Chateau Pailhas Bordeaux

Lately I have been trying to learn more about French wines and the regions that produce them.  When most people think of Bordeaux wines they have a tendency to assume that they are very expensive.  While these wines do sell at auctions for big bucks there are great quality Bordeaux that sell for extremely reasonable prices.  After perusing the aisles of my favorite local wine store I came across Chateau Pailhas Bordeaux 2005 from France.  My first impression of this wine was that it hits you with a big and bold flavor.  It is very dark brick red in the glass and has a spicy aroma.  Upon tasting,  this red wine has very pronounced blackberry and dark cherry flavors and has a nice long dry finish with the spiciness on the back end and lingers nicely on the tongue.  This Bordeaux is 13.5% alcohol and is a blend of 70% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon, and 15% cabernet franc.  Chateaux Pailhas is an excellent value at under $12 and was the perfect companion to our steak with gorgonzola sauce, sweet potato fries, and rocket salad with parmesan.