Life is too short to drink bad wine

Bordeaux 2017 – harvest and weather report Bordeaux 2017 will be a ‘fascinating’ vintage to taste, according to Gavin Quinney (@ GavinQuinney)  of Chateau Bauduc. In the article below, he summarises everything you need to know about this year’s harvest. Bordeaux 2017 will go down as the year of the frost. But now that the harvest is complete, it’s clear that this really is a vintage of haves, have-nots and somewhere-in-betweens. For those growers and châteaux with vineyards that weren’t hit, there has been every chance of making very good wine. Here is a look at how the weather stamped an indelible mark on the vintage, along with numerous images of the harvest. Contents and highlights Introduction – a small crop 45% down on last year due to April frost The growing season Pretty good – rain end of June, dry summer, hot August, damp start to September, fine finish The harvest – a view from the top 80% of top wines from 150 leading châteaux not impacted by frost T...

This wine from Pomerol and 2010 is absolute stunning! Below is an extraction of an article from the Crush wine & spirits site which sums it all up. The 2010 Bordeaux produced wines that are built for the ages. This is a vintage that harks back to the wines of old.  This is a special vintage for Bordeaux. More importantly, for us,  it is a vintage that marks something of a return to a more classic idea of Bordeaux.  These are poised to be some of the longest lived modern-day examples. Vieux Chateau Certan (VCC) has turned out two absolutely stunning wines. And note we wrote “wines” – plural. The 2010 vintage at VCC is not only about the Grand Vin.  In fact, one of the most sought after wines of the 2010 vintage is the estate’s second wine, La Gravette de Certan. There’s no way around the fact that Pomerols are pricey. It’s almost impossible to find sub-$60 Pomerols that deliver the level of quality that have made the area famous.  Forget about fi...

Bon Pasteur is a small property in Pomerol close to St.Emilion. The vineyard is spread around in different plots with various types of soil. The soil varies between clay/gravel to clay/sand. Normally 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is used in producing the wine. The grapes are hand harvested and double sorting. Fermentation in steel tanks and ageing for 15-18 months in new French oak. Deep brilliant ruby colour with a delicate nose of red fruit. The tannins are slightly firm with a well structure palate. Very nicely balanced wine. Quite powerful and full bodied with a long finish. Drinking perfectly now. Ca 30€. Only 20.000bottles are made.

Pomerol wines are just delicious, but ever so expensive. This one called Ch.de Sales is of the inexpensive kind and it gives you all the indications of what Pomerol can deliver. 2003 was very warm vintage but that has not affected the wine too much as it still has a nice acidity. Dark red colour with brick reed rim. Dark fruit, plum, cherries, some mint and chocolate on the nose. Lovely fullbodied taste which very smooth and rustic at the same time. Ch de Sales 2003 Pomerol Ca 25-30€ pending the year

First wine Medium dark red wine with red rim. Decent smell of dried fruit and ripe cherries. Quite attractive nose. Very soft but big taste. Some smooth tannins and a slightly unripe ripe finish. Good length with taste of dark fruit and cherries. Overall good quality although not fantastic. Score 16.60 Ch. Chantalouette Pomerol Ca 20€ Second wine Purpur red dark colour with long legs. Smell of horse, leather, farm and black currant. Well balanced taste of dark berries with very limited tannins. Smooth. Really nicely balanced wine that are drinking well right now. Bordeaux?? Score 18,50 Ch. Poujeaux 2004 Moulis Ca 25€ (back then)   Third wine Very dark red colour with purpur rim. Sweet red berries on the nose. Some flower and rose as well. Hints of chocolate. Dark chocolate and fruit on the taste. Very big and long. Lovely balance with smooth tannins and delicious acidity. Overall a very good and big Pinot Noir !!! (how wrong can you be...

This is a very basic Pomerol made from 70% Merlot with the rest rest being Cab Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Deep red colour with a bouqet filled with ripe red fruit, chocolate and a hints of vanilla. The 2010 vintage has lots of fruit, firm body with a decent well balanced aftertaste. Pomerols are expensive wines normally, but this one is around 20€ or around 300NOK. If it is bought in France it's worth the money, if you buy it Norway it's perhaps a bit pricy, but it gives you the Pomerol experience if that's what you after. Try with lamb or game.

Oh what a lovely Pomerol! Dark colour, dark fruit and packed with tobacco, coffee and dark chocolate. Big full bodied and mega smooth taste. Pure velvet! A great wine and drinking very well now. Ripe delightful tannins. 2009 is a great, but pricy vintage. Available among others at a tiny resto in Paris 7 called H.Kitchen. Delightful tiny place, but a gorgeous wine list. Ch. Moulinet 2009 Pomerol High price

This is a lovely fruity Bordeaux from Lalande-de- Pomerol. In addition to be good and giving you a Pomerol experience it is also reasonable , ca 200 NOK (or 15€), which is not a bad price for a 2009 version. Deep dark red colour. Big seductive bouquet of ripe red fruit, with some earthy flavors, cedar, leather and plum. Firm solid spicy taste with hints of dark fruit and spices. A good mouthfeel which is nicely balanced. Vieux Château Gachet 2009 Lalande-de-Pomerol Red meat and cheeese

