Sean Townley

9.3

Wonderful nose. Slightly muted / past prime but still very enjoyable — 5 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

La Sirène de Giscours – Margaux 2015
Margaux, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Second label of the prestigious 3rd Growth Château Giscours, this cuvée shows how even secondary bottlings from classified estates can age with grace. The 2015 blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, delivering structure, elegance, and finesse in perfect harmony.

Aromas & Flavors
Vivid layers of ripe blackcurrant, raspberry, and plum glide alongside subtle cedar, tobacco, and floral spice. Delicate hints of earth and minerality frame the fruit beautifully.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with polished tannins, silky texture, and a seamless balance between freshness and maturity. The finish is long, refined, and quietly powerful.

Food Pairing
Versatile with roast lamb, duck breast, or aged Comté. It also complements charcuterie or hard cheeses in a more casual setting.

Verdict
An elegant Margaux that proves second labels are no afterthought. Still very much alive, refined, and balanced—an absolute pleasure to drink.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This wine reinforces my belief that second labels can often surprise and delight. The finesse and silkiness here rival many first labels—proof that patience rewards and that Margaux elegance never fails. — a month ago

Jason Keefer

9.0

Calon’s third, but still very classic left bank! Bramble berries, cedar, a hint of graphite. Right in the sweet spot! — 8 months ago

Patrick Irvine

9.1

Light. Love it. Theatre of wine — 3 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

Dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, cedar-wood, exotic spices. Very very merlot, ripe but not over, its a high octane wine that shows a bit of its 15 degrees on the finish. Not our favorite vintage but the wine is super well done and might benefit from a few more years on bottle. — a month ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Beautiful noses that shows a dark core, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin and raspberries on the glass edges, dark, dryish earth, sandalwood, river stone, red flowers/roses, framed in bright, brilliant violets.

Beautiful fruit entry with dry, soft tannins. Dryish; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries and hints of raspberries. Dark, dry earth, sandalwood, river stone, dark spice, cedar, dry twigs, dry top soil, some dry herbs, dry clay, minimal baking spices, cigar with ash, dark flowers, red flowers/roses, framed in bright, brilliant violets. The acidity is gentle and nice. The finish is 19 elegant & pleasant, mid structured, smartly polished and lasts a full minute.

It has evolved some but still shows as primary. 91+ with some more appropriate cellaring. — 6 months ago

B A

8.9

Some goji in the mix, and a little peat. Very particular moment. Would crush with curry — 2 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Vieux Château Palon – 2021
Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOC – Right Bank, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinctive Right Bank Bordeaux, this cuvée flips the classic Merlot-dominant Saint-Émilion script. Instead, it is crafted from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, making it unusually bold, structured, and aromatically lifted for the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and cassis dominate, with graphite, cedar, and tobacco leaf from the Cabernets. Subtle violet and peppery notes emerge from the Franc.

Mouthfeel
Firm tannins, medium-plus body, and a long, savory finish. More muscular and linear than many Montagne-Saint-Émilions, leaning toward Left Bank style but with Right Bank elegance.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops with rosemary, cassoulet, duck confit, aged Comté or Tomme de Savoie cheeses.

Verdict
An atypical but fascinating Montagne-Saint-Émilion that highlights Cabernet structure over Merlot plushness. For those who love Pauillac or Saint-Julien, this bottle is a bridge into the Right Bank world. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Montagne-Saint-Émilion is one of the four “satellite” appellations of Saint-Émilion, known for offering excellent value Bordeaux reds. Few estates here lean so heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes Palon stand out stylistically. — 2 days ago

Brad Jensen

8.9

Yellow/green crisp color with a strong, aromatic nose that’s both stone-fruity and funky, this is a nice, crisp surprise. Strangely the nose has some turpentine like hints to it, along with some brioche-like Chardonnay notes, with white peach and fresh green hay. Medium bodied, but still slightly silky. — 8 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2014 | half a year ago I wrote: this needs more time. 90 Malbec 10 Tannat 16 m barrel aging 1/3 new | Today I am very happy: explosion of cherries in smell and a velvety taste. Very comforting. Paired with comté, fromage de truffle and parmesan | second day with venison steak — 2 years ago