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Inventory updated: Wed, Oct 14, 2026 04:02 PM cst
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Argentina |
| Terrazas de Los Andes |
2019 |
Cheval des Andes (6x750ML) 
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$489.99 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 98 (8/2022): The 2019 Cheval des Andes had a more reductive vinification and élevage, making the wine a bit shy and in need of time to open up, as one of their objectives was to make it more age-worthy. Another objective is to get to a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, which they achieved in this vintage for the first time, going back to the initial character of the wine that was the idea of Argentinean winemaker Roberto de la Mota; so, they are closing the circle and going back to the initial idea, with more implication from the Cheval Blanc team. This is the first vintage fully under the charge of the new French winemaker, Gerald Gabillet, who fermented by plot, isolating some specific parts of the vineyard, like the borders where you tend to get higher yields because of the irrigation. It matured in 225- and 400-liter oak barrels and in oak vats. They used more barrels and vats from Stockinger, which they like and rotate; the wine spends an average of 13 to 14 months in oak, but some lots get 11 months and others get 16. 2019 was a mild vintage, cooler than 2017 and warmer than 2018, with rain at the right time, which helped to avoid hydric stress, and without extremes (which they had in 2020 with three weeks of extreme heat). The wine is young and tender and a bit oaky, which Gerald attributed to the reductiveness; it's ripe without excess, with around 14.2% alcohol, mellow acidity and velvety tannins. There's more Cabernet here, so the aromatic expression can be something between 2017 and 2018, but Cabernet marks the palate a lot and makes the wine more age-worthy, as it provides the structure and length that the Malbec lacks. So, the wine might be less accessible when young and should develop slowly in bottle. It's tasty and supple and has the ingredients and the balance for what they are aiming for. In the following vintages, they follow this path, and Gabillet feels that having more precision allows the wines to reflect the differences between vintages better. They keep producing around 100,000 bottles. It was bottled in late January 2021. The way they want to describe the wine is the Argentinean expression of Cheval Blanc. And I can only agree.
VM 97 (11/2021): The 2019 Cheval des Andes is a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from Las Compuertas and Paraje Altamira, Mendoza. The 2019 was 40% aged in 225-liter barrels, 40% in 500-liter barrels and 20% in foudres. It’s red with violet flecks in the glass. It has a fresh nose of plum and blackcurrant accompanied by hints of white pepper, mint and violets over a bed of cedar and sandalwood. On the palate, the feel is finely grained with a leaner, more agile flow than in previous years, while the freshness brings plenty of energy before the lengthy finish of fruit and country herb aromas. Joaquin Hidalgo.
JS 97 (4/2022): A refined but spicy Cheval, showing charcoal, blueberries, wild herbs, lavender and hints of bacon and cedar. Medium to full body with extremely fine tannins that get dialed into the fruit with violet, spices and sweet blue fruit at the end. Long and subtle. Drink or hold. |
|
| | Australia |
| Grosset |
2021 |
Polish Hill Riesling (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$422.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Polish Hill Riesling (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$431.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Henschke |
2013 |
Hill of Grace Shiraz (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,922.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Moss Wood |
2022 |
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$532.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Angelus |
1995 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,435.97 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 92+ (8/2015): This is typical 1995 in that it’s young, tannic, masculine and still vigorous and foreboding. This vintage at age 20 seems reluctant to evolve in the most graceful manner possible, but it is still easily holding on to life and still has a fair amount of tannin left to resolve. The wine is concentrated, but will the tannin ever soften to the point where it is well-integrated? This can be drunk now, as the aromatics are enticing and complex. Although, be aware of the tannin clout the wine still possesses. Drink 2017-2030.
VM 93 (6/1998): Bright dark ruby. Sweet, superripe aromas of raspberry, plum, black cherry, tobacco, toffee and game. Like liquid velvet in the mouth: sweet, voluptuous, seamless. Palate-staining flavors of black cherry, chocolate and smoky oak. Finishes with chewy, toothfurring tannins and great persistence. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,156.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Le Carillon de l' Angelus |
2015 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$589.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (2/2018): Composed of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Le Carillon d'Angelus sports a medium to deep garnet-purple color and a very spicy nose of cloves, cinnamon and fenugreek over core of warm red fruits and freshly crushed blackberries plus wafts of rose hips and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, very fresh and delicate in the mouth, it offers soft tannins with a savory, slightly chewy finish. |
|
| Ch. Angelus |
2019 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,973.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97-99 (6/2020): Composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Angelus was harvested from the 13th of September until the 4th of October. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with gregarious scents of Morello cherries, lilacs, chocolate box and potpourri with a core of Black Forest cake, blueberry crumble, fragrant soil and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the intensity on the palate builds from delicate, beguiling nuances with ethereal weight to a full-on fireworks display of flavor sparks, framed by fantastic freshness and very finely pixilated tannins, finishing long, layered and invigorating.
VM 96-98 (6/2020): The 2019 Angelus has a sophisticated bouquet with extraordinarily pure blackberry, raspberry, inkwell and crushed iris petals scents, like the Carillon but HD in terms of its clarity. The palate is beautifully defined on the entry, the Cabernet component steering it towards say, Figeac or Cheval Blanc stylistically. It already feels very harmonious, the satin-like texture is supported by real substance and grip on the finish, perhaps more density than some of its peers. This is an outstanding Angelus, one likely to surpass the 2016, a wine that will give 30-40 years of pleasure, maybe more. Neal Martin.
JD 96-99 (6/2020): The grand vin 2019 Château Angelus, a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, is certainly up with the top wines in the vintage. (It actually reminds me a little of a more elegant version of the 2005.) Deep purple-hued, with a blockbuster bouquet of black cherries, blackberries, spice box, violets, spring flowers, and chocolate, it has a terrific sense of minerality, full-bodied richness, building tannins, and an incredible sense of elegance pair with power. A quintessential example of the style now emerging from this estate, it's going to need 5-7 years of bottle age to hit maturity (it won't disappoint in its youth either) and will evolve gracefully for 20-30 years.
JS 98-99 (6/2020): An extremely refined and sharpened Angelus with super fine tannins and sweet ripe fruit in the center palate. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and so very polished. Silky. Very subtle. Bright blue fruit, black fruit and stones. Supple and minerally. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. |
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|
2022 |
St. Emilion Hommage a Elisabeth Bouchet
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,656.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Le Carillon de l' Angelus |
2022 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$716.99 |
20 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Ausone |
2022 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,607.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96-98 (5/2023): The Grand Vin from this hallowed terroir is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was fermented in wooden vats and will spend 20 months in new barrels. Its saturated purple hue is followed by an up-front, sexy, full-bodied Ausone offering a wealth of fruit as well as notes of black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of spring flowers. Concentrated and incredibly pure, with silky tannins on the palate, it has the texture and fruit to almost shine even now but should still evolve for 30 years or more.
