Steve Evans Wine: Bordeaux recent vintages

With all the hype around 2009 Bordeaux I thought it worthwhile relooking at a few vintages from recent years to see how they’re showing. So I recently tasted with the bar team from Greens in Cornhill the following different appellation wines which they list.

http://www.greens.org.uk/

Chateau Bonnet Reserve Rose 2009, Andre Luton, Entre deux Mers: I can’t believe that a wine this good can be so young as it is literally only a few months old. A vibrant crimson colour throughout, aromatic intensity with fresh red berries. 12.5% and crisp with some palate weight, creaminess of texture, so a good structure for food. Coupled with notes of over ripe tree fruit such as nectarines, peaches, plums, plus savory undertones thus a great wine by the glass as well. Very enjoyable and recommended.

Les Tourelles de Longueville 2006, Pauillac: Interestingly served in screwcap. Clear with a red hue to crimson. Drinking now with integrated tannins and ripe acidity. Concentration of weight harmonized with primary red fruit flavours. Soft notes of chocolate.

Phelan-Segur La Croix Bonis 2005, St Estephe: Stunning pink to true dark red. Softly aromatic with lite notes of cassis. Integrated elegant texture, good weight, and rounded acidity with soft tannins, 12%. Fruit forward so beginning to drink now but will last a lot longer. Notes of red apple skin, with the stone of apricot or peach.

Chateau Durfort-Vivens 2004, Margaux: Colour from vibrant plum skin to deep blackish red. Aromatic with notes of flowers, roasted lamb, and lite spice. A deep savory palate with undertones of dark nuts. Real concentration but yet to harmonise with oak, acidity, and tannin sitting apart.

Chateau Feytit-Clinet, 2003 Pomerol: Lite Orange to deep brick. Soft aromas of herbs and cooked chicken. Very forward with dark baked plums, fine soft tannins and ripe apple acidity. Secondary characters such as mushroom, black pudding, and oak. Drink now.

It is only a small sample size but key points are: Yes 2009 & 2005 are good years. Second wines are made to drink early. Hold on to 2004 Grand Cru Classe Margaux and make a point to myself to taste some more Medoc 2004s soon for comparison. Drink your 2003 right bank wines from now.