Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Andrea Oberto Atlas Peak Benziger Beringer Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Cantina Terlano Chimney Rock Chronicle Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Emilio Lustau Fonseca Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Hess Collection Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel La Caudrina Luna Vineyards Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Pahlmeyer Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Six Sigma Winery St. James Steltzner Vineyards Trinchero Winery Trione V. Sattui Winery William Fevre Wilson Winery
Category Archives: Bordeaux
Haut-Colombier Bordeaux Clairet 2009
Chateau Haut-Colombier, Bordeaux Clairet 2009 This is a deeply-colored rose, approaching what you see in some Pinot Noir and Sangiovese. In the nose the fruit shines through with some earthy notes as well. In the mouth it is fruity and … Continue reading
Chateau Suduiraut 2005
Chateau Suduiraut, Sauternes 1er Cru 2005 The nose features lots of honey, a bit of straw, tropical fruit notes and appropriate volatility. In the mouth it is thick and rich, lemony, tempered by acidity and reminiscent of a spoonful of … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Sauternes, Semillon
Tagged Suduiraut
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Chateau Gravas 2008
Chateau Gravas, Sauternes 2008 The nose shows a nice sense of tropical fruit, honey and minerality. In the mouth you’ll find a light-bodied Sauternes, yet one that hits the profile, albeit without the concentration of the big guns – yet … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Semillon, White Dessert
Tagged Chateau Gravas
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Le G de Chateau Guiraud
Chateau Guiraud, Bordeaux Blanc Sec, Le G de Chateau Guiraud 2007 The nose features straw, minerality, lanolin and stone fruit. There’s an evolved complexity that shows already. In the mouth there is a nice thread of acidity with the richness … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
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Chateau Climens 2005
Chateau Climens, Barsac 2005 What is wonderful about this wine is the amount of fruit that shows, from citrus to the tropical notes of pineapple. Sure, there is the expected richness of honey and appropriate volatility, but the coupling of … Continue reading
Left Bank Bordeaux
Chateau Giscours, Margaux 2006 The nose of this wine features a strong whiff of smoky oak and leather with red fruits and sweet tobacco. In the mouth, the fruit comes alive, with fresh berries and dried cranberries and the accent … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Margaux, Merlot, Saint-Julien
Tagged Branaire-Ducru, Chateau Giscours
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La Conseillante 2007
Chateau La Conseillante, Pomerol 2007 Toasty, smoky oak meets blueberries and crushed leaves in the nose. In the mouth you’ll find an approachable wine, with ripe tannins, lots of black fruit, complementary leather and lingering acidity – very nice. The … Continue reading
Bordeaux 2005
Chateau LaFleur-Gazin 2005 The sweetness of the fruit in this Pomerol is rather fetching, possessing a liquer-like character. In the mouth it is supple and fruity, with plums and cassis on a velvety palate. The flavors linger with the acidity- … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Margaux, Pauillac, Pomerol
Tagged Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Chateau Duhart-Milon, Chateau Lafleur-Gazin
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Smith Haut Lafitte 2006
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan 2006 The smells in the nose include raspberries, cherries, leather and the sweetness and toastiness of oak. In the mouth it is earthy and smoky, exhibiting complexity and a supple texture – very approachable. The … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Graves, Merlot, Pessac-Leognan
Tagged Smith Haut Lafitte
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Chateau d’Yquem
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2005 From the start, the nose features a complex mix of honey, vanilla, appropriate volatility, creme caramel and dried apricots. In the mouth it is broad and viscous, a wine whose texture is luscious. With time, the … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, White Dessert
Tagged Chateau d'Yquem
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Chateau Puy Arnaud Cotes de Castillon 2005
Chateau Puy Arnaud, Cotes de Castillon 2005 The oak makes its presence known when you smell this wine. In the mouth the full ripeness of the fruit comes through, with ample concentration and plenty of structure – a solid value … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cotes de Castillon, France, Merlot
Tagged Chateau Puy Arnaud, Maureze
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Raymond-Lafon Sauternes 2004
Chateau Raymond-Lafon, Sauternes 2004 In the nose you’ll find honey and tropical fruit with appropriate volatility. In the mouth it is caramel, long lasting caramel, silky and balanced by lemony acidity. Planted 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon. The Famille Meslier … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, White Dessert
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Chateau Saint-Pierre 2005
Chateau Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien 2005 This is pleasure in a glass, ripeness of fruit, great density yet rounded off edges. The structure supports the density of flavor while the acidity carries the flavor a long way – very nice. The estate … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Saint-Julien
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Chateau Gloria 2005
Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 2005 There’s a nice smoky essence in the nose while in the mouth you’ll find cranberries and dark chocolate. This wine is quite chewy and would certainly benefit from 6-8 years in the cellar. The estate is … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Saint-Julien
