Chateau Teyssier, St. Emilion Grand Cru, 2017

Bart here. It was the coldest weekend so far this winter, and we were bundled up inside waiting patiently for the Kansas City Chiefs playoff game to come on later in the afternoon. I was looking through the wine cellar for just the right bottle to fit the bundled up, anticipatory mood. If a still wine was to be like a warm brandy to take the chill off, a bigger Bordeaux, perhaps?  Then my eyes settled on a 2017 Chateau Teyssier St. Emilion Grand Cru, a beautiful right bank example (Approx. $35).

Lovely

This one is a simpler blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cab Franc. Holding a untasted, promising wine in your hands is one of life’s simple pleasures.  And it doesn’t have to end there!  Newly opened, it is deep purple garnet in color, with notes of dusty clay. A fairly classic French opening scene secondary to the fairly prominent early Cabernet Franc character, with an earthy, herbal character common to Cab Franc. Layered below, one finds rich, very dark fruit, with black cherry and dark plums. This is followed by soft cedar notes and light cocoa powder. There are mildly dulled but grippy tannins with nice balancing acidity.  The finish is smooth with tobacco and lingering vanilla.  More broad complexity and polish than one might expect from the wine at this point.  My wife simply sat back in her La- Z-Boy and smiled.  Thirty minutes to game time, but now we can comfortably wait!