Author Archives: AlexR

Some American friends and regular contributors to the Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts forum recently came to visit.
BWE (http://www.bordeauxwineenthusiasts.com/viewforum.php?f=4) is the only internet forum devoted to Bordeaux and, over the years, virtual friends have become real ones at wine dinners shared on several continents.

My wife and I served a special dinner to which I invited two other friends. Jean-François Bourrut-Lacouture,  a retired négociant and Lori Westmoreland, who works in public relations at Ch. Léoville Poyferré. The 8 of us tasted 10 ½ bottles (I say tasted, but I see this morning that there was surprisingly little left over…). Here’s an overview of the wines. I say overview because I don’t take notes at table.

The aperitif wines were 2012 Veuve Clicquot and 2012 Dom Pérignon. The former was certainly a good Champagne, but did not really float my boat. The Dom was, in everyone’s opinion, head and shoulders above it and, as opposed to many other vintages of DP, quite enjoyable to drink at age 11, i.e. relatively young. It was complex, yeasty, biscuity, and had a wonderful aftertaste

We started the meal with  two Sauternes and foie gras on a bed of mâche, or lamb’s lettuce. The first Sauternes (or rather, Barsac), was 2001 Doisy Daënes, which was delightful and the kind of wine you can love either young or old. We raised a toast to the late Denis Dubourdieu, owner of the estate and Dean of the Faculty of Enology at Bordeaux University. One of the great men of Bordeaux. The wine had the trademark minerality and digestibility of great Barsac.
This was followed by 1997 Yquem. Once again, a toast was raised to the late Count de Lur Saluces, who died earlier this year. As opposed to the red wines of Bordeaux, 1997 is a very good vintage in Sauternes. As this was tasted blind, most people thought the wine was older, from the 1980s. I can see why because the color looked that way. The wine was, to my mind, at peak and a joy to drink.

With the goose confit, duchess potatoes, and cauliflower we transitioned to reds, starting out with a 2019 Siran from Margaux that had been given by Edouard Miailhe during a visit earlier that afternoon. This was a promising, elegant wine.

Next up were three wines served side by side: 2002 Mouton Rothshild, 2002 Léoville Las Cases, and 2002 Latour. It was fascinating to compare these blind. Everyone agreed that the LLC was not up to the standard of the Pauillacs. I had hoped it would be because many people feel that this estate is on a par with the first growths and the Delon family at one point unsuccessfully tried to price it in that category. So, the duel was between Mouton and Latour. I was in the minority, felling that the former edged out the latter. Mouton was beautifully aromatic and elegant, a superb Médoc entering its drinking window. Where Latour did outperform was on the incredibly suave long aftertaste.

Next up was 1986 Talbot, a beautiful, classic wine with any Cordier funkiness pretty much under control. This proved to be a meaty, rich Saint Julien in traditional mode, with great acidity and length. The last red wine of the evening was a 1979 Château Margaux. Although the finish was drying, the wine was graceful, poised, and elegant at age 44.

With dessert, we enjoyed a gift bottle brought from the US, a Kopke Colheita Port from 1953, my birth year. I was really touched. This was bottled in 2012. To say the tannins are resolved would be an understatement. This has moved into another dimension, with a softness and warmth that caress the palate, the ultimate “comfort wine”. In fact, I’m sipping some as I write this, feeling pretty damned good about the time I’ve spent with my friends the past few days.

This itsy-bitsy (1.5 hectare) vineyard is owned by José Sansfins, the manager of third growth Château Cantenac Brown. The odd name (as portrayed on the label by a wolf baying at the moon) comes from a previous owner, a carpenter, who cut down the trees he needed when the moon was full in the belief that, in this way, the wood would never be attacked by insects or deteriorate. His vineyard was planted on the highest point in the Margaux appellation, in the commune of Soussans, on a bed of gravelly soil.  

I opened this wine expecting to find something serviceable, but nothing special. Boy, was I mistaken. I don’t know if it’s the vintage quality coming through more than anything else, but this wine was a beauty, as good, if not better, than most of the 3^rd and 4^th growth classified growths of Margaux. This was a streamlined wine of great finesse and a joy to drink. At age 13, it was in its early drinking window.
To give you an idea of pricing, a recent vintage, the 2020, can be purchased retail at 30 euros a bottle in France. Who says that serious Bordeaux has to be expensive?

How many of you have ever tasted a wine from the Côtes de Francs?

Hmmm. I didn’t think so…

Francs Côtes de Bordeaux (as it is now called) is the smallest appellation in Bordeaux, with approximately 400 hectares of vines. This Right Bank region is located near the Dordogne River and the border with the Dordogne department, a half hour by car from Libourne and twenty minutes from Saint Emilion.

It would be an exaggeration to call Francs (fewer than 200 people) a one-horse town. I doubt there is even a cat there… However, they do have a castle whose oldest section dates back to the 6^th century. The family of the famous enologist Michel Rolland lived here, at Château Ad Francos, for two centuries and his team currently oversees winemaking there.

Ad Francos has about 8 hectares of vines (average age 30 years) on clay-limestone soil producing roughly 30,000 bottles of wine a year. The property, entirely restored in the early part of this century, was acquired by Guillaume Brochard and his wife, Qiong Er Jiang, in 2017. Monsieur Brochard lives most of the year in Shanghai, where he had a successful jewellery business that he sold to Kering (Pinault) in 2013. He also acquired three other wine firms having both a négociant activity and/or their own vineyards: La Guyennoise, GRM, and Le Star. 

Château Ad Francos is definitely off the beaten track, both geographically and vinously. Relying not only on the wine’s quality, but also its rarity, Monsieur Brochard has intelligently decided to position it in the premium category, with prices to match.

I tasted through the range in July.

The 2019 and 2020 white wines, AOC Francs Côtes de Bordeaux, were both light, aromatic and mineral without too much oak. The 2015 red Ad Francos was a wine of character needing further ageing and would make a fine match with flavorsome food such as stews or game. The 2016 vintage was also quite tannic with well-integrated oak and a promising future.  The 2012 barrel-fermented Reserve, (full name: Réserve Ad Aeternam) at age 11, still showed some oak as well as sweet cherry overtones on the nose, along with hints of spice, pepper, and earth on the palate. 

It should be said that Ad Francos has one of the most unusual labels in Bordeaux, reproducing an old engraving of the château and the facsimile of a passage from the 1898 edition of Bordeaux et Ses Vins (Féret).

Château le Grand Verdus is a well-reputed centuries-old estate located in Sadirac, equidistant from Bordeaux and Libourne. This large vineyard (120 hectares) produces wines sold under the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations. The château makes a range of wines including an unsulfured red, an orange-type Sémillon, and a small quantity (for Bordeaux, i.e. 6,000 bottles) of a varietal Cabernet Franc.

