Bordeaux Wine Tasting

Few weeks ago I had the pleasure to attend a wine tasting class hosted by a US wine dealer. I would really want to do it more often to develop my tasting palette and ability to articulate the differentiation. I would say after tasting wine from different regions and countries over the past years, I still prefer bordeaux for its subtlety and elegance of fragrance and flavor.

The line-up of our wine list is:

+ 2004 Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc, Graves
I enjoy drinking this white. Medium-bodied, delicate, fruity and classy white wine. It  has this flowery characteristic that makes it provocative.

+ 1998 Chateau Potensac, Medoc

Containing dark currant aroma, the earthy and leathery texture rubs onto the palette...  this goes better with food than drinking by itself.

+ 2002 Chateau Talbot, St. Julien

I do like the St.Julien regions which produces aromatic and less weighty wine. I had this Talbot before, very easy to drink given its light body. It carries the uniqueness of the smell of fermented tobacco...I can almost sense it...

+ 1999 Chateau Lascombes, Margaux

Margaux generally has higher concentration of Merlot blended. This is a MEN's wine, giving you the feeling of animal rusty smell, this contains higher acidity and requires longer time to understand the body language

+ 2001 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac
Needless to say I am a big fan of Lynch Bages. The wine itself won a lot of publicity given its well rounded nature and high quality. It is suitable for novice and enthusiast. The wine has a plush succulent palette and substantial body, and a long layered finish.

+ 2002 Chateau Le Gay, Pomerol

Not really my cup of tea... It has this deep saturated purple color accompanied by aromas of black cherry liqueur. This is too deep and muscular to my liking.

+ 2001 Chateau Palmer, Margaux

I just found my new favorite! This is a lighter version of Lynch Bages and mainly dominated with Merlot. This is delicate and welll mannered bottle of wine with everything related to elegance. It has a long sauve finish that's so addictive.

By the end of the class, the lecturer was long gone and a group of us were half drunk and collectively finishing the last bits of wine left in the bottles. Wine is not for getting drunk or sending you off to delusion, it's about enjoying the every taste of it and understanding the resemblance of flavor.