WineNZ Summer 18-19 (1)

the frey way | feature
YOUR CHATEAU AWAITS
I went down to the kitchen just
after 4.30am on my last morning at
Chateau La Lagune (I had a plane
to catch). Stéphane the butler (he
prefers the title ‘house manager’)
was already there, immaculately
groomed and done out in suit and
tie. And he was baking… he was
baking madeleines for me to have
for breakfast.
I was only expecting a cup of
coffee, but above and beyond is
how they roll at Chateau La Lagune.
“Everything is possible,” Stéphane
declares. I’m pleased to report that,
for a very reasonable price, this
attitude, the entire chateau and
much more can be at your disposal
for a day or several.
The asking price is 700 euros
(roughly NZ$1,180) a night for
two people all through the year.
The rates charged by many
New Zealand luxury lodges are
roughly twice that, and La Lagune
is every centimetre a five star
establishment.
Here’s what you get for your
investment: a beautifully restored
18th century chateau complete
with living room, library, a fabulous
terrace overlooking vines, full
breakfast, personal unobtrusive
service, a private chef (meals
are extra) and a reservoir of local
knowledge. There are three double
bedrooms available in the chateau,
making it the perfect option for
a group of three couples to base
themselves for an exploration of
Bordeaux and the Médoc.
To find out more, send enquiries to:
s.morin@chateau-lalagune.com
PS Stéphane’s madeleines were
sensational.
Bourguignon
gives his
thoughts on
NZ wine
“Stop following the kangaroos!”
I was chatting to world-renowned soil
scientist Claude Bourguignon in a bar
during my visit to France. The well-travelled
Bourguignon (he’s visited New Zealand
several times), was volunteering his views
on New Zealand wine.
He had begun by saying we should tread
our own, distinct path as opposed to looking
across the ditch for guidance. New Zealand
was not suited to cabernet sauvignon, he
added firmly. I felt obliged to inform him
that the Aussie influence has been receding
The inner keep: interior views of Chateau La Lagune.
for some time, as have cabernet plantings.
He also opined that most Marlborough
sauvignon blanc tasted of grape variety,
not terroir.
In his view, the varieties New Zealand
should look at were those that originated in
Savoie (France’s alpine wine region) and
Switzerland. “Those places are young soils
and a climate like that of New Zealand.”
“Of all the southern hemisphere wine
countries, I think New Zealand has the
most potential.”
www.winenzmagazine.co.nz
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