Ruby red color. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, loaded with cherries and plums, leather, cedar, some earth, and some oak. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, very luscious fruit, velvety texture, well rounded and balanced, with medium tannins, medium acidity, moderate complexity, with good length to the finish. Blind I thought this was Old world from Right Bank Bordeaux from a ripe vintage. Nailed it!
Category Archives: Right Bank
2006 Chateau Fonplegade Saint Emilion
1995 Chateau L’Eglise Clinet Pomerol
Wow, what a treat. Ruby color, some brown to the edges. On the nose, developed, stewed plums, black currants, figs, bittersweet chocolate, cedar, exotic spices, loaded with earth, and moderate usage on the oak. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, with medium body, medium tannins, and medium acidity. This wine had beautiful balance, classic Bordeaux flavors seamlessly wound together. Loved it!
1998 Chateau L’Evangile Pomerol
This wine just crushed it! Ruby color with some browning edges. On the nose, developing with some youthfulness, medium intensity, plum, cherry, leather, cigar, earthy basementy character, perfume, some oak , and definite earth. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, balanced, layered, medium tannin, medium+ acidity, medium body, beautiful flavors and a silkiness not common with this kind of weight. A bit short on the finish, but a great wine without a doubt.
2003 Chateau Lassegue St Emilion Grand Cru
Ruby color. On the nose, youthful with signs of development, medium+ intensity, cherry, plum, pencil shavings, stemmy component, classic Bordeaux basement, leather glove, spice laden, some oak, and some earth. On the palate, dry, medium+ body, medium tannin, medium+ acidity, beautifully integrated fruit, earth, and oak, with a long spice and cocoa finish.
2005 Chateau La Bonnelle Saint Emilion
80% Merlot 20% Cabernet Franc from perhaps the best region for Merlot on the planet.On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, black cherry, plum, fig, anise, spice box, chalky basement component, leather, pencil shavings, some oak(French), some earth, but over-all very interesting bouquet nicely woven together. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium tannin, medium acidity, very nice balance, sweet plum, gorgeous chocolate, tobacco, basement, spice, seamless integration, and a really nice finish. Nice under $30 retail wine from on of the best vintages of the last hundred years in Bordeaux.
2005 Chateau Bel-Air La Royere Cotes de Blaye
This was a star at yesterday’s big Bordeaux event put on by a company that sounds like a pill, Soprexa. Another one of those events where wines are looking for some local distribution. 70% Merlot, 30% Malbec. On the nose, youthful, very new world, medium+ intensity, blackberry, plum, fig, perfume, tobacco, lot of oak, and some wet soil minerality. On the palate, dry, bright juicy blackberry, black raspberry, cigar box, some Bordeaux chalky basement, lots of spice, medium+ tannin, medium acidity, lathered with oaky creamy textures. A big wine that will improve with age, but a bit on the oaky side right now.
2004 Chateau de L’Estang Cotes de Castillon
There was a sweet Bordeaux tasting today, some good value Bordeaux if you can believe that. The vineyard is planted 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc with the average vine age of 35 years. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, blackberry, plums, cherries, veggies, solid earthy backbone, smoke, spice box, and some oak. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium tannin, silky luscious mouth feel, medium acidity, balanced finish of moderate length. Well made nice drinker for under $15.
2005 Chateau Lyonnat Lussac St. Emilion
I tried this last week and thought it would evolve pretty well in the cellar for a lot less. Lussac is a satellite just north of St Emilion, and makes Merlot based blends. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, lush cherry, blackberry, earthy, dusty, spice component, tobacco, and some oak. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, nice structure, somewhat bitter tannins that will soften in the cellar, with some plum and cherry fruit, with a big spicy finish.