Amy

9.0

master the world — loved!! — 3 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Pale lemon color with stone and tropical fruit aromas and citrus floral notes adding an earthy spice from 10 months surlie aging. On the palate flavors of apple, pineapple and lemon citrus with floral and baking spice. Lively acidity, medium finish ending with fruit, citrus and earthy spice. — 3 months ago

Ming L

9.3

The nose is a tapestry of ripe plum, cedar, and smoky graphite, with a vivid burst of crème de cassis and violets. The palate is plush and sleek, offering concentrated blackberry and earthy notes framed by suave tannins. Finish is long and savoury.

Purchased at around $40. What a value! — 4 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. — 5 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2022 vintage. One of the Castel family estates since 1973 ( before the estate was known as Domaine de Tartuguière). With 144 hectares of vines,this is the largest contiguous vineyard in the Médoc. Vanessa Trouy has been in charge since 2002. Dark red colour. Needs a bit of time to open up, give it 15 minutes to release attractive aromas of strawberries, flowers, nutmeg and oak. Good fruit concentration in the mouth, with a solid tannic structure,fresh acidity and nice length. This will need a few years to show all its potential, and has serious ageing potential. For now decanting is recommended, pair with a good steak. Another terrific Bordeaux value. — 9 months ago

Eric I

9.2

Great wine to pair with an LSU loss — 3 years 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. — a month ago

Michael Amoruso

9.2

2018 vintage. Cooked pineapple. Toasted coconut. Dry lemon curd. Just sweet enough. — 3 months ago

S.S. Mandani

9.1

Perfumed red fruits.

Cherry, zippy structure, earthen, licorice, fennel. — 4 months ago

Thomas Hillskog

9.1

Peak maturity now better than 2 and 4 years ago. Still fruity but with more complexity an soft tannins. — 5 months ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Very packed and dense. Sweet edges. Violet and tart cherry. Pure and good but needs time — 8 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Jenks

9.0

Apparently this translates to “up all night” or something heeeeeyyyyy — 2 years ago

Stuart Pollack

9.3

Lovely light Provençal Rosé. Light strawberry flavor with some vanilla. Perfect with light mild fish. . — 2 years ago

Jen Landon

8.9

I liked it a lot — a month ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2016 | True to type Sauternes | paired with apple crumble — 3 months ago

Chris MacLean

9.1

More focused than the 2015 as you might expect. Integrated butterscotch and rocks. — 4 months ago

with Sarah

Andy@andyberke.com

8.9

Solid. Some terroir — 5 months ago

JKT

9.1

Yup a new one to me and it’s well proportioned and lively on palate with well aged ripe fruits and earthy. Tasty! — 7 months ago

Ming L

9.4

My first Clendenen Family Vineyards bottling.

It opens with apricot, baked apple, pear, and jasmine, unfolding into light vanilla, lemon curd, grapefruit zest, and just the slightest hint of Sherry. On the palate it’s warm and plush with lively acidity. Compared to ABC typically more mineral-edged style, this bottling feels more opulent, with greater emphasis on texture, offering a fuller expression while still carrying Jim Clendenen’s hallmark balance.

What a treat! — 9 months ago

Gene Harlow

9.5

2019 blend and it is outstanding. This is a fun find and seriously good! Dark fruits with a great balance of oak. Elyse has really done well with this deep balanced red blend. — 3 years ago