1989 Château Angélus, France, Bordeaux, St. Émilion, Wine Review

Stunning showing for this wine. Its about 50/50 Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Still youthful and might indeed improve a bit more. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is complex and enticing with black raspberries, dust, cherries and a slight cocoa note. With air, a bit of char comes out. On the palate, this has a "jelly-like" texture which is great. Lots of black cherry fruit over and char and slight tobacco base. Tightly layered, the layers unwind nicely in the glass. It might improve more over the next five years, but should easily be at this level for ten to fifteen years more for well stored bottles. This would be great with cassoulet or roasted meats and fowl.

Grade:

A+

Score:

Vintage:

1989

Current Price:

$525.00USD

Cheval Blanc: The “First Growth” of the Right Bank

When the wines of Bordeaux were classified in 1855 all of the wines were from the Left Bank of the Gironde River. In fact, with the exception of Haut Brion, which is from Graves, all of the wines classified were from the Medoc. Since that time, the winemaking areas of Bordeaux have greatly expanded. Some of the best wines in Bordeaux are now made on the Right Bank including some of the most expensive wines in the entire world. While there is no official classification system for all of Bordeaux, there can be no doubt that if such a system was implemented today, at least a few Right Bank wineries would make the list. Perhaps no winery deserves the mythical first growth of the Right Bank title more than Cheval Blanc. In fact, the wines of Saint Émilion, a commune on the Right Bank, were ranked in 1955 and Cheval Blanc was one of two that received the highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé (A). Those rankings were redone in 1969, 1986, and 1996 and most recently in 2006 (although that ranking is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute not relevant to Cheval Blanc) and Cheval Blanc has remained a First Growth in every subsequent ranking.

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Borgueil: The Unpronounceable, Unforgettable King of Cabernet Franc

When I think of wine that is interesting, unique, obscure, high-value, and small-production, I think of Borgueil – the small wine region in France’s Loire Valley that produces almost exclusively Cabernet Franc.

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1982 Château Sociando-Mallet, France, Bordeaux, Haut-Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage:

1982

Score:

Grade:

Bordeaux wines from 1982 are often still drinking great. While one might think a wine such as this might be over the hill, that is not true. At least for this bottle. It still has some youthful freshness. It is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. No real bricking or browning. On the nose there is cassis, dust, slight cigar box and hints of cherry. On the palate, this has lively energy. Cassis and cherries with some underlying dried herbal notes. Not a big wine. Some depth and slight layering. Nice finish.

2003 Château Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estèphe,Wine Review

Vintage:

2003

Score:

Grade:

A+

Pop and pour and consumed over two nights. Much better on night 2. I know many people say 2003 was such a warm vintage that the wines are already mature. That might be true, but this one's best days are still to come. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, graphite, cedar, and smoked cigar. On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins. Lush cassis and black cherry fruit layered with forest floor, damp earth and tobacco. Tightly layered. Long finish. This is delicious but very much from Bordeaux a

2008 Pétrus, France, Bordeaux, Pomerol, Wine Review

Vintage:

2008

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$2500.00USD

100% Merlot. This proved to be a bit controversial. Some of us loved it while others merely liked it. Of course, served along side the First growths, the Merlot based wine might be at a disadvantage for those preferring Cabs. Personally, I thought it was a stunning wine. It kept opening up over the three hours it was in my glass (with an occasional refill). As an aside, there is something wonderful about having a waiter ask you if you would like just a bit more Petrus in your glass. :-) Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is very pretty with cherries, slight cassis, a bit of

1989 Château Angélus, France, Bordeaux, St. Émilion, Wine Review

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Cheval Blanc: The “First Growth” of the Right Bank

Borgueil: The Unpronounceable, Unforgettable King of Cabernet Franc

1982 Château Sociando-Mallet, France, Bordeaux, Haut-Medoc, Wine Review

2003 Château Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estèphe,Wine Review

2008 Pétrus, France, Bordeaux, Pomerol, Wine Review