Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Léoville Barton 2023 – Saint-Julien, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Saint-Julien expression showing clarity, harmony, and structural polish, driven by a 77% Cabernet Sauvignon–led blend with 20% Merlot Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc as a support. The wine balances ripe fruit concentration with restraint, delivering precision, finesse, and a seamless flow from attack through finish.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, red plum, cassis, graphite, cedar, subtle baking spice, crushed stone, light tobacco and gentle floral lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with finely woven tannins, excellent balance, fresh integrated acidity, supple texture, and a long, graceful finish that feels effortless rather than forceful.

Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb, roasted duck breast, grilled filet mignon, mushroom risotto, aged Comté or Gruyère.

Verdict
An elegant, dependable Saint-Julien that delivers purity, structure, and drinking pleasure without excess. Refined, polished, and quietly authoritative, a wine that rewards both immediate enjoyment and patient cellaring.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the kind of wine that wins through composure and precision rather than horsepower. Easy to enjoy today, yet layered enough to keep you leaning back into the glass. Subtle sophistication done right. — 5 months ago

Lauren Golanty

9.1

The 2011, absurdly good, the structure was woven and perfect, and the combination of red fruit and richness and earthiness was absolutely heaven.  — 2 years ago

David Kline

9.3

Tons to unwind here. Black and green olives, clay and uncooked peat, multi grain bread, pecan, black sesame, mushroom fricassee, grilled filet with beurre blanc and jus. Sage, mint, and tarragon. All cohesively woven together; immaculate. That’s just the nose. Graphite and oak pencil the initial signature, which delineates the oeuvre. The cherry life cycle, from underripe to dried expressed in black and red; still-grainy tannins supporting. Raspberry tart, briary berrries. Rooibos tea, cinnamon and clove. Impeccable.



#chateaulafonrochet #lafonrochet #saintestephe #grandcruclasséde1855 #2001bordeaux #bordeauxrouge #leftbank #misenbouteilleauchateau — 3 years ago

Carter Pelham

9.7

Shared with close friends - everyone’s first Monte Bello, and a great one at that.

Took this bottle out to share at a local fine dining establishment, to pour it blind for our friends. Wrapped neatly in foil. We get seated and explain to our waiter. “The bottle MAY be a little bit older so take care with the cork,” I said, not wanting to give away the age to our friends. He proceeds to break the cork about halfway down, right through. No big deal. He’s a younger guy and I think a little flustered, he goes off to get assistance.

Comes back with another server. As the guy walks back up, I say “Thanks for helping us with our mystery bottle”, clueing him in on the idea that there’s a reason that we have it wrapped in foil. “Would have been nice to know it was an older vintage wine,” he replied brusquely. Ok… Server 2 digs around for a bit with an ah-so before punching the cork into the drink. Oh well. None of us are really phased by this, it happens.

They grab a strainer from the bar. Server 2 starts pouring at a decanter and immediately the first glass or so just goes everywhere on the table. I start to die inside. He remains silent. Gets on target with the rest of the bottle, finishing pouring, and says “Your 2004 Ridge Cabernet”, purposefully ruining the blind tasting, I guess. Walks away without another word, leaving his mortified coworker to clean up his mess and apologize.

This actually happened. On to the wine:

Beautiful medium opacity ruby with no browning.

Smells like a Pauillac on the nose. Blackcurrants, blackberry, black licorice, slight graphite, and damp tobacco. As the night goes on it reveals dill, vanilla, buttered toast, and slight dry woodsy notes.

The wine is surprisingly light in body, very much a claret. The tannins are silky, finely woven, and extremely integrated. The main thing we notice on the palate is that the wine is so perfectly integrated it is a little difficult to pull individual notes out of it. Expansive over the palate without being weighty. The finish is forever.

A memorable evening. — 5 years ago

with Linh and Sarah

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Medium Ruby with aromas of rich ripe fruits, spice and cola notes. On the palate flavors of crushed red cherries and cranberries with touches of forest floor and oak coming through with time in the glass. Medium-bodied, long finish with concentrated, spicy fruits, well-woven tannins and juicy acidity on refreshing oaky finish. Nice! — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2015 Bodegas San Roman Toro is another sensational release from this storied property in the Toro region. Toro saw very high heat spikes in 2015 so it is not surprising to see this massive wine weighing in at 14.5% alcohol. Needing a one hour hour decant, after some air this beautiful wine slowly unveils gorgeous aromatic range from black tea and Asian spices that mingle with notes of milk chocolate covered red cherry and tobacco leaf that are all marvelously woven together in the glass. The texture is soft and sumptuous, giving this wine a hedonistic edge. Suggestions of black forest cake and sweet pipe tobacco fill the palate, deftly mingling with minerals and peat moss tones. This finishes exceedingly long with dark fruits and minerals. While this is a delight to savor in its youth, the 2015 San Roman has both the acidity and stuffing to cellar well for the next twenty years. Drink 2020-2035- 94 — 7 years ago

Ming L

9.2

A refined bouquet of blackberry, blackcurrant, and forest floor, accented by hints of violet and cedar. Beautifully proportioned medium-to-full body, offering a supple texture and finely woven tannins. Finely balanced.

