18 October 2017
Pleasant bouquet of tobacco, liquorice and plums. In the mouth smooth and elegant. Well-developed tannins and pleasant persistence.
A really nice left bank wine, that shows the clear superiority of the Bordeaux Crus over most of the world’s wine production.
This Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a good example of how, even in an average vintage characterised by a quite challenging growing season, a (relatively) inexpensive wine of Bordeaux can age for 16 years and deliver a unique drinking experience.
I shared this bottle with some friends and drank it just after the over-expensive and overrated Sassicaia 2010, on which I referred in my last post. According to consensus, this Bordeaux completely outshined the Italian attempt at replicating the French, and at around 1/5 of the price.
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Type: Red
Vintage: 2001
Producer: Château Barde-Haut
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5