Cru Bourgeois

[tim]

What are your top Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois?

I would be very curious to arrange a tasting of 2010 Cru Bourgeois vs. 2013 First Growths.

[stefan]

The 2010 Cru Bourgeois would win hands down. No contest. It would be like Tiger Woods against Dustin Johnson right now.

Do you allow Sociando Mallet and Gloria, both of which did not apply for the status? Doesn't matter, but they might win. Chasse-Spleen and Poujeaux are plenty good enough. Or do you exclude them and their cohorts because their former category was abolished? To give the awful 2013 firsts a chance, maybe you should.

[tim]

I think so too. SM, Chasse Spleen and Poujeaux are my standard go-to Cru Bourgeois. I do think they would smoke the 2013's, I wish the 2013 first growths were a little more reasonable in price because I do think it would be a nice experiment.

[JimHow]

I want to try the 2013 Calon Segur, I hear it is good.
As I have said several times, I personally liked that 2013 La Lagune that we had.
I just don't think it is worth the $50ish it is fetching out there.

[Comte Flaneur]

Poujeaux and Sociando are very strong in 2010, as is I suspect , Chasse Spleen and Gloria.

I tasted the 2013 Mouton almost exactly a year ago with Philippe Dhalluin and Neal Martin. It was surprisingly good. I was sat next to a - as I later discovered - renowned Spanish winemaker, who assured me that 'sacks of sugar' had gone into the mix.

[JeanFred]

I hear The same kind of story for 1991 Bordeaux...

[Nicklasss]

Jim, do you think there are any "90 points" wines in either 1991 or 2013?

My fav Bourgeois Cru is definitely Spleen Chasse.

Nic

[stefan]

None in 2013 that we tasted during BWE-France2 are worth 90, Nic.

IIRC, none of the 1991s that I drank were worth 90 pts.

[JimHow]

Lynch Bages and Latour did well in 1991. And I think PLL and Cos too.
I'm pretty sure there were other northern Medocs as well.

[AKR]

1991 was a surprisingly decent year in the Northern Rhone, which most have forgotten about since it was wretched most everywhere else.

[Comte Flaneur]

Burgundy too

[Blanquito]

1991 was good in Rioja too.

[Claudius2]

And in a different hemisphere, it was a top vintage in many Australian areas, with few areas being anything but excellent.

[wine_drinker]

I would add Fourcas-Hosten 2010 to the lineup. Hard to find now, but definitely a rising star.

[Racer Chris]

What are your top Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois?

Two of my current favorites are Ch. Senejac (Haut-Medoc) and Ch. Marsac Seguineau (Margaux). Both produced 91+ point wines in 2010.
So far I've enjoyed '08, '10, '12, and '14 Senejac. I'd like to find some of the '09 to try.
I've had a few bottles of the '09 Marsac Seguineau which gets an A- from me, but is easily eclipsed by the 2010, the first of which I just had for the first time this week.
Another Cru Bourgeois which I've enjoyed many times is '09 Chateau Lalande (St Julien). I had one or two bottles of the 2010 which was nearly as good.
All are good representatives of their appellations. Great QPR too, as I've paid less than $30 for all the Marsac Seguineau and Lalande, and less than $25 for all my Senejac.

[tim]

Good stuff. I've never tried Senejac but will have to find some to test....

[AKR]

I do not know if they are formally a cru bourgeoise (i.e. member of the trade group) but Bernadotte and Charmail are reliable favorites.

I also like Cambon la Pelouse and Caronne St Gemme. Both were terrific in 2005 - I think I drank a case up of each while young. (one last ClP left though)