Bordeauxwinereviews2001

WINE REVIEWS & RATINGS

Bordeaux Region

Some nice info on Bordeaux at:

www.cellarnotes.net/bordeaux.htm

www.graperadio.com

2001

2001 Domaine des Gartieux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (2/23/2010)
Minneapolis Food & Wine Show Grand Tasting; 2/22/2010-2/23/2010 (Minneapolis Convention Center): Cellar funk, raspberries, and gravel. On the palate there is good acidity and features Pauillac gravel. Medium finish. OK wine but not the 2000. (87 pts.)

2001 Chateau Greysac Medoc $$

Color: Red

Nose: Spice, earth and red pepper

Taste: Spice

Finish: Short with some spice

Evaluation: 80 points

2001 Chateau D'Issac Margaux $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Cigar box, spice, mineral

Taste: Cigar box, spice, earth

Finish: Medium and good acidity, tobacco, earth

Evaluation: 88 points

2001 Chateau Larose-Trintaudon Haut-Medoc $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Red pepper, spice and earth

Taste: A thick mouthful of earth and spice

Finish: Short with earth, spice and bell pepper

Evaluation: Solid wine with some kick 87 points

2001 Chateau L'Hermitage Saint-Emilion $$$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Spice, truffles, cherry, oak

Taste: Heavy spice, cherry, oak, truffles, meat

Finish: Big finish and very young

Evaluation: Decant for a while 90 points

2001 Chateau Montrose St.-Estephe $$$$
Dark in color with a nose of pencil lead, ripe fruit, coffee and spices. Palate was concentrated with raspberries, pencil lead, coffee, minerals and integrated oak. This wine still possesses a medium tannic quality but should be drinking at a really high level in 5 years. 93 points

2001 Château Montrose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (6/24/2010)
Bordeaux, Italy and a Burg in Minneapolis: Top five wine of the vintage? Wonderful wine and drinking well right now with cherry, gravel, spices and floral notes. Good acid profile and still medium tannins. Medium and concentrated on the finish and super balanced wine. (94 pts.)

2001 Chateau Montrose St.-Estephe $$$$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Herbs, raspberries, pencil lead,

Taste: Concentrated with grit along with raspberries, black cherry, tobacco, earth

Finish: Medium and very elegant

Evaluation: This is a great wine 94 points

2002

2002 Chateau Canon St-Emilion $$$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Cherry, floral, mineral

Taste: Concentrated fruits, minerals and floral

Finish: Medium and tannins are in check

Evaluation: Very nice St-Emilion for a bad Vintage 89 points

2002 Chateau Cantenac-Brown Margaux $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Earth tones especially tobacco

Taste: Very complex taste with tobacco, plum and earth

Finish: Over a minute with earth features and very satisfying.

Evaluation: A well made Bordeaux blend at a very good price around $30 90 points

2002 Lynch Bages Pauillac $$$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Earth

Taste: Red pepper, earth

Finish: Medium finish with earth, pepper

Evaluation: 02 is not known for a stellar vintage from Bordeaux 84 points

2002 Château Lascombes - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (6/21/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club does Bordeaux; 6/20/2010-6/24/2010 (Kevin's House): Top five wine of the vintage? What an amazing wine and features spice, floral, blueberries and cherries on the nose. The palate adds raspberries and a perfume expression. Smooth tannins and medium finish. This is drinking at peak performance! (94 pts.)

2002 Chateau Montrose St.-Estephe $$$$

Medium in color with aromas of cherry, spice, cedar. Taste is a little water downed compared to the 01 with tobaco, cherry, spice. A short to medium finish. This is an ok wine from a less then stellar vintage 87 points

2003

2003 Chateau d'Argandens Bordeaux Superior Medoc $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Ripe fruit especially plum along with spice and earth

Taste: Plum, spice, and earth

Finish: Fruit forward and very pleasant

Evaluation: The best under $20 Bordeaux Blend I have had from 03. 88 points

2003 Château Bourgneuf - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (3/7/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Merlot Challenge (B. Long's House): Medium ruby color. Nose is really nice with raspberries, gravel and tobacco. On the palate this wine is really soft and full of flavors featuring gravel, raspberries, chalk, funk and tobacco. Medium finish and tannins have really soften. Decanted 4 hours prior to the tasting. I will be back for more on this one! (92 pts.)

