Bordeaux producers encourage wine students

By Jaq Bayles

Published: 09 September, 2016

The official selection of Cru Bourgeois wines for the 2014 vintage will be unveiled this month by new president of the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc Olivier Cuvelier.

The official selection of Cru Bourgeois wines for the 2014 vintage will be unveiled this month by new president of the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc, Olivier Cuvelier.

The announcement will be followed by a tasting of the wines where - as well as providing a free-pour format for members of the trade and press - the Crus Bourgeois will be offering tasting opportunities to wine students.

In a move aimed at introducing Bordeaux wines to younger UK tasters, the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc are working with Wine & Spirit Education Trust educators and the Association of Wine Educators to encourage their students to experience the "approachable, affordable quality Bordeaux wines represented by the Cru Bourgeois category".

In a further effort to encourage young people in the trade to learn about the Crus Bourgeois, sommelier students recruited by the Court of Master Sommeliers will work at the London tasting, giving sommelier assistance to tasters and getting the chance to taste through the category to help expand their knowledge of Bordeaux wines.

Olivier Cuvelier said: "The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc have a track record of innovation and inclusiveness, having created a unique system and communications vehicle for an extended family of high quality Bordeaux wines.

"As such, these moves to open the doors of our tasting to the wine trade leaders and enthusiasts of the future fit perfectly with our goal to spread the word about our great quality Bordeaux wines, which are accessible to the many rather than the few."

Hailing from eight of the Médoc's AOCs - Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis, Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estèphe - the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc is a grouping of Bordeaux wines with a French government-approved guarantee of quality, overseen by an independent body (Bureau Veritas).

Currently, wines are assessed each vintage. Each bottle produced is authenticated with an official Cru Bourgeois sticker which has a QR code allowing consumers to find out more information about Crus Bourgeois.

The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc Official Selection system was launched with the release of the 2008 vintage and, on average, 250 wines have been awarded Cru Bourgeois status each year since.

The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc 2014 Official Selection London tasting will take place on September 22 at The British Academy 10-11 Carlton House Terrace.

Registration is via Phillips-Hill on http://www.phillips-hill.co.uk/crus-bourgeois-du-medoc or jo@bellevillemarketing.com or louise@phillips-hill.co.uk.

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