JKT

9.1

Elegance 12% ABV. — 3 months ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.5

Light Golden color, apricot, jasmine, and peach compote. Complex with a long finish and string of acid throughout. Just Divine. Hard to imagine Alsace gets much better than this ! — a year ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Another big boi from this producer. Obviously uses at least a significant proportion of partially dried grapes. Fairly saturated color. Nose is rather subdued, reluctantly giving up scents of leather, underbrush, crushed rock, and dark cherry underneath all of that non-fruit stuff. In the mouth, it’s big, with initial slightly bitter, extracted notes. Tannic. Dissimilar from straight Valpos in its size and austerity. Dissimilar from Ripasso-style Valpos in that the fruit is not especially ripe or sweetish. It will go well with our stuffed shells in red sauce, but is a little challenging on its own. It occurs to me that this might fit in well in a tasting of 2017s from the left bank in Bordeaux. In other words, very atypical for a Valpo. Still, it’s pretty good, as long as you don’t harbor any expectations of typicity.

UPDATE: two nights later (using a vacuum closure), this has actually improved. Kind of amazing for a Valpo of this age. The fruit has moved closer to front-and-center, and it seem a bit more Calpo-like, though it’s still pretty large-framed. Upping score from 8.8 to 9.0. — 2 years ago

Justin Sun

9.2

Nose was divine. Tannins seem to indicate past its prime — 3 years ago

Jill M

9.0

Soft, medium acidity, light citrus, very refreshing. Divine with cacio e pepe. — 4 years ago

with Dave

Jeff

9.5

Wonderful notes of breadiness with underlying notes of lemon and almond. Finishes divine! — 5 years ago

Galen Antle

9.0

Tasted blind...initially very tannic but settled down after a few minutes (or my palate was subdued into compliance). Elegant notes of dark, tart red fruit and earthy spices. Black pepper and smoke complimented the finish, which was tart but appropriate and enjoyable. I was surprised on the age but in hindsight this was a good thing, as the tannin has mellowed enough to allow for the fruit to really come through. Overall a very well done wine. Nice job Jean-Luc! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Last bottles from a 6-pack. I had two bottles that were sadly riddled with EA, but the other four were sound.

This was one of the wines I served for my annual WWC hosting. All wines served blind.

65 semillon/ 34 Sauvignon Blanc/ 1 Muscadelle

Always love these, more so than most domestic Bordeaux Blanc style white wines, mostly because of the texture. Straw color in the glass. Quite the tropical aromatics (white peach, mango) but it’s not overpowering. The barrel ferment is apparent with the rounded profile on the palate…the vein of acidity that was there a few years ago is fading, so this showed even more opulent than normal. Honeyed lemon, guava, orange blossom but a backbone of sea salt and herbs snap the structure in place to show nice balance and a nod to Bordeaux. I’d recommend popping now and over the next couple years to enjoy the freshness. — 6 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Cantegril – Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle / 2019
AOC Barsac – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A Grand Vin de Sauternes crafted by the Dubourdieu family in Barsac, this 2019 vintage blends the region’s classics: Sémillon dominant, Sauvignon Blanc, and a touch of Muscadelle. Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) weaves its magic here, concentrating sugars and intensifying aromas.

Aromas & Flavors
Lush notes of apricot, candied orange peel, and pineapple rise from the glass, layered with honey, acacia blossom, and a hint of saffron. The sweetness is deeply expressive but never cloying.

Mouthfeel
Silky and opulent, yet balanced by Barsac’s hallmark freshness and mineral tension. A luscious golden core with excellent length, pure heaven in a glass.

Food Pairings
Perfect with Roquefort, foie gras, or blue cheeses, but equally divine alongside fruit tarts, crème brûlée, or spicy Asian cuisine. For a daring contrast, try with fried chicken.

Verdict
2019 Château Cantegril is heaven on earth, an elegant and classic Barsac that shows the Dubourdieu family’s mastery. A wine that proves Sauternes and Barsac remain unmatched when it comes to liquid gold.

Did You Know?
Barsac AOC wines can legally be labeled either “Barsac” or “Sauternes.” Château Cantegril is often described as one of the “entry gates” to the Dubourdieu family’s sweet wine heritage, offering top quality at a more approachable level than their Château Doisy-Daëne.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: This is one of those wines that makes you stop mid-sip and smile, it’s just that magical. — a year ago

Dawn Allain

9.6

Amy Spiess allowed me to experience this divine wone — 3 years ago

Madeline Micek

9.5

Pink, not white? — 5 years ago

Jennifer Massolo

9.3

Purchased this bottle at Chateau Beaucastle in 2011. It was divine last night. — 6 years ago

Jennifer

9.5

I am strong. I am sexy. I am smart. AND this wine is divine. Smooth as silk. Happy bday to me. Lobster tails and this bad boy going down well. 🤤 — 8 years ago

John Davidson

9.7

This is the best bottle of wine I’ve had from my cellar in years. Nearly perfect. Bought it in 2008 for $30 and one of my great finds. Good lord it was just divine. I’m sure there have been better vintages but I can’t imagine it. — 7 months ago

Bryan Mooney

9.5

Fruity like melon — a year ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.6

Wow 🤩 - Deep gold color. Aromas of burnt honey, pineapple, dried apricot, passion fruit and eucalyptus. Simply divine on the palate - orange, apricot and dried fruit.

🏅 100 Points - Wine Advocate
🏅100 Points - James Suckling
🏅98 Points - Wine Enthusiast
— 2 years ago

with Quentin

Kevin Dale

9.4

Divine Cab — 2 years ago

Severn G

9.4

Notes are cumbersome, so no notes today but plus side, scores are honest and I should be a professional reviewer, LOL. (This wine was crazy, one of the best Gamay I've had...)

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this final afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is leading IVES (Psalm 90) and BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125).

After a two-year pause, we arrive again to the day when Beethoven concludes on these hallowed grounds. The 9th by Beethoven is always bittersweet for us, as it marks the end of the official Symphony and Pops season for the BSO at their Summer home. It is a wonderful and singularly emotive piece moved with the full force of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (110+) conveying the message of a divine spark of joy that makes all people one. The music and the day almost bring me to tears on an annual basis...
'Freude, schöner Götterfunken!' / 'Joy, beauteous, godly spark!' — 4 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.5

This is divine and ready to be drunk. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.6

This Pessac-Léognan is my favourite next to Pape Clement & not being able to afford Haut-Brion 😁 Still not cheap @ £115-£130 now, but it’s worth it as a treat 👍 It just keeps getting better & better but is already divine 😍

🏵 96 points w/ more potential

🍇 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc & 1% Petit Verdot

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Cracked minerals & smashed pencil lead through spiced black berry/currant, damson & blueberry in soft char-smoked oak w/ mocha grounds, gravel, liquorice lashings & a minty hinty

👄 Med+ rich dark plummy silky smooth body of gloopy blackcurrant & dark plum in chewy liquorice & creamy mocha goo w/ a mineral punch

🎯 Long dark gooey fruity plummy sticky liquorice linger w/ mocha & mineral ka-pow — 8 years ago