2003 Chateau des Gravieres Graves $$$

Color: Purple

Nose: Red pepper, earth, plum

Taste: Earth and spice

Finish: Short with a touch of earth and spice

Evaluation: 84 points

2003 Chateau Greysec Medoc $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Cherry, plum, tobacco, oak

Taste: Tobacco, plum, oak, spice, vanilla, medium tannins

Finish: Spice, tobacco, oak, vanilla, tannic structure to allow this one to age

Evalution: 88 points but needs some cheese or steak as tannic structure is high and will soften with some time Great value for Bordeaux

2003 Château Kirwan - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (9/1/2010)
Aromas of floral, smoked meat, minerals, blackberries and cherry. Drinking really well right now and toasted oak is picked up on the medium, concentrated finish. Very nice wine for the money. (93 pts.)

2003 Chateau du Perils Medoc $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Earth, plum

Taste: Chewy wine with plum and earth

Finish: Short

Evaluation: An everyday drinker 84 points

2003 Chateau Lacaussade-St.Martin Premieres Cotes de Blaye $$

Color: Medium red

Nose: Fruit with plum dominating

Taste: Watered down with red pepper

Finish: Watery with earth and red pepper on a short finish

Evaluation: 82 points

2003 Chateau Lagrange Les Fiefs de Lagrange St. Julien $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Mineral, spice, berries

Taste: Mineral, cherry, spices

Finish: Medium and concentrated

Evaluation: Nice overall 89 points

2003 La Lagune Mercey Haut-Medoc $$

Color: Purple

Nose: Earth, walnut

Taste: Earth, walnut

Finish: Earth and some mild currant

Evaluation: A nice value. A good starter Bordeaux Blend 85 points

2003 Chateau Lascombes Margaux $$$$

Color: Dark ruby

Nose: Not much fruit currently mostly earth tones.

Taste: Multi layered complex wine with mainly earth tones.

Finish: Over two minutes with a lot going on.

Evaluation: This is a cellar wine that should show nice fruit in five plus years. A great young Bordeaux. 93 points

2003 Chateau Lascombes Margaux $$$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Figs, pencil lead, spice, and oak

Taste: Well integrated oak with pencil lead, spice, figs, and tobacco

Finish: Well integrated tannins and this is drinking well right now

Evaluation: Super wine still at a great price at around $50 94 points (6/15/09)

2003 Château Lascombes - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (8/30/2010)
Vibrant and a fruit forward wine featuring blackberries, cherry and plum. Also spice, coffee and minerals. The wine was decanted for around 20 minutes prior to tasting. Later in the night the fruit disappeared and revealed more earth. I liked it as a pop and pour. (92 pts.)

2003 Lassegue Grand Cru Saint Emilion $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Cherry, with nice sweet aromas

Taste: Little tannic, fruit, oak, spice and earth

Finish: Multi layered with cherry, spice, and earth

Evaluation: Enjoy this with some beef. 88 points

2003 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (6/24/2010)
Bordeaux, Italy and a Burg in Minneapolis: Pencil lead, dark cherry, tobacco, coffee and plum. Dark wine and concentrated. Great finish and showing well now but advise to cellar five plus years. Should improve a few points. (93 pts.)

2003 Chateau Montrose St. Estephe $$$$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Black fruits, mineral, coffee, little barnyard

Taste: Intense with blackberries, coffee, oak

Finish: Big tannins that will mellow with time and super concentrated wine

Evaluation: This is one of my favorite producers from Bordeaux 94 points

2003 Château Saint-Pierre - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (9/1/2010)
Pencil lead, tobacco, spice and red fruits. This wine was nice up front but the second pour revealed even more. This wine was decanted for over 5 hours and really was showing well. Good concentration and medium finish. (92 pts.)

2003 Château Pontet-Canet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (9/1/2010)
93+ This wine is really young and needs five to ten years in the cellar to start showing its stuff. Black fruits, minerals, oak, cassis, and vanilla. Medium finish and concentrated. I loved the palate on this wine. (93 pts.)

