Ready to Drink Affordable Bordeaux: Chateau Potensac 1997 Medoc On Sale! The 1997 vintage in Bordeaux was an interesting proposition. Coming on the heels of the solid duo of 1995 and 1996, the Bordelaise were feeling flush and priced the wines so high that buyers, whose cellars were filled from the prior two years, pretty much ignored them as futures. While certainly not as great as '95 and '96, many Chateaux produced balanced, supple, softish ripe wines with round tannins and exceptional balance. As Robert Parker said in his summation of the year "this is a drinker's rather than a speculator's vintage, but the wines' prices have frightened off drinkers". Now that the prices have caught up with value, there are some terrific wines that are drinking great at very affordable prices. Yesterday I was able to taste the 1997 Potensac, a Chateau owned by the Delon family of Leoville Las Cases and Clos du Marquis fame and was totally blown away by the wine and its price! Potensac is always a favorite of mine, and this wine, perfectly stored in France its entire life, was just stunning. If you are looking for a ready to drink, classic Claret at a super price, this is your wine! This pre-arrival, cellar drect wine arrives in mid to late April. Potensac has been in in the same family since time immemorial. It had always been handed down by the women from generation to generation, and the current owner, Jean-Hubert Delon, inherited the estate from his paternal grandmother, Georgette Liquard. It is located on a high point of land in the northern Medoc near Saint Estephe, with its 84 hectares of vineyards situated on hilly mounds with a limestone subsoil covered with clay and gravel outcrops containing a high proportion of gravel ("graves"). These limestone soils are very similar to those found in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. On this very special terroir, some plots of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc planted over 80 years ago still produce perfectly ripe, healthy grapes. The hamlet of Potensac was already cited in the first edition of Féret for the special characteristics and longevity of its wines. It is a blend of 50% Cabernet, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc. Chateau Potensac 1997 Medoc - $29.99 On Sale - $28.99 on six bottles or more The 1997 Potensac is in its absolute prime right now, showing the softness and supple nature of the vintage, with just the right amount of bottle age. This wine is coming direct from France and it has the added advantage of having been stored in perfect cellar conditions for its entire life, no doubt a factor in this wine's truly perfect condition! Soft and supple, with classic Claret character through and through. Medium ruby purple, beautiful nose of cedar, black currant, gravelly earth, plum, spice, graphite and mocha. Balanced and lovely on the palate, the tannins are totally integrated. Drinking great right now and will do so over the next 2-3 years at least. Pre Arrival Sale - Wine arrives mid to late April. To Order: Click on the link below, call us at 908.953.0900 or reply to this email. |
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