Chateau Ramafort Medoc Cru Bourgeois

When we first tasted the 2016 Chateau Ramafort Medoc Cru Bourgeois, we didn’t know anything about it – not even the price. But we immediately loved its extraordinarily structured mouthfeel, its opulent fruit flavors, and even its hefty, elegant-looking bottle; so, based on what we expect from Bordeaux, we guessed it would retail for $50 at the very least, and would definitely be worth that price.

Then we learned a little more about what was in that bottle. We found out that it had earned a 93 Point score, along with another rating of 92 – the mark of top-tier vineyards. We also heard that the winemaker is Magali Guyon – a woman with a storied history, to say the least, including a 99 Point score for her work at Chateau Lynch-Bages.

OK… well Lynch-Bages sells for $200, so in our minds that lowest-possible-price for Ramafort is already starting to creep up into the $70-80 range.

But then came the real kicker. It turns out that for more than two decades, Ramafort was owned, operated, and developed by Lafite-Rothschild. Yes, that Lafite – the First Growth estate whose wines sell for upwards of $1,000 a bottle.

Well, that certainly discouraged us. As much as we loved this wine, we didn’t think we could justify the $100+ a bottle that it must certainly command.

But then came the most surprising news. The distributor told us that we could offer this gorgeously complex, pedigreed, ultra-premium-tasting Bordeaux for under $36 a bottle. We were speechless for several seconds, before finally saying: “How much do you have? We’ll take all of it.”

“Where is that steak? This is brimming with cassis, forest berries, plus hints of wild herbs and smoke. There’s a good deal more structure and character here than most wines from this appellation. The quite fine tannins build nicely through the long finish without ever becoming too much. A blend of 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. Drink or hold.”
– 93 Points, James Suckling

“This is a dense, ripe wine with rich black fruits. Its concentration contrasts with the good acidity and generous texture to give a wine that is balanced blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.”
– 92 Points & Editor’s Choice, Wine Enthusiast