There's something to be said for a good bottle of red wine, but an exceptional bottle of red wine is divine. But with so many lining the shelves these days (or cellars, depending on where you shop), where should you even begin on your quest for a superior bottle of wine? For a red wine with above average taste, look at Clos de Jacobins.
Geography
Clos des Jacobins is a winery located in the medieval village of Saint-Emilion just north of Bordeaux, considered by many to be one of the world's greatest wine-producing regions in the world. It's on the east side of the Dordogne River next to Pomerol AC in southwest France. The village itself is considered the second most important growing area in the region, making Clos de Jacobins a vineyard in very good company.
Features
Clos des Jacobins is considered a "great classed growth" estate, the second highest category of wines given to them back in 1969, and is made up of 18 total acres of property in all. From there, they produce between 4,000 and 5,000 cases of red wine a year. Due to the region and its soil, the majority of this winery's wines are Merlot (approximately 85 percent), followed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon (approximately 10 percent and 5 percent respectively). Most of their wines will be softer and more potable earlier on, between 8 to 10 years of their bottling, as they are considered less tannic, which relates to the length of aging required for a wine to mellow and develop its full character. Translation? A bottle of Merlot from Clos des be less dry than other reds.
Identification
Typically, you'll find a bottle of Clos de Jacobins to be quite consistent in its quality of production. Most often you'll see a fairly deep color of red when you pour the wine in a glass. It'll be quite rich in taste with a fruity, almost plum or currant characteristic. Consistently, the wines, namely the Merlot, from Clos de Jacobins are deemed quite round with a well-balanced, full-bodied, yet still mellow flavor. Is your mouth watering yet?
Time Frame
A typical bottle of this red goes through an strict aging process. Clos de Jacobins will often age their wines for anywhere between 18 to 20 months in oak barrels, allowing for a small amount of evaporation during the process. It will also give the wine a slight "oaky" tone to its flavor. The wine is then clarified and filtered before bottling, two processes that are used to eliminate any remaining impurities.
Considerations
A bottle of Clos de Jacobins will cost more than an average red wine. Depending on the year, it should run you between $30 and $50 for a good bottle. Is it worth it? You be the judge.
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