Lowball Bordeaux Grand Cru: 2004 Chateau Lusseau Saint-Emilion
Like most folks, my buying habits have changed over the past decade. I can’t recall the last time I bought a bottle of wine in a store. I do most of my buying online these days. Most of my household goods are bought from Amazon. Tools, car parts, etc are sourced from online shops. All bought from my keyboard. My wine buying is 100% online these days. Partly because of the limited selection found in my local stores, but mostly because I can find better wine online at a better price. The only place I buy wines in person these days is at fine dining establishments. This is where I try new things and find wines I didn’t know about before. But the bulk of my wine collection has been purchased online via wine clubs and online retailers. One of these retailers I use a lot is “Wine Exchange.” I was introduced to them via a wine-focused podcast “The Tasting Room.” They appeared as a guest on the podcast likely a decade ago, when they were called “Best Wines Online”, and they showcased several wines that were all under $30 and all of them amazing. (One of which I ended up buying two and a half cases of, and frankly is one of the best wines I have ever tasted… I should write that one up for you!) I have bought a lot of wine from Wine Exchnage and am on their mailing list, which sends me bargains in email so often that I have to practice a lot of restraint not to buy everything they offer!
I love me some Bordeaux. Most of it is crazy expensive, but once in a while you stumble upon a bargain, and in this case it was a real win. In an email from Winex back in April of last year offering this Bordeaux for under twenty bucks a bottle. I grabbed two bottles. Two bottles is a pretty standard order for me (usually in a mixed half or full dozen) and I’ll drink one after a few weeks’ rest. If it is good, I’ll make a note to enjoy the second bottle at some future date. If it is REAL good, I’ll order more. In this case I ordered six more bottles.
Now I’m kicking myself for not buying several cases!
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon makes up this garagiste estate blend. Don’t bother looking for it, as Winex bought the entire remaining output of the winery’s 2004 vintage, and sold it to their customers, myself included. Keep an eye on this source though. In fact Winex is selling futures of their 2015 vintage for $17.98. Not sure how it will compare to the 2004, especially after a decade of aging already behind the 2004, but might be worth having a go.
As for the 2004 specifically. Wow. Very old world flavor. Rich. Luscious, and earthy. Classic Saint-Emilion Bordeaux. I have tasted some astounding and expensive Saint-Emilions in my day and this one compares quite well at a tiny fraction of the price.
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