Hi-Time's Best Boreaux Value of the Year
We're thrilled to feature a fantastic Bordeaux as Wine of the Month for December. We really like to pull out the stops during the holiday season and immediately knew this wine was the one when we tasted it!
This James Suckling 93-pointer is among the best we've seen in an affordable Bordeaux in recent memory. 2020 was a great year for Bordeaux and it's important to remember that a rising tide lifts all boats-- from the famous First Growth houses to the myriad of important, vital and delicious wines like Château Corbin!
When the winter winds start to truly make inroads on the typically temperate Southern California climate, when the rains return and, if lucky, plenty of snow for the local and not-so-local mountains, we know it is time to select a special wine to celebrate the month of December, and all the joys and activity, foods and fellowship, gatherings and festivity it brings.
Chateau Corbin follows a fortunate pattern we've seen out of Bordeaux over the last few years, with an incredibly well-made, delicious wine that can make it across the pond and still be sold at a fantastic price-- we always love to tout the QPR (quality-to-price) ratio in these wines because they drink so far above their price point! This is it!
The nose is a beautiful mix of ripe and savory red fruits, with touches of cherry and mulberry while notes of earth, cocoa and a hint of wild herbs is in the background. The palate is loaded with ripe cherry fruit, kriek lambic and ruminations of garden loam, earth, graphite, mixed red and black berries and minerality. The fruit, while the star, is kept in orbit by the gravity the body and secondary flavors allow: savory elements actually allow the fruit to shine more as the contrast it brings highlights the ripeness; the tannins and acidity keep the wine light on its feet, not heavy, and more than able to cut through some rich holiday foods. This is classic Bordeaux and should be celebrated and enjoyed-- we are just smitten with this wine and believe it will make this holiday season even better!
The Rambeaud family, winemakers and farmers since 1779, took over the winery in 1940; the winery dates back to the 16th century. The family takes their stewardship role seriously: "Proud of our land, we strive to create and innovate with complete authenticity. Attuned to nature, we adapt to its unique characteristics, remaining attentive to its every step. As respectful winemakers, we carefully cultivate the vines planted by previous generations to pass on a quality vineyard to future generations." Since 2005 Jacques Rambeaud has been committed to improving his production methods while respecting the environment-- the quality is evident in the bottle and the grand surprise is the cost is very user-friendly while the wine, simply, sings! 80% Merlot 15% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Cabernet Franc.
JAMES SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "Aromas of ripe berries, toasted hazelnuts, spiced bread crust, tree bark and dry earth. Full-bodied, structured and firm with creamy tannins and a solid core of dark fruit. Lingering finish with notes of nut shell. Merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon."
We're thrilled to feature a fantastic Bordeaux as Wine of the Month for December. We really like to pull out the stops during the holiday season and immediately knew this wine was the one when we tasted it!
This James Suckling 93-pointer is among the best we've seen in an affordable Bordeaux in recent memory. 2020 was a great year for Bordeaux and it's important to remember that a rising tide lifts all boats-- from the famous First Growth houses to the myriad of important, vital and delicious wines like Château Corbin!
When the winter winds start to truly make inroads on the typically temperate Southern California climate, when the rains return and, if lucky, plenty of snow for the local and not-so-local mountains, we know it is time to select a special wine to celebrate the month of December, and all the joys and activity, foods and fellowship, gatherings and festivity it brings.
Chateau Corbin follows a fortunate pattern we've seen out of Bordeaux over the last few years, with an incredibly well-made, delicious wine that can make it across the pond and still be sold at a fantastic price-- we always love to tout the QPR (quality-to-price) ratio in these wines because they drink so far above their price point! This is it!
The nose is a beautiful mix of ripe and savory red fruits, with touches of cherry and mulberry while notes of earth, cocoa and a hint of wild herbs is in the background. The palate is loaded with ripe cherry fruit, kriek lambic and ruminations of garden loam, earth, graphite, mixed red and black berries and minerality. The fruit, while the star, is kept in orbit by the gravity the body and secondary flavors allow: savory elements actually allow the fruit to shine more as the contrast it brings highlights the ripeness; the tannins and acidity keep the wine light on its feet, not heavy, and more than able to cut through some rich holiday foods. This is classic Bordeaux and should be celebrated and enjoyed-- we are just smitten with this wine and believe it will make this holiday season even better!
The Rambeaud family, winemakers and farmers since 1779, took over the winery in 1940; the winery dates back to the 16th century. The family takes their stewardship role seriously: "Proud of our land, we strive to create and innovate with complete authenticity. Attuned to nature, we adapt to its unique characteristics, remaining attentive to its every step. As respectful winemakers, we carefully cultivate the vines planted by previous generations to pass on a quality vineyard to future generations." Since 2005 Jacques Rambeaud has been committed to improving his production methods while respecting the environment-- the quality is evident in the bottle and the grand surprise is the cost is very user-friendly while the wine, simply, sings! 80% Merlot 15% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Cabernet Franc.
JAMES SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "Aromas of ripe berries, toasted hazelnuts, spiced bread crust, tree bark and dry earth. Full-bodied, structured and firm with creamy tannins and a solid core of dark fruit. Lingering finish with notes of nut shell. Merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon."
