Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is one of the values you buy in futures in excellent vintages (2005 is) and hold it until now & the next 5 yrs for its best. Yet, will drink another 5 yrs. 2005 I believe is the best Bordeaux fruit in nearly three decades I’ve noted.

Also, this one is not to be confused with the same name Chateau that is Pomerol. Think this was around $20 on release.

If you note the Right Bank map I posted, you’ll see the region of Cotes de Castillon is an outlier region just east of St. Emilion. While a lesser region than SE, it still makes some nice wines like this one.

This bottle has been well stored for nearly 20 yrs. Cork like new with next to no wine stain on its side. One of the prettier 91’s I’ve had in memory.

The color is still deep opaque with a lighter glass edge. No brickish tones.

The nose shows ruby, floral, candied; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plum, poached strawberries & raspberry hues,, dark tarriness, black licorice, mid berry cola, steeped tea, coffee, some lead pencil, dry tobacco, dry river stone, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, light caramel with understated/layered baking spices & soft dark spices, red, dark florals framed in liquid violets.

The tannins are medium, well rounded, plush & velvety. Palate shows a more pronounced ruby quality, floral to just candied; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, poached strawberries & raspberry hues, dark tarriness, black licorice, mid berry cola, steeped tea, dry crushed limestone, moist herbs w/ a sage lead, coffee, some lead pencil, dry tobacco, dry river stone, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, charcoal w/ ash, warm, dark chocolate sliding into milk chocolate, light caramel with understated/layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin & soft dark spices, red, dark florals framed in brilliant, liquid violets, perfect acidity, balance for days, softly knitted, mid tension, very good length with an elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and long sets on gentle, mid spices and beautiful earthiness.

It is an elegant beauty. It’s a gentle, even palate tug of war with the wine & Wagyu Ribcap. 91-92 with the Ribcap. More 92 w/ the steak. — 3 months ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Nice, rich, enticing aroma of blackberries & fresh black plumsc with spicy cedar and a fresh whiff of lavender. Ther’s a tiny hint of freshly cracked black pepper and allspice. Warm & rich yet nicely fresh & juicy.
On the palate this is medium bodied with beautiful, velvety, plush, juicy tannins. So finely polished. Nicely balanced with the acidity still fresh and while the fruit is slowly starting to show some age, it’s still juicy - I like the savoury, earthy side. Good depth and length, too.
This has to be peaking right now and is drinking very nicely. — 3 years ago

John Bratincevic

9.0

NOSE: plum…cherry…yeast…and — I’m not joking — DEAD MOUSE. Like, right out of the mousetrap. Also some kind of wild brambly berry cordial. Also, raspberry tea.

TASTE: silky cherry - you can really taste the cherry pits. Light-medium weight. A little almond extract. Some herbs I can’t quite peg - like a really mild clove. Weak drip coffee on the finish. Mild mannered (you’ll notice all my adjectives connoting watered-down), but good. No dead animal tastes that I notice. 🤣

To me, this is an 89 or a 90 … I usually err on the lower side of my instincts, but I think a 90 is warranted. — 4 years ago

Brian Kostreba

8.9

Pretty good brut, not sweet but with the right amount of fruit. More on the dry side than sweet. Good substitute for a French Crémant wine. I’m sure it cost less. $10.99 at Costco. — 4 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.1

The bright tones show right away. Sea air, limestone, and lemon/lime. Clean and salty on the palette, with acid showing most prominently on the side palette. Opens nicely with air, revealing elegant oak treatment. Whiff of butterscotch and a kiss on the palette.

Great cooking wine! — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

The 2012 Cathiard Aux Reignots (along with Malconsorts and Petits Monts, my favorite 1er cru Vosne vineyard), is much more masculine and dark fruited than the MG. Really a great side by side. There is some reduction and prevalent new oak, but there is just such depth and structure to this wine and it’s destined to live for the long haul. But unlike how reticent many 12’s can be right now, as the reduction dissipates, it offers a great deal of pleasure. Reignots is really a special vineyard. — 5 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Really nice. Nose hits right out of the gate. Loads of savory, gravelly minerality, a balsamic note, dried sour cherry underneath. Serious in the mouth. No fruity frivolity here. More on the austere side, with loads of tangy, dark savory notes, good acids, still a bit of puckery tannin. Too demanding to sip on its own but dynamite with a chicken dish that featured lots of herbs and was braised with tons of punchy cherry tomatoes. — 5 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2023 vintage. Pretty sure this vineyard was dealing with a replanting. Dunno where this offering falls on either side of that. Medium body. Bright cherry and cola right off the bat. Some earthy, durty tones hanging out underneath the bleachers. Some oak influence. Full disclosure: fan of this producer and particular vineyard but not of singled-out Grenache. Likely better in a year or two. 3.16.25. — 4 months ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.0

