Chateau Greysac 2011

Château Greysac, located in the Médoc hamlet of Begadan, north of St. Estèphe, was built in the 1700s. For many years it was the property of the late Baron François de Gunzburg.   Classified as Médoc Cru Bourgeois, Château Greysac has been a member of the elite Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux since 1982. Château Greysac has become synonymous with classic Bordeaux style at an affordable price. Chateau Greysac 2011 I drank a lot of Greysac in college when it was owned by the late Baron Gunzberg. The soft, fruity, round, charming 2011 (65% Merlot, followed by mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) is everything a Cru Bourgeois should be. The current proprietor, Jean Guyon, has made this property one that should be seriously considered by consumers.  Robert M. Parker, Jr. 86 Points eRobertParker.com Issue 212  Gold Medal  - Concours Mondial des Vins du Canada  Silver Medal - Concours de Bordeaux Bronze Medal - Challenge Internationale  Bronze Medal- Concours des Grands Vins de France  New Bordeaux - Jane Anson: 92/100. Firm ambitious strands of flavor, pretty good.

Chateau Samion Lalande de Pomerol 2013

Jean-Claude Berrouet

We've all heard of the $1,000+ per bottle Chateau Petrus, the Grand Gru Bordeuax estate that is the stuff of legends.  Jean-Claude Berrouet is the winemaker who was the head winemaker at Petrus for 44 years. He retired in 2006 or 2007 and set up his own little estate called Chateau Samion in Lalande-de-Pomerol. Jean-Claude makes the wines the exact same way he made his 44 vintages of Petrus. He tends the vineyards the exact same way he did at Petrus and oh boy does his meticulous attention to detail show up in this absolutely brilliant bottle of Lalande-de-Pomerol. This isn't Petrus, but for under $40.00 a bottle Chateau Samion is the finest satellite I have ever had. The wine is an astonishing value and crafted by a true master. I have no idea why this wine costs so little or why I was able to get my hands on it.  Maybe because Berrouet is well enough off that he doesn't care to market his wines and doesn't need the money. Frankly, I've decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Lyle Fass Rockss and Fruit

Chateau Samion Lalande de Pomerol 2013   Made from 100% Merlot that is hand harvested, vinified in concrete vats, and then aged for 20 months in 15% new French oak casks (225 liters).