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Inventory updated: Tue, Jan 26, 2021 04:02 PM cst

Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| Alsace |
Dom. Trimbach |
2011 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune  |
$210 |
6 |
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VM 93 (11/2012): Deeper pale green than the Frederic Emile. Very spicy aromas of green apple, chlorophyll and thyme. Enters with lime and green apple notes, then turns riper and richer in the middle, showing more exotic banana and passion fruit qualities with air. Finishes very fleshy, saline and long. This is bigger but not obviously better than the 2011 Frederic Emile and struck me as a rather salty, chunky version of CSH. Ian d'Agata. |
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| Australia |
Henschke |
2015 |
Hill of Grace Shiraz ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns (3x750ML) |
$2,404.99 |
1 |
|
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Penfolds |
2007 |
Grange ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns (6x750ML)  |
$3,300.99 |
1 |
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WA 95 (5/2012): The 2007 Penfolds Grange is comprised of 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon coming predominately from Barossa vineyards with smaller proportions from Magill Estate and McLaren Vale. It was matured for 21 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads. Very deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is intensely scented of vibrant blueberry preserve, mulberry and kirsch aromas over hints of cedar, mocha, vanilla and anise. The full bodied palate is richly fruited with pure black berry and baking spice flavors offset by crisp acidity and a firm level of velvety tannins, finishing long. This is quite an opulent, forward Grange, which is very tempting to drink now, though of course will reward at least 5-10 years of cellaring and should keep to 2030+. VM 95 (7/2012): Opaque ruby. A heady, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes cherry compote, cassis, violet, pipe tobacco and smoky, vanillin oak. Deeply pitched dark fruit flavors show liqueur-like power, with floral pastille, licorice and spicecake nuances building in the glass. Tannins come up with air but are quickly absorbed by this wine's lush fruit. Smoky and sweet on the finish, which lingers with Outstanding persistence. WS 94 (11/2012): Ripe and inviting, with the richness and expansiveness to support the juicy plum, currant, blackberry, pepper and licorice flavors stylishly, lingering expressively on the focused finish. Best from 2015 through 2022. 500 cases imported. |
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Torbreck |
2016 |
Run Rig Shiraz ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns (6x750ML) |
$2,509.99 |
3 |
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| Bordeaux Red |
Ch. L' Angelus |
2010 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$5,429.99 |
2 |
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Le Carillon de l' Angelus |
2015 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$781.99 |
1 |
|
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Ch. L' Angelus |
2017 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$2,392.99 |
3 |
|
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Ch. d' Armailhac |
2018 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$856.99 |
1 |
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WA 91-93 (4/2019): The 2018 D'Armailhac (14.5% alcohol) is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, harvested September 12 to October 3. Deep garnet-purple colored, it reveals a very fruity nose of crushed blackberries, warm black cherries and mulberries plus hints of potpourri, spice cake and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, the decadent palate delivers loads of black berry layers and a firm, grainy frame with underlying freshness and an earthy finish. Wonderfully opulent D’Armailhac! WS 91-94 (4/2019): Lively cassis and blackberry notes are liberally laced with briar, tobacco and smoky details. Reveals a serious chalky underpinning on the finish. A bit backward, but all the elements are here. VM 90-92 (5/2019): The 2018 d'Armailhac is lifted, floral and nicely focused, although a touch closed today. Bright red cherry and floral notes add nuance throughout. Medium in body and fresh, the 2018 has quite a bit of aromatic depth from the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which helps hide the 14.5% alcohol nicely. Yields were just 32 hectoliters per hectare as opposed to 42-46, which is the norm. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni. JD 92-94 (5/2019): Deeply colored, the 2018 Château D'Armailhac is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new barrels. Cassis, hints of blue fruits, graphite, charcoal, and spicy oak notes all emerge from this deeply colored effort. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, it offers ripe, present tannins, terrific freshness, and a great finish. JS 93-94 (4/2019): A soft and generous red with plum, tobacco and currant character and a delicious, full body and brightness. Juicy. Attractive, earthy aftertaste. Layered and dense. |
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Ch. Ausone |
2000 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$14,665.99 |
2 |
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WA 98+ (6/2010): Two bottles were badly corked, which is certainly a scary situation for a wine where only 1,000 or so cases were produced. However, a third bottle was magical and just short of perfection. Its saturated purple color was followed by a surprisingly more evolved and open wine than I had written in my tasting note in 2003, where I predicted maturity between 2020 and 2075. This wine displays wonderful, sweet tannin and a big, sweet kiss of truffle, crushed rock, blueberry, blackberry, and licorice. Extremely rich, full-bodied, with astonishing power, precision, and delicacy, this is a sumptuous wine that should age well for 50-60 years, but in the case of the one bottle out of three that was not corked, it seemed far more evolved and forward than I suggested in my write-up in 2003. VM 97+ (5/2003): Bright ruby-red. Profound nose melds raspberry, black cherry, mocha and minerals. Wonderfully silky and spherical, with monumental solidity and yet incredible inner-mouth perfume. This builds and builds toward the back, finishing with big but suave tannins and extraordinary minerally length. One of the two or three greatest wines I tasted on my spring trip to the Bordeaux region. Stephen Tanzer. NM 97 (3/2018): The 2000 Ausone was tasted on no less than three occasions during March 2015, once with Pauline and Alain Vauthier. It is a great millennial Saint-Émilion with intense blackberry and cassis fruit laced with cedar and violets. Less opulent than it showed in its youth, it is a perfect marriage of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The palate even at 15 years of age is quite backward and you could argue, rather glossy. Yet there is poise here that lingers in the mouth with a brilliant mineral-driven finish. It is an Ausone that will give five or six decades of drinking pleasure but will certainly repay the more patient. Tasted at a private dinner in Bordeaux. WS 97 (3/2010): This is like a perfectly cut piece of silk fabric. Every angle is just right, every texture great. Fabulous aromas of tobacco, mineral and cool berry fruit. Full-bodied, with loads of silky tannins and a length that goes on and on. Very racy. Very sexy. Best wine I have ever had from this estate. Best after 2010. |
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2003 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$13,378.99 |
1 |
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WA 100 (4/2006): The 2003 Ausone is off the charts in terms of richness. While I gave a 3-digit score to the 2000, I think this profoundly concentrated wine may be even more sublime and exotic. Its inky/blue/purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of flowers, crushed rocks, sweet raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and God knows what else. The impression is one of extraordinary richness and purity, and a multilayered texture yet a surreal lightness as well as laser-like precision. This exquisite offering must be tasted to be believed. Incredibly young, it will undoubtedly close down over the next few years, re-emerging after 15-20 years. It should last for 70-100 years. It is a wine for anthology! WS 96 (3/2006): Loads of blackberry, plum and strawberry. Intense fruit. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and layers of everything. Wonderful balance and refinement. Closed up already. Very serious wine. Best after 2012. 1,375 cases made. VM 95+ (6/2006): Full ruby. Black raspberry, mocha, minerals, graphite and nutty oak on the superripe nose. Extravagantly rich and sweet in the mouth without coming off as heavy. This boasts extraordinary fruit intensity and verve (it's hard to imagine cabernet franc better than this), and finishes with great palate-staining persistence. But this powerfully tannic wine may already be starting to shut down in the bottle. Like the 2005, it will need a decade of aging at a minimum, and possibly a lot longer. |
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2003 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$6,056.99 |
1 |
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WA 100 (4/2006): The 2003 Ausone is off the charts in terms of richness. While I gave a 3-digit score to the 2000, I think this profoundly concentrated wine may be even more sublime and exotic. Its inky/blue/purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of flowers, crushed rocks, sweet raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and God knows what else. The impression is one of extraordinary richness and purity, and a multilayered texture yet a surreal lightness as well as laser-like precision. This exquisite offering must be tasted to be believed. Incredibly young, it will undoubtedly close down over the next few years, re-emerging after 15-20 years. It should last for 70-100 years. It is a wine for anthology! WS 96 (3/2006): Loads of blackberry, plum and strawberry. Intense fruit. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and layers of everything. Wonderful balance and refinement. Closed up already. Very serious wine. Best after 2012. 1,375 cases made. VM 95+ (6/2006): Full ruby. Black raspberry, mocha, minerals, graphite and nutty oak on the superripe nose. Extravagantly rich and sweet in the mouth without coming off as heavy. This boasts extraordinary fruit intensity and verve (it's hard to imagine cabernet franc better than this), and finishes with great palate-staining persistence. But this powerfully tannic wine may already be starting to shut down in the bottle. Like the 2005, it will need a decade of aging at a minimum, and possibly a lot longer. |
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2005 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$8,229.99 |
1 |
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|
2017 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$4,068.99 |
5 |
|
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WA 98 (3/2020): The deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Ausone is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. It sashays out of the glass with gregarious scents of baked red and black plums, wild blueberries and boysenberries plus touches of violets, espresso, licorice and melted chocolate with wafts of iron ore and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is an exercise in poise, featuring beautifully ripe, silken tannins and bold freshness to support the fragrant multi-layers, finishing very long and very minerally. VM 97 (3/2020): The 2017 Ausone is incredibly precise and sculpted, but also tightly wound in the early going - not that that will be a problem for readers who own it and will cellar it. Wild flowers, mint, blood orange and crushed rocks are some of the nuances that open up in the glass, but the 2017 is not in any mood to show all of its cards. Vertical, rich and explosive with tons of inner energy, the 2017 is a truly regal wine, but it also needs a number of years to be at its very finest. Here, too, the Franc (55% of the blend) really shines. This is a stellar showing from the Vauthier family. Antonio Galloni. JS 97 (12/2019): Love the perfume and pretty, transparent fruit. Purity. Raspberries. Full-bodied, extremely focused and bright with clarity and beauty. Juicy and savory. Chalk and light chocolate at the finish. Try after 2024, but gorgeous to taste already. JD 96 (2/2020): From a vintage compared to 2011 and 2014 by the estate, the 2017 Chateau Ausone is a classic blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot that’s from the pure limestone hillsides just outside the village of Saint-Emilion. This full-bodied, elegant, almost Burgundian beauty offers a terrific seamlessness as well as lots of ripe cassis and black cherry fruits, notes of truffle-laced earth, tobacco, and crushed stone, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This is classic Ausone, with its complexity and elegance paired with plenty of richness and depth. It needs 5-7 years of bottle age and will evolve for 2-3 decades. |
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Ch. Beausejour-Duffau |
2011 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$593.99 |
4 |
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WA 94+ (4/2014): Another brilliant wine of great nobility and finesse, the 2011 Beausejour-Duffau reveals a saturated chalky minerality as well as plenty of blue and black fruits, and fabulous precision and purity. It possesses a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and a distinctive/singular style only possessed by the greatest wines. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. It promises to be one of the longest lived wines of the vintage. At 14.7% alcohol, this is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. WS 93 (3/2014): A hedonist's delight, this brings a wide range of enticing plum, raspberry, blueberry and boysenberry confiture flavors together, keeping them fresh and driven, with well-embedded acidity and a dense yet polished structure. A seductive spice and black tea edge emerges on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2027. NM 92-94 (4/2012): A blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, the Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse has a powerful bouquet with lifted red fruits with floral notes underpinned by noticeable creamy new oak. It retains fine definition and is not overpowering. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a very fine structure and great symmetry. This is an excellent Saint Emilion for the vintage that has a lovely caressing finish that belies its backbone. Superb. JS 92 (2/2014): This is a little hard and firm now but it is so serious. Full body with firm tannins and a flavorful, intense finish. Excellent style and class. Needs five years to soften: better in 2019. VM 91 (7/2014): Deep inky purple. Aromas of dark cherry, plum and blackcurrant are lifted by violet and mineral nuances. Silky on entry, then tight and bright in the middle, with very good energy to the red cherry, blackcurrant syrup and sweet spice flavors. The broad, extremely long finish offers refined tannins and very pure mineral and floral nuances. |
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Ch. Bellevue Mondotte |
2002 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$968.99 |
5 |
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2012 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$1,062.99 |
5 |
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WA 96 (4/2015): The smallest of the Perse estates, this tiny property situated on pure limestone produces a wine made from a blend of 90% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the superstars of this vintage, the 2012 is opaque purple and exhibits tremendous concentration and richness, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a layered texture that builds incrementally without any heaviness or cloying characteristics. This is stunning, great, old-style, yet progressively made Bordeaux to drink over the next 25-30 years. The alcohol level is 14.3%. VM 95+ (1/2016): The Bellevue-Mondotte is arguably the most intriguing of Gérard Perse's 2012s. It is also the least accessible of the wines today. A firm spine of tannin gives the Bellevue-Mondotte much of its personality. Black cherry, smoke, licorice, tar and graphite all take on shades of virility in a wine endowed with vertical structure and pure power. Gérard Perse made just 4,000 bottles from Bellevue-Mondotte, a tiny two-hectare vineyard on Saint-Emilion's clay/limestone plateau. The 2012 is a magical wine, but it will require considerable patience. The blend is 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a stunning wine from Gérard and Chantal Perse and their long-time winemaker Michel Rolland. JS 95 (2/2015): A young red with coffee, chocolate, red chili and berry character. Chalk and salt flakes. Full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Super focused for the vintage. The 90% merlot shows itself. But truly a top wine for the vintage. Try in 2017. WS 90 (3/2015): Dark, with fig, boysenberry and raspberry fruit melded together, while smoldering charcoal and warm ganache accents fill in the background. A roasted apple wood note gives the finish spine. Very solid. Best from 2016 through 2022. 275 cases made. |
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Ch. Beychevelle |
2010 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$1,733.99 |
1 |
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JS 95 (11/2013): Beautiful aromas of blackberries, currants and flowers. Very aromatic. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and gorgeous fruit. It's polished and very refined. One of the best Beychevelles in years. Try in 2018. WA 94 (2/2013): Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins (although they’ve softened considerably during the wine’s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien. NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Beychevelle 2010 has a comparatively opulent bouquet compared to its peers: more Pauillac in style with graphite tinged black fruit, boysenberry and blackcurrant, with a slight exotic note underneath - marmalade or even peach. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, ripe, succulent tannins. There is a fine line of acidity here, a gentle grip and a lovely spicy finish. One of Philippe Blanc's finest wines in recent years. WS 93 (3/2013): Features a gutsy feel, displaying dark, roasted cedar and tobacco notes framing a core of steeped fig, blackberry paste and plum skin that rumbles through the tarry finish. Shows strong grip on the back end, with the briary edge extending nicely. Best from 2016 through 2035. VM 91+ (5/2011): Good deep red. Lively aromas of cassis, black cherry, licorice and flowers. Gripping and energetic, with captivating flowers and spices lifting the medicinal dark berry, licorice and mineral flavors. More intense than usual for this property: the tannins are serious but suave and this very youthful wine appears to have the density of material for two or three decades of evolution in bottle. It may well ultimately merit a higher score. |
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2013 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$1,648.99 |
3 |
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Baron de Brane |