VM 95-97+ (5/2023): The 2022 Ausone was picked from 5 to 30 September and matured for 20 months in French oak. These aromatics take a little time to open in the glass. Once they do, they are precise with wilted iris flowers infusing the black fruit and background pencil box and incense hints. The palate is medium-bodied with silver bead acidity threaded through the blackberry and bilberry fruit. Fresh and focused, this Ausone possesses a structured finish with a pinch of black pepper on the finish. Elegant in style, this Ausone almost creeps up in you and seduces, intellectual and persistent in the mouth. Upon departing, I couldn't help wondering if I had witnessed this Saint-Émilion demonstrates its full potential, hence the plus sign against my score. 14.4% alcohol. Neal Martin
WA 94-96+ (5/2023): A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Ausone unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and cherries complemented by hints of crushed mint and spices, framed by a lavish patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and rather muscular, it's deep and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by a serious chassis of rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Given its imposing levels of structuring extract, it will require patience.
JA 98-100 (5/2023): Intense and concentrated, with fennel, aniseed and liqourice root. Where Chapelle d'Ausone celebrates a wave of opulence in the vintage, this focuses more clearly on black tea, slate, intense black chocolate. Precise and well cut, this is creamy and exuberant without sacrificing elegance and balance. Amazing depths of flavour and grip. A true En Primeur sample where you know you are a long long way from this being ready to drink. The first year, incidentally, of not Premier Grand Cru Classé A, although the ranking has not been featured on the label since 2012. No irrigation at Ausone. 100% new oak. Harvest September 5 to 27. 7.25ha. Conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Pauline Vauthier owner and winemaker. Potential 100. |
|
| Ch. Barde-Haut |
2022 |
St. Emilion |
$36.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96 (2/2025): The 2022 Château Barde-Haut checks in as the usual blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that was brought up 50 to 60% new barrels, with the balance in once- and twice-used barrels, with a small amount in tank. Gorgeous black raspberries, blue fruits, smoky tobacco, violets, and crushed stone all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a silky, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s not far off the style of the 2020 (and 2010), and is a rocking little Saint-Emilion to enjoy over the coming 20+ years. (Drink between 2025-2045).
VM 94 (2/2025): The 2022 Barde-Haut needs time in the glass. It’s quite floral in style, with touches of blackberry and cassis, iris flower and violet. It has fine delineation. Again, the palate at first seems a little tannic, but it just requires five minutes to "loosen up" for the tannins to reveal their finer side. Graphite and crushed stone lend complexity toward the finish. It’s excellent, though again, such is the concentration that it needs time to really show what it is capable of. (Drink between 2030-2060). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Beau-Sejour Becot |
2018 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$391.99 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (3/2021): This estate makes an incredibly classic, elegant Saint-Emilion. The 2018 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is based on 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 65% new French oak. Coming from a beautiful terroir on the upper plateau, it reveals a deep purple/ruby color as well as perfumed cassis and mulberry fruits intermixed with ample spring flowers, chalky minerality, violets, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated on the palate, it has terrific mid-palate depth, flawless balance, background oak, and polished yet significant tannins. If you want to know what limestone soil gives to a wine, try this! It has the polish and balance to offer pleasure today, yet the cellar will be your friend. This warrants 5-7 years of bottle age and will have 30+ years of prime drinking.
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Beau-Séjour Bécot has really closed down since I tasted it en primeur. Inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and blood orange gradually open in the glass, all framed by veins of chalky minerality. The 2018 is a fabulous wine in the making, but readers have to be patient. Time in a decanter or simply in the glass helps to bring out the wine's considerable depth. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94+ (3/2021): The 2018 Beau-Sejour Becot is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slips slowly, sensuously from the glass with notes of boysenberries, black raspberries, baked plums and chocolate-covered cherries, plus hints of star anise, dried Provence herbs and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate offers soft textured, perfumed black fruit layers with just enough freshness and a lifted finish. A little closed and shy at this youthful stage, give it a good 5-6 years in bottle and enjoy it over the next 25 years or more. |
|
| Ch. Branaire-Ducru |
2018 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$590.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JS 97 (1/2021): Very attractive aromas of currants, tile and sandalwood with black and red currants. It’s full-bodied with a tight, dense center-palate that remains closed in and tight. Yet there is underlying seriousness and length to this. Perhaps the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made. Try after 2026.
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Branaire-Ducru is every bit as captivating as it was en primeur. Ripe, silky tannins give the 2018 a striking air of sensuality that only grows as the wine sits in the glass. Succulent red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint, spice and gravel inflections all open more over time. Even with all of its natural radiance, Branaire remains a model of grace. It is unquestionably one of the under the radar wines of the year. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (3/2021): A beautiful Saint-Julien, the 2018 Château Branaire-Ducru reveals a deep purple color as well as ample, earthy cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with sous bois, earth, lead pencil, and cedar. With that classic Saint-Julien pure fruit, sumptuous aromas and flavors, sweet yet present tannins, and a solid spine of acidity, it's going to need 5-7 years to hit maturity yet should keep for 20-25 years or more. I don't think it's going to match the blockbuster 2009 (it's more in the pretty, elegant style of the 2016), but it's a gorgeous, elegant wine you will love to have in the cellar.
WA 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Branaire-Ducru has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and an upfront, expressive nose of baked black plums, boysenberries and Morello cherries with an undercurrent of dried mint, spice box and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs a very pleasant fruit wallop, featuring juicy black fruits and a firm, grainy frame, finishing long with lovely purity. |
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|
2019 |
St. Julien |
$53 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (4/2022): The 2019 Branaire-Ducru unwinds in the glass with aromas of raspberries, blackcurrants, sweet soil tones and hints of cigar wrapper, rose petals and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's youthfully tightly wound, with terrific concentration, tangy acids, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish. While this is a little reserved out of the gates, its energy and classical proportions will richly reward bottle age.
JD 94-96 (6/2020): Beautiful blue fruits, tobacco, damp earth, and floral notes all emerge from the 2019 Château Branaire-Ducru. It's medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, has silky tannins, and shows the quality of the vintage perfectly. A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades or more. It reminds me of the 2009.
VM 94 (2/2022): The 2019 Branaire-Ducru is one that I was eager to re-taste in bottle. Deep in color, it has a very well-defined nose of tightly packed dark berries, the tobacco element less obvious than before, and slightly more floral, with light sous-bois notes developing with aeration. The 60% new oak is neatly integrated. The palate shows real vivacity and tension on the entry and delivers crunchy black fruit, touches of blue fruit and a little iodine. Sappy from start to finish, this has a real saline tang that urges you back for another sip. There is definitely is more substance compared to previous vintages, and I wager that this represents the best Branaire-Ducru in recent years.
