Chateau Lassègue is an 18th Century wine estate located in the Saint-Émilion district, arguably Bordeau’s most historic due to winemaking dating from the 4th Century Gallo-Roman era. The Chateau is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. In 2003 the Chateau was purchased from the Freylon Family by Jackson Family Wines along with partners Pierre and Monique Seillan. Pierre, a French winemaker with nearly five decades international experience, has been involved with JFW on several ventures including being Vigneron for Vérité and Anakota in Sonoma County, California, Château Lassègue and Château Vignot in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, and Arcanum and Valadorna in Tuscany.Merlot, the major constituent of this wine at 60% and the mainstay of Saint-Émilion’s blended wines, was first cited in the mid-1780s relative to Bordeaux’s Right Bank, and by the mid-19th Century plantings were seen on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, as well as in Italy. Since, Merlot has been disbursed widely, not only in France, but also in California, Italy, Chile, and eastern Europe. Often used as a blending partner to soften Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot gained popularity in the USA as a stand-alone varietal when the market realized that aging was not a prerequisite prior to consumption.Merlot prefers a cooler clime than Cabernet Sauvignon, and to produce focused, high quality wine, attentive, knowledgeable viticulturists are preferred. At its best Merlot yields softly textured wines with lush flavors. The winemaking of Merlot generally falls into one of two main styles. One, a slow, longer ferment, is believed to produce a lighter, more elegant wine. The other is a speedier, briefer ferment purportedly yielding wines with a luscious, exotic character and flavors. The particular grapes used may lean towards one of those two styles.The deep roots on Chateau Lassègue’s 40 to 50 year old vines, plus the water retention ability of the Chateau’s clay-limestone soils permitted access to adequate moisture to support development over the dry, warm summer of 2016. Fermentation was in stainless with élevage in 70% new French oak.This 2016 displays a beautiful onyx in color with shades of ruby glimmering through while exposing a violet rim. Aromas of fresh sliced black plum, pungent crème de cassis, black cherries, blackberry jam, and violets. This is a highly concentrated wine, yet the bright acidity and notable fresh fruit lend contrasting finesse to the touch and feel in a well integrated whole. Such a really big wine that keeps on beckoning into the finish, and to the last drop.For an accompaniment, I knew rotisserie chicken would be a good match. But I decided to put some zing in the chicken by frying slices of it briefly on medium-high heat along with, what else, diced garlic cloves! The pairing was absolutely perfect with this Merlot, 33% Cab Franc, and 7% Cab Sauvignon blend!

Has an abundance of stone fruit and citrus/grapefruit flavours on a lively palate, something of a surprise.

The Mandatory Endless Summer Guide to Rosé and White Wines to Keep the Days EasyLight acidity and fresh fruit flavors like strawberry, apricot, and grapefruit makes this fresh, refreshing wine perfect for end of summer day drinking.

Made in the slightly sweet style that made this bottling famous, this Chardonnay's pineapple, orange and peach flavors are balanced by crisp, coastal acidity. It's a fine sipper at an affordable price.

Everything about this is a classic choice: Chardonnay is a natural accompaniment for a turkey dinner with all the fixings, and this example is the signature wine from one of Sonoma Valley’s biggest producers. Even if you’re an anything-but-Chardonnay wine drinker, you may like this one. Fermented in small barrels, it goes easy on the oak and lets just a hint of warm vanilla linger with the sweet pineapple and papaya flavours that a great Chard allows to shine.

If you are looking for a wine splurge for the holidays, California cabernet sauvignon is a great place to start. The following recommendations are the best California cabs I tasted this year.2018 Cardinale. Cardinale’s mission is to produce cabernet sauvignon that expresses the essence of Napa Valley. Grapes are sourced from esteemed vineyards throughout the valley. The 2018 melds seven appellations, with Spring Mountain and Howell Mountain forming the core. Intensity, age-worthy tannins, rich character and layered complexity are the hallmarks of this masterpiece.

2020 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot NoirGiant Steps is one of the Yarra Valley’s best-performing wineries. Steve Flamsteed created this wine from fruit grown in the cool Upper Yarra at Giant Steps’ own Applejack Vineyard.

The 100 most amazing wines in Sonoma CountyIt packs a wallop, at 16.1% alcohol, yet is nicely balanced on the palate, with only a touch of heat. Violets, wild red and blue berries, mocha and sandalwood are the top notes of this juicy and intense wine, whose style is everything to zinfanatics.

The 100 most amazing wines in Sonoma CountyFounder Richard Arrowood gave this wine its name to indicate it had “special reserve” quality. It still does, though under Jackson Family Wines ownership. At 100% cabernet sauvignon, it makes a bold statement in the glass, with sizeable tannins for long-term cellaring, yet enough suppleness that it can be enjoyed now. Inviting aromas of violets and spice lead to dark fruit that’s expressive without being over-ripe; extended barrel aging adds vanilla, spice, toffee and semisweet chocolate to the mix.

