Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château de Fesles – La Chapelle Vieilles Vignes Chenin Sec 2010. Anjou, Loire Valley – France 🇫🇷

Overview
A limited-edition bottling from one of Anjou’s most historic estates, this Chenin Blanc comes from old vines (“vieilles vignes”) rooted in schist soils surrounding the chapel of the domaine. Château de Fesles is renowned for producing some of the Loire’s most age-worthy Chenins, and this 2010 shows just how gracefully the grape can evolve.

Aromas & Flavors
Complex layers of baked quince, dried apricot, acacia honey, chamomile, and lanolin, underpinned by beeswax and a mineral flintiness. Secondary notes of almond and brioche hint at its decade-plus of bottle age.

Mouthfeel
Dry (“sec”) yet textured, with a medium+ body, bright acidity still intact, and a long, savory finish. The balance between freshness and maturity is remarkable, showing both vitality and evolution.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented in oak and matured patiently, with low yields from old vines contributing depth and concentration. Loire Chenin’s natural high acidity is what makes wines like this so age-defiant.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roasted chicken with herbs, veal in cream sauce, or rich seafood like lobster and scallops. A natural match also for aged goat cheese (think Valençay or Crottin de Chavignol).

Verdict
A stunning example of aged Loire Chenin Blanc: vibrant, layered, and endlessly complex. Proof of why Anjou and Loire whites belong among the world’s most cellar-worthy wines. — 9 months ago

Shay A

9.4

A polarizing wine without question, but one that I am absolutely enthralled with every time I open a bottle. This, SQN and Andremily’s rosés all belong to a special group that does not follow red wines steps, nor rosés…a category all to their own.

This would be a perfect candidate for a black glass tasting. Texturally and structure wise, this is like a mix of whole cluster Pinot with a hint of Syrah. Dark ruby in the glass. Aromatically it has ripe strawberry, sage and whole cluster spice. Concentrated, yet light and vibrant on the palate. Bing cherry, cran-raspberry, black tea, peppercorn crusted rhubarb notes but also a light streak of iron down the middle. Not quite sanguine, but plenty of punch and spice to the fruit.

These can age really well (oldest I’ve had was one with 6yrs, and it was fantastic), so no rush. If you’re looking for a typical rosé profile, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for something you’ve likely not experienced before, you’ll be glad you tried this. — 5 years ago

David Walser

9.2

As I keep saying, this isn’t my favorite Melka wine. It comes as part of the care package...that’s why I don’t belong to the club any longer...just don’t like getting expensive stuff that isn’t my favorite. Doesn’t mean I don’t like his other wines. Had with Indian take away at out hotel. — 6 years ago

Zachary Anderson

9.9

13.6 is perfect. Pinots at 14 don't belong — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.1

Marlborough doesn’t solely belong to Sauvignon Blanc, and this Chard is here to prove it. Expansive and palate coating, it tastes of poached pear, ripe yellow apple, brioche, and toasted macadamia. Rich and the spiritual opposite of the same region’s entry SBs. — 8 years ago

Mike Ancuta

9.5

Pali Cortado, around 80 yrs old from solera that used to belong to Gasper Florido. Single Cask, bottle December 2013. The aroma on this was incredible. The taste was the opposite from the nose. Smoke/burnt note with notable presence of walnuts. Preferred this over the 49. Great bottle to try. First time experiencing old sherry. — 9 years ago

Theo Shu

9.4

My ideal of Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp, with subtle oak. Tastes like a dinner part you're crashing where you don't belong. Fuck the upper class. — 9 years ago

with Dominique and Mike

Tom Kohli

9.6

Repris Left Bank wine is our favorite. We belong to the wine club & have a bunch of bottles in our basement aging mostly since we forget they are there. This bottle was especially magnificent. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

I was completely unfamiliar with this winery until a visit to Dry Creek back in 2019. We randomly booked an AirBNB in neighboring Geyserville that happened to belong to the proprietors of Unti. They invited us to visit the winery and I’m so glad we made the effort to do so. They specialize in varieties that grow in and around the Mediterranean. This bottle of the 2016 Montepulciano was brought back from that winery visit and enjoyed over two days. It showed best on Day 2 and these notes reflect that experience.

The wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core and a slightly watery rim; medium+ viscosity. On the nose, medium intensity with raspberries, blackberries, lingonberries, baking spices, purple flowers and crushed concrete. On the palate, a mixed fruit set with mostly blue and black fruits, figs, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherry, baking spices and minerals. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. This finish is long and dry. Came across quite young and primary. Years to go on these. — 5 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Nice Wednesday keto bottle, with some pesto topped barramundi
K&L notes,

This Champagne is composed of juice from all old vine Grand Cru grapes on property that used to belong to Krug right in the Cotes de Blanc… so you know they’re working with great land and great fruit. The nose is earthy, almost a little sandy toned, but there’s also good fresh fruit here with scents of citrus peel and Golden Delicious apples. The mouthfeel is soft and supple with a great apple/pear balance that becomes more intense in fruitiness and even borders on tropical flavors before coming to a gradual vanilla finish. — 5 years ago

