White Bordeaux

Château Rieussec

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2017

Still fairly primary. The fruit on the nose is remarkable. The purest apricot, and a little lightly burnt brown sugar, lots of flowers. Intense in the mouth. Not that sweet, and pretty good acids. Great length. This will go a long time. Delicious now, and certainly much better down the road. — 23 days ago

Rebecca Anne Casagrande
with Rebecca
Severn, David and 28 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Medium ruby , terracotta , garnet rim . Quite aromatic , with cedar , tobacco , leafy redcurrant , blackcurrant , wet earth. Slightly rounded and red fruit focused sous bois on the palate , quite high acidity , but refined and red fruit focused. Slightly green tannins , but overall reasonable mineral tinged length . This is at peak , leafy but charming — 7 days ago

Andrew, Tom and 7 others liked this

Château Duhart Milon

Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot Blend 2019

On the nose and palate are notes of blackcurrant, crème de cassis, plum, purple fig, dark chocolate covered cherry, black licorice, anise, fennel, clove, nutmeg, cedar wood, cardamom, pencil shavings, graphite, leather, pipe tobacco, cigar, forest floor.

It’s dry with velvety tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium alcohol (13.5% ABV) and a persistent finish. It’s balanced and complex with depth and dimension. It’s providing warmth and deliciousness on this chilly winter night. Cheers!
— 11 days ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Ira and 19 others liked this

Château Pavie

Saint-Èmilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 1999

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1999 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and predominately red fruited with notes of Morello cherry, tomato leaf, some olive…a touch of well oiled leather. On the palate, the wine is dry and has all the “Power of Grayskull” and the relative structure to match. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and more bitter than the other great Bordeaux in the line-up. Drink now with a long decant and through 2049. — a day ago

Vanessa, Scott@Mister and 16 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2015

Wow 🤩 - Deep gold color. Aromas of burnt honey, pineapple, dried apricot, passion fruit and eucalyptus. Simply divine on the palate - orange, apricot and dried fruit.

🏅 100 Points - Wine Advocate
🏅100 Points - James Suckling
🏅98 Points - Wine Enthusiast
— 23 days ago

Quentin Heim
with Quentin
Ted, Severn and 26 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Ron R
9.5

Good god. Peaking right now.
Huge aromatics on the nose. Superb weight, balance and texture. No rush to consume. Cedar and macerated black cherries transition to coffee and hints of maple. Blew me away. In raptures over this. Direct from the winery when I lived in Europe.
— 3 days ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
John, Vin and 34 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@David T, those are relevant and salient insights. For me, when I purchase wines I'm not familiar with, I look to balanced critics for guidance. Most of the high-end wines I purchase, I don't need much critical input. Wines such as Pontet, Ducru, Troplong, The Pichons, Leovilles et al., I'm more comfortable buying, unless the growing season is a disaster. Here in my opinion, the critics value is amplified. Happy holidays, bud! @ESF, no rush my friend...
Vino Joe

Vino Joe Premium Badge

All great input! I agree WS is advantaged with the blind review but WA is always more detailed. There are definite patterns as WA loves the turbo charged but I find PP to be the most helpful but they generally are European only. It’s like finding a movie critic. No one is the best but you find the one that matches your tastes the closest and use it to help make best choices. Love the dialog!
Jody Scharf

Jody Scharf Premium Badge

wow, let me know when I can come over and share...!
Merry Christmas Ron.

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1982 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) and slightly green compared to the ’82 Mouton that was poured alongside. Cassis, purple Chewy SweeTarts, green bell pepper, old wood, some earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and has massive structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly bitter. Drink now with a long decant but there are decades of life left. — 6 days ago

Ericsson, Ron and 26 others liked this
Vino Joe

Vino Joe Premium Badge

Good to know! How long was your decant? And over how long a window did you enjoy it?
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Vino Joe great questions; I have answers. Note updated!

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 10 days ago

Ira, Jan and 25 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Château Figeac

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1998 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with beautiful, ripe red cherries and a total smoke show in the earth department, giving me an impression of iron-rich earth from an Alpine forest floor. Wonderful stuff. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the ferrous earth notes doubling down. The finish is long. I would like to have more Figeac in my life. Drink now after a whole heap of air or through 2068. — 5 days ago

Lyle, Juan and 13 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1996 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and loaded with currants, pencil lead, earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and super grippy; slightly bitter and earthy. A lovely, classic expression of Bordeaux and drinking well in its prime. Drink now through 2046. — 6 days ago

Jakub, Tom and 11 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

You've been hitting all my favorite Léoville lately, so jealous
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Severn Goodwin I catching up on some notes from a night with a line-up of bangers from Bordeaux. It was pretty awesome, ngl