Master Classes, Château La Mission Haut-Brion vertical tasting

Château with a brilliantly outstanding achievements; the unofficial sixth First Growth and once more...


a unique chance to experience a superb wine vertical tasting.


Jean-Philippe Delmas of Château La Mission Haut-Brion and Sarah Kemp – shared the podium.


A tasting of 8 vintages from 1995 to 2005 and two vintages Laville Haut Brion, each offering pleasure and finesse one after another...

First Flight: 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000


Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2005
Very closed but with a long, long nutty finish. So silky... somehow mix between 2000 and 2001. (19+/20)

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2004
Farm, earthy, such a classical beauty... (18/20)

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2003
This is quite strange... tannic bite,red fruit... (17/20)

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2001
Cedar, tobacco, havana, very elegant and somewhat easy to drink... (18.5/20)

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2000
Deep layered nose, very complex, long finish and such a elegance and complexity (19.5/20)

Second Flight 1999, 1998, 1995

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 1999
A big beauty, sweet nose, very approachable right now, very long finish, lasts for a minutes... (19/20)

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 1998
Open, concentrated and very precise. Round and well integrated with a marvelous nutty aftertaste... (19+/20)

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 1995
Dark core, minerally component, appealing and lean character. Very elegant but a little green (18+/20)

Third Flight: 2006 and 2007

Château Laville Haut Brion 2006
Big and fatty semillon... long and amazing.

Château Laville Haut Brion 2007
Just amazing white...

Master Classes, Opus One vertical tasting

One of California’s most famous wineries, Opus One was founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and renowned Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi.


Michael Silacci, wine-maker responsible for the last nine remarkable vintages...


Opus One 1979
Remarkable youth color. Leather, earth, farm yard, long smooth and silky. Balanced, elegant and integrated. Very very nice (17.5 pts.)

Opus One 1987
Woody-spicy, minty, eucalyptus, still still relatively tanic. Balanced and young even after 23 years! Very exciting wine (18 pts.)

Opus One 1991
Exuberant but still developing and work in progress...

Opus One 1995
Rich, robust, warm spices, bitter chocolate, very seductive (17.5 pts.)

Opus One 1997
Tick color, nutty, concentrated nose, almost sweet. Very rounded and long and pleasant finish.(18.5 pts.)

Opus One 2001
Beautiful, rich color, very complex nose, spicy, fresh, voluptuous and creamy texture...Just fantastic wine! (19 pts.)

Opus One 2005
Classic stuff but to much for my taste(17.5 pts.)

Opus One 2006
Big contrast to 2005. Exuberant but in the same time restrained. This has fantastic potential (18 pts.)

Master Classes, Château Pontet Canet vertical tasting

Once more a unique chance to experience a superb wine vertical tasting.


The rise Pauillac Fifth Growth Pontet-Canet is one of the success stories of Bordeaux and the owner Alfred Tesseron tells the story...


A tasting of 12 vintages from 1990 to 2008, a vertical tasting to remember.


Château Pontet-Canet - France, Bordeaux, Medoc, Pauillac

First Flight: 1990, 1994, 1999

1990 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Nice deep red color. Leather, earth... (88 pts.)

1994 Chateau Pontet-Canet
At the beginning closet but it has opened later. Floral, earth... tannins not well structured. Drink now. (89 pts.)

1999 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Good 1999. Complex nose, well integrated, sweet tannins, refreshing acidity, liquorice on the finish. Excellent and classic. (94 pts.)

Second Flight 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

2000 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Opulent but very closed. Need time but it will be perfect. (93 pts.)

2001 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Deep, dark, tobacco, blackberry aroma, a full bodied. Drink well now. (92 pts.)

2002 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Nice! Starting to open and it has superb earthy components. Very well balanced with silky tannins. (91 pts.)

2003 Chateau Pontet-Canet
This is amazing stuff. Fresh, fragrant... so atypical for the 2003 vintage. Full bodied. Need time. (93 pts.)

Third Flight: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008

2004 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Drinks well right now. Walnut, chocolate, coffee... Long and sweet tannins and good minerality. (90 pts.)

2005 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Almost violet. Beginning to close down and will stay like that for a long time. KEEP as this is going to be one of the most amazing wine one can have. (95 pts.)

2006 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Tasting 2005 and 2006, back-to-back, prompting the inevitable comparisons. Well made, but far a way from 2005. (89 pts.)

2007 Chateau Pontet-Canet
This is nice wine. Tannic but it will drink very well soon. (89 pts.)

2008 Chateau Pontet-Canet
Barrel sample. I can't access fully but it taste promising...

Alfred's good humor and sincerity is amazing and I'm looking forward for my visit to Bordeaux...