| A dinner of ''Collector' Vintages'' • June 2003 |
A DINNER OF "COLLECTORS’ VINTAGES "
from the First Great Classified Growths Group of Saint-Emilion
Since 1989, during each Vinexpo week, the First Great Classified Growths Group of Saint Emilion has organised a dinner of “collectors’ vintages”.
This is a prestigious dinner during which an old vintage from each of the twelve member châteaux of the Group is served. Having spent a good number of years in bottle, these wines are able to express themselves fully and to demonstrate their indisputable ability to improve with age.
Producing some of the very top wines of Saint Emilion, these twelve growths will be pleased to uncork for one evening their finest bottles, in the company of selected guests from the national and international press and certain institutional representatives and members of the international wine trade.
The eight previous editions of this Collectors’ Vintages dinner were organised each time at one of the twelve estates of the Group, making it a special opportunity for the 130 guests to discover the region’s heritage in coming to each of the château’s cellars.
Each dinner has been arranged to fit in specifically with the place chosen for the occasion, making full use of the potential both inside and outside the château, with careful attention being paid to the layout, lighting and table settings. A specially thought-out menu has also been chosen to provide an appropriate match for the old vintages served.
To accompany these collectors’ vintages, each edition has been marked by a souvenir, produced only in limited numbers, and offered to each guest of the Group as a gesture of friendship. So far, eight objects related to the wine world, engraved in the name of the Group and the château hosting the event, and dated, have been produced to commemorate the “Collectors’ Vintages” dinners.
The 9th edition will be held at Château La Gaffelière, on Tuesday June 24. A tri-partite structure, set up under a marquee and specially designed to blend in with the rose garden in the grounds where century-old trees stand, will make up the structure for the 2003 edition.
For the first time the menu will be the work of Philippe Capdevielle, one of Bordeaux’s emerging caterers. The first wine to be served will be Château Pavie 1998, starting with the youngest vintage and finishing with the oldest, a Château Trottevieille 1953.
For the aperitif, a Dom Pérignon 1988 will be offered from the Oenothèque collection whilst the dessert will be graced by a Rieussec 1989.
To heighten the pleasure, these prestigious wines will be served in Riedel glasses.
For the guests’ comfort and so that they may remain within the laws concerning drinking and driving, guests may, if they so wish, take advantage of a courtesy car service in which the " Veltasis " cars driven at the Cannes festival will be used.
Finally, each of the guests will leave the event with the 9th souvenir to commemorate this “Collectors’ Vintages” dinner. The 2003 offering for this Saint Emilion First Growths Dinner will be a bottle-carrier, an original creation by the Bordeaux saddler, Alexandre Mareuil.
ß List of the wines to be served at the 2003 Collectors’ Vintages Dinner
Château Pavie 1998
Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) 1990
Château Magdelaine 1989
Château Angélus 1989
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot 1971
Château Canon 1970
Château La Gaffelière 1966
Château Belair 1964
Château Figeac 1961
Clos Fourtet 1959
Château Trottevieille 1953
Château Cheval Blanc 1982
ß The previous editions
Date Château Dinner held in : Souvenir
1989 : château Cheval Blanc cellars Ornamental cork
1991 : château Ausone garden in marquee Bonzaï vine
1993 : clos Fourtet barrel cellar Pewter decanter base
1995 : château Trottevieille cellars Tastevin
1997 : château Canon vat house Corkscrew
1999 : château Beauséjour garden in marquee Lithograph of the châteaux
2001 : château Figeac barrel cellar Decanter
2003 : château La Gaffelière garden in marquee Bottle carrier
The Saint Emilion First Great Classified Growths Group was created in 1976. It is today made up of twelve of the thirteen First Great Classified Growths of Saint Emilion : Cheval Blanc (A), Angélus (B), Beauséjour (B), Beau-Séjour Bécot (B), Belair (B), Canon (B), Clos Fourtet, Figeac (B), La Gaffelière (B), Magdelaine (B), Trottevieille (B), and Pavie (B).
The Group’s president is Count Eric d'Aramon of Château Figeac.
A selection of photographs of the 2003 Collectors’ Vintages Dinner will be available free of copyright as from Wednesday June 25, 2003 on the Group’s website : www.saint-emilion-premiers.com
The menu will be on-line as from the day after the dinner.
Contact us on :
info@saint-emilion-premiers.com
www.saint-emilion-premiers.com
Tel. : + 33 (0) 557 745 081
Fax : + 33 (0) 557 745 082
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