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. — 12 days ago

Joe Catanese

9.1

Drinking great right now. Great N. Rhône value from Kermit Lynch. — 3 years ago

Serge Mismetti

9.1

Q/P de fou !! Moins de 11€ chez mon caviste et tout y est ! — 4 years ago

Ericsson

9.2

It is said Cesar drank wine from vines at this place ~400 AD. — a month ago

Carlo Maria Rossotto

9.0

Nice Saint-Emilion to celebrate my place in Montesson. Paired it with Polenta Valsugana, with Gorgonzola, Mascarpone and Chèvre — 2 years ago

Jessie Lee

9.6

Near perfection 👩🏻‍🍳🤌🏼 #chefskiss — 4 years ago

Christy

9.4

Somm. Pear, honeysuckle, grapefruit, passion fruit, lime, lemon, crushed rock. Peaked Spring 2020. — 5 years 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

John Tan

9.0

Ovenbird w M and Ritchie. Mineral. Textured. Fresh. Paired well w ankimo.

The 2012 Condrieu Coteaux du Chery, which comes from one of the most heralded sites in the appellation, is also brilliant (as is his 2011!). The most rich and textured of the lineup, it offers thrilling notes of white peach, crushed rock, buttered grapefruit, flowers and tangerine to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered, yet brilliantly fresh and detailed texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. It too will drink nicely for 4-5 years. I had a fabulous visit with proprietor Andre Perret at his cellar located just north of Chavanay. Soft spoken, charming and generous, he runs an immaculate cellar and releases up to three Condrieus in a vintage. In addition to his whites, he fashions elegant, almost Burgundian-styled reds from Saint Joseph that warrant more attention. RP95 — 3 years ago

Angelo Casagrande

8.9

Soft, fruity, fragrant with just the minor green pepper distraction from the cab franc. I liked it more than I anticipated. Maybe cause it coat-tailed on my grilled lamb chops, which were perfecto. — 4 years ago