What are your top ten favorite estates?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 6:55 pm

After reading Pittsburgh Mike’s note on the 2014 Leoville Barton, I thought of how consistently great that property and others of my favorites are, year after year. What are your favorite ten estates that you look at every year? You can list the Lafites and Haut Brions if you want, but that’s not really in the spirit of my question. For me:

1. Calon Segur
2. Leoville Barton
3. Giscours
4. Sociando Mallet
5. Lafon Rochet
6. Cantemerle
7. Corbin
8. Montrose
9. d’Issan
10. Pichon Baron

StBlGT · Post by **StBlGT** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 7:19 pm

1. d'Issan
2. Leoville Barton
3. Chasse-Spleen
4. Branaire-Ducru
5. Montrose
6. Calon-Segur
7. Giscours
8. Cantemerle
9. Sociando-Mallet
10. Pichon Baron

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 7:32 pm

Oops I meant to list Baron. Excellent list, StB, Chasse Spleen is definitely a perennial wine I look out for.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 8:05 pm

Not going to put these in any pecking order:

Gruaud Larose
Lynch Bages
Beychevelle
D’Issan
Figeac
Conseillante
Leoville Barton
Ducru Beaucaillou
Magdelaine
Vieux Chateau Certan

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:14 pm

1 Nameless
2 Pichon Lalande
3 Pichon Baron
4 Leoville Barton
5 Calon Segur
6 du Tertre
7 d'Issan
8 Cantemerle
9 Gruaud Larose
10 Canon

I would like to look at Lafite, Haut-Brion, and Ducru-Beaucaillou, but it hurts to much to look and not buy.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:16 pm

Depends on the era and price (and excluding Firsts):

80’s and older:
Magdelaine
Canon
Beychevelle
Pichon Lalande
Domaine de Chevalier
La Lagune
La Conseillante
Lynch Bages
Cantemerle
Meyney
La Dominique
Leoville Poyferre

90’s:
GPL
Ducru
PLL
Magdelaine
Figeac
Trotanoy
Sociando
Cos d’Estournel
VCC
La Conseillante
l’Evangile

00’s-present:
Branaire Ducru
d’Issan
Brane Cantenac
Leoville Barton
Haut Bailly
Magdelaine
VCC
Calon Segur
Gloria
du Tertre

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:21 pm

Patrick's breakdown is better but I don't have the patience for that at the moment, so I tried to pick wines that I have tended to like both current and older. The one that I backfill the most, but don't buy much currently is Pichon Lalande. No real pecking order.

d'Issan
Montrose
Pichon Baron
Branaire Ducru
Haut Bailly
Calon Segur
Leoville Poyferre
La Conseillante
Rauzan Segla
Lynch Bages

robert goulet · Post by **robert goulet** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:58 pm

No specific order

Sociando
Ducru Beau.
Montrose
Pichon Lalande
Smith Haut
Palmer
Leoville Barton
D'issan
Talbot
Beychevelle

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:28 pm

No specific order

Calon Segur
Cantemerle
Sociando Mallet
Léoville Barton
Léoville Las Cases
Conseillante
Branaire Ducru
Haut Bailly
Lagrange
Pichon Baron

Chateau Vin · Post by **Chateau Vin** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:05 am

Only in an alphabetical order....

Calon Segur
Climens
La Conseillante
Lafon Rochet
Leoville Barton
Lynch Bages
Montrose
Pichon Baron
Rauzan Segla
Sociando Mallet

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:14 am

I only have one chateau that makes my top list over the last 30+ years: Magdelaine.

That said, I could easily add VCC, PLL, and Figeac. An argument could be made for Sociando as well, though it hard to find well-stored bottles of their 80’s vintages.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 2:50 am

No particular order:

Haut Brion
Haut Bailly
Montrose
Pichon Lalande
Conseillante
Yquem
Pichon Baron
Lynch Bages
Gruaud Larose
Leoville Barton

jal · Post by **jal** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 3:02 am

I feel like I'm no longer worthy to be called a Bordeaux Wine Enthusiast. I can't think of any recent Bordeaux that I can enjoy. Of the 70s and 80s Bordeaux I can make a list of my top ten estates (excluding firsts)

Palmer
Lynch Bages
Pichon Lalande
Gruaud Larose
Talbot
Prieure Lichine (loved some of their 80s wines)
Léoville Las Cases
Pichon Baron
La Lagune
Cantemerle

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 3:03 am

You enjoyed that 2019 LLC, Mr. Levy, I witnessed it with my own eyes.

jal · Post by **jal** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 3:09 am

JimHow wrote: ↑Sun Jan 22, 2023 3:03 am You enjoyed that 2019 LLC, Mr. Levy, I witnessed it with my own eyes.

