Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Côtes de Francs
This is a wine we've carried for years. We tasted it pretty much everywhere we went with consistent notes. It has a complex and highly perfumed nose, good extraction and nice ripeness. Has a long finish. Will age nicely.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Haut-Médoc
WS 88
WA 90
This uncompromising property has turned out a backward, forbiddingly tannic wine that, even in this very opulent and flamboyant vintage, will need a minimum of 10-15 years of cellaring yet keep for 40 or more years. Opaque black/purple, with notes of crushed rock, white flowers, graphite, blueberry and cassis, the wine is tight and needs to be coaxed from the glass. It is medium to full-bodied, with an excruciatingly tough-textured finish. Everything is here, and the wine is set for a long life, but it is not the least bit charming and certainly won't be for at least another decade. Read More
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Haut-Médoc
WS 88
WA 90
This uncompromising property has turned out a backward, forbiddingly tannic wine that, even in this very opulent and flamboyant vintage, will need a minimum of 10-15 years of cellaring yet keep for 40 or more years. Opaque black/purple, with notes of crushed rock, white flowers, graphite, blueberry and cassis, the wine is tight and needs to be coaxed from the glass. It is medium to full-bodied, with an excruciatingly tough-textured finish. Everything is here, and the wine is set for a long life, but it is not the least bit charming and certainly won't be for at least another decade. Read More
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Haut-Médoc
WA 91
Sociando Mallet has separated itself from your typical cru bourgeois and this 2010 is yet another example of the quality that can come from a non-classified growth. Precise and classicly Medoc, with blackcurrant and black cherry fruit flavors. Elegant tannins lead to a long finish. Very Pauillac-like.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: United States - California - Sonoma
WA 90
Their famous cuvee, which was once named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year, the 2007 Cinq Cepages is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage. Hints of bay leaf, black currant, sweet cherry, cedar and subtle smoke are all present in this lush, medium to full-bodied, opulent and heady wine. Broad and savory, it seems to be on a fast evolutionary track and should be drunk over the next decade.
Readers looking for a bevy of outstanding white wines at remarkably fair prices need look no further than the copious number of selections from Chateau St. Jean. There's a lot to like at all different price points, but the under $25 grouping is especially strong, as evidenced by the following tasting notes. This winery has long been one of the leaders in producing Loire Valley-styled Sauvignon Blancs, which they call Fume Blanc. The Pinot Noir program is less successful than the Chardonnays, but progress is evident with each new vintage.
Tel. (707) 833-4134; Fax (707) 833-4200Their famous cuvee, which was once named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year, the 2007 Cinq Cepages is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage. Hints of bay leaf, black currant, sweet cherry, cedar and subtle smoke are all present in this lush, medium to full-bodied, opulent and heady wine. Broad and savory, it seems to be on a fast evolutionary track and should be drunk over the next decade.
Readers looking for a bevy of outstanding white wines at remarkably fair prices need look no further than the copious number of selections from Chateau St. Jean. There's a lot to like at all different price points, but the under $25 grouping is especially strong, as evidenced by the following tasting notes. This winery has long been one of the leaders in producing Loire Valley-styled Sauvignon Blancs, which they call Fume Blanc. The Pinot Noir program is less successful than the Chardonnays, but progress is evident with each new vintage. -- Robert Parker Read More
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Julien
WS 91
WE 93
WA 91
Extremely sexy, soft, supple and opulent, with notes of cedar, herbs, incense and black currant fruit, this is a full-bodied, generously endowed but silky Talbot to drink now and over the next 20+ years. By any standard of measurement, this is irresistible. Read More
We've been carrying the Thieuley wines forever and they're always consistently good. Lots of upfront fruit leads to a nice, clean finish. The concentration is there but the tannins are soft so it should be drinking well early.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 91
WE 91
WA 96
A wine of the vintage candidate in 2008, Troplong Mondot's offering was produced from yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare and achieved 14.5% natural alcohol. A classic blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it offers copious quantities of blue and black fruits, a full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin and a fabulous texture as well as finish. Already drinking beautifully, it will be even better in 2-5 years and should last for 20 years. A great effort for the vintage, it couldn't happen to a more deserving proprietor, Christine Valette. Bravo!A wine of the vintage candidate in 2008, Troplong Mondot's offering was produced from yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare and achieved 14.5% natural alcohol. A classic blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it offers copious quantities of blue and black fruits, a full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin and a fabulous texture as well as finish. Already drinking beautifully, it will be even better in 2-5 years and should last for 20 years. A great effort for the vintage, it couldn't happen to a more deserving proprietor, Christine Valette. Bravo! -- Robert Parker Read More
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 93
WE 93
WA 96
An amazing wine, the 2010 is right up there with the extraordinary quality of 2009, 2005 and 1990. Made from yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare, the final blend was 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. A late harvest between October 4 and 16 with the last of the Cabernet Franc coming in on October 28 no doubt accounts for the wine's powerful 15.5% natural alcohol. Of course, the anti-alcohol folks will make a big deal of this, but despite the high alcohol levels in nearly every 2010, there is freshness, precision, definition and absolutely no heat in the wines whatsoever. This stunningly rich effort offers abundant blueberry, black raspberry, licorice and graphite notes intermixed with a hint of espresso roast, a seriously concentrated, super-intense mouthfeel, full-bodied power, a complex, multidimensional texture and a nearly 50-second finish. It will require 5-6 years of bottle age after its release and should keep for three decades or more. Just prodigious! ?Robert Parker, May 2011. Read More
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Fronsac
WA 92
"Another impressive Fronsac, Villars' 2010 possesses an extra level of concentration as well as a dense purple color, hints of graphite, spring flowers, blue and black fruits, good tannin, sweet fruit and a lingering finish. It should drink well for a decade or more."
