France: Wine, French Wine Regions, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, & More Profiled

2009 Château Brane-Cantenac, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This is a second growth under the 1855 classification system.  Not a super second but often can be found for a reasonable price.  A blend of  53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  Slight funk in the glass which slightly blows off with air.  Cassis, cedar and roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has nice fruit plums and cass along with some underlying spice/cedar.  Slightly drying tannins.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with roasted fowl or meats.  It is close to peak but may still be a bit better.  It sh

2009 Château Cantemerle, France, Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

Purple in color.  The nose is earthy with cassis, graphite and smoke. On the palate, this has ripe fruit.  Cassis with underlying spice and char.  The tannins are slightly drying.  Overall a nice complexity.  This wine is about as good as it will get but should be good for ten to fifteen more years.  It will go well with roasted fowl or meats.  

2009 Château du Moulin-Rouge, France, Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, Wine Reviews

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

Great showing for this chateau that I don't believe I had ever heard of much left tried.  It is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with some Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color.  The nose is earthy with cassis, and some spice.  On the palate, this has ripe fruit.  A nice complexity and depth. Cassis layered with earth and gravel.  Some tannins.  This probably won't improve from here but it should be good for another ten years at least.  It will work well with roasted meats or fowl and drinks well on its own.  A great value.  

2009 Château Branon, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$135.00USD

A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, cassis and coffee.  On the palate, this has a nice depth and complexity.  Cassis fruit layered with spice and slight earthiness.  Soft texture.  Medium tannins.  Good finish.  This is a very pretty wine that just now seems to be closing in on peak.  There is some more upside to this wine.  It will work well with roasts or grilled foods.  

2005 Château Gruaud Larose, France, Bordeaux, St. Julien, Wine review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$115.00USD

This showed well if a bit less than hoped.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has nice cassis fruit with some underlying baking spices.  On the palate, this is a bit thin but nice cassis fruit.  Sinewy texture.  Tannins seem resolved.  Drinks easy but tasty.  Moderate finish.  This seems like it is at peak and probably should be consumed in the next five to ten years.  It will go well with stews or chili.  

2005 Château La Clare, France, Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Labelled as Cru Bourgeois, half of this wine's production is typically kosher although this bottle was not so marked.   A blend of 45% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color.  The nose has plenty of barnyard with some cherries.  On the palate, this is soft, but has a nice complexity.  Plums and cherries.  Light tannins.  Moderate finish.  This probably won't get better but should maintain this level for another ten to twelve years.  It will go well with stews and casseroles.  

2009 Château Fleur Cardinale, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

A blend of  70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black cherries with slight dill.  On the palate, this has a pretty, soft texture.  Black cherries with slight black olives.  A slight complexity.  Light tannins.  This is open and drinking well.  Very up front fruit.  Moderate finish.  This seems to be about as good a it will get.  It should be at this level for five to ten more years.  It will go well with roasted fowl and drinks easy on its own.  

2006 Château Suduiraut "S" de Suduiraut, France, Bordeaux

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

Deep golden on color, not quite brown.  The nose has some slight smoke, slight lime and some walnut.  On the palate, this is slightly oily.  Some lanolin.  Not much if any fruit left.  Slightly bitter on the finish.  I found it drinkable and interesting.  Certainly over the hill, but not dead yet.  Those more sensitive to oxidation had more issues with it.  It certainly was far more oxidized than the 2009 consumed alongside it.  

2009 Château Suduiraut "S" de Suduiraut, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
88
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

Light golden in color.  The nose has smoke, lanolin and lemon peel.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, a slightly oily texture.  Limes.  Slight depth.  Slightly bitter on the finish.  At age eleven this is drinking well but probably past prime.  It will last but it seems to be losing its fruit.  Probably best to drink now.  Will work with lighter food, perhaps chicken salad.  

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