On a recent Friday in Chicago, Second Glass sponsored Wine Riot! at the Grand Hall of Union Station. Truly geared to the masses of savvy wine lovers under 35 years old, attendees of any age could download an app whereby you could find the wine you loved from specific tables and rate it as one thumb up, two thumbs up, or “meh”. (I really loved the “meh” part…) Now that the event is done, you can go to the Second Glass website (link above), plug in a wine which was offered, and discover how many attendees rated the wines and what their ratings were! The vast majority of wines at Wine Riot! were under $20.00 which is a price point that most cost conscious people can handle for everyday or even special occasion imbibing. Plus I now have plenty of wine fodder for my Wine for the Weekend articles!
Today’s article is focusing on wines I tasted at the Bordeaux Wines table…mainly because I love wines from France, the Bordeaux wines were delicious and at an affordable price point, and Theresa and all the others at the table were amazingly nice and well informed! Find them on Facebook at Bordeaux Wine or follow on Twitter @bordeauxwines. If you’ve been reading my articles, you know how I’m a sucker for good service and smart people behind the table at a wine tasting!
Theresa et moi at the Bordeaux Wine booth at WineRiot! Chicago…Merci!
The Bordeaux AOC produces red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot grapes and white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle grapes. The Bordeaux vineyards are divided into three broad areas due to the Dordogne and Garonne rivers combining to form the Gironde Estuary. Medoc, Graves, and Sauternes districts lie to the west and south of the Gironde/Garonne and are referred to as the Left Bank. Between the Dordogne and Garonne is the Entre-Deux-Mers AC (“between two seas”). The other main districts are St. Emilion and Pomerol to the north and east of the Gironde and Dordogne and referred to as the Right Bank. Wine lovers of every taste and budget can find a wine they love and (honestly, I’m not being paid to write this) don’t assume that you can’t find or afford a good wine at a good price from Bordeaux.
Which wines were offered from the Bordeaux Wine table at WineRiot! ?
**2010 Chateau Graville-Lacoste – This wine is from Graves and I gave it two thumbs up for its crisp, snappy taste. It’s a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes (two of my favorites) and I would consider this a go-to wine thanks to its honey-lemon aroma, fresh herbal taste, and lingering finish. $18.00.
**2010 Chateau Bonnet – From the Entre-Deux-Mers region, this delicious wine had a serious grapefruity taste yet was not overpowering. Consisting of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle, I loved this wine’s more intense grapefruity and yellow peach taste. Pair with some shellfish and a salad and you’ll be in Bordeaux heaven! Two thumbs up! $13.00
**2009 Chateau Lescalle – A Bordeaux Superieur wine, it had plenty of earth notes mixed with cherries and blackberries. This wine was quite smooth and the fruit was definitely up front and center. Make sure you have this very affordable wine with some food…maybe a rich pistou or some lamb? One thumb up only because I had it right after a crisp white! $14.00
**2000 Chateau Bessan Segur – Yes! I would love to have had a nice steak with this choice thanks to its soft tannins, dark, red fruit taste, and some oak thrown in. From the Medoc region of Bordeaux, this great value Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend would be fantastic with saucy mushrooms or mussels. Two thumbs up! $20.00.
**2008 Clos Jean – The Loupiac appellation in the Entre Deux Mers subregion is the home of this sweet dessert wine which would be a nice alternative to a Sauterne. Mostly Semillon with Sauvignon Blanc grapes, I enjoyed its smooth, delicate taste which would be perfect with Asian food, blue cheese, or melon. Two thumbs up! $11.00.
Be sure to go onto the Bordeaux Wines website for more information and check out your local wine shop for affordable choices…even look for the wines I’ve listed above! Will you give them two thumbs up?
Cheers! ~ Cindy
