tasted on last week’s Farewell dinner at the Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour.
Farewell dinner
This June we have one more Bordeaux Wine Tour to look forward to with fabulous dinners and lunches at chateaux, great wines and chateau visits. Our Farewell dinner is the highlight of the week. Can you imagine sitting down for dinner in our 300-year-old dining room at a table that pre-dates the Bordeaux 1855 Classification? And imagine feasting on elegant cuisine, while sipping Chateau Margaux 1985 and Chateau d’Yquem amongst others?
Join us in 2019
All our 2018 Tours are sold out and the availability for our 2019 Bordeaux Wine Tours is getting limited on certain departure dates. If you are thinking of visiting Bordeaux next year why not hit reply and ask us for an Itinerary? We would love to send you the itineraries as a first step to make your dream Bordeaux Wine Experience come true.
Check out our 2019 Bordeaux Wine Tour schedule here.
Our 300-year-old dining room with a table that pre-dates
the Bordeaux 1855 Classification
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Comments, questions or complaints?
Anything to say to me? You can reach me here: (Ronald@bxwinex.com) or simply reply to this magazine. I love to hear from you.
Ronald and Margaret love to share
their passion for Bordeaux with you
And please remember: Don’t drink anything I wouldn’t drink!
Cheers from Bordeaux,
Ronald Rens, M. Sc., Wine Master
Wine writer and President
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Fete de la Fleur
Chateau Malartic-Lagravière hosted the Fete de la Fleur 2017
Fete de La Fleur
The Fete de la Fleur is organized every year in Bordeaux in June when the vines start to flower. In years when Bordeaux hosts the Vinexpo wine exhibition, the festivities take place in a chateau in the Medoc, Graves or Sauternes. In the even years the celebrations are organized in Bordeaux during the Bordeaux Wine Festival.
Fete de la Fleur celebrates the flowering of the vine in late spring. Winegrowers anxiously wait for these flowers to appear and watch over them closely, because the quality of flowering brings hope for the future harvest, both in terms of quality and quantity.
An ancient rule of thumb predicts that the harvest will take place 100 days after the flowering of the vines. And this needs celebrating of course. With more than 1 500 guests, the Fête de la Fleur has become the society event of the year. Many Michelin-starred chefs, film- and pop stars, as well as international VIPs have already honored this world-renowned festival with their presence. And now both Ronald and Margaret will be intronized in the Comanderie at this event.
The banner of the Commanderie du Bontemps du Medoc,
des Graves, de Sauternes et Barsac
Margaret and Ronald with Prince Robert of Luxemburg,
owner of First Growth Haut Brion
Nice crowd
We are very honored to join the ranks of this select group of Bordeaux Ambassadors and especially because this will be on special invitation of Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
Famous Honorary Members have preceded us. For example: Claudia Cardinale, Charles Aznavour, Gérard Depardieu ,Gina Lollobrigida, Michael Caine, Jackie Chan, Hugh Grant, Barbara Hendricks, Jerry Lewis or HRH Prince Andrew and most recently HRH Prince Albert of Monaco. Not a bad crowd to be part of 
Not all ambassadors are this famous of course but whether famous or unknown all honorary members have a passion for the Bordeaux Left Bank wines to which they swear loyalty.
Fete de La Fleur 2017 at Chateau Malartic-Lagravière
The splendid 2,250-m² marquee in the heart of the historic Malartic-Lagravière vineyards
The 2017 edition of Fete de La Fleur
The fabulous Fête de la Fleur at Chateau Malartic-Lagravière highlighted the extraordinary energy and 20-year dedication of the Bonnie family in producing this Grand Cru Classé de Graves.
We were welcomed by the Bonnie family in the gardens and vineyards famed for their Grand Cru Classé de Graves at the Château Malartic-Lagravière estate in Léognan. We mingled with the other guests while sipping Chateau Filhot 2011 (Sauternes) or Gazin Rocquencourt 2013 (Pessac-Léognan) and followed the inductions taking place on stage.
Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie thanking the chef
It was clear what was Ronald’s favorite wine…
Passion for wine
Dinner was served in a splendid 2,250-m² marquee atop the famed gravel ridge in the heart of the historic Malartic-Lagravière estate. Since this is an official gala dinner there were of course many speeches. In their speeches, Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie (who owns the estate with his children), Emmanuel Cruse, head of the Commanderie du Bontemps, and Alain Juppé, former prime minister and mayor of Bordeaux, all made reference to three important anniversaries: 20 years since the Bonnies acquired Malartic-Lagravière, 30 years of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, and 50 years of marriage for Alfred and Michèle Bonnie. It added a special touch to a gala evening that was sumptuous yet relaxed, where the guests clearly delighted in sharing the commitment of a family so passionate about wine.
An army of sommeliers ready to serve us the outstanding wines
Three Michelin stars
The menu, devised by Chef Yannick Alleno, whose two French restaurants have earned three Michelin stars and who knows the family and their wines very well, was, quite simply, exceptional: the delicate lobster and caviar gelée, served with magnums of 2007 Malartic white was perhaps the dinner’s most spectacular food-wine pairing. Next, with impeccable timing, came lamb served three ways, served with stuffing and paired with a 2004 Pichon Comtesse de Lalande and then a 2000 Malartic red – both superb. For the cheese course, a 1996 Château Margaux, with a wonderful tribute to the late Paul Pontallier, proved a sublime accompaniment. Finally, the lemon and roasted pineapple pavlova was a beautiful match for the 2013 Château d’Yquem. Culinary art at its best and very much enjoyed by all!
Lamb revisited by Chef Yannick Alleno
Magnums of 2007 Malartic-Lagravière
2013 Château Yquem with culinary art at its best
Wine served accompanied by music by the Modigliani Quartet
A celebration of wine
Since the Fête de la Fleur is first and foremost a celebration of wine, the Bonnies made sure that the wines were properly showcased. Each one was brought out to a specially chosen piece of classical music by composers such as Beethoven, Vivaldi and Handel, performed by the Modigliani Quartet. The marquee itself was dressed by world-renowned Chilean artist Federica Matta, whose design featured four stars around the Malartic-Lagravière label: the famous schooner owned by the Count of Malartic, an admiral in the service of Louis XV and owner of the estate in the 18th century.
Happy Birthday
But there was more art to come. After adjourning to the château gardens with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Grand Siècle (the Bonnies acquired the Laurent-Perrier estate in 1997), guests were treated to an exclusive concert by French-Israeli singer Yael Naim. Her hit singles, including Older, Toxic and New Soul, preceded a rendition of Happy Birthday, accompanied by the Modigliani Quartet, and fireworks to celebrate the 20 years since the Bonnies acquired the estate.
This glorious evening continued into the early hours while we danced the night away under a giant disco ball suspended under the Malartic sky.
It was a truly memorable evening where wine and food were the stars, and we were treated to a very special Fête de la Fleur experience.
Ronald enjoying Yquem with Michelin 2-star chef Jean Coussau
from le Relais de la Poste near Dax
A tower of Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle Champagne
The world’s largest disco ball
More than Bordeaux alone
The wines tasted at last week’s Farewell Dinner at Chateau Coulon Laurensac
Alan and Janine from Australia at Chateau Palmer on their third trip with the Bordeaux Wine Experience
More than Bordeaux
On last week’s Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour we had the pleasure of welcoming guests for the second, third and even the fourth time with us.
Alan and Janine from Australia were with us for their third tour with us. In their words:
“A very outstanding visit again. We never tire of this region. An outstanding cooking experience and very outstanding food and wine.”
Alan and Janine kindly brought a Penfolds Grange Bin 95 from the Vintage 1990 that has been wine Spectator’s wine of the year a couple of years ago. I had never tasted this wine before in my life and it blew me away. It merits indeed to be called Australia’s First Growth wine. Thank you Alan and Janine for sharing this great wine with us and for your confidence in touring three times with us.
The greatest wines from different continents on
the Farewell Dinner thanks to our guests
Bill and Laurie with us for the fourth time
(here at La Mission Haut Brion)
Fourth Bordeaux Wine Tour
Bill and Laurie from the USA were with us for their fourth Bordeaux Wine Experience and enjoyed it as much as the first time. They put it this way: “While this is our fourth visit with you, we appreciate so much the new items you specially added for this tour. You made this as fresh and exciting as the first time. It is wonderful to come back and to feel like we are staying with dear friends.”
