On Monday, Bernard-Massard introduced their 2014 vintage at their winery in Grevenmacher and welcomed the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume to tour their winery and cellars.

Before the royal visit, Antoine Clasen, together with his father Hubert Clasen, hosted a presentation and tasting; he explained the various vineyards from Grevenmacher to Schengen, and brands from the Clos des Rochers to the Chateau de Schengen.

The explanations included that Auxerrois grapes are harvested around 1 October each year, typically fruity with a hint of asparagus. Last year's Pinot Blanc harvest was undertaken 2 weeks earlier than normal following the excellent growing season in 2014, with these wines being the real winner of the 2014 season, being more aromatic than normal. With fruity tastes including lemon and grapefruit. The Pinot Gris was harvested last year on 19 September with a short maturing time in the winemaking process for this dry white wine, with some taste of pineapple lingering. For the Riesling, it is important to harvest the grapes before the skins burst when expanding following rain and to ensure a required level of sugar is maintained in the grapes - this was done last year from 8 October. The Fleurs des Rochers is very fruity with a lingering after-taste, the result of a collaboration to blend different wines. The Pinot Noir, the only red wine in the tasting, was barrelled for 12 months. For the crémants, "Luxembourg champagne", they have two fermentations and are ready after two years of maturing to drink.

All have an alcohol content of between 12.8% and 13.2%, with sugar content ranging between 5.5 grams/litre for the last Riesling to 8.1 grams/litre for the second Pinot Gris, and acidity ranging between 5.2 g/l fir the Pinot Noir to 7.4 for the 3rd Riesling.

Tasting consisted of the following:

- Auxerrois, Grevenmacher Fels, Domaine Clos des Rochers (2014, 709 barrels)

- Auxerrois, Chateau de Schengen, Domaine Athill Frères (2014, 301 barrels)

- Pinot Blanc, Grevenmacher Fels, Domaine Clos des Rochers (2014, 307 barrels)

- Pinot Blanc, Chateau de Schengen, Domaine Thill Frères (2014, 715 barrels)

- Pinot Gris, Grevenmacher Fels, Domaine Clos des Rochers (2014, 106 barrels)

- Pinot Gris, Chateau Schengen, Domaine Thill Frères (2014, 112 barrels)

- Riesling, Grevenmacher Fels, Domaine Clos des Rochers (2014, 701 barrels)

- Riesling, Chateau de Schengen, Domaine Thill Freres (2014, 701 barrels)

- Riesling, Ahn Palmberg, Domaine Clos des Rochers (2012, 326 barrels)

- Riesling, Grevenmacher Groäerd, Domaine Clos des Rochers (2013, 326 barrels)

- Fleurs des Rochers, Pinot Blanc / Chardonnay, Domaine Clos des Rochers (2013, 326 barrels)

- Pinot Noir Barrique, Domaine Clos des Rochers (2013, 347 barrels)

- Cuvée de l'Ecusson, Bernard-Massard

- Crémant Millésimé, Bernard-Massard

- Crémanr Brut, Donaine Clos des Rochers

Photo by Geoff Thompson (L-R: Hubert Clasen, Antoine Clasen)