Bordeaux

• Barsac
• Bordeaux Supérieur
• Margaux
• Graves
  • Pessac-Leognan
• Haut-Medoc
• Listrac
• Pauillac
• Pomerol
• Saint Emilion
• Saint Estephe
• Saint Julian
• Sauternes

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, cedar and a slight herbal note.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Nice black cherry fruit with some underlying oak.  Nice acidity.  Nice finish.  This should continue to improve for a few more years and drink well for ten more after that.  It  is a solid wine right now but it will be interesting to see where it goes.  This will drink better with food.  Roasted meats would be a good choice.  

Pleased to see the heavy use of oak is much less than it used to be.  There is still some present but not as much as I remember.  This is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with plums.  Also some cherries and a bit of char.  On the palate, this is easy drinking.  Black cherry fruit with some cherries.  A note of black olives/oak underneath.  Medium bodied.  Nice finish.  This needs a few years to sort itself out and should drink well for ten more.  It drinks well on its own but would go better with roas

This is a second wine of Chateau Montrose.  Tasted blind, with a tasting group, this was disappointing.  It finished in last place for me and close to that for the group.  It is a fine wine, but more was expected once the label was revealed.  Purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose has cherries, black cherries and spice.  On the palate, light tannins and sour cherries.  Easy drinking.  It is a blend of 52% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Cabernet Franc.  Right now, the Merlot dominates.  Of course, with some, the Cabs could wake up and get the party started.  Based

Another wine that has been consistently over performing expectations for a while now.  In a group blind tasting, this finished first, and although I did not have it that high, it is a great wine that will age well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, mint and slight bell pepper (just a hint).  Medium bodied with medium weight tannins.  This has ripe/sweet fruit on the palate.  Cherries and black cherries.  A more moderate finish.  This continued to improve in the glass all evening.  It is drinking well on its own but would be better with some

Although this is highly rated and not inexpensive, this continues to be one of the most under rated wines from Bordeaux for my tastes.  It is classic left bank and affordable and will age quite well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  On the nose, this is dusty with cigar box, cassis and cherries.  Full bodied.  A nice juicy/glycerin mouthfeel.  Very plush on the mid-palate and then a long finish.  Lots of cassis and black cherry fruit with underlying clean earthiness.  This should continue to improve for five to ten more years and srink for another ten to fifteen after

This was tasted completely blind and did quite well although it was one of the most inexpensive bottles on the table.  This label is perennially among the best values in Bordeaux.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice and classic.  Black cherries with cedar.  Clean.  On the palate, this has medium body.  Tart, black cherry fruit.  Light tannins.  Solid finish.  This is drinking well now and won't get better.  That said, it should provide great drinking for at least five to seven more years and likely more.  

What an outstanding wine.  This is the second wine of Haut Brion Blanc.  My first time trying this.  it is a blend of 76.3% Sémillon and 23.7% Sauvignon Blanc.  It has a silvery/pale yellow/gold color to it.  Very pretty nose with lemons, chervil and minerals.  On the palate, the lemons come thru along with some vanilla and minerality.  Very crisp with nice acidity.  Pin point focus.  Of course this is very young, but it is delicious.  On a warm summer evening, this goes down very easily.  This is expensive and as good as this is now, it should improve.  I would cellar for three to five yea

Light golden in color.  The nose has peaches, honey and apricots.  Nice acidity.  A bit thin.  honey and apricots.  Long finish.  This is drinking at its prime but should stay at this level for another decade.  It would pare well with a peach cobbler.  

Always a pleasure to taste an aged Sauternes from a top producer.  This is iced tea in color.  The nose is slightly oxidized with honeys and slight apricots both fresh and dried.  On the palate, this is thinner than expected.  Slightly sweet.  Tastes of slightly burnt honey (in a good way).  Long finish.  This is cetainly past prime but still provides a lot of enjoyment.  It probably should be consumed sooner than later.  It will work well on its own or with a not too sweet fruit dessert.  

This is a second growth under the 1855 classification system.  Not a super second but often can be found for a reasonable price.  A blend of  53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  Slight funk in the glass which slightly blows off with air.  Cassis, cedar and roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has nice fruit plums and cass along with some underlying spice/cedar.  Slightly drying tannins.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with roasted fowl or meats.  It is close to peak but may still be a bit better.  It sh