Vintage2009
TypeRed
ProducerChâteau de Macard (web)
VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
Designationn/a
Vineyardn/a
CountryFrance
RegionBordeaux
SubRegionn/a
AppellationBordeaux Supérieur
UPC Code(s)048302008461, 3388118564469, 3592681891161, 604331003572, 607921019366, 649185001893, 736040014454

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2011 and 2014 (based on 40 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Chateau de Macard Bordeaux Superieur on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 86.8 pts. and median of 87 pts. in 506 notes)

 Tasted by 559Cheers on 4/15/2023 & rated 88 points: Easy drinking Bordeaux Superior. Aging quite rapidly, little barnyard trace. Excellent all around. (485 views)
 Tasted by NCWineGator on 8/31/2021 & rated 88 points: Aged nicely. Light pomegranate, light, dark cherry, earth, hint of musk, minerals, tobacco, cedar, hint of almond, and light spice notes on the palate. Light (+) body, moderate (-) tannins, good acidity and good balance. Dry. Very pleasing. Good integration of flavors. Went well with Coq au Vin. May be at/near/post peak depending upon flavor profile preference. Glad I have a couple more bottles to try over the next few years. (1074 views)
 Tasted by Wineteacher on 2/13/2021 & rated 87 points: Bought 6 exactly 8 years ago. Drinking the 2nd time. $11.99. Nice tannin. Dark berries and a little spices. Good price and quality ratio but not anything big time. It is a WS 90. More like an 87. Good structure for this price. Still nice and bright color. Medium to medium light. Not a bit too old. My cold cellar has done a nice job holding this wine. No longer herbaceous and green. (1320 views)
 Tasted by roxkent on 8/13/2019 & rated 82 points: Bought from WTSO. Still had a couple bottles in the wine cellar from a buy long ago. Definitely at the end of the drinking window. Needs to be decanted. Tastes OK, but definitely past it prime drinking window. For a budget wine it survived longer than I thought it might. (2153 views)
 Tasted by Shabbywines on 11/3/2018: Needs to decant before tasting. Earthy (2675 views)
 Tasted by gcarl on 5/13/2017 & rated 88 points: Decanted/returned to btl 1+hr before tasting event. Typical Bordeaux nose, soft tannins. Nice for $11/delivered (4798 views)
 Tasted by ken128 on 3/12/2017 & rated 86 points: Still tasting good but at the end of the drinking window. (4682 views)
 Tasted by ctbob on 12/18/2016: As most have noted... Drink up (4968 views)
 Tasted by VARoots on 12/17/2016 flawed bottle: Wine wasn't soured, but awfully close. A glass and a half in, decided it was past drinking. Started to get that slight effervescence on the tongue... :P (4411 views)
 Tasted by redmancge on 12/12/2016 & rated 86 points: Didn't expect a lot of this inexpensive bourdeaux and that's about what it delivered. Nothing special but for the WTSO price around $12 not a bad wine still had some fruit but wouldn't hold a lot longer. (3999 views)
 Tasted by ppaluszewski on 12/8/2016 & rated 88 points: Not too bad given that this is a budget Bordeaux. Has aged gracefully but don't think there is upside to holding much longer. Overall good balance with some fruit left and a pleasing aroma. 87-88 pts. PJP 2016. (1832 views)
 Tasted by Wineteacher on 12/3/2016 & rated 88 points: This is an inexpensive Bordeaux Superieur from WTSO. At about $12 a bottle, one needs to adjust expectation regardless of the lofty tasting notes the retailer may have supplied. The advantage is the quality of the 2009 vintage. The wine is still excellent in color of ruby. It is medium-light in weight. Dry with balanced acidity but it is light in flavor depth and complexity. Light red fruit and medium tannins, it is a satisfying house wine and a little more than that. The problem of a low end Bordeaux is that it seems to always tastes like one. There isn't the character and depth of wines of the classified growths or even cru bourgeois wines of poor vintages. I guess there is no getting away with the fact that certain places make better wines. It is a very good every day wine but it really has a very limited future for cellaring. There isn't a way wines like that can improve a lot. Good but it is what it is. It benefits from modern wine making and such a good vintage. A day after opening, The herbaceousness has receded which is an improvement. There is a little leather and greater depth. The tannins are outstanding but the wine handles it ok. It is a lusher and richer wine on day two. I initially had been harsher on this wine and this report here represents my impression on day two and it is an edited version of my earlier note. I initially rated it 85 but I now think it is an 88. (1565 views)
 Tasted by ctbob on 9/16/2016: Not especially complex, but good balance; on the softer side. Doesn't seem to be heading anywhere much more interesting. (1798 views)
 Tasted by VoVo on 7/14/2016 & rated 87 points: Almost amber at the edges but still drinking surprisingly well. An excellent value at $10. (2510 views)
 Tasted by subguy87 on 1/6/2016 & rated 88 points: opened and initially had a fruity and slightly odd taste - not too good. A day later sitting in a decanter and it had opened up and was good, but not great. (4062 views)
 Tasted by Zoomin Z on 9/29/2015 & rated 91 points: What a surprising, complex nose! (After uncorking bottle for several hours) Generous Black fruits, tobacco, heavy oak and liquorice vie for attention. A generous, round, fruity body follows with balanced acidity. The finish ends on a rustic, still relatively harsh tannic note. Amazing QPR ($10). Glad that I didn't drink this earlier, and now I wonder if I should have waited a few more years on this bottle, I wish I had another. (4788 views)
 Tasted by jgkost on 8/8/2015 & rated 89 points: Very nice, good value but nothing spectacular as it is a little flat and thin. (4849 views)
 Tasted by VoVo on 7/18/2015 & rated 87 points: Exceeded expectations. Mature, but not old. Dark in color without amber. A bit rustic, but what can you expect from a $10 Bordeaux. Good balance of fruit, some earthiness, a little tannin and a pleasant acidity. (4265 views)
 Tasted by MCrawford on 7/15/2015 & rated 87 points: Nice acidity, food friendly. Some fruit in the nose, primarily plum, black raspberry, slight earthiness. Some sediment suspended in the wine. Ruby coloring. Finish was medium, and never really firmed up as it sat. Paired with pork chops and pan seared asparagus. (3664 views)
 Tasted by subguy87 on 5/22/2015 & rated 88 points: Okay, very fruity. Aired a couple hours by never seemed to evolve. Not nearly as good as the 2007 Pine Ridge charmstone we started with. (2648 views)
 Tasted by cadams on 5/20/2015 & rated 87 points: Still pretty basic but great acidity that makes it awesome with food. (2063 views)
 Tasted by Barry'sFault on 2/24/2015 & rated 88 points: Last bottle was the best bottle. Slightly past peak, the Macard '09 showed deep garnet with brown tones. Tobacco, leather, and still robust fruit on the tongue. Spicy nose with typical Bordeaux dirt.
Very much enjoyed this fine wine, particularly at the price of a supermarket cabbie. (2288 views)
 Tasted by Oldworlddrinker on 1/3/2015 & rated 90 points: Is showing the benefits of cellaring, similar experience as prior bottles, just more layers of taste (2149 views)
 Tasted by Treibemj on 9/16/2014 & rated 83 points: Fairly basic. Opened up a little on the second day but still not much there. Drink now. (4220 views)
 Tasted by jgkost on 8/16/2014 & rated 91 points: Needed 30 minutes for nose to blow off, then nice red fruit but fairly mellow. (4037 views)
 Tasted by dboatguy on 7/1/2014: need to lock door! (4745 views)
 Tasted by geraldo on 4/14/2014 & rated 88 points: Leve, frutado, taninos leves. (5198 views)
 Tasted by cadams on 4/2/2014 & rated 85 points: Basic Bordeaux.
Mild red fruits but smooth on the palate.
Nothing special about it.
Drink now (5270 views)
 Tasted by Benetka on 3/23/2014 & rated 88 points: See prior note (3826 views)
 Tasted by Benetka on 3/23/2014 & rated 88 points: Red fruit, spice, and stone / minerals on the nose. Blackberry on the pallet. Good for a weeknight with nothing else going on. (3268 views)
 Tasted by Duderino on 3/12/2014 & rated 90 points: Great QPR! (2964 views)
 Tasted by slywka7 on 2/23/2014 & rated 89 points: Nice affordable Bordeaux with aromas of smoke, burning embers and blackberry. Didn't really didn't take that long to come around with flavors of blackberry, smoke, currant, iron and mineral. Finish was very nice for a $15 bottle. Worth exploring for someone looking to get into Bordeaux. (2440 views)
 Tasted by cadams on 2/12/2014 & rated 87 points: Dark red in color.
Decanted for 1 hour
Nose of boisenberries, cedar, cherry cough syrup, touch of alcohol.
Very dry wine on the palate, grippy tannins, fairly basic wine, but does have some red fruits behind the wall of tannins.
Think this could lay down for a few more years to mellow out. Not sure it will taste a whole lot better but should integrate more once those tannins settle in.
Medium-short finish, slighty bitter finish as well.
85 (2376 views)
 Tasted by Leomania on 1/28/2014 & rated 87 points: A decent midweek quaffer. I think a couple of years in the cellar did it some good, but it was ready. No notes to recall. (1893 views)
 Tasted by swivel112 on 12/29/2013 & rated 87 points: Opened to compare to a bottle that seemed corked. This one was much better. Last of 6 and I think the timing is good as this seems to be fading a bit. Still a great QPR for $12. (2995 views)
 Tasted by swivel112 on 12/29/2013 flawed bottle: Opened this one and while I'm still a novice something definitely seemed off, it had a mustiness and very unpleasant aftertaste. Since I had another bottle I decided to open that one to for comparison sake. Offensive smell and taste were not present in the second bottle so I'm going to call this one corked. (2603 views)
 Tasted by ABM on 12/8/2013 & rated 88 points: Very good value Bordeaux! (3028 views)
 Tasted by hcl-1 on 12/7/2013 & rated 84 points: Sehr gute, cremige Textur, samtige Tannine, gut eingebundene Säure ... aber wo sind die Kirschen ? Die kamen nicht so richtig raus, auch über mehrere Stunden nicht. Schade. Möglicherweise eine Verschlußphase, oder er ist einfach drüber. Die letzte Flasche wird damit wohl im Kochtopf enden. :) (2770 views)
 Tasted by Jmartin on 11/29/2013: Not as good as I recall it once being (2951 views)
 Tasted by tschneid on 11/11/2013 & rated 89 points: - Garnet color and aromas of blackberry. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of cherry and licorice anise with a medium body. Linear texture with a medium finish. (2960 views)
 Tasted by tschneid on 11/11/2013 & rated 89 points: - Garnet color and aromas of cherry and licorice anise. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of blackberry with a medium body. Linear texture with a medium finish. (2796 views)
 Tasted by tschneid on 11/11/2013 & rated 89 points: - Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's somewhat balanced with a medium body. Smooth texture. (2430 views)
 Tasted by Oldworlddrinker on 10/23/2013 & rated 90 points: Consistent with prior notes, well integrated food friendly wine, enjoyed with a NY strip and cast iron roasted Brussels sprouts, delicious, salud! (2823 views)
 Tasted by jes0811 on 10/9/2013 & rated 86 points: Light, smooth. Better integration day 2. Good QPR (3051 views)
 Tasted by kpollack on 10/5/2013 flawed bottle: Corked. Unable to rate. (2657 views)
 Tasted by LindaFox on 10/3/2013 & rated 90 points: 50% Cab Franc, 20% Cab. Sauv., 30% Merlot, this Bordeaux blend is heavy and earthy with aromas of wood, soil, coffee, and cherry. It has a long finish and a light, but present acidity. Very good balance. (2819 views)
 Tasted by hcl-1 on 9/24/2013 & rated 87 points: Wieder kräftigere Tannine, aber auch schöne Frucht, frische Säure und cremige Textur. Hat mehrere Stunden (5+) in der Flasche geatmet, teils verkorkt teils offen, wobei die Flasche überwiegend verkorkt war. (2795 views)
 Tasted by toddmk on 9/19/2013 & rated 88 points: Drinking well right now. Don't see this getting much better but could last a couple more years. This is what you hope for in a basic bordeaux from a standout vintage. (2532 views)
 Tasted by Kesslerc14 on 8/29/2013 & rated 88 points: My last bottle of the case I purchased, and it possibly was the best. The range on these bottles was very annoying, as a handful of bottles were flawed/turned, while the majority were delicious.

I fear these are close to prime based on that, and won't be buying any others based on that.

This bottle had great balance and fruit, and was as good as I expect with this wine. (2816 views)
 Tasted by easttide on 8/7/2013 & rated 89 points: This was my last bottle of this. I remember (didn't review) the first two bottles to be easy drinking and good, but this one was just a stunner. Very pleased. If I could find it for the <$10 I paid on WTSO I would buy more, haven't looked yet. (3219 views)
 Tasted by Wineson on 7/28/2013 & rated 88 points: Tasted great on Wednesday night, but lousy when finished bottle on Sunday. (3473 views)
 Tasted by soyhead on 7/28/2013 & rated 89 points: Nose - fruit infused tobacco
Mouth - well delineated and restrained, yet impressively fruity with good minerality. Most impressive for a blind stab, likely shows the quality of the 09 vintage. Possibly merits higher score (3216 views)
 Tasted by metel on 7/17/2013 & rated 88 points: Needs air. Was not good right from the bottle but much better on day two with good black fruit on the nose and palate and integrated tannins. Drink now. (3412 views)
 Tasted by Tim and Bonnie on 6/30/2013 & rated 83 points: Not bad for the money. (3446 views)
 Tasted by hcl-1 on 6/29/2013 & rated 86 points: Nach 2,5 Stunden in der offenen Flasche wäre er perfekt gewesen, aber er musste ca. 2 weitere Stunden in der geschlossenen Flasche auf seinen Einsatz warten und das war etwas zu lang. Die saftigen Kirschen waren nicht mehr ganz so saftig und die erfrischende Säure auch etwas abgeflacht. Erst 88, dann 84 Punkte, macht im Schnitt eine 86. (2811 views)
 Tasted by jayw on 6/20/2013: Balanced and structured, with ripe fruit and secondary notes of tobacco, spice and cedar. (3057 views)
 Tasted by MCrawford on 6/4/2013 & rated 85 points: Needs a good hour of air time to be interesting. Day two was better, showing some standard Bordeaux qualities, simple but drinkable. For $11, it's a decent mid-week table wine. (3301 views)
 Tasted by vbwinefan on 5/20/2013 & rated 85 points: tasted right away, no fruit, harsh, bitter, earthy, clay, mineral; I sealed it and put it in the fridge for a couple days, same on 1st glass/3rd day but then it opened up on 2nd glass/3rd day. I think I paid $25 for this wine which I won't be buying again. Let this one breathe for 1+ hours to make it even drinkable. (3566 views)
 Tasted by spmulligan on 5/12/2013 & rated 68 points: Just gross. No redeeming qualities, other than the nose. This is my third bottle, and, every time I don't want to finish it. I honestly feel guilty because it's so bad I want to dump it down the drain. I try to struggle through it, thinking that it is Bordeaux and has to be at least a little decedent, but it's not. It's just not. It's bad wine. A terrible WTSO mistake.

After having two terrible bottles, I went to my local cheesemonger / wine shop, and asked for something to help out an underperforming bordeaux. Even with the specially paired cheese, this was bad.

In short, this is a terrible wine. It's worse than garbage b/c I feel brad throwing it out and I wasted $ on expensive cheese that didn't make it better. I'd like to give away the two bottles I have left, but it might ruin my reputation.

AVOID (4073 views)
 Tasted by John McCabe on 5/4/2013 & rated 89 points: Was a bit pungent and off right out of the bottle, but a bit of decanting opened up into something quite palatable. My last of these, which is good thing as this stuff is at or over the hill now. (3768 views)
 Tasted by RWCA on 4/8/2013 & rated 87 points: Nice wine to serve at a party. Nothing special or need to hold longer. (4502 views)
 Tasted by hoservin on 4/7/2013 & rated 88 points: Aerated with Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Nose of currant, blackberry, red licorice, cedar and dried herb. Plum, cherry and fine tannins on the palate lead to a medium to long, smooth finish. Medium bodied with good acidity. A very good QPR at $13. Paired with lassagna. (3785 views)
 Tasted by 20/20 on 4/7/2013 & rated 85 points: Uninspiring and boring. Very thin. Can't agree with the professional 90 or whatever, but what do I know.

(3692 views)
 Tasted by DTWOB on 4/6/2013 & rated 90 points: Light nose of berries, more dark fruit on the palate, rather dry with medium acidity and tannins. Nice long finish. (3173 views)
 Tasted by Mootsie on 4/3/2013 & rated 69 points: As bad as the last bottle. A cooking wine or serve late into the evening, but not anything I would serve to guests. Very weak, tannic and void of fruit. Tastes watered down. One of the worst wines I've had so far this year. (3102 views)
 Tasted by Mootsie on 3/28/2013 & rated 74 points: Pretty weak. Not much nose or fruit. Water and oak are the dominate flavors. I know, based on previous bottles, that there is tremendous bottle variation. We'll see what the next bottle brings. (2931 views)
 Tasted by Redguy on 3/28/2013 & rated 86 points: Last bottle of a case+. Can't ever remember being bummed at running out of a $10 wine. Earthy and funky... solid wine. Quite an enjoyable little Bordeaux actually... Ok, I'm bummed. (2990 views)
 Tasted by hcl-1 on 3/24/2013 & rated 87 points: Sehr tanninhaltig dieses mal. Dahinter saftige dunkle Kirsche, cremige Textur und eine würzige Holznote. Dieses mal nicht dekantiert, sondern nur ca. 2 Stunden in der Flasche belüftet, evtl. sollte das doch etwas länger sein. (2900 views)
 Tasted by wine&roses on 3/22/2013 & rated 83 points: Okay for cooking. (3140 views)
 Tasted by Oldworlddrinker on 3/16/2013 & rated 90 points: Consistent with prior notes (3142 views)
 Tasted by golfwineski on 3/9/2013 & rated 80 points: Wtso flop. Muted nose. Thin, no fruit, actually no much tannins....how this got 90 WS I have no idea. Wouldn't take this for free. Had 2 bottles same result on both so not a bad bottle. (3420 views)
 Tasted by colowino on 3/6/2013 & rated 88 points: A light bordeaux with a nose of vanilla, aerated with a Vinturi, didn't need more time to open up. Decent fruit with cherry accents, not a lengthy finish at all, but fairly well balanced. A good value, quite acceptable everyday bordeaux, drinkable now. (3465 views)
 Tasted by hoservin on 2/28/2013 & rated 88 points: Aerated with Vinturi and decanted for 30 minutes, but noted it was at its prime after an hour - let this breathe. Nose of blackberry, currant, tobacco, cedar and dried herbs. A dark fruit core of blackberry and black plum combine with coarse tannins leading to a medium to long, mineral driven, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. An enjoyable bordeaux and very good QPR. Paired with hamburgers. (3246 views)
 Tasted by Barrygloec on 2/27/2013: Not bad alone but better with food. (3340 views)
 Tasted by SSGibson on 2/23/2013 & rated 86 points: Nice everyday Bordeaux with medium body and color. Cab Franc clearly dominates, which I usually like, but this was a bit rough on the finish. Drink now. Did smooth out some after an hour or so. (3072 views)
 Tasted by ctbob on 2/17/2013: Well-balanced on opening, fruit dries out quickly; still, to expect more for ten bones is to be unreasonable; Drink now (3054 views)
 Tasted by 41hijinx on 2/16/2013 & rated 87 points: A very nice luncheon claret. Drink now. (3089 views)
 Tasted by gbanks on 2/14/2013 & rated 84 points: Cab Franc dominates, which I generally like, but its tannins are a bit coarse, and I don't believe time will aid this much. Good table wine though with the right food. (3078 views)
 Tasted by cheetadad on 2/11/2013 & rated 85 points: Akin to a French table wine, inasmuch it's not for the long haul. Herbaceous notes of cab franc dominate this wine. Black currant and dark berries try to peak thru but without much success. Mild tannins and a rather linear and short finish do not leave anything memorable. Drink up before it passes its prime. (3022 views)
 Tasted by John McCabe on 2/7/2013 & rated 88 points: Definitely worth drinking soon. What was once nice fruit is starting to fade to something more drab. It doesn't have the fruit expression of the one I tried a few months ago. This one is more drab and doesn't have much charm. This held up nicely on even day three though, surprisingly. (3171 views)
 Tasted by hende14 on 2/3/2013 & rated 85 points: Still very rough and tannic. Light to medium in color. Cassis and cherry hidden behind those tannins. Did not really get better with a couple of days open. (3572 views)
 Tasted by dboatguy on 1/20/2013: Great with chicken chili with some spice (3638 views)
 Tasted by namja307 on 1/19/2013 & rated 90 points: Definitely smoothed out a lot since last bottle. The tannins are starting to soften and there is a nice fruity nose. I think this will hit peak soon. (3545 views)
 Tasted by Alberic13 on 1/6/2013 & rated 88 points: nice nose, acceptable wine (4078 views)
 Tasted by uncletom62 on 1/4/2013 & rated 90 points: Smooth with fruit and medium bodied. A really nice Bordeaux. (3837 views)
 Tasted by jellisfeingold on 1/3/2013 & rated 89 points: Previous bottles were more old-worldy than this, which showed more fruit and seemed more international. Good structure and mouthfeel. Still to my liking. (3717 views)
 Tasted by 1961Vintage on 1/1/2013 & rated 88 points: $11 bucks. Nice find. Very pleasant. Well rounded.. (3123 views)
 Tasted by drgrape on 12/30/2012 & rated 87 points: Medium body and color. Raisins, leather somewhat earthy. (3307 views)
 Tasted by spmulligan on 12/28/2012 & rated 75 points: Muted nose with some faint blueberries; very harsh so this could use some food; tart, unripe cherries on the palate (2969 views)
 Tasted by CBJB on 12/26/2012 & rated 86 points: I actually enjoyed this better than the lost bottle we had. Used an aerator on the first glass and decanted the rest. Really makes a difference.

Earthy on the nose with a hint of sour fruit. Medium body and a smooth finish with hints of cedar and oak. Great QPR! (2897 views)
 Tasted by pinotfile on 12/26/2012 & rated 86 points: Not much in the nose, fairly vegetative. Thin on the palate after 1 1/2 hrs. of decanting. Light tannins, some acidity and fruit was subdued. It was better with food. Showed better at a Bordeaux wine tasting. (2839 views)
 Tasted by guribh on 12/26/2012: great casual drinker. nice density. good color. muted nose of black cherries and red fruits. not complex but well made. (2785 views)
 Tasted by sven6662 on 12/22/2012 & rated 89 points: put off by earthy aroma but grew on me (2914 views)
 Tasted by steve2 on 12/20/2012 & rated 89 points: Very nice for the money.Tannins are starting to smooth out now. (2538 views)
 Tasted by jayw on 12/15/2012: More nose than previous bottles. Blackberry, plum and cherry, with tobacco and spice. Well balanced. Glad I bought four more bottles on WTSO last week. (3536 views)
 Tasted by NoVaHokie on 12/13/2012 & rated 87 points: Closed and somewhat off initially. Opened up after aeration. Decent for the price. Correct food pairing should help. (3673 views)
 Tasted by jellisfeingold on 12/11/2012 & rated 89 points: Someone's note called this wine "non-Parkerized," and I think that's an apt description in the sense that that this is an Old World wine made in an unmistakably classic Bordo style. The chick making this stuff really lets the grapes tell the story of their terrior, and they tell a clean and honest story. This is a wine that I like a lot, and it's unusual to find quality like this for $10. I just bought my second case. Oh, I've been glugging it into a decanter, and enjoying the slightly dusty tannins of this medium-bodied, nicely fruited and very well-balanced wine. You go, girl (3801 views)
 Tasted by allensounhein on 12/8/2012 & rated 88 points: Had with a nice spaghetti dinner and was good.
Aerated in decanter for 45mins first
Very dark in color and blackberry nose
Pretty good tannins (4001 views)
 Tasted by hende14 on 12/6/2012 & rated 86 points: A little thin and disjointed. Nothing memorable, but more pleasureable with food than on its own. More tannic and harsh than smooth and flavorful. Short finish. (4284 views)
 Tasted by Basil Ganglia on 12/3/2012: PnVnD. Strong purple color, forming nice legs. Muted nose, with notes of cherries and plums. No earthiness or funk.

After giving it time to settle down in the decanter, it had a nice balance of fruit with some subtlety, and a nice balance of acidity and tannin, and a touch of heat. Not a Parker wine; this is restrained and an excellent food wine, with enough depth to stand up to all but the most robust dishes. But it can also stand reasonably well on it's own. DW and I enjoyed it with a lasagna that we had popped into the oven after we both got home from work late. A good pairing; the lasagna had a bite from some sharp Italian sausage that the wine handled quite well. This is drinking quite nicely now, but I don't think there's too much more it could go from here.

Rated good (84-87). At the $11 price this has been available at WTSO this is a very good value for the non-Parkerized. (3575 views)
 Tasted by Kesslerc14 on 12/2/2012 & rated 85 points: Vanilla and blueberry nose. Smooth finish (3333 views)
 Tasted by Craigbilodeau on 12/1/2012 & rated 90 points: Served this wine at a dinner party and everyone loved it. Well balanced with nice acidity and medium tannins. Notes of dark fruit, including plum, blackberry, and hint of cassis. Some earth and tobacco on a nice medium the finish. Very enjoyable (and even more so when considering the price!) (3403 views)
 Tasted by hcl-1 on 12/1/2012 & rated 87 points: Again not as good as in 12/2011. Decanted for 2 hours, cooled and then drank over another 1-2 hours. The chalky tannins and the nice texture where there again. The wood was a bit weaker than before and the dark cherries were more like sour cherries, so the acidity got a bit stronger, which made it less juicy. Still very good and nice with a steak, but not as good as it was in the beginning. (2991 views)
 Tasted by Oldworlddrinker on 11/29/2012 & rated 90 points: Wow! This is the best thing that has come out of Bordeaux for $10.99 (WTSO) in years, what a pleasant surprise. Wine is well balanced with some predominant acidity, this is a blend with 50% of Cabernet Franc, on the nose and palate cassis and blackberry is very predominant, I agree with the nose and taste included on the label, I have 3 more of this and I very much look forward to enjoy them (2920 views)
 Tasted by jayw on 11/28/2012: Strong cassis flavor on opening. Rounded out after several hours, with sweet cherry, followed by blackberry, tobacco and cigar box on the palate. Fruit forward, but enough tannins and acidity to keep it balanced. A steal at $11. (3196 views)
 Tasted by Samdrew92 on 11/28/2012 & rated 81 points: Not as complex as I would have liked. A bit too acidic and sharp at first, but smoothed out after a few hours. Light fruits on the nose and palate... Would have liked more. (3208 views)
 Tasted by hcl-1 on 11/7/2012 & rated 86 points: This time almost as before, only the acidity was a bit stronger, therefore the fruit was a bit restrained. Decanted for ~2 hours. (3831 views)
 Tasted by kwl on 10/21/2012 & rated 86 points: Pop and poured, then drank over 2-3 hours. Interesting nose, with tobacco being more prominant, but supported by a nice undertone of red fruits. Nice structure, though a bit flat on the mid-palate. Overall, not boring and very good value. (4327 views)
 Tasted by DRS-Inc on 10/18/2012: Consumed over 2 nights. PnP & then w/up to 1 hour of air time on 1st night: came across astringent & a bit dill-like. But rounded into good form on 2nd night & close to matching my initial experience & TN from 1st bottle. (3996 views)
 Tasted by jayw on 10/13/2012: Plum and blackberry, nutmeg-allspice, tobacco on the palate, with very prominent pencil shavings on the finish. Excellent structure, pleasing tannins and silky smooth texture. Terrific value at $11. (4549 views)
 Tasted by DRS-Inc on 10/11/2012 & rated 89 points: Blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 30% Merlot. Consumed over 5 days. Initally PnP. Notes of juicy cassis, blackberry, plum, herb, spice and hint of coffee & cigar box. Sweet, soft tannin, good acidity, medium-bodied & short:medium finish. Best on 1st day, but still held up a bit into 5th day. Real good QPR. (3832 views)
 Tasted by bean1003 on 10/11/2012 & rated 87 points: nice nose. fairly dry...tobacco and black fruit. overall well balanced. faded a little in vacuum on day two though. (4508 views)
 Tasted by Seweint on 10/8/2012 & rated 88 points: Consistent with previous notes. (4940 views)
 Tasted by mcsac67 on 10/5/2012 & rated 90 points: Medium ruby color, solid structure with a bit more backbone and acidity than I expected. This crisp bordeaux has pronounced flavors of blackberry, plum and tobacco with a hint of vanilla in the longish finish. A very nice bordeaux and a terrific value. (4879 views)
 Tasted by Seweint on 10/4/2012 & rated 90 points: I really enjoy this wine and it definitely has a freshness and a ripeness that I can only assume is indicative of the overall quality of the 09 vintage in Bordeaux. Nice ripe fruit, balanced acidity, some earthiness...Delicious. (4981 views)
 Tasted by RWCA on 9/30/2012 & rated 88 points: Good wine for the price. (5049 views)
 Tasted by Winokdub on 9/26/2012 & rated 87 points: Good flavors. Balanced. Best with food with its slightly tart acidity. Not an aged but very enjoyable. (5062 views)
 Tasted by Alpton on 9/24/2012 & rated 89 points: Very aromatic nose of leather, tobacco, plum and earth. Medium bodied, super dry with intense flavor of earthy blackberry and tobacco. (4316 views)
 Tasted by Seweint on 9/16/2012 & rated 89 points: Very approachable and a great value for the price. Legitimate taste of Bordeaux (nicely fruit forward, some smokey earthiness) and nice with some flank steak on the grill. (5125 views)
 Tasted by signotim on 9/13/2012 & rated 86 points: tasty but it is a bit thin. nice, everyday wine. (5181 views)
 Tasted by wicozani on 9/8/2012 & rated 87 points: Decanted 90 minutes prior to pairing with bacon-wrapped boneless pork loin. Excellent ruby color, red fruits and plums, and good acidity and earthiness. This was very good for the inexpensive price. (5218 views)
 Tasted by vegasoenophile on 9/7/2012 & rated 86 points: Nice mineral dried nose of dark red and black berry fruit. Some roasty, earthy qualities with dried leaves and hints of emerging funk with swirling. Strong acid on the palate. Gives it a bite and could mislead folks that it's got high alcohol. This will let it age a few years nicely and also integrates it well with food. Stony minerality over dark berry fruit, heavy in currant and cassis. Notes of espresso and bitter chocolate. Lingers nicely with cassis liquer and hints of licorice. (5221 views)
 Tasted by jellisfeingold on 9/7/2012 & rated 87 points: Fairly classic old-wolrd with some weight and body and structure. Liked a lot, especially for the price. (5305 views)
 Tasted by InternationalWineReport on 8/26/2012 & rated 88 points: Loads of roasted dark cherries with licorice, tar, crushed graphite and dried tobacco. This is supported by fine silky tannins that glide across your palate into the long chewy finish. Nice Value. (Best 2013-2018) (5564 views)
 Tasted by flem747 on 8/25/2012 & rated 89 points: Really nice fruit forward and good buy. (5438 views)
 Tasted by fingers on 8/25/2012 & rated 87 points: The most approachable '09 Bdx I've tried but it still didn't seem to fully open until the second day. Color is medium ruby, 80% saturated with very heavy and clear legs, no sediment. Nose is medium to profound with meat, graphite tar, pumpkin, savory spices, cigar, and creamy raspberry. Cab Franc and Merlot ruling the day. Palate is smooth and dry, and plays in nice harmony even if a bit overheated. Finish comes and goes pretty quick, leaving the tannins to say, "Hey, we're still here". Good value/buy 4+12+14+7 = 87 (5665 views)
 Tasted by toddmk on 8/12/2012: Excellent QPR. Great balance and good fruit. Can't do much better for $9. (5770 views)
 Tasted by rocknroller on 8/4/2012 & rated 86 points: Drinking Outside of the Box, But not Drinking Well (Irene's Garden): Medium red color. Small pour. Nose is ok, earth, red fruits. the palate has medium light body, thin mid, prominent tannin. (6831 views)
 Tasted by Barrygloec on 8/3/2012 & rated 91 points: I really enjoyed this bottle (6154 views)
 Tasted by Barrygloec on 7/29/2012 & rated 90 points: I had a bottle of Chateau Haut Gravet and I liked it so I ordered this Bordeaux that I figured would be similar.at a little more than half the price. After having a couple of glasses I still think it is similar. I like it. It might have more acidity than the Chateau Haut Gravet and I wasn't sure if I liked it at first, but I kept wanting more. (6099 views)
 Tasted by Jmartin on 7/21/2012: Excellent buy. Kathy comments on how nice this is every time we open one. (6223 views)
 Tasted by kidsmurf2000 on 7/16/2012 & rated 91 points: Mmmm, good stuff, awesome QPR! (5988 views)
 Tasted by jcsf420 on 7/14/2012 & rated 89 points: Finishing my last bottle now, been open for about 4 hours and it's perfect. Similar notes to my previous bottles. I either need more of this or another 09 bargain while waiting on my other 09's. (5747 views)
 Tasted by CBJB on 7/9/2012 & rated 83 points: Definitely agree on the need to decant. Pencil shavings and some sour fruit on the nose. First taste was a bit harsh. Pretty tart on the finish. Much better with a bite of steak than just sipping on its own. (5891 views)
 Tasted by jcsf420 on 7/3/2012 & rated 89 points: This is starting to peak as I am running out of bottles. Really nice Bordeaux funk on the nose, good acidity! Great with food. This is temping me to crack open some better 09's but I will wait. (5836 views)
 Tasted by Foodievines on 6/11/2012 & rated 88 points: Dark ruby hue in color with lots of earth in nose and mouth but a touch tart and funky out of the gate. Decant this wine for optimal enjoyment. After 15 minutes of decanting the "funk and tartness" wore off and this wine became an excellent value wine. Blueberry, leather, tobacco, soil, and a hint of cedar on the nose. In the mouth, amazing softness on the tongue with lingering notes of dirt, mineral, and dark red fruit. Nice wine paired with food. (6226 views)
 Tasted by Siborg on 6/9/2012 & rated 89 points: Good. A little sour but very drinkable (6071 views)
 Tasted by signotim on 6/6/2012 & rated 88 points: a little funky on opening but blew off quickly and left a pretty, modern style bordeaux with nice tart raspberry mixed with dark fruit. drinks well above the $10 - $12 dollar tariff. no sediment (6026 views)
 Tasted by Ranjan on 5/25/2012 & rated 89 points: My rate 91 first night , decent pencil lead shaving nose, 88 second night (5690 views)
 Tasted by Redguy on 5/22/2012 & rated 84 points: Driven by secondaries like tobacco, leather, earth, wood, and a dollop of Bordeaux funk. Fruit is in the back seat, or maybe more accurately, the trunk. Food friendly with a surprising amount of old world character for the price. Good wine... I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this for a taste of the old world for around $10. (5781 views)
 Tasted by dboatguy on 5/14/2012: great QPR Good with steaks (5914 views)
 Tasted by sellerscellar on 5/3/2012 & rated 88 points: Too much Cab Franc in this one for me. Thin and uninteresting. A good QPR for a Tuesday night quaffer I guess. (6315 views)
 Tasted by rcmcb on 4/26/2012 & rated 90 points: With some decanting, amazing QPR. Solid weekday Bdx. (6828 views)
 Tasted by GaryHOhio on 4/12/2012 & rated 85 points: This is a good Bordeaux for the price but you need to decant it to make it work....decant for 2 hours and enjoy, cherry on the nose, decent finish with unmistakable Bordeaux qualities. Great QPR for $11/bottle I paid on WTSO. (6545 views)
 Tasted by babaji on 4/10/2012 & rated 86 points: Didn't have me jumping up and down but for the price, may be worth a gambit to see if it's your style. Typical cheap Bordeaux (6499 views)
 Tasted by kidsmurf2000 on 4/8/2012 & rated 84 points: Popped and poured, most of it went for cooking... the rest was a bit more of a low-end Superior, a bit bland. Not as god as the others I've had. (6329 views)
 Tasted by Jmartin on 2/26/2012: Nice, inexpensive, easy drinking red. (7487 views)
 Tasted by Audra.bullock on 2/26/2012 & rated 90 points: Light. Dark fruits. Burnt cherry. Nice finish. (7617 views)
 Tasted by Darius100 on 2/24/2012 & rated 88 points: Big and rough the first night. Mellowed out considerbly day two and drank very well. An outstanding value. (7387 views)
 Tasted by Siborg on 2/22/2012: This bottle was sour and had a strong bite. Not smooth. (7505 views)
 Tasted by yeti575rider on 2/21/2012 & rated 88 points: Pretty good for $10. Cherry / blackberry/ bit tobacco. Held up over couple days. (7552 views)
 Tasted by Quarked on 2/21/2012 & rated 85 points: Enjoyable after a couple hours. But for those first few hours, smell was of manure (not bretty barnyard, but manure). Still tasted good, if you could get it to your nose. Three bottles so far, all very inconsistent. (7069 views)
 Tasted by jcsf420 on 2/19/2012 & rated 89 points: This one got a 2 hour decant and it really improved over my last bottle. Aromatic nose of black currants, blackberry, leather and tobacco all mixed in with that sweet Bordeaux funk. Not as much fruit on the palate to match the nose. This has medium body with the dark fruit having a tarty acidity and integrated tannins that suggest it could age some but doesn't seem to have the fruit to hold up. I think i'll drink the rest over the next two years. Pretty long finish too. (6964 views)
 Tasted by namja307 on 2/18/2012 & rated 89 points: Bottle improved a lot since my last taste. Still had the wonderful nose of a great Bordeaux, and the palate really filled up. Had some fruit notes in there, but in the end, the tannins were still present, but had diminished noticeably. I still maintain this is a great value and I will be consuming these bottles over the next 2 years. (6908 views)
 Tasted by bob parsons on 2/12/2012: Ruby-red bright color. Nose was inviting, blackberry, herbal, cherry. Soft chalky tannins on entry, black fruits, good mid-palate.Good value at $20 Cdn. (6868 views)
 Tasted by Siborg on 2/11/2012 & rated 90 points: - It's balanced with a medium/full body. Narrow texture with a medium finish - Excellent drinker. (6519 views)
 Tasted by kidsmurf2000 on 2/10/2012 & rated 90 points: Less Cab Franc-isms than the last bottle, much more well rounded, classic budget Bordeaux. (6476 views)
 Tasted by jgm5972 on 2/8/2012 & rated 90 points: Big Bordeaux with great QPR. Poured with Vinturi and opened up nicely. Dark ruby red color with smoke and tobacco on nose. Flavors of black cherry and spice. Short finish; will decant next bottle with Vinturi to aerate more. (6761 views)
 Tasted by kidsmurf2000 on 2/7/2012 & rated 89 points: Excellent QPR, this is a great Cab Franc-forward wine. Well integrated, mild flavors of stone and earth. (6612 views)
 Tasted by hcl-1 on 2/5/2012 & rated 88 points: This time decanted for about 4 hours, which was probably a bit too long, but it still showed a fresh, juicy fruit and a nice texture, with tannins and wood. Really good QPR. (6341 views)
 Tasted by Motz on 2/4/2012 & rated 86 points: This is a powerful wine for the price point...probably overpowering. Too much greenish Cabernet Franc me thinks. The smell is concentrated, tarish, but the palate is too acidic to allow for a pleasurable drinking experience. It is a kick in the mouth! There's not much going on here either. The finish is short and hot. A good QPR for a jump out and grab you wine. Would cut through the greasiest of foods. (6311 views)
 Tasted by Jackstraw212 on 1/31/2012 & rated 86 points: Muted cherry and earth nose. Mushroom and dark cherry, almost robitussen with an acidic finish. Big enough tannins, but probably not enough fruit to handle much more aging. (6943 views)
 Tasted by thw3z on 1/27/2012 & rated 90 points: A very refined wine for under $20. (6568 views)
 Tasted by wespywine on 1/26/2012 & rated 85 points: good everyday drinker. short on finish. Metal and leather flavors coming through (6614 views)
 Tasted by namja307 on 1/14/2012 & rated 88 points: I agree with the others that this bottle definitely needs decanting. Upon opening, the smell is incredible, like a well structured bordeaux. The finish is simply too tannic to totally enjoy the wine. It needs time. I also destroyed my palate by opening a 1994 California cabernet before this wine. Many in my party did enjoy this wine though, but they are not as serious as I am about wine. Good QPR though. I got it for under $10. (6359 views)
 Tasted by jdb123 on 1/14/2012 & rated 86 points: - Aromas of tobacco and has flavours of mushroom. (6498 views)
 Tasted by kdart000 on 1/14/2012 & rated 87 points: See prior notes, drinking the same. (6945 views)
 Tasted by Isdaddy on 1/11/2012 & rated 85 points: Didn't decant but did pour through the Venturi. Seemed a little thin and uninteresting. If I were to drink again would decant for a couple hours to see if wine would develop more character. (2707 views)
 Tasted by swivel112 on 12/30/2011: I'm a total novice so I won't venture a score but this seems to me to be drinking much better now than previous bottles consumed last spring. Really enjoying it compared to others in the same price range and think I am clearly developing a taste for Bordeaux. Trouble???? (6614 views)
 Tasted by dboatguy on 12/26/2011 & rated 90 points: Still a 90 plus wine (6815 views)
 Tasted by MN2011 on 12/25/2011 & rated 87 points: Nice wine, improved after an hour in the decanter (6984 views)
 Tasted by hkm520240 on 12/24/2011 & rated 88 points: Brought to a Christmas eve dinner. Pop & pour and it showed vibrant ruby red. It has lifted aroma of leather, vegetal, blackcurrant and cherry. Smooth palate with red fruits and right bank leathery notes. Very approachable although it may lack of mid-palate and finish. It is a wines to enjoy now with its soft and silky tannins. Very good QPR and it did well to impress my other family members over the dinner. (6404 views)
 Tasted by eclipse_3g on 12/23/2011 & rated 89 points: Decant at least half an hour. Better after one hour. (6039 views)
 Tasted by bvwino on 12/14/2011 & rated 87 points: Improved as the night went on (7042 views)
 Tasted by Redguy on 12/13/2011 & rated 86 points: Similar to previous bottles. Drank half on day 1 recorked and placed in fridge. Didn't loose any steam on day 2 - still good. Earthy, woody, low sweetness, dry chewy finish (6879 views)
 Tasted by hcl-1 on 12/11/2011 & rated 88 points: Silky texture, dark cherries, chalky tannins. Delicious. Best after about 2 hours decanting. Good QPR at € 7,50. (6830 views)
 Tasted by rallylizard on 12/8/2011 & rated 88 points: 2nd Bottle, upping the score to 88. Nice chalky tannins, nice change up from the wines I have had recently, I am liking this more, good QPR from WTSO at $10.99, nice old-world style right-bank Bordeaux. The prune finish is becoming more interesting to me, a lot of character for a wine at this price. 30 minute decant works wonders on this! (7126 views)
 Tasted by ScubaSommelier on 12/8/2011 & rated 87 points: Above average and very drinkable now. Paired with meatloaf, gravy, green beans, and pancetta risotto. Easy on on tannins. Red fruit and citrus. (7198 views)
 Tasted by Redguy on 12/6/2011 & rated 85 points: This little Bordeaux continues to impress. Driven by what would usually be considered secondary flavors of olives, tobacco, maple buttered toast, and Bordeaux funk with black cherries & blackberries playing a supporting role. While woody and chewy with a shortish finish, this is a good example of Bordeaux Superieur and a great QPR. Very food friendly (7140 views)
 Tasted by BklynNeophyte on 12/5/2011 & rated 87 points: No complaints. If this wine is any indication, 2009 will be a nice vintage. Easy drinking. Comparable: Andrew Bailey. (7177 views)
 Tasted by pedwards on 12/2/2011 & rated 89 points: PnP - This seems to be improving since my last bottle 6 months ago. Nose was a mix of blackberries and sone barnyard funk which I kinda like. On the palate dark berries, light to medium body and a bit chewy which settles with time in the glass. Overall I think this is a great QPR at 10.99. (7116 views)
 Tasted by floating_cellar on 12/1/2011 & rated 87 points: ok, but a little thin and closed on the 1st night. better on 2nd night (7342 views)
 Tasted by jeremy_ross on 11/28/2011 & rated 87 points: Raspberries, cherries, smoke on nose. Sour cherries, tart acid, subtle oak, chalky tannins on finish. Finish is short-med, but it's got an additional perfume component that makes up. (7551 views)
 Tasted by caddis on 11/26/2011 & rated 86 points: Not much on the nose, yeasty, with decent tannins and finish. Not our favorite (7423 views)
 Tasted by Nutty08 on 11/22/2011 & rated 87 points: See prior note for details. Solid QPR. (7524 views)
 Tasted by mfmarozas on 11/20/2011 & rated 86 points: Good, solid Bordeaux notes forward and middle of the mouth. Only negative is short finish. Wish I had bought more for the QPR. (7522 views)
 Tasted by Redguy on 11/17/2011 & rated 86 points: Not a lot of fruit and a bit too much caramelly wood but still an accurate and tasty representation of Bordeaux for little money. This actually has some complexity for $9 and they threw in some Bordeaux funk for free. This is a very good choice for a weekday food wine. (7435 views)
 Tasted by Greggulden on 11/13/2011 & rated 87 points: Nice, inexpensive Bordeaux. (7631 views)
 Tasted by jcsf420 on 11/11/2011 & rated 87 points: Not much more to add about this one, just good old QPR. (7310 views)
 Tasted by rallylizard on 11/9/2011 & rated 87 points: Lots of chalky fruit on the nose. Excellent, deep red color.Took quite a bit of time to begin to open up, I'd recommend decanting for about an hour. Good QPR Bordeaux ($10.99 from WTSO) but not the best I have had in this price range. If you enjoy good table quality right bank Bordeaux, this is an interesting one. The most interesting palate notes are the chalky graphite and depth/complexity of red fruit. The finish was disappointingly short, but the tannins created a good sensation following a good, silky mouth-feel. Hard to complain for the price, but Bordeaux's like these always leave me wanting more. The cab franc definitely powers through (50%) and is different enough to recommend a purchase of a couple bottles.

