{"title":"Collectible Bordeaux","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"chateau-cos-d-estournel-2016-saint-estephe","title":"Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2016","description":"","brand":"Old World","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40408261394592,"sku":"","price":355.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/products\/P7140704.jpg?v=1626307660"},{"product_id":"chateau-talbot-saint-julien-1990","title":"Chateau Talbot Saint-Julien 1990","description":"","brand":"Harold","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42849108459743,"sku":"","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/products\/P4020045.jpg?v=1648943999"},{"product_id":"chateau-smith-haut-lafitte-pessac-leognan-blanc-2019","title":"Chateau Smith-Haut Lafitte Pessac Leognan Blanc 2019","description":"","brand":"European Wine \u0026 Spirits","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44236551880927,"sku":"","price":170.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P6221467.jpg?v=1687474250"},{"product_id":"chateau-darmailhac-pauillac-2019","title":"Château d'Armailhac Pauillac 2019","description":"","brand":"Harold","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44253239574751,"sku":"","price":66.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P7011535.jpg?v=1688246988"},{"product_id":"chateau-latour-pauillac-1981","title":"Chateau Latour Pauillac 1981","description":"\u003cp\u003ehigh shoulder fill, great color. Perfect provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vern Cellar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46563840229599,"sku":null,"price":700.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/PC060047.jpg?v=1733529186"},{"product_id":"chateau-lynch-bages-blanc-de-lynch-bages-2021","title":"Chateau Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages originates from the prestigious Pauillac appellation within the renowned Médoc region of Bordeaux, France. Produced by the esteemed Lynch-Bages estate, this white Bordeaux benefits from the unique terroir of the region, characterized by gravelly soils overlaying a deep layer of clay and gravel. This terroir, combined with the influence of the Gironde estuary, imparts a distinctive minerality and structure to the wines.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCreated in 1990, \"Blanc de Lynch-Bages\" is an elegant blend, composed of 79% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Sémillon, and 6% Muscadelle, showcasing the finest expressions of these variety from eight distinct parcels within the historical Lynch-Bages terroir.\u003cbr\u003eSince 2006, a comprehensive selection project has been implemented in the vineyards to enhance the vitality of the vines and promote the expression of vibrant fruit and floral notes. Meticulous harvesting practices, including intra-parcel selection and careful handling to prevent berry oxidation, ensure the preservation of pristine fruit flavors.\u003cbr\u003eThe 2021 vintage, with its elegant interplay of aromas and flavors, exemplifies the quality of this acclaimed wine. On the nose, the wine reveals a captivating bouquet of fresh fruit, with the zesty citrus notes of Sauvignon Blanc, including juicy lemon and grapefruit, mingling with the dried or candied fruit and white floral aromas of Sémillon and Muscadelle.\u003cbr\u003eThe wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation and ages for six months in 50% new French oak barrels, imparting subtle toasty and rich notes that contribute to the wine's aromatic complexity. On the palate, the 2021 Blanc de Lynch-Bages exhibits a medium-bodied richness with a vibrant acidity and a creamy texture.\u003cbr\u003eIn its youth, Blanc de Lynch-Bages displays a lively and explosive character, with the vibrant Sauvignon Blanc notes taking center stage. As the wine evolves, the influence of Sémillon becomes more prominent, introducing aromas of dried apricots, candied fruit, and nuts. Throughout its life, the wine maintains an exhilarating freshness and a long, lingering finish, characteristic of the finest white wines of Bordeaux.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Winery\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Lynch-Bages, a renowned Fifth Growth estate in Pauillac, is known for its commitment to producing wines of exceptional quality. The estate, under the stewardship of the Cazes family, has a long history of innovation and a dedication to sustainable viticulture. Blanc de Lynch-Bages exemplifies the estate's pursuit of excellence in both red and white wine, offering a captivating expression of the unique terroir of Pauillac and showcasing the artistry of the winemaking team.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Misa Colorado","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46696043643103,"sku":"","price":72.