2017 Château Monbousquet, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Pleased to see the heavy use of oak is much less than it used to be. There is still some present but not as much as I remember. This is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is dusty with plums. Also some cherries and a bit of char. On the palate, this is easy drinking. Black cherry fruit with some cherries. A note of black olives/oak underneath. Medium bodied. Nice finish. This needs a few years to sort itself out and should drink well for ten more. It drinks well on its own but would go better with roasted fowl or meats.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2017

Current Price:

$65.00USD

2016 Château Monbousquet, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$55.00USD

This was tasted non-blind at the conclusion of tasting a group of 16/17 Bordeaux blind. A great place to try this wine as it showed well in that spot. This is a big wine that is drinking quite well at the moment, perhaps due to the large amount of Merlot. It is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

2000 Château Monbousquet, France, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2000

Score:

Grade:

A-

Nice showing for this wine. In its youth, this was full throttle oak, but at age 23, the fruit, oak and tannins have all integrated and mellowed and come together. Purple/black in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has clay, black cherries, spice and chocolate. Medium tannins. Nice texture. On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with a hint of black olives. The finish is a bit bitter and drying. Overall, this seems at peak. Drink over the next five to ten years. It will work better with food. A nice wine with a burger.

2016 Clos la Gaffelière, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$32.00USD

This is the second wine of La Gaffelière. It is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Dark purple in color. The nose has nice plums, black cherries and spice. On the palate, this has nice plums, some cherries with an earthiness underneath. This is drinking well now. It won't get better but should make excellent drinking for the next ten to twelve years. It should go well with roasted fowl or lighter dishes as well as on its own.

1989 Château Angélus, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

1989

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$550.00USD

This is drinking great right now. Mature, but absolutely no hurry. Decanted for sediment and served. Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright. No browning. The nose is classic with cherries, cassis, tobacco, leather, slight funk and cigar box. Full bodied. Light but present tannins. On the palate, lots of cherries, black cherries and cassis with earthiness and spice underneath. Layers of complexity. Great balance. Long finish. Contemplative. Great on its own, this would work great with slow braised beef. Based on this bottle, at least a decade left.

2005 Château Clos de Sarpe, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$90.00USD

This was opened and poured and enjoyed over six hours. It is still young and really hit its stride after around four hours though the last glass was the best. A wonderfully delicious wine. Deep purple in color; shiny, bright and opaque. The nose is great with black cherries, dark chocolate, slight soy, plum and char. On the palate, this still has firm tannins though they are not overwhelming. Lots of black cherry fruit with some underlying gravel and also some chocolate. This is not a baby at age 15, but still needs about ten years until peak. The finish is long, smooth and has a ni

2017 Château Monbousquet, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

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