2016 Chateau De Ricaud Bordeaux Superieur Review And Tasting Notes
The 2016 Chateau De Ricaud Bordeaux Superieur is a classic red wine, straightforward, not particularly inspired, let’s say on the edge of the banal, but it manages to fascinate you for a couple of glasses. It has a slender body, moderate drinkability, warm and enveloping fruit, suitable aromatic thickness, fine tannins, and pronounced acidity.
It is not the wine of life, but if you consider the very affordable price, you will not faint, and you can drink a basic Bordeaux that does not disappoint. Of course, there are even higher quality Italian wines sold for the same amount, but the Bordeaux brand has a certain appeal, even when it comes to lower-quality and very simple wines.
Just think that a natural and biodynamic wine from the Euganean Hills, made with great care, such as Calaone di Ca ‘Orologio (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon), is on sale for 18 euros compared to 17-22 for this French wine. The terroir is paid for.
How is it produced?
It is a classic blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Franc in pure Bordeaux style. The vineyards are on the right bank of the Garonne, opposite Barsac, in Loupiac-Cadillac, a small pleasant area of Bordeaux. The cellar is going through a renewal period, dedicating itself to producing more dynamic and cleaner wines, refined only in steel, to increase ease of drinking and lightness. The new vineyards are planted with higher vine density to improve concentration and intensity and, at the same time, lower the yields per plant.
After the harvest, the grapes are de-stemmed, crushed and fermented, and aged only in steel for about a year. Each cru is harvested and vinified separately, and the blende is made only at the end.
Organoleptic characteristics
It is neither a massive wine nor full of extract. On the contrary, it focuses a lot on the vivacity of the fruit, good drinkability, a lot of roundness in the mouth, and a noble profile that allows us to glimpse the potential of these lands.
The bouquet is precise: cherries, figs, plums, blueberries, anise and rosemary, earthy aromas, then still lots of fruit and closes with a smoky touch. Everything is played with delicacy, cleanliness, and precision.
It is immediate, round, warm, and well structured on a solid tannic frame but not decisive on the palate. It is not dense, austere, deep, but agile, balanced, and easy to drink. Floral finish with minty echoes.
It is not a pretentious wine, and for this, it should be praised: it offers what it has. There is no wood or extract to pump the pulp. It offers itself quite naturally, enhancing the aromatic notes of Merlot, focusing heavily on clayey soils that have given richness but not depth. More rocky than tannic.
Price
16-18: an acceptable price, but not precisely calibrated.
Food Pairings
It is a perfect summer red wine for picnics and BBQ parties: it is lean and not too alcoholic but has character, so it will tame meat dishes, smoked dishes, and Asado without weighing you down too much. Tacos, black truffle risotto, passatelli with Parmigiano fondue and truffle, bucatini all’amatriciana, roast beef, hamburger.