by Anita Skogland

2016 Chateau Graves de Rabion Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France

Available at: Assorted Table Wine & Shop, The Market at Seventh Street
Price: $21.99

On the Nose: Plum, blackberry, smoke, leather
On the Palate:  Full body with well integrated tannins; dense body; spice and pepper; smooth, vibrant finish
On the Plate: Pair with flank steak, bison, venison, hearty red sauce casseroles, hearty bean-based soups.

Our Take: This wine is 90 percent merlot, 10 percent cabernet franc. It is a wine that can be consumed now or saved for five years. It is an excellent value.

Fun Fact: Winemaker Lauriane is the fourth generation family member to assist with wine production. The challenges to making red wine in Bordeaux have increased due to climate change over the past five years, with destructive fires and very hot temperatures. The fires have mostly impacted the southern and western parts of the appellation. The right bank mostly grows merlot, cabernet franc, and white grapes. The winemakers on the left bank, where the famous cabernet sauvignon wines are made, are considering replanting with grapes that do not require as long a growing season. One of those grapes is merlot. The merlot from Bordeaux is more dense, tannic, and long lived than many from California. Consequently, this famous winemaking region will probably not lose its worldwide recognition of high quality by using a grape that already shines.

 

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