Médoc area
and mocha. The tannins are mellow. A subtle hint of toasted hazelnut in the background and an imperceptible hint of blueberry.
Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)
Château Andron Blanquet 2019
Saint-estèphe
The nose is racy and offers some power, a little stretch and a fine tight grain. There are notes of wild blackcurrant, crushed wild strawberry and, more slightly, of fleshy/overripe cherry combined with a fine touch of zan, graphite, a fine touch of minerality and a discreet hint of violet/pink and toastiness. The palate is mineral with freshness, good definition, tension and precision. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fresh/juicy blackberry, fresh strawberry and slightly juicy/ pulpy redcurrant combined with hints of violet, rose, fine points of racy/saline minerality and a very discreet hint of toastiness and vanilla.
Score : 15.5+/20 (91/100)
Château de Pez 2019
Saint-estèphe
The nose is fruity and offers power, clarity, a fine spicy edge and a very fine grey pepper edge in the background. There are notes of wild blackcurrant, crunchy black berry and slightly morello cherry combined with hints of liquorice/zan, a fine touch of crushed strawberry, discreet hints of racy minerality and a subtle hint of pepper, incense, nutmeg and toasted almond. The palate is nicely juicy, fresh, fruity and offers a nice delicacy, gourmandise, acidity, finesse in its tannic structure, finesse in its power, a little straightness and a good guideline. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of morello cherry, black berries and, more slightly, wild blackcurrant, combined with hints of violet, lily, camphor, as well as fine points of grey pepper, a discreet hint of fresh blond tobacco and a subtle hint of toast/torrefaction. Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
2nd de Pez 2019
Saint-estèphe
The nose is fruity, elegant and offers a nice definition, gourmandise, fine complexity and a nice rich balance of fruit. There are notes of crunchy blackcurrant, graphite and, more slightly, black pepper combined with hints of morello cherry, camphor, crunchy raspberry and fine hints of liquorice and cardamom. The palate is nicely fruity and offers freshness, definition, precision, sweetness and a nice acidic backbone. On the palate this wine has crunchy sour cherry, boysenberry and slightly crunchy/juicy red berry notes with hints of vanilla, camphor, lily/lilac and a discreet hint of cardamom and fresh blond tobacco. Nice sapidity and a fine hint of roast in the background. Nice finish with fine graphite notes.
Score : 15.5+/20 (91/100)
AOC SAINT-ESTEPHE 2012
Château Tronquoy Lalande 2012
Saint-estèphe
The nose is fruity and offers concentration. There are notes of crunchy redcurrant, crunchy strawberry and, more slightly, violet combined with hints of blackberry, Cuben pepper, fine camphor, tobacco, a subtle hint of sense of place and a discreet hint of saffron and clove. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, freshness, minerality, fatness, roundness, good definition, nice acidity, tension and straightness. On the palate this wine expresses crunchy sour cherry and wild strawberry notes with a touch of redcurrant, racy minerality, juicy/fresh blackberry, fine salinity, a discreet hint of tonka bean, cardamom and a subtle touch of nutmeg and pepper (in the background). The tannins are precise and offer smoothness. A subtle hint of mocha on the finish. The finish is finely powdered. Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Château Phélan Ségur 2012
Saint-estèphe
The nose is racy, well-managed and offers depth as well as a very fine and tightly wound grain. The wine benefits from being decanted. There are notes of crushed redcurrants, wild strawberries and a hint of salinity/iodine, combined with hints of red berries, balsamic, liquorice, tobacco and a very discreet hint of undergrowth. The palate is fresh, juicy and offers a nice racy minerality, suppleness, crunchiness, a nice gourmandise, freshness, a nice tannic frame, a fine concentration as well as a fine solar side. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fairly ripe raspberry, wild strawberry and, to a lesser extent, crushed cherry, combined with hints of pulpy blackcurrant, violet, tonka bean and blond tobacco, as well as a subtle hint of camphor, racy minerality, iodine, salinity and vanilla. Good length. Fine firmness on the finish.
