Tag Archives: merlot

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….

Remhoogte ‘Aspect’ Merlot 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

03 Wednesday May 2023

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Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, bramble, black licorice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, cedar slate and blackberry pie.  The palate is dry with crunchy medium tannins, medium acidity and a full body.  The black fruits coat my mouth and the oak nuances balance them out.  The finish is a touch tart, reminiscent of underripe blackberries.  It’s a silky affair with nice structure and good length that runs $24 and gets 91 points from me.  I would pair this wine with Filet, the tannins befitting the cut.  Drink till 2027.  5 stars.  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….

Chateau Treytins 2016, Montagne-Saint-Emilion, France

06 Thursday Apr 2023

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A hazy deep ruby color with some staining on the walls and medium to high viscosity legs (14% ABV).  On the nose I get classic Bordeaux aromas of cassis, leather, pencil lead, ripe black plum, boysenberry and elderberry.  Coffee and dark chocolate with some menthol also come to mind.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins and a medium (+) body.  The brooding dark berry with coffee, licorice and dark chocolate notes are all present alongside some black tea which gives a touch of mid palate astringency.  The finish is powerful and long with grippy tannins taking center stage.  I have drunk gallons of this delicious Merlot dominant Right Bank wine over the years and am glad to revisit an old friend that runs $25 and gets 91 points from me.  Drink this 5 star wine till 2028 with a sizzling steak and some au gratin.  Salut….

Substance ‘Me’ Vineyard Collection Stoneridge Merlot 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

17 Friday Mar 2023

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Medium garnet, this 4 year old Merlot is starting to show a bit of age already.  The nose has some tertiary notes starting to come alive but there is still loads of primary and secondary aromas of black plum, bramble, black raspberry, vanilla, sage and violets.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and gritty, medium (+) tannins.  The brambly fruit character is there along with vanilla and spice, black raspberry and purple florals with signs of maturity by way of caramel and some desiccated plum.  The body is quite full, not surprising since this bottle boasts a 14.5% ABV.  The finish is velvety smooth and long with black raspberry dominating.  I like the vanilla/oak note on the front end,  but it disappears on the back end.  Really delicious wine that I am pairing with corned beef since it’s St. Patricks day after all.  92 points from me for this $42 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2028.  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….

Chateau De La Huste 2019, Fronsac, France

13 Thursday Oct 2022

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Rich ruby colored and about 75% opaque.  The nose has enticing aromas of black plum, cassis, blackberry, menthol, vanilla, coffee, mocha.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins.  They are well integrated but still grippy.  Flavors of cassis and plum dominate but I get blackberry with oak influence and some green pepper alongside the menthol.  Full bodied it carries on to a long finish.  This is textbook Right Bank Merlot with a dash of Cabernet Franc- delicious and reasonably priced at $25.  I like it and think it is worthy of 92 points and 5 stars.  I’m searing some Hangar steaks with Gratin Potatoes to pair.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Maldonado Proprietary Red Wine 2017, Napa Valley, California

25 Sunday Sep 2022

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Deep ruby colored with really thick, slow moving legs.  The nose has a whiff of alcohol that needs to dissipate- I now get pronounced aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice, smoke, coffee, vanilla and menthol.  The cassis is en pointe.  On the palate this wine is  dry with medium acidity and high tannins (I forgot to mention the it stained the walls of the glass when I swirled).  A full body was to be expected and I get rich flavors of ripe blackberry, black plum, cassis and the associated oak derived notes and menthol. The richness of this wine continues on to a medium (+) length finish.  It’s a delicious blend of Cab Saver, Syrah and Merlot that gets 93 points from me and for $35- 5 stars.  Drink with hearty meat (steak) till 2029.  Salut….

Chateau Fleur Cardinale 2015, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

04 Sunday Sep 2022

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This Right Bank Merlot based blend is a deep garnet color in the glass with long, lingering legs.  The nose is gorgeous- plum, steeped blackberry, cassis, licorice, vanilla bean, graphite and blueberry mixed with fresh oak and a touch of espresso.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky on the mouthfeel.  Medium to full bodied this just-maturing wine has got waves of blackberry, blueberry and plum flavors intertwined with a dash of vanilla, coffee and oak.  It is just starting to offer tertiary flavors and will develop nicely in the coming years.  It finishes long with a black tea component alongside cassis.  Very smooth and certainly delicious, this $55 bottle will drink nicely till 2032 and pair with most meat dishes and stews.  94 points from me make it a 5 star wine.  Salut…..

Chateau Figeac 2000, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

04 Monday Jul 2022

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I have owned and stored this Magnum for nearly 20 years.  I chose it for our dinner with friends Keef and Arty at our favorite restaurant, Chez Francois where we dined on Wagyu Beef Cheeks, Rack of Lamb and Chateaurbriand.  An amazing evening that lasted 3+ hours and culminated with their signature Soufflé.  This bottle was decanted and the sommelier and I agreed that it was youthful in color, showing no bricking- just a clear, deep ruby color.  With a touch of air in the large decanter the nose was stupendous.  No notes were taken but I can say that it was all there.  Cassis, leather, tobacco, cedar, blackberry, black cherry.  The tannins were so well integrated and the acidity was en Pointe.  The mouthfeel on this wine was exceptional- balanced to a tee with fruit, structure, secondary and tertiary flavors and aromas- the whole lot.  It is drinking at its prime now and will last another 5-8 years methinks.  If you have it in 750 ml, start consuming it sooner rather than later.  A stunning, smooth and delicious Right Bank Merlot that was worth the wait.  95 points from me.  If you can find a regular bottle it will run you $250, a Magnum would be roughly $600.  Drink this beauty with friends for a very special occasion.  5 stars.  Salut….