Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Clinet 2023 – Pomerol. BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully composed Pomerol delivering charm, polish, and unmistakable aristocratic poise, driven by a 70% Merlot-dominant blend with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon support. The wine balances generous fruit with refined structure, showing approachability without sacrificing depth or pedigree, making it both immediately pleasurable and quietly serious.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, ripe plum, blueberry compote, violets, cocoa powder, crushed gravel, subtle truffle nuance, sweet spice and gentle cedar.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with a plush, silky entry, finely grained tannins, excellent mid-palate cohesion, integrated acidity, and a long, smooth finish that glides with elegance and restraint.

Food Pairings
Roast duck, veal tenderloin, mushroom risotto, herb-crusted lamb, truffle pasta, aged Comté or Brie de Meaux.

Verdict
A charming yet aristocratic Pomerol that delivers immediate pleasure with refined balance and textural finesse. It communicates confidence through polish rather than power, making it an excellent expression of Pomerol elegance.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is a wine that wins you over quietly, candid, friendly, effortlessly drinkable, yet undeniably noble at its core. The kind of bottle that feels comforting and sophisticated at the same time, with a personality that invites conversation and repeat pours. — 13 days ago

Paul J

9.6

PnP. Dark, deep wine. Nose is dominated by coconut and vanilla. Lots of sweetness on the palate with a silky texture. This exceeded expectations although the bottle variation continues! — 11 days ago

with Manish and Brooke

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

Silky glorious — 20 days ago

Marta Jackowska

9.6

Dry(ish) January now over, time to get back to business!
Leathery, earthy, yet smooth and well balanced black fruit concentration. Not a bad start to 2026…. — 4 days ago

with Neville

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Lynch-Bages 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A powerful, structurally driven Pauillac showing serious depth and long-term ambition, built on a 71% Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend with 22% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot support. The wine carries muscular architecture, dark fruit density, and firm tannic authority, currently showing some youthful rough edges but clearly positioned for future greatness with proper cellaring.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, cassis liqueur, blackberry skin, graphite, cedar plank, crushed gravel, tobacco leaf, dark cocoa and subtle savory spice.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with firm, youthful tannins, strong mid-palate grip, vibrant supporting acidity, dense core concentration, and a long, structured finish that signals serious aging capacity.

Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, grilled lamb chops, beef short ribs, rosemary-crusted venison, aged hard cheeses, slow-braised meats.

Verdict
A high-potential Pauillac still in its formative phase. The structure, depth, and terroir signature are undeniable, but integration will require time. A climber rather than a polished performer today, patience will be rewarded handsomely.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like a future star in development, powerful, slightly raw, but absolutely loaded with upside. Not a wine for instant gratification, but one that will evolve into something truly special with time. I’d happily cellar this and revisit around 2029 when the polish finally matches the horsepower. — 13 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Fruit is brighter, more brilliant than many other 21’s I’ve had. Texturally & fruit-wise senses more like the 23’s I’ve had. It’s gorgeous. Again, needs a decade or more in the cellar.

Round, lush, creamy blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, poached strawberries, dry, crushed rocks, limestone powder, nice balling spices, caramel, mocha, dry herbs, dry tobacco, lead pencil, dry river stone, leather, melted, dark chocolate, dark spice, fresh & withering dark flowers, red roses, nice round acidity, well balanced, bigger tension & structure, excellent round, excellent finish that last minutes and lands on spice, wet clay and Christmas cake. — 21 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and slightly desiccated, black and red fruits: black currants, blackberries, black cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, pencil shavings, purple flowers, dry rocky earth, a touch of leather, and a combination of cool and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (that is well integrated), and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. Showing really well and squarely in the zone. Drink now through 2034. — 3 days ago

Peter Heyboer

9.0

Wish I could decant this. Oak on the nose, but it hints at the fruit and tobacco/chocolate you're about to taste. Palate has noticeable but not assertive tannins and blends really nicely with the aforementioned flavors. Paired well with dinner but this feels like a pre-dinner sipper. Would buy again. — 6 days ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

New vintage of Justin’s flagship blend. A bit more constrained, but elegant and delicious as always. At 86% cab, is it really a blend? lol. Nice cassis notes. — 5 days ago

Anthony Cammarata Jr.

9.4

This Opus is polished with aromas of blackberry and spice. On the palate it’s rich, with velvety tannins, dark fruit, cocoa, and a hint of espresso. The finish is long and flavorful. — 3 days ago

with Daniel and Michael