Chateau Cantenac Brown 1978

Chateau Cantenac Brown 1978 is in Margaux,  Bordeaux, and is  a 3rd growth  from the 1855 classification in the Medoc. The vineyard itself comprises of 35+ year old vines that are of a 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The vineyards are carefully managed with sustainability in mind, pruning, removal of buds, leaves and secondary shoots,thinning out so yields are perfectly controlled. Alot of the grapes are picked by hand then screened at the winery to maintain only high quality fruit is used in the wine. Stainless steel vinification tanks and they remain here for 10-15 days followed by malolactic fermentation in barrels , this is where the harsh malic acid is converted to lactic acid so smoothing off the taste of the wine. Following ageing for 12-15 months in 50% new oak ( so allowing for careful air contact ), with 3 monthly racking, it is fined and stabilised traditionally by the use of egg whites and then bottled, all this is overseen by the chief winemaker Jose Sanfins.


We opened 2 bottles of this wine as the tasting group was large enough - and that in itself was interesting as they had come from 2 diffeent cellars, and one had not weathered the course so well, it was 'dry and dusty', no fruit remained and it had died an elegant death, whereas the remaining one was elegant with more spice than fruits but well structured if soft and approachable, it had a long length and a cedar finish. A charming wine but needs to be drunk soon ( the other - sadly that date had well and truly passed ).

Chateau Lascombes 1997 Medoc, Margaux, Bordeaux

Chateau Lascombes 1997 is a Chateau based in Margaux in the Medoc and is a second growth under the 1855 clssification. The pale garnet wine had aromas of cigar box, spice and a hint of wet straw, but only a little fruit ( rhubarb). The acidity, body and alcohol  are all in balance though the later is slightly warm, the texture silky and the tannins low and ripe. The 1997 vintage was poor and hence the issues this wine has - it lacks fruit, the hint of wet straw on the nose, all due to underripe fruit at picking and the dilution is due to a wet vintage. The cost of this wine is around £35.

Chateau Angludet Margaux 2008 and 2004

Chateau Angludet Margaux 2008 and 2004
Margaux - an area that all wine lovers will have heard of, many will have tasted wines from this area in Bordeaux and some may have visited, the Sichel family bought this property in 1961( devastated by the 1956 frost and only 5ha under vine when purchased and Cru Bourgeois Exceptional, moving to Cru Exceptional Superior in 2003) and after much renovation now makes wine under the watchful eye of Benjamin Sichel ( son of Peter Sichel). The 32ha estate of gravelly soil with vines ( 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot ) 25 years old are machine picked and then vinified in old cement vats for 20-30 days, and after malolactic fermentation are barrel aged for 12-14 months 25% are new oak, then fined traditionally with egg whites and gently filtered before bottling.
Ch Angludet 2008

A deep garnet ruby red with narrow rim has thick coloured legs. Aromas of farmyard and, spice, smoke is enrobed with black fruits and is perfumed, layered complexity and fine tuned. In the mouth one is immediately aware of the silky texture, black fruits, vanilla, spices, and the ripe grippy tannins, great body, well balanced acidity and the alcohol though not high is structural enriching the experience, a truly pleasurable wine that still has some maturing time that will improve it further. The price is £24.

Ch Angludet 2004

Deep garnet with coloured legs and narrow garnet rim. Promises much on the nose, vanilla is still present but seems more integrated and the fruit is sweeter and softer and mainly black fruits. On the palate one is entranced, the sweet fruits blended well with the spices and elegant and structured well. The tannins are softer than the 2008 and silky but still with some grip. The length is long and a delight to the end, finishing with gentle spices and black fruits which have mellowed with age and a hint of liquorice, great finesse and balanced throughout. An elegant wine with structure under a soft exterior. This wine though a delight will with some more ageing reach its peak - worth the wait! Priced at £36.