// Resident Wine Expert
However, some Château do make a point of being something different.
Clos du Marquis might be regarded as the second wine of Leoville Las Cases, but in fact, it is a single vineyard wine and not a classic second wine at all.
Alter Ego (I love this wine and have followed it for years) is completely different to Palmer and has a higher percentage of Merlot in the blend and, unusually, its name gives no clue to its pedigree.
Then we have Margaux du Château Margaux, which is the third wine from this first growth Estate and is made from the wine that did not make it into the second wine – Pavillon Rouge. It can get a little ‘Wait! What? Who? Which wine? How many wines? Apologies for that!
Those that know me also know I adore Margaux, but I cannot believe I am the only person to have raised an eyebrow when this was first released in 2009. I must confess I have never bought a bottle, nor tasted it and I would love to hear your opinion if you have… but still…
An overwhelming plus is that these wines are ready to drink much earlier than their parent wines, but also bear in mind, because it makes sense to do so, that should you be tempted to buy by the case, then buy on the merits of the second wine as a standalone choice and not on the merits of the Grand Vin.
Homework…(drinking your homework is far preferable and returns less ‘dog ate my homework’ excuses…)
A few Super Seconds you may like to try if the opportunity arises:
• Segla (Château Rauzan-Segla) • Les Allees de Cantemerle (Château Cantemerle) • Le Clarence de Haut-Brion • Alter Ego (Château Palmer) • Les Pagodes de Cos (Château Cos d’Estournel) • Les Forts de Latour (Château Latour) • Sarget de Gruaud-Larose (Château Gruaud-Larose)
• La Reserve de la Comtesse (Château Leoville-Barton Comtesse de Lalande)
That should be enough to be getting on with!!
In case you were wondering, we arrived back from Birmingham in one piece and there were no handbags purchased; if only we could have exercised the same restraint when it came to bottles of fizz.
Sante
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