James,

I asked this in the 2005 Bordeaux thread, but it got burried amongst the other discussion.

The WS ratings show a rating of 90 for the 05 Chateau de Reignac. Which of their wines was tasted? They release a wine simply called "Reignac" (which I believe is what Parker reviewed), as well as one that goes by by the full Chateau name, i.e. "Chateau de Reignac". The latter is the less expensive of the two. Since the name used in the WS rating is Chateau de Reignac, that would seem to imply the less expensive wine was tasted, but my instinct tells me it was probably the Reignac. Can you clear this up? Thanks.

I'm not an expert on Reignac, but I have 5 bottles of the 2005 and have drank one already. It was tannic and tight but had alot of fruit and great potential. I thought it 88-90 pts on release and the potential for 92-93 pts. The Reignac is a Bordeaux Superieur so I wouldn't think they would have a second wine but I could be wrong. I paid $26 for the Reignac from premier cru.

Parker reviewed Chateau Reignac

According to my research, the estate produces three cuvees: Chateau de Reignac, Reignac and Balthus. In the 2005 vintage, James Suckling reviewed the Chateau de Reignac (90, $26) and the Chateau de Reignac Balthus (91, $60). I wouldn't be surprised if there were some confusion about these cuvees in the marketplace, but we take great care to get wine names correct in our database.

quote:

Originally posted by khmark7:
Parker reviewed Chateau Reignac

What is Chateau Reignac?

I think that there is only:

1) Reignac
2) Chateau de Reignac

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas Matthews:
According to my research, the estate produces three cuvees: Chateau de Reignac, Reignac and Balthus. In the 2005 vintage, James Suckling reviewed the Chateau de Reignac (90, $26) and the Chateau de Reignac Balthus (91, $60). I wouldn't be surprised if there were some confusion about these cuvees in the marketplace, but we take great care to get wine names correct in our database.

Thanks for the response. And yes, you're correct, there is confusion over the two cuvees out in the marketplace. Parker reviewed the Reignac, but on some sites I see his review shown with the Chateau de Reignac, and conversely I see James Suckling's review shown with the Reignac on some sites. The Chateau de Reignac seems to typically be about $7 - $10 less than the Reignac.

Chateau de Reignac's web site has descriptions of the three cuvees you mention:

http://www.reignac.com/

This is always confusing, and frankly, most of the blame belongs with the Chateau. Why have two fairly similarly priced reds from the same appelation, one named "de Reignac" and the other named "Reignac?"

But I've always liked the Reignac, it's a great value and a high quality wine. In many better vintages, it's the kind of QPR Bordeaux that could upset many pricey, big name Bordeaux in a blind tasting.

I've never tried, or even seen, the "de Reignac" anywhere.

A lot of people are confused. Just take a look at Cellartracker, when you click on Château de Reignac, the first label image that comes up is for Reignac, the wrong bottle of wine.

My first experience with Reignac and de Reignac was in 2000. Parker rated Reignac a 92. I went on Wine Zap and ordered some Reignac for about $20, thinking I got a great deal. What I received was de Reignac, which I subsequently found out was Reignac's 2nd wine. At that time, Reignac was selling online for about $35-40.

Although misled, I found the de Reignac to be a pleasant medium bodied Bordeaux. A couple of years later I bought a few Reignacs, which I thought were over-oaked and a bit austere.

I think Reignac uses new oak on its 1st wine, and I'm not sure its property produces sufficient fruit in its grapes to justify such an approach - just my personal opinion. Maybe 2005 will prove different.

quote:

Originally posted by sydthesquid:
A lot of people are confused. Just take a look at Cellartracker, when you click on Château de Reignac, the first label image that comes up is for Reignac, the wrong bottle of wine.

Actually, for 2.5 years now when you search to add "Reignac" on CellarTracker you get a big, red link to this article that lays it all out: http://www.cellartracker.com/forum/tm.asp?m=5339

A couple of years ago I did a maildown of everyone who holds these wines to point them to this as well.

I did just notice that there were two Reignac images which someone had uploaded to the Chateau de Reignac. Those have been removed.