Second Night: Much smoother, mouth-feel is excellent, but finish is still average. There is a bit of unpleasant prune flavor on the finish as well, another statement from the cab franc powering through. Still maintain the 87-point score. (7460 views)
 Tasted by ckeilah on 11/8/2011 & rated 90 points: I am a sucker for a good, basic, French table wine. French yeasty nose with lavender and sea spray on the nose and blackberries in the mouth. Great with black drum. (6962 views)
 Tasted by Quarked on 11/8/2011 & rated 89 points: Better than previous bottle, so this is still improving in the cellar. Berries on the nose; blackberries, smoke, rust, graphite on the palate. Nicely integrated tannins, though short finish. No funk. Very nice QPR!! (6879 views)
 Tasted by kdart000 on 11/7/2011 & rated 87 points: Similar notes to the last bottle overall. Popped and poured and the green olive and vegetable notes were a bit off putting but once it opened up (after about 45 minutes) it lost those qualities and really became quite expressive. Cherry, raspberry and simple red fruit qualities were propped up with ample tannins to make this a very good bottle of wine for the price. (6920 views)
 Tasted by namja307 on 11/3/2011 & rated 88 points: Very tanning, as expected for such a young bordeaux. However, after an hour or so, the tannins softened a little and the wine was pleasant to drink, although still young. I predict a few years of cellaring will bring about a very nice wine, but not superb. Remember, this is a $10 bottle, not a first growth bordeaux. (6099 views)
 Tasted by GoBlue2002 on 11/1/2011 & rated 88 points: Decanted for 1 hour before drinking. Aromas of berry, earth, funk, and a little floral. A short and simple finish make this a food wine. This wine paired extremely well with chicken piccata w/baby bella mushrooms. (6177 views)
 Tasted by Redguy on 10/30/2011 & rated 84 points: It's hard to believe what an accurate reflection of Bordeaux this is for so little money. Funky, woody, lots of olives, and with lower black cherry fruit character. Not a lot of depth though it has just enough complexity to keep things interesting. Good food wine and a great QPR. (6073 views)
 Tasted by krmcgrath on 10/27/2011 & rated 87 points: Dark berries, earth, rust, charred wood and spice. A little rough and stemmy out of the gate but it worked just fine with our hearty meal. New world ripeness and extract with a bordeaux accent. (6051 views)
 Tasted by Darkhorn on 10/15/2011 & rated 88 points: Nice $10 Bordeaux.. It is a wonderful QPR. This had nice balance between black tea tannins and red fruits like raspberry and cherries. This has a nice delicious factor and is very approachable. Great food wine or would be great at a party cocktail hour. (5632 views)
 Tasted by daver852 on 10/12/2011 & rated 88 points: This wine is much too young to show at its best now, and should improve over the next two or three years. That being said, you can drink it now, if you like your wines a bit on the chewy side. It needs two to three hours of breathing time, though, before it opens up. This property is located in Pessac-Sur-Drodogne, but it's marketed as a Bordeaux Superiere. It is an unusual blend 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. You can see the Cabernet Franc in the beautiful dark color, and smell it in the powerful nose. This wine supposedly spent 18 months in oak, but it isn't overly oaky; not too fruity, either. There is a bit of dark fruit, but the tannic structure and mineral notes mask it. Has a little taste of earthy terroir. Very Old World wine, leaning to the austere side of the spectrum. Nicely balanced, some depth, not a lot of complexity. An outstanding value, and will be an even better one if you can resist drinking it until it reaches its peak. (5561 views)
 Tasted by chanote44 on 10/10/2011 & rated 88 points: I really enjoyed this 09 Bordeaux. It is pretty much ready to drink now with 30 min of breathing. Its not overly complex or concentrated but it has true fruit characteristics of a right bank bordeaux. Very food friendly. (5491 views)
 Tasted by Redguy on 10/9/2011 & rated 87 points: Second bottle from a case and very similar notes to the first. Decanted 1 hr then consumed rather quickly with grilled filets and sauteed mushies. Dark black cherries, olives, tobacco, and Bordeaux funk. Med body but good intensity to the flavors. Very little residual sweetness - just good clean flavors. Light tannic frame and decent acidity. A very good food wine and a strong and "authentic" effort overall - this definitely overdelivers for the $. (5532 views)
 Tasted by bacchusnyon on 10/7/2011 & rated 87 points: well. can't complain at this price point (10 CHF/10 USD. Popped, and sniffed. Cat pee. That disappeared, and some secondaries (dried figs, dusty berries) showed up, nicely. Drank over two evenings, and of course it was much better the second night, so even an every-day Bordeaux from 2009 needs to age. Seriously, if you can get some, buy lots - you can drink it every night of the week for a long time. I'll order a few more cases. (5461 views)
 Tasted by sfg23 on 10/7/2011 & rated 87 points: Good wine ofr the price. (5695 views)
 Tasted by sellerscellar on 10/6/2011 & rated 89 points: Horrible smelling when first opened, thought I got a bad bottle. Let it breath for about 45 min., and the nose dramatically changed into a very typical, right-bank bordeaux. Sweet blue fruits, a bbit tannic for my taste but that seemed to mellow in the glass with more air. Overall not a bad mid-week/everyday drinker. (5603 views)
 Tasted by Redguy on 10/3/2011 & rated 87 points: Decanted 1 hr, drank over following 2 with hamburgers. Aha, one wiff is enough to know we've got a nice little Bordeaux here. Bordeaux funk on nose subsided a bit with time but never completely vanished. Olives, black cherries, dry tobacco leaves, and toasted oak. Ripe prominent fruit with no excess of sweetness. Dusty tannins linger on the dry short finish. Unmistakingly Bordeaux, which at this price point is saying a lot.

