K L

9.1

Nice! Gary’s Portugal wine purchase. Around $20-25 and worth it. Very impressed. Balanced and earthy would get again. — 2 months ago

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9.3

The 1998 Vieux Château Certan saw both the Merlot and Cabernet reaching maturity early and, unusually, around the same time due to the Cabernet Franc suffering during the drought. Ergo, the blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest was September 21 to 26 and cropped at 34hl/ha. The bouquet is far superior to the 1996, as you would expect, quite vivacious and sensual black cherry and raspberry fruit, touches of wild mint, though it becomes pretty Bretty in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, fresh and lively, with fine grip with a crunchy blackberry, tar and allspice finish. This might actually constitute the best bottle of the 1998 that I have tasted. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1995 vintage. Great fill, foil and label. Perfect cork. From a top-notch cellar. Decanted and tasted over the course of two hours. Volcanic ash-styled sed vs chunky-style. Big funk on the nose that resolved after 7-8 minutes. Wine was showing decently (in the 69-72 degree range) but lacking any tannic structure. Placed the decanter atop an ice bucket bath to drop the temp down to 60 degrees or so. Took about 20 minutes but the tannins kicked in the door to say hello. Fruit components stayed constant. Pauillac tendencies were all there. As is the case often with older BDX, the decaying matter/leaves at the onset transitioned to graphite/lead pencil and espresso flavors. This was a superior bottle in great shape. Top of this wine’s specific bell curve. Comparable bottles would look to be drinking this well for the next 5-7 years without dropoff. Out of larger format…could possibly push this into 9.4 status. 2.5.24. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

A very good left bank classed growth (5th growth) from a good vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant aromatics (74%). Blackcurrant and cedar - a little tomato bush. A good wine but to state the obvious does not have the class and complexity of the higher classed growths. For example 3rd growth 2009 Chateau Palmer is a stunning wine - very rich, complex with a long life in front of it - very much superior to Chateau Batailley. — 7 months ago

Chris Sowick

9.3

Nutty, butterscotch tones. Brandy notes. — 2 years ago

Bonnie Chu

9.0

Touriga national, touriga Franca, Sousao, soft red and black fruit. Mid acidity. Robert Parker 91 points. 16 min French oak — 7 months ago

Robert Lockemer

9.1

Maggie likes it — 9 months ago

Mike Lev

9.0

At $14.99 New Jersey retail, what a QPR steal. Med/med+acidity, red and black fruit, pepper, subtle tannins, absent any overloaded oak notes. 12.5% abv. (This is Bouchon Winery, healdsburg, CA) — 2 years ago

Rich Bluth

8.9

60% Viosinho, 40% Verdejo. clearly a food wine — 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Tropical fruit mixed with such harmony. Absolutely delicious. Very good to Superior vintage. — 3 years ago