Lafite Reserves

Among other things today, I worked with these two wines, with a high degree of success.

Lafite Réserve Spéciale Bordeaux Rouge

Lafite Réserve Spéciale Bordeaux Blanc

Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) produces two "house" wines for Chateau Lafite and their other properties. These are called the Lafite Reserves Speciale, Blanc and Rouge. Two wines that represent very good values in the over-crowded and sometimes confusing world of inexpensive Bordeaux.

My feeling is that with so many unknown "producers" putting wines on the market, it can be quite difficult for the consumer to know what is actually quality verses what is just junk. These two wines (and their related labels) are produced by one of the most quality oriented families in the wine world.

Headed by Baron Eric, this firm is responsible for well made and fairly priced wines from France, Chile, Argentina and Portugal. Yes, Chateau Lafite is in the price strastosphere, but look at Los Vascos or CARO and you will find great tasting wines at very reasonable prices.

In this group of value wines from DBR is certainly the Reserve Speciale Bordeaux Rouge and Blanc. The red is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is smooth and quite pleasing to the palate with cherry and raspberry fruit falvors, a soft but rich mouth-feel and an elegant finish. Meanwhile the white is Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc and is just an explosion of soft tropical fruits and a lush palate that has an underlying crispness which maintains a bit of tension (desired in wines of this nature) that makes this wine cry for food (lunch is the obvious choice with just 12.5% alcohol).

Just about everyone I saw with these wines today bought - always a good indication of quality at the right price!