(Sleeper of the Vintage and one of the Vintage's Top Performers)
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 90-93
WA 93
Sweet berry and coffee aromas follow through to a full body, with reserved yet silky tannins and a long and juicy finish. Balanced and refined. Dense. Score range: 90-93 –JS
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Côtes de Castillon
WA 93
This is a gorgeous effort, made from a blend of 80% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Cropped at 22 hectoliters per hectare from their clay over limestone soils, the wine displays oodles of new oak, crushed chalk, and blueberry and blackberry fruit with hints of raspberries and pen ink. It is full-bodied and layered, with a fleshy, even succulent mid-palate and a long, long finish. This is terrific Castillon to drink over the next 10-15+ years. Note the name change with the dropping of the ?Les? in between ?Clos? and ?Lunelles.? This property was acquired by Gerard and Chantal Perse in 2001, and has been the reference point for how terrific Cotes de Castillon wines can be, although in 2009 it has to take a backseat to Silvio Denz's Cap de Faugeres remarkable Mouleyre.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Médoc
WS 87-90
This deep, dark wine has a wonderful nose of blackberry jam. It's a rich and saturated style of Medoc, with terrific balance and a complex, fresh finish.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Pessac-Léognan
WA 91
Another impressive offering from proprietor Stephan von Neipperg, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot displays classic notes of wet gravel as well as jammy, smoky, sweet red and black currants, raspberries and forest floor. A classic Pessac-Leognan with the lush, opulent style of 2009 well-displayed, this is a seductive, full-bodied, fleshy wine to drink over the next 10-12 years.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
Only 800 bottles (less than 70 cases!) of this superb wine were produced by Jean-Luc Thunevin's cellarmaster, Remi Dalmasso, as his "pet project." Incredibly dark in color and made in a modernist style, the nose has intense aromas of crushed black fruits and vanilla. On the palate the flavors of dark fruit and spices are intense and powerful, but well defined and superbly balanced. Very limited quantity available!
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Côtes de Castillon
WA 91
The 2009 vintage of this stunner from the home estate of star consulting winemaker Stephane Derenoncourt is dark, almost inky in color, with ripe, dark berry fruit and new oak on the nose. It is full-bodied with excellent concentration and flavors of cassis, vanilla, and earth on the palate. Robert Parker has described the wines from this estate as "hedonistic" in past vintages and the 2009 continues that trend. We tasted many Right Bank wines that were over the top, but this was showing perfect balance with excellent length and good acidity on the finish.
Our friend Jeff Davies introduced us to this wine and we're happy he did! It has aromas of sweet black fruit, with rich, saturated flavors. The structure is finely balanced and the finish is quite long. While just the "basic" bottling from Domaine du Bouscat, it's a great wine and a tremendous value.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Médoc
WS 88
WA 90
We tasted this during our visit with Jean Guillaume Prats at Cos d'Estournel. We've been carrying this wine since its creation 7 or 8 years ago and this is the best yet. Tangy, dark berry fruit flavors give way to a balanced but firm finish. Nice length.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
A luxurious, handcrafted wooden case of 9 bottles containing 1 bottle each of:
Chateau HAUT BRION
Chateau LAFITE ROTHSCHILD
Chateau LATOUR
Chateau MARGAUX
Chateau MOUTON ROTHSCHILD
Chateau CHEVAL BLANC
Chateau LA MISSION HAUT BRION
Chateau d'YQUEM
and PETRUS
Each bottle inside the case is packed in its own personalized and individual box.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: United States - Washington - Red Mountain
The flagship wine of the estate, the HFE Red Mountain consistently displays dense color, firm tannins, and well-defined acidity. Always a majority blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this wine is suitable for drinking upon release, but will reward those with the patience to age it. This wine represents all vineyard blocks farmed within the Hedges Family Estate vineyard portfolio. A true chateau-production bottling, the HFE Red Mountain is the epitome of classic style, and one that represents the Terroir of the Red Mountain AVA in a pure and elegant form. (from producer's website)