The latter caught my eye because it is fairly rare to see a Bordeaux made from this grape variety alone

The salesperson in a shop where I bought the wine explained that it was easy-going and to drink young (he said, c’est très glou-glou).  Seeing as we are in the middle of a heat wave (40° C yesterday), I thought that suited me just fine. In view of the grape variety, I was expecting a wine similar to a quaffable light red Loire made from the same grape.

But this was not the case. The wine had a very dark color, which was the first difference compared to a Chinon or Saumur Champigny. The nose showed some attractive cherry and even kirsch notes, but was not very pronounced. However, the comparison with the Loire really fell apart on the palate because this was unmistakably Bordeaux, full-bodied with tons more tannin and considerable grip – definitely a wine to enjoy with food rather than casual sipping. There was also a ferrous quality. Served cool, the 14° alcohol was nevertheless obvious.
The brother of a red Loire this was not. More like a first cousin once removed.

Would I have guessed this was a Cabernet Franc if served blind? Probably not because I did not find the grassy quality and light body I associate with that variety. Still, it was a fun experience at a reasonable price.

Beauregard
N: Muted at this time, but what there is is very encouraging.
P: Big mouthful. Sleek and unctuous. Very Pomerol, but lacks a little oomph. Rubbery tannin.
Good plus.

Bellegrave
N: Sweet, plummy, bordering on confected.
P: Very unctuous, upfront, a Dolly Parton of a wine. Rather flabby and top-heavy. An anomaly in the appellation. So strong and rich that it will call for strongly flavoured food.
Good.

Bourgneuf
N: Rather unexpressive at this time, but showing blueberry jam aromas.
P: Blueberry aromatics on the palate as well. Paradox between freshness and some alcoholic heat. Big mouthful of wine almost New World in style. Really rich.
OK

Le Caillou
N: Plummy and somewhat spirit, but a little dumb at this time.
P: Chunky mouth feel with fine archetypal Pomerol tannin going into some hardness, followed by a surprising about-face to become soft again.
Good.

Certan de May
N: Licorice and berry aromas.
P: Very soft and caressing mouth feel leading into velvety tannin. Lacking a little acidity, but the quality of the tannin is what’s important here. Some chocolate overtones. Already melts in the mouth. Seems too oaky now, but give it time.
Good plus.

Le Chemin
N: Berry blossoms and ripe black fruit.
P: Very representative of its appellation. Starts out rich, then dips, then returns with good quality tannin as well as licorice and floral components on the tail end.
Good.

La Clémence
N: Sweet, but not very forthcoming.
P: Starts out quite round, but then goes into strong acidity. Does not seem balanced at this stage, but can obviously be transformed with age in barrel and in bottle. Only 600 cases are produced a year. Owned by the Dauriac family of cru classé Destieux in Saint-Emilion.
OK

Clinet
N: Tasted alongside L’Ecuyer, this seemed even more typical of fine Pomerol. Empyreumatic Merlot overtones with a hint of menthol and some very refined and welcome spirity aromas.
P: Compact with great acidity. Blueberry flavors spread out beautifully on the palate. Sensual, but classy tannin. Less modern in style than some previous vintages and quite delicious.
Very good.

La Commanderie
N: Closed at this time, but there are some intriguing dark chocolate nuances.
P: More akin to a Lalande than a Pomerol and definitely light for this vintage. Marked acidity, but this buttresses the long textured aftertaste which features rubbery notes that redeems the wine as a whole.
Good.

Certan de May
N: Wonderful nose of licorice and forest fruit.
P: Very soft mouthfeel leading to velvety tannin. Seems at first to lack acidity, but tannin steps in to give definition and structure. Dark chocolate nuances and the wine melts in the mouth at this early stage.
Very good.

La Conseillante
N: Creamy, both from the oak and the terroir, with some raspberry aromas.
P: This creaminess comes through on the palate as well. Soft and caressing, with super round tannin. The flavour progresses seamlessly step by step into a saline and mineral aftertaste.
Very good.

L’Ecuyer
N: Subtle and inky with a touch of menthol.
P: Fresh and vibrant with fine velvety tannic texture. Violet and chalky nuances, along with an impression of tar and incense. A little dry and oaky, but give it time.
This estate had just been acquired by Ronan Laborde of Château Clinet.
Good plus.

Eglise Clinet
N: Very empyreumatic with good fruit to match.
P: Toasty oak with a good tight structure. Tight and resonant, with tertiary notes just emerging. Slightly spirity. Velvety tannin. Uncompromisingly Pomerol that needs plenty of time. Some black olive nuances on the aftertaste.
Very good.

Evangile
N : Shy, but promising.
G: Chunky and tightly wound, with goods structure and soft tannin. A wine of character that will undoubtedly show even better as time goes on.
Good plus.

Feytit Clinet
N: Toasty oak, but rather too much of it. However there are perfumed red and black fruit notes in the background.
P: Very round, but also a little dilute and hollow. Needs retasting at a later date. Prior experiences with this wine lead me to believe it will show much better later on.
OK

La Fleur
N: Closed and reduced at tasting.
P: Some gas in a wine that was clearly not in an ideal place to be appraised. This wine, one of the finest in Bordeaux, illustrates how difficult and risky barrel tastings can be. Normally exquisite, it was simply not showing well. But I’m willing to bet it will be sublime down the road if its track record is anything to go by.
Not rated.

La Fleur Pétrus
N: Very delicate with elegant truffle notes so sought-after in the best wines of Pomerol.
P: Big and spreads out wonderfully on the palate. Seems slightly dilute at first, but the aftertaste gives an added dimension to the wine. There’s a sensual texture to the tannin here and it coats the palate deliciously.
Good plus.

Hosanna
N: Pure and upfront with rich berry and brambly aromas.
P: Dense and concentrated. Quite soft with lots of finesse, but also a great deal of character. Broader and slightly more hollow than La Fleur Pétrus. A virile wine.
Good plus.

Lafleur Gazin
N: Sweet and simple.
P: That “sweetness” is reflected on the palate as well. Displays its charms brazenly, but these disappear into a short aftertaste. Reminds me more of the better wines of Lalande more than a Pomerol.
Good.

Lagrange
N: Subtle black cherry aromas with iron filing nuances.
P: Round and compact, backed up by good oak. The only flaw is the short aftertaste. However, a fine representative of the Pomerol appellation, i.e. very typical. Some empyreumatic (burnt rubber) flavors.
Good plus.

Mazeyres
N: Bramble bush, with deep fruity aromas.
P: Heavy mouth feel with a vanilla/almond flavor often found in Pomerols. Vinous, but lacks finesse. Will be enjoyable young.
Good.

Le Moulin
N: Good oak overlaying discreet black fruit.
P: A flashy wine that is rich, but somewhat topheavy. A little green and hot at this time.
OK

Petit Village
N: Soft bouquet reminiscent of cherry cough drops and black fruit.
P: Quintessentially Pomerol. Some anise. Just a little weak on the middle palate, but showing good acidity and uplift into a fine finish. Seems slightly dilute up until that fairly assertive aftertaste.
Good plus.

