1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

T^

possibly could have

been

production of

the

thsrt

district. The nobility of the Medoc wines is small. There are only four premiers crus, but they are magnificent. They are Chateau Lafitte, Chateau Latour, Chiteau Margaux, and Chateau Haut-Brion; and all these, especially the Latour, have a flavour and seductive bouquet all their own, which is believed to arise from an extremely volatile oil contained in the grape skins, which, like' all ethers, requires time to evolve and mature. But the soil, undoubtedly, has most to do with it, amd this must be in a very large degree com- posed of fragments of rock, small and large, while the smooth round pebbles reflect the rays of the sun and throw them upwards, so as almost to surround the grapes with light and heat. Again, these stones absorbing the sun's rays during the day, give out warmth after sunset, whilst they keep the roots of the vines cool, and prevent to a great degree the evapora- tion of the natural and necessary moisture of the earth. But these premiers crus are not always good ; for instance, in 1869, Messrs. Fulcher & Baines, winie brokers, sold by auction a very large parcel of Chateau Margaux for about 30^. per dozen. There was no doubt but that it was genuine wine, bottled at the Chateau, for the cases and corks were all properly branded ; but of such low quality was it, or

that when sold again in

deteriorated so

rapidly,

it

the same wine only averaged 18^. per dozen.

18 7 1