My first bottle from a case and I'm already thinking I should have bought more. Four of us had this along side a $40 domestic cab franc for dinner and the concensus was this kicked the cab franc's butt. Very good weeknight food wine that is a guilt-free QPR bargain. (5339 views)
 Tasted by edub7 on 10/1/2011 & rated 88 points: I tried three bottles of this good value Bordeaux Superieur. There seems to be great bottle variation on this one. The first bottle had great and pure cherry fruit with overall good balance. The second bottle was more on the dry mineral side and average, while the third bottle was somewhere in between, maybe more in common with the first bottle, especially after 1-2 hours of air. Overall, I enjoyed this wine and one of the better budget 2009s to hit the shelves thus far, and under $12. (5337 views)
 Tasted by Pinot Evil on 9/29/2011 & rated 89 points: A nice little wine a very nice qpr. (4987 views)
 Tasted by Cubatobaco on 9/25/2011 & rated 91 points: A wonderful surprise! For Bordeaux drinkers that do not want to fork out First Growth prices, this 2009 QPR ($18) will certainly hit the spot. Deep garnet in color, the nose reveals layers of dark fruit, violets, and a touch of olives. Fruit forward, with a delicate entry, flavors of fruit skins, blackberries, plums, and a hint of oak coat the palate creating a mouth watering feeling. Great concentration with big, round tannins make this a pleasure to drink now through 2012. RH 91+ (5038 views)
 Tasted by Jmartin on 9/23/2011: Good drinking wine. Great value. (5068 views)
 Tasted by aldo137 on 9/17/2011: Nose is strong of olives and, believe it or not, jammy fruit. This was a pretty decent mid-week wine, but it didn't blow me away. (5052 views)
 Tasted by Jimstevens on 9/17/2011 & rated 89 points: Good with steak. (5078 views)
 Tasted by ggkemp on 9/8/2011 & rated 85 points: An ok daily wine dominated by the 50% cabernet franc. Lacking character. (5325 views)
 Tasted by allensounhein on 9/3/2011 & rated 88 points: Enjoyed but needs to be in decanter to allow to breath
smoke or tobacco aroma
Had with sharp chedder and ham and crackers and very good
Good daily wine (5226 views)
 Tasted by Serge on 8/22/2011 & rated 86 points: medium body. Plum. Low acidity. Simple taste. Short finish. (5757 views)
 Tasted by Wino from Michigan on 8/21/2011 & rated 87 points: Very average --- (5829 views)
 Tasted by aagrawal on 8/20/2011 & rated 83 points: Ripe red fruits nose a bit light, hint dust, smoke; palate full, a bit tannic/structured, decent fruit, nose >> palate. 83-84 (5679 views)
 Tasted by pituitaryglenn on 8/17/2011 & rated 89 points: My 3rd and 4th bottles. Much better than i remember it. A lovely bordeaux for everyday drinking. Even better with food. Was great with thin crust pizza, but lost its shine on day 2. (5909 views)
 Tasted by Wardad on 8/14/2011: (Disclaimer: I'm really new to this) First try was disappointing. Seemed like more kick than flavor. But, this is my first Cab Franc dominated wine, so it may have just been trying something new. Also, I had it mostly my itself with a little cheese; it's supposedly better with a meal. Will try again with a meal and more decanting (5846 views)
 Tasted by MindMuse on 8/13/2011: This bottle had an even deeper richness of flavor than earlier ones. Really good And food-friendly Bdx for the money. 89+ (5795 views)
 Tasted by John McCabe on 8/11/2011 & rated 90 points: A very good buy. This is a solid everyday wine for bordeaux lovers. (5747 views)
 Tasted by mfmarozas on 8/5/2011 & rated 87 points: - Garnet color with slow forming legs and aromas of alcohol and blackberry. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of black currant, mushroom and cedar with a medium body. Angular texture with a medium finish - Very good QPR. Had with filets and baby bellas. Paired well. Heading back to buy a case at Costco at $8.99/ bottle! Over the years we've had many similar priced Bordeaux wines that did not have the character or interest that this possesses. I don't agree with earlier evaluations that this wine won't continue to improve through at least 2015. (5859 views)
 Tasted by robertgoulet on 7/30/2011 & rated 91 points: If you are a bordeaux traditionalist and you are broke then get your a$$ down to the store and grab a bottle of this. I have had at least two cases of this wine and tonight I witness it's greatest showing yet. Generally, i score this in 87-89 range. Well, not tonight, the nose on this is just blowing it out,(some would say bordeaux funk or barnyard) I say slabs of leather and mushroom, hints of sweet spice and earth, oh momma. A balanced wine well above it's price point, palate matches the nose, very dry finish, just tasty classic bordeaux 101 on the nose and palate. Pop and pour... QPR dream at $13.99. (5962 views)
 Tasted by sfg23 on 7/27/2011 & rated 87 points: Not too much going on but a nice pleasant wine. We drank with Chinese food which may have been a bit much, but all in all pretty good (5731 views)
 Tasted by ckeilah on 7/27/2011 & rated 85 points: Slight urinal nose which, thankfully, abated, leaving what I would swear is Sonoma yeast! Dry and dusty. Not a lot going on, but nice enough. High acid makes this a great pair with Boeuf Bourguignon and scalloped potatoes! (5727 views)
 Tasted by BillyT on 7/24/2011 & rated 89 points: Very nice for a 2009 so young. Good table wine made for food and not 'happy hour' sipping. Not allot going on but a good sound wine. Nice fruit of blackberries, cassis, chocolate, butterscotch, pencil led, cream on the nose. Nice dark translucent garnet/purple to the rim. Light to medium body with medium expressive legs belying its low alcohol content. Some must, tobacco and menthol after about 20 minutes. Will see how it fairs with lamb chops in about an hour. (5880 views)
 Tasted by Nutty08 on 7/20/2011 & rated 87 points: Subtle shy nose of candied berries, green pepper, and cream. Palate has a nice spine and grainy tannins, bright red fruits, and a short to medium length toasty mocha finish. Not deep or complex, but nice ripe fruit while retaining a tenstion at its core. Fantastic expression of bdx for $9. I don't think this will age, drink over next 3-5yrs. (5803 views)
 Tasted by sdwineguru on 7/17/2011 & rated 88 points: Hard to find an $11 wine with such style. 50 percent Cabernet Franc, 30 Merlot, 20 Cabernet Sauvignon. Berries, wood, earth French nose; soft, round, with a bit of tannins; good fruit and finish. Serve with any good beef dish. Needs food; not quite right for casual sipping. (6092 views)
 Tasted by Bellissimo on 7/5/2011: Popped and poured. Note taken at ~ 2 hour point. Currant, tobacco, oak and alcohol on the nose. Taste of herbs, tobacco, currant. Not fruit forward; lacking a bit of acid. Tannins are pretty firm. Too much alcohol on transition from mid to finish. (6039 views)
 Tasted by jdhart306 on 7/5/2011 & rated 89 points: Great taste of dark fruit and blackberries with a decent finish that lasted for at least 30 seconds. Tasted great with Gorgonzola cheese on salad and also with some dark chocolate. A wine that drinks fine on its own, but also works well with strong meats and other foods. A great wine for the price. (6175 views)
 Tasted by Jdgourmet on 6/25/2011 & rated 84 points: the bordeaux isn't much. good color and body, very light however, tight , balanced well, but overall not much going on; expected more from it as it has a 90 rating, but I assume that came from the well made structure of the wine; but you do get what you pay for. much better available for a few dollars more I would suspect at the same level. Have 2 bottles remaining and will wait a bit to see if it opens up and has more in line with the Spectator rating (6167 views)
 Tasted by Jmartin on 6/19/2011: Very nice bottle of wine, partiularly at $11. (6236 views)
 Tasted by John McCabe on 6/16/2011 & rated 90 points: Am surprised at how good this is. It's not huge, dense or rich but it is lively and quite polished and expressive. It may lack the complexity or ageing potential of some of the more pricey Bordeaux, but it really shows what's possible at a modest pricepoint for such a fine vintage. It's quite light, but the fruit really shows and attracts. I'm taken aback. I can't belive I paid just $10 for this. This is a solid workhorse wine for Bordeaux lovers (like me) who want to pare back their expenditure a bit... (7154 views)
 Tasted by MicklethePickle on 6/6/2011 & rated 92 points: Impressive dark garnet color. Very attractive nose with lead pencil and loads of black fruits. Extremely smooth in the mouth, seamless, satiny, feminine, but with plenty of grip, depth and concentration. This has what it takes. Tastes like a classified growth from a good year for sure. The best Cru Bourgeois wine I have ever tasted? Perhaps. Certainly a steal at less than ten bucks. 5-12-17-8: 92/100. (6760 views)
 Tasted by kdart000 on 5/28/2011 & rated 87 points: Great QPR. Simple Bordeaux that should be a daily drinker. Popped and poured, black currant, dark fruits; nothing complex. Drink over the next year or so. (6907 views)
 Tasted by jcsf420 on 5/27/2011 & rated 87 points: My first 09 Bordeaux. This is good QPR at $11. Blackberry and cassis on the nose. Dark fruit on the palate, tannins are very present so this should go a couple more years. Good everyday Bordeaux. (6626 views)
 Tasted by NiklasW on 5/26/2011 & rated 86 points: A very pleasant Bordeaux, with clean red berries on the nose and nice fruity tastes. This is ready to go now, a very easy and pleasant wine. (6718 views)
 Tasted by Bellissimo on 5/17/2011: Consistent with previous tasting. Popped and poured. Nose is currant and tobacco. Taste is fairly reserved with tobacco, dark fruits and lots of tannins. No sense of heat but lacking acid. (6402 views)
 Tasted by pituitaryglenn on 5/17/2011 & rated 87 points: Perfumed nose that was quite generous immediately upon opening. On the palette, very fresh red fruit which didn't evolve much in the glass. Medium bodied. Short finish. Slightly one-dimensional, but overall, good qpr. (6627 views)
 Tasted by MindMuse on 4/30/2011 & rated 88 points: Consistent with note from a month ago. A bit more closed, but was pop and pour at a party. Lots of tobacco leaf over red fruit. (6553 views)
 Tasted by vinopa on 4/26/2011 & rated 88 points: red/garnet in color...Nose: The cab franc dominates the nose with veggies, herbs. tobacco with a hint of red fruit..Palate: Fresh red fruit, herbs, along with some earth tones..Overall a very nice wine and a great QPR..Looking foward to tasting more 09's..Cheers!!! (6629 views)
 Tasted by Sid_Mac on 4/25/2011 & rated 85 points: Had less than half of the bottle on 4/24/11 (decanted) - nice. Vacu-Vinned remainder and drank on 4/25/11: Aroma: more pronounced than first night; toast, fruit. Taste: some acidity, tannins, short finish. Enjoyable. Medium-bodied. It would be nice to find it closer to the CT Community average price of $11, but still happy with it. (6382 views)
 Tasted by BBinSC on 4/22/2011 & rated 90 points: Popped and poured for a tasting; the nose was lively with lots of red fruit and spice. The inviting nose gave way to a fresh palate with bright fruit and acidity working harmoniously together. The finish was average, with fine tannins that make this wine perfect for a meal.

