Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2018 vintage. This was still made under the CA ( Crédit Agricole) ownership. In 2019 the estate, together with La Tour de Mons, was sold to Nathalie Perrodo, who is doing a great job at Labégorce and Marquis d'Alesme. There seems to be historical evidence that the wines of (what was later called) Marsac Séguineau were considered fifth growth quality pre 1855, but it wasn't classified because of the very small production and the fragmentation of the vineyards. The Château was only constructed in 1886. Bordeaux is a fascinating region, not only for wine aficionados, but also for history lovers. In any case, this is already a delicious wine, exhibiting the famous Margaux elegance, without lacking power. Very good value too. I hope to find some recent vintages soon, as I expect the wines to progress under the new ownership. Abv. 14%. — 3 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Cantemerle 2023 – Haut-Médoc, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully expressive Left Bank blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 71%, Merlot 18%, Petit Verdot 7%, and Cabernet Franc 4% that delivers immediate charm while retaining classic Haut-Médoc structure and aging potential. The wine shows vibrant fruit purity, polished tannins, and a well-judged touch of oak, making it approachable young yet capable of evolving gracefully over the coming decade.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and plum layered with subtle cedar, vanilla spice, graphite, and a gentle floral lift. Fresh berry brightness carries through the palate, framed by light savory notes and a refined oak accent that enhances rather than dominates.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with supple texture and finely integrated tannins. Juicy, energetic entry with excellent balance between fruit concentration and freshness. Smooth mid-palate flow and a clean, persistent finish that stays lively and inviting.

Food Pairings
Grilled steak, roast chicken, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, charcuterie boards, aged Gruyère or Comté, and classic bistro fare. A versatile table wine that shines across a wide range of savory dishes.

🍷 Personal Pick
Cantemerle never disappoints, this is pure drinking pleasure wrapped in Bordeaux elegance. Juicy, polished, and instantly enjoyable, yet grounded with just enough structure to remind you why Haut-Médoc remains timeless. A perfect bottle when you want serious pedigree without serious effort.

Did You Know?
Château Cantemerle is classified as a Fifth Growth in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification and is known for producing some of the most consistently approachable and age-worthy wines of the Médoc, often offering outstanding value relative to its pedigree. — 5 months ago

ESF

9.2

2nd label but still pretty classy: tons of character & Left Bank flair: cherries & red currants, cigar box, vanilla, cassis, some herbaceousness, palate was delicious w/red fruit & cassis galore, silky, finely integrated tannins, nice weight and balance. Length on finish is the only giveaway this is not classified growth. Overdelivers for price point. Safeway Steal — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2020 vintage. A rather obscure Grand Cru Classé Saint-Emilion, but it has been classified since the start of the classification in 1955. 27 hectares in one big plot, organically farmed. Hubert de Bouard consults since 2009. Merlot and Cabernet Franc with tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. A solid effort with an attractive floral nose, good fruit concentration, soft tannin and a distinctive mineral finish. Terrific value. Abv 14%. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind. The wine appears deep garnet with an opaque core. There appears to be a slight amount of sediment but otherwise no visual signs of age. On the nose, a beguiling mix of black, blue and red fruits with a pronounced hit of tobacco, green bell pepper, purple flowers, earth and baking space. On the palate, the wine is dry with very firm tannin that I would place in the medium++ category. Medium+ acid. The fruit set is confirmed along with the aforementioned non-fruit characteristics with some leather and earth for good measure. The finish very long and rich. While there is an undeniable amount of high quality fruit, I felt the non-fruit characteristics and the structure leaned more towards the old world. I called 2008 Paulliac from a classified growth. I didn’t even think about Australia! Anyway, this was awesome and came across almost youthful! I’ve long admired Roman’s work with Syrah…and now I know I’ve been sleeping on his Cabernet. This wine will continue to drink well for another decade+. — 4 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

#viellesvignes #bourgognerouge Scored this bottle at a Houston restaurant at a decent retail price. Case labeling suggests Gevrey-Chambertin but the grapes are clearly classified only as Burgundy red - nevertheless a delicious Pinot Noir - cherry pie filling, raspberry preserves and baking spice, cinnamon aromas. Taste rolls into rich red fruit, some GC power and moderate tension rolling into robust tannins on a long finish. Pairing with moderately spicy Moroccan Tagine-style chicken thighs with Israeli couscous was as magnificent as you can imagine - cinnamon and baking spice throughout. — 5 years 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

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2022 Mathilde. This is made from the vineyards of La Fleur Morange that are not classified as Grand Cru Classé. A beautiful wine in its own right that is hard to beat for value for money. — 9 months ago

Conner Esworthy

8.9

2016. $22.5 This producer ages its wines to the maximum maturity, that is, just before it would be classified as a different variety (reserva vs gran reserva) - and you can taste it! This at 9 years had significant secondary notes - lots of stewed fruits, some leather and funk. Almost a little too sweet, drank like a port, but balanced out over time. — a year ago

Deborah M

9.3

“Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased.” John Steinbeck

Wine - it can take you places. Last night reminiscing about recent Paris travels so I pulled this beaute to enjoy with a friend. @55Seventy

Chateau La Lagune is located in the appellation of Haut-Medoc. This House was classified as a Third Growth in 1855. It was sold to the Frey family in 2000. The winemaker/owner, Caroline Frey, produced her first vintage in 2004. Her wines are described as having finesse, elegance and harmony. The 2010 is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot.
— 4 years ago

ESF

9.5

Creme de la Creme of South America right here, aristocratic, reminiscent of properly aged, classified growth Left Bank… all the aromas & flavors - seamless, harmonious, generous and at its zenith. Paired w/birthday dinner of roast leg of lamb — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Such a beautiful, fruity, spicy, earthy, savory, gamy, Southern Rhône blend from Château Pégau... 🍇 🍷

I love that this wine represents a free expression from the winemaker, who pursued this wine in an unrestricted manner (it’s a Vin de France), given the vineyard location and blends of varieties and vintages involved. It’s made organically.

