Which Bordeaux Grands Crus to celebrate a third World Cup victory for France?

About our sommelier: Born in Toluca, a good hour’s drive from Mexico City, Omar Barbosa quickly developed an interest in Bordeaux wines. He learned the 1855 Grand Cru Classé classification by heart during his sommelier studies in Mexico, before gaining a more in-depth understanding at a dedicated wine trade fair. He was voted Best Sommelier of Mexico in 2011 and 2013, and represented his country in the Best Sommelier of the World contest in Tokyo in 2013. Omar then moved to Bordeaux to study a Master’s degree in Wine Economics and eventually settled in Gironde nearly 10 years ago. He now works at Barton & Guestier. He considers himself Mexican by birth but Bordelais at heart!

For the aperitif: Château de France 2022, white What could be better to celebrate a French victory than a wine named Château de France?! I suggest a young vintage. For me, the best Bordeaux white wines are produced in Pessac-Léognan. This wine is an obvious choice for the apéritif, and goes down a treat paired with grilled summer vegetables.

For the main dish: Château Batailley 2014 Its name alone summons a victory. In French it says “we fought a battle and we won” (laughs)! It is pretty symbolic. And Pauillac is an emblematic appellation in Bordeaux.

Château Beychevelle 2018 The bottle label of this great Saint-Julien wine displays a ship with lowered sails as it passes by the Château, as a mark of respect towards the Duke of Epernon. It is similar to the custom of forming a guard of honour to congratulate the winner in sports competitions. Beyond the symbolic aspect, I am a big fan of Château Beychevelle wines. This is one of the rare estates in Saint-Julien which adds a bit more Merlot to the blend. This results in a round and easy-to-drink wine. It has superb ageing potential but is also very enjoyable when young. So why not open a 2018 vintage as a tribute to France’s latest victory in the World Cup? It just needs a little decanting beforehand to fully reveal all its aromas.

I recommend pairing it with a regional speciality: it goes down a treat with roast Pauillac lamb!

For the dessert: Château La Tour Blanche 2002 To finish, it has to be Sauternes. I recommend a Château La Tour Blanche 2002 for its wonderful quality and complexity. This Château is the only one in Bordeaux which belongs to the French state. It would be a lovely nod to French expertise, perfect for a nation-wide celebration. What’s more, it is managed by Miguel Aguirre, originally from Colombia. We are both “Bordeaux Latinos” (laughs)! I would serve this wine with a delicious apricot tart since it is the peak season for it, along with a slice of blue cheese to create a nice contrast.

And if Mexico ever won the trophy? I would open a bottle of Château Canon because it would be great if it came home and “canon” is French slang for “terrific”! This emblematic Saint-Emilion would be a wonderful way to celebrate a nation which has never won the World Cup.

I would also open a bottle of Perseus, a Mexican wine from Baja California produced by Vinos El Cielo, to showcase my country’s rich winegrowing expertise. When I serve this fantastic wine to my friends in Bordeaux, they agree it is outstanding and tend to mistake it for a fine Italian wine!

We hope you enjoy these tastings as much as the World Cup!