Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend

2016 vintage. This big estate (240 hectares with 109 hectares under vine) is owned since 1971 by the huge Castel group and it's planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (55%) and Merlot. While they pride themselves on Margaux-like terroir, to me this is not about the finesse you'd expect from such a statement. Nevertheless this is a well-made Haut-Médoc with cassis, black cherry and coffee in the nose. Good ripe dark fruit concentration in the mouth, balanced by the acidity with slightly rustic tannin. Lacks a bit of personality maybe, but a solid wine that should age well. Give it a few years to round off the rough edges. Good value at around 12 euro.

Very tannic, rich cherries but no complexity. A little disappointing! Makes me want to open Ron’s bottle of Lamborn! 🍷

Black currant, tar and cedar on the nose. Classic nose. The palate is well done but not outstanding. Good black currant notes along some moccha touches, a good acid backbone, some width, some weight on the sides, plushy tannins which make it easy to sip on at this stage, long finish with currant, coffee, that plushy mouthfeel and a cedary thing. Not bad, not great but an easy going haut medoc.

Very fruit forward, with spiced dark fruit compote plus some leather accents, dark chocolate and pleasant whiff of menthol. Nice, round mouthfeel with plush tannins, pure fruit and juicy acidity with a lingering, uplifting finish. Nicely balanced and surprisingly enjoyable.