This evening I would like to take a moment to share my notes on two very distinctive, very different wines I’ve had the chance to taste this week. The first continues on the theme of value-priced wines from Bordeaux I started last week. Château Barreyres Cru Bourgeois is a fabulous wine which captures all of what is good in Bordeaux for the remarkably low price of $19.99 per bottle. The second, Chasing Lions Cabernet Sauvignon, comes from the Napa valley and has one of the fruitiest expressions I’ve ever experienced from Cabernet Sauvignon. I highly recommend both wines and share my tasting notes below:
Château Barreyres Cru Bourgeois
When you uncork the bottle always take care to check the cork. A cork with a uniform red stain on the bottom indicates a wine which was properly stored on it's side. If the cork has no stain it means the wine was stored improperly upright, which will dry the cork out and spoil the wine.
Vintage: 2006
Price per Bottle: $19.99
Producer:Concours de Bourdeaux
Region and Country: Haut-Médoc (left bank), Bordeax, France
Grape Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Place and Date Purchased: Whole Foods Santa Monica 10/9/2011
Place and Date Tasted: Whole Foods Santa Monica 10/9/2011
Appearance: deep burgundy color, medium-strong legs (12.5% alcohol by volume)
Rich red color
Nose: ripe blackberries and cranberries
Taste: nutmeg spiciness and honey-grape sweetness
Finish: long and spicy
Overall Impression: this is a very nice wine and considering this is a left-bank Bordeaux priced at $20.00 per bottle this is a steal not to be passed up. I foresee this wine aging well and would love to see how it mellows after being cellared for about 5 years.
Food Pairing: pair with roasted duckling or another fatty bird
Overall Rating (out of 100): 88 points
Overall Value (1-5 stars): 5 stars
Chasing Lions Cabernet Sauvignon
Again, When you uncork the bottle always take care to check the cork. A cork with a uniform red stain on the bottom indicates a wine which was properly stored on it's side. If the cork has no stain it means the wine was stored improperly upright, which will dry the cork out and spoil the wine
Vintage: 2008
Price per Bottle: $14.99
Producer: Nine North Wine Company
Region and Country: St. Helena, California
Grape Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Place and Date Purchased: Whole Foods Santa Monica 10/9/2011
Place and Date Tasted: Whole Foods Santa Monica 10/9/2011
Appearance: light cranberry red with strong legs, 14% alcohol by volume
Nose: honeydew melon, night blooming Jasmine, orange zest, orange blossoms
Taste: jam-sweet, this wine tastes exactly like orange marmalade
Finish: long and progressively smoother
Overall Impression: I normally prefer wines who’s taste is an accurate reflection of the character of the grape used, however Chasing Lions is a rare exception. This is a nice, fruity, highly drinkable wine which could easily be drank on it’s own or paired with a number of foods.
Food Pairing: Creamy cheeses such as Brie, anything with orange in it, and pork.
Overall Rating (out of 100): 90
Overall Value (1-5 stars): 5 stars
D. McGray
Travis Brock Kennedy
