Jeff Leve has kindly consented to a Guest Contribution for Bordeaux-Undiscovered and his article features good value 2009 wines from the renowned wine consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt.
Most of these wines are under £20 a bottle and are well worth seeking out. Jeff is highly respected in the wine world as an internationally renowned wine writer and critic.
He has written articles for Tasted magazine, and is also the moderator for Robert Parker’s web site. Jeff is an expert on the wines of Bordeaux and has been officially inducted into The Jurade of St. Emilion, the Order of Hospitaliers de Pomerol and the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc et des Graves, Sauternes et Barsac.
Jeff is the Founder, Contributor and Editor of The Wine Cellar Insider which offers more than 3,000 searchable, wine tasting notes, wine reviews and has an active Wine and Food Forum.
The site also features thousands of exclusive photographs, winery profiles, special guest contributors ranging from chateau owners, wine makers, fellow bloggers, consultants, negociants, retailers and more.
Many of which will hang out and answer your questions. While The Wine Cellar Insider focuses on Bordeaux wine, Rhone Valley Wines and California wines are also covered as well.
2009 Bordeaux Left Bank Value Wines from Derenoncourt
by Jeff Leve at The Wine Cellar Insider
The now, world famous wine consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt earned his reputation from working with several of the top Bordeaux wine estates in St. Emilion, located in the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Derenoncourt also works with a myriad of Bordeaux chateaux in the Medoc and Pessac Leognan.
This article features tasting notes, ratings and reviews for Bordeaux wine made with the assistance of the Derenoncourt team. All the wines were tasted in bottle and are from the 2009 Bordeaux wine vintage. To read about the wines produced by Stephane Derenoncourt from the Right Bank: www.thewinecellarinsider.com/?p=14750
2009 Chateau Haut Nouchet – This well-priced Pessac Leognan wine from the Stephane Derenoncourt team offers scents of jammy black raspberry, smoke and earth. Medium bodied and soft in texture, this 100% organic Bordeaux wine ends with some hints of green in the cassis filled finish. 87 Pts
2009 Chateau Brown – With a nose of coffee, smoke, blackberry and crème de cassis, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot produced a wine offering round textures, soft tannins and a ripe, spicy dark berry and jam filled finish. 89 Pts
2009 Chateau le Thil Comte Clary – A potent nose of fennel, smoke, cassis and ripe dark berries is easy to find. On the palate, this medium/full bodied wine offers opulent, round textures, sweet tannins and supple textures. This wine represents the best value in Pessac Leognan and deserves to be purchased by the case. 90 Pts
2009 Chateau Haut Maurac – This fun, easy to like Bordeaux wine should drink well on release. 84 Pts
2009 Chateau Maison Blanche – Blackberry, earth and cassis fragrances couple with round textures to produce an easy to drink early wine that represents a good value wine from the Medoc in 2009. 87 Pts
2009 Chateau Saint Paul – Situated on gravel and clay soils in the Haut Medoc regions, this outstanding value wine from a blend of 48% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Cabernet Franc along with 8.5% Petit Verdot offers gobs of black fruit, spice, cassis and licorice.
This full bodied wine ends with blast of sweet, ripe, round textured, fresh black fruit. This sells for less than $20 a bottle. Wines of this quality and price deserve to be bought by the case! 90 Pts
2009 Chateau Talbot – Deeply colored, with aromas of licorice, cassis, herbs, oak and earth, this charming, full bodied, round textured St. Julien wine is filled with juicy ripe blackberries and cassis. 92 Pts