This was my contribution to the $9 per bottle party that ‘The Beave’, Edvard and I ended up having.  It comes from the Bordeaux region, more specifically Entre-Deux-Mers and is a typical blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.  It offered white plums on the nose which continued on to to the palate with a delicious cherry pop component.  I noticed only slight tannins but made a note that the wine was juicy.  Great acidity could be responsible for that!  The backbone is somewhat lacking though and I fear this wine needs to be popped and poured rather than cellared for any length of time.  Bang for the buck you could certainly short term a half dozen for casual drinking and pairing with rustic meals like beef stew or Coq-au-Vin.  I’m going with 88 points and 4 stars for the effort.  Salut….

When Moxie and I first met we used to get a bottle of this plonk, a baguette and some cheese for a midnight snack.  She used to work until late at night and this was our go-to bottle for the unwind and relax part of the evening.  Priced at $9, this flashback was brought to the party by my friend Edvard.  A good choice methinks because it brought back great memories of my early wine drinking career and the initial romance that Moxie and I started over 23 years ago.  

The wine is a bulk produced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot made by the Rothschild group.  It is considered the premier bargain wine of the Bordeaux region, and for good reason.  It came in at $9 and offered amazing value for money.  I noted Merlot flavors with Cabernet backbone on my quick sheet.  The broader notes include the black fruit and dark cherry components with some plum intermingled.  Good juicy tannins and balanced acidity made this a pleasure to drink.  The profile was very Bordeaux like and I could sense a certain terroir that was unmistakable.  90 points from me and 5 stars.  Most of all- thanks for the memories, I will be buying this wine again.  Salut….

I have had the 2006 Hanteillan before and hated it.  This is a totally different beast.  2010 is a much better vintage and it shows in this offering.  A very young yet approachable wine that displayed a dark purple hue in the glass.  Searing tannins greeted me on the first pass, but after getting acquainted the blackberry and cassis came shining through.  A strong plum chord struck on the mid palate and there was an  earthy component that surfaced on the back end.  Cellaring would be good for this wine and 2016 would be an opportune time to pull some out and pair them with game, steaks and pasta.  I wonder if secondary flavors will evolve and would like to get some for my cellar.  I found it online for about $20 and give it 89 points making it a 3 star effort pour moi.  Ps.  I drank it after lunch on a flight, served with cheese and dessert.  Salut….