On 24 April, members of the Worshipful Company of Actuaries met for a wine tasting event.
The seven wines chosen were an eclectic collection, each from a different area of Bordeaux. The years were excellent, and the chateaux of high pedigree.
We started with two wines from the Right Bank of the Gironde Estuary. The first was the Chateau l'Eglise Clinet from Pomerol, a cru exceptionnel. The second was a Chateau Troplong Mondot, a St. E´milion Premier Grand Cru Classe B wine. I enjoyed this greatly - it reminded me of sunkissed days in St. Emilion, soaking up the sun while eating macaroons.
Our wine journey then took us to the Left Bank and wines from St Julien, St. Estephe,Margaux and Pauillac. Margaux wines are softer than those from the Right Bank, and the Chateau Brane Cantenac 2005 was no exception. However, the top prize for the evening went to the Cos d'Estournel 2003; most of those present voted it their favourite. This did not detract from the quality of the Chateau Leoville Poyferee 2000 from St. Julien, nor the Chateau Pontet Canet 2005 from Pauillac. We finished with a dessert wine from Barsac, the Premier Cru Classe 2001 Chateau Coutet. It was a beautiful dark gold colour, typical of fine dessert wines of that age.
Despite our efforts there were several bottles left over, which were auctioned - raising more than £2,000 for the Company of Actuaries' Charitable Trust.
