Wow.  What a dud.  Thwunk, pocket’s $40 lighter.

When it comes to the elite reviewers, those who score bottle space, James Suckling is probably least to our palate.  He is fast and easy with points, often to deception.  I call him the Peter Travers of wine reviewers (meaning seeing his name on the bottle appears to weigh more heavily than constraint on the pointster front).

Let’s be clear: This is “inspired” by Haut-Brion.  It is not the real McCoy.  I would say the 3.5 stars over on Wine Searcher are just about right; it’s middling and approachable and satisfactory at about a C+ level in every way.  Pass.  Suckling waxed on about sandalwood and whatnot, but this is a smooth, easy sipper, generous on the palate, but nothing to write home about red.  It’s like a Merlot without a face.

Price: $39 at BC Liquor, recently reduced to $30.  Before taxes.

Market Liquidity: If cast on The Watchmen, I think Looking Glass; a reflection, masked.