Winemaker Notes
Merlot dominates the final blend as a round, generous gourmandise. The freshness and acidity of the condensed red fruit aromas give the wine an aromatic expression of its own. Bearing the signature of the great terroirs of Haut-Médoc, the Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine power, structure and complexity that will reveal itself after a few years of ageing. On the finish, notes of black fruits, raspberries and violet bring long, luscious velvety tannins to the palate. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 to 14 months, the wines of Château Bel Orme Tronquoy-de-Lalande are crunchy, charming and generous. Over time, they will fully express their finesse.
Blend: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Astonishingly deep colours. Saturated dense red-black fruit, plum, sloe, black bramble, cassis, and blueberry. Elegant layers of mint, balsamic, aniseed, and chocolate, with generous depth. Beautiful, mouth-filling tannins, good precision, and complexity, with a persistent savoury finish. Excellent value.
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James Suckling
Aromas of grilled plum, black cherry, black olive, mocha, savory herb and meat. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, sleek tannins and fresh acidity. Succulent and flavorful.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine from northern Haut-Médoc is produced by the same team as classed growth Château Rauzan-Gassies in Margaux. It is richly fruity, pushing the density and alcohol but drawing back with the acidity and bright black-currant flavors. Drink this wine from 2024.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
While it claims the same basic landscape as the Medoc—only every so slightly elevated above river level—the Haut Medoc is home to all of the magnificent chateaux of the Left Bank of Bordeaux, creating no lack of beautiful sites to see.
These chateaux, residing over the classed-growth cru in the villages of Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St-Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe are within the Haut Medoc appellation. Though within the confines of these villages, any classed-growth chateaux will most certainly claim village or cru status on their wine labels.
Interestingly, some classed-growth cru of the Haut Medoc fall outside of these more famous villages and can certainly be a source of some of the best values in Bordeaux. Deep in color, and concentrated in ripe fruit and tannins, these wines (typically Cabernet Sauvignon-based) often prove the same aging potential of the village classed-growths. Among these, the highest ranked chateaux are Chateau La Lagune and Chateau Cantemerle.