Vignette Cellars
Clos des Justices Red Bordeaux Blend
Bordeaux, France
The name may be a bit deceptive. This is 100% merlot, grown in Bordeaux, thus not a blend. It's smooth, with cherry and cocoa notes, and is delicious with grilled meat, almost along the lines of a cab sauv. A recent favorite of mine.
The name may be a bit deceptive. This is 100% merlot, grown in Bordeaux, thus not a blend. It's smooth, with cherry and cocoa notes, and is delicious with grilled meat, almost along the lines of a cab sauv. A recent favorite of mine.
1 person found it helpfulJun 19th, 2015I take it the same folks also have a white, and Delectable has yet to clearly separate them--an unfortunate confusion. This one is a red, 100% Merlot according to the bottle, apparently from a single vineyard. Clear violet/brownish red. Cool color showing a little age. There's a cedary vegetal sharpness to the nose that coexists somehow with the warmer Black Forest cake you'd expect from a Merlot. Notes of grass, licorice, leather, almost menthol... This is why I like even inexpensive Bordeaux! In the mouth there's medium acid and no sugar, leaving that brusque old world dryness. Underripe red plums and cherries, and no flavor to speak of in the finish, which comes across raw and rough. I think 6 years and some oak helped smooth this out on the tongue a bit, and definitely developed an enjoyable and rich aroma. Overall it comes across watery and unripe, and none of the richness of the nose makes it to the finish, which is lamentable.
I take it the same folks also have a white, and Delectable has yet to clearly separate them--an unfortunate confusion. This one is a red, 100% Merlot according to the bottle, apparently from a single vineyard. Clear violet/brownish red. Cool color showing a little age. There's a cedary vegetal sharpness to the nose that coexists somehow with the warmer Black Forest cake you'd expect from a Merlot. Notes of grass, licorice, leather, almost menthol... This is why I like even inexpensive Bordeaux! In the mouth there's medium acid and no sugar, leaving that brusque old world dryness. Underripe red plums and cherries, and no flavor to speak of in the finish, which comes across raw and rough. I think 6 years and some oak helped smooth this out on the tongue a bit, and definitely developed an enjoyable and rich aroma. Overall it comes across watery and unripe, and none of the richness of the nose makes it to the finish, which is lamentable.
Apr 4th, 2016
