Tag Archives: bordeaux

Chateau Pierre de Montignac 2020, Medoc, France

11 Monday Sep 2023

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Inky purple colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose gives me aromas of blackberry, black plum, black pepper, charred oak, menthol, star anise and a touch of garigue.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins- it’s quite a soft mouthfeel with medium body.  Black fruit, charred oak and some earthiness frame out the flavors of this wine that delivers a medium length finish.  It’s open for business now and will drink nicely till 2028.  For $23 this 91 point Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cab Sav gets 5 stars from me.  Pair with Filet au Poivre.  Salut….

Chateau Destieux 2015, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

14 Monday Aug 2023

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Deep ink/ruby colored with high viscosity (14.5% ABV) and slight staining on the walls. The nose gives me aromas of blackberry compote, charcoal, black raspberry, mint, rooibos tea, blueberry jam and vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and high tannins.  A full body with lush flavors of ripe black fruit, oak influence and some tea- rooibos and black.  The tannins are a touch chalky and young.  There is a tartness on the mid palate that carries through to the long finish.  This wine has a good pedigree that will allow it to age gracefully, for now it is still youthful.  Drink this 92 point Merlot blend till 2032.  I’m grilling super thick Strip steaks on the charcoal and pairing some roasted King Oyster mushrooms.  We bough this bottle in St. Emilion, a beautiful town btw.  It’s not widely available but if my memory serves- $60 making it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

Chateau Larcis Ducasse 2009, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

07 Monday Aug 2023

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This stunning Bordeaux was the last wine of the 32nd virtual tasting- everyone loved it (except the lawyer, she’s funny).  Deep ruby/garnet with high viscosity legs and slight staining (14.5% ABV).  The nose blew me away- leather, tobacco, forest floor, stable yard, stewed tomato, dried blackberry and that tell-tale aroma I love…. Cassis.  The palate had medium acidity, medium tannins that were so finely integrated and a full body- it was super rich.  The flavors and aromas matched and this wine was seamless and balanced.  A real treat to drink a 14 year old wine that is at peak and delivers such ethereal sensations.  By far one of my most memorable bottles.  I gave it 20 points on our score sheet and would echo the pro’s- this is a 95-96 point wine for sure.  It will drink beautifully over the next decade.  I would pair this Merlot based blend with braised beef cheeks or another hearty dish worthy of its power.  At $130, it’s a bit pricy but hey…. you only live once.  5 stars. Salut….

Chateau Latour-Martillac 2014, Pessac-Leognan, France

09 Friday Jun 2023

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Deep, inky-ruby colored with a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). Classic Left Bank aromas with an intense nose of ripe cassis, pencil shavings, tobacco, cedar box, ripe blackberry and black plum.  A hint of green pepper keeps it somewhat on the rails- it’s a beautiful nose. The palate is dry with medium acidity that is a touch tart along with medium intensity tannins that are well integrated.  Medium bodied- it’s a seductive wine with good length and more cellaring capacity.  It finishes old world with slightly tart dark red fruits and tertiary notes of cedar, tobacco and pencil shavings. 91 points.  We drank this Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Magnum but you can find a standard bottle for around $50. Drink till 2028 with grilled Filet steak and au gratin potatoes.  4 Stars.  Salut….

Prelude a Grand-Puy Ducasse 2015, Pauillac, France

22 Monday May 2023

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Last night Moxie and I celebrated our 30th anniversary.  We dined at our favorite restaurant, L’Auberge Chez François in Great Falls, Virginia.  They have a decent wine list with emphasis on their French, more specifically, Alsatian heritage.  I was to dine on Wagyu Beef cheeks for appetizer and Rack of Lamb for mains, with a few extras in between.  Choosing a hearty Bordeaux was a no-brainer.  This wine is the Second label of the Classed Growth Grand-Puy Ducasse of Pauillac and comes from a fine vintage.  At 7 years of age it is showing primary, secondary and some tertiary flavors.  Dark brambly fruit, plums, integrated oak, medium acidity and chalky tannins greeted us.  The wine has a medium body and good length.  I was hoping for more cassis but alas, it turned out just fine.  The wine runs $40 at retail and gets 90 points from me.  Drink till 2028.  4 stars for this 60/40 blend of Cab Sav and Merlot..  Salut….

