Red Bordeaux Blend
Château Duhart Milon
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006
Château Lafleur
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2006
The first of three Lafleur vintages. Quite a tiny Vineyard at only 3.75 hectares or 9.26 acres. Blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc. Lafleur owes its reputation to the complexity of its terroir. Mainly Gravel on clay and sandy clay it varies across the property into 4 sub-sections which are picked and vinified separately. An annual production of around 1000 dozen. The 2006 is dense, restrained and subtle with a long life ahead. Precise round and generous. Imperious - brilliant wine. Touch of dark chocolate. Our host said that Lafleur has to be caught at the right time whereas Petrus is more forgiving. Probably because of the tiny size of Lafleur. — 13 days ago
Château Lascombes
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
Grand Cru.
Chateau Lascombes has been producing fine wine on the same location for about 300 years or so. In the 1855 Classification it was ranked as one of the 15 “Second Growths” of Bordeaux, which meant it was one of the 20 best vineyards in France and therefore - at least according to the French - the world. It’s had its ups and downs over the years but has been a top performer in most rankings for the last 30 years or so. At one point in the 1970’s I believe it was owned by one of the worlds best known wine critics, Alexis Lichine (with financial backing from David Rockefeller). I think it was bought from them in the late 1990’s or so.
Known for its smooth flavors and never overly tannic, I would bet it tasted great!
Parker gave this one a “94” when he tasted it and said to drink it between 2014 and 2020. In Honor of Nick! — 10 days ago
Château Palmer
Alter Ego Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
Second wine of Palmer in a top year @ £45, now £70+ & still has 10 yrs life in it easily 👍 Excellent value from a top Chateau & one of my favourite 2nd wines showing great elegance 😎
📍 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego Margaux 2009
🏵 94 points
🍇 52% Merlot & 48% Cabernet Sauvignon
🍷Deep opaque ruby red
👃 Juicy plump blackcurrant & dark plum through soft smokey oak, mocha, cracked mineral rock, soggy earth & leather w/ lead & liquorish
👄 Med rich body of ripe blackcurrant & dark plum w/ earthy mocha, red berry liquorice & a touch dry mineral in fine slight dry tannins & minerals
🎯 Med+ mocha blackcurrant & red liquorice slight dry finale which lingers raspberry & blackcurrant mocha — 9 days ago
Château La Fleur-Pétrus
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
Well located situated between Lafleur and Petrus hence the name. A little bit of history - Pomerol was originally planted by the Romans but fell into disrepair and neglect until the 17th and 18th Century. The total area of Pomerol is only 800 hectares. This wine is plummy and very earthy and so enjoyable. My notes said “This is why one loves Pomerol “. — 13 days ago
Château La Conseillante
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
Wonderful evening at the City Club courtesy of Jeff’s hosting at the Friday group. Cellar guessing Jeff is a dangerous game as he’s the type who plans to throw curveballs! All wines served blind.
Spice and white pepper on the nose. So much so that I guessed it was a Cab Franc Blend. Wasn’t peppery enough to be Loire valley, but I guessed it was a Cab Franc/merlot based right bank blend based on the leather and dusty cherry notes. Well, I was fairly close! Great wine. — 3 days ago
Château Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1994
Age has done this well. Underrated vintage of mouton. The nose is big and signature mouton with some glycerine and tar, some barnyard funk, and some baked berries. Palate is super vibrant yet smooth and sings of dark berries, cherries, Christmas spice cake, and a touch of herbs. Finish is polished yet lingers. Really great and a surprise for an underrated year. Only knock is it lacks a bit of depth vs some of the real top vintages but still what a showing — 3 days ago
Château Hosanna
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1999
At the Pomerol Dinner we then had 3 vintages of Chateau Hosanna starting with the 1999. 70% Merlot 30% Cabernet Franc. Only 4.5 hectares with some famous neighbours - Lafleur to the north; Petrus to the east; La Fleur-Petrus to the west; and Vieux Chateau Certan to the south. This 1999 was the first vintage made under the Hosanna name. Earthy with a touch of wet nappy. On the palate plump and round with supple tannins. — 13 days ago
Château Certan De May De Certan
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2006
At the Pomerol Dinner in Melbourne last week we started with 3 vintages of Certan de May. The “May” coming from a Scottish Family ownership originally dating back to the 16th Century. Gifted the Estate by Royal decree. This wine is typically dusty and plummy. Medium weight with a touch of astringency. A generous earthy palate with raw mushroom notes. Soft grainy tannins. Excellent. — 13 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
The 06 vintage was more highly praised by the Bordelais than it delivered. That’s not to say, some producers didn’t deliver.
This 06 is not at its peak...still needs a few years. Will it be a wine that blows you away? Not likely but, it will deliver nice fruit, earth & balance. Especially, with a Ribeye.