JA 93 (12/2021): Hard to resist this finessed and silky Branaire, with finely boned tannins, well balanced black fruits, nuanced tobacco leaf and a crushed mint sign-off. Plenty to enjoy in this wine, there are good tannins. 43hl/h yield. |
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2020 |
St. Julien |
$74 |
1 |
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| JD 93+ (3/2023): Showing beautifully, the deeper purple/ruby-hued 2020 Château Branaire-Ducru offers a deep, masculine bouquet of blackcurrants, plums, smoked tobacco, and iron. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, nicely balanced Saint-Julien with plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, integrated tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more. |
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|
2022 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$830.97 |
1 |
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JD 95-97 (5/2023): An absolute gem of a Saint-Julien, the 2022 Château Branaire-Ducru clocks in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Pure cassis, black raspberries, spicy wood, and dried flower notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a silky, elegant, beautifully balanced mouthfeel, and terrific tannins. In addition, it has a sense of freshness and purity that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's clearly the finest wine I've tasted from this château, which going forward merits serious attention.
VM 94-96 (5/2023): The 2022 Branaire-Ducru is a powerhouse, almost unnaturally so for this Saint-Julien, which is usually a more understated wine. A blast of dark plum fruit makes a pretty strong first impression. Licorice, cloves, spice, menthol and chocolate fill out the layers. Readers should expect a concentrated, virile Saint-Julien with compelling aromatic presence. In this warm, low-yielding vintage, Branaire is quite the brooding powerhouse. It will be interesting to see if more finesse develops in time. Impressive. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95-97 (5/2023): A brilliant wine that's the finest young vintage I've tasted at this Saint-Julien estate, the 2022 Branaire-Ducru wafts from the glass with aromas of violets, blackberries, sweet cassis, licorice and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional palate that's succulent, sapid and perfumed, framed by supple tannins and concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. It's a blend of 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot that checks in at a healthy pH of 3.65. Why is it so good this year? In addition to the quality of the vintage, the new gravity-flow winery means fruit can be handled more gently, and picked more precisely, sub-block by sub-block, as the team now have fully 63 vats at their disposal, almost double their capacity through 2020. Given the Maroteaux family's sensible approach to pricing, this is likely to number among the must-purchase wines of the 2022 vintage, and it comes warmly recommended.
JA 96 (5/2023): This is an estate that can be so understated as to almost miss its complexity, but this vintage, with its excess and exuberance, does a wonderful job of drawing it out. The concentration is impressive, but there you'll also find a softness and balance that is juicy and enticing. Great job Branaire Ducru. Francois Xavier Maroteaux owner. I honestly think the best example of this château that I have ever tasted En Primeur (and god I hate it when critics say that). |
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| Baron de Brane |
2016 |
Margaux |
$39.95 |
1 |
|
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| Decanter 90 (4/2025): Juicy red cherry, raspberry with a hint of curry spice. Grippy tannins and a slightly bitter edge, offering a moderate finish and good drinkability with subtle mineral nuances. (Drink between 2025-2032) |
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| Ch. Brane-Cantenac |
2016 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,177.98 |
2 |
|
| |
JA 99 (9/2025): Rich, deep, powerful, still just at the start of its life. This is a stunning wine, the standout in the vertical. Luscious black fruits, with a careful climb of freshness and acidity through the palate, carefully placed and so delicious, waves of subtle cumin, cocoa and liquorice spice, cassis, cedar, mint leaf, smoked tea, oyster shell, slate tannins. Can easily hold for another few decades, but honestly it is tasting so good right now, you might want to at least open one bottle so you can begin to follow its progress. Harvest September 22 to October 17, 52.5hl/h yield, 70% new oak barrels. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.
VM 95 (9/2025): The 2016 Brane-Cantenac has a wonderful bouquet. Pure blackberry, cedar and graphite scents blossom in the glass with exquisite delineation and harmony. The palate is medium-bodied with sculpted tannins and a sense of symmetry that the estate had not seen before. Very focused and mineral-driven towards the finish, this was quite simply the best Brane-Cantenac that Henri Lurton had overseen to date. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025. (Drink between 2026-2050). Neal Martin.
JD 95 (11/2019): I missed this wine in my recent 2016 Bordeaux report, but I was able to purchase a bottle locally. A tremendous Margaux, the 2016 offers the quintessential elegance of the appellation as well as plenty of density, concentration, and ripe tannins. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedarwood, and flowery incense all emerge from the glass, and it builds nicely with air, offering medium to full body, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is classic Margaux as well as a classic 2016. It’s already approachable, and I doubt it will close down, yet it’s going to develop additional nuances with another 4-6 years of bottle age and have 25-30 years of prime drinking. |
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2016 |
Margaux |
$99 |
1 |
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JA 99 (9/2025): Rich, deep, powerful, still just at the start of its life. This is a stunning wine, the standout in the vertical. Luscious black fruits, with a careful climb of freshness and acidity through the palate, carefully placed and so delicious, waves of subtle cumin, cocoa and liquorice spice, cassis, cedar, mint leaf, smoked tea, oyster shell, slate tannins. Can easily hold for another few decades, but honestly it is tasting so good right now, you might want to at least open one bottle so you can begin to follow its progress. Harvest September 22 to October 17, 52.5hl/h yield, 70% new oak barrels. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.
VM 95 (9/2025): The 2016 Brane-Cantenac has a wonderful bouquet. Pure blackberry, cedar and graphite scents blossom in the glass with exquisite delineation and harmony. The palate is medium-bodied with sculpted tannins and a sense of symmetry that the estate had not seen before. Very focused and mineral-driven towards the finish, this was quite simply the best Brane-Cantenac that Henri Lurton had overseen to date. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025. (Drink between 2026-2050). Neal Martin.
JD 95 (11/2019): I missed this wine in my recent 2016 Bordeaux report, but I was able to purchase a bottle locally. A tremendous Margaux, the 2016 offers the quintessential elegance of the appellation as well as plenty of density, concentration, and ripe tannins. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedarwood, and flowery incense all emerge from the glass, and it builds nicely with air, offering medium to full body, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is classic Margaux as well as a classic 2016. It’s already approachable, and I doubt it will close down, yet it’s going to develop additional nuances with another 4-6 years of bottle age and have 25-30 years of prime drinking. |
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|
2017 |
Margaux |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 94 (12/2019): A tight, focused center palate to this red with blackberries, dark chocolate, hazelnuts and smoke. Medium to full body, polished tannins and a juicy, lightly chewy mouthfeel. A blend of 74% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2022. |
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2018 |
Margaux |
$77 |
2 |
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JD 95+ (3/2021): A quintessential Margaux as well as one of the finest wines I've tasted from this estate, the 2018 Château Brane-Cantenac is based on 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all aged in 70% new French oak. Beautiful cassis and mulberry fruits as well as notes of leafy tobacco, spice, cedarwood, and spring flowers emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant, it has loads of fruit, a seamless texture, and a good spine of acidity. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 30 years or more. (Drink between 2025-2055).
