2008 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

This is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is very strong with cassis, plums, graphite, and cedar. On the palate, this is deep and tight. Not giving up a lot of details but the total package is delicious and gorgeous. Firm tannins. Lots of cassis and "purple" fruits. Great balance. An underlying cigar box earthiness. Long finish. Like a lot of the 2008's, it seems just a hair behind the "great" vintages which makes this less expensive and more available and still a great vintage. Cellar this for a decade or three, and it will certainly be better. The lable was by Chinese painter Xu Lei and features the Ram on a rock with a slightly Asian aspect to the painting.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2008

Current Price:

$600.00USD

Bordeaux First Growths: Chateau Lafite, First Amongst First Growths

Of all Bordeaux first growths, perhaps none is as well known, both inside and outside of the wine world, as Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Its name transcends wine, standing as a symbol of luxury. How did it get this lofty reputation? And, more importantly is, it deserved? The answer to the second question is a definite yes. This article will explore the first question in more detail. The History: Records of this estate stretch as far back as 1234 when Gombaud de Lafite, abbot of the Vertheuil Monastery north of Pauillac, owned the property. The name Lafite comes from "la hite", a Gascon expression meaning "small hill." Records from the 14th century indicate that it was not a vineyard, but what the French call a seigneurie. This is an estate run by a lord and others who are effectively sharecroppers. The manor house was constructed in the 1500s and still standing today. Read part one of the First Growths Series. The Ségur family bought the property in the 1600s. Jacques de Ségur planted the vineyard in 1680 although grapes were no doubt grown before that. By the early 1700s, thanks to Nicolas-Alexandre, Marquis de Ségur, Chateau Lafite wines were very popular with those wealthy enough to afford them, first in English Society (where it was a favorite of Prime Minster Robert Walpole) and later in French society.

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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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1986 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage:

1986

Score:

100

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$840.00USD

I have been lucky enough to have this on a few occasions. Never has it been open or showing anything like it's lofty status with the critics would indicate so I approached with trepidation. No need. This bottle was amazing. Everything it was supposed to be including still a bit on the young side. It is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim. Bright but mostly opaque. On the nose, lovely cassis, cigar box, ash and slight pencil lead. The lead becomes more pronounced with air and there is some chocolate and spi

2008 Château Lafite Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage:

2008

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$1000.00USD

In a tasting of the top 2008's from Bordeaux, this was the WOTN (and mine) for drinking right now. Of course, none of them are fully mature and need at least a decade. This is a very special wine. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is classic with cassis, graphite, cedar, and cigar box. On the palate, this is intense. Lots of great cassis fruit intertwined with earthiness and cedar, it unwinds in layers in the glass. The finish is very persistent and even seems to grow on the palate. Great balance. This is a w

Wines to Go Buy This Week: Chateau Bonnet White Bordeaux and Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon

Wines to Go Buy This Week: A Crisp Summer White Blend by Chateau Bonnet and a Complex Napa Cabernet by Clark-Claudon Vineyards Labor Day weekend is here and people across the US are gathering to toast the end of summer. As Labor Day marks the tipping point between hot summer nights and cool autumn evenings, my wine recommendations this week will focus on both a cool, refreshing summer sauvignon blanc to savor on these last days of summer and a full bodied Napa cabernet for those upcoming autumn evenings by the fireplace. So as we say farewell to summer 2011, here are two wines to go buy this week: Chateau Bonnett Entre-Deux-Mers Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Muscadelle Andre Lurton, 2010 - Now say that 5 times fast! A quick lesson for those of you who are unfamiliar with French wine: The French label their wines slightly different than we do in the US as they emphasize the place more so than the grape varietal or the producer. In this case, the vineyards and winery are located at Chateau Bonnet, the region is the Entre-Deux-Mers appellation of Bordeaux, the grapes are a blend of sauvignon blanc, semillon, and muscadelle, and the producer is André Lurton, whose family has presided over the vineyards for over 100 years. White Bordeaux is almost always a blend of primarily semillon and sauvignon blanc, with a few other varietals permitted. So why do I like this wine? It's light, crisp, low in alcohol (12%) and at approx $15 a bottle, a fantastic way to introduce yourself to a white bordeaux without breaking the bank. This wine is ideal for a warm end-of-summer picnic that calls for a cool refreshing beverage.

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2008 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

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Bordeaux First Growths: Chateau Lafite, First Amongst First Growths

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

1986 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

2008 Château Lafite Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Wines to Go Buy This Week: Chateau Bonnet White Bordeaux and Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon