Marcio Morelli

8.9

Too much oak for my personal taste. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Had another bottle, aged well. A neighbor of Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, Les Carmes is positioned on the same bank. The name derives from the friars, known as ";Les Carmes"; who owned the property between the 16th & 18th century. This estate has been under new ownership since 2010. Predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 months in French oak, (33% new). Red fruit and currants on the nose. Raspberry and plum flavors fine tannins and lingering finish ending with mineral tones. Nice! — 6 years ago

Josh Shields

9.2

Cellared from the source, these are the wines you look forward to share the most. I can vaguely remember the terraced amphitheater Mourvèdre vineyards next to the estate but was such a beautiful property. It's beginning to turn the corner but has oomf left in the fruit. Graceful and subtle come to mind too. — 7 years ago

admiral von schnauzer

9.3

Not my personal fave but still pretty darn good. — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Pichon Lalande is my favorite 2nd growth with a steak. Yup...it's #SteakandClaret night to quote my buddy Gary Westby. Further, it's certainly one of my favorite producers period. I've waited for this wine to be in the bottle for 10 years before finding out definitely how good it was or wasn't. You see, the 05 Bordeaux vintage was exceptional. It's drinking right now better than 00. 00 may turn out to be better, but not for some time. The real issue was the division of scores between RP & NM. Parker had this as low as an 86 and now has it at 89. Neil Martin has been consistently at 95-96. I found it simply inexplicable that Pichon Lalande could have bombed in such a great vintage. Tonight, I know they didn't. This wine is beautiful. Although, I don't believe it will cellar as long as their some of their very best vintages and many others I've enjoyed. On the nose, bramble, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries, graphite, baking spices, cedar, lightly perfumed violets and dark, fresh & dry red flowers. The body is medium-medium plus, tannins nicely resolved with 10 years to be completely resolved. Fruits of; ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries and pomegranate with a whiff of spice. There's notes of dry bramble, soft leather, fresh violets, graphite, cedar, dry stones, dark rich earth, limestone, tobacco, spice-box, vanilla, very light cinnamon & nutmeg. The finish is very long, elegant, ripe, round, smooth, good acidity and beautifully elegant...50-50 earth & fruit. I bought more bottles of this at $85 after it's was first released in futures and I do not regret it. $85 is proving to be a steal for this wine when it normally sells for between $100-$150 a bottle and higher. Might heavy up further after tonight if I find more around the same price. Oh yes...I'm with NM on the scoring. Photos of the Chateau, estate vines, newer tasting room & the Virginie de Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande. Forgive my long post, but my passion and love for this producer is profound. Producer history and notes...as I wrote in an earlier post for Pichon Baron, Pichon Baron and Lalande started as one entity. The first mention of what is now called Chateau Pichon Lalande was the creation of Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan. Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan is responsible for forming many of the top Bordeaux estates today. Pichon Lalande was given its name when Therse, the daughter of the founder received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville. Pichon Lalande was essentially managed by three women, Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Lajus and Marie Branda de Terrefort. On the eve of his death in 1850, Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville divided the property between his five children. His three daughters received Pichon Lalande and his sons Pichon Baron. What happened next was Virginie, the wife of the Count of Lalande took over the management of the estate under the name of Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 she commissioned the popular, architect Duphot to build a residence inspired by the Hotel de Lalande, located in Bordeaux. Without heirs, Pichon Lalande passed down from aunts to nieces. Following World War I, the Miailhe brothers, bought Pichon Lalande in 1925. They were the ones who planted even more Merlot. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, the daughter of Edouard Miailhe became the new owner and general manager of Chateau Pichon Lalande in 1978. She expand the size of Chateau Pichon Lalande from 40 hectares to it's current 89 hectares. Chateau Pichon Lalande remained in the same family for more than 250 years! In fact, over three centuries, only two families have owned Pichon Lalande. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing sold Pichon Lalande to the owners of Roederer Champagnein in January 2007. This family-run company is managed by Frederic Rouzaud who owned several other wine estates in Bordeaux; Chateau Bernadotte, Chateau de Pez, Haut Beausejour and Chateau Reaut la Graviere. He sold Chateau Bernadotte in December 2012. In February, 2011, Sylvie Cazes was named the director of Chateau Pichon Lalande. She replaced Gildas d’Ollone. Sylvie Cazes was replaced in 2012 by current Director Nicolas Glumineau, who was previously at Chateau Montrose. In 2012, Pichon Lalande renovated the estate with a budget estimated at over 15 Million Euros. The new facilities included; building of a new underground barrel aging cellar and several new buildings...one that houses their new tasting room as shown. This renovation provided numerous improvements in their wine making. Most importantly, in the vinification. They created a new, triple tiered, cellar where everything moves by gravity. They also added numerous new, stainless steel, temperature controlled, double skinned vats. These new vats allow Pichon Lalande to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis as well as get much softer & gentle extractions. The 89 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Lalande is located adjacent to Chateau Latour and and across the road from Pichon Baron. The terroir of Chateau Pichon Lalande is deep gravel with clay and limestone soil and is planted to; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. — 7 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.2

