Yesterday, I showed you a few samples in anticipation of a wonderful evening

Eric Bernardin, from the Vins Étonnants website, invited me to take part in a tasting he was hosting for the PCVT tasting club in Yvelines. On the agenda: Bordeaux grape varieties and the virtues of blending. For the evening, Eric had chosen our single-plot Cabernet-Sauvignon from Cazebonne, as well as our Merlot from Darche. To complement them, he added the delicious Cabernet Franc from Xavier Amirault, La ferme des fontaines 2019, and Cep d’Antan 2018 from Château de Bouillerot, crafted from equal parts of Petit Verdot, Carménère, and Malbec. The wines were packaged in 5cl vials and sent to each member for an online tasting via videoconference, health guidelines obliging. None of the selected wines had seen any oak ageing, which allowed the true characteristics of the grape varieties to shine through. After tasting the four cuvées, we were able to create a Saint-Emilion-style blend by adjusting the proportion of Cabernet Franc blended with Merlot, followed by a more Médoc-style blend by gradually increasing the share of Cabernet-Sauvignon. We finished by spicing things up with 5%, 10%, then 15% of the Carménère, Malbec, and Petit Verdot cuvée. The Bordeaux promise, which claims that the blend is always superior to each of the individual components that make it up, proved true. Yet, where one gains in balance, one loses in character and originality. This confirms once again that I take far greater pleasure in tasting wines with distinct personality—even if they err on the side of excess—than in smoothed-out, blended wines that are undeniably excellent, yet far too well-behaved. It makes me want all the more to continue offering single-plot wines at Cazebonne, each with its own singular identity. Let us continue to enjoy ourselves above all else. Wine is not a serious matter. Many thanks to Eric for his erudition on Bordeaux wines, and to Didier for his warm welcome!