‘Tis the season…to have some great wine! (Specifically Bordeaux, if you’re like us.) Now, some of you out there reading this may already be familiar with Bordeaux, and if so, please do yourself a favor and go buy some more. You know you want to.
This article is for those of you that want to try something new this holiday season. Here’s a quick rundown for you. You like red blends? Bordeaux is for you, it’s one of the original red blends! You like Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot? Bordeaux is for you, these are the two main grape varietals used in red Bordeaux (with smaller portions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec)! You like value for money? Bordeaux is ABSOLUTELY for you!
Château Croix du Trale Haut-Médoc 2014 is only $15.89 cash price, and yes, you can get great value Bordeaux for that price. This small 14 hectares (roughly 35 acres) property is family owned and operated and currently being run by three generations, Chloé, Laurie, Sandra, Stéphane & Michel. The property is planted to 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 50% Merlot, and their wine is typically aged for a year in barrel, with 30% new oak. A beautiful rustic expression, with dark red fruits, pleasant concentration and a bit of dustiness on the palate. Don’t want to spend too much? You can’t go wrong with this option.
Want to move up a notch? Check out Château Daugay Saint-Émilion 2015, $36.59 cash price, a wine of absolute elegance coming from Saint-Émilion. The vineyard is planted to 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon make up the 40 year old vines. With close family ties to Château Angelus, Hélène Grenié de Boüard and Jean-Bernard Grenié with their three sons apply the same wine-making techniques. A stellar vintage brings a bright fruit forward wine that is drinking wonderfully in its youth.
Finally, for the big boy, Château Pontet-Canet 2011, $119.99 cash price, from, in our humble opinion, a very under-appreciated vintage that is drinking wonderfully right now. Pontet-Canet, a 5th Growth Pauillac, constantly over-delivers. We recently poured this exact wine for a class, and it was showing great velvety structure, dried dark fruit, and secondary notes like cedar and tobacco box. Complexity and power with a lot of time to spare showcase in this wine. This will wow even the most experienced of wine drinkers.
So make sure to come explore our Bordeaux Wine aisles this Holiday season and add some magic and adventure to your feasts or even pick up a bottle to give to the hostess. Cheers & Happy Holidays!
