Bordeaux Blend

This estate provides some real value  in Bordeaux especially in the good (expensive) vintages.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cassis, cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is showing a nice complexity.  It should still develop more but is getting closer to peak.  Cassis with spice and char.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would work well with Lamb Stew.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.

This is a blend of 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Franc.  It is consistently a great value in Right Bank Bordeaux and in good vintages (such as 2008) it often out performs the vintage.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, coffee, slight chocolate and cigar box.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is approaching peak.  Some complexity and depth.  Flavors of black cherries, cherries, spice, chocolate and char.  Good finish.  This will be better with food.  It should work great with Lamb.  Drink over the next ten years.

This is a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc blend from the Oakville District in Napa.  The 2017 vintage is proving to be a good vintage if not great.  That said Russell Bevan is a great producer which counts more than vintage.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, slight cigar box, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  ON the palate, cassis, black cherries, cedar and chocolate.  Showing a nice complexity but drinking quite well.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  Its great on its own and

Tasted blind with other wines including the 2013 Bard.  It was close and although I think this is the better wine, I found the 2013 a bit better on the evening.  It is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot.  Inky purple in color and shimmering bright.  Opaque.  The nose is big with cassis, graphite, slight earthiness and char.  A bit tight.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is young and tight.  Very ripe, this needs time.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, spice and cherries.  Long finish.  Hold for five years and drink for thirty after that.  Bett

Funny, I had just been talking about the 2002 vintage in Bordeaux.  I liked it but it was a "Restaurant" vintage meaning early accessibility and not wines to lay down for thirty years.  But, as they say, great producers make great wines in every vintage.  That is certainly true for this bottle.  Tasted blind, it started out slow, but just kept getting better.  Purple  in color but a bit flat, opaque.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, cigar box and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, great balance.  Complex.  Flavors of cherries, spice and char.  Long f

Iced tea/ orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with honey, peaches, and some citrus.  Viscous texture.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of peaches with some honey.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well.  A bit more mature than expected but still with life left.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  It drinks well on its own and would work nicely with not too sweet, dry cookies, and of course, foie gras.

This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, and 8% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, fresh herbs, cedar, leather and char.  Nice texture.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is nice.  Good fruit.  Black cherries, cassis, with some earthiness.  Good finish. This seems about at peak but should drink well for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work with most (non-seafood) foods.  

While not their "top" wine, this is an ultra premium Cabernet that is on par with Napa or any other Cabernets at this price level.  It is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is open and enticing.  Cassis, black raspberries, cigar box, chocolate, spice and char.

This was a brutally hot vintage and winemakers had to deal with over ripeness from the heat and under ripeness from the vines shutting down.  Yet, some did make wonderful wines and this is one.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, cigar box, spice and smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good, lively acidity.  On the palate, this is mature and drinking well.  Deep with layers of cassis, tobacco and spice and some char.  Long finish.  This won't get better but should go another ten years.  Great on its own but better with food.  T

Great showing.  This is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Aglianico from Campagna in Italy.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and a bit flat.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, dried cherries, herbal notes, forest floor and spice.  Complex.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex.  Lots of fresh cherries and black cherries with some tobacco, leather and spice.  Long finish.  This is close to or at peak.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with many foods.  Roasted poultry should work well.  Drink over the ne