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P1170281.jpg?v=1737231438"},{"product_id":"chateau-haut-batailley-verso-2022","title":"Chateau Haut Batailley “Verso” 2022","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe Land\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eVerso is the second wine of Château Haut-Batailley, drawn largely from younger vines or lots deemed less reserved for the Grand Vin. Since 2017 the estate has been under the Cazes family (of Lynch-Bages), who continue efforts to replant and refine the vineyards. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe Haut-Batailley vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and smaller parcels of Cabernet Franc or Petit Verdot (though Verso’s 2022 is composed of 54% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot). \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eIn 2022, the ripening was vigorous and the vintage pushed the fruit toward richness; the estate’s terroir (deep gravel soils, Pauillac drainage, maritime influence) helped maintain freshness and definition. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eVerso 2022 shows a clear tilt toward dark fruit, elegance, and floral lift. On the nose it reveals blackberry, cassis, violet, sweet spice, and hints of cedar. The palate is round, supple, and medium-full in body, with a layered mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a freshness that gives it a nice lift. Notes of dark cherry, plum, leather, tobacco, spice, and cocoa thread through, adding complexity as it evolves. It is meant for earlier approachability than the Grand Vin, yet retains structure and character and is surprisingly excellent given its affordable price point.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe People\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eHaut-Batailley is a Fifth Growth in the 1855 Médoc classification, historically part of the Borie family holdings before acquisition by the Cazes family. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eUnder the Cazes stewardship, the château is reworking its vineyard plantings, selecting barrels more strictly, and refining its stylistic direction so that even its second wine reflects the house’s identity. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eVerso provides a window into Haut-Batailley’s vision, a wine that balances approachability with depth, offering consumers a taste of Pauillac pedigree without the full austerity of the flagship wine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eRed Wine–Braised Short Ribs with Herbs \u0026amp; Cheese Grits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSlow-braised short ribs, sweet shallots, and creamy cheese grits call for a wine that’s equally layered and composed. Château Haut-Batailley “Verso” 2022 brings Pauillac depth and graphite-tinged precision to the dish, its dark cherry fruit cutting through the richness while its tannins frame every bite. A bit of a time commitment, but this dish is well worth it and utterly satisfying on a chilly fall evening. \u003cem\u003eRecipe on blog.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Misa Colorado","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47494167199967,"sku":null,"price":33.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/PA142183.jpg?v=1760494657"},{"product_id":"chateau-couhins-pessac-leognan-blanc-1990","title":"Chateau Couhins Pessac-Léognan Blanc 1990","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Couhins lies in the Pessac-Léognan appellation just south of Bordeaux, in the Graves, the gravel-and-sand country that is the original home of the region's dry whites. Couhins was ranked a Cru Classé de Graves for its white in the 1959 classification, a short list of the appellation's finest white terroirs. The vineyard sits on gravel over clay and limestone, soils that drain hard and push the vines deep, and its white grapes come off cooler sand-and-gravel parcels that favor aromatic, high-acid Sauvignon. This is white-wine terroir first and foremost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Sauvignon-based dry white from one of Pessac-Léognan's classified white-wine estates, now thirty-five years old and very much alive. 1990 was one of Bordeaux's great modern vintages, a hot, sunny, ripe year, and that warmth shows in how the wine has aged: deep golden color and a rich, exotic character of apricot, poached pear, apple cobbler, and a touch of ginger. It is ripe and exotic with plenty of life still left in it, the kind of mature white Bordeaux that surprises people who assume whites do not last. Fully developed and drinking beautifully now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe People\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Couhins is unusual: since 1968 it has been owned and run by INRAE, formerly INRA, France's national institute for agricultural research. The estate doubles as a working research station, where scientists study viticulture, rootstocks, and winemaking, which means the wines are made with a rigor and attention to detail few commercial properties can match. The land's history reaches back to the 17th century, when Couhins and neighboring Carbonnieux were part of a single large estate south of Bordeaux. Today Couhins is best known for its white, one of the few ranked as a Cru Classé de Graves, made from Sauvignon Blanc with a little Sauvignon Gris.