At a special wine-tasting and learning event that mixed work and leisure, at the Vin-X office, a fine wine investment company, a few of my colleagues and I had a unique experience of a private tasting to explore and savour the 7 best Bordeaux wines, including both right-bank and left-bank top wines like Chateau Latour and Château Pavie, selected from Vin-X’s collection. This is my first time trying the Bordeaux left-bank first-growth wine and the right-bank wine with the award of Premier Grand Cru Classé A.
Wine list and Tasting Notes
1.Charmes de Kirwan Margaux 2019
Wine profile
Price: about £45
Wine Region: Bordeaux left bank.
Wine Area: Margaux
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Grape varieties: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Merlot
Tasting notes
A deep, rich ruby-purple colour gives a glimpse into the essence of this vintage. Although it tastes a bit too young, it still has a concentrated beauty. The delightful complexity of its aroma combines more primary luscious black fruits with a dash of spice, think black pepper, a touch of cinnamon, and just a hint of vanilla.
2. Château Cantenac Brown 2017
Wine profile
Price: about £81
1855 Classification of Bordeaux: 3rd Growth
Awards: Wine Advocate 92, James Suckling 93
Wine Region: Bordeaux left bank.
Wine Area: Margaux
Winemaking: aged 60 percent in new barrels and 40 percent in one-year-old barrels.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Grape varieties: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot
Tasting notes
The taste is a harmonious fusion of black fruits and a symphony of spices, including tobacco, dark chocolate, cloves, and cigar boxes, accompanied by a subtle waft of lavender.
A medium ruby colour gracefully unfolds, revealing a secondary aroma with notes of vanilla that emanate profound concentration. With high acidity and a lingering finish, it presents itself as a wine of refined luxury.
I can say that this wine is my favourite among the 7 wines.
3. Château Pavie 2017
Wine profile
Price: about £312
1855 Classification of Bordeaux: Premier Grand Cru Classé A
Awards: Wine Advocate 99
Wine Region: Bordeaux right bank.
Wine Area: St Emilion
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Grape varieties: 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting notes
Château Pavie 2017 boasts a deep garnet wine colour with Flavours of black and red cherries, black raspberries, and hints of cumin seed, tar, and liquorice. The palate is full-bodied, plush, and juicy, with a lingering, fragrant finish. While it is currently enjoyable, it has the potential to age for another 5 years or more. After a few weeks, I tasted Château Pavie 2010, which was so amazing and incredible. It displayed good balance, and I could say that now is the perfect time to enjoy the wine.
4. Château L’If 2015
Wine profile
Price: about £86
Awards: James Suckling 98, Jancis Robinson 17
Wine Region: Bordeaux right bank.
Wine Area: St Emilion
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Grape varieties: 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc
Tasting notes
The wine is the sibling of Le Pin. The palate presents medium to full-bodied, and Intense aromas of blackberries, and dried leaves, and notes intense mineral character with sweet tobacco, meaty and cloves. However, I felt a little bit astringent.
5. Les Pagodes de Cos 2012
Wine profile
Price: about £73
1855 Classification of Bordeaux: 2nd growth
Awards: Robert Parker 88, Jancis Robinson 16.5, Tim Atkin 92
Wine Region: Bordeaux left bank.
Wine Area: St Estèphe
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Grape varieties: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot
Tasting notes
Medium garnet colour. This wine in a bottle aged for 12 years with slightly Tertiary Aromas, it presents flavours of faint earthy notes with small black cherries. The tasting notes highlight pencil lead notes, sweet plum, meaty, bacon and leather.
6. Château Lafon-Rochet, 2005
Wine profile
Price: about £70
1855 Classification of Bordeaux: 4th Growth
Awards: Wine Enthusiast 90, Wine Spectator 90
Wine Region: Bordeaux left bank.
Wine Area: St Estèphe
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Grape varieties: 54% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot
Tasting notes
The second oldest wine we tried today, it has already been in its bottle for nearly 20 years. The 2005 Lafon-Rochet presents strong tertiary aromas with wet soil, horse stable, and old cabinet. On the palate, it offers tobacco-tinged black raspberry, fruit, displaying a beautiful balance with good substance. Also includes a dense cassis truffle, tar, cigar box, and a smoky, tobacco leaf. Sometimes you can imagine an old lady wearing her old-style perfume, also when she opens an old cabinet, these 2 smells combination.
7. Château Latour 2001
Wine profile
Price: about £1,800
1855 Classification of Bordeaux: 1st Growth
Awards: Wine Advocate 95, James Suckling 95
Wine Region: Bordeaux left bank.
Wine Area: Pauillac
Alcohol: 13 %
Grape varieties: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
Tasting notes
The priciest, most esteemed, renowned, and also oldest wine sampled today, having gracefully aged within its bottle for nearly 23 years. The 2001 Latour displays primary notes of blueberries and blackcurrants mixed with slightly tertiary aromas of crushed stones, truffles, and oak on the nose. With a very deep garnet colour and a full-bodied palate, it features nuanced notes of blackberry, black olive, and cherry compote. The wine unfolds with a lead-pencil character, accompanied by hints of sandalwood, wet leaves, cigars, and cloves. The long finish is marked by mineral undertones, which add to the wine’s complexity and depth.
However, Lafon-Rochet 2005 exhibits more tertiary characteristics than Latour 2001, along with a pronounced oxidation flavours. We all believe that Latour 2001 needs to be aged in the bottle for another 10 years. But why is that?
Conclusion
In my opinion, Bordeaux wines consistently have a timeless quality, ancient with their flavours reminiscent of earthiness, dried leaves, wet soil, pencil lead, of course, black currant. However, please pardon my candidness, I maintain the belief that the Californian Bordeaux blend has the potential to surpass top Bordeaux wines. The 7 wines we tried, from the young Charmes de Kirwan Margaux 2019 to the prestigious Château Latour 2001 a cherished first-growth aged for almost 23 years, showcased the rich diversity of the region. Personally, I lean towards the left bank as I find the right bank to have a slight green undertone that doesn’t quite suit my taste. Each wine brought a unique and enjoyable experience, making the event a real celebration of Bordeaux’s exceptional winemaking.
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