2016 Domaine Isle Saint Pierre Depuis 1927 Rouge, France, IGP Mediterranée

This carries the Euro label of IGP or what used to be called Vin De Pays (VdP). It is grown in the Provence are of France on an Island in the Rhone River. It is a Bordeaux blend of grapes though certainly has a unique personality that is quite different. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose is dusty and earthy with some cherry fruit. With air, some cloves emerge. It is light bodied with tart cherries and cranberries. Slight tannins. A bit of anise on the finish. At $9, this is a very nice value. Food friendly for a wide variety of foods. Very much a European styled wine but would stump most blind tasters.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2016

1961 Château Gruaud Larose, France, Bordeaux, Saint Julien, Wine Review

Vintage:

1961

Grade:

This has a different shaped ullage so saying low-shoulder fill is quite accurate. The fill was about four inches down from the top of the cork. The cork was removed and the bottle blew off stink for a bit and then we tried it. It did get a bit better over the subsequent 20 minutes before dying a quick death. Garnet in color, mostly clear and a bit flat. On the nose there is dust, saddle leather, dusty attic and just a hint of dried cranberries. Medium bodied. On the palate, there is just a hint of cherries with leather and earth. A bit tart. Clipped finish. There are surely people

1996 Château Calon-Ségur, France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estephe, Wine Review

Vintage:

1996

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$225.00USD

This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the very good 1996 vintage in Bordeaux. purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. There is some cassis but mostly dried fruits, tobacco, cigar box, dried leather and some spice. Medium bodied with good acidity. On the palate, this is complex and fully mature. It doesn't seem much past though (depending on how you like older Bordeaux). Black cherry fruit, dried cherries, forest floor, and slight spice.

2002 Château Valandraud, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emillon, Wine Review

Vintage:

2002

Score:

Grade:

Funny, I had just been talking about the 2002 vintage in Bordeaux. I liked it but it was a "Restaurant" vintage meaning early accessibility and not wines to lay down for thirty years. But, as they say, great producers make great wines in every vintage. That is certainly true for this bottle. Tasted blind, it started out slow, but just kept getting better. Purple in color but a bit flat, opaque. The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, cigar box and char. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, great balance. Complex. Flavors of cherries, spice and char. Long f

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

Vintage:

2008

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$86.00USD

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.

2016 Château Monbousquet, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$55.00USD

This was tasted non-blind at the conclusion of tasting a group of 16/17 Bordeaux blind. A great place to try this wine as it showed well in that spot. This is a big wine that is drinking quite well at the moment, perhaps due to the large amount of Merlot. It is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

2016 Domaine Isle Saint Pierre Depuis 1927 Rouge, France, IGP Mediterranée

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