Everything you wish for in a very-day Bordeaux.
Black currants, a touch of cedar wood, a bit of gravel and a pinch of spice.
And this ‘16 is singing right now with perfectly mellow tannins, still quite a bit of fruit but the depth of flavors is already shifting. Precise, juicy, on the lighter vs fuller side. So drinkable. Delish! — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. In the glass the wine is a pale straw color with a silver rim. Medium viscosity with no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is very expressive or grapefruit, lime, and lemons withs some grassy, herbal qualities, yellow flowers and flint minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with acidity that I perceive as high. Confirming the notes from the nose. Finish is medium+. I don’t get any obvious use of oak…it would have to be extremely judicious if at all. Initial conclusion: this could be Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Albariño or maybe even Chardonnay from France, California, Germany or Spain. But I don’t get the petrol thing I associate with Riesling and it’s missing the white flowers and lanolin for Chenin. Not enough salinity for Albariño and the acid just seems too high for Chardonnay, even from Chablis. I think the structure is the key here. Final conclusion, this is a Sauvignon Blanc, from France, from the Loire, from Sancerre, 2020 vintage. Welp…at least I was in the right ballpark! This was a wine full of energy and one I would be happy to drink again. Drink now to enjoy its lovely fruit and acid. As a side note, it’s becoming harder and harder to find distinction from Old World and New World (which is probably why the CMS has stopped using the terms altogether), particularly with Sauvignon Blanc. A combination of climate change and winemaking has certainly blurred the lines.
— 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

This Right Bank Bordeaux is bright Ruby red, from a blend of Merlot (80%), rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Fresh red fruit with cedar spice aromas. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with some cacao and licorice notes, adding oak and mineral tones. Fine tannins, medium finish, good balance with fruit, ending with smoky oak character, drink now on the younger side, no real benefit from long-term aging. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

This was presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appeared deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. There’s slight staining of the tears and the viscosity appears medium+. On the nose the wine is intense. It’s slightly funky with an almost cheese rind sort of thing going on. There’s a combination of red and dark fruits with some purple flowers, dried tobacco leaf, something that sort of resembled pyrazines and a little bit of baking spices which suggests there’s some French barrique being used. On the palate, the wine is bone dry and fiercely tannic. Acid is medium ++. It’s definitely on the darker fruit side with some black berries and blue berries, black pepper and baking spices which all but confirms French barrique at this point. Long finish. I’m scratching my head with this one. It’s wild. Clean and fresh…but wild.

I could see this in a few places: Moulin-à-Vent is one possibility considering all the darker fruit and firm structure. However, I find some real Italian sensibilities to this wine. Despite the monumental structure, I cannot place this in northern Italy. Given the presence of French barrique, I could see this being a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Super Tuscan with a little Syrah and Sangiovese for good measure. So that was my call: 2015 Super Tuscan.

Wow…what a lovely surprise. I mistook the Rotundone for pyrazines (a recurring issue for me) which had me thinking Bordeaux varieties instead of Syrah. And to be fair, we don’t see a lot of Côte Rôtie at Tasting Group. This was my first time tasting the 2016 “La Chavaroche” and while it was a real treat (big thanks to the generous member of the group), it was also a reminder as to why I cellar my bottles of “La Chavaroche” for so long. This is a wee babe and frankly, pretty tough for me to love right now. That being said, the quality and character is unquestionable. I say give it until 2030+ and these will light up your right prefrontal cortex like a supernova.
— 4 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

Red currant and toast and cedar and tobacco. This is a nice médoc nose. The palate is well made with a good balance and a bright fruit, a nice tannins layer in midpalate leaving a slight drying effect, and a long médoc finish with oak, black currant and that disruptive layer. We had it over a plate of cheese and charcuterie, next to the estuaire in... Saint christoly, right next to the estate and side by side with the owner. Cool experience! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There is an origins story for me w/ this producer. You can read about it by clicking my post from 55 weeks ago.

This bottle fazed between 92-94 while enjoying. I opened it and let it breathe in bottle for 45 minutes and then decanted it in stages…a 1/3, 1/3 & 1/3. I believe that was the right decision.

