Arriving Shortly the Third Vintage of the
Winemakers' Collection:
"This enticing project was instituted by the
Bordeaux negociant, Bordeaux Millesimes,
under the moniker of "Once Upon a Wine." Each
year a wine will be made based on one parcel
of vines from Chateau d'Arsac, and the
concept involves one of the world's most
respected winemakers for each vintage.
"These wines are meant to be a cinematic
study of the same terroir with the philosophy
of the winemaker imprinted on each vintage,
and the winemakers are given carte blanche
authority to do whatever they want. It will
be fascinating to compare these offerings as
they evolve, but there is no doubt that some
of the world's greatest winemaking talents
are being lined up to continue this creative
concept." -Robert Parker
So, every year, for 5 years, one of the most
talented winemakers from around the world
will be selected to have a crack at the
terroir at Chateau d'Arsac (bordering
Margaux)
and
craft his (or her) dream wine.
The wines will be a fascinating reflection of
the distinct styles of the best winemakers
in the world. A picture of the winemaker will
dominate the label as it should. After all,
this is not about a chateau or a vintage,
this is about a winemaker and his creation.
Michel Rolland (sold out) and Denis
Dubourdieu (a few cases left) were the
Collection's #1 and #2
winemakers for the project. Stephane
Derenoncourt will be #4. I can't wait to
taste this wine as 2009 is being heralded as
an outstanding vintage. The #5 winemaker
has not yet been announced.
Andrea Franchetti, Winemaker #3, owns Tenuta
di Trinoro which is an estate in Tuscany, but
he has been a lover of Bordeaux wines since
the beginning of his career, and he uses Bordeaux
varietals to make his wines in Italy.
He first planted Tenuta di Trinoro in 1992
and in a short time it came onto the radar
screens of wine lovers around the world,
including Robert Parker, who bestowed the big
marks on his wine.
Andrea Franchetti took a different approach
at Chateau d'Arsac from his predecessors. He
increased the size of his vineyard space to
allow for dramatic crop-thinning. He did not
fertilize the soil. His plot of space is
shared about equally by Cabernet Sauvignon
and Merlot (with a small bit of Cabernet
Franc), but the final wine consists of 87%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 2%
Cabernet Franc.
This is truly a unique wine-drinking
experience. Already I can picture myself at
dinner one night several years from now
surrounded by 5 beautiful bottles from 5 of
the greatest legends in the wine world. I
think I will decant them all and serve them
blind and then we will start to savour and
discuss each one.
As a subscriber, you have been allocated the
same
quantity of the Winemakers' Collection #3 as you
bought in the previous vintage. You also get
the the
rights to this allocation in 2008 and 2009
when they
are released.
This is the subscriber plan - the same as the
last two
years. You can of course unsubscribe by
letting me
know but other wise I am assuming that you
want to
continue your subscription. You will be
charged for
this year's release in about two weeks unless
we hear
from you. Delivery will be in about 6 weeks.
If you want
me to keep it in my temperture-controlled
warehouse
until the fall I will do that without charge.
Please remember that subscribers have the
right of first refusal for subsequent
offerings. If you opt out along the way, I
will offer it to someone else. By necessity,
this will take you out of the loop and you'll
have to wait for another "vacancy" to get
back in for the current offering.
This is really going to be entertaining. Get
in on the action. Cynthia Hurley
