Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2022 Blanc pours is straw color with medium viscosity and no signs of sediment or particles. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of grapefruit, stone fruit, jalapeño, fresh cut alfalfa, candied nuts some vanilla and clove. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Textbook Bordeaux Blanc. Drink now through 2037. — 9 days ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.4

Deep golden colour.
Beautiful mature White Bordeaux. Good complexity in the nose and palate, showing almondpaste, pumpkinpie, tangerine, dried mango, beeswax and hay. Quite rich, but there’s enough acidity and bitterness to balance it all out. — 11 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

In a perfect spot showing the classic La Mission character with a smoky, cedar, leather, sweet tobacco note, red, black fruits, menthol & savory spices — 6 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Château Suduiraut, 2023, Sauternes BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
Premier Cru Classé Sauternes delivering pure botrytis luxury blend of 80% Semillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Sauvignon Gris with remarkable tension and precision. Lush honeyed richness balanced by vibrant acidity and a beautifully layered texture that feels both decadent and weightless. Sensual, polished, and deeply expressive, this is a dessert wine that seduces rather than overwhelms.

Aromas & Flavors
Orange blossom, acacia honey, apricot confit, ripe peach, saffron, candied citrus peel, subtle vanilla bean, almond paste, and a whisper of ginger spice. Floral lift intertwines with botrytis-driven sweetness and fresh citrus brightness.

Mouthfeel
Silky, viscous, and coating without heaviness. Glycerol richness glides across the palate while acidity keeps the wine lifted, focused, and endlessly drinkable. Long, luxurious, and caressing finish.

Food Pairings
Foie gras torchon, blue cheese (Roquefort or Stilton), apricot tart, almond pastries, honey-drizzled chèvre, citrus-based desserts, or simply enjoyed solo as a contemplative finale.

Verdict
Sublime, sexy, and impeccably balanced. A masterclass in tension between sweetness and freshness, delivering pleasure, elegance, and emotional impact in equal measure. A benchmark nightcap wine.

Did You Know?
Château Suduiraut sits adjacent to Château d’Yquem and shares similar gravelly terroir and noble rot influence, often delivering First Growth-level finesse at a more approachable price point.

🍯 Personal Pick
This wine feels like a French kiss, seductive tension, velvet weight, and honeyed decadence wrapped in electric freshness. The viscosity caresses the palate while the acidity keeps everything irresistibly alive. — a month ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Gorgeously honeyed nose. Loving the day and loving this. — 3 days ago

with Dan and Angelo

Ruud Verhagen

9.4

explosive from the first sniff and sipp, no decant, really nice with and without food. More modern than old-school…, re-buy! — 19 hours ago

Brad Jensen

9.5

Velvety red fruits, vanilla, rubber industrial tubing, cracked pepper and wet forest floor permeate the nose, with a slight malo character that pervades, along with an overall floral element that wafts throughout. You can tell the pedigree with this. Deep red/purple coloration on a medium to full body, and even though this in young, the acidity seems well aligned, with tannins perfectly integrated, dry, but not austere. Palate is rich and refined, with prominent red fruits, not overly jammy or fleshy, but silky plums, black cherries, granite or graphite, with pencil shavings, slight balsamic characteristics, and a loooong lingering dry palate that lingers for quite some time. Really impressive for a wine so young! — 4 days ago

with Tiva

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium lemon yellow. Quite reserved at first with some honied , yellow fruits , peach conserve , pear and quince , touch of candle wax . On the palate this is intense and with well balanced acidity, good extract and freshness , pear , honied apple , lightly toasty finish . Good length and still showing very well , now and over the next 10 years . Still fresh and lively. — 13 days ago

Conrad Green

9.6

gorgeous. So balanced with soft sweetness, loads of texture and piece balance — 10 days ago

with Ara

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2023 – Pessac-Léognan, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully balanced Pessac-Léognan red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 65% · Merlot 30% · Cabernet Franc 4% · Petit Verdot 1% that delivers finesse, aromatic complexity, and immediate approachability while maintaining classical structure and aging potential. Cabernet Sauvignon provides backbone, graphite tension, and dark fruit depth, Merlot softens the palate with plush texture and generosity, Cabernet Franc adds lift and floral spice, while Petit Verdot contributes subtle color, grip, and savory edge. A textbook expression of modern-classic Pessac harmony.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry layered with cedar, graphite, cocoa nib, tobacco leaf, crushed gravel, and subtle floral lift. The fruit feels vibrant and pure with beautifully integrated oak and savory mineral nuance.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with finely polished tannins and excellent balance between freshness and density. Silky entry, energetic mid-palate, and a long, clean, gently savory finish. Elegant rather than massive, delivering precision and drinkability without sacrificing depth.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops, duck breast, mushroom-based dishes, herb-roasted poultry, aged hard cheeses, and classic French bistro fare. Equally rewarding with refined meals or elevated casual cooking.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of Pessac that keeps you reaching for another glass, delicate yet layered, polished yet expressive, and dangerously easy to enjoy young. Immediate gratification today, with the structure and balance to reward cellaring down the road. A beautiful testament to classical Pessac elegance done right.

Did You Know?
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is known for its gravel-rich soils in Pessac-Léognan, which drive freshness, mineral tension, and aromatic lift in both red and white wines, helping maintain balance even in warmer vintages. — a month ago