2003 Chateau Reignac Bordeaux Superieur $$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Barnyard, floral, cherry, mineral

Taste: Oak, floral, minerals

Finish: Medium but not as balanced as I would like

Evaluation: A bit tired on this try 87 points

2003 Chateau De Sales Pomerol $$$

Good structure and the funk blew off quick. Spice, oak, coffee and stone on the nose and the palate picks up some floral notes. Very nice finish. 91 points

2003 Château de Sales - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (1/11/2010)
Medium purple. Vibrant nose with coffee, spice, cherry, minerals. Good structure and nice acidity. The palate shows coffee, spice, oak, and floral notes. The finish is elegant and certainly would complement lamb chops. Solid wine for under $25. (90 pts.)

2003 Château Sociando-Mallet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc (8/30/2010)
Cherry, forest floor, toast, and blackberries. Not a heavy wine but solid overall structure. Should age for five more years. (91 pts.)

2003 Chateau Talbot St. Julien $$$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Currant, cherry, earth

Taste: Fruit forward with plum and cherry. Tannins are well integrated.

Finish: Medium with fruit and earth.

Evaluation: A nice affordable Bordeaux Wine that can really represent the region. 91 points

2003 Chateau Tour Baladoz Saint Emilion $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Cherry, plum, mineral

Taste: Big wine with cherry, plum, earth

Finish: Medium and complex

Evaluation: A good wine for under $20 89 points

2003 Chateau Tour St Bonnet Medoc $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Spice and oak

Taste: Earthy wine with spice, oak, vanilla, and minor fruit

Finish: Medium with earth, spice, oak dominating

Evaluation: Average wine for under $20 85 points

2003 Chateau Vignot Grand Cru St. Emilion

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Earth, mineral

Taste: Cherry, earth, medium tannins

Finish: Little tannic (so cellar) with earth and spice flavors into a medium finish

Evaluation: A nice effort but could use five years in the cellar. 87 points

2004

2004 Château Haut-Bailly - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (8/30/2010)
Cigar, scorched earth, dark fruits and mint on the nose. Over the course of the evening this wine did open up and really needs a 3 hour decant prior to consumption. Tannins are medium and finish is solid. (91 pts.)

2004 Château Calon-Ségur - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (6/21/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club does Bordeaux; 6/20/2010-6/24/2010 (Kevin's House): Old world funk on display. Red pepper, tobacco and cedar chips on the nose. Minerals and chocolate added on the palate and finish. No fruit showing on the wine. Medium finish. (92 pts.)

2004 Chateau Colombier Monpelou Pauillac $$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Mineral, herbal, and funk

Taste: A little off with herbal and mineral

Finish: Medium and lacks the quality of the 05

Evaluation: Not recommended compared to the 05 82 points

2004 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (6/24/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club does Bordeaux; 6/20/2010-6/24/2010 (Kevin's House): Dark purple. Spices, floral, perfume and mulberries on the nose. There is a nice perfume quality throughout the wine and a good mix of fruit and earth elements. Medium finish and some cinnamon. (92 pts.)

2004 Giscours Margaux $$$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Cigar box, violets, spice, pencil lead

Taste: Tobacco, cigar, violets, minerals, spice

Finish: Complex and full of flavor with good acidity

Evaluation: A steal at $34 a bottle 92 points

2004 Chateau Greysac Medoc $$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Subtle with earth, spice, and mineral

Taste: Very nice with gravel, cranberries, spice, and toasted oak

Finish: Medium

Evaluation: A great value with a few flaws on the finish but for $15 who cares 88 points

2004 Chateau Lascombes Margaux $$$$$

Color: Dark Purple

Nose: Plum, cherry, earth, oak, vanilla

Taste: Fruit and earth blended together. Being an 04 tannic

Finish: A buttery note along with cherry, cranberry, and nutty. Medium finish and really complex.

Evaluation: Buy if it is $55. This wine has the structure to reward those who are patient. 92 points

2004 Château Lascombes - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (7/17/2010)
Big nose with blueberries, violets, Asian spice, and soy. On the palate a blueberries, floral, Asian spice, soy sauce and cherry. Medium finish and concentrated overall for an 04. Solid effort. (92 pts.)