Pétrus
N: Very subtle bouquet with violet nuances and some mint.
P: Simply wonderful texture. Creamy, chalky, and balsamic with plush tannin and an aftertaste that does not let up. My notes say “so goddam soft”. However, that does not preclude a monumental structure. Will take decades to reach its apogee. Not unduly wowed by price or reputation, I honestly found this to be the top wine of all I tasted from the 2022 vintage.
Superlative.

Le Pin
N: Sophisticated bouquet with hints of both fresh berry fruit and dried fruit.
P: A tour de force achieving a tremendous balance between a sensual, melts-in-your-mouth texture and a superb structure. A tad austere, but a majestic Pomerol.
Very good.

Plince
N: Vanilla, almond, inky, fine, and delicate.
P: Rich, swish, and silky with surprising acidity on the finish, which is nevertheless rather short and with oak that is too prevalent at this stage. A touch of bitterness on the finish. The palate does not quite live up to the promise of the bouquet.
Good.

Renaissance
N: Fine soft Pomerol nose with violet overtones. Penetrating without being aggressive. Some alcohol discernible.
P: Big mouthful of wine 1,000% Merlot. Spherical. Huge, then dies down by degrees. Tasted just after Vieux Château Certain, this suffered from the comparison, but it is a very good wine.
Good plus.

Séraphine
N: soft bouquet with hints of talcum power and flower petals.
G: Rich mouthful with sweet fruit into a fresh zingy finish. Lip-smackingly good.
Very good

Tailhaus
N: Some violet, but also some lingering fermentation aromas.
P: On the delicate side. This estate is on the outskirts of Libourne. Tasty, with a cool ethereal aftertaste.
Good plus.

Trotanoy
N: Markedly floral with engaging deep fruit
P: Sinewy with a marvellous velvety texture and a lovely long aftertaste. Weighty with excellent ageing potential. Tightly wound. The opposite of an easy-going fat Pomerol.
Very good.

La Truffe
N: Despite the name, there are no truffle notes on the bouquet, which is simple and attractive.
P: Rich, typical Pomerol with a delicate flavor profile. Excellent follow-through. Deserves to be better-known. Delicious. By the way, this wine does not have, nor has it ever had, truffle aromatics. The etymology of the place name is lost in the mists of time.
Very good.

Valois
N: Fresh, engaging, deep.
P: Very rich with strong violet overtones. A wine for Merlot lovers. That violet flavor goes on and on! A little obvious, but attractive.
Good.

Vieux Château Certan
N: Inky, soft, and deep with violet overtones.
P: A marvelous texture with great acidity to match. Raspberry flavor and suave tannin that coats the mouth. The aftertaste is pure magic and there is some minerality among the plushness.
Very good.

Vray Croix de Gay
N: Rich with interesting facets of berry fruit just coming to the fore.
P: Sweet and round with vanilla/almond flavors. Good follow-through and length. A serious wine.
Good plus. This estate was just acquired by the owners of Calon Ségur in the Médoc.

Angélus
N: Spirity, soft, burgeoning.
P: Dynamic, rich, broad-based and strong with assertive black fuit flavors. More toned down and understated than other recent vintages, and better for that.
Good plus.

Ausone
N: Tight, mysterious, revealing little at this time.
P: Fresh, exceedingly well-structured with wonderful balance, and an aftertaste that fits in perfectly with the whole. Superb texture and length. Velvety rather than silky. Black fruit and bramble bush.
Very good.

Badette
N: Very sweet-smelling nose of blackberry liqueur.
P: Big and round, going on to show its power. Alcohol makes itself felt on the finish. Brawny and lacks elegance. For people who like strong sensations.
OK.

Balestard La Tonnelle
N: Inky black fruit aromas along with licorice and nice floral notes.
P: Rich, chewy, and more enjoyable than sister château Cap de Mourlin.  Good balance and satisfying candied fruit flavors. Lovely development on the palate. Long aftertaste in which the fruit overrides everything else. Touch raisiny.
Good plus.

Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarosse
N: Sweet and primary, with some intriguing rose nuances.
P: Plush, fills out beautifully on the palate going on to show a good tannic backbone. Subtle mint and eucalyptus. Fine balance between richness and minerality. Candied black fruit flavors and a certain salinity on the finish.
Very good.

Bélair Monange
N: Fine subtle nose with violet overtones along with toasty oak that is under control.
P: A rather old-fashioned style, but a prime and beautiful example of wine from the Côtes de Saint Emilion.  Wonderful ageing potential. Starts out quite round and luscious on the palate, then displays great concentration, ending in a super aftertaste with classy tannin.
Very good.

Bellefont Belcier
N: Underdeveloped at this time with vague red fruit aromas along with nuances of coffee, vanilla, and caramel.
P: Better on the palate with lively acidity, rich blueberry fruit. Starts out quite fluid, then rich, then reveals mouth-coating tannin. Powerful tannic aftertaste, uncompromising. Seems slightly unbalanced at this time but may age well.
Good.

Berliquet
N: Pure red and black fruit. Seems almost more redolent of fresh grape juice than wine.
P: Tremendously round with medium-heavy mouth feel. Not overoaked. Rich and very attractive. Unquestionably seductive.
Good plus.

Cadet Bon
N: Sweet and concentrated black fruit (blackberry) aromas.
P: Round and big. Both flabby and tannic with some alcoholic heat and dryness on the palate.
OK.

Canon
N: Serious, monumental bouquet. Very sweet and very classy. Exotic and sensual.
P: Rich, unctuous, and pure. Great follow-through into a long textured aftertaste. Spherical than pivots beautifully into minerality. Fine long finish.
Very good.

Canon La Gaffelière
N: Berry bush blossoms, iris, and violet. Elegant beguiling bouquet.
P: Puckery and fresh with lots of oak. Penetrating with the stamp of limestone terroir, but lacks richness, body, and softness. Considerable ageing potential leaves room for improvement in a wine that is already good.
Good.

Cap de Mourlin
N: Soft and primary with aromas of freshly-picked grapes.
P: Somewhat angular and acidic compared to other wines of the vintage. At the very least, this will help the wine to age well. On the whole, in the middle range compared to its peers.
Good.

Chatelet
N: Sweet blueberry and pronounced candied fruit aromas. Little oak.
P: Rich, spreads out well on the palate. A big wine that carries itself well. Quite full-bodied and round, but with the inimitable minerality of the Saint Emilion plateau. Calls for food that can stand up to it. Mouthfilling. Deserves to be better-known.
Good plus.

Cheval Blanc
N: Subtle wildflower nose, but not well-defined at this time.
P: Suave, big, and juicy, with ripe Cabernet Franc coming through particularly in this vintage. Fresh and the seeming simplicity at first blossoms on the palate to reveal superb authoritative tannin. Such a successful vintage that no second wine (Petit Cheval) was made.
Very good.

