13.5% abv, Vignoble Roblès, Saint Hippolyte, Gironde. Imported by MISA Imports, Dallas, TX.

Not all Saint-Émilion wines are Saint-Émilion Grand Cru and not all Saint-Émilion Grand Cru wines are Grand Cru Classé. Are you still with me? There are 67 Chateau that have earned the esteemed Grand Cru Classé rank (grouped into levels of A and B), but there is also separate appellation (Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC) for wines that adhere to stricter production standards (estate bottled, lower yields, higher alcohol percentage and regulatory tastings before and after a mandatory one-year aging period) than the slightly more relaxed Saint-Émilion AOC.

The Château Grand Bouquey property in Gironde produces a single estate wine from 8 hectares of vines on clay and limestone soils and is planted to 83% Merlot and 13% Cab Franc; however, for one reason or another, Grand Bouquey have forgone the Grand Cru qualification.

Tasting note: A pronounced nose of fresh and tertiary aromas with red currant, dried plum, graphite, charred wood, and leather announces this wine. On the palate it is dry with a medium+ acidity, medium tannins, and a medium+ finish with flavors of red plum, black cherry, prune, cedar, eucalyptus, a firm mineral Iron, menthol and a rich touch of crème caramel. This wine was a very nice surprise forma QPR standpoint; there’s still a good amount of acid, tannin and freshness here to evolve and resolve. Very good 9.1/10, drink now but can go another 10 years!