The Good Wine Guru » Bordeaux

Sirius Bordeaux Blanc 2010

George — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:00:25 +0000

Varietal: 50% Semillon; 50% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: France – Bordeaux
Cost: $12

Winemaker’s Notes: An elegant pale yellow colour, green at rim, with a nose of white blossom and citrus fruit, these aromas melting into the ample, supple palate. A discreetly fizzy sensation imparts vibrancy and freshness to rich, fleshy extract. Pairs well with chicken and seafood such as shellfish.

My Review: On a recent trip to my local Fresh Market, there was a small selection of wines (2 wines to be specific) being poured. One was a Malbec blend, and the other was the 2010 Sirius Bordeaux Blanc. Impressed enough with it and the price, I grabbed a bottle to take home to my wife. I’m thoughtful that way.

We actually opened the bottle first on Sunday and enjoyed a glass on the deck while getting some sun and reading, but make sure to save some for dinner the next night to pair with some pesto tilapia with risotto and sauteed spinach from the local farmer’s market. On the first day I got a lot of the Sauvignon Blanc aromas that I would expect, lime and grapefruit mostly, and even in the palate at first I started to question whether the bottle was lying to me on it being a 50/50 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, but instead of the citrusy, acid finish that I’ve come to expect from even the most mellow of Sauvignon Blancs I got a more subtle mineral note that was quite refreshing, especially on a hot afternoon on the deck.

The second day, when paired with dinner, the mineral note was more subdued, but the same citrus notes that I’d experienced the day before came out and made a great compliment to our dinner, adding a light note against the richness of the risotto and and the pesto.

My only complaint with this wine was that the mineral note didn’t carry over very well after the bottle had been open for a day (though properly sealed and stored away). That being said, this was a great deck wine for a hot day and a great pairing for some seafood or light hors d’oeuvres during a cocktail party. If you’re looking for a new white wine to try and you’re already a fan of Sauvignon Blanc I would recommend giving this one a try. If you can’t find it near you, follow this link and you should be able to have some shipped to you.

Albemarle Simply Red 2005

George — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:00:31 +0000

Varietal: Blended Red (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot)
Region: Virginia – Charlottesville – USA
Cost: $14

Deep ruby red color with aromas of fruit and berry with a hint of spice. Flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, and spice. Pairs well with pastas, veal and beef stews, cheeses, and hearty main dishes.

Recommendations: One of the last bottles of wine I have from that March trip to Virginia Wine Country. Seemed fitting to open it during Virginia Wine Month. There’s something about a nice dark glass of wine that I find enjoyable, and the 2005 Albemarle Simply Red from Kluge Estate Winery certainly fit the bill. The aromas of fruit, berry, and spice, which lead into nice flavors of the same, were a nice match to the pizza I cooked up on Tuesday after a trip out to the driving range with my wife and best friend.

While I don’t know the exact percentages of each grape in the blend (I have an idea based on the 2006 vintage of the wine, but won’t write it down if I don’t know it for a fact), I could definitely tell that the Petit Verdot was helping to smooth out the finish, making it nice and smooth, and making the wine enjoyable both with something to eat or to just sip on.

All in all I enjoyed this Bordeaux-style blend and would be interested to try the 2006. If you’re out near Charlottesville it’s certainly worth poking your head into Kluge Estate Winery to try their selection.

Chateau Grimard Bordeaux 2008

George — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:03 +0000

Varietal: Blended Red Wine – Bordeaux Blend
Region: France
Cost: $12

Medium dark red in the glass with aromas of currant and cherry. Crushed red berries in the mouth with a subtle finish that pairs well with meat dishes.

Recommendations: As you know, I’ve been trying to expand my knowledge of French wines. Because of this, whenever I go and visit my local wine shop I’ve been asking for suggestions on French wine as the owner knows far more about French wine than I do (I can admit my shortcomings). On a recent trip there he suggested the Chateau Grimard Bordeaux and I, like a good wine writer, took him up on his suggestion.

In a rare move, I drank this wine over two days, opening the bottle one night to drink with my dinner, and then finishing it the following evening by itself. The dinner on the first night of tasting consisted of nothing more than some wheat pasta in a chunky red sauce. While it would have been great to do some French cuisine with my French wine, I a) know how to cook, but French cooking isn’t really where my strength lies, and b) wasn’t motivated to do much more than boil water.

That being said, the Chateau Grimard was a nice compliment to the dinner. The currant and cherry on the nose carried over to the flavors, and while it wasn’t a big tannic finish, the flavor of the wine was bold enough to not be buried by the tomato sauce I used. Sticking a vacuum seal cork in it and putting it in the fridge, I drank the rest the next day.

By itself, I actually didn’t like the Chateau Grimard as well. That’s not to say that it was bad, but I preferred it with food as to without, which isn’t a bad thing I suppose as I did start drinking it with food. All in all, the Chateau Grimard was another nice step into the world of French wine for me. The pasta dish I paired it with probably wasn’t the best thing to eat with the wine – a coq a vin, lamb dish, or boeuf Bourguignon probably would have been a better pairing, but as I said, boiling water was a trial that day.

I think if I was cooking something more traditionally French I would give this wine another shot, but until that time, I’ll keep trying other French wines.

You can find the 2008 Chateau Grimard Bordeaux here if it’s not available near you.

Trefethen Double T 2006

George — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:00:10 +0000

Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec)
Region: Napa, California – USA
Cost: $25

Deep color on this “Bourdeaux Blend” with silky flavors of fruit. Excellent body that pairs well with most meats or with a group of friends.

Recommendations: Well, it’s official – the last bottle from my October trip to California is finally gone. A moment of silence if we could….thank you. I had been eying my bottle of Trefethen Double T more and more recently, trying to decide what to drink it with. A recent grocery shopping trip made up my mind when my wife and I picked up a pair of excellent beef roasts.

Dark in the glass and with amazing flavors of fruit that were both silky and bold at the same time, the Double T was a great compliment to the beef, potatoes, and carrots that were my dinner on Saturday. As is my usual standard for excellent wine, the Double T was just as enjoyable after the meal was gone as it was during.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end and that’s never more true than with wine. While I do not lament opening up the bottle, I do regret that I can’t just run out to Trefethen and pick up a bottle any time I want. However, if you’re ever in Napa Valley, I do highly recommend a visit to them as their wine is amazing and their tasting room is a great place to spend an afternoon.

While I don’t think you’ll find the Trefethen Double T in most wine shops, if you do I highly recommend grabbing a bottle and enjoying it with dinner, with family, with friends, or with all of the above.

2006 Chateau Lamothe de Haux Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux

George — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:33 +0000

Varietal: Bordeaux (60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc)
Region: France
Cost: $20.50

Ruby red in color with soft aromas with flavors to match. Crushed berries and cedar on the nose are a lead into a smooth, slightly fruity medium-bodied red. Pairs well with chicken, pork, and veal.

Recommendations: My first impression of this wine was that it wasn’t what I was expecting. When I first got the bottle, I was excited about a bit, bold Bordeaux to pair with a steak or some pasta (which is what I did pair it with). That is not the wine I drank.

Smooth and subtle is probably the best way to describe this wine, and whereas I had thought I was going to get large, full-bodied wine, instead I got a medium-bodied wine that wasn’t disappointing in and of itself, but certainly was a let-down compared to what I thought I would be drinking.

Now, that being said, this is still a very good wine. However, if you’re expecting a full-bodied wine, you may want to look elsewhere, as this certainly isn’t it.

Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club for supplying the wine for this review.