Clos Badon
N: Understated, sweet, and simple with some chocolate notes and unobtrusive oak.
P: Starts out with attractive roundness. Refreshing with a good follow-through. Medium weight on the palate. Well-balanced and good length for this new grand cru classé belonging to Thunevin.
Good plus.

Clos Dubreuil
N: Not very expressive, but shows overtones of toasty oak and brambly fruit along with white flower aromas.
P: Plush, melts in the mouth, going into a tannic and slightly dry aftertaste. Marvelous texture. Generous. Very fruity and juicy with a mineral aftertaste.
Good plus.

Clos Fourtet
N: Primary aromas of ripe red fruit.
P: Compact and resonant with good acidity. With good acidity. Classic Saint Emilion with a a long cool aftertaste with the unmistakable stamp of the limestone plateau on the finish, which is long and velvety.
Very good.

Clos Saint Julien
N: Refined berry nose. Quite a complex, fresh, classy bouquet with well-integrated oak.
P: Melts in the mouth then goes into teeth-coating acidity. Will surely age beautifully. Seems almost Pomerol-like but the limestone finish shows its Saint Emilion roots. Quite tannic. A sleeper and fine wine a tiny vineyard.
Good plus

Clos Saint Martin
N: Wafting nuancs of berry fruit and violet. A soft subtle bouquet for connoisseurs because you need to look for it to find it.
P: Beautiful taste profile. Plush mouth feel that caresses the palate, then goes into the traditional minerality of the limestone plateau. Simply wonderful. Smallest cru classé in Saint Emilion.
Very good

La Confession
N: Very engaging fresh berry aromas with some dark chocolate overtones.
P: Fine tannic texture coupled with vibrant, but not sharp acidity. On the light side for a 2022 Saint Emilion, but elegant with very excellent tannin. A little dry on the aftertaste now, but that could very well disappear over time.
Good plus.

Corbin
N: Sweet, perfumed, and delicate with violet, rose, and some fermentation aromas,
P: Medium-body. Svelte and poised with a touch of tar on the fine floral aftertaste. Ageworthy. The best Corbin I’ve had thanks to its finesse rather than its power.
Good plus to very good

Corbin Michotte
N: Touch of reduction at this early age and slightly spirit.
P: Pure and brambly with great fresh acidity to provide freshness and ageing potential. Interesting long aftertaste underpinned by that great acidty.
Good.

Côte de Baleau
N: Very enticing, with violet nuances
P: Round with a fairly heavy mouthfeel going into tough tannin. This is a pity because there is much that is good about this wine that falls down only due to a lack of elegance.
Good.

La Couspaude
N: Bursting with fruit. Rich sweet cranberry aromas with little interference from oak. Fine bouquet already.
P: Big mouthfeel, but seems hollow after this first impression, and goes on to reveal noticeable alcohol and a dry finish. This wine will always be somewhat top-heavy, but it’s a decent big Saint Emilion nevertheless.
Good.

Couvent des Jacobins
N: Ripe Merlot in all its glory. Fresh and forward, almost seems as if it just came from a tank. Touch of mint and a little oak influence.
P: It is funny how the floral component comes through so much more on the palate than on the nose. This is a natural unmodern traditional sort of wine that is 100% Saint Emilion. Starts out sensually with a sort of “sweetness” ending in a long lingering finish. Bravo!
Good plus.

Croix de Labrie
N: Sweet, pure, chalky. High quality.
P: Chewy, chunky wonderful soft tannin with menthol freshness. Mid-weight body and nice decidedly mineral aftertaste that is nevertheless stops a little short. Appetizing.
Good plus

La Croizille
N: Pure deep fruit.
P: Melts in the mouth then goes into searing acidity and tannin. Medium body and an impression of freshness that leads into a dry oaky finish.
OK

Dassault
N: Sweet red fruit, black cherry, good oak, and a touch of anise.
P: Sensual opening with sheets of soft fruit going into unmistakable Saint Emilion minerality on the finish. Less body and perhaps less ageing potential than others at the tasting, but a fine wine best enjoyed on the young side.
Good plus

Destieux
N: Bit spirity, but suave.
P: Round into a tight structure with noticeable oak, but not too much. Flavor of black fruit jelly and very appetizing. Concentrated with a medium-long finish.
OK

La Dominique
N: Subtle, ethereal blackberry aromas.
P: Voluptuous. Melts in the mouth and transitions seamlessly into a fine long aftertaste. Best La Dominique I’ve ever had and a wonderful reflection of its terroir.. There’s a floral component, as well as great tannic texture.
Very good

Faugères
N: Closed for business on this day. Obviously needs time to come out.
P: Medium-heavy mouth feel along with sweet bright fruit. A commercial style, but also serious. Very long velvety aftertaste.
Good plus.

De Ferrand
N: More indeterminate than anything else, with some celery aromas.
P: Curiously light and then a certain harshness sets in.
OK

Figeac
N: Rich fruity bouquet with marked violet overtones.
P: Lovely mouthfilling first impression going into the type of reserve bordering on austerity displayed by the finest wines of Bordeaux. Perfect illustration of an iron fist in a velvet glove. A saline impression on the finish shows how appetizing this great wine is. It can surely vie with Cheval Blanc.
Very good.

Fleur Cardinale
N: Hard to know if the bouquet smells more or red or black fruit.
P: Lovely juicy development on the palate. Soft from beginning to end with cherry flavors. A little weak on the middle palate, but tremendously seductive. Medium long aftertaste for this wine with plenty of character.
Good

Fleur Morange
N: Low intensity dark fruit.
P: Pomerol-like with good acidity inside an unctuous framework. Sexy an luscious, but with the tannin and substance to back it up. Fine-grained tannin.
Good plus.

Fonplégade
N: Clean, irreproachable, but not very distinctive. Berry and blossom aromas typical of the best wines of the vintage.
P: Big mouthfeel that shifts into uncompromising minerality typical of the terroir. Very round up until the aftertaste this aftertaste of limestone terroir. Slightly hollow even so. Will age well thanks to its structure and marked acidity.
Good.

Fonroque
N: Pure, with subtle blackcurrant and candied red and black fruit aromas.
P: Some gas in this sample, which was nevertheless a good solid example of Saint Emilion without any special distinguishing characteristics.
Good.

Franc Mayne
N: Deep intense nose of briar and black cherry jam. Sweet, but not obvious. Great nose.
P: Not quite as good on the palate. Something a bit weak and diluted until the aftertaste, which is slightly rough with some greenness. Minerality in spades.
New label this year for an estate that changed hands in 2018.
Good.

La Gaffelière
N: Plummy with violet nuances.
P: Big mouthful i.e. heavy mouthfeel, then dips a bit on the middle palate, but comes back with a fruity, gummy flavor and a sweet, pure, and very mineral aftertaste. Worthy of retaining its Premier Cru status? Good winemaking and high-quality fresh aftertaste would suggest so.
Good plus.