2004 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (1/23/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Does Bordeaux; 1/22/2010-1/23/2010 (Kevin's House): Medium purple. Nose of pencil lead, leather, cherry, and minerals. This was a concentrated wine with nice alot going on the palate. Good acidity and a concentrated finish make for an excellent 04 value. I will be seeking out more of this wine. (92 pts.)

2004 Château Léoville Las Cases - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (6/24/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club does Bordeaux; 6/20/2010-6/24/2010 (Kevin's House): Dark purple. Gravel, blueberries, cassis, and spice on the nose. Good concentration on the palate with good acidity. Medium finish and should improve with some age. (93 pts.)

2004 Chateau Lucia St. Emilion $$$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Tobacco, plum, mineral, earth

Taste: Tobacco, mineral, plum, cherry

Finish: Not a big wine but will please the palate.

Evaluation: 90 points

Day 1

2004 Chateau Monbousquet Saint-Emilion $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Coffee, Asian spice, floral notes

Taste: Coffee, earth, cherry, spices, clay, floral

Finish: Medium and concentrated. Firm tannins and will revisit next day

Evaluation: Currently 90 points

Day 2

2004 Chateau Monbousquet Saint-Emilion $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Mushrooms, scorched earth, mineral

Taste: Tobacco, strong spices, cherry, flint

Finish: Medium and still concentrated with softer tannins

Evaluation: This wine is improving 91 points

Advice: Decant 3 hours prior to serving or open day one and enjoy day 2

Day 3

2004 Chateau Monbousquet Saint-Emilion $$$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Wow black fruits, minerals, espresso, spiced meats

Taste: Big wine with spiced meats, espresso, coffee grounds, floral and black fruit

Finish: Of course a tannic beast at this point but there is good acidity and this will age into a great wine

Evaluation: I tasted this over 3 days and day 3 was the best so cellar for another 5 years and retry. Currently solid 92 points

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

2004 Château Montrose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (1/23/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Does Bordeaux; 1/22/2010-1/23/2010 (Kevin's House): The fourth time sampling this wine. A little funk on the nose that blew off. Mostly showing gravel, cassis, and some vegetal qualities. The palate was not as impressive with previous bottlings. Medium finish and overall a really 04 value at $44 a bottle. I would encourage cellaring this one for 2 to 5 years. (91 pts.)

2004 Mouton Cadet Rogue Medoc $

Color: Purple

Nose: Spice, oak

Taste: Spice, oak, vanilla, medium tannins

Finish: Medium wi ht spice, oak and vanilla

Evaluation: A great starter Bordeaux Blend from one of the worlds most famous producers. 82 points

2004 Chateau Nenin Pomerol $$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Earth, tobacco, coffee

Taste: Coffee, gravel, good acidity in the mouth

Finish: Medium with coffee, gravel, a bit of fruit trying to emerge through

Evaluation: Not their best effort but drinkable 87 points

2004 Château Pavie - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (3/7/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Merlot Challenge (B. Long's House): DARK. Day 2 review. It was too tight on day one. Intense nose of chocolate, spices, gravel, crushed rock, violets, and ripe fruit. On the palate it has really opened up. Violets, crushed rock, gravel, spices, oak, vanilla, sweet tannins and cedar. Medium to long finish and concentrated flavor. I would not touch this wine for 10 years and I was really glad to save a third of a glass to properly review this on day 2. 94 to 97 points. (94 pts.)

2004 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande $$$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Black currants, coffee, spice, cigar

Taste: Blackberries, spice, cigar, coffee, and flavorful

Finish: Medium concentration and finish

Evaluation: 92 points

2004 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (6/21/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club does Bordeaux; 6/20/2010-6/24/2010 (Kevin's House): Wow! I don't know if others decanted this wine prior but 5 hours opened it up. Also tasted blind. Blackberries, pepper, blueberries, and minerals on the nose. The palate had a beautiful perfume quality. Great structure and expressive fruits. Medium tannins. The finish is long and very complex. Wine of the night by the group by a land slide! (95 pts.)

