Mainly Bordeaux

When I started buying wine in Boulogne, I often bought Bordeaux. These seemed like good value.

So I have started my wine tasting with four bought in France. I then added a Bordeaux bought in the UK, and one Cote du Rhone bought in France for comparison.

(There was more than one tasting session, so not all wines were at all tastings).

1: Chateau Les Sablonnets

• Bordeaux 2015
• €3.20 from Auchan

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Comments

Bouquet: Quite pleasant.
Taste: Too heavy and dark, rough.

Me (Paul)

Bouquet: Sharp vinegary smell
Taste: Thin taste, tacky, quite sour

Mira

Bouquet: Smokey tones
Taste: Sharp on the tongue, and sharp aftertaste.
Mark 6/10

Cameron

Bouquet: Not too complex or strong, musky, musty
Taste: Heavy/dark, a bit sweet

Sarah

Overall comments

Not liked, cheap wine and you can tell.

2: Chateau Lande de Bertin

• Bordeaux 2015
• €3.90 Cave de Monsieur Guy

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Comments

Bouquet, quite strong
Taste: Even more acidic than 1, but not quite as rough

Me (Paul)

Bouquet: Mild even smell
Taste: Not full bodied or well rounded, mild taste, slightly sour.

Mira

Bouquet: Smoky tones
Taste: Sharp aftertaste, did not like
Mark 5/10

Cameron

Bouquet: Complex on the nose, slight raspberry scent.
Taste: Spicy, slightly more acidic. A little non-descript,

Sarah

Overall Comments

Not liked, cheap wine and you can tell.

3: Versant Royal

• Bordeaux Superior 2015
• €3.99 From Auchan

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Comments

Bouquet: A nice smell
Taste. A bit heavy, but a nice dark distinctive taste.

Me (Paul)

Bouquet: Fragrant, smooth.
Taste: taste fades away quite quickly. Blackcurrenty. Dry but not sour. I like this.

Mira

Bouquet: Beautiful scent
Taste: Cleaner taste, sharper, but perhaps due to less breathing time.
Mark 6.5/10

Cameron

Bouquet, Perfumed on the nose.
Taste: Dry, and less tannic than previous two. More complex with longer finish and gentle flavours.

Sarah

Overall comments

Of the cheaper Bordeaux, this was definitely regarded as the best. They are often available in boxes of 6 at Auchan. I often buy a box when I am there.

4: Chateaux Saint Germain

• Bordeaux Superior 2015
• £7.48 From Asda in the UK

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Comments

Bouquet: A nice subtle smell
Taste. A little sour, but a nice strong taste.

Me (Paul)

A strong sharp taste, rather heavy, still like it.

Mira

Bouquet: Fruitier tones
Taste: Smooth
Mark 7/10

Cameron

Punchy flavour, not too sweet, a bit sour.

Sarah

Overall comments

For a comparison, I bought a Bordeaux from Asda. Overall, it was good. It was definitely better than the first two from France. Approximately equal with the Versant Royal and the Chateau Anglade-Bellevue, but buying this in the UK is about double the cost of the Versant Royal at Auchan

5: Chateau Anglade Bellevue

• Merlot Blaye Cote de Bordeaux 2014
• €6.50 From E.Leclerc

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Comments

Bouquet: A nice subtle smell
Taste: Pleasant, just a tiny bit sharp

a

Bouquet: Musty, subtle
Taste: a nice smooth uncomplicated wine.

Mira

Full-bodied, smooth, fresh
‘I liked this one’.
Mark 7.5/10

Cameron

Overall Comments

More expensive than the other Bordeaux, and you can tell.

Still cheaper than the one bought in the UK, and probably a bit nicer

Question, does this count as a Bordeaux, or a Merlot? Comments welcome.

6: Cotes Du Rhone Villages 2015

• €3.99 From Auchan

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Comments

Nice Bouquet
Taste: Still a bit sharp, but better on 2^nd taste

Me (Paul)

Bouquet: Sweet smell
Taste: Really nice, lovely taste

Mira

Full scent
Zesty, sweet long after taste
Mark 8/10 : Favourite

Cameron

Overall Comments

Advice from Yorkshire Wine School was that Cotes du Rhones are better value at the lower cost end. There is something in this from tasting sessions that I did. A good bargain at the price.

Review of all comments

Two of the cheap Bordeaux were rough: Definitely not recommended. Versant Royal is definitely good value. Paying a bit more for the Merlot Blaye Cote de Bordeaux 2014 is also worthwhile.

The UK bought wine was just about on a par with the better Bordeaux bough in Boulogne. However it is a lot more expensive.

Overall, the best value wine might be the Cote du Rhone Villages.

I will be buying several Cote du Rhones to compare them. Keep a look out for that tastings review.