|
Photos By:: Adil Arora
 River Garonne flows through Bordeaux and passes through the small south-west French town of Buzet, located on the left bank of Garonne and North of Armagnac. The Buzet Appellation looks up to Bordeaux as a model and mostly grows the grapes of Bordeaux- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc for reds and Sauvignon and Semillon for whites and offers much more modest prices.
Vignerons de Buzet is a big co-operative of 234 growers and about 2000 hAs of vines, being around 95% of the whole appellation and representing 15 Domains and Chateaux. The third-largest company in South-West France sells about a million cases annually and is the leading producer of Rose wines.
Marine Brasset, their local representative had organised a dinner last Friday at the Indian Accent Restaurant in Hotel manor serving excellent Indian fusion cuisine with Buzet wines. White, Red and Rose wines from their basic Selection range, Premium range and Chateau range were paired with different dishes. AOC Chateau de Gueyze Red 2008 with Merlot 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30% and Cabernet Franc 30%, was my most favourite wine of the evening although AOC Buzet Baron d’Ardeuil 2007 with the same varietals would offer better value-for money to the consumers.
 All their wines tasted are young and are well-priced, hot contenders for the high tax- infested Indian retail market. Although they will participate in ProWein in March, Vinexpo in June and Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Fair in November this year, Mumbaikars will have a good opportunity to taste these wines at Taste 2011 being held at the Bombay Exhibition Center in Goregaon, Mumbai , this week on 27-29 January. More information is available at their website. They are looking for an importer, according to Marine who will also be present at the Show.
|