November 30/15

This "grand vin" from Ulysse Cazabonne (Château Rauzan-Ségla?) isn't a great wine, thinning out and turning bitter, and lacking profundity, but as an introduction to Margaux that works well in its own right? Sure. The nose is just gorgeous, with an exceptional mix of blackberry and cedar supported by cassis, raspberry, graphite, and light pepper spice. The dark fruit is joined by sour currant on the palate, the overall richness cut by tangy acidity. There's undeniable elegance here, the structure of excellence, and this accessible Margaux certainly points to bigger and better things.

A nice expression of Margaux, but mainly through the aromatics, which offer up blackberry, dark cherry, cassis, violets and mild oak influences. Less expressive on the palate. It's balanced, fairly long with softening tannins. In a nice drinking phase now but it lacks depth and concentration. I matched it side by side with Hidden Bench's '10 Terroir Cache in a 'Judgement of Ontario' and the Terroir Cache was the better of the two. The '12 Margaux was released in February and at a $5 jump in price, not sure it's worth picking up, particularly as '10 was the better vintage. April 2017