The crus bourgeois have gained in visibility in recent years, offering wines of ever-increasing quality. Read about the press lunch.
During the crus bourgeois tasting / Copyright Julien Tissot
The Crus Bourgeois know how to entertain. Last September, we met at Hélène Darozze’s on rue d’Assas, a stone’s throw from the Lutetia. A series of wines were offered for tasting: Médoc, Haut Médoc, Moulis and Saint Estephe. A fine vintage with a few pleasant surprises.
Wines for tasting / Copyright Julien Tissot
The finest names in the trade press were invited. The discussions were sharp. A few moments later, it was time to sit down to dinner. Mr. Frédéric de Luze, President of the Crus Bourgeois, makes a short introductory speech: ” The success of the “new generation” Crus Bourgeois du Médoc has been proven. 5 years after its renewal and the implementation of a new operating system, our unprecedented approach to quality and exacting standards is bearing fruit: demand for Crus Bourgeois du Médoc on the main markets continues to grow! Over the last 5 vintages, nearly 145 million bottles have been sold on the various markets. A considerable sales force for a family of crus united behind the same values, to offer consumers a high level of quality in every bottle bearing the “Cru Bourgeois” label. “.
Frédéric de Luze / Copyright Julien Tissot
At the table, we talk a lot about China, an important export market for Crus Bourgeois. Several tastings are organized there. The communications team is passionate about its task. Particularly Frédérique de Lamothe, who talks about wines and terroir with great conviction.
Lunch begins with foie gras and continues with pigeon. The food and wine pairings are perfect. We talk about the criteria that allow a wine to bear the label “Cru Bourgeois”.
One of the dishes served that day / Copyright Julien Tissot
The quality approach is controlled by an independent organization, based on demanding specifications. It brings a fresh eye to the “Cru Bourgeois” quality approach, ensuring impartiality at every stage. The “Cru Bourgeois” quality approach is open to any Médoc cru entitled to produce in one of the 8 Médoc AOCs: Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. Applicants are systematically inspected for eligibility. Eligibility is then checked on a multi-year, random basis. Once eligible, the winery can present its wine for tasting. A panel is defined each year by blind tasting on the basis of samples supplied by the candidate wineries, and serves as a benchmark for the vintage concerned.
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Each wine is then tasted and scored blind by a panel of experts, professional tasters recognized by the industry, a total of 6 per session. The tasting, the lifting of anonymity and the results of the organoleptic verification are organized under the responsibility of the independent organization. The tasting is conducted individually and without consultation. The traditional Cru Bourgeois label is awarded on the basis of the arithmetical average of the scores given by the six professional tasters. The score awarded to a candidate château is compared with that of the reference (or panel) for the vintage concerned.
In short, year after year, crus bourgeois are consolidating their image as outsiders on the wine market, in the shadow of crus classés, at more affordable prices.
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