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.