Jeroen Koenen

9.3

Better on day 2! — 12 days ago

Winton Sweum

9.5

Medium to deep yellow; inviting nose of lemon, subtle nuttiness and flinty mineral; fresh, grippy and acidic palate is well supported with stone fruit, lemony citrus, and stoney minerality. Delicious and a special expression of chardonnay. — 25 days ago

K L

8.9

Ok but nothing super great. Kurt club wine. — 2 months ago

with Matt

Paul J

9.2

PnP. Solid. Fairly complex with good fruit and terroir. Nothing that really wowed me. — 4 months ago

with Brooke

David Miska

9.2

Wonderful — 6 months ago

Rufus King

9.1

Very dry Bordeaux with fine tannin, Drakes Island, ME — 7 months ago

Michael Amoruso

9.2

2018 vintage. Cooked pineapple. Toasted coconut. Dry lemon curd. Just sweet enough. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep Ruby red color, with aromas of black and red fruits, tobacco spice and forest floor notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and plum, with notes of tobacco, cinnamon and cigar spice. Fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, earthy notes and herb spice. — 2 days ago

Andy@andyberke.com

9.0

Good value — 2 months ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.0

needs much more cellar-time…90+ — 4 months ago

Michael Bontà

9.5

Clear pale salmon. Medium + intensity on the nose with strawberry, blood orange, geranium leaf, pink grapefruit, tomato leaf, white peach. On the palate dry, medium + acidity, medium + intensity medium body, long finish and medium alcohol with notes of grapefruit, red cherry, grass, white peach and something plastic that I can't quite identify but isn't undesirable. Outstanding wine and fun to drink on its own without food. Creamy and sophisticated — 4 months ago

Mike Lev

9.0

Very nice & good QPR blend. Merlot 70%. Ripe fruit, blackberry, tea, licorice. 1 hour decant. Organic+. — 7 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2016 | True to type Sauternes | paired with apple crumble — 7 months ago

Chris MacLean

9.1

More focused than the 2015 as you might expect. Integrated butterscotch and rocks. — 8 months ago

with Sarah

Dave

9.2

Chateau Latour Demons! Scary!
The quality of this wine is up there. Very satisfying medley of lively fruit (blackberry and plum), mid-palate spice, new leather, and silky lingering tannins. A pleasure to drink.
Listening to Fugazi — 18 days ago

Rene Van De Beek

9.0

Needs lots of air — 2 months ago

Jan A

9.2

This was decanted 24 hours upfront. Needs another 5 years. Very young. The 2016 is drinking nicely right now and the 2019 is in the beginning of it's drinking window. Rated for future potential 92-94. — 4 months ago

Ming L

9.4

The nose opens with waves of ripe black cherry, cassis, plum liqueur, and dark chocolate Beneath the opulence lies impressive complexity with hints of espresso, violets, and peppery spice emerge gradually with air. The palate is dense and supple, showing warmth and generosity. Plenty of nuance beneath the lavish fruit.

Possibly the best value for a St-Emilion GCC. Will need to seek out more. — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is one of the values you buy in futures in excellent vintages (2005 is) and hold it until now & the next 5 yrs for its best. Yet, will drink another 5 yrs. 2005 I believe is the best Bordeaux fruit in nearly three decades I’ve noted.

Also, this one is not to be confused with the same name Chateau that is Pomerol. Think this was around $20 on release.

If you note the Right Bank map I posted, you’ll see the region of Cotes de Castillon is an outlier region just east of St. Emilion. While a lesser region than SE, it still makes some nice wines like this one.

This bottle has been well stored for nearly 20 yrs. Cork like new with next to no wine stain on its side. One of the prettier 91’s I’ve had in memory.

The color is still deep opaque with a lighter glass edge. No brickish tones.

The nose shows ruby, floral, candied; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plum, poached strawberries & raspberry hues,, dark tarriness, black licorice, mid berry cola, steeped tea, coffee, some lead pencil, dry tobacco, dry river stone, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, light caramel with understated/layered baking spices & soft dark spices, red, dark florals framed in liquid violets.

The tannins are medium, well rounded, plush & velvety. Palate shows a more pronounced ruby quality, floral to just candied; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, poached strawberries & raspberry hues, dark tarriness, black licorice, mid berry cola, steeped tea, dry crushed limestone, moist herbs w/ a sage lead, coffee, some lead pencil, dry tobacco, dry river stone, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, charcoal w/ ash, warm, dark chocolate sliding into milk chocolate, light caramel with understated/layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin & soft dark spices, red, dark florals framed in brilliant, liquid violets, perfect acidity, balance for days, softly knitted, mid tension, very good length with an elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and long sets on gentle, mid spices and beautiful earthiness.

It is an elegant beauty. It’s a gentle, even palate tug of war with the wine & Wagyu Ribcap. 91-92 with the Ribcap. More 92 w/ the steak. — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château La Tour de Bessan Margaux 2022 — Margaux, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Left Bank blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon · 30% Merlot · 5% Petit Verdot (estate typically varies slightly by vintage) delivering structure, elegance, and aromatic finesse. Great frame and graphite tension coming from the Cab Sauv., mid-palate polish thanks to Merlot, and liked how Petit Verdot brings subtle spice and color depth. A beautifully traditional, unclassified Margaux that punches above its weight.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, blackberry, cassis, violet, pencil shavings, cedar, light tobacco, and crushed stone. Fruit stays fresh and pure with delicate floral lift typical of the appellation.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with polished, fine-grained tannins. Dry, linear, and elegant rather than powerful. Balanced acidity keeps everything lifted and graceful with a clean, savory finish.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken with herbs, grilled lamb chops, duck breast, mushroom risotto, lentils, Comté or aged goat cheese. A very food-friendly claret.

Verdict
Proof that Margaux elegance doesn’t require classified growth pricing. Refined, honest, and beautifully composed. Delicious now with air, but easily cellar-worthy for 6–10 years.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is my kind of “weekday Bordeaux”, structured yet graceful, polished without heaviness. The sort of bottle that quietly disappears over dinner because everything just clicks.

Did You Know?
La Tour de Bessan is run by Marie-Laure Lurton (of the Lurton family estates) and is known for crafting textbook, terroir-driven Margaux expressions that emphasize finesse over extraction. — 9 months ago