Lost & Found: Chateau des Charmes 2007 Cabernet-Merlot, Estate
24 Nov 2014- Details
- Category: Lost & Found / Taste it Again
(September 11, 2014) ... On the same day I located and wept for the loss of some older Ontario bottles I also tried something marvelous, with character and depth. Is it the greatest bottle I have ever had? No. But it was the best bottle I had that day (faint praise indeed, especially if you read about my previous wines on this day).
I opened this bottle of 2007 Cabernet-Merlot from Ontario's only Chateau ... and when it comes to this wine there is a bit of a back-story. Many moons ago the 1999 version of this wine was an awe-inspiring moment for me, and to this day I still remember the life changing/affirming elixir I found in that bottle time and time again (I had 8 bottles over the years); so I have a special place in my heart for this wine in all its incarnations.
I have a few bottles of the '07 in the cellar and it was high time to pull one out and pour myself a glass. Nose proved to be smoky, with dark berries and cassis being the major notes. The wine starts out kinda muted, fruit-wise, but shows elements of both red and black berries, and the wine has a youthful quality with hints of tobacco and spiced black cherry. Palate shows off more smoky/tobacco character with earthy tannins, which are grippy and retains nice acidity. As the evening wears on the wine develops some anise with blackberry, cassis and a slight mocha note. The nice structure and youthful flavours come with time open, and it's worth it.
(August 29, 2014) ... My brother and sister-in-law are Baco Noir fans (which actually makes me question if they truly are related to me) but nonetheless, when I go over I bring a number of interesting wines to try throughout an evening, tonight I found an old bottle of Baco from the Lake Erie North Shore winery Aleksander circa 2007. I really thought this an excellent version of hot vintage Baco at the time ... Finding out how it aged was of particular interest to me. The nose came off as leathery and pruney with hardly anything inviting whatsoever ... Flavours had a black cherry fruit leather sweetness along with sharp acidity ... As the evening wore on the acidity took centre stage and within 30 minutes there was very little fruit remaining at all.
