I’ve tasted plenty of inexpensive Bordeaux over the years, and most are pleasant enough. The 2018 Chateau Bourdieu’s Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux No. 1 is something entirely different. Complex, layered, and beautifully evolved, it honestly drinks like a wine from a much higher price bracket.
As I dug a little deeper into this wine, I realized I’d happened into something pretty special. Decanter awarded it a whopping 97 points, describing it as “deep, round, ample, and approachable” with “primary plum and damson fruits just beginning to soften into something a little more savoury and meaty.” They went on to say it “will certainly continue to evolve for another half-decade yet, and would show convincingly among peers of loftier price.”
If all of that isn’t enough to grab your attention, perhaps this will -- it’s just $19.99/bottle, 20% off the regular price!
Situated on the Right Bank, about 30 miles north of Saint-Emilion, lies the highly underrated region of Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux. Those in the know understand this is one of Bordeaux’s great value zones, where talented and hardworking producers can craft wines that rival far more expensive Saint-Emilions and Pomerols for a fraction of the price. Chateau Bourdieu is one of those producers, and this wine proves the point beautifully.
A blend of 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc aged in French oak for 12 months, this comes from the warm, generous, and highly rated 2018 vintage, and it’s drinking like a dream right now. Flowing with expressive aromas and flavors of ripe plum, dark cherry, cedar spice, tobacco leaf, and cigar box, this is full-bodied Bordeaux with polished tannins and a wonderfully supple texture.
While I am confident this will keep on giving for another 5 years, there’s no reason to delay gratification. Open a bottle, pour a glass, and enjoy it with lamb, burgers, mushroom dishes, or a good steak frites.
If you love traditional Right Bank Bordeaux and appreciate finding hidden gems from lesser-known appellations, this is a bottle you should absolutely try. Cheers and happy drinking!
Josh Spurling
Owner/Operator
Table Wine Asheville
