Bordeaux and Burgundy may be France’s two most famous winegrowing regions, but they’re many ways they’re worlds apart. Chief among their differences is scale – Bordeaux produces nearly ten times as much wine as Burgundy. Bordeaux won’t replace Burgundy as the core of the Ansonia portfolio any time soon, but its size means there’s plenty of excellent wine there with ready distribution.
In her definitive book “On Bordeaux,” Master of Wine Jane Anson calls the Chateau la Fleur Peyrabon “one of my favorite value wines in the appellation.” She calls it “a Pauillac-lover’s Pauillac, and a value pick.” We agree – this was nearly the last wine from the case we tasted on a sample afternoon last fall, and amid a sea of dry and occasionally stiff St-Estephes and St-Juliens, this grabbed our attention and would not let go.
We poured it to much acclaim at our warehouse grand opening last weekend, and are pleased to release it today.
Young Pauillac can be rich and quite tannic, which is why this wine – now 8 years on from harvest – is such a treat. The nose is mature and pleasant with dried flowers, cherry-plum fruit, and an *almost* Burgundian earthiness. The mouth is sophisticated and smooth – not juicy but with delightful fruit and beautifully balanced palate.
We think this is just entering its prime drinking window, and predict this will offer delicious, mature, accessible rewards for the next 3-4 years. Pour this with steak-frites and be thankful someone else has done the cellaring for you.
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Chateau la Fleur Peyrabon Pauillac 2015
bottle price: $52
