Wine Spectator:  Rated as Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style. "This is a ripe, fleshy, toasty, modern-style version, boasting rich layers of raspberry ganache, crushed plum and boysenberry fruit, held together by stylish, fine-grained structure. Extra spice, anise and graphite notes fill in on the finish. Drink now through 2016." Feb 2011

Winery:  "Deep garnet colour with a warm nose and intense bouquet of mocha and sweet spices.  The palate is comprised of firm tannins and explosive black cherry wrapped in a subtle vanilla flavor, resulting in a wine with excellent ageing potential.  Decant and serve at room temperature."

Wired For Wine:  Take a trip to a lovely Bordeaux with us via this Château Boutisse Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.  The winemaker suggests decanting it, so open your first generous, fragrant bottle, and while it takes a few breaths, set out a tasty twist on a classic sandwich: bite-sized challah toasts layered with pink, thinly-sliced roast beef  topped with a zippy horseradish mayo.  C'est incroyable ensemble!   The firm tannins, rich layers of dense fruit, assortment of spicy, earthy notes, as well as toast and oak in this Bordeaux beauty require that it be paired with lamb, beef, game and other sturdy fare.  The fruit of this gorgeous Grand Cru will shine with venison chops and a warm blackberry, apple, mint compote.  We love the earthy side of this Château Boutisse with leg of lamb roasted with rosemary, potatoes and onions.  Faites attention, vous pourriez évanouissement!  Another great choice is crisp-roasted duck with prunes (another prized product from the Bordeaux region) and juniper berries.  The Château encourages strong cheeses with this Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, and who are we to argue?  Hopefully you've had another bottle or two decanted during the meal, so that you may refill the glasses and offer it with a mature, room temperature Camembert next to a crusty baguette.  Talk about a delicious destination, winelovers!!

Bottle:  750ml, cork
Varietal:  88% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol:  12.2%
Ageing:   oak barrels (40% new)
Region:   Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France