Bordeaux questions

[Innkeeper]

Duane, we usually buy Bordeaux only for the cellar. How long there depends on the quality. Top quality, you are looking at ten or more years from harvest. Second labels from top producers such on the one I recommended above should rest for four or five years from harvest. East bank Bordeaux (Pomerol & St Emilion) mature faster, because their lead grape is merlot; so take a year or two off those.

Singular and plural are the same. Fully mature high quality Bordeaux are hard to find and hard to pay for. Most mature wines made from Bordeaux type grapes need to be decanted.

For drinking Now, buy a Bordeaux that costs less than $12. There are hundreds of so called cru Bourgeois, third and even fourth bottlings from major producers, and those bottled by negotiants. Names vary in different parts of the country because of regional importers. In a good year such as 2000, you can hardly go wrong. These are approachable upon release. Chateau Bonnet is one that tends to be reliable year in and year out.