Chateau Moulin De Tricot 2006 Margaux

Grape                              : Blend of Cabernet Sauv, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Vintage                          : 2006
Alcoholic Content : 12.5%
Appellation                : Margaux

Damage to my purse : Bought from a wine retailer at S$65.

Characteristic :
Deep ruby red (in colour) and medium bodied.  On the nose, it has cassis and fine French oak .  Very good mouth-feel (extremely smooth), with consistent dark fruits and balanced tannins and long finishing.

MY TAKE: Even though it did not present very sophisticated taste, it was a really enjoyable wine.  Isn’t this what we look for in wine drinking?!

Chateau Macay Cotes De Bourg 2007

Grape                              : Cabernet Sauv (15%), Merlot (65%),
Cabernet Franc (10%), Malbec (5%)
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Vintage                          : 2007
Alcoholic Content : 12.5%
Appellation                : Cotes De Bourg

Damage to my purse : Bought it from a wine retailer at S$39.

Characteristic :
Deep ruby (in colour) and medium to full bodied.  Fine aromas of oak and hawthorn.  On the palate, the wine has flavours of dark cherries and prunes, it was smooth, well-structured with a woody-feel and slightly sappy finishing.

MY TAKE: I liked the wine when I first sipped it and it tasted even better an hour later.  Although it was recommended to go with red meat, I thought it was also good on its own.  A note from the wine producer is to consume this wine within 3 to 8 years.

Baron La Rose 2006

Grape                              : Blends of Cabernet Sauv, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Vintage                          : 2006
Alcoholic Content : 12.5%
Appellation                : Bordeaux

Damage to my purse : Brought from a wine retailer at S$29.90.

Characteristic :
Light brick red (in colour) and lightly bodied.  It was easy on the nose with mild floral scent and hidden notes of oak and rust.  On the palate, it was crisp, light but smooth, with subtle flavours of berries and cherries and some tannins toward the end.  Not much of a finish.

MY TAKE: This was a light and refreshing wine that you would bring to a picnic.  Slightly overpriced for that matter; under S$20 would be more reasonable.

Chateau Du Tertre 2000 Margaux

Grape                              : Cabernet Sauv (32%), Merlot (33%),
Cabernet Franc (30%), Petit Verdot (5%)
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Sub-Region                : Medoc
Vintage                          : 2000 (Grand Cru Classe)
Alcoholic Content : 13.0%
Appellation                : Margaux

Damage to my purse : ZERO.  A gift from a friend who bought this at the HK-DFS at HK$800.

Characteristic :
Dusty purple (in colour) and medium bodied.  On the nose, it has elegant floral; pleasant aroma.   It was pretty tannin, of some acidity, quite smooth but rather simplistic on the palate.  I could be the odd one out, I found its flavours a tad too mild.

MY TAKE: “Bordeaux”, “Margaux”, “Grand Cru Classe”; call it for all you want.  This wine lacked the structure and finesse.  It was no doubt a decent drinking wine but nothing to applaud for at that price (luckily I didn’t have to pay for it).

Chateau Les Grands Chenes, Cru Bourgeois, Medoc 2009

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot (51%), Cabernet Sauv (43%), and Cabernet Franc (6%)
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Appellation               : Medoc Controlee
Vintage                          : 2009
Alcoholic Content : 14%
Producer                 : Chateau Les Grands Chenes

Damage to my purse : Bought this from a wine distributor at S$49 each for a half dozen order.

Characteristic :
Deep purple and almost opaque (in colour).  Powerful (yet pleasant) nose of black cherry, with hints of vanilla and mild spices.  This can pass off as a full bodied wine.  It was smooth with structured tannins, lingering intense flavours of dark fruits and cherry, and with slightly spicy after taste.

MY TAKE: This was a nice wine but lacked the complexity of a Bordeaux wine.  Again (like the Goulee Medoc 2009), this wine will also taste better if you allow it to age for a few more years.

Goulee -Medoc 2009

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot (20%), and Cabernet Sauv (80%)
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Appellation               : Medoc Controlee
Vintage                          : 2009
Alcoholic Content : 14.5%
Producer                 : Chateau Goulee

Damage to my purse : Bought this from a wine distributor at S$49 each for a half dozen order .

Characteristic :
Stain-like dark raspberry (in colour).  On the nose, it has bold and confident aromas of blackberries, cherries, licorice, and minerals.  A medium to full bodied wine.  It was very smooth and big on the palate with firm tannins and dark cherries.

MY TAKE: A very bold Bordeaux wine and was more like a Barossa Valley (AU) Shiraz (but less heavy).  This wine will go well with red meat.  This wine will also taste better (as it is still rather young and simple) if you allow it to age for a few more years.

Chateau La Branne 2008

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauv, & Petit Verdot
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux (Cru Bourgeois)
Appellation               : Medoc
Vintage                          : 2008
Alcoholic Content : 13%

Damage to my purse : Bought this at the Wine Connection (wine retailer) at S$39.

Characteristic :
Pale chalky purple (in colour).  On the nose, it has got charming aroma of plums, elegant oak, and vanilla.  A medium bodied wine with fine tannin structure, consistent dark cherry flavour and with undertone of spice and oak.

MY TAKE: Decided to buy this wine because I had tried the 2007 vintage a couple years’ back.  Though this is a reasonably tasting wine, I prefer the 2007 vintage.

Chateau La Branne 2007

Chateau Pontet Plaisance Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauv (15%), & Cabernet Franc (15%)
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Appellation               : Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Controlee
Vintage                          : 2009
Alcoholic Content : 13.5%
Producer                 : Chateau Pontet Plaisance

Damage to my purse : Bought this at the Wine Connection (wine retailer) at S$50.

Characteristic :
Semi-opaque burgundy (in colour).  On the nose, it has got strong alcoholic feel, and with notes of licorice, plum, and mild floral.  Let the wine breath a short 15 minutes will do better.  A medium bodied wine and rather voluptuous feel on the palate; of balanced tannins, good presence of sharpness, and juicy dark cherries.

MY TAKE: Over the years, I started to appreciate the French wines more and more.  Because decent French wines are more complex and offer more sophistication to the senses.  This wine is one of those French wine.

Chateau Mazetier 2008

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauv, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Appellation               : Premieres Cotes De Bordeaux
Vintage                          : 2008
Alcoholic Content : 12.5%

Damage to my purse : Bought this at the Wine Connection (wine retailer) at S$26.

Characteristic :
Light purple (in colour).  On the nose, it was sharp and almost piercing.  But was totally different on the palate,  which was light at the beginning, with mild dark fruits filling the entire mouth, very smooth, and ending with long finishes of soft tannins.

MY TAKE: This is one of the best value wines.  A well-structured wine with a low price tag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Won a good medal award in 2010. The wine has also won several other awards in 2011 and 2009.

CHATEAU BRANAIRE Ducru 2005

Grape                              : Bordeaux blend
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Sub-Region                : Medoc
Vintage                          : 2005 (St Julien)
Alcoholic Content : 13.0%

Damage to my purse : This is a half-bottle (375ml) wine cost about S$70-80.

Characteristic :
Quite a boring wine with straight forward tastes of oak, earth, and dark cherries.  A medium bodied wine with tannins.  Perhaps the wine would taste better if left in the bottle for few more years.

MY TAKE: It is an okay wine but a bit costly for that.