It’s a non-classified wine which opens the door to creativity and ingenuity. The winemaker @laurenceferaud referred to this wine as a “little brother” of #chateauneufdupape and my goodness I adore it 🥰 👏👏👏

I bought this wine at @sunfishcellars and attended the wine tasting with winemakers Laurence Feraud and @justineferaud moderated by @hoythill2011 🙏🙏🙏

Plan Pégau, Red Blend, including Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, among others. Vintages include 2014-16.
ABV 14.5%.

Available @sunfishcellars for $19.99. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Doug Powers

9.1

Initially pretty closed, cedar and some woody (oak) notes, fruit is mature, tannic structure has receded, medium-long finish, very good if a tad rustic, but lacks the depth of better classified growths. — 6 years ago

with Jim

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc 2023 — Pessac-Léognan, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A precision-driven, electric yet composed white blend of Sauvignon Blanc 79% · Sémillon 21% delivering razor-clean acidity, layered citrus tension, and mineral depth that instantly reconfirms a deep love for Pessac-Léognan whites. Vibrant, energetic, and beautifully balanced, this wine stands shoulder-to-shoulder with many of the top benchmark whites of the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon zest, grapefruit pith, white peach, green apple, crushed stone, subtle smoke, fresh herbs, faint vanilla, and delicate oak spice.

Mouthfeel
Bright, linear acidity with excellent tension and drive. Medium-bodied, sleek and polished, showing freshness without sharpness and a long, mouthwatering finish.

Food Pairings
Grilled branzino or halibut, lemon-herb chicken, goat cheese crostini, sushi and sashimi, scallops with citrus beurre blanc, spring vegetable risotto.

Verdict
A serious, high-class white delivering energy, clarity, and complexity in perfect harmony. Confident, compelling, and dangerously drinkable already while clearly capable of further evolution. A reminder of why Pessac-Léognan whites remain world-class benchmarks.

Did You Know?
Malartic-Lagravière is one of the rare estates classified for both red and white wines in Graves, with a strong focus on precision vineyard management and restrained oak to preserve freshness and terroir expression.

🍷 Personal Pick
This bottle effortlessly showcases balance, tension, and layered nuance that hits exactly my sweet spot, a reaffirmation of my deep love for Pessac-Léognan whites and now firmly seated among my newest favorites. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Château Chauvin – Grand Cru Classé 2010
Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux – France 🇫🇷
Blend: 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Overview
A Grand Cru Classé estate on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, Château Chauvin’s 2010 vintage reflects both the power of the year and the estate’s Merlot-driven finesse. (Educational note: Saint-Émilion’s Right Bank wines are often Merlot-heavy, offering richness, depth, and long-lived structure.)

Aromas & Flavors
Plum, blackberry, and cassis at the core, layered with violet, graphite, and cigar box. Secondary notes of cedar, spice, and earthy mineral tones hint at complexity yet to fully unfold.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and concentrated, with tightly woven tannins. Decanted for over 2 hours yet still showing a firm grip — tannins remain punishing but promising. Intense fruit lingers into a long, structured finish.

Food Pairings
Best with ribeye steak, braised short ribs, or lamb shank. Also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses and truffle-infused dishes.

Verdict
An impactful, ageworthy Saint-Émilion. The 2010 Chauvin is both delicious and intense, a wine that needs time but already impresses with power and complexity. 🍷

Did You Know?
2010 was one of Bordeaux’s most celebrated vintages of the 21st century, known for firm tannins, high concentration, and exceptional aging potential — especially on the Right Bank.

Collector’s Rarity 📌
As a classified Grand Cru Classé from an iconic vintage, the 2010 Chauvin is highly collectible, with decades of life ahead. — 9 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2017 vintage. One of the rare non-classified Saint-Juliens. A very successful wine for a vintage that was a mixed bag, but also underrated for the good wines. Black fruits and a hint of vanilla, medium-bodied, juicy, and fresh, with velvety tannins and good length. One of the best vintages for Teynac! Nice value too. Well worth seeking out. Abv. 13%. — 2 years ago

Peter Cernicky

9.0

I'm not much fan of Prosecco but this one is great. Lot of crispy bubbles, fruity, although it's classified as extra dry I would say it's more towards brut. Nice experience. I would say best prosecco I drunk so far. — 4 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on August 7, 2021 at Home]

Purchased during 2015 visit to the winery. Wine is classified as Smaragd (at least 12.5% ABV), which are the ripest grapes in the Wachau and which have good aging potential. Wine is from the Kellerberg vineyard, which steeply rises behind the winery, and is bottled at 13.5% ABV. Peach, apricot, petrol and mineral on the nose. Lemon, white peach, petrol and mineral, with a yeasty note. — 5 years ago

Iwan

9.0

Beautiful Tempranillo blend. Not classified as a Ribera del Duero, but you sure had me fooled. — 5 years ago

Megan Kricsfeld

8.9

Enjoyable sauv blanc, peach-forward, but not in a sweet way. Easy to drink. Could be classified as a "patio pounder". — 5 years ago