This second wine of Gazin has grown since I tasted it 4 years ago but remains youthful. Need to try the grand vin. — 8 months ago

Ameilia Douglas

9.6

2014 vintage. Lovely nose with cherry and plum full body. 14.5% alcohol content is visible but well woven into the structure. Lingering beautifully a minute after tasting. Strong tannin structure, 5+ years to go. Three hour decanting to fully experience the bouquet. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Solid classically styled Bordeaux. Dark currents, some mid fruits, stones, dry topsoil, dark rich earth, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, leather, soft spice, light baking spices, withering dark flowers, round acidity, nicely woven with good evolution and integration making for well balanced and smooth finish. Nice producer from this region that prices good value. Fine pair with the brisket. — 3 years ago

Roger Ray

8.9

This Australian Shiraz is vibrant with fruits of plum and dark cherry, woven between soft spice and soft supple tannins. An enjoyable Barossa wine sold through Stone House Vintners of the Hill country of Texas — 4 years ago

Jason Soloway

9.2

Nothing obvious here. Patience required, patience rewarded. Tightly woven, black cherry, mint and a waft of smoke wrapped around a spine of acid. Compact, yet rewarding. More giving on night two. — 5 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.4

Vulgar display of power. Absurd stone drenched structure with effortless delicacy, shimmering acidity, citrus pith, apple skin, sage and chamomile woven around it. Plenty of life ahead — 6 years ago

Ron from VA

9.2

Remarkable! This gold-medal winner really does check all the VARIETAL boxes! Floral woven red berry poetry: check....acid and tannin “harmony”: check....deliciousness!: CHECK :) PS...it’s #vawine — 6 years ago

Ming L

9.0

I had great experience with their estate Merlot, and this reserve cab is quite impressive as well.
The initially shy nose slowly reveals black and blue berries, cedar, pencil lead, incense, cocoa, and hint of crushed rocks. The slightly ripe palate is round yet delicate, showing its classy with well woven streaking acidity and mellow tannins.
100% Cab from two vineyards from HHH, raised in 100% French oak barrel (45% new) for 20 months. — 6 years 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

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The follow up to the 03 Brane-Cantenac. So good but still youthful now as I mentioned this 97 still is in @Paul T- Huntington Beach recent post of his 2013.

The tannins are round, softened but still meaty & somewhat tarry.

The nose is still brooding. Ripe lush, ruby, fruits of, blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice with palate piercing heat, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets.

The palate is ripe, lush, juicy & floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked to poached strawberries, raspberry highlights & pomegranate. Dark, rich, sweet forest floor, mix of Indian & Asian spice, notes of Cognac, steeped tea, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, black licorice, tarry notes, day crushed rocks, limestone minerals, grey volcanic minerals/ash, moist, grey clay, light tobacco with ash, used leather, sandalwood, bright, fresh; dark, red, blue florals with violets, insane, waterfall acidity, woven, layered, structured, nicely tensioned with great length and a incredibly balanced, well polished finish that goes on for two to three minutes.

If you are 15-20 years plus patient w/ these bottling’s, they are one of the very best values in Napa Valley. — 2 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.6

Wow. I’m speechless. Comes charging out of the gates and doesn't let up. Melange of tropical fruit as well as cool climate fruit on the nose, exotic yet essential. Palate is so poised, beautifully balanced, with an amazing line of acid. Oak is elegantly woven through.

Precise sweetness and tartness drill into your palate. Remarkable juice! — 5 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Continuing the Loire journey.
A much fresher face of Chenin, without the honeyed breadth but with what depth & purity!
Green apples, fresh lemon, freshly cut hay & herbs... a touch of beeswax after a while. Super fresh on the palate, with core of juicy, vibrant acidity, with layers of crisp fruit and envigourating minerality woven around it. This will surely gain complexity with time but is already beautiful now. — 6 years ago

Jay Bergesen

8.9

Brilliant deep gold color, fresh apples in a bottle, good barn funk woven throughout. Tastes a little sweet in the mouth. While notes as brut, it could be seen as dry — 6 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

8.9

Shy & restrained in the nose with some peach, a touch of pineapple, a whiff of physalis. The palate shows surprising precision & tension for an entry level Riesling, with flinty minerality and yellow stone fruit woven tightly around a core of juicy acidity. On top, this has only 11,5% alc. What a delight. — 7 years ago