2016 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$527.99 |
5 |
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JS 92-93 (4/2017): Love the fruit on the center palate here with its brightness and vivid acidity. Citrus undertones and a fresh finish. Well done here, and it’s a second wine! WS 87-90 (4/2017): Alluring lilac and black tea notes lead off, followed by a soft-edged mix of cherry and plum compote flavors, backed by singed sandalwood details on the finish. |
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Ch. Calon-Segur |
2013 |
St. Estephe ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$1,479.99 |
2 |
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2017 |
St. Estephe ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$734.99 |
3 |
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JS 94-95 (4/2018): This is very delicate on the attack but it grows on the palate with firm and silky tannins that turn lightly chewy. Builds consistently. Compacted and tight. WA 92-94 (4/2018): The 2017 Calon-Ségur is tentatively blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with pronounced black currants, crushed blackberries and fresh black plums with hints of cigar box, sandalwood and cinnamon stick plus a waft of mossy bark. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, energetic and fresh with layers of black fruit, perfumed incense and fragrant earth notions, lingering nicely with exotic spices coming through on the finish. VM 92-94 (5/2018): The 2017 Calon-Ségur was cropped at 43.5hl/ha and underwent a 20-day cuvaison after which it is matured entirely in new oak for 20 months. It contains 13.2° alcohol. At the moment the aromatics convey the 100% new oak but there is sufficient fruit underneath. There is a palpable sense of “coolness” imbuing the aromatics and like other Saint-Estèphe barrel samples, it conveys a subtle estuary-like tincture. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannin, beautifully integrated new oak that lends this a silky texture. Perhaps this is the smoothest of all the 2017s I encountered within this appellation, a classy and sophisticated Calon-Ségur in the making and heightened by the thrilling tension towards the finish and the latent energy that lingers in the mouth. Excellent. Neal Martin. JD 92-94 (4/2018): The 2017 Calon Ségur is a smoking effort and lends credence to the idea that the northern Médoc (Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe) was the place to be in 2017. Deep purple-colored, it’s packed with notions of ripe blackberries, black cherries, crushed rocks, and Asian spice characteristics that all flow to a medium to full-bodied, rich, concentrated, sexy 2017 that has more fruit, depth, and richness than most. The 2017 is a rough blend at the moment of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, which will spend 20 months in new French oak. WS 91-94 (4/2018): This is very pure and sleek in feel, with an iron note running from start to finish while cassis, cherry and damson plum fruit plays out. The long, focused finish has light bay and savory hints while letting the minerality sing. |
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Ch. Canon |
2005 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$2,250.99 |
1 |
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NM 96 (2/2015): The Château Canon 2005 has a more complex nose than the Clos Fourtet tasted alongside. It is tightly wound at first with black cherries and dried violet petals, terracotta tiles and brown spices. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and very well-judged acidity. This is very harmonious in the mouth, nicely structured with great precision and persistence. There is a sense of reserve here, but it has a compelling complexity that will surely be enhanced with bottle age. It’s wines like these that remind you why this has such as devoted following that includes yours truly among its number. WA 95 (10/2015): Tasted at the Château Canon vertical, the 2005 Canon is evolving into a quite gorgeous Saint Emilion. One can still discern those brown spices infiltrating the ripe red and black fruit. There is fine mineralité here, great focus, perhaps just a hint of dried blood that develops with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe tannin. It is a very complex Saint Emilion with immense purity and style, a wine that you have to keep coming back to in order to understand. It's at that pivotal stage between primary and secondary notes, the red and black fruit being overtaken by cedar, morels and a touch of game. It gently lifts and fans out to a quite captivating finish. Dare I say that the 2005 Canon is the pick of the three over 2009 and 2010? There...I've said it...it is a quite brilliant wine. JS 94 (4/2012): Aromas of fresh cep mushrooms, berries, spices, roses, and sous bois, give way to hints of milk chocolate and vanilla. Full and rich, with beautifully balanced tannins and a long finish. Loads going on in this wine, yet it remains subtle and beautiful. This needs time. Pull the cork after 2015. WS 93 (3/2017): Shows a lightly roasted edge at first, with raspberry and boysenberry confiture notes laced with melted licorice, singed alder and firm graphite details. Reveals a fine chalky hint, but this has more bass than treble overall. Still rather tight. Best from 2020 through 2030. 4,200 cases made. VM 90 (5/2008): Full ruby-red. Sexy, high-toned nose shows a very sweet maraschino cherry quality. Then juicy and energetic, with a vinosity that almost comes as a shock following the nose. The subtle flavors of currant, graphite and minerals linger nicely. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2013 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$931.99 |
2 |
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JS 91-92 (4/2014): A delicate, refined young red with a seductive, fresh character. Medium to full body with lovely subtle tangerine peel and a very fine, silky texture. Bright acidity. Elegant. |
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Ch. Cantenac-Brown |
2014 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$407.99 |
1 |
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Carruades de Lafite |
2002 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$4,913.99 |
1 |
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WA 87 (4/2005): Similar to its bigger sibling, but leaner and not nearly as concentrated, as one might expect being a second wine, the 2002 Carruades reveals the Lafite fragrance of lead pencil shavings intermixed with red and black currants, plums, and a hint of cherries. Medium-bodied, with tart acidity, this is a wine to drink over the next decade. WS 87 (3/2005): A wine with good plum and raspberry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a short finish. Good but not special. Best after 2008. 18,000 cases made. VM 87 (6/2005): Dark ruby-red. Withdrawn aromas of currant and herbs. Dry and quite closed, with limited sweetness. Flavors of plum, leather and currant leaf show only modest ripeness. Firm acids give this wine a slight sour edge. |
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2012 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$4,780.99 |
2 |
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Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
2010 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$6,848.99 |
1 |
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WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color and made of 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Merlot, the nose of the 2010 Cheval Blanc is a bit subdued to begin, measuredly opening out to reveal achingly provocative notions of molten chocolate, preserved Morello cherries, baked blackberries, boysenberries and blueberry compote with wafts of underbrush, cigar box, cumin seed and sandalwood. Full-bodied, the palate is a full-on atomic bomb waiting to go off, with very tightly coiled, slowly maturing black fruits eking out glimpses of a vast array of nuances. Still very youthful, it finishes with an incredibly persistent, jaw-dropping display of earth and mineral fireworks. I’d leave this one for another 5 years and drink it over the next 50. JS 100 (11/2013): The aromas here are crazy with flowers, mushroom, forest floor, and fruit. It seems like I am walking through a row of the vines in Cheval Blanc when I have my nose in the glass. It's full-bodied, with fabulous layers of ultra-fine tannins and milk chocolate, raspberries, and a phenomenal finish. Truly one of the greatest Chevals ever. Better than 2009. Try in 2020. WS 98 (3/2013): This is stone-cold shut down right now, but why worry? You'll want to wait at least a decade before breaching a bottle as massively endowed as this, with loads of loamy bass notes thumping along underneath a riveting track of licorice snap, pastis-steeped black currant fruit, maduro tobacco and espresso. And then there's an echo of petrichor at the very end that hints at the aromatic fireworks to come with cellaring. Should compete for wine of the vintage. Best from 2020 through 2040. NM 98 (1/2014): The stellar Cheval Blanc 2010 has a very precise bouquet, not powerful but exuding a brooding intensity. It is very well defined with hints of honey and dried violet petals in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a wondrous spicy entry, perfectly judged acidity, real weight and heft on the back palate that fans out as if there is no tomorrow. This is a huge wine, totally compelling, a behemoth destined to mature over years rather than decades. Tasted January 2014. VM 95+ (7/2013): Good bright, deep red. Captivating scents of cassis, violet, minerals, bitter chocolate and wild herbs. Extremely fine-grained but also very dense and chewy for young Cheval Blanc, showing great cabernet franc lift and perfume and a downright velvety texture. This deep, multilayered wine was a bit dominated by its brooding tannins and big structure when first poured, but I found my score going steadily higher as the wine benefited from air. My rating may look too conservative a decade from now--or three or four decades hence. Stephen Tanzer. |
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Domaine de Chevalier |
2013 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$686.99 |
2 |
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JS 93 (2/2016): This is excellent. Blueberry, black currant and stone aromas and flavors. Medium body, lovely density, fine tannins and a bright finish. A triumph for the vintage. Drink or hold. VM 91-94 (4/2014): Graphite, smoke, plums and violets meld together in the 2013 Domaine de Chevalier. One of the most impressive wines of the year, the 2013 stands out for its energy, delineation and brilliant textural balance. With a little time in the glass, the 2013 opens up beautifully, showing off its multi-faceted personality. What a gorgeous wine this is. Violets, sage and new leather add the final layers of complexity to what is easily one of the wines of the vintage. The 2013 has been striking the three times I have tasted it. In 2013, the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni. WA 90 (10/2016): The 2013 Domaine de Chevalier has a refined bouquet, laid back and languorous with blackberry, briary notes, a touch of bay leaf developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, quite edgy tannin, nicely balanced and fresh with a simple but harmonious finish. It's the kind of 2013 that you'll just enjoy as a fine Claret, leaving you with a smile on your face. This constitutes a very commendable effort in such a challenging vintage, the bottom line being that it is one of the most pleasurable releases in 2013. |
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2014 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$455.99 |
5 |
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VM 92-95 (4/2015): The 2014 Domaine de Chevalier is stunningly beautiful. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, spice and leather are all supported by veins of underlying acidity and minerality. Sweet floral and spice notes continue to open up over time, but it is the wine's imposing structure that stands out most. Readers will need to be especially patient here, as the domaine's wines are typically very slow to mature. That is especially like to be the case with the 2014, as the tannins are quite imposing at this stage. The 2014 is going to need a considerable amount of time. The only question is how much. I expect the 2014 will still be magnificent at age thirty and likely beyond. The 2014 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot that spent approximately 35 days on the skins. Olivier Bernard adds that the Merlots were brought in between October 10 and 17, which is quite late by the domaine's standards. Tasted three times. JS 93-94 (3/2015): Very dense and beautiful with chocolate, currants and spices. WA 92-94 (4/2015): The Domaine de Chevalier 2014 is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 30% Merlot. It has a fragrant bouquet with blackberry, black plum, cigar ash and woodland scents, complex though not as intense as its white counterpart. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy, quite firm tannin that underpin a classic Domaine de Chevalier that has just the right amount of austerity at this stage. Reserved perhaps, but it is beautifully knitted together with a lovely bay leaf tinged finish. Quintessential Domaine de Chevalier...which is what we all want. WS 90-93 (4/2015): Tightly focused, with red currant, bergamot, Campari and sandalwood notes woven together and carrying through the well-polished finish. Has a noticeable twinge of singed wood and sweet earth at the end. A touch more backward than most of the Pessac pack right now. |
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Ch. Clauzet |
2016 |
St. Estephe ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$418.99 |
4 |
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JS 87-88 (4/2017): A balanced and chewy young red with some berry and cherry character and a medium to light body. Fresh finish. |
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Ch. Clinet |
2017 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x375ML)  |
$564.99 |
2 |
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JD 93-95 (4/2018): Reminding me of the 2014, the 2017 Château Clinet is a beautiful, dense, concentrated wine that has terrific notes of blueberries, spring flowers, and chocolaty oak. It’s very much in the style of the vintage with its cool, perfumed aromatics and sensational purity of fruit, yet it also has richness and weight. It’s a brilliant Pomerol. WS 92-95 (4/2018): Alluring, offering fleshy layers of fig, boysenberry and plum compote notes lined with anise and roasted apple wood accents, this is nicely integrated already, with fresh acidity embedded throughout.— VM 92-94 (5/2018): The 2017 Clinet was picked from 19 to 26 September for the Merlot and on 29 September for the Cabernets at 35hl/ha. It is matured in 72% new oak and the remainder one year old. The alcohol is 13.1° compared to say 14.4° for 2016. It has a perfumed bouquet with mainly red berry fruit, top notes of loam and a touch of violet. It is certainly well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, well delineated, and saline in the mouth. It is quite open towards the finish, perhaps with less grip than other Pomerols that I have tasted, but it is undeniably elegant and well balanced with a hint of cured meat cropping up on the aftertaste. Classic Clinet! Neal Martin. WA 92-94 (4/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Clinet opens slowly to reveal vibrant red and black fruits: red currants, black cherries, plums and cassis with touches of roses, yeast extract, wood smoke and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and a taut, muscular palate of tightly wound fruits and compelling mineral accents, it finishes long with wonderful purity and fragrant earth accents. JS 92-93 (4/2018): Some green-olive and herb character. Medium body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Shows some solid and linear length on the finish. |
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Ch. Conseillante |
2010 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$1,584.99 |
4 |
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JS 98 (2/2013): Beautiful nose with cocoa powder, exotic flowers, candied violets and loads of dark berries. Great aromatic complexity. Amazing texture on palate with a superb precision and silky tannins. So beautifully composed showing already great harmony. Difficult to wait! Better in 2018. WA 95 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 La Conseillante opens with notes of warm black plums, baked blackberries and blueberry preserves plus hints of dried rosemary, fragrant earth and cedar. Full-bodied, the palate is firm and chewy with a lively line cutting through the densely packed, savory layers, finishing a little warm and lifted. WS 96 (3/2013): Features substantial but very velvety structure running from start to finish, delivering a muscular feel for now. The hard edges are fully absorbed by the core of plum sauce, steeped blackberry and warm boysenberry reduction notes. The finish offers gorgeous tobacco and ganache accents lurking in the wings, along with flickers of anise and incense that should guide this version to increased elegance with age. Best from 2016 through 2034. VM 93+ (8/2013): Full red-ruby. Rich aromas of plum, raspberry, mocha and chocolate are energized by minerals and peppery spices. A saline, suave, youthfully restrained midweight, with terrific floral cabernet franc lift contributing to the impression of class and focus. Sweetness is leavened by a savory quality and hints of tobacco and underbrush. Tannins are suave but this firmly structured, subtly long Pomerol really needs eight or ten years to express itself fully. Great potential here. |
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Ch. Corbin |
2015 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$585.99 |
5 |
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Ch. Cos d'Estournel |
2006 |
St. Estephe ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$1,923.99 |
1 |
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VM 93 (5/2009): Good deep ruby-red. Expressive aromas of dark raspberry, smoked meat, black olive, iron, smoke and tobacco. Lush, broad and sweet, with a deep smoky, meaty sweetness and Outstanding palate coverage. For all its breadth and silkiness, there's no shortage of energy and definition. Finishes impressively long, with chewy, sweet tannins that dust the front teeth. Stephen Tanzer. JS 92 (10/2016): This is very meaty and spicy now with hints of leafs and wet earth. Full body, chewy tannins and a medium finish. Ready for drinking. But has life ahead of it. WS 92 (12/2016): A racy, fresh style, with the lighter profile of the vintage pulling in red currant and bitter cherry flavors, while the telltale thread of charcoal and bay lingers as well. The tannins are ever so slightly grainy, but the fruit has subtle persistence in the end.—Non-blind Cos-d'Estournel vertical (December 2015). Drink now through 2026. 15,833 cases made. NM 91 (1/2016): Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Cos d'Estournel has a far superior bouquet to the Montrose, much more fruit intensity with ferrous red berry fruit, hints of undergrowth and Indian spice (most appropriate!). The palate is medium-bodied with supple Merlot-driven savory red fruit, a little grainy in texture with moderate depth, leading to a spicy finish that seems quite forward for a Cos d'Estournel at this juncture. There is no harm in drinking this now, though I wager that it will offer another ten years of pleasure. Just don't expect it to be your favorite Cos d'Estournel in recent years. |