Grand Corbin
N: Pure and discreet with candied red fruit.
P: Tight with good development on the palate. Dense and fresh, with fine tannin and candied black fruit. Excellent finish.
Good plus.

Grand Mayne
N: Beeswax and floral notes with underlying blackcurrant.
P: Brawny, chunky, with good fruit and textured tannin. Not as big and clumsy as some previous vintages. Strong and characterful though, and there’s the acidity to provide balance. A meaty virile kind of Saint Emilion. Long assertive aftertaste.
Good to good plus.

Haut Sarpe
N: Fresh, but unforthcoming. Subtle berry fruit, but too closed at this time.
P: Vibrant raspberry Cabernet Franc aromas. Excellent and refreshing balance with a tangy finish. Chunky in a good way but neither top-heavy nor overly alcoholic. Rubbery tannin and the sort of wine that is good either young or old.
Good plus.

Lamarzelle
N: High-pitched, deep, and subtle with coffee and vanilla nuances.
P: Seems very much like a Pomerol to begin with, then the wine’s structure emerges. Seems rather delicate until the aftertaste kicks in. Svelte body with good length and ageing potential although not broad-based or especially assertive.
Good.

Laniote
N: Biscuity, with some lead overtones. Some reduction at this time. A bit curious, but OK.
P: Rich, even flabby to start off with, then rough tannin kicks in. Not altogether balanced, but this is a decent old-fashioned style of Saint Emilion. Grippy tannin on the aftertaste. This will help the wine to age, but will the fruit stay?
Good.

Larcis Ducasse
N: Rather retiring and hiding its charms for the time being. Some wild flower nuances.
P: Forthcoming, with slick smooth tannin. Seems more like a Pomerol than a Saint Emilion. The aftertaste is not very long, but this is an attractive wine to drink young. Immediate neighbour of Pavie.
Good.

Larmande
N: Good, but unremarkable at this time, which is to say average.
P: Soft velvety tannin going into a medium-long round aftertaste full of berry fruit.  A crowd-pleasing sort of wine, quite aromatic on the palate with violet nuances. Commercial style. A touch dilute. Will be forthcoming young.
Good.

Laroque
N: Fresh, pure, berry fruit aromas with some licorice. Concentrated and appealing without oak overreach.
P: Very rich with chocolate overtones. Frankly on the heavy side with noticeable alcohol on the finish. Not a bruiser, but a very tannic wine calling for strongly-flavored food.
Good.

Laroze
N: Plummy, sweet, upfront, and fresh with some depth.
P: Fresh, but disjointed with unpleasant acidity and harsh tannin. This only goes to show how young the wines are at the en primeur tastings, and how good wines are not necessarily on their best form. Tannin here seems quite tough.
To be fair, this wine needs to be retasted before and after bottling.

Mangot
N: Powdery, with refined cherry and fruit juice aromas.  Some heat. Not up to the palate at this time.
P: Mouthfilling and seemingly sweet. Big and coats the palate. A bit simple, but goes into a pure mineral aftertaste with textured tannin. First vintage of this wine as a classified growth.
Good.

Monlabert
N: Very roasted nose with coffee, vanilla, and caramel nuances (oak) that overrides the fruit at this stage.
P:  Better. Plush on the palate with licorice flavors and good follow-through. Interesting balance, but rather short. Good fruit. A nice surprise for this estate newly promoted to cru classé status.
Good.

Montlisse
N: A little simple and ordinary. Not very expressive.
P: Rich and soft on entry, going into an above-average mineral aftertaste. There’s an impression of sweetness from beginning to end and an interesting balance between austere tannin and an easy-going cherry flavor. Marked acidity on the finish
Good.

Moulin du Cadet
N: Something a little off at this tasting, but  the nose is inky, deep, and mysterious.
P: Big, but there is sprightly raspberry acidity that makes this more easy-going and “digestible” than some of the other wines at the tasting. The body is there, but not quite enough elegance. Clean limestone finish. Rich and tasty, just a little obvious.
Good

Pavie Macquin
N: Promising red fruit, blueberry, and refined candied fruit aromas.
P: Vinous with great acidity. Big, but restrained. Unexpectedly delicate, with fine-grained tannin and a subtle long aftertaste.
Good plus.

Péby Faugères
N: Closed, brooding, but one senses that there is much to come.
P: Very oaky along with some exotic flavors such as mint. Very enjoyable. Faugères showed better than Péby Faugères on this day, but it could be a different story in ten years.
Good plus

Petit Faurie de Soutard
N: Fine, sweet, and subtle. Fresh, delicate, and marked by floral aromas (iris).
P: Great development on the palate. Fresh once again, with spring water purity and some rose nuances. The floral overtones blend with great berry flavors (forest fruit). Elegant floral finish very reminiscent of crunch fresh fruit. Elegant. This is an estate to watch.
Very good

De Pressac
N: Not showing a great deal at this time. Some blackberry notes.
P: Full-bodied and spreads out on the palate with heaps of black fruit flavors. Great acidity inside a plush shell. Will age well. Coarse velvet texture. A little disjointed at this stage, but one of the best wines I’ve had from this estate.
Good plus.

Quinault l’Enclos
N: On the simple side, but displaying  some promising fruit jam notes.
P: A pretty fruit forward wine that permeates the palate. Upfront ant attractive.
Good

Sansonnet
N: Good oak and enough fruit to back it up. Sweet, elegant, and voluptuous.
P: Big masculine style with a perception of alcohol clearly present. Rather overwhelming and the oak is too much at this stage. Disjointed now, but give it time!
Good.

La Serre
N: A little spirity, somewhat remniscent of cherry liqueur.
P: Powerful, but tasty and tangy. Lipsmackingly good. Long assertive aftertaste that is not aggressive. Juicy. Maybe should be a little more reserved, but this is a sensual wine with an fine finish and velvety tannin.
Good.

Soutard
N: Oak, candied fruit, and general sweetness.
P: Seems somewhat hollow, but there is a good tannic backbone. Medium-heavy mouthfeel. Pure and refreshing although a little puckery and hard on the finish. Balance is not ideal, but will improve with age. At this time the oak comes through much too strongly.
Good.

La Tour Figeac
N: Very attractive understated nose showing ethereal black fruit and some spice. Sweet and stylish.
P: Beautifully soft on entry going into medium-bodied roundness and fine-grained tannin. Unfolds seamlessly. Long aftertaste. An unquestionably fine wine, but also a fruity user-friendly.
Good plus.

Tour Saint Christophe
N: Toasty oak, berry fruit and a sweetness that may come more from oak than fruit.
P: Big, chunky, a little hot but the limestone finish adds freshness. Tannin coats the mouth and teeth. Hearty more than refined and rather dry, but this could change with ageing.
Good.

