Red Wine by Ch. Cos d'Estournel from St. Estephe, France - Bordeaux. The prodigious, fantastic 2003 Cos d'Estournel is a candidate for "wine of the vintage." A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusually high for this chateau), 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 17,500 cases were produced from low yields. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a compelling perfume of black fruits, subtle smoke, pain grille, incense, and flowers. With extraordinary richness, full body, and remarkable freshness, elegance, and persistence, this is one of the finest wines ever made by this estate. The good news is that it will be drinkable at a young age yet evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier. -Robert ParkerIn the old Gascon language, the word 'Cos' means 'The Hill of Pebbles'. Appropriately named, Château Cos d'Estournel is situated on the banks of the Gironde River between Pauillac and St. Estèphe, where the property is clearly defined by the hill of Cos, reaching to a height of almost 65 feet. It is today owned by Michel Reybier, and continues to be managed by a member of the Prats family under the direction of Jean-Guillaume Prats. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc
Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch teau de Rayne Vigneau from Sauternes and Barsac, France - Bordeaux. Good pale yellow. High-toned aromas of peach, pineapple and licorice, along with a whiff of bug spray. Pineapple and citrus flavors offer modest flesh and show a slight dry edge. Not bad, but could use more thrust and length. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 86-88 points Spicy honey and apricot character. Medium-bodied and medium sweet, with a good finish. Better for this estate than in 2003. Wine Spectator Barrel Tasting, Score range: 85-88
Red Wine by Ch teau Ducru Beaucaillou from St-Julien, France - Bordeaux. One can't say enough about the efforts Bruno Borie is pouring into this wonderful estate that I have often called the Lafite Rothschild of St-Julien. An undeniable success, the 2004 Ducru boasts sweet aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, pain grille, licorice, and road tar. This pure, medium-bodied wine possesses moderately high tannin, superb concentration, good sweetness, and low acidity. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25 years. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 93 points
Red Wine by Ch teau Gruaud Larose from St-Julien, France - Bordeaux. This has the plump richness typical of Gruaud, its potent extract fragrant with blueberry and tobacco in a standoff between the green and black. The tannins are hidden behind all that fruit, not at all obvious, softed to chocolate scents. This shoud be at its best around 10 years from the vintage. -Wines & Spirits Plummy aromas, with leaf and tobacco undertones. Medium-bodied, with soft, silky tannins and a medium finish. Balanced and delightful already. -Wine Spectator
Red Wine by Chateau Leoville Las Cases from St-Julien, France - Bordeaux. Chateau Leoville Las Cases is one of the largest and oldest classified growths in the Medoc region of France. The fruit is harvested by hand. The fermentation vessels include a fascinating mix of wooden, cement and stainless steel vats. When finished the wine is pumped to the barrel cellar. Here it is transferred into oak barrique, between 50% and 100% new for the grand vin, depending on the vintage.
Red Wine by Ch. Lascombes from Margaux, France - Bordeaux. In less than five years this property has emerged as one of the appellation's up and coming stars thanks to the infusion of money from the American conglomerate, Colony Capital, as well as the braintrust that now oversees the winemaking, Yves Vatelot (of Reignac fame) and the internationally renowned oenologist, Michel Rolland. The dark plum/ruby-hued, open-knit 2003 offers a big, sweet nose of barbecue smoke, plum liqueur, creme de cassis, flowers, new saddle leather, and damp earth. Loads of black fruits, a full-bodied palate impression, low acidity, and a savory, expansive mouthfeel suggest it can be drunk in 2-3 years, or cellared for 15+. -Wine Advocate
Red Wine by Ch teau Lascombes from Margaux, France - Bordeaux. The color is amazing, almost black with light purple glints. The nose is complex with layers of black fruits, such as blackberries, bilberries and black cherries as well as flowers and spices. The Cabernet Sauvignon, incredibly consistent in quality in 2004, brings finesse to the blend and gives Chateau Lascombes 2004 power and concentration on the palate while maintaining a delicacy and unctuousness that mingle well with a dense, tight-knit tannic structure of good pedigree. The finish is long and flavorful. Chateau Lascombes 2004 is definitely to be ranked among the greatest Margaux of this vintage. Another brilliant effort from this estate, the 2004 Lascombes (a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot) exhibits a deep blue/purple hue along with a sweet perfume of blueberries, black raspberries, cherries, incense, smoke, and spring flowers. While opulent, underneath the full-bodied richness of fruit and depth is a structured wine. As it sits in the glass, an espresso roast character (no doubt from new oak) also emerges. Enjoy this pure, structured, fleshy beauty between 2010-2025. -Wine Advocate
Red Wine by Ch teau Monbousquet from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. A strong performance in a difficult vintage, the 2002 Monbousquet (60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc) reveals abundant aromas of espresso, sweet black currants and cherries, damp earth, compost, and new oak. It is a medium to full-bodied, fleshy offering with light tannin as well as a long finish. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. This is the home estate of Chantal and Gerard Perse, who have become the poster children for owners taking a less hallowed terroir and producing sumptuous, high quality wine. Readers should realize that Monbousquet is not meant to be cellared for 20-30 years. It is a beautifully made wine that has performed well in every blind tasting I have conducted, often out-scoring far more hallowed as well as expensive wines. -Wine Advocate
Red Wine by Ch teau Simard from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. Released commercially with at least ten years of bottle age, Chateau Simard is a fine and supple wine due to the combination of sandy, gravelly soils with rigorous grape selection. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel and concrete vats. Traditional racking and fining. Bottled at the chateau. Chateau Simard's classically elegant, refined style results not only from its fine vineyard location, but also from the number of years the wine spends in bottle. It is never released until a least a decade after the vintage date. The complexity and nuance of the fragrance, the gentleness and finesse of the flavors are immediately apparent. An equally good choice for beef, lamb, roast duck and composed dishes like risotto. The perfect accompaniment to a wide range of cheeses.
