Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Ch?teau Cheval Blanc from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. A blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. Subtle herb, menthol, cranberry, black currant, and licorice aromas emerge from this dark ruby/plum-colored wine. It is medium-bodied and elegant with plenty of sweet fruit, but not a lot of weight or intensity. The complexity and nobility of Cheval Blanc's gravelly terroir is apparent in this delicate, subtle St.-Emilion. Give it a few years to develop additional aromatics, and drink it over the following 12-15. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 90 Points Intense aromas of tar, blackberry and wet earth, with just a hint of tobacco and flowers. Full-bodied, chewy and long. Extracted, yet turns caressing and velvety in texture. Broad-shouldered and muscular for this estate. This is better than the 2000. Best after 2012. Wine Spectator 94 Points

Red Wine by Ch?teau Pavie from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. ...the 2002 is one of the top wines of the vintage. Its deep plum/ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of fruitcake, cranberries, cherry liqueur, crushed rocks, and subtle oak. Savory, full-bodied, remarkably concentrated, layered, and forward for a Pavie, it should be accessible in 3-4 years, and will evolve effortlessly for two decades. -Wine Advocate

Red Wine by Ch?teau Monbousquet from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. A strong performance in a difficult vintage, the 2002 Monbousquet (60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc) reveals abundant aromas of espresso, sweet black currants and cherries, damp earth, compost, and new oak. It is a medium to full-bodied, fleshy offering with light tannin as well as a long finish. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. This is the home estate of Chantal and Gerard Perse, who have become the poster children for owners taking a less hallowed terroir and producing sumptuous, high quality wine. Readers should realize that Monbousquet is not meant to be cellared for 20-30 years. It is a beautifully made wine that has performed well in every blind tasting I have conducted, often out-scoring far more hallowed as well as expensive wines. -Wine Advocate

Red Wine by Ch?teau Monbousquet from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. From a mixture of sand, gravel, and clay soils, this unheralded terroir produces wines well-above its pedigree thanks to the extraordinary efforts of proprietors Chantal and Gerard Perse. The wines are given a 4- to 5-week maceration in both stainless steel and oak, and are aged sur-lie in new oak. The dark ruby/purple-colored 2003 offers up notes of smoky meats, melted licorice, jammy black cherries, spice box, earth, and cedar. This plump, fleshy, sexy, unfined, unfiltered wine represents a classic blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. -Wine Advocate An intense ruby-red colour. Delicate woody aromas with notes of toast and ripe fruit. In the mouth the attack is supple and full, the tannins refined and the structure very aromatic. The red fruit comes to the fore - blackberry and cherry. Excellent concentration and a fresh finish with good aromatic return of the fruit.

Red Wine by Ch?teau Beau-Sejour B?cot from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. Very grapey and fresh on the nose, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with very well-integrated tannins and a complex, subtle aftertaste of vanilla, blueberry and cream. Long and refined. Best after 2012. Wine Spectator 92 points A strong effort from the Becot family, this blend of 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a saturated dense ruby/purple color, sweet notes of creme de cassis, cherries, earth, and subtle herbs, a spicy, medium to full-bodied, soft, opulent style, and a fleshy, long finish. Enjoy this hedonistic yet complex wine over the next 12-15 years. Just under 6,000 cases were produced. Robert Parker - Wine Advocate 91 points

Red Wine by Ch?teau Magdelaine from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. The world of wine is first nature to Edouard Moueix who grew up with many Bordeaux harvests. He has immersed himself in the family business over the last several years and is now the proprietor of Chateau Magdelaine. Chateau Magdelaine is an important vineyard both for Saint-Emilion and my family says Edouard, My goal is to let the great team of the Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix produce this very stylish and elegant wine, while communicating the uniqueness of this Estate. Blackberry, vanilla and cherry aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a fresh finish. Very pretty indeed. Love the length to this. Still tightly wound but should open nicely with bottle age. Elegant and refined. Fine winemaking. Best after 2007. -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Ch?teau Dassault from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. Since being purchased by Bordeaux's well-known aircraft manufacturer, Dassault has gone from strength to strength. The fruit-forward, supple-textured 2004 offers abundant amounts of plum, black currant, and cherry fruit, medium body, silky tannin, low acidity, and an undeniably charming, sensual style. Drink it over the next decade. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 89 points Aromas and flavors of dark chocolate and light berry, with just a hint of mineral. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate, fruity finish. Best after 2008. Wine Spectator 88 points

Red Wine by Chateau Lassegue from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. Number 85 on the Wine.com 100 of 2007! A rich, opulent blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot with just a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The ornate sundials which adorn the facade of Lassegue, a beautiful 17th century Chateau, are symbols of the perfect sun exposure of their vineyard. Classic Bordeaux aromas and flavors of cassis, black chocolate, and cigar box create a very elegant and complex wine. From a warm, ripe vintage, it will age beautifully for 10+ years, although it's absolutely delicious right now.

Red Wine by Ch?teau Simard from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. Released commercially with at least ten years of bottle age, Chateau Simard is a fine and supple wine due to the combination of sandy, gravelly soils with rigorous grape selection. Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel and concrete vats. Traditional racking and fining. Bottled at the chateau. Chateau Simard's classically elegant, refined style results not only from its fine vineyard location, but also from the number of years the wine spends in bottle. It is never released until a least a decade after the vintage date. The complexity and nuance of the fragrance, the gentleness and finesse of the flavors are immediately apparent. An equally good choice for beef, lamb, roast duck and composed dishes like risotto. The perfect accompaniment to a wide range of cheeses.

Red Wine by Ch?teau Vignot from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. This Grand Cru from Saint-emilion gathers up great bunches of fresh violets into a massive bouquet that heightens the rich plum fruit when the wine is tasted. Traces of leather also emerge. Blend: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc

Red Wine by Le Libertin de Lussac from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. Le Libertin de Lussac is the second wine of Chateau de Lussac. Following the tradition of Bordeaux's right bank, this wine is primarily Merlot. The left bank of Bordeaux is primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and typically the wines are as well. Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. This wine has a beautiful dark red color with a mix of ultra ripe berry, plum, and dried fruit flavors. A touch of liquorice and toasted oak provide great balance and complexity that lingers on the palate. A deliciously approachable wine in its youth.