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA rich, mature white with an exotic streak wants food to match. Try roast pork loin with apples, chicken tagine with apricots and almonds, seared scallops in brown butter, or a mild coconut curry. The ripe stone fruit and ginger edge play off sweet-savory and lightly spiced dishes, while the underlying acidity keeps everything fresh. Serve chilled but not cold, in a proper glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wilkie Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50560396951775,"sku":null,"price":72.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P7140671.jpg?v=1784093364"},{"product_id":"chateau-tour-pomys-saint-estephe-1982","title":"Chateau Tour Pomys Saint-Estephe 1982","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSaint-Estephe is the northernmost of the Medoc's four great communes, and what separates it from Pauillac next door is clay. Gravel croupes still rise along the estuary, but underneath sits a deeper, heavier clay-limestone subsoil than anywhere else on the left bank. Clay is cold and it holds water. It slows Cabernet Sauvignon's ripening, keeps acidity high, and builds tannin that is broader and firmer than the neighbors', which is why Saint-Estephe carries the appellation reputation for wines that need decades before they say anything. In a hot, dry year that same clay becomes an asset, feeding the vines when free-draining gravel has nothing left to give. 1982 was that kind of year. The commune's higher Merlot plantings, also a response to clay, filled out the middle of the wine in a vintage that ripened Merlot to the pip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeptember 1982 brought close to three weeks of hard heat, and Bordeaux picked fruit riper than anyone then living had seen. The wines came in dark, thick, and enormously fruited, and Saint-Estephe's structure gave that fruit somewhere to go. At 44 years, this is fully mature. Look for a garnet core under a wide brick rim, and aromatics that have turned entirely tertiary: dried black fruit, cigar box, damp earth, dried mushroom, iodine, and old leather. The tannin that made this commune famous now reads as a firm, drying finish rather than as grip. Stand the bottle upright 48 hours before opening, use a two-pronged cork puller if you have one, and decant slowly off the sediment. Serve at 60 to 62°F and drink within two hours. A wine this old gains from air for a short window, then loses its fruit quickly. Provenance is everything at this age, and bottle variation is real.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe People\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEstate records for Chateau Tour Pomys are thin, and that is itself part of the story. The Cru Bourgeois class was the working middle of the Medoc: several hundred properties, most of them small, most of them family held, making serious wine without classified-growth prices or classified-growth publicity. Many have since been absorbed, renamed, or dissolved, and their old vintages survive only in private cellars and at auction. What can be said with confidence is what the appellation gave them. Saint-Estephe growers in 1982 farmed the same clay and gravel as their famous neighbors, picked the same extraordinary fruit in the same three-week heat, and worked in the traditional manner of the commune: long macerations, aging in oak, patience. This bottle is a survivor from a tier of Bordeaux that no longer advertises itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMature Saint-Estephe wants richness and salt. A standing rib roast, rare, with its own jus. Lamb shoulder braised four hours with white beans and thyme. Duck breast with a cherry pan sauce, where the wine's dried-fruit character meets the reduction. Or a grilled ribeye with coarse salt and nothing else, the pairing that has worked in the Medoc for two centuries. Open this with people who will notice what it is.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wilkie Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51234979545311,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P8190152_e962910e-8903-4a19-92b0-c5da23824724.jpg?v=1787200652"},{"product_id":"chateau-leoville-las-cases-2023","title":"Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe heart of Léoville Las Cases is in Saint-Julien, but only a small stream, the Juillac, separates its main walled vineyard from Château Latour in Pauillac. That enclosed block, the Grand Enclos, sits at the northern tip of the appellation behind stone walls and the estate's lion-topped gateway, on two low gravel rises of about 15 meters that face the Gironde. The soils are Quaternary gravels over gravelly