Produced by Ch.Nenin in Pomerol this is quite a decent and reasonable red from this area. Pomerols below 25€ are very hard to find but this is one of them. Deep purple colour. Dark fruit, plum, vanilla and chocolate on the nose. The taste is subtle, medium body with nicely balnced fruit, acidity and tannins. A very decent Pomerol indeed. Fugue de Nenin 2010 Pomerol, Ca 22€ Keep 3 more years before drinking it (2016)

Deep dark red colour with purple rim. Dark berries, blackcurrant, roasted coffee beans, pencil sharpener and an overall very clear and complex bouquet. Beautiful balnced wine with medium acidity and big but soft tannins. Great structure and lots of dark fruit. Big and long finish. A great wine and definitely Medoc ! Opps! Pomerol? You gotta be kidding... (must be the 10% Cabernet Franc...) Vray Croix de Gay 2007 Pomerol Ca 50€ Score 18.30

Found this Pomerol at l'Ecluse in Paris the other day. It welcomes you with open arms into a seductive aroma and taste picture of red berries, earth and velvet fruit. Beautiful balance. To be enjoyed with food or just on it's own. Any time.... Ch Croix de Gay 2006 Pomerol, 29€, generous and relaxing Merlot.

Bought some bottles of this wine some time back and paid around 25€ per bottle. Purchase price now is around the double. This is a big property in Pomerol and apparantly a favourite with the British Royal family. Since 1997 it has been owned by Jean Hubert and Michel Delon who also owns the Ch Leoville Las Cases (another favourite). When you drink this wine you realise how different Pomerol can be from for example a Medoc despite the fact that the same grapes are being used. In Pomerol Merlot is however the dominant grape instead of Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard (25 hectares) is set in a large park on a high dominated by a mixture of deep gravels and sand. The wine has enticing aromas of plum, sweet blackberry and wet earth. It makes you wonder what delicious taste is to come and you wont be disappointed by the lovely smooth creamy full bodied texture that just swirls around your tongue and polishes the mouth with soft elegant tannins. No wonder the Royal family loves this! I...

WC keep giving upsetting results, so again last Friday. First half with full control and lead to Brasil was enjoyed with a nice but somewhat light Pommard made by Vincent Gerardin. Smoky cherries on the nose with velvety taste which was perhaps a bit on the short side. Worth the money, but not overwhelming quality. Pommard Vielles Vignes, Vincent Gerardin Score ca 17,00 Second half turned out to be a fullbodied performance by the Dutch and to match the surprise turn of the game a lovely Pomerol was poured in the glasses. Earth, plum and cherries, silky texture with big well balanced mouthful. Lovely stuff these Pomerol wines, just like a solid Burgundy, but oh so expensive.... Incidently the owner also has a property in Burgundy..say no more Ch Rouget 2004, Pomerol one of the better low priced ones   Ca 18,00 Rouget = mediterranean rock fish...

After two glorious sunny days and temperatures up to 20c it was Norwegian spring yesterday: bucketing rain and 9c. It only lasted for some hours with the sun returning in the afternoon. Found a 2003 Pomerol in the cellar, Ch. de Sales is a solid less expensive version of this Merlot dominated wine, perfect with the "confit de canard". Plummy earthy with lots of fruit and soft tannins. At around 20€  this is good value for money! Lets Easter begin. Ch de Sales 2003, Pomerol, perfect for "cold" evenings......

This is a very good Pomerol and one of the few reasonable Pomerol wines you can get. Its one of the largest domaine in Pomerol with 70% Merlot with the rest being Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon. The wine is elegant and feminine with earthy undertones and cherries on the nose and palate. We are drinking 1998 right now (2008) which is slightly too old for this wine. 2000 was great last year so it peaks at around 5 to 6 years old. You can get the 2003 vintage for 21€ which is a very good price and the 2005 is not much more expensive. A certain P+(+).

Pomerol is a difficult red wine region to understand and find good quality wine for a reasonable price. If you have lots of money its absolutely no problem >>> just buy any of these Merlot dominant soft earthy seductive wine! In Pomerol they produce small quantities of wine and achieve extraordinary prices due to the limited volume (or how about Ch Petrus for 2000€ ? a bottle that is...) Below I have gathered some of the wine we have tasted over the last few years that are reasonable in price to be Pomerol (15 to 30€ in most supermarkets or wine shops)). Normally they should be drunk within 5 to 7 years.; Cadet de Gombaude 2004   16€, earthy soft, good, P Clos Rene 2004     16€, plummy jammy smooth, BUY La Croix de Gay 2001 30€, lovely wine bought at Nicolas, P+ Le Seuil de Mazeyres 2004, 18€, a great Pomerol lacks  structure, P Ch de Sales 2000 15€, red fruit velvety stuff , BUY Ch Chantalouette 2001 16€, earthy,plummy...