Negociant Pierre Lawton in Cork talks about Bordeaux

Pierre Patrick Lawton, negociant from Bordeaux, joined Ted Murphy, Irish Wine Geese, and author ‘A Kingdom of Wine – The Story of Ireland’s Wine Geese’ in Cork recently. Part of the Gathering’s Bringing the Winegeese Home series of events, it was organised by Beverley Matthews of l’Attitude 51, Colm McCan, sommelier at Ballymaloe House and Maurice O’Mahony of Wine Alliance. Wine historian Ted Murphy spoke of the history of the family’s connections with Cork. The Sculpture Gallery of Crawford Art Gallery suited the topic well as the gallery hangs a portrait of Pierre Lawton’s forefather Hugh. His account of the event is at http://www.jamessuckling.com/mitchells-invention-and-the-wine-geese.html”>http://.
A horizontal tasting of the four 2009 Bordeaux wines listed below proved that most of them are at their best a little older. They were a little under-developed, and like most Bordeaux vintages, will benefit from at least another five years softening out. A great vintage though, so worth seeking out. 2011 and 2012 are said to be average vintages. As for cheap Bordeaux, I have yet to find one. Cheap Bordeaux gives it a bad name, so anything less that €15 is likely to disappoint compared to the pleasure of a good one. Wines tasted: Chateau Clauzet Saint Estephe 2009 Chateau Branaire Ducru, Saint-Julien 2009. Chateau Clerc Milon, Pauillac 2009 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac 2009 My favourite of the four was the more elegant Saint Julien which is always more likely to be a little more refined than Saint Estephe wines. The Pauillacs were delicious and worth considering now for a few Christmases ahead. There are just a few copies of A Kingdom of Wine left at http://www.onstream.ie