WTN: Fevre, Pavie

Spent an afternoon wandering around the Serendra - High Street area while waiting for for my daughter. My last stop was the new branch of Wine Story near the Serendra Concierge. I walked right into a taping of Executive Class, a local lifestyle program with host David Celdran facing a couple of double magnums of Angelus. They were just setting up so I was able to walk around the store and had a short chat with David. I learned later from the staff that the subject of the taping was Hubert de Bouard of Chateau Angelus.

I had some time to kill so I decided to have some wine from the Enomatic. I just had a tasting portion of Chablis squirted into my glass when Wine Story owner Romy Sia walked in with Mr. de Bouard. As the interview was starting, I was given the private room in order to nurse my wine and write my notes.

William Fevre Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru 2007 - Lovely nose of candied fruits. Lots of stone and minerality. Lean and razor-sharp acidity. Mostly pineapple and a little flint. Great length with a peppery finish. Might need a bit of time to round out. Not too pleasant at this stage.

There was a bit of a lull in the interview after 15 minutes and I took the opportunity to come out of the room and choose another wine to try. I settles on:

Chateau Pavie 2001 - Coca Cola nose at first and then a disturbing oxidative note. Had this been in the machine too long? Ripe and sweet but not heavy. A bit pruney. Still firm and a bit tannic on the finish but is probably quite close to the peak. Meaty. Dry finish. If tasted blind, I would probably have guessed California. Aside from the off-putting oxidation, I thought this was pretty good.

Although I wanted to try more wines, I thought it best to leave after the next lull in the interview as I wasn't sure how long it would take before another opportunity to escape would come. I particularly wanted to try a sweet Jurancon by Didier Dagueneau called Les Jardins de Babylone. I was also hoping they would offer me a glass or four of Angelus but no such luck. Apparently they opened the big bottles for a private dinner in the store that evening.

[David M. Bueker]

Do you think the oxidative element in the Pavie was a sign of being on the Enomatic for too long?

It's the only reason I can think of for the oxidation. I wanted to ask how long it had been there and ask the staff to try it but the opportunity did not present itself due to the taping going on.

Too bad about that 2001 Pavie Jay.
Btw, that David Celdran guy was quite a creative character, and amusing in some ways, when he led us through an enjoyable walking tour of old Manila when I was there about a year ago.

Too bad about that 2001 Pavie Jay.
Btw, that David Celdran guy was quite a creative character, and amusing in some ways, when he led us through an enjoyable walking tour of old Manila when I was there about a year ago.

Hi Ramon,

The guy who does the tours is Carlos Celdran. I think he's David's cousin. His tours are a must for anyone visiting Manila.

Yup, I believe Carlos is David's cousin.

N

Thank you for correcting me. After I posted, I was also made aware by my wife, Marina, who remembered that our guide's name wasn't David and that David was probably his brother or cousin who, we were told, did TV interviews. I agree with Jay, though, that in spite of his somewhat one-sided (imho) commentaries on key Manila historical events, Carlos was engaging and entertaining.

Did Carlos do his "One Minute Rizal Lecture" for you? I've not heard it myself, but my wife and kids have and they said it was a riot.

Best,

N

He could have. He made plenty of Rizal references during the tour and they were quite funny in his off-beat way. We've been recommending his walking tours, as well as another good one about Manila Chinatown food tour, to folks from here who had planned on visiting the Philippines.

Here's Carlos during our tour early this year.

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