Owner/Winemaker Marc Pasquet of Chateau Mondesir Gazin/Chateau Gontey Bordeaux Here

     On Friday. April 25th, 2008 we had owner/winemaker Marc Pasquet here in the store along with other winemakers/owners from both France and Spain. We will include all as we have the chance. Marc has been here at Cleveland Park Wines before tasting his fine red Bordeaux wines with our customers. He specializes in wines from the right bank with Chateau Gontey Saint Emilion Grand Cru ( 2001 and 2003, both $42.99 )  and Chateau Mondesir-Gazin, Blaye, 2004 ( $28.99 ). Marc had just come from Franc for the big Elite imports portfolio tasting on Monday night. Even tired he was a dynamo of energy and concentration, intent on pouring and representing well his three wines to our customers here at Cleveland Park Wines. Most people seemed to prefer both the 2004 Chateau Mondesir- Gazin and the 2003 Chateau Gontey. The Mondesir -Gazin was heartier and beefier and more rustic and forward in it's flavors, harder-edged and from the gut. The 2003 Gontey was lusher, smoother, fuller, riper; less bite, less edge, less attitude or resistance. I liked the 2001 Gontey better because it had more developed flavors, more tar and leather and burnt, toasty, roasted flavors where the fruit was becoming wel--integrated into the oak and producing a sweeter oak flavor. The 2001 Gontey needs a meal. Both the 2003 and the 2001 are medium-bodied, balanced and focused wines. I'd sip the 2003 before the meal and dive into the depths of the 2001 when the food arrived. 

     In all honesty, all three did well at the tasting. We've sold all three well here over the years. Depending on price and budget they are all well-worth buying ; also depending on your meal. Marc, it was great to have you here again and to revisit all three of your wines ( they are also available in magnums which we have carried ).

     The tasting was from 5-8 PM and we had a steady of flow of customers used to our more ambitious tastings, thirsty both for knowledge that comes directly from first-hand tasting and not dependent on reviews, points and scores. As you each tasted here you made your own scores and evaluations. Cheers.