Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Cantemerle 2023 – Haut-Médoc, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully expressive Left Bank blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 71%, Merlot 18%, Petit Verdot 7%, and Cabernet Franc 4% that delivers immediate charm while retaining classic Haut-Médoc structure and aging potential. The wine shows vibrant fruit purity, polished tannins, and a well-judged touch of oak, making it approachable young yet capable of evolving gracefully over the coming decade.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and plum layered with subtle cedar, vanilla spice, graphite, and a gentle floral lift. Fresh berry brightness carries through the palate, framed by light savory notes and a refined oak accent that enhances rather than dominates.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with supple texture and finely integrated tannins. Juicy, energetic entry with excellent balance between fruit concentration and freshness. Smooth mid-palate flow and a clean, persistent finish that stays lively and inviting.

Food Pairings
Grilled steak, roast chicken, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, charcuterie boards, aged Gruyère or Comté, and classic bistro fare. A versatile table wine that shines across a wide range of savory dishes.

🍷 Personal Pick
Cantemerle never disappoints, this is pure drinking pleasure wrapped in Bordeaux elegance. Juicy, polished, and instantly enjoyable, yet grounded with just enough structure to remind you why Haut-Médoc remains timeless. A perfect bottle when you want serious pedigree without serious effort.

Did You Know?
Château Cantemerle is classified as a Fifth Growth in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification and is known for producing some of the most consistently approachable and age-worthy wines of the Médoc, often offering outstanding value relative to its pedigree. — 15 days ago

Mark S.

9.0

Deep cherry red. High concentration with spices. Black currant berry and cherry. Tabacco. Earthy. Leather. Graphite Fruitiness M+ Sweetness M Acidity M Tannin M Smooth Bitterness M Body M++ Finish M+ Concentrated Robust, ready to drink and good potential for aging. Château Sociando-Mallet Cuvee Jean Gautreau Sociando-Mallet Haut Medoc 16 @3300, G5, 260203 — 3 days ago

Vijay Parikh

9.6

An absolute stunner of a bottle from the legendary 1961 vintage. astounding nose of red fruits, roses, brilliantly balanced ethereal on the mouthfeel with a superb lingering finish! Will have to check the cellar if there are any more of this! The 1961 still has legs! — 13 days ago

David Kline

9.0

Warm nose of black currant, black cherry brown bread, chicory and Reishi mushroom -Brazil nut. Burnt currant, black peppercorn, baked blackberry, birch bark, cedar, celery bitters, cigar and burnt toast.

#ChateauCharmail #2015vintage #bordeaux, #Bordeauxrouge #HatMedoc — 2 days ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.3

Clear, deep ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with medium intensity primary and secondary aromas of black cherries, green peppercorns, and black currents; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, medium alcohol, full body, and medium intensity primary and secondary flavors of blackberries, eucalyptus, tar, and graphite with a long finish. This wine is balanced,and complex. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. — 6 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Château Haut-Batailley 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully structured and layered Pauillac delivering serious grip, depth of red fruit, and refined finesse, driven by a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend with 37% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot support. The wine shows clear complexity and architectural balance, combining power and polish without heaviness, positioning itself as a confident mid-pack contender capable of punching above its weight.

Aromas & Flavors
Red currant, cassis, wild raspberry, graphite, cedar shavings, crushed gravel, subtle tobacco leaf, cocoa dust and fresh spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with firm, finely grained tannins, excellent mid-palate density, vibrant yet integrated acidity, precise structural tension, and a long, focused finish that grips beautifully without roughness.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb rack, beef bourguignon, duck breast, rosemary potatoes, aged hard cheeses.

Verdict
A poised and confident Pauillac showing layered complexity, structural clarity, and real finesse. Not a brute-force heavyweight, but a beautifully driven, technically precise wine with strong aging potential and excellent balance.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like a wine that thrives on precision rather than raw horsepower, beautifully controlled grip, layered red fruit, and elegant finesse throughout. The kind of bottle that rewards attention and quietly impresses from start to finish. — 15 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2020 vintage. One of my favourite vintages for Cantemerle, and the second wine is delicious too. While it doesn't have the complexity and length of the grand vin, it's a nice, elegant Haut-Médoc in its own right. — 8 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2021 vintage. A great success for the vintage with purity, refinement and perfect balance. A bit lighter compared to the exceptional 2022, but a delicious wine in its own right. Abv. 13 %. — 6 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Giscours 2023 – Margaux, Grand Cru Classé. BDX France

Overview
A high-energy, expressive Margaux delivering immediate pleasure while still showing meaningful structural depth and ongoing development, standing out as one of the most dynamic performers in the vintage flight.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, ripe raspberry, cassis, violets, crushed graphite, sweet baking spice, subtle cedar, polished oak accents.

Mouthfeel
Silky and incredibly smooth with refined tannins, vibrant acidity, excellent mid-palate drive, and a long, clean, finely etched finish that carries both power and finesse.

Food Pairings
Filet mignon, duck breast with cherry reduction, herb-crusted lamb, mushroom risotto, aged Gruyère or Comté.

Verdict
Fast, explosive, and immediately enjoyable while still evolving in the glass. Combines intensity with polish and finesse, positioning itself as a serious front-runner among the Margaux lineup in this vintage.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the bottle that made the room lean in, full throttle energy with real elegance underneath. Already thrilling, and still climbing. Now or later will definitely showcase its elegancy! — 15 days ago

JKT

9.0

Very tasty classic Bordeaux of twenty years, medium bodied earthy red fruited lifted profile — 16 days ago