Excess de Penin A Classic and Simple Easy Drinker

An Affordable Intro to Bordeaux

This was one of the first Bordeaux wines I tried when I began to truly appreciate the region. While it’s definitely not a personal favorite, I can acknowledge that for the price (seen it for as low as $10.00), it offers a fairly balanced and approachable experience. The wine feels round when swirled across the palate, but it can fall a bit flat despite having a clean finish, lacking the depth or persistence that could keep it more memorable.

Despite this, Exess de Penin also reflects the softer, rounder character that often makes Merlot-based Bordeaux approachable. Merlot can bring plum and dark fruit notes with a smoother texture, making these wines particularly easy to pair with food.

I’ve tasted this wine many times over the years, especially during my time working at a French wine shop where it appeared frequently at tastings. As I continued to explore Bordeaux and compare it with other options, this one stopped surprising me, due to stronger alternatives. That said, it’s not a bad wine by any means—just a simple, entry-level Bordeaux, clean and that’s easy to drink, especially alongside beef. As a low-cost table wine among similar competitors, it holds its place reasonably well.