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. — a month ago

Michael Amoruso

9.2

2018 vintage. Cooked pineapple. Toasted coconut. Dry lemon curd. Just sweet enough. — 3 months ago

Ming L

9.3

The nose is a tapestry of ripe plum, cedar, and smoky graphite, with a vivid burst of crème de cassis and violets. The palate is plush and sleek, offering concentrated blackberry and earthy notes framed by suave tannins. Finish is long and savoury.

Purchased at around $40. What a value! — 4 months ago

Billy L.

9.2

PNP 2018 Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻 — 5 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. — 5 months ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Very packed and dense. Sweet edges. Violet and tart cherry. Pure and good but needs time — 8 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Jen Landon

8.9

I liked it a lot — a month ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2016 | True to type Sauternes | paired with apple crumble — 3 months ago

romo

9.3

Called St Joe Syrah. Fig and plum smoke, beautiful balance. Took this home. — 4 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Love the vintage for Fourrier. 09 Cherbaudes is in a terrific place, showing substantial richness and power with wild red berry and earthy aromatics and a deep, concentrated palate with a lengthy mineral finish. While I prefer the more elegant and detailed Combe aux Moines in this vintage, Cherbaudes is quite delicious and very showy now. — 5 months ago

Andy@andyberke.com

8.9

Solid. Some terroir — 5 months ago

Thomas Hillskog

9.1

Peak maturity now better than 2 and 4 years ago. Still fruity but with more complexity an soft tannins. — 5 months ago

Joaquin Martinez

8.9

Great wine. Definitely worth trying again but I felt this was a bit one dimensional. A lot of pear, white fruit and slight apple, brioche and with slight acidity and but didn't change much after. I tried in 2025 so its 17 years old so maybe its past its peak or its waning but its my first wine of this age so maybe i need to try more. Either way, it's a delicious wine — 7 months ago

romo

9.3

Capt crunchy red fruit and gravelly driveway. The tannins are out of my league. - at Laurelhurst — 2 months ago

Kath Rt

9.0

nice acidity… bitter notes?…fruity…fresh — 3 months ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Dark fruits, iodine, iron, mineral, this has such great balance and depth, this is really outstanding, our WOTN!! — 4 months ago

with Monique, Jim and 2 others

Chris MacLean

9.1

More focused than the 2015 as you might expect. Integrated butterscotch and rocks. — 4 months ago

with Sarah

Taavi Davies

9.1

Ok too young and we knew it, but the quality is already showing — 5 months ago

Peter Heyboer

9.0

Wish I could decant this. Oak on the nose, but it hints at the fruit and tobacco/chocolate you're about to taste. Palate has noticeable but not assertive tannins and blends really nicely with the aforementioned flavors. Paired well with dinner but this feels like a pre-dinner sipper. Would buy again. — 5 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

JKT

9.1

Yup a new one to me and it’s well proportioned and lively on palate with well aged ripe fruits and earthy. Tasty! — 7 months ago