2005 Delord, Côtes de Bordeaux

Admittedly I wasn't sure about this wine.... until we opened it. Lots of black fruit on the nose and on the palate with softer tannins. A surprisingly nice Bordeaux for under $10.

Maybe it's a result of the slow economic climate of the past year or so, but we've been fortunate to find more than a few exceptional wines from around our grapeful planet that generously soothe the demands of both the palate and the wallet. And because the 2005 vintage was so unerringly consistent in quality from top to bottom, a wine find like the Delord is a win-win for everyone. Sourced from vineyards in the the relatively new Premières Côtes de Bordeaux AC overlooking the Garonne River, the Delord is surprisingly structured and aromatically appealing, with attractive blackberry and redcurrant fruit up front embraced by mature tannins and restrained oak. A perfect wine at a great price to enjoy with a savory autumn stew or organically-farmed burger.

A closeout special and a fantastic value from one of the largest of the Bordeaux importers. A nose that reminds me of a warm blackberry tart. Soft textured, rich and round. Dark blackberry fruit with a hint of licorice. Drinking beautifully now. If you are a Bordeaux lover, this is your next House Red. 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc.

This is a fabulous bargain for 2005 Bordeaux, though I do think it's a little rough around the edges (but I happen to like that!). The nose was a little subtle and hard to pick out for me, but it did scream "old world", and this theme continued onto the palate. I thought that while it wasn't the smoothest drinking Bordeaux, it had a lot to share and a different flavor detail to reveal after each sip, definitely great quality wine. My advice is to make sure you have this with some food.