Saint Èmilion Red Bordeaux Blend

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

On the nose cooked cherries, red currants, plums, oak, tobacco, licorice, vanilla, earth, light vegetables, metals, Mediterranean spices, chocolates and black pepper.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, sweet strawberries, cooked cherries, plums, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco leaf, spices, cocoa, earth and peppercorn.

Medium finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Merlot-based Bordeaux is rich, spicy and interesting, with a tangy finish. A little off balance at this point.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime (2 hours).

I had this vintage a couple of years ago, and it feels like it is in its dumb phase. Still young, but already enjoyable.

This 5-year-old from the great 2016 vintage, would age nicely in the next 15 years.

Thank you Elvira for sharing this with me.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30.

Having a much needed post stress ear surgery glass of wine! 83% Merlot 17% Cab Franc. A little acidic medium bodied wine with raspberry and pomegranate on the palate and a little earthy on the nose.

This right bank Bordeaux is young, and already drinking very nicely.

Showing black fruits with earth, dark chocolates, graphite, peppercorn, leather, tobacco, green herbs, licorice and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins. Not fully balanced yet.

Nice finish with firm tannins and tangy cranberries.

Would be better in 5 to 15 years.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$30.

Ripe and soft (read low natural acidity). Unlikely dark color. Pushy oak.

Drank 1/7/21

Initially the nose opens with plum, vanilla, a bit of earth, and just a touch of green pepper contributed by the cab franc. Flavors of blackberry, black cherry plum, leather, and some cigar box, backed by firm tannins. The finish is quite long, though a touch astringent at this point. Strangely this becomes less expressive, after opening, but opens up again around the 2 hour mark. I would pop and pour, or give it 5 years.

4/21/8/4/4 +50 = 91 pts.

It is time for some #merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a very enjoyable one from Bordeaux.

Dark ruby in color with a cloudy reddish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, black licorice, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs, spices and peppercorn.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, figs, licorice, cedar, vanilla, leather, earth, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, Indian spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice surprise. A great Right Bank Bordeaux that is drinking very nicely now. Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Nose like a Napa Merlot.

Interesting enough, this is good right out of the bottle, but better as it opens up. Needs 2 hours to open up properly, so be patient.

I had it around 6 months ago, and it is showing nicer now. I also let it open up longer this time.

Would be better in the next 5 to 10 years.

Thank you David for sharing this with me.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

Yea, ok. Nice face, just can't get out of bed!

65/35 merlot/cab franc. More elegance than power.

Andy? Redneck?

A bit unripe