Let’s start with pronunciation. is not pronounced in any way, shape or form how my inner voice has been saying it all this time. I don’t want anyone else to have this unfortunate situation follow them through the remainder of this post, so please listen to the pronunciation a few more times before proceeding.

Being part of the Médoc, there are Château here that were classified in 1855. And not just any Château, but three of the most famous in all of Bordeaux are here: Lafite, Latour and Mouton Rothschild (pictured above). You can add those to the list of wines I’m unlikely to ever try in my life. But fear not! The wine I did drink, the 2005 Cháteau Pedesclaux is a fifth growth! Doesn’t sound too impressive, I know, but according to my World Atlas of Wine, “even the lesser growths approach the enthusiasts’ ideal”. A quintessential Bordeaux, if you will, that while young, was oaky and dry, yet a bit fruity with a touch of sweetness.

Pauillac is, in itself, a sleepy place. And flat. The “hills” at their steepest are 100 feet at their summit. I climb higher than that on many of my neighborhood walks with the baby! But, the terroir of the commune is a favorable one. Sounds like it may be hard to go wrong with a wine with Pauillac on the label. (Did you say it right? )

I remembered to take tasting notes this time! The wine was very dark, but had fuchsia edges since it was still young. It smelled of dark berries but was also earthy. I could smell the oak.

Since my financial circumstances don’t allow me to try properly aged Bordeaux as I’d prefer (although forty bucks for a fifth growth ain’t bad!), this wine was once again a bit young. We aerated and swirled a lot. The tannins were a bit strong (but softened by day two), and the acid was noticeable. Like most French reds, I’m finding, it had a medium body. It was spicy, like black pepper, with just a hint of fruit, maybe blackberry. A good wine, though I likely would have enjoyed it more had it been January 2016 rather than January 2011.

The Score: ★★★