Stefan Dolhain

9.6

2020 vintage. The heavy investments by the Lorenzetti family are paying off. The ugly duckling turned into a beautiful swan. Kudos to Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen, Manon Lorenzetti, and team. This impressive 2020 is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and equal parts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Classy nose with blackcurrant, cedar wood and lead pencil. In the mouth, it is focused, with succulent layered black fruit, juicy acidity and haute couture tannins. Very long and fresh finish. Amazing value too. — a year ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. This estate was bought by Jacky Lorenzetti in 2007 and the investments are paying off (see also the spectacular quality improvement at their Pauillac estate Pédesclaux). While previous vintages featured a majority of Merlot, this 2018 is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37%. Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. This might very well be the best vintage to date for Lilian Ladouys in a year where Jacky's daughter Manon joined the business. She is highly devoted to organic farming and the Lorenzetti estates are now officially in conversion to organic. Moreover, Lilian Ladouys was promoted to "Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel" status in 2020. An estate to watch and the wines are very affordable too at around 20 euros. Classic nose with ripe cassis and cedar wood, intertwined with a fresh minty aroma. In the mouth the fruit is concentrated and layered with amazing freshness and a solid ripe tannin structure that make the alcohol (abv. 14,5%) go unnoticed. Long mineral finish. Highly recommended. Still very young, give it time to open up or decant. Should age beautifully for at least 15 years. — 3 years ago

Michael Tao

9.0

Excellent port! Highly recommend! — 7 years ago

Felipe Ferreiro

Sommelier/Wine Director Restaurante Las Rias Bajas

9.0

Capa alta , en nariz un espectáculo total fruta negra miel, mentolados y especias. En boca menos expresivo pero no muy largo. — 9 years ago

Paul T HB

9.2

$20.00🤷🏼‍♂️ At the end of summer in 1999, Pierre Signolle takes over the Château Vieux Landat. After working in viticulture for 10 years, he is ready to start a new adventure. Thus, starts a huge modernization project.
Years after years the vineyard is rejuvenated. Between 2000 and 2010, half of the vineyard is replanted with a majority of Merlot to give rounder wines. A new grape variety is also introduced: Petit Verdot.
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After the vineyard, the winery is also redesigned. A big winery of 1200m2 is built to foster the harvest in the best possible conditions.
Temperature controlled vessels are installed to vinify the wines at low temperatures.

In 2015, Pierre's wife, Sophie Signolle, and her children, Nicolas and Diane, take over the management of the vineyard and continue the investments in the winery and the vineyard.

Type of culture: sustainable
Certification: HVE level 3 since 2019
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At Château Vieux Landat we practice a sustainable viticulture. Natural grass growing all year long in the middle of the rows enables microbial soil life. Under the vines rows, we practice mecanical weeding. The objective is, on the one hand, to give strengh to the vine by avoiding competing grass. And, on the other hand, to aerate the folliage and the bunches to avoid disease.
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During the months of the vine's dormancy, our sheeps are the one taking care of the vineyard.
— a year ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Medium intensity petro, lemon, lime and white florals on the nose. Semi-sweet in style. Tropicals, lemon/lime, fruit blossoms, underripe green melon, light petro quality and beautifully soft minerals. d'Arenberg is like a 1920's factory. They push out around 3 million bottles a year. I'm not sure how they do it in such a dated facility that is so extremely tight quartered. They built this new crazy cube building. I'll show it in an upcoming post. It's all dedicated to adding various different visitor experiences. It's sort of an eyesore considering the McLaren Vale landscape. It also must have cost a fortune. I would have spent the money on new winemaking facilities first in an effort to continue to push the wine quality. To date, this was one of the more dated but also unclean winemaking facilities I've seen and I've seen a lot all over the world. Very surprising and even more surprising choice how to prioritize their Estate investments! Photos of their branding tent as you drive in and their old 1920's factory look. — 7 years ago

Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

9.1

Pale yellow green. Floral apple skin, ripe pear, mineral, petrol nose. Classically balanced with excellent sweet tart ratio and noticable sweetness. This proves that Riesling is on of the best investments you can make in your cellar. — 3 years ago

Charles Mires

9.1

Excellent and a great value. Maybe losing a bit of edge. Outstanding value. — 3 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2018 vintage. This is the top wine from Château Puynard, Blaye. 100% cabernet sauvignon. Ambitious Irish ownership since 2016 and the huge investments are paying off. Very ripe with depth and class. Keep an eye on this estate, a rising star. — 3 years ago

Felipe Ferreiro

Sommelier/Wine Director Restaurante Las Rias Bajas

9.0

Una pasada , potente y súper equilibrado...😍😍😍 — 9 years ago

with ja, luis and 6 others