WTN: Two good QPR Bordeaux.

Bordeaux is so often criticised for poor wine value that I think it worth posting separately on these two which I found at under €10 prices in local supermarkets.

Lucky dip? Well not exactly. I had identified Château Martinat as a possible stand to visit at the Salon des Vignerons Indépendants after reading a RVF recommendation. Château Ramafort is a wine I recall buying with satisfaction two or three times in the 90s. So there are pearls amongst the swine on the shelves, but one cannot identify them easily without guidance or experience.

2012 Château Martinat - France, Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg (12/5/2016)
This modestly priced (€9) Côtes de Bourg from 80% Merlot and 20% Malbec is quite a discovery. Colour deep nearly black. Nose attractive blend of red fruit and cigar box. Palate medium+ bodied showing fresh but quite rich fruit with none of the frequent Merlot cloy, some depth and complexity with grilled meat and more cigar box, fresh acidity, some minerals and a firm structure which no doubt owes something to the 20% Malbec. Good wine, good QPR and worth a repeat purchase.


2011 Château Ramafort - France, Bordeaux, Médoc (12/7/2016)
I had Ramafort several times from vintages in the 90s and recall an enjoyable classically styled Médoc. If this 2011, reputedly a so-so year, is representative, its style has definitely changed and, blind, I would have probably have taken it for a right-banker. Medium+ bodied with quite rich liqueur tinged fruit (50% Merlot, 50% CabSauv), a gracious patina of discreet vanilla and tobacco and ripe firmness of the finish. Probably close to its peak, I'd appreciate it more with less evidence its barrel ageing, which however was better managed than with many of its kind. Good wine and good QPR at €8.

Posted from CellarTracker

[David M. Bueker]

It's too bad that more wines like that are not available in the USA. I would drink much more Bordeaux.

I'm a Bordeaux fan and I think there's a lot of good inexpensive very drinkable wines with true Bdx character produced there.

The Wine Society is a good source in the UK.

I agree, Peter, that the Wine Society is an excellent source for most wine types for those living in the UK, although I never found their prices particularly keen.

In the 70s or 80s, when I was living in Belgium, I made an order to be sent to Belgium. The Wine Society and delivery company lost track of the shipment and, after countless telephone calls and messages in those pre-Email days, the wines arrived after over 6 months. Luckily they were still in good condition. I particularly remember some delicious 1971 Burgundy crus in Stevenage bottlings.

Sad that they are closing their Montreuil branch. I had been promising myself a visit there on the way to Belgium or Calais.