Cork Poppers Taste the Wines of Bordeaux

It has been many moons since I attended and posted about our wine tasting gang, the Cork Poppers. Covid put a halt to our gatherings, and even after vaccinations and lifting of restrictions, we were hesitant to gather into a potential super spreader. But after many moons, we are together again, this time to sample the wines from the Bordeaux region.

We met at the home of Roger and Meredith during a rainstorm (which put a stop to the anticipated boat ride up the Grand River!). No matter. The wine was flowing, the food terrific!

We started with the only white of the day, a white from Roger. Blanc de Camarsac Bordeaux Sauvignon 2019 by Thierry Lurton was a refreshing offering. Barb (who likes everything) immediately pronounced "This is good!" Cheryl, our resident white-drinker said, "This is different -- it's interesting. I've never had anything like it." Rick liked it too. We agreed at $11.99 it was a good buy.

Next up wa Cheryl with Chateau Peyrabon Cru Bourgeois St. Perieur Haut Medoc 2018. It was a wonderful red blend and my favorite of the day, although plenty stepped up to that plate. It smelled great and other comments included it was peppery.

We also learned a new wine word: Grippy or Grip. Basically a positive reference, it refers to the pull on the sides of the mouth you get when drinking a red wine, probably tannins. It provides definition and texture to wine. But too much grip means it might be a little too dry, even for dry wine fans.

Needless to say, our group latched onto that word like Lizzie to her treats. As Rick said, "It grabs you by the mouth!" "Where does it take you?" asked Anne. "To the next glass!"

(However, Mike S. reminded us that grip could also be the flu.)

Dick paid $20 for it at a local wine store.

Barb presented North Forty-Five.2 Pauillac APC 2019. Roger noted it wasn't as intense as the first and Barb agreed -- it didn't have the grip. (see what I mean?) Rick said the previous red had more dimension. That reminded Barb of when she spilled red wine on her white pants at a previous event. Kate noted that's why she always wore black. 

This wine was also $20.

Anne and Clayton, who live in a small town about an hour north of Lansing, couldn't find a Bordeaux in their town so they bought a Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages AOC. I'm sure I was overstating the obvious when I said it tasted very different from the others. It was very light -- more like a Pinot Noir.

Low grip. (Barb) It was $16.99 and is available in many grocery/mass market stores.

Our wine was next -- Chateau Haut Sorillon Bordeaux Superieur 2019 AOP. It was from a vineyard near St. Emilion, France and definitely grippier than the previous wine. Roger proclaimed it "Very good!" 

By this time conversation was veering away from wine to the wonderful food that awaited us! But I think all were listening when Rick said it was $7 at Trader Joe's. Definitely the buy of the day -- and we'd buy it again.

Bob's "French Blue" Bordeaux Rouge was up next. Barb called it "Yummy." (When Anne and Barb both noted that it was good Dick said, "That's because it's the seventh wine of the day.") (Our sixth was an encore of the North Forty.Five.2)

The label was pretty. So was the price -- $12.99 at Kroger.

Last up was Kate with Reserve du Chateau Croix Mouton 2016 Bordeaux Superieur by Jean Philippe Janollieux.

This smelled incredibly good and for me it actually tied with the earlier Medoc. It was a bit in flavor like Pinot Noir but heartier. Rick said, "This wine should be drunk from a crystal glass." 

We all noted the warning on the label that if one is pregnant not to drink it. We had nothing to worry about. 

Then it was onto the buffet table. 

When Covid came in, We decided to abandon our traditional sit-down dinners for heavy appetizers and desserts. It was a wonderful decision no one has regretted. Our table included Bruschetta with a massive shrimp on top...

... along with French style crudite, kabobs, a marvelous Buffalo chicken dip, cold shrimp and more. (All this after cheese, crackers and bread during the tasting.)

 I brought madeleines that I baked that morning.

It was a good thing that I had three batches out of the oven before I overturned a full tray full of madeleine batter upside down inside the oven. Let's just say, "don't do that." What a mess!

All in all, a wonderful gathering and as always...

...the best part was the people! (The worst part was that when Popper Dick returned home, he started getting Covid symptoms and tested positive the next day. Cheryl got it a few days later, as did Bob.)  Somehow, we managed to dodge that bullet and remain negative. 

(For readers new since my last Corkies post -- which was long ago -- you can check our "reviews" (lively commentary!) on dozens of other wines here at my Cork Poppers Page. Wines are grouped, when possible, by category.)

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