Simple and short from start to finish. This managed to push out some tobacco and earth-laced red currant and red cherry (with some slight black cherry and strawberry) notes, but was otherwise linear and overly lithe. Earth and dirt repeat on the tail, ending watery and a little dirty. Unfortunately, this lacks sophistication and complexity across the board. It’s drinkable the same way a coffee drinker might drink tea if it was the only hot beverage available on a cold morning...but otherwise, pass...
The ‘16 Chantegrive and the ‘15 Baron de Brane served beside it were my least favorites of the day. This was watery and thin from the word go. Barely flavorful, with some strawberry juice, red and black cherry water, and dust. Little body. Little finish. No interest.
Perhaps a slightly better Margaux than the disappointing 2015 Baron de Brane, but not by much. The initial push of red currant, strawberry, rhubarb, and red cherry seemed promising, but then it all fell apart pretty quickly by the time the mid-palate came around. Almost instantly became a thin, watery afterthought. A slightly rustic cedar finish seemed like it would provide some much needed lift at the end, but it really just distracted from the “core”-ish of the “fruit” here (or NOT here, rather).
“Ok, I guess” was the standard mumblings around the table on this one. I’ve had Le Thils of the past that have also been “ok,” as in “fine” and “does the job.” I even have a memory of the 2010 being fairly decent a while ago. However...
Quick and Easy Translation: For $25 it’s maybe worth a spin if you’re bored and can’t find a 6-pack of IPA to spend your money on, but I’ll take a Dalem or Capbern all day long over the Thil at the same price point.
Specifically as for the Thil’s TN, to me, “It tastes like Merlot.” Plum, dark red and black cherry, roasted coffee, and some powdered/cedary Nesquik. Light to medium bodied. Finishes simple and light.
CT’er BRADA mentioned “thin and lacking depth” here; I couldn’t agree more. This showed some lithe flavoring of plum, blackberry seed, and white pepper, but it instantly went into dustbowl mode and became a high plains desert on the palate shortly after entry. Finishes dry and clipped. This may have some potential with a couple more years in bottle... as in, from an 87-88 to an 88.4 of upside. So there’s that I guess.
This was being lauded as the wine to try. So I tried it. And so that happened. Wait, what I talking about? Oh yeah, how forgettable this wine was...
Ok, ok... The real skinny on this wine was that it was fine. It was ok. It was better than the 5-6 wines I had before it. Red and black currant, cedar, earth, dry soil, and some black cherry. Ok-ly weighted, but with a thin finish. For a near-decade from vintage wine, I would have hoped for some additional nuance and at least the beginnings of some flavor evolution. Not so much the case.
Some air kinda helped unlock a little fruit for a second, but then it nearly vanished. Not sure if time will help this wine, or just allow the fruit to continue on a declining path. I vote for the latter. Drink now..... with food... lots of food... and a fistful of Ativan, to make for an even more interesting experience.
I didn’t hate this wine, so it had that going for it. Blackberry, black currant, earth, hamster shavings, and a hint of violets. A little bit of an awkward delivery of flavors initially, but air helped to even out the execution. Slight barnyard on the finish, but not enough to distract from the core. Certainly more rustic, but at least a little more interesting than some of the other water-monger wines in the lineup. Not worth the tariff in my opinion, but I could see where traditionalists would find interest here.
The best in the lineup. Blackberry, plum, black (and some red) currant, and some earth. More of a black fruited profile. Medium all the way around. Not especially fascinating or conversation-inducing, but something to drink when your talking about something else a little more interesting (like Napa Cabernets..... just kidding folks; take ‘er easy).
For me, this is a drink now animal. It has some stuffing that is exercising its ability to fan out over the palate with some sense of direction and purpose, but its intent is certainly middle-of-the road. It’s not your best employee in the office, but it’ll do what you tell it to do without too much fuss. 90-ish+
2015 Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane 85 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Simple and short from start to finish. This managed to push out some tobacco and earth-laced red currant and red cherry (with some slight black cherry and strawberry) notes, but was otherwise linear and overly lithe. Earth and dirt repeat on the tail, ending watery and a little dirty. Unfortunately, this lacks sophistication and complexity across the board. It’s drinkable the same way a coffee drinker might drink tea if it was the only hot beverage available on a cold morning...but otherwise, pass...
