Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Garraud – Lalande de Pomerol / 2018
AOC Lalande de Pomerol – Right Bank, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
From the Esnée family estate, this red Bordeaux blend is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The Garraud vineyards lie just north of Pomerol proper, where gravelly and clay soils echo the region’s reputation for plush yet structured wines.

Aromas & Flavors
Lush black cherry, plum compote, and cassis wrapped in notes of violet, cocoa, and cedar. Subtle graphite and earthy tobacco hints reflect the Cabernet Franc influence.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet polished, with supple tannins and a round mid-palate. Concentrated fruit depth balances with freshness, finishing long and silky with lingering spice.

Food Pairings
Duck breast with cherry glaze, roast lamb, or beef bourguignon. Mushroom risotto, charcuterie, or truffle pasta. Comté, aged Gouda, or Saint-Nectaire.

Verdict
A classic Right Bank profile: generous Merlot fruit framed by Cabernet Franc finesse. Traditional, powerful, and approachable, drinking beautifully now but with the structure to evolve gracefully for another 8–10 years.

Did You Know?
Lalande de Pomerol, though often overshadowed by its famous neighbor Pomerol, offers exceptional value. Many estates here share the same terroir characteristics, producing wines of impressive depth at a fraction of Pomerol’s price tag.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: This bottle delivers Right Bank soul without the Pomerol price, rich yet refined, and an excellent “insider’s pick” for Bordeaux lovers. Cheers! — 2 days ago

David Koenen

9.5

Birth year tastings, evening 4.
Polished leather, nuts, ecoline, grilled red pepper, tomato leaf, gingerbread, pepper, salty savoriness, tannins still present, still youthful, lots of future. Muscular! Beautiful. — 21 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, smoke and flinty notes, aged 40% new French oak. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with cacao, cedar, espresso and spicy notes. Lively acidity, firm dusty tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, tobacco and spicy oak. Needs a little more time in bottle. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The 2006 Bordeaux vintage. The vintage while wasn’t Bordeaux’s best, it certainly wasn’t one of its worst. It had the unenviable position of following a grand 2005 vintage. I think better than 2000, maybe 09 & 10? Jury is still out. The Bordelaise also got greedy and raised their prices from 05. That was a mistake when it came to selling the 2006 vintage and it laid another layer of bad taste in consumers minds.

I really enjoy Pichon Lalande’s style/craft. The 06 is good, not great. In fact, I enjoyed this better w/o the lamb.

The fruits are just ripe. Velvety, rounded M+ tannins. Brambly blackberries, dryish black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, some raspberry hues, oak barrel shavings, graphite, dry soils, dry tobacco & leather, dry clay, soft but dark spice, some dry herbs, soft baking spices- clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, light milk chocolate, caramel hues, black tea, anise, some mid berry cola, dry & withering, dark & red flowers, violets, decent, round acidity, balanced, neatly structured/tensioned with an elegant finish that lasts just over 90 seconds and falls on dry earth and soft, dark spice.

Still acceding and has 15 plus yrs of good drinking ahead. Could make a case for rounding up to 93.

Paired w/ Grilled Rack of Lamb, Served with Rosemary Jus, Fondant Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli.

@EK148 — 5 days ago

Enebro Avila

9.5

Con los síntomas de un poco excesivo envejecimiento, pero en muy buen estado tras 43 años — 21 days ago

romo

9.4

Maturing beautifully with menthol, cigar leaf, spearmint and blackberry preserve. (Too) easy drinking. — a month ago

Ki Punwar

Owner, California Wine Republic

9.0

Tart cherries , nice acidity. Easy to like — 5 hours ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Juan cortina sulaiman — a month ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

Dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, cedar-wood, exotic spices. Very very merlot, ripe but not over, its a high octane wine that shows a bit of its 15 degrees on the finish. Not our favorite vintage but the wine is super well done and might benefit from a few more years on bottle. — a month ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Château de Lamarque “Héritiers des Marquis d’Evry” 2021
Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
This vintage is a classic Bordeaux blend—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot—sourced from a historic Haut-Médoc château with roots stretching back to the 15th century. It’s the “second wine” of Château de Lamarque, offering approachability while retaining estate quality. The appellation’s gravelly terroir and structured style are evident in every sip.
 

Aromas & Flavors
Rippling with blackcurrant and cassis, the wine is wreathed in cedar, tobacco, and earthy undertones. On the palate, dense fruit and toast meld with a hint of spice—classic left-bank elegance with that savory Médoc streak.
 

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with refined tannins and vibrant acidity. A balanced structure makes it satisfying now, while promising graceful evolution over the next 5–10 years.
 

Winemaking Notes
The estate cultivates a blend of vines: roughly 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Fermentation occurs in hidden concrete vats, followed by aging—with about 25% in new French oak barrels.
 

Food Pairing
Perfectly paired with robust fare: beef steaks, roast lamb, silverside, game, and dishes enveloped in rich, savory sauces.


Verdict
A solid Haut-Médoc “second wine” that mirrors the terroir and tradition of Château de Lamarque at a more accessible level—classic, savory, and beautifully balanced. Cheers!
— 2 months ago