Jay Kline

9.4

I always get excited when there’s a bottle of Calon-Ségur open. Classic Saint-Estèphe and, to my palate, these wines consistently deliver what I want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. I believe this bottle was double-decanted prior to service. The 1988 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with winsome notes of ripe, tart and dried fruits: cassis, mixed brambles, pencil shaving’s, tobacco, capsicum, a whiff of horse blanket, gravelly earth and a mix of herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. I absolutely love it. This is the picture of Bordeaux in the dictionary. Drink now through 2048+. — 4 days ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.0

needs much more cellar-time…90+ — 3 months ago

Ming L

9.4

The nose opens with waves of ripe black cherry, cassis, plum liqueur, and dark chocolate Beneath the opulence lies impressive complexity with hints of espresso, violets, and peppery spice emerge gradually with air. The palate is dense and supple, showing warmth and generosity. Plenty of nuance beneath the lavish fruit.

Possibly the best value for a St-Emilion GCC. Will need to seek out more. — 5 months ago

Chris MacLean

9.1

More focused than the 2015 as you might expect. Integrated butterscotch and rocks. — 8 months ago

with Sarah

Thomas Hillskog

9.1

Peak maturity now better than 2 and 4 years ago. Still fruity but with more complexity an soft tannins. — 9 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.3

Lovely light Provençal Rosé. Light strawberry flavor with some vanilla. Perfect with light mild fish. . — 2 years ago

Kyle Davidson

9.6

Wow great texture and balance across the board, fruit and earth, acidity and ripeness, tannins firm but fair, also last glass was great on day 3 — 5 days ago

Rob Krapf

9.0

At Hawksmoor New York — 10 days ago

with Darlene

Paul J

9.2

PnP. Solid. Fairly complex with good fruit and terroir. Nothing that really wowed me. — 3 months ago

with Brooke

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2016 | True to type Sauternes | paired with apple crumble — 7 months ago

Andy@andyberke.com

8.9

Solid. Some terroir — 9 months ago

David Dorn

8.9

Solid value here — 9 months ago

Alanna coby

10

Light and lovely, very easy to drink! No oakiness at all. — 4 years ago

Philip Dobrin

9.3

Come back In 7 years — 6 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (47%), Merlot (46%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (2%). Dark ruby color with a slight garnet rim. Aromas of ripe blue and black fruit, graphite, violets, light oak and crushed gravel. Flavors of black cherry/berry/currant fruit, blueberries, tobacco and savory herbs. Touch of spice on the medium-plus length savory finish. Medium bodied and softened tannins. Bright acidity and well balanced. — a day ago

K L

8.9

Ok but nothing super great. Kurt club wine. — a month ago

with Matt

Michael Bontà

9.5

Clear pale salmon. Medium + intensity on the nose with strawberry, blood orange, geranium leaf, pink grapefruit, tomato leaf, white peach. On the palate dry, medium + acidity, medium + intensity medium body, long finish and medium alcohol with notes of grapefruit, red cherry, grass, white peach and something plastic that I can't quite identify but isn't undesirable. Outstanding wine and fun to drink on its own without food. Creamy and sophisticated — 3 months ago

Michael Amoruso

9.2

2018 vintage. Cooked pineapple. Toasted coconut. Dry lemon curd. Just sweet enough. — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château La Tour de Bessan Margaux 2022 — Margaux, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Left Bank blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon · 30% Merlot · 5% Petit Verdot (estate typically varies slightly by vintage) delivering structure, elegance, and aromatic finesse. Great frame and graphite tension coming from the Cab Sauv., mid-palate polish thanks to Merlot, and liked how Petit Verdot brings subtle spice and color depth. A beautifully traditional, unclassified Margaux that punches above its weight.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, blackberry, cassis, violet, pencil shavings, cedar, light tobacco, and crushed stone. Fruit stays fresh and pure with delicate floral lift typical of the appellation.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with polished, fine-grained tannins. Dry, linear, and elegant rather than powerful. Balanced acidity keeps everything lifted and graceful with a clean, savory finish.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken with herbs, grilled lamb chops, duck breast, mushroom risotto, lentils, Comté or aged goat cheese. A very food-friendly claret.

Verdict
Proof that Margaux elegance doesn’t require classified growth pricing. Refined, honest, and beautifully composed. Delicious now with air, but easily cellar-worthy for 6–10 years.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is my kind of “weekday Bordeaux”, structured yet graceful, polished without heaviness. The sort of bottle that quietly disappears over dinner because everything just clicks.

Did You Know?
La Tour de Bessan is run by Marie-Laure Lurton (of the Lurton family estates) and is known for crafting textbook, terroir-driven Margaux expressions that emphasize finesse over extraction. — 9 months ago

Laura Snider

9.4

Apple. Very clean. A lot of bubbles. Yum! — 6 years ago