sand and gravelly clay, with clay beds of varying depth. The estuary is the other half of the story. Its mass of water keeps the vineyard frost-free in spring and ripens grapes early in autumn, while the thin gravel restricts water and nutrients just enough to force small berries with thick skins. This is as close to first-growth terroir as Saint-Julien gets, and the wines have been priced accordingly for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLéoville Las Cases 2023 is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Merlot, the smallest share of Merlot ever used in the Grand Vin. Harvest ran from September 9 to October 2 at 43 hectoliters per hectare, a relatively healthy crop in a year when mildew cut volumes hard elsewhere in Bordeaux. The Gironde helped carry the vines through a warm season punctuated by late-summer heat, and the late-picked Cabernet carried the blend. Fermentation takes place in a mix of wood, concrete and stainless steel vats. The wine spent about 18 months in barrel, predominantly new oak, with 6.6% press wine, and was bottled in July 2025 at 13% alcohol. Cassis, bilberry, tobacco leaf and pencil lead, dense but framed tannin, pepper and cinnamon spice, and a long slate-mineral finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe People\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original Léoville estate dates to the 17th century and was one of the largest in the Médoc before it was divided between 1826 and 1840 in the aftermath of the Revolution. The Marquis de Las Cases kept roughly three-fifths, including the heart of the property, while the rest became Léoville Poyferré and Léoville Barton. The Las Cases heirs ran it until 1900, when Théophile Skawinski bought a share and became manager, and his successors, the Delon family, gradually took full control. Michel Delon ran the estate from 1976 to 2000 and built its reputation for severe selection and wines made for very long aging. His son Jean-Hubert Delon is sole owner today and also owns Château Nénin in Pomerol and Château Potensac in the Médoc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFilet mignon with sauce Périgueux, the classic truffle and Madeira reduction, gives the wine's tobacco and cassis a partner equally serious. Roast pheasant with bacon, braised red cabbage and a jus of its own drippings brings enough fat and game to soften young tannin. Beef cheeks braised for hours in red wine until they fall apart work on texture: gelatin and richness against firm, fine tannin. And a wedge of three-year aged Gouda, crystalline and nutty, pulls the spice out of the finish. Saint-Julien red wine at this level wants time, so put a few bottles away and plan the dinner around them in 15 years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Misa Colorado","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51347324141791,"sku":null,"price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P9120300.jpg?v=1789272793"},{"product_id":"chateau-mouton-rothschild-2023","title":"Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1855, Mouton was ranked a second growth, and it took 118 years of lobbying to change that: in 1973 it became the only estate ever moved up a rank in the 1855 classification. The vineyard lies in northern Pauillac on a series of low gravel hillocks, generally under 40 meters, separated by lower ground. The soil is thin and poor, stones and pebbles mixed with sand and some clay, running several meters down to a clay-limestone base. That is exactly why Cabernet Sauvignon, first planted here in the early 19th century, does so well. The stones hold daytime heat, the gentle slopes drain and catch sun, and roots driven deep for water give the wine its concentration and grip. Neighbors include Lafite to the north and Pontet-Canet across the road.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Mouton Rothschild 2023 is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. A mild, rainy winter refilled soils left dry by 2022. June set a temperature record for the station going back to 1962, and the year overall ranks among the warmest on record, with two heat waves around the turn of August and September. Picking ran September 7 to 30, alternating hot, sunny days with storms before an ideal final week. Grapes are hand-picked into open baskets, hand-sorted on vibrating tables, and moved by gravity into the estate's oak vats before roughly 20 months in new oak barrels, with egg-white fining. Blackberry and blackcurrant, pastry and dark chocolate in the aromatics, then graphite and smoke, powerful fine-grained tannin, and a long finish of roasted hazelnut and cocoa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe People\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaron Nathaniel de Rothschild bought the estate in 1853, but Mouton's modern identity belongs to Baron Philippe, who took charge in 1922. In 1924 he made Mouton one of the first Bordeaux estates to bottle its entire crop at the château, and from 1945 he