Yvon Mau

THE RANGE REVELATIONS Of HUBERT DE BOUÄRD INTRODUCED TO THE PRESS

On the occasion of the Rencontres Gourmandes, Yvon Mau invited economic, wine and BtoB press journalists to come and discover the exclusive château range developed in collaboration with renowned consultant oenologist Hubert de Boüard: Révélations 

Founded in 1897 at the heart of the Bordeaux wine region, wine trading house Yvon Mau has built up unique expertise in Bordeaux wines. In the early 20th century, Yvon, the founder's son, would ride around the region on his penny-farthing bicycle (later to become the company's symbol) in search of new wines.

Ever faithful to the land and village of its origins, Yvon Mau has grown to become one of the leading players in Bordeaux. A subsidiary of the Freixenet Group (the world's 9th largest wine group) since 2001, the company now makes almost half its turnover in exports.

With over a century of expertise, a true passion for the Bordeaux wine region and the emphasis placed firmly on quality and creation, Yvon Mau has redefined the role of the Bordeaux trader and restored prestige to the profession. This strategy is reflected in the company's brand development (Yvecourt, Premius...) but also in the creation of ranges of châteaux wines (L'Esprit de Bordeaux, Révélations d'Hubert de Bouard...) showing the company's ambition to move upmarket and the momentum in its drive for international expansion.

As the fourth largest trading house on the Bordeaux marketplace, Yvon Mau is present in 80 countries and generates consolidated earnings of €110 million, of which 40% in exports. 

With approximately 120,500 hectares of vineyards (as of 2012), Bordeaux remains France's largest winegrowing region. One of the key Bordeaux appellations in terms of its geographical stretch is the Haut-Médoc, with its 5,523 hectares of vines. The surface area of the neighbouring Médoc appellation is slightly lower, covering 4,572 hectares. Moulis accounts for 596 ha, the prestigious Margaux 1,494 ha, Saint Julien 913 ha, Pauillac 1,220 ha and Saint Estèphe 1,214 ha. The Graves appellation covers a total of 3,939 ha, of which 1,434 fall within the famous Pessac-Léognan appellation.

On the other side of the river, east of Bordeaux in the area around Libourne, the Saint-Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac appellations account for some 12,339 hectares of vines: Saint Emilion 5,405 ha, Pomerol 794 ha, Lalande-de-Pomerol 1,136 ha and Fronsac and Canon Fronsac 1,066 ha.
Throughout the Bordeaux region approximately 9,303 hectares of vines are used to produce dry white wines, with around 3,516 ha dedicated to sweet whites.

Cabernet Sauvignon: the noble grape variety par excellence, and an emblem of the Bordeaux region. Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly suited to Bordeaux, especially the left bank.  In the very best vintages the Cabernet Sauvignon helps produce wines with an exceptional ageing potential, blessed with intense and complex tannins and a medium to high level of acidity. The aromas most often associated with this elegant variety are dark fruit (blackcurrant, Morello and black cherry), and vegetal notes with hints of green pepper, mint and cedar wood.

Cooler years produce wines with greater astringency and a tough, almost austere body (depending on the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon used in the blend), but also introduces green, leafy aromas. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon varietals are rare, and for centuries this variety has been blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and occasionally Petit Verdot), to produce the internationally-feted wines that have come to define the Médoc.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely-planted grape variety in the Saint Estèphe, Saint Julien, Margaux and Pauillac appellations, the most prestigious names on the left bank.
 

Merlot: bringing different flavours, softer tannins and a weaker level of acidity than that found in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is the dominant grape variety on the right bank, where it thrives in the clay-limestone soils. The Merlot grapes improve the body and the alcohol content of wine, introducing a delicious palette of aromas including blackberry, black plum, black cherry and even hints of fruit cake, chocolate and mint. Harvested at peak maturity, Merlot grapes are capable of producing exceptional vintages with an ageing potential to rival that of Cabernet Sauvignon. As they age in the barrels the Merlot pick up woody and spicy notes from the wood, adding a whole new dimension to the wine. Merlot is the most prevalent grape variety on the right bank of the Bordeaux region, particularly in the St Emilion and Pomerol appellations.
Cabernet Franc: famously used in the unusual composition of Château Cheval Blanc, Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A, a touch of Cabernet Franc endows wines with finesse, elegance and a delicate subtlety, enhancing the bouquet with notes of raspberry, violet and blackberry.

Malbec: a variety of black-skinned grape that is planted mainly in the Cahors region, but is much less popular in Bordeaux. Malbec grapes give a superb depth of colour, add astringency and produce wines with an exceptional ageing potential thanks to the complex nature of their tannins.

Petit Verdot: a black-skinned grape that is scarcely planted in the Bordeaux region, even on a small-scale. And yet small quantities of Petit Verdot are used in the composition of some of the region's finest wines (ranging from 1 to 5%), adding colour, fruity aromas and a dash of gusto.

Carménère: a variety of black-skinned grape scarcely found in the Bordeaux region, occasionally used to add structure without increasing the firmness of the tannins or the astringency.

Sauvignon Blanc: a green-skinned grape, this variety enjoys tremendous popularity in our region. The adjectives most commonly used to describe Sauvignon Blanc wine are "lively”, "fresh” and "refreshing”. This variety is renowned for its minerality and expansive palette of aromas, with hints of flint in the nose and on the palate, and nuances of green pepper, asparagus, cucumber and even exotic fruit in cooler vintages, along with prominent hints of grapefruit and passionfruit.  Typically a major component in dry white wines, Sauvignon Blanc grapes possess a medium to high level of acidity. Wines composed predominantly of Sauvignon Blanc are generally ripe for consumption a couple of months after maturation and should not be left to age in a cellar, where they risk losing that vibrant youthful freshness.  

Semillon: a green-skinned grape variety that provides a rounded, almost oily texture. The pleasant floral and honeyed bouquet is highly distinctive. A majority component in vintage sweet white wines and also in some excellent dry wines.  The Sauternes, Barsac and Cérons appellations produce exquisite sweet whites using a blend of these two varieties.

Muscadelle: a white wine grape used in the production of sweet Bordeaux wines that adds pleasant, albeit delicate, nutmeg aromas.

Knowing how to read a wine label is very important. The label conveys the wine's credentials, providing consumers with key factors to help them in their purchase decision. The main or front label must contain certain mandatory information. In France, the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origines) has been instrumental in developing these guarantees of origin and quality. Mandatory information to be included on the label includes: the appellation of origin, the name of the wine, the country of origin, the capacity of the bottle, the identification number of each batch, a health warning for pregnant women, the statement "Contains sulphites”, the alcohol content and the name and address of the bottler.

With regards to optional information, labels often provide the vintage year, the grape varieties used, any medals received, harvest conditions, distinctions etc.

Additional information is often included on a second label, on the back of the bottle; this is optional, and will often suggest a few suitable wine/food pairings.