In this video, Bob Paulinski, Master of Wine goes bargain Bordeaux wine shopping day at Total Wine. Five Red Bordeaux wines were purchased ranging from $11 to $27 each for a combined tab of under $100. A sixth bottle was purchased to get a 10% discount off the full lot. Even though the wines were purchased at Total Wine, many can be found through other sources, including the international markets. Prices may vary.
Several factors were taken into consideration. With some, I’ve tasted them previously, so I have firsthand experience. Overall, I considered the appellation, the specific chateaux, along with the strength of the vintage. The focus is on the plentiful and outstanding 2020 vintage. It’s the third of a trio of excellent vintages from the Bordeaux.
Bordeaux produces about 600M bottles of wine each year, across nearly 60 appellations, which includes several thousand wine producing chateaux. Commonly the region is split into what is termed the Left and Right Bank. In general terms, the Left Bank is more CS based, the Right Bank more Merlot focused. About 90% of the region’s wine production is red. Collectively, across the entire region, the primary grape varieties ranked for highest to lowest Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. Malbec, PV, Carmenere combined make up a tiny percentage. More recently some additional varieties have come into to play on a limited basis due to climate change.
2020 Chateau Bois Redon Bordeaux Superieur $10.79
Made from 75% Merlot 25% CS, from the right bank. Decent depth of color, some fade at the edge of the glass, moderate aromatic intensity, black fruit, cassis, no hint of oak, medium bodied, relatively simple wine, yet with no obvious flaws. Not bad, rather meh.
2020 Chateau Loiseau Bordeaux Superieur $12.59
Made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. More depth, weight and structure than the previous wine. Medium deep color, good, bright fruit character, round, solid weight, decent length. Well made. Drink soon, over the next year or two.
2020 Chateau Lanassan Haut Medoc $18.89
52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. The Petit Verdot percentage is one of the highest within Bordeaux. Very good Left Bank estate. Deep color, well extracted, full, ripe, good intensity, black and red fruit character, dried herb, smoke oak, good acidity, solid tannins, a keeper for another five years or so.
2020 Chateau de La Dauphine Fronsac $26.99
From the Right Bank, 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Very deep, dense, well extracted, nearly opaque core, big brooding, hefty wine, overt ripe fruit character, concentrated, obvious oak, a modern style of Bordeaux. Very good, solid aging potential.
2020 Chateau Dalem Fronsac $27.00
Made from predominantly Merlot, with a lesser amount of Cabernet Franc. Outstanding from start to finish, good color extraction, classic aromas, cassis, dark plum, cedar, oak, slight dried herb note, excellent integration of oak, long finish, extremely well made. Can easily cellar well for another five years.
#bordeaux #bargain #frenchwine #redwine #totalwine #2020 #winetasting #winelife #wset #bobpaulinski #masterofwine #chateau
33 Comments
Thanks for your videos. I learn a lot each time I watch. I wonder if you might include the alcohol percentage for the wines you review. I’ve found that the lower the percentage the more food friendly the wine.
Just bought a 2020 Lanessan yesterday at total wine north texas but I paid $1 more than you
Great video Bob! I appreciate all of them. I really enjoy these, here in the motor city there's not a lot of options to shop for quality wine at an affordable price.
Great video!
I had just bought the "rahter meh" one before seeing this video. Funny! Never had a Bordeaux before, good to see the movement up.
Looking forward to a Total Wine Burgundy video. Thanks
Love the cork throw over the shoulder. Learned a lot about left / right bank from video. Awesome job!
Thanks again Bob.
Well, what do you know! I've managed to find Lanessan 2020 available for online purchase at €19.24. Fair price it seems. Now the question is, if I want to get the most learning out of it, should I drink it right away and compare my tasting note with yours (which I will have forgotten by the time I pop it up), or should I age it and see how that potential develops? Yes, I know it'd be best to get two bottles and do both, but budget's budget, and I need to save up for Diploma!
Coincidentally, I opened a £10 bottle of Cotes de Bourg 2020 last night. Having been disappointed in the past with cheap claret I rarely buy something as low-priced as this. However, this one was really very pleasant, even a slight whiff of oak. It finished quite short, though. Also, I have some Lanessan 2015, 2017 and 2019 put by – I will take delivery of the '15s later this year.
Thanks Bb! Arrive KL May 9 for about a month. Will you be around?
Great video Bob!!
I have a bottle of 2016 Chateau Dalem Fronsac.
Should I drink it now or give it a few more years?
Thanks Bob for reviewing wines that most of us can afford. I’ve been trying various right bank Bordeaux wines and somehow I tend to find them having a thick coat of green (hope I’m describing this right) and wish for more acid. Am I just being impatient with the oxidation or is there something else about it that somehow prevents me from fully enjoying them? I don’t think it’s from that movie as I tend to be able to stay logical. Thanks again for all your videos.
