Conrad Green

9.3

Soft and focused and pretty. Cherry and light plum. Nice fruit and on a great place — 22 days ago

with Paul and Ara

Scott Kahn

9.0

A beautiful wine that had plenty of life, color, and complexity in the glass. Quite amazing! — 3 years ago

Petr Jonak

8.9

DOH - PRG, B787, QR291, business class — 5 years ago

Chris Sowick

9.2

Bordeaux trip. Château Grand Barrail. $50.00. Classic Right Bank Bordeaux. Smooth Merlot start, with nice tannin finish. — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.1

Second time trying this wine, this time much better. Deep purple with soft tannins, black fruit but much more that barnyard earthy undertone. Made the 02 vieux certan seem down right fruity. — 8 years ago

Barry Walsh

9.3

Not as lively as a year ago, but still delicious. — 9 years ago

D Gideon Searle

9.5

Its a Merlot shoot out. ''98 Massetto v '82 Vieux Chateau Certan. Out of the bottle the 82 pomerol is a true winner. The'98 Massetto with ABV of 14.5% is certainly bolder and in. NO HURRY TO drink!! — 10 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.7

VCC made a rich, dense, dark and tannic wine this year. — 2 months ago

Steven Lee

9.2

light but smooth. many residue — 6 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

The 2019 Bon Pasteur has more fruit concentration than either the Gravette de Certan and La Fleur de Gay tasted alongside - blackberry and wild strawberry, truffle and a touch of smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity, firm backbone yet with plenty of freshness on its sappy finish. A fine Pomerol. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago

Daniel Sargeant

9.1

2011 is just fantastic decanted and slightly chilled. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2017 Hosanna was one of my favourite crus from Ets J-P Moueix from barrel. Now in bottle, it remains a delightful Pomerol. It has a generous and beautifully defined bouquet with ample red cherry, crushed strawberry and light black truffle aromas that are actually reminiscent of Bélair-Monange. The palate is medium-bodied but denser, thicker than its peers. There is real substance to this Hosanna that puts the relatively lightweight Certan-de-May in its place. It shows good grip with a saline finish. This is a deeply impressive Hosanna. Rejoice! (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2020)
— 6 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

James G

9.5

Killer tasting at Spectrum last week: Ponsot, 82 Certan de May, Philloponat, Joly, l'Ermite, but this stole the show. Great wine. — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I purchased this one in futures, likely in spring of 06 & delivered in late 07 to Spring of 08. Parked in my storage since then.

As it was then, 2005 was a grand vintage as acclaimed by critics. So, that is when you buy some fringe producers. Buy 2nd Bordeaux wines from excellent producers to fringe regions/producers. More often than not, you’ll find really good value as is the case here. $20 on release I think.

Long coravined two separate glasses.

The nose shows a touch of v/a, but nothing offensive. Mostly…it is good old fashion Bordeaux funkiness. There is mushrooms, soft cedar, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, poached strawberries, mid berry cola, anise to licorice, graphite, tobacco, sandalwood, steeped tea, forest florals that are dark and in a violet frame.

The palate shows no sign of being tired. The fruits still fresh, lush, round & ripe; brambly blackberries, blackberries, black plum skin, poached strawberries, raspberry hues, noticeable, moist, grey, volcanic clay, some chocolate pudding, (it is Saint Emilionish), mid berry cola/licorice, dry tobacco, lead pencil, volcanic ash, dry top soils/crushed limestone, dark spice with mid intensity, some black pepper notes, soft, even layered baking spices-clove, hints of nutmeg & cinnamon, understated vanillin, moist herb notes, dark, rich, earth w/ dry leaves, dark, fresh & withering flowers/red roses, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent tension-structure-length with en elegant, round finish that lasts 90 seconds and falls on clay & gentle spice.

If stored as I have, will hold a few more yrs and last another 7-8 yrs. You could make a case for 92 here.

Now some history on a producer likely many have not heard of/embraced. From their site:

This Flemish wine merchant family invested since 1924 in the Pomerol vineyard of Vieux Château Certan and in 1920 with Troplong Mondot in Saint-Emilion (sold in 1935).

The following generation, in 1946, George and Monica Thienpont, coming from their natal Flanders, moved into Puygueraud, restored the XVth Century chateau. After a long pause in polyculture, undertook the reconstruction of the vineyard whereby the first vintage would see the day in 1983.

In 1981, Nicolas Thienpont, with his father, engaged in the transition between a production oriented viticulture to one of excellence. Since 1983, the first vintage year mark, this approach has continued.

Since 2009, Nicolas and his son Cyrille Thienpont, have worked hand-in-hand for the crafting of this wine that over the last 30 years has become the flagship of the Francs Côtes-de-Bordeaux appellation and a veritable jewel of Bordeaux.

Photos of; Chateau Puygueraud, Director-Owner Cyrille Thienpont.

#DSLounge — 5 months ago

David White

9.2

Lovely Pinot impressive and improving with time
See earlier notes — 5 years ago

Steve Vanni

9.0

Really enjoyed this wine. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2014 L’Eglise-Clinet has a gentle, understated bouquet at first that takes time to open, eventually offering black fruit, melted tar, truffle and bay leaf aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, rather masculine and thickset at the moment, lightly spiced towards the finish. Much like the Vieux-Château-Certan, this is a little awkward in a blind setting however, it clearly meliorates in the glass and I keep on having to up my score. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2018) — 8 years ago

Greggum

8.9

Frederik bought a pallet 5 years ago. Drinking the last 2 bottles. Knokke, Belgium summer 2016. Enjoyed the 2005 in 2016. Still holding up. Still a bit tart on the opening. — 10 years ago

Suga Kyoko

9.5

碑文谷ワイン店、1,300円位。しっかりした味わい。 — 13 years ago