September 8, 2022 - Left Bank Bordeaux (Médoc)

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September’s WWC Cellar Tasting features wines from the Left Bank of Bordeaux, all from wineries located in the Médoc Appellation within the Haut-Médoc Region. Four of the wines come from three of the four famous communes of the Haut-Médoc: St. Estèphe, Pauillac and St. Julien.

Wines

  • 2011 Château Branaire-Ducru – St. Julien

  • 2011 Château La Tour Carnet – Haut-Médoc

  • 2011 Château de Pez – St. Estèphe

  • 2011 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron – Pauillac

  • 2011 Chateau Léovillle Poyferré – St. Julien

Information, Reviews & Tasting Notes

  • 2011 Château Branaire-Ducru – St. Julien

    • Fourth Growth Grand Cru Classé 

    • Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot

    • Just before the war, the vineyard became run down and many Bordeaux critics felt it no longer deserved its rank as a Second Growth. During the Medoc Classification of 1855, the Chateau was rated as a Fourth Growth. In 1942 the Borie family purchased the vineyard which they completely revamped.  It then began receiving top ratings amongst the Second Growths. Successive generations of the Borie family oversee all winemaking operations. The name given by the former owner Monsieur Ducru, means "beautiful pebbles". One of the main features of the vineyard is its richness in pebbles which contribute to the greatness of so many wines of the Médoc.

    • Tasting notes: Layers of plum sauce, blackberry compote and warm ganache, all lined with a charcoal note that adds texture; length appears on the palate, which exhibits a medium- to full-bodied mouthfeel with velvety tannins on the finish. 

  • 2011 Château La Tour Carnet – Haut-Médoc

    • Fourth Growth Grand Cru Classé 

    • Blend: 57% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot

    • The historic château dates back to the Middle Ages and is said to have been inhabited by the English as early as the 12th century. The land eventually fell to French rule, to which the then incumbent refused to submit. He was defeated by a compatriot of Jeanne d'Arc, and the impressive castle was partly destroyed. Following these events, the ruined property passed through the hands of a succession of owners including the current proprietor, Bernard Magrez, considered a Bordeaux visionary, who owns a number of other celebrated Bordeaux estates.

    • Tasting notes: aromas of black currant, tree fruits emphasizing nuances of spice, licorice, camphor and vanilla. On the palate, an attractive sweetness and good acidity, tones of dark berries, blueberries, black raspberries, graphite, spring flowers, licorice with a long, rich and luxuriant. 

  • 2011 Château de Pez – St. Estèphe

    • Bourgeois Supérior from 1855 to 2003, then designated Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

    • Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc

    • Founded in the 15th century, Château de Pez is another one of the oldest properties in Bordeaux and has belonged to various iconic families including the Pontac family, founders of Château Haut Brion. Since 1995, Pez has been the property of Champagne Louis Roederer. A major renovation program carried out both in the vineyard and in the winery has made it possible to introduce new techniques worthy of a Bordeaux Classified Growth.

    • Tasting notes: This is a serious wine structured with firm tannins. Texture is solid and somewhat austere, but very concentrated. Terrific texture and opulence, forward fruit, sweet tannin; copious quantities of sweet berries, roast coffee, underbrush, black currant, and black cherry fruit. 

  • 2011 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron – Pauillac

    • Second Growth Grand Cru Classé

    • Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc

    • Chateau Pichon Baron and Chateau Pichon Lalande started out life together. At their inception, they were originally part of the same Pauillac vineyard. The chateau and vineyards of Pichon Baron acquired its name like many properties of the day, through marriage. This happened when Therèse, daughter of the founder, received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville, the first President of the Bordeaux Parliament. This began the creation of what we now know of as Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron and is considered by some to have become first of the ‘Super-seconds’.

    • Tasting notes: Beautiful, elegant wine, great nose. Ripe cherry fruit, very dense core of plum, blackberry and cassis along with some slight vegetable or mushroom kind of characteristics on the palate; wonderful creamy texture which shows on a prolonged, powerful and fresh finish. 

  • 2011 Chateau Léovillle Poyferré – St. Julien 

    • Second Growth Grand Cru Classé

    • Blend: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc 

    • Due to a division of the large Léoville estate, Chateau Léoville Poyferré was created in 1840 and was included as a Second Growth in the famous 1855 Classification. In 1920, the Cuvelier family purchased the estate and Didier Cuvelier has been in charge since 1979. Major investments were made to bring out the best in the vineyards, and the cellars were also renovated. In 1994, noted consulting oenologist Michel Rolland began to offer his precious winemaking advice. The final blend is made after many careful tastings.

    • Tasting notes: Deep, dark ruby-red, not quite opaque. Aromas are of cedary cassis with tobacco leaf notes; the palate shows lovely cassis fruit with plenty of cedar and earthy notes. The wine is mid-weight and the tannic structure is lovely and velvety. There is an exquisite finish supported by a sublime tannic structure--fine, elegant and balanced.

Suggested Food Pairings