Today – August 28, 2020 – is National Red Wine Day. The perfect day to celebrate with Légende wines.

Légende offers consumers a journey through the different terroirs and tastes of the heralded Bordeaux region through the eyes of one of the region’s most prestigious producers, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). “It all started in the nineties. We wanted to offer our consumers a discovery of the different terroirs and tastes of Bordeaux. A name had to be found. A name that could live up to the expectations. A hint to the Rothschild family and the rich history of Château Lafite. A légende was born.”

Crafted by long-time Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) winemaker, Diane Flamand, Légende wines demonstrate a remarkable balance between tradition and modernity. With a product range that includes each of the five major appellations in Bordeaux: Bordeaux Rouge, Bordeaux Blanc, Médoc, Saint-Emilion and Pauillac, Légende wines have an approachable style, inspired by every day drinkability and enjoyment.

Our virtual wine tasting host, Diane Flamand introduced us to the Légende wines, explaining that they strive to create wines with finesse, elegance and balance. The wines are approachable and easy to drink. They are made to drink young and are equally at home at a fancy dinner party or having a casual meal with friends in front of the television.

The first wine we tasted was 2019 Légende Bordeaux Blanc. 85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Sémillon. I must admit that I am usually not a Sauvignon Blanc fan, but this wine is perfectly balanced with delicate floral aromas, good acidity and freshness on the palate. Very sippable, perfect for a late summer evening dining al fresco. Diane recommended seafood and oysters as a pairing for this lovely wine. She reminded us that drinking wine at the proper temperature is key. This white wine should be chilled in the refrigerator or on ice, “better to drink it too cool than too warm”. $19 range.

Légende Bordeaux Rouge 2017 is a very approachable red wine with soft tannins. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. Lovely balance with aromas of red fruit, blackberry and toasted mocha coffee notes. 12% alcohol by volume. Diane explained, “When you have too much alcohol in the wine and harsh tannins, the wine can be difficult to drink. This wine has less alcohol and softer tannins, so it is very easy to drink. Enjoy it with a juicy hamburger in front of the TV with friends.” $19 range.

My favorite is Légende Saint-Emilion 2016. This wine I would sip with or without a food pairing. It is pleasant, creamy and ripe with round soft tannins. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. 40% of the final blend is aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. Deep crimson-purple color. Elegant, refined nose, mingling toasted and vanilla notes with aroma of blackberries. Excellent pairing with duck (very popular in Bordeaux), pasta and chicken. $40 range.

Diane shared with us that she often double-decants red wines for a dinner party. Today she opened the bottles earlier in the afternoon for the late afternoon wine tasting. She noted, “Many times you will notice that a wine tastes much better at the end of the meal than when you first started drinking it. That is because it has opened up in the glass during the meal.”

I found Légende Médoc 2016 to be a brighter red wine with more tannins. Aromas of candied licorice and Morello cherries. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. It would pair nicely with ripe Camembert, grilled red meat and lamb. $19 range.

Légende Pauillac 2015 is a very special wine. It is meant to be drunk now, but is age-worthy. Diane recommends decanting it one hour before drinking. Very balanced, elegant. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 60% of the wine is transferred into French oak barrels for a period of 12 months. Aromas of underwood, spices and pencil lead delicately woven together. I will pair this wine with chateaubriand or grilled lamb. Diane delightfully added, “If you like a food pairing with a certain wine, then it is perfect and no one can tell you that you are wrong!” Well said Diane! $54 range.

Thank you TAUB FAMILY SELECTIONS for this lovely wine tasting!

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