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B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
A sweet deal on a cellar worthy assortment of high scoring Bordeaux, all under $30! From some of the region’s most undervalued estates, these “three lollipop” selections hit the sweet spot for Bordeaux lovers seeking outstanding value, a range of age worthy blends unbeatably priced for Bordeaux bargain hunters to stock the cellar and enjoy often.
- Described as a “stellar showing” by Vinous critic Neal Martin, the polished and refined 95 pt. 2019 Chateau Meyney from St. Estephe is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 16% Petit Verdot aged in about 1/3 new French oak, showing the “elegant, moderately concentrated, yet nicely structured and balanced style of the vintage” according to Jeb Dunnuck and boasting 15 or more years of longevity.
- A St. Estephe blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot from the Cazes family of Lynch-Bages, the impressive 94 pt. 2019 Ormes de Pez offers “a delightful mix of dark fruit and fresh flavors” according to the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, packing “plenty of punch” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson who calls it a “brilliant value” ready to enjoy over the next decade.
- Described as “super classy from start to finish” by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, the refined 95 pt. 2019 Chateau Cantemerle is a robust Left Bank blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot aged in 40% new French oak, yielding “a richly structured wine that is balanced by ripe black fruits” with “a vibrant finish” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss and built to evolve over the next two decades.
- An under the radar gem from Moulis offering a “classic Left Bank feel” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, the inviting 94 pt. 2019 Chateau Poujeaux “numbers among the real sleepers of the vintage” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, an impeccably crafted blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot built to deliver the goods for another two decades.
- Described as “an excellent, quite substantial Margaux for long-term ageing” by Vinous critic Neal Martin, the sumptuous 94 pt. 2020 Labegorce is “juicy and plush with a sense of gravitas coming through on the long, layered finish” according to the Wine Independent’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, an outstanding value summed up by Decanter’s Georgina Hindle as “classic, easy to drink and to recommend.”
Whether deciding on a few favorites or finding it hard to choose, these high scoring Bordeaux blends are bargain priced for mixing a case, a sweet deal for anyone seeking to pull the cork on a terrific Bordeaux more often. |
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The 2019 Poujeaux has a very delineated, focused bouquet of blackberry, cedar, mint and light tea leaf scents, one of the most complex I have encountered from this great estate in recent years. The medium-bodied palate is fresh, vibrant and grippy, with slightly chalky tannins and a saline, persistent finish. Quite structured and broody, this Moulis deserves ample time in bottle.
94 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2022)
Very attractive chocolate, red-chili and cedar aromas and flavors. Lavender, too. Medium body with firm, polished tannins and a caressing finish. Pretty texture to this. It will be ready sooner than some. Try after 2024.
93 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)
A fleshy, dramatic rendition of this Moulis benchmark, the 2019 Poujeaux unwinds in the glass with a deep bouquet of blackberries and plums mingled with subtle hints of cigar wrapper, loamy soil and violets. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's deep and seamless, with succulent acids, powdery tannins and a long, expansive finish. This has turned out brilliantly and numbers among the real sleepers of the vintage.
92 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)
Poujeaux is a well constructed wine that often needs a few years to soften into itself, and is capable of ageing at least a decade and usually two - certainly in serious vintages such as 2019. Expect plenty of brambled fruits with a rustic hedgerow edge, juicy liquorice and cocoa, smoked earth and campfire. Not quite at the heights of Poujeaux in 2016 or 2010, but still excellent quality. 48hl/h yield (a good result after a low-yielding 2018). They have 7ha in organic trials since 2018, of their 70ha in total. 33% new oak.
92 points, Jane Anson (Jan 2023)
Bright nose, strawberries, red cherries and touches of dark chocolate with soft perfume aromas. Nice plump fruit here with a milky chalky edge to the tannins that are quite mouth coating right now. It has good drive and underlying acidity giving lift and you can feel the powerful and well-handled fruit underneath. Black cherries, fig and some pune and dark chocolate notes. A deeper, headier style that will be great in a few years.
92 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2022)