Thank you!

A little over a month ago, during Vinexpo in Bordeaux, I was very honoured to receive a very much appreciated symbol of appreciation of my work. I was given the title Commandeur d’Honneur de l'Ordre du Bontemps de Médoc ou des Graves, de Sauternes ou Barsac.

 It is a huge honour to receive this and to be receiving it next to the CEO of Air France/ KLM, Jean-Marc Janaillac, the world champion sommelier, Arvid Rosengren, Content Director of Decanter, John Stimpfig, former Prime Minister of Benin and other very high positioned members of society and the wine world especially. It feels incredible. 

Formerly people like Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburg was a recipient as well, back in 1974. I wasn’t even born then. The list of members is grand to say the least; it’s a who’s who of the wine world and a huge number of celebrities, politicians and even royals. I was given a book with some of the former recipients, and it is quite mind-blowing to be amongst the ranks of these. 

It is the fifth time I’m receiving an honorary title for my work, and it is hugely appreciated, and I’m deeply honoured. I am fairly young compared to my peers, I’m from a country that is barely a part of town population wise, in the rest of the world. I do not take it for granted. We are not the detour, we are at the end of the road. So that people even notice is a fantastic surge of energy. Thank you France, thank you Bordeaux, and thank you Jean-Jacques Dubourdieu for believing in me, from all my heart.

Château La Tour de Mons

Margaux Cru Bourgeois

2018 Château La Tour de Mons

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, fruity, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, juicy, a lovely Tour de Mons. 87-89

2017 Château La Tour de Mons

APR 18 Ruby. Light red fruity nose, some vanilla and herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lighter, red berries, anise, leaner. 86-88

2016 Château La Tour de Mons

MAY 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, detailed, dark fruity, long. 90

2016 Château La Tour de Mons

APR 17 Ruby. Blackberries, fruity, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, vanilla and spices, blackberries and spices finish. 88-90

2015 Château La Tour de Mons

APR 16 Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, spices, light jammy touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, juicy, dark berries, spices, good length. 87-89

2013 Château Tour de Mons
APR 14 Ruby. Scented, red berries, floral and delicate nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, fresh and fruity, bit short. 85-87

2012 Château La Tour de Mons

APR 13 Deep ruby. Fruity and slightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, easy going, quite lively, good length. 84-86

1986 Chateau La Tour de Mons

JAN 19 Ruby, garnet rim. Light scented, some floral mites nose, light minerals. Surprisingly good nose. Fresh acidity, hardly any tannins, lighter fruit and body but elegant, this is still alive, but drink now. 86

1978 Château La Tour de Mons

NOV 13 Dead.

Château La Tour de Bessan

Margaux

2018 Château La Tour de Bessan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some coffee notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices, good length, bit woody. 86-88

2017 Château La Tour de Bessan

APR 18 Ruby. Dark berries, anise, fruity, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some spices, good length. 87-89

2016 Château La Tour de Bessan

Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, vanilla nose, some herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity but quite woody, freshness behind, lovely if it manages the wood. 85-89

2015 Château La Tour de Bessan

Ruby. Dark fruits, some spices, floral notes, herbal nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity if leaner, good length. 85-87

2013 Château La Tour de Bessan
Ruby. Red berries, fruity and leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and leaner palate, redcurrants. 84-86

2012 Château La Tour de Bessan

Deep ruby. Scented, and alcoholic nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe and a bit lean, refreshing. 83-85

2007 Château La Tour de Bessan

FEB 16 Ruby. Leaner red berries nose, herbs, lean and thin palate. 81

Château Mongravey

Margaux Cru Bourgeois

2018 Château Mongravey

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, red fruits freshens things up, vanilla and spices, good length. 88-90

2017 Château Mongravey

APR 18 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, vanilla, spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, fruity. 85-87

2016 Château Mongravey

MAY 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, anise, spices, blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, blueberries, dark fruity, somewhat layered, long. 90

2016 Château Mongravey

APR 17 Ruby. Blackberries, spices, anise, detailed, woody nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blackberries, anise, richer style as always. 87-89

2015 Château Mongravey

Ruby. Scented, red berries, some spices, fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, structured, juicy, bit woody. 86-88

2014 Château Mongravey

MAY 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, some spices and vanilla, good length. 88

2014 Château Mongravey

OCT 18 Ruby. Dark fruits, some scented notes, blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, spices. 87

2013 Château Mongravey
Ruby. Red berries, vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, woody, bit herbal, fruity, short finish. 85-87

2012 Château Mongravey

Deep ruby. Sweet, ripe and alcoholic nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, boring and sweet. 82-84

2008 Château Mongravey
NOV 10 Ruby, sweet blueberries on the nose. Almost sweet fruit on the palate, OK balance, could have better acidity, short finish. 82

2007 Chateau Mongravey
APR 10 Deep ruby, big, heavy, very sweet, alcoholic, unbalanced. What happened, the 05 was so much better.......79

Château Sérilhan

Saint-Estèphe

2018 Château Sérilhan

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices nose, dark fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries and spices, liquorice, long. 89-91

2017 Château Sérilhan

APR 18 Ruby. Blackberries, anise, fruity, blueberries, lightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, some spices, good length. 87-89

2016 Château Sérilhan

APR 17 Ruby. Vanilla, spices, coffee, smoky spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, woody and smoky. 84-86

2015 Château Sérilhan

APR 16 Ruby. Spices, wood, peppery, dark. Fruits and coffee nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich, ripe, fruity, spices, vanilla, smoky finish. Bit much of everything. 86-88

2014 Château Sérilhan

APR 15 Deep ruby. Scented, minerals, dark fruits, almost salty. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, bit hollow if fresh fruit, almost vibrant, good length. 85-87

2013 Château Sérilhan
Ruby. Red berries, scented, fruity and floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, bit edgy, woody finish. 84-86

2012 Château Sérilhan
MAY 16 Ruby. Dark fruits, red berries, lightly scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, leaner, bit woody still. 86

2012 Château Sérilhan

NOV 15 Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, some cassis, vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cassis, structured, good length. Give it an hour in decanter. 89

2012 Château Sérilhan

APR 13 Ruby. Spicy and cassis nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fairly fresh, good length. 85-87