Typically "Napa cult" that should please all fans of the Bob-style (Foley and Parker).
Well-chilled I can appreciate it but served at room temperature it has "too much of everything" for my personal preference.
A solid wine nonetheless. — 9 years ago

with Kurt-Inge

Craig Wallace

9.1

Personal favourite — 9 years ago

Tim Herrmann

9.7

Is this the best cab I've ever tasted? Intensity, balance, and (this is my personal taste) darkness, it's all there. This is from their west-facing vineyard and is full of chocolate and coffee and blue fruits; their east-facing vineyard was full of orange zest and strawberries and raspberries and pine, and was just as good. Really cool tasting experience to compare terroirs on Howell mountain. — 10 years ago

Paco Suro

9.6

Gorgeous wine. Small producer in Rioja. Had this at El Portal which is a two star. Price.... 40eur so think less than 30eur retail. Come on at a two star! — 10 years ago

Chris Scanlan

Sales Amy Atwood Imports

9.3

Jou Jou Vin 2011 Mossik Cabernet Franc from White Rock Vineyard, Napa Valley. It's always difficult when tasting friends wines to remain objective, and while I want to shout this wine from the hilltops (Radio-Coteau style!) I also want to be I also aspire to eliminate personal biases - positive or negative. Jou Jou you should know your wine received much conversation towards a mostly positive frame. The touch of brettanomyces was dually noted, there were comments on carbonic maceration, but I found balance throughout. I jested about the wine being topped with Baudry La Croix Boissée but the fact is, this wine has a strain of brett that works well with the fruit. The brett adds a spicy, wet earth, or mulchy wet tobacco leaf component that lends itself to wines of Chinon or Bordeaux. Is that replicable? Future vintages will tell. Will it grow in bottle? I plan to drink many more for my own recognizance. First day had some notes of carbonic maceration and brighter red fruits, along with that leafy Cab Franc character, fine dense tannins and moderate acidity with a slight sour note likely a proponent of brett. Day 2: I'll be damned. This is some damn good shit. It's worth that $250 dollar price tag! ;) But truly, the leaf/mulch quality is intact and integral, the darker berry fruits come out but there is still a pleasant sour cherry mid-palate that combines with the albeit softer yet still dense/fine mouth filling tannins. I realize part of the reason this wine was the talk of the blind tasting was that the brett, while in balance, set it apart from every other wine tasted. It was unique, it spoke of an older world style, it crept up in conversation because it lent something else to talk about. Kudos Jou Jou. The wine was made from 12 year old CF vines farmed organically (uncertified) grown in a layer of white volcanic ash. Grapes are fermented WC with ambient yeast in open top macro-bins, gently foot tread, native ML, pressed dry into 75% neutral FO and 25% Stainless Steel. 50 ppm SO2 added post ML, 10-15ppm added before bottling, racked once to bottle in June 2012. 25 cases produced. Good luck finding some! — 11 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

Founded in 1960 by Charles Bravay (although the property actually dates to at least 1760), Domaine de Ferrand didn’t produce its first estate wine until 1995 when Philippe Bravay took the reins from his father. It’s 90% Grenache from vines nearly a century old. It sees no oak, only a combination of stainless and concrete during fermentation followed by aging in concrete vats.

