Joël and Sandrine Duffau of Château La Mothe du Barry and Château Les Arromans, Entre-Deux-Merr, Bordeaux, were in town (Washington DC) and I was happy to join the winemaker dinner with them at BToo on 14th Street, NW.
As Elite Wines' Laurent Lalla said in his introduction, Joël Duffau is a „Prêt-à-porter“ (in contrast to an „Haute Couture“) producer in Bordeaux. He does not belong to the group of elite wine makers like Latour, Margaux, Petrus, etc that produce expensive „Haute Couture“ wines that are out of reach for many consumers but he belongs to the large group of „Prêt-à-porter“ producers that make wine at very favorable prices for the average consumer for every day consumption.
Joël is not one of the 300 or so winemakers in Bordeaux, who produce a premium Bordeaux that sells en primeur for several hundreds of Euros per bottle. No, Joël is one of the other say 15.000 winemakers that are not in the limelight and who have to struggle against the competition of wines from all over the world, including the New World. But Joël Duffau‘s wines are interesting and special for at least 2 reasons. He produces – like so many others – good value Petit Chateau Bordeaux wines and he makes them organically.
Chef Bart Vandaele's BToo
Chef Bart Vandaele's BToo on 14th Street in Washington DC, NW, is a leading restaurant in the Nation's Capital. Annette Schiller and I love to go to winemaker dinners at BToo and organize ourselves winemaker dinners there. The food of Belga Cafe/ BToo Executive Chef Bart Vandaele is always most creative and delicious. Chef Bart is a fun guy to hang around with and guide us through the evening. And BToo has a separate room in the basement that is perfect for special events like winemaker dinners. Recently, Alex Flores has become the Chef de Cuisine of BToo.
bravo: Bart Vandaele eats, breathes, and sleeps restaurants and food. With a rambunctious personality and flare for strong opinions, Bart loves to share his passions for Belgian cuisine, Belgian beer, and Belgian culture. He is the Executive Chef and Owner of Belga Café, a restaurant in Washington, DC specializing in Belgian food and beer, and the upcoming B Too. Bart began culinary school at age 12, externing at Michelin-starred Au Vigneron, and moving on to work at renowned Belgian restaurants including Piet Huysentruyt and Restaurant Scholteshof, which earned two Michelin stars during his tenure as Sous Chef.
Bart moved to DC in 1997 to serve as Executive Chef to the Ambassador to the European Union, followed by the Dutch Embassy. In 2006, Bart won StarChef.com's “Rising Star Chef” award, and in 2007 he prepared the Belgian Beer Lover’s Degustation at the James Beard House. He was also knighted in the order of Leopold II in 2009. Bart’s cooking is a combination of rustic and refined, playful yet soulful.
Château La Mothe Du Barry and Château les Arromans
Joël Duffau follows the tradition of nine generations of winegrowers in his family and has inherited their passion for making superior wines. He grows grapes organically at both Château La Mothe du Barry and Château les Arromans in the heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers Region, between Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion.
We visited Château La Mothe Du Barry and Château les Arromans recently on an ombiasy tour: Tasting with Joël and Sandrine Duffau at Château La Mothe du Barry and Château Les Arromans in the Heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers Region - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France
Château La Mothe Du Barry and Château Les Arromans have their origin in one larger château founded by Jean Duffau in 1965. It was called Château Les Arromans and grew to 30 hectares over the years. When Jean retired in 1998, he devided the vineyards and the winery into two, the (new) Chateau La Mothe Du Barry and the (remaining) Chateau Les Arromans between the two brothers Joël and Eric. Both Chateaus are now owned and run by Joël Duffau. He is the winemaker of both estates.
Joël Duffau's Web Site: Joël took over Chateau La Mothe du Barry vineyard here in Moulon, the family home (nine generations of winegrowers), in 1985. The vines are planted ont the clay & limestone slopes of the village, a terroir the the Merlot grapes thrives on. From his studies and work palcements in France and abroad (Burgendy, Beaujolais, Rioja, California…) he retained his natural curiosity and a taste for discovering all things new which enable him, vintage after vintage, to evolve in his winegrowing and winemaking techniques.
