Jay Kline

8.9

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistent throughout. The 2016 pours a deep garnet/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, plum, purple flowers, graphite, and a combination of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. I think this is my first experience with the second wine of Chateau Lagrange. Went well with my burger. Plenty of life left in it. Drink now through 2036. — 14 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2015 vintage. This is a very impressive second wine that outperforms the grand vin from lesser vintages. More proof of the ageing capacity of even affordable Bordeaux. Terrific value at less than 20 euros. — 2 months ago

Lyn Farmer

9.3

This is a very well made wine drinking at its peak right now. It still has lovely primary aromas and flavors of cassis, black cherry and cedar but is now showing more tertiary notes of dried violet, forest floor, leather, mushroom and tobacco. Good balance of fruity with acidity, velvety medium tannin and full body framed by 13.5%abv. Very satisfying with beef tenderloin. — 6 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1.5 hour decant(little fine sediment). A striking dark magenta color. On the nose: Inviting notes of dark berries, sandalwood, herbaceous, smoked meat, potting soil. Taste: silky, layered, balanced wine with dark plum/cherry, dried herbs, spice, and a cedar/mocha java lingering long finish. YUM!! — 8 months ago

with Brenda

Scott Kahn

9.6

Beautiful bouquet that still under represents the richness of this wine IMO. Graphite, oak, dark fruit are presented on a structured tannic backbone. I can’t believe this is a second wine!! — 5 years ago

Dave Schneider

9.2

Maybe it’s silly to post a second wine from ducru, but... this is pretty darn good. Beautiful nose, complex flavors of blackberry, anise and oak from start to finish. The real thing must be AMAZING. 2005 rocks — 7 years ago

Philip Faure

9.2

Really gorgeous wine. Apple pie. — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2020 vintage. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), with an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Franc for the left bank (15%), 10% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Another excellent second wine at less than half the price of the grand vin. Seriously concentrated black fruits, spices, fresh acidity, ripe tannin and very good length. Drinking well now, but this should age beautifully for another 10 years. — 21 days ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with a beautiful nose.

Showing black plums, black currants, cedar, dried figs, licorice, dark chocolates, earth, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, light black tea and black pepper.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This 32 year old Pauillac is still drinking beautifully, but a bit past its prime. Rich and elegant. Very complex and spicy.

This Second Growth Bordeaux needed 5 hours to open up properly, and was not that special right out of the bottle.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel, and still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes.

Robert Parker 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and with food.

A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$200. — 2 months ago

A. R.

9.2

Big and pretty and opened about 10-15 years too early. Second day was a huge improvement from the relatively closed nose on day 1. Can feel a bit of the alcohol on the finish. Modern and very well made - especially great Cab Sav on the finish. — 7 months ago

Dave Chambers

8.9

Cracked open this Alfredo Nugan Shiraz to go with Veal Chop and frites — 9 months ago

with Heather

Jeffro Beaudeen

9.5

One of the best second wines I've ever had the pleasure of consuming . .,this with a delicious smoked duck breast with a crispy charred skin . . and four days ago my tasting group did an event where all wines were Bordeaux between 82 and 2000 vintage and all had to be 98 to 100 points (wine advocate or JEFF Levy's most recent scores) and two of those wines were the 89 and 90 Montrose, both of which we're drinking fabulously . . in fact beat out the Haut Brion and Ch. Margaux . . the only wine that I liked better than those two was the 1982 Mouton and have to say the 1989 La Conseillante was showing very well too . . Back to the Dame de Montrose . .,Spicy earthy good layers of complexity and good length everything paralleling the Grand Vin just the volume turned down a few clicks . . and it can now be had for around $200 versus the 800 for its big brother😆 — 5 years ago

Eric

9.5

Prefer this second label to the Seavey Cab bottlings. — 7 years ago

Samantha Jones

9.5

Drank at Second Empire for out 8 year wedding anniversary — a month ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2019 vintage. A blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. First year of conversion to organic viticulture. The second wines of the big boys have never been better, and this is another good example. Raspberry, cassis, a hint of pencil shavings, and a little smokiness. Good concentration, charm, complexity and length. Good value for an appellation where you don't go shopping with 10 euro, but that rarely disappoints. A lovely introduction to the grand vin at one third of the price. Abv. 13,5%.. Eric Boissenot consults. — a month ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Another excellent vintage of “Second Label Sassacaia.” Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%). Aromas of black fruit, baking spices and cedar wood. Flavors of black cherries and currants, woody herbs, black licorice and those sweet baking spices. Long finish highlighted by beautiful freshness. Well softened tannins, bright acidity and a silky texture. Simply elegant and at its peak. Part of a June 2026 KZ Tasting. — 5 months ago

Marc Melser

9.2

We had the 2015 Vintage on 3/28-29/26. A real good wine for the second label. Medium bodied and fruit forward. Well aged, tannins all smoothed out. An herbaceous bouquet. Hints of eucalyptus. On the palate, I get blackberry, plum, mocha and kirsch. Very good — 7 months ago

Nophakhit Khositchaiphithak

9.5

My second time drinking this vintage. The first time I had a small sip and absolute love it. This time I decided to have the whole bottle. It was gorgeous. Herbal, dried fruits and elegant like grass jelly. — 10 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Deborah M

9.3

Late to post this from Friday night dinner at Gemma (Dallas spot with nice wine list). Surprised to find this one on the list and just had to order. Fortunately they decanted for us, but it was still a little cooler temp than my liking. Overall this is always a pleaser. Still can’t believe this is a second wine for PT. Silky smooth tannins. Approachable now, but will become even more elegant with time in the bottle. Can’t beat this QPR. Napa cab that holds true to Bordeaux style. (Drank 1/3/20) (not my photo) — 7 years ago

with Amy