Chateau La Prade Red Bordeaux Blend

2016 vintage. Nicolas Thienpont is a great winemaker at 3 Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classés Beauséjour HDL, Pavie Macquin and Larcis Ducasse +Grand Cru Classé Berliquet + a few estates in the Côtes de Bordeaux). This Côtes de Francs is probably the most humble in his stable, but it's a very serious wine. A blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, it features a dark red colour colour with a purplish rim, a complex nose with blueberry and strawberry fruit, flowers and cocoa powder. The fruit is packed in a tight ripe tannic structure, with balancing acidity and serious length. I would recommend to give this overachiever a few years of bottle age. Abv. 14,5%. Great value at 12,90 euro.

Easy everyday wine. Smooth tannins. Very dry.

$20 Big nose. Notes of blackberry, wet leaves, spice, and baking spice. Dry. Medium bodied. Medium acid, medium tannins, low alcohol. A little funky. A slight mildew taste. Notes of rotting wet leaves and mushrooms. Earthy. The taste does not match the nose. Notes of bay leaf, sage and graphite on the tongue. This is an interesting, earthy wine with a very unique flavor profile. I'm getting used to it and I'm starting to enjoy it.

Almost spicy, certainly flat. Won’t buy again.

Quite a tight flavor. Plesant, lasts long on the palate.

Good QPR. Underrated in the ratings. Full-bodied and creamy with cherry, chocolate and iron notes. Medium finish. Could use some time on the shelf or a good decant.

More complex than what we’re used to, still has that OG red wine taste that hits nice with the cheese board I spontaneously whipped up

Totally acceptable as a table wine. Nothing to write home about but easy drinking, balanced, never obnoxious. Definitely not for wine-loving guests; good QPR for self and for friends who want wine but don’t have particularly discerning palates

Drinkable

Highly quaffable. Enjoyed it with meals and on its own. November 2018