Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I need to start w/ a little preamble.

For me, Pessac-Leognan was a late comer Bordeaux region. The last one I gravitated to in my 26 yr Bordeaux experience.

Nearly all the previous 2000 Bordeaux’s I’ve had up to this point needed a lot more cellaring. Mostly 1st & 2nd Growths, some 3rd. This 2000 started lean…lacking depth & a bigger tannin profile. But that is not entirely uncharacteristic for older Pessac’s. It seemed slightly more late in its drinking window. It picked up weight in the decanter at 2 1/2 hours and then showed more weight & depth w/ my Ribcap.

This started elegant w/ soft Bordeaux characteristics. Beauty & elegance as I understand it in Bordeaux’s from this region and this kind of age. But lacked 2000 earthiness & depth. For me, this is a 3rd tier Pessac producer, my terminology. Not up there with Haut Bailly or Pape Clement and of course Haut Brion.

2000’s up to this point have shown great depth & deep characteristics. Most needing longer than anticipated aging.

This was beautiful, elegant but lean based on previous definitions. Early on it seemly felt like it was a drink up in the next 3 yrs w/o the steak. With a longish decant & steak, more 7-10 yrs.

The nose shows muddled to slightly stewy; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, some mushroom notes, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles-top soils with dark, red, withering flowers.

The palate shows beautiful elegance with nothing that bites back. Perfectly resolved velvety tannins. Ripe, juicy, somewhat ruby fruits. Yet, have slightly stewy characteristics. Dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, softly layered & even baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid, dark, Asian spices, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened, nearly sweet graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, charcoal, volcanic ash, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles, dry top soils with dark, red, withering flowers, near perfect acidity, well balanced w/ softened structure/tension, great length and an elegant finish that goes on and on and long sets on spice & clay.

Almost new cork and little to no sediment.

92-93 with a long decant & a rich, fatty steak-Ribcap. First taste after pouring into the decanter, 90.

Photos of; Haut-Bergey, Paul Garcin-Managing Director and Francois Prouteau-Cellar Master. — 3 months ago

Philip Patston

9.6

Love it. But first a preamble.
Way back 25 years ago Spanish and Portuguese wines were an amazing bargain. They were the real deal old world wines. But then it changed and we started getting Iberian peninsula wines which were weird fruity new world things. So it was a thrill to find a wine all in Portuguese, not one designed for this market. Label not in English . The real thing. Blend of Tinto Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Jean and Alfrichiero. Earthy barnyard. Terroir. Superb. — 6 years ago

David Denham

9.0

National Championship preamble.... — 11 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2019 vintage. Sampled via Coravin. Dark-fruited nose. Medium/medium-heavy body. Nose a preamble for the brooding plum, cherry, cassis, blackberry and blueberry. Noticeable tannins afoot but not on Terminator-dodging/avoidance terms. From the property previously owned by the late, great, one and only Robin Williams. New owners Château Pontet-Canet BDX peeps named the new venture after the middle names of Robin Williams’ children. Cool. Structure definitely hovering with that dark fruit and extremely well made effort. Not gratuitous in any way. Need to stash a bottle and reconvene in 2035. Not your usual, high-end, Napa cab. 03.12.25. — a year ago

Jason Yateman

9.0

Quite enjoyable from start to finish. Red berries and brambles, and tarry tobacco preamble subtle tannins. Herbal notes present on the nose. Medium to light body. It has quite lovely, balanced acidity. While the finish isn’t notable, it is persistently there. This is a great every day wine from the Piemonte! — 3 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.0

This Chardonnay keeps getting better and better which makes me think even more that this one still probably needs another couple of months in the bottle before it should be enjoyed with about an hour of air in the preamble. Really enjoyed this one today. This one is definitely not a butter bomb. I am getting a hint of butter on the nose, but this one is more melon and kiwi and a splash of grapefruit rind? The wine thins in the middle, which really does allow more of an allspice and nutmeg to kind of come out. The finish is acidic, but kept in check as it also has the return of that grapefruit rind character to it. Trying to leave these in storage, but it's not that helpful when you're waiting on some other people to arrive AT THE STORAGE and decide 'hmm, I wonder where this one is right now?' Still wouldn't showcase it, but come October/November 2017 this one is going to be a really intricate wine. — 9 years ago

with Shay and Keith

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed as a preamble to my birthday dinner. The “La Pucelle” pours a straw color with medium viscosity and a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of yellow apple, Bosc pear, raspberry, white peach, brioche some chanterelle mushrooms and a mix of chalky and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever. Zippy. Divine. A “wow” Champagne that seems to straddle the freshness of the reductive approach and the complexity of the oxidative approach.

Always 100% Pinot Noir, this release of “La Pucelle” is a deft blend of the 2014 and 2012 vintages; 32/68 respectively. Disgorged 2015. Though this is NV, expect a long life. My only regret is drinking this so quickly because this has a bigger story to tell. But I was sharing with 9 other people and holy smokes, it’s already the belle of the ball. Thank you @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened about an hour before our Thanksgiving dinner; a preamble of sorts. At these early stages, the 2020 Amador County is like a laser beam of lemon citrus. Yes, there are lemon blossoms and minerals too. The acid is racy and there is a bit of a wooly texture too. Exciting now due to its youthful energy but should be fun for several years to come. — 4 years ago

Richard Shin

9.1

My kind of wine. Nice balance. Morphing fruit. — 10 years ago

@MyCorks

10

Damn good Sauv Blanc.... if you can get it — 11 years ago