Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blueberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry in the nose with some sweet tobacco and moss. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are polished and savory. Fruity yet reserved finish.
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Decanter
A subtle, intriguing and approachable Cru Bourgeois, starting to show some development on the nose with briary, sous-bois characters emerging. Less black fruit in style, with red-cherry and damsons on the palate combined with brisk acidity, balancing the generous, fleshy fruit weight. The highly-distinctive château of Larose-Trintaudon dominates this substantial vineyard of alomost 200ha. There is a real focus on sustainability and the environment here. Part of the Vignobles de Larose (along with Château Arnauld).
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Wine Enthusiast
This 430-acre estate has produced an elegant, fruity wine. The wine comes from vines on the edge of the Pauillac appellation, with deep gravel soil that gives structure to the approachable black fruits. Drink from 2025.
Editors' Choice -
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Château Larose-Trintaudon is playing its reliable role as one of the best Haut-Médocs. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of red and blackberries. Try it with a lightly seasoned Porchetta. (Tasted: June 7, 2024, San Francisco, CA)
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.