Right Bank

The city of Bordeaux in France gives its name to a wine region known the world over. The region is cut in two by the Gironde river, with different soils depending on what side you’re on. Some of the worlds most prestigious and expensive wines come from Bordeaux, such as Petrus, Cheval Blanc, and Lafite Rothschild. Most red Bordeaux wines are blends, with the left bank using mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and the right bank mostly Merlot. In general, wines from the right bank tend to be softer and more fruit driven, making them more approachable at a younger age.

Saint Emilion, along with Pomerol and Fronsac, are well-known regions on the right bank, with a wine-making tradition that goes back centuries. Puisseguin Saint Emilion is considered a satellite of Saint Emilion, lying just to the north-east of the main town.

2010 is considered to be a great year for the Bordeaux region, which was a deciding factor when buying this wine. I found it in Bevmo for $15.99 and had to give it a try. Tasted 07/09/18.

Tasting Notes

Medium+ garnet with ruby hints. Some colour concentration toward the centre of the glass, and some brick red at the edge. Colours the glass a little.

Medium intensity nose, displaying blackberry, fig, and coffee. Pretty complex.

Medium acidity balanced nicely with the soft tannin.

Fruit flavours on the palate of blackberry, fig, black cherry, dark chocolate. Perhaps some herbaceousness too. The fruit seems to fade on the palate, leaving tannin and chocolate.

Conclusions

There isn’t much information on the label, but some assumptions can be made. Its region of origin suggests that it’s predominantly a Merlot wine, and given the fact that it doesn’t say “Mis en Bouteille au Chateau” on the label, we can be fairly sure that the fruit was sourced from more than one vineyard.

This wine is complex up front and from an excellent vintage for the right bank of Bordeaux, but it’s far from the best that the region can offer. The fruit fades a bit quickly for my taste, but it does leave a mouthfeel and flavour that’s uncannily like dark chocolate, and who doesn’t like chocolate? This is an approachable wine that’s ready to drink right now, and offers reasonable value, considering the distance it’s had to cover.