Low-cost Bordeaux Red with a High-rent Name: Rothschild Lafite Collection Reserve Speciale

By way of background: Here we are tasting a low-cost wine with a high-rent name. Barons de Rothschild Lafite Collection Reserve Speciale Bordeaux is a wine that comes awfully close to having one of the highest-priced sounding names in the world of wine, though it retails at a song. That is because of its proximity to Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, the first-growth estate of Pauillac in the Medoc region of France.

Initial review : This is Barons de Rothschild Lafite Collection Reserve Speciale Bordeaux, France, 2009, a blend of 70% merlot and 30% cabernet sauvignon, finished at 13.% alcohol. Most of the grapes for this selection hail from the Entre-Deux-Mers and Côtes de Bordeaux regions.

In the glass: Medium deep magenta.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows sweet, slightly thick, purple fruit. From the aroma, seems like this will be mouth-filling and bright in a purple-fruit sort of way.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact quite directly built of simple purple fruited merlot. Acids bolster the fruit to give it a little verve, but the tannins are subdued. Simple, bright finish does end very clean.

In summary: Overall, rates two stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.

Following long decant, five hours in wide-bottomed decanter at room temperature: Remains purple-y, now with a hint of deeper sandpaper. The palate has not budged an inch, however, still remaining all brightness with acids and purple fruit. This mid-weight, simple Bordeaux blend is simply crying out for food. Consider pairing it with food that will stand up well to its bright fruit aspects - a beef stew, perhaps, a pizza or eggplant parmigiana are other possibilities that may be appropriate pairings.

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