
Located in France, Bordeaux is a wine region that is halfway between the North Pole and the equator. It stretches along the estuary in Gironde and the great Atlantic Ocean. Probably the most respected region on the planet, Bordeaux follows along the Dordogne and Gironde Rivers with nearly 120,000 hectares of grapevines. Bordeaux is the second largest region in the world, second only to Languedoc. Over 700 million bottles of wine are produced in Bordeaux each year. The wines produced range from expensive and prestigious reds and whites to everyday jug and table wines. There are 9,000 wineries in Bordeaux, These are called, “chateaux.” Bordeaux has 57 appellations. The soil in Bordeaux is quite heavy with calcium, and comes from limestone. The soil in Bordeaux is composed of clay, sandy stone, and gravel. The best wines in Bordeaux are produced in and around the Gironde River coming from soils that have been well-drained. The majority of grapes that are grown in Bordeaux are for red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. 50% of the grapes grown in the region are Merlot. Wineries all over the world strive to make wines in the Bordeaux style with blends of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Chateau Crabitey Graves Blanc is made from 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon.
The finish is long and distinguishes itself by nice and light woody and citrus fruit aromas.In the mouth, the wine is fully developed and complex, with a nice volume as well as a light acidity for the freshness. Its nose is fine and complex - even lemony with its pomelo scent - with some smoky notes. Chateau Crabitey Graves Blanc displays a fine, light yellow color and a nice brilliance.
Pairs with bisque, smoked fish, roasted chicken and vegetables with fresh herbs
Review:
"Fresh, pretty nose of gooseberries, lime zest, lemon and green apple. Light to medium body with sharp acidity. Tangy and citrusy. 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon. Vegan. Drink now."
- James Suckling (January 2022) 90 pts
Crabitey Graves Rouge is made from 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot.
Château Crabitey Graves Rouge presents a dark cherry color with nice ruby glints. The nose is fresh, revealing a wide range of red fruits flavors, along with a mellow and elegant oak presence. The mouth is powerful and round, supported by smooth and subtle tannins. The wine reveals a good length on the palate, with fruity and slightly oaky notes.
Pairs well is grilled lamb, beef stroganoff and hard cheeses.
Review:
"The 2019 Crabitey is impressive, just as it was en primeur. Bright redtoned fruit, white chocolate, flowers, gravel and mint give the 2019 quite a bit of freshness and energy that builds over time. This mid-weight, wonderfully expressive Graves is a winner.- Antonio Galloni"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (January 2022) 91 pts
Fombrauge Saint Emilion is made from 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.
Château Fombrauge 2020 has a dark red hue, intense fruit aromas and elegant tannins that offer a generous mouthfeel rarely seen in wine so young.
The nose reveals aromas of cherries, blackberries and raspberries, along with spicy notes.
On the palate, the wine i round, soft and silky. Its deep richness, matched with a nice freshness and a long and mellow finish, make it already a great Château Fombrauge, with a long ageing potential.
Chateau Fombrauge Saint-Emilion Grand Cru's food pairing
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Château Grand-Puy Ducasse will seduce lovers of great red wines from Pauillac with its exceptional quality marked by a very beautiful aromatic richness. A classic vintage, complete, complex, rich and unctuous, this cuvée promises superb aging potential.
Aging 18 months in French oak barrels (35% new for the 2020 vintage).After manual harvesting in crates and an initial sorting in the vineyard, the grapes are sorted again using the latest generation optical sorting system. Vinification is then carried out in stainless steel temperature controlled tanks however for some of the batches, malolactic fermentation is also carried out in new barrels.
Sokol Blosser Big Tree Block Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
1970 was winding down when our founders, Bill Blosser and Susan Sokol Blosser pulled their ’68 VW Camper up to an abandoned prune orchard some 30 miles southwest of Portland. These moonstruck kids had little farming experience and just a basic knowledge of winemaking. What they did have, in abundance, was a passion for growing the Pinot Noir grape and creating world-class wine. Soon after settling on this extraordinary land, they planted their first vines and cinched their place as pioneers in Oregon’s budding wine industry.
Review:
A very impressive wine for the striking sense of spice, white-pepper and briary, forest notes, across red cherries. The palate has sapid, focused style with such taut yet silky tannins holding long and true. Pure red cherries here. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 94 Points
Ancien Pinot Noir is 100% Pinot Noir.
The Mink Vineyard is located next door to the winery, in the Coombsville Viticultural Area of Napa Valley. Open to the same morning fogs and afternoon breezes that cool Carneros to the west, Coombsville is consistently one of the coolest pockets in Napa. Mink sits inside a small “bowl”, allowing cooler air to settle during the evenings, and making Mink’s mesoclimate a couple degrees cooler, even, than the surrounding hills. But the real secret to Mink’s explosive flavors, smooth, mouth-coating minerality, comes from the soil. Underneath is a layer of compressed volcanic ash, called tufa. The tufa drains the topsoil, storing moisture in its porous structure. The vines are able, with some work, to grow roots into the tufa layer, accessing moisture during the long, dry growing season.
The Mink Pinot Noir exhibits bright and refreshing notes of pomegranate, cherry, and fresh herbs. It gradually opens to deeper and darker berry fruit, blueberry and plum. This vintage is on the more structured side of the spectrum and will continue to evolve over time. Its enchanting mouthwatering minerality invite sip after sip together with bite after bite. A lively wine at release but it will continue to improve over the next 4 - 7 years and can age well beyond a decade as shown by its 20+ year track record.
Review:
"Ripe in flavor and luxurious in texture, this wine is difficult to put down. It is saturated in black cherry, black currant and black fig while staying light on the palate. It's a wonderful indulgence to enjoy by itself or with a roast pheasant or duck breast. — Jim GORDON"
- Wine Enthusiast (April 1st 2024), 95 pts