Neal Family Vineyards
Château Durfort-Vivens
Margaux Cru Classé en 1855 Red Bordeaux Blend 2015
The 2015 Durfort-Vivens has a perfumed bouquet with more ripeness and perfume than the previous vintage. Buoyant red berry fruit, blueberry and a touch of violet, there is perhaps more Margaux-like than the 2014. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy with a fine acidity, a touch of white pepper and clove towards the finish and a hint of espresso on the aftertaste. This is a superb Durfort Vivens, arguably the finest up to that point. Tasted twice, both at the château and at Jascott's Bordeaux tasting in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 3 months ago
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983
This bottle of 1983 Pichon-Lalande (I really can't be bothered to type out its full name) is the best of many encountered over the years. This offers gorgeous melted red fruit, woodbines, smoke and cigar humidor scents that could only come from Pauillac. Hints of black truffle and morels follow after about an hour in the glass. The palate displays lovely balance, poised and fresh, perhaps more vigor than I ever expected, with just a hint of dried blood on the finish. Impeccable provenance played a role here, but it is still a 1983 that should not be underestimated. Tasted blind at Pichon-Lalande. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 4 months ago
Château Palmer
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
The 2005 Palmer, picked from September 9 to October 10, remains deep in color. It has a lovely, intense bouquet with blackcurrant pastilles, raspberry, violet and juniper. It blossoms in the glass, gaining vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, structured and dense, strangely Pomerol-like in style, with touches of black pepper and truffle furnishing the finish. Robust and muscular, it lacks a bit of flair and precision (like many wines of this vintage). I would afford this another couple of years in the cellar. Tasted at the Palmer vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 20 days ago
Château L'Eglise-Clinet
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
The 2013 L'Eglise-Clinet has a clean and precise bouquet with black fruit, sous-bois, shavings of black truffle and hints of morels. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins on the entry, red fruit laced with mocha and delicate acidity with a harmonious, if simplistic (for this estate) finish. Fine. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 4 months ago
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
The 2013 La Mission Haut-Brion has a light tertiary bouquet with black pepper and wild mint touches. It's elegant, even if it misses some vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and fine acidity. The 2013 is cohesive with a dash of white pepper. Moderate in terms of length, this is a very decent showing in a difficult vintage. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 4 months ago
Château de La Tour
Clos Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2013
The 2013 Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, picked from 5 October according to Pierre Labet, has a fragrant bouquet, fresher than many other tasted, pure raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, nicely integrated oak. The palate is less rustic than many others, finely balanced, with moderate depth and just a bit of hardness on the finish that one can easily abide. Lovely, though would I cellar long-term? Probably no. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2023)
— a month ago
Domaine des Lambrays
Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2013
The 2013 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru, which former winemaker Thierry Brouin made, has a well-defined bouquet with dark berry fruit, brine, undergrowth and kelp aromas. The palate is rustic but engaging. Raspberry pastilles, orange rind and tertiary notes appear toward the slightly attenuated finish, not long, but you cannot deny that it is charming. I would drink this now and over the next decade. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2023)
— a month ago
Château Lafleur
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
The 2013 Lafleur has an almost Left Bank nose: tobacco and graphite scents misleading you towards perhaps Saint-Julien! At least there is decent freshness. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, light for Lafleur but well-balanced with an attractive, harmonious and peppery finish. This Pomerol ends on a high note, though it will never be regarded as a "great Lafleur". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 4 months ago
Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
The 2003 Lafite-Rothschild has an attractive perfumed bouquet with touches of camphor infusing the blackberry and bilberry fruit. There is a mahogany bureau hint. The palate is medium-bodied with a spicy opening. The sharp acidity slightly jars against the sweet candied black fruit, with blood orange and white pepper toward the mocha-tinged finish. It's missing a bit of sustain on the aftertaste, hence my more parsimonious score. It does cohere in the glass, so decanting will help. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner from ex-château magnum. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 4 months ago
Paul Jakubowski
This was insane! One of the better wines I’ve had. 1hr+ decant. Purple color with red hues and no bricking. However when you pour, it shows a maroon like color. Bordeaux like nose with darker fruit. Tobacco, dark cherries, cedar, and graphite shows it’s complexity on the palate. Lovely texture. The finish is where it shines! Refined with the age and quality showing through. Wow! Sad it’s my last bottle. — 25 days ago