M F

9.0

Nice fruity nose, grassy on the tongue, decidedly unsweet.. — 3 months ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.4

Maybe not a peacock's tail, but focused
Splendid cherry, notes of iron and licorice
After you swallow it stays with you for various minutes. Gorgeous!! — 5 years ago

Eric Egan

9.4

What a beautifully graceful wine! A bit muted on the nose (slow ox for three hours - perhaps I should have decanted) but one of the most amazingly expressive palates I have experienced for a very long time. All the elements in perfect equilibrium; one of the rare times that I would actually apply the term 'smooth' to a wine. Tannins still lightly peppery, poised acidity, and an insanely long velvety finish that kept revealing hidden layers of complexity. Like a Burgundian peacock's tail that keeps expanding, adding new layers of graceful shades and patterns to the rolling tapestry of flavour. — 9 years ago

Eric Egan

9.3

Wow - the cork was in great nick and the level was <1cm. Obviously not a great year, so the nose was understandably muted, though it still had a lovely aroma of sour, slightly unripe cherries, with an unfortunate (but not off-putting) whiff of alcohol; at first the palate was not very exciting but it really opened up after 15 minutes in the glass: like smashing your head through a plate glass wall of acidity, just to reveal later upon layer upon layer cherries and sour apples, unfolding like a graceful peacock's tail of complexity beyond! — 10 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.9

The 2016 Vieux Château Certan was picked at 40hl/ha. Layers and layers of pure black fruit billow from the glass, showing stunning delineation, tension, real mineralité and harmony. The oak is seamlessly integrated, and the aromatics just seem to "purr" with quality and class. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, perfectly judged acidity, judiciously spiced with a peacock's tail on the finish that deserves a standing applause. The greatest VCC in recent years? Without question... Until 2020. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— a year ago

Clare Crewdson

9.3

Delicious and well priced — 8 years ago

Alan Weinberg

9.6

simply stunning wine that led the field in a packed and stacked night. Vosne spice and a great finish that truly fanned out like a peacock's tail--all the DRC superlatives are appropriate with this bottle. Blew the 85 away, as it was surprisingly closed compared to 78. — 9 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

The 2009 Léoville Las Cases is poured blind and just soars in the glass. What stunned me was the tension and precision on the nose, tropes that I do not find with many Left Bank wines in this vintage. It has fabulous mineralité with that crushed stone element more pronounced than ever. The palate has beguiling symmetry, perfectly poised with a peacock's tail on the finish. Just a fabulous Saint-Julien. Tasted at the Bordeaux versus Stellenbosch dinner in South Africa. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 2 years ago

Dan James

9.0

Very balanced and smooth. Great deal at M&S — 6 years ago

Eric L.

10

The Amoenus was excellent, but, wow, this Materium is truly amazing! So complete on the palate. It really fans out like a peacock's tail to cover the whole palate. RP was right with the 💯 pt score on this one. Hauntingly beautiful! The 375 ml format is an excellent, guilt-free way to get an early peek at this wine. — 9 years ago