2003 Chateau Giscours, Margaux, France, $45. A mélange of aromas unfold – blackberries, cedar, earthiness and dried herbs. It is ripe and juicy in the mouth, but there is some heat at the back end. The wine seems disjointed – hopefully this will come together with bottle age; 87/87.
2003 Chateau Lagrange, St. Julien, France, $40. A pretty classic Bordeaux nose here, but lots of cocoa notes are evident. The tannins are very firm, with lots of wood showing presently. Violets and milk chocolate linger on the finish, which also shows a bit of heat; 86/86.
2004 Chateau Lascombes, Margaux, France, $45. You won’t read print through this deeply-hued Bordeaux. Blackberries, cedar and vanilla scents intermingle on the nose. Medium to full in the mouth, the generous dark fruit has an added earthy component. The tannins are firm but ripe – give the wine a minimum of five years to shed a bit of the bite; 90/90.
2003 Petit Bocq, St. Estephe, France, $20. This young, well-structured Bordeaux shows ripe cherry and currant fruit, floral notes and cedar shavings. For twenty bucks, this is definitely a wine to buy from the ’03 vintage; 86/88.
2003 Chateau Segonzac, Premieres Cotes de Blaye, France, $15. Here’s another value wine to look for from the 2003 vintage. Sporting a classic Bordeaux nose, you’ll appreciate black fruit and cedar shavings on the nose and palate. Bright acidity and modest tannins round out the wine. Oak is obvious but not overdone; 86/89.
2005 Mouton Cadet, Blanc, Bordeaux, France, $8. A blend of the grapes, this crisp, creamy quaffer offers up citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors. It will pair well with shellfish; 83/84.
2004 Mouton Cadet, Rouge, Bordeaux, France, $8. This wine offers up a lot of character for the price class. Dark plums and cherries underscore this soft, easy-to-drink Bordeaux. It’s ready to enjoy now with a host of foods; 83/85.