2017 Wine Future, Chateau La Bridane
Deep ruby core; with a tight pink rim. Backwards; older style; shares some traits of a Pauillac personality with a lot of individuality; like an older version of Alfa Romeo such as GTV6.
It noses dark chocolate and spice notes from the new wood ageing. The fruit, hiding behind the structure, has not yet shown itself apart from the acidity at the end. On the palate, lush red fruits and chunky tannins soften by creamy oak. A unique blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot (very high for a CB!). We prefer this to a second wine from 4th or 5th Growth St Julien. We have been tasting La Bridane from 1992 to the current vintages. This wine will improve significantly with bottle ageing. Black and red currants enveloped by creamy vanilla and liquorice. Like the earlier EPs, this 2017 La Bridane is firm and tannic with excellent structure. This 2017 has lots of potentials. Price remains at the similar level with 2016. For personal consumption, I would buy this wine for longevity and stylistics. This will not be for investment.
Winechateau.com says that La Bridane is a small property of a mere 15 hectares, high up on the gravel bank of Saint Julien to the west of the village of Saint-Julien and overlooking some of the most famous vineyards of the appellation and the Gironde estuary (Léoville las Cases, Poyferré). It has been in the same family for more than 300 years.