I am revisiting another bottle (my last one) of this 2016 because I had a theory which proved to be true: 2016 was too good of a vintage from this decent chateau to have a drink-by end-date of 2021 - I would say there are enough tannins for this wine to peak around now to the end of 2023. It even still has all of the same characteristics from my last review (quoted below), except change the damp earth in the bouquet to tar. I am pleasantly surprised how much fruit still exists in the bouquet and on the palate.
"Bouquet of cherry, blackberry, and damp earth. Light-medium body with medium finish. Good balance. Flavors of cherry and currant on top of a tobacco leaf base, with a hint of leather. <snip> Slightly better than everyday drinking wine. A well-crafted basic Bordeaux to open with a good meal."
So, I am bumping it up one point on the rating scale to 89. My best regards to the grower and the wine-maker. Better than the 2015 by a hair due to its structure .....
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Bouquet of cherry, blackberry, and damp earth. Light-medium body with medium finish. Good balance. Flavors of cherry and currant on top of a tobacco leaf base, with a hint of leather. The tannins might carry this another year. Slightly better than everyday drinking wine. A well-crafted basic Bordeaux to open with a good meal.
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Received as a gift. A typical merlot-predominant table Bordeaux. Tar and leather aromas with typical dark fruit on the palate, a hint of overripe plum but otherwise okay and decently balanced. Medium finish. It would probably be hard to find a better Bordeaux at this price point - but if $10 is your mark, you can get far better quality wines from other appellations. 79.
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James Suckling 90 -Bordeaux, France - "A solidly structured wine for a basic Bordeaux red, but this has also been made with good feeling for balance. Good Length, thanks to the healthy tannins. A blend of 65% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc."
BRAND Chateau Bellevue Bordeaux COUNTRY / STATE France REGION Bordeaux APPELLATION Bordeaux/Bordeaux Superieur WINE TYPE Red Wine VARIETAL Bordeaux Blend STYLE Fresh TASTE Cherry, Red Fruit BODY Light-bodied
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7/3/2023 - coal9 Likes this wine: 89 Points
I am revisiting another bottle (my last one) of this 2016 because I had a theory which proved to be true: 2016 was too good of a vintage from this decent chateau to have a drink-by end-date of 2021 - I would say there are enough tannins for this wine to peak around now to the end of 2023. It even still has all of the same characteristics from my last review (quoted below), except change the damp earth in the bouquet to tar. I am pleasantly surprised how much fruit still exists in the bouquet and on the palate.
"Bouquet of cherry, blackberry, and damp earth. Light-medium body with medium finish. Good balance. Flavors of cherry and currant on top of a tobacco leaf base, with a hint of leather. <snip> Slightly better than everyday drinking wine. A well-crafted basic Bordeaux to open with a good meal."
So, I am bumping it up one point on the rating scale to 89. My best regards to the grower and the wine-maker. Better than the 2015 by a hair due to its structure .....
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6/24/2020 - LEEJV123 wrote: 87 Points
Medium body, soft, round.
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5/29/2020 - PJS55 wrote: 88 Points
Full bodied, deep red
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5/9/2020 - coal9 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Bouquet of cherry, blackberry, and damp earth. Light-medium body with medium finish. Good balance. Flavors of cherry and currant on top of a tobacco leaf base, with a hint of leather. The tannins might carry this another year. Slightly better than everyday drinking wine. A well-crafted basic Bordeaux to open with a good meal.
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12/24/2019 - traumamed wrote: 79 Points
Received as a gift. A typical merlot-predominant table Bordeaux. Tar and leather aromas with typical dark fruit on the palate, a hint of overripe plum but otherwise okay and decently balanced. Medium finish. It would probably be hard to find a better Bordeaux at this price point - but if $10 is your mark, you can get far better quality wines from other appellations. 79.
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10/12/2019 - BlueGem wrote: 71 Points
An everyday drinking wine that pairs well with popcorn or chocolate.
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8/29/2019 - brittae wrote: 90 Points
James Suckling 90 -Bordeaux, France - "A solidly structured wine for a basic Bordeaux red, but this has also been made with good feeling for balance. Good Length, thanks to the healthy tannins. A blend of 65% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc."
BRAND
Chateau Bellevue Bordeaux
COUNTRY / STATE
France
REGION
Bordeaux
APPELLATION
Bordeaux/Bordeaux Superieur
WINE TYPE
Red Wine
VARIETAL
Bordeaux Blend
STYLE
Fresh
TASTE
Cherry, Red Fruit
BODY
Light-bodied
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