A New Stable for Cheval-Blanc- 11June24
Suzanne Mustacich
Posted: June 20, 2011On most days, things are pretty low key at Château Cheval-Blanc. Not this week. Cheval-Blanc chose Vinexpo, one of the world’s largest wine and spirits fairs, to unveil its new minimalist, ultramodern $18.5 million cellar. The new building has transformed the landscape on the plateau where St.-Emilion meets Pomerol.
“It’s ecological, it’s chic, it’s sober—no bling, bling. It’s Cheval-Blanc,” said director Pierre Lurton on a recent morning on the rooftop garden of the new cellar.
The “cellar under the hill,” as it’s called by Christian de Portzamparc, the project’s architect and the talent behind the LVMH building in New York, extends from the château, as if “the ground rises, carried by cement sails, toward the light and the sky,” said de Portzamparc. The striking design looks more like recent cutting-edge cellars from Spain than anything Bordeaux has produced.
Under the hill, natural light filters into the cellar, where the design showcases simplicity, elegance and muted stone. It’s a 180-degree turn from the old, cramped cellar. At the same time, like its predecessor, the cellar is resolutely low-tech. “There’s no technology. It’s a wine atelier with the space to choreograph elegant movements,” said Lurton.
Technical director Pierre-Olivier Clouet said the design focused on Cheval-Blanc’s approach to winemaking. “The concept of the new cellar turns around only one point: selection by plot. We gave our vat room one vat per plot. We have 44 plots and 52 vats, nine formats, from 20 hectoliters to 110 hectoliters,” said Clouet. “We will have fun searching for the characteristics of each plot—gravel, clay, sand, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, different clones and rootstocks. We will play with all of these components to build the blend of Cheval-Blanc and Petit Cheval—looking to gain purity, elegance and precision.”
Cheval-Blanc has been known for keeping its old cement vats when other Bordeaux properties switched to first stainless steel and then oak. The new cement vats are something to behold. Inside, Lurton insisted on a conical shape with temperature control encased in the back wall of the vat. Outside, the vats are pure modern art—custom-designed by de Portzamparc and created for Cheval-Blanc at a factory just outside Venice. Downstairs is an underground aging cellar, which needs relatively little energy to regulate temperature and humidity.
Lurton and his team are unveiling the new project during Vinexpo, which showcases 2,400 suppliers from 47 countries. CEO Robert Beynat expects more than 45,000 visitors will be in Bordeaux this week for the event.
Beynat said America will get extra attention at this year’s event. According to a Vinexpo study, wine drinkers around the globe spent $180 billion in 2009. America is the biggest retail market and the second-largest wine importer after the United Kingdom. And even though China makes headlines in Bordeaux, Beynat said it would be a mistake to concentrate on China. “The future is unquestionably the United States,” said Beynat.
Merchants agree. “China could stop buying wine tomorrow. The U.S. is closer to our culture and they drink on a regular basis, and they drink the entire range from basic to grand cru classé,” said David Blozan, CEO of Cordier Mestrezat Grands Crus, who exports to 135 countries. “America is a fantastic market. You can be completely unknown, but if you have a good story, good quality and price, good packaging, then you have a good opportunity.”
Source: http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/45251
TRAILER 2
Residents or Manila travel out of town to head north to Pampanga to relax, unwind and spend a few nights in the new hotel rooms situated right on the lake of Clearwater Resort in Clark Airbase. Many visitors and tourists enjoy the feeling of waking up by the lake. The sunrise produces a spectacular sight with the sunlight reflection on the calm surface of the three-hectare fresh water lake of this famous resort in Clark.
Families with small children prefer outdoor hotel in Manila, clean and safe place in Pampanga Clark to bring kids to relax and unwind. Outdoor space is an important criterion affecting the selection of a suitable hotel in Clark Pampanga for family bonding or to relax and unwind with friends. Best hotel in Clark Pampanga offers good outdoor facilities, large picnic grounds, lake and beach and other outdoor amenities making it possible for guests of this frequently visited hotel in Clark to relax and unwind with no stress.
The safest getaway destination vacation spot near Manila convenient safe and accessible is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark Pampanga, great for family bonding, hang out to unwind and relax near lake and trees, camping too.
When in Clark, make plans to relax and enjoy an evening at The London Pub located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Pampanga. This highly recommended resto bar where all the local executives of Pampanga, local and foreign tourists visiting Angeles City, Subic and Clark Philippines gather after a full day of fun or work.
The London Pub is a very popular resto bar for residents, tourists, business executives and visitors from Manila to hang out, drink, relax and unwind after work or a game of golf during the day. Fine English cuisine, family comfort food is served. It is also very famous for the best fish n chips in the Philippines.
http://www.LondonPubClark.com
This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
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For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
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