The 2004 Ausone has a mature bouquet with brambly red fruit, marmalade, leather and touches of cooked meat. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a little dry and more savory than expected. I feel there is something a little passé about this Ausone, indicative of the time when wines were being pushed a little hard and frankly, I much prefer more recent vintages (including the 2023 tasted alongside). (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 5 months ago
Reliable, delicious, and reasonable. Slightly on the fruitier end of the Bordeaux spectrum - gorgeous blackberry, plum and cassis, balanced by delicious chocolate, exotic tobacco, and good spice. Good acidity provides incredible length. Always amazing for the price. — 8 months ago
Drinking way above its $ right now — a year ago
This is a great value in a CDR that tastes the way CDRs used to taste before global warming. Nose has lots of spicy dark berry fruit, and loads of assorted roasted green herbs and minerally, earthy notes. It’s bright and intense on the palate. Just ripe enough, not jammy at all. Tons of clingy, savory elements. Soft textured, with good acidity. More please! — a month ago
The 2004 Léoville Las Cases has a noticeable mintiness on the nose that actually complements the red fruit, though it deviates away from what you might call Saint-Julien typicité. After ten minutes, it coheres with ash and black tea aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded texture on the entry. The 2004 shows fine acidity and is lightly spiced with cracked black pepper towards the finish. A little conservative, but it acquits itself well considering the vintage. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 5 months ago
The 2013 Lafleur has an almost Left Bank nose: tobacco and graphite scents misleading you towards perhaps Saint-Julien! At least there is decent freshness. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, light for Lafleur but well-balanced with an attractive, harmonious and peppery finish. This Pomerol ends on a high note, though it will never be regarded as a "great Lafleur". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— a year ago
Excellent, well balanced, not too dry and not too sweet — 3 months ago
The 2004 Montrose has a slightly rustic bouquet but is quite charming. It offers mainly red fruit, bacon fat, undergrowth and peaty scents, which are very Saint-Estèphe in style. The palate is medium-bodied with melted tannins. It is savory and a little dry, especially towards the finish, though there is good weight, and it is well balanced. Perfect to drink now. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 5 months ago
The 2016 Canon has a clean and fresh nose. The fruit profile is a mixture of red and black with just a hint of black truffle and licorice (the latter a trait that I had not picked up before). The palate is medium-bodied with finer tannins than the bottle four years ago, has a little more assertiveness and grip in situ, and is perhaps firmer and prepared for long-term maturation. It's precise on the finish. I would give this another few years in bottle. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
Martijn
This is why they call it Oysterwater combining with fresh oysters at the sea in Cancale.
Life can be hard sometimes. — a month ago