2005 Château d'Escot

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  4/29/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (ESCOT) 2005 Bordeaux Dear Friends, Ok, I’ve been saving this one for the right time and that time is now. Through thick and thin, Chateau d’Escot has persevered, staved off takeover bids, protected their prized few hectares in the northern Medoc and ultimately their decision not to sell to one of Bordeaux’s most influential family’s was the right one to make. They knew they had the terroir and the wine was sitting right there for the taking. If you like the sound of a junior 2005 Calon-Segur that can be opened without pretense or posturing, this is your wine. This could be a very long offer with parables, stories and words of poetry regarding the fight of the common man versus the nobility but I will make this strictly about the wine and the need to support a small-time enterprise that is about to be anything but. Chateau d’Escot is right at the precipice and while their prices remain laughable, I urge you to consider taking the plunge with one of the closest “sure things” we can put out there (nothing in this life is a sure thing, especially with wine, but 2005 Bordeaux from a fastidious craftsman trying to make classified growth quality wine for this price is about as close as you will get). Chateau d’Escot lies in the hamlet of Lesparre just to the north and west of Saint Estephe. If the Pierre de Montignac from a few weeks ago was trying to emulate Montrose then Escot’s hero is the above mentioned Calon Segur. This Cabernet dominated wine is sultry, mineral-imbued, layered and extract-rich red fruit on a stick (Bordeaux popsicle?) for a pittance of a price and the medal winning showing at Brussels was no accident. At the current exchange rate, to get something this good for around the same price from 2005 should require a major foghorn of an offer, but (verbal assaults aside), I think you get where I’m going with this. I’ve thought 2005 was great from the get-go (at the very first barrel tastings) but many of the lower priced wines continue to exert themselves and d’Escot deserves all of your attention. It is not in my nature to believe any hype but the journalists are on to something when they say 2005 Bordeaux represents a once in a generation opportunity to stock up on the lesser wines for everyday consumption - this is where your money should be spent as many of the gems at this level will age for years as they are considered to be top-rate wines by their proprietors, not also-rans. They are the best foot forward from small family establishments that had a near-perfect confluence of sun, soil and exposure in the 2005 vintage to grace us with something very special. This wine represents that mantra - it is a terrific find for everyday or a dinner party for 20 and I really don’t think you need to spend more than this to enjoy all that 2005 in the Medoc has to offer. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price directly from the Chateau cellar with perfect provenance 2005 Chateau d’Escot Grand Vin de Bordeaux (Medoc) I will open this up to 24/person before the masses have their way with this wine (after the WA comes out in a day or two most of the unsold 2005 Bordeaux are going to either disappear or increase in price even further - that’s why I want to get this out today). I cannot allocate more than 24 to one person. Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Bord8577