Super earthy at first, but with air the fruit/earth balance is equilibrating. Loads of irony/clay notes in the nose, with dark plummy fruit. Tannins are integrating but still present. This presents more like a 20th Century right bank wine than what is usual now, with fruit and softness but no overripeness and a nice sense of restraint. — 2 months ago
Elegant, restrained. Medium bodied. — 4 months ago
2012 was a classic and tight vintage in Virginia… This blend does feature a lead of cab sauv at 38% with CF AT 31% - Merlot singing background at 25% — a month ago
2021. Opened two nights ago without time to decant and enjoyed a glass which had really intense aromas and bright acidity and earthiness on the finish. This rating is for the glass we had tonight. Tart cherries and berries, floral and herbal, all integrated. Delicious wine. — 3 months ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2021 “Right Bank” pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black and red fruits: blackberries, plums, chocolate covered cherries, purple flowers, some vanilla and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Drink now through 2031. — 4 months ago
2016 vintage. Cantemerle is always a good idea if you want value for money. Like many left bank Bordeaux in this great vintage, it tends to close down a bit, so give it some time in the glass or decant. The nose slowly develops after an hour, with a mix of black and red fruit, classy cedar notes, and flowers. As usual, it's all about elegance, but it doesn't lack power either. Still needs a few more years to reveal all its complexity, but very good already. Ab. 13%. — 5 months ago
97-98. Best wine tasted in the right bank.
Pure flowery and fruity aromas of incredible precision.
In the mouth it is simply perfect. Given the challenges of the vintage it is really incredible.
Technical yes, but not lacking personality.
A real great wine. — 2 months ago
While not on the same level as the 2010 Left Bank I opened a few months ago, the profile of this 2011 Right Bank was squarely on the bridge between Sonoma and right bank Bordeaux.
About 60 merlot/ 40 CabFranc. 13.9ABV
Pours a slightly fading red-black. The entire time this was open, the aromatics sported a distinct funk that I’m struggling to describe…whatever comes before brett, that’s what this was. A mix of earth/forest, mineral, fig and a small hint of leather (I’ve come across a similar profile in older warm vintage right bank Bordeaux…but this is cooler vintage Sonoma). The palate is structured but in a nicely balanced phase…red and black fruits, more fig, and espresso at the finish.
Followed over the course of 4hrs from bottle, and while the last glass seemed to be a bit more integrated, I think these are in “drink now” phase. — 3 months ago
Doug Powers
Structured and somewhat tannic still, still some primary fruit but I worry the tannins will outlast the fruit, impressive showing for the second wine of Laurel Glen, our good steaks are effectively cutting the tannins, very good Cal Cab!! — 25 days ago