2010.9.29, @竹北小酒館

未成年請勿飲酒

Chateau Poujeaux 2005

Moulis-en-Medoc region.

This chateau has 62 ha vineyard, and about 5000 plants per ha. Average age of vines is 30, and the percentage of varieties are 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Ageing in barrels for 12 months, and 30% barrels are new.

Deep- rube with light purple hue.

The medium nose contains soil, grass, black berry, black pepper, raisin and light cookie note.

Medium-full body. Black pepper and black berries.

This might be my first Moulis region red wine. Quite hard to guess where it comes from.

Chateau Pontet-Canet 2004

Notable Pauillac nose and taste. 5th growth of Bordeaux 1855 classification.

Has 120 ha. 30 yrs old vines contain 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2 % Petit Verdot. 16~20 months barrel ageing, and less than 2/3 are new.

This wine might take a long time maceration, so it shows deep ruby color with purple hue.

Medium-pronounced nose with barrel, concentrated black berries and sweet cherry. Also some leather, smoky and green pepper hints.

Strong tannin goes full body. The palate shows typical Pauillac style, just like the nose.

Too early for this wine.

Chateau d'Escurac 2005

Medoc region. Cru Bourgeois.

22 ha, and 5000 plants/ha. Average vine age is 22. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. Barrel ageing is about 12 months, and one third of barrels are new.

Deep- ruby. Medium-pronounced raspberry sweetness nose with notable floral note.

The medium tannin and body also goes with the raspberry and floral style palate.

The nose and the palate do make me mis-recognize this wine should come Margaux region. The only clue, which can indicate this wine is not from Margaux, might be the too-over fruity sweetness.

Chateau Malescot 2004

Margaux. 3rd growth of Bordeaux 1855 Classification.

In their 23.5 ha vineyard, they plant about 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The wines made from these 35 yrs old vines are ageing in new barrels for 14~16 months before bottling.

Deep- garnet.

The medium nose is not so Margaux style at the early beginning, this might due to the new barrel ageing process. Nose contains cookie, baked toast and chocolate. After about 30 mins, it starts showing the elegant Margaux nose, raspberry, floral, mint , and tea leaves.

The body is medium-, and goes with medium tannin and acidity. Black berry, black cherries, flowers and wood notes.

Chateau Gloria 2006

Saint-Julien region.

This estate was founded by Henri Martin in 1942 with 6 ha vineyard. Henri Martin then expanded his business by purchasing vineyards from the surrounding chateaus, including Châteaux Saint-Pierre, Beychevelle, Léoville-Poyferré, Gruaud-Larose, Léoville-Barton, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Lagrange and a Saint-Julien property of Duhart-Milon. And the current vineyards are 48 ha, with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit verdot.

You can find Martin purchased a lot of great vineyard from great chateaus. Maybe we can call Chateau Gloria represents the mash-up and emblematic Saint-Julien style. 🙂

Young deep ruby color. Medium+ nose with black berries, chocolate and fruity chewing gum. 😀

Palates contain chocolate, black cherries, blue berries. The length is not very long but acceptable, with a little bit bitter note at the end.

Not so strong as those Saint-Julien in Bordeaux 1855 classification, but its quality is quite good!