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Tag Archives: margaux

Chateau Grand Tayac 2015, Margaux, France

27 Tuesday Aug 2019

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$25, 3 stars, 89 points, bordeaux, cabernet merlot blend, france, margaux


Really dark purple, very striking.  On the nose I get blackcurrant, nutmeg and tobacco.  The palate has some nice black fruits and an astringency that is a touch heavy.  It’s not tannic, perhaps from green stems left in contact with the juice for too long.  It takes a turn for the better on the mid palate- more Ribena and a touch of oak.  The finish is quite dry with the appearance of some nice tannins alongside a mineral tone that melds nicely with the currants.  Overall a decent wine that is slightly out of kilter at the beginning with the astringency but it comes around.  89 points= 3 stars for this $25 wine.  Drink till 2025 with hearty stews, or a lamb chop and mint.  Salut….

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Chateau Giscours 2014, Margaux, France

18 Thursday Jul 2019

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$50, 3 stars, 90 points, bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, france, margaux


Dark purple with nice legs.  On the nose it’s quite bland.  Black currants, blueberry pie and rubber mat finally come out of the glass.  On the palate I’m getting a subdued dose of blueberry pie, cedar, breakfast tea and warm blackberry cobbler.  The tannins are of medium intensity and the finish has some dark fruits and tannins.  I think this wine is closed right now but it has potential.  I’m gonna go with 90 points for now.  The pro’s ranged greatly- from 91 to 95 points.  I’m not seeing it at this point in time, hopefully it will awaken from slumber as a real powerhouse 3rd Growth Margaux.  Drink from 2022/2030.  Available for around $50, making it a 3 star wine.  Salut….

 

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Margaux de Brane 2014, Margaux, France

18 Monday Mar 2019

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$29, 3 stars, 90 points, bordeaux, bordeaux blend, cabernet sauvignon, france, margaux, merlot


A slightly dull purple in the glass, gives me concern.  On the nose however- violets, black currants, a touch of oak.  On the palate it is much darker- blackberry, cherry extract, graphite and singed oak.  There is a leather component too, it just comes along later, towards the mid palate.  The wine transitions very nicely with good tannic structure that is not obtrusive and acidic enough to balance. This is the third wine of Brane Cantenac, a Second Growth Margaux.  They use the young plots for source fruit, giving us an approachable young wine that drinks very nicely with good mouthfeel and medium term cellaring potential.  90 points from me for this $29 effort that gets 3 stars.  Drink now till 2024.  Salut….

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Chateau Giscours 2013, Margaux, France

30 Monday Apr 2018

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$50, 2 stars, 88 points, bordeaux, france, margaux


Purple, nice.  Mint, plums, wintergreen on the palate.  Very interesting.  The palate is fresh, young and tannic.  Blue fruits, sasparilla and cedar dominate.  Fine-grained tannins are evident but not overwhelming.  On the mid palate I get a strong blueberry component along with cedar.  The finish is short to medium in length and offers blue fruits, gentle tannins and some mild acidity.  This wine is rather basic, bland and thin.  It offers short term pleasure but is not age worthy.  Drink now.  88 points and 2 stars for this $50 Third-growth Margaux.  Salut….

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BriO de Cantenac Brown 2010

28 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$40, 3 stars, 88 points, bordeaux, margaux


Oops, I’ve done it again, infanticide on a young bottle of red.  The second wine from Margaux property Cantenac Brown, it has good potential and high marks from several pro’s. Beautiful purple fruit nose that transcended plums, violets and blueberry notes.  Still young with juicy strawberry and cranberry flavors on the initial attack that cloak the greenish tannins.  Sour cherry kirsch on the mid palate leads into a long finish of cherry crumble and blueberry tart. A touch of oak here and there amongst the acidity. 88 points from me and 3 stars for this $40 effort.  A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.  Definitely cellar this for more pleasure, 2016-2022.  Salut….

brio de cantenac brown

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Chevalier de Lascombes 2007

07 Thursday Mar 2013

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4 stars, 90 points, bordeaux, margaux


This is the ‘second wine’ of a ‘Second Growth Bordeaux’.  I’ll save you some time if you are unfamiliar with these terms.  In 1855, the Bordeaux wine region classified the best (read expensive) wines into 5 top levels, or Growths.  The First being the top notch wines, all the way down to the 5th.  There are 14 Chateau in the Second Growth tier.  When the winery makes its wine in barrel, sometimes the quality is not as high as required for the main wine.  This could be because of new vines, poor weather or whatever reason they deem.  These slightly inferior wines are then blended into the ‘second wines’ and sold at a considerable discount from the main wine.  The principle wine from a Bordeaux Classed Growth winery usually has a long aging potential, and as a consequence, it is not drinkable or mature for many years.  I find that most Growths are unapproachable for the first 10 years of their cellaring.  The ‘second’ wines are not made in the same method and mature much earlier. Whilst they don’t have the same aging capacity, they are drinkable much sooner.

I digress….  This wine is delicious.  Dark purple in the glass, it offers up some spiciness in addition to the black berry and earth I got on the palate.  Very smooth tannins are on point and the balance is great.  The finish is long on this one, and it leaves you puckered up for more.  2007 was not the greatest vintage, but the pedigree of this wine is evident.  It may be the ‘second’ fiddle but it hits all the right notes for a Margaux wine.  I would imagine 90 points from a pro, I’m giving it 4 stars.  Delicious on its own, it would pair well with Duck, Beef stew or Braised Lamb.

IMG_1693

 

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