Initially austere, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape presents a rugged exterior. With time its layers start to peel back and it’s hard not to notice how intoxicatingly sexy it is.

The entire spectrum of red fruit is on display, including kirsch, supple raspberry, and even a savory, pickled strawberry. The fruit is equally matched with a mix of Provençal herbs, lavender, and mineral purity, leading you down the path to its lengthy finish. Only then do you realize how tight the grip is. I’m not the first to point out the notions of heat, but in the $30s, you’ll get nothing and like it. What an exceptional value! — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.3

Superb €38 now £65 personal fav from St Em in top year 👍 w/ fab QPR & a soft spot for me as I had this same vintage from the barrel 😍 93 going 95-96

🍇 71% Merlot & 29% Cab F

🍷Opaque ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Chocolate coated black cherry, berry & plum through smokey oak, liquorice & wet crushed mineral rock w/ violets

👄 Med+ creamy silky mocha dark berry plum bang w/ liquorice & minerals

🎯 Long mocha berry plum slight dry mineral linger purple teether — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It's just one of the best evening starters unless your are going to bust out; Krug Rosé, vintage Krug & Salon or like's. The fruits are bright, delicious and leaner in style. Black cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, cherries, tangerine & watermelon near the rhine. Delicate, powdery chalkiness with a fine and slightly sharp edge that I love, baguette, beautiful saline & minerality. Fresh, crisp acidity and a delightful finish with long staying power. Photos of their beautifully manicured property, A frame racks waiting to be riddled, the grape press after first pressing and the best days in the vineyard...harvesting! Normally, I'm regularly a 9.3, but tonight it's showing me a little more. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Domaine Carneros established in 1987 and belongs to Champagne Taittinger (a personal favorite) considered the concept in 1947 in the mind of Claude Taittinger. The 138 acre estate is situated in the Carneros appellation of CA. A blend of 58% Chardonnay & 42% Pinot Noir, crisp aromas of stone fruits and floral scents. Apple and pear flavors with citrus notes in a fine mousse with good bubble flow. Creamy texture, well structured, lingering finish ending with mineral tones. Will age!! Nice! — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I will say I was looking forward to our Rippon visit and it most certainly didn't disappoint. Everything about the visit fills the soul, from the breathtaking views, the passion, energy and practices of the the ownership to their sensational wines. If the property hadn't been in the family for so long, there wouldn't be vines here, there'd be a resort as the property values now would prevent a Cellar Door from penciling out. The 2016 Gewurztraminer was the wine of the tasting. The wine spends 9 weeks in stainless on its lees. On the nose, spice, yellow & white florals, citrus, white peach and melons. On the palate, warm spice, nice tropicals, white peach, nectarines, melons, citrus, citrus blossoms and yellow & white flowers. The acidity is dead on. The finish is rich yet lean and elegantly polished. Photos of their old truck that still runs and once last look at their jaw dropping view. I like to thank Jo for a spectacular visit. She is a good soul with just the greatest passion for making wine as well a wonderful host. Rippon is a must visit if you are in Queenstown/Central Otago. — 7 years ago

Kieran Roberts

9.1

Excellent depth of palate, robust fruit and loads of white pepper. — 7 years ago

Tyler Durham

9.5

Amazing family and cellar tour. A wine extremely well rated by Decanter, Wine Spectator and Parker all for good reason. Breathes of the live oaks and spices that are found on the property. — 8 years ago

with Anne

Glen Digwood

9.5

Personal favorite. Never disappoints. Bold with dark fruit. — 9 years ago

Raul Puga

8.9

Perfect complement to a lunch meeting with parillada @Garcias in Uruguay — 9 years ago

