Marquis de Bern Bordeaux Supérieur Bordeaux, France

May 8, 2021

Feel the Bern -- 90 point Bordeaux super-value!

It's true; Bordeaux can be a bargain! It all boils down to limiting the number of hands that bottle passes through before the cork is pulled and the wine is poured into your glass. The key is to keep that number as close to zero as possible. My goal is to minimize the plethora of nickels tacked on by these "middlemen" -- passing the savings on to you. The 2016 Marquis de Bern Bordeaux Supérieur is a prime example of how this all works to get wine into your glass at the best possible price!

Marquis de Bern comes from the Gonfrier family, one of the largest landholders on the right bank of Bordeaux. Brothers Eric and Philippe Gonfrier are the third generation to oversee the family's nine hundred hectares of vineyards at nearly twenty Châteaux. Their substantial vineyard holdings provide the family with a considerable economy of scale that translates into very reasonable export pricing. The bottom line: superb entry-level Bordeaux at a super affordable price!

Lestiac-Sur-Garrone vineyards - photo credit Sophie Fontenay

After a quick swirl of your glass, you'll note aromas of spiced plum, tobacco leaf, and cedar on the nose. The 2016 Marquis de Bern may be an entry-level Bordeaux; however, it drinks well above its paygrade, featuring complexity and nuance generally found in wines sporting a much heftier price tag. Notes of plum, blackberry, cigar box, and graphite treat the palate through the long finish. Tannins are gently firm and present, making this very suitable for steaks and burgers alike.

This gorgeous entry-level Bordeaux is at the beginning of its peak and will continue to develop nicely in the bottle for the next 3-5 years.

90 Points James Suckling

With plenty of blackberry aromas, plus toasty notes, this smells like it comes from a much fancier appellation. The balance of ripeness and velvety tannins on the palate confirms that impression. Best from 2020 on.