Troplong Mondot
N: Attractive berry and blossom aromas. Sweet and straightforward.
P: Heavy round mouthfeel. A Merlot lovers wine… Fresh, i.e. not top heavy as in some years, but a bit flabby. I acknowledge the quality of this wine, even if it is not a style I especially like.
Good.

Valandraud
N: Very classy, inky, almost Médoclike. Bright fruit with a touch of greenness along with some winemaking aromas, but very promising.
P: The softness at the beginning is misleading because this is a very tannic wine. An iron fist in a velvet glove. Blackberry and chocolate flavors. Long future ahead.
Good plus.

Villemaurine
N: Cassis and black fruit jam along with some beeswax.
P: Full frontal roundness going into waves of acidity, tannin, and oak. A very big wine lacking distinction, but not a monster either. It weighs in more with power than nuance. The textured tannin on the finish is a pleasure, but I’d have like the wine less mammoth and I wonder how it will age.
OK

Yon Figeac
N: Sweet and engaging, but some fermentation aromas there. Blossom aromas appear with aeration and the nose is altogether very nice.
P: Ripe rich wine with heavy mouth feel. The fruity flavors spread out beautifully on the palate going into limestone minerality typical of the Saint Emilion plateau. Slightly old-fashioned style, but very successful. Not exactly heavy or overbearing, but not for the faint-hearted.
Good plus.

Bouscaut (red)
N: Closed and moderately oaky.
P: Long on the palate, but seems massively overoaked at this stage. Plenty of acidity, but not enough fruit and way too much oak. Not a good time to taste this wine, which needs to be re-evaluated later.
OK

Carbonnieux (red)
N: Seems very young indeed. Fresh fruit aromas and not overoaked.
P: Plush on entry going on to reveal polished tannin and acidity. Tangy, refreshing, and delicious. Just a little short. Nevertheless, a fine effort from the château.
Good to good plus.

Carmes Haut Brion
N: Subtle red fruit aromas along with vanilla and black pepper notes.
P: Medium body. Tight, with teeth-coating tannin that are nevertheless of extremely high quality and bode well for long ageing. A lively appetizing wine with some tarry overtones. The texture is absolutely wonderful.
Very good.

Domaine de Chevalier (red)
N: Impression of ripe Merlot fruit predominates. Moderately expressive red fruit and quite fresh.
P: Svelte with marked acidity without softness to back it up. Wine to enjoy for its elegance rather than power or richness. Raspberry flavors. Bit unyielding finish, but there is textured velvety tannin there and this will obviously reward ageing.
The label is quite unusual for this vintage, featuring a 1941 watercolor of a galloping horse by Chinese artist Xu Bei Hong.
Good plus

Fieuzal (red)
N: Pure blackberry jelly aromas and subtle oak. Not profound, but certainly engaging.
P: Starts out round then progresses into a long aftertaste. Raspberry and redcurrant flavors with lively acidity. Fine-grained tannin on the finish.
Good plus.

de France (red)
N: Brambly as always, and soft. Aromatics of earth and forest floor.
P: Moderately fruity, short aftertaste with slight impression of alcohol. Overoaked at this point, but time will tell…
OK

Haut Bailly
N: Spicy, fresh, pine resin aromas.
P: Sinewy and svelte with a positive sort of bitterness on the aftertaste which nevertheless drops off somewhat. Too oaky at present, but has the structure to integrate that over time. Narrow flavor profile, with some licorice, but excellent within that framework.
Good plus

Haut Brion (red)
N: Fine beeswax and lovely scent of fruit hiding its light under a bushel at present.
P: Chewy texture. Quite round, then assertive with new oak, significant acidity, and an uncompromising quality that provides decades of ageing potential. There’s a positive sort of greenness to go along with the ripe fruit. The tanginess at the onset is very appetizing, and this is complemented by tremendous length. Just shy of 15° alc./vol. but altogether extremely elegant. Times have certainly changed in Bordeaux!
Very good.

Larrivet Haut Brion (red)
N: Fine fresh raspberry bouquet. Brambly and smoky Pessac-Léognan nuances. Understated and classic.
P: Tight with vibrant acidity. Made to last. A different style to the others and one I quite like. Not so commercial, but encourages ageing. Medium-light in body and succeeds in focusing acidity and fruit at the same time. Cool fresh aftertaste.
Good to good plus

Latour Martillac (red)
N: Aromas of caramel, oak, and black fruit. Fairly suave, but lacks personality at this stage. Some toasty oak.
P: Natural fruit flavors, especially raspberry, with a very positive kind of marked acidity. Light on its feet. A little short, but refreshing. Will age well, but this is not one of the appellation’s frontrunners.
Good

La Louvière (red)
N: Sweet and simple with some toasty oak.
P: Medium in most ways. Elegant flavor profile with a floral aspect. Short, but balanced and attractive. Should La Louvière be promoted one day to great growth status? In light of today’s tasting i.e. compared to other crus classes, I’d have to say no.
Good.

Malartic Lagravière (red)
N: Elegant perfumed bouquet redolent of violet, rose, red fruit, and oak.
P: Bit sharp and tangy. Poised and feminine in style, as usual, but the sample was not in tip-top condition, showing too much oak and a dry finish at present. Promising, but needs to be retasted.
Good.

Mission Haut Brion (red)
N: Sweet briary aromas with pipe tobacco nuances. Understated and very promising and already showing signs of complexity.
P: Possibly as little diluted on the attack, but zings in with authority revealing wonderful Graves tannin. Medium-weight in body, even tending towards lighter-than-average. The tannin clearly gives the wine structure to last for decades. Fresh, but development on the palate is short of perfect. Long subtle finish.
Very good.

Olivier (red)
N: Upfront and very ripe. Lovely deep dark berry fruit nuances.
G: Soft, easy-drinking wine with red and black fruit flavors echoing the bouquet. Refreshing, but the oak is rather hard at this time. Well made. An estate offering worthwhile value for money.
Good.

Pape Clément (red)
N: Not very expressive at this time.
P: Rich with good acidity and grip. Black fruit and the oak in in keeping for a wine that needs to age for a long time. Delicious aftertaste with an unmistakale slightly leathery/smoky Graves quality.
Good plus.

