This past weekend I conducted a private wine tasting featuring six red wines from five different growing regions, representing four different countries. There were two Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, one Argentina Malbec, one Chile Cabernet-Syrah Blend, one Washington State Blend, and one Bordeaux from France. There were ten people tasting the wines, who were asked to rate the wines on a scale of from one to ten. The wines were all good representatives of their regions and the average of the scores were from 7.5 to 9.5, on our ten point scale. The wines ranged in retail price from $12.99 to $29.99.

The winner with an average score of 9.5 was the 2003 Chateau Puy Larose, a red wine from the Pauillac Appellation of Bordeaux, France. This Chateau is the neighbor of Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste. The estate is composed of 18 acres of vineyards planted with four grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Merlot (45%), Cabernet Franc (5%), and Petit Verdot (5%).

The wine is a dark garnet color with red berry and plum aromas. It has good rich flavors of plum, black cherry and raspberry, and has a strong finish with medium and smooth tannins. This is a classic style Bordeaux which is complex, without being overbearing, and is in the elegant style of many more expensive Pauillacs. The year 2003 was a very good year for wines made in the Pauillac Appellation, with many Chateaus scoring from 95 to 100! It is enjoyable now at five years old, but should be even better in another five years. Enjoy this wine with rack of lamb, Chateaubriand, or your best grilled tenderloin!

World Beverage
6190 Highway 400
Cumming, GA 30040
(678) 513-6284