The nose shows; ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry cranberries & some black plum. Saddle-wood, soft leather, limestone minerals, dry stones, cinnamon, soft spice, light vanilla, black rich earth, touch of black licorice and red & dark fresh florals.
The body is round and a little lean but puts on weight with food and decanting. The structure, length & tension are falling into place. The fruits are ripe and expressive. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, haunting blue fruits, dry cranberries & some black plum. Saddle-wood, soft leather, touch herbaceous, mint, limestone minerals, dry clay, dry stones, cinnamon, soft spice, cola, light vanilla, black rich earth, touch of black licorice and red & dark fresh florals. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is on the leaner side but, well balanced and lasts a full minute. 9.1 without the Ribeye, 9.2 with it.
Photos of, Duhart Milon, Cabernet ready to to be pressed, wine making facilities and their barrel room.
Producer history and notes...the Rothschild family is divided into two sects for lack of a better word. There are the ones that own Mouton Rothschild and Cleric Milon etc. and the other owns Lafite and Duhart. The two sides of the families don’t necessarily get along. However, they are two of the oldest/wealthiest families in recorded history.
Duhart Milon was originally known only as Chateau Milon. At one time the estate was the second wine of Chateau Lafite.
The story about how this came to be is interesting. The owner of Lafite at that time was the Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Segur. King Louis XV called him “The Wine Prince” because of his extensive vineyard holdings in Bordeaux. The Milon vineyards were well regarded but, not as good as Lafite, which is how the wine came to be thought of as the second wine for Lafite.
In 1815, the property was considered by some people as a fourth growth Bordeaux wine in the making. In those days, the wine was sold under the name of Chateau Mandavy-Milon. Between 1830 and 1840, the Casteja family inherited the estate.
The label of Duhart Milon, according to family tradition came about from an old legend written about one of their ancestors, Sir Duhart. Sir Duhart, was rumored to have been a pirate for Louis XV. He retired in Pauillac. The “Pirate’s House” on the Pauillac port existed up to the 1950’s. That original building inspired the label for the Duhart-Milon wines.
The Casteja family remained in possession of Duhart Milon until the first part of the 20th century. At the time, Chateau Duhart Milon was one of larger Pauillac estates with around 50 hectares of vines.
In 1937, the result of successive inheritances led to the sale of Duhart Milon. The Left Bank property went through five different owners in just 25 years. As well, the vineyards were split up and with the frost of 1956, the quality of Duhart Milon continued declining until the Rothschild family purchased the property in 1962.
At that time of the sale, Chateau Duhart Milon included 110 hectares of land, of which only 17 hectares were planted with vines. The entire vineyard was in desperate need of replanting. Major renovations were urgently needed in the vineyards, which demanded work on the drainage and replanting.
The size of their vineyards were also increased with the purchase of other parcels adding to the size of their Medoc holdings. New cellars needed to be built as well.
Chateau Duhart Milon remains one of the few 1855 Classified Growth estates without an actual Chateau. At Duhart, all you will find are the cellars, vatting rooms and barrel storages.
During the period of 1970 to 2000, the vineyards nearly doubled in size! Additionally, they constructed new cellars, renovated and modernized their wine making facilities as well in 2003. By 2008, the wine of Duhart Milon increased in quality, stature and price.
Much of the price increase had to do with the association with Chateau Lafite Rothschild, which had by that time, become the most in-demand, collectible wine in China. By the time the 2015 vintage was offered, prices had dropped to a more affordable price level due to changes in Chinese laws regarding client gifts/bribes.
The 152 hectare vineyard of Chateau Duhart Milon includes; 76 hectares of vines planted to 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot. This makes Chateau Duhart Milon one of the few 1855 Classified Growths with only two grape varieties planted in their vineyards.
The average age of the vines are 30 years old. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 7,500 vines per hectare.
Duhart Milon vineyards are located in northern Pauillac, on the western side of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, on the Milon hillside, which is not far from the Carruades plateau...now Lafite’s second wine. This places the vineyard quite close to Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Clerc Milon. However, because of micro climates, this is a slightly cooler terroir, due to its northern exposure.
The naturally cooler soils provides more freshness to the wine, and allows for later picking. The terroir of Chateau Duhart Milon is a combination of gravel, sand and limestone soils. The Duhart Milon vineyards are unique in Pauillac, as the vines are for the most part, located in 1 single, large parcel.
The vinification of Chateau Duhart Milon takes place in temperature controlled stainless vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. Chateau Duhart Milon is then aged in an average of 50% new French oak barrels for 14 to 16 months, depending on the vintage.
There is a second wine, Moulin de Duhart, that was created in 1986. There is also a third wine produced by the estate, Baron de Milon. — 3 days ago