Hi,
This is my first post here, thanks for having me. If I’m doing something wrong, please reach out (my apologies in advance).
So, I was raised on Pinot (mainly Burgundy) and Bordeaux was always frowned upon in my circles. I’d say I appreciate both wines in the accessible new natural style and in the traditional fashion with a fine-boned and ethereal presentation. Recently, however, I am becoming more interested in wines with a more tannic structure. I think the only Bordeaux I ever tried was a Chateau Talbot, but I can’t recall that.
I want to purchase a case of Bordeaux from a German merchant to gain an impression. I was thinking of using ‘Aux Fins Gourmet’ (merchant name, hope it’s OK to share that) because they feature a broad range of Bordeaux with an impressive back catalogue. This is the mix I’m thinking of:
1 x bottle of Barsac/Sauternes
1 x white wine (preferably Semillon or a Semillon dominated blend)
4 x reds: one younger and accessible wine from the right bank (or a Merlot dominated blend) and something a little more mature. And something younger and accessible from the Left Bank (or a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend) and something a little more mature.
I don’t care if the wines are ‘classified’ or not.
As for my preferences, I’m a student, and I want to gain an impression of Bordeaux first. If I like Bordeaux, I’m happy to save for later purchases, but now I don’t want to get the best but the most ‘representative’ (at the lowest price possible). Thus, I’m looking for budget recommendations (more in the ‘how low can you go lane’ than ‘comparably cheap among first growths range’). Budget recommendations means less than 35 Euro, preferably around 20. Demis are fine of course.
I know that terroir is a tricky and different notion in Bordeaux than in Burgundy. That being said, I like traditional or sustainable wineries (not necessarily certified). I’m fond of wine-making that takes place in the vineyard and not in the cellar (I’m aware that that’s an artificial bifurcation). I don’t like high abv, a lot of new oak, over-ripeness, and too much extraction. However, I wouldn’t mind trying a modern style Bordeaux to understand that kind of wine, which seems to be very influential in the region.
Excited to hear your thoughts and thanks a lot for your attention!