Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is one of the values you buy in futures in excellent vintages (2005 is) and hold it until now & the next 5 yrs for its best. Yet, will drink another 5 yrs. 2005 I believe is the best Bordeaux fruit in nearly three decades I’ve noted.

Also, this one is not to be confused with the same name Chateau that is Pomerol. Think this was around $20 on release.

If you note the Right Bank map I posted, you’ll see the region of Cotes de Castillon is an outlier region just east of St. Emilion. While a lesser region than SE, it still makes some nice wines like this one.

This bottle has been well stored for nearly 20 yrs. Cork like new with next to no wine stain on its side. One of the prettier 91’s I’ve had in memory.

The color is still deep opaque with a lighter glass edge. No brickish tones.

The nose shows ruby, floral, candied; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plum, poached strawberries & raspberry hues,, dark tarriness, black licorice, mid berry cola, steeped tea, coffee, some lead pencil, dry tobacco, dry river stone, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, light caramel with understated/layered baking spices & soft dark spices, red, dark florals framed in liquid violets.

The tannins are medium, well rounded, plush & velvety. Palate shows a more pronounced ruby quality, floral to just candied; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, poached strawberries & raspberry hues, dark tarriness, black licorice, mid berry cola, steeped tea, dry crushed limestone, moist herbs w/ a sage lead, coffee, some lead pencil, dry tobacco, dry river stone, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, charcoal w/ ash, warm, dark chocolate sliding into milk chocolate, light caramel with understated/layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin & soft dark spices, red, dark florals framed in brilliant, liquid violets, perfect acidity, balance for days, softly knitted, mid tension, very good length with an elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and long sets on gentle, mid spices and beautiful earthiness.

It is an elegant beauty. It’s a gentle, even palate tug of war with the wine & Wagyu Ribcap. 91-92 with the Ribcap. More 92 w/ the steak. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

20018 vintage. More concentration throughout than most NSG's. yet not the most delicate. A definite tradeoff. Nice to have an outlier from the region. — 3 years ago

Brent Young

9.1

I love Australian Shiraz, especially with 10+ years of age. However, this bottle was advanced more than I expected

👀Purple color with clear browning
👃Dried cherries, anise, dark chocolate with a hint of volatility
👅Same dried cherries, maybe slightly stewed, and anise/allspice. Good acidity. Was generally drinking pretty well

I have a few bottles so I will check in on another one soon to see if this was an outlier. I was expecting this to be at the front of a long drinking window. Was this a volatile acidity issue? — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2014 vintage. Excellent cork and fill. Decanted with minimal sed and tasted after 1.5 hours. One of the few outlier exceptions (Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pichon-Lalande, et al) that proves the general, big and bold, Pauillac rule. Delicate impressions from start to finish with impeccable balance. Medium body. Plenty of flavors and sensations without big, overt commitments to any of them. Playing the field and we are all the better for it. Drinking beautifully now without any perceived or obvious Scylla/Charybdis pitfalls in the next decade. 01.16.26. — 3 months ago

Allison Andersen

9.3

Great chilled — 8 months ago

Ron R

9.2

As with previous tastings, the nose comes across as compressed. Palate displays butterscotch, caramel and unusually for this producer. a hint of wet paper. Mid palate is dense and weighty with moderate sweetness and acidity. Nice citrus fruit profile with a hint of pears. Good, but I consider this bottle to be an outlier. — 2 years ago

with Anne-marie

romo

9.6

Otherworldly. An outlier in this group. Layers of deep red roses and sweet cigars. Saline mineral fruity pebbles. Wow. — 4 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

100% gewurztraminer for Oktoberfest! Half of the grapes were immediately pressed and cold fermented in stainless steel, the other half foot stomped left on skins overnight then pressed and fermented cold. Results in a wine with depth of texture and aromatic complexity that Larry Schafer considers his best to date. aBV 13.5%. Santa Barbara county fruit. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. @Somm David T has a most excellent, in-depth and recent review on this vintage and wine dated April 19, 2025 (9.3). Couldn’t agree more with his assessments. He didn’t tackle the nose because of the wine serving temp then. It had a curious 3-5 year old Condrieu super floral, super stone fruit nose. I expected and wanted more acidity; got a veritable spring garden and lighter body/less acidity. Flavors and scents constantly shifting so impossible to pigeonhole. ADD in a wine glass. First time with this producer’s white wines and sincerely wondering if this is an outlier/region specific feature or how the whites generally show. 08.22.25. — 8 months ago

Roger Ray

9.3

"This wine is dense and concentrated in a way that makes it an outlier among most Crozes wines". I should have let it cellar until 2025. — 4 years ago