Young bloods provide new Oxygene

Published: 23 July, 2008

A group of 18 young Bordelais - either chteau owners or their offspring - has set up a new association designed to breathe new life into Bordeaux's reputation abroad.

Named Bordeaux Oxygene, the group aims to convince wine drinkers and the trade in the region's key markets that, far from being stuffy and old-fashioned, Bordeaux is modern' and dynamic'.

The 18 include the sons and daughters of some of Bordeaux's most high-profile members, such as Michel Rolland's daughter Stephanie and Jean-Marie Chadronnier's son Mathieu.

According to the association's president Benot Trocard, proprietor at Chteau Clos Dubreuil, the association grew out of a desire for the members simply to meet each other. The original idea was just for all of us to meet each other because, although we see each other regularly at wine-trade events, we didn't know each other as friends. After that, we decided it would be a good idea to take it further and do something for Bordeaux. All of us are between 26 and 36 and are involved in the Bordeaux wine industry. Bordeaux has had an image in places like the UK of being old-fashioned, but I don't think that is true anymore - it's a very dynamic place at the moment. We need to communicate that.'

The group's first event will be a London tasting held in November, possibly in conjunction with the Institute of Masters of Wine and the Circle of Wine Writers. Tastings in Switzerland, Belgium and Holland will follow.

We would also like to go to the United States sometime next year and organise an event to coincide with the en primeur tastings,' added Trocard.

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