2004 Chateau Roc de Candale St.-Emilion, France Grand Cru

About This Wine

Through the first six decades of the 1900s, Bordeaux wines were an “acquired taste.”

Bordeaux has always been one of the world’s winemaking meccas, but its red wines could be extremely tannic, making aging a necessity. It could take years — and, in some cases, decades — for those tannins to smooth out and a wine’s full personality to reveal itself.

A big change (for the better, in our humble opinion) came during the 1980s when Bordeaux grape growers and vintners collectively changed the way they thought about ripeness at harvest time. The vintners began trusting their palates as well as their sugar measuring devices, and the quality of the wines skyrocketed. Ever since, the red wines of Bordeaux have been much more accessible at earlier ages, yet remain capable of long-term cellaring.

The featured Chateau Roc de Candale from the 2004 harvest is already drinking beautifully. And because its grapes were picked at optimum ripeness, it still has a lot of life left in it.

About Bordeaux Blend

A Bordeaux Blend is a blended red wine with six varities: Cabernet, Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere.

Tasting Notes

• Grape Composition:90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc
• Grape Source:St.-Emilion Appellation in Bordeaux Region of France
• Aromas & Flavors:Pretty Berries and Cedar
• Aging Vessels:French Oak Barrels
• When to Drink:Now Through 2010
• Food Pairing Suggestiona grilled burger topped with sauteed onions, or your favorite cut of beef steak.

Member Ratings

Recipes.

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  Maytag Bleu T Bone Steaks We decided to tap the "Born to Grill" cookbook for this amazingly flavorful recipe for the summer. It serves 4. Get The Recipe
  

  Pan Fried Lamb Chops This recipe, which makes 4 servings, features flavors that can be enjoyed with virtually any red wine. Turn it into a complete meal with a side dish jasmine rice. Get The Recipe
  

  Beef Roast With Winter Fruit This recipe is ideal for the chilly evenings of winter, and matches beautifully with Cabernet Sauvignon or red Bordeaux. It makes 12 servings. Get The Recipe
  

  Tuscan Style Roasted Game Hens If you're looking for a change from turkey or ham this holiday season, try this easy-to-prepare dish that matches well with both white and red wines. It serves 6... Get The Recipe
  

  Smoked Salmon Penne Pasta In a world of "anything goes" food-and-wine pairing, we're always on the lookout for recipes that match well with either white or red wines. This is one such recipe, and it makes two servings... Get The Recipe
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  Tomato Pesto Pasta A wonderful match with Cabernet Sauvignon, this recipe helps bring out the fruitful quality of the wine. It also matches nicely with other red wines, and serves 4. Get The Recipe
  

  Lemony Lamb Chops Here's a versatile dish that matches well with red Bordeaux or Merlot, yet also can be enjoyed with white wines because of its lemon-flavored sauce. It makes 4 servings... Get The Recipe
  

  Barbecued Short Ribs With Asian Marinade This recipe, which serves 6, makes an anything-but-typical companion to red wine blends that are based on the varieties of Bordeaux. If you can't find certain ingredients at your supermarket, track down a Korean market... Get The Recipe