Vivienne Franks
presented Bordeaux wines, to try and persuade us that Bordeaux had
turned over a new leaf, and the wines are now competitive again.
The wines were all by
Dourthe, who are one of the major producers in the region. The
majority are stocked by the Wine Society, with a couple from
Waitrose, and one (the Sauternes) which isn't readily available in the shops.
In price they ranged
from £8.99 all the way up to the rarified levels of £25. 2 Whites,
5 Reds and 1 Sauternes to finish
As follows
White
Dourthe La Grande Cuvee 2012 - £8.99
Chateau Rahoul, Graves 2010 - £16
Red
Chateau Pey La Tour, Entre deux Mers 2008 - £9.95
Dourthe Reserve, Montagne St Emilion 2008 £10.25
Chateau Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac. St Emilion Grde Cru 2005 £25
Chateau Rahoul, Graves 2008 - £16
Chateau La Garde, Pessac-Leognan 2004 - £22
Sauternes
Chateau Roumieu 2007
Overall – does
Bordeaux hit the button - Its a tricky one, because the 4 “Expensive”
wines, plus the Sauternes were all very good, but at those prices –
they jolly well should be! I mean, I can see why people do rave about
“top” Bordeaux wines, but they should be good, and I am not going
to argue that one. BUT, the 3 wines at the £10 mark
(8.99/9.95/10.25) were good, but not that good – I'm still
personally convinced that I can find wines aqual or better, for £2 a
bottle less.
So yes, you can get
very good wines from Bordeaux – but you do have to pay for them.
