Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux Red Bordeaux Blend

This needed a little time in the decanter to open up, but it’s clear this popular wine from the right bank is ready for early drinking already - though I’d happily give this another ten years, maybe more.

Secondary aromas dominate at the moment, with toasty scents of nutmeg, pine and vanilla, then bright red fruit with a degree of purity. The palate is plush, slightly warm, but well knitted together with fine tannins and supple red fruits and a Negroni-like finish that’s intriguing - and fun.

This is a heck of a lot of wine for the money (£8.75/half at The Wine Society) and one I’ll buy again in future.

On open. In the spot. Faded after a few hours.

Gritty and tight. Never opened up.

Nice Bordeaux blend of Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 15% and Malbec 5%. Dark cherry and integrated oak. Medium to full bodied. Very good QPR!

Mostly leather earth and purple flowers.. Decent tannin and richness...

The nose has notes of blackberry, fig, nutmeg, cocoa and vanilla. On the palate is blackberry, black currant, black olive and some dark chocolate. For $17.99 this is not a bad Bordeaux.

Grape wood, yellow oak leaves, baked apple, dried blackberry, jasmine incense smoke, pine bark, cran -black cherry fragrances, elegant mouthfeel, aggressive tannin initially, though balanced between fruit and oak, red currant, cranberry, stone-licking, dusty and dry. Twigs and berries on the stiff fruit and cedar wood finish. I like this immensely, but certainly not for everyone. This is cave tools made of flint for gritty combat, not fruit bombs dropped by mad scientists in the hopes of sugaring the masses to death. Hirsute cave ladies, the moon is full, I think you know it's time for bone rattling, plaintive ululating and the coming of Boognish.

Bordeaux tasting. Group ranked no. 3

Part of a cellar acquisition where storage was perfect for 20+yrs before the cellar’s upkeep was disregarded and left to a non-climate controlled temp for a few years. All bottles look pristine (doesn’t mean the wine will be).

Completely unfamiliar with this producer. After some research, the same owners also own Vieux Chateau Certan as well as Le Pin (good names to be associated with). As a Cotes de Bordeaux, this is an appellation in the right-bank, so most wines are merlot based.

Very low expectations going in, but what a lovely surprise. Not only did it have provenance against it, nearing 40yrs for an appellation level didn’t help, but after following this for two nights, I want to find some younger vintages. Color is even more youthful than the ‘83 Lynch Bages I opened a few weeks prior. A distinct rich earth+smoked meat+mocha note aromatically that I find with certain right bank Bordeaux’s. The palate is clean (no brett) with an elegant profile (albeit a clipped finish). The front palate has great weight and shows cassis, tobacco leaves and old black cherries. This isn’t as layered/complex as the Lynch Bages was, but the depth and elegance here was a shocker (even more so as a Cotes de Bordeaux!)

Smooth yet with fairly long after taste. Nice right bank entry level wine. I would drink it now instead of bottle aging for a few years.