Learning to Love French Wines – the estate of Château-Landat

“I could probably die happy with a cheeseboard and a glass of French red wine – that’s my idea of a perfect dinner.” – Deidre O’Kane
Red wine blends have grown in popularity throughout the U.S. The same enthusiasm is seen in French wines. One that is smooth to drink and easily accessible in local wine stores around the country  is from the estate of Château-Landat in the Haut-Médoc region of Bordeaux (http://domaines-fabre.fr/en/nos-Châteaux/Château-landat).
The Haut-Médoc region borders the southernmost part of the large Médoc region. The terroir in this region has excellent clay soil conditions for growing a variety of red varietals with access to the Gironde river.
Château-Landat is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.  As a matter of information these are the only grape varietals that the estate of Château-Landat grows. That focus on varietals goes back to the AOC regulations discussed in the last blog which promote focus on growing the best that a vineyard can support versus dilution with too many grape types.

 
 
When sampled after 5 years of bottling, Château-Landat comes across as a medium bodied red wine. It is best aerated for at least an hour in a slightly cool room without direct sunlight before drinking. The 2011 vintage that we sampled was well balanced with minimal tannins and lots of black fruits such as currant and blackberries.
 
 
PositiveVines‘ HelpfulTip: Aeration is commonly referred to as letting a wine breath. The idea is that a wine will soften and the flavors become more pronounced once the wine hits the air. The best way to aerate a wine is to pour it in a decanter or carafe.
This Château-Landat is a 91 point wine that may be best held in a cellar for aging up to 10 years in order to have a fuller bodied experience. However, don’t feel that you have to wait 10 years to enjoy this wonderfully priced wine. At $17 a bottle, you can find 2-5 year aged bottles in your local wine store to enjoy now. My recommendation is that this medium bodied wine would go well with creamy sauced chicken dishes, Indian food and heavier fishes such as salmon.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!