Guangxi province visit

Dear Friends,

After all, I had a privilege to travel to South West China to visit my friend Peng (below) Julien (below) and I would like to thank for their warm welcome in the coffee capital. Thanks a lot and see you soon for more singing and yam sing!!! MFM

Shenzhen visit

Dear Friends,

Great visit in Shenzhen and thanks to my friends Johnson and Gary for their warm welcome.And also, I won't forget our sake night with my friend Eric and Felix.
Yam Sing!
MFM

Graves estate - Chateau Grand Vin de Crabitey

Dear Wine Lovers,

Graves Estate is always well-known but probably less than Pessac-Leognan which is part of it. Everybody knows that finest wines of this appellation are concentrated there. Believe or not, Mr. Arnaud de Butler (above) is brother in law of Olivier and Didier Cuvelier owners of Ch. Leoville-Poyferré which means Mr. de Butler as his brothers in law is devoted to his wines and maintained the same quality level for each wine "Ch. Grand Vin de Crabitey, Chateau Trébiac and Chateau Des Graves" (below).

Enjoy!
MFM

Vinexpo-Asia/Hong Kong 2008

Dear all,

Vinexpo-Asia was for us a tremendous success for everything. Only 4 of our houses were represented Champagne De Telmont, Cuvelier & Fils (Vignobles & Signature), La Passion des Terroirs and Gelas armagnac (below, Ms. Martine Sans and myself/Gelas booth left and right De Telmont booth). Thanks to all customers ans visitors!!!MFM

Private Visit and Tasting in Bordeaux - Spring 2008

Dear Friends and Wines Lovers,

We were pleased to host some of our customers from Asia during primeurs campaign April 2007 in Bordeaux city. They were coming from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Here's below, we had a great time with Mrs. Bérénice Thomas-Lurton owner of Château Climens (Barsac Estate) during the visit of her Château.

Cheers!
MFM

Back to Michel Couvreur Whisky secrets

Dear Whisky Lovers,

Back around mid-March in Burgundy, I had the privilege to visit and to stay at our Michel Couvreur's place.

We decided to start over by a tasting of 6 whiskies with Michel Couvreur and Jean-Arnaud Frantzen:

1- Overaged Malt Whisky, 43% alc/vol:
nose: smooth, suave and smokey.
mouth: round, floral and powerful.
remark: blending of an incredible selection of single malts aged between 12 and 27 years old. Excellent for aperitive on the rocks.









2- The Transition, 45% alc/vol (20 years old):
nose: floral and hints of vanilla (coming from its american cask)
mouth: liquorice, doloroso, aniseed and very long after taste.
remark: after dinner drink with a churchill.















3- Fleeting Single Cask, 45% alc/vol, 750 btls only (15 years old, distilled in September 27th 1993):
nose: toasty, woody and vanilla
mouth: long finish and menthol taste.
remark: great served straight or with ice cube.









4- Blossoming Auld Sherried, 45% alc/vol, single cask whisky (over 17 years old) :
nose: round, spices (peppar)
mouth: mellow, fresh, souple and concentrated.
remark: very similar as old rum or a good whiskey from Tenessee.








5- The Very Sherried, 45% alc/vol (over 26 years old):
nose: creamy and smooth
mouth: a lot of finesse and well-balanced
remark: a perfect fit with a nice torpedo Cuban cigar.











6- Dis'closure, Malt, single cask whisky, 50% alc/vol (10 years old):
nose: iodine flavor and very parfumed
mouth: Liquorice, heavy but very mild and very nice finish.
remark: after lunch drink.









Thanks again for your hospitality at Bouze-les-Beaunes!!!
MFM

Small owners of Armagnac by Gelas House

Dear Connoisseurs,

Early March, I went to see Philippe Gélas in Gers county to discuss more about his selection of different domains called Gelas Estates in Armagnac region.

We started our tasting with Dominique Marsan (Master Blender of Gélas house) by:

- Domaine du Bruch (vintage 1990, 48.8% alc/vol) 100% Ugni Blanc, unchilfiltered and bottled in 2002:
nose: splendid with some hints of cacao and caramel
mouth: some spices at the beginning, liquorice, candied fruit and long finish
remark: great for aperitive









- Domaine du Moussoulet (vintage 1989, 48.1% alc/vol) 50% Baco and 50% Ugni Blanc, small batch, natural cask strenght and bottled in 2007:
nose: smokey, creamy and thick
mouth: almond, liquorice, nice start but goes up after and reveal all its finesse.
remark: excellent with a chocolate dessert.










- Domaine de Lacaze (vintage 1982, 45,4% alc/vol) 50% Ugni Blanc and 50% Colombard and bottled in 1999:
nose: round and mellow
mouth: very well balanced and extremely on the roundness.
remark: after dinner drink with an excellent Cuban robusto or double corona.








- Domaine de La Prade (vintage 1983) 100% Ugni Blanc, Tenareze growing area and bottled in 2000:
nose: curry and prune
mouth: floral as rose flower and light rancio
remark: after lunch drink with a Dominican robusto


I would like to thank again Philippe for his warm welcome. Santé!
MFM

Château Mission Haut-Brion/Grand Cru Classé de Graves/Pessac-Leognan

Dear Readers,

Everybody will admit, we can not avoid to speak about Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion even if Chateau Haut-Brion is in fact cross the road.

On the 2nd of November 1983, Domaine Clarence Dillon S.A., already owner of Chateau Haut-Brion, bought Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion from the descendants of the Woltner family. Twenty years later, under the presidency of the Duchesse de Mouchy, daughter of the Hon. Douglas Dillon, former Ambassador to France and Secretary of the Tresury under President Kennedy, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion pursues a lengthy program of quiet renovation. A new cuvier that was built in 1987, the chateau which has been entirely modernized and a new chai worthy of La Mission, all bear witness to this desire for perfection.
Today, a new generation watches over the destiny with his mother, the Duchesse de Mouchy, oversees the management of the properties belonging to Domaine Clarence Dillon S.A..


We have a chance to visit their cellar ahd they use only new casks at 100% every year in the winemaking process.
The average time for ageing is 22 months.
Vine varieties:
Merlot noir 45%
Carbernet Franc 7%
Cabernet Sauvignon 48%
Average age of vines: 19 years old.





Tasting room at Ch. La Mission Haut-Brion below:

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2004: intense by the nose, complex with notes of smoke, tobacco and roasted coffe grains but still a pleasant fruit. A well-balanced wine and a great seducer for this vintage.

Thank you very much for this great visit. Sante,
MFM