This week’s wine bytes include short mini reviews that include some easy drinking French Bordeaux’s that won’t break the bank.

2009  Château Lamothe-Vincent Bordeaux
This wine is bright and fruity with a hint of plum and tobacco; it is an easy drinking wine to pair with a juicy burger. Enjoy! Rating: B- | $15 | 14.5% ABV

2009 Château de Bel Bordeaux Supérieur
This wine has good cherry flavors, finishes smooth and toasty; it is a great every day drinking wine.  Rating: B- | $15 | 14.0% ABV

2008 Château Reignac Bordeaux Supérieur
A very dusty wine with a good dose of cherry and spice; pair this with grilled lamb. Rating: B | $20 | 13.5% ABV

2005 Château Larteau Bordeaux Supérieur
Meaty, smoky notes with plum, fennel and anise flavors; decant for an hour to bring forward good cigar-box and cherry flavors.  Medium-bodied, well rounded every day drinking wine that would pair well with anything grilled like a prime strip steak or lamb. Rating: B | $16 | 13.5% ABV

2010 Château de Parenchère Bordeaux Clairet
This is a well-made wine but I have a hard time identifying an audience that might enjoy it. After spending an hour pulling up my long-term memory, I could not identify one customer from all my years of serving wine (as a sommelier, off-premise retailer and tasting room host) that would enjoy it. The aromas elude burned rose pedals with a spicy bite of raspberries and cough medicine. Having said this, I can’t recommend it. I really wanted to like this wine but it goes against the grain of expectation for a light and fruity easy drinking claret that was prized by the English in former centuries. Rating: D | $12 | 14.0% ABV