Bordeaux Blend

This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the very good 1996 vintage in Bordeaux.  purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  There is some cassis but mostly dried fruits, tobacco, cigar box, dried leather and some spice.  Medium bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and fully mature.  It doesn't seem much past though (depending on how you like older Bordeaux).  Black cherry fruit, dried cherries, forest floor, and slight spice.

Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and showing just a bit of bricking on the edges.  The nose is a bit musty but I didn't think TCA  (although some did), with cigar and some cassis.  The mustiness did not blow off completely but did not get stringer so I am going with a bit of bottle age.  There is some depth to the wine.  The palate has some cassis and some tertiary notes of leather and dust.  Good acidity.  Most 2000's are slow to mature, but this bottle, at least, seems past prime.  Drink up.  No rating as not sure how representative this bottle is.  

This wine is half the price of Bevan's single vineyard wines and almost as good.  It is expensive but vis-a-vis the quality it is worth buying a bottle or two.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm but smooth tannins.  On the palate, juicy cassis with some cedar, tobacco and char.  Long finish.  Delicious if young.  This drinks well on its own and would be at home at a Steak House.  Drink over the next twenty years.  It will still improve with good cellaring.

Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cigars, cherries and dust.  Full bodied.  Drying tannins.  On the palate, this is past peak but still showing a nice complexity.  Layers of cherry fruit with dried tobacco and slight forest floor.  Moderate finish.  Still plenty to like about this.  It would be better with food although somewhat contemplative on its own.  Lamb stew would be a good match.  drink up.  

Obviously young, it was nice to drink this early to check in on it.  It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère.

Bordeaux is famous for its amazing wines that come with amazingly high prices.  There is also a sea of wine made for very affordable prices.  This is a lovely wine from a great vintage.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is spicy with cigar box, black cherries and cherries.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins (true to the vintage).  On the  palate, black cherries, cassis, anise and char.  Good finish.  Overall, a very nice showing.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  Nice on its own and would be a great meatloaf/burger wine.  

This is one of the  better "values" in Napa high end wines.  It is a proprietary blend of 70% Cab with the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, slight black cherries, spices, and leather.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, juicy cassis and black cherries with underlying char and spice.  Some leather notes.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is young but drinking well. Drink over the next ten to twenty years.  Great on its own, it would be perfect with a roast or steak.

This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot from one of the premier vineyards in Napa, the State Lane Vineyard.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, blueberries, slight cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries, some black raspberries and blue berries with a bit of leather and earthiness.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and may still improve.  It should drink well for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this would work well with roasted duck or even roast r

A First Growth in a top vintage?  Yes, please.  This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color with some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, perfume, slight cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tight and young but delicious.  Cassis, black cherries, spice and slight chocolate.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but will get better with further cellaring (or air).  Drink over the next twenty to thirty years.  For now, it will be a t

Very nice showing for this second label of a First Growth Chateau Lafite.  It has about 40% Merlot in it (according to an early Robert Parker review).  The nose is earthy, with tobacco, cigar box, dust but also vibrant dark cherries and some cassis.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, earthiness and some spice.  Good finish.  Well stored bottles should have a few more years out of this.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  Roasted duck or chicken would work well.