Merlot

Once one gets past the classified and top wines, Bordeaux makes a lot of wine and decent pricing that is very good.  This is 100% Merlot from Bordeaux.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, char, and baking spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with some spice and a bit of char/smoke.  Good finish.  This drinks nicely on its own but would be better with food.  A nice match might be a Chicken Pot Pie.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

At the time, this property was owned by Michel Rolland and his brother.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice  with cherries, black cherries, coffee, slight chocolate, char and spice.  Medium  bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries, cigar box and slight chocolate.  Good finish.  This seems to be about at peak with a nice depth and complexity.  Well stored bottles should be able to go another ten years.  It is lovely on its own but better with food.  Steak au Poivre would be a nice choice.  

This is 100% Merlot from Bordeaux, France named after Pierre Ögren is the son of Camille Sereys de Rothschild and great-grandson of Baron Philippe de Rothschild.  It is well priced and a very nice value.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose  is earthy with black cherries and slight cigar.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins. Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherry fruit.  Very east to drink with a nice finish.  This drinks well on its own but better with food.  It went very well with assorted roasted veggies and hummus.  Drink over the next five years.

This is an 80/20 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc and very impressive.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is expressive with black cherries, tobacco, cedar, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Silky texture.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious with depth and some complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, cherries, tobacco and earth.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but should improve as it cellars.  Drink over the next twenty years.  great on its own, this will work great with traditional matches such as Lamb Stew or Grilled Steak.  

From Magnum.  Consumed at a friends 60th birthday party.  While this was fun, sadly it was pretty close to being DOA.  Brown in color.  No real fruit left.  It was not vinegar but offered little other than a way cool factor.  It was a hot (for the times) vintage that offered ripe Merlots and at age 60, this bottle anyway had nothing left.