Farsons Beverage Imports Co Ltd (FBIC) recently hosted a fine Bordeaux dinner at Quadro, Westin Dragonara, with the wines of Chateau Rauzan Segla and Chateau Canon. The evening was presented by prominent winemaker John Kolasa.

Mr Kolasa introduced the excellent wines of the evening in his unique, informal style, delighting the audience which filled the terrace at Quadro with his knowledge of Bordeaux and his wines from Margaux and St Emilion while sharing anecdotes from his 40 year career in the wine-making industry. The wines served during the dinner were Segla 2000, Chateau Canon 1998 and Chateau Rauzan Segla 1996, all in magnum. The wines proved to be perfect examples of their terroir and highlighted the aging potential of wines from these two highly classified Chateaux. The evening was finished off with the liquid gold from Sauternes, Chateau Guiraud 1995.

John Kolasa, of Scottish nationality, is the managing director of Chateau Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux, and of Chateau Canon in Saint-Emilion, France. His career in wine began with work on the quays in Bordeaux and a year of weekly oenology studies. After four years with Bolter and Schneider, Kolasa began looking after properties belonging to the Janoueix family in Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, followed by two years with the Union des Producteurs in Saint-Emilion. In 1987, he was asked to take over the commercial manager position at Chateau Latour in Pauillac.

Remaining at Latour until 1994, Kolasa’s new challenge began when Chanel acquired Chateau Rauzan-Ségla and he was brought on to oversee the operation at the chateau and rebuild the reputation of what was known in the 19th century as the best of the second growths. Indeed, in the 1855 classification, Rauzan- Ségla was situated right behind Mouton Rothschild which is now a first growth.

Following this initial acquisition, in 1996 Chanel decided to purchase Chateau Canon, a first growth in Saint-Emilion on the right bank of Bordeaux. Kolasa has overseen the extensive renovation program that was undertaken to reveal the finesse and elegance of its terroir and bring back the great wines of Chateau Canon. In 2011, Canon purchased Chateau Matras, Grand Cru Classé to add to the production of its second wine, Clos Canon.

Chateau Rauzan Segla and Chateau Canon wines are imported, marketed and distributed by FBIC Ltd, a member of The Farsons Group.