From the venerable Chateau Haut Brion, this is an inexpensive rose. A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Light salmon in color. Strawberries on the nose. The palate is clean with "red berries", mostly strawberries. This is easy and drinks well. Perhaps not the energy or brightness it had last year, so these should probably be drunk sooner than later. Works well with food.
This is a Trader Joe's wine made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is an easy drinking rose that is easy on the budget. Deep pink/orange in color. The nose has some watermelons and strawberries. Light bodied. On the palate, a bit of clean strawberries. Drank well enough on its own and worked with a variety of garden and fruit salads. Drink up this summer.
This is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. A gorgeous wine that is still very young. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is pretty classic for Haut Brion with cassis, crushed gravel, slight asphalt and strawberries. On the palate there are silky but firm tannins. Deep and complex, the layers unwind in the glass. Cassis and black cherries, slight strawberries over gravel and earth. Great balance. Long finish. This needs another ten years to maturity and should be there for a couple more decades after that. It is delicious right now but give it air.
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
