Tried and Tasted - this week's Staff Recommendations

This week, the Exel Wines team have been tasting:
Chateau Ruat Petit Poujeaux Cru Bourgeois 2005

Russell Wallace, General Manager

A classic Bordeaux blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot and Cab Franc from the Moulis-en-medoc appellation in Bordeaux.  2005 was one of Bordeaux’s best vintages in recent times so if you want a wine from this year you have to search smart and look amongst the lesser know “petit Chateaux” rather than the classified growths.  Despite it’s name this is not historically the second wine of Chateaux Poujeaux (I think!),  originally I understand it used to be a completely separate entity which may, or indeed may not, have been bought over by the Poujeaux clan I cannot tell for 100%.  I am sticking with the presumption that it is separate, although they are both the same area of Bordeaux and ultimately similar in DNA!

2005 is still technically young in Bordeaux terms, but the 2005 vintage (good largely down to a heat wave creating less crop but more intensity in those that did produce) is a vintage that has been drinking well pretty much since put in the bottle.

This is definitely a decant or Vinturi sort of wine, straight out of the bottle it will be a little harsh but still surprisingly pleasant.  Expect a huge flavour, power and tannin, most Bordeaux of this sort of age would have mellowed out by now and become more like a full-bodied Burgundy but I was surprised at the intensity this wine still holds and will, I think, continue to hold.  The lack of brown notes on the rim suggest this wine will keep for some time yet.  Intense dark fruits, pronounced acidity, with still younger oak flavours and for me a kind of zing to start with as the flavour explodes.

Mark Powrie, Orders Administrator

Opening the bottle, I was hit with a strong scent. There was a mix of fragrances coming from the bottle, including dark cherry, smoke and even dark chocolate. Once I had left the wine to breathe and come to room temperature, there was a different mix of scents coming through.

First sip of this wine and BAM…the smells came through like a ragin' bull and the flavours were out of this world. Strong dark fruits, woody/peat flavours, a nice strong mix.

That nights tea was Chicken stuffed with Haggis and although this wine would cope with a more intense flavour, it went very well with the peppery haggis.

This wine was very enjoyable, better with a meal rather than on its own. 12/20

Ally Moir, Exel Wines Shop

·        Had this with a well aged steak and thought it was superb – a nice bouquet, a lovely claret ring around the top of the glass and completely complemented the food (no rich sauce just sautéed mushrooms and onions). I’m sure there lots of ageing in it yet, but a real winner. Score 18.5/20