Daniel P. Drake

9.2

The wine I have opened tonight is the 2016 Château La Vieille Cure. 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, black plum, bell pepper, black pepper, licorice, violets, oak and earth.

On the palate I am getting nice dark fruit, black cherry, blackberry, plum, green bell pepper, leafy herbs, cassis, black pepper and earth.

The wine is medium to full bodied with mouth watering medium + to high acidity and medium + fine tannins that leads right into a long dark fruit finish. This is a very nice Right Bank Bordeaux. I hope everyone is having a great weekend with family and friends? Please be safe and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 12 days ago

Ron R

9.4

Home alone, and as a result, I can return to some French faves. Regretfully, wifey tastes vomit if it’s anything other than a Napa fruit-bomb. Yes, I’m exaggerating, but you get my point...
This is on another level. 2009 was in my opinion a breakout year for this winery. With the winery renovations complete in 09, and Michel Rolland consulting on the winemaking, it’s easy to see the future state. This is a Merlot blend with double digit cab franc, and a dollop of cab sauv. I poured this pretty much at cellar temp (unusual for a typical Bdx), and it’s simply wonderful at this point.
Nose displays kirsch, nutmeg and a hint of sweet tobacco. The palate explodes with fresh black fruits, brown sugar, bold tannins, and a touch of white pepper. Judicious oak treatment allows the components and winemaking to take center-stage. A very contemporary example, which will sail on for another 15 years, minimum.
@Deborah M, your gentle nudge moved me. While I didn’t decant, I did open it 2hrs prior to tasting 🙂 — 5 days ago

with Mo

David Schneider

9.2

From a 375. I bought this one 15 years ago for $12 and I’ve been waiting to open it on a Tuesday night with some take out Chinese. I finally found the night! At first, it was very tight and backward. Huge tannins that I thought would never fade. I figured it was a 2003 that was off center And funky. After 30 minutes it was still tight but the black fruit rose out of the glass and the tannins faded revealing a beautiful claret that was a little hard around the edges but offered immense pleasure. Fun to find something that was laying around so long — 16 days ago

Steve Cunneen

9.0

90% Merlot, 10% Canernet Franc. Some dark fruit, tobacco, and smokiness. Excellent value. — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

This showed great concentration & Pomerol character that was balanced with a long finish. Still like most 05’s this needs another 5-10 years. — 4 days ago

Rahul Prabhu

9.1

Very smooth, great color and low acidity — a month ago

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2016 / Wine for the cellar, lots of potential. Nice red fruit, sultry touch. Good concentration. I like Fronsac because it can turn to a little wonder after cellaring. — 8 days ago

Dan R

9.1

Here’s a plump, juicy bdx red with the volume cranked way up. Despite its size and intensity, it manages to stay feeling fresh with a sense of proportion and balance. Dark fruited with an herbal twang. As other tasters noted, CF is noticeable (15% in ‘16). 30% new oak doesn’t feel cumbersome. Love the tannin work here, sweet and grainy, enough to give needed structure but not impede drink-now-ability. Overall I quite enjoyed this, although not my preferred style. After 2 glasses, I‘m guessing the 14.5% is lower than reality. Nevertheless, great party/cocktail wine, killer value - Napa drinkers should back the truck up. — a month ago

Mike Lev

8.9

Tannins and dust galore. Medium fruit. Satisfying QPR. — a month ago

Martijn

9.0

Aged beautifully! Nice nose with some tertiary notes but limited. Still enough fruit there some dark cherries, milk chocolate.
Tanins smoothly integrated. Nice drink on a stormy sunday afternoon! — 5 days ago