Pique Caillou (red)
N: Sweet, natural, penetrating.
P: Soft and easy-to-drink with a pleasant aftertaste of red and black fruit. The oak influence seems a little hard-edged at this time. The wine is well-made and good value for money.
Good

Smith Haut Lafitte
N: Inky violet nuances along with forest fruit.
P: Rich and concentrated with marvelous tannin that coats the teeth. Lovely long textured aftertaste with a touch of bitterness. Rises above most other wines in its appellation and at this point seems superior to Haut Bailly. Melts in the mouth and the toasty oak is not overdone.
Very good

Angludet
N: Some unresolved vinification aromas, but refined Margaux magic there.
P: Ripe fruit with an oaky aftertaste. Narrow spectrum of flavours, but good profile and acidity. Finish a little tough and dry at the present time.
Good

Brane Cantenac
N: Oak overlaying lead aromas
P: Round, melts in the mouth. Fresh and natural. Develops well on the palate. Delightfully tangy. Good length. Fine compromise between modern and traditional styles. Very typical of its appellation. Great acidity. Brane is ascendant.
Good plus

Cantenac Brown
N: Pronounced sweet cherry aromas, along with ripe varietal Cabernet nuances.
P: Mouth-watering and poised with fine-grained tannin. Very well-made. This château appears to be coming up in the world thanks to a change in ownership.
Good plus

Dauzac
N: Ripe cranberry nose with good oak and a classic profile.
P: Raspberry with well-integrated oak and medium length. Fine balance with straightforward berry fruit and decent grip. A satisfasctory great growth in a good year, but not in the top tier.
Good.

Desmirail
N: More floral than fruity at this time. A little green.
P: Good sappiness, but that greenness come through on the palate as well, accompanied by brambly fruit. Odd balance.
OK

Giscours
N: Lovely subtle nose with definite floral overtones along with ripe berry nuances. Not profound at this stage.
P: Excellent ripe Cabernet (primary fruit) with refreshing acidity. Relatively long aftertaste and a slightly spirit side. Dependable.
Good

Kirwan
N: Licorice and spice. Very pure with a musky quality.
P: Chewy mouth feel with oak, briar, and cherry flavors. Obviously needs time to become more focused, but there’s an intrinsic lack of balance meaning that this will never be one of the best of Margaux’s ten third growths.
OK.

Lascombes
N: Rich upfront fruit
P: Something a little forced and artificial here, but nothing to actually detract from the wine. Change in ownership here and a new label harking back to the 19th century. We’ll see if this estate will improve in the next few vintages.
Good.

Margaux
N: Redolent of violet, cedar, and blackcurrant with subtle minty nuances.
P: Impregnates the palate without brutalizing it. Wonderfully soft with superb tannin and a decidedly mineral aftertaste.
Very good.

Marquis de Terme
N: Assertive ripe berry aromas that seem more typical of the Northern Médoc.
P: Good body. Fairly big wine. Solid, but lacks refinement. Dry finish that needs age to soften.
Good.

Monbrison:
N: Soft, perfumed, but muted. Good oak. Delicate and feminine.
P: Caresses the palate. Not a big wine but shows all the class of a great Médoc. Such finesse! Melts in the mouth. I’ll be fascinated to see how this develops because from barrel it is ethereal and extremely classy.
Good plus to very good

Palmer
N: Pronounced wild berry aromas.
P: Seems low in acid. Showing candied fruit and dark chocolate flavors. Slightly confected. Hiding its light under a bushel at present, but all the signs of a great wine in the making are there. It’s simply that this was not the ideal time to taste the wine. Nevertheless:
Very good

Prieuré Lichine
N: Truly lovely berry and berry blossom aromas. Almost Right Bank – or Burgundian – in its voluptuousness
P: Spreads out beautifully on the palate. Without being modern in style, and if it were not for the lovely tannins on the aftertaste, I might not have taken this for a Bordeaux. Slick tannin. An estate on the up-and-up.
Good plus

Rauzan Gassies
N: Fruity, but simple.
P: Good tannin reminiscent of tea. Well-constructed, but relatively short. More on a cru bourgeois level than a second growth one. Light on its feet, with good acidity, but lacks gravitas.
OK

Rauzan Ségla
N: Really very closed but fruit and chocolate notes lurking.
P: Rich, mouthfilling, almost too big for a Margaux. Quite delicious and thirst-quenching even so with candied blackcurrant. Soft, pure, and juicy, wears its heart on its sleeve.
Good plus.

du Tertre
N: Combination of oak and fruit of medium intensity. Not very expressive at this point.
P: Seems sharp and monolithic on the palate, without the estate’s customary elegance. The wine’s sappiness and magic overwhelmed for now by the oak. Some black olive notes on the aftertaste.
The château was purchased last year by Les Grands Chais de France (the Helfrich family from Alsace)
Good

Beychevelle
N : Classic Médoc nose reminiscent of blackcurrant cordial. Good oak and shows great potential.
P : Dynamic, with great acidity, and avoids any chunkiness.  The terroir unquestionably comes through here with a medium-fine velvety texture on the finish.  The oak is overly prominent at this stage, but there is clearly the stuffing for this to integrate over time. Altogether, this is a big wine, but one with a great deal of class. Lovely medley of candied fruit on the aftertaste.
Good to very good.

Branaire Ducru
N : Soft with a touch of cedar with underlying Médoc fruit
P : Round, full, fresh Cabernet falvours with an elegant lift. Slightly dilute on the middle palate before going into a good fresh aftertaste of medium length. Somewhat chunky. No flaws here, but nothing special either.
Good.

Ducru Beaucaillou
N : Dense, subtle bouquet rather closed and a touch musty at this time.
P : Much more expressive on the palate. Concentrated black fruit flavors with a flawless development on the palate, i.e. a great follow-through into a wonderful aftertaste. Roundness into a super classic finish. Unquestionably a great vin de garde.
Very good.

Gruaud Larose
N : Very closed at this time, but with aeration reveals attractive notes of Saint Julien terroir with dark fruit that will surely become more expressive with age.
P : Really chunky – but not clunky! Big wine that falters a little on the middle palate, but rallies with a strong, very tannic aftertaste that needs time to soften.
Good

Lagrange
N : Bright berry fruit with a touch of caramel from the oak. Penetrating and a little spirity. Pure and primary, but promising.
P : Great acidity with raspberry flavors. Not especially rich or long, but satisfying with a velvely tannic finish that is just a little short.
Good

Léoville Barton
N : Textbook nose with slightly cosmetic sweet cassis perfume. Superb bouquet. Just the right amount of oak.
P: The austerity of Cabernet Sauvignon, overruled by ripe juicy fruit and a fine structure that somehow avoids rigidity. Long finish with a soft grip.
Very good

Léoville Poyferré
N : Ripe, deep, and full of promise with licorice nuances.
P : Packed with fruit but maintains elegance and balance. Hedonistic, but stays within the framework of classic claret.  Wonderful medium-long aftertaste. Superb Cabernet and an example for the New World.
Good plus to very good.

Saint Pierre
N : Deep, dark, underlying berry aromas that are rather simple at this stage.
P : Natural fruit flavors not overshadowed by oak. Fresh acidity and good texture. An elegant rather than a strong wine to enjoy on the young side. Slight menthol overtones on the finish.
Good.

