Chateau Bonnet Reserve Bordeaux Rouge – Delicious, Inexpensive Bordeaux Is Not An Oxymoron

50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot from Bordeaux, France.

SRP of $15 and available for as low as $13. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

“Andre Lurton’s family has presided over the prime vineyards of Chateau Bonnet for over a hundred years. Harnessing this heritage and tradition, and adopting modern winemaking techniques, Andre has crafted this refreshing, juicy red from classic Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Merlot (50%).

13.5% Alcohol”

As we’ve discussed previously, there seems to be a misconception about Bordeaux wines — that they are, for the most part, prohibitively expensive. And while a few of them are (those that get the most press), the vast majority fall squarely into our under $20 criteria. Today we have quite a nice red that comes from Chateau Bonnet, a producer that we have enjoyed previously for their white and roséwines. Let’s see how the red wine compares…

The 2009 Chateau Bonnet Reserve Bordeaux Rouge begins with a very inviting aroma of blackberry, plum and spice. Tasting the wine reveals excellent juicy and vibrant fruit flavors but also a good dose of oak. This wine definitely needs some time to open up so I would recommend aeratingor decanting it. Patience is rewarded greatly however, as once it gets some air we found it to be really delicious with blackberry, plum and licorice flavors and nice fine tannins. It ends with a great dry and fruity finish that features a bit of dark chocolate at the very end. Underlying the fact that it needs to be decanted, we found it to be even better on day 2.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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