Gene Buonviri

9.0

An excellent white wine made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Taking its name from the imposing Dolomites mountain peaks which surround the San Leonardo Estate. Straw colored, dry with hints of white peach, mineral and acidity. An excellent Sauvignon Blanc surpassing most Chardonnay’s. Excellent pairing with roasted chicken. — 4 years ago

with Justinian

Sean Lowry

9.3

06 vintage. 13ish years of age on this wine. Cork crumbled upon opening, so I used a wine filter. Very aromatic nose of potpourri, rose, button mushrooms, and ripe red fruit. On the palette, there's juicy red fruit (cranberry, raspberry, cherry) with very mild tannins providing a little weight and substance on the mouth feel. Still a nice amount of palette-cleansing acidity. At 14.7% ABV, the alcohol peaks out on the finish. Overall, a very elegant and well-integrated, aged pinot. — 6 years ago

SMLphotography

9.5

Delicious! Filled with fruit flavor of cherry and pomegranate. Hit of cinnamon and chocolate. Full body, medium acid, great texture & color. — 7 years ago

Dave Genevro

8.9

Showing quite well right now. Depth of fruit, level oak. — 7 years ago

Tim Hinck

9.4

2013
What a killer balance of opposites on the nose: a wave of bright, ripe berries is followed by an aged, black-fruit-forward note that kinda reminds me of Rioja reserva! An elegant cologne-scent peaks out behind waves of fresh fruit. On the palate, that subtle interplay continues. I love the amount of leather, cologne, and cigar box I get on this fresh, new-world delicacy! Magic! — 7 years ago

with Leah

J&K Muniz

9.4

Bought a bottle at the Peaks of Otter Lodge off the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA. It was crisp and refreshing without being too sweet or dry. Perfect wine and eager to buy another bottle. — 8 years ago

Fuzzy Snow

10

Honey, apricot, clean, the muscat flavor is amazing — 8 years ago

Mike Lev

9.0

Has big notes. Kind of heavy handed. $30 worth it. — 5 years ago

Laura Gregory

9.3

Sweet...but once in a while you just have to — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The nose reveals, dark currants, ripe, slightly liqueur; blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, charred strawberries, hints of cooked rhubarb and raspberries. Mixed berry licorice/cola, anise, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, touch clove, steeped fruit tea, herbaceous notes, leather, tobacco, charcoal, wood shavings, limestone minerals, dry stones, a little forest floor, dark fresh florals, lavender & violets.

The body is round, lush with some dusty tannins on the long set. It’s really beautiful right now but, there is still better things ahead over the next 5-8 years before it peaks. It’s silky & satiny. The structure, length, tension and balance are really starting to hit its stride. Dark currants, ripe, slightly liqueur; blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, charred strawberries, hints of cooked rhubarb and raspberries. Mixed berry licorice/cola, anise, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, touch clove, mocha powder, medium dark spice, steeped fruit tea, herbaceous notes, mint, expresso roast, leather, cedar, limestone minerals, dry stones, crushed dry rock & clay, a little forest floor, dark fresh florals, lavender & violets. The acidity is round & beautiful...really shows the greatness of the vintage. The finish is; lush, rich, ripe, elegant, well balanced, polished and quite persistent.

Photos of, Chateau La Fleur de Bouard, the tops of the stainless steel tanks that flow by gravity into the tanks that hang from the other side of the floor/ceiling and their Merlot vines.

I think this was under $35 when I bought it in futures.

Producer history & notes...Chateau La Fleur de Bouard was started by Hubert de Bouard, the owner of Chateau Angelus and Chateau Bellevue in St. Emilion. Hubert de Bouard purchased the vineyard from in 1998. This is a relatively new wine, as the first year for the wine was produced with the 2000 vintage.

Chateau La Fleur de Bouard is produced from a specific a two hectare parcel of old vines that are around 45 years of age, situated on the Lalande de Pomerol Plateau. The vineyard for Chateau La Fleur de Bouard Le Plus is planted to 100% old vine Merlot.

