Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

AlexR

At Thivin, we had their two Beaujolais Blanc from 2024, followed by 23 Reverdon Brouilly, 24 Côte de Brouilly, 24 Mes Griottes de Brulhié (Côte de Brouilly), 24 La Chapelle (Cöte de Brouilly), 24 Cuvée Zaccharie (Côte de Brouilly) 23 Côte de Brouilly aged in a cement egg (same as Cuvée Zaccharie, bu...

AlexR

I have always had a soft spot for Château de Malleret, a beautiful 350-hectare estate located in Le Pian-Médoc, a 5-minute drive from Château La Lagune, the first classified growth one encounters travelling north from Bordeaux. With 54 hectares of vines, mostly in the Haut-Médoc appellation, Mallere...

AlexR

be somewhat confusing. The most famous is Belgrave, the 5th growth in Saint-Laurent-Médoc. Bellegrave in Pauillac is a small estate (8.4 hectares of vines) at the entrance to the city of Pauillac when coming from Bordeaux. The château building is small and very attractive, as are the gardens that su...

AlexR

On the other hand... you have to hand it to critics who think outside the box, aren't willing to always kiss the behinds of château owners, and say what they think. I find Gilman's comments and score ridiculous but also refreshing. He gets away from the script and, as far off the mark as he is - in ...

AlexR

Mark,

It's not *just* tha tariffs, although these, of course, have a pretty negative effect.

There are other factors at play, most importantly from my perspective, is the fact that young people are shying away from wine, especially red wine.

Alex R.

AlexR

Last week, a group of six friends from three countries, including fellow forumite Ian Amstadt, decided to rent a gîte in Southern Burgundy and discover the wines there. Several of us are put off by wines from the Côte d’Or due to their unreliability and/or eye-watering price increases, and so were s...

AlexR

https://www.sudouest.fr/vin/saint-emilion-au-chateau-de-ferrand-le-vin-dessine-au-stylo-bic-de-la-famille-bich-28843547.php and, if that link doesn't work: https://www.chateaudeferrand.com/les-nouvelles/une-nouvelle-signature-pour-2024/?srsltid=AfmBOorQoPN8QG66p1h3qXe3DelQx9h5f_41jnEGrC5AjXKiMYMb-77...

AlexR

Hi, https://www.sudouest.fr/gironde/margaux/si-vraiment-ils-achetent-ici-beyonce-et-jay-z-en-gironde-les-tabloids-creent-la-rumeur-a-margaux-cantenac-28871236.php Exports in general have been suffering, but since the Trump tariffs (whose legality is hotly contested imports have plummeted. The boycot...

AlexR

Hi, I heard this rumor last week and dismissed it as fake news, but then an article appeared in the local Sud-Ouest newspaper: https://www.sudouest.fr/gironde/margaux/si-vraiment-ils-achetent-ici-beyonce-et-jay-z-en-gironde-les-tabloids-creent-la-rumeur-a-margaux-cantenac-28871236.php Byoncé and Jay...

AlexR

Jim,

Apparently the Tour d'Argent will take you down to visit their famoys wine cellar if you ask in advancr.

Paris Icon La Tour d’Argent Unveils Reimagined Historic Wine Cellars https://share.google/0lvci7tj3UVNYzHrL

Alex

AlexR

Kevin, Thanks for your post. Yes, Durfort Vivens has rather a low-key reputation and for years was considered somewhat of a foursquare lacklustre wine. I thought one of the reasons for the low profile might be because Brane Cantenac (owned by Henri Lurton, brother of Gonzague Lurton of Durfort) prod...

AlexR

Hi Jim, Yes, this is indeed scary overreach. It has been challenged in the courts, and I have trouble undetstanding how, in purely practical terms, the measure could be applied. For information, the cost of postage has skyrocketed in France, while the amount of mail has plummeted. Cherchez l'erreur....

AlexR

No whipping Jim.
I promise

Alex

AlexR

What am I reading?
Is this talk of cancellng the electionS serious?

AR

AlexR

We can only hope that the US will start to change course starting with the midterm elections.

AR

AlexR

Trump is quoted today as saying (of Iran): "A whole civilization will die tonight." These are truly evil words. Even if - and that's a HUGE if here - the war could be morally justified, that is no reason to threaten genocide. I am beyond appalled. Iran's civilization is one of the most not...

AlexR

Send photo please.

AR

AlexR

A.controversial person, but whose contributions far outweigh his purported standardization of wine.

AR

AlexR

I must admit to being allergic to the expression "off vintage" Why is that? For the same reason I don't like talk of "years of the century" and suchlike. Wines should stand on their merits. and I am sure that there are wines from derided vintages cited abive that anyone here woul...

