Scott Kahn

9.0

This is a beautifully balanced example of a Garnacha-cariñena blend from the DO adjacent to Priorat. Crafted by the children of Mogador and Mas Martinet - and at a much better price point — 7 months ago

Paul K

9.5

Thank you @James K for breaking this special wine out tonight! And for hosting an awesome evening of great food, wine, and friends. Lots of laughs and no children were injured!! — a year ago

with James

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2020 vintage. A great effort from this rather obscure Cru Classé that once was part of the immense Rauzan estate and even briefly owned by Château Palmer, before it was sold in 1980 to the legendary Lucien Lurton. Since 1992 it is managed by Denis Lurton ( one of the 10 children of Lucien). A blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. The great ( and very humble) Eric Boissenot consults. Interesting fact: the Merlots were harvested very early in 3 days from September 17th until the 20th, just before the rains on the 21st, that reduced the alcoholic degree of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that came in at 12% abv., creating a very fresh balanced blend. Dark red with purplish rim. Seductive perfume combining black cherries, cassis, flowers, cedar wood, and rosemary. Elegant and fresh, with very pure fruit, well-tamed tannin, and very good length. Abv. 13%. Very good value, an estate to watch. — 3 years ago

Olivier Schutte

9.7

My last bottle of this vintage - what a gem. Like a Corton-Charlemagne from the south. Epic! — 4 years ago

Pablo Cetlinski

9.5

To all the children of North East Italy who cannot play soccer because the fields are taken over by the Glera grape. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by children Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), 36 months in oak, palate shows elegant flavors of cherry and currant with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Great vintage! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Haut-Bailly Dinner in SF with Veronique Sanders of Haut-Bailly.

The 2010 is an excellent vintage but, it is for the later part of your life or your children.

This is drinking beautifully with a 4 hour decant. The structure & tension are just starting to their softening stage. The length and balance are in the forget about it range and will just get better & better. Ripe, stunning fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum & a touch of blue fruits. Moist clay & top soils, stones, mint, graphite, fresh tobacco, dark cola, anise to black licorice with stunning, withering floral bouquet. Acidity is perfect. The finish is everything you want in a Bordeaux.

Definitely a 99-100 point wine in 15 years plus.

Served with the Cheese Plate; Red Hawk, Hop Along & Roquefort. @Mathilde French Bistro

Photos of; Clyde Beffa Owner of K&L Wine Merchants & Veronique Sanders, dinner menu & pairing, Veronique talking terroir/vintages & dinner guests. — 6 years ago

Bart Bartlett

9.1

Excellent blend. Bright fruit notes from the Zinfandel balanced with the acidity of the Palomino and dryness of the Grenache. The complexity is awesome! — 8 months ago

with Jennifer

Stefan Dolhain

9.6

1998 vintage. This estate was acquired in 1972 by former Château Yquem régisseur Pierre Meslier ( who passed away in 2023 at the age of 93). He managed to restore the wines to their former glory, and his 3 children seem to continue on the same path. This 1998 features a brilliant, golden colour, and a nose that immediately shows off the typical roasted botrytis aromas that characterise great Sauternes, intertwined with honey, beewax, maple syrup, lemon confit and flowers. In the mouth, it is succulent and profound, wonderfully achieving that delicate balance between sugar and acidity that makes Sauternes potentially great. Layers of dried and fresh fruit, rich and refreshing at the same time, culminating in a very long finish with a lovely almondy impression. Excellent. Abv. 13,5%. — 2 years ago

Erin Merchant

9.0

This is a spot on chenin-y chenin. It’s a great representation of the varietal while still accessible in price and flavor. For someone looking to learn profiles or just wants a solid wine that packs a good flavor punch, grab this.