2004 Château Pontet-Canet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (6/24/2010)
Bordeaux, Italy and a Burg in Minneapolis: Dark! Blind I would never guess Bordeaux and had an in your face nose of crushed rock, violets, spices and cassis. Rich wine with cherry, violets, spices and chocolate dominating the palate and finish. Long finish and tannic. Should have 20 plus years left. (93 pts.)

2004 Chateau Trocard Medoc $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Thin and high alcohol

Taste: Earth and thin almost vegetal

Finish: Watery and weak

Evaluation: Not damaged which is scary. Terrible wine. 76 points

2005

2005 Chateau St. Andre Corbin St. Emilion $$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Cherry, oak, spice

Taste: Cherry, oak, forest floor

Finish: Medium and not too tannic with a variety of flavors

Evaluation: A really solid wine for the money 90 points

2005 Château des Annereaux - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol (4/21/2010)
Clay, gravel, cherry, and floral notes on the nose. The palate is clean and not too tannic. Gravel is very present and medium finish. Very good value. (89 pts.)

2005 Chateau des Annereaux LaLande-De-Pomerol $$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Spice, cherries, minerals, floral

Taste: Nice mix between sour and bitter with sour cherries, minerals, floral, spices

Finish: Medium and full of flavor

Evaluation: Nice wine from a great vintage 90 points

2005 Chateau Behere Pauillac $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Pencil lead, earth, some fruit

Taste: Nice up front with pencil lead, earth, gravel

Finish: This gets a little bitter and green after 10 seconds on the finish

Evalution: A little green which lowers its score 85 points

2005 Chateau Haut Brisson Reserve St-Emilion $$$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Oak, black cherry, mineral, smoke

Taste: Powerful with oak, cherry, mineral, tobacco

Finish: Concentrated and rich

Evaluation: A nice value at $40 a bottle 90 points

2005 Chateau Beaulieu Comtes de Tastes $$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Violets, spice, cherry

Taste: Blackberries, spice, cherry

Finish: Medium

Evaluation: Simple everyday Bordeaux 87 points

2005 Chateau Haut-Beausejour Saint-Estephe $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Tobacco, spice

Taste: Tobacco, spice, some cherry

Finish: Medium with spice, cherry, mineral

Evaluation: Average wine from Bordeaux 87 points

2005 Chateau Bourgneuf-Vayron Pomerol $$$$

Color: Ruby red

Nose: Coffee, mineral, blueberries, cassis

Taste: Smooth wine with blueberries, cassis, coffee

Finish: Well integrated tannins and a pleasure to drink right now

Evaluation: Well made and not bad at $45 on sale 90 points

Day One

2005 Le Clementin du Pape Clement Pessac-Leognan $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Raspberries, gravel, plum

Taste: Gravel, sour cherries, plum, raspberries

Finish: Medium and concentrated with ripe fruits

Evaluation: Super wine 92 points

Day Three

2005 Le Clementin du Pape Clement Pessac-Leognan $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Gravel, truffles, red raspberries, floral

Taste: Gravel, fresh fruits, floral, coffee beans, sour cherries

Finish: Balanced and concentrated

Evaluation: Super star wine that should age beautifully 93 points

2005 Château Colombier-Monpelou - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (2/24/2010)
Nose of cedar, cranberry, cherry and gravel. On the palate this wine shows a ton of gravel, cranberry and is a bit bitter. Medium finish and tannic. This bottle is not as good as others consumed over the last six months. (88 pts.)

2005 Chateau Colombier Monpelou Pauillac $$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Beautiful with minerals, cherry, and subtle spices

Taste: Smooth for a young wine with cherry, minerals, and plums

Finish: Medium and really showcases the soil

Evaluation: Best Bordeaux to date at $20 or less 91 points

2005 Château Colombier-Monpelou - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (2/4/2010)
Popped and poured. Medium purple with aromas of cranberry, oak, leather and gravel. Taste reveals cranberries, crushed rock, leather, cherry and toasted oak. The tannins are present and this wine should drink well for five plus years even at the Cru Bourgeois Superieur classification. (90 pts.)