This, in turn allows him to produce ever more expressive wines, of which the Cuvée le Barry praised every year in several wine guides. His other wines are also renowed for their quality, like his Entre-Deux-Mers, produced from vines palnted on boulbene ( finesiliceous soil) terroirs, situated in Naujean et Postiac (white grape varieties absolutely love boulbene terroirs!)
It’s because of Joël's passion for this terroir, so typicla of Entre-Deux-Mers area, but also because of his motivation to go back Nature and its core values that he started the process of converting to organic viticulture in 2009. The certification is obtained for all Bordeaux Superieur and Bordeaux Clairet with the vintage 2013.
Chateau Les Arromans was founded in 1965 by Jean & Sylvette Duffau, Joël’s parents, who were among the first in the region to bottle and sell their own wine, which tkey sold exclusively to private individuals, who became loyal clients thanks to quality and reputation of the wine
The vines planted around he cellar and along the gentle slopes of the vineyard are essentially Merlot grappes. The wines made from these grapes are reputed throughout the Bordeaux Appellation and are regular prizewinners. When Jean & Sylvette retired, the vineyard were divided among their two sons, Joël and Eric, thus carrying on teh name of Les Arromans in keeping with their father’s savoir faire. Joël has kept the flag flying ever since and the Chateau Les Arromans wnes are regular prizewinners.
Guest Rooms
Joël Duffau: At Château La Mothe Du Barry there are 3 different rooms available, all located in the stone buildings in our private courtyard. Three very different worlds, each inspiredby the wine of which it bears the name: the Design room, the Cuve à mon Loup room and the French Kiss room.
The Wines of Joël Duffau: Château La Mothe Du Barry, Château les Arromans and Château Haut Lartenac
Château La Mothe Du Barry and Château Les Arromans have their origin in one larger Chateau founded by Jean Duffau in 1965. In addition, recently, Joël and Sandrina created Château Haut Lartenac, which was a part of the other two estates before.
Château La Mothe du Barry
Château La Mothe du Barry
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur
This 100% Merlot Bordeaux Superieur has an elegant robe and a powerful bouquet; it’s an easydrinking wine to be enjoyed on any occasion.
Cuvée French Kiss
AOC Bordeaux Clairet
The startlingly intense colour of our claret is an indication of the freshness and fruitiness of this enchanting wine. The perfect red wine for summer enjoyment.
Cuvée French Kiss Blanc
AOC Entre-deux-Mers
Our Entre-Deux-Mers is a veritable concentration of fruit aromas, with the Sauvignon aromas predominating and a hint of Muscadelle for that extra freshness.
La Cuvée Design
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur
Our Cuvée Design is a fine example of what an elegant Bordeaux Superieur can be: the Merlot grape at its very best, bringing ripe black berry fruit aromas that are nicely se off by subtle oak ageing.
Cuvée le Barry
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur
Un vin d’exception primé tous les ans. A subtle blend of Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the oldest vines on the estate, with low yields. This is a wine for cellaring; the fleshy potency of tis youth will evolve to velvet subtlety over time.
An exceptional wine and annual prize winner. In the Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2003, Cuvée le Barry 2000 received the "Best Red Bordeaux for under Euro 10" Award.
La Cuve à mon Loup
AOC Bordeaux
Challenged by Manu and Mon Loup (2 of the best when it comes to making me ask myself all the right questions), I decided to try something completely different – making a sulfite free wine.
This was an out of the way move for me, belonging as I do to a rather conservative line of winegrowers (ninth generations!). I learned a lot of over those few months and in particular realised that I enjoyed working differently, daring to go off the beaten track and taking up the challenge of supposedly impossible.
Despite my many doubts and concerns at outset, the resulting wine surpassed my epectations. Strange as it may seem to say so, these doubts and worries gave rise to the name of this wine, for when I came home tired and pessimistc about the outcome of the experience, it was my life Sandrine ( my nickname for her is « mon Loup ») who bolstered me and encouraged me to continue.
With this wine, my aim isto enable my terroir to express itself as fully and simply as possible.
100% Merlot, 0% Sulfites!!!
