I am not going to tell you this is the second coming of Chateau Haut Brion for $20, but this is a very authentic, savory and quite delicious taste of what makes Graves one of the most distinctive appellations of the Left Bank of the Gironde.  This family-owned estate has been producing both a solid Semillon-based Graves Blanc and this exceptional Bordeaux Rouge since 1906. Blended from just over 50% Merlot, we think it’s a wonderful reflection of the region’s hallmark gravelly limestone soils and the perfect wine to reach for when a delicious Bordeaux in a minor key (a ‘luncheon Claret,’ as the British might say) is on the docket.  A beautiful shimmering purple, the nose evokes sweet pipe tobacco, dark plums, graphite and that delightful hint of flinty stone for which the region is famous on a mid-weight palate with just a bit of noticeable young tannin.  It promises immediate gratification with burgers off the grill, a marinated skirt steak, a warm porcini salad or just a simple platter of figs, smoked meats and maybe some blue cheese.  And, sure, if you misplaced a few bottles in the cellar for five or six years, that wouldn’t be a crime either.  And while you’ll never confuse this as a wine from one of Grave’s most august addresses, it is, indeed, a very, very tasty dive into the heart of what makes Graves taste like Graves!  60 bottles only!