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Château La Croix Saint-Michel, Montagne Saint-Émilion, 2023
A classic Montagne-Saint-Émilion at a price you'll rarely see for a claret of this quality. From within one of Bordeaux's most prized terroirs, this Merlot-led gem brims with bright plum and spice. A Merlot-based blend; silky ripe tannins, complexity, with a long red fruit finish.
Merlot-based blend
14% ABV, Drink by end of 2029 About £19 a bottle
Château Lamothe-Bergeron, Haut-Médoc, 2023
The large, 67-hectare vineyard is planted to 52% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The Left Bank vineyard is well situated, as it is not that far from the southern tip of the St. Julien appellation and north of the Margaux appellation.
Chateau Lamothe Bergeron needs some time before it can be enjoyed. Young vintages can be decanted for between 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Chateau Lamothe Bergeron is usually better with at least 2-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Lamothe Bergeron offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-15 years of age after the vintage.
Chateau Lamothe Bergeron is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Lamothe Bergeron is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.
Chateau Lamothe Bergeron is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.
12.5% ABV About £20 a bottle.
Le Bourg Bordeaux, Bordeaux AOC
Bordeaux winemaker Jean-Marc Sauboua likes to challenge the rules and here he's taken two cuvées of delicious Merlot from two vintages –warm, ripe 2022 and the younger, fresh notes of 2023. Dark, velvety black fruits, with a light touch of oak.
Gone are the days when all Bordeaux reds needed to be cellared for years (though you can still find them among the pricier echelons of classed growth clarets). Instead, Bordeaux can offer very appealing, velvety wines with generous fruit, structure and elegance. Winemaker, Jean-Marc Sauboua, trained at one of Bordeaux's smartest addresses – first growth Château Haut-Brion – but for Le Bourg he wanted to produce a red that is as easy to drink by the glass in the local village bar, as it is with a hearty supper. He chose two parcels of mostly Merlot – one Right Bank cuvée from the ripe 2022 vintage, the other from just across the river and the younger 2023 vintage. Fruity with a touch of oak, Le Bourg makes a great glass with a roast.
Medium Bodied, with a deep ruby colour
13.5% ABV. Drink by end of 2030. About £15 a bottle.
Reboul Salze 2023 Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux AOC
This gorgeous, velvety claret is the result of Bordeaux's renowned Christophe Reboul Salze. Christophe blended a cuvée from each of his exceptional Blaye estates to create a wine so good he lent it his name.
Christophe Reboul Salze is a big name in Bordeaux. Born in central France, he fell in love with the region's wines in his youth. Arriving in Bordeaux in 1980, he decided to make his passion a career. He gained a decade's experience trading in Grand Cru Classé wines and became director at one of the leading houses. Then started his own négociant business, which remains today a leader in the field. However, he wanted to make wine too, so he purchased three estates in the Right Bank's Premières Côtes de Blaye and employed Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultant. The results have been exceptional. This superb, top-vintage claret uses a cuvée from each of his châteaux – Les Grands Marechaux, Gigault and Belle Coline. A fine exclusive Bordeaux red.
13.5% ABV Drink by end of 2030. About £18 a bottle.
Well if things go well in the a few hours time, one or both of these will be enjoyed in the early hours.
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Good luck Robin, hopefully you’ll be having a celebratory dram or three but I don’t have the stamina to stay up with you!
Thanks Alex, hanging in there, taking it easy at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex_UK
Congratulations on Scotland's win over Haiti. Robin, you definitely deserve a dram or two in celebration. :)
I'd sup either of those drams with you Robin and great result.
Thanks Barry, a game we needed to win and we did, managed a couple of drams.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry