Bordeaux Bargains

Ah les bargains de Bordeaux! There aren't a lot of them. Actually, there sort of are.

Chateau Beaumont is another Haut-Medoc unsung winner. Wine Spectator: "Soft and velvety, with blackberry, mineral and light mint character on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied, with a caressing texture. There's lovely balance..." SF Chronicle says: "Elegant, lush palate." Grab the 2005.

Beynat, Cuvee Leonard - from Cotes de Castillon, which is next to Bordeaux. This is one of Sherry-Lehman's unsung heroes of Bordeaux, and it's worth a song or two. (See "Lesser Known French Regions" post). Sherry Lehman seems to be the only place that carries it.







Chateau Charmail (Haut Medoc) is a blend of 45% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. Wine Advocate on the 2004: "Copious fruit characteristics, medium to full body, and attractive sweetness as well as richness."
Here's what Cork Popper had to say. Buy it at Wine.com

Clarendelle is a successful blend. Suckling writes in Wine Spectator of the 2006: "Polished red with cedar, berry and chocolate character. Medium-bodied, silky and refined. Delicious already."










Chateau de Fieuzal is a bit more pricey at around $40 a bottle, but an example of how good lesser-known Bordeaux can get. From Pessac-Leognan. Since 2005, WS gives them 89 points or more and says, "Smoke, black truffles, crushed rock, and leafy notes combined with earth, fresh mushrooms, and cassis result in a complex set of aromatics."











Château Malmaison Baronne Nadine de Rothschild. "Raspberry jam aromas follow through to a full body, with a very soft tannins." WS 90 points (2006). Try K&D on Madison Avenue, in fact try them for Bordeaux bargains in general. Knowledgeable staff, great selection.

Pichon Lalande's second wine, Chateau Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse de Lalande Reserve de la Comtesse, is a mouthful to say -- and drink. A structured Pauillac blend, mostly cab with a dash of cab franc. Get it at Macy's Wines. More on French Second labels.

An "inexpensive pearl" from Moulis is what BBR calls Chateau Poujeaux from Moulis. Decanter magazine says, "Good depth of black fruits, good structure..."

Last but definitely not least, the seductive Chateau Tauzinat L'Hermitage, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru is one of our favorite $20 Bordeaux. Why? Well, Wine Spectator thinks it's a 90 - 93 point winner. "So perfumed and pretty on the nose, with flowers and sweet berry. Full-bodied, with a silky texture, fine tannins and a balance of attractive fruit." Buy it, drink it, let us know what you think. Try Empire Wine. 

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More:
"Big Guns and Bargains."
"Drinkable and Cellarable" (Forbes magazine)
"Bordeaux Baby"
"Best Bordeaux for the Money" (IntoWine)