Les Dégustations Ugo

Château Coquillas 2023—the signature cuvée from Château de France, nestled in the heart of this Pessac-Léognan gem. . Pessac-Léognan red, Château Coquillas cuvée, from Château de France . Vintage: 2023 . 🍇: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot . 👀: The moment you pour it, it makes a statement. It’s a dark, deep, almost shadowy red—reminiscent of the leather jackets Michael Jackson wore in *Thriller*. A vibrant ruby ​​rim kisses the edge of the glass. It’s brilliant. You can sense the concentration immediately, yet it possesses a natural elegance that doesn’t need to wait in line to get into the club. . 👃: Stick your nose in, and—BAM—it’s an emotional rollercoaster. It’s as if a freshly picked wild blackberry hitched a ride with a Havana cigar, crossed paths with notes of noble cedar, and picked up a hint of a freshly sharpened pencil. Then, on a second pass, a twist of black pepper and jammy dark fruits transports you straight back to childhood—stealing licorice candies from the b...

This 2018 Château Roquefort is the reliable buddy you can count on when everything else goes sideways. . Red Bordeaux from Château Roquefort . Vintage: 2018 . 🍇: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon . 👀: In the glass, it makes a bold statement from the very first second. It sports an intense, dark ruby-red hue. As you swirl the wine, thick, languid "tears" slide down the si des, a clear sign of real substance. . 👃: Stick your nose in the glass and, boom, it’s a time machine. It smells of perfectly ripe blackberries and crushed blackcurrants, with a twist of black cherry that’s spent some time soaking up sweet spices. Then, on a second pass, bam!, a wave of forest floor, a hint of licorice, and a subtle smoky, toasted quality, as if a cigar box had quietly brushed up against a crackling fireplace. It’s a robust, generous n'ose, the kind that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. . 👄: The attack is frank, direct, and no-nonsense. It doesn’t just knock on the door; it w...

Château de Carles 2016 is like a warm embrace from Fronsac. Luscious, silky, and deep, yet approachable. . Fronsac red, Château de Carles cuvée from Château Haut de Carles . Vintage: 2016 . 🍇: 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec . 👀: In the glass, it’s a deep garnet—almost black at the core—reminiscent of the leather on a vintage jacket. Swirl the glass, and it lights up with brilliant ruby ​​highlights. Dense and a touch mysterious, but not austere. It’s not the brooding goth sitting at the back of the class; it’s the cool guy in the leather jacket. . 👃: First impression: black cherry—the kind you’ve just crushed in your hand—blackcurrant, and a hint of candied strawberry. It’s ripe, clean, and vibrant. Then it opens up and gets a bit more playful: blond tobacco, sweet spices, a touch of licorice, and an undertone of damp earth and wet chalk—that clay-rich character reminding you that Fronsac isn't sand; it’s real soil that clings to your boots. Warm, a bit rog...

An accessible, rich, and well-crafted Pessac-Léognan that proves you can have structure without needing an oenology dictionary. . Château de France Pessac-Léognan Red . Vintage: 2020 . 🍇: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot . 👀: Deep garnet color—almost black at the core—with lovely ruby ​​highlights when swirled. Visually, it’s dense and serious, yet not austere. . 👃: Initial nose: black fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry, and ripe cherry. As the glass breathes, it gains complexity: a touch of vanilla, cedar, and sweet spices, along with that slight smoky/woody character typical of a carefully aged Bordeaux. There’s a ripe fruit quality that reminds me of blackberry jam spending an evening in an old wood-paneled library. It’s not an overly showy nose that jumps right out at you. . 👄: The attack is clean and direct, with prominent fruit flavors. The Cabernet provides the backbone—structure, freshness, and tannins—while the Merlot rounds it all out with its fleshier, richer charact...

A fully mature Saint-Émilion, shaped by time, boasting that lovely tertiary complexity that turns a simple tasting into a brief journey back to the 90s. . Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Clos des Menuts (Red) . Vintage: 1993 . 🍇: Merlot: 85% 🍇: Cabernet Franc: 10% 🍇: Cabernet Sauvignon: 5% . 👀: In the glass, the red has clearly moved past the stage of youthful fruitiness. The color leans towards a mature garnet, with brick-red highlights at the rim. Intensity remains, though time has gently softened the bold hues of youth. . 👃: And this is where things get serious. The initial nose immediately evokes very ripe red fruit, plum, and candied cherry, followed by more evolved notes: forest floor, fallen leaves, blond tobacco, fine leather, and sweet spices. It has that slightly dusty, earthy quality I love in old Bordeaux. Not "I forgot to dust" dusty, but rather the scent of an old wooden library, a leather chest, and a rainy Sunday. The fruit has receded into the backgr...

This is a wine that is perfect to drink right now, yet it also feels like it has more stories to tell with a bit more bottle age. . Pessac-Léognan Blanc, Château de France cuvée . Vintage: 2024 . 🍇: 80% Sauvignon, 20% Sémillon . 👀: Pale yellow hue with luminous highlights; it has a brilliance that immediately makes you want to swirl the glass. Visually, it is clean, crisp, and precise. . 👃: First impression on the nose: citrus, lemon, and grapefruit, with a lovely sense of freshness. Then come more vegetal and herbaceous notes. The Sémillon steps in to mellow things out a bit, adding a rounder, softer, almost slightly honeyed quality. Underlying it all is a subtle hint of wet stone and chalk. The oak is present, but it doesn't scream "BARREL!" with every sniff. And frankly, thank goodness for that. . 👄: The attack is crisp and fresh. The Sauvignon arrives with its citrus notes, tension, and that touch of acidity that makes you want another sip before you...

