| 1 |
Chateau Bel Air Perponcher Reserve 2022 |
Bordeaux Blanc |
Entre Deux Mers |
2/3 Sauvignon Blanc, 1/3 Sémillon, with touch Muscadelle |
Wine Soc |
12.5 |
10.95 |
Good fruit acidity, fresh. The three grape varieties added complexity. When less chilled, there was a more pronounced bouquet, greater body and more length. This is an honest, interesting wine |
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| 2 |
Chateau Haut-Terrier 2021 |
Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux |
Saint Mariens, Blaye, Rt Bank |
Sauvignon Blanc |
Le Bon Vin, Sheffield |
12.5 |
11.50 |
Pure Sauvignon Blanc. As expected, more intense on the palate than the Bel Air, and probably more body and length too. Good fruit acidity, but the flavour does not really develop. |
Best White = (3bw votes) |
| 3 |
Château Lamothe Saint Germain 2020 |
Bordeaux |
Saint Germain du Puch, Entre Deux Mers |
75% Merlot, 25% Cab Franc |
Wine Soc |
13.5 |
6.95 |
On to the reds. Drinking nicely, dry and tannic, although initially the bouquet is sweetish. Drinking it again a bit later suggests it has more to show. Not being put in oak helps keep the price down. This is an enjoyable wine of poise worth exploring. |
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| 4 |
Chateau Méaume 2019 |
Bordeaux Supérieur |
Maransin, Libourne, Rt Bank |
Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv |
Majestic |
14.5 |
8.99 |
Softer than the previous one, and more complex. Very rounded and drinkable. Not surprising that Roald Dahl chose this as his house wine. But perhaps a wine for the week rather than the glamour of the Saturday night dinner party. |
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| 5 |
Chateau Montconseil Gazin 2019 |
Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux |
Blaye, Rt Bank |
2/3 Merlot, 1/3 Cab Sauv, splash Malbec |
Wine Soc |
13.0 |
9.95 |
Herbal, tannic, complete wine. Here to be enjoyed. Class. |
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| 6 |
Society’s Cotes de Bordeaux 2019 |
Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux |
Chateau Pitray, St-Seurin-de-Prats, Rt Bank |
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec (?) |
Wine Soc |
15.0 |
9.95 |
Produced by Chateau Pitray for the Wine Society. This 15 degrees whopper was dry, full-flavored, full of licorice, and obvious appeal. |
3rd (8pts) |
| 7 |
Château Chêne Vieux 2016 |
Puisseguin Saint Emilion |
Puisseguin Rt Bank |
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon |
Wine Soc (out of stock) |
13.5 |
12.95 |
Nicely balanced: perfume but also tannin. Classic Claret. Unusual for the right bank in having significant Cabernet Sauvignon content (difficult to grow on the right bank) rather than Cabernet Franc |
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| 8 |
Chateau Grand Corbin d’Espagne 2015 |
Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé |
Grand Corbin, St Emilion Rt Bank |
Merlot 75%, Cab Franc 24%, Cab Sauv 1% |
Wine Soc |
14.0 |
35.00 |
This estate is close to the border with Pomerol. Tenant farmers bought the land from Petrus in the nineteenth century. The terroir has some similarities with nearby Petrus, including some blue clay and iron-rich sand. This classed Grand Cru is a dense, slow-maturing, earthy wine. Merlot with 25% Cab Franc. Does anyone not like this wine? No. A class of its own so far. |
1st (21 pts) |
| 9 |
Chateau Gouprie 2016 |
Pomerol |
Pomerol Rt Bank |
Merlot 75%, Cab Franc 25% |
Wine Soc (out of stock) |
14 |
27.00 |
Interestingly this was probably at its peak, while the Corbin still has some way to go. The estate is not far away from Petrus and St Emilion’s Corbin, and also claims some blue clay and iron-rich sand in its terroir. Same grape varieties in the same ratio, but the wine, with the distinctive opulence of Pomerol, tastes very different to the Corbin. Well balanced, not too powerful. Not to everyone’s taste “viscous, banker’s bonus wine!” But it softens when allowed to breathe and shows its class when eaten with a country paté. |
2nd (12 pts) |
| 10 |
Chateau Haut-Mouleyre 2018 |
Cadillac |
Escoussans, Entre Deux Mers |
Semillon |
Amathus Drinks |
12.0 |
15.50 |
Unexpected delight. Long classic flavor but vanilla not apricot. Such a fine dessert wine! |
Best White = (3 bw votes) |