Your most preferred 'super second' Bordeaux

[Keith_Levenberg]

Pichon-Lalande, easy.

[Howard_Cooper]

@Mark B

@Howard Cooper

@Mark B

I thought Palmer was a 3rd growth.

Have you had Palmer?

I brought a '96 to an HDH auction a few months back. It’s great wine, but I think it’s poor QPR when compared to many sub $100 2nd growths.

My experience is that Palmer is terrific and I would put it up there with any non-firth growth Medoc.

[David_Welch]

Montrose and LLC. LMHB would probably be there as well if I had a large enough sample (only the 81 so far)

[Faryan_Amir-Ghassemi]

PLL.

[Dav1dZ]

@Robert Alfert

Classic, long-lived, large structure, and perhaps what distinguishes it in many years over its competitiors, sometimes exhibits a gamey, animalistic funkiness. Gruard Larose and Talbot are favorites of mine as well precisely because of that funkiness, esepcially the wines from the 1980s vintages. I have heard some folks attribute these notes to unclean cellars, bretty, etc., but regardless, it’s a flavor profile I like. I have to admit that I have not had a Montrose from anything younger than 2004, so cannot comment on the current wine, but given the history of this estate, would be surprised if anything has changed despite all the lofty scores I’m seeing being bestowed upon it.

LOL at hiding behind the “some folks attribute these notes”. The wines can be bretty as hell. Own it, baby! There’s nothing wrong with loving brett, to each their own.

[kristofstevens]

We need a poll to structure this!
My vote goes to la mission

[Robert.A.Jr]

@D. Zylberberg

@Robert Alfert

Classic, long-lived, large structure, and perhaps what distinguishes it in many years over its competitiors, sometimes exhibits a gamey, animalistic funkiness. Gruard Larose and Talbot are favorites of mine as well precisely because of that funkiness, esepcially the wines from the 1980s vintages. I have heard some folks attribute these notes to unclean cellars, bretty, etc., but regardless, it’s a flavor profile I like. I have to admit that I have not had a Montrose from anything younger than 2004, so cannot comment on the current wine, but given the history of this estate, would be surprised if anything has changed despite all the lofty scores I’m seeing being bestowed upon it.

LOL at hiding behind the “some folks attribute these notes”. The wines can be bretty as hell. Own it, baby! There’s nothing wrong with loving brett, to each their own.

Touché!

I like Brett. Shit (pun intended), I drink rustic Chinons! Isn’t it Joguet that said something like “Brett de merde” in describing one of his wines?

[ptheimer]

make mine Montrose

[Gerhard_P]

Just FWIW:

Ducru-Beaucaillou declared world’s best Cab blend in blind tasting - The...

Although I love several vintages of Ducru it is not my fav. super-second … and the disapointments between 1985 and 1990 have drawn my nerves …

On the other hand I simply cannot say which is THE best/preferred … depends on age/vintages … and I also would not limit it to the 2nd growths from left bank at all, not even to all classified growths (incl. e.g. Pontet-Canet, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Palmer …), but equally incl. LMHB, recently Pape-Clement, but also Pomerols like Trotanoy, Conseillante, L´Evangile, Vieux-Ch-Certan … (I would consider Petrus and Lafleur as true 1st growth).

And if we are talking about St.Emilion … which classification ?

[Andrew_Dodd]

Depending on vintage, typically Pichon Lalande

[Frank_Drazka]

Ducru Beaucaillou. Sentimental favorite but also on a tremendous roll.

[Gerhard_P]

@Andrew Dodd

Depending on vintage, typically Pichon Lalande

… and typically Palmer, and typically Pichon Baron, and typically Cos, and typically Montrose, and typically Lynch Bages … and typically many others … even typically Mouton …
(typically wine …)