2019 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret by Dourthe, Bordeaux
About this WINE
Dourthe
Dourthe are one of the best and most successful wine producers in Bordeaux. They own a number of leading chateaux throughout Bordeaux including the Bordeaux Superieur, Chateau Pey La Tour, Classed Growth Ch. Belgrave, and La Garde in Pessac-Léognan. They are also involved in ventures in Argentina (Clos de los Siete) and in Languedoc (Ch. de Serame).
They specialise in brilliant blends for generic wines and their highly acclaimed, signature wine is called Essence. Essence is a new type of wine for Bordeaux as it is a blend of wines from 3 different appellations, Haut-Médoc, St Estèphe and Pessac-Léognan. A tiny amount, only 6000 bottles are available of this wine each vintage.
Dourthe has been selected among some of the best in the wine business to supply the revamped version of our legendary Good Ordinary Claret.
Cabernet Sauvignon blend
Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself particularly well in blends with Merlot. This is actually the archetypal Bordeaux blend, though in different proportions in the sub-regions and sometimes topped up with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
In the Médoc and Graves the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can range from 95% (Mouton-Rothschild) to as low as 40%. It is particularly suited to the dry, warm, free- draining, gravel-rich soils and is responsible for the redolent cassis characteristics as well as the depth of colour, tannic structure and pronounced acidity of Médoc wines. However 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be slightly hollow-tasting in the middle palate and Merlot with its generous, fleshy fruit flavours acts as a perfect foil by filling in this cavity.
In St-Emilion and Pomerol, the blends are Merlot dominated as Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen there - when it is included, it adds structure and body to the wine. Sassicaia is the most famous Bordeaux blend in Italy and has spawned many imitations, whereby the blend is now firmly established in the New World and particularly in California and Australia.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
Good Ordinary Claret is our flagship red Bordeaux. Produced in collaboration with Dourthe, it is a carefully assembled blend from a range of vineyard sites in the Bordeaux region. Since its launch in the 1970s, it has become our best-selling wine and a firm favourite of ours. Asked about the origins of the name, our former Chairman Christopher Berry Green once said: “It was Claret, it was good, and it was ordinary.” It’s affectionately known to some as “GOC”.
The label features a monochrome etching of No.3 St James’s Street, set against a simple black-and-white background, with our name proudly stamped underneath. To reduce packaging waste, this wine is capsule-free.
Cellar Plan members enjoy a 10% saving on this wine at checkout.
Tasting note
Merlot makes up 67% of the blend, giving our Good Ordinary Claret its silky richness. The balance is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, adding power and structure. After a year in oak, this wine demonstrates why red Bordeaux is such a perennial favourite: it’s got warm, savoury aromas of cedar and woodsmoke, with supple cassis and blackberry on the palate.
This is a versatile red, making a reliable pairing for most roast and grilled meats or cheese boards. It’s also soft enough to be enjoyed on its own.
Ready to drink now
Max Lalondrelle, Managing Director, Fine Wine Buying, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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