Thursday, February 15, 2007

Thirsty Thursday: 2005 Chateau Clos de la Chesnaie, Lalande de Pomerol

Welcome to a new feature over here at Theory in Practice. Each Thursday night, as the college weekend and drinkathon begins, I'll be posting tasting notes for a new wine each week, both to continue my lovable but pompous ranting and to help educate you, dear reader, on the wonderful world of wine.

We begin this week with a 2005 Chateau Clos de la Chesnaie, a Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Oenophiles have been holding their collective breath in anticipation of the wonders the 2005 Bordeaux vintage will unleash, and we are just now getting our first peek into the peak of the world's best known wine region. Scholars wonder whether 2005, with great vintages like 2000 and 2003 barely in the rear-view mirror, will gain that most sought-after title of reknowned year in Bordelaise history. Futures have skyrocketed, and the world's collectors have begun snapping up the best. But for me, the small quaffer, and thousands like me, we may still experience that perfection of a confluence of events so rare as to create memories for years to come. There are wonderful, accessible Bordeaux wines still out there, so get searching!

And now on to the tasting. Earth tones and lovely Merlot berry flavors on the nose, tempered with just hint of smoke and oak. Rather astringent in the mouth, even after aerating, but with a flourish of strawberry and black cherries. Finish is very acidic, clearly the wine needs much more time to mellow in the bottle.

Overall: 87 now, 89-91 at peak. $14.99 on sale at Mall Discount Liquors, Cambridge, MA

1 comment:

L P said...

Can you please include some information on what it tastes like when you're 3/4 of the way through the bottle on your own? Or does everything taste like Rossi by that point?

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