Bordeauxpalooza @ Wine Market in Memphis, Tenn.

When wine first pulled me into its charming grasp, it was France, specifically Bordeaux that reeled me in.

On Saturday at Wine Market, an east Memphis wine shop owned by Scott Smith, Bordeauxpalooza, an extensive tasting of Bordeaux conjured up old memories of being introduced to wine.

Which made Saturday afternoon such a riveting experience. It was completely devoted to the 25 or so French wines being poured. For comparison, their wasn’t the more opulent New World wines which in a side-by-side tasting could overpower the more classic French representations.

This was all France and it was a renewal, an opportunity after an extended absence to visit with Bordeaux. These are the tasting notes from the event, a few wines have already been opened with dinner and their stories have expanded.

Chateau Clos Ray 2010 ($24.99) has aged wonderfully and has elegant blue fruit, boiled cinnamon and star anise flavors. Already opened and served with grilled ribeye, new potatoes boiled with thyme, garlic and chive before being pan seared and grilled orange peppers, onions and mushrooms.

A flashy wine with blackberry, red currant, tar and cedar, Chateau Gaby 2012 ($54) is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Grown in the limestone soils of Canon-Fronsac, There’s great depth in the flavors which are driven by tension of Cabernet Franc, which provided enough of an herbal note on the finish to further prop up the fruit and spice flavors.

Loaded with black licorice, black cherry and petrol is Chateau Perayne 2014 ($17.99), the secondary flavors of tar mushroom and soy are enticing. Furthering the earth driven flavors, which have been enhanced by extra aging is Chateau La Tonnelle 2009 ($16.99). Tertiary flavors of mushroom, forest floor, pine cone and burnt coals provide a symphony of characteristics only discovered with patience. The color is still a dark ruby in the glass, but this is a wine that is ready to open.

Cherry flavors and a rounder mouth feel are the highlights of the medium bodied Chateau Beylie 2014 ($13.99). Chateau Reynals 2011 ($19.99) has licorice, anise, spice rack, cedar and soy flavors.

Riper than most, with a round mouthfeel and blackberry compote flavors Chateau Puybarbe 2012 ($14.99) has a touch of toasty oak and cedar on the finish.

The distributor was pouring and he knew the inventory situation of Chateau Poujeaux 2012 ($34.99). There was only one case in town and it was brought in specifically for this tasting. There’s rich, concentrated flavors from the wine grown on the Haut-Medoc hillsides. Soft cherry and tobacco flavors are wrapped up by hot metal shavings on the finish.

A second tasting confirmed the notes and the manager went into the back room to grab us the last bottle. It was an afternoon with an old friend and we’ve got a fuller cellar with wines from Bordeaux to make the moment last.