The 2014 Tour Saint Christophe has been uncorked....

[JimHow]

My first experience with this property....

[dstgolf]

And.....

[robertgoulet]

Zzzzzzzzz
lol

[JimHow]

Wow! What a beautiful wine! Very merlot.
Not Parkerized, in my opinion. Smooth, elegant, medium bodied.
Very classy, precise. A real revelation.
Very high quality wine at very low price. Beautiful deep purple.
I'm going to get my hands on a lot more of this property, especially in that $25-30 price range.
No opinion on its age worthiness, but why wait!
94 enthusiastic points.

[JimHow]

As you know, I rarely purchase futures.
I just ordered a case of the 2016 (JS96-97) from Zachy's.
With 15% discount that's $23+ per bottle, or $285 for the whole case.
How can you go wrong!
Only 4,000 cases produced.
I think Jeff Leve is a fan of this wine as well.

[Chateau Vin]

.
.
No opinion on its age worthiness, but why wait!
.

Highlight of my turkey day...

[DavidG]

Jim’s fallen in love with a Rolland-ized St Emilion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJy3hRM7SPE

[JimHow]

It is Clos l'Oratoire-like.

[DavidG]

You’re tempting me, buddy. 2016 futures are available at MacArthur for a few dollars more. And this is a 2016 that is likely to be drinkable while I’m still young enough to enjoy it.

My concern is that it will be too low acid or flabby. Jeff Leve says drink at cellar temp to keep in balance. How did your bottle fare as it warmed to room temp?

[JimHow]

It is indeed round but not flabby.
I read his note and liked what he said about drinking it young for the fruit.
It was strong from the get go and kept improving.
I was skeptical about this wine but it is definitely the real deal.
The merlot was luscious.

[Jeff Leve]

I think Jeff Leve is a fan of this wine as well.

Yes, he is. I love the wine. It's a really great wine that is also a super deal. You can read details on the wine here: https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bo ... eaux-wine/

[DavidG]

If Maca has a Black Friday sale, I’m pulling the trigger.

[AlexR]

The estate is owned by Chinese from Hong Kong. But a very different kind than the usual run of absentee landlords that haven't a clue about the wine business.

I met the son, US educated and very switched on.

http://www.vignoblesk.com/fr

All the best,
Alex R.

[stefan]

Two nice sparklers from Charles Ellner--2004 Prestige and 2006 Seduction. The former is 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, while the latter is 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir. The '04 has limes and apples and is notably acidic while the '06 is done in a softer, more seductive style.

stefanJr decanted a red a couple of hours ago. It is a fruit forward very pure OR PN that has soft tannins and a very long finish. He said that it was made by a friend. I almost fell off my chair until he revealed that the friend is Mark Vlossak. The wine is 2015 St Innocent Shea. I have already bought 14 bottles of it plus 6 of the special selection version, but it would not be wrong to buy more at wine club bargain price (25% off $55 and free shipping if you buy multiple mixed cases--I think 3). stefanJr thinks that this might be the best Shea Mark has made. It might be.

[dstgolf]

Jim,

Thanks for the update. I bought cases of this on futures based solely on the reviews. 1 case 2014,2x 2015 and 1 x 2016. Sounds like I won't be disappointed. Thanks for the encouragement. The 2015s were $37 cdn so with the exchange at about 35% when these were ordered not bad. I haven't received the 2014s yet.

[JimHow]

There is nothing cheap about this wine, Danny, except the price.
The quality is very high. The only question will be your preference as to whether to drink them young or older.

[dstgolf]

Jim,

Hopefully another early prediscovery just before it takes off but if it's as good as the reviews and ratings for the 2014-2016 vintages then this won't stay at this price for long. The video of the making of the Chateau and vineyard terracing that Alex R provided through his link showed this guy has put serious money into this operation. Unlike Napa where a new wine is released at over $100 just because this guy is trying to hook a following at a lower price point and I'm sure if they maintain the quality the price will rise. I just don't understand where the grapes are coming from now because it looks like they've replanted the vineyard and the vines won't be producing at this point??? They must be sourcing grapes elsewhere.

[AKR]

Better / similar to Barde Haut?

[JimHow]

Better than Barde Haut.
I can only judge from this one experience but I was just struck by how serious a wine this is.
The merlot fruit is just so suave and elegant. I was very impressed, at least from this one sample.

[AKR]

Wow high praise indeed. I'll look for some more.