Stefan Dolhain

9.0

I have no idea why, but "floral" seems to be the common denominator for Bordeaux 2023, both left bank and right bank. This one also smells like it escaped from a flower shop, with the red fruits playing second fiddle. — 19 hours ago

Stefan Dolhain

6.1

2020 vintage. This is off , I hope this is a single bottle problem, but it looks like acescency (picûre acétique) to me... — 10 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2023 vintage. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Merlot, aged 18 months in barrels ( 50% new). This beauty is from the AXA Millésimes stable (also Pichon Baron and Suduiraut in Bordeaux), and it represents excellent Pauillac value (around 45 euro). Left bank 2023 Bordeaux wines seem to be very floral ( no idea why). Dark red with purplish rim. Flowers, cassis, blackberries, cedar, and dark chocolate. Power and elegance combined. Freshness, ripe tannins, and very good length. A beautiful Pibran that is hard to resist young, but should age beautifully. Abv. 13,5% — 13 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2020 vintage. What a nice surprise! A gorgeous, very fresh Saint-Emilion, with complexity and length. The 14,5% abv. goes totally unnoticed. Cheap for the quality. — 2 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2021 vintage. Le C de Calon Ségur is the third wine. Good, but somewhat pretentiously priced ( at the price level of Cantemerle), and suffering from the comparison with Château d'Arcins and Château Barreyres 2022 at half the price. Abv. 13%. Also, I'd rather pay 10 euro more for the Marquis de Calon. — 6 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2025 vintage. This is the final blend, still in the barrel. The first vintage for both young in-house winemaker Lucas Puyo and consultant Éric Boissenot. A very positive evolution for this extremely reliable Château, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominating the blend for the first time (60%), with 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. — 19 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.6

A nice, simple, clean Sauvignon blanc for only 7,50 euro. — 3 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2023 vintage. The second wine of Château Brown is a blend of around 60/40 Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Aged on the lees for 8 months in oak barrels and egg-shaped concrete tanks. Deep yellow colour. Exotic fruit and spices. Could do with a bit more tension, but attractive. Abv. 13%. — 6 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

6.0

2023 vintage. No score. Another drying finish with a Diam 10 Cork. Sigh... Same for Tertio de Montrose 2020 with a Diam 10 cork. On the contrary, Aspirant de Beychevelle 2020 with a Diam 5 cork is very good. Would Diam 10 be worse than Diam 5? 🤔 — 13 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2022 vintage. Château Lestage, a 18 hectares vineyard in Montagne Saint-Émilion. The label states "Arthur Young vigneron", who bought the estate in 2023. This vintage was still produced by the previous Russian owner. Very ripe red and black fruit, fresh acidity, dark chocolate and soft tannin. 80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Malbec. A very nice crowd pleaser for 11 euro. Abv. 14,5%. — 19 days ago