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2014 |
St. Estephe ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$922.99 |
1 |
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JS 98 (2/2017): If you want to know what St.-Estèphe smells like, this is it. Aromas of spices, black truffles, forest floor, dried strawberries and tar. It’s full-bodied yet pinpointed on the palate with fabulous density and richness. It’s opulent but in a reserved and checked way. This needs at least five or six years to come around, but it’s already fantastic. What harmony and structure. Try in 2022 if you can keep your hands off it! VM 95+ (2/2017): The 2014 Cos d'Estournel is rich, powerful and seductive, with notable unctuousness but a medium-bodied frame. Plum, blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate and lavender notes flesh out in an effortless, sumptuous wine that will provide superb drinking for the next few decades. The 2014 needs time to shed some baby fat, but it is quite impressive, even in the early going. The blend is 65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot and 2 % Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni. JD 95 (11/2017): The grand vin 2014 Cos D’Estournel is gorgeous, and I think a step up over the 2015. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, this deep, inky-colored 2014 boasts a gorgeous perfume of ripe currants and cassis fruits, loads of chocolaty oak, cedar and scorched earth, full-bodied richness, and building, firm, yet ripe tannin. It’s certainly one of the gems in the vintage, as well as one of the more structured, opulent and age-worthy. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two to three decades. WS 94 (2/2017): Intense, with a roiling core of luscious loganberry, blackberry and black currant fruit. Singed spice, apple wood and black tea accents emerge steadily on the finish. Has a rare combination of density and precision. Will cruise in the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2035. 14,000 cases made. NM 94 (2/2017): The 2014 Cos d'Estournel is destined to turn into a very lovely Saint Estèphe. This bottle was actually tasted over a period of a few hours. The word "cool" is one that reappeared in my vernacular now that the wine is in bottle. The estate is known for producing a more luxuriant and extravagant bouquet compared to its Saint Estèphe peers, yet this vintage is streamlined (to re-appropriate my original descriptor). It's unashamedly focused and delineated. It delivers intense blackberry and bilberry scents, again with a touch of iris. The palate is beautifully balanced with not a single hair out of place. The acidity is well judged and I noticed that after two or three hours, there was a faint vein of graphite that lends it a Pauillac-like personality, no surprise given that it lies just across the border. It will require several years in bottle for the tannins to mellow, but the result will be a very attractive, quite correct, fresh and precise Cos d'Estournel that will bestow two or three decades of drinking enjoyment. VM 92-95 (4/2015): The 2014 Cos d'Estournel brings together gorgeous textural richness and ripeness, yet retains considerable aromatic freshness. Mocha, red plum, raspberry jam and rose petals are all beautifully nuanced. I very much like the sense of translucent energy here. Sweet floral and spice notes add to the wine's racy, voluptuous personality. Today, my impression is that the 2014 Cos will reward consumers with a long window of pure drinking pleasure. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. |
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Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2016 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$2,631.99 |
3 |
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JS 97-98 (4/2017): Very focused and reserved with a mineral, blackberry, licorice and blackcurrant character. Full and refined. WS 97-10 (4/2017): Offers a scintillating display of roasted apple wood, incense and warm ganache before the core of cassis, plum preserves and raspberry reduction starts to step forward. The finish, loaded with grip but remarkably polished, pulls everything together. A huge, undeniable wine, overt in style. |
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Ch. Duhart Milon |
2011 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$596.99 |
4 |
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Ch. Durfort Vivens |
2017 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$464.99 |
5 |
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JS 94-95 (4/2018): Very long and driven on the palate with asphalt, blackcurrants and violets. Full body, tight and intense. Hints of hazelnut at the end. Demeter certified biodynamic. VM 91-94 (5/2018): The 2017 Durfort-Vivens is potent, but also quite structured and forbidding at this stage. The very high percentage (91%) of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage gives Durfort much of its character. Classically austere in the best sense of the term, the 2017 looks like a wine that is going to need a good bit of time to unwind. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco and incense develop in the glass, and yet the 2017 is only showing some of its cards. Yields are down about 35% because of frost, but the damage was mostly contained to parcels in Soussans as opposed to those that inform the Grand Vin. Antonio Galloni. WS 89-92 (4/2018): Charming and stylish, showing bright floral lift throughout while red currant and raspberry fruit, along with mineral and rooibos tea notes, glide through the silky finish. |
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Ch. L' Eglise Clinet |
2011 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$884.99 |
2 |
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WA 95 (4/2014): With a dense ruby/purple color is followed by a pure nose of mulberries, cherry liqueur and spring flowers, but no hint of oak, this full-bodied, opulent, rich beauty exhibits impressive purity, texture, richness and length. Not as structured or tannic as Trotanoy, it moves more in the direction of the opulence and flashy, showy fruit of Hosanna and Petrus. It should drink well for 15-20 years. |
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2013 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$734.99 |
2 |
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Ch. L' Evangile |
2010 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (3x1.5L)  |
$1,703.99 |
1 |
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WA 96-98 (5/2011): As I have been predicting, the Rothschilds are pushing l’Evangile to the highest level of the Pomerol hierarchy. Composed of 88.8% Merlot and 11.2% Cabernet Franc, the 2010 achieved 14.7% alcohol naturally, making it one of the few 2010s with lower alcohol than its 2009 counterpart (the 2009 had 15% alcohol and the 2008 had 14.5%). Most of that is due to the superb ripeness and the high concentration of Merlot in 2010. The berries were extremely tiny and the drought and cool nights in August and September gave the 2010 a lower pH and higher acidity than the 2009. For example, the 2010's pH is 3.7, the 2009's is higher and in 2000 it was 4.0. The dense purple-colored 2010 exhibits massive levels of black raspberries, Asian plum sauce, truffles and cassis. The wine is unctuously textured and remarkably fresh with a weighty richness (much like the 2009) but greater delineation. A marvelous effort, it, along with the 2009, may turn out to be one of the two greatest wines made by l’Evangile. The 2010 should drink well young yet last for three decades or more. WS 94-97 (7/2011): Gorgeous raspberry ganache, fig and boysenberry fruit is liberally laced with fruitcake and graphite. Superracy, with linzer torte and red licorice taking over the finish. Very long, with lots going on here already. Tasted non-blind. JS 94-95 (4/2011): What a nose, with orange peel, dark berries and blueberries. Full and bright , with super velvety tannins. Acidity is juicy too. Very sumptuous. Creamy tannin texture. 88 percent Merlot and 22 percent Cabernet Franc. VM 92-95 (6/2011): (89% merlot and 11% cabernet franc; 3.75 pH; 14.7% alcohol) Opaque purple-ruby. Deep, rich aromas of black plum, violet, licorice and chocolate. Extremely broad and impressively large-scaled, with almost shocking sweetness to the jammy red and black fruit flavors. This huge, extract-rich Pomerol comes across as dense and luscious, but may prove almost too much for some wine lovers. The long finish features refined, smooth tannins. I did not get to taste the estate's second wine this year, Blason d'Evangile, as only 6,000 bottles were made and it won't be offered en primeur. |
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2013 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$917.99 |
1 |
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2014 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$917.99 |
1 |
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WA 95 (3/2017): The 2014 L'Evangile comes racing out of the blocks on the nose with plenty of black cherry, blueberry, cold stone and black truffle scents, quintessentially Pomerol with impressive delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy texture, lovely black fruit here laced with Earl Grey, spice and sage, quite intense and fanning out gloriously towards the long finish. This seems to have gained precision after bottling and I did warn that it may merit a higher score. This is a deeply impressive L'Evangile that might challenge Lafite-Rothschild in the long term. Chapeau! |
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2015 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$1,423.99 |
2 |
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2016 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$3,404.99 |
1 |
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JD 98 (2/2019): The grand vin 2016 Château L'Evangile is more primordial than the second wine, sporting a deep purple color and a huge nose of blueberries, scrub brush, violets, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. Deep, massively textured, with building minerality, a brilliant mid-palate, I'd imagine this is a modern-day version of the 1982. A sexy, sexy, wine, it should drink well in 4-6 years but is capable of last for 2-3 decades. WA 97 (11/2018): The 2016 L'Evangile is made from 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with notions of plum preserves, Black Forest cake, red cherry compote and black raspberries with touches of menthol, chocolate box, licorice and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features fantastically ripe, velvety tannins and beautiful freshness, lifting the generous, brightly fruited mid-palate and giving bags of energy to the very long-lingering, minerally finish. VM 96 (1/2019): The 2016 L'Évangile is just as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Huge and explosive in the glass, the 2016 possesses stunning depth and textural resonance. At first a bit somber, the 2016 needs time in the glass to open up. Once that happens, all the elements fall into place in an effortless, gracious wine. Floral overtones add brightess to the dark cherry, chocolate, leather and spice flavors, while silky tannins round things out in style. Jean-Pascal Vazart describes 2016 as a late year. Harvest started on September 26, about ten days later than normal. The 2016 spent 16 months in French oak, 85% new. Antonio Galloni. WS 96 (3/2019): Features a wide swath of espresso, loam and smoldering tobacco flavors out front, followed by a tighter beam of black currant and blackberry paste. Dense and fleshy in feel, with echoes of warm earth and bittersweet cocoa scoring the finish. This wine flaunts its muscle. Best from 2024 through 2040. 250 cases made. JS 99 (1/2019): So ethereal and great on the nose with glorious fresh flowers, such as violets, together with black olives. Dark berries, too. But the archetypal Pomerol nose. Full-bodied yet, at the same time, so refined and structured. Glorious tannin tension and focus. Vibrant finish. Shows energy and focus. Try after 2024. |
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Ch. Ferran |
2016 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$377.99 |
5 |
|
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Ch. de Ferrand |
2014 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$563.99 |
5 |
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2014 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x1.5L) |
$520.99 |
2 |
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Ch. Ferriere |
2015 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$407.99 |
5 |
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Ch. Feytit-Clinet |
2016 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$573.99 |
2 |
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Ch. Figeac |
2010 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$3,266.99 |
1 |
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JS 98 (2/2013): This is phenomenal on the nose with blackberries, fresh cep mushrooms, forest fruit, and earth. Turns to hazelnuts and dark berries. Subtle. Breathtaking. It's full-bodied on the palate, with superb tannins that last for minutes. The flavor is subtle yet incredible. Love the texture. It is the same wonderful quality level as 2009. This is so fabulous to taste now, but so much better in 2018. WA 97 (3/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Figeac bursts from the glass with gregarious scents of baked blueberries, black cherry compote and chocolate box with hints of camphor, pencil lead and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has beautifully ripe, velvety tannins and bold freshness supporting the generous fruit, finishing long and layered. WS 96 (3/2013): This is very tight, showing a prominent roasted apple wood and bittersweet cocoa frame more today, though the core of dense currant paste, blackberry pâte de fruit and plum sauce waits in reserve. Gorgeous singed spice, anise and toasted fig bread notes flitter through the finish, though this needs some time in the cellar to resolve itself fully. A very distinctive, structured expression of St.-Emilion. Best from 2016 through 2035. VM 91+ (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blueberry, flowers and clove on the precise, vibrant nose. Then tight and imploded on the palate, with an almost minty, peppery austerity to the black and blue fruit flavors; hardly your typical 2010! This very pure, spicy Saint-Emilion has the structure of a cabernet, and its youthfully forbidding tannins call for at least eight years of patience. It will merit an even higher score if it blossoms in the bottle. |
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Ch. La Fleur de Bouard |
2010 |
Lalande de Pomerol Le Plus de la Fleur de Bouard ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$760.99 |
2 |
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WA 94+ (2/2013): Made from 100% Merlot cropped at minuscule yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, the 2010 La Plus de La Fleur de Bouard was bottled unfined and unfiltered and came in at 14.5% natural alcohol. This wine ratchets up the level of extract, power, density and richness as well as tannin, so it needs 3-4 years of cellaring and can keep, I would assume, for up to two decades, given the performance of the 2000 in recent tastings I have done. This is a beauty, a full-throttle, pedal-to-the-metal Lalande de Pomerol that is impossible to believe comes from a less heralded appellation. VM 93 (7/2013): Deep, bright, saturated ruby. Aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate and caraway seed are sexed up by nutty oak. Densely packed, juicy and super-concentrated, with an exhilarating sugar/acid balance and lovely violet lift to the black fruit and toffee flavors. Finishes with terrific subtle length and smooth, building tannins that coat the front teeth. An Outstanding vintage for this special cuvee from one of the top properties in Lalande de Pomerol, owned by Hubert de Bouard. WS 93 (3/2013): Rich and heady now, with mocha and espresso notes holding sway, featuring a backdrop of baker's chocolate, all melded into the dense core of crushed plum, steeped fig and pastis-soaked currant fruit. Shows ample structure and remains very polished. An ambitious and successful style. Best from 2015 through 2025. JS 92-93 (4/2011): This is wonderful with fabulous blackberries and hints of minerals. Full and intense. Plenty of wood but already integrated. NM 89-91 (3/2011): This is very ripe but rather “static” on the nose with dark cherries, Dorset plum and blackberry wrapped up in a lot of new oak. The palate is full-bodied with grippy dry tannins, a lot of dry extract here with a severe tannic finish. This is rather hard-going to be honest but hopefully it will become more approachable after bottling. |
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Ch. La Fleur de Gay |
2010 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$1,632.99 |
1 |
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WA 93 (2/2013): A pretty, elegant wine that is 100% Merlot but a very limited production (around 700-800 cases in most years), the 2010 displays good integration of oak and mulberry, plum and black raspberry fruit intermixed with some licorice, underbrush, vanillin and spice box. This is a voluptuously textured, round, seductive style of Pomerol to drink over the next 12-15 years. JS 93 (2/2013): Coffee, cranberries, crushed juniper and plums. Full and with chewy tannins on the palate. It's juicy and intense with a lovely depth of fruit and intense finish. So good already. Try from 2017. WS 93 (3/2013): This is on a different pitch, with intensely aromatic blueberry, loganberry and blackberry fruit flavors laced with mouthwatering charcoal and graphite notes. Gorgeous ganache and black tea accents fill in the finish, while allspice and singed alder take over on the aftertaste. Shows serious cut and drive. Best from 2016 through 2026. 750 cases made. |
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Ch. Fombrauge |
2016 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$273.99 |
4 |
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JS 97-98 (4/2017): Dense and fresh red with lots of blackberries, blueberries and walnuts. Hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, tight and refined yet always showing muscle. WS 87-90 (4/2017): A bit bulked-up in feel, with a warm cocoa frame around plum skin and warm currant confiture notes. More breadth than depth. |
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Les Forts de Latour |
2008 |
Pauillac Lightly Bin-Marked Label |
$234 |
1 |
