Wine Video Tasting Episode 1 - 2010 Chateau La Tour Carnet

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Something new and exciting has arrived at Le Wine Journal: wine tasting videos! We have decided to make this blog more interactive by posting videos of the wines we taste. We will be releasing a wine tasting video every week with wines from all over the world. We actually just released our first video of a 2010 Chateau La Tour Carnet - check it out below and let us know what you think! If you have a specific wine you would like us to taste, please let us know. Hope you like the new video tastings!

2011 Chateau Brane-Cantenac

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We really love Margaux so today we head to Margaux which is on the left bank of Bordeaux. We decided to open a 2011 Chateau Brane-Cantenac. In our opinion, this is one of the best valued 2nd growth wines you can get out there. 2011 is not the best vintage but not the worst as well. As you know, Bordeaux wines have great aging potential and the 2011 can definitely be kept for at least another 10-15 years. Cheers!

Tasting Date: February 27, 2016

Wine: Chateau Brane-Cantenac

Vintage: 2011

Grapes: 56.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Blanc and 0.5% Carmenere

Producer: Henri Lurton

Location: Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Purchased Price: $49.99

Purchased Location: Total Wine

Tasting Notes: Beautiful color. Lots of Oak on the nose with dark fruits. Texture is very silky. Tannins were definitely present on this young wine. Decanting it for a few hours definitely helped. Fruity on the pallet with hints of dark fruits, plum, and cherries.

Would Buy Again: Yes!

2012 Bordeaux Grands Crus Wine Tasting Notes

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This past Thursday we attended the 2012 Bordeaux Grands Crus Wine Tasting hosted by Total Wine at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel. We had purchased VIP tickets allowing us access at 7PM (30mins before general admission). This was great as it wasn't too busy and we really got a good head start. As we entered, we were handed the pricing list, a book describing all the chateaus present, a little tasting notebook, and of course a wine glass each. With over 80+ Chateaus it was a little hard knowing where to start

Alright, here we go straight into the Pessac region with Chateau Pape-Clément, one of the oldest properties in Bordeaux - and let us tell you what a great wine to start with! We've been wanting to try Chateau Pape-Clément as we heard many great things about it and are huge fans of the owner, Bernard Magrez's, other wines. As expected, a wonderful medium body with low tanins. Next up, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte impressed us with a very smooth wine yet strong on the side of red berries. A very promising vintage to begin drinking within the next 3 years. Interestingly enough, they explained to us their method of bio precision - a topic we will cover in more detail on another post! 

Moving into Margaux we were ready to taste the 2012 vintage of one of our favorite regions! Chateau Labégorce, Chateau Lascombes, Chateau Ferrière, just to name a few were all introductions into what ended up being an amazing evening. As we made our way to Chateau Brane-Cantenac we met with the Commercial Director, Marie-Hélène Dussech who was really nice. Through sips which left you enjoying its beautiful maturity, we chatted about the chateau, the vintage and her stay so far in our city. By the way, if you haven't tried the 2005 Brane-Canternac, I highly recommend you do!

Next we decided to head over to the regions of St. Julien, Paulliac and St. Estephe. Those that topped our list in each of these regions were Chateau Beychevelle, Chateau Léoville Barton, Chateau Gloria, Chateau Talbot, Chateau Lynch-Bages and Chateau Phélan Ségur.

Last but certainly not least, we moved into the charming region of St. Émilion. Having been there this past May, we went directly to Chateau La Gaffeliere - it was our last and best wine of the night! It was great to see a Chateau that we had visited in person at the event. We got to meet the owner Alexandre de Malet Roquefort, a truly humble and genuine man. An immediate connection, we conversed for quite some time, enjoying the aroma and sensual, silky wine with each sip. Alexandre, merci beaucoup pour votre gentillesse.

A simply fantastic evening where we met some interesting people, tried some amazing wines and discovered a few new favorites. Drink young or keep for a few years - it will definitely be an enjoyment!

À bientôt!

2012 Bordeaux Grands Crus Wine Tasting

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We are attending a huge Bordeaux wine tasting on Thursday Jan. 22nd in Miami! This tasting is the unveiling of the 2012 vintage from over 80+ Chateaux. More than 100 wines and 80 featured producers are scheduled to appear! To name a few: Château Beychevelle, Château La Gaffelière, Château Léoville Barton, Château Pape Clément and Château Talbot. Full list below. The tasting will be from 7pm to 10pm EDT. Expect lots of great pictures and notes from the event.

We are looking forward to tasting all of the different wines from Bordeaux. Be sure to follow us Twitter as we tweet LIVE. Is there anyone from Miami attending? 

Stay tuned for some great tasting notes and pictures!

Event Link

  • Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
  • Château Beaumont
  • Château Beauregard
  • Château Beychevelle
  • Château Branaire-Ducru
  • Château Brane-Cantenac
  • Château Canon-La-Gaffelière
  • Château Cantemerle
  • Château Cantenac Brown
  • Château Carbonnieux
  • Château Chasse-Spleen
  • Château Citran
  • Château Clarke
  • Château Clerc Milon
  • Château Climens
  • Château Clinet
  • Château Coufran
  • Château Coutet
  • Château d’Armailhac
  • Château de Camensac
  • Château de Chantegrive
  • Château de Fieuzal
  • Château de Pez
  • Château de Rayne Vigneau
  • Château Doisy Daëne
  • Château du Tertre
  • Château Durfort-Vivens
  • Château Ferrière
  • Château Franc Mayne
  • Château Gazin
  • Château Giscours
  • Château Gloria
  • Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
  • Château Grand-Puy Ducasse
  • Château Gruaud Larose
  • Château Haut-Bages Libéral
  • Château Haut-Bailly
  • Château Kirwan
  • Château La Cabanne
  • Château La Couspaude
  • Château La Dominique
  • Château La Gaffelière
  • Château La Lagune
  • Château La Louvière
  • Château La Pointe
  • Château La Tour Blanche
  • Château La Tour Carnet
  • Château La Tour de By
  • Château La Tour Figeac
  • Château Labégorce
  • Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
  • Château Lagrange
  • Château Langoa Barton
  • Château Larrivet Haut-Brion
  • Château Lascombes
  • Château Latour-Martillac
  • Château Le Bon Pasteur
  • Château Léoville Barton
  • Château Léoville Poyferré
  • Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
  • Château Lynch-Bages
  • Château Lynch-Moussas
  • Château Malartic-Lagravière
  • Château Marquis de Terme
  • Château Maucaillou
  • Château Olivier
  • Château Ormes De Pez
  • Château Pape Clément
  • Château Phélan Ségur
  • Château Pichon Baron
  • Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
  • Château Picque Caillou
  • Château Poujeaux
  • Château Prieuré-Lichine
  • Château Saint-Pierre
  • Château Siran
  • Château Smith Haut Lafitte
  • Château Talbot
  • Château Troplong Mondot
  • Château Trottevieille
  • Château Villemaurine
  • Clos Fourtet
  • Domaine de Chevalier