Jean-Louis Triaud’s Ballons d’Or

In the restaurant Lion – « the place to be » - on the famous route 215, going along the entire peninsula of the Médoc, Jean-Louis Triaud is searched for by the brokers of Bordeaux and saluted like a master. Just today they will only smile stealthily as the proprietor of the Châteaux Gloria and Saint-Pierre is negociating. Not about the vintage 2005’s prices but about the possible transfer of Willy Sagnol of the Girondins of Bordeaux, whose president he is for one and a half years as well.

In this luxury “roadside café” the proprietors of domains, brokers and journalists glare at each other hostile sometimes, but he benefits of a friendly solicitude. A privilege that does not change his warm-hearted nature and does not let him – as Henri Martin’s son-in-law – lose his decency.

A model for Jean-Louis Triaud just like his life. While he was buying back well-chosen parcels of the great wine regions with difficulties between 1930 and 1960 he converted from a cooper to a talented winemaker, and in the 1960s he became president of the Club des Girondins.

Today “JLT” carrys on the work of his father-in-law with the same efficiency. “Château Gloria and Saint-Pierre are the most classical wines of the Médoc”, he says amused, before continueing seriously: “Football is the only sport where a team out of the fourth league like Calais can beat Bordeaux in a match of the French cup!”

An example of success and opening for Jean-Louis Triaud. In the championship of the “great professionals” his wines compete against a Médoc of the classification of 1855 revised just one single time for Mouton Rothschild. And his wines are not classified in it!

And if the Girondins will have to pass on Willy Sagnol this season, the vintage 2006 will impel him again with the two nice challengers of Saint-Julien.

2006, October 20 - © Les Echos

Other information :
• Saint-Julien
• Bordeaux
• Château Gloria
• Château Saint-Pierre