We had a family gathering this weekend and much fun it was, too. We gathered to celebrate the youngest adult's 30th birthday and also, but less significantly, the oldest adult's 62nd. The start of the show was, of course, the only grandchild on whom I am extremely proud. Of the seven adults present two are tee-total, one prefers a G&T to wine, two had just spent a week skiing and 'apres-skiing' and so had limited appetites which left two. One of these two isn't a fan of red wine, so I enjoyed:
I bought this as it was a special occasion and so I felt justified in heading towards the top end of my usual budget. (I think there may have been a Tesco Clubcard discount, but life is too short to take notice of such things; they either are applied at the annoying self-scan terminals or they are not.)
Saint Julien is an area in the Medoc sub-region of Bordeaux and can be found on the left bank of the Gironde estuary. The Medoc is where most of the famous Clarets are produced, including some of the very biggest names such as Lafite & Margaux, although they cost more than a car to buy and, therefore, I have never tasted any of them. Saint Julien has no 'first growths' (the very top of the tree, according to the 1855 classification of Bordeaux) but does have five second growths. This is not one.
That doesn't really tell us anything about the wine, just shows how once decisions made more than 160 years ago still have power, even if technology, climate and consumer tastes may have changed in the interim.
Moulin de Briande is made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, three of the classic Bordeaux varieties, by a family that has been producing wine for approaching 300 years.
Tesco recommend drinking this alongside charcuterie, red meats and cheese. I am never sure whether Gammon is considered to be a red meat, especially one that has been marinated in full-fat Coca-Cola, but to my taste it worked well. It was smooth, flavoursome with blackcurrant, blackberry and stewed red plums leading the way and backed up with a hint of cedar and tobacco.
It was good enough that I was pleased no-one else wanted to drink it, which makes me sound either mean or greedy, perhaps both, but only because I like to share some wines with others who might enjoy them. On this occasion, not in one sitting, I did that. I shared it with me.
Buy again? yes.
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