Amazing w/ the Allen Brothers A-5 wagyu.
This is another Bordeaux producer that makes wines for the ages. I’ve waited & waited on 2000, this shows some readiness. Yet, will go another 20 plus years.
Tonight this is well balanced earth & candied fruit. In 10 years, this is candied fruit & florals.
Still medium plus tannins. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with ample skin, juicy dark cherries, poached strawberries, raspberries, dry limestone grains with powder, dark, forest floor with dry leaves, some dry herbaceousiness-bay leaf, mint, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon, hints of vanillin, mid berry cola, sandalwood to cedar shavings, used leather, pipe tobacco, anise, some mocha, sun tea, dark, red, purple flowers with a touch of blue, excellent acidity and a well knitted structure, balanced, nicely tensioned with a ripe, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes.
Photos of; Chateau Calon Segur, tasting room, barrel cellar and estate vineyard. — a month ago
Ruby color, slight purple edges, with aromas of red fruits, forest floor, floral and smoky spice, aged in 50% new French oak. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with cedar notes, tea, cola, black pepper, cinnamon spice and earthy herbs, very complex. Full-bodied, fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and a spicy earthy character. Needs more bottle time, will age well! Pair this with a grilled salmon or maple glazed pork chop! — 9 months ago
2nd Ribcap wine. Delicious!
2006 followed the grand 2005 vintage. It was overpriced based on 2005 & critically reviewed as a difficult vintage. I can tell you 06 was overpriced, but still a good to very good vintage depending on the region & producer.
The fruits are classic Bordeaux…nicely ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, very dark cherries, black plum, plum, mix of strawberries & red cherries. Wet, volcanic clay, lead pencil for days, slightly, dry tobacco, dark spices, mix of mostly dry & fresh herbs, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & vanillin, volcanic ash, used leather, sandalwood to cedar, forest floor w/ dry leaves, dry river stone, steeped, dark fruit tea, withering, slightly candied; dark, red florals with hints of violets, round, fresh, river stream acidy, a plush, round, elegant, nicely; tensioned, structured, balanced and elegant polished finish that last 90 seconds. — 8 days ago
This is 93-94 this young. I was a little surprised they slotted this last in the tasting. I would have led with it. However, it didn’t end up being our last wine. Leslie was kind enough to open another.
Both plums, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of dark berry cola, nice, soft baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanillin, grainy limestone, wet clay, dark, rich, forest floor, some dry herbs, excellent fresh & withering florals that are a combination of; dark, red, some blue and violets, nice round acidity, a smooth, elegant finish that softly structured, balanced and wire to wire smooth and elegant with a full minute finish.
Photos of; a pano of their stunning view of Pritchard Hill, Their dual sided wall of fame of bottles the staff at the estate have enjoyed and their tasting room table. They did an excellent job curating it. — 5 months ago
The 2008 Cheval Blanc is one of the go-to wines of the vintage. Now at 15 years old, it has retained the energy and focus it displayed from the outset: black fruit, crushed stone, wilted violet petals and touches of forest floor cohere wonderfully in the glass. The Cabernet here is more expressive. The palate has a slight chewiness on the entry, but it "relaxes" in the glass. It shows off its delicate lattice of tannins and perhaps a bit more backbone than I have observed on previous bottles. It's very intense on the finish where, as before, the Cabernet Franc takes charge. Superb. Keep it another three to four years if you can. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago
I think i am one of the few who has back vintages all the way to 2009. So I take these reviews seriously. Even the winery has little if any left. This is extraordinary - fresh raspberries and the E&M classic black forest herbs. Mostly thyme. Cardamom, lime, crushed marble. If you have the wine - taste how this wine unfolds. I would not decant this! Drink up this vintage. And would drink this from 5-60 min after opening. On the super elegant light side. Color almost like a Rose. The E&M style is always there, the quality super high. But sometimes there is variability from vintage to vintage. This is ethereal and super light on its feet but has a depth which is difficult to explain. — 22 days ago
Fleshy and big at this point with amazing tannins. Too young. Cherry 🍒 driven at this point - the classic E&M black forest herbs are there. Seems to me comparable to a GC Vosne. This is a tremendous effort and will improve over time to a glorious benchmark Pinot. I suspect my rating will go up to a 9.8+ in 5 years. What a wine! Should have bought cases! — 2 months ago
Since Fass is offering the 2019 as a cellar release from the winery i went back to taste the vintage. 2018, 19, 20, 21 are all excellent and different. The 18‘ is more wild and rich, the 19‘ quite elegant and the 20‘big while the 21‘ is probably my favorite a combination of 19‘ & 20‘. The 19 is classic E&M i would drink the vintage and not keep it. Light and elegant, dark cherries, lime, chalk and this hard to define E&M signature best described as black forest meadow with thyme and other herbs. I could drink this by the bucket. — 6 months ago
Mark S.
Garnet. Oak. Black currant. Beautiful aging aroma. Leather. Forest floor. Still fresh. Comfortable acidity and spiciness. Quite elegant. 88 @1650/G(28000), Fred, 240608 — 15 days ago