Ha, true. And I enjoyed the 2010 Troplong (lots of alcohol) Mondot, but in fairness I am not as excited about young Bordeaux these days as I used to be. So many other wines from other regions I enjoy more.

hautbrionlover · Post by **hautbrionlover** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 5:36 am

No order (and omitting Haut Brion per Jim):

Pichon Lalande
Pichon Baron
Cos d’Estournel
Brane Cantenac
Lynch Bages
La Lagune
Gruaud Larose
Canon-La-Gaffeliere
Leoville Barton
Leoville Poyferre

Ognik · Post by **Ognik** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:30 am

No Lafite, Mouton and Latour.
What went wrong ?

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 10:12 am

Ognik if you read Jim’s first post he said that listing first growths is not in the spirit of this thread. Otherwise I might have included Lafite and Margaux. I did not include La Mission because it is a de facto first. I felt I should have included both Pichons LLC and Montrose in my list but I didn’t in the end not just because they are ‘super seconds’.

Interesting that nobody has included GPL or Pontet Canet. Though actually GPL did appear in one of Patrick’s lists.

Patrick what is your ‘all things considered’ top ten?

If it was up to 2002 DDC rouge might have gotten in to my list.

When everyone has participated we can process the results to determine the board’s favourite wines.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 11:18 am

Yes some interesting results Ian. And yes, what is your all things considered listed, Parrick? A couple observations about the lists stand out to me.

RPCV · Post by **RPCV** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 11:39 am

In no particular order.

1. Pichon Baron
2. Leoville Barton
3. Leoville Pyferre
4. Branaire-Ducru
5. Montrose
6. Calon-Segur
7. Lynch Bages
8. Cantemerle
9. Sociando-Mallet
10. Lagrange

Ognik · Post by **Ognik** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:59 pm

So any first growths......hmmm.
So what about Figeac, Cheval, Petrus.Trotanoy.....e.g?
Difficult to draw the line.
You love what you know.

Both Pichons are awesome
as Montrose, Calon and Cos are.
Palmer and Rauzan Segla for sure.
LLC and Ducru,
La Fleur Petrus and Conseillante.
Easy, but.... arrrg, 11 estates....

Racer Chris · Post by **Racer Chris** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 2:30 pm

These are the top chateaux I have sufficient experience with in multiple vintages to consider them favorites.
Talbot
Rauzan-Segla
Grand-Puy-Lacoste
Calon Segur
Sociando-Mallet
Domaine de Chevalier
d'Armailhac
Meyney
Ormes de Pez
Senejac

Rainer Guntermann · Post by **Rainer Guntermann** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 4:37 pm

For me, in no specific order:

Lynch Bages
Leoville Barton
Beychevelle
Pichon Lalande
Petite Eglise
Gloria
Lanessan
Clos du Marquis
Ducru Beaucaillou
Domaine de Chevalier

Cheers
Rainer

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 6:21 pm

It’s really hard to pick a consistent favorite over the last 50+ years, as so many of my favorite chateau either stank in the 80’s or stink now. The contrast is quite stark in my mind.

Take Meyney— for a long time I drank more Meyney from the 80’s than virtually anything else, but they utterly lost the plot after 1990. Or DDC, which one day decided to hire the Fonz and jump the shark, or Chateau Canon which was incredible from at least 1966 through 1989, but largely uninspired from 1990 on. Or imposters like the once great Cos d’Estournel, which is now a joke. Can a chateau be a favorite if you no longer like it, like Pape Clement? Or if it only started delivering the goods recently, eg wasn’t anything to write home about in the 80’s (looking at you, Leoville Barton)?

Also, I think the spirit of this question has to mean wines you actually buy and cellar, not just enjoy (a lot) when someone else brings one to a tasting once every 5 years. So along with no Firsts, no Lafleur, Palmer, Cheval Blanc, Petrus, Ausone or LMHB for me.

That all said, the limits all acknowledged and integrated, my best effort at triangulation gives this:
1. Magdelaine
2. Pichon Lalande
3. Figeac
4. VCC
5. La Conseillante
6. Lynch Bages
7. Sociando
8. Haut Bailly
9. Cantemerle
10. La Tour Blanche

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:38 pm

To answer in the spirit of the question (I think) and in no order:

Chasse Spleen
Cantemerle
Sociando Mallet
Lynch Bages
Pontet Canet
Pichon Baron
Branaire Ducru
Canon La Gaffeliere
La Tour Blanche
Rieussec

Super hard to do for all the reasons Blanquito and others have already chimed in with

SF Ed

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:07 pm

You guys did a good job in the spirit of the challenge. Some interesting observations from the lists.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:21 pm

Yeah, like no Right Bankers on Ed’s list!

