Pessac-Leognan Red Bordeaux Blend

Just popped and decanted 20 minutes ago, but it’s already starting to open up. Nose is giving up cigar box, dark gravelly scent, some toasty oak, and the cassis and mulberry fruit is starting to peek through. Quite savory in the mouth with that clingy tobacco-y component Pessac is known for. The astringency apparent on first opening is subsiding. Not a deeply fruity wine, but the relatively lean flavors are fairly intense and quite nice.

Drinks beautifully even at this young age. Graceful. Nice Bordeaux.

Honestly Latour Martillac has occupied a soft spot in my heart since I first went to Bordeaux 12 years ago. It was our first tour and dinner during en premieur week 2008. The tour was ‘old school’ like the label but the wines were actually incredibly good for a pretty large production. Although it was the 2007 blanc that stirred my senses, the reds were fabulous as well.
The Kressmann’s served us among other treats, a 95 Martillac blanc and a 75 Martillac rouge. Both of which were beautiful wines... The 75 was served with a delicate white fish wrapped in palm leaves. Not what you would expect in Bordeaux. I was figuring lamb or something.... I still dream of that fish and the elegant 75 claret. Today this 2010 rouge may be among the best wines ever made at this address. Improvements in the winery, Michel Rolland consulting, rigorous vineyard and harvest selection. A dark broad shouldered wine with grippy tannins. Aromas of violet, plum, wet gravel, black cherry and cassis fill the glass along with some oak and a hint of graphite. This wine is lovely now (with a serious decant) but should have a long long life ahead of it. In fact I’d like to catch it when it is as old as that 75 we tried on a rainy evening at the chateau in Bordeaux. ***Don’t forget to sign up for my daily email offers... alex@nolimitfinewines.com to receive up to date offers on rare and limited wines at the best prices USA***

Drank 1/18/19 at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux event in Miami. All wines from the 2016 Vintage.

Tasting pour, no formal notes taken. Most of these wines are very tight, and will require 5-15 years to really come together. Many will likely improve a few points with time.

Prices seem to be a bit out of control with the 2016 vintage, and if there were such thing as a "value buy" presented, this was likely it at around $40

First red in flight two for the Bordeaux Master's Class at Heart's Delight with all wines from Pessac-Léognan.

Deep ruby red. A touch tart and elegant at the same time on the nose with notes of rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, violet flowers, pepper and a touch of earthiness. Sweet heavy tannins on the attack (7.5/10) and medium bodied. Nice spices, a touch of fruit and a touch green. Very dry and a touch bitter in the long finish. Drink till 2030.

Round, ripe, elegant. Blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, dark & milk chocolate, touch of caramel, fresh flowers, sweet minerals and earth, perfect acidity and elegant finish for days. If you can find this wine, buy a bunch.

Lovely #Bordeaux #grandcruclassé #pessacleognan blackberries and blue flowers

Even Bryan recognized the beauty in this beauty.

Out of mag, 2010. tasty

Have had the 2009 vintage twice, in 2024 at a tasting and in early 2025.  The first was the best of the tasting, and the second was a fine compliment to spring leg of lamb.  dark fruit and smooth tannins. $68 when purchased in 2024.