Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Talbot 2023 – Saint-Julien, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A youthful yet promising Saint-Julien showing early elegance, fine balance, and clear upward trajectory. The blend delivers freshness, precision, and layered fruit while still carrying a few youthful edges that signal excellent aging potential.

Aromas & Flavors
Red currant, black cherry, raspberry compote, graphite, cedar shavings, crushed herbs, light cocoa dust, subtle floral lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with fine-grained tannins, lively acidity, polished mid-palate, slightly angular finish that tightens at the end, a clear marker of youth and future integration potential.

Food Pairings
Herb-roasted chicken, duck breast, pork tenderloin, grilled mushrooms, mild aged cheeses (Tomme, young Comté).

Verdict
A high-quality, early-showing Saint-Julien that already flashes elegance and balance, but will benefit significantly from a few years of cellaring to soften edges and broaden complexity.

🍷 Personal Pick
The talent is obvious, can be enjoyed now. I’d happily cellar this and come back when smooths out a bit more and when aromatics stretch their legs. — 5 months ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.4

I’m a big fan of this 100% grenache CdP. Still in an upward phase. Additional cellaring will be rewarding! — 4 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

I did a side by side tasting of all of the Moueix projects in Pomerol and St. Emilion (except Petrus) and this was our favorite and is wonderful for the price. It is smooth and elegant. — 5 years ago

with Rosario

Mike Saviage

9.6

Tasted blind. Reddish tawny and young looking. Intense nose. Notes of raspberry, rhubarb, camphor, mocha, Asian spice and dark soil. Rich and intense in the mouth. We’re told this was given lots of air – which led guesses to be red burg more in the late 90s or 00’s. The reveal was exciting as none of us have had a bottle from this vigneron before. Super high quality juice, still on it’s upward climb. This juice will be around, giving pleasure to those that have it, for another decade or two and will undoubtedly improve with more age. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Just a few bottles from an awesome Open That Bottle Night celebration this past weekend.

So young, and that was after this being open an hour or so. Gripping. Currant, blackberry, plum and underripe black cherry. Tannic and powerful on the palate. This is still on an upward trajectory. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Bill

andrew spresser

9.2

Light and dry. Very good! Date of wine Sept 10 2016. — 9 years ago

Gregory Summers

9.1

A Special bottle remembering a loved one...label hand with finger pointing upward to a heavenly star...fitting! 1991 Vintage is subdued, yet has held up well...flavors of tobacco, leather and dried plum and raisin. Yummy! — 9 years ago

Ming L

9.2

Aston was one of two Pinot projects by Schrader, Boar’s View being the other. I believe it’s now solely under TRB’s helm.

The winery makes just two bottlings: one mostly from sourced fruit, and this, from 100% estate vines. The nose offers ripe plum, cranberry, black cherry, cedar, a touch of baking spice, and steeped tea. The palate is generous yet lifted by bright acidity, with a hint of sweetness on the long finish. Should have 5–6 more years of prime drinking ahead. — a year ago

David Kline

9.4

Soft, lovely, bread-y nose of black currant fur, licorice, light mint forcing upward, sprouting through potting soil. Cinnamon and blueberry warmly embraced by dark bread and small specks of black pepper. Fruit tannins thickly house-painted across your front teeth in a real sense. Muscle. Licorice-charcoal, bitters, blackberry, black currant, graphite-smoke halo, black cherry, oak and cedar, wound up and closed in places, but powerhouse lurking in the shadows.



#lajota #lajotavineyardco #lajotahowellmountainestate
#howellmountain #oakville #napa #napavalley #cab #cabernetsaugvinon — 3 years ago

with Courtney

David Koenen

8.9

Still very primary, this wine bursts with life. Vanilla and spice, cherries and cinnamon. Lavender and crushed peppercorns. Razor sharp acidity, smooth tannin. Give it one or two years extra in the cellar. There’s upward potential here. — 4 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

Huet and Vega Sicilia are two storied producers with quality side projects in Tokaij. Vega Sicilia makes one that is supremely rich with laser acid and oak sturdy, expertly integrated. Sour notes of ripe lemons, the kind about to go black and turn to rock. And spiced ginger and popcorn kernels and vanilla spice. WOW. — 7 years ago

Adam Knoerzer

9.2

South African Nebbiolo that would make some Italians blush. — 8 years ago

Shawn R

9.8

One of the most complex wines I have had. Rich mahogany, cool cellar nose maybe a hint of sweet black fruit. Again, projects this soft texture yet has so many layers on the palate. Madero leaf, toffee and milk chocolate blanket the palate. On the finish I get the return of the black fruits and smoke. Beautiful- — 8 years ago

Jan A

9.4

Still in an upward trajectory. Alcoholic nose and some bitters that still need some time. No slouch though at the moment!! — a year ago

Shay A

9.4

I’m scoring as is today, but I really think this inches upward a bit over the next 5-7yrs.

This fell victim to curiosity (as well as a ‘21 Modus Operandi UV-Laguna Pinot). I’ve had a few of Lato’s entry and mid-level offerings, but this was my first Pisoni from them. Loved it.

Profile wise, this is similar to Dumol (not as big as Aubert, but not a lean style either). A very pretty down-the-middle style. While the aromatics here were lovely (honeysuckle, faint lemon cream, citrus and sweet baking spices), the texture of this wine was a standout. Sports much more depth than initially expected (yellow fruits, peach, apricot, pink cotton candy, limestone)…not quite a lees-y style, but close, while remaining elegant and light on its feet (good acidity). Oak is there but plays a supporting role. For being so young, this was a supremely balanced wine. I need to consider buying more. — 2 years ago

leon egozi

9.7

Really nice tasting event with all of Melkas wine projects and Melka himself — 5 years ago

Darren Dittrich

9.4

Didn’t get a chance to try the ‘17 as Cathy did, but I’m getting no Brett in the 2018. Reductive notes for sure, but in balance with acidity and mineral notes. Candied cherry deliciousness. Just as good on Day2, no funkiness, rating upward. A favorite Cru Bojo. — 6 years ago

Dario Scimeca

9.3

This is going to be fantastic in 10 years. Pitch black and complex, it projects as a high 90’s wine. — 7 years ago

with Tom

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

9.3

After a decade of bottle age and an hour of aeration, projects iron minerality, organic-matter earthiness and dark blue fruit, within a fine acid-etched silky texture. — 8 years ago

Narun P

9.1

100% Cabernet Franc

Deep, ruby, garnet-tinted purple. Opaque and youthful.

Superb bouquet, unmistakably Loire cab franc. Raspberry, wild strawberry, slightly herbaceous with distinct barnyard funk of cattle range, sheep meadow, and grazing field.

Smooth integration of tannin but still very much present. Med plus acidity, dry. Domineering red fruits with some compote like profile, leafy, minty with some sage and thyme.

Another birthday bottle. A surprise package. Very much smack right in the prime drinking window. Only short decanting necessary. I am also quite convinced that this is still on its upward trajectory. 91+ — 9 years ago