2017 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"A great all-rounder this is simultaneously hefty and subtle with real black fruitiness coupled with a subtle herby after-taste, a perfect accompaniment for quality steak, I will be ordering again."
Mr Kevin Hewitt (02-Aug-2020)
Mr Piers Beckley (25-Jul-2020)
"Straightforward and very enjoyable claret. Excellent at this price-point. "
Dr John Norman (23-Jul-2020)
"Mixed reviews from previous vintages have meant I have missed out on this lovely claret until now, glad I gave it a try as it will now be on my regular order list."
Mr Neil Macrae (06-Jun-2020)
"The gentleman before me said this wine was excellent. I could not agree with him more good old fashioned claret nothing not to like."
Mr Lawrence Marshom (22-May-2020)
"Excellent!"
Mr Gordon Carey (03-May-2020)
2017 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
The Scotsman (12th Sep 2020)
"Star buy: This
30-hectare estate is a great example of Castillon's characterful wines with its
plummy aromas, bright juicy fruits, silky texture, unoaked; a
limestone-dominant merlot that would suit St Emilion lovers. - Rose Murray Brown"
2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"A good reliable claret, requires decanting. "
Mr Richard Bedford (17-Dec-2020)
"I tried a mixed case of six clarets, and this was my clear favourite. Now it's my House Red, and I order it by the case. Needs decanting (or tolerance of sediment). It's the best red I've had from the Society, and among the best value for money I've found anywhere."
Mr Matthew Richards (30-Oct-2020)
"A nice enough Bordeaux, but not sure its worthy of such a price tag. However this is definitely one to decant, I have never seen so much sediment in a relatively young wine. "
Mr Michael Wilton (23-May-2020)
"Tried at a Wine Society friends house. I was pleasantly surprised. a fruity wine with a good lasting impression.Will be buying lots of bottles. He said he has purchased this over the years and the quality has remained constant."
Mr Ken Smith (29-Oct-2019)
"Unbelievable, this wine sings of fruit both in the mouth and on the nose, blackberries perhaps a little tobacco initially tannin and acid shy. When it does come the tannins are smooth and controlled and the acidity just increases the length in the mouth. This is very much a now wine not for long keeping . The fruit itself puts it on a par with the madame de pitray "
Mr Ian Strang (20-Oct-2019)
"Not a bottle I would buy again, the tannins seemed harsh even with decanting for a couple of hours and the wine just uninteresting. I compared it to [another merchant's]Claret which for #3 more was a much better blend much softer."
Mr Martin Mooney (30-Jul-2019)
"Disappointing, as a fan of Pitray of which I still have a couple of bottles, and of the society’s claret, I ordered this as an ‘inbetween’ wine. Smells ok but little taste - certainly no fruit and no better on day two - perhaps a dud bottle. "
Mr David Welland (27-Jul-2019)
2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"I have had very mixed experiences with this wine. The first few bottles were nicely balanced and very good for a Bordeaux selling at less than £10. However, the last bottle I had was undrinkable when opened with a corked taste although the cork was in perfect condition . It seems to have mellowed a little over the week whilst I had relegated it to cooking wine."
Mr Andrew Bartlett (24-Feb-2019)
"It is a OK wine with some nice fruit but at £9/btl is very expensive for what you get."
Mr A Nick Lowe (19-Jan-2019)
"Reading other members' reviews I realise we all have widely differing tastes. I enjoyed the wine finding it fruity and robust enough to partner a steak and kidney pie. It was part decanted about an hour beforehand allowing the tannin taste to mellow. It could improve with bottle age although the remainder, in the bottle under a vacuum stopper, had faded by the following day. Best with food I think and reasonable value."
Mr Brian Glover (17-Dec-2018)
"Reasonable and quaffable, I didn't have high expectations and was rather nicely surprised. I like the tannin, and at modern room temperature it does well. A little thin perhaps, but at less than a tenner, it does the job. "
Mr Simon Larter-Evans (16-Dec-2018)
"Surprised and disappointed. I recently had a Château de Pitray, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 2015 which I thought was remarkable - the day after we tried it, I ordered a case, only to find it had sold out, but the Society recommended I try the The Society's Côtes de Bordeaux 2015, which is by the same Chateau and the same year.
I haven't had such an unappetising wine for a long time - in it's current form it is undrinkable. Thin, no fruit and highly tannic. The label suggests that it can benefit from up to 8 years bottle age, so after the first taste (after 2 hours in a decanter), I put it in a vacuumed bottle to see if it would improve. After 2 days it had softened a bit and had opened up somewhat, but it was still fairly unpleasant, so I'm not sure if it will improve with age. Would be interested to hear what experience other members have had, as it should have been a good year from a good Chateau."
