There is hardly anything more relaxing than having an afternoon wine tasting, unless you are like me and trying to be unobtrusive and taking photos.  We were being regaled with anecdotes and photos while Stanislas (Stan) O’Byrne of Jubilee Wine Selections was pouring wines and christening the new wine counter and wine annex at The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan and we all were having a great time.

The first red was Thierry Lurton Chateau de Camarsac Bordeaux Superior 2021.  The estate has over seven-hundred years of history located in the Entre-Deux-Mares region close to Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion, with parts of the chateau built in the 14^th Century and during permittable weather, one can go on the roof and get a sweeping panoramic view of the vineyards and landscape of the district.  Solange and Thierry Lurton have been there since 2007.  They even offer a workshop where one can assemble a personalized wine as they teach the art of wine-blending and one can create a personalized souvenir bottle.  The wine is a blend of seventy percent Merlot and thirty percent Cabernet Sauvignon planted on clay and clay-gravel soils.  The wine is vinified and aged at average temperatures in oak vats to promote aromatic potential and for the extraction of color.  The deep red-purple wine offers notes of red currants and raspberry, along with baking spices.  On the palate the medium-bodied wine offered raspberry and red currant tones, well balanced with good acidity and firm tannins.

We then had Chateau de Villegeorge Haut-Medoc 2018 by Marie-Laure Lurton.  Marie-Laure Lurton is a Medoc based wine company founded in 1992 with two properties: Chateau La Tour de Bassan in Margaux and Chateau de Villegeorge in the Haut-Medoc.  The two properties were originally under the ownership of her father, Lucien Lurton; when he purchased the properties in the early 1970s from the Clauzel family.  Chateau de Villegeorge dates back to the 18^th Century and has been respected for ages and was awarded Cru Bourgeois Exceptional Growth status in 1932 and 1966; the status was original created in 1932, and then re-confirmed in 1966.  Located in Avensan, the estate consists of twelve hectares planted on deep gravel and is sixty-three percent Cabernet Sauvignon and thirty-seven percent Merlot.  The fruit is mechanically harvested, with cold pre-fermentation, then traditional vinification and maceration for forty days, followed with maturing for nine months in oak barrels.  A deep ruby-red wine that offered notes of black cherries, currants, and chocolate.  On the palate this medium-bodied wine offered tones of dark fruit, with good acidity, well balanced with secondary tones of pepper and a nice medium count finish of more fruit; a nice “chewy” wine.

The third wine that we had was Chateau La Tour de Bessan Margaux 2020 by Marie-Laure Lurton.  Chateau La Tour de Bessan goes back to the construction of a 13^th Century fortified tower in Soussans.  Marie-Laure Lurton took control of this estate in 1992 from her father Lucien Lurton and is thirty-five hectares and earned its Cru Bourgeois classification in 2003.  The blocks of plots are spread over three communes within the Margaux zone of Soussans, Arsac and Cantenac on Pyrenean gravel soils with varying quantities of clay in each location.  The wine is a blend of sixty-one percent Merlot, thirty-three percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and six percent Petit Verdot.  The wine is aged in French Oak barrels for twelve months.  The deep ruby-red wine offered notes of red fruits, tobacco, mocha, and spices.  On the palate this medium-bodied wine showed tones of cherries, strawberries, almonds blended with good acidity, firm tannins, and a nice medium count finish of fruit and terroir.  A solid value and introduction to Margaux wines.