2005 Château Colombier-Monpelou - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (7/26/2010)
Gravel, a bit of funk, and red fruits. On the palate nice cherry, raspberries, gravel and cedar. Medium finish and a true value 05 Bordeaux wine. (89 pts.)

2005 Chateau Le Conseiller Bordeaux Superieur $$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Mineral, tobacco, earth

Taste: All earth with mineral, tobacco and light oak

Finish: Medium with good acidity

Evaluation: A pleasant find at $18 a bottle on sale 89 points

2005 Chateau Doyac Haut-Medoc $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Coffee, plum

Taste: Coffee, plum, earth, oak

Finish: Medium and balanced

Evaluation: Solid drinker at $16 88 points

2005 Chateau La Grave A Pomerol $$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Spice, leather, floral

Taste: Subtle spices, floral, coffee, cranberries, leather, firm tannins

Finish: Medium but not a powerful wine

Evaluation: Nice Pomerol wine that should be decanted for 4 hours or cellared for years 91 points

2005 Chateau La Grave A Pomerol $35 (second day)

Medium purple

Nose: Gravel, mushroom, blackberries

Taste: Heavy spices, cherries, blackberries, sour cherries, gravel

Finish: Medium and great acidity in this wine. Perfect balance

Evaluation: A stunner wine the second day. 94 points

2005 Château La Grave a Pomerol Trigant de Boisset - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (2/14/2010)
Medium purple. Decanted six hours and aromas of gravel, blackberries, spices and vanilla. The palate has improved over the course of the evening and features cherries, gravel, blackberries, spice and oak. Medium concentrated finish with tons of potential. The third time sampling this wine with similar results. (92 pts.)

2005 Château La Fleur Plaisance Montagne-St. Émilion - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Montagne-St. Émilion (2/14/2010)
Medium purple. Nose of earth, plum, vanilla and oak. Palate shows some complexity with dark fruits, earth and leather. Medium finish. Good QPR wine for $8. (87 pts.)

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 Larcis Jaumat Saint-Emilion Grand Cru $$

Color; Medium purple

Nose: Charcoal, pencil lead

Taste: Pencil lead, great acidity, mineral, charcoal, raspberries

Finish: Medium and firm tannins

Evaluation: First day 82 than this wine opened up. Again try 05 Bordeaux wines over the course of 3 days when young. 88 points

2005 Chateau Lagarosse Entre-Deux-Mers, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Oak, earth

Taste: Really tannic, some fruit showing like plum and blackberries

Finish: Medium complexity

Evaluation: Worth risking cellaring for five years. There is something there 85 points

2005 Chateau Lagrange Les Fiefs de Lagrange St. Julien $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Mineral, cherry, blackberries, coffee

Taste: Mineral, cherry, blackberries, coffee, and great intensity

Finish: Medium and full of life. Tannins are heavy but cellar for five years

Evaluation: Lagrange's Second Label and cellar for 5 years 93 points

2005 Chateau Lagrange Les Fiefs de Lagrange St. Julien $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Violets, fresh strawberries, coffee, cranberries, gravel

Taste: Cranberries, spices, cherry, violets, gravel

Finish: Medium with a lot of spice, violets, gravel, cranberries

Evaluation: Needs time as mentioned before 91 points

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

2005 Château Laroque St. Émilion Grand Cru - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (2/14/2010)
Dark purple. Nose of violets, dark fruits and spices. A tannic wine. Palate shows promise with dark fruits, violets, minerals and earth. Medium and concentrated finish that needs some cellar time. I won't revisit for 5 years on this one. (88 pts.)

Under $10 Wine

2005 Château Lascombes - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (1/22/2010)
Dark purple. Big nose with cherry, oak, minerals, leather, and coffee. Taste is great with bing cherries, coffee, violets, minerals, dust and oak. Finish is powerful and medium tannins present. Of course this wine has 20 years but I am amazed how much is there right now. (94 pts.)

