Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is already a balanced wine, rich in tannins, packed with ripe blackberry fruits and with a dense texture. It has weight and richness from the 50% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend and the 20% of Petit Verdot that adds a great structure. Drink from 2025.
Cellar Selection -
Decanter
Mature, ripe nose of black plums, cassis, tobacco, cedar and sweet spices. Elegant, rich and full-bodied on the palate. Blend: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A hidden gem from the southern part of the Médoc (north of Macau) is the 2015 Château Belle-Vue and this estate is located right next to Giscours in Margaux. Readers need to know that the southern part of the Médoc was the sweet spot in 2015 and this is a prime region to look for non-classified growths that overdeliver. This vibrant purple colored beauty boasted terrific notes of crème de cassis, dried flowers, licorice, and spice, with a dusty minerality developing with time in the glass. With medium to full-bodied richness, impeccable balance and a silky texture, it’s well worth a case purchase and should keep for 10-15+ years. Tasted twice. This wine is close to 40% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with the balance Petit Verdot, aged in 40% new wood. This is another great wine from American merchant Jeffrey Davies that’s well worth your time and money.
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James Suckling
Aromas of blueberries and blackberries with hints of spices and wet earth. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a delicious finish. So pretty and refined. Drink in 2020.
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.