Winemaker Notes
Deeply intense, almost black and purple-tinged appearance, offering a complex, intense nose exuding roasted, smoky notes. Supple on the attack, the wine rapidly develops generous mouthful defined by lovely, expressive fruit, concentration and depth, underscored by delicate tannic structure; very smooth, despite the intensity. The appealing harmony is echoed in the long, flavorsome finish.
Blend: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Violet, dark-berry and stone aromas follow through to a medium to full body. Linear and very fine. Tight and fresh. Precise and beautiful. A serious young red. Drink in 2022.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a stylish wine, with acidity, firm tannins and layers of blackberry and black-currant fruits. A blend of almost equal proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, its richness comes from the ripe fruits and layered structure that now shows the beginnings of maturity. Drink from 2021.
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Wine Spectator
Solid, with a youthfully tight core of juicy blackberry and black currant paste flavors, wrapped with brambly grip and backed by twinges of tar and anise on the finish. Needs a touch of cellaring to unwind fully.
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.
Recognized for its superior reds as well as whites, Pessac-Léognan on the Left Bank claims classified growths for both—making it quite unique in comparison to its neighboring Médoc properties.
Pessac’s Chateau Haut-Brion, the only first growth located outside of the Médoc, is said to have been the first to conceptualize fine red wine in Bordeaux back in the late 1600s. The estate, along with its high-esteemed neighbors, La Mission Haut-Brion, Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pique-Caillou and Chateau Pape-Clément are today all but enveloped by the city of Bordeaux. The rest of the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan are in clearings of heavily forested area or abutting dense suburbs.
Arid sand and gravel on top of clay and limestone make the area unique and conducive to growing Sémillon and Sauvignon blanc as well as the grapes in the usual Left Bank red recipe: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and miniscule percentages of Petit Verdot and Malbec.
The best reds will show great force and finesse with inky blue and black fruit, mushroom, forest, tobacco, iodine and a smooth and intriguing texture.
Its best whites show complexity, longevity and no lack of exotic twists on citrus, tropical and stone fruit with pronounced floral and spice characteristics.