Médoc area
hints of smoke, fairly ripe red berries, fine camphor, spices, a discreet hint of chocolate, as well as very discreet hints of caramelisation and a subtle, almost aniseed-like touch. The palate is fruity with minerality, acidity, a nice salinity, a nice freshness and good definition. On the palate this wine expresses juicy/very ripe blackberry, juicy/very ripe raspberry and, more slightly, saline minerality, red berries, blueberry, with hints of tobacco, star anise as well as fine hints of zan, sweet spices, nutmeg and discreet almost undergrowth. The tannins are racy. A nice iodine and toasted almond note on the finish.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Château Gruaud Larose 2011
Saint-julien 2ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, fruity and offers delicacy as well as some blackness/charness in elegance. There are notes of crushed blackberry, fleshy wild strawberry and, more slightly, pulpy black berries combined with fine touches of blackcurrant jam as well as a delicate hint of cardamom, clove and a very discreet touch of chocolate. The palate is fruity, balanced, racy and offers freshness, good definition, an acidic backbone, a nice fine grain, tension, delicacy, a certain unctuousness as well as a fine straightness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/ juicy blackberry, pulpy/juicy blackcurrant and, more slightly, fleshy strawberry, combined with hints of cardamom, chocolate, as well as fine points of toasted hazelnut, jammy black berries and a delicate touch of vanilla. The tannins are precise and well-managed.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Château Léoville Poyferré 2011
Saint-julien 2ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant and offers power, depth and delicacy as well as a fine dark quality. There are notes of crunchy wild blackcurrant, graphite and, more slightly, crushed black berries combined with hints of chocolate and a subtle, almost caramelised edge. The palate is fresh, mineral, elegant, gourmet and offers richness, substance, a certain depth, creaminess, a nice intensity in finesse, a touch of over-ripeness as well as a fresh/acidic backbone. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crushed blackcurrant, jammy raspberry and, more slightly, pulpy plum, combined with touches of acidulous/pulpy redcurrant, chocolate/tonka bean and vanilla, as well as a subtle hint of roasting, graphite and a very discreet touch of coffee. Some blackness in the background. The tannins are racy and finely powdered. Good length.
Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)
Château Langoa-barton 2011
Saint-julien 3ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, precise and discreet. The wine benefits from being decanted. There are notes of blackcurrant, crunchy raspberry and, more slightly, fleshy cherry, combined with hints of pepper, vanilla and a delicate touch of cardamom. The palate is fruity, balanced and offers juiciness, acidity, suppleness, minerality, purity and a fine straightness. On the palate, this wine expresses juicy blackberry, pulpy/juicy cherry and slightly violet notes combined with a touch of blue plum, tonka bean, fine vanilla and a touch of racy minerality and salinity. The tannins are supple.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Château Léoville-barton 2011
Saint-julien 2ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fresh, elegant and offers delicacy and airiness. There are notes of strawberry, crunchy red berries and a hint of salinity, combined with creamy boysenberry, cherry and hints of fresh blond tobacco and a subtle hint of salinity (in the background). The palate is fruity, balanced, racy and offers freshness, good definition, gourmandise and a tangy structure. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crunchy wild raspberry, crushed strawberry and, more slightly, pulpy blackcurrant combined with hints of violet, crunchy plum as well as fine points of salinity, a subtle hint of cardamom and a discreet touch of chocolate. Good length. A discreet, almost caramelised touch on the finish.
Score : 17.75/20 (95-96/100)
Château Branaire Ducru 2011
Saint-julien 4ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is elegant, tightly wound and offers complexity and some melodiousness. There are notes of crunchy boysenberry, crushed blackcurrant and, more slightly, ripe wild strawberry combined with delicate notes of zan, a discreet hint of graphite, racy minerality and a subtle hint of grey pepper and an imperceptible sapiness. The palate is nicely juicy, discreetly tight and offers a tangy structure, minerality, a very nice freshness, suavity and a nice juicy/acidic fruit.
