Two 2011 Bordeaux Bargains – Under $14! (Vintage Correction)

PERFECT WEEKNIGHT REDS!

"During my last trip to Bordeaux, I spent a week tasting over 1,000 different wines. It was an amazing time to experience Bordeaux's finest food and wine. While it is wonderful to drink aged out Bordeaux as well as sample the current releases of Haut Brion Blanc, Lafite, Petrus, Cheval Blanc and Yquem, I am always on the hunt for those 'Tuesday night' wines that deliver both top quality and an affordable price. There is almost no other place on the planet that does a better job combining significant production with unrivaled quality than Bordeaux. While the big names get the attention for their stratospheric prices, it's the smaller producers who make good, affordable wines that I love to discover!

My brother Glen has been sharing quite a few Malbecs from Argentina recently – I'd like to point out that there are still some terrific values from the 'Old World' as well. We have a terrific selection of well-priced Bordeaux – the wines that blow me away with their 'quality to price' ratio. Two of my favorites are below – these wines are absolutely delicious bargains (both are under $14!), and precisely the kinds of 'finds' that I love to pass along to our customers!" – Jim Knight, Wine House

Note: In the earlier version of this email, we mistyped the vintage on the La Martinette - we have 2011.

"A decidedly modern Bordeaux, fruity, elegant and round. The vineyard is 100% Merlot, which allows me to produce a supple wine with good depth of color. I do not push the grapes' maturity too far, to preserve the aromas of red fruits and spices. The extraction of the tannins is carried out with a gentle hand, to obtain a soft and round palate. A touch of oak is then used to harmonise the wine's aromas and structure. Unpretentious and accessible, it is the ideal accompaniment to bring pleasure to your everyday meals." – Jacques Lurton, Winemaker

ABOUT LA MARTINETTE

La Martinette is located in Moulon, on the left bank of the Dordogne, in the Entre deux Mers region. It is the estate on which the Lurtons originally started out in the Bordeaux region, 170 years ago, when the first descendents of this large family came to settle in the area. The vineyard attached to the property was abandoned after World War II and the land left fallow, then passed on within the family.

In 1994, Jacques Lurton bought the main house and some of the estate's buildings from his cousins. In January 2007, he bought six hectares of old Merlot vines in the village, to re-launch the label and the wonderful history linked to his abode.

This is a phenomenal bargain – excellent juice at a fantastic price! On the nose, mixed red fruits blend seamlessly with light spice, sandalwood, red plum reduction and fruit leather. The palate keeps the red fruit theme with raspberry and cherry cola in the foreground. This is forward and easy-drinking, light in acidity with gentle tannins. The dominant sweet fruits mesh with warm flavors of carob and light earthiness; the finish is relaxed with a focus on, again, sweet fruit. This is very tasty wine and a great way to introduce your friends to Bordeaux at a quite reasonable price (i.e., perfect for parties, celebrations, etc.).

ABOUT MAUCAILLOU

"Maucaillou" means "mauvais cailloux", French for bad stone, as the term was understood by the farmers of the middle ages, since that this type of gravel plot was not suitable for growing grains, the main source of livelihood at the time. It was later discovered that such gravel outcrops constituted an ideal terroir for highly expressive vineyards. Such were the beginnings of Maucaillou, an exceptionally talented vineyard that was established in 1889 and whose wines are excellent and accessible examples of what Bordeaux can offer.