Bordeaux
Dourthe
La Grande Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Marie & Sylvie Courselle
Temps De Lune Sans Soufre Ajoute Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The first things that struck me about this delicious naturally filtered wine was the blue coming through in the colour as I poured. The bold, rich and fruity scents made my mouth water and I was not disappointed as the taste was a perfect balance of the rich tannins you expect from a Cabernet Sauvignon and the sweet flavour of the fruits. Raspberries were the first flavour that came to mind but that doesn’t really do it justice. I definitely recommend you try it yourself! — 12 days ago
Château Civrac
Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2007
This is a delicious 13 year old Bordeaux. Showing red and black fruits with earth, wood, spices, light vegetables, pencil lead, peppercorn, leather, tobacco leaf, cola, coffee and wet leaves.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Nice and complex with a spicy finish and fine grained tannins. I also loved the nose here.
I was a little hesitant about decanting it, but I did so to remove the sediments, and then followed its progression. Always a great experience.
Needs an hour to open up properly and show more complexity, tannins and structure. Peaking now.
Very enjoyable by itself or with food.
I paired it with Brie cheese.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points. — 5 days ago
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2001
So, if it’s my birthday celebration, there is a juicy ribeye & some old(er) Claret.
My only disappointment with this bottle is as good as it is, there are better things still down the road.
The nose reveals classic Claret. There are earthy, funky fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, baked strawberries with shades of raspberries. Steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, stones, black, rich earth, clay, dry herbs, dark berry cola, cedar, leather, not quite fresh tobacco, underbrush, graphite, gentle, dark spice, slight peppery notes, clove, touch of nutmeg & cinnamon & vanillin, anise to black licorice, eucalyptus notes with fresh & slightly candied florals of, red, dark, blue, purple & violets.
The body is medium full with rounded, nicely resolved, tarry tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance are really singing. It would be good to have another 2001 LMHB in ten years. While 2001 wasn’t a critically acclaimed vintage, I think LMHB over performed the vintage. As well, it followed a grand 2000 vintage which, handicapped it from the start. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, baked strawberries, bright cherries, rhubarb, figs, with shades of raspberries. Steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, stones, black, rich earth, clay, dry top soil, dry herbs, dark berry cola, cedar, leather, not quite fresh tobacco, underbrush, graphite, gentle, dark spice with soft heat, slight peppery notes, clove, touch of nutmeg & cinnamon & vanillin, anise to black licorice, eucalyptus notes with fresh & slightly candied florals of, red, dark, blue, purple & violets. The acidity is excellent...like a gentle rain shower. The long finish is elegance defined, extremely well balanced ending in soft, round, dry, dusty tannins with beautiful spice.
Photos of; Chateau La Mission Haut Brion & estate vines, beautiful barrel room, pond & Roman columns and the back vow of the Chateau.
Please indulge me while I post some history on this grand producer. As much as I love the wine, I love the history & people that do the hard work to bring us such great wines.
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is not quite as old as Chateau Haut Brion. However, they are opposite side of the road neighbors. La Mission Haut Brion dates back to the late 16th century. The property came into being after it was purchased by Jean de Pontac in 1533. US winery history is a baby compared to France.
In 1607, the estate changed hands. It was inherited by Ms. Olive de Lestonnac. What an inheritance!
In 1815, something rare happened. Chateau La Mission Haut Brion became the property of an American owner, the Chiapelle family. At the time, the family was already involved in the Bordeaux wine trade. In fact, they knew about the business as they had managed a myriad of different estates including Chateau Cos d’ Estournel.
La Mission Haut Brion continued to change hands until it was finally sold to another American family, the Woltner’s. Frederic Woltner purchased La Mission Haut Brion in 1919. The also became owners on Howell Mountain.
It changed hands one final time in 1983 when it was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon, the owner of neighboring, Chateau Haut Brion. They renovated the entire property, starting with replanting the vineyards which, was completed in 1987.
The 26 hectare vineyard of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion is planted to; 45.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.8% Merlot and 10.4% Cabernet Franc. 3.5 hectares of vines are reserved for the production of the white Bordeaux.
To produce the red wine of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, the wine is vinified in large, 180 hectoliter, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats and aged in 100% new, French oak for an average of 22 months. The annual production of La Mission Haut Brion averages between 6,000 and 7,000 cases per year. — 9 days ago
Château Féret-Lambert
Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
Fruitier cherry for this earthy Bordeaux. Maintains true to terroir while speaking to the American palate. — 5 days ago
Château Bolaire
Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
Home-isolation pandemic angst and impatience drove me to open this wine perhaps a few years early as the 2016s are said to have aging potential. Even somewhat young this #bordeauxsuperior hailing from #hautmedoc delivers elegance at a great price. Cassis, some violet and graphite - classic layers from #petitverdot. I love PV and this Château blends 50% with 30% #merlot and 20% #cabernetsauvignon . In the mouth there’s juicy acidity, fresh blackberry and good power in the tannins. Found it at Costco a while ago for less than $15; talk about great QPR - should have picked up half a case at this price. — 22 days ago
Château de Cazenove
Supérieur Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas of blackberry, red plum, black plum, raspberry, thyme, garrigue, baking spices, perfumed dried flowers as it warms up; dry, medium plus acid, medium plus grippy tannins, high alcohol, full body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; medium plus finish, very ripe example, opens up to beautiful perfume, very good — 23 days ago
Château Rauzan-Ségla
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
From the great 2005 vintage and #2 on Winespectator top 100 wines of 2008.
2 hour decant(lots of chunky sediment). A irresistible dark ruby red color. On the nose: bursting from the glass are those floral Margaux notes, sweet red fruit, cedar, some eucalyptus, crushed rocks, hints of cinnamon. Taste: dark plum, graphite, smoke, with red berries hitting mid palate. A creamy berry tobacco medium plus finish. Good acidity, still some tannins that need to work themselves out. Early in its drinking window, showing lots of promise for the future....easy to enjoy now if you like more fruit and less secondary flavors.
Thanks for the push @Paul Jakubowski — 14 days ago
Severn Goodwin
Wife: I want Sancerre.
Me: None of it is 'ready', maybe later this year or next year.
Wife: Then just pick something...
Me: This OK?
Wife: Yum, lemons!
Nose has fresh lemon peel, lemon zest, crushed wheat grass, apricot skin and wet stainless steel.
Palate has dried lemon, dried tangerine with a lingering herbal note, acidity is mostly mute now.
We enjoy inexpensive Bordeaux blanc, but it needs some age to cut the edges, like Sancerre (blanc). It's been nearly two years since our last bottle, I can't get over how stable this wine has been. Close to the end of the line, this bottle doesn't really have the structure for extended aging, but satisfying none the less. Fantastic QPR at ~15$. Last bottle 🤷🏻♂️ — 8 days ago