Tag Archives: cru bourgeois

Chateau d’Arcins 2013, Haut-Medoc, France

09 Tuesday Jan 2018

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Medium density purple in the glass.  A nice bright nose of blackberries, cinnamon and  pencil shavings. On the palate the wine is a tad thinner than I had been expecting.  Blueberry, very well integrated tannins, some cassis and a modicum of acidity.  The wine opens up pretty quickly and the cassis really shows up on the mid palate, transcending the medium length finish.  Overall, this wine drinks nicely and will cellar for the short term.  89 points and 3 stars for this $22 effort.  Salut….

Rollan De By 2005

25 Wednesday May 2016

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When I wrote about the Chateau De By that I drank on a recent flight it fed into my Twitter feed.  I got a message out of the blue to which I replied:

@caspernick Noticed your wine feedback on ChateaudeBy. Do you know our other wines #ChateauGreysac #ChateauRollandeBy #ChateauHautCondissas

Tweet text

Reply to @RollanDeBy

‏@caspernick May 17
@RollanDeBy I have certainly heard of them but have not had the pleasure to try them! Perhpas I will look for them in my local wine shop.

 

Well, It turns out I didn’t need to visit anything more than my cellar.  Back in 2008 a local wine shop was closing doors and I trudged through the snow and picked up anything I thought was worthy.  This ’05 was in the cart, and thankfully.

Opaque purple in the glass with a stunning nose of cassis, tobacco and plum with some earth. I’m so excited. The initial taste is fantastic! Blueberry torte, cassis, plum, and a flavor profile reminiscent of classed Pauillac. I’m shocked. This cry bourgeois is simply rocking my world. The mid palate is full-on secondary Bordeaux flavors of cassis, tobacco, leather and plum with fully integrated tannins that are fine grained and holding this wine together. Acidity is apparent but only as a balance to the structure. The finish is long with the tannins holding on for a good 40 seconds, working the gums into a frenzy. I know 2005 was a great year and this wine is taking advantage of the strengths of the vintage. I’m going with 93 points. Amazing!  You can still find it for $35.  RP gave it 90, WS 88.  I’m sticking with my guns, this is an awesome wine that  introduces one to the luxuries of Bordeaux without the high entry fee.  Decanting may be needed on this 5 star effort!  Salut….IMG_0790

rollan de by 2005

Chateau Arnauld 2006

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

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It’s not very often that I find an aged Bordeaux in a local convenience store, but when I do there is this certain curiosity that overwhelms me and I take the $20 plunge.  This was a good find in my opinion.  Slightly bricking on the edges, it is almost past its peak and heading into old age.  I know Cru Bourgeois is not as cellar-worthy as Grand Cru so this ’06 vintage was a bit of a gamble.  The wine has a mature nose of violets and kirsch to go along with some garigue.  This also came across on the initial palate with some funk and plums.  The wine has Haut Medoc terroir stamped all over it and is showing some drying tannins on the finish.  I could smell the 12.5% alcohol, but only just.  This was worrisome as this level should not have been noticeable.  Overall I really enjoyed the terroir and my guests thought it was the bottle of the tasting.  I am going with 88 points and 3 stars- drink up though.  Salut….

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Chateau Clement Saint-Jean 2009

18 Monday Feb 2013

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A Cru Bourgeois from the 2009 that has textbook qualities at an affordable price.  Plums and earth on the nose translate well to the palate.  Slightly edgy and a touch acidic it has decent tannins and should cellar well for another 5 years.  Not our favorite of the tasting, but all things considered I would buy this again.  3 stars, 88 points.

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Chateau Beau-Site 2009

15 Friday Feb 2013

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Last night Moxie and I celebrated our 22nd Valentine’s day, albeit a day early. We took the time and did it right by going to our all-time favorite restaurant. We have dined in some of the finest restaurants, always regretting, always pining for our little country bistro. Chez Francois is a Washington institution with a long history and extensive list of accolades and awards. Nestled down a windy country road in Great Falls, Virginia, it offers an unparalleled gastronomic experience.

I chose the 2009 Chateau Beau Site from the menu as I just read about this wine recently. A Cru Bourgeois from St. Estephe, I was expecting a bit of power. What I got was smooth and fruity. For a young Bordeaux, this vintage is hitting it. Offering up plums and earth without being jammy or tart. A very primal fruit right now, but with all the right pieces to evolve. Crisp tannins are unobtrusive, yet present. The mouthfeel is great, caressing. It amazes me that this wine is already drinking beautifully yet is just in its infancy, with 10 years at least to evolve.
I must say it’s a 90 pointer, but for $35 retail (I paid $90 in the restaurant) it may be pricey. I really think it will live up to its potential and hereby give it 4 stars for its all around deliciousness and its potential longevity.

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Chateau Aney 2006

06 Saturday Oct 2012

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I found this ’06 vintage Cru Bourgeois hiding next to some newer wines. With 6 years of age, it drinks smoothly-starting with dark blue fruits and a tannic grip. It’s still a little young, with some hope for further mellowing and some further development. It’s nothing special, yet interesting in its own sharpish way. 3 stars, 86 points

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d’Agassac 2005

27 Wednesday Jun 2012

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A Cru Bourgeois ‘Superier’ from the much hyped 2005 vintage, I found this wine to be serviceable.  Most higher end wines from the Bordeaux region start to become drinkable with 8-10 years of age.  The lower tiered wines, known as cru bourgeois, tend to develop quicker and start their drinking window at about 4-5 years of age (IMHO).   I was looking forward to some typicity of region, which coupled with an exceptional year had me hoping for fireworks worthy of my $27.  I was slightly let down, but still managed to enjoy it. Very smooth right off the bat, the wine has a nose and initial attack of blue fruit, but is rather one dimensional.  I am not sure when and if any secondary characteristics will ever develop.  The tannins are well integrated and the mouthfeel is appropriate for this medium weight wine.  A decent finish and balanced acidity were noted.  I have to be honest here, this is an 88-89 point wine but is only worthy of 2 stars in my opinion.  You have to deliver the goods, and for the money- this was a waste.  I would drink it again, anytime, as long as someone else was paying. 

Chateau Gloria, ’00

12 Thursday Jan 2012

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This past month has been nuts with Christmas, New Year’s and all sorts of parties and celebrations.  So busy in fact that Moxie had to postpone her annual ‘Fundoo’ party for the gals over at her store until the dust had settled and everyone could catch their breath from the hubbub of a crazy retail season.  We do this event every year and it entails digging deep into the cellar and setting up a fondue party for 15.  Always fun, this year was no exception- the only downer being I had to get up at 6 the next morning to catch a flight out.

Anyway, we kicked it off with a Magnum of Chateau Gloria from the famed 2000 vintage.  A Crus Bourgeois, it ranks slightly lower than the “Growths”, yet consistently delivers value and quality.  This bottle was stellar, opening with just the right amount of cassis, black cherry and tobacco that makes me love Bordeaux.  The nose was pleasing, the mid-palate round and balanced.  The tannins are smooth and evolved, perhaps peaking.  This wine is drinking beautifully right now and will last another 3-5 years.  Rated 90, I would give it 5 stars.  A good performer from the region that doesn’t overcharge and under-deliver.

chateau gloria 2000