Cru Bourgeois Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend

Presented double-blind. The wine is deep ruby red with a near opaque core; no signs of sediment. Moderate staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, ripe black and some red fruits; brambles, plums and cassis. Some of the fruit comes across almost desiccated. There’s some purple flowers, damp forest floor, a hint of pyrazines, vanilla and baking spices too. I think this has seen some new French oak. On the palate, confirming the aforementioned notes on the nose. The fruit comes across slightly fresher and more red on the palate. Very firm structure with a long, bitter finish. There is an abundance of fruit. However, I cannot get past the structure and the bitter hit on the finish. This has me leaning towards an old world wine from a warm and very giving vintage. I called Bordeaux, Right bank, St. Emilion, from 2015. I like my call, especially considering that Merlot dominates the blend here. I liked this and think it’s good value for the money.

2016 vintage. Had this wine 2 months ago, and today it was even more impressive. Ripe cassis and black cherries, fresh acidity, well-tamed tannin, and a certain complexity. Gentle like a good Margaux. Intelligent oak use and good length. Great value at 14 euro and the perfect wine to serve blind to Bordeaux bashers. Abv. 13,5%.

A brilliant Haut-Médoc that punched well above its weight, enjoyed yesterday afternoon at Grassington House. Despite the vintage, this was in a great spot of maturity showing the archetypal medley of black fruit, cassis and cedar alongside a good amount of fine grained tannin. Impressive!

2016 vintage. Owned by Olivier Decelle (Jean Faure, Mas Amiel). Apparently a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a bit of Malbec. Gentle, elegant wine, good value at around 14 euro.

Soft tannins, drinking well, wouldn't sit in this any longer. No obvious oak.

Vikram had this 11 years ago

A middling bdx that started off extremely gamey, but blew off to reveal some fruit and a bit of acidity to balance.

2012. Blackberry, graphite, a hike in the autumn woods. Very nice.

Darker, deeper & more gravelly vs the 2017.
Surprisingly approachable upon opening.
Dark cassis, black currant with a touch of plum & black cherry. Pencil shavings and gravely underscore. A fresh whiff of menthol.
On the palate this is tightly coiled, cool, dark, yet quite elegant. Not brooding at all. Poised and highly drinkable also on its own. Yum stuff

Needs min 3h in the carafe, as just on opening this is way too fruity and a bit disjointed.
After a breather this stays on the fruitier side with ripe black fruit, black currant leaf, some gravelly notes and a creamy, slightly minty undertone.
Mid bodied on the palate with very fine, dusty, amazingly polished, juicy tannins. This is got to be the highlight here. Ripe yet not overly sweet fruit.
Nicely balanced and with some character. This has some length and while not overly sophisticated this is delicious & a perfects that for steak frites. Really good stuff!