Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Prieuré-Lichine 2023 – Margaux, Grand Cru Classé en 1855. BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A developing Margaux showing early aromatic charm and layered complexity, with youthful structure and noticeable oak integration that will benefit from short-term aging.

Aromas & Flavors
Red cherry, raspberry compote, wild strawberry, subtle vanilla pod, sweet baking spice, light cedar, emerging floral tones and faint graphite.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with tight but refined tannins, good mid-palate tension, clean line of acidity, and a structured finish that signals further evolution ahead.

Food Pairings
Duck breast, herb-crusted lamb rack, porcini risotto, roasted chicken with thyme, aged Gruyère.

Verdict
Already expressive and layered, but still in its formative phase. A couple more years will soften the tannins, integrate the oak, and elevate aromatic precision and depth.

🍷 Personal Pick
Not ready to fight for my podium of winnings wines for immediate consumption yet — but the engine note is promising. Worth revisiting soon.
— 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Brio de Cantenac Brown – 2020
Margaux, Bordeaux – France 🇫🇷

Overview
Brio is the second wine of Château Cantenac Brown, offering a more accessible take on Margaux. This 2020 vintage is composed of 62% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak (25% new) to balance fruit, structure, and approachability. 
Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red fruits—raspberry, red currant—merge with cedar, baking spice, and subtle floral lift. Earthy and graphite tones bring depth.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full body, with soft but persistent tannins. The wine opens smoothly and finishes long with fruit and spice echoing.

Food Pairings
Roast lamb, duck breast, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses. Also pairs beautifully with charcuterie.

Verdict
A concentrated, value-driven Margaux that shows the pedigree of Cantenac Brown. The 2020 Brio balances power and elegance — drink now or cellar for 8–12 years. 🍷 cheers!

Did You Know? 📌
Second wines (like Brio) are often sourced from younger vines or lots not selected for the Grand Vin, yet in 2020 Cantenac Brown treated it with care: the blend leans more Merlot than the Grand Vin to give earlier approachability. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, second wine of Château Paveil de Luze, aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 25% new, deep Ruby with aromas of red berry fruits and cedar pepper spice. On the palate flavors of black fruits, currants and spicy notes. Lively acidity, fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, cacao and spicy oak. Drinking well now! — a year ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.1

Quite elegant, lifted and fresh. Classic secondary aromas and flavors with loads of acidity. — 8 years ago

Peter Ricci

8.9

I thought it was okay for the price point. I.E. over rated. It was a bigger wine for what I expected and not as complex as desired. — 10 years ago

Philippe Dauguet

9.0

Largement au dessus de 2009 ! — 11 years ago

John Berggren

9.5

Wonderful 2016 bottle. Soft tannins, plum and subtle berries. Delightful finish. — 4 months ago

Veronica Johnson Treco

9.0

Smooth. Very easy to drink. — 5 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Merlot (30%). Dark ruby color with a slight garnet/orange rim. Wine was quite tight upon opening so aeration was needed. Aromas of black fruit, graphite and purple flowers. Flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plums, black olives and tobacco. Distinct oaky note on the long and somewhat sharp finish. Medium-plus body and acidity. Balance was a bit off. Probably should have aged this one a bit longer. — 8 months ago

A. R.

9.0

Quite nice. Classic and recognizable as a Margaux. Nice acid, firm tannins, solid mid palate. At 25 euro an easy 90 points. — 9 months ago

Flo Kaleta

8.9

Very nice surprise for such an old wine. — 7 years ago

Neal Krishna Devaraj

9.1

With lalit. — 9 years ago

Michael Spinella

8.9

Lovely. Took awhile to open up but once it did it was delicious. — 10 years ago

Isil Bayman

9.0

Uccle, Brussels, Belgiul — 5 months ago

with Hakan

Joaquin Martinez

8.9

Great wine but it needed more time to open up. Will try again and decant them — 7 months ago

Dave

9.5

I had a bottle of this 3 weeks ago and needed another. PnP on a rainy day. This is such an excellent value Margaux. Fruity, tannic, and singing.
Listening to Merle Haggard, one of the finest poets in music. — 9 months ago

Navin Budhwani

9.2

Aerated and decanted for 2 hours. Drinking so nicely. Beautiful finish — 6 years ago

James K

9.0

Great value. Drinks well with food. — 8 years ago

with Kari

Peter Slagowitz

9.0

Out of a half bottle. Took a bit of time to open. Black fruit. Not much acid or tannin. Very approachable for a young Margaux.but lacks complexity. At this stage. — 9 years ago

with Nancy

Robert Bingham

9.0

Solid Margaux with earth notes with hints of thyme and soft multi textured tannins that linger show that this a wine that could go the distance. — 11 years ago