Médoc area
CRUS CLASSÉS 2019
AOC MARGAUX
Château Cantenac Brown 2019
Margaux 3ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fresh, racy, elegant, subtly tight and offers a nice finesse and power of grain. There are notes of pulpy/fresh boysenberry, fresh/crunchy raspberry and, more slightly, fresh violet combined with hints of red berries, fresh blueberry as well as a fine hint of lily, cocoa/tonka bean, fine hints of bergamot, star anise, discreet hints of toast and a subtle hint of Bourbon vanilla. The palate is fresh, mineral, fruity and offers a nice definition, a nice substance/roundness, delicacy, airiness, a fine straightness, fleshiness, freshness as well as a fresh/ acidic backbone. All in finesse and elegance. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy raspberry, blueberry and, more slightly, fleshy blackcurrant combined with hints of fleshy red berries, fresh/crisp blue berries, hints of violet, lily/blueberry as well as fine hints of cocoa, racy minerality, sense of place and a subtle touch of cocoa. Subtle chewiness on the finish. The tannins are elegant and well-conducted. Good length. Nice sapidity on the finish.
Score : 17.5+/20 (95-96/100)
Château Kirwan 2019
Margaux 3ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fruity, beautifully racy and offers power, precision, racy minerality, depth, delicacy and controlled intensity. There are notes of crunchy raspberry, crunchy cherry and, more slightly, of fleshy blackcurrant combined with hints of juicy plum, violet, sweet spice, fine cinnamon, zan, toast, as well as discreet hints of racy minerality, a subtle hint of rose and a discreet hint of Sichuan pepper (in the background). The palate is fruity, elegant, racy and offers juiciness, smoothness, finesse, roundness, some fatness, gourmandise, crunchiness of the fruit as well as an acidic/juicy backbone. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crunchy cherry, pulpy blackcurrant and, more slightly, wild red berries combined with touches of violet, liquorice and rose as well as a subtle hint of firm red plum, zan, blond tobacco and fine hints of almond. Mellow on the finish. Sapidity and a good management of the bitter taste. Gourmandise. Good length.
Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)
Château Prieuré-lichine 2019
Margaux 4ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is racy and offers a certain power in finesse, a fine grain, gourmandise in finesse as well as a certain mastered intensity. There are notes of crunchy blackberry, crunchy strawberry and, more slightly, crushed strawberry, combined with hints of vanilla, blueberry, as well as fine hints of liquorice, a touch of pepper and a discreet touch of nutmeg. The palate is fruity, balanced and offers juiciness, smoothness and sapidity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crushed raspberry, fleshy currant and slightly pulpy blackberry combined with hints of fleshy blue berries combined with hints of blueberry, vanilla, liquorice, salinity/ iodine and hints of Bourbon vanilla. The tannins are supple and smooth. Good length. Chewy on the finish.
Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)
Château Lascombes 2019
Margaux 2ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, fruity and offers gourmandise, some richness justly carried out, creaminess as well as a nice fine and elegant grain. There are notes of creamy blackcurrant, wild blackberry and, to a lesser extent, violet, combined with delicate touches of cherry, cherry blossom and fine hints of liquorice. The palate is fruity and offers minerality, creaminess, smoothness and a fine gourmandise. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of creamy blackberry, creamy cherry and, more slightly, raspberry, combined with hints of chocolate, vanilla, toast and fine points of toasted hazelnut. Finesse in its richness. Subtle hint of positive bitterness on the finish.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Château Desmirail 2019
Margaux 3ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is racy and offers elegance, concentration and a racy/gravelly minerality. There are notes of pulpy wild blackcurrant, liquorice and, more slightly, violet combined with hints of flowers, pepper and a discreet touch of blond tobacco. The palate is mineral, balanced and offers freshness, good definition, a certain freshness and a fine tension. On the palate this wine expresses juicy/pulpy blackberry, pulpy blackcurrant and, more slightly, vanilla notes combined with hints of tart raspberry and fine points of racy/gravelly minerality, cardamom and a subtle hint of sweet blond tobacco. The tannins are very fine and tight. Subtle chewiness and sapidity in the background.
