The Solane family produces both red Bordeaux wines and sweet late harvest white wines on the right bank of the Garonne River in the region of St. Croix-du-Mont. The red Bordeaux wine is produced from a 10 hectare parcel (24.5 acres) with soils dominated by limestone & clay with a primarily southern exposure. The vines are on average 20 years old and tend to produce forward and fruity dry red wine.

The Cuvée Spéciale is their premium blend using only the best grapes from the best parcels. This special cuvée (blend) will carry the appellation of Premières Côtes de Bordeaux starting with the 2002 vintage.

This cuvée is a blend of 45% merlot, 45% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc. The wine is aged 12 months in oak barrels with about 25% new oak each year.

This wine was an extraordinary find and I originally approached this producer for the sweet white wine and was astonished at the quality and value of this dry red Bordeaux wine, which would retail in the area of $12!

The fragrant aromas are immediately engaging and lead into a rush of red fruit flavors that linger long on the palate. The flavors are bright and clean and show the red berry flavors of the cabernet sauvignon, filled out with merlot and further perfumed by the cabernet franc.

All in all a delicious wine that shows that good and approachable red Bordeaux wine does not have to be expensive.