Medium bodied, mildly aromatic into floral, high acid and mineral, a little sour but in the right way to make you salivate. — 3 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.2

Just needed time, both in storage and decant. Better on the 2nd day
Some historical stuff I found online,

The Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme property has been making wine since the French Revolution and has existed since the mid 1600's. Now in the hands of the Nony family, who is related to the Borie family of multi-chateau fame, the estate is in excellent hands.
The vines average about thirty years of age and are located in the southwest corner of Saint Julien. The grapes are fermented in cement vats where they also undergo malolactic fermentation. From there they're aged in one third new French oak for one year before bottling. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2018 vintage. Marie Laure Lurton is one of the 10 children of Lucien Lurton and she owns Château Villegeorge (Haut-Médoc) and this Château La Tour de Bessan. Both are very good and refined. The 2018 La Tour de Bessan (named after 13th century tower on the estate that is being restaured) is a blend of 60 % Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and a rather high (11%) percentage of Petit Verdot. Dark red. In the nose a mix of red and black fruit, cedar and Petit Verdot violet. Margaux is mostly associated with elegance and this is a good example. The fruit is bright, the tannins are well-tamed and the acidity provides juiciness and balance. Intelligent winemaking with just the right extraction. Great value at 18 euros. Abv. 14,5 % but perfectly integrated. Another lovely 2018. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by children Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice, unmistakable Muga. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), palate shows cherry and currant flavors with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full tannins, lively acidity on a medium+ finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice value! Great vintage! — 6 years ago

Ebbe Bonde Soerensen

9.0

Nice Bordeaux, which I just like, tasty, not oaky, but a pleasent red wine from the old part of winemaking, good Q/P , no revolution here🇫🇷🍷🤗 — 7 years ago

Angelo Casagrande

8.9

Thanks to my children for the Father’s Day wine. We grilled carmelized onions with burgers. This was nice. The Sangiovese stands out. Very soft ( the Merlot). Don’t know the % of those and Cab Franc. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2019 vintage. Sampled via Coravin. Dark-fruited nose. Medium/medium-heavy body. Nose a preamble for the brooding plum, cherry, cassis, blackberry and blueberry. Noticeable tannins afoot but not on Terminator-dodging/avoidance terms. From the property previously owned by the late, great, one and only Robin Williams. New owners Château Pontet-Canet BDX peeps named the new venture after the middle names of Robin Williams’ children. Cool. Structure definitely hovering with that dark fruit and extremely well made effort. Not gratuitous in any way. Need to stash a bottle and reconvene in 2035. Not your usual, high-end, Napa cab. 03.12.25. — a year ago

Nikki Goddard, DWS

9.5

Bright, concentrated hazy lemon yellow with flecks of marigold.

Very fragrant, with aromas of elderflower, dried apricot, unripe yellow peach, lychee, honeysuckle, red apple skin, sage, preserved lemon, candied ginger, white grapefruit, and almond skin, which carry through to the mouthwatering palate.

A complex intersection of floral, stone fruit, saline, and savory notes, this is a show-stopping wine and an incredible value at $30 retail. It’s dry and lightly tannic, with tangy acidity and a long and evolving finish.

I had this on its own and it was delightful. I’m certain it would be a fantastic pairing with a whole bunch of different dishes and cuisines, but I kind of feel like it deserves to be savored alone as the star of the show. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Just opened another bottle! Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by children Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), 36 months in oak, palate shows elegant flavors of cherry and currant with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Great vintage! — 5 years ago

Gaurav Tiwari

9.3

This comes from two vineyards with vines planted in 1902 and 1920. The soils are calcareous marl and clay. The wine is a pure expression of its terroir thanks to its élevage in a combination of used oak and clay jars. The wine shows ripe and fresh red-fruit aromas on the nose with Asian spice and rose petals. Medium weight and moderate tannins follow on the palate with a concentration of flavor that is typical of old vines and wholecluster fermentation. They say Michael Magnien follows the rhythm of moons synodic revolution at each stage. — 6 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

To fully understand the Lurton family one needs to be a professional genealogist, but if you meet a Lurton in Bordeaux it would be safe to bet she/he is involved in wine business. Marie-Laure is one of the 10 children of Lucien Lurton, and she owns Chateau de Villegeorge in Haut-Médoc and Tour de Bessan in Margaux. Villegeorge 2010 is blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%) and Merlot (21%). Attractive nose of cassis, cedar wood and violets. Still plenty of very ripe fruit at 10 years old, good concentration and length. Fine value today at 28 euro. — 6 years ago