When dad was a boy.... sort of.... By Wine Blogger Max Henrik Krause

Focus on classic red Bordeaux wines. Our wine blogger Max-Henrik Krause, who is always bubbling with joy, offers a few suggestions

Post by wine blogger Max-Henrik Krause

My youth was spent in Southern Jutland close to the German border and countless are the times when the guys and I went "over to the other side" to fill up on Paderborner, Hansa Pils and Horsy beer. When we needed wine, it was typically Amselfelder, Rosenthaler Kadarka and on rare occasions Pierre Medard! Alas, yes; those were the days! Apart from some massive headaches, the consumption of these wines fortunately led to an interest in something better, and as the paycheck grew bigger over time, we could afford "real" wines.

The first thing I turned to was wine from the Bordeaux region, with a particular focus on Medoc and Saint Émilion. I still remember Chateau Malescasse, Brane-Cantenac, Chateau de Seguin and others.
For reasonable money, you got a significantly better quality than the German spray and at the same time you could also study the area and the individual wine chateaux more closely in the many wine books that began to appear - and which lay under the Christmas tree for many years. It was especially exciting to flip through the annual edition of Hugh Johnson's little pocket book; How were the wines in your cupboard rated? Were they even mentioned in the book? Remember, this was long before we had PCs and smartphones, so books and articles were what people used to stay informed.
Interest in wine has grown over the years and many other wine countries and regions have been added to the favorites list, but classic Bordeaux wines are now something special and therefore the topic of this post.

Describing the entire Bordeaux area has been done by many others, so here are some brief highlights:
Bordeaux is typically divided into left and right banks of the Gironde River. Each side has its own characteristics. Along the left bank are Graves, Médoc and Haut-Médoc, and all the prestigious Grand Cru Classé châteaux are located in the communes of Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estéphe. On the right side you will find Pomerol and Saint Émilion.
The most important red grapes in Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The vast majority of red wines are cuvées - wines made from more than one grape variety.
The most important white grapes are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle; here it's easier to find a wine made from just one grape variety.

Let's start with a good value for money: LA CHAPELLE D´ESCURAC 2017
A typical Medoc wine at the affordable end of the scale. The wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and has aIt has a lovely aroma of blackcurrant, dark fruits, cedar and light forest floor. The taste contains the same elements but also some tobacco and oak. A lovely full-bodied and round wine that, after a little air, leaves a good impression. The wine can easily be labeled: A good buy for the price of a modest 99,- per bottle.

From the same vineyard we find CHATEAU D´ESCURAC MEDOC CRU BOURGOIS 2016
The grape composition is the same, namely Carbernet Sauvignon and Merlot and the scent is very similar to the above but you can clearly sense that we have now moved up a notch; More power, more juice, more power! Ruby red color, notes of vanilla and light chocolate. Intense flavors of dark ripe cherries, plums, tobacco and licorice. A full-bodied wine with a very long aftertaste. You can easily store the wine further, but why not? It tastes great now. Give it some air and serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18 degrees :-). The price is 199,- per bottle.

Another suggestion for a Médoc Cru Bourgois is Chateau L´Argenteyre Medoc Cru Bourgois 2018
Again, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate, but here we also find Petit Verdot and Carménére. This well-balanced cuvée has flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, roasted coffee and light forest floor as well as wood and leather. A wonderful classic Bordeaux wine that with its fullness should be served with hearty dishes with meat. The price is only 129,- - and it is worth every penny.

We round off the red wines with the presentation of nothing less than "the box for the wine collector who has everything", namely: Crus Bourgeois Collection 14 Exceptionnel Medoc wine 2019

This exclusive original wooden box contains 1 bottle from each of the 14 châteaux that have the status of Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels, all in the 2019 vintage.
Careful cultivation, meticulous vinification and careful maturation before release are reflected in all the wines, which all taste excellent now and will also develop their complexity over the next 3-5 years and, depending on the individual châteaux, somewhat or much longer.

Crus Bourgeois Collection 14 which comes in a beautiful wooden box, contains 1 bottle from each of the following châteaux:
Château d'Agassac, Château d'Arnauld, Château d'Arsac, Château Belle-Vue, Château Le Boscq, Château Cambon la Pelouse, Château Charmail, Château Le Crock, Château Lilian Ladouys, Château Malescasse, Château de Malleret, Château Paveil de Luze, Château du Taillan and Château Lestage.

It would be too extensive to make a description of the 14 wines, but common to them all is that the level is high and that you get a lot for your money. The price is 5.099,- for this delicious box.

Thank you for reading :-)