2005 Château Lascombes - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (1/23/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Does Bordeaux; 1/22/2010-1/23/2010 (Kevin's House): Sampled at 2 times during the tasting. At first a nice wine but not great. I decanted this wine for 3 hours and it needed another 2 at least. Dark color and a nose of mineral, cassis, coffee and spices. Palate is intense and really features a nice balance of fruit and earth components. This wine shows a massive finish and as many have noted not Margaux style but it is a great wine. Certainly a cellar for 10 plus years wine. (94 pts.)

2005 Château Meyney - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (4/5/2010)
Gravel, leather, raspberry and earth are featured. Good acidity and medium finish. Medium tannins. (90 pts.)

2005 Château Olivier - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (1/23/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Does Bordeaux; 1/22/2010-1/23/2010 (Kevin's House): Dark purple. Nose was a little tight and I arerated the wine. Nose showed gravel and a bit of leather. Palate was gravel and earth tones. Shorter finish then most 05s. This wine might never blossom and I would pass at the $22 price point as there is too many better choices from 05. (87 pts.)

2005 Au Grand Paris Medoc $$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Ink, earth

Taste: Ink, earth, good acidity

Finish: Medium

Evaluation: Simple Bordeaux wine 84 points

2005 Chateau Poitevin Medoc $$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Mineral, raspberry

Taste: Balance wine with mineral, raspberry and cherry

Finish: Medium with light spices, subtle oak, raspberry and minerals

Evaluation: Nice buy at $15 88 points

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

2005 Château Potensac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc
Light in color for an 05. Nose of gravel, mushrooms, cherry and dust. The tannins have melowed out on this wine and the palate shows nice minerals, cherry, dust and cedar. Medium finish and drink now. (90 points)

2005 Chateau Pontensac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc (2/16/2010)
Medium purple. Nose of cherry, raspberries and minerals. Palate is light with spices, rasberries, cherry and spices. Medium finish with medium tannins. Solid every day Bordeaux. (90 pts.)

2005 Chateau Pontensac Medoc $$$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Cherry, minerals

Taste: Cherry, minerals, spices, raspberries

Finish: Medium and bursting with gravel and minerals

Evaluation: Great Wine again 90 points

2005 Château Puy-Blanquet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (4/2/2010)
Medium purple. Nose of gravel, cherry, dust, and raspberries. On the palate spice, cherry, gravel, dust and oak. Medium finish and nice overall effort. (89 pts.)

2005 Chateau Segla Margaux $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Cherry, plum, mineral

Taste: Cherry, plum, mineral, oak

Finish: Medium and multi layered

Evaluation: Nice intro to Bordeaux 87 points

2005 Chateau Segonzac Cotes de Blaye $$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Tobacco, spice, plum

Taste: Plum, blackberry, spice, oak

Finish: Medium and complex with nice balance. Could cellar for 10 years.

Evaluation: Great vintage and should cellar well. 90 points

2005 Château de Sales - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (1/23/2010)
Medium purple. Decanted six hours and showing beautiful! Coffee, minerals, black currants, leather and floral. This wine is balanced and has an amazing long and intense finish. You will be rewarded with heavy decanting and day 2 tasting. A steal for $26! (94 pts.)

2005 Château de Sales - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (3/7/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Merlot Challenge (B. Long's House): Decanted 2 hours. Nose of gravel, funk, and floral. Palate shows a lot of gravel, floral, cherry and mild oak. Medium finish and the wine is well structured. This can be cellared for 5 years. I highly recommend trying this wine on day one and coming back to see the improvements on day 2 and 3. (90 pts.)

2005 Chateau Sociando-Mallet Medoc $$$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Spice, mineral, black fruits

Taste: Strong wine with spices, mineral, fruits

Finish: Tannic and needs time but concentration is there

Evaluation: Cellar five years and try again 88 points

2005 Chateau Teyssier St. Emilion $$$

Nice St. Emilion wine with gravel, floral and cherry on the nose. The palate is mildly tannic and really shows some nice fruit and earth elements. Medium finish. 90 points

2005 Château Teyssier St. Émilion Grand Cru - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (2/14/2010)
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 (91 pts.)

