Mission Codename Caddy Daddy
There it is, right there in its name. This is the Cadillac of Bordeaux values! Robert Parker, the living legend who single-handedly elevated Bordeaux to a collectors’ paradise, called it out with his barrel tasting note; “this sleeper of the vintage offers plenty of black currant and black cherry fruit as well as underlying forest floor and floral notes. Its purity, textural build-up and intensity exceed the appellation’s standards. It is a noteworthy effort for value conscious consumers to seek out.” He also rated the 2010 vintage 99 points for Graves reds right across the Garonne from Cadillac. Does that not make this wine an under the radar within the under the radar?
Exactly what a decade-old classic Claret should look like, a classic, pale claret colour as the British would say. Freshly picked blackberries, bramble, plum cake, pencil lead all concentrate in the bowl of the glass as swirled, along with a touch of rosemary on the back end. Medium-bodied on the palate with purity, elegance, and grace, amazingly youthful, sappy and fresh for being a 2010. This shockingly affordable beacon of pedigree lingers effortlessly on the finish with fine-grained tannins, mouth-coating with pleasant earthiness. For the right pairing, start with a Bordelaise sauce, add mushrooms, pork tenderloin, and creamy potatoes.
The winemaking at Château Carignan is overseen by Louis Mitjaville since 1998, who also owns and makes legends such as Tertre Roteboeuf and Roc de Cambes. With a history dating back to the 11th century, Château Carignan was recently included in the great Southwold Tasting where 20 of leading British wine critics and merchants (including 7 Masters of Wine) tasted their way through 264 of the top wines of Bordeaux. Château Carignan was by far the lowest priced in the entire tasting and it performed amazingly well, far better than many wines that were easily 10 times, some even close to 100 times its price! This small allocation of the 2010 vintage arrived direct from the Château cellars in pristine condition, and we challenge you to find a better aged Bordeaux under $20 out there!
Here’s what the wine press has to say:
91 Points – James Suckling - “Spicy nose with crushed black pepper, juniper and red cherries. Opens up with strawberries and some eucalyptus. Full-bodied with a wonderful fresh red fruit and fine, silky tannins. Builds on the palate, with mineral, blackberry and floral character, and a long finish.”
90 Points – Wine Spectator - “Sleek and ripe, with a toasty apple wood frame guiding the dark plum, cassis and raspberry fruit along, while singed wood spice and anise fill in on the finish.”
What the Winery Says
2010 Côtes de Bordeaux Cadillac
- Winemaker
- Louis Mitjaville
- Varietal
- 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
- Vintage
- 2010
- Appellation
- Cadillac, Côtes de Bordeaux
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Soils
- Gravel over clay and limestone
- Average vine age
- 30-35 years
- Aging
- 12 months
- Barrels
- 100% neutral French oak