Bordeaux is home to many of the most famous and expensive wines in the world. But it’s a huge region, and also produces wines that dramatically overperform their pricetag. One of our favorite places to find value in Bordeaux is at the Cru Bourgeois level.
This Médoc classification, revived in 2010, is earned each year, and awarded based on the quality of the wine rather than the name of the chateau. Of the few hundred cuvées awarded the status each year, the best include, to quote Vinous’s Neal Martin, “a clutch of fabulous wines that I bet could be sneaked into a blind tasting of Grand Cru Classé and nobody would notice.”
Today’s wine is a case in point: a no-brainer everyday Bordeaux for $5/glass.
Last year many readers picked up the 2010 Ramafort, a delightful wine with a few years under its belt. This year we’re suggesting a more recent vintage — the 2016 has just arrived and it’s terrific. The 50/50 Cab/Merlot blend is a younger, fresher take on the terroir, but one with silky tannins and a perfectly balanced texture.
Martin awarded 91 points, finding “a very attractive bouquet with blackberry, briary and cedar aromas.” He went on to find “fine grain tannin” and a “silky finish,” before concluding finally “Yes, yes, yes!” Martin suggests a 2020-2035 drinking window — based on how well last night’s bottle went down with a plate of ribs, we don’t think the case in our cellar will til the end of 2020.
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Ramafort Cru Bourgeois 2016
bottle price: $25
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES
