Chateau La Marzelle Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

This is very bipolar, like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, with an elegant dry and spicy terroir expression which I like; but in the meantime, this shows a sticky chocolatey tannin from a slutty (even cloying) oak roasting intensity which overwhelms. For me this is too pricey for what it delivers, and not quite my cup of tea - if I may. Second time I meet this wine, one year later, with a consistent assessment. Ditto for vintage 2016, from …

Dark plums and even darker chocolate along with mushrooms, wet earth, licorice and smoke create the bouquet. The wine is rich, full, deep, fresh and ready to deliver its layers of ripe, rich, supple-textured black cherries, spice and dark chocolate on the palate and in the finish. Give this about 2 years in the cellar and it will be a treat for 15 or more ears after that. Drink from 2024-2039.

93 vvPunkte (73% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14%, verkostet im Dezember 2021 in Windisch). Kräftiges Rubin. Die Nase ist komplex, intensiv, tiefgründig, dunkle Beeren, Kirschen, rauchige Noten, Zimt, darüber einiges an Floralität, sehr delikat. Im Auftakt fruchtbetont, rund, zeigt Cremigkeit, hat ordentlich Druck, bleibt dabei elegant und sehr harmonisch, die Struktur aus fein gewobenen Gerbstoffen und einer rassigen Säure steht in top Balance zur Frucht. Im Abgang langanhaltend, mit Würze und einem dunkelfruchtigen, leicht röstigen Retrofinale. Hat …

92+ vvPunkte Dunkles Rubin. Sehr rauchige, komplexe Nase, dunkle Kirschen, Pflaumen, Kohle, Kräuterspeck, mit mehr Luft florale Noten. Sehr feiner Gaumenauftakt, reife Frucht, eine gewisse Opulenz ist da, dazu auch viel Frische und ordentlich Druck, die Gerbstoffe sind von sehr guter Qualität, noch jugendlich und ungestüm, Struktur und Frucht harmonieren. Im Abgang mit viel Rasse und einem rotfruchtig-würzigen Retrofinale. Muss noch etwas reifen, wird seine Qualität in sechs Jahren voll ausspielen. 2027-2043 (April 2021)

Licorice, chocolate, black cherry, smoke and vanilla are all over the place. Silky, soft and polished, this medium-bodied gem is forward, fresh, fruity and vibrant. La Marzelle is a hot property that keeps getting better and still sells for a fair price.

Barrel sample: excellent earthy herbal and ripe cassis/black fruit nose, finely structured, good concentration and balance. Nice surprise. Great value. Will only improve. Barrel samples w/Brian/Roger

Deep, dense and intense, with non-stop waves of licorice, dark red fruits, cocoa and coffee bean. The wine is round, fleshy, fresh and the lift in all the sweet fruits on the palate make this all come together perfectly. The wine is a blend 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 92-94 Pts

Purchased at Carrefour with a sticker saying "93 Points Wine Enthusiast"; very floral and fruity aromas in the nose, acidic, concentrated, simple, and tight on the palate; short finish; overall, 88-89 points; wonderful nose, but not so sure why 93, perhaps too young to be enjoyed at this stage.

Au château. Une jolie bombe fruitée! Il semble bien vinifié mais trop jeune pour mon palais. A revoir avec plaisir.

Inky and dense, the wine is lush, ripe, floral and loaded with dark cherries, espresso, smoke, licorice and round, silky textures. Vibrant and fruity with flesh on its bones, the finish is packed with dark black fruits. 92-94 Pts

Showing good color, the wine is ripe, fleshy, rich and sweet,. Loads of licorice and black cherry are all over the place. The wine is supple, fresh and will be ready to go early in its life. This is another hot property that keeps getting better and still sells for a fair price.