7 Bordeaux wines you can afford

As we all know, Bordeaux wines can be expensive. Here is a selection of wines, one from each of the major Bordeaux communes that should be within reach for most of us.  They are selected from their availability at the Monopoly.

2008 Petit-Figeac:
BU 9519601 (365,-) Deep ruby, coffee, plums and blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, balanced but lacks a bit on the nose and palate, easy going. There are better Bdx Right Bank at the Monopoly for this price. 86

2007 La Gravette de Certan:
BU 9958201 (299,90) (2nd Vieux Château Certan) Ruby. Blueberries, vanilla, needs a bit of air to shed the initial barrel notes but becomes fresh, pure and floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and lovely texture. Almost flirting. 88 One of the best buys of Bordeaux at VP right now, and are soon sold out.The 2005 is equally soon sold out and another great buy even at 419,-. I tasted the 08 in Bordeaux last week, another lovely Pomerol, that hopefully we will be available here at home soon?

2006 Château Malartic Lagraviere:
BU 9136301 (399,90) Deep ruby, purple rim. Rich, fruit-driven nose. Cassis and plums. Towards fresh, but not quite ripe tannins it seems, at least on the somewhat rough side. Raw even after three hours of decanting. 87

2007 Château du Tertre:
BU 9216201 (329,90) Ruby with garnet rim. Somewhat floral, cassis and starting mature nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, quite mouthwatering but on the leanish side. Elegant and for du Tertre, a more Margaux flirting style than usual. 88

2007 Les Tourelles de Longueville:
BU 5333301 (355,-) Deep ruby, cassis, leather, some licorice, pencil shave and an almost floral feel. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and a lovely 2nd label and the vintage suits it. 88

1995 Château Potensac:
BU 9511301 (359,90) Ruby, garnet rim. Floral, cassis and prunes. Starting to evolve. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fairly mature texture now, drink within a few years. 88

1989 Château Suduiraut:
BU 9679101 (625,-) OK, this is more expensive, but its not every day you have one of the top Sauternes at more than twenty years of age available either. Amber, golden tints. Almonds, apricots, caramel, overripe apples and some floral notes. Fresh acidity, intense and more evolved and heavier than the last bottle, and this one seems more typical. Very long finish. 91