Wine: 2003 Lynsolence
Region: Bordeaux
Sokolin Price: $49.99/btl
Rating: 92 RP
Fall is now in full swing, and we are back to drinking full-bodied reds again. It's one of the great things that the season brings. So the search began in the cellar for that interesting and seductive red. Finally, we came across a bottle from the right bank of Bordeaux, which was 2003 Chateau Lynsolence.
This wine even seems to have caught Robert Parker's eye. "A tiny 6.5-acre vineyard planted in light gravel/sandy soils not far from Monbousquet and Valandraud, Lynsolence's proprietor, Denis Baraud, is an up-and-coming star of St.-Emilion... "Sadly, there are only 525 cases of this gorgeous offering." - Robert Parker
Only 525 Cases? WOW! I guess we got extremely lucky, as we have 20 cases. That leaves 505 for the rest of the world. We pulled out all the stops and served the 2003 Chateau Lynsolence with stuffed, spiced pork chops slow-baked to the perfect temperature along with a hedonistic dish of buttery, fresh ground pepper mashed sweet potatoes. It was a delectable pair! This wine is brought to us from St. Emilion and is comprised of 100% Merlot. As you might suspect from this grape variety and terroir, the wine exhibited soft, supple, velvety characteristics that just coated the palate. It had the typical hints of tobacco, smoke and dark fruits that clearly define sophisticated and sexy Bordeaux.
As you Bordeaux lovers know, it's not easy to come across many Bordeaux wines of this quality for a price tag of under $50. To show you what an excellent deal this is, we did a quick comparison of the 2003 vintage vs. the 2005 vintage. The '05 vintage received less points (91+ RP) than the '03 vintage, but sells upwards of $70-75 per bottle (and sometimes even $80/bottle). Compare this information with the price for the '03 vintage, which is priced right under $50/bottle, and you'll see that this is a wine you just can't pass up. The higher scoring '03 vintage can cost about 33% less than the '05 vintage.
If you share our love for this region, then this is a must-buy wine that will leave you smiling and looking to open another bottle. As you know, we're constantly scouring the market to find the highest quality wines at competitive prices that we know our customers will love. This wine is a classic example of such a finding.
Our recommendation: If you want to drink great tasting Bordeaux without the hefty price tag, then this is the right selection for you. Enjoy fall and reward yourself with incredible Bordeaux for under $50.