2008 Château La Confession, France, Bortdeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

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.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2008

Current Price:

$86.00USD

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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2005 Château La Confession, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$80.00USD

Time has been great for this bottle. At age 14, it is a stunning bottle of Bordeaux. Probably at or close to peak but with years left. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is fresh with cherries, cigar box, slight earthy funk and slight spice. On the palate, this has complex layers of cherries, black raspberries, and tobacco. Great balance. Long finish. This drinks well on its own because of the complexity but really shines at the dinner table with meat and roasted dishes or stews. This is a great example of buying affordable Bordeaux in great vintages and letting them age. It can still

2009 Arômes de Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

B+

This is from the younger wines at Chateau Pavie (under 10 years old). It is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby in color. The nose has cherries with a bit of cigar box. On the palate, this is drinking well now. Nice cherry fruit with a bit of cocoa and slight tobacco. Not a lot of concentration or complexity but it is tasty. Good acidity. It seems as though this will be as good as this gets and thought it should do another five to ten years, the safer bet is to drink it now. It will go well with stews and medium weight foods.

2005 Château Troplong Mondot, France, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$325.00USD

In a really special place right now. Fantastic. This is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, slight chocolate, tobacco, leather and slight funk. Full bodied. Velvety texture. On the palate, this is vibrant but also showing layering and complexity. Flavors of black cherries and cherries with underlying earthiness. Some chocolate on the finish. This is at peak but should drink well for another decade. Great on its own as it is contemplative, but will work great with roasted fowl, meat or even vegetab

2019 Château Fombrauge, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$60.00USD

It seemed like a bad idea opening such a young Bordeaux, but this was surprisingly still open and drinking well. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, cassis, chocolate and spice. Medium to full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, black raspberry fruit with black cherries and underlying char. Plenty of depth. Complex. Good finish with some milk chocolate notes. This is delicious. It will be interesting to see where this goes from here. Does it shut down? Does it develop more with cellaring. In any event it is excellent right now.

2008 Château La Confession, France, Bortdeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

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

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2005 Château Troplong Mondot, France, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

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