Wine Review of 2012 Château Bonnet Réserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux red from France
Score: 91/100
Château Bonnet is a Bordeaux estate, historically owned by famous André Lurton and located in the Entre-Deux-Mers area of the right bank, famous for its white wines in particular.
But the area also produces characterful red wines as this Réserve by Bonnet, the producer’s red wine selection demonstrates.
This is a blend of 59% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc, fermented in stainless-steel tanks with patented cap-breaking system then aged for 12 months in oak barrels (20% new).
Tasting Notes
This Bordeaux red comes in a rather dark and intense red color, still featuring some clear purple hues and therefore looking quite youthful despite its 5+ years of age. Touches of orange hues to the core do intensify its dark appearance.
The nose also feels deep and serious, packed-full of dark cocoa, vanilla and dark caramel notes.
Although, a sense of light-hearted liveliness also comes through in the shape of vibrant ripe cherry and blackcurrant aromas, lifted and spiced up by scents of white and black pepper. Add some elegant leathery tones for a complete picture of the aromatic profile.
A complex wine to smell at, tempting thanks to its fruity approach, charming through its intensity and depth.
The palate bursts, straight away, in a myriad of flavors shooting in all directions….
This is a dry red wine, in a typical slightly-aged Bordeaux wine fashion. It’s savory and somewhat earthy, filled with shitake mushroom and umami notes. But it’s also vibrantly fruity, with a shining acidity underlining the clear and precise ripe red berry flavors that dominate the experience.
Plenty of layered sweet spices, clove and nutmeg, complexify well-integrated caramel, wood smoke, and vanilla oaky notes.
Tannins are smooth, although a little drying and edgy to the finish. This is easily forgiven thanks to the overall opulence of bursting and layered flavors, the concentration, and the warming generosity of the ripe berry fruit character.
Overall
An excellent characterful Bordeaux wine, providing the genuine complex and layered, dry and savory, yet opulent and fruity experience we like in Merlot/Cabernet blend from the area.
Its comes with concentration and complexity, not quite as refined and smooth as a Top Grand Cru, but with all the built-in richness and salivating feel that is typical to well-crafted Bordeaux, for a fraction of the price of a Cru Classé for sure.
A wine worth experiencing and finding out whether that respectable level of depth in a Bordeaux red wine is enough for you, or if you always need to shoot for higher price tags.
I think, snobbery left to the side, this is certainly a delicious French Cab-Merlot wine…
Drinking Window and Serving Suggestions
Give the wine a good half-hour of wine decanting before serving. Drink now and within 2-3 years to make the most of its current peak fruitiness/complexity balance.
Enjoy 🙂
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