Chateau d’Arthus Bordeaux
Wine: Chateau d'Arthus Bordeaux.
Grapes: Merlot (80 percent), cabernet franc (15 percent), cabernet sauvignon (5 percent)
Region: Bordeaux, France
Vintage: 2009
Price: $12.99
In the glass: Chateau d'Arthus is a deep crimson-ruby opaque red with streaks of purple going out into a deep-painted fuchsia-red rim definition with high viscosity.
On the nose: The wine bursts with lovely forward juicy black berry fruit, mocha, chocolate, coffee, creme caramel, cassis, toffee, soft vanillin from oak and an underlying fresh minty character, with hints of herbs and fruit-driven minerality.
On the palate: Chateau d'Arthus shows great structure upfront with powerful ripe black fruit components, crushed berry, chocolate fudge, minerals and wood references. It has a powerful midpalate and a firm tannin structure, which is why it should probably be allowed to breathe for about two hours. The midpalate is amply supple with soft touches of red fruit, going into the finish, which is very long and exudes berry flavors right until the end.
Odds and ends: It was only a matter of time before we got to taste something from the "vintage of the century." While both 2000 and 2005 were hailed as the greatest ever, 2009 bumped up the scale another notch for the Bordeaux region, and the wines were unprecedented in both price and reputation. The most expensive wines from Bordeaux 2009 are now well over $2,000. Chateau d'Arthus gives us an inkling of the quality from that vintage, but at a reasonable price. It is a young, vibrant and delicious wine from a top winemaker, Francois Janoueix, who knows how to craft great wines into top value contenders. Classic steak frites is the perfect companion, and since grilling season is in full swing, give it a try. The wine should drink very well now through 2015.
Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.
