Thienpont Derenoncourt
Château Peyreau
Saint Emilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
Earth, coffee, ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, salted caramel. Full to medium-bodied with softened tannins, hyper agile on the palate. Amazing. Artwork by Stéphane Derenoncourt. — 4 years ago
Château La Prade
Côtes de Francs Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
This was one Bordeaux’s classic vintage year and the 2005 collection will be memorable. This blend by wine maker Nicolas Thienpont is full bodied and excellent. — 5 years ago
Montesquieu Winery
Derenoncourt Blend Syrah Blend 2010
This wine is just fantastic. Wish I bought two cases — 2 years ago
Nicolas Thienpont
Chateau La Prade Côtes de Francs Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
Easy drinking Bordeaux that went great with our French food, from Escargot and Duck Confit Tacos, to Chicken Dijonnaise and Scallops. It felt lighter and brighter with notes of plum and dark berries, tannins softened by acidity, slight earth with a chocolate finish. — 3 years ago
l'Hêtre
Côtes de Bordeaux Castillon Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The poor man’s Chateau Le Pin, new property by J Thienpont and 2016 is first vintage. Really good and elegant merlot with a dollop of cab franc. Fresh and balanced, hints fo dark fruits and flowers, dar and red fruits, very polished tannins. Great deal at this price point. Drink or hold. — 4 years ago
Château Pavie Macquin
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
Felt it was a good ten year in bottle check on the 08 Pavie Macquin. I wasn’t expecting the wine to blow my hair back but, I expected a little something better.
The 2008 Bordeaux growing season was one of difficult weather through August. Then, grand weather in September & October saved the vintage. Well...with this one, it likely made a bad vintage into just a good one.
The nose reveals classic Merlot based nose, nice Claret. The fruits are ripe, slightly ruby & candied but, a little dull. Blackberries, black raspberries, baked, dark cherries, black raspberries & stewed strawberries. Dark fruit cola, vanilla, black licorice, dark, rich earth, stones, touch leather, cinnamon stick, some graphite, light herbal quality with candied dark, red, & a touch fresh of blue florals framed in violets.
The body is just full & very velvety. The tension & structure are a little soft. The balance is good as is the length. However as it continues on the palate is just never pops. In fact, leaner & somewhat hollow. It lacks depth & complexity. The fruits are ripe, slightly ruby & candied but, a little dull. Blackberries, black raspberries, baked, dark cherries, black raspberries & stewed strawberries. Dark fruit cola, vanilla, black licorice, dark, rich earth, stones, soft, velvety leather, cinnamon stick, some graphite, light herbal quality with candied dark, red, & a touch fresh of blue florals framed in violets. The acidity is really nice, fresh. The finish is, soft, elegant, the same wire to wire but, just never dazzles.
I am afraid this is not showing any signs of being in a dumb phase. Nor, is it showing any earmarks that it is going to improve, just evolve.
Photos of; Chateau Pavie Macquin, signage tell you are close, Winemaker - Nicolas Thienpont & their barrel room. — 5 years ago
Château Alcée
Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2018
Dark and alluring, the 2018 Chateau Alcée from Castillon is a modern, plush Bordeaux from winemaker Nicolas Thienpont. Sporting a sensual nose of boysenberry, plum, anise and black truffle, the palate is supple and generous with rich flavours of dark chocolate and coffee liqueur. The finish is quite dry with a tug of graphite and a touch of heat. I paid £22 for this wine though it’s significantly less expensive en primeur, and I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed with a case in the cellar. — 3 years ago
Thienpont Derenoncourt
La Violette Du Manoir Grand Vin De Bordeaux 2010
Drank 10/13/20.
Nose on the light to medium side with plum, gravel, and fig. Black fruit and soil dominate the palate. Tannins mostly resolved at this stage. Finish is dry and falls off a bit quickly. Drink up, as this will not improve further.
3/21/8/4/3 +50 = 89 pts. — 4 years ago
Delectable Wine
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The 2019 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 23 after light showers the previous day. "We dared to add some Cabernet Sauvignon in 2019, which gives complexity," Alexandre Thienpont remarks, "but the Cabernet was 'killed' in 2020." It has a much more discrete bouquet than the 2018, unfolding with truffle-tinged black fruit. There are fewer marmalade scents than I noticed a couple of years ago, but there is absolutely stunning delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, like a cousin of the superlative 2016 in many ways, but it may be silkier towards the finish. Elegant yet paradoxically intense, this is VCC at full flight. And it's only on its opening pages! Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 5 months ago