LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND / AMONG THE VINES – Féchy is home to the best 2012 Chasselas wine in canton Vaud, generally considered the birthplace of the grape variety so closely tied to the image of Swiss wines. Pierre-Louis Molliez & Fils won the top award at the wine competition Sélection des Lauriers de Platine” held 21 November by Terravin.
The winning wine: Pierre-Louis Molliex & Fils, La Côte AOC, Féchy, Délices des Pierrots, cuves No. 9
The competition is unusual in that a jury of wine journalists and professionals in the wine world are asked to select their favourites from a pre-selection of 16 wines chosen by Terravin.
Most competitions focus on the technical quality of wines, but that pre-selection is done out of more than 500 wines and Thursday’s competition featured just 16 of the best Vaud Chasselas wines.
Consumer’s guide, by professionals, to the best Chasselas wines
An emotional business, tasting the best Chasselas wines, by Switzerland’s top wine journalists, producers, sommeliers, oenologistsTerravin is the quality label for Vaud wines, a consumer’s guide to those that meet strict quality standards set by the winemaker’s peers, producers and oenologists.
The organization awards its “Lauriers d’Or” label to wines that have that meet its criteria.
There are currently 552 wines with the Lauriers d’Or label, 62 percent of the more than 900 tasted during 60 judging sessions held during a year. Five judges take part in each session, rotating from a group of 30.
Today’s competition takes the quality label to another level, simply asking a broader group of judges at the Lauriers de Platine Selection to list their order of preference for four Chasselas wines, reducing the number from 16 to 8, then 4 and finally naming the winners.
Concentration required, even for experienced sommeliers and oenologists!The selection to some extent highlights personal tastes, in parallel with consumers’ varying preferences.
Second place: Pierre-Luc Leyvraz, Lavaux AOC, St Saphorin, Les Blassinges, cuve No. 4
Third place: Bourgeoisie de la Ville de Fribourg, Lavaux AoC, Epesses Grande Cru, cuve No. 13
Fourth place: Commune de Bourg-en-Lavaux, Lavaux AO, Epesses, cuve No. P117.