May 1, 2019
On the northeast flank of Saint-Émilion, the home of luxury wines like Ausone, Pavie and Valandraud, is Montagne Saint-Émilion. The soils, a mixture of clay, limestone and sand, are similar and the wines are too. Unbelievable values can be found in Montagne Saint Emilion, and here’s one that has earned my highest value status, a Hall of Fame Value. Chateau Haut-Plaisance Montagne Saint-Émilion 2015 is 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dense, dark fruit and expressive flavors of soil (terroir) take the lead with the barrel in the back (no new oak used). I get black currants, dried blueberries, dark chocolate, […]
February 20, 2018
100% Merlot from one of Bordeaux’s most consistently good “satellite appellations.” Deep red/ruby color. Smell clay and gravel-heavy earth, cinnamon stick and red & black currants. The taste is a marriage of fruit and soil. Bittersweet chocolate, cigar wrapper and black truffle take precedent, but don’t dominate, the dark berry and currant. Savory, earth-driven finish with firm tannins. This is definitive quality French Merlot at its best.