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!

Cork Poppers: Nothing Boring About Bordeaux!

There may be better things to do than sip Bordeaux on a Saturday, then have a fabulous meal. I can probably come up with a couple -- but not many!

Bordeauxs -- white and red -- were on our most recent tasting menu. We started out with a 2013 Chateau Graville-Lacosta Graves Blank, which has 12% alcohol and is a combination of Semillon (75%), Sauvignon Blanc (20%) and Muscadelle (5%) grapes.

Aged in stainless steel, my preferred aging method for whites, I was not alone in finding it fresh and fruity. For me the primary taste was grapefruit and all I could think of was sitting in the sun, on the beach at the cottage. "Good for sipping by the pool in the sun," Roger said, with Mike adding "Or, in the shade!" At $18, I might be less likely to buy this just for sipping -- but if I was expecting guests up north and I knew they liked white, I'd be on the hunt for it.

Guests Bob and Joan brought our second white, a Mouton Cadet 2013., with the same grapes but a different blend -- heavier on the Sauvignon blanc (65%) and lighter on the Semillon (30%, with the Muscaldelle weighing in at 5% again.

This was dryer than the first and some said sharper. There were mixed feelings about it, with some of our group liking it better, some less so. "What I'd like to do is open both bottles and try them side by side to tell what I like best," Clayton said. Unfortunately, by the time we opened this one, the 14 of us had sipped the first dry! But at $10 per bottle, the price was definitely right.

Our third wine was also from Bob and Joan, a Mouton Cadet Bordeaux 2012. This vineyard is owned by Baron Philippe de Rothschild and we found this to be a very good table wine, with a mellow, nice flavor.

With a blend of 80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc, it had a lovely flavor and again the price was very good -- $12 (but on sale, so look to pay a bit more if you get it retail.)

Barb and Mike brought our fourth wine, 2009 Chateau Du Pavillion Bordeaux, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet. "This is serious," Rick said, while Roger noted it had "a strong bouquet" and Barb chimed in to acknowledge "musty overtones," adding "It's making my nose sweat. I can feel it." (We think she may have just been feeling the fourth taste.)

Many of this called it "A nice surprise" and a hit. I noted it would go well with blue cheese and chocolate, my two favorite bits on the snack tray. Cost on this one was $12.99.

Guest Suzanne was up next with the Downton Abbey 2012 Claret (Bordeaux). This was a big hit and at the end of the day several of our group called it their favorite. Its blend is 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. Notes from the web suggested opening this bottle for an hour and/or decanting it to let it breathe.

"The flavor of the wine is delicious," said Clayton, while Mike acknowledged its "nice tanins." It was very smooth. Suzanne noted it had hints of violet, which Downton fans will know was a pun recognizing Maggie Smith's Dowager. Suzanne paid $17.50 for this at the wine store but Roger had seen it at World Market and said that it was $15 there.

Rick was up next with Chateau Hyot 2012, a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cab Franc and 20% white grape. It was lighter than the Downton wine with "good legs." Pat said "This is the best wine we've had today."

Cost on this one at the wine store was $17.50 (before a 10 percent discount.) Worth it, but you can probably find a wine almost as tasty and as rich in the $12.99 zone. Serve this up with a nice roast or beef stew and you'll be happy indeed.

Roger and Meredith offered Chateau de Macard Bordeaux Superieur 2009 (a very good year). Today Show had previously listed this as a "go-to holiday wine" in a 2011 segment. The years have been kind to it and it was very good. "I like it," Suzanne said, with Barb adding, "It's really good."

We didn't share the percentages but it was a typical Bordeaux with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cavernet Sauvignon grapes. It was at this point that someone noted that all our reds had been very good. "I almost bought the Downton Abbey wine," Roger said, "But this was cheaper. He paid $10.99 for it on sale (retail, $12.99).

It was around this point that Suzanne said, "How do eat dinner after all this?" "Oh honey," said Barb, "You find room!"

Pat was up next with an Armand Roux  Verdillac 2011, $14.99. It was a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Blend and yet another delicious wine. The black cherry flavor was there and it had a bit of spice -- not enough to be overpowering, but enough to be very nice.

We wrapped up with a Chateau Saint Sulpice, a 2010 Bordeaux for $14.99.It was an 80% Cabernet Sauvignon/20% Merlot blend and was $14.99 retail (purchased for $12.99.)

Once again, there were no complaints. Spicy with black cherry as one of the strongest fragrances (to be honest, I can't really tell which fruity tastes are which except grapefruit!) it was very nice and a good price.

Of course, once we taste, we dine! And as usual, the Cork Poppers pulled off a feast.



Dick made a wonderful Guinness beef stew, with a terrific salad by Meredith, Anne's Cornbread, Rick's baguette's (which also went well with Pat's tasting cheese tray).

The tables were lovely -- as always -- with cute wine bottle favors.