James Pendergrass

9.3

A personal favorite. Mike Brown and team make a great wine. Bright berry flavor. Could lay down a bit longer. Great none the less — 9 years ago

with Peter and Peter

Michael Hildbold

9.5

Almost Pinot-like Grenache. Lovely effort from this Rayas-owned property. — 10 years ago

with Kathy

Kristin Taylor

8.9

Love this one. It's easy for a date night, just something to unwind with. A personal favorite for the boyfriend and I. — 10 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, a touch of barnyard. Sweet & sour dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked strawberries and hues of blue fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry stones, rich black turned, soft leather, cedar, underbrush, tobacco, light vanilla & clove, medium spice, limestone, fresh & withering dark red floral bouquet.

The body is just full. The tannins are soft, rounded, chewy & sticky and still have some teeth. The wine elegantly guides smooth over the palate...very little that pushes back. It’s still youthful but not as youthful as my expectation. Sweet & sour dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked strawberries and hues of blue fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry stones, rich black turned, soft leather, cedar, underbrush, tobacco, some dry herbal notes, sweet tarry notes, light vanilla & clove, medium spice, powdery limestone, loamy clay & top soil, graphite, dark spice with lifting heat, fresh & withering dark red floral bouquet and haunting violets. The acidity is near perfect. The structure, tension, length are in a very place but, will still improve for another 15+ years. The long, finish is ripe, round, balanced and lasts minutes.

Photos of, the Chateau, Technical Director Vincent Millet, beautiful stainless steel tank room and their new barrel room.

Producer notes & history...historic records show that Calon Segur was in existence as far back as 1147, when it was owned by Monseigneur de Calon. He was an important Bishop in the community. This makes Chateau Calon Segur one of the very oldest properties in Saint Estephe. Eventually, the property came to be owned by Nicolas Alexandre de Segur. Hence where part of the name of the Chateau comes.

After passing through generations, the estate became the property of the famous Marquis de Segur. de Segur is an important figure in Bordeaux history, not only for his ownership of numerous top Bordeaux estates in that day but, he also owned Lafite and Latour. de Segur is credited with uttering the words that spawned the idea behind the heart shaped logo of Calon Segur. The story is that de Segur is quoted as saying: “I make my wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is in Calon.” This famous saying lives on the label of Chateau Calon Segur, where the drawing of a heart is prominently featured on the bottle.

Chateau Calon Segur was one of the original three Bordeaux vineyards in Saint Estephe. In 1825 Chateau Montrose was a forest without a single vine belonging to the massive Calon Segur estate. In fact, Chateau Phelan Segur was also once part of the vast Segur estate. The holdings of the Segur family were so large, they included what would later became Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton Rothschild!

The more modern era by European standards began in 1894 when its Left Bank vineyards were purchased by Georges Gasqueton and Charles Hanappier. Hanappier was a large negociant at the time. The Gasqueton family managed the estate until 2012. Madame Gasqueton ran the estate until she passed away at the age of 87 in late September, 2011.

In July of 2012, Chateau Calon Segur was sold for 170 million Euros or 215 million US dollars. The buyer was a French Insurance Company, Suravenir Insurance. Jean-Pierre Moueix, the owner of Petrus and the massive negociant company Duclot also took a minority stake in Chateau Calon Segur.

Since taking over Calon Segur, they started renovating the property with the focus on the wine making facilities. They followed a trend to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis. The estate replaced their older vats with new stainless steel tanks that vary in size and number to match the size of the various vineyard parcels.

The new tanks accompany a completely new vat room as well with everything moving completely by gravity. The new tasting room was remodeled as well. The renovations were completed in 2016.

Their cellars also needed work. Immediately after closing, the new owners began an extensive replanting of the Calon Segur vineyard. There were a number of reasons they chose to do this. They needed to increase the level of vine density and add more Cabernet Sauvignon.

The extensive renovation of Chateau Calon Segur cost somewhere north of 20 Million Euros. Other changes, the new owners took full control and brought in Vincent Millet as the Technical Director.