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NM 92 (1/2012): Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. The Les Forts de Latour 2008 has a vivacious, almost exotic bouquet with macerated dark cherries, kirsch, dried orange peel and a hint of mint. The palate has a sweet, succulent entry with good substance, a little chewy in the mouth with a little more extraction than its peers. It has an attractive, almost weightless finish. Very fine. JS 92 (12/2010): Caramel and flowers and currants and berries on the nose. Full and velvety with a good density and lots of fruity elegance and balance. Very pretty. Give it four years of bottle age please. WA 91 (5/2011): A strong effort, this 2008 exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, more minerality than the 2010 and hints of cedarwood, black currants, underbrush and forest floor. This round, generous blend of 66.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33.5% Merlot should easily last for two decades or more. VM 91 (8/2011): Deep red-ruby. Oaky aromas and flavors of sweet berries, licorice and spices. Silky and sweet on entry, then quite broad and suave in the middle, with ripe balancing acids giving shape to the wine's flavors. Finishes with broad, serious, building tannins and excellent length. A strong showing for this wine, which is built to age. WS 90 (3/2011): This is rounded and pure, with red and black currant, black tea, roasted apple wood and sanguine notes all gliding through the supple, focused finish. Not big, but has balance and length. Drink now through 2017. 12,900 cases made. |
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Clos Fourtet |
2004 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$1,652.99 |
1 |
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2010 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$1,221.99 |
4 |
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WA 98 (2/2013): The wine has an opaque blue/black color and abundant notes of forest floor, spring flowers, black raspberry and blueberry liqueur in the aromatics along with hints of espresso and white chocolate. The wine is dense, full, rich, unctuously textured and very full-bodied, with its extravagant glycerin, fruit and extract covering the wine’s somewhat tannic structure. This is a bigger, more restrained and structured wine than the outrageously flamboyant and prodigious 2009. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30-40 years. NM 96 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clos Fourtet seems to be getting better and better in bottle. Here, it has a more restrained bouquet compared to its peers, blackcurrant, boysenberry and raspberry and plenty of minerals. It is very focused and poised with marine influences developing in the glass. The palate is well defined with fine tannins and acidity. Neatly composed, precise and almost showing immense freshness and clarity, this Clos Fourtet with one of Mathieu Cuvelier's finest vintages in recent years. WS 95 (3/2013): Very winey, with a saturated, sappy feel as kirsch, blackberry preserves and blueberry coulis notes tumble around, while the frame of charcoal, smoldering tobacco and licorice root keeps them penned together. The tannin structure is significant, but very refined, and that should carry this through extended cellaring while the aromatics and midpalate develop harmony. Best from 2016 through 2030. 3,750 cases made. VM 94+ (7/2013): Full medium ruby. Initially a bit stunted on the nose, hinting at blackberry, blueberry, leather and mocha, this opened spectacularly with air to reveal scents of strawberry, flowers and forest floor. Sweet, highly concentrated and deep, with very dark blackberry and bitter chocolate flavors complicated by cabernet franc hints of fresh herbs and licorice. Impressively dense, broad and full, but still a bit youthfully chunky. Finishes with serious but ripe tannins and Outstanding length. This extremely impressive wine will need patience. |
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|
2012 |
St. Emilion ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$795.99 |
1 |
|
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|
Ch. Le Gay |
2009 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$2,343.99 |
3 |
|
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NM 97 (6/2013): This is a monumental Le Gay, perhaps one of the finest ever produced at the estate and, similar to other vintages, it just seems to get better and better with each passing year. Here, it has an utterly seductive bouquet that remains very youthful with ripe dark cherries and boysenberry jam that explode from the glass. There is a floral note to this perfumed nose that gains intensity with aeration. The palate is very intense, quite backward and structured, supporting layers of pure ripe black and red succulent fruit that will need several years to soften. It is the sheer dimension of this wine that is so captivating. Stunning. Have you got your bottle yet? WA 96+ (2/2012): Tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare and a final blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc have produced an enormously concentrated, black/purple-colored wine exhibiting notes of roasted meats, smoked game, blackberries, coffee, incense and forest floor. This distinctive, large-scaled, viscous, thick Pomerol may be as concentrated as some of this estate’s all-time classics (1947 and 1950). I am puzzled by why I could not see this a few years ago. In any event, this is one of the most profound Le Gay’s ever produced. Forget it for at least a decade and drink it over the following half century. WS 94 (3/2012): Very fresh and pure, this displays a lovely tobacco streak cutting through the enticing core of crushed plum, mulled raspberry and dark fig fruit. Long and racy on the finish, with singed cedar nicely embedded. Has opulence but stays focused. Best from 2013 through 2029. 1,500 cases made. JS 94 (3/2012): Aromas of blackberries, with a milky chocolate and berry character. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. So delicious now, but better in a few years. A wine with balance and finesse. Best in 2015. |
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|
2009 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$1,223.99 |
2 |
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NM 97 (6/2013): This is a monumental Le Gay, perhaps one of the finest ever produced at the estate and, similar to other vintages, it just seems to get better and better with each passing year. Here, it has an utterly seductive bouquet that remains very youthful with ripe dark cherries and boysenberry jam that explode from the glass. There is a floral note to this perfumed nose that gains intensity with aeration. The palate is very intense, quite backward and structured, supporting layers of pure ripe black and red succulent fruit that will need several years to soften. It is the sheer dimension of this wine that is so captivating. Stunning. Have you got your bottle yet? WA 96+ (2/2012): Tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare and a final blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc have produced an enormously concentrated, black/purple-colored wine exhibiting notes of roasted meats, smoked game, blackberries, coffee, incense and forest floor. This distinctive, large-scaled, viscous, thick Pomerol may be as concentrated as some of this estate’s all-time classics (1947 and 1950). I am puzzled by why I could not see this a few years ago. In any event, this is one of the most profound Le Gay’s ever produced. Forget it for at least a decade and drink it over the following half century. WS 94 (3/2012): Very fresh and pure, this displays a lovely tobacco streak cutting through the enticing core of crushed plum, mulled raspberry and dark fig fruit. Long and racy on the finish, with singed cedar nicely embedded. Has opulence but stays focused. Best from 2013 through 2029. 1,500 cases made. JS 94 (3/2012): Aromas of blackberries, with a milky chocolate and berry character. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. So delicious now, but better in a few years. A wine with balance and finesse. Best in 2015. |
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2010 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$2,876.99 |
3 |
|
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WA 99 (2/2013): The 2010 Le Gay is performing sensationally, even better than my wildly enthusiastic tasting notes from barrel might have predicted. Inky opaque purple, and presenting a formidable and foreboding nose of camphor, black truffles, graphite, blueberries and blackberries as well as hints of smoked meats and floral nuances. Just about everything seems to be present in this smorgasbord of aromatics delights. The wine hits the palate with power, richness and purity, full-bodied texture, and enormous intensity. The final blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine needs at least 8-10 years of cellaring, based on its masculinity and structure, and should easily eclipse 20-40 years in a good cellar. NM 97 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Le Gay is one of the best wines of 2010, a testament to the late Catherine Pere-Verge. It is very elegant with beautifully interwoven oak furnishing the seamless aromatic profile: pure blackberry and raspberry fruit mixed with a little truffle and tobacco developing later. The palate is medium-bodied with an understated entry. It feels devastatingly silky and smooth in the mouth with well-judged acidity and a pure, sensual lilting finish that knows that it does not have to try that hard. Tasted January 2014. WS 95 (3/2013): Features a gorgeous, velvety mouthfeel, offering layer upon layer of crushed plum, warm linzer torte, steeped blackberry and anise notes, lined with black tea and well-singed wood spice notes. A beautiful combination of weight and grace, boasting a long, mineral-tinged finish that lets the fruit drip luxuriously. A real showstopper. Best from 2015 through 2030. VM 94 (7/2013): Saturated bright ruby-purple. Black cherry and licorice on the enticing nose, plus hints of cocoa and vanilla. Sweet and creamy in the mouth, with harmonious acidity framing and lifting the concentrated, ripe cassis, black cherry and chocolate flavors. Finishes firm, but with fine-grained tannins providing support to the creamy, soft flavors. Plenty of fresh acidity also helps to extend the flavors on the long finish. A very impressive wine--much better and less aggressively tannic than it appeared to be when I tasted it last spring. Stephen Tanzer. JS 94 (2/2013): Feminine violet nose with beautiful polished purple fruit, vanilla and some Seville orange. Dense and full-bodied on the palate with dancing acidity and soft fine tannins. Very pleasant already now. So delicious. Give it time. Try after 2016. |
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Ch. Giscours |
2000 |
Margaux  |
$124 |
1 |
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WA 92 (4/2003): Probably the finest Giscours made since the 1975, this black/purple-colored 2000 offers up terrific notes of camphor, creosote, blackberry, and cassis jam intermixed with notions of smoke and earth. Spicy, with low acidity, a big, rich, fleshy, full-bodied palate, Outstanding texture, and a long, pure finish, it is, to reiterate, one of the best Giscours produced over the last 25 years. A sleeper of the vintage, it is still available for a realistic price. |
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2009 |
Margaux  |
$95 |
8 |
|
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JS 95 (2/2012): Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and flowers. Very beautiful. Full body, with a solid core of fruit and firm tannins. Balanced and refined. This is ultra-refined. Best wine from here since 1970. One of the great values of the vintage. Best after 2018. WA 94 (2/2012): The finest Giscours in my professional career (I said the same thing from barrel), this dense purple wine has a stunning nose of burning embers, charcoal, creme de cassis, new saddle leather and damp, forest floor notes. It is full-bodied, with exceptionally sweet, well-integrated tannins and a multi-dimensional, almost skyscraper-like mid-palate and finish. With its low acidity and remarkable substance and depth, this gorgeous wine should age beautifully for 20-30 years. WS 93 (3/2012): This is alluring, with lots of incense, warm espresso and roasted mesquite notes leading the way for a sleek core of mouthwatering black currant and blackberry fruit. The long finish lets the mesquite edge linger, with well-embedded grip. Rock-solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2014 through 2029. 21,665 cases made. VM 91 (7/2012): Good dark red. Blackberry, licorice, leather, chocolate and a whiff of peat on the nose. Intensely flavored, fine-grained and lively, with noteworthy energy to its dark berry and dark chocolate flavors. A firmly built wine in a rather cool style for the year, finishing with chocolatey tannins, a lightly herbal quality and very good length. Very well done. NM 91 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Giscours '09 has a pleasant, savoury bouquet with good definition - hints of beef stock coming through. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, dusky black fruit with hints of spice and pain grille. It is quite masculine and foursquare on the finish - but it shows good length. |
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|
2015 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$948.99 |
5 |
|
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JS 96 (2/2018): Plenty of violets and dark berries on offer here. This has a striking sense of purity as well as an energetic, regal palate. The structure is impressively groomed with effortless depth and length. A standout wine. Try from 2022. VM 95 (7/2019): The 2015 Giscours has a beautiful, clean, pure bouquet of generous ripe black cherry, raspberry and crushed violet aromas that could only come from Margaux. The medium-bodied palate is quite dense but wonderfully poised, offering sappy red fruit and very fine tannin and delivering impressive detail on the bay leaf and tea leaf finish. Alexandre van Beek oversaw one of the best Giscours in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. WA 94+ (2/2018): Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Giscours opens with expressive cassis, blackberry and red currants on the nose with touches of cedar chest, roses and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied with a good core of muscular fruit and firm, grainy tannins, it finishes long. WS 93 (3/2018): Polished and rounded in feel, with a solid core of plum and blackberry compote flavors, lined with light hints of charcoal, tobacco and violet. Nice perfumy tobacco and warm tar notes show on the finish. Very well-integrated, making this approachable now, but there's no rush. Best from 2020 through 2035. 23,333 cases made. |
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Ch. Grand Puy Ducasse |
2016 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$371.99 |
5 |
|
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JS 92-93 (4/2017): A linear and tight red with blueberries, currants and walnuts. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. All there. Best wine from here in quite some time. WS 89-92 (4/2017): The warm plum, blackberry and black currant preserve flavors have solid depth, picking up dark earth and warm tobacco notes along the way. Offers a broad, fleshy finish. |
|
Ch. Grand Puy Lacoste |
2011 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$877.99 |
3 |
|
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JS 93 (2/2014): The licorice, tar and spice character with dried fruits and currants impresses me. Full body with firm tannins and a chewy finish. This is even better now than from barrel. Better in 2019. WA 91 (4/2014): The dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 Grand Puy Lacoste exhibits a charming, open-knit bouquet of red and black fruits. It is a savory, medium-bodied, flavorful, well-endowed Pauillac from Xavier Borie that can be enjoyed over the next 10-15+ years. WS 91 (3/2014): Shows purity and focus, with a core of bitter plum, cassis and lightly singed vanilla notes leading to a silky, relatively unadorned finish that glides along. Flickers of cedar and iron should emerge with cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2025. NM 90-92 (4/2012): The 2011 Grand Puy Lacoste is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. It has a slight subdued nose that demands some coaxing and eventually, perhaps reluctantly offers aromas of blackberry, wild hedgerow, sous-bois and damp tobacco. I find it missing a little vivacity and precision. The palate has a crisp, brine-tinged entry with chalky tannins. Typically masculine and austere, quite edgy and tense, the 2011 is a straight down the fairway, quintessential Pauillac with cedar and strong graphite notes on the finish. Leaving it for another five minutes, there is a cheeky scent of orange that develops in the glass and then...poof...it’s gone again. This is an intriguing Pauillac that keeps you on your toes. VM 90+ (8/2014): Good full ruby. Fresh aromas of raspberry, cola, cinnamon, smoke and graphite. At once silky and juicy, offering good intensity and a light touch to the smoky dark berry and graphite flavors. Nicely penetrating wine with lovely vinosity and spicy, fruity persistence. Boasts lovely texture and balance, offering plenty of early appeal but with the stuffing to age and improve another ten years. This strikes me as one of the most successful Left Bank wines in 2011. |
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Ch. Gruaud Larose |
2015 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$1,135.99 |
3 |
|
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JS 95 (2/2018): Concentrated and elegant with a great harmony of dry tannins and ripeness (but no hint of overripeness), this has a long finish with a lot of drive and enormous freshness. You could drink this now with red meat, but it’s got decades ahead of it. WA 93+ (2/2018): Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Gruaud Larose simply sparkles with bright, vibrant red cherries, ripe raspberries and fresh black currants notes with underlying suggestions of cinnamon stick, rose petals, fallen leaves and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied and possessing tightly wound red and black fruits layers intermingled with spicy accents, it has a firm, grainy frame and great vivacity, finishing long and perfumed. I'm probably being too conservative with my score here and expect this could blossom in 4-6 years into an even more impressive beauty! VM 93 (2/2018): Dark, powerful and brooding, the 2015 Gruaud-Larose is a real bruiser. Iron, gravel, smoke, mocha and licorice wrap around a core of intense dark fruit, all with a backbone of big, rustic tannins that give the wine its shape. The 2015 needs a good few years to come together. There is certainly no shortage of personality or character. Antonio Galloni. NM 92+ (2/2018): The 2015 Gruaud Larose has a clean and precise bouquet, a little more sophisticated than it showed out of barrel. It seems to have manifested greater mineralité and delineation that enhances the vivid blackberry and bilberry fruit infused with cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, blackberry infused with graphite and cedar that render this Gruaud Larose almost Pauillac in style. No, it does not provide that killer blow on the finish, preferring to remain quite linear and taut (unlike the 2016 that may prove to be superior). Yet this shows careful, judicious winemaking and it may continue to improve in bottle. WS 92 (3/2018): This has a serious graphite spine, along with beautiful beams of black currant, bitter plum and blackberry paste flavors. Dried anise, black tea and licorice snap notes lurk in the background. The finish is long and gilded with a violet accent. Best from 2021 through 2035. 13,343 cases made. |
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Ch. Haut Bailly |
2016 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$880.99 |
2 |
|
|
JS 98-99 (4/2017): This young wine shows such pinpoint precision with a full body, dense fruit and gorgeous intensity. Muscular yet toned and beautiful. It really builds on the finish. Very fine-grained. So long and beautiful. Sophisticated power. Oyster shell and iodine undertones. Traditional style yet with a modern interpretation. Savory. |
