Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1990 vintage. Last tasted 10.26.24 (9.3). Bottom neck fill. Opened with a Durand and decanted. Cork about 70% saturated. Throwing a mix of lentil-sized chunky and powdery sediment. Surprisingly dark color. Nose initially had the funk while decanting. Tasting 30 minutes after the open, the funk had blown off. Light body. Coffee grounds and tobacco throughout. Some damp and decaying forest floor matter/earth (but not mud) notes along with a cedilla of lean, dark cherry. Based on this specimen, feel this can hold tight in this phase for another 3-4 years. 2.27.26 — a day ago

Joaquin Martinez

9.0

From the first pour to the final glass, the wine unfolded in distinct, mesmerizing phases. It opened with dark plum, blackberry, and cassis layered over crushed rock and a saline, limestone-driven tension. As air worked through it, violet perfume and a cool sea-breeze freshness emerged, softening the initial mineral edge and allowing the Merlot core to broaden into darker, richer fruit. Iron began to surface — subtle but structural — weaving into the acidity and fine, silky tannins as the frame reasserted itself with vibrancy and precision. Later, Cabernet Franc lifted the palate with herbaceous green pepper nuance, while oak, spice, smoke, and cedar gradually revealed the élevage beneath the fruit. By the final glass, the wine felt harmonious, alive, and architecturally sound. It was structured yet integrated, clean and refreshing on the finish, with layers continuously revealing themselves rather than fading. Mesmerizing in its evolution. — 8 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Drinking well right now, but with a lot of stuffing that will ease it into the future and very likely improve. Nose shows very intense cassis, a little mentholated. There’s also some of that classic Saint-Estephe cooling, wet-clay-infused earthy minerality. Intense and weighty, bit a little tightly-wound still in the mouth. Lots of tacky but soft tannin still embedded. Nice finish. Very nice value, as this property usually is. 9.1 for now but I think it will warrant a higher score in 5 years or so. — 25 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep purple/garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, mixed brambles, tobacco, purple flowers, graphite, dry organic earth and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or based blend), Merlot (or based blend) or Tempranillo (or based blend) from France, the United States or Spain. But the oak is French so unlikely to be from Spain and I think this leans more towards its structure so I’m taking this to France. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet-Sauvignon-based blend from France, from Bordeaux, from the Haut-Medoc, 2015. I’ll take it. Tasty stuff. Drink now through 2049. — 15 days ago

Ted

9.3

Last vintage I had was 2010. Fantastic. Coffee, earth, leather. Running back to the shop for more. — 5 days ago

with Jeni

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

A property I have visited. They do it right. Much fuller & bolder than the young vines. Amazing soft, yet bold red fruits, caramel, softly burnt oak, eucalyptus-menthol, dry herbs, red roses-flowers, grand acidity, elegant with length. Meant for the cellar. — 13 hours ago

Dave

9.3

Elegant! After an hour of airtime, this wine is very nice. Dried fruits pinned together with various savory notes. Chocolate, cedar, a touch of balsamic that adds to its richness. Tannins are smooth, and a bit dusty on the finish. This is still young, but I don't feel like a baby killer. Its excellent and a good deal at $33.
Listening to Dua Lipa — 11 days ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Classic left bank Bordeaux. Well integrated rounded tannins leading the march surrounded with dark fruit and that unmistakable lead pencil. Was hoping for a little more layered complexity. — 13 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is nice but not the showstopper of their other Grand Cru. Leaner, soft, nicely ripe berries-lead with raspberries, cherries, strawberries & some pomegranate. Nice red and pink roses. Excellent acidity, elegance, balance but not the perfect structure & length of the other Grand Cru-Griotte. Chambertain. — 12 hours ago

Rod

9.0

For my taste, the 97 has peaked. It did open up after a while with mild spices, yet remained very earthy. — 8 days ago