WTN: Fine QPR St.Émilion

As an antidote to the many posts about poor QPR from Bordeaux, I post about last night's bottle. Here we get quite a lot of good Bordeaux in the €10-20 range but rarely in such a mature vintage as this.

1998 Château Mondotte-Bellisle - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (4/13/2017)
This little known estate has been flying beneath my radar until now. Nevertheless, when I saw a St.Émilion GC from 1998 on offer for c.€14, I could not resist it but cautiously only bought one bottle. Caution unjustified and I need to rush out to see if there are any bottles left!! Colour mature red but no signs of excessive age. Nose expressive but quite discreet showing notes of rich but still fresh red fruit and a hint of mint. Palate medium bodied with mature fruit tinged with plum and cherry, smooth texture, beginnings of forest floor, fresh acidity, gentle backbone and decent length. This is not a "wow" wine but harmonious, moreish, satisfying and an excellent pairing for rabbit cooked with prunes in a Trappist beer sauce. Very good wine and good QPR for its type.

[David M. Bueker]

Good find. I wonder what the style is for current vintages.