2000 Château Monbousquet, France, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Nice showing for this wine.  In its youth, this was full throttle oak, but at age 23, the fruit, oak and tannins have all integrated and mellowed and come together.  Purple/black in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has clay, black cherries, spice and chocolate.  Medium tannins.  Nice texture.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with a hint of black olives.  The finish is a bit bitter and drying.  Overall, this seems at peak.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  It will work better with food.  A nice wine with a burger.  

2005 Château Troplong Mondot, France, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$325.00USD

In a really special place right now.  Fantastic.  This is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, slight chocolate, tobacco, leather and slight funk.  Full bodied.  Velvety texture.  On the palate, this is vibrant but also showing layering and complexity.  Flavors of black cherries and cherries with underlying earthiness.  Some chocolate on the finish.  This is at peak but should drink well for another decade.  Great on its own as it is contemplative, but will work great with roasted fowl, meat or even vegetab

2005 Château Fleur Cardinale, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Gorgeous showing for this wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is wonderful with black cherries, chocolate, spice, cherries and slight funk.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is just about at maturity.  Plenty of vibrant fruit; cherries and black cherries but also starting to show some depth and complexity.  No hurry though.  This should drink well for another ten to twenty years.  Nice on its own, but better with food. Lamb would be a good match.

2019 Château Boutisse, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

One of the few St. Emilion wines tried that didn't seem shut down.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has char, black cherries, and slight cedar.  On the palate, light black cherries.  Moderate finish.  Light tannins.  This is drinking nicely now and should continue for the next five to seven years.  A nice match with Mushroom Barley soup.  

2019 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Another of the better right banks that gave a disappointing performance.  This vintage seems to have shut down quickly.  Perhaps that's an excuse but it was pretty consistent in the better Merlot based wines.  Purple in color, mostly opaque if a bit flat.  The nose has cherries and spice along with a slight salinity.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit but seems mono-dimensional.  In a group of eleven tasters, this finished at or near the bottom of a tasting of right bank wines.  It is likely shut down.  Still, given the quality of the producer and the vi

2019 Château Larcis Ducasse, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This should have been much better.  No obvious faults, but shut down tight as a drum.  Reviews here are base on how the wine drank, not its potential.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is tight.  Perhaps the slightest note of cedar and cherries.  On the palate, this has a wonderful, lush texture which gives hope that at some point, this wakes up more.  More open  on the palate, with black cherries, cherries and underlying char.  Long finish.  Don't touch this for another five years at least.  Based on the vintage and house, this should drink well for twelve to fifteen years after

1995 Château Angélus, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1995
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$500.00USD

Pop and pour with no decanting.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, barnyard, cassis and truffles.  Full bodied.  Complex and layered with light tannins.  This seems to be at peak.  On the palate, cherries, dried cherries, and slight tobacco.  Clean.  Long finish.  Contemplative on its own but better with a bit of food.  Although it will drink well for another  decade, it probably will start a slow slide down soon.  

2005 Château Pavie, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$500.00USD

This wine was controversial on release due to its ripeness and size.  At age 16, it is still a big wine but starting to settle down a bit.  Just a bit.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, toast, spice, black pepper and leather.  Full bodied.  Wonderful velvety/jammy texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Firm tannins.  Lots of black raspberry and cassis, some blueberries with spice and underlying leather.  It certainly may be atypical from St.

2005 Château Quinault L'Enclos, France, Bordeaux, St, Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is a blend of 70% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Malbec.  Pop and pour, this took about an hour and then was drinking quite well.  Purple in color, thin ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The  nose is nice with black cherries, cigar box, slight dark chocolate, a bit of leather.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, cherries, black cherries and coffee with a bit of dried tobacco.  Good balance.  Seems to be almost or at peak at this point.  Great on its own, this will work well with prime rip or other roasted meats.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2015 Château Jupille Carillon, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

Tasted from two bottle, one seemed off due to heat/poor storage while the other was fine.  The off bottle had raisin notes, brown sugar and balsamic.  The better bottle was purple with ruby swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is peppery with black cherries and char.  Tannic.  On the palate, the black cherries and char come thru.  This is tight and needs some air right now.  A bit of warmth on the finish.  Drink over the next ten years.  This will work better with food although it can be drunk on its own. 

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