A rich, fleshy, and approachable Bordeaux Malbec that has enough character to stand out without veering into "over-muscled" red wine territory. . Château Haut-Grelot Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Red . Vintage: 2020 . 🍇: 100% Malbec . 👀: The color is a deep, dark red, possessing an intensity reminiscent of black cherries at the peak of ripeness.  One look at the glass and you realize this isn't a wine for the faint of heart. It is dense, glossy, and almost velvety. . 👃: Initial nose: black fruits. Blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, black cherry... The fruit is generous but avoids the "industrial jam" profile; there is a fresh quality underlying it. Then come spicier, slightly peppery notes, along with a subtle vegetal touch characteristic of Malbec in its Bordeaux guise. As the wine breathes, the fruit notes deepen and darken. . 👄: And then... BAM. The attack is bold and fruity, with a lovely sense of substance. The Malbec delivers juiciness, charact...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  Belle de Blaye 2024 is a fresh, luscious Sauvignon, subtly enhanced by its time spent aging. . Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux White "Belle de Blaye" cuvée from Château Haut-Grelot . Vintage: 2024 . 🍇: 100% Sauvignon . 👀: Pale yellow hue with golden highlights that catch the light like late-afternoon sun over the estuary. Crisp, brilliant, and lively. . 👃: First impression: it’s striking. Citrus notes—lemon and grapefruit—lead the way, followed by ripe white fruit aromas. In the background, a floral touch and a hint of toastiness reveal the influence of oak... but with the delicacy of a great supporting actor. Not the movie's hero, but the guy who makes all the difference in the end. It evokes a stroll through a garden after a summer rain, with a basket of peaches tucked under your arm. . 👄: The attack is fresh, direct, and almost electric. Then, the wine gently rounds out thanks to lees aging. The te...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  A dense, sexy, and vibrant Fronsac . Fronsac red, Cuvée Haut de Carles from Château Carles .  Vintage: 2022 .  🍇: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc .  👀: In the glass, it's both dark and vibrant. A deep garnet color with violet highlights. Dense. Almost oily on the skin. You can already tell the Merlot is there to make you feel comfortable on the sofa… while the Cabernet Franc discreetly prepares its sharp retorts . 👃: A powerful burst of dark fruit. Ripe cherry, fresh plum, blackberry crushed between your fingers. Then it unfolds. Bitter cocoa. A touch of roasted coffee. A hint of blond tobacco . 👄: The attack is broad, direct, and indulgent. The Merlot takes the lead: ample, velvety, fleshy. It coats the mouth. Then the Cabernet Franc arrives with its freshness, its subtle nuances, its vibrant energy that prevents the wine from becoming overly jammy. The tannins? Present, but polished...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  A Côtes de Bourg aged in amphora that exudes freedom and dark fruit. Both earthy and ethereal . Côtes de Bourg Bordeaux red Cuvée Amphore from Château Mercier .  Vintage: 2022 .  🍇: Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot .  👀: In the glass, it's dark yet vibrant. A deep ruby ​​color with violet highlights that catch the light . 👃: Crushed black cherry. Fresh plum. A handful of blackberries still warm from the sun. A hint of damp earth after a storm. A touch of graphite. An almost sanguine sensation. The more the glass opens up, the more captivating it becomes. There's a hint of pit, bitter cocoa, almost black olive . 👄: The attack is fresh. Direct. No heavy, oaky finish. The fruit arrives quickly, juicy, precise, with an acidity that makes you want to come back for more. The texture is magnificent: supple yet taut. The amphora does a fascinating job: it polishes without smoothing. It preser...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  This is a Médoc with many years of aging ahead of it, but it already knows how to entertain . Médoc red Cuvée La Tour de By from Château La Tour de By .  Vintage: 2018 .  🍇: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot .  👀: The glass fills with a deep, dense red, almost black at the center. The legs are slow and thick, already hinting at what's to come . 👃: On the nose… oh my god, the nose. It starts off with ripe blackcurrant, black cherry, and blackberry crushed between your fingers. Then come the darker notes: cedar, blond tobacco, slightly aged leather, cigar box. And behind all that, something almost wild. As if a black fruit jam had hitched a ride with a sprig of thyme and an old prune in Armagnac . 👄: On the palate, the attack is crisp, direct, almost military… then it relaxes. The wine expands without becoming heavy. The tannins are present but polished, like elegant bouncers. B...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  Solid, deep, a little rebellious. The kind of bottle that makes you say, “Okay, now that’s wine.” .  Fronsac red, Cuvée Château de Carles .  Vintage: 2019 .  🍇: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc .  👀: In the glass, it’s a deep red, almost cherry black. A color that catches the light like well-maintained old leather . 👃: First impression: ripe black fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry, but not in a sweet jam. No, here it’s wilder, more earthy. A slightly boozy plum note, a hint of cold tobacco, and that little woody touch that evokes an antique piece of furniture in a country house . 👄: The attack is frank, direct. No frills. The tannins are present, but well-integrated, like solid shoulders supporting the wine. The fruit returns, but darker, deeper. It glides on an almost velvety texture, with a tension that keeps everything in perfect balance. And the finish: long, sligh...