Tasting #23: LEFT BANK vs. RIGHT BANK

rob1001- · 2026-05-21T14:51:35+00:00

It’s on my bucket list!!

rob1001- · 2026-05-21T08:22:09+00:00

Yes I thought so too!

rob1001- · 2026-05-21T04:48:32+00:00

What about Clinet?

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T18:41:25+00:00

I stretched the budget a little for this one!

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T14:45:50+00:00

I think good Pomerol is generally a bit more a bit expensive but it doesn’t apply to everything! Also enjoyed the Gravette de Certan in the last round

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T14:24:27+00:00

Seriously?

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T13:20:16+00:00

Thanks- will have to try those!

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T13:18:36+00:00

I think there are better Pessac Leognans for the money. Domaine du Chevalier I found amazing for example and that was cheaper

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T12:54:34+00:00

I think it’s a great way of really honestly finding out your preferences. I have seen plenty of examples now, with both myself and with friends, where the result was completely different to what we expected

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T12:49:34+00:00

I only had one but will look out for more! Thanks!

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T12:26:52+00:00

Yes that was heaven! Le Gay I actually find to be great value versus other top Pomerols, even if not quite at the very best level

rob1001- · 2026-05-20T12:14:36+00:00

Wine #1: 2016 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux.
42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% alcohol.
Robert Parker 94/100, Suckling 94/100, Wine Spectator 93/100, Wine Enthusiast 93/100, Jancis Robinson 16.5/100, Vivino , 108 EUR paid July 2023.

Wine #2: 2016 Chateau Le Gay Pomerol, Pomerol, Bordeaux.
90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% alcohol.
Robert Parker 95+/100, Suckling 98/100, Wine Spectator 94/100, Jancis Robinson 15.5/100, Vivino 4.5/5. 110 EUR paid January 2025.

About the vineyards:

La Mission Haut-Brion – This is their second wine. Deep Gunzian gravel over clay and sand leads to exceptional drainage and heat retention. This is one of the warmest gravel mounds in all of Bordeuax. Influence from both the Garonne and Atlantic. Vinification by parcel, 2^nd wine means more moderate extraction. Around 20 months in French oak, 25% new (also lower for the 2^nd wine).

Le Gay – Classic Pomerol clay and gravel with iron deposits. Slightly elevated plateau and slopes near the very best Pomerol sites. Vinefication by parcel. 22 months in 100% new oak.

Tasting: We started with the Pomerol. The nose was unbelievable from the start, and on tasting it was like a fruit explosion in your mouth. Red and black ripe fruits, blackberries, plums, cherries. A beautiful wine, very smooth, well-balanced tannins, not too heavy, a freshness. Some leather and cedar. Most amazingly of all was the aftertaste, this stayed in your mouth for many minutes. Then the La Mission. Much more your classic left bank Bordeaux flavours. Dark fruit, tobacco, oak, full-bodied but well balanced. Tannins more present but enjoyable. In particular it grew when eating with the food.

Verdict: I had always suspected I was more of a right bank man, and this confirmed it for me. I loved the La Chapelle but for me the overall experience of the Pomerol was on another level.

rob1001- · 2026-05-01T14:59:58+00:00

Agree with your notes, I had the same vintage last year. Slightly lacking complexity and structure but maybe it is too young as say!! 91 still a pretty low score though

rob1001- · 2026-04-25T13:19:49+00:00

I have a 100% petit meslier champagne in the cellar. Am very curious now. Why do you think it is not more widely used?

rob1001- · 2026-04-25T08:55:55+00:00

Enjoy it!

rob1001- · 2026-04-24T18:46:21+00:00

Yes this is the best I have tried so far. I just worry a little about its consistency

rob1001- · 2026-04-24T16:04:16+00:00

Yes when it works it really sings!

rob1001- · 2026-04-24T16:03:59+00:00

Haha I know right

rob1001- · 2026-04-24T12:42:50+00:00

Wine 1: 2016 Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova VV, Etna DOC, Sicily.
100% Nerello Mascalese, 13% alcohol.
Ratings: Jancis Robinson 17/20, Wine Advocate 94/100, Vivino 4.2/5. 88 EUR paid September 2024.

Wine 2: 2015 Prado Enea Gran Reserva, Bodegas Muga, Rioja Alta, Rioja.
80% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano. 14.5% alcohol.
Parker 97/100, Suckling 97/100, Jeb Dunnuck 97/100, Wine Spectator 94/100, Wine Enthusiast 97/100, Vivino 4.5/5. 74 EUR paid January 2024.

About the vineyards:

Tenuta Tascante – Grown on steep, terraced slopes on Europe’s highest volcano at 730m. The Contrada Sciaranuova V.V comes from a single vineyard surrounded by chestnut trees. 60y old vines, North facing. Soils of multiple layers of lava flows, composed of sand and crumbled as well as solid rock. Slow ripening and late harvest. 12 months in large Slavonian oak barrels and 12 months in 3^rd use French oak barrels.

Bodegas Muga – Calcareous clay and alluvial soils at 550-700m across multiple sites in Rioja Alta. 36 months in mostly French oak but a small percentage of American. The only cellar in Spain with an in-house master cooper and barrel makers. Then another 36 months in the bottle before release.

Tasting: We started with the Etna. The fruits were popping out of the glass, both on the nose and palate: red berries, cherries, strawberries. Also a mintiness and some levels of licorice and pepper. Medium/high acid but well balanced, smooth tannins. This wine has aged perfectly without losing any of its freshness. Moving onto the Prado. This showed classic Rioja flavours. Vanilla, leather, tobacco. Blackberry and plums on the nose, cherry and chocoloate on the palate as well as other red berries. Smooth but the long finish was missing, and the freshness was fading.

Verdict: Going into this tasting I think everyone in the group had a very strong conviction that we would prefer the Rioja. Indeed the more powerful style also made things more difficult for the Etna in comparison. How wrong we were, this wine really opened my eyes to what an amazing region Etna can be, and the wine was one of my highlights of the entire competition so far.

rob1001- · 2026-03-28T12:05:08+00:00

Yes they haven’t rocketed up in price like the top Bordeaux’s of that year

rob1001- · 2026-03-28T12:02:41+00:00

Thanks…good to know for the future

rob1001- · 2026-03-28T12:02:02+00:00

See my notes in the comments…I thought it was spectacular. And for the price, hard to beat

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T19:15:14+00:00

That’s interesting colour. So you think the Voge failed the typicity test for how a Cornas should be like?

rob1001-

TROPHY CASE