Château La Rame Bordeaux Blanc 2016
Regular Price $19.99
Sale price $15.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc from an estate that sits just across the Garonne River. Southern exposure on the sloped vineyards ensures ripeness, but the wine is restrained rather than exuberant. Its richness comes from 6 months on its lees prior to bottling, and it retains vibrant citrus flavors and acidity. This is a delightful aperitif or wine with oyster and other shellfish
Chateau La Mothe du Barry, Bordeaux Superieur 2015
Regular Price $12.99
Sale price $9.99
Unoaked, 100% Merlot, this wine is bright, fresh, and delightful. Merlot from Bordeaux is not the insipid, underwhelming swill from California’s not Central Valley, but rather, structured and solid. There’s not much better wine than this for the money…from anywhere.
Cru Monplaisir, Bordeaux Superieur 2014
Regular Price $19.99
Sale price $15.99
This wine, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is from an estate that sits between the storied estates of Margaux and d’Issan. Only 10% of the blend spends time in oak, making this a fresh example of pure fruit. Its a wine for drinking, not aging.
Roc du Manoir, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 2012
Regular Price $17.99
Sale Price $13.99
In wine, especially in Bordeaux, soil is everything. And elevation. And history. But soil first. The best vineyard sites in Castillon are on the clay-limestone plateau. These same sites get southern exposure, which allows for balanced ripening. The resulting wine is broad and generous with ample fruit and solid structure. Well balanced and firm, this is one of those great inexpensive Bordeaux wines that the wine critics always miss.
Château Laplagnotte-Bellevue, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2014
Regular Price $32.99
Sale price $25.99
Unlike the rest of Bordeaux, the wines of Saint-Emilion are classified every 10 years (or so). In a nutshell, independent ‘experts’ vote as to which estates are of Premiers grands crus classés, and which is Grand cru classé, and which is…not. Then there is the Grand cru designation, which is kinda less than (at least in terms of price). This wine is a lovely blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc (very typical for the region). It’s fresh and shows bright and generous fruit flavors and aromas along with earthy and herbal hints. Silky tannins linger in this excellent example of Right Bank Bordeaux
Le Comte de Malartic, Pessac-Leognan 2010
Regular Price $39.99
Sale price $31.99
Depending on one’s age and wine experience (wine years?), the AOC of Graves was of utmost importance, especially since it contained the Premier Cru Classé Château Haut-Brion. However, when Pessac-Leognan was recognized in 1987, Haut-Brion and the rest of the Cru Classe from Graves had a new AOC to call home. None of that means much if you’re just interested in how the wine tastes rather than the lineage (which is rather impressive). Anyway, Cabernet-driven, as is found typically in the gravelly soil of the region, it is blended usually with generous amounts of Merlot and less Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Black fruits dominate with some graphite and earth tucked beneath. Polished, sauve, this is an easy wine to like.