VM 95 (3/2021): The 2018 Brane-Cantenac opens with a super-classic bouquet of dried herbs, pencil shavings, licorice and mint. Medium in body and wonderfully nuanced, Brane-Cantenac marries the natural richness of the year with a classic structural feel. This is one of the most elegant, restrained 2018s readers will come across. I loved it. (Drink between 2028-2048). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93+ (3/2021): The 2018 Brane-Cantenac is medium to deep garnet-purple in color, leaping from the glass with vibrant notes of kirsch, black raspberries and warm cassis, plus suggestions of roses, forest floor and cinnamon stick with a waft of cedar chest. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully elegant and refreshing, weighing in at just 13.5% alcohol, while not scrimping on the interplay of red and black fruits. It has lovely soft tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Impressive! |
|
| Ch. Calon-Segur |
2011 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,781.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
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2019 |
St. Estephe (3X750ML) 3-Bottle OWC |
$357 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (4/2022): As to the Grand Vin, the 2019 Château Calon Ségur checks in as 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, brought up in new barrels. This full-bodied, spicy, complex, decadent beauty has building, polished tannins, terrific overall balance, and incredible aromatics of spiced red and black currants, lead pencil, cedary herbs, smoked tobacco, and flowery incense. Complex, ripe, and even sexy, it will need just 4-6 years to hit the early stages of its drink window and is going to cruise for 30 years if properly stored. It's another brilliant wine from this estate. (Drink between 2026-2058).
VM 94+ (2/2023): The 2019 Calon Ségur lacks the luster of Phélan-Ségur on the nose, though there is good concentration, black fruit commingling with melted tar and pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fresh with pliant tannins, cohering nicely towards the finish that has ample flesh. Lovely texture with a persistent white pepper tinged finish. Not quite achieving the heights just after bottling, yet this Saint-Estèphe is heading in the right direction. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2026-2050). Neal Martin.
WA 93 (4/2022): Vincent Millet (who can boast a doctorate in wine microbiology and who took up his post as Calon's technical director after a stint at Château Margaux) is doing everything right in terms of restructuring the estate's somewhat neglected vineyards with massal selections, higher density plantings, cover crops and precision viticulture. He's also cleaned up and modernized the winery. The 2019 Calon-Ségur shows the impact of some of those changes already, offering up a rich bouquet of crème de cassis, licorice, warm spices and subtle hints of cigar box, followed by a full-bodied, broad and fleshy palate that's deep and concentrated, with lively acids and beautifully refined tannins. All this is very impressive, but the fly in the ointment is an alcohol level that flirts with 15% and makes itself felt on the warm, liqueured finish. Balance isn't a matter of mere numbers, of course, but despite its admirable qualities and the serious work behind it, I do have reservations about this wine's ultimate equilibrium. Time will tell. The good news is that Millet is actively exploring viticultural strategies to mitigate high alcohol levels. |
|
| Le Marquis de Calon-Segur |
2019 |
St. Estephe |
$41 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 92 (4/2022): A bottle of wine I'd happily drink, the 2019 Le Marquis De Calon Ségur sports a ruby/purple hue as well as classic Saint-Estèphe notes of red and black fruits, damp earth, leafy herbs, and even some spicy, floral nuances that I don't normally find in young Saint-Estèphe. Medium-bodied on the palate, it's nicely balanced, has well-integrated acidity and tannins, and outstanding length. It's a rock solid second wine with loads to love.
VM 90 (2/2023): The 2019 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur does not quite possess the complexity of the 2019 Capbern on the nose, more red fruit here, earthier in style. The palate is medium-bodied with graphite infused black fruit, moderate depth, a touch of abrasiveness towards the finish that should be abraded with time. There is something uncompromising here...but I like that. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2026-2046). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Canon |
2020 |
St. Emilion |
$169 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (4/2023): The brilliant 2020 Canon looks set to surpass both the 2019 and 2016 as this estate's finest wine since the post-war period, though like many of the best 2020s, it will require more patience than its 2019 counterpart. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with notions of exotic spices and iris, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with vibrant acids and beautifully polished, chalky tannins. Pure and precise, it concludes with a long, mouthwatering finish. This beautifully constructed wine communicates the essence of this superb limestone terroir, and it will be worth a special effort to track down and cellar.
VM 98 (11/2024): The 2020 Canon is very succinct on the nose, beautifully defined with extraordinarily pure red fruit laced with pressed violet and iris flower. The oak is perfectly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fresh and almost citric, very vibrant and precise with a quite peppery finish. God made wine so that it can taste as good as this. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2030-2065). Neal Martin.
JD 97+ (3/2023): Another brilliant Saint-Emilion, the 2020 Château Canon actually reminds me of the 2019 with its pure, elegant, yet concentrated profile. Based on 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc, it reveals a deep ruby hue as well as classic upper plateau notes of perfumed red and black fruits (black raspberries, darker cherries), wildflowers, graphite, and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, perfectly integrated tannins and acidity, and flawless overall balance. As with the 2019, it's not the blockbuster style of the 2015, but it’s lively, elegant, and pure class. It needs 7-8 years of bottle age to hit maturity and will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity. (Drink between 2030-2060). |
|
|
2020 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$968.97 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 100 (4/2023): The brilliant 2020 Canon looks set to surpass both the 2019 and 2016 as this estate's finest wine since the post-war period, though like many of the best 2020s, it will require more patience than its 2019 counterpart. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with notions of exotic spices and iris, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with vibrant acids and beautifully polished, chalky tannins. Pure and precise, it concludes with a long, mouthwatering finish. This beautifully constructed wine communicates the essence of this superb limestone terroir, and it will be worth a special effort to track down and cellar.
VM 98 (11/2024): The 2020 Canon is very succinct on the nose, beautifully defined with extraordinarily pure red fruit laced with pressed violet and iris flower. The oak is perfectly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fresh and almost citric, very vibrant and precise with a quite peppery finish. God made wine so that it can taste as good as this. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2030-2065). Neal Martin.
