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Château Lafon-Rochet 4e Grand Cru Classé Saint-Estèphe 2004

Château Lafon-Rochet 4e Grand Cru Classé Saint-Estèphe 2004 

Château Lafon-Rochet 4e Grand Cru Classé Saint-Estèphe 2004 

Dark garnet color. The depth from the nose gives black fruit notes, spicesearthsmoke and just a hint of burnt wood and red berries that brings in some freshness. Round and silky palate feelslowly polished by the years of cellaring, but still gives the impression that it’s far from over. Slightly crisp finish with remanescance of the strenght this wine had before. The flavors are of the same type as the aromas with the addition of salty notes on the finish.  Very satisfying for a wine bought 8-9 years ago. Excellent (91) 

Made of 51% Merlot, 46% Cabernet-Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. Aged 16 to 18 months in oak barrels, 50% being new. Alcohol level of 13%

Château Lafon-Rochet’s website: lafon-rochet.com 

Château Lafon-Rochet 4e Grand Cru Classé Saint-Estèphe 2004

Château Lafon-Rochet 4e Grand Cru Classé Saint-Estèphe 2004

Château Langlais Bordeaux Supérieur 1988

Château Langlais Bordeaux Supérieur 1988

Château Langlais Bordeaux Supérieur 1988

Still shows a dark color with brownish rim. The nose is clearly on evolutive notes such as dry leaves, tobacco, earth with some alcohol. More expressive on the palate, this wine pairs a good acididy with some back bone and a long lasting finish. Of course the aromas are also on the registry of evolved ones, but that’s exactly what’s charming about this wine, that with the opportunity to open a bottle of mature wine without having to broke. Good+ (88)

Blend of Merlot and Cabernet. Alcohol level of 12,5% 

Available through private import for around 33,00$ with Agence Boires:

agenceboires.com

Château Langlais Bordeaux Supérieur 1988

Château Cailleteau Bergeron Tradition Côtes de Blaye 2015

Château Cailleteau Bergeron Tradition Côtes de Blaye 2015

Lightly colored with green hue. Salty and herbacious nose with citrus fruit and flower notes. Enjoyable acidity on the palate with flavors of citrus fruit, herbs, green apples and a great intensity and finish lenght. This is really well made! Very good (89)

Made from 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% sauvignon gris. Aged in stainless tanks. Alcohol level of 13%

Available at the SAQ for 16,70$ (Code SAQ : 10863281)

The Château’S website: cailleteau-bergeron.com

Represented in Québec by VINS FINS l’Agence: sdvf.ca

Château Cailleteau Bergeron Tradition Côtes de Blaye 2015

La Fleur de Haut Bages Libéral Pauillac 2012

La Fleur de Haut Bages Libéral Pauillac 2012

La Fleur de Haut Bages Libéral Pauillac 2012

Very dark ruby color. Nose of red and black berries, spices, earth, but it’s fresh and inviting! About the same as the nose for the flavors, there is structure and body, but it doesn’t lower its freshness. This was tasty and enjoyable! Very good+ (90)

Blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot. Aged in 1-2 years old oak barrels for 12 months. Alcohol level of 12,5% 

Available at the SAQ for 44,00$ (Code SAQ: 11454526)

Château Haut Bages Libéral’s website: hautbagesliberal.com

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com

Château Cailleteau Bergeron Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2012

Château Cailleteau Bergeron Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2012

Château Cailleteau Bergeron Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2012 

Dark garnet color. Nose of dark berries, spices and smoke. On the palate this wine shows the Bordeaux classic balance with notes of tobacco and leather, this fruit flavors paired with an enjoyable bitterness. Approcheable now, but would surprise many of us after some ageing in a cellar. Good+ (88))

Blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec. Aged 13 months in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 14%

Available at the SAQ for 19,55$ (Code SAQ : 00919373)

Château Cailleteau Bergeron’s website: cailleteau-bergeron.com

Sample proposed by Vins Fins: sdvf.ca

Château Bujan Côtes de Bourg 2014

Château Bujan Côtes de Bourg 2014

Château Bujan Côtes de Bourg 2014

Dark ruby color. Nose of spices, wild berries and some leather, oak and smoke notes. Thank you Bordeaux for letting us have that type of wine in our glass! Medium strenght on the palate with chewy fruit notes then a long spicy and smoky finish. This wine have what it takes to cellar and could also pair perfectly with roasted and comforting dishes that we all will need as the cold season begins! Very good (89) 

Blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 month in aok barrels. Alcohol level of 13.5%

Available in SAQ stores for 22,45$ (Code SAQ : 00862086)

Château Bujan’s website: chateau-bujan.com

Represented in Québec by Rézin Sélection: rezin.com

Château de Carolle Graves 2014

Château de Carolle Graves 2014

Château de Carolle Graves 2014

Dark color. Nose of green notes, berries, spices, graphite and some oak. Balanced between classic Bordeaux power and a good drinkability for that type of wine. Flavors of dark berries, spices, a touch more oak from what I had on the nose. This wine calls in for a roasted meat dish, perfect pairing for this fall! Good+ (88)

Blend of 50% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged 12 months in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 21,45$ (Code SAQ : 11401547)

Sample proposed by VINS FINS L’agence: sdvf.ca

Chartier Créateur d'Harmonies Fronsac 2012

Chartier Créateur d’Harmonies wines

Chartier Créateur d’Harmonies wines

I had the opportunity to taste over the last two years few wines made by François Chartier, a well-known sommelier, an author of many wine guides (still have many copies at home and these did influenced the buying of my first cellared worthy bottles many years ago…), for his wine and pairing, for his recipe books made after years of research with renown chefs and wine producers from all over the world.

But what about the wines? I must admit that at first I doubt about them, being quite overwhelmed by the labels on the bottles and the marketing machine behind the wines. But every time I’ve tasted his wines, I was always gladly surprised by them.

From his Tuscan blend tasted blind with some friends, to the Spanish white I had during last Grande Dégustation de Montréal and not forgetting the rosé wine tasted along more than 20 other wines, I did enjoyed them every single time.

Now having his latest release in my hands, here is my first “official” tasting note on one of the Créateur d’Harmonies wine:

Chartier Créateur d'Harmonies Fronsac 2012Chartier Créateur d’Harmonies Fronsac 2012

Dark ruby color. Nose of smoke, dark berries, bay leaves, earth and pepper. Smooth on the palate but still stands up in a great showing with a spicy finish. Good flavors of berries, earth, mushrooms and just a touch of grilled Bell peppers. Good+ (88)

Made in collaboration with Bordeaux’s native winemaker Pascal Chatonnet, this wine is a blend of 86% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 4% de cabernet-sauvignon. Aged 12 months in 1 and 2 years old oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Available in SAQ stores for 19,45$ (Code SAQ : 12068070)

François Chartier’s website: francoischartier.ca

The sample was proposed by Trialto: trialto.com

 

Here is a video from François Chartier explaining the winemaking behind this wine and giving his thoughts on how he wanted it (French only):

Cheval Quancard Cuvée Clémence Entre-Deux-Mers 2014

Cheval Quancard Cuvée Clémence Entre-Deux-Mers 2014 

Lightly colored with green hue. Very typical of what sauvignon blanc can give with lemon, rocks, grass and some saltyness. Round on the palate with tropical fruit, yellon melon and candied lemon. Medium acidity level, the wine still have some freshness to it that supports the wine flaor concentration. Ends on a light green note that I like. Good+ (88)

Made of 70% sauvignon blanc, 20% sémillon and 10% muscadelle. Aged 6 months in oak barrels, 66% of them being new. Alcohol level of 12,5%

Available at the SAQ for 17,30$ (Code SAQ: 10392394)

Cheval Quanquard’s website: chevalquancard.com

Sample proposed by Sélections Fréchette: selectionsfrechette.com

Château Pape Clément Grand Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan 2001

Château Pape Clément Grand Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan 2001

Château Pape Clément Grand Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan 2001 

The traditionalism side from a wine is not a flaw to me, it’s even something I’m looking for in a wine when I want to cellar an age worthy bottle or simply to enjoy, as I like the style! That’s where Bordeaux wines or Bordeaux blend styles wines (as some Californian or Italian wines do) comes in handy since they are some of my favorites.

Glad I was when, at a lunch with wine geek friends, I was faced to this blog post wine. Tasted blind at first, did well identifying the Bordeaux blend, which I liked as explained earlier. Here is my tasting note:

Dark cherry color. Nose of old wood, spices, dark berries, earth, so fine and classy. With air the Bordeaux origin does show more. On the palate there is no doubt that this is a Bordeaux blend type of wine with some minerality, finesse all the way, deep and long, the luxurious oak ageing still showing without being heavy. Also had flavors of black berries, spices and slightly bitter green bell pepper notes. Very long finish. I was aiming at a Bordeaux blend from Tuscany. Excellent+ (92)

Made of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 months in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

This 2001 is not available anymore in SAQ stores, but here is a link to what’s left of other vintages of that wine: Pape Clément wines availability

The Château Pape Clément is a property of Bernard Magrez: bernard-magrez.com