Notes from visit to RDV winery tasting July 2023 (with Sarah and also Sharon O'Brien). This is reputedly the best winery in VA and they daringly create a tasting of three bordeaux-style wines, theirs, a real bordeaux, and a bordeaux styled wine from CA. Notes:

Pontet Canet 2019: Surprisingly forward and drinkable: coffee mocha, blueberry and blackberry. Though it's still obviously very young it's not super tannic, or rather the tannins are very soft. I love this. It has noticeably more vanilla oak than the others.

Lost Mt '19 (RDV) Fruity in taste, and more tannic than Pontet Canet. But nicely balanced. A good amount of alcohol, presumably good for aging. Coffee coming out with more air, and ripe plum.

Ulysses '18 (owned by Petrus and Dominus). Very forward with eucalyptus, and a bit of spicy veg. Very pleasant and distinctive spice. Cranberry essence, nice long finish. Warm too but good balance. No merlot. This is also beautiful and very different from Pontet Canet. Super complex, even with some lavender.