Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

vintage 2019 | cacao, toffee, light strawberries also a bit dusty. long aftertaste. — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I need to start w/ a little preamble.

For me, Pessac-Leognan was a late comer Bordeaux region. The last one I gravitated to in my 26 yr Bordeaux experience.

Nearly all the previous 2000 Bordeaux’s I’ve had up to this point needed a lot more cellaring. Mostly 1st & 2nd Growths, some 3rd. This 2000 started lean…lacking depth & a bigger tannin profile. But that is not entirely uncharacteristic for older Pessac’s. It seemed slightly more late in its drinking window. It picked up weight in the decanter at 2 1/2 hours and then showed more weight & depth w/ my Ribcap.

This started elegant w/ soft Bordeaux characteristics. Beauty & elegance as I understand it in Bordeaux’s from this region and this kind of age. But lacked 2000 earthiness & depth. For me, this is a 3rd tier Pessac producer, my terminology. Not up there with Haut Bailly or Pape Clement and of course Haut Brion.

2000’s up to this point have shown great depth & deep characteristics. Most needing longer than anticipated aging.

This was beautiful, elegant but lean based on previous definitions. Early on it seemly felt like it was a drink up in the next 3 yrs w/o the steak. With a longish decant & steak, more 7-10 yrs.

The nose shows muddled to slightly stewy; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, some mushroom notes, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles-top soils with dark, red, withering flowers.

The palate shows beautiful elegance with nothing that bites back. Perfectly resolved velvety tannins. Ripe, juicy, somewhat ruby fruits. Yet, have slightly stewy characteristics. Dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, softly layered & even baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid, dark, Asian spices, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened, nearly sweet graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, charcoal, volcanic ash, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles, dry top soils with dark, red, withering flowers, near perfect acidity, well balanced w/ softened structure/tension, great length and an elegant finish that goes on and on and long sets on spice & clay.

Almost new cork and little to no sediment.

92-93 with a long decant & a rich, fatty steak-Ribcap. First taste after pouring into the decanter, 90.

Photos of; Haut-Bergey, Paul Garcin-Managing Director and Francois Prouteau-Cellar Master. — 3 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Juan c sulakman — 9 months ago

romo

9.3

I made a flatbread without sulfur. Opened a wine made without sulfur. Consistent notes. — 3 years ago

Kevin Barry

9.2

Great with southern foods — 5 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.3

Juicy, generous, structured. The nose is layered with summer berries & savory aromatics. The fruit dominates the palate at first, but some fresh textures emerge with air. Two great names creating a great wine. — 6 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.3

Dark rubi robe, nose of Cedarwood, plums, dark berries, and a touch of baked spices. Very fresh and balanced, mature tannins that softened over 25 years. Wine is medium bodied with good length and ready to drink but no rush at all. One of the finest rive gauche wines we know and thats an excellent vintage. — 11 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Jordin Page

9.3

Delicious - cherry and rose petal. Easy to drink yet interesting. Don’t love a lot of gamays but this one is great. — 4 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

My first Saint-Bris! Pale lemon yellow color. Plush aromas of citrus fruit, white flowers, chalk and abundant fresh herbs. Flavors of unripe peach, all those savory herbs, green apple and lemon zest. Noticeable mineral backbone on the long and drawn out finish. Lively and crisp acidity. Medium-minus body and wonderful freshness. Vibrant and harmonious! There are Chablis comparisons here. Another example of outstanding white burgundy! — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 “N” (Sans Soufre) is identical to the standard Morgon except it’s bottled without the addition of, you guessed it, sulfur. It pours a slightly dull ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of fresh and funky dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, licorice, red flowers, some horse blanket, green herbs and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with lovely minerality. In a year that is often maligned (not by me), this was absolutely gorgeous. You just kept wanting to go back to the glass and smell it. Drink now through 2036, probably. — 8 months ago

Jess

9.0

Pale lemon color.
Aromas of lemon, hint of toast.
Dry. Flavors of lemon, mineral, toast is faint. Very citrussy.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 3 years ago

Jeff Roach

9.0

One of the better sparkling wines I've had. Pinot noir grapes. Yum. Happy New Year MFers. — 5 years ago

with Jennifer

Todd Stone

8.9

Typical Rosé nose, slightly darker in color, more body than many Rosé- dry with a touch of sweetness, some strawberry, maybe peach and a hint of grapefruit. Some minerality and acidity. Pretty good! Took to the Arena’s in Staten Island. — 6 years ago

with Peggy

Jen

9.1

Random wine in the basement of otemachi station, Tokyo. What my father would describe as easy drinking. ❤️ — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 (S) pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, red and purple flowers, red rope licorice, rocky earth and cool spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage of Lapierre shows the warmth of the vintage and oozes generosity. In some ways, this reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Drink now through 2033+. — 4 months ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

So fresh and full of red berry. Delicious — 8 months ago

with Barbara

Randy Fuller

9.3

This wine looks medium-dark ruby in the glass. The nose is electric. A whiff of smoke gives way to black cherry and currant aromas, but the smoke lingers and reappears on each swirl. The palate is elegant and smooth, with red fruit flavors draped in a savory shawl. The tannins are a bit tame, but the acidity is refreshing. Pair it with a mild, soft cheese, or a Nicoise salad. — 10 months ago

Nicole Ruiz Hudson

9.0

N: brambly red berries and dark cherries, pink flowers, light woodsy notes, white pepper
P: fruit is tangy and bright on the palate, w a pepper savory quality.

Delightful w roast chicken

3/4/23 adding in light vanilla and hints of candied cherry.
Also worked nicely with spiced butternut squash. — 3 years ago

Brett Rogosin

9.2

Dried dirt and a touch of mushroom jump out of the glass immediately. Pomegranate and mulled cranberry with a bit of barnyard and potpourri. The tannins are still there, but acidity is more present. The tartness from the red fruit comes through on the palate with dried dirt, tree bark, and umami. This is definitely mid-morph. Maybe 3 more years would benefit this wine greatly. Still quite yum now. — 6 years ago

Shawn Thompson

8.9

A refreshing cremant, predominately apple and pear notes upfront that finishes with with hints of bread yeast and brioche. Very good value. Also a great ingredient for a midsummer spritz cocktail. — 6 years ago