Your favourite second wines

[KevinH]

Very late to the party on these, though I’ve had a few of the first growth second wines over the years. What are your favourites across all classes? What gives a real sense of the château style?

I’ve been drinking and enjoying the 09 Croix de Beaucaillou for a while. I’m looking to get a few second wines from recent vintages (ie 2015 and later). Currently have 2016 Les Pagodes de Cos and 2019 Marquis de Calon. What others should I be looking out for?

Thanks in advance.

[Nicklasss]

Hi KevinH.

I did not taste lot of second wines, but something is sure : they never seem to compete the first wine of the same Château. Another thing is that when they have more merlot than the first wine, especially in the Médoc, they tend to drink good earlier. Last thing, i think i prefer the first wine of an excellent Cru Bourgeois or unclassified growth (Sociando, Phelan Segur, Siran, Fonbadet) than second wines of Crus Classé.

But my « go to » second wines (Even if their Château are arguing they are not their second) are Clos du Marquis and Alter Ego. And i also like the second and third wines from Smith Haut Lafitte.

[JimHow]

La Dame de Montrose is a favorite, and I too love that 2019 Marquis de Calon. I have a case of the 2016 Pichon Comtesse second label I need to crack open. And I had a beautiful bottle of the SHL second label last time I was in Paris.

[Chrysostomus]

Talking about younger vintages (2016+) I had Croix Beaucaillou, Segla, La Dame de Montrose, Pagodes de Cos, Tourelles and Le Griffon (Pichon Baron), Réserve de la Comtesse, Frank Phelan (Phelan Segur), La Reserve de Leoville Barton and Virginie de Valandraud, many of them at a trip through Bordeaux at the Chateaux side by side with the Grand vin. For my palate Marquis de Calon and Le Petit de Smith (Haut Lafitte) offer the most quality for the money. Marquis de Calon 2018 was exceptional at arrivage, maybe even better than 2019, though I like the 2019 vintage more in general.

[KevinH]

Anyone tried any recent vintages of Les Pensées de Lafleur? In particular, I’m looking at the 2012, 2015 and 2017.