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Chateau Grillon 2002
Chateau Grillon, Sauternes 2002 In the nose there are dried apricots, hay and a bit of nuttiness. In the mouth the wine is moderately sweet, with moderate viscosity and a nice thread of balancing acidity. This was probably on the … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, White Dessert
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Chateau Lascombes 2005
Chateau Lascombes, Margaux 2005 This wine is super toasty in the nose with hints of dark chocolate and cassis. The mouth is quite structured urging a good 10 years and more in the cellar, yet already the black fruit is … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot
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Smith Haut Lafitte 2005
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan 2005 The nose smells of leather, earth, smokiness, horse blanket and a host of descriptors that get at a sense of brettanomycees as complexity rather than a flaw. That said, I know that this level … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pessac-Leognan
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Giscours 2005
Chateau Giscours, Margaux 2005 The berry fruit is ripe and expressive in the nose, with a sense of cedar and a light touch of earthiness. The fruit comes through on the palate, with some chewy though ripe tannin and a … Continue reading
Rolland-Maillet 2005
Chateau Rolland-Maillet, Saint-Emilion, Grand Cru 2005 Upon first opening this bottle was uncharacteristically rustic for a Rolland wine; patience is rewarded with 10 minutes or so of air. In the mouth however, the fruit is immediately apparent and the texture … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Saint-Emilion
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Rouget 2005
Chateau Rouget, Pomerol 2005 This wine shows the classic example of tolerated brett. There are Band-Aids competing with ripe fruits in the nose. With 30 minutes the fruit starts to strut into the open. The mouth features the same with … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pomerol
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Chateau Gravas 2005
Chateau Gravas, Sauternes 2005 The nose features honey, flowers and minerality with an appropriate amount of volatility. In the mouth, the honey-essence and caramel are there in a light-bodied format with a touch of spiritous character. Previously I wrote: This … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, White Dessert
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Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse 2005
Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac, Grand Cru Classe 2005 The nose features sweet black fruit, earthiness and wet stones. In the mouth there is an appropriate amount of acidity, a little on the tart side with ripe tannins and a moderate … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pauillac
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Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2005
Chateau Guiraud, Sauternes 2005 Minerality, honey and tropical fruits mark the nose. The mouth is all caramel with hints of that minerality – destined to be drunk with creme caramel. 85 hectares are planted to 65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, White Dessert
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Bastor-Lamontagne Sauternes 2001
Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne, Sauternes 2001 This wine displays lots of tropical fruit in the nose, a sense of bananas and pineapple mixed with the mineral edge of appropriate volatility, though too much for some of the class. In the mouth, there … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, White Dessert
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La Tour Blanche 2003
Chateau La Tour Blanche, Sauternes, 1er Cru 2003 The nose is marked by honey and minerality and appropriate VA. The pungency of the cleanser-like VA will certainly be too much for some as it does interfere with the fruit in … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
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Chateau Nenin 2002
Chateau Nenin, Pomerol 2002 Stepping back a year to the ’02, there is a sense of earthy cheese rind in the nose. This is much more rustic than the ’03, with ample acidity and chewy tannins. Notes on the newer … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Merlot, Pomerol
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Clos du Marquis 2003
Clos du Marquis, Saint-Julien 2003 There is vibrant sweet, black fruit in the nose. In the mouth you could swear this wine is from the New World. While the structure associated with Bordeaux is on stage in this wine, the … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Saint-Julien
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Chateau Fombrauge 2005
Chateau Fombrauge,Saint-Emilion, Grand Cru 2005 The nose is smoky and toasty with tobacco lead and cherries. The sense of pipe tobacco follows through in the mouth ripe red fruits and the structure that you expect in Bordeaux. There is great … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, France, Merlot, Saint-Emilion
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Chateau Lagupeau 2007
Chateau Lagupeau, Graves 2007 The nose is a mix of bay leaves, fruit and chemical notes. In the mouth the wine is hard and lean with lots of acid. There’s a sense that this wine is aging prematurely and I’d … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Graves, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
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Right banking satellites
Chateau Bertineau St.-Vincent, Lalande-de-Pomerol 2004 The nose is restrained upon first pouring with a little sense of stewed fruit coming through. When I opened this wine, there was some carmelized remnants of wine that leaked earlier. Thus I don’t know … Continue reading
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