Château Lynch-Bages 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé, BDX, France 🇫🇷
Overview
A powerful, structurally driven Pauillac showing serious depth and long-term ambition, built on a 71% Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend with 22% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot support. The wine carries muscular architecture, dark fruit density, and firm tannic authority, currently showing some youthful rough edges but clearly positioned for future greatness with proper cellaring.
Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, cassis liqueur, blackberry skin, graphite, cedar plank, crushed gravel, tobacco leaf, dark cocoa and subtle savory spice.
Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with firm, youthful tannins, strong mid-palate grip, vibrant supporting acidity, dense core concentration, and a long, structured finish that signals serious aging capacity.
Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, grilled lamb chops, beef short ribs, rosemary-crusted venison, aged hard cheeses, slow-braised meats.
Verdict
A high-potential Pauillac still in its formative phase. The structure, depth, and terroir signature are undeniable, but integration will require time. A climber rather than a polished performer today, patience will be rewarded handsomely.
🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like a future star in development, powerful, slightly raw, but absolutely loaded with upside. Not a wine for instant gratification, but one that will evolve into something truly special with time. I’d happily cellar this and revisit around 2029 when the polish finally matches the horsepower. — 2 days ago
Château Clinet 2023 – Pomerol. BDX France 🇫🇷
Overview
A beautifully composed Pomerol delivering charm, polish, and unmistakable aristocratic poise, driven by a 70% Merlot-dominant blend with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon support. The wine balances generous fruit with refined structure, showing approachability without sacrificing depth or pedigree, making it both immediately pleasurable and quietly serious.
Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, ripe plum, blueberry compote, violets, cocoa powder, crushed gravel, subtle truffle nuance, sweet spice and gentle cedar.
Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with a plush, silky entry, finely grained tannins, excellent mid-palate cohesion, integrated acidity, and a long, smooth finish that glides with elegance and restraint.
Food Pairings
Roast duck, veal tenderloin, mushroom risotto, herb-crusted lamb, truffle pasta, aged Comté or Brie de Meaux.
Verdict
A charming yet aristocratic Pomerol that delivers immediate pleasure with refined balance and textural finesse. It communicates confidence through polish rather than power, making it an excellent expression of Pomerol elegance.
🍷 Personal Pick
This is a wine that wins you over quietly, candid, friendly, effortlessly drinkable, yet undeniably noble at its core. The kind of bottle that feels comforting and sophisticated at the same time, with a personality that invites conversation and repeat pours. — 2 days ago
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim. Not showing age at all.
Beautiful nose of black currants, blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black tea, light eucalyptus and licorice.
Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate and fruit forward with blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs, chocolates, black tea, black pepper, spices and cola.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Knights Valley in Sonoma County. Rich and elegant. Fruit forward and very complex.
Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Feels like a Napa Cabernet based Bordeaux blend.
Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 45 minutes in the decanter. Really gorgeous once it opens up.
Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
Wine Advocate 95 points. Wine Spectator 93 points.
Great by itself as a sipping wine or with food, like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
15% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$175. — 15 days ago
1988 vintage. Good fill, good cork. Opened with a Durand and decanted. Tasted after two hours. Those initial, futile attempts at being masculine but ultimately feminine. Exemplary stuffing with enough of an outline to carry this wine another 5-6 years in this stead. Light-medium body with a decently traceable finish. Better than expected. 12.25.25. — a month ago
Château Talbot 2023 – Saint-Julien, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷
Overview
A youthful yet promising Saint-Julien showing early elegance, fine balance, and clear upward trajectory. The blend delivers freshness, precision, and layered fruit while still carrying a few youthful edges that signal excellent aging potential.
Aromas & Flavors
Red currant, black cherry, raspberry compote, graphite, cedar shavings, crushed herbs, light cocoa dust, subtle floral lift.
Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with fine-grained tannins, lively acidity, polished mid-palate, slightly angular finish that tightens at the end, a clear marker of youth and future integration potential.
Food Pairings
Herb-roasted chicken, duck breast, pork tenderloin, grilled mushrooms, mild aged cheeses (Tomme, young Comté).
Verdict
A high-quality, early-showing Saint-Julien that already flashes elegance and balance, but will benefit significantly from a few years of cellaring to soften edges and broaden complexity.
🍷 Personal Pick
The talent is obvious, can be enjoyed now. I’d happily cellar this and come back when smooths out a bit more and when aromatics stretch their legs. — 2 days ago
So underrated and punching way above its weight class. Bit more delicate and pure than your high end Boudreaux. Perfect for seaside dinners. Great vintage too. — a month ago
Andrew Cullimore
Medium red garnet , quite narrow ruby garnet rim . Quite open with tobacco , spice , charcoal , plum, cassis , truffle , cedar . Good cedar , cassis and blackberry , dusty tobacco . Well balanced acidity and quite dusty tannins . Good tobacco , dusty cassis tinged finish . Perfect now and over the next 5-10 years , at least in magnum . At Noble Rot , London , 15th Jan 2026 — 6 hours ago