Score : 16.5+/20 (93-94/100)
AOC SAINT-ESTEPHE 2011
Château Tronquoy Lalande 2011
Saint-estèphe
The nose is fruity, fresh and offers crunchiness, a nice fineness of grain (very discreetly tight by the way) as well as gourmandise. There are notes of black cherry, boysenberry and, to a lesser extent, violet, combined with hints of pepper, clove, a hint of Ceylon tea and a very discreet hint of undergrowth. The palate is fresh, fruity and offers a nice ripe/acidic fruit, tension, a fine straightness, sapidity and a discreetly tight side. On the palate this wine expresses juicy/acidic black cherry, fairly ripe wild blackberry and slightly ripe red berry fruit with hints of clove, fresh leather, purple plum and a subtle hint of racy minerality, salinity, a very discreet hint of undergrowth and a discreet hint of spice. The tannins are fine and powdery. A fine touch of mocha on the finish.
Score : 16.25/20 (92-93/100)
Château Phélan Ségur 2011
Saint-estèphe
The nose is fruity, racy and offers a graphite side as well as a fine concentration. There are notes of ripe wild strawberry, graphite, blackberry and, to a lesser extent, clove, combined with subtle touches of undergrowth, a hint of rose and discreet hints of nutmeg and truffle/undergrowth. The palate is fruity and offers freshness, minerality, tension, precision, finesse in its fatness, a certain restraint, sapidity, gourmandise as well as a beautiful acidic backbone. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy black cherry, wild strawberry and, more slightly, crushed berries, combined with touches of undergrowth, clove, fine, almost saline notes, as well as a discreet hint of cardamom, mocha, undergrowth/ truffle and tobacco. The tannins are mellow. Good length. The wine should be decanted.
Score : 16.25+/20 (93/100)
AOC MOULIS-EN-MEDOC 2019
Château La Garricq 2019
Moulis-en-médoc
The nose is fruity, racy and offers a certain elegance. There are notes of Morello cherry, crushed blackberry and, to a lesser extent, violet, combined with hints of pulpy blackcurrant, as well as fine points of nutmeg and a discreet hint of vanilla. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, racy and well-structured, offering juiciness, freshness, minerality, precision and a certain tension. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackcurrant, boysenberry and slightly crushed morello cherry combined with hints of plum, plum blossom, chocolate as well as fine points of caramelisation, toastiness and a subtle hint of sweet spices. The tannins are mellow. A fine touch of graphite on the finish.
Score : 15.5/20 (90-91/100)
Château Lestage-darquier Grand Poujeaux 2019
Moulis-en-médoc
The nose is fruity, tightly wound and finely concentrated. There are hints of redcurrant, crushed cherry and, more slightly, violet/blueberry combined with hints of crushed black berries as well as fine hints of liquorice and a subtle touch of green cardamom. The palate is fruity and offers fleshiness, freshness and a certain crunchiness of fruit. On the palate this wine expresses crunchy raspberry, pulpy red currant and slightly crushed blackcurrant notes with hints of liquorice, chocolate and fine points of racy minerality and a hint of green cardamom. The tannins are racy. A very discreet hint of sweet blond tobacco and vanilla essence in the background/finish.
Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)
Château Branas Grand Poujeaux 2019
Moulis-en-médoc
The wine benefits from decanting. The nose offers some power/intensity, precision, sharpness and a fine, discreetly tight grain. There are notes of ripe wild blackcurrant, fleshy strawberry and, more slightly, of fresh tobacco combined with touches of racy minerality, subtle hints of spice, a subtle hint of liquorice and a very discreet, almost sappy quality. The palate is fresh, mineral, well-balanced, well-constructed, racy and offers roundness, finesse, creaminess, gourmandise, a certain fullness, a nice body and a good guideline. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/creamy blackberry, fleshy/juicy blackcurrant and, more slightly, fleshy/fresh red berry fruit combined with a touch of liquorice, coffee, zan as well as fine points of camphor, minerality and a subtle hint of good cocoa bitterness on the finish. Lovely grain and soft tannins.
Score : 16.25/20 (92-93/100)