There are wine tastings, and then there are wine tastings.

There are many trade/professional wine tasting events in New York City since this city is one of the largest markets for fine wines and spirits.

All the distributors/importers and various trade organizations are here to market and sell their products to the people and businesses that sell to the public.

Sometimes a distributor will showcase their whole product line which would be a massive tasting with triple digit bottles to be sampled while the trade associations will showcase the wines of a particular country.

The best consumer tastings are the ones that are run by wine magazines such as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and Decanter.

Sometimes those distributors will show only a part of their portfolio at a smaller tasting. The trade organizations will have a smaller tasting promoting a particular wine region.

On May 13th I attended one of those smaller, more intimate tasting.

Masion Barriere manages the operations of Grands Millesimes de Framce, which has been offering a curated selection “of the finest Bordeaux wine and wines from around the world”.

Bordeaux Rendez-Vous began in 2012 as a marketing arm of 10 Grands Crus Classes Chateaux. These Chateaux were represented at this small, intimate tasting.

There was a little over a dozen Chateau at the tasting. Along with their Grand Cru wines, many poured their second and third label wines which are a good way to drink good Bordeaux at a more approachable price point than the Grand Cru wines.

More importantly, along with the second and third label wines, they poured older vintages from their Grand Cru wines, good Bordeaux needs some time in the bottle to open up, and there was some very nice wine to be sampled.

The tasting was held at the Suntory offices at 11 Madison Avenue, across from Madison Square Park in Manhattan.

Saint-Estephe

2010 Chateau Cos d”Estournel: Opaque dark red, brick rim, cherry tar and crushed black fruit on the nose, chewy dark fruit, silky tannin, nice grip.

2012 Chateau Cos d’Estournel: Opaque black, brick rim, smokey and dirty dark chocolate on the nose, silky dark fruit ending with firm and silky tannin.

Pessac-Leognan

2014 Domaine de Chevalier “L’Esprit de Chevalier”: Opaque black, purple rim, closed nose of tar and black cherry, chewy and chunky dark fruit with great balance.

2019 Domaine de Chevalier: Opaque black, purple rim, slate and forest floor on the nose, darkly concentrated with a chewy finish, great balance.

2022 Chateau Malartic Lagraviere: Opaque dark red, purple rim, dirty tar and black cherry on the nose, chewy, firm fruit ending with crisp acidity.

Pomerol

2016 Chateau Rouget: Opaque black, purple rim, graphite and cooked fruit on the nose, chewy black fruit ending with firm tannin and acidity.

2018 Chateau Rouget: Opaque dark red, purple rim, closed nose of milk chocolate and graphite, silky red fruit, firm finish.

Saint-Emilion

2016 Chateau Grand Mayne: Opaque dark red, brick rim, tar, saline and red cherry on the nose, chewy dark fruit, nice grip.

2018 Chateau Grand Mayne: Opaque dark red, purple rim, dusty sweet dark chocolate and crushed black fruit on the nose, chewy, silky and dusty fruit with slate notes, long, firm grip.

2018 Chateau Troplong Mondot: Opaque black, purple rim, closed nose of cocoa and pickle juice. chewy and dense black fruit, firm finish.

Haut-Medoc

2018 Chateau Cantermerle: Opaque dark red, purple rim, tar, chocolate, mint and toast on the nose, chewy black fruit with a firm and long finish.

2020 Chateau Cantermerle: Opaque black, purple rim, white pepper, tar and milk chocolate on the nose, dense red fruit, firm finish.

2022 Chateau Beychevelle “Brulieres de Beychevelle”: Opaque medium purple, closed nose of stone and tar, silky dark fruit with gun metal notes, silky tannin, great balance.

Margaux

2016 Chateau Marquis d’Alesme: Opaque black, purple rim, crushed chocolate and black cherry on the nose, chewy dark fruit with gun metal notes on the firm finish.

2016 Chateau D’Issan: Opaque dark red, brick rim, dark chocolate and crushed red fruit on the nose, chewy dark fruit, great balance.

2019 Chateau D’Issan: Opaque dark red, purple rim, toast and petroleum on the nose, silky red fruit with chocolate notes on the finish, good grip.

2020 Chateau D’Issan: Opaque dark red, purple rim, saline, red fruit and milk chocolate on the nose, tight red fruit, firm finish.

Saint-Julien

2005 Chateau Lagrange: Opaque medium red, brick rim, perfume of dirty tar and roasted nuts on the nose, concentrated, chewy and silky fruit, good grip.

2019 Chateau Beychevelle: Opaque dark red, purple rim, closed nose of sweet tar and pencil shavings, silky red fruit with good balance.

2020 Chateau Beychevelle: Opaque dark red, purple rim, tar, sweet graphite and forest floor on the nose, chewy dark fruit, silky and dusty tannin, nice grip.

2020 Chateau Beychevelle “Amiral de Beychevelle”: Opaque dark red, purple rim, saline, tar and graphite on the nose, silky dark fruit, chewy grip, good balance.

Pauillac

2018 Chateau Pichon Baron: Opaque black, purple rim, saline, smoke and ripe cherry on the nose, chewy dark fruit, good balance.

2020 Chateau Pichon Baron: Opaque dark red, purple rim, graphite, dirty tar and crushed dark fruit on the nose, chewy dark fruit with gun metal notes, good grip.