This Saturday, after we have digested our Thanksgiving meal, we turn our sights to Bordeaux or what the British call Claret. Come join us as we taste our way through five examples of the region: some old, some new. It is a great chance to see how these wines can develop.
2014 Château de Birot, Côtes de Bordeaux $15
87% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon
Located on the beautiful hillsides of Cadillac, overlooking the Garonne River 22 miles south of the city of Bordeaux, Château de Biro has been producing wine for over 200 years. Very balanced and approachable, the wine has dark fruit flavors and soft, spicy tannins and is a deliciously good value.
2015 Château Val de Roc $18
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
Val de Roc is the passion project of Laurent Vallet, chef de culture of Émilion’s famed Château Ausone. The sloping five-hectare vineyard is located northwest of St Émilion on Bordeaux’s Right Bank. It is a rich wine, offering a plush texture and silky tannins, leavened by enough acidity to age successfully for a decade.
2015 Château Siran, Saint-Jacques de Siran Bordeaux Supérieur $18
42% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc
Château Siran has a history in the Medoc that dates back to 1428, making it one of the oldest estates in Margaux. At one point in time, Château Siran was owned by the Toulouse Lautrec family. The owners were the grandparents of the famous French painter. Their Saint-Jacques cuvée is sourced from a plot adjacent to their Margaux holdings, but outside that appellation and hence much more affordable. This wine is smooth, rich, and beautifully structured.
2004 Château Grand Corbin Manuel, Saint Émilion Grand Cru $30
82% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine comes from another right bank property, located in northern Saint-Émilion, near Pomerol. It has a relatively light texture, the sweet berry fruits balanced with a layer of acidity and is still is showing its tannins, after 14 years of age. It is expressive and ready to drink.
2009 Château Malescasse Haut Medoc $30
44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot
Sourced from gravelly hilltop vineyards in the Haut Medoc, this rich left bank wine is approaching maturity. Secondary animal aromas, dried fruit and richness are showing well, allowing this ripe wine to shine. The warm 2009 vintage comes out in the density and the dusty tannins.
Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.