For Christmas Eve, we enjoyed two Bordeaux wines in magnum format

- Château La Cardonne 2015 A Cru Bourgeois from the Médoc, this wine had a complex nose with cassis, black plums, blueberries, cherries, and hints of sweet spices. On the palate, fine tannins, a smooth texture, and a long finish, expected from the legendary 2015 vintage. It’s ready to drink now, with potential for further development over the next 5-7 years.

- Amiral de Beychevelle 2020 The second wine of Château Beychevelle was tight and restrained, not yet revealing the warm vintage’s full potential. The magnum format likely contributed to that, reinforcing the benefits of this size for aging. Having tasted this wine in 750ml bottles many times before, the difference was impressive. Keep another 6-8 years.

Both bottles were very much enjoyed by friends and family. Bordeaux magnums never fail to impress. Cheers, Alessandra