Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2003 vintage. For my ca$hi$h, still, consistently, the sexiest, most voluptuous red Bordeaux out there. Medium-heavy body. This kicked in the door to “the zone” recently without knocking and is set up for the next 10-12 years easily. Such a fantastic balancing act of fruit and structure. Total and blissful synergy. . 9.25.23. — 9 months ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

Smells like a spiced pastry

Lively! Red stars dance across the tongue for only a meaty mingling moment, before the tannins start smacking every part of the mouth, up, down, left, right, Jab, Jab, Ka-pow! Those knock out tannins longer on and on.. and on..
Wish I had bought 2 bottles, this needs at least 5 years to relax those teen tannins.
I mean, don’t close your mouth for too long on these tannins, as they act like a vacuum and super glue. You’ll never get your jaws apart.. — 3 years ago

TA

9.0

A great dinner party red - not too easy to drink that you drink without really registering anything except “red wine” but not one you have to dry to decide whether you like or not. — 4 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Again, not a wine that passed the drinkability test for me, but there are things that I liked about it, and some that I didn't. Right off the bat, it was way too heavy for me, both on the nose and palate. Heaps of oak aromas covering some sweet black fruits. The palate also came off as being quite sweet, almost syrupy, but here's where the balancing act comes in - just the right amount of acidity to keep it juicy. It's like biting into a very sweet, ripe, juicy plum with a peppering of cinnamon and vanilla. I enjoyed the tannins most, fine and directional, starting at the tip of the tongue, then swinging under before traveling down the inner walls of the gum. What a cool structure! And then there's the underlying minerality with air, which was pleasantly surprising. The finish took a turn for the worse - medium, rich, and oaky, yet bitter with hints of scorched earth character which I dislike. Also quite warm. Generally, more finessed than the 2011 Troplong Mondot, but less stacked and more stumbling blocks. Has potential. — 2 years ago

Kaitlin Brasuell

10

One of my top faves for a non-sweet wine, my usual.
Notes: black cherry, plum, black currant, mocha
From: BrightCellars — 4 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.1

The only wine made from Montepeloso in 2017, all the top fruit was used for the level A Quo and with a triumphing result and plenty of revenue for a modest investment. Ripe yet fresh red and black fruit with an underlying freshness, floral aromas and a dimensional complexity brought by toast, spice, warm rocks and a savory meatiness. Expanding fruit on the palate in casing of fresh acidity and a solid yet soft grip from the ripe tannins. Offensive yet integrated alcohol and balanced act throughout the finish. Quite unusual blend 30% Montepulciano, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 %Sangiovese, 10% Marselan, 10% Alicante — 4 years ago

J Levenson

9.1

The quality for price is outstanding. In 1936 “Caillou’s owner had no desire to join the governing ranks of anything, let alone a wine appellation. This brazen act excluded the estate from the AOC and essentially carved out a chunk of Châteauneuf-du-Pape‘s border. Today it continues to be an ‘unclassified’ section in what is otherwise some of the most prized vineyard land in the area“-Ian Cauble, master sommelier — 3 years ago

Eric Laychock

9.6

Great value. One of my favorite Pinot Noir — 4 years ago

Barry Shailes

10

Full bodies. Excellent with cheeses. Smooth. — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.6

The 2010 La Violette has a well-defined bouquet with predominantly red fruit laced with scorched earth, leather and just a touch of cassis in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a grippy entry. This has fine backbone, perhaps a good deal of Cabernet Franc in the blend. Very expressive towards the finish and extremely persistent. A class act that is just beginning to show what it is capable of. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2020)
— 4 years ago