Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Situated in the southern Médoc, this estate of 84 acres has produced a perfumed and rich wine. It has sensuality to it from the ripe Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Wood aging gives spice and a full, generous texture. Everything is in place for a good future. Drink from 2025.
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Wine Spectator
This has a bit more stuffing, with a loamy hint amid the steeped currant and black cherry fruit. The fleshy finish shows good drive.
Barrel Sample:90-93 -
James Suckling
Fresh berries, wet leaves, ground coffee and crushed stones on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, chalky tannins. Nicely structured with a mineral finish. Try from 2022.
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Decanter
A difficult year for Paloumey, with hail on the day of the World Cup Final that brought yields down to 11hl/ha. Despite this, they've done a great job. The fruits are clearly ripe and the concentration translates into tight tannins that have intensity, character and bounce. Charred oak notes appear on the finish. Aged in both 500l and 225l barrels. In organic conversion; certification expected in 2020. Drinking Window 2023 - 2035. Barrel Sample: 90
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.