I thought I was going to wait until this weekend to try my second Bordeaux. I then started thinking about how long it would take to stick with my plan if I only tried 1 bottle of wine per week. Three months just to sample a total of 12 bottles from Bordeaux and Burgundy. That was way too long…at least that is what I told myself when I opened up the Chateau Tour Prignac Medoc on Tuesday night while watching the Olympics.
The Tour Prignac was literally going to be my second Bordeaux tasting from the second bottle I grabbed at Whole Foods. So, how did this bottle get selected?
- Shelf Placement/Proximity to the first bottle – It was on the shelf directly below the Chateau Roc Meynard Bordeaux Superieur (the first bottle I picked up – review here Bordeaux Experiment 1a. Chateau Roc Meynard Bordeaux Superieur 2014 )
- Key Words on the Label: Medoc (Left Bank Bordeaux), Cru Brougeois ( Quality designation – for more info https://www.bordeaux.com/us/Our-Terroir/Classifications/Crus-Bourgeois ), Terra Vitis (sustainable viticulture designation – for more info http://www.terravitis.com/ )
- Price of $19.99 was just below my $20 price limit.
- Bottle / Label Impression – Overall, it looked like a traditional wine package with the exception of the gold section stating the wine was Terra Vitis certified.
I had to go to the importer, Nicolas Wines (ADBA Lunea USA), website to get more information on the blend. The product, produced by the Castel Group, was a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot.
Tasting
Based on my first experience with a Bordeaux red, I thought I would have to let this wine breathe for a long time. My first sip enlightened me to how wrong I was. It was fruity on the front. Berries, maybe some plum. There were tannins but it was definitely not astringent. This felt like something I could drink right away.
Over the next 5-10 minutes, there were subtle changes. I tasted more berry than plum. More like berries with some tartness. My tongue tingled… I guess that was the acid in the wine. I also tasted something that felt “Earthy”. It was not metallic or smokey. It was subtle and I struggled to place it. On the finish there were tannins but it felt more like a spice. Smooth was the word that came to mind. As I pondered that thought I realized I already finished my first glass.
Onto my second glass. It felt even more fruit forward than the first. That being said, it quickly got balanced out with the acid and the finish. Very subtle earthy taste, that I still could not place, felt more muted. This was a very easy drinking wine.
Somewhere in the middle of the second glass I started to get a better appreciation of body and mouth feel. It felt then. Well, itt was not thin per se but thinner than the Chateau Roc Meynard Bordeaux Superieur. As I pondered that thought, I finished my 2nd glass. I think I mentioned this was an easy drinking wine.
Its was only about 45 minutes since I opened the bottle when I poured my third glass. I took note of two things at this point. First, Lindsey Vonn had a chance to medal. Second, I was definetly buzzed. Based on those two astute observations, I decided to cork the wine and watch the rest of the Women’s downhill competition. I used a wine saver to keep the bottle until the next day.
Day 2
Lindsey Vonn won a bronze medal and the Chateau Tour Prignac Medoc held up very well. It was just like the 2nd and 3rd glasses from the previous night.
Side Experiment
On day 2, I did try a glass with a miso glazed salmon. The salmon was very good but the miso glaze and the wine did not go together. The sweetness of the glaze muted the fruit flavors of the wine. I will do a better job of coordinating dinner and my wine tasting in the future.
Professional Reviews vs. VinoExperiment
This 16th century chateau with towers is in the northern Médoc. The wine is spicy with the wood aging still showing. At the same time, the ripe black-currant fruit is developing well and as it ages further, the wine will become finely balanced. With 60% Cabernet in the blend, this is a wine for the long-term. Drink from 2019.
Wine Enthusiast Score 89
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/chateau-tour-prignac-2014-medoc
Points of Disagreement with the Pro: First, there is no need to wait until 2019. This wine is ready to drink now. Second, the sell sheet stated the blend was 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. Follow the link below to see for yourself.
http://www.luneauusa.com/mobile/mobile.php#chateautourprignac
Conclusions
Chateau Tour Prignac Medoc 2014 is an easy drinking wine. I was very surprised that it did not need to breathe. Very balanced, at least based on my very limited experience, and very enjoyable. I would definitely buy this wine again.
The Vino Experiment 
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