Score : 15.75/20 (91-92/100)
Château Rauzan-gassies 2019
Margaux 2ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fruity, elegant, harmonious and offers power with delicacy, fine grain and depth. There are notes of crunchy wild blackcurrant, boysenberry and, more slightly, violet combined with hints of saffron, pepper and a subtle touch of spice and nutmeg. The palate is mineral, fruity, balanced and offers minerality, freshness, depth, definition, dynamism and a nice guideline. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy strawberry, crushed currant and, more slightly, blueberry combined with hints of blackcurrant, chocolate, toast, cardamom and fine points of sweet tobacco. The tannins are precise and structured. Good length.
Score : 17+/20 (94-95/100)
Château Ferrière 2019
Margaux 3ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fruity and offers some power in its richness, nice grain and purity. There are notes of fleshy blackcurrant, crushed/jammy raspberry and, more slightly, crushed redcurrant combined with hints of violet, liquorice and a fine touch of colas. The palate is fruity, fresh, balanced and offers a nice juiciness/ crunchiness of fruit, a tangy/juicy frame and purity. On the palate this wine expresses crunchy cherry, crunchy redcurrant and slightly jammy red berry notes combined with juicy/acidic blackberry and hints of blueberry, cola, caramelisation and a subtle vanilla edge. The tannins are precise and smooth. Good length. Nice juiciness and freshness of the fruit. A discreet hint of eucalyptus on the finish. Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Château Margaux 2019
Margaux 1er Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, aromatic, precise and offers a nice power in mastery / delicacy with a fine contained side. The wine benefits from being decanted. There are notes of pulpy cherry/cherry, crunchy raspberry and, more slightly, pulpy/ fresh plum combined with delicate touches of crushed strawberry, fine hints of blueberry, nutmeg, Bourbon vanilla bean, tonka bean, sweet spices as well as a discreet touch of racy minerality and bergamot. The palate offers a superb freshness, a very nice acidic frame, a nice racy minerality, a velvety character, power in finesse, a fine contained side as well as a fine airy side in the approach. A certain richness in delicacy. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crunchy red berries, juicy/fresh cherry and, more slightly, crushed blackberry combined with a touch of violet plum, chocolate, vanilla, fine hints of lilac, nutmeg, saline minerality as well as a discreet hint of cardamom and toasted oak. The tannins are elegant, mellow and nicely carried out. A subtle hint of blond tobacco and dried almond on the finish.
Score : 19/20 (98/100)
Château Palmer 2019
Margaux 3ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is racy, elegant and offers a nice racy minerality/sense of place, a nice grain, some concentration as well as a nice ripeness of the fruit (bordering on over-ripeness). There are notes of boysenberry, blueberry and, more slightly, black tea combined with delicate touches of black pepper, camphor, fairly ripe red berries as well as a hint of saffron (on the floral side) and a subtle hint of toast/ grey pepper in the background. The palate is very discreetly tight and offers a nice freshness, minerality, a fresh frame, a nice definition, power/force and a nice stretch. A wine full of freshness, balance and power ”in balance” (without exuberance). On the palate this wine expresses crisp/fresh blueberry, fresh cherry and, more slightly, crunchy/fresh red berry notes combined with hints of boysenberry, fine blueberry, graphite, chocolate, subtle hints of bergamot and cardamom. Lovely persistence and subtle chewiness on the finish. Nice quality of tannins, mellow, racy. Nice generosity and authenticity of fruit. A fine flowery side on the finish.
Score : 19/20 (98/100)
Château d’issan 2019
Margaux 3ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant and offers delicacy in its power, a fine airiness in its approach and a fine, discreetly tight grain. There are notes of crunchy wild blackcurrant, crunchy red berries and, more slightly, morello cherry combined with fine hints of