By cork
A combination of everything great about Bordeaux red wine: enticing fragrance, dark & rich estate-grown fruit, earthiness, sappiness, balance, depth, smooth texture, acidity, and length. Nothing over the top, very much in control. After dark roses and coffee beans on the nose, there’s plum, blackberry and black currant on the palate—definitely a taste of clay & chalk earth—finishing with a pleasant, sour acidity that cuts nicely through the fat of a juicy steak or the oils of a rich, hearty fish. The 2012 CHATEAU BARDE-HAUT Saint-Emilion is made of 90% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, so it is silky in texture and medium in weight and, thus, wonderfully versatile to accompany a variety of foods. But don’t let this deceive you of its power. Let it breathe a while, about an hour-and-half—then a commanding presence fully asserts itself. Go ahead and enjoy this young; no need to wait obsessively for it to age. Some wines are indeed better with youth. –J.M.
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Added to: Really Good Wine List [May ’15]