Second Growth

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. Broad and bold, with red berries and red currant, medium acidity, velvet tannins, medium plus alcohol, long finish. Like a ballerina draped in silk. — 5 months ago

Peter, Andrew and 10 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Not fair to compare different years… 🧐 Premier Crus are excellent in their own way
Ericsson

Ericsson

Point taken…

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1997

From the Downs Club First Growth Lunch last Saturday. Very brief notes. Mid crimson in colour - some bricking at the rim. A meaty note - a lovely red fruited perfume - unmistakably first growth. Just medium weight - a lesser vintage. — 7 months ago

Shay, Ira and 24 others liked this

Château Lagrange

Les Fiefs de Lagrange St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Very fresh nose right out of the bottle with red fruits, wood and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, currants, light wood, spices, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, licorice and black tea.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 10 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based blend is drinking beautifully now. Elegant and rich. Fruit forward and complex.

This Second Wine from this 3rd growth winery is delicious. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Soft, spicy and entertaining.

Feels young, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too.

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 13 months in (20% new) French Oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40.
— 7 months ago

Daniel, ESF and 10 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Les Pagodes de Cos Saint-Estéphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

A 2nd respected wine label of Cos D’Estournel (a 2nd Growth of the 1855 Grand Cru Classification) with a blend of Cab Sauv at 44%, Merlot at 46,2%, Cab Franc at 5,8% and Petit Verdot at 4% brings out an opulent, intense, deep, yet refined and properly-balanced red. The V’15 is perfectly poised, seductive, and extremely enjoyable. Eruptive fruity, with powerful aromatics in baked red fruits. The level of ripeness and raisins in notably persistent. Pagodes V’15 seats among my top favorites from Saint-Estèphe sub-appellation that will never disappoints and/or falls short of expectations. Cheers! — 9 months ago

Bob, Ted and 4 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2015

Mike R
9.7

Oh baby and I don’t mean maybe - winner winner chicken dinner - with the WNH gang on a Sunday night Italian IGT tasting via super Tuscan - this wine became commercially available wine in 1968 and since then it has risen quickly in fame - the 2015 as well as the 2016 are getting ridiculous scores from critics - like Bordeaux first growth scores - 97 plus from all - yes it a baby and as such I double decanted - i have more and I have much older vintages so this was my attempt to see what the hype was

Well the hype is real - patience is rewarded - 4 hour decant and every glass got better - in hour six this was incredible and went from a 9.5 to the 9.7 I gave it - 85% cab with 15% CF - reminds me of a great Bordeaux or great Napa blend like Continuum maybe a 2010 vintage as far as taste but leaves there and goes further - chiseled tannins integrated in a rich supple deep ruby color pushing red blue and black fruits elegantly- this could easily go another 30-40 years - and it will get better - in ten years this is 9.8 or higher - my face is broken from smiling so much!
— 5 years ago

Shawn RJoe LuccaRon R
with Shawn, Joe and 3 others
Mike, David and 117 others liked this
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

@Philip Deibel can’t wait to when we can do like old times and crack open some really fun and good wine brother
WC Fields

WC Fields

Makes me want to crack open my ‘08 and ‘10. Great note.
Philip Deibel

Philip Deibel

@Mike R absolutely Mike!

Château Gruaud Larose

Sarget de Gruaud Larose Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

Great Bordeaux. Very smooth second growth. This was the 2014 vintage. — 7 years ago

Kayla Ilg
with Kayla

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. Mind blowing. I mean, from a weak Bordeaux vintage comes this masterpiece which can be enjoyed now or saved for decades to come. Beautiful nose and almost perfumed with roses and black cheery and blueberry, cedar, and pencil shavings. The palate is pure bliss full of complexity, intensity yet balanced and the finish just goes on and on. Cheers. — 5 months ago

Andrew, Severn and 10 others liked this

Opus One

Overture Napa Valley Petit Verdot Blend

Opus One Overture Red Blend N/V
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A second wine from Opus One Winery, Overture is crafted as a multi-vintage Bordeaux-style blend, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with smaller portions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Unlike the estate’s grand vin, Overture blends across several vintages to achieve harmony, depth, and consistency. This wine edition includes 2014, 2015, and 2016, vintages that shows the elegance and complexity of extended barrel aging.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: red currants, ripe cherry, and fresh red fruit, wrapped in earthy tones of mahogany, cocoa powder, and vanilla spice.
Palate: rounded and expressive, with plush dark fruit layered over subtle tobacco, cedar, and espresso. The oak influence creates warmth and complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full-bodied, velvety in texture, with smooth tannins and a long, polished finish. The extended oak elevates its creaminess, while freshness keeps it balanced.

Winemaking & Style
Barrel-aged longer than the main Opus One lots, this wine achieves silky integration of fruit and oak. The flexibility of blending across vintages results in a wine of remarkable harmony and immediate drinkability, while still capable of short-term aging.

