Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

greatbxfreak

Ian,

2024 isn't a representative vintage for Beaujolais, nor is 2021. You could have asked for 2019 or 2020!

Which vintage did you taste at Mee Godard?

greatbxfreak

I came to this outburst because, in my opinion, glorifying the work of John Gilman, and particularly his vendetta against Bordeaux wines, is affecting my work. I would say it makes it less important and weaker. I am not hiding my writing behind a paywall; I cover all my expenses, and I am occasional...

greatbxfreak

I was tempted to start tasting Bojo wines some years ago by someone from BWE, I can't remember the name, unfortunately. I think I started with Thivin, then Jean Foillard, Alain Coudert (Clos de La Roilette), and then Jean-Marc Burgaud. Mee Godard and Lapierre followed after. Cote de Brouilly, Fleuri...

greatbxfreak

Alex, you are such a funny lad. Thinking outside the box, hierarchy (?), it's bulls.... I recall Neal Martin showing disrespect to fellow wine critics by saying that they should taste wines blind because they made mistakes. Afterward, he stepped back, saying he's not a saint in this matter. I find h...

greatbxfreak

Interesting.... I am surprised you were not a fan of Foillard's and Lapierre's wines. Great, you enjoyed Mee Godard and Thivin wines. However, omitting to visit one of the best wine-growers in Morgon and in the whole of Beaujolais, Jean-Marc Burgaud, was a mistake in my opinion. I would love to visi...

greatbxfreak

Ian, Interesting... I think Saint-Émilion has an incredible number of astonishing wines to offer, especially those from limestone soils. Pomerols on the clay subsoils are not bad either. I have to say that Mouton Rothschild is, together with Trotanoy, my 100p wines in 2025 vintage. I found Brane Can...

greatbxfreak

Ian, I also tasted Beausejour and Figeac on the same day at the respective estates, with a two-hour interval between them. I thought Beausejour was the better wine, and my score for Figeac is perhaps a little generous for the latter. For what it’s worth, there are a lot of wine critics who are prais...

greatbxfreak

20260415_131320.jpg I've published some TNs for several wines on my website, along with my take on this vintage. I put more randomly during the next 7-10 days. Here are my TNs on Beausejour 2025, along with a nice picture of Alex R. and Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse at restaurant Le Jardin in Saint-E...

greatbxfreak

John Gilman is a true provocateur.

I have never trusted his descriptions and ratings of wines.

He gives Montrose 2022 82 points with wicked complaints and, at the same time, states that this wine can keep until the year 2100, which means 78 years.

Ridiculous!

greatbxfreak

I will leave for Bordeaux in two days and stay for 16 days to taste the 2025 vintage (expect to taste 350+ barrel samples) and over 50 2023s from lesser appellations. I am very excited, I have to say. At the end of the trip, I will have a 3-day stay in San Sebastian and will have lunch at the 3-star...

greatbxfreak

DavidG,

I meant 2041, not 2031, for Cantemerle 2023.

greatbxfreak

DavidG, Cantemerle 2023 - I would say it can keep for at least 15 more years, meaning 2031. Lisa Perrotti Brown left TWI in the summer last year and created The Wine Palate. TWI is run by a Swedish guy, Johan Berglund, who created it together with LPB. A Danish wine collector, Ivar Bjurner, contribu...

greatbxfreak

George Hindle from Decanter about 2023 vintage:

https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews-t ... e-reviews/

I completely agree with her summary for this vintage. I don’t have a subscription, so I am unable to access the tasting notes and ratings.

greatbxfreak

Niclasss,

So it is not only me on the positive list.

May I ask about the rating concerning Beausejour St.E. PGCC.

Do you, btw, have a subscription to The Wine Independent?

greatbxfreak

Ian,

Thanks for the update.

I purchased several of your favorites in the tasting, including Mouton Rothschild.

This vintage, imo, has an aristocratic feel.

greatbxfreak

From Facebook: "Most wine critics run a mile from blind tastings. They expose flaws in your tasting ability as much as flaws in the wine" My reply - "Neal, I enjoy participating in blind tastings, but I don't receive as many invitations as you do! You are the privileged one. I'd recei...

greatbxfreak

I remember following Michel Rolland, the winemaker, and Dominique Befve, the technical manager, in the vineyard at Lascombes in October 2004.

It was fun, informative, and a learning experience that will stay with me forever.

greatbxfreak

Controversial and standardizing?? He didn't make the wines; he advised chateau owners on how to make the best possible wine. Some followed his advice; some did not. It wasn't his fault if the winemakers harvested too early or too late, or overextracted at high temperatures. I will miss him. He was t...

greatbxfreak

The famous flying winemaker died during the night between the 19th and 20th of March.

Contrary to what others thought about him, he always had my utmost respect for revolutionizing Bordeaux wines.