Talbot
N : Ripe Cabernet nose with a hint of mint and blackcurrant leaves along with some earthy notes and vigorous berry fruit.
P : Fleshy, big, very juicy. An archetypal Saint Julien and a joy to lovers of this appellation. Medium-long textured finish. Delicious.
Good to very good

PAUILLAC

d’Armailhac
N : Fine bouquet redolent of cassis and cherry;
P : Excellent fruit, but lacks focus at this stage. Some gas in the sample. Not the best time to taste the wine, but it deserves the benefit of the doubt in light of past track record and intrinsic underlying quality.
Good.

Batailley
N : Fine nose of blackcurrant and cherry.
P : Excellent fruit, but the wine is unfocused at this time and the sample has a bit of gas. Knowing this wine, it definitely deserves the benefit of the doubt.
(label in honor of Queen Elizabeth)
Good.

Clerc Milon
N : Discreet, closed-in, needs time. Some black pepper overtones.
P : Forward, attractive, rich, bright, a delicious medley  of red fruit. Soft for a Pauillac. Classy and will show well even quite young.  Elegant sophisticated aftertaste.
Good plus.

Croizet Bages
N : Toasty oak and caramel, with muted red fruit.
P : Much more expressive on the palate, with forest fruit, good body, and attractive follow-through. Solid performance for this wine that has often been criticized in the past.
Good.

Duhart Milon
N : Precise and well-defined, but closed. Underlying cassis and berry aromas.
P : Medium body with some hardness to show that this is a serious wine, belying the initial impression of one that is too fluid and easy-going. Svelte, with velvety tannin on the classy finish. That having been said, this is too much on the slim side.
OK.

Grand Puy Ducasse
N : Pencil lead overtones with some subdued spice aromas. Really too closed to evaluate properly at this time.
P : Narrow spectrum of flavors and with a simple linear development on the palate. Refreshing, but lacks richness and breadth. Pales in comparison with others. Slight weediness.
OK

Grand Puy Lacoste
N : Sweet, open, and fresh bouquet along with good oak and ethereal blackcurrant aromas.
P : Faithful to château profile. Very unctuous, but not overly so. Tangy and appetizing. Great fruit and polished tannin on the long finish.
Good plus

Haut Batailley
N : Tad herbaceous, but also some dark chocolate and discreet black fruit.
P : Sinewy and lively with loads of fruit. Should develop very well with age. Great aftertaste as well. Spreads out beautifully on the palate with blackcurrant, blackberry, and other black fruit flavors.
Good plus.

Lafite Rothschild
N : Lead and trademark violet aromas.
P : Lots of juicy fruit and fine acidity. Fabulous potential. Medium heavy mouth feel with enough restraint and structure to show that this is a wine worth of serious ageing. Silky texture and flawless progression on the palate.  Great length with a soft velvet aftertaste. The balance is such that this Lafite will be a joy very young, or in 50 years. On the whole, a feminine style.
Very good

Lynch Bages
N : Serious ripe berry (cassis) bouquet with a floral element. Ethereal brambly quality with some cedar aromas.
P : Very mouthfulling, but remains elegant throughout. A superb Lynch Bages with lively acidity continuing into a very long aftertaste. High quality tannins conducive to the long haul. Quintessential Pauillac with a floral aspect (blossoms) reappearing on the tail end.
Very good;

Lynch Moussas
N : Sweet and simple bouquet.
P : Starts out by melting in the mouth and then reveals lots of acidity. An old-fashioned style. Good, long, and refreshing with some toasty oak. Worth looking into this wine’s future development. Very fruity and austere in a good kind of way. Quite long aftertaste. Unexpected quality.
Good plus.

Mouton Rothschild
N : Rather closed, but in line with the superb aromas of classic Mouton.
P : Big mouth feel with noticeable oak. Tremendous length. While the oak blurs the wine’s considerable fruitiness, that is not surprising since this vintage will take a good twenty years and more to come around. As fine as Cabernet gets in Pauillac. Undoubtedly one of the best 22s tasted.
Superlative.

Pichon Baron
N : Monumental with “old library” aromas
P : Medium-heavy mouth feel. Brambly as usual with textured tannin. A masculine expression of Pauillac. Tannin coats the teeth and the wine features refreshing acidity. Velvety finish with a long aftertaste of black fruit along with minerality.
Very good.

Pichon Comtesse
N : Gorgeous seductive nose with berry and roast coffee bean overtones.
P : Round, fresh, and delicious. Open, with a floral component and an altogether sensual flavor profile.
Very good.

Pontet Canet
N : Rather subdued at this stage, but showing hints of anise and violet. Slightly spirity along with notes of toasty oak.
P : Fleshy and fresh, with a fine texture. Concentrated, strong tannin accompanied by candied fruit flavors, especially strawberry and blackcurrant. Resonant blackberry overtones. Strong, but elegant with a very long aftertaste.
Very good.

SAINT-ESTÈPHE

Calon Ségur
N: Unexpressive at this time, but classic aromas in the background waiting to emerge.
P: Starts out very plus with plush tarry flavors and somewhat unrelenting, but classy tannin. Tightly wound and very well-structured. Extremely long aftertaste and a great future ahead.
Good plus to very good.

Cos d’Estournel
N: Ethereal fruit with seductive cherry and violet nuances.
P: A toned-down more sublte wine compared to some past vintages of Cos and the terroir’s proximity with Lafite comes through more than ever here. Candied fruit there, but the wine is not confected.  Fine velvety aftertaste. Classic.
Very good

Cos Labory
N: Very little oak influenced. Uncomplicated and unremarkable fruit aromas.
P: A little rough, with harsh tannins and fairly acidic.  Lacks finesse. Solid and vinous, but not much else there. It was just announced that Michel Reybier of Cos d’Estournel has just acquired the estate and I’m sure we will be hearing much more about it in the near future.
OK

Haut Marbuzet
N: Ripe fruit, but revealing little depth or complexity at this time.
P: Sweet fruit flavors, especially raspberry coming through. Strong wine typical of its appellation and in no way overoaked or with a dry finish as in some past vintages.
Good.

Meyney
N: Closed at this time, but promising.
P: Fresh with fine ripe fruit flavours. A crowd-pleasing sort of wine with high-quality textured tannin on the finish. The sort of wine that is very enjoyable young or old. I preferred this to cru classé Grand Puy Ducasse belonging to the same owners.
Good.

Montrose
N: Lovely subtle cherry-vanilla aromas combined with a touch of herbaceousness and a musk.
P: A big wine with lots of oak. This shows every sign of a very promising future and will need years before all the components meld, but the intrinsic balance is clearly there. Rich, full-bodied, very promising wine.
Very good.

Phélan Ségur
N: Dark fruit aromas. Still rather closed.
P: Lovely flavor profile. Starts out quite round and melts in the mouth then goes into mineral mode. Good acidity with oak in check. This wine’s recent fine record is maintained. Olive nuances on the aftertaste. Belies the merely “foursquare” and solid reputation of Saint-Estèphe thanks to its elegance. Grand cru level for sure.
Good plus