| If you are looking for fine French wine and food, | | | | Before reviewing the Bordeaux wine and |
| consider the world-famous Bordeaux region of | | | | imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to |
| southwestern France. You may find a bargain, and | | | | purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian |
| I hope that you'll have fun on this fact-filled wine | | | | food store, here are a few suggestions of what |
| education tour in which we review a red Merlot | | | | to eat with indigenous wines when touring this |
| from a internationally renowned producer. | | | | beautiful region. |
| Among France's eleven wine-growing regions | | | | Start with Gravette Huitres (Oysters from the |
| Bordeaux ranks first in acreage with about 50% | | | | Arcachon Bay). |
| more land devoted to vineyards than the | | | | For your second course savor Lamproie au |
| second-place Rhône Valley. But it's more | | | | Pomerol (Eels cooked in Red Wine and Chocolate). |
| than just a question of acreage and volume. | | | | And as dessert indulge yourself with Cannelles de |
| Bordeaux is widely considered as one of the top | | | | Bordeaux ("Portable Crême Brulée). |
| wine producing regions of the entire earth and has | | | | OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we |
| been for centuries. The wine reviewed below | | | | taste and review are purchased at the full retail |
| comes from the Pomerol area on the right bank | | | | price. |
| of the Garonne River, which divides Bordeaux in | | | | Wine Reviewed |
| two. | | | | Moueix Merlot 2003 12.3% about $13.00 |
| Bordeaux produces over seventy million cases of | | | | Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. No |
| wine per year, about 85% red, 12 white, and the | | | | one knows Merlot better than Christian Moueix, |
| rest rosé. That works out to more than | | | | owner of the world famous Château |
| two million cases of rosé wine per year. I | | | | Pétrus. Year after year, his wines define |
| don't remember ever tasting a Bordeaux | | | | Merlot. Soft and round with aromas of raspberry, |
| rosé. I promise to deal with this problem | | | | cedar and blueberry, this wine delivers ripe fruit, |
| later in the series. There are more than twenty | | | | great balance and a medium long finish. It's magic |
| two thousand vineyards in Bordeaux covering | | | | with veal medallions and sautéed |
| about 280 thousand acres, which works out to | | | | mushrooms, or baked pasta. |
| somewhat less than 13 acres per vineyard. | | | | My first pairing was with turkey meatballs, |
| Approximately half of the vineyards produce | | | | potatoes, and sautéed vegetables in a |
| wine, and altogether about 6000 properties | | | | moderately spicy tomato sauce. This wine was |
| produce and sell their own wine, the rest selling | | | | round and full-bodied. It was quite long with |
| wine through cooperatives. Bordeaux boasts | | | | pleasant acidity but overpowered the meat. The |
| about 60 different wine appellations ranging from | | | | Merlot tasted better after eating the potatoes. |
| fair-to-middling to world class with plenty in | | | | When I finished the glass after the meal, the wine |
| between. Some Bordeaux wine classifications date | | | | was quite rich and I started tasting blackberries. |
| back to 1855 and have barely changed since, | | | | My next meal consisted of slow-cooked beef |
| except that Baron Rothschild was able to get his | | | | stew and potatoes with a somewhat spicy sauce |
| best wine promoted from Second Cru (second | | | | and two rather spicy side salads. The wine was |
| growth) to Premier Cru (First Growth). Those in | | | | full-bodied and agreeably acidic, tasting of plums |
| the know say that his Château Lafitte | | | | and black cherries. Once again I enjoyed finishing |
| definitely deserves this honor. We'll review some | | | | the glass after the meal. The spices were |
| fairly top-notch Bordeaux wines sooner or later, | | | | intensified. I can only imagine what its famous |
| but the wine reviewed below is very affordable. | | | | cousin, Chateau Petrus, would taste like but at |
| Interestingly enough, its noble cousin, Chateau | | | | forty times the cost (or more), I can only |
| Petrus, crafted by the same producer with the | | | | imagine. |
| same grape in the same area holds no prestigious | | | | The final meal included hamburgers, rice, |
| classification. However, Chateau Petrus is definitely | | | | cauliflower and red peppers in a tomato sauce, |
| world class and comes with a price to match, if | | | | once again with Harissa, a Moroccan hot pepper |
| the wine merchant will even look at your money. | | | | spice that was fairly weak. The Merlot tasted of |
| Believe it or not, Merlot is the major red grape in | | | | dark fruits and tobacco with a bit of black pepper. |
| Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon comes in a distant | | | | The only downside was that the wine was not |
| second. We'll talk about the remaining important | | | | long. |
| Bordeaux red grape varieties elsewhere in this | | | | As always, the cheese tastings came last. I |
| series. The major white grapes are Semillon and | | | | started with a Palet de Chevre, which is a goat's |
| Sauvignon Blanc. The Pomerol region of Bordeaux | | | | milk cheese from the Poitou Charentes region of |
| is a small, rural area of Bordeaux producing only | | | | central-western France. Honestly, if I didn't know |
| red wine. Its major grape varieties are Cabernet | | | | that it was a goat's milk cheese I never would |
| Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. | | | | have guessed. It simply looked and tasted like a |
| Pomerol's main tourist attractions are the wine | | | | slightly runny Camembert. The combination was |
| chateaux. Perhaps surprisingly the world famous | | | | almost OK, but deadened the wine's flavor |
| Chateau Petrus is not all that special to look at. | | | | somewhat. The other cheese was a Swiss |
| The most attractive Chateaux are Chateau Nenin | | | | Gruyere. The wine bounced back in the Gruyere's |
| and Vieux Chateau Certan but even they are far | | | | presence, but frankly was too good for the |
| from spectacular. As the famous phrase goes, | | | | cheese. |
| you can't judge a book by its cover. Of course | | | | Final verdict. No doubt about it; I want this wine |
| the Bordeaux region is brimming with sights to | | | | again. And should the day come that I'll buy its |
| see which will be described in the appropriate | | | | noble cousin, Chateau Petrus, I'll still be buying this |
| articles. | | | | wine. |