Rest in Peace, Michel Rolland!

greatbxfreak

It was love at first sip from a barrel sample of Cantemerle 2023, and the following three tastings of this wine were even better. Laure Canu, who became technical director in 2022, can be proud of this wine. Just think that Lisa Perrotti-Brown (TWI) rated it 83-85p during primeurs (April 2024). It's...

greatbxfreak

2023 Cantemerle is definitely a steal for the money. I've yet to taste it after bottling, but my impressions from four barrel tastings have been consistent and positive. At the same tasting in Copenhagen, there was a wine bar where I chose to buy 5 cl of both Chateau Margaux 1983 and Lynch Bages 198...

greatbxfreak

On the last day of February, I tasted over 30 wines from this vintage in Copenhagen. I had previously rated these wines highly based on barrel samples, so I had the opportunity to taste them again to verify my initial impressions. Overall, my assessment held true, although there were a few disappoin...

greatbxfreak

Jim, I had this wine several months ago, and it fit your description well. Very international. 100 p by R. Parker then, but absolutely not now. However, it was outshone by a special cuvée from Château Seguin, based in Canejan (Pessac-Léognan), called Confidence(s) de Château Seguin, in the same vint...

greatbxfreak

https://www.jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-reports/bordeaux-2023-vintage-report-keeping-up-with-the-classics?utm_source=James+Suckling+News%2C+Events+and+Insights&utm_campaign=a22604ed7f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_12_27_05_01_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-438ae604f3-331109309&mc_cid=...

greatbxfreak

Claudius2,

You are forgetting Meyney (immense value for the money) and Phelan Segur.

greatbxfreak

Ian,

Ok, that's the deal.

greatbxfreak

Ian, I am standing firm on what I think about 2023 vintage. I don't subscribe to any other wine critics, but I purchased Yves Beck's report on 2023 to compare his TNs to mine. I trust my TNs. 2023s have been bottled for the majority of the wines during May-July 2025. I tasted the lineup from Leovill...

greatbxfreak

Ian, Your post once again demonstrates how much you dislike my work. Thank you for the "compliment" with your use of the word "falsely." You continue to twist my words, which I find quite frustrating. By the way, when you say 2023 vintage is "laboured," what you really ...

greatbxfreak

It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip! I have visited Haut Marbuzet since mid 1980s and the wine has always been one of my favorite wines Henri Duboscq is quite a character with great charisma and wit. I met him three times before. I recall him saying a famous quote with a twinkle in ...

greatbxfreak

Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, Montagne St. Émilion, Lussac St. Émilion and Puisseguin St. Émilion.

greatbxfreak

Ian, It's funny to see the manipulation of my view on the vintage 2023. Dare you to say that future tasting of 2023s organized by Farr Vintners will also be focused on getting the shelves with wines empty asap? I have never said 2023 is like 2016; I only said that both vintages share some characteri...

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ComteFlaneur, A somewhat different view on the London tasting than yours! https://www.frw.co.uk/editorial/ugcb-in-london-tasting-bordeaux-2023 Please note the mention of 2016 vintage from producers. I stand firmly and 100% on my analysis of the 2023 vintage! Just tasted at home a fantastic lineup of...

greatbxfreak

How many of you know the Swiss wine critic Yves Beck? I have known him for over 20 years. He is a very reliable. He has just published an article featuring 977 tasting notes for the 2023 vintage, and I purchased it for 19 Swiss francs. It's great to see that he shares my admiration for this vintage,...

greatbxfreak

For sure, JIm enjoyed the 1985 Léoville Barton most!

greatbxfreak

One important note, Before Nicolas Glumineau arrived in 2012, Oichon Comtesse was an inconsistent wine, more successful in the "sunny" vintages. Look how fabulous it is now. For me, Pichon Comtesse is more graceful and sophisticated than Pichon Baron, with the latter being more modern and ...

greatbxfreak

JoelD, 1. 2023 has for me the tenderness of 2019, the grace and elegance of 2016, and the tannins of 2020. It has an ideally balanced acidity, which makes you want to come back for more. 2. 2023 is different than 2022; the latter is more concentrated, sunnier, has a different kind of flavor, and is ...

greatbxfreak

Ian, I respect your opinion, but I have a different perspective. I've tasted over 350 barrel samples of the 2023 vintage, and I can say that the bottles I've recently sampled did not disappoint; in fact, I found them as impressive as the barrel samples. I plan to taste more 2023 wines at the end of ...

greatbxfreak

I have put all the TNs/ratings of bottled 2023 wines I tasted in Bordeaux in October 2025 into the respective chapter (Bordeaux 2023...) on my website. In addition, I included the recently sampled Seguin and those from Jonathan Maltus, including Teyssier, Laforge, Mazerat, and Le Dôme, which I taste...

greatbxfreak

Jim,

Corbin 2022 and 2023, Haut Marbuzet in the same vintages and Bourgneuf as well are great vlue for the money.

greatbxfreak

JIm,

Labegorce is a pretty wine. I've not tasted 2019, but 2022 and 2023 are splendid, especially 2022.

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