This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Château L'Eglise-Clinet
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
The 2013 L'Eglise-Clinet has a clean and precise bouquet with black fruit, sous-bois, shavings of black truffle and hints of morels. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins on the entry, red fruit laced with mocha and delicate acidity with a harmonious, if simplistic (for this estate) finish. Fine. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Château Lafleur
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
The 2013 Lafleur has an almost Left Bank nose: tobacco and graphite scents misleading you towards perhaps Saint-Julien! At least there is decent freshness. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, light for Lafleur but well-balanced with an attractive, harmonious and peppery finish. This Pomerol ends on a high note, though it will never be regarded as a "great Lafleur". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Château Coutet
Sauternes-Barsac Sémillon Blend 2013
The 2013 Coutet has an attractive nose with dried honey, frangipane, rosewater and orange pith scents, blossoming nicely in the glass like a bashful child suddenly discovering their singing voice. The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening, lightly spiced marmalade and tangy apricot laced with white pepper on the finish. Impressive in terms of length, this Barsac is drinking well right now, but knowing Coutet's propensity to mature, will give another couple of decade's drinking pleasure. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Vieux Château Certan
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
The 2013 Vieux-Château-Certan has one of the most attractive aromatics amongst the Pomerol intake, red fruit and briary, light floral scents, air and demonstrating more delineation than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, more fruit concentration than the preceding La Fleur-Pétrus, with more energy on the finish that exerts a light grip. One not to overlook. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2013
The 2013 La Mission Haut-Brion has a light tertiary bouquet with black pepper and wild mint touches. It's elegant, even if it misses some vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and fine acidity. The 2013 is cohesive with a dash of white pepper. Moderate in terms of length, this is a very decent showing in a difficult vintage. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
The 2003 Lafite-Rothschild has an attractive perfumed bouquet with touches of camphor infusing the blackberry and bilberry fruit. There is a mahogany bureau hint. The palate is medium-bodied with a spicy opening. The sharp acidity slightly jars against the sweet candied black fruit, with blood orange and white pepper toward the mocha-tinged finish. It's missing a bit of sustain on the aftertaste, hence my more parsimonious score. It does cohere in the glass, so decanting will help. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner from ex-château magnum. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Château Rauzan-Ségla
Margaux Grand Cru Classé Red Bordeaux Blend 1983
The 1983 Rauzan-Ségla has a dark core with some bricking on the rim. The bouquet is a little rustic, with soy, blackcurrant pastilles and melted tar, gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly drying tannins, red fruit mixed with soy, maybe just becoming a little acetic in its dotage, but there is a charm in a bucolic style. Tasted at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983
This bottle of 1983 Pichon-Lalande (I really can't be bothered to type out its full name) is the best of many encountered over the years. This offers gorgeous melted red fruit, woodbines, smoke and cigar humidor scents that could only come from Pauillac. Hints of black truffle and morels follow after about an hour in the glass. The palate displays lovely balance, poised and fresh, perhaps more vigor than I ever expected, with just a hint of dried blood on the finish. Impeccable provenance played a role here, but it is still a 1983 that should not be underestimated. Tasted blind at Pichon-Lalande. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Château de Fargues
Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2013
The 2013 Château de Fargues has a light bouquet for this noble estate: airy yellow plum, orange blossom and adhesive scent bubbling up with time. The palate is well balanced with unctuous honeyed fruit and fine acidity. It has a light tangy finish with a smudge of Seville orange marmalade. Perhaps on this occasion, I was anticipating a little more? (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago
Delectable Wine
Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.
The 2013 Smith Haut Lafitte probably has one over the Domaine de Chevalier at the moment: a little more fruit and amplitude, certainly more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, one of the spiciest Pessac-Léognan wines, yet there is just a scintilla of under-ripeness right on the finish. But at least there's personality in situ. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago