Château Bellefont-Belcier
Tasted Sunday, March 30, 2014 by PanosKakaviatos with 948 views
First day of a weeklong tasting of Bordeaux 2013 from barrel. Organized by the Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux at the lovely Château Bellefont-Belcier in Saint Emilion. Tasting conditions were impeccable with excellent service to all tasters. Most people have heard of the dreary weather conditions almost throughout the 2013 growing season, and the tough selections that vintners had to make. In tasting with esteemed wine author and friend Jane Anson and fellow wine writer Adam Lechmere, we got the sense that some estates chaptalized to the point where the heat and alcohol were too present for a small vintage. Other estates played it so safe that they ended up with boring and faceless wines, the worst feeling thin and even weedy. But some estates - such as Rouget and Fleur de Gay from Pomerol - did quite a fine job, stressing an "unforced" drinkability that seemed "honest" to the vintage. They certainly must have selected very carefully.
This was an interesting first look at 2013 from barrel. More notes coming!
2013 Haut-Carles 84 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac
Like other barrel samples tasted, the nose was attractive enough - even floral, but the palate proved hard and somewhat astringent.
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2013 Château de la Rivière 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac
Plum fruit. A bit of refinement here, even notions of tobacco. If somewhat jammy and hot on the finish. Tannic presence. One of the more successful Fronsacs.
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