2010 Chateau Brun Saint-Emilion

Wow, it's been a while since I've had a nice Bordeaux that was actually from Bordeaux!  Tonight I've opened a wine that I bought recently from Wines Till Sold Out, a Saint-Emilion from a small, 25-acre vineyard that's been planted with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and owned by the same family since 1571.  Fortunately for me, the 2010 vintage was such a nice one that shortly after release the Chateau achieved Grand Cru status, which is kind of a big deal!  This particular wine is a classic Saint-Emilion blend of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Saugivnon (20%).

The wine is a perfect deep ruby color in the glass, with very nice clarity and just a hind of blackness at the heart.  The nose evokes springtime in Paris, lovely bright berry aromas of black currant and cherry over some earthy notes of anise and cedar.  The taste is just divine, everything a nice Bordeaux should be, with some lovely ripe black fruit up front that transitions nicely to mineral elements of basalt and green cedar midpalate.  The finish brings out the still rather tightly wound tannins supporting a long, smooth and very dry finish that's so classic.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's drinking quite nicely now but will certainly improve over the next decade.  It was also a terrific value at just $20!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare bacon-wrapped filet with some sweet potato mash and haricots verts almondine, an ideal wine for steak, but it would also pair nicely with a variety of hearty autumn dishes like cassolet or wild mushroom risotto.  Bon appetit!