My wife and I have attended six tastings at The Wine Merchant and it seems each one is better than the previous.  The Wine Merchant tastings are elegant but casual with attendees being able to move at their own pace and in whatever order they wish.  The staff is also extremely knowledgeable on each wine which is perfect for a relative newbie like me looking to learn and have fun at the same time.  The folks at The Wine Merchant clearly want each person to leave with a better understanding and appreciation of the wines being tasted.

Now a quick background on the Bordeaux region.  At more than 280, 000 acres, the Bordeaux region in France is the 2nd largest wine-growing area in the world.  The soil structure heavy in calcium is ideal for growing vines which is a big reason for the region’s success and world popularity.  The vast majority of Bordeaux wines are red, outnumbering white six to one.

On to the wines.  Another unique trait of Bordeaux wines is they are nearly all blended, the most common blend being Merlot and Cabernet.  The Bordeaux tasting at The Wine Merchant was no exception with some amazing Merlot/Cabernet blends that ended up being among our favorites.  Below are the wines featured during the Bordeaux tasting and some collective thoughts from the group tasting with me.

Whites

• 2008 Château Laulerie – Montravel
  Very clean and fresh.  Overall we thought this was an OK wine but a pretty good value at $12.
• 2007 Château Marjosse – Entre-Deux-Mers
  This was our preferred white by far.  A ton of flavor.

Reds

• 2005 Château Laulerie – Bergerac (Right Bank)
  The first Red immediately reminded us why Bordeaux Reds receive such world acclaim.  Silky smooth with some spice in the finish.
• 2005 Château Feret Lambert – Bordeaux Supérieur (Right Bank)
  Wow.  This one was one of my favorites and in our group’s top three.  A lot of black raspberry and spice, blended perfectly.  The baby blue label on this bottle isn’t hard to look at either!
• 2006 St. Colombe – Côtes de Castillon (Right Bank)
  Complex and warm.  You can picture yourself in front of the fireplace enjoying this.
• 2006 Château Larrivaux – Haut-Médoc (Left Bank)
  Another wonderful rich wine, a bit sweeter than the St. Colombe.
• 2005 Château Saint-Estèphe – Saint-Estèphe (Left Bank)
  Another amazing option that made it into our group’s top three.  The folks at The Wine Merchant say this pairs well with a steak and I agree.
• 2005 Château d’Aurilhac – Haut-Médoc (Left Bank)
  And of course they saved the best for last.  This was our consensus top pick.  It’s absolutely creamy dreamy with a long finish you hope keeps going and going.

The Bordeaux tasting at The Wine Merchant was my favorite tasting so far this year.  They always do an amazing job of choosing a nice variety of wines across multiple price points.  As I said earlier The Wine Merchant staff is also extremely knowledgeable, making it a great place to learn and explore.  You can learn more and find out when the next tasting will be at The Wine Merchant website.