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Ch. Haut Batailley |
2017 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$477.99 |
5 |
|
|
JS 94-95 (4/2018): This is very structured and serious. Full-bodied, tannic and powerful. Boom. This is one of the best Haut-Batailleys in years. From the new owners, who also own Lynch-Bages. JD 92-94 (4/2018): A true gem in the vintage, and from an estate on the uptick, the 2017 Château Haut Batailley checks in as 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak. It’s a big, medium to full-bodied, yet perfectly balanced 2017 that has loads of dark berry fruits, violets, leafy herbs and damp rock-like aromas and flavors. It has a touch of oak to integrate, building tannin, and a great finish, all pointing to a rockstar 2017 that will need short-term cellaring and keep for two decades. Bravo! WS 89-92 (4/2018): This has good currant and damson fruit lined with tobacco and iron notes. Offers slightly dusty tannins but remains fresh and focused overall. |
|
Ch. Haut-Brion |
2003 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$6,679.99 |
3 |
|
|
WA 95 (4/2006): The blockbuster 2003 Haut-Brion (13% alcohol) possesses extremely high tannin, but that component is well-concealed by a cascade of mulberry, blackberry, cherry, and plum-like fruit. There is even a hint of figs under the blue and red fruit spectrum. While broad and ripe with a sweet, glyceral mouthfeel as well as a long, powerful, persistent finish, it retains its elegance and nobility. A wine of both power and finesse, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring, and keep for 25-30._x000D_ |
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|
2005 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$11,031.99 |
1 |
|
|
WS 100 (3/2008): This is incredible on the nose, showing coffee cake, blackberry, floral, coffee bean and vanilla bean, with Chinese spices. A very complex, full-bodied red, with seamless, hyperpolished tannins that caress every millimeter of the palate. Lasts for minutes. So beautifully balanced, I'm left speechless. Is it even better than the 1989? Best after 2017. 9,080 cases made. WA 98 (4/2008): Another profound effort from Haut-Brion, the 2005 (a 9,000-case blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc) has bulked up to the point that it is fair to compare it to the great successes of 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000. A dark ruby/purple color is followed by a nuanced, noble bouquet of blue and red fruits interwoven with wet stones, unsmoked cigar tobacco, scorched earth, and spring flowers. The wine is full-bodied, pure, and complex as well as exceptionally elegant with laser-like precision. The tannins are still serious and substantial, and in that sense, this is a completely different style of Haut-Brion than the opulent, silky-textured 1989 and 1990. As I have written before, it comes across as an improved, more concentrated and structured version of the 1995 or 1998. Patience will be required for this stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040+. VM 97 (6/2008): Bright ruby-red. Wonderfully expressive nose combines black raspberry, mocha, hot stones, caramel and tobacco. Lush, fat and full but with terrific definition and suavity to its extravagantly dense black raspberry, stone and licorice flavors. As large-scaled as this is, it's not at all overly sweet. Expands impressively on the back half, finishing with substantial tannins that are thoroughly covered by fruit. A great vintage for Haut-Brion. |
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|
2005 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$5,600.99 |
1 |
|
|
WS 100 (3/2008): This is incredible on the nose, showing coffee cake, blackberry, floral, coffee bean and vanilla bean, with Chinese spices. A very complex, full-bodied red, with seamless, hyperpolished tannins that caress every millimeter of the palate. Lasts for minutes. So beautifully balanced, I'm left speechless. Is it even better than the 1989? Best after 2017. 9,080 cases made. WA 98 (4/2008): Another profound effort from Haut-Brion, the 2005 (a 9,000-case blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc) has bulked up to the point that it is fair to compare it to the great successes of 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000. A dark ruby/purple color is followed by a nuanced, noble bouquet of blue and red fruits interwoven with wet stones, unsmoked cigar tobacco, scorched earth, and spring flowers. The wine is full-bodied, pure, and complex as well as exceptionally elegant with laser-like precision. The tannins are still serious and substantial, and in that sense, this is a completely different style of Haut-Brion than the opulent, silky-textured 1989 and 1990. As I have written before, it comes across as an improved, more concentrated and structured version of the 1995 or 1998. Patience will be required for this stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040+. VM 97 (6/2008): Bright ruby-red. Wonderfully expressive nose combines black raspberry, mocha, hot stones, caramel and tobacco. Lush, fat and full but with terrific definition and suavity to its extravagantly dense black raspberry, stone and licorice flavors. As large-scaled as this is, it's not at all overly sweet. Expands impressively on the back half, finishing with substantial tannins that are thoroughly covered by fruit. A great vintage for Haut-Brion. |
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|
2006 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$6,010.99 |
1 |
|
|
WA 96 (2/2009): The 2006 Haut-Brion performed even better from bottle than it did from barrel. Sixty-four percent of the production went into this wine, and while it displays the vintage’s powerful tannins and structure, it possesses superb concentration, and the minerality/scorched earth notes of a great Haut-Brion. Medium to full-bodied, with perhaps not quite the fleshiness of the 2005 or 2000, it is built more along the lines of the 1998 and 1996. It is a brilliant effort displaying sensational purity, texture, and length that should be exceptionally long-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035 . VM 95 (6/2009): Medium ruby-red. Inviting aromas of plum, warm stones, red licorice and menthol. Suave, gentle and elegantly styled; distinctly sweeter and lusher today than the La Mission, with even more mid-palate depth. Showing more red fruits today as well, with pungent minerality giving the wine lift and juiciness. Finishes with suave but substantial building tannins. Last year this wine was showing its spine while La Mission was more opulent; in bottle it's the other way around. WS 94 (3/2009): Offers subtle and complex aromas, with violet, cedar and blackberry. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a very long finish. Tight and curled up in a ball. Best after 2015. 11,000 cases made. NM 93+ (4/2007): Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. At this stage, the Haut Brion ’06 is a little disjointed on the nose: blackberry, cold black tea, autumn leaves in an October bonfire, a touch of damson and even a slither of marmalade. Good definition but needs time to meld. The palate is rounded and supple on the entry, saturated tannins, black cherries, damson, cassis, lower acidity, very caressing with a smooth cohesive, fleshy finish with beguiling weight and persistency. |
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|
2009 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x1.5L)  |
$10,560.99 |
1 |
|
|
WA 100 (2/2012): What a blockbuster effort! Atypically powerful, one day, the 2009 Haut-Brion may be considered to be the 21st century version of the 1959. It is an extraordinarily complex, concentrated effort made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc with the highest alcohol ever achieved at this estate, 14.3%. Even richer than the perfect 1989, with similar technical numbers although slightly higher extract and alcohol, it offers up a sensational perfume of subtle burning embers, unsmoked cigar tobacco, charcoal, black raspberries, wet gravel, plums, figs and blueberries. There is so much going on in the aromatics that one almost hesitates to stop smelling it. However, when it hits the palate, it is hardly a letdown. This unctuously textured, full-bodied 2009 possesses low acidity along with stunning extract and remarkable clarity for a wine with a pH close to 4.0. The good news is that there are 10,500 cases of the 2009, one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made. It requires a decade of cellaring and should last a half century or more. Readers who have loved the complexity of Haut-Brion should be prepared for a bigger, richer, more massive wine, but one that does not lose any of its prodigious aromatic attractions. JS 100 (2/2012): Aromas of forest floor, currants and blueberries, with hints of fresh tobacco and sliced mushrooms. Turns to orange peel and blueberries. Full-bodied, with incredible structure. This is so powerful in tannins, yet so polished. This is the most structured Haut-Brion that I have ever tasted. This has 15% Cabernet Franc, which is more than normal and perhaps giving the wine a little more tannic structure. A monumental Haut-Brion made to age for centuries. I have never tasted a young Haut-Brion, with such spellbinding power and depth. A modern 1945 or 1961 HB? Better than the legendary 1989? Try in 2021. WS 98 (5/2012): This enormous young wine is among the most backward of the vintage at this early stage, with iron-clad grip holding the broad, deep core of blackberry, cassis and roasted fig notes in check for now. The finish is a torrent of dense, almost compressed layers of tobacco leaf, hot paving stone, singed bay leaf and tar that will take at least a decade to massage together fully. This one is for the kids born in 2009. Best from 2020 through 2040. 10,500 cases made. VM 97+ (7/2012): Vivid deep ruby. Knockout fruity nose offers blackcurrant, strawberry, rosemary, truffle and a stony note. Then very closed in the middle, with cabernet sauvignon-dominated flavors of cassis, cigar box, cedar and minerals. Finishes long and deep, with massive but smooth tannins and a lingering note of violet. This will need plenty of time in the cellar but should be an Outstanding, memorable Haut Brion. Offhand, I do not recall a better pair of wines from any estate in 2009: millionaires will have a lot of fun trying to choose between La Mission and Haut Brion in 20 years' time. |
|
Ch. d' Issan |
2010 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$1,385.99 |
2 |
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WA 95 (2/2013): A complete, medium to full-bodied, exquisite Margaux from this medieval, moat-encircled, compellingly beautiful estate in the southern Medoc, D’Issan’s 2010 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. The deep, gravelly soils mixed with clay have provided extraordinary aromatics. The yields were ridiculously low (22 hectoliters per hectare) and the wine tips the scaled at 13.7% natural alcohol. Production was small after the selection for the grand vin, and the result is a dense, purple-colored wine with beautiful aromatics of spring flowers, blueberries and black raspberries as well as hints of cassis, tar and charcoal. The wine is gorgeously pure, well-balanced, and soft enough to be approached in 4-5 years or cellared for 25-30. JS 94 (2/2013): Gorgeous ripe fruit in this with plum, black cherries and spices on the nose and palate. Full body, with soft tannins and a long, long finish. Very refined and focused. Best from here in decades. Try after 2018. NM 93 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The d'Issan 2010 has a fine blackcurrant and iodine scented bouquet with well-integrated oak. There is fine lift here - a smooth operator. The palate is medium-bodied with extracted sweet dark plum, mulberry and allspice notes. Quite edgy with cracked black pepper towards the finish, this is a finely made Margaux. VM 91+ (8/2013): Bright medium ruby. Wild, musky aromas of black raspberry, cassis, cedar, smoke, leather, game and bitter chocolate. Dense, chewy and dry, with good peppery lift to the cherry skin and bitter chocolate flavors. Finishes with surprisingly fine-grained tannins and a juicy quality. This dry, classic claret needs time in bottle to gain flesh and sweetness. My sample grew freshness with time in the glass. WS 91 (3/2013): This red offers a grippy, charcoal-laced feel, cloaked by very fleshy plum, currant and blackberry confiture flavors. The long, tarry spine drives the finish, with extra bay leaf, maduro tobacco and warm stone notes. A touch taut, but should be ready to open soon enough. Best from 2014 through 2024. |
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Blason d' Issan |
2012 |
Margaux  |
$39.95 |
1 |
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WA 90 (4/2015): A gorgeous second wine, the 2012 Blason d'Issan is beautifully sexy, soft, and creamy textured, with a dense purple color and attractive blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with some licorice and camphor. It is stunning, lush, sexy and very, very forward, an ideal second wine that reflects its appellation of origin but delivers gorgeous, even luxurious fruit levels. Drink it over the next decade. |
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Ch. d' Issan |
2016 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$927.99 |
4 |
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JS 96-97 (4/2017): This is so energetic for a young d’Issan with lots of white pepper, crushed stones and blackberries. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and great length. One of the greatest ever. Superb depth and intensity to this real Bordeaux. Wow. WA 93-95 (4/2017): The 2016 D'Issan is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot cropped between 29 September and 19 October, and matured in 50% new barrels. The alcohol is 13.3% and with a pH of 3.71. It has a very classic, slightly introverted bouquet with a light marine influence coming through, but remaining very reserved, a little aloof. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin and fine delineation; it is very crisp and focused, a classic Margaux through and through with Outstanding salinity and persistence towards the precise finish. This is a beautiful D'Issan for long-term ageing, on par with the 2015. VM 89-92 (4/2017): The 2016 d'Issan is bold, plump and juicy, all qualities that will make it easy to drink and appreciate young. Most of the wine's appeal is up front, as the intensity trails off slightly on the midpalate and finish. There is not a ton of complexity, at least not today, but the elements are all so well balanced that the 2016 makes a strong statement based on its sheer appeal. Dark red/purplish fruit, sweet spice and floral notes add to the wine's forward, fruit-driven personality. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni. WS 88-91 (4/2017): Light pepper and savory hints lead off in this bouncy, juicy version, with bright cassis and bitter cherry fruit forming the core. Shows a light mineral edge on the finish. |
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Ch. Kirwan |
2010 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$544.99 |
2 |
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JS 93 (2/2013): Dried berry and plum character on the nose and palate. Full body, with chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Lots of beautiful and ripe fruit here. Better after 2017. WA 92+ (2/2013): As always, this estate has produced a blockbuster style of Margaux in 2010, with the more masculine side of the appellation providing density, power, big body, loads of fruit, extract and richness. This wine is powerful and concentrated, but by no means excessively extracted. Dense purple, muscular, deep and impressive, it is a wine that allows for no compromise among wine lovers. Forget it for 6-10 years and drink it over the following 20-40 years. VM 91+ (8/2013): Bright ruby-red. Brooding aromas of boysenberry, licorice and shoe polish. Dense, sweet and creamy but serious too, with excellent definition and underlying minerality to the blueberry, cassis and spice flavors. For all its richness, this rather powerful wine is currently dominated by its structure, but the tannins are supported by mid-palate concentration of material. WS 91 (3/2013): Tangy and elegant, with lilac, iron, red currant and cherry notes all mingling together and carrying through the focused finish. Not big, but pure, lengthy and showing fine minerality. Drink now through 2025. 9,166 cases made. |
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Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
1990 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$13,127.99 |
1 |
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WA 96 (6/2009): Interestingly, a bottle of 1990 Lafite Rothschild I pulled from my cellar for a video blog on my web site was still buttoned down, tight, and even with extended decanting was not showing as much as I would have hoped. However, a bottle tasted, of all places, in Seoul, Korea in February, was only a few points short of perfection. That amazing performance motivated me to pull another bottle out of my cellar and follow it over the course of two days. Sure enough, by the second day the wine was roaring from the glass. The 1990 Lafite has turned out far better than my early assessment. While it still possesses some firmness, and performs like a late adolescent in terms of its evolution, it boasts gorgeous aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and lead pencil shavings. The explosive aromas are followed by a fleshy, full-bodied wine that should hit its peak in 5-8 years, and last for 25-30 more. MB [***[**]] (11/2000): Despite its deceptively purple hue, surprisingly soft and easy though I much preferred the '89 alongside (at the chateau, April 1991). This attractive, easy, fragrant style noted again at the MW tasting of '90s in November 1994. A huge vote for elegance but low for power at Eigensatz's amazing blind tasting of 144 of the very best 1990 reds from around the world. Lafite's fragrance seemed to be self-generating, its fleshy ripeness exemplified by a magnum produced, not for the first time, at one of Rodenstock's annual wine weekends (1998). The Penning-Roswell '10-year' first growth tasting was much looked forward to by Jancis Robinson and me. We were not disappointed. All the wines were within a point or so, Lafite level pegging with Margaux and Latour. The Lafite was still farily deep, plummy coloured but maturing; bouquet evolving well; soft, fleshy, good length; complete- all that was needed was time, more bottle age. Its unreadiness for drinking was demonstrated at a Lafite dinner with Eric de Rothschild at Brooks's in London. The roast grey partridge was unable to compete. Nevertheless, the penetratingly lovely bouquet and flavour were appreciated. Strange though how a wine so beguiling and easy int its youth can close up. Its second wind eagerly awaited. 2015-2040? WS 95 (2/2005): Very serious fruit, with juicy berry, tobacco and cedar character. Slightly more body than the 1989, but they are very close in character. I would give this a little more time. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Best after 2007. 25,000 cases made. |
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2004 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x1.5L)  |
$10,192.99 |
1 |
