2016 Maison Riviere Château de Callac Prestige, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Wine Review

This is a blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc that sees 100% new oak. . Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice and slight cigar. Medium bodied. On the palate, cherries, some black cherries and underlying earthy tobacco notes. Moderate finish. This will work better with food than on its own. Slow cooked, braised beef or lamb would work well. Drink over the next five to seven years.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2016

Current Price:

$26.00USD

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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2010 Château de la Rivière Aria, France, Bordeaux, Fronsac, Wine Review

Vintage:

2010

Score:

Grade:

A-

Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has spice, oak and dark cherries. On the palate, cherries and chocolate. Seems like a fair amount of Merlot must be in this. A new estate for me. This is drinking well right now at 8 years from vintage. It has a fair amount of oak on it, so if that is an issue, let it cellar for a while. It should integrate in the next five years or so.

1985 Domaine de Chevalier, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Wine Review

Vintage:

1985

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$159.00USD

Opened and decanted for sediment. This is drinking well. Purple in color with ruby swirls, slight bricking. The nose is nice with cassis, cherries, leather and cedar. Full bodied. Tannins seem resolved. On the palate, cherries and black cherries with underlying leather. Good balance. Nice finish. This seems fully mature but not over the hill. Complex and also delicious. It would work well with braised lamb. Drink over the next five to seven years.

1996 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage:

1996

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$460.00USD

Typically, Haut Brion is my favorite of all the first growths. Perhaps because the blend is a bit different. This vintage is 50% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc. At age 24, this is just about at maturity. Purple/ruby in color, but starting to show some browning. Mostly clear and bright. The nose has black cherries, cherries, tobacco and slight earthiness. On the palate, a nice tart but sweet fruit - cherries, black cherries and slight black raspberries. Layers of complexity. Long finish. This won't get better from here, but should have ten to fifteen years a

2002 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage:

2002

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$400.00USD

From Magnum. This was an ok year in Bordeaux, but Haut Brion may have made the wine of the vintage. In regular bottles, this should be at or past peak, but in Magnum it was doing just fine. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and flat. The nose is mature with cassis, cigar box, gravel and slight char. Medium bodied. Medium silky tannins. On the palate, cassis, with some tobacco, gravel and char. Some complexity. Good finish. Older bottles are always variable, but these should be drunk sooner than later. This will work better with hearty food. Cassoulet would work we

2016 Maison Riviere Château de Callac Prestige, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Wine Review

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2002 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review