JD 97+ (3/2023): Another brilliant Saint-Emilion, the 2020 Château Canon actually reminds me of the 2019 with its pure, elegant, yet concentrated profile. Based on 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc, it reveals a deep ruby hue as well as classic upper plateau notes of perfumed red and black fruits (black raspberries, darker cherries), wildflowers, graphite, and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, perfectly integrated tannins and acidity, and flawless overall balance. As with the 2019, it's not the blockbuster style of the 2015, but it’s lively, elegant, and pure class. It needs 7-8 years of bottle age to hit maturity and will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity. (Drink between 2030-2060). |
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|
2021 |
St. Emilion (3X750ML) 3-Bottle OWC |
$297 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2024): The 2021 Canon shows just how magical this site is. Vertical and explosive in feel, with tons of pure power, it impresses with its intensity, drive and super-classic profile. Bright saline notes and vibrant tannins give the 2021 a feeling of energy that only gains momentum with time in the glass. It's not an easy Canon, like the 2015 or 2018, but it is incredibly expressive. It is the sort of wine that only truly emerges with time in bottle. I would be thrilled to own it. Canon must surely be one of the great relative values in first-class wine. Wow. Tasted two times. (Drink between 2031-2061). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (2/2024): The 2021 Canon opens in the glass with a pure bouquet of raspberries, cherries and plums mingled with pretty top notes of iris, licorice, mint and sweet spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's fleshy and sensual, with a deep and seamless core of fruit framed by ultra-refined tannins, a bright spine of acidity and a long, mineral finish. With an impressively low finished pH of 3.37, it was taken out of barrel a month earlier than usual and saw no fining—as has been the case since 2010.
JD 94 (4/2024): A much more elegant, finesse-driven wine compared to Berliquet (which comes from the same team and a neighboring vineyard), the 2021 Château Canon reveals a ruby/plum hue as well as beautiful aromatics of ripe red and black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and sappy flowers. It's nicely concentrated, has ripe, polished tannins, and flawless overall balance, all while playing in the more mid-weight, elegant, focused style of the vintage. It will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age but drink nicely through 2041. The blend is 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc that saw one-third of the blend seeing malolactic fermentation in barrel and the élevage spanning 16-18 months in 50% new French oak. It hit 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.37. I was able to taste this on multiple occasions, always rating it between 93-95. (Drink between 2026-2041). |
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|
2022 |
St. Emilion (3X750ML) 3-Bottle OWC |
$495 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97-99+ (5/2023): Tasted on three separate occasions (and I thought it had the potential to be a perfect wine on one of those), the 2022 Château Canon is an incredible wine in the making, and it might be the finest in the series starting in 2015. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc harvested between August 30 and September 22, it comes from yields of 45 hectoliters per hectare and hit 14.5% alcohol. The élevage will run 16-18 months in just 30% new French oak. As classy as they come, it has a beautiful perfume of red and blue fruits as well as notes of white flowers, truffly earth, woodsmoke, and forest floor. With incredible density, a multi-layered texture, ultra-fine tannins, and integrated acidity, this incredible Canon will evolve for 30-40 years. I finished my rough note on this with "Pure class."
VM 96-99 (5/2023): The 2022 Canon is elegant and sensual, with virtually no sensation of tannin. A wine with no beginning and end, Canon is totally seamless. All the Canon signatures are there, but woven together in an effortless, gracious expression of this site. It's the sort of wine that is about subtlety and nuance more than power. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and spice caress the palate, but ultimately, Canon is above all else a wine of exquisite detail. Haute couture. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
WA 99-100 (5/2023): From an estate that is delivering its greatest run of vintages since the superb Post War series that preceded the frosts of 1956, the 2022 Canon is a magical wine that will be worth every effort to track down. Wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, wild plums and cherries mingled with hints of bay leaf, spices and violets, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with huge levels of concentration, vibrant acids and beautifully refined tannins. Concluding with a long, saline finish, this pure, perfumed and ineffably complete Canon is built for the ages, even if its structural polish is such that it will be approachable at a surprisingly early age.
JA 98 (5/2023): The inky intensity of the colour might make you worry that the limestone signature will be swamped, but it is very much guiding proceedings on the palate here. Expect waves of red roses, rhubarb, pink grapefruit, salinity, but also real intensity, there is a depth and complexity that quite stunning as the wine expands through the palate, with creamy blue and black fruits, and a mouthwatering oyster shell finish. 45hl/h, 3.5ph, 50% new oak, with four larger-sized oak casks. A standout in the vintage, more proof of the exceptional level that Canon is playing at right now. 50% new oak. |
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| Ch. Canon La Gaffeliere |
2021 |
St. Emilion (6X750ML) 6-Bottle OWC |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 96 (2/2024): The 2021 Canon-La-Gaffelière is gorgeous, but it is also very closed today. I view that as a positive for its long-term prospects, but readers need to be patient here. The 2021 is a super-classic Canon-La-Gaffelière redolent of strong floral and mineral accents. Its energy and sheer breeding are truly remarkable. I can't wait to taste it with bottle age. Bright saline notes extend the long, beautifully persistent finish. The 2021 was aged 40% in new oak, 20% in tank and the remainder in used oak and 400-liter barrels. This really pulses with energy. (Drink between 2031-2061). Antonio Galloni.
JD 91 (4/2024): Based on 45% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon raised in 40% new oak, the 2021 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière has lots of Cabernet Franc floral character as well as attractive red fruit, chalky minerality, leather, and rose petal nuances. It's medium-bodied and has fine tannins, a supple, silky profile, and outstanding length. Drink this charming, complex, elegant 2021 over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2024-2044). |
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|
2022 |
St. Emilion Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$84 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95-97 (5/2023): The 2022 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière is brilliant stuff and should be snatched up by readers. Black cherries, iron, tapenade, and exotic floral notes all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a layered, opulent mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and no shortage of mid-palate depth or length on the finish. A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that will see 40% new oak, it's a flawlessly balanced, incredibly impressive Saint-Emilion that will have no problems competing with the 2019 and 2020.
VM 94-96 (5/2023): The 2022 Canon La Gaffelière is bright, punchy and full of character. Blood orange, rose petal and spice overtones brighten a core of red/purplish fruit in Saint-Émilion that impresses with its saline intensity, energy and focus. If tasting this blind, I would never say it is a wine from a warm, drought year. It will be interesting to see if the 2022 retains its youthful vibrancy through élevage. This is super promising. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94-96 (5/2023): A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Canon la Gaffelière exhibits aromas of raspberries and plums, complemented by notions of iris, rose petals, incense and burning embers. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's supple, suave and sophisticated, with a lively core of fruit, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish.