Bill and Laurie brought a superb American wine to our table. They treated us to a Shafer Hillside Select 2007 from the Stags Leap district in the Napa Valley. A wine that received a well earned 100-point rating from Robert Parker!
We feel so privileged that you shared this great wine with us on your fourth time with us. The fact that you came back to us four times -and even considering a fifth tour- makes us really proud. We couldn’t ask for a greater compliment.
Our 2019 Bordeaux Wine Tour Program
Because you want a Bordeaux Wine Experience and not "just a tour"
The Grand Tour of Bordeaux
The Grand Tour may be the most special tour we offer, with meals as exceptional as your visits. Imagine tasting all five First Growths and Yquem. And there is more: Superb chateau meals and Michelin rated dining… Add to this the best of Pomerol and Saint Emilion and you’ll see that this dazzling Grand Tour of Bordeaux is your chance to see and taste the very best that Bordeaux has to offer.
Tasting with the owner in Pomerol at Chateau Gazin
See and taste all First Growths (here at Yquem)
The Bordeaux Grand Cru tour
This is probably our most exclusive tour. This ultimate wine tour for Bordeaux lovers is as good as it gets. Can you believe that you’ll see and taste all five First Growths and Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem including some older vintages! Of course we include the best of Saint Emilion and Pomerol as well. Add to this outstanding meals at exceptional venues not normally open to the public and you’ll see why this tour usually sells out early.
Ask us for an Itinerary here.
The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour
The Harvest Tour is Grand in every way, both in food and wine. Enjoy chateau meals and Michelin rated dining. The most exciting time in Bordeaux is harvest time. You can sense the anticipation in the air.
And the food is superb as well: Exclusive meals at extraordinary venues not normally open to the public. On top of that you’ll see and taste all five First Growths and Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem and many of them will be older vintages!
Ask us for an Itinerary here.
Bordeaux in full harvest swing
Visiting Fist Growths Chateau Mouton Rothschild is a memorable part on each of our tours
2019 Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule
May 20 – May 25 (2019)
Last rooms available
June 3 – June 8 (2019)
(Under option)
June 17 – June 22 (2019)
(Sold out!)
The Bordeaux September Grand Cru Harvest Tour I
September 9 – Sept 14 (2019)
Open for booking
The Bordeaux September Grand Cru Harvest Tour II
September 23 – Sept 28 (2019)
Open for booking
The Bordeaux October Grand Cru Harvest Tour
October 7 – October 12 (2019)
Open for booking
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Why take a Bordeaux Wine and Culinary Tour with us?
•
Exclusive touring: limited to six double/twin rooms and one single
•
Carefree and truly effortless travel in Bordeaux: We take care of everything, really everything
•
See and taste all 5 First Growths and Château Yquem!
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Expert (and humorous) guidance by Bordeaux specialist Ronald Rens
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Air-conditioned accommodation at our privately owned 18th century chateau
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Taste more Classified Growths than on any other Bordeaux wine tour!
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Grand Cru Farewell Dinner with all Grand Cru wines (including Chateau d’Yquem!)
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Gourmet meals at Bordeaux Chateaux and a Michelin starred restaurant!
•
Grand Cru wines with all meals (except breakfast…)
•
Air-conditioned, luxury motor coach transportation throughout the tour
•
Great food and wine and a lot of fun in a small group
Chateau Coulon Laurensac, simply the best place in the world to taste all five First Growths and Yquem…
The Bordeaux Wine Experience
at Chateau Coulon Laurensac
1, chemin de Meydieu
33360 Latresne (BORDEAUX), France
Website : www.BXWINEX.com
Call us:
1-877-203-2665 (toll free from USA & Canada) or
+33 556 20 64 12 (from anywhere else in the world)
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Copyright 2018 by The Bordeaux Wine Experience. All rights reserved. The content, design and graphical elements of this Magazine are copyrighted. The Bordeaux Wine Experience is a Dutch company specializing in wine and culinary tours in the Bordeaux region for an English speaking international clientele.