Château De Saint Martin
Château Montrose
Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2014
The 2014 Montrose has an engaging and complex bouquet with black fruit, a pencil box, pressed violet and warm earth scents, gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with excellent tannins that frame the mineral-rich black fruit (in fact, this is one of the most mineral-laden 2014 Left Banks I tasted.) The oak is seamlessly integrated, and the finish has real panache. Beautifully, and it's just entering its drinking window. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— a month ago
Château Barde-Haut
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
Dark ruby hue with slight brickish tinge. Big bouquet of dark fruit (including blackberry, cassis, and plum). Plus body, plus tannins, plus acid. Elegant with a medium-length finish. Exemplary Right Bank Bordeaux. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. — 3 days ago
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
1996 vintage. Solid fill. Excellent cork. Decanted and tasted over the course of 1.5 hours. Tossing big sed. Medium body. Huge sandalwood on the initial nose that turned into charcoal after 20-25 minutes. Cocoa/milk chocolate, dark plum, coffee grounds and a "chunkiness" that worked well collectively for approximately 45 mins but then lost cohesion, fragmented and made the wine slightly less interesting. Thought the wine could hold up for another 15 years at a 9.4 level during the first half but the second half revealed a lack of depth on the bench. Would like to taste again and give it 2 hours to make a long(er)-term case for itself. 3.28.24. — 18 days ago
Château Ausone
Saint Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Ausone has retained that purity, pastille-like red berry fruit on the nose, with touches of clove and bay leaf, perhaps almost Burgundian in terms of its allure. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy, pliant tannins that manifest its velvety texture. This might be the most seductive of any 2014 Bordeaux, fanning out beautifully towards the almost citrus-fresh finish. Gorgeous. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— a month ago
Château Gloria
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
Dark ruby hue. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis, leather, plum. Plus body, full tannins, plus acid. Balanced, bold, and refined, with a long finish. Definitely worth pairing with hearty food. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. — 3 days ago
Château Pavie
Saint-Èmilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
Massive monster of a wine that will obviously polarise. The type of wine that you drink while being fed grapes and fanned with a giant palm leaf. Opulent and luxurious with blackberry, brambles and tar. Its going to be too much for a lot of people but if you like your wines full of flavour then this is for you! — 15 days ago
Vanessa
It’s always a resounding ‘YES’ for JL Chave!!
That includes this luscious and concentrated Syrah from Saint-Joseph AOC in the Northern Rhône of France.
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a benchmark and icon of the Rhône Valley – a family-run operation since 1481 – with an entire range of deliciousness through the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and JL Chave Selection portfolios.
This wine is deep ruby, trending on purple. It has pronounced aromas and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, cassis, pomegranate, also violet, bacon, sanguine, saddle leather, pipe tobacco, clove, cigar, damp earth, and black peppercorn. Alcohol is high (14.5% ABV) with medium (+) fine-grained and well-integrated tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and a long, elegant finish.
It has a rustic and savory character with robust dark fruit notes; it’s layered, complex, structured, and age-worthy, benefitting from decanting. Still, it’s tasting wonderfully now.
Cheers to JL Chave and treasures of the Rhône!! — 12 days ago