Second Growth

Château Cantemerle

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 1949

Pop and pour a glass (decanted remaining for sediment). An arresting medium tawny color. On the nose: delicate perfumed nose of red fruit, funky barnyard, herbaceous, wet soil, worn leather. Taste: a smooth, slightly creamy, silky wine with dried red plum/prunes, earth, baking spice, old leather, cigar ash, and dried herbs with a quick medium finish. What a treat to try this 75 year old 5th growth that is still just hanging on for dear life! WOW! — 13 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, David and 18 others liked this

Château Palmer

Alter Ego Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Deep ruby color with a slight orange hue to the edges and maybe a hint of purple DEEP in the middle. Medium to full bodied, with a bold nose that features a little of everything from licorice and beautiful, silky red fruits, even some sweet jam like notes, like fig jam with vanilla, to hints of violet and deep notes of rich soil, fresh sponge cake and even some hints of fresh mint. The palate is rich and voluptuous, with dark cherry, cranberry and cassis notes, coca, violet and graphite on the finish. Silllky, perfectly integrated tannin, it’s big but light on its feet. There’s even a long meaty, iron like note that emerges and warms to the end, like a second wave, that even has some Doritos chips like notes. — 14 days ago

Ted, Joe and 7 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Les Pagodes de Cos Saint-Estéphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, espresso, chocolates, earth, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, eacaliptus, Indian spices and black pepper.

Full-bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, black plums, light cedar, earth, herbs, light vanilla, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth, black tea and a touch of vegetables.

Long spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This second wine from the great 2010 vintage in Bordeaux, is drinking gorgeously now. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Elegant with lots of fruits.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter, when tannins show up. Changes every 20 minutes in the decanter. So nice to experience.

I had this vintage 5 years ago and it is drinking better now. This 14 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and paired nicely with dried meats.

A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot.

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$90.
— 2 months ago

Ronald, Shay and 15 others liked this

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Kevin Arndt
9.4

1st Growth for a reason — 22 days ago

AHF and Joel liked this

Château Brane-Cantenac

Grand Cru Classé en 1855 Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

#AgedWineTuesday

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium plus intensity.

Pretty nose with red and black fruits, wood, earth, tobacco, black coffee and spices.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, peppercorn, forest floor, earth, black tea, vegetables and herbs.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 16 year old from Margaux, is drinking very nicely now. Showing nice balance and elegance. Soft and very dry.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets much earthier as it opens up, with lots of earth and forest floor notes. Really enjoyed the nose.

The 2008 vintage was not a good one, and although it's still very tasty, I don't see it getting any better from this point.

I've had a few vintages of this Second Growth Bordeaux, and I found it to be all over the place. The 2016 was my favorite so far.

Wine Advocate 92 points. Wine Spectator 87 Points.

Paired very nicely with a burger and fries.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

13% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$130.
— a month ago

Bob, Paul and 12 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Okay. Again the same dilemma. If a wine does not meet expectation is it basically bad (for me)? 🤔 because in life everything is relative, right? Any thoughts on puzzling matter??The wine was well balanced, dark red fruit flavors, polished, smooth tannins, good intensity and concentration, but limited length and lacking any meaningful complexity… Eight year old left bank Bordeaux. A fourth or fifth growth winery, maybe not, can’t remember for sure. Do remember what I paid though, $120. Definitely too much for what we experienced this evening…. as to our expectations. — 2 months ago

Tammy de Weerd
with Tammy
Jan, Andrew and 12 others liked this
Dawn E.

Dawn E.

@Jan de Weerd from reviews not personal experience. Most let this wine age twenty plus years?

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. This was my second time enjoying the 1990 vintage and, much like my previous experience, this was rather quiet early and then came on with the business, late. As before, a mix of red and black cassis, ripe and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. After two similar experiences, I believe this vintage needs a lot of patience and a lot of air to wake up. Without either, it will be misunderstood. Drink now through 2040+ — 6 days ago

Jan, Ira and 12 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Amongst the second growths, the wine of the night (still can’t top the Lafite Rothschild). Really singing. The last glass, poured from another bottle, was less dynamic. I’ve had a good bit of 1989 Gruaud Larose in the last several years, and it is a great wine in this vintage. — a month ago

Ira liked this
Ira Schwartz

Ira Schwartz Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Robert Torretti Heads up, incorrect vintage

Château Montrose

La Dame de Montrose Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Not as structured as the first growth Montrose but lovely — 3 months ago

jesus, Ted and 2 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

One of my favorites! Opened one at home to celebrate the new job and love it. Definitely best out of the cellar but second and third glass were still better than my usual. — 4 months ago

"Odedi" and Jacqui liked this
Jacqui

Jacqui

Ohhhh! I like this one too!