For me, there are a lot stories associated with this little brother to Leoville Las Cases. Made by the same technical team, but certainly a different terroir.
Older vintages that were brought in by Clyde Beffa at K&L Wine Merchants kept me from opening my more expensive-younger Bordeaux in my collection. Starting w/ the 97 vintage well after its original release, I believe they sold through two lots of 5,000 cases over different years. A vintage crushed by critics. But with some long time cellar, value & quality. Magic!
This has always shown me QPR and to be a great fatty steak wine- Ribeye or Ribcap.
The 2007 Bordeaux vintage, critically not well reviewed. With basically 16 yrs plus in bottle, more special.
This has really come around and still ascending. Ripe, elegant, lush; dark currents, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherry skin, black plum skin, poached strawberries, black, rich, turned earth with dry leaves, moist & dry clays, graphite, tobacco w/ ash, slightly used leather, dry river stone, limestone minerals, dry top soil, pepper, some sweet tarriness, mix of fresh & dry herbs, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & understated vanillin, dry, withering, dark & red florals, nice acidity with good tension, structure, finally balanced & elegant finish that lands squarely on soften earthiness, some spice and lasts two-minutes.
This still has 15 years plus of life ahead.
Paired with Costco Prime Ribcaps. — 4 months ago
Perhaps it was a mistake to drink this after a glass of the KS Barolo but seemed a bit overweight and lacking in acidity without the layers of complexity I expect in a #chateauneufdepape. It may have come down to insufficient time to aerate. — 3 months ago
Big surprise. Very enjoyable. 2015 and completely full of life. — 3 years ago
Light ruby dress. Red fruits, cranberry, cherry. Alcohol 12 abv. Slightly smoked, mineral, undergrowth, coal. Sweet spices, cloves, black cardamom, cola. A PN that transcribes with purity and simplicity an altitude terroir with chalky basements expressing itself here in the form of a lively and sharp acidity with many facets, recalling in some aspects the Pinots-Noirs of Alsace. Simple, sincere, nuanced profile type "old world" very good quality/price ratio. To drink a little refreshed.
Robe rubis légère. Fruits rouges, canneberge, cerise. Alcool 12o. Légèrement fumé, minéral, sous-bois, charbon. Épices douces, girofle, cardamome noire, cola. Un PN qui transcrit avec pureté et simplicité un terroir d’altitude aux sous-sols crayeux s’exprimant ici sous la forme d’une acidité vive et tranchante aux multiples facettes, rappelant par certains aspects les Pinots-Noirs d’Alsace. Simple, sincère, profil nuancé type “ancien monde” très bon rapport qualité/prix. À boire un peu rafraîchi. — 3 years ago
Etna Rosso a nerello mascalese + cappuccio blend. Tannins holding their grip on the fruits, you do get those hints of berry extracts but the ashy rocky terroir is definitely dominating the profile. — 5 years ago
Super drink. Soft tannins, lots of fruit and a great aroma — 8 months ago
Dark purple color, dense, bright. Nose: black fruits (blackcurrant, blueberries, dark plums) and red fruits with Merlot in front, bright herbal notes of uninterventionist wines. Discreet and well-integrated breeding notes (vanilla, smoke). Silky mouth, well melted tannins between volume and flexibility. A fairly exciting Bordeaux wine, in modernity, respect for fruit and naturalness, which gives direction for the future of the region?
Robe pourpre sombre, et dense, éclatante, des vins dans leur jeunesse. Nez fruits noirs (cassis, myrtilles, prunes sombres) et fruits rouges avec le Merlot en avant, notes végétales vives des vins peu interventionnistes. Notes d’élevage discrètes et bien intégrées (vanille, fumée). Bouche soyeuse, tanins bien fondues entre volume et souplesse. Un vin du bordelais assez passionnant, dans la modernité, respect du fruit et du naturel, qui donne la direction pour l’avenir de la région? — 3 years ago
Paul Benson
One of the bolder Pinots. Notes of cherries, currants, and licorice. Light tannins. Very clean. Really good wine. — a month ago