L'entre 2
Château Les Arromans
Les Arromans Blanc
AOC Entre-Deux-Mers
This expressive, balanced wine is aromatically intense, revealing intense floral and fruity notes.
Les Arromans Rosé
AOC Bordeaux rosé
Made from 100% Cabernet Franc grapes, this is fresh, light and well rounded wine. A fruity, flowery treat!
Les Arromans Rouge
AOC Bordeaux rouge
This fruity Bordeaux attains a fine balance between the merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. Great care is taken during vinification to retain teh fruity character of these grapes and it shows in this rounded, full-bodied wine.
Cuvée Prestige
AOC Bordeaux rouge
This rich, well balanced Bordeaux is made from 100% Merlot grapes and reveals toasted notes mingling with aromas of stewed fruit.
The Dinner at BToo
The dinner was fabulous. Chef Bart joined us for each course to explain it. Bart had a full house. 50 or so Bordeaux (and BToo food) lovers had signed up for the event.
Menu
First Course
Smoked trout, burned toast,red cabbage, petits herbs, basil mousse, lemon dressing
Château la Mothe du Barry, ‘French Kiss’ Blanc, 2017
Second Course
Cured duck salade, duck confit, apricots, Belgian and red endive, Swiss chare
Château la Mothe du Barry, Cuvée ‘Design’ Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge, 2016
Third Course
Roasted venison, green peas, blood sausage croquette, rhubarb, pommes pailles
Château Les Arromans, Cuvée Prestige Rouge, 2016
Fourth Course
Belgian bitter chocolate & red wine
Château la Mothe du Barry, ‘Le Barry’, Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge, 2016
Bye-bye
Thanks Executive Chef Bart Vandaele, Chef de Cuisine Alex Flores and General Manager Rinata Gafarova for an outstanding event.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
ombiasy WineTours/ Events
Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)
Joël and Sandrine Duffau of Château La Mothe du Barry and Château Les Arromans, Entre-Deux-Merr, Bordeaux
Tasting with Joël and Sandrine Duffau at Château La Mothe du Barry and Château Les Arromans in the Heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers Region - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France
Entre-Deux-Mers Wines and Alsatian Cuisine: Lunch at L‘Auberge Chez Francois with Winemaker Joel Duffau and Chef Jacques Haeringer, USA/ France (2017)
The Wines from Entre Deux Mers Winemaker Joel Duffau (2010)
Previous BToo/ Belga Café Dinners
Winemaker Dinner with Château Haut-Bailly at BToo in Washington DC, with Daina Paulin and Chef Bart Vandaele, USA/ Bordeaux (2018)
JJ Prüm Winemaker Dinner at BToo in Washington DC/ USA, with Wilhelm Steifensand ("Herr Prüm") and Chef Bart Vandaele (2018)
Winemaker Dinner with Jean-Claude Rieflé of Domaine Rieflé-Landmann, Alsace, at Bart Vandaele's Belga Café on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, USA/ Alsace (2018)
Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany, and Chef Dieter Samyn at BToo in Washington DC, USA (2018)
Winemaker Dinner with David Reynaud, Domaine les Bruyeres, Crozes-Hermitage in the Rhone Valley, at Chef Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC, USA/ France (2017)
Post-Rieslingfeier and Pre-Big Glou Dinner with 3 Top Winemakers from Germany at BToo in Washington DC: Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg and Koehler-Ruprecht, USA (2016)
Chef Bart M. Vandaele Celebrated the 2 Year Anniversary of his B Too Restaurant with the Wines of Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard from Chablis, USA/France (2015)
Winemaker Dinner with Château LAFON-ROCHET Wines and Winemaker Anaïs Maillet at Chef Bart Vandaele’s Hipp B Too Restaurant in Washington DC, US/France (2014)
A Feast with Jean Trimbach, Maison Trimbach in Alsace, and Chef Bart M. Vandaele at B Too in Washington DC, USA/France (2014)
Weingut Gunderloch– The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US (2014)
The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria (2014)
Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, US (2014)
With Jean Trimbach from Domaine Trimbach, Alsace, at Bart M. Vandaele’s Belga Café in Washington DC (2011)