commissioned an artist to illustrate each vintage's label. Braque, Miró, Chagall, Picasso, Warhol and Bacon followed. His daughter Philippine ran Mouton from 1988 to 2014; her children Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild own it today. The 2023 label is \"Paraíso\" by Joana Vasconcelos, the first Portuguese artist in the series, known for monumental installations built from embroidery and crochet. Her drawing centers on a grape cluster framed by earth, water, sun and night, with the apex of a triangle for the human hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo what Pauillac does: a thick côte de boeuf grilled over vine cuttings, sliced and salted at the table, where the Cabernet tannin locks onto the char. Roast leg of lamb studded with garlic and rosemary, served with flageolet beans, is the other local classic, the herbs meeting the wine's graphite side. Beef Wellington with a mushroom duxelles gives the cocoa and hazelnut something rich to meet. For a quieter finish, a wedge of aged Mimolette brings salt and nuttiness that sharpen the fruit. Pauillac first growths are built for decades, so this is the bottle for a child's birth year or a milestone anniversary, opened when the occasion finally arrives.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Misa Colorado","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51347324174559,"sku":null,"price":625.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P9120299.jpg?v=1789272793"},{"product_id":"chateau-cos-destournel-2023","title":"Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe name is Gascon, not French: \"Cos\" means hill of pebbles, and the hill in question sits at the southern edge of Saint-Estèphe, looking across the Jalle du Breuil stream at Château Lafite in Pauillac. The vineyard covers 100 hectares on two slopes and a central plateau rising to about 20 meters, which in the flat Médoc is enough to shed cold air and water. Gravel runs 6 to 7 meters deep before reaching clay and limestone, noticeably more gravel and less clay than most of Saint-Estèphe, and the estate has mapped 19 soil types across 72 parcels. The Gironde and nearby marshland moderate temperature swings, which the estate credits with helping the vines through the late heat of 2023. The Grand Vin comes from the oldest vines on the property, which average 55 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2023 blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, and only 53% of the crop made the cut for the first wine. Heat waves hit from August 16 to 24 and again from September 3 to 10, and mildew pressure through a humid June forced early leaf-pulling and, on some Merlot, the first green harvest at Cos since 2008. Reds were picked from September 12 to 29. The team adjusted in the cellar: cuvaison shortened to about three weeks from the usual 30 days, cooler fermentations near 26°C, no crushing, and 12% press wine, less than in 2022. Aging is in 50% new oak. The result sits under 13% alcohol. Blackcurrant, graphite and cocoa, a thread of Asian spice typical of Cos, velvety tannin, and a long, fine-grained finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe People\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLouis-Gaspard d'Estournel inherited vines on the hill in 1791 and spent decades building the estate around them. He sold wine as far as India, earned the nickname \"Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe,\" and built the carved pagoda-topped chai that still makes Cos the most recognizable building on the Route des Châteaux. He was also among the first in Bordeaux to bottle and label his own wine. Cos was classified a second growth in 1855. Swiss entrepreneur Michel Reybier bought the estate in 2000 and in 2008 opened a gravity-flow cellar where wine moves between 84 stainless steel vats by lift tanks instead of pumps. The vineyard has been in conversion to organic farming since 2021, a process extended when new plots were added.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLean into the spice. Five-spice braised short ribs with star anise and a glossy soy reduction pick up the wine's exotic side while the tannin handles the fat. Roast Peking-style duck with scallions and hoisin works on the same logic. A Moroccan lamb tagine with prunes, cinnamon and toasted almonds gives the Merlot fruit something sweet and savory to meet. For a plainer route, a dry-aged ribeye with black pepper crust lets the Cabernet structure do the work. Saint-Estèphe red wine this complete is a bottle to buy in multiples: one for a milestone dinner soon, the rest for the decade after.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Misa Colorado","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51347324731615,"sku":null,"price":245.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P9120297.jpg?v=1789272793"}],"url":"https:\/\/danverwinemerchant.com\/collections\/collectible-bordeaux.oembed","provider":"Denver Wine Merchant","version":"1.0","type":"link"}