1994 Le Bon Pasteur
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Tasting notes
Long-time readers are aware of my admiration for the husband and wife oenologist team of Dany and Michel Rolland. Michel is more visible in the international scene as he has performed magic at numerous estates in Italy, Spain, Argentina, California, and, of course, France. Rolland's success has not come without a price, as he now must endure an unprecedented level of criticism from a whining group of underachievers that appears to have one complaint - Rolland produces better wine than they do. A tell-tale Merlot/Pomerol nose of mocha, chocolate, tobacco, and sweet black-cherry/plummy fruit is followed by a medium-bodied wine with moderate tannin, excellent purity, outstanding richness, and a sweet finish. This wine requires 2-3 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2012.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
A restrained, rather delicate Bon-Pasteur with attractive cherry and wet earth character and a fruity, fine palate. Medium body and tannins. Drink now or hold. 3,000 cases made. Wine Spectator, Jan 31, 1997
Long-time readers are aware of my admiration for the husband and wife oenologist team of Dany and Michel Rolland. Michel is more visible in the international scene as he has performed magic at numerous estates in Italy, Spain, Argentina, California, and, of course, France. Rolland's success has not come without a price, as he now must endure an unprecedented level of criticism from a whining group of underachievers that appears to have one complaint - Rolland produces better wine than they do. A tell-tale Merlot/Pomerol nose of mocha, chocolate, tobacco, and sweet black-cherry/plummy fruit is followed by a medium-bodied wine with moderate tannin, excellent purity, outstanding richness, and a sweet finish. This wine requires 2-3 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2012. Feb 1997, www.robertparker.com
Cherry, clove, minerals and chocolate on the nose. Velvety and dense, with a distinctive spicy character. Finishes long, with fine tannins. Showing more oak than the infant '95. Very attractive wine, but not as fine as the '95.
About the producer
Famed winemaking consultant Michel Rolland is synonymous with this estate. The vines here were purchased by his grandparents and he ran the property from 1979. Although Rolland still makes the wine today, he sold the estate in 2013.