Doug Powers

9.3

This wine seems finally mature, with tannins fully resolved, but still showing a firm backbone and structure, fresh acidity, very good balance, lingering finish, always a good wine for me. Funny anecdote about Sociando-Mallet, at least in the 1980s they used the worst “glue” on their labels, so about 1/3 of them fall off — as long as the bottles are in OWCs, not a big deal, but this is one where the label did fall off. 🤔🤷 — 2 days ago

with Jim

Diana Cohen

9.0

Had at chez fifi . Cherry forward, but light and not to complex in flavor profile. It’s ok — 9 days ago

Carter White

8.9

Dark fruits, graphite, round and sticky. Classic, but missing a little depth. — 12 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2017 vintage. As I just started to work at the Cave d'Arcins ( please reach out if you visit the Médoc !), I will get even more exposure to the Castel wines from their own properties, many of which I've enjoyed in the past. Château d'Arcins has been a long time favourite value wine. The 2017 is ready to drink, in a somewhat lighter style compared to the best vintages. While not as refined as the 2022 and 2019, it's still offering a bang for the buck at 13 euros. Give it 15 minutes to breathe, and enjoy a classic Haut-Médoc with a rustic old school feel about it in this vintage. A nice food wine. Abv. 13%. — a month ago

Chris MacLean

9.0

Better on days 2 and 3. A touch abrasive on day one. Best to decant. — 10 days ago

with Sarah

Tom Garland

9.3

2 hour decant. A marvelous medium garnet color (decent fine sediment). On the nose: dark berries, cassis, forest floor, sandalwood, pencil shavings, chocolate, and cigar box. Taste: layered, balanced, still young wine with dark cherry/plum, cedar, dark chocolate, charcoal, and a lingering tobacco/leather finish. YUM! No hurry, a long distance Las Cases. — 16 days ago

with Brenda

Tristan

9.5

Thanksgiving 2025. 2016 vintage, very smooth, opens nicely after 2 hours decant — 25 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1990 vintage. Bottom neck fill. Excellent cork. Decanted with appropriate sed. Slightly darker color than all the 1990 BDX I've tasted in the last year. Initial, slight funk on the nose that dissipated rapidly. Tasted immediately after decant, 1 hour and 2 hours later. Started softly but then brought out that big, Lagrange stick. Cedar, smoke, plum, leather, mercury, distilled dark cherry, summer pond mud. Displayed better balance throughout than expected with good staying power. Based on this excellent sample, will be shopping for more. Could hold in this spot for another half-decade before recalibrating. 12.5.25. — 17 days ago

Cameron Parry

9.2

Took about 2 hours to open. Dark & dried cherries. Acid still nice and firm. Tannins still going strong but clearly softer and more fine grained. Feels somewhat unbalanced - good acid, good tannin, not enough fruit. May have missed the optimal window. Still very enjoyable. Only a touch of Brett. — 15 hours ago

Mark S.

9.0

Deep cherry red. Oak vanilla clove nutmeg. black currant. Complexity. Good concentration. Gentle. 8 years 17 @7000, Mar2, 251222 — 6 hours ago