Wade Chambers

9.8

Deep, rich, elegant, and big (and yes, those words belong together) with an extremely long finish. Fantastic!!! — 7 years ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

Reds from This region can have a real creosote component- can either turn off or be catnip to some. I belong to the latter group. This is a 2017 wine. — 7 years ago

with Paul and Owen

Alex Leonardini

9.3

Some say celebrities don't belong in wine, but Sam Neill proves those people are wrong. He's done an excellent job with the Last Chance Pinot Noir. A really great example of what the Central Otago, especially it's most southern parts, can't produce. — 8 years ago

Raj Harb

9.5

Some songs just belong on repeat. — 9 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.3

Wowie holding up great. Thought it was raisiny to start with but it then went in reverse and tightened up with an hour. Really lovely dried herbs, red fruits, sandalwood and a little nag champa. Stellar and super fun to try a 22 year old Pinot. It could be nothing other than California and honestly SLH in particular which is a good thing because Burgundy belongs in burgundy and the Pisoni’s belong in SLH. Bravo — 3 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

My first Belong wine and I am impressed. Light on its feet at 12.5% ABV and yet another example of the gems (and QPR) coming out of the Sierra foothills AVA. — 5 years ago

ESF

9.1

Kitchen sink blend from South Africa: sorta all over the place, complex nose of lemon custard, apple, orchard fruit, white flowers, roasted nuts, butterscotch & honey. Silky suave on palate, oily, vibrant acidity - clean finish w/lanolin - quinine. Don’t know if these varietals belong together but it holds together just enough to pull it off. — 5 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.7

This was pop and pour and drank over three days. Amazing!! Everything in balance, great structure and nothing sticks out or doesn’t belong. Absolutely loved this! — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.8

Sweet Jesus was this firing on Thursday night! Contributed by the Iowa barrister who keeps the criminals on the street where they belong @Aaron Hamrock. It was ethereal. Sweet and exotic and just pure pure pure. Complex layers of smoky dark fruit, cedar, spice box. Rich, elegant and drinking beautifully. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The 2000 is delicious but, it is evolving at a glacial pace. Out of magnum.

On the nose, touch of barnyard, glycerin, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, strawberries & cherries. Vanilla, dry clay, limestone, river stones, just a touch of pyrazines & bandaid, dark,,turned, moist earth, dry grass and dry & fresh dark florals.

The body is full, round & sexy. Dry softened, sweet tannins. ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, strawberries & cherries. Vanilla, dry clay, limestone, river stones, just a touch of pyrazines & bandaid, fresh tobacco leaf, saddle-wood, dry underbrush, dark, turned, moist earth, dry grass and dry & fresh dark florals. The acidity is magnificent. The structure, tension, length and balance are sensational. The finish is drop dead gorgeous. I’d still hold mine another 5 years as long as you have 3-4 bottles for more 5 year increments.

Photos of, their Estate vines, Clyde Beffa-Owner of K&L Wine Merchants, Owner of Chateau Lynch Bages - Jean-Michel Cazes, guests of the dinner and a sunset view from their Estate.

Producer notes and history...Lynch Bages takes its name from the local area where the Chateau is located in Bages. The vineyard of what was to become Lynch Bages was established and then expanded by the Dejean family who sold it in 1728 to Pierre Drouillard.

In 1749, Drouillard bequeathed the estate to his daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Lynch. This is how the estate came to belong to the Lynch family, where it remained for seventy-five years and received the name Lynch Bages. However, it was not always known under that name.

For a while the wines were sold under the name of Jurine Bages. In fact, when the estate was Classified in the 1855 Classification of the Medoc, the wines were selling under the name of Chateau Jurine Bages. That is because the property was owned at the time by a Swiss wine merchant, Sebastien Jurine.

In 1862, the property was sold to the Cayrou brothers who restored the estate’s name to Chateau Lynch family.

Around 1870, Lou Janou Cazes and his wife Angelique were living in Pauillac, close to Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron. It was here that Jean-Charles Cazes, the couple’s second son, was born in 1877.

In the 1930’s, Jean-Charles Cazes, who was already in charge of Les-Ormes-de-Pez in St. Estephe agreed to lease the vines of Lynch Bages. By that time, the Cazes family had history in Bordeaux dating back to the second half of the nineteenth century.

This agreement to take over Lynch Bages was good for both the owner and Jean Charles Cazes. Because, the vineyards had become dilapidated and were in need of expensive replanting, which was too expensive for the owner. However, for Cazes, this represented an opportunity, as he had the time, and the ability to manage Lynch Bages, but he lacked the funds to buy the vineyard.

Jean-Charles Cazes eventually purchased both properties on the eve of the Second World War. Lynch Bages and Les-Ormes-de-Pez have been run by the Cazes family ever since. In 1988, the Cazes family added to their holdings in Bordeaux when they purchased an estate in the Graves region, Chateau Villa Bel Air.