A very nice freshness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh cherry, plump redcurrant and, more slightly, juicy/tart/fresh black berry fruit combined with a hint of crunchy purple plum, fine saltiness, pepper and a discreet hint of toasted/crushed almond. Good length. Subtle hints of tonka bean and caramelisation/blond tobacco in the background. The wine needs to be decanted. Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
AOC PAUILLAC
Château Croizet-bages 2011
Pauillac 5ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fruity, racy and offers crunchiness, freshness, a certain light intensity and harmony. There are notes of blackcurrant, crunchy, graphite and, more slightly, blueberry, crunchy blue plum as well as fine hints of wild red berries, morello cherry, liquorice, zan and a subtle hint of spice. The palate is fruity, fresh and offers crunchiness, nice fleshy/juicy fruit, minerality and good definition. On the palate this wine expresses morello cherry, liquorice and slightly more crunchy blue plum notes combined with hints of black berries, racy minerality, mocha, a subtle hint of grey pepper and a discreet hint of nutmeg and roast. The tannins are precise, elegant and racy.
Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)
Château Haut-bages Libéral 2011
Pauillac 5ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fruity, elegant and offers a certain purity. There are notes of zan, blackcurrant, crunchy wild berries and slightly more crushed cherry combined with hints of sweet blond tobacco, saffron and a discreet hint of crushed blue berries and mocha. The palate is fruity, nicely fresh, guided and offers a fine straightness and precision. On the palate this wine expresses juicy/fresh blackberry and wild berry notes with hints of crushed/overripe red berries and fine hints of liquorice/ zan, cardamom, fresh blond tobacco, crushed almond and a subtle hint of mocha/ pretty little chewiness and sapidity on the finish. A wine that nicely unfolds all the complexity of its terroir (clay, then gravel and some limestone).
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Château Grand-puy Ducasse 2011
Pauillac 5ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is fruity and offers freshness, a fine concentration, a racy grain and a little stretch/stretch. There are notes of pulpy wild strawberry, fleshy redcurrant and slightly fresher wild berry fruit combined with hints of violet, fresh pepper as well as hints of fresh lilac and a discreet hint of fresh blond tobacco. The palate is fruity with freshness, minerality, good definition, juiciness, acidity and juicy/crisp/ fresh fruit. On the palate this wine expresses juicy/pulpy blackberry, juicy/fresh redcurrant and, more slightly, berry notes with hints of violet, toasted almond, racy minerality and fine vanilla. The tannins are elegant and racy.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Château Pichon Baron 2011
Pauillac 2ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is aromatic and offers delicacy, airy power, intensity and a lovely fine, powerful grain. There are notes of nutmeg, concentrated blackcurrant and, more slightly, graphite, combined with hints of incense, cumin, as well as fine pepper and a discreet hint of spice. The palate is nicely defined, generous and offers a nice freshness, controlled power, nice definition/roundness, gourmandise, a fresh/mineral frame, concentration as well as a nice fineness of grain. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh/crunchy blackcurrant, crunchy wild berries and, more slightly, crunchy raspberry combined with a touch of crushed cherry, violet, graphite as well as fine hints of toast, cardamom, chocolate, a discreet hint of caramelisation as well as a subtle hint of tobacco, nutmeg and an imperceptible hint of truffle in the background. Nice roundness and accessibility. Fine chewiness and sapidity on the finish.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
AOC SAINT-ESTÈPHE
Château Montrose 2011
Saint-estèphe 2ème Grand Cru Classé
The nose is racy, taut/stretched and offers a very fine, powerful and tightly wound grain. The wine benefits from being decanted. There are notes of fairly ripe black berries, violet and, more slightly, ripe violet plum combined with hints of strawberry/red berries, lily as well as fine hints of sweet spices, a subtle touch of balsamic, saffron and an imperceptible hint of pepper. The palate is fresh, mineral, fruity and offers a nice definition, suppleness, tension, good structure and