The QPR is outstanding for the quality of this wine. It is a great example of why there was so much hype during the en primeur season for the 2009 vintage. Wow! (6534 views)
 Tasted by dboatguy on 4/16/2011 & rated 90 points: excellent easily 90 pts as rate by WS (6492 views)
 Tasted by mgriffith on 4/3/2011 & rated 88 points: Really did not have many expectations for this wine, but was pleasantly surprised. Basically well balanced, low tannins and a a medium long finish. Lots of fruit, blackberry, plumb and a bit of cassis. Good QPR. Glad I picked up a few bottles on a risk. Will be nice daily drinkers throughout 2011. (7038 views)
 Tasted by jsapping on 4/1/2011 & rated 88 points: Very good everyday wine. (7236 views)
 Tasted by Bellissimo on 3/28/2011: Tasted over two days. Like this more on the second day than the last bottle; more herbs and tobacco over top currants. Fair for the price point. (6601 views)
 Tasted by kenito799 on 3/24/2011 & rated 87 points: Excellent cab franc-dominant Bordeaux...vegetal green peppery nose and palate, medium body. Great acidity, great with food, great QPR (6366 views)
 Tasted by MindMuse on 3/22/2011 & rated 89 points: Rich garnet colored. Opens up with some aeration/air time (Much better Vinturied than straight pop and pour). The nose is driven more by leafy, herbal character than fruit. Sage, dill-weed, sandalwood, gunpowder tea, red currants. Fruit is more present on the palate with slightly tart red currant, herbs and underbrush, dried tobacco, with firm but modest oaky tannins.

My first 09 Bdx, and this value daily drinker test-case bodes very well. I really got way more than I paid for amount of pleasure from this bottle. 88-89 (6439 views)
 Tasted by jhamari on 3/22/2011 & rated 86 points: Clear deep maroon, almost black, color with red showing through around the ring. Tart, juicy blackberry on the nose mild and clean with a herbs of sage and thyme popping in. Medium to light bodied, velvety finish. Nicely balanced with medium tannins. Very easy to drink. Lacking a little complexity but great value for price point. (6366 views)
 Tasted by Bellissimo on 3/21/2011: Deep dark color. Nose is currant and tar though pretty faint. Taste is fairly reserved with tobacco, dark fruits and lots of tannins. No sense of heat but lacking acid. Fair given the price-point but underwhelmed. (6136 views)
 Tasted by Quarked on 3/20/2011 & rated 87 points: Compared to most Bordeaux that we get in the states for $10 - $15, this is very nice. Soft and easy to drink, if a little thin. Nothing exceptional, but well made and no real flaws. Second night showed some improvement, with a streak of red fruit coming to the fore. (5983 views)
 Tasted by CdP in NYC on 3/20/2011 & rated 86 points: Consistent w/ my notes and memories of the 2005, but this shows a little more depth and polish. Light to medium weight with quality blackberry and raspberry fruit, which are a bit subdued by green earth and toasted oak notes. Love this wine - the varietal correctness, plus sense of place, plus moderate price and easy going attitude combine to create an exceptional buy.

Drink now and over the next four years. 86 (6129 views)
 Tasted by Mpkopelman on 2/27/2011 & rated 90 points: Great bottle of wine for the price. Not incredibly complex, but something I could drink daily. Very nice. (6099 views)
 Tasted by alohaboydean on 2/25/2011 & rated 88 points: First whiff brings a hint of the cab franc vegetal character which is then supplanted by some nice red fruit...when first opened it is a bit tight buy opens up with time. Excellent with pork and gets better the longer its in the glass...great value! (6152 views)
 Tasted by AngelicWines on 2/24/2011 & rated 88 points: Very pungent wine with strong barnyard, currants and tobacco. Taste of bitter dark fruit with meaty earthy tones and a long finish. (5847 views)
 Tasted by robertgoulet on 2/5/2011 & rated 88 points: Undermistaken bordeaux on the nose and seduced by the cab franc, tasted somewhat pauillac-like. Good wine
$10bones all day (6009 views)
 Tasted by gunpwdr on 1/19/2011 & rated 89 points: Nose: A good whiff of menthol and tobacco, to go along with big currants. There's also a toasted rice element, with some ashtray action as well. Palate: Big, bright, juicy currants on the attack. No shortage of sweetness or acidity here. Like lucky jim, I too was surprised by the profile of this Rolland creation. Some peppery, braised meat on the mid-palate and then more currants, along with a hint of stems on the finish.
The profile of this wine is defined by its bright, juicy fruit, rather than what one might expect from the 2009 vintage and the Rolland touch, and this is a good thing. For ~$10, you really cannot go wrong with this wine. If this is the quality one can expect from a 2009 superieur, then I can see myself going in big on the classified stuff. While relatively uncomplex at this stage, it is still very good now and should definitely improve with 1-2 years of bottle age. (6359 views)
 Tasted by jim dixon on 1/14/2011 & rated 88 points: More green veggies than I was expecting for a 90 pt. (WS) Michel Rolland Bdx, but once I noticed that this is 50% Cab Franc I wasn't as surprised by the vegetal element. Not opposed to green pepper mixed with dark and red fruit and some pleasing oak, I like this quite a bit for $11. Interesting to see how it develops with a bit of age, as it seems somewhat disjointed at the moment (admittedly it is right off the truck). It obviously isn't built for the long haul, but I'll put a bottle away for a year or two. (6221 views)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles

Château de Macard

Producer website

U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)

2009 Château de Macard

50% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot.

Aged for 18 months in 50% French oak barrels and 50% in stainless steel tank.

Red Bordeaux Blend

Red Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.

Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.

France

Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)

Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings

2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.com

Bordeaux

Bordeaux Wine Guide

Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)

History of Bordeaux

History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification

"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson

"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson

"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson

"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon Rimmerman

Bordeaux Supérieur

Read About Bordeaux Superieur - Bordeaux Supérieur - Read about Petit Chateau and Bordeaux Satellite Appellation wines
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