Neal Family Vineyards
Vieux Château Certan
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
The 2008 Vieux Château Certan was cropped at 34hl/ha and contains more Cabernets compared to other vintages. Their contribution is tangible on the nose: pencil shavings and tertiary scents are pretty potent and lend it a Left Bank allure. The palate is fresh and vibrant with grainy tannins, graphite-driven, fresh and tensile with a persistent finish. Certainly, one of the best Pomerols in this challenging growing season, VCC at its most Médoc. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2204)
— 10 months ago
Château Ausone
Saint Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
The 2014 Ausone has retained that purity, pastille-like red berry fruit on the nose, with touches of clove and bay leaf, perhaps almost Burgundian in terms of its allure. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy, pliant tannins that manifest its velvety texture. This might be the most seductive of any 2014 Bordeaux, fanning out beautifully towards the almost citrus-fresh finish. Gorgeous. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— a year ago
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
Tasting the 1990 Léoville Las Cases just a few days after the 1989, it is clear which is the best vintage…this one. It has a sublime nose of melted black fruit, tar, cedar and bay leaf that shrugs off the heat of that summer better than most others. At 33 years of age, you could just lose yourself in these aromatics. The palate is clearly holding up well: beautifully defined and supple yet with typical Las-Cases backbone and depth. It builds magnificently in the glass toward a harmonious finish that reminds me of the 1985 in terms of its fleshiness. Wonderful. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— a year ago
Saint Clair Family Estate
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Neal and Judy Ibbotson have been viticulture pioneers in Marlborough with over 30 years of viticulture knowledge of the region. Pale lemon with aromas of citrus and tropical fruit with herb and floral notes. On the palate flavors of peach, guava, grapefruit and pear fruit with some floral tones, lively acidity adding mineral notes. Medium+ finish ending, citrus, with fruit, herbal, floral and salty mineral notes. Nice! — 15 days ago
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is consistent with previous bottles. It soars from the glass with those (to use a word I used last time) disarming array of blackberry, iris and fig aromas, but displaying a little more blue fruit than I recall. The palate is very well balanced with a velvety texture, pure with just a hint of black pepper. Interestingly, the 65% whole bunches are barely noticeable, just a guiding hand that shapes the finish. Sapid yet tender, this is an outstanding Pessac-Léognan. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2024)
— a year ago
Château Latour
Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1999
The 1999 Latour has a dark garnet color with little aging on the rim. The nose is closed initially and demands coaxing, eventually revealing blackberry, cedar and light pencil-shaving aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, displaying some secondary notes of clove, white pepper and a distinct earthiness that comes through on the finish. [Post-script: this is one of the few vintages I identified correctly!] Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)
— a year ago
Domaine des Lambrays
Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2020
The 2020 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru has real intensity on the nose. It's very well-defined with layers of black cherry and blue fruit, mineral-driven with hints of violet emerging with aeration. But this is backward and holding itself back. The palate has exquisite balance. It's a little granular in texture, lightly spiced bordering on peppery, building beautifully in the mouth to exert an insistent grip on the finish. There is a grandeur about this Grand Cru that keeps you entranced, but it will demand time in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2024)
— 7 months ago
Château La Conseillante
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 La Conseillante is a benchmark wine for the estate, perhaps the first where winemaker Marielle Cazaux really made her mark. It has a divine bouquet that halts you in your tracks with its purity. Almost Burgundian in style, black fruit intermixes with blue, just a background scent of incense - less vanillary than before. The palate is marked by svelte tannins, cashmere in texture with just a trace of white pepper. The finish has a welcome sense of edginess with hints of graphite on the aftertaste. It's just the opening chapter in what will be an awesome Pomerol. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2024)
— a year ago
Paul J
@ Silverspoon. Open 30+ minutes in the bottle. This was amazing!! Bold yet refined. Savory with that Napa sweetness present. Could mistake for a higher end Bordeaux with cedar and anise. Simply great! — a month ago