Well, we are still working our way through the 2008 Bordeaux. This week we have wines from Haut Medoc, St. Julien and Graves in Pessac Leognan, all reds. All of these wines showed very similar characteristics, plenty of tannins and acid, plenty of fruit and a forward nose. They differed from the previous three tastings by the bigger tannins and more obvious nose.
2008 Chateau Beaumont – Big fruit nose, smoke and dark fruit flavors with slight vegetal in the background. Overall, a very fruit forward wine with a light body, significant tannins and moderate length finish.
2008 Chateau Du Glana – A dark ruby color with a floral nose, some vegetal flavors with a bit of fruit flavor, big tannins and good acid. Overall, not as fruit forward, but with significant tannins. This wine drinks well now, but would age well for a few more years.
2008 Clementin de Pape Clement – This is one of the second wines of Chateau Pape Clement, the oldest wine estate in Bordeaux. It had a ruby garnet color and a riper fruit nose with a bit of stinkiness. Cedar and dark fruit with spice flavors and a bit of vanilla. Tannins are grippy without bitterness, good acid and very well balanced. This wine had wonderful complex flavors with significant tannins. This wine was noticeable because it came from an area of Bordeaux quite a distance from the others we tasted tonight and yet was very similar.
2008 Croix De Beaucaillou – This wine was a very dark ruby color with a stinky fruity nose. There were vegetal flavors with tobacco and fruit and some very grippy tannins. Overall, this wine is dominated by tannins with austere but complex flavors. This wine is a second label of Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou. I think this may be very good after a few years of aging.
2008 Chateau Lalande-Borie – Like others, a dark ruby color. The bright fruit nose becomes vegetal with time, vegetal flavors with dark fruit follows. Tannins are significant. The flavors are very pleasant in this wine and the tannins come out as you hold it in your mouth. The mouth feel is very light, a pleasing combination with all the flavors. If you wanted a wine to demonstrate how Bordeaux differs from California Cabernet Sauvignon, this would be a good example to serve.
2008 Chateau Beychevelle – The color is dark ruby and the nose is forward with fruit. There are complex dark fruit with spice flavors. Tannins are significant and grippy without bitterness. This wine is very well balanced and has a fairly long finish with plenty of flavor. The wine had a pleasing complex combination of flavors and spice with significant tannins.
Conclusion: it’s all about flavor and tannins. Flavors are floral, fruity, spicy and complex. Tannins are significant, grippy without any hint of bitterness.
