2009 Chateau De Costis

Bordeaux, just like Champagne, is a wine which is named after its region. When you see a Bordeaux wine, it is usually a blend of any or all of the five traditional Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

Similar red blends can be found outside of France as well- California Meritage and Italian Super Tuscans are a few examples of Bordeaux style wines.

Red Bordeaux blends are known for their bold, dark fruit flavours as well as their firm and tannic structure. Plum, black currant and sweet berries are usually used to describe the deep, ripe flavours of Bordeaux...and because these tend to be high in tannin, many can stand to age for quite some time- a few decades for some of the finer specimens.

This 2009 Chateau De Costis- Grand Vin De Bordeaux was initially a little thin for my liking. After letting the open bottle sit for half an hour or so, the depth and complexity began to develop. Even still, this is probably the thinnest bodied and most fruit-forward Bordeaux I have ever tried, which makes it a great wine to accompany a meal but not the best stand-alone wine like other Bordeaux blends I prefer. It is still a bargain at $8.99 a bottle and goes to show that you do not have to break the bank to try a nice French wine!