Best of Bordeaux: 3 Must-Try Organic Red Wines
Love Bordeaux but want to support organic vineyards? There are many organic French wines that can be accessed Stateside. Here are three positively-delicious, organically-grown red wines that fit into any budget.
Inexpensive
Between $15 and $20 is all you need to get your hands on a bottle of organic Château-de-Bellevue. With its St-Emilion appellationand delicious flavor, it’s a steal! For those who like one-variety bottles, “Les Griottes,” made in 2007 with 100 percent merlot grapes, is one to try. It’s very fresh and retains much of the fruity aroma of the original grapes. It can be enjoyed right away. For a bottle that can be aged in a cellar, the 2009 is showing a fair bit of promise. If cellared for at least 10 years, this organic wine will show the power and complexity of previous vintages.
Moderate
At between $20 and $30 a bottle, depending on the vintage, organic Château Micalet from the Haut-Médoc is a bottle to keep an eye on. Since 2005, this winery has been in organic conversion. This first 2005 bottle is certainly delicious, but dig a little deeper and uncover the 2010, which is a different animal altogether. The 2010 has Médoc’s typical freshness, with black fruit and licorice notes, but it also reveals a silky texture that is uncommon in wines this young. It’s no wonder it won the silver medal at the International Wine Challenge in Vienna. This bottle can be enjoyed immediately.
Expensive
The most expensive wine on our list is well worth the elevated price tag. At $30-$50 depending on the vintage, the Chateau Gombaude-Guillot isn’t exactly breaking the bank, and this organic Pomerol will soon convince you of its worth. The 2004 vintage is currently reaching its peak; it can be difficult to find at some wine stores, but ask those that are already carrying the label, and you should be able to track it down. Like most Pomerols, this bottle has an underlying woodsy aroma and mushroom notes, but it retains a good deal of freshness thanks to the red fruit and berry notes. If you aren’t able to track down a 2004, the 2007 is fairly widely available and is also excellent. While it can be drunk now, you’d be better rewarded in waiting another four years or so before popping the cork on this organic Pomerol.
Discover even more organic French wines, and if you’re a big wine fan, consider installing the organic wine app for your phone.
Image: QuinnDombrowski
