Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2020 vintage. Branaire Ducru is always a good idea, and so is the second wine Duluc de Branaire Ducru ( and not Château Duluc as the app suggests). A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5,5% Cabernet Franc, and 1,5% Petit Verdot . The nose is a bit closed initially, with some air black and red fruit, lead pencil, and flowers appear. An elegant style,accessible now, but I am sure it will benefit from a few more years in the bottle.Abv. 13%. — 4 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2023 vintage. — 15 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2022 vintage. The smallest estate in Saint-Julien ( 0,85 hectares),founded in 1961 by André Leclerc. André was also the winemaker at Léoville Barton, and he was allowed to make his wine there. Today, wine is made as a hobby by his family and their friends, many of them working for famous Saint-Julien Crus classés. The old vines are mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with 25% of Merlot. The 2022 is an impressive, classic Saint-Julien. Deep, dark red colour. Cassis, blackberries, and the most subtle touch of oak. Concentrated black fruits, embedded in a structure of ripe tannins, and good acidity. The winemaker of Beychevelle , Philippe Blanc helps out with the blending. A hidden gem ! — 15 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2015 vintage. Fully mature with spices and a hint of truffle. The tannins have smoothened out, and there is good balance and length. — 6 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2022 vintage. This is a huge estate, with 240 hectares of vines in a single plot between Corbières and Minervois. The estate used to sell bulk wine, until 2020 when family members took over. With very good results apparently. This white Corbières is made from organically farmed Grenache Blanc, Vermentino and Roussanne. Light golden colour. White stone fruit, beeswax and flowers. It's probably meant to drink very young, but it is delicious now at 4 years old. Great value. Abv. 13%. Tasted twice with consistent notes — 8 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2020 vintage. Tasted twice with consistent notes. — 15 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2023 vintage. A classic vintage, without the opulence of the 2022, and a bit more body than the 2021. — 18 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.6

2022 vintage. The red Corbières Blason de Sérame from the big Château de Sérame, with over 230 hectares under vine. No information to be found on the website of the Exéa family, maybe this line does not exist anymore. I suppose it's a Grenache/Syrah/Carignan blend. A solid, spicy wine, but the alcohol is a bit dominating the finish. Abv. 14,5 %. Good, but not as impressive as the white 2022. — 7 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2022 vintage. More red than black fruit initially. Like many 2022s, it is very smooth and accessible, after an hour the cassis and spices are showing up. I was surprised to learn that there is a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) than Merlot in the blend, as I think I would have believed it to be right bank in a blind tasting. In any case a very attractive, delicious wine. Good value too. Abv. 13%. — 12 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2022 vintage. The owners of Fleur Cardinale bought the neighbouring estate Croix Cardinale in 2011. The 4 hectares vineyard is planted with 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. For this vintage the blend is 68% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Expectations were high, as I loved the second wine of Fleur Cardinale, Intuition 2020, tasted twice recently. And I am definitely not disappointed. This 2022 Croix Cardinale is some sexy juice! Black cherries, raspberries and strawberries, mixed with very subtle spices and flowers. Perfectly balanced with an exemplary purity of fruit, embedded in a structure of velvety tannins and fresh acidity. If you have this in your cellar, and you are planning to let it age for a few years, I'd suggest you hide it, because it is very hard to resist. Abv. 13,5%. — 16 days ago