Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

vintage 2009 | Dusty bottle, 18 years old right bank ‘petit bordeaux’ full of life. Cherries and cedar, hints of clove and laurel. Vibrant taste with integrated tannins, nice acidity. I love this Bourg. Very fine weekday wine, paired with stewed red cabbage, a meatball and potatoes. — 18 days ago

Ainsley

9.0

Appearance is deep Garnet. Aroma characteristics include blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, plum, eucalyptus, medicinal, vanilla, cedar, butterscotch, chocolate and leather.  — 2 days ago

Paul J

9.6

1hr+ decant. Lovely dark red color. Pencil shavings and dark cherries on the nose. Silky texture. More fruit than I was expecting. Medium plus depth. Fantastic! — a month ago

with Brooke

Jan A

9.4

At/near peak for my palate. If you like more developed notes, no rush... — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2019 vintage. 8.12.26. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This was my Coravin test. It wasn’t ready a number yrs ago. I put it back in the cellar lying on its side. It survived pleasantly. Did not decant.

2004 not the best Bordeaux vintage but there it was in the store reasonably priced. So, I bought this one. Always curious. The 2nd wine from one of my favorite Right Bank producers, Vieux Chateau Certan. 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc.

The nose shows ripe & slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, raspberries, mulberries & plum. Beautiful, gentle, dark spices, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, mid to dark colas, steeped black tea, anise to some black licorice, understated graphite/dry tobacco, undertones of baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & just a slight touch of vanillin,dry crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, moist clay, brilliant red florals, red roses, dark flowers framed in violets.

The palate has M rounded, dry tannins. The fruits are ripe, juicy, ruby/lush & slightly candied; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & plum. Beautiful, gentle, dark spices w/ heat, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, mid to dark colas, steeped black tea, anise to some black licorice, dark chocolate baking bar to pudding, mocha, understated graphite/dry tobacco, undertones of baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & just a slight touch of vanillin,dry crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, moist clay, some volcanic minerals, hints of menthol, brilliant red florals, red roses, dark flowers framed in violets, beautiful acidity with a smartly polished, elegant finish that has length, balance & tone that lasts nearly two-minutes.

Moved between 90-92. Ended 92. Enjoyed w/ a medium rare plus Ribcap. Has another 7-10 yrs of road ahead. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Lovely sweet Grenache based fruit in an excellent vintage. Sweetness is the over riding palate descriptor reflective of the ripe vintage - red currant. A long persistent flavour profile. Telegramme is the second wine of Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe. — 5 months ago

Ira Schwartz

9.0

@Doug Powers as promised . Dry leaves and plums on the nose. In the mouth spices, cherry , earth and good acid . Certainly the magnum format kept this alive. However for me it had not become complex and had a very clipped finish. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured into red Solo cups; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2016 “Les P’tits Bouts” pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark brambles, animale, purple flowers, black pepper, black olive brine, dried green herbs, a kiss of warm spices and inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is the oldest example I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy from Mickeäl Bourg, thus far. If this bottle is any indication as to the age-ability of his wines, well then he is most certainly one of the heirs apparent to the continued greatness of Cornas. This was straight up awesome. It had the feral, rustic bit a that I want in but with an element of sophistication that brings immense pleasure. Tres bien! Drink now through 2041. — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A blend of mostly Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe black fruits and earthy pepper spice. On the palate complex flavors of cherry and blackberry, with oak, leather, cacao and earthy spice. Full body, well balanced, fine tannins, long finish, perfect now but will last another decade. Outstanding. — 2 months ago

Jedidiah Abrams

9.4

Half-bottle — 3 months ago

mike cust

9.0

Great value keep 1 or 2 on hand. Won't cellar — 4 months ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.3

This was as good as cab franc gets outside the right bank in Bordeaux. Very elegant, dense, mineral. Very very long in the mouth. Outstanding. — 5 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Brian Hearty

9.1

2022. Our sommelier knew that we have enjoyed several different Chenin Blanc wines with the food at The Oven and poured me a taste of this wine from an opened bottle. Beautiful aromas of apple/apple cider/blossoms. High acidity and medium body. — 5 months ago

Matej Dolenc

9.2

At 30yrs old, this is still vibrant and alive, and surprisingly delicious and beautiful. Color still red while brickish, nose is inviting and pretty. Enough structure that still says Bordeaux, but with the softened leather of an aging beauty named Milly Grace — 13 days ago

Zach D

9.3

This is the third bottle of a 4 pack. There has definitely been some bottle variation, and this is the best so far. Nose is aged Chablis; lanolin, wool, pear, mint, faint butterscotch. Texture is waxy, which is one of my favorite things that happens to aged Chablis. The acidity has tempered down; flavors of dried pear and various other dried orchard fruits, butterscotch, oolong tea, and a saline character. I think this is cresting the hill a bit, but really fascinating. I’ll probably drink the last bottle before the end of the year — 9 days ago

Rob van Kalmthout

9.1

Citron confit, grapefruit, distant reine claude prune, minerality, very nice balance for a hot year like 23. Medium length. Paired with grilled Lobster in Wimereux. — a month ago

Paul K

9.5

Decanted and let sit for two hours, with just a quick taste at pop and pour. Delicious.

I’ve been staring at these bottles for quite some time, and while it’s still very early, I feel like I got a pretty good preview of what this has in store. The youth is compressing the fruit on the nose, allowing the oak, earth, flint, spice, and dried flowers to take center stage.

There’s a touch of iodine on the initial palate, followed by increasingly complex fruit. Blue, black, and red fruits all emerged more and more as the night progressed, but they were never really at the fore. Everything feels beautifully integrated, layered, and just a little restrained right now.

Lovely wine, but I’m putting a sticky note on the remaining bottles: do not touch for five years. — 2 months ago

Douglas Braun

9.3

2017- Vintage- pretty rose petal, Christmas spice, plum fruit, wood spice, very soft fine tannins, amazing such a departure from the 2016 that I had previously — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium straw yellow . Quite rich on the nose , some toasty notes with some wax and yellow fruits , citrus peel, vanilla . On the palate this is all about the texture , quite round but enough balance , blanched almonds , peach. Waxy notes . Good length . Drink now and over the next few years , in a perfect place . — 5 months ago