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Château Lanessan, Haut-Medoc

Bordeaux, France 1996 (750mL)
$45.00
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Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol

Château Lanessan, Haut-Medoc


Finding perfectly aged mature Bordeaux for under $50 is a phenomenon that is quickly disappearing from the world market, yet Château Lanessan can still be obtained for a relative value and represents one of the finest examples of unclassified Bordeaux around. Nestled just south of Saint-Julien’s 2nd growth, Gruaud-Larose, in the commune of Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Château Lanessan is found on a ridge of deep Garonne gravel that makes great left bank Bordeaux the terroir-driven tour de force we all crave. The Château delivers a majestic example with the lineage and pedigree of the more famous estates in the region. This historic estate was documented as early as 1310 when Henry de Lanessan’s widow, Dame Paironne la Montagne, sold the property to Sieur de Blaignan. It was purchased by Jean Delbos, a Bordeaux négociant, in 1793. Jean Delbos’ son, Louis, was the specific heir that failed to submit to the Bordeaux Classification of 1855.
 
Over the years, the estate has remained in the family and the Château Lanessan name has continued to be celebrated for a source of world-class Bordeaux at a tremendous value. The ideal 1996 vintage is a harmonious wine of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon followed by contributing Merlot and Petit Verdot. The fruit is fermented in sealed, climate-controlled concrete tank where the wine is pumped over and racked prior to aging. The wine is then matured in French oak for 18 months. The result is a traditionally crafted Bordeaux that is a snapshot of left bank terroir for a price point that doesn’t come along every day. Coming directly from the winery, this represents the most pristine condition you will find on the market.
 
The 1996 Château Lanessan displays a pale garnet core with amber and orange reflections on the rim consistent with its twenty years of age. Mature yet lively aromas of dried black and red currant are infused with complex notes of sandalwood, tar, cedar, tobacco as well as dried aromas of leather, violets, clay, and mushrooms. The medium-bodied wine glides across palate with delicate tannins and a silken mouthfeel full of dried currants, leather, tobacco, cedar, and a hint of integrated exotic spices that linger through nuanced finish. As with most mature Bordeaux, this wine does not need much air. I would advise standing this bottle up 24-48 hours prior to opening then gently pouring the wine off its sediment into Bordeaux stems between 60-65 degrees. You do not want to lose the delicate esters to the air with decanting too long. If you do choose to decant this wine, simply pour into the decanter 5-10 minutes prior to serving and enjoy within the next hour. Otherwise, this aged beauty could come to life and die too quickly in the decanter before being poured. Although mature Bordeaux is enchanting alongside braised beef, lamb, cassoulet, and even rare filet mignon, I recommend this soft, silken nectar with pan-seared duck breast.
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Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Sub-Region
FranceHaut-Medoc
Soil
Clay and Gravel
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot
Alcohol
14.0
OAK
Partial New French

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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