ABOUT: It is hard to find a standout, well priced Bordeaux that fit into our organic and biodynamic model, but in Mr. Jean-Francois Reaud from Chateau Les Aubiers we have discovered one. He took over his great grandfathers estate in Blaye, which grew a myriad of crops other than grapes, and now has vines covering 81 hectares, predominately Merlot, with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. And have all been farmed organically since 2011. The Romans planted vines in Blaye 2000 years ago; it’s a huge swath of land on the right bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux, just across from the famous grand cru’s we all know the names of and can’t afford. Different story here in Blaye, the wines are good quality, maybe a little rustic compared to the fancy dummies across the way, but always well made and delicious. TASTE: The 2016 Chateau Les Aubiers Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux is a balanced, concentrated wine with flavors and aromas of fresh raspberries, blackberries and plums, bits of mint, chocolate, cedar, and smoke. Everything is soft and round, the acid and tannins are a medium, it has a smoothness of style that communicate Merlot. This would be an excellent weeknight pizza wine, fresh and fruity but with a bit of woody depth and warmth. We’d take this any day over a monstrously overpriced Merlot from a state that won’t be named. PAIR:Stuffed baked tomatoes, roasted walnut pesto, veggie chili, eggplant parmesan, summer vegetable quiche, Piperade, and Tabbouleh salad with blue cheese.
