Minneapolis
Wine Club
Red Bordeaux
March 20
Minneapolis
Right Bank Wines
(Merlot Based Wines)
2005 Chateau La Fleur Montagne St. Emilion $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Oak, earth, plum
Taste: Some fruit along with oak, leather, minerals
Finish: Solid overall
Evaluation: Good intro to Bordeaux Blends 86 points
2005 Chateau Teyssier St. Emilion $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Cherry, gravel,
Taste: Cherry, gravel, plum, violets, sweet spices, coffee
Finish: Medium and concentrated with nice acidity
Evaluation: What a steal at $24 91 points
Facts:
*The Right Bank of Bordeaux features 2 key Appelations which are Pomerol and St.-Emilion
*The Dordogne River flows through the area
*Merlot is the key grape
*Some of the most expensive wines in the world are produced here which are Chateau Petrus, Chateau Le Pin, Chateau Ausone, and Chateau Cheval Blanc
*St.-Emilion is much larger then Pomerol
*The best vintages are 2005, 2003, 2000, 1998
*Good value usually under $50: Chateau Monbousquet, Chateau Grand-Mayne, Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot, Chateau Barde-Haut, Chateau Moulin-St.-Georges,Chatau Pipeau, Chateau Troplong-Mondot
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Left Bank Wines
2005 Chateau Potensac Medoc $$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Violets, gravel, cherry
Taste: Violets, gravel, sour cherries, earth
Finish: Smooth wine with light tannins on this medium finish
Evaluation: A steal from a great vintage 90 points
Cabernet based wine that is the perfect intro to Bordeaux Reds
2000 Les Gartieux De Pichon LaLande Pauillac $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Raspberries, dust, mushrooms, tobacco
Taste: Cherry, dust, mushrooms, some sweetness, mild tannins
Finish: Elegant and soft at this stage.
Evaluation: A steal at $26 at Wine Streets on sale 91 points
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2005 Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan $$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Huge with floral, gravel, dust, smoke, blackberries
Taste: Tobacco, gravel, smoke, dust, blackberries, oak, vanilla, spices
Finish: Big and long and the tannins are medium. Complex and multi layered wine
Evaluation: Cellar wine for 15 plus years with a huge potential 94 points
2000 Leoville Poyferre Saint-Julien $$$$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Ink, black currants, mineral, coffee
Taste: Very well integrated with blackberries, coffee, fine minerals, floral
Finish: Light but flavorful Tannins are well integrated
Evaluation: Not a powerhouse wine but very nice 92 points
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2004 Chateau Montrose Saint Estephe $$$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Wow beautiful perfume! Blackberries, minerals, violets, cherry, oak, vanilla
Taste: Violets, crushed rock, minerals, oak, black fruit, great acidity
Finish: Well integrated and super complex. Tannins are soft already
Evaluation: Montrose is a Second Growth wine and in this off vintage this is a steal deal! 94 points
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Final Wine:
2004 Chateau Montrose St Estephe Winglas 94 points Wine Spectator 92 points
Cost: $65