katarina ammann

9.3

2017 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret 'Cuvée Exceptionnelle' Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Rhône valley GSM. Deep ruby color, red fruits, dark fruits, and even blueberry. Tannins start quite acidic, but soften over time. Warm spices come out after about 30 mins. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over several hours. The 2012 pours a light ruby with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of red brambles, red rope licorice, leather, red flowers and purple flowers, and stony minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose the finish is medium+. Textbook, Grenache forward CdP that’s showing quite beautifully. Drink now through 2032. — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Dark and full of character. Very pure with gnarly undertow. Clean and pure — 5 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Vieux Château Palon – 2021
Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOC – Right Bank, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinctive Right Bank Bordeaux, this cuvée flips the classic Merlot-dominant Saint-Émilion script. Instead, it is crafted from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, making it unusually bold, structured, and aromatically lifted for the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and cassis dominate, with graphite, cedar, and tobacco leaf from the Cabernets. Subtle violet and peppery notes emerge from the Franc.

Mouthfeel
Firm tannins, medium-plus body, and a long, savory finish. More muscular and linear than many Montagne-Saint-Émilions, leaning toward Left Bank style but with Right Bank elegance.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops with rosemary, cassoulet, duck confit, aged Comté or Tomme de Savoie cheeses.

Verdict
An atypical but fascinating Montagne-Saint-Émilion that highlights Cabernet structure over Merlot plushness. For those who love Pauillac or Saint-Julien, this bottle is a bridge into the Right Bank world. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Montagne-Saint-Émilion is one of the four “satellite” appellations of Saint-Émilion, known for offering excellent value Bordeaux reds. Few estates here lean so heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes Palon stand out stylistically. — 7 months ago

aik

9.0

it has high alcohol, but i feel cool nuance, because it has sharp acidiy and lifted aromas. Well balanced and enjoyable classic Syrah beauty. — 5 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.0

Juicy black fruit, firm tannins, iron and red twizzler nose, perfect with ribeyes. Always been a bargain of a wine — 6 years ago

Neel Master

9.2

Love this one. Strawberry delight. — 7 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, licorice, spices, earth, tobacco and herbs.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Bordeaux. Rich and extracted. Nicely balanced and complex.

This 16 year old is starting to drink at its peak now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Wine Advocate 96 points. Wine Spectator 96 points.

I've had the 2012 a few years ago, but this 2010 vintage is showing so much better.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food.

A blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 17 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$180. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Brief notes. Mellow and very balanced in this medium bodied palate - no point in further cellaring. In fact, so balanced that nothing stands out but it is highly savoury and richly textured. I think I preferred this wine when it was younger and vibrant. I see Jancis’s drinking window was 2019 to 2026. — 3 months ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

8.9

Pleasant drinking. — 5 months ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.3

Great cork & freshness, needs air to fully evaluate,
K&L notes as follows

This property was a Bill Blatch favorite-and as usual I have never visited the property which is located in Begadan. Château Vieux Robin is a family owned Cru Bourgeois estate located in Begadan at the far north of the Médoc. 5th generation owners Maryse and Didier Robin have made huge strides in terms of quality since they took over in 1988. Didier Robin, who learnt his trade at Château Clarke, is a skilled winemaker and now produces 4 different cuvées of ascending quality.There are only 18 hectares of vines and Vieux Robin is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. Old school Bordeaux with 12% alcohol. Over 20 years old and still lively and fresh. No fancy oak here-just good Merlot and Cabernet.
Drink from 2021 to 2025 — 4 years ago

Aravind A

9.2

Pop and pour. Well, wow, I should have bought more of this. On the nose: dense plum, strawberry, cinnamon, intense without being over the top. On the palate: tar, blackberry, charcoal, dense and dark fruited...so well-balanced, fantastic length and juiciness and the finely grained tannin sneaks up on the finish. — 5 years ago

Inseon Hwang

9.0

Very approachable St E. Dark cherry, licorice and barnyard. Medium body. Drinking nicely. — 6 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

Atherton Wine Imports 2026 tasting at République, Los Angeles. 2022 vintage. Better, longer finish than the 2021 version. Dark plum and cassis ruling the roost here. 3.18.26. — 2 months ago

Katya

9.2

Очень приятное, ароматное (при охлаждении) и сладкий чернослив на вкус. У французов. — 2 months ago

Peter Heyboer

9.0

Wish I could decant this. Oak on the nose, but it hints at the fruit and tobacco/chocolate you're about to taste. Palate has noticeable but not assertive tannins and blends really nicely with the aforementioned flavors. Paired well with dinner but this feels like a pre-dinner sipper. Would buy again. — 4 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Doug Powers

9.0

This CdP seems a bit more angry and wild from being opened, a touch more structure than the softer 2000 Bosquet des Papes (2001 was a more tannic vintage), solid balance, also mature, 13.5% ABV, longish finish. — 6 months ago

with Jim

Michael Phillips

9.2

Mature but should be good for a few more years. Good fruit and balance — 4 years ago

Joe Weinberger

9.0

Probably held on to this a year too long but it showed well for the first night (mouse had set in by the following day). Citrus, white flowers, orange blossom. — 5 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

8.9

Just a tiny bit fatty but good. Total pencil shavings on the nose. Vanilla cream as I opened the bottle. — 6 years ago