Zo verleidelijk de Gewurztraminer, zo trouw blijft de Riesling aan zijn smetteloze reputatie: levendig, fris, raszuiver en begenadigd met delicieus fruit waarbij appel, peer, meloen en vooral citrusfruit het goede weer maken. Wijn met verfijnde fruitigheid en elegante complexiteit. Zeevruchten, schaaldieren, allerhande visbereidingen, koude schotels, … snakken allen naar een compagnon als deze !
De rode Monthélie aardt naar de rode wijnen uit Meursault met goed geconcentreerd fruit als basis. De neus is vrij complex met aroma’s van zoethout, chocolade, aardbei en grenadine. Een dichte, zijdezachte structuur, waarbij een subtiele kruidigheid en zure kers zorgen voor een mooie finesse. Wijn met veel élan, waarbij het zoete mooi combineert met het hout. Mooi voorbeeld van een rasechte Pinot Noir.
De rode Monthélie aardt naar de rode wijnen uit Meursault met goed geconcentreerd fruit als basis. De neus is vrij complex met aroma’s van zoethout, chocolade, aardbei en grenadine. Een dichte, zijdezachte structuur, waarbij een subtiele kruidigheid en zure kers zorgen voor een mooie finesse. Wijn met veel élan, waarbij het zoete mooi combineert met het hout. Mooi voorbeeld van een rasechte Pinot Noir.
The Wine Advocate – Robert Parker – 91-93/100
The 2015 La Tour Carnet is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit was cooled through a “cryogenic tunnel freezer,” essentially spraying liquid nitrogen, and will be matured for 16 months in 30% new oak. It has a very pure bouquet, so much so that there is something almost Pinot Noir-like here, with ebullient Morello and subtle kirsch-like scents. The oak is judicious and neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. This is very smooth and harmonious in the mouth, well-judged acidity, precise and detailed. It gently fans out on the finish, completing what I think is a very well-crafted, silky and seductive Haut-Médoc.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 89/100
Bernard Magrez’s La Tour Carnet is terrific. Dark cherry, smoke, licorice, French oak, and tobacco give the 2015 its brooding personality. In this vintage, La Tour Carnet is a bit restrained, and yet all the elements come together nicely. One of Bordeaux’s hidden gems, La Tour Carnet ages beautifully and delivers serious quality for the money.
The Wine Advocate – Robert Parker – 89-91/100
The 2015 Citran has a reticent nose, tightly wound at the moment with broody, earthy black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin shrouded by attractive red berry fruit, a dash of white pepper and impressive structure towards the fresh, saline finish. This is a well-crafted Citran that should end up at the top-end of my score band.
Grote broer Ch Sociando Mallet behoort tot de top van de beste wijnen uit Haut Médoc, waardoor deze tweede wijn een interessant kantje krijgt. La Demoiselle is samengesteld uit 50% Cabernet Sauvignon en 50% Merlot, uit wijngaarden met jonge aanplant en een bodem waar een grotere concentratie klei te vinden is. Hier kan je op je twee oren slapen dat je heel veel kwaliteit krijgt voor een prijs die slechts de helft is van de eerste wijn. Deze Demoiselle heeft een bijzonder fijne neus met aroma’s van rood fruit en vanille. Subtiele structuur met mooie fruitaccenten, ondersteund door een fijne aciditeit. Finessevol en elegant, zoals het een ware dame betaamt! Voorbestemd om menig wijnliefhebbershart te veroveren !
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 93/100
A totally sexy, voluptuous wine, the 2015 Fonbadet is terrific. A rush of dark cherry jam, wild flowers, mint, espresso and licorice gives the 2015 its decidedly exotic, voluptuous personality. Silky tannins and plush fruit add to the wine’s sumptuousness. There is a presence to the 2015 that is hard to describe but that has been present each of the three times I have tasted it so far. Simply put, Fonbadet is gorgeous in 2015.
Deze 3e wijn van Ch. Montrose proeft iets jonger en fruitiger dan zijn grote broer. In de neus aroma’s van bosvruchten, frambozen en zwarte kersen, met subtiele noties van viooltjes, specerijen en toast. dankzij de mooie ronde en fluwelige tannines krijgen we een aangename ronde smaak met een intens karakter. Mooi uitgebalanceerde wijn, met een lange, levendige afdronk. Dit is een wijn om jong van te genieten, maar kan gerust ook enkele jaartjes blijven liggen zonder aan kwaliteit te moeten inboeten. Past perfect bij geroosterd rood vlees, lamsvlees en fijn wild.
65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre en 5% Muscardin. Deze wijn is een schoolvoorbeeld van concentratie. De neus is werkelijk schitterend: zwarte vruchten, exotische specerijen, cacao. Het perfecte huwelijk tussen power (zwart zoethout) en finesse (viooltjes). De aanwezigheid van fluweelzachte tannines voorspellen een mooie toekomst. Ideaal voor bij wildgerechten.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 89-91/100
Deep shimmering ruby. Powerful, spice-accented dark berries, cherry-vanilla and licorice on the deeply perfumed nose. Warm blackberry, bitter cherry and mocha flavors are sharpened by a suggestion of peppery spices. Lingers with good intensity and a repeating vanilla note on the plush finish, which is given shape by velvety tannins.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 90/100
The 2015 Poujeaux is gorgeous and open-knit, with lovely fruit presence, soft contours and tons of near to medium-term appeal. Silky tannins add to the wine’s inviting personality. The sweet red cherry and plum flavors have an extra dimension of richness and deepness in 2015 that is unusual, but that also adds to the wine’s undeniable allure. This is a gorgeous wine from the Cuvelier family. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 91-93/100
The Château de Fieuzal Rouge 2014 is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. I have enjoyed what consultant Hubert de Bouard has brought this Pessac-Léognan in recent years, the nose full with blackberry and warm gravel scents that are nicely defined, with well-integrated, new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with a pleasing roundness and depth on the entry. There is good structure here, just the right amount of sappy black fruit on the generous finish to urge another sip.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 90/100
The 2014 de Fieuzal has a detailed bouquet with mineral-driven black fruit, graphite and cold stone aromas that achieve an impressive degree of focus. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, quite saline in the mouth with a lightly spiced and attenuated finish.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 92-94/100
The 2015 de Fieuzal has a very seductive bouquet, almost Saint Emilion in style (perhaps the hand of consultant Hubert de Boüard at play?). I mean that in a positive sense: it is extremely pure and sensual, an aromatic femme fatale. The palate is ripe and generous on the entry, but simultaneously poised and minerally, almost edgy towards the sustained and focused finish. There is wonderful freshness and vitality here, yet another really quite stupendous Pessac-Léognan that is going to be a joy to drink over the next 20-25 years.
Vinous – Anronio Galloni – 89/100
The 2015 De Fieuzal is powerful and a bit burly but certainly not lacking in personality. Smoke, grilled herbs, tobacco, cedar, dried cherry and smoke add nuance to this attractive, midweight wine. All things considered, the 2015 shows quite well today. Drink it over the next few years.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 95/100
The 2014 L’Evangile comes racing out of the blocks on the nose with plenty of black cherry, blueberry, cold stone and black truffle scents, quintessentially Pomerol with impressive delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy texture, lovely black fruit here laced with Earl Grey, spice and sage, quite intense and fanning out gloriously towards the long finish. This seems to have gained precision after bottling and I did warn that it may merit a higher score. This is a deeply impressive L’Evangile that might challenge Lafite-Rothschild in the long term. Chapeau!
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 91+/100
The 2014 L’Évangile is laced with black cherry, torrefaction, spice, leather, licorice and heavy French oak. It will be interesting to see if the fruit emerges here. Today, the oak is quite dominant in both the wine’s flavor profile and its texture.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 90-92/100
The 2015 Clos Floridene offers up luscious redcurrant, wild strawberry and floral scents on the nose, almost Burgundy-like in terms of purity. The palate is well balanced with fine but firm tannin, a little pinched at the moment, but by the time of bottling it will have undone its top-shirt button. Plenty of energy here, a Graves with a nod to Volnay, bound to offer 8-10 years of pleasure.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni
Plush, dense and inviting, with no hard edges and fine balance, the 2015 Clos Floridène is a winner from the Dubourdieu family. Super-ripe fruit and a dash of new oak, along with a good bit of raciness, give the 2015 its exuberant personality. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine, especially for the money.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 91-94/100
A wine of total sensuality, the 2016 Clos Saint Martin offers notable depth and creaminess, with no hard edges and terrific overall balance. There is an almost Pinot-like purity to the fruit in 2016, but above all else, the wine stands out for its impeccable balance and overall harmony. This is a compelling Saint-Émilion from proprietor Sophie Fourcade.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 93/100
Blended of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Clos St. Martin displays a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is scented of plum preserves, blackberry pie, wild blueberries and incense with touches of unsmoked cigars and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with vibrant, well-delineated black fruit layers with alluring red fruit accents and a firm frame of velvety tannins, finishing long and lively.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 91/100
The 2016 Laroze is plump, juicy and easy to drink. Super-ripe red fruit, espresso, mocha, new leather and sweet spice are all laced together in this nuanced Saint-Émilion. Élevage has given the 2016 a level of finesse that was not present en primeur. Although not especially complex, the 2016 is absolutely delicious.