Mr Alexander Robinson (05-Dec-2018)
2015 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
The Spectator (26th Mar 2019)
"Affordable claret is
better than ever ... From a great vintage and made by Château de Pitray, this
is the very definition of refreshing lunch time claret. I love the combination
of ripe raspberry fruit with a nice tannic bite to it that comes into its own
with red meat. - Henry Jeffreys"
2014 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Great value wine. Fruity, but with enough body to handle a few more years in the cellar after which it should be very good."
Prof Paul Blachez (03-Mar-2018)
"Disappointing. This will be my first negative review of a Society wine. A sharp, unpleasant tang on the tongue. No fruit and no nose. A taste like oxidation, although clear and good colour. Another Pitray wine had a similarly unpleasant raw edge."
Mr Roger Daniels (28-Feb-2018)
2012 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"A good everyday drinking wine. Red plum fruit with some sweet spice from oak, it has soft tannins providing necessary structure. Get your order in now; I see there is no follow-on 2013."
Mr Peter J Ford (29-Jan-2017)
"Charming, quaffably light claret. Perhaps not a weekday wine but very good value indeed."
Miss Claire Chapman (19-Jan-2017)
"Rather nice for an entry level Cotes de Castillion. Notes of raspberry, blackberry, cherry, jalapeno, green pepper and graphite/ink, with a touch of pepper."
Mr Barry Smith (21-Dec-2016)
"Not an review as such just a note that we would re-order this one as a good, value wine"
Mr Sean Trent (20-Jun-2016)
2011 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
Mr Paul Murdin (11-Aug-2016)
"Has the same unmistakable rich savouriness of the Chateau de Pitray, Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux 2010, there's a hint of raw steak to it. It's more fruity and the tannins are coarser than I remember the branded Pitray to be. I ordered a selection of £10-11 Bordeaux's from the Society and it doesn't quite stand up to them but it is cheaper. Saying that if you could find a £9 supermarket Bordeaux of this quality at this price you'd be laughing. A very enjoyable wine."
Mr Anthony O'Halloran (02-Jun-2015)
"I have to side with those who gave positive comments. The wine was opened early and drunk with a chicken dish with a hefty sauce, the wine proving a hit with my fellow diners. Smooth, well balanced, integrating fruit and tannins, and delicious. It completely reappraised my views on the Bordeaux 2011 vintage."
Michael A Gill Esq (22-Mar-2015)
"I picked up a bottle of this wine some time ago but did not broach it until recently. Having purchased some of the Mme. de Pitray from the Society for laying down I was keen to ascertain the quality of the producer.
I must disagree with the previous reviewer's comment, and suggest he may have had a flawed bottle. I found this a very pleasant wine indeed.
The nose opened with ripe fruits and oakiness opening up to reveal an unusual spiciness. Dr Pepper - but dare I say it, in a good way. The mouth was well balanced on it's own, and better yet with food. Quite a meaty fungal quality to this savoury wine. A treat to drink.
I must commend The Wine Society again for bringing us such a lovely wine at a very reasonable price point."
Dr Lorin B Davies (13-Jan-2015)
"A real disappointment. I was looking forward to this but it failed to deliver on any front. Even a couple of hours decanting and drinking it with a fantastic medium rare sirloin failed to coax any life from it. Mine was one bottle from a mixed case so it could have been an exception but with so much choice at this price I will be trying something else in future."
Mr David Marshall (26-Dec-2014)
"I have drunk many a bottle of Pitray over time and find that this Society Wine is actually better and at such a good price. I sometimes decant this wine at dinner parties so that people who drink the label will not be deterred from giving it just praise."
Dr Laurence Measey (31-Oct-2014)
"I am surprised that this wine has attracted no previous comment. I am no claret expert but this ( enjoyable and consistent) wine and the excellent Bordeaux Rouge Special Wine Society Bottling 2011/12 have converted me to the joys of claret."
Mr Paul Rawlins (10-Jul-2014)
2011 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
The Observer (15th Mar 2015)
"Consistently good - David Williams
"
The Wine Gang (2nd Mar 2015)
"This is the second
vintage of The Society's relatively new own-label wine, made by Château de
Pitray, and we think this is a serious bargain claret. Handsome and grown-up
with both ripe black fruit and a hint of leather, some tobacco leaf towards the
end and decent length as well. - The Wine Gang"
The Daily Telegraph (22nd Nov 2014)
"Ripe black fruit and
hints of leather and tobacco with a long finish. A real bargain. "
2010 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Very good. Not surprised that is already sold out."
Mr John Burns (09-Feb-2013)
"The Society's description refers to "...generous, fresh-tasting fruit"; absolutely spot on! A smooth and warm finish that appealed even to friends who claimed not to be keen drinkers of red wine. I served this wine with Veal Wellington and it was a joy! Very good value for money."
Mr David McCullough (30-Jan-2013)