“… keep our great Saint George’s feast withal” | Fine wines on Saint George’s Day

In honour of my home county Warwickshire; the 404th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death; and of Saint George’s Day:

“For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!” (Henry VI, Part III)

In Shakespeare’s’ Henry V there is a reference to “between Saint Denis and Saint George”.

Probably Shakespeare was not evoking the Côte de Nuits but the wine-producing areas of Nuits-Saint-Georges and Morey-Saint-Denis come to mind.

(I very much approve of wines called “George[s]”.)

This bottle of 1961 Maison Leroy Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru was made at a time when Leroy was a negociant, sourcing grapes from third-party vignerons and bottling wines under its own name.

It’s a blend of several Premier Cru vineyards in Nuits, though which ones exactly remains a mystery.

Lalou Bize-Leroy, who reaches her 88th birthday in 2020, had been working in the family business for six years by 1961.

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From Morey-Saint-Denis, 1999 Domaine Dujac Clos Saint-Denis was tasted by my fellow Warwick University graduate Neal Martin in April 2019:

“… the imperious 1999 Clos Saint-Denis, arguably the highlight of this vertical, blessed with a sensational bouquet that captures the refinement of the vintage and displaying life-affirming precision on the palate. Whereas some 1999s can come across a little top-heavy with concentration and muscle, this is exquisite, and it is beginning to drink perfectly now, so let me know when you want me round to share it with you.”

(Will do, Neal.)

In Henry VI Part 1, John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, says:

“Go to the gates of Bordeaux, trumpeter: / Summon their general unto the wall… God and Saint George, Talbot and England’s right”.

Château Talbot in Saint-Julien (another Saint!) was named after John Talbot, who lived there in 1452-53 when he was “Connétable Talbot”, governor of the old province of Guyenne, which corresponded roughly to the Roman province of Aquitania Secunda (Aquitaine) and the archdiocese of Bordeaux.

Talbot was defeated at the Battle of Castillon in 1453.

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“Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.”
Much Ado about Nothing

Stuart George | Founder & Managing Director | Arden Fine Wines