2016 Château Fonbadet, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

This is a go to house for value in Bordeaux while still getting quality and terroir. This vintage is a 70/30 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Purple in color with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, dust, cigar box, black cherries, and spice. Full bodied. Firm tannins. Good balance. On the palate, cassis, tobacco, black cherries, slight dark chocolate and char. Long finish. This is still youthful but drinking well. Some complexity now and more as it ages. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. Nice on its own but evenbetter with food. Slow cooked or braised meats would be a great pairing.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2016

Current Price:

$28.00USD

Bordeaux First Growths: Chateau Lafite, First Amongst First Growths

Of all Bordeaux first growths, perhaps none is as well known, both inside and outside of the wine world, as Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Its name transcends wine, standing as a symbol of luxury. How did it get this lofty reputation? And, more importantly is, it deserved? The answer to the second question is a definite yes. This article will explore the first question in more detail. The History: Records of this estate stretch as far back as 1234 when Gombaud de Lafite, abbot of the Vertheuil Monastery north of Pauillac, owned the property. The name Lafite comes from "la hite", a Gascon expression meaning "small hill." Records from the 14th century indicate that it was not a vineyard, but what the French call a seigneurie. This is an estate run by a lord and others who are effectively sharecroppers. The manor house was constructed in the 1500s and still standing today. Read part one of the First Growths Series. The Ségur family bought the property in the 1600s. Jacques de Ségur planted the vineyard in 1680 although grapes were no doubt grown before that. By the early 1700s, thanks to Nicolas-Alexandre, Marquis de Ségur, Chateau Lafite wines were very popular with those wealthy enough to afford them, first in English Society (where it was a favorite of Prime Minster Robert Walpole) and later in French society.

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2015 Château Fonbadet, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$35.00USD

This estate provides some real value in Bordeaux especially in the good (expensive) vintages. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is great with black cherries, cassis, cigar box and spice. Full bodied. Firm tannins. On the palate, this is showing a nice complexity. It should still develop more but is getting closer to peak. Cassis with spice and char. Long finish. This is nice on its own but better with food. It would work well with Lamb Stew. Drink over the next eight to ten years.

2005 Château Fonbadet, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Grade:

B+

Pop and pour. This is very solid but given the release price ($50) and ten years from a great vintage, it seemed to under perform a bit. Purple in color. The nose is tight at first but eventually opens up to cassis and spice. On the palate, this has a nice enough texture. Nice cassis fruit but a bit one dimensional. Perhaps there is still time to develop but it seems that if that was the case, there would be glimpses. Still, it is enjoyable and if straightforward, at least that is a good direction.

Wines to Go Buy This Week: Chateau Bonnet White Bordeaux and Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon

Wines to Go Buy This Week: A Crisp Summer White Blend by Chateau Bonnet and a Complex Napa Cabernet by Clark-Claudon Vineyards Labor Day weekend is here and people across the US are gathering to toast the end of summer. As Labor Day marks the tipping point between hot summer nights and cool autumn evenings, my wine recommendations this week will focus on both a cool, refreshing summer sauvignon blanc to savor on these last days of summer and a full bodied Napa cabernet for those upcoming autumn evenings by the fireplace. So as we say farewell to summer 2011, here are two wines to go buy this week: Chateau Bonnett Entre-Deux-Mers Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Muscadelle Andre Lurton, 2010 - Now say that 5 times fast! A quick lesson for those of you who are unfamiliar with French wine: The French label their wines slightly different than we do in the US as they emphasize the place more so than the grape varietal or the producer. In this case, the vineyards and winery are located at Chateau Bonnet, the region is the Entre-Deux-Mers appellation of Bordeaux, the grapes are a blend of sauvignon blanc, semillon, and muscadelle, and the producer is André Lurton, whose family has presided over the vineyards for over 100 years. White Bordeaux is almost always a blend of primarily semillon and sauvignon blanc, with a few other varietals permitted. So why do I like this wine? It's light, crisp, low in alcohol (12%) and at approx $15 a bottle, a fantastic way to introduce yourself to a white bordeaux without breaking the bank. This wine is ideal for a warm end-of-summer picnic that calls for a cool refreshing beverage.

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2016 Château Clerc Milon, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$99.00USD

Obviously young, it was nice to drink this early to check in on it. It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère.

2016 Château Fonbadet, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

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Wines to Go Buy This Week: Chateau Bonnet White Bordeaux and Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon

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