TN: Value Bordeaux

[jrufusj]

• 1998 Château Richelieu - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac (10/21/2005)
  (Pop and pour to have a glass before going to a beer-only birthday party. Sampled again the next afternoon.) Deep plummy red with slightly lightening hints at the rim. On opening, an immediate burst of redcurrant, raspberry, and blackberry on the nose. With a little time, some earthiness and a just a little mocha come out. On the palate, the fruit is a little less sweet, more in the plum and cherry range. There’s an enormous streak of graphite down the middle of the palate. Tannins are pretty grippy, but not daunting. Finish picks up a little iron earthiness and lasts pretty well for a $13 wine. On day two, the nose is more subdued with the fruit seeming much less rich, but the earth is more apparent. The tannins have abated somewhat and the graphite streak is gone. Finish is still earth and iron, but a little shorter. Another year or two might help, but this is pretty much ready. Note that this is from the pre-Derononcourt days, so the 2003 and later vintages could be very different in style. Good QPR.
  

Posted from CellarTracker