Timeless Elegance: A Battle of Bordeaux Icons - Pomerol, Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, and Saint-Emilion

In our latest tasting session, Belgium Wine Watchers delved into the nuanced world of Bordeaux, focusing on iconic selections from both the Left Bank and Right Bank. This exploration brought to light the unique qualities and enduring appeal of these esteemed regions.

Clos René 1990, Pomerol

We began our journey with the 1990 Clos René from Pomerol, a wine that immediately captivates with its luscious, ripe aromas of prunes and plums. This robust, full-bodied wine delivers rich fruit flavors and a velvety texture, making it a true pleasure to savor. Often flying under the radar, this estate consistently offers high-quality wines that age beautifully, all at a reasonable price. During our tasting, the 1990 Clos René emerged as an unexpected gem, truly standing out among its peers.

La Dame de Montrose 1985, Saint-Estèphe

Next, we tasted the 1985 La Dame de Montrose from Saint-Estèphe. This wine reveals its age with a mature hue and slight bricking at the rim. On the palate, it offers a rustic charm with red berries mingled with bacon, herbs, and a touch of dried orange peel. Exceptionally well-balanced and fleshy, it stays true to the vintage style and exceeded our expectations during the tasting.

Les Forts de Latour 1990, Pauillac

The 1990 Les Forts de Latour from Pauillac proved to be a standout wine from an exceptional vintage. Its rich and complex bouquet of chocolate, cherries, tobacco, and cedar sets the stage for a remarkable tasting experience. On the palate, this wine offers extraordinary volume, elegance, and depth. Unique in its category, Les Forts de Latour is crafted from different vines than those used for the Grand Vin. Were there to be a reclassification, this wine would undoubtedly match the quality of many Third Growths.

"The 1990 Clos René emerged as an unexpected gem, while the 1990 Les Forts de Latour stood out as the evening's star, underscoring the extraordinary aging potential of select Bordeaux wines."

Chateau Belair 1990, Saint-Emilion

We concluded with the 1990 Chateau Belair from Saint-Emilion, a wine that retains a youthful vigor uncommon for its vintage. Given time to breathe, it reveals a nuanced bouquet of red and black cherries, complemented by subtle hints of paraffin, smokiness, and a pleasing salinity from its soil. Undertones of menthol and baking spices add further depth. On the palate, this wine displays remarkable complexity, driven by its terroir, with a rich core of fruit supported by ripe tannins and culminating in a long, focused, and tangy finish. This wine transports us back to a classic era before it became part of the Moueix family as Chateau Belair-Monange.

Conclusion

Despite the initial surprise of the Clos René 1990, the Les Forts de Latour 1990 unquestionably emerged as the standout of the evening, once again highlighting the extraordinary aging potential of select wines.

Until next time!

Tasted by Glenn Cambre July 2024 Belgium Wine Watchers