Red Wine by Ch teau Sociando-Mallet from Medoc, France - Bordeaux. Aromas of currant and leaves. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a caressing finish. Ends chewy. Best after 2009. Wine Spectator 90 points Sociando Mallet's big, extracted, rich, classic 2004 boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as aromas of charcoal, wet stones, cold steel, and abundant black currant and cassis fruit. This medium to full-bodied, structured, powerful wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring. It should last for two decades. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 90 points Dark red with ruby highlights. Plum, redcurrant and a whiff of smoked meat on the nose. Supple and vinous, with very good spine and savory character. Notes of plum, currant, dark chocolate and licorice firmed by lively but integrated acidity. Finishes with broad tannins and good grip. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89 points
Dessert, Fortified & Fruit Wine by Ch teau Suduiraut from Sauternes and Barsac, France - Bordeaux. Displays focused aromas of lemon curd, spice and dried apricot. Full-bodied, medium sweet and quite oily, with a lemon rind and spice aftertaste. Long and racy for the vintage. Best after 2010. Wine Spectator 91 Points
Red Wine by Ch. Phelan Segur from St. Estephe, France - Bordeaux. Subtle yet rich aromas of currant, spice and smoke follow through to a full-bodied palate, with chewy tannins and a long, flavorful aftertaste. Very thick, almost syrupy. Impressive. Best after 2010. -Wine Spectator The excellent 2003 has a deep ruby/plum color and asweet nose of creme de cassis, licorice, dried herbs, and earth. It is fresh, rich, savory, with velvety-textured tannins and a supple mouthfeel. It should drink well for up to a decade. This is a sleeper of the vintage. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Red Wine by Christian Moueix from Bordeaux, France - Bordeaux. Number 95 on the Wine.com 100 of 2007! Christian Moueix Merlot is the personal cuvee of the dynamic, charismatic figure whose name it bears. Christian Moueix has brought the complete expression of the Merlot grape a step nearer perfection in this wine, selected and blended to show the ripe, rich fruit, seductive fragrance and elegant balance of the Bordelaise interpretation of the variety.
White Wine by Domaine d'UBY from Bordeaux, France - Bordeaux. A fruity wine with flavors of both exotic and citrus fruits. Fresh reminiscent characters like Sauvignon Blanc with a fruiter, softer edge. Highly aromatic with a soft palate with a slight nutty character. A delicious wine for appetizers, fresh salads and seafood. The blend consists of two local varietals; Colombard (50%) and Ugni Blanc (50%) with average vines over 20 years.
White Wine by Domaines Baron Rothschild from Bordeaux, France - Bordeaux. Blend: 60% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc Bright, pale straw-yellow. The nose is intense and elegant, with good aromatic complexity (white flowers and citrus fruit, mineral notes). The palate has a good balance between body and liveliness, aromas of fresh fruit and a long finish. This is a wine for pleasure, intense and easydrinking.
Red Wine by Mouton-Cadet from Bordeaux, France - Bordeaux. Color: Intense and brilliant dark cherry. Nose: Tightly packed and elegant, with complex aromas that pleasantly combine ripe stone fruit (cherry) with fresh berries, especially blackcurrant. Palate: A very smooth and full-bodied attack. Ripe fruit (cherry, blackcurrant) is immediately apparent, with powerful tannins. Remarkable overall balance. A generous and pleasant finish, sustained by attractively lingering flavors.
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