2005 Chateau Tourneffeville Lalande-De-Pomeral $$$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Earth, black currents, minerals

Taste: Big wine with black currents, spices, smoke and oak

Finish: Medium finish and concentrated

Evaluation: Should cellar for 10 plus years 92 points

2005 Château Tournefeuille - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol (2/14/2010)
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Truffles, dark cherries, smoke
Taste: Floral, spices, truffles, cherry, chalk
Finish: Good acidity with medium tannins
Evaluation: Great wine for the money 93 points (93 pts.)

2005 Trois Moulines Haut-Medoc $$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Fruits blackberries, cherry, earth

Taste: Very balanced and drinking well right now with blackberries, cherries, earth, coffee

Finish: Complex for a $15 wine and plenty of depth

Evaluation: About as good as it gets for $15 90 points

2005 Font Villac Grand Cru Saint-Emilon $$

Color: Medium purple

Nose: Musty, violets

Taste: Cranberries, violets, oak

Finish: Medium and a little tannic

Evaluation: Everyday wine 85 points

2006

2006 Château Bellegrave Médoc - France, Bordeaux, Médoc (2/16/2010)
Medium purple. Nose features gravel, rapsberry and cranberry. On the palate it is a delicate wine and features raspberry, cherry, and gravel. Medium finish and a great introduction to Bordeaux. (88 pts.)

2006 Château L'Écuyer - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (3/4/2010)
On hte nose dust, gravel, oak and smoke. The palate is powerful with gravel, cherry, dried fruits, smoke and a good use of oak. Plenty of tannins on this one. Cellar selection. (90 pts.)

2006 Château La Fleur St. Émilion Grand Cru - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (3/4/2010)
Subtle nose of dust, cherry, and spice. On the palate a light wine with similar qualities to the nose. Medium finish and soft tannins. Drink now. (87 pts.)

2006 Mongravey Margaux $$$

Color: Dark purple

Nose: Cherry, plum, gravel

Taste: Smooth tannins with cherry, plum, some gravel

Finish: Medium and fruit forward

Evaluation: Solid Margaux wine at a great price 91 points

2006 Château Mongravey - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (7/7/2010)
A favorite Bordeaux for under $25. Dark purple with cherry, plum, gravel and light wood on the nose and palate. Medium finish and smooth tannins. This is a drink me now Bordeaux! (91 pts.)

2006 Château Peyreau - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (3/4/2010)
Oak, mineral and vanilla on the nose. A real stone quality on the palate mixed with oak and vanilla. Not getting much fruit on this wine. Medium finish. (88 pts.)

2006 Château de Sales - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (4/5/2010)
Disappointing compared to the 05. While I didn't expect the 05 quality it really feel short. Funk on the nose with minerals and raspberries. A thin finish and not concentrated. A pass even if it was under $20. (85 pts.)

2006 Château Tournefeuille - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol (3/4/2010)
Great nose with cherry, plum, oak and vanilla. A rich wine that flavors are bouncing all over. Medium and concentrated finish. Good tannic structure and should age for 5 plus years. (91 pts.)

2007

2007 Château Mongravey - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (3/4/2010)
Light color. Too much red pepper and a bit watered down. This is not the 06 version. (80 pts.)

2007 Chateau Haut Peyruguet Blanc rose style $

Color: Pink

Nose: Strawberry, floral

Taste: Light Rose wine with strawberries

Finish: Short

Evaluation: Light, fruity wine with a short finish

Evaluation: 83 points

2007 Château Saint-Vincent Baron - France, Bordeaux, Médoc (7/10/2010)
A light wine from a poor vintage but for the price not bad. Features gravel, a bit of funk, cherry and short finish. (83 pts.)

2008

2008 Château la Freynelle - France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Contrôlée (3/4/2010)
Grass and mineral based wine. Short but refreshing finish. Simple but good. (86 pts.)

2008 Château Haut Peyruguet - France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Contrôlée (3/4/2010)
Subtle nose of lemons, minerals and grass. Medium finish and pleasant. (87 pts.)

2008 Château Picque Caillou Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (3/4/2010)
Light gold. Nose of oak, vanilla, lemons and chalk. Good use of oak on this wine and there is a nice buttery finish. Good acidity and a really solid wine. (90 pts.)

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