Château Bourdieu - Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2023
Price: $17.99
Sale Price: $14.89
6+ Price: $13.99 / btl
| Producer | Château Bourdieu |
 | |
| Country | France |
| |
| Region | Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2019 |
| |
| Varietal | Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon |
| |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| |
| Sku | 15206 |
| |
| Size | 750ml |
| |
|
Okay, so here's the setup... the wine was judged in a wine competition, the Decanter World Wine Awards, where the judges consist of top sommeliers and wine critics, including a slew of Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers. These folks know what they are doing.
Wines are grouped according to country, region, grapes, etc. so they are judged against and among their peers. Within this context, the wines are rated. In events like this, you may see lesser priced wines score highly. Sometimes, it is because of a limited sample size against which they are judged. In this case, though, 14,751 wines were judged, including 518 Bordeaux, so the "talent pool" was deep and broad. And these surprises happen because the judging is truly blind. "What, you mean when critics taste wines, it isn't blind?" Sometimes yes... many times no. When a critic visits a winery, which many of them do when tasting, they bring with them preconceived notions. And that can translate into the ratings. Here, the wines are tasted completely blind, other than knowing the region.
Compare with these wines, which all scored 95-97 pts…
Chateau de Pressac, St. Emilion 2020 – 95 pts @ $42
Chateau Fonroque, St. Emilion 2020 – 93 pts @ $42
Haut Breton Larigaudière, Margaux 2022 – 95 pts @ $55
"Ok, but still... 95 pts? Really?
Nah. Not in an absolute sense. But I think it is a solid 90-92 pts.. which is how James Suckling rated the 2018-2022 vintages. Vinous reviewed the 2019 at 89-91 pts… Falstaff gave the 2019-2021 offerings 89-91 pts… I think you get the message…
95 pts Decanter World Wine Awards
Okay, so what do we have?
87% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc from 35-year-old vines. When I tasted this back in September, it needed just a smidge of air to really get going. Maybe 20-30 minutes in a decanter. It’s developed more since then, making it pop-and-pour ready, but I’d still give it a little air if you can. Translation: this has a whole lot going on… punching way above its price tag! There’s deep, dark black cherry and plum fruit and long, fine tannins that beg for some hearty food!
Decanter
“Brooding blackcurrant, black cherry and cassis combine beautifully with fine tobacco and cedar notes. Persistent and concentrated with satin tannins and supporting acidity. Long and finessed.”
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
Artwork does not necessarily represent items for sale.
