Château Sciando-Mallet 2004

Château Sciando-Mallet 2004 is a château not included in the 1855 Classification of the Medoc, and chose not to take part in the Cru Bourgeois in 1932 and the history of the property has been varied, but it is property that produces quality wines at a price that offers value. The property sits  in the commune of St.-Seurin de Cadourne, just to the north of St Estèphe, and the vineyard is densely planted  with high yields up to 80 hl/ha The varieties planted are 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the remaining 5% are part Cabernet Franc and part Petit Verdot. Manual harvest, gentle crush and cold maceration for up to 3 weeks after a warm (33c) fermantation. Oak maturation is used, and up to 100%  oak for the top wines but 20% for the second wine and finally the wine is bottled without fining or filtration.

The wine has an elegance which only comes with good breeding and careful treatment, the aromas of black berry fruits, chocolate, cedar box and spice and the influence is continued through to the palate, here the tannins are soft, silky but supportive, the acidity offers an elegance and nerve to the wine while the alcohol supports the whole structure, the length - long and sweet black fruits and spice that adds multi level complexity. A fine wine with real pedigree - elegant, complex and generous fruit and accessible - great class!
Score : 94

Chateau Lafon-Rochet 2003 St Estephe Bordeaux

Chateau Lafon-Rochet 2003 a fourth growth from the 1855 classification of the the Medoc in Bordeaux is from St Estephe  with the vines planted at Chateau Lafon-Rochet are 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, this should mean that this is the percantage in the wine itself - but this could be weather dependant. It is a Claret which had good depth of colour especially considering its age, a garnet narrow rim indicates it.
2003 was a very, very hot year, St Estephe is not as hot as other areas in Bordeaux, and due to a bad year the yield was low ( so promises great concentration of flavours in some cases). The pick was early - about 1 month early, in August and the resulting wine had firm acidity and enrobing alcohol, warming but well integrated. The tannins are obvious, grainy and drying - I would also say savoury. The rich fruit flavours on nose and palate are concentrated, of black fruits predominantly and cedar box  all parcelled up with a sweet spices and encompassed by a lovely velvety texture. This is a juicy fruit driven wine ( and 9 years old!) which still has alot of time that it could remain improving in bottle due to the obvious tannins, freshening acidty and concentrated fruits and amazing structure given by these 3 elements.