Médoc Crus Classés
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2017 Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant and offers concentration, finesse of the grain, deepness as well as complexity. It reveals notes of ripe blackberry, ripe raspberry, small notes of ripe Gariguette strawberry associated with a touch of violet, lily, small ripe fruits, gravels/terroir as well as fine hints of camphor, liquorice/liquorice stick, tea, toasted oak/vanilla, almond and nutmeg. The palate is fruity, wellbalanced, racy and offers an acidulous frame, a small aerial side, a beautiful fat, roundness, a good definition, precision, racy minerality as well as a very fine tension. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy blackberry, fleshy/juicy raspberry, juicy cherry and small notes of violet, lily associated with fine hints of crunchy redcurrant, toasted, toasted almond, chocolate as well as an imperceptible hint of sweet tobacco and cacao. Tannins are fine, elegant and very slightly firm. A good persistence. A very discreet chew on the finish/persistence.
Score : 18.25+/20 (97/100)
Château Pichon Baron 2017 Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, aromatic and offers a very beautiful finesse of the grain, power as well as richness (but full of finesse). It reveals notes of ripe blackberry, ripe cassis, small notes of raspberry associated with touches of small ripe berries as well as fine hints of liquorice, wild strawberry, spices, toasted as well as an imperceptible hint of badiane, chocolate and an imperceptible hint of pepper. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a fine acidulous frame, gourmandize, definition as well as richness (but full of balance). On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, juicy raspberry, small notes of cassis associated with a touch of cornflower/lily and a very discreet hint of mild tobacco. Tannins are elegant. Good length. A very discreet hint of caramelization/vanilla on the persistence.
Score : 18/20 (96/100)
Château Croizet-Bages 2017 Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, racy and offers a very fine power, a fine gourmandize as well as a fine grain and power. It reveals notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy cassis and small notes of fleshy strawberry associated with fine touches of violet, strawberry as well as fine hints of chocolate, tonka bean and nutmeg. The mouth is fruity, elegant, gourmand and offers a beautiful definition, an acidulous frame as well as a beautiful matter. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy/ fleshy blackberry, fleshy/juicy cassis and small notes of violet associated with fine touches of strawberry as well as hints of chocolate, tonka bean and discreet hints of nutmeg/sweet spices. Good length.
Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)
Grand Vin de Château Latour 2017 Pauillac, 1er Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, fine, racy, delicate and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain, an aerial side, a small intensity, deepness, balance as well as a small power/richness full of richness/delicacy. It reveals notes of ripe blackberry, ripe strawberry and small notes of crushed redcurrant associated with fine touches of juicy plum, black cherry, cornflower as well as a hint of lily, crushed cassis, grey pepper, liquorice as well as a very discreet hint of tea and cardamom. The palate is fruity, juicy, gourmand, elegant, beautifully defined, racy and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain, finesse, power, freshness, tension as well as a fine acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, fleshy/juicy strawberry and small notes of cherry associated with small touches of violet, lilac, cassis as well as hints of nutmeg, bergamot, an imperceptible hint of hazelnut, vanilla and sweet spices. Tannins are beautifully fine and racy. A beautiful acidulous persistence.
Score : 19.75/20 (99-100/100)
SAINT-ESTÈPHE CRUS CLASSÉS 2017
Cos d’Estournel 2017 Saint-Estèphe, Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, mineral, racy and offers a fine freshness, complexity, a small richness as well as a fine grain. This wine needs to be put in carafe. It reveals notes of blackberry, violet, small wild berries and small notes of cassis associated with fine touches of raspberry, red berries, hints of black pepper, cardamom, discreet hints of graphite / terroir, very discreet hints of spice as well as an imperceptible hint of star anise, toasted and tea. The mouth is fruity, elegant, racy, structured, harmonious and offers freshness, a beautiful juiciness, gourmandize, a beautiful finesse of the grain, suavity as well as a slightly acidulous frame. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy cassis and small notes of cherry associated with fine touches of small wild red berries as well as hints of chocolate, mocha, blond tobacco and a discreet hint of flowers / cardamom. Tannins are elegant and very slightly firm. Beautiful persistence.
Score : 17.75/20 (95-96/100)
Château Lafon-Rochet 2017 Saint-Estèphe, 4ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fruity and offers concentration and power. It reveals notes of blackberry, wild strawberry and small notes of ripe blackcurrant associated with touches of small wild berries as well as hints of liquorice, Sichuan pepper and very discreet hints of dry tobacco leaf, graphite and incense. The mouth is fruity, fresh, well-balanced and offers a good definition, gourmandize, an acidulous/juicy frame, a very fine unctuosity as well as tension. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy red cherry, fleshy/juicy blackcurrant and small notes of violet associated with fine hints of small red berries, liquorice, nutmeg and Sichuan pepper. Tannins are well-built. There are slight toasted notes, hazelnut and caramelization on the finish/persistence.
Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)
Château Montrose 2017 Saint-Estèphe, Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, fresh and offers power, a fine grain and delicacy. It reveals notes of fresh blackberry, fresh strawberry and small notes of violet associated with fine touches of liquorice, bourbon vanilla pod and an imperceptible hint of black pepper. The mouth is fruity, fresh, elegant and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain and a fine complexity. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy/ crunchy blackcurrant, juicy/crunchy red berries and small notes of raspberry associated with touches of blackberry, violet, iris as well as fine hints of tonka bean. Tannins are elegant, structuring and very discreetly tight. A very discreet hint of coffee and ripe almond on the persistence/aftertaste.
Score : 17.75/20 (95-96/100)
Château Cos Labory 2017 Saint-Estèphe, Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fruity, elegant and offers a fine gourmandize as well as a racy minerality. It reveals notes of ripe raspberry, ripe strawberry, small notes of ripe blackcurrant associated with fine touches of graphite, violet, racy minerality as well as fine hints of caramelization. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/acidulous frame, a good definition, gourmandize as well as a racy minerality. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crunchy/juicy red berries, juicy wild strawberry, small notes of fresh cherry associated with fine touches of juicy blackcurrant, hints of graphite, violet and subtle hints of sweet spices. Good length. Tannins are elegant and structuring. Very discreet hints of sweet spices and caramelization/ toasted on the persistence.
Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)