This 97 still has not ridden off into the sunset, it is just the other side of its peak. 28 yrs from creation & 26 yrs in bottle. I look at a Cabernet/reds from when it went into bottle vs its birth yr. All my opening decisions are made from that point. Humans don’t count their time in womb, I see wine similarly.

The fruits are still beautiful & its evolution is amazing. There is a core of dark currants surrounded by cassis. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with heavy skin, black cherries, secondary; raspberries, dark cherries & strawberries. Cherry cola/licorice. Dark spices w/ a touch of heat-hard to find better, moist clays, soft, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark chocolate baking bar, mocha powder, caramel, anise to black licorice, dryish tobacco with ash, used leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone powder, volcanic ash, fire ambers, saline, some black pepper, tumbleweed, dry river stone, black tea, very lightly grilled pork, florals for days that are; dark, red, blue, lavender framed in violets, perfect acidity with a great balance, well structured/tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on dry earth & spice as it long sets. Wonderful style!

To quote Robert Lewis Stevenson, “Wine is Bottled Poetry!” — 7 months ago

Will Stanley

9.6

My first time here in Chablis! I chose to have with dinner (Wine Not, a fantastic wine bar & restaurant in Chablis) a bottle from a winemaker who doesn’t need a great deal of introduction nowadays. Samuel Billaud has fast become one of the region’s most exciting winemakers, so I was eager to try something of his. This was on the list for the veritable bargain of €65. Mont de Milieu is a premier cru from the right bank of the Sereine, a vineyard which shares a very similar aspect, and soils, to Les Clos. The 2020 here is a wine of immense presence, structure, classicism, with a slight hedonistic character. The flavours lean toward the fuller side of the spectrum, with flavours of marzipan, orange peel and fresh cut marmalade, with a hint of honey. But there is terrific zip on entry, incredible minerality; any weight to this wine is lean, muscular and structured, possessing deft acidity, a lovely herbaceous quality (think tomato vine) and a finish to die for. I’ve immediately bought four bottles of this back home and can’t wait to enjoy it again. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2019 vintage. Huge Chambord and kirschy aromas and flavors. Medium body. More acidity than tannins currently but that could flip in 5-7 years. Drinking closer to Russian River Valley Pinot Noir instead of CDP currently. On the “artsy” CDP side as it were right here right now. Definitely missing the late 80’s-early 90’s cigar/tobacco/smoke counter-argument from this particular producer, place and offering. 4.17.23. — 3 years ago

Will Stanley

9.2

The 2012 Chateau Fonplégade is a lush, textured wine with bags of charm from a poor vintage, unmistakably right bank Bordeaux but with more than a nod, somehow, to the ripe and succulent wines of the southern Rhône.

Tasted immediately on opening, it was rather large on all fronts - really quite a ‘wow’ moment in fairness, and a splendid nose, but asking for time in the decanter (side note: actually preferred it after this pop’n’pour!)

Classical aromas of cigar box, cassis and kirsch dominate the nose; the palate is then quite concentrated with fruit that leans toward the riper side of freshness but carries through to a long and generous finish.

Overall, this is a big, showy Saint Emilion - perhaps a little over-extracted but a terrific wine nonetheless considering the vintage. I prefer the 2011 by comparison, but look forward to trying this again in a few years’ time.
— 4 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

A really nice introduction to Snowden Vineyards with this one. Deep cherry color with a thin rim. The amount of earth on the nose is really nice. Graphite and soft red cherries leads to just about the right amount of cedar. Juicy blueberries take the lead after a heavy decant.

Single vineyard Napa Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon thrown in just for good measure. Medium bodied with tannins on the supple side. 14.0 but doesn’t get the balance off. Nice acidity and structure. The palate mirrors the nose with brambly fruit and toasty wood elements. Long finish with spices and herbs. Next time your dumb friend starts quoting Sideways, give them this.
— 5 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Classic old school. Nose has macerated cherry, sweet spice, old barrel scents, loamy gravel. In the mouth it’s full and a little on the leaner side, with rich dark cherry and leather, and lots of savory minerals on the finish. Tannins soft, pretty good acidity. Right over the middle of the plate. — 5 years ago

Conrad Green

9.1

Very dark intense fruit. Done hints of mocha, damson, smoke. Very pure, rich and punchy. Just the right side of ott. Good — 5 years ago

with Bex