Time for Wine: Wine legacy of Bordeaux

Aug 1 2008

WHEN Henry II of England married Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152, a huge area of France, including the Bordeaux region, was put under English control for the next couple of centuries.

This unhappy arrangement was only ended by the Hundred Years War and has left, to this day, the simmering grudge that is Anglo-French relations.

However, it was during this period that the English aristocracy developed an insatiable appetite for claret that, probably, went a long way in establishing Bordeaux as the most important wine region in the world.

Bordeaux red wine can be complex and difficult, some requiring extensive ageing before the tannins soften enough to let the flavour of the fruit come through.

‘Poor soils, fine wines’ is an old wine-making adage and in Bordeaux some of the vineyards are planted in extremely poor soils, this leaves the vines having to struggle for moisture and nutrient which means that although yields are low and the grapes small they are packed full of flavour.

The combination of low yields and years of cellaring inevitably results in high prices and the cost of some of the Grand Crus are prohibitive to the most of us.

To those with an interest in wine, though, it is important to do a bit of Bordeaux exploration and the discovery of a good claret that is not going to break the bank can be a real joy.

The 2005 vintage looks like it is turning out to be the outstanding vintage of recent decades and some these wines are now coming to maturity while others will continue to improve for many years to come.

Two wines that we can recommend are; Chateau Cabos 2005 (£6.95) belonging to the Bordeaux Appellation this wine is designed to be consumed while young, although, it will have some potential for ageing. Merlot dominated, it has a beautiful ruby colour with ripe fruit aromas, silky on the palate. Chateau Gaudin Pauillac 2005 (£14.95) is a step up in price and in class. Pauillac is on the left bank of the Gironde and the wines here are cabernet sauvignon dominated, this is a powerful wine with blackcurrant and ripe fruit aromas, the wine is oak barrel aged and this comes through on the palate.

The tannins are strong which suggests that this wine will continue to improve for many years to come.

Drink now or stash away in the wine cellar/cupboard and watch it’s value soar.

One point to note is that both these wines will benefit greatly if decanted about an hour before drinking.