Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Vieux Château Palon – 2021
Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOC – Right Bank, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinctive Right Bank Bordeaux, this cuvée flips the classic Merlot-dominant Saint-Émilion script. Instead, it is crafted from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, making it unusually bold, structured, and aromatically lifted for the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and cassis dominate, with graphite, cedar, and tobacco leaf from the Cabernets. Subtle violet and peppery notes emerge from the Franc.

Mouthfeel
Firm tannins, medium-plus body, and a long, savory finish. More muscular and linear than many Montagne-Saint-Émilions, leaning toward Left Bank style but with Right Bank elegance.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops with rosemary, cassoulet, duck confit, aged Comté or Tomme de Savoie cheeses.

Verdict
An atypical but fascinating Montagne-Saint-Émilion that highlights Cabernet structure over Merlot plushness. For those who love Pauillac or Saint-Julien, this bottle is a bridge into the Right Bank world. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Montagne-Saint-Émilion is one of the four “satellite” appellations of Saint-Émilion, known for offering excellent value Bordeaux reds. Few estates here lean so heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes Palon stand out stylistically. — 22 minutes ago

Jol

9.2

37 ans Moins de nez mais suave et profond — 2 months ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.1

GSM that is 67 percent Grenache and 22 percent Syrah. Lots of fruit makes this delightful. May 2025. — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Medium Ruby color with aromas of ripe black and red fruits and smoky spice. On the palate flavors of cherry, plums and ripe red berries with herb, licorice and smoky pepper spice. Fine soft tannins with, medium+ finish ending with fruit, mushroom, tobacco and earthy notes. — 16 days ago

JKT

9.1

Wow aged nicely. Minerals floral notes followed by firm biting texture laced with mature fruit notes and long finish. — 2 months ago

romo

9.1

Sixteen-year south Rhône white with staying power. — 4 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Nose is minty and spicey. Palate is deep and rich with terrific mineral spine and wonderful structure. Ripe but substantial tannin. Nose has notes of ripe plum, peanuts and a saline element. Really good energy and depth. Not the most elegant wine but this has tremendous material and its own grace and charm. This needs air but I really like it. — 6 months ago

Charlie Tapp

9.2

Strawberry, red candy, plum and eucalyptus. Feminine and polished.

Drink now. — 10 days ago

Doug Powers

9.2

A little orange bricking on the edge, this lovely aromatic 25-year-old Chateauneuf seems mature and ready to drink, still shows lively acidity which nicely lifts the red fruited flavors, good weight, lingering finish, should pair beautifully with the bison ribeye I will soon be grilling!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

romo

9.0

Not as deliberately oxidative, but still too oxidative to be Chablis. — 5 months ago