Château La Lagune

Jancis: 15
Wine Spectator: 93-96
Neil Martin: 93-95

It was difficult to taste this as it was not shown in the UGC tastings unfortunately. Very dark. Very ethereal notes on the nose. Thick and sweet and with notes a little more plastic and winemaking than real substance, earthiness and vineyard. SO sweet! There must have been so many decisions involved in making this wine but it is not, in the end, a refreshing drink. Too thick, too sweet, too harsh and drying on the end. Shame. Picked too late? Very ungracious, I’m afraid.  Although winemaker Caroline Frey, who takes a great deal of care in winemaking, assures me that her grapes were in fact picked much earlier than at many properties.  Perhaps they were just too concentrated?  I certainly look forward to tasting this again later in its life. - Jancis Robinson

Floral and precise fruit, with blackberry-skin character and mineral undertones. Full-bodied, with superfine tannins and a fresh, clean finish. Long and tight. Racy. Lovely texture. 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 percent Merlot and 15 percent Petit Verdot. This property is really on a roll now, delivering racy and structured reds; it gives much more freshness and character to the wine. - James Suckling

fleeting scent of estuary mudflats that segues into more vanillary aromas from the oak. The palate hits all the right buttons: superbly balanced with fine but sturdy tannins, great clarity and focus, the minerality and sense of tension brimming over the finish. Good length. This is an assured, confident La Lagune that will be an absolute pleasure after bottling. Tasted March 2010. - Neil Martin

Sociando Mallet, Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc

Jancis: 16.5
Decanter : 17
Robert Parker: 90-92 

Big, dense, beefy wine, with pure black currant fruit. On the palate this is and highly charged with massive tannins and great mid-palate density and extract. This is a very impressive wine but certainly one that we advise should be left well alone for at least 10 years. Drink 2019-2030+ 15.5 point - armit

Potensac, cru Bourgeois  Médoc

Jancis: 17
Wine spectator: 87-90
Neil Martin: 85-87
Parker: 89-91

Excellent definition, purity and focus on the nose. The fruit has a pleasing crunch and the tannins are ripe yet grippy. This is classic in its styling but there are clearly extra levels of ripeness here rarely achieved at this property although all perfectly controlled by the team and kept in balance. Minerality comes through on the finish, completing a serious and impressive display. Drink 2017-2030 16 points armit