Chateau La Couspaude Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Im Glas rubinrot mit Aufhellung am Rand, Bukett nach roten Früchten, gekochte Kirsche, am Gaumen harmonisch, mürbes Tannin, elegant, leichte Süße, rote Früchte, gewisse Eleganz, auf dem Höhepunkt

We are not Bordeaux fans, but this was a special gift from friends whose taste in food and wines is exceptional. It was a lovely wine, just not our taste. The wine was heavy (again our tastes) but otherwise excellent. Some recommend this drinkable until 2025, but I'm not sure it is much beyond 2020. The acid taste was too close to vinegar.

MW Institute 2011 Bordeaux Tasting : Toasty oak and raspberry. Strong tannins and strong oak swamp the palate. Seriously lacks balance.

The chocolate mint, black cherry, espresso, licorice nose is fun to get to know. On the palate, the wine is lushly textured, but the dryness in the finish takes away from the wine. You can drink this on release.

Union Des Grand Crus Tasting 2011 Vintage, nose of dark fruit, smoked BBQ sausage, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, touch simple, medium finish.

2011 UGC Bordeaux Tasting (Bentley Reserve, San Francisco CA) : Ripe, spices, cherry, red fruit; soft red fruit, tannins surprisingly approachable; med finish. Maybe a good value wine for medium term drinking depending on price? 90

This wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The family has changed their barrel program. They recently started aging their own wood in special cooperage for 5 years, with the goal being to reduce the dryness and wood flavor sensations. The wine is deep in color with oak, chocolate, coffee, cherry, truffle and earthy aromas. A forward, low-acidity style of wine, the blend is packed with sweet, ripe black cherry and licorice. 89-91 …

Tasted but notes lost; from memory, this was unremarkable.