▻ Pauillac with Jane Anson

10 Minute Masterclass

23 Feb

Written By Sarah Kemp

In conversation with Jane Anson

Episode Summary:-

In our latest “10 Minute Masterclass, Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp take a deep dive into the commune of Pauillac, home to three First Growths: Châteaux Lafite, Mouton Rothschild and Latour. Jane explains how there are 54 producers, of which 18 are classified. The price of land here is higher than any other appellation, 3 million euros per hectare on average, rising to 4 million euros in more sought-after areas. If famous estates such as Château Lafite came on the market (which is highly unlikely), Jane reckons it would be worth four to five billion euros. Pauillac is about Cabernet Sauvignon – 62% of the commune is planted to it, and Jane says “Cabernet Sauvignon and gravel go together like a hand and a glove.” It’s not all gravel, though, there is clay in the southern part, which contributes more power to the wine. There are two famous second growths, the Châteaux Pichon Comtesse and Pichon Baron, no third growth, one fourth and twelve fifth growths. The most famous of the fifth growths, which over-perform their classification, include Châteaux Pontet-Canet, Lynch Bages and Grands Puy Lacoste (the latter being a favourite of Michael Broadbent, Sarah reveals).

“The wines have an insane ability to age.” Jane says, with some giving pleasure even 100 years later. There are a couple of not-so-well-known wines Jane recommends, notably Château Bellgrave, owned by the Meffre family, and Haut-Bages Monpelou, owned by the Casteja family. A lot of Pauillac is made for structure, as the wines are built to age.

Jane’s obscure fact is about the Marquis de La Fayette, who was able to sail from the port of Pauillac to join the American Revolution, as the English were looking out for him in Bordeaux – and, as Jane says, the rest is history.

““When they are good, they are hard to beat, because they are so powerful when they are young and then they turn into drinkable, elegant wines.””

— Jane Anson

Running Order:-

0.00 – 5.13

“When they are good (Pauillac) they are hard to beat.”

– Pauillac’s location.
– Size of the commune.
– The number of producers in Pauillac.
– Pauillac’s land price.
– Estimated worth of Château Lafite.
– Pauillac – Cabernet Sauvignon country.
– Gravel and clay in the commune.
– The classified growths of Pauillac.
5.14 – 10.52

“Pauillac has an insane ability to age.”

– Pauillac estates to look out for which are not well-known.
– The importance of structure in Pauillac wines.
– The obscure Pauillac fact: Marquis de La Fayette sails from Pauillac to aid the American revolution.

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