Bordeaux Blend

This showed better than the 1998 and at age 29, very nice.  It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco, black cherries, spice and slight herbal note.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has juicy acidity.  Black cherries, some cassis, spice, char and slight tobacco.  Complex.  Long finish.  This is probably past peak, but really drinking well.  Drink over the next few years but it might go longer.  It will work well on its own, but will match well with roasted chicken.  

This is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Cabernet Franc.  Ruby in color, with slight browning.  The nose has cassis, leather, black cherries, slight tobacco and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has some complexity.  Nice cassis fruit with a bit of underlying tobacco.  Moderate finish.  This is past prime and should be consumed soon.  That said, it does have something to offer.  Better with food at this stage.  A nice wine with Brisket.  

Nice showing for this wine.  In its youth, this was full throttle oak, but at age 23, the fruit, oak and tannins have all integrated and mellowed and come together.  Purple/black in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has clay, black cherries, spice and chocolate.  Medium tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with a hint of black olives.  The finish is a bit bitter and drying.  Overall, this seems at peak.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  It will work better with food.  A nice wine with a burger.  

This is 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc from the difficult 2013 vintage.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose cherries, chocolate, tobacco and spice.  Nice texture.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with some cherries with some clay and spice notes.  The finish is a bit clipped.  A very nice effort for the vintage.  It may not have enough fruit to outlast the tannins.  drink over the next ten years.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  A nice wine to open with Ahi Tuna off the grill.  

The 2005 vintage was excellent in Bordeaux and most are open and drinking well right now.  This wine showed wonderfully.  Ruby in color with some browning.  The nose is classic with cassis, char, tobacco, leather and cherries.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with some spice and a bit of dry earthiness.  Some complexity.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This wine is just about at peak (or maybe a bit past).  Drink these sooner than later.  It will be better with food.  Beef stew with roasted root vegetables would be a nice match.  

This is made with purchased grapes in northeast Ohio.  It is their version off a white Bordeaux and features a 75/25 mix of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with white peach, slight wax, a hint of orange peel and spice.  Lovely texture with just a wisp of tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, peach and slight almond notes.  Good finish.  This is a solid version of a "white Bordeaux".  Is is drinking well now, but should drink well for five to eight years.  Nice on its own, this is very food friendly and worked well with an Eggplant

This bottle was left from our Seder in 2021 so we added it to this year's.  It is a Bordeaux blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot and 7% Syrah.  While still drinking well, it is showing a bit of age and has dropped some of its fresh fruit notes (the prior note is on this site).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, tobacco, and dust.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit with some cassis over dry roasted earth.  Easy drinking.  Food friendly.  It is not a big wine, but worked great with our meal dur

In a really special place right now.  Fantastic.  This is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, slight chocolate, tobacco, leather and slight funk.  Full bodied.  Velvety texture.  On the palate, this is vibrant but also showing layering and complexity.  Flavors of black cherries and cherries with underlying earthiness.  Some chocolate on the finish.  This is at peak but should drink well for another decade.  Great on its own as it is contemplative, but will work great with roasted fowl, meat or even vegetab

Gorgeous showing for this wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is wonderful with black cherries, chocolate, spice, cherries and slight funk.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is just about at maturity.  Plenty of vibrant fruit; cherries and black cherries but also starting to show some depth and complexity.  No hurry though.  This should drink well for another ten to twenty years.  Nice on its own, but better with food. Lamb would be a good match.

This is a Bordeaux blend from Napa.  What a great wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, tobacco, spice and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, black cherries, cigar tobacco, just a hint of bell pepper and spice.  Complex if tight.  It unwinds in the glass.  It may yet improve with some cellaring but delicious now.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, this would work great with brisket.