WINE OF THE WEEK - 2015 Chateau Corbin Montagne Saint-Emilion
Welcome to another edition of Wine Wednesday with me!
Before I get right into it, since this is a relatively new feature on my blog, let me once again quickly go over what this is all about.
A Quick Intro
I usually do a special little thing on Wednesdays - often referred to as “Wine Wednesdays” by wine lovers such as myself that are active on social media - and that is that I go to the liquor store and randomly pick a bottle from the shelves to try and tell others about.
I love to buy and share wines that are actually readily available! Well, at least once a week. At other points in the week, I drink what tickles my fancy :)
A few important points to know about my Wine Wednesday picks:
There is no plan when I go to the liquor store for Wine Wednesday. I actually wander the aisles and randomly pick something I haven’t tried but looks interesting for some reason. At best, I may have a region or varietal in mind depending on my mood that day but to be honest, there is usually no plan!
I pick wines across a wide range of price points. Generally the wines on Wine Wednesdays are between $20 - $65 Canadian dollars.
I always try to walk back and forth to the liquor store on Wine Wednesdays. It’s kind of like a meditation for me. I listen to a podcast, walk, think and get into the mood to taste and experience something new. It doesn’t always happen because life gets busy and/or the weather can sometimes be dreadful….but I do try. Total round trip = approx 7kms, so it’s a great way to get some exercise too!
NOTE: I usually post my Wine Wednesday selections on my Instagram account every Wed night/Thurs morning as well, but the real estate there is limited and sometimes I’ve got more to say than I care to say on Instagram. And besides, blogging about my wine adventures gives me (and Wineitupanotch blog readers) a more permanent record of what I’ve tried, when and where, and what I thought. I like to think of it as my virtual wine diary that I can share widely with other wine lovers!
And with that, let’s get into this week’s pick!
2015 Chateau Corbin Montagne Saint-Emilion
Hailing from Bordeaux, this is a deep and tannic red wine blend from one of the well regarded vintages for this region (2015 is thought to have been an outstanding year!). It is a good - though not “Bordeaux great” wine that is definitely worth trying for a variety of reasons that I get into below. Here’s what you need to/want to know:
What does this wine cost?
$26/bottle.
Most would say this is not at all bad for a Bordeaux wine, especially from Saint-Emilion….but there’s a catch here that you need to know, which explains the price. More on this below.
Where does this wine come from?
Most wine drinkers have heard of Bordeaux and tend to associate it with high quality and high price tags. And if you’re a somewhat sophisticated wine lover, you’ll know that Saint-Emilion is a specific appellation within Bordeaux that is very highly regarded and famous.
Located on the “Right Bank” of Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion is the source of some fabulous age-worthy, award winning red wines. These wines generally do come at a high price. So, what’s the difference here?
Well, if you look at the label of this wine closely, you’ll notice it says Montagne Saint-Emilion. Montagne Saint-Emilion and Saint-Emilion are not the same - they are actually two different appellations. Once upon a time, they were one but then were divided up by French lawmakers in the 1930s. Today, Montagne Saint-Emilion is one of four “satellites” of the very famous Saint-Emilion.
Located just 5 kms north of its very famous neighbour, Montagne Saint-Emilion is thought to share the same terroir as Saint Emilion, which is a good thing. Of Saint-Emilion’s four satellites, it is also considered to produce the best wines - also a good thing. Nonetheless, they are not one in the same, which I personally think is important to know. It certainly helps explain the price point of this wine. It probably speaks to the value to be had in lesser known appellations in Bordeaux.
Who makes this wine?
Chateau Corbin in Montagne Saint-Emilion is an old and noble estate that was established in the 1600s and is one of the oldest of the chateaux in this appellation. It used to be a huge estate of 480 hectares but was broken up during the French Revolution into smaller estates. Today, the Chateau holds 23 hectares of land comprising of 80% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc. The estate is owned and run by Jacques Rambeaud who is the fourth generation in his family to operate the estate, which was originally purchased by his great grandfather.
If you want to learn more about Chateau Corbin, check out their Facebook page or the breathtaking Youtube video below:
My tasting notes:
Made from a blend of 80% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc, this full bodied wine is a deep and dark red, with a pronounced profile of aromas on the nose, being mostly black fruits, florals and spice. On the palate, the wine is dry, firm and bold, but still fruity enough that there is an overall smoothness. The tannins are firm and noticeable, but not troubling because of the fruitiness and acidity that is also present in the wine.
This wine should definitely be given time to breathe and open up - once it does, it is full of blackberry, plum, dark cherry and coffee notes. You do notice the oak treatment the wine has undergone.
Aging potential:
I think this wine could be held for another 2-3 years and might in fact improve with some more aging in bottle.
Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:
Pair this wine with steak and roasted vegetables.
Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 88 points
Overall, this is an interesting and affordable Bordeaux blend. I wouldn’t say it knocked my socks off as some Bordeaux has the potential to do. But for the price, it’s not bad at all.
If you are located in the province of Ontario as I am, and wish to purchase this wine, you can find it at the LCBO under Product #17481.
FINAL VERDICT:
Though not a wine that I will buy another bottle of, I think this is still interesting and worth trying, especially if you are wanting to drink more Bordeaux. It lets you experience what Right Bank Bordeaux is about, without having to break the bank. For some, this might be more of an “everyday” Bordeaux wine.
If you’re sharing this with a Bordeaux lover, be sure to tell them what you know about the appellation that it comes from. They might learn a thing or two from you….or at a minimum, be quite impressed by what you know! :)
Cheers!
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