Haut-Medoc was the appellation for this week’s Bordeaux tasting. This is an area on the left bank of the Gironde River and is quite large, almost forty miles in length. There are fifteen communes and six appellations with their own communes within Haut-Medoc. We have already tasted wines from some of these, such as Margaux and Pauillac.
Because of the variety of terroir, it is really not possible to characterize the wines in any particular way. Very few of the chateaux in the generic Haut-Medoc were classified in 1855 Bordeaux Wine Classification but several were later classified as Cru Bourgeois to designate the quality of their wines. Cru Bourgeois is a designation which has been controversial since its introduction in 1932. It was most recently changed and reintroduced for the 2008 vintage.
2008 Chateau Malescasse – A Cru Bourgeois. The color was medium ruby with dark fruit and cedar on the nose. Tobacco, dark fruit and cedar predominate in the flavors. Tannins are significant and smooth with good acid. This wine drinks well now and goes very well with food.
2008 Chateau Beaumont – Another Cru Bourgeois has a lighter ruby color. The nose was stinky initially. Flavors were vegetal, tobacco and red plums. Tannins were smooth, but significant with good acid. This wine and the Ch. Malescasse are similar in style.
2008 Chateau Cambon La Pelouse – A medium ruby color. Nose consisted of fruit and licorice. Flavors taste of riper fruit with tobacco as well. Tannins are significant, grippy and slightly bitter on the finish.
2008 Chateau Lanessan – Medium ruby color with a fruity nose. The flavors taste of red fruit, vanilla and tobacco. Tannins are moderate and the finish is hot. Just a bad year, I have had this wine from others years and liked it.
2008 Chateau Cantemerle – This was the last Chateau to be designated a classified growth back in 1855. It was classified as a fifth growth. The color is dark ruby with a smoky, earthy nose. The flavors taste of ripe dark fruit and chocolate with significant tannins and plenty lot of acid.
2008 Chateau La Tour Carnet – The second classified growth (fourth growth) in the group, it had a dark ruby color and ripe cherry nose. Flavors tasted of very ripe fruit and vanilla with significant, well integrated tannins and plenty of acid. The finish was very long on this wine.
In terms of taste, these wines fell out in pairs, with the first two tasting similar and the last two tasting very similar. The last pair of wines was the most complex and the most ripe fruit flavor.
