Bordeaux. It is one of the kings (or queens, sorry ladies) of the old world wine regions. When researching how long wine has been produced in Bordeaux, many put this number around 2,000 years or more. According to bordeaux.com there is evidence of grape vines being grown as far back as 2,500 BC. Two of the most popular wine grapes, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon , originated in Bordeaux. In addition, many great vineyards get their vine stocks from Bordeaux. There is no doubt this wine region in France can boast many accomplishments. Afterall, there is a reason you often see fabulously wealthy people in movies drinking Bordeaux, its wines are prestigious and often expensive (Waiter, we need another bottle of the Lafite!). Red wines make up around 90% of the wines being produced in the region. These wines are blends of grapes including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon make up the bulk (if not the entirety of the blend depending on the wine maker). Bordeaux does produce some great white wines as well with Sémillion and Sauvignon Blanc being the dominant grapes.
There is so much to love about Bordeaux that I am determined to set out to find some good value amid all the expensive bottles. Today is just the first of many posts about finding inexpensive (yet also drinkable) Bordeaux. Along the way, hopefully we can pick up some tips about how to identify good bottles. So what are we drinking today? I recently picked up a bottle of 2015 Château Peyruchet for $12.99 at Whole Foods. Château Peyruchet is located in Loupiac, a part of Bordeaux typically associated with nice, often sweet, white wines. We are going to be talking about one of their red wines. This wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with the Merlot grape taking the lead (80/20). In Bordeaux, the year is very important. You will hear people describe certain vintages in terms of other vintages. For instance, an expert might say that 2015 has many of the characteristics of 2005, 2009, and 2010. I would love to say that I nod my head appreciatively and know exactly what that person is saying. But in actuality, I would politely nod and run for the nearest exit. What I can tell you is that I have read a lot of good things about the 2015 vintage in Bordeaux, but given the aging potential of these
wines, I think it is too soon to tell. That may be the case with our wine as well.
The first thing to know about this wine is that I did not mangle the cork like I did with the bottle of Silver Oak. I call that a win! The second thing is that it unfortunately gives the impression of holding back. This would be a good wine to buy now and hang onto for a few years. If you want to try it now, expect it be closed at the beginning and in need of some breathing time, consider decanting, or if you have an aerator, use it! After a few minutes in the glass, you get some black berries on the nose. The tannins are fairly significant but they are accompanied by some cherry and earth. After a bit more time, you get some leather in the mix with cherry, earth and tannins. This wine is not very complex yet, but I think it will benefit from some age. Because of the tannins, having some cheese with this wine is a good idea.
So, what is the take home message? Should you buy it or not? It depends on what kind of wine drinker you are.
If you are looking for a knock-out wine to drink tonight, maybe pass on this one. It is a decent wine for sure, but it is hard for me to give this one a firm recommendation because I feel like it needs some time to mature. If you are looking for a wine to put away for a while and drink later, then definitely grab a bottle or more. At $12.99 it is a good price for a Bordeaux, and it has great potential. One of my favorite things about wine is how it changes over time. If you don't mind waiting, grab a few bottles and see what this wine is like next year. I suspect it will be worth the wait!
