'Shaken, not stirred.' They are the iconic words of James Bond as he orders his Dry Martini. Just as 007 opts for with precision made martinis, he is also very picky in his choice of wine. Top wines that reflect his style and class, such as the Château Mouton Rothschild in the film classic Goldfinger. Dinner jacket on, damask on the table and... red Bordeaux in the glass.
Text: Evelijn van Heuven | Image: Unsplash
They are sometimes reminiscent of distinguished gentlemen smoking cigars in the billiard room, other times of chic ladies dressed in silky velvet. Such descriptions may sound a little old-fashioned, yet they are often very touching for wines from the classic among classic wine regions: Bordeaux. Here, in southwestern France, grapes like cabernet sauvignon and merlot are transformed into wines for the gods, wines that stand their ground well on dinner tables.
DUTCH WATER HEROES
Bordeaux oozes history. It is where Romans structurally planted vineyards and where the wine trade flourished in the 18th century thanks to a favourable riverside location. But it is also the place where Dutchmen played a crucial role even in earlier times. The Médoc, part of the region, is an uninhabitable marshland in the early 17th century. Local landowners hire Dutch engineers who take care of draining the area. This later grows into the site of some of the world's most famous wineries. Think of names like Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Margaux. Without our stalwart compatriots, heroes of water management, we might never have drunk the magical Médoc wines.
POWERHOUSE JAWS
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