2009 Château Les Canelles

With 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Malbec this Bordeaux is from the Côtes de Blaye region. 

The aromas of the wine are difficult to distinguish.  I smelled some berries, but also it seemed to have a fairly strong alcohol smell as well. I was expecting a full-body wine, but it was a bit lighter in taste (perhaps a medium body Bordeaux).  


Overall, the balance was not great.  The finish was a bit bitter for my liking and I felt like it had some cough syrup mixed in.  It reminded me of the Mouton Cadet bottle I tried not too long ago (see the review here - 

2009 Baron Philippe Rothschild Mouton Cadet Bordeaux).  

I purchased this one at the Wine Market store, in Ebisu Gardens.  Luckily I did not pay full price as it was on sale for Y1,500.  I am going to give this one 1.5 stars.  

Summary: I was not that impressed. The finish was bitter and balance not great.
Rating:   1.5 stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,500 (Wine Market Store, Ebisu Gardens)
Other Japanese Retailers: NA
USA Retail Price: NA
Food: NA

2009 Baron Philippe Rothschild Mouton Cadet Bordeaux

A Mouton Cadet Bordeaux which is about 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc has a very deep, dark red color.  The first smell --cherries with a hint of Robitussin cough syrup.   My first swirl had some granulated sugar (so it tasted) which quickly disappeared that was followed by a bitter fruit.  Weird. (btw, I decided to eat some saltine crackers, followed by water to see if it was just an anomaly or not.)  Second sniff still has the cherry smell, but the alcohol smell is quite strong.  Second swirl is still weird.  I am still getting this sensation of granulated sugar in the wine.  The tannins seem quite strong (tastes like you're eating a bitter grape skin towards the end).  Yeah, this one is not flying with me. 


Overall, I am not impressed.  It's not absolutely terrible, but just didn't work for me. I would say this is a medium body Bordeaux.  Maybe it needs to open up more, or perhaps it's just not a good wine.  I am going to rate this 1.5 stars (first low rating on this blog).  


Summary: Not impressed.  Cherry smells, but the taste was bitter and not that interesting. 
Rating:   1.5 stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,270 (Costco)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y1,740 (Rakuten website)
USA Retail Price: $11.99
Food: NA