Goedhuis & Co chairman Johnny GoedhuisWine tasting and a worthy cause
Georgie Hindle
I was lucky enough to experience my first Goedhuis & Co Fine Wine Merchants charity wine dinner – its 16th – raising funds for The Goed Life which started in 2017 to support young adults with learning disabilities and help them lead full and meaningful lives. Established in 1990, this has now raised well over £4m for charities. The evening started with a rare tasting of more than 30 Bordeaux 2009 wines including all the first growths, super seconds and top estates from St-Emilion and Pomerol before a record-breaking auction of wine lots raising £400,000.
Château Figeac reigned supreme with its delicate, svelte and easy-drinking style (£237.50 Lay & Wheeler – representative per-bottle prices via Wine-searcher.com); Montrose (£375 Hedonism) shone with persistence and grip, a round and full palate and glossy, captivating fruit. Léoville Las Cases (£230 Bordeaux Index, Corney & Barrow) was delicious, racy, elegant and vibrant, while Rauzan-Ségla (£143-£157 Bordeaux Index, Crop & Vine, DBM Wines, Farr Vintners, Lay & Wheeler) was juicy, succulent, chewy but graceful, charming and open.
Châteaux Mouton Rothschild (widely available, from about £500 in bond), Lafite Rothschild (from £600ib) and Latour (from £750ib) were also marvellously impressive. However, for relative value, Château Duhart-Milon stole the show – one of the least expensive 2009 crus classés (£95-£110 Abingdon Fine Wine, Bordeaux Index, Crop & Vine, Nemo Wine Cellars, Richard Kihl, Seckford, VinQuinn) – with its enveloping tannins, muscular structure and enjoyable
