Drank 10/13/20.
Nose on the light to medium side with plum, gravel, and fig. Black fruit and soil dominate the palate. Tannins mostly resolved at this stage. Finish is dry and falls off a bit quickly. Drink up, as this will not improve further.
3/21/8/4/3 +50 = 89 pts. — 4 years ago
Dark and alluring, the 2018 Chateau Alcée from Castillon is a modern, plush Bordeaux from winemaker Nicolas Thienpont. Sporting a sensual nose of boysenberry, plum, anise and black truffle, the palate is supple and generous with rich flavours of dark chocolate and coffee liqueur. The finish is quite dry with a tug of graphite and a touch of heat. I paid £22 for this wine though it’s significantly less expensive en primeur, and I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed with a case in the cellar. — 3 years ago
This was one Bordeaux’s classic vintage year and the 2005 collection will be memorable. This blend by wine maker Nicolas Thienpont is full bodied and excellent. — 4 years ago
Just as it was en primeur, the 2017 Vieux Château Certan is regal and soaring right out of the glass. Inky blue and purplish fruit, chocolate, licorice, lavender, spice and mint come together in a dense, dark and powerful Pomerol. The 2017 is an explosive, vivid wine of monastic beauty. In this vintage, VCC is especially dark and somber, which adds to a real feeling of mysterious beauty. It is a towering achievement from Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2020)
— 4 years ago
Easy drinking Bordeaux that went great with our French food, from Escargot and Duck Confit Tacos, to Chicken Dijonnaise and Scallops. It felt lighter and brighter with notes of plum and dark berries, tannins softened by acidity, slight earth with a chocolate finish. — 2 years ago
The poor man’s Chateau Le Pin, new property by J Thienpont and 2016 is first vintage. Really good and elegant merlot with a dollop of cab franc. Fresh and balanced, hints fo dark fruits and flowers, dar and red fruits, very polished tannins. Great deal at this price point. Drink or hold. — 3 years ago
Felt it was a good ten year in bottle check on the 08 Pavie Macquin. I wasn’t expecting the wine to blow my hair back but, I expected a little something better.
The 2008 Bordeaux growing season was one of difficult weather through August. Then, grand weather in September & October saved the vintage. Well...with this one, it likely made a bad vintage into just a good one.
The nose reveals classic Merlot based nose, nice Claret. The fruits are ripe, slightly ruby & candied but, a little dull. Blackberries, black raspberries, baked, dark cherries, black raspberries & stewed strawberries. Dark fruit cola, vanilla, black licorice, dark, rich earth, stones, touch leather, cinnamon stick, some graphite, light herbal quality with candied dark, red, & a touch fresh of blue florals framed in violets.
The body is just full & very velvety. The tension & structure are a little soft. The balance is good as is the length. However as it continues on the palate is just never pops. In fact, leaner & somewhat hollow. It lacks depth & complexity. The fruits are ripe, slightly ruby & candied but, a little dull. Blackberries, black raspberries, baked, dark cherries, black raspberries & stewed strawberries. Dark fruit cola, vanilla, black licorice, dark, rich earth, stones, soft, velvety leather, cinnamon stick, some graphite, light herbal quality with candied dark, red, & a touch fresh of blue florals framed in violets. The acidity is really nice, fresh. The finish is, soft, elegant, the same wire to wire but, just never dazzles.
I am afraid this is not showing any signs of being in a dumb phase. Nor, is it showing any earmarks that it is going to improve, just evolve.
Photos of; Chateau Pavie Macquin, signage tell you are close, Winemaker - Nicolas Thienpont & their barrel room. — 4 years ago
Delectable Wine
Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.
The 2020 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse is aged in around 60% new oak and made by Nicolas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt; Joséphine Duffau tweaked the blend when she took over in April of the following year. This was bottled at the end of May 2022. It has a perfumed nose, predominantly red fruit, sous-bois and a subtle Japanese nori scent. Quite "contained" at the moment, I can see this shutting down. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, dark cherries, bilberry and hints of black pepper and black olive (the latter is accentuated in the chateau bottle). Nicely balanced and persistent, this Saint-Émilion should age with class. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — a year ago