Chateau Lascombes 2004, Margaux, France

30 Sunday Apr 2023

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Dinner at a friend’s house revealed this impeccably stored Margaux.  It was so fresh and youthful I would never have guessed 18 years old in a blind tasting.  I took very basic notes:

Fresh, youthful. Deep ruby. Medium acid with smooth, silky tannins. Graphite, pencil lead, cassis, cedar, blackberry, vanilla bean and charcoal on a medium weight body ending in a long, tart finish.  91 points for this $90 bottle makes it a 4 star effort, drink till 2028.  Salut….

St. Emilion visit

07 Tuesday Mar 2023

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When Moxie and I were in Bordeaux we had the opportunity to visit wineries in Pauillac, St. Estephe and Sauternes but coffee in the beautiful town of St. Emilion was amazing.  Our day started with a 40 minute drive north from the city center, across both the Garonne and Dourdogne rivers followed by a serene drive through vineyards until we happened upon this medieval looking town basking in the bright sunshine.  Parking the car close to the center, we wondered into the town and explored some narrow streets, the main square and some wine shops.  Our quick tour culminated in a morning dose of espresso at a café.  Our appointment at a winery precluded too much sightseeing but this is a town worthy of exploring.  It is stunningly beautiful and surrounded by some of the most famous wineries.  Well worth the visit.  Salut….

Chateau Giraud winery visit

05 Sunday Mar 2023

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When Moxie and I booked our trip to Bordeaux I wanted to visit Sauternes- so I looked up my favorites from the past and decided that Guiraud was going to be it.  Unlike many others in the region, they are open on Saturdays, which was the only day we were free.  Overcast skies and winter vegetation could not detract from the inherent beauty of this organically farmed estate.  Our guide was awesome and very informative.  We toured the cellars and grounds with a glass of their dry white in hand- the ‘G’ was spectacular.  A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, it had excellent acidity, balance and length with delicious flavors and aromas that made Moxie claim it to be her favorite dry white ever.  A big statement indeed.

The dry white wine

Our tour took us to the tasting room where we tried the Petite and Grand vins from several vintages.  I savored every drop of these stunningly delicious dessert wines and compared the nuances of each vintage.  The 2014 was my favorite as it was very precise with a freshness that was not evident in the older vintages.  The 1998 was liquid gold, rich and laden with tertiary notes that one hopes for in cellared wines.  The 2005 was in between- showing some youth whilst taking on a smoky note that was very interesting.  I love these wines and purchased two more vintages for my cellar.  Look out for tasting notes in the future!  Overall- this is a must visit winery if you are in the region where you will be warmly greeted and treated to spectacular wines.  Salut….

Chateau Cos D’Estournel winery tour

04 Saturday Mar 2023

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The second winery we visited on our trip to Bordeaux was right up the road from Lynch Bages, in St. Estephe.  This Indian inspired winery is stunning to say the least.  The inside is like a Maharajas palace- beautifully appointed with rich colors and exotic fabrics.  The winery wasn’t bad either- they were one of, if not the first to install a gravity flow system to ensure the wine was not overworked by pumping and other quality degrading operations.

The imposing facade

The tasting was amazing- Three wines from different vintages and obviously quality levels.  All were great for what they were but the Grand Vin was a complete standout.

Our guide was excellent.  Very informative and gracious.  Our tour ended in their shop where I purchased two bottles of their sister winery in Hungary’s Tokaji.  From the same vintage I bought the 5 and 6 puttonyos versions to compare.  Stay tuned for that tasting.  If you are in the area this is a must-visit winery.  Salut….

Chateau Les Ormes-de-Pez 2006, Saint-Estephe, France

01 Wednesday Mar 2023

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Purchased at the gift shop in Bages, this Cru Bourgeois is part of the Lynch Bages portfolio.  Pardon the abrupt notes, but it is being drunk at our Parisian Air-bnb in glasses that are not optimal.   Medium garnet colored , nose of blackberry, cassis, tobacco, cedar box, classic aged Bordeaux. Delicious with medium acidity and medium tannins that are well integrated with a medium body.  Slightly tart on the back end with black fruit puree and cassis.  Secondary and tertiary flavors of tobacco, cedar lined drawers, smoke and espresso.  Long finish with tart dark fruit- 91 points.  For around $43, you too can taste this delicious and mature wine.  4 stars.  Salut….