Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château La Tour de Bessan Margaux 2022 — Margaux, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Left Bank blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon · 30% Merlot · 5% Petit Verdot (estate typically varies slightly by vintage) delivering structure, elegance, and aromatic finesse. Great frame and graphite tension coming from the Cab Sauv., mid-palate polish thanks to Merlot, and liked how Petit Verdot brings subtle spice and color depth. A beautifully traditional, unclassified Margaux that punches above its weight.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, blackberry, cassis, violet, pencil shavings, cedar, light tobacco, and crushed stone. Fruit stays fresh and pure with delicate floral lift typical of the appellation.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with polished, fine-grained tannins. Dry, linear, and elegant rather than powerful. Balanced acidity keeps everything lifted and graceful with a clean, savory finish.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken with herbs, grilled lamb chops, duck breast, mushroom risotto, lentils, Comté or aged goat cheese. A very food-friendly claret.

Verdict
Proof that Margaux elegance doesn’t require classified growth pricing. Refined, honest, and beautifully composed. Delicious now with air, but easily cellar-worthy for 6–10 years.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is my kind of “weekday Bordeaux”, structured yet graceful, polished without heaviness. The sort of bottle that quietly disappears over dinner because everything just clicks.

Did You Know?
La Tour de Bessan is run by Marie-Laure Lurton (of the Lurton family estates) and is known for crafting textbook, terroir-driven Margaux expressions that emphasize finesse over extraction. — 3 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2018 vintage. Second wine of Cru Classé Malescot Saint-Exupéry. Charming nose with ripe black cherries, raspberry jam and some floral hints. This medium-bodied, fruit-driven Margaux is drinking well already with silky tannin and good length. Not very complex, but a very charming wine indeed. Abv. 14%. Good value at less than half the price of the Grand Vin, even if I would rate the less expensive La Tour de Bessan (tasted alongside) higher. — 4 years ago

Oleg Lebedev

8.9

89/100 классика недорого Бордо — 11 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

This is Château Hauchecorne,named after a previous owner. When Philippe Ferrier bought Château Duplessis from Marie-Laure Lurton (who wanted to concentrate on the excellent Villegeorge and La Tour de Bessan) in 2015, he decided to vinify these vineyards (Garbejac and Morère) separately. Therefore, Hauchecorne is not to be confounded with the second wine of Duplessis, named "Esprit de Duplessis". Merlot and Cabernet Franc according to the back label. Solid dark red colour. Juicy red fruits,with a nice tannic bite. Can be enjoyed young with food, but I expect this to age well up to a decade. Another great Bordeaux value. Abv 14%. — 6 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2011 vintage. A bit more power compared to La Tour de Bessan 2011, and I believe Villegeorge will make older bones. — 10 months ago

Stephane Pelot

9.0

2011 vintage — 10 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

1997 vintage. A nice surprise in a vintage that was not highly regarded. Today, the 1997 outshined the 2000 La Tour de Bessan. Wonderful tasting with Marie-Laure Lurton, who kindly opened older vintages of La Tour de Bessan and Villegeorge. Unfortunately the 1961 Villegeorge was corked but one could tell the structure of the wine,it should be great from a good bottle. — 10 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2021 vintage. Uncomplicated,juicy,fresh unoaked Margaux. — 10 months ago

Ryan Guy

9.1

Barnyard funk to open, which softens with breathing. Black raspberry and boisenberry fruit. Vanilla and tobacco in the background. On the palate, there is a firm tannin backbone with raspberry and blackberry fruit carrying forward. Finishes well. Solid wine, better with 30+ minutes of breathing. — 8 years ago

Ed Dickey

9.0

Really good value Bordeaux — 11 years ago