Ana Bumgardner

9.1

2015 - ages nicely - with homemade pizza. Perfect pairing. Easy to drink red. Sad when the bottle was empty!! — 2 months ago

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9.6

A rich and darkly inviting blend of plum sauce, clove, cocoa and camphor makes the 2016 Taurasi Riserva Radici impossible to ignore. This is pure class, pliant and enveloping on the palate, with silken waves of ripe red and black fruit guided by brisk acidity. Citrus and inner herbal tones add tremendous depth. The 2016’s regal tannins come forward through the close, framing the experience with youthful poise without slowing its momentum, leaving chalky mineral tones and nuances of nectarine to linger. The balance here is something to behold. Bury this beauty deep in the cellar. (Eric Guido, Vinous, June 2023) — a year ago

Daniel M

8.9

The nose is made of lemon zest, pear white flowers, a petrol thing too. I could have mistaken it for a Riesling somehow. When tasting it there is no way to mistake it for Riesling. This is dry Yes, but there is a viscosity too it, a matter, that could be only encountered is a very sweet wines. Some lemony, zesty and pear notes, a good width, that cushiony, viscous mouthfeel that makes it very soft, a good acid drive too, yet not that strong but taking some momentum to power some freshness into the finish. This is good stuff! — 2 years ago

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9.6

The 2017 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 12. This has a perfumed and quite floral bouquet with blackberries and violets. It shows lovely definition and mineralité, that hint of wild heather coming through but none of the previous menthol scents. The palate is exceptionally well-balanced with chiseled tannins, which are a perfect bead of acidity. I adore how this gathers momentum towards the lightly spiced, persistent finish. This shows better than when I tasted it just after bottling six years ago, hence my higher score. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 4 months ago

David Shaw

9.0

Back label says “Red Table Wine”, no mention of Bordeaux. Ruby red, moderate to high pigment extraction, yet very good clarity. Herbal and raspberry aromas with a hint of mint and eucalyptus. Cool cherry and raspberry flavors initially evolve into red and black plum, moderate seed bitterness and some skin astringency on finish. Might need a little decanting time for the tannins to resolve — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2016 vintage. Was disappointed with the same bottle tasted a week ago so popped another. This one showing better. Improved nose of spearmint, leather, dust, dark chocolate covered raspberry and sea salt. Light-medium body. That dark choco-covered raspberry flips to a dark choco-covered strawberry flavor along with graphite, menthol and cedar tones. Still big mouthfeel and dry but not nearly as pronounced as their 2014 vintage in that regard. This could still use an extended vacation of, say, a half decade to decade before revisiting. A hint of softness on the finish now may gather momentum in that time period and make this slightly more approachable then. — 3 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.0

Dry, but elevated and mineral driven. Drank from a double magnum, there’s little noticeable yeast or brioche-like flavor. Nose is dry yellow stone fruit, lemon and maybe a talc or other dry crushed stone. Great for drinking on its own or as a mimosa, with no sign of losing momentum. — a year ago

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9.5

The 2020 Côte a Côte is youthful and coy, displaying a subtle blend of dusty stone, lavender and wild blueberries. It's pure pleasure on the palate, velvety smooth yet full of energy, with crisp red and black fruits that cascade throughout. This finishes spicy, leaving a primary concentration and subtly grippy tannins that frame the experience without slowing its momentum. The 2020 is an understated beauty that will require some cellaring to blossom fully. (Eric Guido, Vinous, May 2023) — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2003 vintage. Decanted for approx 3 hours. The usual LB nose. A little pickled mushroom/forest floor flavor profile off the bat, then settled into dark plum and cocoa powder shortly thereafter. Light-medium body and slightly “bigger” than expected at this point. Lots of stuffing still. It’s in the sweet spot/top of the bell curve currently…seems like it could sustain that momentum for at least another 4-5 years. — 3 years ago

Adam Beasley

9.1

Really pretty bottle of bubbles. There’s plenty of delicate citrus and orchard fruit, but the minerality steals the show. Gains momentum with air and a little better on day two. Very easy to enjoy. — 3 years ago