Join us and try
Exceptional 2003
Left Bank Bordeaux
At European Vine Selections
Saturday, December 16th
2-4 pm
The Gironde River flows down the center of Bordeaux separating the wineries on the east which favor Merlot from those on the west where Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blends. Join us Saturday for a great line up of these left bank Bordeaux. The 2003 vintage is a great vintage tucked between 2000 and the unreleased but much touted ‘05s. The ‘03s are drinking well now and should develop even more with age. Elizabeth Kari of Bordeaux Wine Locators will be on hand to show off the wines and wax poetic about cassis, licorice, and firm tannins. The line up will be:
Reserve de la Comtesse 2003, Pauillac, $38
The second label of Pichon Lalande, the Comtesse is 45% Cab 35% Merlot, 12% Cab Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot. Earthy barnyard scents give way to full rich fruit with a long lingering finish. Robert Parker calls the wine a "a hedonistic sexpot of a Pauillac with loads of density, plenty of ripe fruit, and low acidity in an easy-to-drink, seductive style with plenty of chocolate-infused black currant fruit. Drink it over the next decade."
Chateau Clauzet 2003, St. Estephe, $25
From 40 year old vines, the Clauzet is a classic blend of 55% Cab, 40% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot, and 2% Cab Franc. It is aged in half new and half one year old barrels for 12 to 14 months. The result is a round and fruity wine with a lots of Tannins at the finish. Parker calls it: A potential sleeper of the vintage, this cru bourgeois is unusually successful...excellent texture, and a plush finish, it will drink well for 7-8 years."
Tronquoy Lalande 2003, St. Estephe, $23
Equal parts Cab and Merlot with the balance of Petit Verdot, this St. Estephe has aromas of licorice and bit of tar with big black currant and dark fruit flavors and soft enough tannins for drinking now but it will also benefit from a short term cellaring.
Chateau Maucaillou 2003, Moulis, $23
Maucaillou is one of the great values of Bordeaux. The vineyard is planted to 58% Cab Sauv, 35% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. The wine undergoes low temperature fermentation and gets 15 to 18 months aging in 50% new oak barrels. The wine has scents of black raspberry, cherry, and coffee nuances followed by soft and enjoyable dark fruit and mineral flavor while still retaining a good grip.
Tour St. Bonnet 2003, Medoc, $16
Owned by the Lafon family for over 100 years, Tour St. Bonnet is a blend of 45% cab, 45% Merlot and 5 % each of Petit Verdot and Malbec from 20 to 40 year old vines. Robert Parker describes the wine as "A first-rate effort from this reliable cru bourgeois, the deep ruby/purple-colored 2003 Tour St.-Bonnet offers up notes of cassis and minerals in an earthy, muscular yet concentrated style with well-integrated tannin." The wine has plenty of ripe black currant fruit and a full structure that will show well for many years.
And for Desert we have
Chateau Lamothe Guignard 1997, Sauturnes, $22
Lamothe is a second growth by the 1855 classification. That, along with the great ’97 vintage for Sauternes makes it hard to understand how we are getting this wine at such a great price. 90% Semillon from 40 year old vines and fermented in small vats followed by 15 months of barrel aging, the 1997 Lamouthe has honey, nectar and citrus flavors infused with a rich lick of botrytis. The wine is great now and should get better for those with the patience to sock some away.
European Vine
Selections,
522 15th Ave. E., at Mercer St. on Capitol Hill. 323-3557.
Open
daily, 12-7,
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