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. — 2 months ago

Ming L

9.1

The few bottles of CdP Blanc I tasted were all quite good. This is refined and well-crafted as well.

Nose of green apple, lime, peach, hint of honeysuckle. On the palate, it delivers a seamless balance of creaminess and freshness, with limestone mineral and saline thread weaving through. Good length with subtle green notes on the finish. — 4 months ago

Tyler Felous

10

20 yrs old, celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary. Was perfect. So perfumed, nose was the best part - brickish color, tannins resolved, but, enough bite to stay interesting — 7 months ago

Paul J

9.6

1hr+ decant. This was great, but did fade faster than expected so I’d drink up. Very complex nose and palate that can only be found in higher end Bordeaux’s. Great depth and long finish. Not sure if this is being produced any more, but if it is, I’m a buyer. — 9 months ago

with Brooke

Michael Phillips

9.2

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

Michael Phillips

9.3

Past prime but still very pleasant with a rack of lamb. Brownish edge pleasant dark fruit on the nose . Medium body modest fruit . — 6 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Rated highly (wherever 93 points). I found this wine OK but not oh boy that is the white CdP i need to store. It was easy drinking now. Almond blossoms and Jasmine…. — 3 months ago

Doug Powers

9.2

A little orange bricking on the edge, this lovely aromatic 25-year-old Chateauneuf seems mature and ready to drink, still shows lively acidity which nicely lifts the red fruited flavors, good weight, lingering finish, should pair beautifully with the bison ribeye I will soon be grilling!! — 3 months ago

with Jim

JKT

9.1

Wow aged nicely. Minerals floral notes followed by firm biting texture laced with mature fruit notes and long finish. — 4 months ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.1

GSM that is 67 percent Grenache and 22 percent Syrah. Lots of fruit makes this delightful. May 2025. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented to me blind at Tasting Group. The wine appears bright yellow with medium viscosity; no signs of sediment, gas or particles. On the nose, the wine is developing with ripe orchard fruit: stone fruits, lemons, white flowers, lanolin and minerals. On the palate the wine is off-dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of character. The alcohol is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Chenin Blanc, Riesling or Chardonnay from France, Germany or the United States. But I didn’t get any petrol so I eliminated Riesling and I don’t think you could get the balance of fruit and high acid from California Chardonnay (and the oak would probably be so pronounced). So I called Chenin Blanc from France, from the Loire, Vouvray Demi-Sec. Well…I should have known this could be Joly! Close…but some miles away from each other and I’d like to have the confidence to call producer in this case. Drink now through 2034. — 9 months 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. — 5 years ago

Karita Troberg

9.3

It’s a very balanced, rich and pleasant wine. No suprises, but perfect delivery. — 3 months ago

Shay A

9.2

I’m in the 91+ range here. Had hoped for a more wow experience but this was simply solid and that’s ok. Not all wines need to be stunners.

80 Grenache/ 15 Mourvèdre/ 5 Syrah. Followed from bottle over the course of two hours.

To this wine’s credit, it presented exactly as it should. Warm 2015 vintage type profile which extracts the Grenache (ripe red fruits, sweet spice, little heat) but also accentuates/deepens the garrigue/potpurri profile. Alcohol pokes out a touch on the palate but it’s mostly juicy red berry fruit, little bit of dirty fig, herbal. On the whole, this is a very clean style of CdP that presents with no Brett/funk but also speaks to Grenache (as opposed to being a typical super CdP blend). Drink or hold another 3-5yrs for this window. — 3 months ago

romo

9.1

Sixteen-year south Rhône white with staying power. — 6 months ago

romo

9.0

Not as deliberately oxidative, but still too oxidative to be Chablis. — 7 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Nose is minty and spicey. Palate is deep and rich with terrific mineral spine and wonderful structure. Ripe but substantial tannin. Nose has notes of ripe plum, peanuts and a saline element. Really good energy and depth. Not the most elegant wine but this has tremendous material and its own grace and charm. This needs air but I really like it. — 8 months ago

joy horn

8.9

Bought with dinner at Elkridge Furnace Inn 2/25 $50. Full body, firm tannins, spicy. — 10 months ago

Michael Phillips

9.3

Good body nice red fruits and herbs. — 6 years ago

Kayla Eakin

9.5

Lots of raspberry and plum on the nose, and some leather and sage as it opens up. Nice tannin and acidity with a smooth, strawberry finish. Very good. — 7 years ago