The Right Bank of Bordeaux Unveiled in Los Angeles, Courtesy of Le Cercle Rive Droite and LearnAboutWine.com

This One-­Day Tasting Event Will Allow Angelino Wine Lovers a Chance at the First Sips of The Epic 2010 and the “en primeur” 2012 vintages.

Los Angeles, March 28th: For one day only on Monday, April 22nd, wine lovers, Sommeliers, connoisseurs, and neophytes alike can join together for an exclusive day of tasting the newest 2010 and “en primeur” 2012 vintages from Le Cercle Rive Droite, an organization that has brought together the most prestigious chateaux from “The Right Bank of the Gironde” estuary in the Bordeaux region. Of the 143 vineyards in the organization, 32 will be on hand to show off the crème de la crème right bank wines. The tasting, which will take place at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, is open for trade and media from 2pm – 4:45pm and for consumers from 6:30pm – 9pm. Tickets for the consumer portion are on sale now (approx $75 for General Admission and $125 for VIP) with benefits from the silent auction supporting TJ MARTELL FOUNDATION and Children’s Cancer Research and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Of the hundreds of wineries on the Right Bank, only chateaux with the most outstanding reputations for excellence are allowed membership into the elite Cercle Rive Droite, which was founded in 2002. With its diverse clay soil types and maritime climate, the sub‐regions of the Right Bank are known to possess the ultimate Merlot‐growing terroir. Additionally, Right Bank wine properties are characterized by being small, mostly family‐run operations with the average size only 37 acres and it is these intimate properties that produce the “haute couture” varietals in the industry. Jacques Azoulay, the CEO of Gabriella Fine Wine Importer and Distributor, is helping to organize this tasting and bring these exciting new blends to life for oenophiles here in the USA. “We are thrilled to once again bring Cercle Rive Droite’s exceptional vineyards here for this exclusive tasting,” Azoulay said. “These are some of the most loved wines in the world and we expect people to flock to the event to be some of the first to taste these vintages.”

“Thanks to exceptional weather at the end of summer and into autumn, 2010 Merlot and Cabernet grapes had a flavor quality that has rarely been as good,” observed Bordeaux-­‐based oenologist Michel Rolland who was able to take some of the first sips of the vineyard offerings. “The aromatic characteristics are excellent, encouraged by pH levels that bestow firm acidity, accentuating freshness. Here is a vintage we have dreamed of, given to us by nature,” he concluded.

During the tasting on April 22nd guests are encouraged not only to taste but to learn from the plethora of experts on-­‐hand, including wine producers and oenophiles from the Bordeaux region. One of those experts is Dr. Alain Raynaud, President of Le Cercle Rive Droite, once called the “Bordeaux maverick” by Decanter Magazine. A silent auction will be held during the evening portion where consumers have the chance to bid on bottles and magnums of their favorite Right Bank wines.