The big tasting of Le Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux hosted in the lovely environment of Château de la Dauphine in Fronsac
127 reds
30 whites, sweet and rosé
Quite a mouthful!
Rare opportunity to taste blind, in the knowledge that some of the wines will have already past my lips and a chance to compare my notes and scores for the same wine a second time. Gratifying to discover this, therefore, which is reassuringly uncanny:
(Seen label)
“Inky black plums and ripe crushed raspberries. Some creamy sweet oak intertwining. Rich and well extracted with deep spicy black fruits. Elegance of tannins and freshness of acidity despite the alcohol, all well in harmony with a savoury almost bloody undercurrent. Complex and with good length.“
(Blind tasted)
“Intense black plum and raspberry aromas, with creamy sweet oak. Rich and spicy with black fruit flavours and intense well extracted tannins. Fresh acidity complementing the warm alcohol, abut all in balance herbs and a savoury complexity. Good length.“
(Same score, too.)
On the downside, a greater perception of the 2020 vintage is emerging which is that while its highs are very high, its lows are similarly adrift and it definitely lacks the homogenous nature of 10, 15, 16 and 19.
The hot weather has exposed the talents of the best vignerons, and the best wines are the equal of the very best. There are some hard and green tannins at the other end however, and care in choosing will be needed.