Bordeaux

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

Another of the better right banks that gave a disappointing performance.  This vintage seems to have shut down quickly.  Perhaps that's an excuse but it was pretty consistent in the better Merlot based wines.  Purple in color, mostly opaque if a bit flat.  The nose has cherries and spice along with a slight salinity.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit but seems mono-dimensional.  In a group of eleven tasters, this finished at or near the bottom of a tasting of right bank wines.  It is likely shut down.  Still, given the quality of the producer and the vi

This wine is shut down right now.  It needs time to develop and will no doubt be spectacular, but not on this evening.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black cherries and spice.  With air, a bit of chocolate and tobacco emerge.  Full bodied.  Wonderful texture.

This should have been much better.  No obvious faults, but shut down tight as a drum.  Reviews here are base on how the wine drank, not its potential.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is tight.  Perhaps the slightest note of cedar and cherries.  On the palate, this has a wonderful, lush texture which gives hope that at some point, this wakes up more.  More open  on the palate, with black cherries, cherries and underlying char.  Long finish.  Don't touch this for another five years at least.  Based on the vintage and house, this should drink well for twelve to fifteen years after

Excellent showing for this wine.  It is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot aged for 12 months in new oak.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens to show cassis, baking spices, vanilla, and slight char.  On the palate, black cherries with some spice.  A bit of menthol on the finish.  Firm tannins.  Plenty of depth and some complexity shows as it unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  This needs a couple of years to fully mature.  This house seemed to really nail it with this vintage.  It should drink well for ten to twelve more years at least.  A nice match with a

My first time trying this producer.  It is their second wine.  A blend of 73.1% Merlot, 24.3% Cabernet Franc, and 2.6% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with clay, and cherries.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  The palate has cherries with slight black cherries.  This is open and drinking well today.  Some complexity but mostly a tasty wine for immediate drinking over the next couple of years.  A nice wine with pizza.  Unfortunately, like most Pomerol wines, it is a bit expensive to be a daily drinker.

This is 100% Cabernet Franc.  After fermentation, it spent 12 months in amphora where it underwent malolactic fermentation.  The result is an outstanding wine.  Black cherry in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens to show black cherries, smoke, and baking spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, slight cigar box and very concentrated.  Nice finish.  Still young, this will improve. Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Lamb chops would go quite well.  

According to the label, this is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Malbec.  It is a biodynamic wine.  Ruby/purple in color if a bit flat.  The nose is nice with cedar, cherries, and a slight char.  Firm tannins.  A bit thin on the body.  Black cherry fruit with low acidity.  Moderate finish.  This is a nice inexpensive Bordeaux for drinking over the next few years.  It the fruit holds out, perhaps even longer.  Better with food.  This would be nice with meatloaf or a burger. 

This is a blend of 50% Semillon and 50% Sauvignon Blanc according to the label (although the winery web site lists it at 80/20).  The Semillon stood out, so I tend to believe the winery over the back label.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with alfalfa, slight lemons and a bit of melon.  Medium bodied.  Oily texture.

This is a new winery for me.  At age 52, it still has some life left although I am sure past prime.  It is the color of iced tea.  The nose has some oranges and slight honey.  Medium bodied.  Some sweetness although most has faded.  The palate has some apricot and honey.  Enough acidity to carry some food.  Drink up.  It will work nicely with a plain sponge cake.  

This is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot from the excellent 2009 vintage.  That vintage has always been accessible and one that may be long lived but the wines developed quickly.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, pencil lead, spice, black cherries and tobacco.  Full bodied.  Great texture.  Medium tannins.  This is well balanced.  On the palate, cassis with leathery notes and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to for another twelve to fifteen years.