JA 94 (5/2023): Intense blackberry, raspberry, loganberry fruit chracter, love that this is ripe but not overly sweet, has confident sinewy and muscular tannins, well balanced by a ton of fresh fruit with juice and character. Great stuff, with waves of fragrant floral aromatics, and plenty of nuanced personality. Ludovic Neipperg technical director and owner. 47hl/h yield, certified organic since 2014. 40% new oak. |
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| Ch. Cantemerle |
2015 |
Haut Medoc |
$47 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (11/2017): Based on 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the inky colored 2015 Château Cantemerle offers a terrific bouquet of black currants, smoked herbs, earth, and hints of charcoal. Ripe, concentrated, rounded, and undeniably delicious, with ripe tannin, it's a terrific vintage for Cantemerle to drink anytime over the coming 10-15 years. |
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| Ch. Cantenac-Brown |
2020 |
Margaux |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2020 Cantenac Brown is a knock-out. A Margaux of towering intensity, the 2020 is dense and vertical at the same time. It’s a combination that works so well. Dark cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves all saturate the palate. There's real depth and concentration here from the summer heat and small size of the berries, but at the same time the 2020 has more freshness and energy than some recent years. There have been quite a few changes here in recent years, starting with a new parcel on the Margaux plateau that entered the blend in 2019 and move towards lower toast levels in the barrels. Cantenac Brown remains a potent, opulent Margaux, but 2020 has a measure of classicism as well. Superb. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (3/2023): The 2020 Château Cantenac Brown showed beautifully and is a serious, concentrated, powerful Margaux that's going to need bottle age. Ripe blackcurrants, toasty oak, ripe tobacco, and dried flower notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It shows the more focused, slightly understated style of the vintage, yet everything is in the right place, it has terrific purity, and it’s just a brilliant Margaux. I followed this bottle for multiple days, and it never put a foot wrong. It will hit its prime drinking window in 7-8 years and evolve for two decades.
JS 95 (12/2022): Plenty of blackberry, spice, iron and crushed lead pencil aromas follow through to a full body with chewy, velvety tannins and a rather cool side to it. Crushed stone and slate undertones. Try after 2026. |
|
| La Chenade |
2016 |
Lalande de Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$247.98 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 93 (2/2019): A smoking good wine from an appellation that should get more recognition that it does, the 2016 Chenade offers a floral, medium to full-bodied style that carries loads of gravelly minerality as well as notes of black cherries, raspberries, spring flowers, and earth. With terrific purity and, again, a lovely floral quality, it’s a gorgeous red to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.
VM 92 (1/2019): The 2016 La Chenade offers a striking interplay of sweet red berry/plum fruit, blood orange, mint and exotic spice. Cabernet Franc aromatics are super-expressive in this pliant, mid-weight Lalande de Pomerol, with rose petal, star anise and savory herb overtones that emerge in the glass. La Chenade shows just how appealing 2016 is, even among humbler appellations. The 2016 is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni.
JS 92 (1/2019): This is very rich on the nose with so much merlot character. Plums and dried fruit. Full body, round and chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Soft and juicy. Drink now or hold. |
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| Le Petit Cheval |
2009 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,232.98 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2011): Possibly the finest second wine Cheval Blanc has yet produced, the 2009 Le Petit Cheval is a blend of 35% Merlot and 65% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits more caramelized notes than the grand vin along with a luscious, open-knit, subtle herbaceous component. This fleshy, sexy 2009 is ideal for drinking over the next decade. |
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| Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
2004 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,964.97 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 90+ (6/2007): Good bright ruby-red. Subdued but pure aromas of plum, flowers, licorice, menthol and Asian spices. Suave on entry, then dry and tight in the middle; extremely backward and shut down. Most impressive now for its finesse of texture. But today there's little sign of the fleshiness the wine showed in the spring after the harvest. Lock this one away for a while and forget about it. This vintage has more cab franc than merlot.
WA 90 (6/2007): Eighty thousand bottles of 2004 Cheval Blanc were produced from a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. Subtle herb, menthol, cranberry, black currant, and licorice aromas emerge from this dark ruby/plum-colored wine. It is medium-bodied and elegant with plenty of sweet fruit, but not a lot of weight or intensity. The complexity and nobility of Cheval Blanc’s gravelly terroir is apparent in this delicate, subtle St.-Emilion. Give it a few years to develop additional aromatics, and drink it over the following 12-15. |
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|
2016 |
St. Emilion (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,535.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (11/2018): The 2016 Cheval Blanc is blended of 59.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc and 3.3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is incredibly youthful yet not so shy as some other 2016s at this stage, giving wonderfully intense scents of red currants, black cherries, wild blueberries and violets with nuances of star anise, cinnamon stick, rose hip tea, cigar box and wood smoke plus a touch of beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has jaw-dropping elegance and depth, offering up layer upon layer of fragrant red and black fruits plus an extraordinary array of mineral sparks, supported by a rock-solid grainy texture, finishing with epic persistence and an edifying perfume. This is a very different style from the rich, opulently hedonic 2015, yet this wonderfully fragrant, beautifully poised and intellectually compelling 2016 is equally extraordinary.
VM 98 (8/2020): The 2016 Cheval Blanc has an exquisite bouquet of pixelated black and red fruit, crushed stone, violets and seamlessly integrated new oak; this is utterly seductive. The medium-bodied palate reveals a hint of marmalade on the entry. Powerful and dense, this is an impressive, almost heady nascent wine with plenty of grip and sinew toward the finish. Maybe it lacks that crystalline detail at the moment, but it is clearly a long-term proposition. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Neal Martin.
JD 97 (2/2019): The grand vin 2016 Château Cheval Blanc checks in as 60% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in new barrels, and this is the first year a replanted block of Cabernet Sauvignon has made the top cuvee. Compared to the 2001 by Pierre Lurton, it displays stunning aromatic fireworks with notions of blackcurrants, forest floor, iron bar, graphite, and spice all soaring from the glass. It develops more floral nuances with time in the glass and, as always with this cuvee, it’s all about complexity and elegance. More medium to full-bodied, with beautiful tannins and perfect balance, it’s a decidedly classic, focused, elegant wine from this estate that will keep for 3-4 decades.
JD 99 (1/2019): Wet earth and sliced, fresh mushrooms. Menthol. Dark berries, such as blackberries and blueberries. Full-bodied, dense and whole, but you don’t feel the tannins, even though it is so powerful and structured. Detailed and defined. Cashmere. Wonderful finish. Glorious young Cheval. Try after 2025, but so wonderful already. |
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|
2017 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,095.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97+ (3/2020): A wine of sublime elegance and finesse, the 2017 Cheval Blanc is endowed with tremendous energy, precision and cut. Red/purplish fruit, mint, sage, blood orange, star anise and exotic spice notes abound in a mid-weight, finely cut Cheval that dazzles with its energy. Technical Director Pierre-Olivier Clouet gave the 2017 26-27 days on skins. Because of severe frost damage, in 2017, the Grand Vin includes a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (14%), from gravelly soils, which gives the wine very unusual flavor and structure profile. The 2017 Cheval Blanc has all the ingredients to be one of the wines of the vintage. It is class personified. Wow! Antonio Galloni.
