This is my favorite budget Bordeaux, on which I fall back any time I have to readjust my taste for real wine after being saturated with fruit-bombing - sober up, as it were, even if it may sound ironic in the context (but maybe not given its rather standard ABV). It works like comparing a used ruler to a standard measure, for this Reignac has plenty of sweet fruit with pronounced chocholaty and leathery notes, more than balanced earth, cement, beautifully integrated tannins, and I would say slightly unripe persimmon's mouth-puckering action. The latter could be a bit overwhelming for fruit-bombers (not unlike a good Islay for Speyside folks, requiring taste acquisition), yet to me the first sniff volley from the glass screams a classic Bordeaux-style red the way it is supposed to scream. Having it as an everyday treat would be a real treat if I could not steal it from Wine.com for $13.99. Needless to say, at this price level 20 bottles was a minimalistic purchase in my opinion.
Big & Bold
