Domaine De L'oratoire St Martin
Domaine du Clos de Tart
Monopole Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2019
The 2019 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a wonderful bouquet of ebullient red berry fruit, hints of tea leaf and sous-bois, understated initially but unfurling with each swirl of the glass. The palate is very well balanced, with pure red fruit laced with white pepper and graphite, pleasing linearity, good focus and a saline finish. Persistent on the aftertaste, this is a compelling Grand Cru with a long and prosperous future ahead. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— a year ago
Château Martin
Saint Estephe Red Bordeaux Blend 2018
Tasty but needs more bottle age. — a year ago
Château Beauséjour
Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
The 2020 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse is aged in around 60% new oak and made by Nicolas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt; Joséphine Duffau tweaked the blend when she took over in April of the following year. This was bottled at the end of May 2022. It has a perfumed nose, predominantly red fruit, sous-bois and a subtle Japanese nori scent. Quite "contained" at the moment, I can see this shutting down. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, dark cherries, bilberry and hints of black pepper and black olive (the latter is accentuated in the chateau bottle). Nicely balanced and persistent, this Saint-Émilion should age with class. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes
Comtes de Neipperg St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
Leather cherry fruity. Smooth. Silky tannin. Clos de L'Oratoire 14 @1800, Xiaduo, 250413 — a month ago
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
Tasting the 1990 Léoville Las Cases just a few days after the 1989, it is clear which is the best vintage…this one. It has a sublime nose of melted black fruit, tar, cedar and bay leaf that shrugs off the heat of that summer better than most others. At 33 years of age, you could just lose yourself in these aromatics. The palate is clearly holding up well: beautifully defined and supple yet with typical Las-Cases backbone and depth. It builds magnificently in the glass toward a harmonious finish that reminds me of the 1985 in terms of its fleshiness. Wonderful. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— a year ago
Château Ausone
Saint Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
The 2019 Ausone has a perfumed nose with another Cabernet Franc-driven set of aromas, gravel and loam infusing the black fruit. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a beautifully sculpted wine with a killer line of acidity and immense precision on the finish. This just sashays along with style. Fabulous. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 2 years ago
Crous St Martin
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2022
Bright red fruit, some herbal notes. — 2 months ago
Domaine des Lambrays
Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2020
The 2020 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru has real intensity on the nose. It's very well-defined with layers of black cherry and blue fruit, mineral-driven with hints of violet emerging with aeration. But this is backward and holding itself back. The palate has exquisite balance. It's a little granular in texture, lightly spiced bordering on peppery, building beautifully in the mouth to exert an insistent grip on the finish. There is a grandeur about this Grand Cru that keeps you entranced, but it will demand time in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2024)
— 6 months ago
Peter van den Besselaar
Vintage 2012 | great smell with all Saint Julien characteristics, taste falls back in this modest year. Lovely effort though. — a month ago