INTERVIEW
one row. We leave it for her. They are very small and shy bears and as long as we keep her supplied with cabernet sauvignon vines she’s happy!”
The other animals in Barbara’s life are her racehorses. This Jockey Club steward currently has more than 100 broodmares, 50-60 horses in training and an interest in at least 20 stallions. “I go to Lexington [Kentucky] for the major horse sales and during Derby season. I am always trying to get different bloodlines for my broodmare band.” Barbara still retains an interest in her Dubai World Cup winner Curlin, whom she now stands at stud. “I have most of Curlin and his son, Good Magic as well as Maclean’s Music and Carpe Diem; maybe an interest in 20 different stallions. I do have a say in which mares are sent to them although Curlin stands at Hill 'n' Dale Stud and John Sikura, our President, is really good at taking the right mares and rejecting others. I trust him.” “I have about 50-60 thoroughbred horses in training with various trainers. It depends on what we are trying to do. If we want to come to Ascot we go to Wesley Ward as he is very successful at getting the horses to Ascot. I have Chad Brown who trained
“A lot of our places are pretty wild, we have a lot of coyote, and mountain lion. We even have bear. It’s a little hazardous”
THE WINES OF VÉRITÉ
The wines of Vérité, French for “truth” are the result of a combination of old-world experience and new-world fruit. Each wine is a distinct blend of unique components harvested from small vineyard blocks, culminating in a meticulously formed union of grape varieties, climate, soil, expression and winemaking techniques. Vigneron, Pierre Seillan, refers to this methodology as droit du sol, “right of the soil”. The vines are grown on no fewer than 32 different soil types, across four different regions: Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Chalk Hill and Knights Valley. Each Vérité wine represents a blend of micro-crus from these mountain vineyards. Pierre uses the term micro-cru to define his approach, which is indicative of each particular plot
within an already outstanding vineyard. Vérité wines are blends of these distinctive micro-crus– crafted on the Bordelais model. La Muse should be considered a “Right Bank” or Pomerol-style wine, made from a Merlot dominated blend with Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine expresses elegance and finesse. La Joie can be seen as a “Left Bank” or Pauillac wine, which demonstrates richness and power from its predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Le Désir is chiefly made from Cabernet Franc and illustrates the opulence and grace expected of the best wines from St Emilion. Vérité wines spend 12-14 months in new French oak; but the wood is noticeable as a
softening influence, not a distinct flavour element. “Oak in wine should be like a ghost. You sense its presence, but you don't actually perceive it,” explained Pierre Seillan. The wines have a signature of impeccable balance and texture; moreover they are drinkable when first released, even though they can also age superbly for decades.
Good Magic, Mark Casse for his technical ability and a couple with Steve Asmussen who is very good with two-year-olds in the United States. He trained Curlin. Sometimes we like a few up-and-coming trainers and we give them a horse that doesn’t have the best pedigree but might have some potential.” So a regular day for Barbara is pretty
much a mix of wine and horses, depending on the season. Even this trip – she is heading to Switzerland and Italy after her London event – has been organised so that she is back in the USA in time to watch one of her horses run! It is no surprise to learn that Barbara’s visit to Guards Polo Club this year will coincide with Royal Ascot and I think we can guess the topic of conversation between Her Majesty and Barbara Banke in the Royal Box on Cartier Queen’s Cup Finals Day!
GUARDS POLO CLUB OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2019 35
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