I've been drinking their La Tour Besson Margaux '19, quality stuff at $34 …I'm going to go back an try the '20 which is a little cheaper @ $29
Hey Bob, great content, as per usual. You're always very clear and concise. I've been avoiding Bordeaux due to intimidation of the sheer quantity and information to parse. Could you make an absolute beginner's guide to Bordeaux? How should a neophyte approach the Bordeaux section of the wine shop?
Another video I'd love is what conditions make for a good vintage? How early can you tell the vintage will be good? Where should we be looking globally for recent great vintages?
Thank you so much for your excellent and informative videos!
Cheers!
Great video Bob! I like your unpretentious approach to wine. As someone who is relatively new to wine, could you explain a couple things for me? You mention that some wines have “structure” that allow it to be aged. What do you mean by a wine having “structure” and why does this contribute to it being age worthy? Also, one of the wines you mention have a “modern Bordeaux” style. What is a modern Bordeaux style and how does that compare to a more classic style? Thanks again for you content! I always enjoy your videos!
Konstantin Baum throws the corks to the camera (spectators), you throw them to the back. What is this business of throwing corks? 😂😂
I wonder if they will be left where they land forever, or someone will pick them up after the video? 😂
Another great video showing us mere mortals what good wines Bordeaux can produce outside those famous superstar classed growths.
We are off to Bordeaux later in the year for a city break and will watch out for some of these wines!
Great video as always! Since Merlot dominates I would assume more wine is produced on the right bank compared to left bank? Is that true?
I'm drinking well tonight. A GG Riesling from Rudolfs Fürst (Centgrafenberg 2019) that I've managed to space out over three evenings. But I must say, I probably enjoyed an Erste Lage from the same producer even more some months ago (Bürgstadter Berg 2017).
Fantastic video, thanks for the reviews and tips. This might get me to step out of my Kirkland comfort zone. And the cork flick was great. 😂. Thanks!
Thank you! Great video. Any plans on a white Bordeaux video? Would love to see what’s good from Pessac and between two seas. 😁Cheers.
Thank you for another great video! I'm a big fan of the 2019 Chateau Dalem, can't wait to try the 2020🍷. Would love a video on white Bordeaux 🙏.
Watching this while enjoying a 2015 La Dame de Montrose. Btw, great video.
Does totalwine have electric shopping carts that have a basket and you ride it??? If not, im not going there!
Costco has Amigo carts with the basket- Amigo carts work real well !!😊
FLORIDA PASSED A law to use larger bottles for wine and liquors. Tell us what states club stores we can buy at without being a member(open to the public)???
Always Thank you for the graet videos,Can i know what glass are you using in this video?
Once was a claret drinker, but eventually found better varietals and appellations. Still, you can pick some very decent Bordeaux for less than $10 at Costco, if they can sell wine in your state. Here in Florida, there is an ocean of wine available, even at gas stations…
Loving the cork toss…going to Bordeaux in October we would love some recommendations on a few wineries to visit…we are just starting the planning phase for winery bookings. Cheers and thank you 🍷
Fun reviews. Totally agree on the C. Dalem, one of my favorite cellar defenders. The 2022 has good reviews en primeur; I have 6 bottles ordered. Also agree with another commenter regarding C. Lilian Ladouys. If you're willing to spend $50, you can also get the second wines from Pichon Baron (Les Griffons) and Pichon Lalande (Pichon Lalande Reserve), both recommended.
Great video- and great to see Lanassan featured. One of my favorite Bordeaux for the price. Other value favorites of mine include Potensac, Sociando, Chasse Spleen, Clos des Lunelles, Saint Nicolas, and Cantemerle (5th growth, but very well priced for a cru classe). I'm unfamiliar with Dauphine and Dalem- I'll have to look out for them! Thanks for the idol and keep up the fantastic work!
I enjoyed this video and agree with your views on Lanessan and Chateau Dalem. These young Bordeaux can be quite unfriendly when the cork is first pulled, and open up nicely after a few hours in a decanter. Thanks!
Great video, Bob! I just got back from Bordeaux (still in Paris for a few days before coming back to Boston). There’s SO much value in Bordeaux. My favorite price/quality wine in my trip came from the 2020 Tour Saint Christophe. I’ll be tracking that down in the US. But my favorite wine I tasted was definitely the 2018 and 2019 Troplong Mondot. They’ve turned down the oak and it’s right bank elegance that’s perfect form me!
Fronsac….Chateau Dalem…Oh YES!!!!
Love this!