Bordeaux Tasting

This is the 10th event organized by a group of friends who enjoy world-class wines and exuberant dishes. Each tasting is organized around a theme whether it be a wine region, grape varietal, or a particular cuisine. This 10th rendition juxtaposes the Left and Right banks of Bordeaux, and closes with a delectable Sauternes. We accompanied these greats wines with a selection of apertifs ranging from vegetables in a vinagrette to cold cuts of various hams. The main entree was a Prime Tenderloin of Beef made in a Chateaubriand-style with Roasted fingerling potatoes. For dessert, we showcased three blue cheeses from various regions and inmade in different styles.

The wines were organized in 4 flights starting with the Left Bank, followed by the Right Bank, then a comparative of 2009 and 2010, and finishing with the Sauternes.

THE FOOD
The Chateaubriand


The Fingerling Potatoes

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (22%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot (4%)
Founded: 1680

• 2000 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Medium body red with bricking on the edges. Bouquet of evolved dried red currants, sweet dough, good dose of pencil shavings, spice box. Palate echoes the bouquet with the addition of some oak and well integrated tannins. This wine is ready to drink and is a nice balanced and well crafted Claret.

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Blend: Merlot (90%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), Cabernet Franc (5%)
Founded: 2001

• 2004 Château Bellevue Mondotte 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Black and purple color. Bouquet is concentrated with ripe black fruits, sweet dough, and lactic notes. Palate shows lower acidity and thick juicy red fruit, xmas spices, and some chalky feel without overwhelming the senses finishing short with lightly bitter fruit. This is a concentrated modern wine that is true to its limestone-rich terroir, and still has plenty of time to settle down. 94+

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Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (5%), Petit Verdot (5%)
Founded: 1942

• 2010 Château Gloria 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Full body color but a bit closed at the moment. Reticent bouquet of fruit tree bark, tinge of manure and dark fruits. Palate has dark cherry, dense oak, and dusty tannins. Finishes on the shorter side and needs more time to develop. 90-93

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• 2009 Château Gloria 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Full body and vivid dark color. Bouquet is more evolved than the '10 with red and black fruits, camphor, leather, and a sprinkle of peppery spices. Palate has intense red fruits, sticky tannins, big dose of oak, with a minerality that carries through a medium finish accompanied by gentle fruit. This is a very good showing and a wine well balanced between structure and pleasure. 92-94

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Blend: Semillon (90%), Sauvignon Blanc (8%), Muscadelle (2%)
Founded: 1618


THE CHEESES

Bleu d’Auvergne (South central, France)
Blue-veined semi soft and creamy blue cheese from pasteurized cow’s milk


Persille du Beaujolais (Rhone Alps, France)
Semi soft blue cheese from pasteurized cow’s milk


Rogue Creamery Caveman (Oregon, USA)
Semi soft blue cheese from raw cow’s milk

• 2001 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

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