Around 1970, they increased their vineyards with the purchase of Haut-Bages Averous and Saussus. By the late 1990’s their holdings had expanded to nearly 100 hectares! Jean-Michel Cazes who had been employed as an engineer in Paris, joined the wine trade in 1973. In a short time, Jean Michel Cazes modernized everything at Lynch Bages.

He installed a new vat room, insulated the buildings, developing new technologies and equipment, built storage cellars, restored the loading areas and wine storehouses over the next fifteen years. During that time period, Jean Michel Cazes was the unofficial ambassador of not just the Left Bank, but all of Bordeaux. Jean Michel Cazes was one of the first Chateau owners to begin promoting their wine in China back in 1986.

Bages became the first wine sent into space, when a French astronaut carried a bottle of 1975 Lynch Bages with him on the joint American/French space flight!

Beginning in 1987, Jean-Michel Cazes joined the team at the insurance company AXA, who wanted to build an investment portfolio of quality vineyards in the Medoc, Pomerol, Sauternes, Portugal and Hungary.

Jean-Michel Cazes was named the director of the wine division and all the estates including of course, the neighboring, Second Growth, Chateau Pichon Baron.

June 1989 marked the inauguration of the new wine making facilities at Lynch Bages, which was on of their best vintages. 1989 also marked the debut of the Cordeillan- hotel and restaurant where Sofia and I had one of our best dinners ever. A few years after that, the Village de Bages with its shops was born.

The following year, in 1990, the estate began making white wine, Blanc de Lynch Bages. In 2001, the Cazes family company bought vineyards in the Rhone Valley in the Languedoc appellation, as well as in Australia and Portugal. They added to their holdings a few years later when they purchased a vineyard in Chateauneuf du Pape.

In 2006, Jean-Charles Cazes took over as the managing director of Chateau Lynch Bages. Jean-Michel Cazes continues to lead the wine and tourism division of the family’s activities. Due to their constant promotion in the Asian market, Chateau Lynch Bages remains one of the strongest brands in the Asian market, especially in China.

In 2017, Chateau Lynch Bages began a massive renovation and modernization, focusing on their wine making, and technical facilities. The project, headed by the noted architects Chien Chung Pei and Li Chung Pei, the sons of the famous architect that designed the glass pyramid for the Louvre in Paris as well as several other important buildings.

The project will be completed in 2019. This includes a new grape, reception center, gravity flow wine cellar and the vat rooms, which will house at least, 80 stainless steel vats in various sizes allowing for parcel by parcel vinification.

The new cellars will feature a glass roof, terraces with 360 degree views and completely modernized reception areas and offices. They are not seeing visitors until it’s completion.

In March, 2017, they purchased Chateau Haut Batailley from Françoise Des Brest Borie giving the Cazes family over 120 hectares of vines in Pauillac!

The 100 hectare vineyard of Lynch Bages is planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The vineyard has a terroir of gravel, chalk and sand soils.

The vineyard can be divided into two main sections, with a large portion of the vines being planted close to the Chateau on the Bages plateau. At their peak, the vineyard reaches an elevation of 20 meters. The other section of the vineyard lies further north, with its key terroir placed on the Monferan plateau.

They also own vines in the far southwest of the appellation, next Chateau Pichon Lalande, on the St. Julien border, which can be used in the Grand Vin. The vineyard can be split into four main blocks, which can be further subdivided into 140 separate parcels.

The average age of the vines is about 30 years old. But they have old vines, some of which are close to 90 years old.

The vineyards are planted to a vine density of 9,000 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is about 30 years old. But they have old vines, some of which are close to 90 years old.

Lynch Bages also six hectares of vine are reserved for the production of the white Bordeaux wine of Chateau Lynch Bages. Those vines are located to the west of the estate. They are planted to 53% Sauvignon Blanc, 32% Semillon and 15% Muscadelle. On average, those vines are about 20 years of age. Lynch Bages Blanc made its debut in 1990.

To produce the wine of Chateau Lynch Bages, vinification takes place 35 stainless steel vats that vary in size. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of 30% French, oak barrels with the remainder taking place in tank.

The wine of Chateau Lynch Bages is aged in an average of 70% new, French oak barrels for between 12 and 15 months. Due to the appellation laws of Pauillac, the wine is sold as a generic AOC Bordeaux Blanc, because Pauillac does not allow for the plantings of white wine grapes.

For the vinification of their white, Bordeaux wine, Blanc de Lynch-Bages is vinified in a combination of 50% new, French oak barrels, 20% in one year old barrels and the remaining 30% is vinified in vats. The wine is aged on its lees for at least six months. The white wine is sold an AOC Bordeaux wine.

The annual production at Lynch Bages is close to 35,000 cases depending on the vintage.

The also make a 2nd wine, which was previously known as Chateau Chateau Haut Bages Averous. However, the estate changed its name to Echo de Lynch Bages beginning with the 2007 vintage. The estate recently added a third wine, Pauillac de Lynch-Bages.



— 8 years ago