This complex bordeaux from Haut-Medoc is dry with a distinct lack of fruit forwardness found in your more California-styled reds. And thank god. I love California wine but when you find a good deal on Bordeaux, well, you just wish you'd bought more. This 2003 vintage had round, supple tannins - not pronounced in any way. Still had somewhat of a green flavor to the tannins implying a need for a bit more age. Of course, the youth in this bottle also makes it more affordable. Nonetheless, here was a light-bodied wine with a bit of resident bitterness from the acid, making your mouth water after every glass. It's not the best Bordeaux I've had but certainly quaffable. I even allowed myself to give this bottle for a holiday gift to good friends who are living in Liberia (I met them in Brooklyn), which basically means I stand by your average wine drinker liking this bottle. It also means that I'm cheap enough to wait for them to visit to gift a bottle of wine rather than pay the million dollars or so it costs to ship something like this to Liberia (where it will most likely be "confiscated").
Price: $30
Color: Deep ruby
Nose: Rich pepper, dark ripe blackberry, and vanilla with a little vegetal coming through
Taste: Blackberry fruit predominates with again, vegetal characteristics, perhaps because it is still young for a Bordeaux. I would imagine this bottle would gain complexity with age since the acidity and tannins are still there. We probably should have decanted this bottle before drinking since allowing it to breathe a bit would no doubt open it up. It had a bit of an austereness to it (otherwise known as a tight pucker); a little harshness that probably would stick around anyway for another year or so regardless. Might as well drink it unless you've got a case. Overall this wine tastes better with food so pick a nice rich French dish or even Italian (don't tell anyone) and enjoy!
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