A spare, faintly dank and decidedly sour - though, for all that, not uninteresting - non-dose blend tasted alongside could scarcely have contrasted more vividly with Lenoble's NV Brut Intense Disg. 2/2013, which is as immediately... Read More
Unfortunately, the 2003 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin was subtly corked. You could still see its potential (and I recommended the table drink it quickly before the TCA became even more apparent), but this is the... Read More
A wine of considerable nobility and breed, the 2001 Beausejour Duffau possesses a classic perfume of crushed stones and blueberries. This delicate, elegant offering is clearly a wine of terroir. Its subtle nature, pure, stylish... Read More
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) slips seductively out of the glass with perfumed scents of candied violets, chocolate-covered cherries, lavender and baked plums with nuances of redcurrants,... Read More
This is a wine that I appear to have badly misjudged when tasting out of barrel. I had the bottled 26 Bellevue several times, and it was consistently hard, austere, and lean. Generally I love what this great terroir, surrounded... Read More
Production: 14,700 cases; Alcohol: 14.46%; Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc; Harvest Dates: September 9 to October 6 Made from a blend of fruit from four vineyards, Bancroft Ranch (57%), State Lane (now known... Read More
Beringer's 1999 Private Reserve reveals a dense purple color along with a flinty, herbal, austere personality that comes across like a young Medoc. Still vigorous, primary and unformed at age 13, it does not reveal the volume... Read More
The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Beychevelle wafts sensuously from the glass with fragrant Black Forest cake, potpourri, star anise and black tea scents over a core of black raspberries, warm blackcurrants and kirsch with touches... Read More
The 1986 has wonderful opulence and fatness that is surprising to see, particularly in view of the tannic style of many of the 1986 Medocs. However, there is no doubting its ability to age well, as it has plenty of tannin. This... Read More
The 2015 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenère that was picked from 17 September until 7 October (that Carmenère was actually picked on 19 October). It was cropped... Read More
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc cropped at a low 28 hectoliters per hectare, this chunky, narrowly constructed St.-Emilion reveals elevated tannins, fig pudding-like fruit, medium body and an awkward finish. Drink... Read More
The 2015 Canon is going to be a benchmark for this historic estate. A blend of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, it was cropped at 42 hl/ha between 14-25 September and 30 September until 2 October respectively. The alcohol level... Read More
Composed of 74% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc and aged for 18 months in 70% new French barriques, the 2016 Canon is medium to deep garnet-purple in color, and--WOW--it opens with the most stunning perfume of violets, red roses... Read More
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Canon bursts from the glass with expressive notions of baked black cherries, kirsch, plum preserves and black raspberries plus hints of red roses, Ceylon tea, black olives and fertile loam.... Read More
The 2018 Canon is blended of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, with a pH of 3.69 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it comes sashaying out of the glass with glamorous notes of cinnamon stick, baked blackberries, black... Read More