Food Pairing
Excellent with grilled ribeye, lamb shanks, duck breast, or mushroom risotto. Also pairs beautifully with aged cheeses or a dark chocolate finale.

Verdict
A luxurious, multi-vintage blend that captures the soul of Opus One in a more approachable, versatile package. Refined, elegant, and deeply satisfying, Overture is a wine to savor now or cellar briefly for added nuance.
— 5 months ago

Ted liked this

Château Montrose

La Dame de Montrose Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Somm David T
9.1

The second wine of Chateau Montrose. 91 but if I rounded up with more time in the glass, 92.

Nose not entirely expressive. Not a surprise as this Chateau makes wine for the ages. Nice soft fruits of, dark cherries, blackberries & strawberries. Sandstone, dry herbs, some light non distinct earth with bright red flowers, red roses framed in dark, dry flowers.

The palate is good but is begging to remain in bottle. Nice soft, ripe, fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries. Dark chocolate bar, some chocolate pudding, moist clay, dark spices w/ just a touch of heat, moist herbs-sage, sandalwood, dry tobacco, little in the way of baking spices-clove leading the way, mocha, very little caramel notes, dry top soil, river stone, withering to dry, dark, red flowers with liquid violets, beautiful acidity and a well knitted/made, balanced, nicely tensioned finish that lands on some fruit, clay & soft spice.

Very good value here but would not open one for another 10 years.
— 7 months ago

Peter, Jay and 15 others liked this

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Amazing super second. Great depth of flavor. — 3 years ago

Ron, Iwan and 7 others liked this

Seavey Vineyard

Caravina Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Prefer this second label to the Seavey Cab bottlings. — 6 years ago

Tom, Stephen and 32 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

In the younger years, I agree. Love older Seavey cab over older Caravina. But both are undeniably wonderful wines regardless of age!
Deborah M

Deborah M

Love the Caravina. Really great wine and great PQR.

Yelland & Papps

Second Take Roussanne

Really gorgeous wine. Apple pie. — 6 years ago

Alec liked this

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Le Petit Haut Lafitte Red Bordeaux Blend

A second wine that's far from second rate — 7 years ago

Shawn, Shay and 5 others liked this
Matt Trader

Matt Trader Influencer Badge

If you have any, get a bottle of the grand vin 2012.. they are stupid good this year.

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2020

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. A young poet full of art and glory. Deep ruby colour, with scents of raspberry and red currant with graphite and even leather. Imposing on the palate yet balanced and elegant. Full bodied, high alcohol, fine grain tannings, medium acidity, with a long finish and notes of ripe red fruit. Wine with great aging potential. — 5 months ago

Andrew, Severn and 10 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Mid crimson with a tawny rim showing its age. Just as impressive as the 2000 vintage which tends to get the accolades. This blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Aromatics of an old flower arrangement that had dried off with mature black fruits and cedar. My last bottle at 24 years of age but many say this could carry on until the mid 2030s. A classic Bordeaux living up to its “Super Second” standing. — 4 months ago

Doug, Tom and 32 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Ooooh. . . .
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

2001's were so overlooked given the 2000 hype.

Château Latour

Les Forts de Latour Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Exactly what you would expect from Bordeaux. Excellent. definitely needs more time but really quite an impressive second wine. — 7 months ago

Kayla Rebeca Campbell
with Kayla

Château Palmer

Alter Ego Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2024

Dense, free and chocolaty.
Supple, super delicate tannins. beautiful wine. Not a second wine.
Great achievement despite the 34% Merlot.
— 8 months ago

Paul and Peter liked this

Château Margaux

Pavillon Rouge Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Classic notes of left bank Bordeaux. 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. Initially a sweet palate but after a few hours, restrained, balanced and a little dusty and herbaceous. Very fine tannins - totally resolved and seamless. A classy wine - the 2nd wine of a leading First Growth from a good vintage. — 2 years ago

Joe, Doug and 26 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

This had to be beautifully elegant & smooth as silk.

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Réserve de la Comtesse Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

The second wine of Pichon LaLande and it was showing quite well. Classic Bordeaux nose with Cabernet filling the glass. Very good vintage and this wine is quite young . It matched up with the many dishes at the table. Years of life left.👀🍷🍷 — 6 years ago

Joe BecerraRay Conti
with Joe and Ray
Mike, Mike and 48 others liked this

Philip Togni Vineyard

Tanbark Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Late to post this from Friday night dinner at Gemma (Dallas spot with nice wine list). Surprised to find this one on the list and just had to order. Fortunately they decanted for us, but it was still a little cooler temp than my liking. Overall this is always a pleaser. Still can’t believe this is a second wine for PT. Silky smooth tannins. Approachable now, but will become even more elegant with time in the bottle. Can’t beat this QPR. Napa cab that holds true to Bordeaux style. (Drank 1/3/20) (not my photo) — 6 years ago

Amy Elizabeth
with Amy
Amy and Bill liked this