And the grand finale, Barb's chocolate on chocolate dessert was to die for.

Of course, what's left to do after that but to waddle home.

Cork Poppers: The Taste of Bordeaux

Sure, I love the malbecs and the pinot grigios. A nice Chianti is always good. But if I had to choose one "group" of wines to have those and only those for the rest of my life, it would be those from Bordeaux.

 

This region in France is noted for its fine wines, both reds and whites -- and they were the featured wine at our September Cork Poppers gathering.

First, the whites, and the first of those was Montieur Touton 2013 Sauvignon, using 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Bordeaux and offered by Dick and Cheryl. When tasted the words heard were "Yum!" and "Oooh!" It was very cold and crisp. Rick noticed a strong grapefruit flavor. I found it very "clean" tasting and smelling and Cheryl said "This is the best wine so far. (Generally, that's Barb's line!)

Roger said he was going to get this while Dick added he served it first because he felt the second wine, another white from Roger, would be better. That question was up for debate. And at $11, the price was clearly right!

So, it was time to see if Dick was correct in his assessment of Roger's offering -- Chauteau de Fontenille 2012, a blend of sauvignon blanc, sauvigon gris, muscadet and semillon grapes.

I think we all found it a little sweeter than the first. I found it as heavier and not as light -- I preferred the first. Rick, on the other hand, preferred this one. "You could use this as a pillow," he said. "It's feathery." Other comments included "It's stronger but softer" and suggestions that it would be good with cut-up fruit or fish. It's possible I liked this less because it was served a bit warmer than the 53-57 degrees recommended. At $14.99, it's still a good buy. If you prefer a lighter taste, I'd recommend the first, a richer taste, this one.

For the first time since we started individually bringing wine to Cork Poppers, we had a duplicate from both Barb and from Anne and Clayton. It was Chateau La Lauzette 2010, a combination of Cabernet and Merlot. This is a Haut Medoc wine from the Medoc region of Bordeaux. and a Cru Bourgeois wine. They aren't in the top group of Bordeaux heavy hitters like Margaux or Mouton-Rothschild, but nonetheless delicious.

Clayton called it "One of my favorites," while Barb noted it was sharper on the tongue and suggested "You have to have something with this -- cheese or bread." To which Clayton replied, "Or another bottle!" At $25 (Clayton paid $20 on sale), it was a very good buy.

I was up next with Chateau de Trousse, Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux AOC 2010. This red blend combined merlot and Cabernet sauvignon grapes and was from the Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux region. This was dry, very mellow and with good legs (the drips down the side of the glass when you swirl it). Rick noticed that it had a lot of tannins, which he liked and said "This is the best I've had today by far." At $12.99 it is an excellent buy and would be wonderful for sipping, dining or used in a recipe.

(Barb said the highlight of my presentation was, after handing out my two-sided description of the wine and region and introducing the wine, said "You folks know how to read, whatever!" Well, I wasn't going to read the whole thing to them!)

Pat wrapped up the tasting with Beau Mayne Bordeaux 2011, a combination of Merlot and Cabernet sauvignon grapes -- the same as in the wine I brought -- but with a different balance. This affected the flavor. This wine came from old vines (vinable) and I felt was in the same league as the others, definitely dryer than Barb and Anne/Clayton's wines. Barb said it was very good and Clayton offered he would be "happy to drink the whole bottle by myself." Rick replied, "Not the whole bottle -- after the third glass I'd be really sorry." Pat acknowledged that "In my opinion, it's not very good." This one cost $14.99.

We must have gone through four pounds of cheese during this tasting! The cheeses were outstanding, including a triple cream Carabanzola, Loyn Wide Cheddar, Abbeydale yellow with rye and Comte were delicious!

While Meredith was getting the stew started the rest of us set out on the Grand River for a boat ride with Captain Roger.

The river rides never disappoint. A heron was on view and it was a gorgeous day. Perfect for a cruise!

We saw the earliest bits of autumn and celebrated the beginning of fall -- even if it isn't official!

And of course everyone was having a glorious time!



Then it was time for dinner. Frogmore stew and a dazzling salad!



Fortunately, there were a few of Rick's baguettes left from the tasting!

It was beautiful sitting at Meredith's fall table. Our takeaway was a jar of homemade salsa!

And of course, dessert was delish -- summer berries over sponge cake with apricot sauce and whipped cream.

We wrapped up the day with a birthday celebration and a grand toast to hostess Meredith who that week learned that she was officially in remission from her cancer!

What's not to love -- time with the Girls of the Grape (below) and Men of the Vine, a wonderful afternoon with Rick and a boat ride and dinner to die for!



That I'd enjoy any day of the week!

I'll be linking this post with Paulita's Dreaming of France project this week. Come back here once she gets the link up for this week's posts to find fun posts from other bloggers about France.