Meeting 462 - " Wine tasting and Lunch at Waddesdon Manor"
Sunday 21st July 2019
Neville Hall, Waltham St Lawrence
Waddesdon Manor was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885 to display his collection of art and to entertain the fashionable world. Opened to the public in 1959, Waddesdon Manor is managed by the Rothschild Foundation, a family charitable trust, on behalf of the National Trust, who took over ownership in 1957. The cellar was built in 1994 specially to reflect the wide variety of the wines of the Rothschild Domaine and its affiliates. It holds some 15,000 bottles dating back in age to 1868.
In 1868 James de Rothschild purchased Chateau Lafite and so began an expansion of the Rothschild brand which now has associated producers throughout the world (Argentina, Chile, California and New Zealand to name a few). In France the Compangnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild has outstanding holdings in Listrac, Moulis as well as its Domaine de Rothschild Duhart-Milon (Pauillac), Chateau Riessec (Sauterne) and L'Evangile (Pomerol). Not to mention Chateau Clarke, Chateau Malmaison and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
On a clear summer's day, members of the IWFS Berkshire Branch spent an excellent day sampling some of the wines from the cellar and having a fine lunch at the estate owned Five Arrows Hotel.
Following a tour of the cellars and a talk on the history of Waddesdon we enjoyed a selection of Rothschild wines under the guidance of the Manor's Wine adviser, Peter Tompkins before moving on to lunch.
The first of two white wines that Peter presented was a lime and tropical fruit chardonnay from Baroness Nadine from South Africa. With a strong flowery nose it was well balanced clean acid and had a long finish. The Aile d'Argent which followed was a typical Semillon/Sauvignon seepage with a nectarine and orange palate with a slightly less acid finish than its predecessor but still very clean.
The first red from Rimapere had a full soft fruit palate and nose and soft tannins and was popular. By contrast the Chateau d'Evangile (85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon) was less fruity, slightly spicey but quite tannic. The Chateau Clerc Milon which showed its Grand Cru Class and perfect drinking age with ripe damson and some mineral on the palate. The Los Vascos le Dix is a product of the close association with Rothschild and had a strong nose of raisins with cherries on the palate. The final red from Gran Corte in Vista Flores (1100ms high) was also popular with a classic Argentinian blend of principally Malbec and Syrah.
The final Domaine de Rothschild Rieussec was all we expect from a classic Sauterne and rounded off an excellent tasting.
Our thanks to Peter for a very informative presentation and a well balanced selection of the wines from the Waddesdon cellar. We were in perfect (almost balanced!) condition to stroll over to the Five Arrows Hotel. In an a very comfortable location with very attentive staff, we enjoyed an excellent and relaxed lunch.
Braised beef nugget, Mustard Mayonnaise, Gherkin
Hot or chilled pea and mint soup, Lemon crème fraiche
Grilled mackerel fillet, Smoked pate, avocado, caraway cracker
Mains
Roast Pork Chop
Champ, black pudding, garden greens apple and sage sauce
Pan fried salmon fillet
Roast courgette, radish, cucumber butter sauce
Pearl barley risotto
Eythrope estate vegetables, toasted hazelnut
| (1) Baroness Nadine 2017,Western Cape, South Africa | 23.95 | 7+ |
| (2) Aile d'Argent 2015, A.C, Bordeaux | 95.00 | 7 |
| (3) Rimapere Pinot Noir 2017, Marlborough New Zealand | 29.95 | 8+ |
| (4) Chateau L'Evangile 2006, A.C. Pomerol | 155.00 | 8 |
| (5) Chateau Clerc Milon 2005, Grand Cru Classè Pauillac | 10.94 | 8+ |
| (6) Los Vascos Le Dix 2015, Colchagua, Chile | 42.50 | 7+ |
| (7) Gran Corte 2011, Vista Flores, Argentina | 34.50 | 8 |
| (8) Chateau Rieussec 2010, Grand Cru Classè Sauternes | 65.00 | 9 |