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Chateau Les Ormes-de-Pez 2017, Saint-Estephe, France

18 Sunday Feb 2024

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Medium garnet colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).   The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, charcoal, blackberry,  acai berry, mint, licorice, a slight green note and warm baking spices.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and medium body.  The tannins are integrating nicely and make for a silky mouthfeel.  Flavors that I love in Left Bank Bordeaux come out of the glass- cassis, leather, pencil shavings, licorice, blackberry and baking spice.  The finish is classic for the region- slightly tart, long and a touch dry from the fantastic tannins.  I first became a convert of this wine when we visited Lynch Bages and got to try this as part of the tasting.  For $40, I am impressed with the quality of this Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend.  91 points from me and 5 stars.  It is open for business now but will cellar nicely till 2030.  I’m pairing with Sunday roast.  Salut….

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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Château Domeyne 2006

25 Friday Jan 2013

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A Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois from St. Estephe, this 2006 came across as ferociously tannic when first opened.   I was amazed at the levels since this wine has been sitting for 6 years.  True to form, it exhibited raw power with cassis, tobacco and dark fruits on the nose and palate.  Getting past the tannins, this wine was really delicious, if not everyone’s cup of tea.  My drinking partner and I decided it needed a good decanting and aeration, so we left it for a while.  It is absolutely amazing how much this wine mellowed out in a short period of time.  The tannins melded and gave way to more perfume and a touch of oak.  The fruit that was already displayed became more rounded and the wine was rapidly changing its stripes.  I have never witnessed such a rapid transformation in a bottle of wine like this.  I doubt it would even be a shadow of itself if left for a day.  Be careful with this wine… If you like searing tannins, pop-n-pour.  It would be an awesome companion to a Ribeye or other really fatty cut of beef.  Do not drink it by itself, it is not designed for that.  Overall, I would carve out a space for it in my cellar and give it 4 stars, but only 85 points for its volatility.  (I paid about $21 for it).

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