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WA 95 (6/2007): This beautiful, stunningly dense purple-colored effort (includes about 90% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up precise notes of graphite, black cherries, cassis, scorched earth, and minerals. Medium to full-bodied with fabulous fruit, impressive richness, refreshing acidity, and sweet tannin, this beauty should be approachable in 4-5 years, and last for three decades. As Lafite Rothschilds go, this is somewhat of a sleeper vintage. VM 93 (6/2007): Medium ruby-red. Scented nose offers plum, mocha, licorice, graphite, flowers and tobacco. Suave, silky and fine-grained, with lovely inner-mouth aromatic character and energy. Perfumed flavors of redcurrant, minerals and cedar. Finishes very long and firm, with terrific grip for this mostly gentle vintage. WS 93 (3/2007): Intense aromas of currant, coffee, toasty oak and sweet tobacco follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins, great mouthfeel and a long finish. A refined Lafite. Best after 2012. 22,080 cases made. |
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2007 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$10,100.99 |
1 |
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WA 94 (4/2010): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2007 Lafite Rothschild (84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot) reveals classic Lafite aromas of graphite, unsmoked cigar tobacco, black currants, cherries, and a hint of truffles. The complex aromatics are followed by a round, medium to full-bodied wine with silky tannins, an overall subtle smoky component, and a rich, round, generous, plump finish. Already evolved and delicious, it should continue to drink well for two decades. WS 91 (3/2010): A big, juicy wine for the vintage, with spice, sweet tobacco and plum aromas and flavors. Full, long and rich, with a soft texture. A little tight, but should develop nicely in the bottle. Best after 2014. 20,085 cases made. VM 90-93 (6/2008): (84% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot and 1% petit verdot) Good bright ruby. Cassis, minerals, licorice and mint lifted by spices on the nose. Moderately dense and fruit-driven, with lovely mouthcoating breadth to the dark berry, spice and fresh herb flavors; remains just this side of peppery. Best today on the subtle but very persistent finish, which features very fine-grained tannins, a restrained sweetness and a captivating vibrancy. Among the most suave and refined examples of the vintage. |
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2008 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$11,613 |
2 |
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WA 98 (5/2011): A candidate for the -wine of the vintage,- the 2008 should have been purchased before it began to soar in value because of the significance of the number 8 in the Chinese culture (denoting good luck). Representing 40% of the production, this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc offers aromas of high quality unsmoked cigar tobacco, lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, earth, cedar and asphalt. Full, rich and stunningly concentrated, I doubt it is inferior to the 2010, just more classic as well as slightly more forward and a degree weaker in alcoholic potency (12.5% versus 13.5%). The 2008 should be relatively drinkable in 6-10 years as it is already showing remarkable complexity and breed, and will last for 30-35 years...at the minimum. WS 92 (4/2011): Supple and harmonious already, with inviting, almost plush blackberry, plum and fig fruit notes carried by fine-grained, lightly cedary structure. Black tea and sandalwood flash on the finish. Poised now, but has the stuffing for more time in bottle. Drink now through 2020. VM 92-94 (6/2009): (a blend of 83% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot and 4% cabernet franc) Deep purple-ruby. Dense, rich, absolutely classic Lafite nose redolent of blackcurrant, cedar and graphite. Enters fat, with blackberry, licorice and underbrush flavors framed by strong but harmonious acids and youthful tannins that will need time to resolve. This is presently the most backward and closed of the Medoc first growths in '08, but should prove spectacular in time: insiders know that cooler vintages such as '08 are perfectly suited to Lafite's terroir, a case in point being the '88, an initially austere wine that has come around magnificently. |
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2009 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$12,188.99 |
1 |
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JS 100 (2/2012): The second you put your nose in the glass, you know that it is 100 points. The combination of sweet tobacco, fresh flowers, currants and sultanas on the nose leaves me breathless. Turns to cocoa powder and freshness. The palate re-enforces the show, with phenomenally polished tannins. Fabulous class. Could be a remake of the phenomenal 1959. Try in 2022. WA 99+ (3/2012): The main reason the 2009 Lafite Rothschild did not receive a perfect score is because the wine has closed down slightly, but it is unquestionably another profound Lafite, their greatest wine since the amazing 2003. Among the most powerful Lafites ever made (it came in at 13.59% alcohol), the final blend was 82.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. The selection was incredibly severe with only 45% of the crop being utilized. A tight, but potentially gorgeous nose of graphite, black currants, licorice and camphor is followed by a full-bodied wine revealing the classic elegance, purity and delineated style of Lafite. It is phenomenally concentrated with softer tannins than the 2005, the 2003's voluptuous, broad, juicy personality, and low acidity. There are several vintages that I thought were a replay of their colossal 1959, most notably 1982 and 2003, but 2009 is also one to keep an eye on. It is still extremely youthful and seems slightly more backward than I would have guessed based on the barrel tastings, but it needs 10-15 years of bottle age, and should last for 50+. WS 98 (3/2012): This is stunning for its ability to take massively endowed fig, currant paste and crushed plum fruit flavors and harness them with ultrasuave freshly roasted espresso, black tea and ganache notes. A seductive style, long and velvety, with the dense core of black fruit and smoldering iron just waiting and waiting. Best from 2020 through 2040. VM 96+ (7/2012): (a blend of 82.5% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot, and 0.5% petit verdot; 13.8% alcohol; 75 IPT; a 43% selection of the total crop). Deep ruby-red. Classic Lafite aromas of cassis, cedar and graphite are lifted by a fragrant violet note. Then pure and vibrant on the palate, with seamless flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, iron and flint. The very smooth tannins provide plenty of support to the fruit flavors, while the wine's harmonious acidity really draws out the finish. This Outstanding Lafite is all about grace--in contrast to Latour's power. |
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Ch. Lafleur |
2004 |
Pomerol ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$3,251.99 |
4 |
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WA 94 (6/2007): Sadly, there are only 1,000 cases of the brilliant 2004 Lafleur (because of the strict selection implemented by proprietor Jacques Guinaudeau and his son, Baptiste). A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2004 presently possesses a certain austerity, along with fabulous concentration, and intense kirsch liqueur, licorice, truffle, and spice characteristics. Stunningly proportioned, medium to full-bodied, and powerful, it comes across like a modern day version of Lafleur’s brilliant 1979. The aromatics can fill a room, but the tannins kick in in the mouth. Give this Pomerol 5-8 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 25+. WS 94 (3/2007): Subtle yet complex aromas of raspberry, dark chocolate and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate, with ultrafine tannins and a long, caressing finish. Very refined and pretty, with a solid core of fruit. Hard not to drink now. This is really seamless in texture, with fabulous tannins. Best after 2010. 1,000 cases made. VM 91 (6/2007): Good dark red. Currant, minerals, graphite and nutty oak, along with some funkier notes of leather and musky tobacco. Supple, deep and fine-grained but with a cooler character than the 2005. Less black and more red in character than the 2005, throwing off notes of raspberry, mocha, coffee, leather and underbrush. Finishes with substantial, slightly edgy tannins. This one will be fascinating to follow. |
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Ch. Lalande |
2015 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$252.99 |
5 |
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Ch. Langoa Barton |
2009 |
St. Julien  |
$85 |
1 |
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NM 94 (3/2019): The 2009 Langoa-Barton has a gorgeous bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, cedar and light tobacco aromas that blossom from the glass. This feels so composed and pure. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine-grain tannin, beautifully judged acidity and a svelte, languorous finish that fans out with style. What a gorgeous and utterly seductive Saint-Julien. It turns out to be Langoa Barton, a wine that I have rated very highly in the past. Neal Martin. WS 93 (3/2012): Very dense and still rather reserved, with dark blueberry, blackberry and fig notes rolled together, framed by freshly brewed espresso and Black Forest cake notes. Long and tarry through the finish, with a melted licorice snap note hanging on at the very end. Best from 2014 through 2030. 10,000 cases made. JS 93 (2/2019): A rich and fleshy wine, yet it remains decisively dry. Attractive blueberry aroma and impressive supple tannins make this very harmonious. If it was slightly brighter in the nose this would rate even higher. Drink now. VM 92 (7/2012): Full, deep ruby. Deep, explosive aromas of cassis, plum, blackberry, dark chocolate, violet and sexy oak. Dense, pliant and deep, with a distinctly chewy texture to its sweet flavors of cassis and dark chocolate. Very fine-grained wine with a long, rising, sweet finish featuring smooth, thoroughly ripe tannins. Stephen Tanzer. WA 91 (3/2019): The medium to deep garnet colored 2009 Langoa Barton is scented of warm red and black plums, dried mulberries and blackcurrant cordial with touches of dried mint and new leather. Medium to full-bodied with a solid frame of grainy tannins and bold freshness, it has loads of red and black berry preserves layers on the long, savory finish. |
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2015 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$802.99 |
5 |
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2015 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML) |
$412.99 |
1 |
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Ch. Latour |
1985 |
Pauillac Corroded Capsule; Wine-Stained Label |
$525 |
1 |
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MB [****[*]] (4/2000): Not quite as many notes but well spread, the first, just before fining in September 1986. Unsurprisingly, an intense purple, loaded with blackcurrant fruit, full, tannic yet surprisingly fleshy. In its fifth year, still very deep of course but its nose evolving well: chocolate, coffee, biscuity, tobacco- a whole raft of sweet, interesting aromas; sweet ripeness on the palate, a feature continuously noted, fairly massively constructed, highish alcohol and tanning, yet leaving one with a feeling of warmth. A rich, broad-shouldered wine. Of the several notes made in the mid- to late 1980s, I shall just pick out two. A 'Reserve tasting of PremierBordeaux Wines' I conducted at the first, and the last, Palm Beach Internatinal Food and Wine Fair, in February 1998: medium deep and mature-looking, with a mahogany rim; bouquet low-keyed at first but which opened up marvellously; gloriously sweet and full of fruit. Good length and finish. Still tannic. Most recently, in first-growth company at Stephen Kaplan's 1985 Vintage event: bouquet by now ripe, almost meaty, opening up beautifully in the glass and after an hour, fully evolved, 'biscuity'. I do not leave the wine untouched. By the time that hour has elapsed, little remains in the glass! On the palate a full, rich, almost mocha-flavoured wine, with an excellent dry finish. Lovely now but so much more to come. JS 93 (3/2012): Aromas of mint and currants with some spices. Full and velvety texture with fresh and clean fruit and a yummy finish. Drink it. WS 93 (8/2000): Rich and ripe wine. Dark red color with an amber edge. Loads of meat, berry and tobacco character on the nose. Very rich. Full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins and a long, ultraripe fruit finish. Still very fresh and young. Best from 2000 through 2015. NM 90 (12/2009): Tasted from magnum at the Claret Club -85 Dinner at -The Square-. Contrasted against the other First Growths for the fourth or fifth time in my career, the Latour still brings up the rear but having said that, this is definitely the best bottle I have encountered. It has a little more vivacity on the nose that previously, with a touch of Provencal herbs and even a faint notes of peppermint. Certainly fresher than I was expecting and you might almost mistake it for Haut-Brion! The palate is medium-bodied, certainly not as complex as Mouton or Lafite with a foursquare, slightly curmudgeonly finish. Drink now-2016. WA 88 (6/2000): This wine was tasted from my personal collection, following the Latour tasting. The 1985 Latour is a soft, open-knit example, without much structure, delineation, and depth. The dark ruby color displays amber at the edge. The bouquet of tobacco, black fruits, herbs, earth, and new oak is pleasant, but neither intense nor persistent. The wine is medium-bodied, with sweet fruit on the attack, but it narrows out to reveal dry tannin and herbaceous notes. Anticipated maturity: now-2012. |
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2003 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$11,958.99 |
2 |
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WA 100 (4/2006): There are only 10,800 cases (rather than the normal 15,000-20,000) of the 2003 Latour, a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot (13.3% finished alcohol). A prodigious effort, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of smoke, cedar, creme de cassis, flowers, crushed rocks, and blackberries. Massive and multi-layered, with huge richness and low acidity, it is about as unctuous as a young Latour can be. It could be compared to the 1982, but it may be even more pure, at least at this early stage, than that monumental wine. The level of intensity builds prodigiously in the mouth, and the finish lasts nearly a minute. Disarmingly accessible (although analytically the tannin level is high), I suspect it will ultimately shut down, but it was performing impeccably when I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+. WS 98 (3/2006): Intense aromas of blackberry, licorice, currant and mineral. Full-bodied, with very well-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. Very refined and beautiful. Goes on for minutes. This reminds me of the fabulous 1996. But even better. Best after 2012. 10,000 cases made. VM 97 (6/2006): Red-ruby. Explosive aromas of plum liqueur, currant, minerals and lead pencil. Huge, lush, sweet and utterly seamless; this has the palate-caressing texture of liquid velvet. About as deep as this extreme vintage gets. Finishes with noble, compellingly sweet tannins and great length. This is amazing wine, and only its exotic character prevented me from giving it an even higher score. Interestingly, the IPT here is 65, compared to 67 for the 2005. But this voluminous and powerful wine will be more fun to drink than the 2005 for many years simply due to its sensual appeal, even if the 2005 should ultimately surpass it in verve, minerality and overall aromatic complexity. (Incidentally, Latour's third wine, simply called Pauillac, is extremely good in both 2005 and 2003-the former vintage showing terrific energy and loads of early personality, and the latter fat, round and exotic, with what Engerer described as a "Napa nose.") |
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2010 |
Pauillac ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$9,101.99 |
2 |
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WA 100 (3/2020): The 2010 Latour is deep garnet in color, and—WOW—it erupts from the glass with powerful crème de cassis, Black Forest cake and blackberry pie scents plus intense sparks of dried roses, cigar boxes, fragrant earth and smoked meats with aniseed and crushed rocks wafts. Full-bodied, concentrated and oh-so-decadent in the mouth, it has a firm, grainy texture and lovely freshness carrying the rich, opulent fruit to an epically long finish. It is incredibly tempting to drink now, but I suspect this hedonic experience isn't a scratch on the mind-blowing, otherworldly secrets this time capsule will have to reveal given another 7-10 years in bottle and continuing over the following fifty years++. JS 100 (2/2013): The aromas of flowers such as roses, violets and lilacs jump from the glass then turn to dark berries such as blueberries and blackberries. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and dense and intense with a chocolate, berry and currant character. This is juicy and rich with wood still showing a bit, but it's all coming together wonderfully. Muscular yet toned. Another perfect wine like the 2010. Try in 2022. WS 99 (3/2013): Unbelievably pure, with distilled cassis and plum fruit that cuts a very precise path, while embers of anise, violet and black cherry confiture form a gorgeous backdrop. A bedrock of graphite structure should help this outlive other 2010s. Powerful, sleek and incredibly long. Not perfect, but very close. Best from 2020 through 2050. VM 98+ (7/2018): The 2010 Latour is a force of nature, a First Growth that should not be broached for fifteen years. It remains stubborn and backward on the nose, almost broody at first but eventually opens with intense, mineral-rich black fruit laced with wet limestone, almost flint-like aromas, later pencil lead that become more pronounced with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, with immense structure that grips the mouth like a vice. It is not a subtle Latour, rather audacious and titanic, perhaps missing the finesse of a great vintage but that is simply a matter of time. Tasted from my own personal cellar. Neal Martin. |
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Ch. Latour Martillac |
2010 |
Pessac-Leognan  |
$64 |
1 |
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NM 95 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. This is a great La Tour Martillac that must be one the finest releases from the estate in recent years. It has quite an elegant understated bouquet with autumn leaves infusing the black fruit profile, later tobacco and cigar box. Good vigour and class. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity on the entry. It is underpinned by good structure, with plenty of red and black fruit and an engaging delineated finish brimming with energy. There is some high quality terroir and fruit here. Tasted January 2014. WS 92 (3/2013): Dense, but supple along the edges, offering a packed core of cassis, blackberry and black cherry fruit. The lovely licorice, dark tobacco and violet notes glide to the finish, which shows solid, latent grip. Best from 2015 through 2025. JS 92-93 (4/2011): I love the mid-palate to this young and attractive red, with silky tannins and alluring mineral, berry and stone character. Enchanting. WA 90+ (2/2013): Abundant notes of spicy oak, elegant black currants and rich fruitiness along with hints of forest floor and damp earth are followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with sweet tannin and the classic Pessac-Leognan/Graves characteristics of tobacco leaf and smoke. Deep fruit, moderate tannin and a long finish give this wine enough potential to last for up to two decades or more. VM 88 (8/2013): Bright medium red. Slightly medicinal aromas of black cherry, licorice, tobacco leaf and earth. Spicy and firmly built, with fresh acidity giving the flavors of tobacco leaf, herbs and spices a rather stern mien today. Finishes a tad green, with drying tannins. I'm not sure where this can go in bottle. Stephen Tanzer. |