JS 97 (12/2019): This is a special Cheval-Blanc with blackcurrants, blueberries and hints of fresh herbs, tobacco and cedar. Full-bodied, very powerful and muscular with lots of tannins. The higher percentage of cabernet sauvignon (15% instead of 5%) makes it structured. Give it time to come together. Better after 2022.
WA 96+ (3/2020): The blend this year is 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Cabernet Franc and 56% Merlot, possessing an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cheval Blanc needs a fair bit of coaxing to reveal notions of plum preserves, redcurrant jelly, kirsch and red roses plus emerging nuances of aniseed, Sichuan pepper, pencil lead and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers impressive intensity with layer upon layer of red and black flavors with sparks of minerals and floral notes plus a firm line of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support, finishing very long and very fragrant.
JD 96 (2/2020): While the blend is shifted more towards Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in 2017, the Chateau Cheval Blanc is nevertheless a beautiful wine in every sense and shows the hallmark elegance and complexity of this estate perfectly. Deep ruby/purple, with notes of ripe dark fruits, violets, rose petals, and spice, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, ripe yet integrated tannins, terrific mid-palate concentration, and a great, great finish. Based on 66% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, give this incredibly floral, seamless 2017 5-7 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades. |
|
| Domaine de Chevalier |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$830.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94-96+ (4/2019): This wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot to be aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 35% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier starts a little closed before bounding out of the glass with bold expressions of fresh blackcurrants, kirsch, black raspberries and fragrant earth plus nuances of lilacs, Sichuan pepper and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate maintains elegance and sophistication, with a lovely ripe, finely grained frame and plenty of freshness to back up the floral and black fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed.
VM 94-97 (5/2019): The 2018 Domaine de Chevalier is magnificent. Bright, lifted and wonderfully nuanced, the 2018 has so much to offer. Olivier Bernard turned out a dazzling Domaine de Chevalier in 2018 that speaks to precision and nuance above all else. Rose petal, mint, savory herbs and crushed rocks add striking aromatic top notes to this stunning, breathtakingly beautiful wine. The tannins need time to soften, but I doubt readers will be in a rush. The 2018 is simply majestic - that's all there is to it. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98 (5/2019): Possibly one of the finest wines ever to come from the Bernard family’s flagship estate near Leognan, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that hit 13.5% alcohol and will spend 18 months in just 35% new French oak. Its saturated purple/plum color is followed by a mammoth bouquet of cassis, black currants, gravelly earth, smoked herbs, and tobacco. Full-bodied, deep, brilliantly balanced, and seriously concentrated, it has polished tannins, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s a heavenly Graves that will keep for 30+ years.
JS 99-100 (4/2019): Wow. I can’t get over the pureness of fruit in this wine with so much currant, tar and wet-earth character. Flowers, too. So aromatic. Full body, yet pureness and brightness of fruit. Layered. Incredible depth and beauty. 65 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 30 per cent merlot and 5 per cent petit verdot. Greatest ever? |
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|
2021 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$338.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (2/2024): The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier reveals a deep, complex bouquet with aromas of blackberries and blueberries mingled with spices, cigar wrapper and coniferous forest floor, followed by a medium to full-bodied, sweet and concentrated palate animated by bright acids and framed by fine, powdery tannins. It's an impressive effort that will reward a bit of bottle age. It's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc.
VM 94+ (2/2024): The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier comes across as quite shy and reticent in this vintage. The aromatics are beguiling, but on the palate, the wine feels a bit strict and clamped down. Crushed flowers, sweet red-toned fruit, spice, mint and blood orange emerge, but only with great reluctance. It will be interesting to see how the 2021 develops over time. Tasted twice. (Drink between 2031-2061). Antonio Galloni.
JD 93 (4/2024): Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2021 Domaine De Chevalier is based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, with harvest not wrapping up until October 15. It's a terrific wine in the vintage offering ripe currant and darker berry fruits as well as classy oak, graphite, and scorched earth nuances. This medium-bodied, concentrated, balanced 2021 has ripe tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It actually reminds me slightly of the estate’s 2014, albeit in a slightly fresher package. |
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|
2022 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$519.99 |
14 |
|
| |
JD 96-98 (5/2023): As to the Grand Vin 2022 Domaine De Chevalier, this awesome Graves is based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Vinified in a mix of concrete and wood tanks, with a portion seeing malolactic fermentation in barrel, it offers a deep purple/ruby hue as well as a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, smoke tobacco, and damp earth. Reminding me of a supercharged version of the 2016, it's full-bodied and has a layered, silky mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Released with a new, one-off label, the 2022 celebrates Olivier Bernard's 40th year at the château, and it's certainly a wine worth seeking out.
VM 95-97 (5/2023): The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier was picked from 5-30 September and represents the 40th vintage under the irrepressible Olivier Bernard, who celebrates with a one-off label. It soars from the glass with take-no-prisoner aromatics: perfumed mineral-rich red berry fruit, incense and black truffle. Pessac-like earthiness with an opposing airiness defines many a great wine from this estate. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. Slightly powdery in texture and saline in the mouth, this gets the saliva flowing. However, the arching structure on the finish suggests it will require considerable bottle age. Cellar this for a couple of decades, and you'll be repaid handsomely. 14% alcohol. Neal Martin.
WA 94-96 (5/2023): A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier delivers aromas of minty dark berries, cherries and ripe plums mingled with hints of licorice, coniferous forest and spices. Medium to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and layered, textured and elegant, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a long, penetrating, long finish. Olivier Bernard and his team have crafted an outstanding wine that will bear a special label commemorating his 40th vinification at this Péssac-Léognan reference point.
JA 96 (5/2023): Showing how it's done in 2022, Domaine de Chevalier comes in strong with a deep ruby red colour, a vibrant rim, smoked oak on the nose, edges of tar, red roses, liquorice root, and a confident delivery of full-on tannic architecture that frames the cassis and bilberry fruit. Delivers vintage signature in a carefully controlled way, with enough slate, pummice stone, mint and eucalyptus to balance things out and slow down delivery. The fruits are fully ripe, heading towards baked plum and fig, but met step by step with a corresponding cooling flavour. 40th harvest of Olivier Bernard (meaning a special label). |
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| Le Clarence de Haut Brion |
2010 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,136.97 |
1 |
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| |
JS 94 (2/2013): Quite jammy on the nose with lots of fruit. Plums, berries and jam. Full body, with a fluid center palate and chewy tannins. Round and rich. Seems more upfront and friendly than the second wine of La Mission. 52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Better in 2018.
