Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2007 vintage. A 100% Tannat made by a Bordeaux producer (Philippe Courrian also owns Chateau La Tour Haut Caussan) in the Languedoc ( Corbières). Sounds interesting, and it is very good indeed. A little bit animal-like at first, give it some time to breathe in order to discover a panoply of dried herbs, spices and dried black fruits. Rustic, powerful and tannic, still very much alive. Long dry finish. Might not be for everyone, but it has a lot of personality. Try with a wild boar stew. Abv. 14%. Production about 2000 bottles. — 5 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

To fully understand the Lurton family one needs to be a professional genealogist, but if you meet a Lurton in Bordeaux it would be safe to bet she/he is involved in wine business. Marie-Laure is one of the 10 children of Lucien Lurton, and she owns Chateau de Villegeorge in Haut-Médoc and Tour de Bessan in Margaux. Villegeorge 2010 is blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%) and Merlot (21%). Attractive nose of cassis, cedar wood and violets. Still plenty of very ripe fruit at 10 years old, good concentration and length. Fine value today at 28 euro. — 6 years ago

Guylain HOin

9.0

28 years and still fruity and tasty (« not a wrinkle » as we say in France). — 7 years ago

Michael H

8.9

Not bad - not polished but nice enough — 8 years ago

Michael Genn

9.3

Nice acidity, a little tight though. Would love to taste again after it's had more time. Very awesome to try it at the end of the Chateau tour! — 9 years ago

JKT

8.9

Older vintage with lots of sediment. Nose of ripe fruit and palates of balanced acids and structure and hints of prunes. 65% Merlot and rest cab. Long finish. Interesting wine. Bordeaux tasting at chateau with Lee family. — 10 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.4

This is showing very impressively, all the more so considering the very unimpressive 2001 I had recently after loving both vintages on release. It is in the heavyweight class no doubt and has only budged a little bit since release, with the structure more assertive and some of the baby fat gone and showing its bones. Visually it still has the deep, dark inky color of a wine barely past release so I was actually surprised not to find it more obviously fruit-gobbed on the palate. It's a packed and stacked wine to be sure, but the stuffing isn't about fruit so much as tarry Graves asphalt and gravel. The fruit it does show is red-complexioned, which is surprising since these are all blueberry and blackberry on release. Time in the decanter fills in a lot of the empty spaces and makes it positively voluptuous - still with a thick coat of tannin but soft and refined in texture. Not quite cashmere but not rough either. This is vastly richer, denser, and fresher than the 2001 was. It is at a point where it's probably fair to put to rest any doubts about ageability - it's stuffed but in proportion and fresh without being primary. But this and the 2001 were also the last SHLs I enjoyed on release - by 2005 the style seemed to have gone over the top. If the 2005 tastes like this in 5 years I'll have to eat some crow. That said, there's no doubt this is sort of a slutty style of Graves, not a wine for those looking for elegance or subtlety, although if it can keep developing at this rate the old "tour de force" cliche may actually fit just fine. — 10 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2018 vintage. Marie Laure Lurton is one of the 10 children of Lucien Lurton and she owns Château Villegeorge (Haut-Médoc) and this Château La Tour de Bessan. Both are very good and refined. The 2018 La Tour de Bessan (named after 13th century tower on the estate that is being restaured) is a blend of 60 % Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and a rather high (11%) percentage of Petit Verdot. Dark red. In the nose a mix of red and black fruit, cedar and Petit Verdot violet. Margaux is mostly associated with elegance and this is a good example. The fruit is bright, the tannins are well-tamed and the acidity provides juiciness and balance. Intelligent winemaking with just the right extraction. Great value at 18 euros. Abv. 14,5 % but perfectly integrated. Another lovely 2018. — 5 years ago

Thomas Gayno

9.0

Bordeaux tour #2: Well balanced. Nothing crazy. Just a nice Bordeaux. Definitely worth buying again. — 6 years ago

Brian R

9.0

Lots of menthol and pencil lead. Firm texture, low tannins. — 7 years ago

Mitch Thorp

9.6

Bought from cellar door following tour and tasting. Exceptionally smooth!! — 8 years ago

Eric Egan

9.0

Pretty pleased that I pinned this as a merlot dominant 2010 Left Bank Cru Bourgeois, though I guessed La Tour Carnet. A very competently made wine. Lovely, if slightly straight-forward nose of blackcurrent with a touch of soft oak and blackcurrent leaves. Drinking very well right now. — 8 years ago

Patrick Murphy

8.9

Wine Essentials: Classic World Wine Tour @iceculinary

Institute of Culinary Education wine tasting class.

Oaky, dark, intense, younger, second wine.

Very focused smell, deep dark black fruits, currants, cranberry.

Strong tannins, scrapy.

Best with seared steak, complex sauces. — 10 years ago

HH Lim

9.0

Drank at La Tour dinner on 12/11/20 at Sushi Ichi . Nice fragrance & smooth tanning, long finish. So pleasant to drink this wine — 6 years ago

ZEYHERR Pat

9.0

Profond, juste ce qui faut de longueur en bouche mais pas trop pour apprécier la nourriture et enchainer d'autres plats et d'autres vins.
Bons pour viandes — 6 years ago

leon egozi

9.7

I must say- as bad as our Haut Brion experience was this was just the opposite. Excellent tasting, tour, atmosphere and of course the wine — 7 years ago

Adam Kincaid

8.9

Wanted a young Bordeaux for sous vide lamb shoulder and this hit the spot. Great pairing and glad that Jill used this in the recipe as well. — 7 years ago

with Jillian

joyce luk

9.0

Black fruit on the nose. Silky n smooth with mild tannins. Very easy to drink. Not too fruity though. Both Ed n i like it :) — 8 years ago

Edgar Raven

8.9

Fruity, smooth, slightly Porty; really bursting with flavour — 9 years ago

Angelo Casagrande

8.9

Nose of candied fruit and menthol cigarette ( before lighting),; some flint,; bright, lively purple; soft and balanced. Would be good with light dishes, but nice to just sip by itself. — 10 years ago