One of the reasons I created Wine Disruptors was to call out the over inflated scores from many critics. 95 points for a $30 wine is outrageous when it happens more than we think. The only wine that can achieve that in my experience is the Result of a Crush Syrah’s which are from the same vineyards as the more expensive offerings from Reynvaan. Here is a comparison of a Left Bank vs. Right Bank Bordeaux. James Suckling got this review wrong and you can find it on Chateau de Lamarque’s website with this bogus 95 point score: The Newsroom
- 2019 Château de Lamarque – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc (2/16/2025)
Day 1: Pop and pour and will try over 3 days but not very good to start. Plastic, spice, some fruit and pepper. Nothing Bordeaux like right now but not going to give up on the wine. 80 points
Day 2: Wow is this a poorly made wine. Not flawed but just not good. Light and lacks fruit, a plastic taste to it and mild spice. For around $30 I expected a lot more. 75 points
Day 2.5: Sour fruits, plastic, spice and dirt. Had a glass sit out for a while to see if this could open up but no. Just a really poorly made wine. 70 points
Day 3: Well didn’t believe Alexbuss’s assessment of 70 but agree with it now. Wine is very difficult to consume and has that odd plastic taste. Fruit is not very prominent in this wine. Thin wine and low acidic. This wine was bad from the start. 68 points
Recommendation: Beware of 95-point scores from Suckling or Decanter that are at $30 or less.
Figured out why it is not to my liking. James Suckling gave these 95 points
www.winedisruptors.com (80 points)
On the other hand while I don’t see this as a 93 pointer yet Wine Advocate did give this a nice score and two of my friends at a local wine shop like it as well. Here is my review at 91+
- 2020 Château La Rose Perrière – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lussac-St. Émilion (2/16/2025)
Day 1: Nice offering for under $30.00. Natural cork. Blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet & 3% Malbec. A pretty wine with coffee beans, blue currants, mild spice, subtle wood, perfume and fresh cut roses. Shorter to medium finish. Nice value overall. 90 points
Day 2: Nice improvement and a bit more open for business. Shared this yesterday with some friends a local wine shop and they loved it. Even better today. A pretty wine with floral, blue currants, dust, sour cherry, perfume and minerals. While not a strong finish a very balanced wine and worth every penny. 91+ points
Day 3: Very consistent with day 2 and love the floral element on this wine with some nice fruit. For sure a good value under $30. 91 points
Recommendation: Easy purchase and will probably age through 2032. (91 points)
As you can see have an independent wine critic scoring these wines over 3 days is by far the most reliable approach to wine.