A collection from a family of wine producers with a reputation such as Domaines Barons de Rothschild, the wines in the Légende collection are made under the supervision of oenologist, Diane Flamand with the same care and attention to detail as is applied to the Grands Vins. Its Pauillac and Médoc wines are produced from DBR (Lafite)’s own vineyards and from neighbouring vineyards. For the Bordeaux appellations, the technical team selects the terroirs and supervises the vinification of the grapes from partner suppliers. The Bordeaux Rouge and Blanc are made from selections of the finest production in the Entre-Deux-Mers region.
As early as possible after fermentation, the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) team selects the best batches of wine after successive blind tastings, enabling them not only to ensure top-quality wine but also to control each stage of the winemaking and ageing. The aim, quite simply, is to produce excellent wines, which truly reflect the DBR (Lafite) house style. With the Légende wines collection, connoisseurs now have access to wine from one of the region’s top producers via Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). All five wines in its Légende collection perfectly capture the spirit of the iconic region through the lens of one its most influential producers.
Following an excellent Zoom-based tasting session, I had the pleasure of doing Q&A over e-mail with Diane Flamand on behalf of A Global Lifestyle. Highlights from that interview are below, while more on Ms. Flamand and the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) can be found via www.lafite.com/en/the-collection/reserves.
To you, what makes the Légende wines stand out for other Bordeaux region offerings?
Diane Flamand: The Légende R range is made to be easy to understand, approachable, because each of them have their own personality and are a perfect example of their appellation: Médoc with a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (spicy and full-bodied), Saint- Emilion with a high percentage of Merlot (fruity and soft on the palate), for example. They are a good introduction to the Bordeaux wines complexity.
Do you personally have a favorite from the Légende collection?
Diane Flamand: Coming from the Médoc area, I am a big fan of Cabernet Sauvignon. I like very much the Médoc and Pauillac AOCs. I like well-structured, powerful wines.
Did the current COVID-19 pandemic change how your wines are being produced?
Diane Flamand: No reason for that, in terms of production and winemaking.
You have been the Collection Wines Manager of Domaines Barons de Rothschild for over 15 years. What is a typical day for you like work-wise these days?
Diane Flamand: My working day usually start with meetings (commercial and marketing meetings), then tastings at the end of the morning (differents “cuvées” which have been or need to be bottled to check the quality), and in the afternoon, meetings with my colleagues about the supply of dry goods (labels, caps, cases, bottles) to ensure the different productions. During the harvest (the white grapes harvest just started last week), a lot of time in the different vineyards, following the winemaking.
What is coming up for Lafite in the coming months?
Diane Flamand: The 2020 harvest in a close future , very early harvest this year due to the drought and sunny weather during summer. The quality should be very nice! The harvest is always a very exciting period for the technical team.
Wine aside, what is life like around the Bordeaux region?
Diane Flamand: A very pleasant life, between Atlantic ocean beaches, Arcachon Bassin, countryside, the Pyrenees at only 2 hours away by car, and Bordeaux, a beautiful city of human size. I have been living in Bordeaux center for 20 years, and everything can be done by foot — no need for cars, paradise!
Finally, has there been a highlight or any positive personal thing that has happened for you as a result of this year’s pandemic? We are so used to hearing about how “different” things are in “these changing times,” but have you found your life changed positively in any ways?
Diane Flamand: Personally, I think that in no case the COVID crisis can have a positive effect — it is a nightmare and I can’t wait to wake up!