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Ch. Leoville Barton |
1995 |
St. Julien (3.0 L)  |
$599 |
1 |
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WS 94 (12/2007): A beautiful wine, with layers of ripe fruit, berry, cedar, vanilla and light spice. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. Very, very classy stuff. Best after 2008. NM 92-94 (1/2000): Tasted wonderful in October 2000. A meaty rich ripe nose of cassis, mulberry and cherry. Full-bodied and expansive structure. Approachable with layers of strawberries and red fruits. A rich voluptuous Barton that should be ready in 2-3 yrs. Then blind in April 2005. A very attractive nose with a slight under-ripeness that lends it freshness and vitality. The palate is well-balanced with toasty new oak. But quite backward compared to others with a dense sweet, chocolate tinged finish. Quite modern in style on the surface, but you can tell that there is a robust classic structure underneath. Drink from 2008. WA 91 (2/1998): Somewhat closed and reticent after bottling, but still impressive, this 1995 possesses a dark ruby/purple color, as well as an oaky nose with classic scents of cassis, vanillin, cedar, and spice. Dense and medium to full-bodied, with softer tannin and more accessibility than the 1996, but not quite the packed and stacked effect on the palate, the 1995 is an Outstanding textbook St.-Julien that will handsomely repay extended cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025. VM 91 (6/1998): Very good ruby-red. Currant, tobacco, game and roasted nuts on the expressive nose. Full, supple and sweetly oaky. Also wears its oak more gracefully. Very long on the finish, with ripe, tongue-coating tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2000 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$2,323.99 |
1 |
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WS 96 (12/2015): Hello. Take textbook St.-Julien warmed fig, blueberry compote and blackberry reduction notes along with ample graphite, bramble and tobacco flavors, then dial it up a notch. This has terrific energy to offset the admirable depth and length, and hasn't even started a second phase yet. One of the stars of the vintage. Best from 2018 through 2033. 20,000 cases made. JS 96 (4/2014): This wine has always been soft and delicious, with an almost decadent character of strawberry tart, earth, meat and spices. It’s full and very soft, with refined tannins and a very long finish. WA 95+ (6/2010): I found this to be one of the more backward wines of the 2000 vintage and gave it a window of maturity of 2015-2040 when I reviewed it in 2003. In my two recent tastings of it, I changed that window to 2018-2050, which probably says more than the following tasting note could say. This is a behemoth – dense, highly extracted, very tannic, broodingly backward, with a dense purple color and very little evolution since it was bottled 8 years ago. Wonderfully sweet cedar and fruitcake notes are intermixed with hints of creme de cassis, licorice, and earthy forest floor. It is full-bodied and tannic, with everything in place, but like so many wines that come from Leoville Barton, it makes a mockery of many modern-day consumers wanting a wine for immediate gratification. Those who bought it should continue to exercise patience and be proud to own a wonderful classic with five decades of longevity ahead of it. VM 94 (6/2003): Full medium ruby. Knockout superripe nose combines black cherry, licorice and exotic spices. Compellingly sweet, lush and complete, with harmonious acids giving the wine lovely vinosity and extending the flavors. Finishes with lush, dusty tannins and superb persistence. A great vintage for Leoville-Barton. Stephen Tanzer. NM 92 (3/2010): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. Ripe blackberry, raspberry, fruitcake and mulberry on the nose, more primal than others 2000s, developing touches of leather and Provencal herbs (white fennel) with time. The palate has a chewy entry, spicy and peppery, very attacking but perhaps a little ostentatious? Spiky, spicy black fruits, touches of marjoram and cardamom. Dry and tobacco dominated towards the finish, moderate length. It lacks some focus for the first ten minutes but coalesces and tidies itself up. Drink 2012-2030. |
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2002 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x1.5L)  |
$1,396.99 |
2 |
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WA 92 (4/2005): Even better from bottle than from cask, and one of the finest wines of the vintage, this dense purple-colored 2002 reveals wonderfully sweet notes of charcoal, fresh mushrooms, smoke, earth, leather, cassis, and cedar. Full-bodied, highly extracted, broodingly backward, dense, and deep, this impressively endowed offering is built for the long term. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028. NM 91 (10/2009): Tasted blind at Farr’s 2002 Bordeaux tasting. A rather taciturn nose but there is obviously good fruit intensity coiled up inside, blackberry, graphite and a touch of iodine. The palate is full-bodied with a lot of dry extract, tannic, austere and rather stoic. Very “classic" in style, but certainly good breeding that will blossom in the future. VM 90-92 (6/2004): Good full ruby-red. Black cherry, cassis and minerals on the nose. As fine-grained as the 2001, but with deeper, more chocolatey flavors of cassis, black cherry, licorice and minerals, nicely framed by harmonious acidity. Finishes impressively long, with substantial but fine tannins. Impeccably balanced wine. WS 89 (3/2005): Very attractive blackberry and vanilla aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Slightly hollow midpalate but flavorful. Best after 2007. 18,900 cases made. |
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2008 |
St. Julien  |
$109 |
3 |
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JS 93 (12/2010): What a nose! Chocolate, berry, meat and spice aromas. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is solid and rich for the vintage. A beauty. Try it after 2013. VM 93 (8/2011): Bright ruby. Sexy, ripe nose combines cassis, Cuban cigar tobacco, licorice and minerals. Sweet, tactile and intense, with concentrated, sharply delineated flavors of dark fruits and minerals. Densely packed, ripe and deep. Offers a lovely combination of silky texture, firm structure and the aromatic lift and nuance of the vintage's best examples. Should age gracefully for at least 15 years. WA 92 (5/2011): Typically extracted and powerful (which is atypical in a vintage such as 2008), this offering may lack charm, but it is “locked and loaded" with plenty of background oak, huge black cherry and black currant fruit, medium to full body and a boatload of tannin. Forget it for 8-10 years and drink it over the following three decades. NM 91+ (1/2012): Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. The Leoville Barton 2008 has a very ripe, opulent bouquet that reminded me of Poyferre! It has impressive definition and purity; very good lift but there is a lot of oak to be subsumed. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent, velvety entry that disguises its serious tannic backbone. It is very stylish and suave, although there is just a touch of dryness towards the finish. I think it will improve with another decade on the clock. WS 91 (4/2011): Alluring, with warm fig sauce, plum and currant paste notes liberally laced with espresso bean and dark roasted vanilla bean notes. Fleshy but focused, with the roasted edge adding definition and length. Drink now through 2019. 16,665 cases made. |
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2010 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$1,886.99 |
3 |
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JS 97 (3/2013): Aromas of pure blackberries and violets follow through to a full body, with super velvety tannins and a delicious balance of sweet fruit, light vanilla and nuts. Really savory and beautiful. Superb wine. I like this better than 2009. Try in 2018. WA 96+ (2/2013): A splendid showing, much stronger from bottle than it was from barrel, the Leoville Barton is one of the spectacular wines of the vintage. Inky purple to the rim, its huge tannin gives this wine real potential for 30-50 years of longevity. It is a classic, powerful Bordeaux made with no compromise. A superstar of the vintage, the wine has notes of pen ink and creme de cassis, good acidity, sweet, subtle oak, and massive extraction and concentration. I thought it was one of the most backward wines of the vintage two years ago, and nothing has changed in the ensuing upbringing of the wine in cask except that the wine now seems even richer, denser and fuller than I previously thought. The beautiful purity, symmetry, and huge finish of nearly a minute make this one of the all-time great classics from Leoville Barton. Anticipated maturity: 2028-2065+. WS 96 (3/2013): Takes a modern approach, with dark mocha- and espresso-infused toast leading the way, featuring an extra ganache kicker before dark currant preserves and roasted plum fruit strides in. Dense and extracted through the polished finish, this features a charcoal spine that gives rise to extra blueberry and pastis notes. Should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2038. VM 94+ (8/2013): Deep ruby. Very ripe, powerful aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate. Sweet, dense, ripe and deep, with Outstanding purity and intensity to its plush black fruit and spice flavors. This has the sweetness of a great Napa Valley cabernet along with buns of steel. Finishes with penetrating fruit and Outstanding verve and persistence. For all its creamy richness, this should be extremely long-lived. |
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2013 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$966.99 |
2 |
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JS 93 (2/2016): This is very pretty with currant, plum and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, silky mouth feel and a savory finish. Bright and delicious. Drink now or hold. WS 91 (3/2016): This has grip and focus from the start, with a lively brambly spine carrying plum cake, raspberry coulis and black currant flavors before yielding to an ample roasted apple wood note on the finish. A lightly tarry hint echoes. Best from 2018 through 2025. 11,667 cases made. WA 90 (10/2016): The 2013 Léoville-Barton has a more backward bouquet compared to the Langoa-Barton 2013, but there is more perfume here with blackberry, a touch of sea spray and cold limestone. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin, a crisp line of acidity with finesse and elegance on the finish, which is one of the best you'll find in Saint Julien. This finishes with a flourish after a conservative opening and it should yield a decade of pleasure, maybe more. This is a solid showing in a tough vintage. |
|
Ch. Leoville Las Cases |
1998 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$2,919.99 |
1 |
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WA 93 (4/2001): The 1998 has turned out to be one of the vintage's superb Medocs. It boasts an opaque black/purple color as well as a classic Leoville Las Cases display of lead pencil, gorgeously pure black raspberries and cherries, smoke, and graphite. A broad yet focused entry on the palate reveals firm tannin, medium to full body, superb concentration and purity, as well as a totally symmetrical mouthfeel. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. VM 92+ (6/2001): Medium ruby. Spicy, highly aromatic nose combines currant, lead pencil, licorice, minerals and roasted nuts. Dense, spicy and penetrating, with lovely clarity of fruit and considerable power. Quite suave and stylish. Finishes very long, with firm tannins that are quite fine for the year. "We'll prefer the '99 for the first ten years, but afterwards this '98 may be better," notes Jean-Hubert Delon. |
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2009 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$3,691 |
1 |
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JS 99 (2/2012): Amazing aromas of cep mushrooms, dark fruits and fresh flowers, follow through to a full body and super velvety tannins with a long long finish. Gorgeous structure to this. Sexy and almost decadent. Just like when I tasted it in Hong Kong. Try in 2019. WA 98+ (2/2012): The 2009 Leoville Las Cases may be the most open-knit and forward Las Cases I have tasted to date. Analytically, it is high in tannin and the alcohol is 13.8%, nearly a record at this estate. This blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc was showing brilliantly at the 2009 tasting I did in Hong Kong and at a later tasting. It boasts an inky/purple color, monumental concentration and lots of sweet, jammy black currant, black cherry and kirsch fruit intermixed with crushed rock and mineral notes. As always, proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon has built a massive wine with exceptional precision, unbelievable purity and aging potential of 40-50 years. I was surprised by the lusciousness of this cuvee on several occasions, and how much more forward it is given the fact that Las Cases can often be forebodingly backward and in need of 10-15 years of cellaring (at age 30, the 1982 is still a baby in terms of development!). The super-concentrated 2009 needs another 5-7 years before additional nuances emerge. This is a brilliant, full-throttle St.-Julien. WS 98 (3/2012): This is gorgeously layered with cassis bush, anise, roasted fig and plum reduction notes all framed by racy espresso and graphite. Very deep and very long, with terrific intensity on the finish thanks to razor cut from the seemingly endless iron spine. With its purity and precision, this mineral-driven Cabernet should cruise for two decades. Best from 2020 through 2035. 14,165 cases made. NM 97 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. Two bottles tasted in different flights. The Chateau Leoville Las-Cases 2009 appears to have closed down a little in recent months. Here, it has a very controlled bouquet with delineated blackberry, wild hedgerow and briary and crushed stone. Later, more Pauillac-like scented emerge - mint and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It does not quite have the clarity suggested by the aromatics, although there is certainly very good fruit concentration on the dense, almost surly finish. Tasted January 2013. VM 95+ (7/2012): Brilliant medium ruby. Brooding, medicinal aromas of cassis, blueberry, exotic spices and sexy oak. Large-scaled, dense and deep, with superconcentrated dark fruit and spice flavors given definition by strong acidity. Hugely rich but impeccably balanced Saint-Julien wine with a great, slowly building finish featuring a boatload of harmonious, noble, fully ripe tannins. This endless, subtle wine is at first growth level in 2009. |
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Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
1982 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$5,028.99 |
1 |
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WA 95 (6/2009): There is no question that Leoville Poyferre was not making wines at the level of quality they have since 1990. That said, the 1982 is a great wine, no doubt because of the vintage rather than the winemaking at that time. A brilliant effort, it boasts a dense purple color as well as a sweet, flowery bouquet revealing plenty of creme de cassis, plum, and cherry notes, stunning concentration, a boatload of power, sweet tannins (the sweetest and easiest to taste among the St.-Juliens), and a long finish. Although close to full maturity, it has at least 20-25 years of life remaining. NM 95 (11/2012): Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. After a misfiring bottle last year, this bottle of Didier Cuvelier’s Saint Julien hits the ball out of the park. It has a scintillating mineral-rich bouquet with blackberry, fresh raspberry and leather. It is opulent yet brilliant controlled. The palate is lively with crisp tannins, plenty of lively black fruit with subtle ferrous notes with a hint of chestnut. There is a solidity to this Leoville Poyferre: very structured but married with the exuberance and joie-de-vivre typical of this estate. Tasted again three weeks in Basel with consistent notes, this continues to be one of the Left Bank’s finest contributions to the vintage and possibly, somewhat overlooked. VM 91 (8/2002): Bright medium ruby. Refined, floral aromas of black- and redcurrant, minerals and graphite; at once very ripe and subdued. Juicy, precise and penetrating; not hugely fleshy but stylish and elegant. Finishes with lovely grip and clarity. Nicely understated for the vintage. Stephen Tanzer. WS 91 (11/1998): A gorgeous wine, and still holding back. A beautiful, perfumed red, with cherry, floral aromas. Full-bodied, very velvety, with a lot of fruit and a lovely structure. Will improve.Drink now through 2010. |
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2013 |
St. Julien ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$1,071.99 |
2 |
|
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JS 92 (2/2016): A sleek and racy 2013 with mineral, blackberry and currant aromas. Subtle and perfumed. Medium body, silky tannins and a clean finish. Drink or hold. WS 91 (3/2015): A solid, muscular version, with a slightly chewy feel along the edges, while the core of steeped plum, anise and blackberry paste waits in reserve. Reveals ample graphite details on the finish, with a warm fruitcake note chiming in. Just needs some cellaring to lose the burly edge. Best from 2017 through 2024. 15,405 cases made. NM 90-92 (5/2014): A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the Grand Vin, there is an almost Burgundy like purity on the nose, evoking a sense of Vosne-Romanee! The palate is full-bodied for the vintage, very concentrated with layers of ripe toasty black fruit. The acidity is well judged and there is good grip on the finish. Powerful and burly, this is a 2013 for those who do not want to compensate on fruit! Tasted April 2014. WA 90-92 (8/2014): This wine’s nearly opaque dense ruby/purple color is hardly that of an inferior vintage. The 2013 Leoville Poyferre exhibits a beautiful bouquet of blackberries and creme de cassis. This pure, luscious, long, luxurious (especially for the vintage) 2013 possesses adequate acidity, beautiful purity, and medium- to full-bodied density. One of the superstars of the vintage, it should drink well for 10-15 years. VM 90-92 (4/2014): Plums, blueberries, cassis, violets and sweet spices meld together nicely in the 2013 Léoville-Poyferré. Many of the signatures are in place in the 2013, they are just present in miniature. The fleshy, textured finish offers plenty of near and medium-term appeal. In a second tasting, the 2013 showed plenty of depth but also imposing tannins. It will be interesting to see how things develop in elevage here. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. |
