I liked it a lot — a month ago
The nose is a tapestry of ripe plum, cedar, and smoky graphite, with a vivid burst of crème de cassis and violets. The palate is plush and sleek, offering concentrated blackberry and earthy notes framed by suave tannins. Finish is long and savoury.
Purchased at around $40. What a value! — 4 months ago
Solid. Some terroir — 5 months ago
Solid value here — 5 months ago
Yup a new one to me and it’s well proportioned and lively on palate with well aged ripe fruits and earthy. Tasty! — 7 months ago
The nose opens with waves of ripe black cherry, cassis, plum liqueur, and dark chocolate Beneath the opulence lies impressive complexity with hints of espresso, violets, and peppery spice emerge gradually with air. The palate is dense and supple, showing warmth and generosity. Plenty of nuance beneath the lavish fruit.
Possibly the best value for a St-Emilion GCC. Will need to seek out more. — 2 months ago

2018 vintage. Cooked pineapple. Toasted coconut. Dry lemon curd. Just sweet enough. — 3 months ago
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. — 5 months ago
1966 that we had with foie gras. It was excellent! — 6 months ago
Medium deep garnet, ruby core with medium light garnet rim . This is quite meaty and deep on the nose , with earthy dark cherry , porcini , sweet blackberry and spiced sous bois . On the palate this is quite severe and serious , darker fruits , ripe blackberry , cherry and hint of blackcurrant, herbal hints. Quite gritty , slightly drying tannins , fresh acidity . Earthy , dusty dark cherry edged finish , ok medium length. Quite ambitious for a village and arguably not ready yet , tannins need a little more time to integrate. From now and over the next 5 years, if not longer . — 10 months ago

This showed nicely from Magnum.
Beautiful, bright, dark, ripe dark and mid red fruits. Softly layered baking spices, excellent earthiness, bright florals with excellent acidity and finish.
Roy estate has one of the best rolling vineyard views in Napa Valley. — 2 months ago


Excellent. Bright cherry flavors. Long finish. Many years to go — 6 months ago
Loved this in a magnum. Tart cherry, earth, and red fruit galore. This is everything Pinot should be. Damn near perfection — 7 months ago
2022 vintage. One of the Castel family estates since 1973 ( before the estate was known as Domaine de Tartuguière). With 144 hectares of vines,this is the largest contiguous vineyard in the Médoc. Vanessa Trouy has been in charge since 2002. Dark red colour. Needs a bit of time to open up, give it 15 minutes to release attractive aromas of strawberries, flowers, nutmeg and oak. Good fruit concentration in the mouth, with a solid tannic structure,fresh acidity and nice length. This will need a few years to show all its potential, and has serious ageing potential. For now decanting is recommended, pair with a good steak. Another terrific Bordeaux value. — 9 months ago
Brian Messineo
This is the 60th Anniversary Cuvée — 6 days ago