The 55 hectares of Calon Segur are located just north of the small town of St. Estephe and are planted to 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Chateau Calon Segur is one of the few walled in vineyards in the Left Bank. Calon Segur is also known as being the northern most Classified Growth in Medoc.

The terroir of Calon Segur is a blend of gravel, rocks, clay, sand and limestone soils on the surface with gravel that can be as deep as 5 meters. Underneath, you find marl, clay and limestone.

On average, the vines are 25 years of age. However, they have older vines that range in age from 45-60 years of age.

The vineyard of Chateau Calon Segur remains almost exactly the same as it did at the time of the 1855 Classification.

Since the remodel was completed, fermentation takes place in 70 conical shaped, stainless steel tanks that range in size from 25 hectoliters to 120 hectoliters. Vintages are now aged in 90% to 100% new, French oak barrels for up to 20 months.

Production of Chateau Calon Segur is around 20,000 cases per year. They also make a second wine, which was originally named Marquis de Calon. Now, the second wine is sold under the name of Le Marquis de Calon Segur.

There is also a third wine, which is sold under two names, La Chapelle de Calon, and St. Estephe de Calon Segur, which is produced from vines that mostly come from a specific plot with more limestone. — 6 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.7

2012 CIRQ Estate Treehouse Pinot Noir. Michael Browne’s (of Kosta Browne) personal project which as I understand is an homage to the Summers he spent at a ‘Circus Camp’ in his youth. Treehouse is an amazing hilltop (stunning elevation) property in west Sonoma County with red, iron-rich soil surrounded by (say what?) coastal cypress trees. I had the pleasure of visiting, hosted by Damon Wong, and it's an amazing Vineyard. Unlike anything else I've ever seen. I can understand Michael's fascination with it. The wine: On the nose, red fruits, cedarbox, with notes of rhubarb and fennel. On the palate, pomegranate, kirsch, black tea, spices, roasted herbs along with hints of black truffles and white pepper. Beautiful texture. Lengthy finish. Classic expression of Pinot Noir. If I had to distinguish it from Kosta Browne from a flavor-perspective, I would say higher acidity and a bit of tannin give it a quality more accustom to Grand Cru Burgundy which is not bad company. I'm a fan. Congrats to Michael as well as his partner in this project, my friend Kenny Rochford, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Block 5 is now considered to be the equal of the fabled Block 3. I know Block 3 will cellar for 10 plus years from personal experience but have not done this with Block 5 yet, but am sure it will age effortlessly. — 7 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.6

Mia Klein knocked this out of the park!
#howellmountain fruit at its best, a superb expression of terroir in Napa which to me is usually oversold (and over-oaked). #miaklein #cimarossa #rivadiponente
Vivid red currants, cassis, a touch of mint and graphite, the palate is juicy, loaded with perfect balance, acidity and ripe, firm tannins that have started to mellow. This is from the western facing terraced slope of the property and was my favorite of the tasting way back in 2012. The cooler effect of a western exposure seems perfect in this vintage. — 8 years ago

Alex Powell

9.5

At 12% alc....holy mackerel what fruit!!! A plethora of plum skin and sweet cassis erupt in your brain, wrapped in caramel with flecks of dark chocolate, doused in aged balsamic. Talk about hedonistic, it's no wonder parker loves this vintage, large-scaled sweet cassis swimming pool of a palate, ultra rich and long...quite opiate-like in its generous overloading of easy pleasure. This will be saturated in fruit for a long time, its around middle age now. A sheer pleasure, however I'd have preferred some more complexity, but that's personal taste. Decadent like a banana split ice cream! — 9 years ago

Matt Baker

10

Z-Best!!! My personal fav of all time!!!! — 9 years ago

Pedro Rusk

Wine Educator Kendall Jackson

9.5

Out of mag from my personal stash — 10 years ago

Seth Truman

9.5

My personal sommelier from Total Wine recommended this. It's not Brown, but not far behind. — 10 years ago