The Edinburgh Wine Club

Bordeaux wines

Tasting, July 17 2008

Wine

Appellation

Grape

Supplier

Price

Comments

Ranking 1-3 and Best Value

1. L'Esprit de Chevalier 1999
Left bank

Pessac-Léognané

70% Sauv Blanc
30% Semillon

Raeburn Fine Wines

13.99

2nd wine of Domaine de Chevalier (grand vin is a classified growth). Lemon nose, subtle palate with notable acid and limited fruit, and very long finish.

2. Chateau Corconnac 2000
Left bank

Haut-Médoc

70% Cab Sauv

30% Merlot

David Henderson

13.50

Cherries, cigar box and leather nose, very dry with tannins overpowering fruit and strong aftertaste. But opened up later.

3. Clos Floridène 2003 Left bank

Graves

80% Cab Sauv

20% Merlot

Wine Society

11.95

Fragrant coffee nose, deep rich colour, earthy and mineral, but complex with lots of other flavours.

            1

4. Prieur de Meyney 2003
Left bank

St Estephe

70% Cab Sauv
25% Merlot
2% Petit Verdot
3% Cab Franc

Wine Society

11.95

2^nd wine of Chateau Meyney (Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel). Classic tannic claret which combined well with some rare venison. Again opened up later in the evening.

5. Ségla 2003
Left bank

Margaux

61% Cab Sauv
35% Merlot
2% Petit Verdot
2% Cab Franc

Nicolas

25.00

2^nd wine of Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, a highly rated deuxieme cru classé. Blackcurrant and coffee nose, silkier and smoother than the previous two, creamy with lingering vanilla aftertaste.

            3

6. Chateau Lacaussade de Saint-Martin 2005
Right bank

Premières Cotes de Blaye

Merlot 90%
Cab Sauv 10%

Nicolas

8.70

A fine example of a well-balanced claret from a minor right bank appellation. Drinking well now. Also produces a highly rated (and modestly priced) white.

           BV

7. Chateau de Fonbel 2004
Right bank

St Emilion Grand Cru

"Dominant grape is Merlot"

Wine Society

13.50

A little disappointing. Had been decanted for an hour, but improved considerably a couple of hours later

8. Prieur de Jacobins Lamenotte 2001
Right bank

Lalande de Pomerol

"Dominant grape is Merlot"

Wine Society

9.95

Drinking at its best now. Well-balanced with the tannins faded sufficiently to release the fruit but retain some dryness. Spicy with a hint of marine flavour. Blackcurrant nose.

9. Chateau Rabaud-Promis 1997
Left bank

Sauternes

80% Semillon, 18% Sauv Blanc
2% Muscadelle

Raeburn Fine Wines

26.99

Premier Cru Classé, and it lived up to it. Light and not cloyingly sweet - fine balance between acidity and sweetness.

             2

 Mystery Wine

"Aythaya" Myanma Red 2006 reserve

N/A

Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon

N/A

Gift from Inle Lake Hotel

From Burma's first ever vineyard - the Myanmar Vineyard Estate Ltd - at Inle Lake. This was a very impressive wine for a first vineyard, reminding some of Lebanese wine.

N/A