Chateau La Pointe 1996 in Pomerol, Bordeaux

Chateau La Pointe 1996 in Pomerol, Bordeaux is pale with garnet streaks, on the nose it beacons you in with red and black fruits, sweet spice and cigar box aromas, it is complex and multifaceted. On the palate it is all that you would expect, black fruit dominates followed by sweet spices, smokey tobacco and a little in the way of dried fruit, the length is long with a sweet black fruit finish. Good acidity, alcohol enrobing and good ripe, savoury, tasty tannins make this superbly structured wine a delight, it has a predominance of merlot ( Merlot, 75% in fact, with 10% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon )and this gives it a rich fleshiness which coats the mouth leaving you wanting more! Coming it at £40'ish - this elegant wine seems a steal.

Chateau Garraud 1996 Lalande de Pomerol

Chateau Garraud 1996 from Lalande de Pomerol on the right bank in Bordeaux is a property owned by Michel Rolland. It is a blend of  80% Merlot, and then Cabernet Sauvignon and  Cabernet Franc with vines average 25+ years of age. The wine is aged for 12-18 months in forty percent new oak. This wine is pale garnet, aromas of spice and some red fruits and black fruit to back it up, this follows through to the palate and is a well structured wine with complexity, balanced in acidity and alcohol with the tannins fading but still with a savoury note. The finish has length and is dry. This is a wine that is losing its fruit and does not have the tannins or fruit to allow it to remain in bottle and improve - so drink now while it still has a fading charm.