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Ch. Lynch Bages |
2000 |
Pauillac  |
$245 |
22 |
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WA 97 (8/2011): Beginning to open magnificently, the still dense purple-colored 2000 reveals a blossoming bouquet of blackberries, cassis, graphite and pen ink. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that have resolved themselves beautifully over the last eleven years, this wine is still an adolescent, but it exhibits admirable purity, texture, mouthfeel and power combined with elegance. One of the all-time great examples of Lynch Bages, the 2000 is just beginning to drink well yet promises to last for another 20-25+ years. WS 96 (7/2016): This has a dense but well-defined core of currant and fig paste flavors supported by a gorgeous graphite spine. Long and authoritative, with notes of bay, pepper, leather and juniper slowly emerging on the finish. Terrific structure and integration give this a chiseled feel. No rush here.—2000 Bordeaux blind retrospective (December 2015). Drink now through 2033. JS 95 (4/2014): Another wonderful 2000 coming out of its long sleep. Beautiful aromas of berry, tobacco, herb and spice that follow through to a full palate with round, textured tannins and lots of fruit. VM 94+ (1/2012): (71% cabernet sauvignon, 16% merlot, 11% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 5.5 g/l total acidity; 13.3% alcohol): Deep ruby-red. Knockout aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, mocha and cedar complicated by scorched earth and tobacco. Big, ripe and dense, with flavors similar to the aromas and a seamless, rich texture. Though powerful and rich, with a sensual mouthfeel, it maintains a graceful, light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with ripe, fine-grained tannins and excellent length. Still an infant, but clearly a great vintage for this property. Ian d'Agata. NM 94 (3/2010): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. This is more taciturn on the nose than Pontet-Canet ‘00, but is well defined with some lovely savoury, chestnut and black truffle aromas developing in the glass. Touches of damp moss/lichen. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, gentle grip, foursquare but good weight, blackberry, graphite, leather and cedar, chewy towards the dry, structured finish. Very fine, perhaps a little broody and introverted at the moment. But great potential. Drink 2016-2040. |
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Ch. Malartic Lagraviere |
2015 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$422.99 |
1 |
|
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VM 96+ (2/2018): The 2015 Malartic Lagravière is just as fabulous from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich, voluptuous and dramatic, it captures all of the natural intensity of the year. Black cherry, plum, mocha, chocolate, licorice and French oak build into a crescendo of stunning aromas, flavors and textures. This is in an especially dark, sumptuous style, but it all works beautifully. The 2015 was positively thrilling each of the three times I tasted it. Antonio Galloni. |
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Ch. Malescot St. Exupery |
2016 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$896.99 |
5 |
|
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JS 98-99 (4/2017): This is a superb wine. I didn’t think it could be better than the 2015 but indeed it is. Full, layered and sexy. It goes on for minutes with dense fruit, yet it’s also vivid and showcases sublime tannins and acidity balance. Great finish. WA 94-96 (4/2017): The 2016 Malescot-St-Exupery has an opulent, lavish and pure bouquet with billowing black cherry and blueberry fruit, a touch of mint and graphite emerging with time. I love the delineation to this Margaux. The palate is very well balanced, sensual and voluptuous in style, but that does not detract from the fine structure here and the precision towards the finish. Everything seems to be in its right place here; it is one of the best Malescot-St-Exupery that I have tasted and it is wonderful. VM 92-95 (4/2017): The 2016 Malescot Saint Exupéry is superb. Powerful, virile and inviting, yet with tremendous balance for such a young wine, the 2016 captivates all the senses. Smoke, licorice, incense and a host of more soil-driven notes give the wine its signature aromatic profile. Malescot Saint Exupéry is a decidedly muscular Margaux, but the extraction also seems a bit dialed back. Antonio Galloni. WS 92-95 (4/2017): A layered, ripe style, with warm ganache and tobacco notes set over a lovely core of plum sauce and blackberry fruit. A licorice edge on the finish rounds this off. Enticing and polished, with a sanguine hint adding range. |
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Ch. Margaux |
1996 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$10,779.99 |
1 |
|
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WA 100 (10/2016): The 1996 Chateau Margaux, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, must be a strong contender for wine of the vintage. It offers everything you desire from this First Growth. It is blessed with breathtaking delineation and freshness on the nose, understated at first and then blossoming with mineral-infused black fruit, hints of blueberry, crushed stone and violet. The palate is perfectly balanced with filigree tannin, perfect acidity, a wine where everything seems to be in its right place. Blackberry, crushed stone at the front of the mouth, just a touch of spice towards the finish that shows supreme control. This is a Margaux that seems to light up the senses. It was Outstanding in its youth...something that has not changed one bit over the intervening two decades. This may well turn out to be the Left Bank pinnacle of the 1990s. VM 96+ (8/2002): Bright full ruby. Pure, perfumed aromas of cassis and violet. Dense and tactile in the mouth; a huge, chewy wine with major extract but also considerable refinement. Almost painfully backward today, and a bit less perfumed than it was in the year or so after the bottling, but the huge tannins show no hardness. Another great expression of cabernet sauvignon from the '96 vintage. Drink 2015 through 2040. Stephen Tanzer. WS 95 (7/2014): Fully formed now, with a rush of steeped currant and black tea notes that are melded with a backdrop of anise, sandalwood, bergamot and charcoal. The long, suave finish lets the perfume linger, with a weighty feel. This seems to mark the start of the refinement of tannins; despite the power, this is all grace and elegance. |
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2009 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$10,626.99 |
1 |
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JS 100 (2/2012): The nose is out of this world, with lilacs, currants, blackberries, and blueberries. Full-bodied, with super silky tannins and savory fruit and amazing flavors of fine leather, blueberries, and sandalwood. The quality of the tannins are amazing, with creamy texture and bright acidity on the end. Such classic and classicism. Delicacy. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is 13.2% alcohol. Best Margaux in bottle yet…will 2010 be as great? Try it in 2020. WA 99 (2/2012): A brilliant offering from the Mentzelopoulos family, once again their gifted manager, Paul Pontallier, has produced an uncommonly concentrated, powerful 2009 Chateau Margaux made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. As with most Medocs, the alcohol here is actually lower (a modest 13.3%) than most of its siblings-. Abundant blueberry, cassis and acacia flower as well as hints of charcoal and forest floor aromas that are almost Burgundian in their complexity are followed by a wine displaying sweet, well-integrated tannins as well as a certain ethereal lightness despite the wine's overall size. Rich, round, generous and unusually approachable for such a young Margaux, this 2009 should drink well for 30-35+ years. NM 98 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Margaux '09 has stunning precision and focus on the nose: classic Pauillac with blackberry, crushed stone, a sense of Alpine freshness. Vivacious and penetrating, this is a bouquet that stops you in your tracks. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet ripe blackberry and briary fruit, struck through with citrus lemon and orange zest. The finish is confident and exuberant, lingering for at least a minute in the mouth. VM 97-100 (6/2010): (a blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon, 9% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; pH 3.79; 13.3% alcohol; represents a stringent 36% selection) Good full ruby-red. Pure, ripe aromas of cassis, graphite and cedar, lifted by floral and mineral high notes. Dense and amazingly concentrated yet light on its feet, with compelling, extremely pure flavors of spicy blackcurrant, tobacco leaf and minerals. The extremely long, slow-building and wonderfully fine-grained finish offers an exhilarating combination of power and sweetness. This comes across as quite backward today yet is anything but austere. A real essence of Margaux's great terroir, and one of my favorite wines of the vintage. As I walked to the parking lot with Pontallier after the tasting, he said to me, "If people don't think this is one of the greatest wines I have ever made, then it means I haven't really understood anything in the last 30 years spent making wine." WS 97 (12/2013): This offers gorgeously caressing fruit, with steeped plum, blackberry and red currant notes, finely embroidered with accents of rooibos and black tea, tobacco leaf, alder and sandalwood. Delivers loads of fruit, with the structure already melded into the core of fruit-but that's the vintage style. A stunner, though I still find the '10 a full step ahead. Non-blind Château Margaux vertical (December 2013). Best from 2018 through 2035. |
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|
2009 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$5,391.99 |
1 |
|
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JS 100 (2/2012): The nose is out of this world, with lilacs, currants, blackberries, and blueberries. Full-bodied, with super silky tannins and savory fruit and amazing flavors of fine leather, blueberries, and sandalwood. The quality of the tannins are amazing, with creamy texture and bright acidity on the end. Such classic and classicism. Delicacy. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is 13.2% alcohol. Best Margaux in bottle yet…will 2010 be as great? Try it in 2020. WA 99 (2/2012): A brilliant offering from the Mentzelopoulos family, once again their gifted manager, Paul Pontallier, has produced an uncommonly concentrated, powerful 2009 Chateau Margaux made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. As with most Medocs, the alcohol here is actually lower (a modest 13.3%) than most of its siblings-. Abundant blueberry, cassis and acacia flower as well as hints of charcoal and forest floor aromas that are almost Burgundian in their complexity are followed by a wine displaying sweet, well-integrated tannins as well as a certain ethereal lightness despite the wine's overall size. Rich, round, generous and unusually approachable for such a young Margaux, this 2009 should drink well for 30-35+ years. NM 98 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Margaux '09 has stunning precision and focus on the nose: classic Pauillac with blackberry, crushed stone, a sense of Alpine freshness. Vivacious and penetrating, this is a bouquet that stops you in your tracks. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet ripe blackberry and briary fruit, struck through with citrus lemon and orange zest. The finish is confident and exuberant, lingering for at least a minute in the mouth. VM 97-100 (6/2010): (a blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon, 9% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; pH 3.79; 13.3% alcohol; represents a stringent 36% selection) Good full ruby-red. Pure, ripe aromas of cassis, graphite and cedar, lifted by floral and mineral high notes. Dense and amazingly concentrated yet light on its feet, with compelling, extremely pure flavors of spicy blackcurrant, tobacco leaf and minerals. The extremely long, slow-building and wonderfully fine-grained finish offers an exhilarating combination of power and sweetness. This comes across as quite backward today yet is anything but austere. A real essence of Margaux's great terroir, and one of my favorite wines of the vintage. As I walked to the parking lot with Pontallier after the tasting, he said to me, "If people don't think this is one of the greatest wines I have ever made, then it means I haven't really understood anything in the last 30 years spent making wine." WS 97 (12/2013): This offers gorgeously caressing fruit, with steeped plum, blackberry and red currant notes, finely embroidered with accents of rooibos and black tea, tobacco leaf, alder and sandalwood. Delivers loads of fruit, with the structure already melded into the core of fruit-but that's the vintage style. A stunner, though I still find the '10 a full step ahead. Non-blind Château Margaux vertical (December 2013). Best from 2018 through 2035. |
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Ch. Marquis d'Alesme |
2015 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$765.99 |
1 |
|
|
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Ch. Marquis de Terme |
2015 |
Margaux ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$725.99 |
5 |
|
|
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Ch. Meyney |
2014 |
St. Estephe ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML) |
$509.99 |
5 |
|
|
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Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2004 |
Pessac Leognan  |
$249 |
1 |
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WS 91 (3/2007): Aromas of fruit and spices, with black pepper and cumin and undertones of forest floor. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit, a silky texture and a medium-to-long finish. Best after 2011. 7,500 cases made. VM 91 (6/2007): Deep red-ruby. Bright aromas of dark fruits, licorice, rocks and leather, lifted by a light peppery nuance. Dense and broad, with a creamy, seamless mid-palate texture and a restrained sweetness. Finishes with fine, broad tannins and noteworthy persistence. With its very fresh style, this comes across as a bit more delineated today than the 2005 Haut-Brion. An excellent showing. WA 90 (6/2007): While La Mission Haut-Brion’s 2004 is not one of this estate’s top successes, it is an Outstanding wine, no doubt because of this extraordinary terroir. Deep ruby/purple with notes of lead pencil shavings intermixed with black cherries, cassis, and a hint of scorched earth, medium body, sweet tannin, and a good, but uninspiring finish, this attractive, mid-weight La Mission should age nicely for 15 or more years. |
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2010 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (12x750ML)  |
$7,338.99 |
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WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion has a commanding, profound nose of baked blackberries, boysenberries and warm cassis plus suggestions of candied violets, red roses, chocolate box, cedar chest and smoked meats with a waft of iron ore. Full-bodied, powerful and hedonic, the palate bursts with expressive black fruits and floral sparks, framed by exquisitely ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing with epic length. A real head-turner, this beauty is already very impressive, but for that full WOW experience I would give it another 3-5 years in bottle to blossom. JS 100 (2/2013): This is crazy. The nose is so unique with the iodine, stones and currant aromas with wet earth and mushroom. Aromas like this don't usually come out until 10 years or so in the bottle. Classic nose for this estate. Full-bodied, with an amazing palate of firm yet polished tannins and a solid palate. So dense and gorgeous. It is really stunning. Try in 2020. VM 98 (4/2020): The 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion has a very flattering bouquet with detailed red and black fruit laced with chestnut, cedar and sous-bois. This is supremely well focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. There is immense depth here, more savoury than expected with chestnut once again, white pepper and a tinge of dried blood towards the finish. Outstanding. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. WS 97 (3/2013): Intense and engaging. Despite showing lots of heft and tarry grip, the singed apple wood and alder notes are well-defined in this red, accentuating a core of roasted fig, blackberry coulis and macerated red and black currant fruit. The long, bramble-edged finish sports showy ganache and Lapsang souchong tea notes, while the structure refuses to yield until everything has finally played out. Muscular and vivacious. Best from 2019 through 2040. |
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2010 |
Pessac Leognan ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (3x750ML)  |
$2,001.99 |
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WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion has a commanding, profound nose of baked blackberries, boysenberries and warm cassis plus suggestions of candied violets, red roses, chocolate box, cedar chest and smoked meats with a waft of iron ore. Full-bodied, powerful and hedonic, the palate bursts with expressive black fruits and floral sparks, framed by exquisitely ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing with epic length. A real head-turner, this beauty is already very impressive, but for that full WOW experience I would give it another 3-5 years in bottle to blossom. JS 100 (2/2013): This is crazy. The nose is so unique with the iodine, stones and currant aromas with wet earth and mushroom. Aromas like this don't usually come out until 10 years or so in the bottle. Classic nose for this estate. Full-bodied, with an amazing palate of firm yet polished tannins and a solid palate. So dense and gorgeous. It is really stunning. Try in 2020. VM 98 (4/2020): The 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion has a very flattering bouquet with detailed red and black fruit laced with chestnut, cedar and sous-bois. This is supremely well focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. There is immense depth here, more savoury than expected with chestnut once again, white pepper and a tinge of dried blood towards the finish. Outstanding. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. WS 97 (3/2013): Intense and engaging. Despite showing lots of heft and tarry grip, the singed apple wood and alder notes are well-defined in this red, accentuating a core of roasted fig, blackberry coulis and macerated red and black currant fruit. The long, bramble-edged finish sports showy ganache and Lapsang souchong tea notes, while the structure refuses to yield until everything has finally played out. Muscular and vivacious. Best from 2019 through 2040. |
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Ch. Montrose |
2008 |
St. Estephe ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. Subject to tariffs upon arrival in USA (6x750ML)  |
$795.99 |
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WA 95 (5/2011): One of the superstars of the vintage, this classic Montrose is not as showy or op |
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