Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Cantemerle 2023 – Haut-Médoc, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully expressive Left Bank blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 71%, Merlot 18%, Petit Verdot 7%, and Cabernet Franc 4% that delivers immediate charm while retaining classic Haut-Médoc structure and aging potential. The wine shows vibrant fruit purity, polished tannins, and a well-judged touch of oak, making it approachable young yet capable of evolving gracefully over the coming decade.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and plum layered with subtle cedar, vanilla spice, graphite, and a gentle floral lift. Fresh berry brightness carries through the palate, framed by light savory notes and a refined oak accent that enhances rather than dominates.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with supple texture and finely integrated tannins. Juicy, energetic entry with excellent balance between fruit concentration and freshness. Smooth mid-palate flow and a clean, persistent finish that stays lively and inviting.

Food Pairings
Grilled steak, roast chicken, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, charcuterie boards, aged Gruyère or Comté, and classic bistro fare. A versatile table wine that shines across a wide range of savory dishes.

🍷 Personal Pick
Cantemerle never disappoints, this is pure drinking pleasure wrapped in Bordeaux elegance. Juicy, polished, and instantly enjoyable, yet grounded with just enough structure to remind you why Haut-Médoc remains timeless. A perfect bottle when you want serious pedigree without serious effort.

Did You Know?
Château Cantemerle is classified as a Fifth Growth in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification and is known for producing some of the most consistently approachable and age-worthy wines of the Médoc, often offering outstanding value relative to its pedigree. — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a translucent core and some rather significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is vinous with notes of tart, ripe, and some desiccated red fruits: Morello cherry, red flowers, leather, cedar chest, dried green herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, or Granache from Italy or France. I felt the tannin was too high to be Grenache so I vacillated between Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. And due to the color and profile, 25+ years age from a good vintage. Ultimately, the light staining, and the perceived new oak made me feel as though this was probably Sangiovese from Brunello di Montalcino. So that’s my call: Sangiovese, from Italy, from Tuscany, from Brunello di Montalcino, 2001. Welp!! This was one of the first vintages after Antinori took over ownership of the property. The modern touch apparently threw me off a bit. Still quite tasty. Drink now. — 7 months ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Pale dress. Duel relationship between fresh acidic fruits (coing, green apple, white peach) and breeding bringing roundness and fat. (Oak, butter, hazelnut). The interstice connecting the two is occupied by vegetable notes (straw, white flowers, honeysuckle, beeswax). Typically as with the Chenins de Loire, saline acidity is high, counterbalancing the 14 degrees of alcohol here. Needs a décantation to give all its relief. Do not serve too cold, (10-12°). Gastronomic!

Robe pâle. Rapport duel entre fruits frais acides (Coing, pomme verte golden, pêche blanche) et élevage apportant rondeur et gras. (Chêne, beurre, noisette). L’interstice reliant les deux étant occupé par des notes végétales (paille, fleurs blanches, chèvrefeuille, cire d’abeille). Typiquement comme avec les Chenins de Loire, l’acidité saline est élevée contrebalançant ici les 14 degrés d’alcool. A besoin de prendre l’air pour donner tout son relief. Ne pas servir trop froid, (10-12°). — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark brambles, purple flowers, pastureland, black pepper, olive tapenade, animale, granitic earth, some licorice, and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the rotundone is particularly apparent.

Initial conclusions: this could be Syrah, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon (or based blend), Merlot (or based blend), Tempranillo or Malbec from France, the United States, Australia, Spain or Argentina. However, given the color saturation and the wild nature of this wine, I can’t place this classically in the New World. Furthermore, I detect the use of some French oak so I like this being from the Northern Rhône or Beaujolais. Final conclusion, this is Syrah, from France, from the Northern Rhône, from Cornas, 2017. Dang! Scoring points but I need to get better differentiating between some of these Northern Rhône AOC’s. This showed really well and still has a long life ahead. Drink now through 2045. — a month ago

Eldon Sproule

10

So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).

The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.

The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.

The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 6 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Slight brown tinge. Very light in color. See picture. Between the 16’ and the 18‘ this is the lesser vintage. Plenty of acidity and tannins left. Seems tight and austere upon opening. Lime, cranberry and some red currant. Would drink this with asian food. Give it 1 hour of air. — 2 years ago

Kland Aida

9.1

15.5% alcohol… Very big, high in tannin and dry. Almost didn’t taste like a new world wine. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Caymus Vineyards – Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Caymus Special Selection is the flagship Cabernet, crafted only in exceptional years. The 2018 vintage stands tall among recent releases, showing why Chuck Wagner’s vision continues to shape Napa’s most recognized “luxury Cab.” 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from prime valley-floor vineyards, it strikes the perfect balance between Caymus’ signature ripe, fruit-forward style and an added layer of structure from a long, balanced growing season.

Aromas & Flavors
A powerful bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark cherries, layered with cocoa nibs, espresso, and baking spices. Subtle hints of licorice, cedar, and vanilla lift the complexity, while a core of lush fruit drives the palate. The oak integration is seamless, giving a supple sweetness without overwhelming the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Rich, opulent, and velvety—yet with surprising finesse. The tannins are silky and well-structured, giving length without heaviness. The finish lingers on black fruit and mocha, balanced by just enough acidity to keep it vibrant.

Winemaking Notes
Meticulous fruit selection, long maceration for concentration, and extended aging in new French oak (18+ months). The Wagner hallmark: generous fruit expression wrapped in polished oak for immediate pleasure but with aging potential.

Food Pairing
An indulgent pairing with ribeye, prime rib, or braised short ribs. For a decadent twist, try it with dark chocolate truffles or roasted lamb with rosemary.

Verdict
One of the most impressive Caymus Special Selection vintages in recent memory—showing both lush Napa Valley opulence and refined elegance. A wine that thrills now but promises to shine for years.

Personal Pick Highlight
This 2018 stands as my favorite Caymus of the modern decade—a true benchmark that captures everything people love about Napa Cabernet at its richest and most expressive. Cheers!
— 5 months ago

Marta Jackowska

9.6

Back in the Cornas region……somewhere in between Burgundy and Bordeaux on the spectrum of Red wines…… a delicious wine……Mr Clape knows what he’s doing!
Excellent restaurant too 😋 — 3 years ago

with Neville

Kamall

9.2

Such delicious, well made wine with great balance between structure and fruit density. Decanted for a few hours but really needs to be put away for a while. Crazy that this is the approachable Monte Bello! — 4 years ago