AlexR

I must admit to being allergic to the expression "off vintage" Why is that? For the same reason I don't like talk of "years of the century" and suchlike. Wines should stand on their merits. and I am sure their wines from derided vintages cited abive that anyone here would find de...

AlexR

Here's an article from the New York Times on the effecr of the tariffs on the American wine trade:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/dini ... roid-share

AR

AlexR

Hi, In reaction to the Supreme Court ruling, Trump said that the judges who voted against him, including his appointees, were “very disloyal to the Constitution”, as well as “fools and lapdogs,” and that “I’m ashamed of certain members for not having the courage to do what’s right for the country”. ...

AlexR

WARNNIG: the following is a post of a political nature. I was aware that Donald Trump’s weaponized tariffs, applied to over 100 countries on an arbitrary and impossible-to-understand basis, had been challenged in the Supreme Court. Seeing as he has packed courts on all levels with his cronies, I had...

AlexR

Nic,

Thanks for sharing your notes.
Those are the very cream of Tuscan wines.

Jim raises the question of value for money.
How did you feel?

I have been underwhelmed by Tuscans and super-Tuscans in the outta site price range.
At that price, I think I'd rather have a Barolo.

Alex R.

AlexR

There’s a new kid In town, i.e. a new appellation: “Bordeaux Claret”. For anyone who wishes to go into the technical details, here are the official criteria, in French, under “cahier des charges”: https://www.inao.gouv.fr/produit/bordeaux-claret-24339 As we all know, there is a more than a little sc...

AlexR

Received wisdom is that the 2010s are "better" than the 2009s. Well, the former have better ageing potential, and some 2009 Right Bank wines are a little high in alcohol, but 2009 Médocs have a sensua fruity richness to them I just love. It's been a while since I ever compared the two vint...

AlexR

With 10 hectares of vines in Cantenac, Pouget may not be the smallest classified growth in the Médoc, but it's certainly one of the most obscure. It used to be said that Ch. Ferrière was the smallest, but I think that has changed. Owned by the Guillemet family, fourth growth Château Pouget is the si...

AlexR

Is Jolivet the same as in Pouilly Fumé?

AR

AlexR

Jeez, you sure get around Jim!

Alex

AlexR

Good point David.
The resistance needs to show its face.

And the Dems need to stop dithering.
They badly need a spokesperson who will stop pussyfooting around the sick presidential overreach and taclke Trump head on - the only way to beat him.

Who's the most likely candidate?
Newsome?

AR

AlexR

All I can say us that seen from abroad, Trump is viewed as a tremendous bully who has no compunction about treating America's friends like dirt (I mean, *really*, sh***** on Canada for no good reason!) and sabotaging the transatlantic alliance, among countless other international commitments. The so...

AlexR

Hi Michael,

No holidays that week or the week after.

Vîntage most likely over by then too.

Probably rainy, but not too cold.

Best
Alex

AlexR

I’ve always liked Malartic Lagravière, especially as the wine has always been reasonably priced. I knew the previous owner, M. Jacque Marly and have since enjoyed the company of Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie, the Belgian couple who have owned the château since 1990. I think that Marlartic Lagr...

AlexR

The best?
If there were anywhere else I would live in France, it would have to be Vienne, the small city near Ampuis.
The region has everything: scenic beauty, world class red and white wine, great cuisine. And it's just a half hour from Lyon.

AR

AlexR

The history of Château Haut Marbuzet is a great success story that started in 1952 when Hervé Duboscq bought 7 hectares of vines in Saint-Estèphe between Cos d’Estournel and Montrose. His son Henri, a mythical figure in the Médoc, took over from his father in the 1960s and the estate grew to its pre...

AlexR

Hi Lucas, Thanks for your first post. This is not, however, the first time that this subject has come up on the forum, but it is always worth revisiting. There are several factors at play here: Price Quality Familiarity Availability The price is certainly right and in the region of production you ca...

AlexR

Does make you wonder why the US doesn't see fit to normalize relations with Cuba.

AR

AlexR

Actually Nic, Christine was mostly teasing me, but there is an element of truth there... In other words, I tend to bring out my very best bottles when there are, let's say, six or eight of us to share. So, except on special occasions, just she and I tend to enjoy mid-level rather than hoity-toity wi...

AlexR

My wife teases me by saying I never open up really good bottles of wine when there are just the two of us, preferring instead to impress guests. I thought I would remedy that mistaken idea on Sunday at lunch en tête-à-tête by serving a 2008 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, accompanied...

AlexR

Rochemorin is one of Montesquieu's former estates and has been owned by the Lurtons since the 1980s.
They have 66 hectares of vines (red and white).

It is a very reliable, early-maturing wine that is well distributed in Bordeaux restaurants.
Retail here it sells for under 20 euros.

AR

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