The 100 most amazing wines in Sonoma CountyWho says a large-volume wine can’t be wonderful? La Crema, a major brand in the Jackson Family Wines portfolio and whose bottlings span several regions, used Sonoma Coast grapes in this widely available, terrific-value wine that deserves its Top 100 stripes. There is brightness and verve to it, a mingling of orange marmalade, tangerine, peach, fennel and hazelnut, in a compact, mouthwatering package.

The 100 most amazing wines in Sonoma CountyTake a trip to the tropics with this wine, which puts vibrant pineapple and mango fruit in a bowl, adds zesty citrus, toasty brioche and hazelnuts, and lets natural acidity keep it all fresh. Jeff Stewart makes several chardonnays for Hartford, each with its own personality; this one is both exuberant and polished.

Zinfandel may have its detractors among those who regard it as an old workhorse grape, but when taken seriously, as does Hartford, it is a full-blown expression of a long history of California winemaking. The name Highwire derives from the vineyard’s trellising systems by which half of the parcel is head-trained and half is trained on a high wire trellis strung between each vine, permitting greater sun exposure and promoting even ripening. It’s a blockbuster at 16.1% alcohol, so you have to want to drink a wine of that density, with all its characteristic licorice spices, so it makes a capital choice for sweet flavors often found in holiday food.

This is a straightforward Saint-Émilion (Lassègue always is) with all of the richness that you expect from a grand cru, made by Pierre Seillan and his son, Nicolas. It is a blend of 62% Merlot, with 35% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon for tannin, and its price is an added value for a wine of this distinctive character, which goes very well with roast goose or prime rib. It can certainly age for two or more years.

Maggy Hawk Unforgettable Pinot Noir 2018 was exactly the color pinot should be in the glass, a little ruby on the edge and a darker purple in the bottom of the glass. Cherry cola, eucalyptus and an iron-based minerality unraveled at the finish.It’s a prime example of wines from Anderson Valley’s Deep End, an area that captures the many mysteries of pinot noir so well.

20th anniversary 2018 vintages from Vérité2018 Le Désir has a dark inky appearance with a violet hue that extends to the rim. The compelling characteristics of Cabernet Franc are expressed on the nose and palate with flavours of crunchy cranberry, ripe raspberry, red currant, dried sage, crushed mint, and cinnamon bark; followed by spice cake, subtle vanilla liquor, and singed toast.

20th anniversary 2018 vintages from Vérité2018 La Joie displays a brilliant violet core with a thin rim of bright ruby. Generous fruit-forward aromas of ripe black currant and black cherry are followed by earthy notes of fresh conifer, dried mushroom, black olive, dusty clay, anise and clove.

20th anniversary 2018 vintages from Vérité2018 La Muse radiates a deep ruby-violet colour, which gives rise to perfumed aromas of ripe red and black plum, new leather, violet blossom, and freshly turned clay, framed by sweet baking spices and subtle toast.

The 10 Best Oregon Pinot Noirs to Enjoy Right NowRosé is fast becoming a favorite wine for the Thanksgiving table due to its food-friendly, versatile nature. Marry the best of both worlds with this rosé of pinot noir. Strawberry and ripe berry fruits meet delicate floral tones, but there’s a streak of savory minerality that makes this complex quaffer a great match for the feast.

The 10 Best Oregon Pinot Noirs to Enjoy Right NowFounded in 1988, Penner-Ash’s 15 acres of LIVE-certified estate vineyard continues to produce riveting pinots. Blackberry, pepper, and violets on the nose give way to concentrated fruit on the palate. Though fruit-forward, there’s a lightness to the wine, with fine-grain tannins that provide a lovely texture.

23 Luxe Host Gifts for When You Really Need to ImpressFor the Francophile oenophileChâteau Lassègue is enviably nestled on the Côte de Saint Émilion in Bordeaux. Seventh-generation vigneron Pierre Seillan and his son Nicolas Seillan, using 50-year-old vines planted in clay and limestone-rich soil, have released a deliciously silky, beautifully rounded 2017 Grand Cru with notes of cassis and violet that is both highly drinkable now and a great candidate for aging. Ahead of the curve in prioritizing sustainability, the vineyard is notable for melding age-old traditions with responsible environmental practices.

Nine Great Wines for Thanksgiving, Your Family, and the PlanetHere’s your essential pinot, a silky-textured, red cherry-inflected, full-bodied red from a sustainability pioneer. The Jackson family co-founded the International Wineries for Climate Action in 2019 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bottles contain 50% recycled glass.

Pinot Noir — A Global Love AffairBest of Australia

Pinot Noir — A Global Love AffairBest of California

Your ultimate holiday wine guide: 50+ budget friendly bottles you can find at Dallas stores.