Chateau L’Escart, Grand Vin De Bordeaux 2012 14%

$14.30 in six at Dan Murphy’s

I’m a sucker for a well-designed label. Way back when I worked at Oddbins a customer shared some of his father’s wisdom; never buy a wine with more that three colours in the label. Apart from some notable exceptions – Mouton Rothschild, Leeuwin Estate and George DuBoeuf Beaujolais Villages, it’s a pretty good rule of thumb. I’ve added another measure. Beware of multiple type-faces.

This wine sailed through both tests. What’s more, it was Appelation Bordeaux Superieur Controlee, a gold medal winner and rocking 14% for only $14!

And if that wasn’t enough it is produced organically which makes it a good wine for certain dinner parties (shame about the emissions from shipping).

But what about what’s in the bottle?

I’m not disappointed. I can smell cedar, plums and marzipan. The wine is full, rich and balanced. It tastes like a Bordeaux should, coming from the Entre De Mers bit between the two rivers. And it went down very well with home made pizza of buffalo mozzarella, zucchini and salami. But I can’t help feeling it would have been better with less alcohol.