Bordeaux Blend

What a beautiful showing for this red wine.  This has aged beautifully despite having 15.5% abv.  Another in a long line of high alcohol Napa Wines that have stood the test of time.  It is a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, and 1% of each cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, leather, spice and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is vibrant with layers of fruit over a nice earthy/leathery base.  Cassis and black cherries.  Medium tannins.  This is mature but not old by any means.  This sho

This showed surprisingly well for such a young Lafite.  It was splash decanted for about 20 minutes prior to serving.  Purple in color, opque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, graphite, cedar and spice.  On the palate, this drinks young but like a pedigreed Bordeaux (which, of course, it is).  Deep.  Plenty of energy.  Spry is perhaps a better word.  Lots of cassis with underlying cedar and spice.  Medium tannins.  Good finish.  This drinks great on its own right now and will work well with a roast or steak.  It probably need another decade or more to get to peak but should drink we

Sadly, this was corked.  It is too bad because it really seemed like a special wine underneath.  But it would be unfair to judge it.  A shame as the last time I had this, it was given a perfect score and seemed to be just getting to maturity.  

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

Chateau Latour probably takes the longest to come around of all of the first Growths.  Most of the time, patience is rewarded.  This showed quite well for the vintage.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is very earthy with Bordeaux funk but also cassis, black raspberries, tobacco and slight cedar.  Medium bodied with medium tannins.  At age 22, this is more of a teenager than an adult.  The palate goes from heavy cassis to cranberries and back with underlying funk and earth.  There is some complexity.  This should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  It drinks nice alo

Any time one gets a chance to drink a first growth, it's a true pleasure.  They have become prohibitively priced, so its nice when a bottle actually gets open and consumed.  Perhaps not the greatest vintage of Margaux, but a very good one.  At age 22, this is pretty much at peak and drinking very well.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The  nose has a bit of that Margaux liquor/perfume with cherries, cassis, slight spice, and leather but clean.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  The palate has black cherries, slight black tea, and slight soy.  Long finish.

This is a Bordeaux blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Malbec, 20% Merlot and 10% Petite Verdot.  Ehren Jordan serves as the consulting winemaker.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, plums slight chocolate and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  Very tasty wine with some depth.  Black cherries, chocolate, plums and cherries on the palate.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and would work well with a burger.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Always an outstanding wine and a great value and that is true in this challenging vintage.  It is a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black currants, black cherries, slight chocolate and char.  Medium to full bodied.  A nice streak of acidity keeps it lively.  The fruit carries thru to the palate.  Medium tannins.  Deep if tight right now.  Good finish.  This needs a few more years to really open up (or a few hours decant) and should drink well for ten to twelve after t

This is a Bordeaux styled blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Carmenere, 11% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc from Chile.  It is also a very nice value for the quality.  Purple at the core with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens up to cassis, coffee and spice.  Nothing green on the nose.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, smoke and fresh tobacco.  Medium tannins.  Softer texture.  This is surprisingly open right from the start.  There is a nice complexity.  It drinks easily now and should continue for the next ten to twelve years.  A nice m

Much better and cleaner than another bottle tried a couple years ago.  Both were bought on release at the same time.  A right bank wine from the great 2005 vintage.  The vineyard is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc (unsure about the specific vintage in bottle).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, cedar, chocolate, slight tobacco and just a bit of smoke.  Consumed over two days, this was better/more open on day 2.  Full bodied.  Lush texture but with good acidity.  Lots of black cherry fruit over smoke with some chocolate.  Nice finish.  This s