In 2011, La Fleur de Bouard completed a multi-year, top to bottom reconstruction of their entire wine making making facilities and the chateau, making this one of the most modern estates in the Right Bank. The most striking new feature is their hanging, reverse, conical, stainless steel vats as shown in my photos.

The production of La Fleur de Bouard sees a five day cold soak at 10 degrees Celsius and a four-week maceration in “OVNI” stainless steel tanks. The wine is vinified in a combination of stainless steel vats and short, squat shaped oak barrels. The wine receives regular pigeages.

Malolactic fermentation takes place in 100% new, French oak barrels from four different coopers, Taransaud (40%), Demptos (40%), Darnajou (15%) and Vicard (5%). Aging sur lies takes place in 100% new, French oak barrels for an estimated 33 months prior to bottling. The wine requires collaring time for the oak to fully integrate into the wine, and for the secondary notes to develop. — 6 years ago

Patrik balint

8.9

Sherry on the nose. The taste is very rough and hard to describe. Start line sherry with dryness and nuts, go on to some kind of animal and farmyard when it peaks a bit too much. Then it turns into paint and some kind of nice chemical notes. Rubbernotes and taste of horse.. Very different tastes and rough. 2001 vintage — 7 years ago

Christian Alexander Møller Bach

9.1

Baby killing. 2 - 3 hours of decanting necessary. Not super expressive on the nose, but somewhere between toffee and petrol. Mouth is dominated by pineapple-like acidity and a luxurious lush viscosity. Alcohol peaks through at the end, which makes me think it needs another couple of years. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Sourced primarily from hillside terraces of Poetry and Twin Peaks Vineyards. Dark deep red with complex aromas of black fruit, earthy spice and sweet notes. Composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 3% Merlot, the palate shows fruit forward rich dark berry flavors with notes of licorice and cacao, approachable tannins, well balanced. Lingering finish ends with earthy tones. Can age well for another decade. — 8 years ago

Angie Stern

9.5

Deep, cherry jam of the nose. The smell is intoxicating. More cherry and dark fruit, peppery, round finish. Very easy drinking cab sauv. Very good!! — 5 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.0

Ancient Peaks - Oyster Ridge - Paso Robles. 2014 blend 51% cab, 36% merlot, 5% syrah, 5% petite sirah, 3% malbec. Santa Margarita Ranch is known for the oyster shells in the soil. Anyway, on to the review. This blend is amazing. My first impression is OMG! Blackberry and dark currants with a vanilla and spice explosion. The mid palate is leather and mineral soil. This could be the oyster soil impact. The finish is dry and long. This is the longest finish on a wine ... wow! However, day two... SOUR. I did use my Coravin so maybe the Argon affected the wine. Im still out on the Coravin. Just not sure. I do know if you pull it out of the bottle after use the cork does leak - synthetic and natural both. — 6 years ago

J Melser

9.1

Pencil shavings, red berries, dark cherries. Tannins were smoothed out, but still has plenty of time before it peaks. — 7 years ago

Taylor Angino

9.8

This is what living is for. First, the restaurant Was sheer perfection non fussy yet perfectly traditional French cuisine in the snowy peaks of Vermont. This was the setting for one the most incredible bottle of wines to share with my love. The wine was from 2015 which was a drought year in California, however there nothing dry about this wine. Complex and dynamic with bold tannins and smooth finishes ending with a round bite. — 7 years ago

Robert Swart

9.0

A Merlot that drinks like a Cabernet. Medium bodied with hints of vanilla, leather, and tart cherries. — 7 years ago

Lawrence Asrikin

9.2

Mas de Boislauzon has been my go to wine when I'm craving for a glass of full bodied, contemporary styled, affordable CdP. Although I think it usually peaks at around 5-7 years, it is more than drinkable young. Fruit forward without being overly jammy. Blackberry, pine tree, oak on the nose. Full bodied with medium to high tannins on the palate. Some floral notes on the finish, perhaps violet. Perfect wine for the upcoming holiday season. — 8 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.1

A very interesting Syrah based blend from the Bennett Valley in Sonoma. Lots of bright fruit, black pepper, spice and some mineral like flavors. It's an 80-20 blend of Syrah and Grenache in a very nicely integrated wine. I like it! — 8 years ago

with Lisa