Chateau Bauduc Clos des Quinze 2004
Hardcore fans of robertfranciswine.ie will recognised Chateau Bauduc from a posting that I did on their white earlier this year. I absolutely loved the wine, giving is a very respectable 91 points. I even went as far to cover the wine in the weekly wine column that I was then writing for the Connacht Tribune. Well here I am tasting the red equivalent – which for the geeks in the room is a blend of Merlot (70% in this blend), Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. I am a MASSIVE fan of Bordeaux, both reds and whites – the whites tend to be sauvignon blanc based for all your New Zealand die hards they are often more refined and better value.
Nice, slightly florescent, garnet coloured wine with nice colour intensity – I can see my fingers through the wine but only just. I tasted this wine after a Margaret River Cabernet and colour/colour intensity wise there was not massive difference between the two wines.
However this is where the similarity ends and New World fans might need to leave the building. As this is VEG city on the nose – there are still some black fruits but they are not as pronounced as the broccoli and green veg aromas and I LOVE IT !! That Old World subtly and refinement really comes through for me – so if you are a New World Fruit bomb fan this may not initially be your style of wine. I say initially as with time, as you continue to expand your palate I am sure you will love this as much as I do.
On the palate the initial hit of blackberry and blackcurrant is followed by some high quality boot polish and leather. The veg factor from above runs right through to the finish and it is like someone made you the best broccoli and blackcurrant smoothie – I know that sounds disgusting but this wine has class and elegance for all occasions ! I loved the fruit, veg and secondary flavours and everything about this wine.
In fact I loved this wine so much I ordered 4 more bottles so I am not sure if Curious wines.ie have any of the 2004 left. But fear not as I understand they have some of the 2006 available as well. So get yourself into their shop in Bandon or onto their site and buy some – as it is currently 2 for €27. Seriously you cannot beat that with a stick – wines good enough for Christmas and a great price – what more do you want ? Just get there before they are all gone !
Robertfranciswine – 91 Points
Available from – Curiouswines.ie
Price Bracket – On its own €16 or two for €27
on October 21st, 2009 1
Looks like an object lesson for very many French suppliers, too, in how to make their front label fresh and modern without sacrificing the traditional elements that consumers here usually want to see on a bottle of Bordeaux.
I’d buy some just so that I could hurl the empties at the wineries and graphic designers who waste their time, money and energy renovating labels without grasping the important fact that the export customer has his own culturally shaped ideas about things, including matters aesthetic, and may – whisper it – not even be French.
on October 23rd, 2009 2
Hi Robert
I’d not come across your excellent site before. Many thanks for your observations on the wine and I’m pleased that the blackcurrant and broccoli flavourings I blended in worked a treat.
And thanks to Julian for the comments on the label. Originally it was my own pen and ink drawing that was included on the front and back label but I asked my sister, an artist, if she thought they were okay. She said she thought they looked ‘a bit anal’. So thankfully she penned a much better version.
Best wishes
Gavin Quinney, Chateau Bauduc, Bordeaux
on February 11th, 2010 3
[...] From a single vineyard where mostly Merlot (70% in this blend), Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on clay and gravel slopes near the river Garonne. This classic Bordeaux blend was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The 2004 vintage received 91 points from Galway based wine critic Frank O’Brien. [...]