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2016 Château de Chantegrive Graves 82 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves
The ‘16 Chantegrive and the ‘15 Baron de Brane served beside it were my least favorites of the day. This was watery and thin from the word go. Barely flavorful, with some strawberry juice, red and black cherry water, and dust. Little body. Little finish. No interest.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2016 Château La Tour de Mons 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Perhaps a slightly better Margaux than the disappointing 2015 Baron de Brane, but not by much. The initial push of red currant, strawberry, rhubarb, and red cherry seemed promising, but then it all fell apart pretty quickly by the time the mid-palate came around. Almost instantly became a thin, watery afterthought. A slightly rustic cedar finish seemed like it would provide some much needed lift at the end, but it really just distracted from the “core”-ish of the “fruit” here (or NOT here, rather).
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2016 Château Le Thil Comte Clary 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
“Ok, I guess” was the standard mumblings around the table on this one. I’ve had Le Thils of the past that have also been “ok,” as in “fine” and “does the job.” I even have a memory of the 2010 being fairly decent a while ago. However...
Quick and Easy Translation: For $25 it’s maybe worth a spin if you’re bored and can’t find a 6-pack of IPA to spend your money on, but I’ll take a Dalem or Capbern all day long over the Thil at the same price point.
Specifically as for the Thil’s TN, to me, “It tastes like Merlot.” Plum, dark red and black cherry, roasted coffee, and some powdered/cedary Nesquik. Light to medium bodied. Finishes simple and light.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2016 Château Cantemerle 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
CT’er BRADA mentioned “thin and lacking depth” here; I couldn’t agree more. This showed some lithe flavoring of plum, blackberry seed, and white pepper, but it instantly went into dustbowl mode and became a high plains desert on the palate shortly after entry. Finishes dry and clipped. This may have some potential with a couple more years in bottle... as in, from an 87-88 to an 88.4 of upside. So there’s that I guess.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Château Langoa Barton 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
This was being lauded as the wine to try. So I tried it. And so that happened. Wait, what I talking about? Oh yeah, how forgettable this wine was...
Ok, ok... The real skinny on this wine was that it was fine. It was ok. It was better than the 5-6 wines I had before it. Red and black currant, cedar, earth, dry soil, and some black cherry. Ok-ly weighted, but with a thin finish. For a near-decade from vintage wine, I would have hoped for some additional nuance and at least the beginnings of some flavor evolution. Not so much the case.
Some air kinda helped unlock a little fruit for a second, but then it nearly vanished. Not sure if time will help this wine, or just allow the fruit to continue on a declining path. I vote for the latter. Drink now..... with food... lots of food... and a fistful of Ativan, to make for an even more interesting experience.
Read 3 Comments / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Château Brane-Cantenac 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
I didn’t hate this wine, so it had that going for it. Blackberry, black currant, earth, hamster shavings, and a hint of violets. A little bit of an awkward delivery of flavors initially, but air helped to even out the execution. Slight barnyard on the finish, but not enough to distract from the core. Certainly more rustic, but at least a little more interesting than some of the other water-monger wines in the lineup. Not worth the tariff in my opinion, but I could see where traditionalists would find interest here.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Château Sociando-Mallet Cuvée Jean Gautreau 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
The best in the lineup. Blackberry, plum, black (and some red) currant, and some earth. More of a black fruited profile. Medium all the way around. Not especially fascinating or conversation-inducing, but something to drink when your talking about something else a little more interesting (like Napa Cabernets..... just kidding folks; take ‘er easy).
For me, this is a drink now animal. It has some stuffing that is exercising its ability to fan out over the palate with some sense of direction and purpose, but its intent is certainly middle-of-the road. It’s not your best employee in the office, but it’ll do what you tell it to do without too much fuss. 90-ish+
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue