A quartet of Bordeaux reds

Posted by Simon on January 12, 2010

All with Merlot as the predominant grape.

Château de Sours Bordeaux Rouge 2007, France (~£11)
Crunchy young wine, fresh and earthy but with pleasing plump plum and blackcurrant fruit behind, touches of smoke and vanilla, clean refreshing finish. B(+)

Clos Cantenac St Emilion Grand Cru 2007, Bordeaux, France (~£25 contact Private Cellar)
Ripe, plush, fleshy berry and plum fruit, rich with quite forward toasty oak, smooth and rounded, already very approachable, with a hint of chocolate. Rich and honest, maybe lacks the complexity needed for greatness, but it finishes well. S(-)

Château Prieuré-Les-Tours Graves 2002, Bordeaux, France (£9.99 Majestic)
Mature, plummy cooked red berry flesh, note of cedar, gentle and mature, a soft, rounded, almost jammy edge, just feels that bit too old now, fading fast… B-

Château Bel-Air La Royère Blaye 2003, Bordeaux, France (£12.49 Cadman Fine Wines)
Lots of plump ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit, but behind it there’s that edge of dead grape (dried-out skins) and slightly green tannins, the tell-tale signs of a too-hot vintage. OK, but don’t think this is ever going to be in balance, and probably was at its best a couple of years ago. B(+)