Db

9.2

Excellent old world — 8 years ago

Kathy Olsem

9.4

Nuce6, inexpensive Bordeaux. — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

Villa Symposia is the Languedoc label from Éric Prissette, the founder of Château Rol Valentin. The winemaking is overseen by Stéphane Derenoncourt. And from what I gathered, L'Origine is the flagship, or at least 'the' high-end cuvée here. The importer label indicates it's 95% Syrah, 5% Grenache (but a blog post from Taste Languedoc mentioned Carignan was added to the blend in 2012). The Syrah comes from the oldest vines of the estate, ~50 years old.

Opens with a noticeable amount of Brett, which can go either way for me. I view Brett like abstract art... done well and it's a beautiful lens to which to view a wine. However, when it's done poorly it's shit (literally). This was done very well. The pungent barnyard, stinky cheese, and saddle leather arrive heavily seasoned with baking spices, noticeably cinnamon, and herbs, including rosemary and tarragon. Ripe, dark bramble fruit, lavender oil, and pine resin pervade the palate and continue through the lengthy and structured finish. An extraordinary mix of the old and new world, while maintaining a clear sense of terroir, and providing an intensely vivid experience. It really hits its stride after 1.5 hours. Fair warning, if you don't like Brett at all then I wouldn't recommend this wine... however if you've ever liked a wine because of Brett, I suspect you'll enjoy. — 9 years ago

Sam Coturri

Winery Sixteen 600, Enterprise Vineyards and the Moon Mountain District

9.8

Precise, ripe, a pinnacle of merlot and cab franc. A masterful treat...even before I found myself across the dinner table from Stephane Derenoncourt as he described the importance of limestone in his vineyards. — 9 years ago

with Philip

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.2

Tasty Super Tuscan. Drinking at peak. — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.0

I was lucky to have had dinner with François Thienpont earlier this spring, and to taste several vintages of VCC. Bellevue is managed by his brother, Nicolas and Stephane Derenoncourt. Bellevue is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc. The 2000 offers up a bouquet of spring flowers, lavender, black currants, and minerals. Finely-hewn, with well-integrated tannins, and notes of leather, black fruit and graphite. It's just now entering its prime drinking window, with plenty of acidity to carry it forward. — 10 years ago

Daniel Klasik

8.9

Took a long time to really open up. Good once there. Lots of sediment. — 11 years ago

Stein Ove Sandvik

9.1

Just had my third Bottle of this wine. Keeps getting better — 11 years ago

Boyd Harris

9.7

Stephane Derenoncourt from Montisqueiu. — 12 years ago

Morten Bagai

9.0

Huge wine. Needs to sit for 3-4 hours. — 8 years ago

Kohei Noda

9.0

With Akiyo at home, Tokyo winery. Nice merlot — 8 years ago

Christine Havens

8.9

I'll admit, I'm always happy to have a Nicolas Thienpont wine in my glass. The Thienpont family are associated with other great Bordeaux properties including Puygueraud, Pavie Macquin and one of my personal favorites, Vieux Château Certan. The 2014 Les Charmes Godard is slightly austere, with pronounced herbaceousness. Smoky minerality swirls around boxwood, cherimoya and gooseberry notes. It's lean and racy on the palate, lightly hemmed in by oak. Here lime zest, white grapefruit, and white pepper take the center stage. — 9 years ago

John Zuzek

8.9

Very nice affordable Bordesux. Lots of floral notes on the nose with black raspberries and currants. Decent structure with lots of dark fruits and some earthiness on the palate. Really nice "Tuesday Night Wine" (although it's Monday). — 9 years ago

Zack Miskel

10

Had to let decant for two hours, but worth the wait to let the tannin structure calm a bit. Napa Cab represented in a bottle! — 10 years ago

Stein Ove Sandvik

9.5

Just finished my second bottle. This is one of the best cabs I've ever had. — 10 years ago

Zachary Zerbe

9.0

Great wine. — 10 years ago

Zachary Zerbe

9.5

Love a good Bordeaux on Sunday afternoon ... Blackberry, dark fruit — 11 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.1

consulted by Stéphane Derenoncourt — 11 years ago

MJ Thompson

10

Phenomenal! — 12 years ago

Keith Newton

9.5

Lovely richness and finesse — 8 years ago

Steven Meisel

9.7

Great fruits and amazing with steak — 8 years ago

with Brett

Michael Kvasnicka

9.1

Tasting real good right now. Aging in quite nicely. Way more tannic last time I had it. — 9 years ago

Emil

8.9

less sugar than you would expect given the nose but very smooth. — 9 years ago

Sameer Khosla

9.8

Perfectly drinkable in 2016 with 15% alc - deep plum, licorice, and an intense mouthfeel that finishes surprisingly clean. Ethereal — 9 years ago

Rob Browne

9.0

Well made bargain Bourdeaux Blanc. Drinks well above it's price. Refreshing on a,warm evening. — 10 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.2

First vintage of this new Thienpont-star in the sky... — 10 years ago

Zachary Zerbe

8.9

Heavy ... Red fruit ... Syrup — 11 years ago

Oscar Bonilla

10

Was at their winery last year and was fortunate to try their Chateau Le Pin. This one is just as awesome but far less. — 11 years ago

Lauren Brooke

9.1

Meet Franc — 12 years ago

Kyosuke Takahashi

9.8

香りよし、味良し。最高 — 13 years ago