Barons de Rothschild Bordeaux
Wine: Barons de Rothschild Bordeaux.
Grapes: Merlot (70 percent), cabernet sauvignon (30 percent)
Region: Bordeaux, France
Vintage: 2005
Price: $9.99
In the glass: Rothschild Bordeaux wine is a deep purplish-red color with a semi-opaque core going out into a fine crimson-red rim definition with medium-high viscosity.
On the nose: This well-made and concentrated wine is full of black fruit extract, oodles of dark chocolate, mocha, creme de cassis, black cherry juice, mint leaves, wood components and incredible freshness.
On the palate: It is a classic expression of this powerful vintage in Bordeaux, showing all the great characteristics with black currant pastilles, eucalyptus drops, great intensity of crushed loganberries, black cherries and blackberry jam with underlying oak and minerals. The midpalate shows tremendous complexity in the harmonious and supple tannins just playing with the fruit in the wine, while leading into a soft, chewy finish that really lingers.
Odds and ends: Perhaps the greatest vintage in a generation from top to bottom, this "baby Lafite" wine is made by the same technical team responsible for what is now one of the most famous and expensive wines in the world, Chateau Lafite, which retails for north of $1,500. And you're paying less than $10 for this wine! Domaines Barons de Rothschild has given us a small peek into its world with this tasty effort. You can glean insight into what a Chateau Lafite tastes like through this bottling. Barons de Rothschild Bordeaux will drink well now through 2015 without any issues, especially in the company of a good steak on the grill with baked potato.
Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89016-0749, or e-mail him at gil@winevegas.com.