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:47 pm

The one I really struggled with was Beychevelle, so good in 1986 and earlier (loved the 59), but it was nondescript in the 90’s including 1990. I think the 2000-2005 stretch was a return to form, but for my palate, the jury is out on the style shifts 2009-present. I own both the 09 and 10, so I’ll get to see firsthand — if I end up liking these, I’d definitely add Beychevelle in to my triangulated list.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:36 pm

With these precisions, i have changed Gruaud for Lagrange, as within the years, i bought more Lagrange than Le vin des rois.

Even if i'm not buying LLC or La Conseillante for my cellar, i can't remove/change them as these are wines that have always made strong impression on me, with their completely opposite style, and are clearly among my favorite

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 10:11 pm

Updated my list a bit. Moved Calon Segur and Rauzan Segla out and put in Pichon Lalande and Climens.

d'Issan
Montrose
Pichon Baron
Branaire Ducru
Haut Bailly
Pichon Lalande
Leoville Poyferre
La Conseillante
Lynch Bages
Climens

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 1:09 am

Blanquito wrote: ↑Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:21 pm Yeah, like no Right Bankers on Ed’s list!

Where do you place Canon La Gaffeliere?

SF Ed

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 3:40 pm

Oh, are stickies included in the survey? I'll have to find room for Coutet and La Tour Blanche. Or maybe just one, because I drink at least nine bottles of red Bordeaux for every bottle of Sauternes.

I add Coutet and remove d'Issan.

Musigny 151 · Post by **Musigny 151** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:42 pm

VCC
Magdelaine
Pichon Lalande
DDC pre 1990
Haut Brion 2005 and earlier
Giscours
Issan
Montrose
Latour
Palmer

jckba · Post by **jckba** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:04 pm

Pichon Lalande
Montrose
Pichon Baron
Canon
Haut Bailly
D’Issan
Ducru Beaucaillou
Gruaud Larose
Leoville Barton
Lynch Bages

Chateau Vin · Post by **Chateau Vin** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:27 pm

Here are my 10 Observations....

1. Pichon "Purple' Baron is widely adored (

just had 6 omissions out of 19; Next is Leo Barton with 7, P Lalande and Lynch with 8 each and Montrose with 9); Widely adored Right bank is La Conseillante...

2. Don't know why stefan even listed 'Nameless' wine.

It should not even make the list...

3. BD does not have Lynch 'Poor Man's Lafite' Bages on his list...

4. Racer Chris does not have Trintaudon on his list...

5. Comte has most balanced with respect to left bank and right bank (6 left bank and 4 rt bank)..

6. No GPL on jal's list (no surprise there...

)

7. Although it looks like there is no particular order in the list of Musigny, VCC is listed first as it occupies the top spot in his consciousness...

8. 6 out of 19 did not choose any Right bank at all...

9. It's surprising that over 50% listed Montrose as one of their top 10 favorites, but not many tasting notes on the site on Montrose..(I am also guilty party for this)...

10. Out of all the people, Ognik, stefan, Joel, Sf Ed, etc. had trouble nailing down their top 10. It's like not able to let go other child when your hands are already full with a couple...

But the icing of the cake goes to Blanquito in this regard. He had several top 10 for different eras, and that too seems like strugggling to come up with a list that would satisfy all his inclinations. Although he begrudgingly came up with final list, he needed much prodding and encouragement... For this, the True BWEr award should go to Blanquito...

JCNorthway · Post by **JCNorthway** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:58 pm

Nice analysis CV!

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:19 pm

Chateau Vin wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:27 pm But the icing of the cake goes to Blanquito in this regard. He had several top 10 for different eras, and that too seems like strugggling to come up with a list that would satisfy all his inclinations. Although he begrudgingly came up with final list, he needed much prodding and encouragement... For this, the True BWEr award should go to Blanquito...

Indeed, well done! And in the spirit of indecision, I slipped in 11 or 12 wines for my 80's and 90's "top tens", which no one (apparently) noticed!!

Racer Chris · Post by **Racer Chris** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:27 pm

Chateau Vin wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:27 pm
4. Racer Chris does not have Trintaudon on his list...

I struggled with that for a while...
but I like all the wines I listed more than I like Larose Trintaudon.

There is more L-T in my cellar than anything else, but it's really only a favorite for budgetary reasons. If I could afford it, there would be just as much Talbot in my cellar.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:33 pm

3. BD does not have Lynch 'Poor Man's Lafite' Bages on his list...

I'd have to go into a blanqitian division of eras to add Lynch to my list.

To me, Pichon Baron and Leoville Barton at the top makes me proud to be a BWEer.
I didn't do the numbers, but nice to see multiple nods to Cantemerle in there as well.

I could have added La Conseillante and Chasse Spleen to my list as well if I had more room.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 1:29 am

>>
I could have added La Conseillante and Chasse Spleen to my list as well if I had more room.
>>

Duh now. I could have added 50+ to my list. Being an obedient minion, I stuck to the rules.