Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois Red Bordeaux Blend

2025 vintage. This is the final blend, still in the barrel. The first vintage for both young in-house winemaker Lucas Puyo and consultant Éric Boissenot. A very positive evolution for this extremely reliable Château, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominating the blend for the first time (60%), with 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot.

2016 vintage. Dark ruby with orange rim. This seems to be at its peak now. A complex nose with flowers, red and black fruits, and a hint of rosemary. A fresh and elegant Haut-Médoc with very good length that sells for a song (15 euro). Abv. 13,5%.

2023 vintage. A classic vintage, without the opulence of the 2022, and a bit more body than the 2021.

2021 vintage. A great success for the vintage with purity, refinement and perfect balance. A bit lighter compared to the exceptional 2022, but a delicious wine in its own right. Abv. 13 %.

2020 vintage. One of the best I've tasted from this very reliable Château, only surpassed by the 2022.

2017 vintage. As I just started to work at the Cave d'Arcins ( please reach out if you visit the Médoc !), I will get even more exposure to the Castel wines from their own properties, many of which I've enjoyed in the past. Château d'Arcins has been a long time favourite value wine. The 2017 is ready to drink, in a somewhat lighter style compared to the best vintages. While not as refined as the 2022 and 2019, it's still offering a bang for the buck at 13 euros. Give it 15 minutes to breathe, and enjoy a classic Haut-Médoc with a rustic old school feel about it in this vintage. A nice food wine. Abv. 13%.

2019 vintage. Another fine value from this very reliable estate. While it may not reach the heights of the excellent 2022, it's a great effort in its own right, with a very attractive perfume, impeccable balance, and more than decent length. Even better the next day. Moreover, it sells for a song! Abv. 13,5%.

2022 vintage. A very reliable wine, and the 2022 might be the best ever. Like many Bordeaux wines in this exceptional vintage, it is already very seductive, but it will age well for at least a decade. Smooth and juicy, with a ripe tannic bite and a lovely licorice finish. Great value too.

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of black fruits with light oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates and light metals.

Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 5 year old red blend from Bordeaux is tangy, spicy and smooth. Rich and fruit forward with nice complexity.

Drinking nicely now, and will not get any better from this point on.

Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself or with food.

A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.

13% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$20.

Very nice balance of black cherry, black currant fruit, minerals, gravelly nose, a little mint, and hinting at funky earth. Very nice. Will buy more asap.