WA 93 (2/2013): The second wine of Haut-Brion is now called Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, and the 2010 is among the finest I have tasted there. It is a broad, powerful and more muscular wine than its cross-street rival, La Chapelle de la Mission, but all the same, it is wonderfully fresh and precise, with notes of blueberry and boysenberry as well as hints of smoke and wet stones. Endowed with gorgeous fruit, texture, purity and elegance, this relatively dense second wine demonstrates how draconian the selection process has become for the top estates in Bordeaux in recent years. The blend of this wine is 52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc with just a touch of Petit Verdot. I would expect it to last at least 20 years, which is remarkable. |
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| Ch. Clinet |
2020 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$536.99 |
1 |
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JS 98 (12/2022): What a beautiful young wine, showing so much finesse and tension, with ultra-fine tannins and subtle and long flavors and character. It’s medium-bodied with extremely silky tannins that grow on the palate to a seamless finish. Harmonious. Another fine Pomerol for the cellar. Drink after 2027.
VM 95 (2/2023): The 2020 Clinet is hugely impressive, as it was from barrel. Dark and imposing, with notable vibrancy, the 2020 offers up an exotic mélange of black cherry, gravel, incense, plum, game and licorice. I would give this a few years in bottle, as the tannins are pretty imposing. Cabernet Sauvignon is so distinctive here. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98+ (5/2021): I continue to love the wines from this estate, and the 2020 Château Clinet is no exception. Straight-up sensational notes of blueberries, cassis, violets, tobacco, and earth all emerge from the glass, and this beauty is full-bodied, with a rich, concentrated mid-palate, flawless balance, and a great finish. It shows the tighter, fresher, more focused style of the vintage, yet it still brings plenty of mid-palate depth as well as an expansive texture. It has enough oak to warrant short-term bottle age but will have 25-30 years of overall longevity. This is a gorgeous wine.
WA 96-98 (5/2021): The 2020 Clinet (a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon) has an opaque purple-black color, needing a little coaxing to unleash bold, powerful notes of plum preserves, blueberry compote and black raspberries, followed by suggestions of cracked black pepper, menthol, cedar chest and rose oil with a hint of licorice. The big, rich, full-bodied palate is a powerhouse, bursting with impactful black and blue fruit preserves flavors, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and fantastically perfumed. |
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|
2022 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,683.97 |
1 |
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| |
JD 96-98 (5/2023): The 2022 Château Clinet showed beautifully, with an almost Médoc-like style in its darker cassis, graphite, cedar pencil, and tobacco aromas and flavors. Full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe, velvety tannins, a round, layered mouthfeel, and remarkable purity. Pomerol was one of the erratic appellations in 2022, but this beauty does everything right and brings a beautiful mix of richness and elegance. It should round into form with just short-term bottle age and evolve for two decades. The blend is the usual 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
VM 98-100 (5/2023): The 2022 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked from 3 to 9 September for the Merlot and the Cabernet Franc on 5 and 9 September, matured in 85% new oak. It has an exquisitely-defined bouquet with succinct floral, pressed iris and clay notes percolating through the black fruit. With breathtaking focus, these scents seem to cast a spell over you. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins that frame the mineral-laden, peppery black fruit. There's not a hair out of place, exuding the essence of this Pomerol estate with an exceptionally long, intense and paradoxically tender finish. It's a wine that may leave you spellbound...just like this barrel sample. Neal Martin.
WA 94-96+ (5/2023): A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that represents the earliest harvest in this estate's history (beginning on September 6), the 2022 Clinet is a success, offering up aromas of cherries and dark berries mingled with hints of spices and a discreet patina of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, it's impressively vibrant, with a rich core of fruit framed by powdery tannins from judicious extraction. This has more in common with the more refined 2018 and 2019 vintages at this address than with the powerhouse 2020, and that is no mean feat in an even more extreme vintage. Bravo to Ronan Laborde and his team.
JA 96 (5/2023): Sleek, concentrated, red roses, violets, creamy smoked caramel, bilberry, cassis, blackberry pastilles, biscuit, mint leaf, great estate signature, maintains its sleek intense concentated and supremely classy character. Strong tannic build up, muscular and full of intent, with a fennel and oyster shell signoff. Ronan Laborde owner. |
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|
2022 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$657.99 |
1 |
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| |
JD 96-98 (5/2023): The 2022 Château Clinet showed beautifully, with an almost Médoc-like style in its darker cassis, graphite, cedar pencil, and tobacco aromas and flavors. Full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe, velvety tannins, a round, layered mouthfeel, and remarkable purity. Pomerol was one of the erratic appellations in 2022, but this beauty does everything right and brings a beautiful mix of richness and elegance. It should round into form with just short-term bottle age and evolve for two decades. The blend is the usual 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
VM 98-100 (5/2023): The 2022 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked from 3 to 9 September for the Merlot and the Cabernet Franc on 5 and 9 September, matured in 85% new oak. It has an exquisitely-defined bouquet with succinct floral, pressed iris and clay notes percolating through the black fruit. With breathtaking focus, these scents seem to cast a spell over you. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins that frame the mineral-laden, peppery black fruit. There's not a hair out of place, exuding the essence of this Pomerol estate with an exceptionally long, intense and paradoxically tender finish. It's a wine that may leave you spellbound...just like this barrel sample. Neal Martin.
WA 94-96+ (5/2023): A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that represents the earliest harvest in this estate's history (beginning on September 6), the 2022 Clinet is a success, offering up aromas of cherries and dark berries mingled with hints of spices and a discreet patina of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, it's impressively vibrant, with a rich core of fruit framed by powdery tannins from judicious extraction. This has more in common with the more refined 2018 and 2019 vintages at this address than with the powerhouse 2020, and that is no mean feat in an even more extreme vintage. Bravo to Ronan Laborde and his team.
JA 96 (5/2023): Sleek, concentrated, red roses, violets, creamy smoked caramel, bilberry, cassis, blackberry pastilles, biscuit, mint leaf, great estate signature, maintains its sleek intense concentated and supremely classy character. Strong tannic build up, muscular and full of intent, with a fennel and oyster shell signoff. Ronan Laborde owner. |
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| Ch. Conseillante |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,644.97 |
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.
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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|
2012 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,016.98 |
2 |
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WA 96 (4/2015): An absolutely amazing wine from the Nicolas family, this is from another estate in Pomerol that is pushing the envelope to higher and higher quality. The final blend has moved to smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, now approximately 20%, with the balance 80% Merlot. Through crop-thinning, yields have been reduced to an average of 35 hectoliters per hectare. Inky bluish/purple color and stunning sweet tannins embrace a full-bodied opulent Pomerol with beautiful, floral-infused black raspberry, blueberry and cassis fruit. Full-bodied, yet elegant, this is a brilliant marriage between finesse and power. Stunningly pure, this wine can be drunk young or age magnificently for 20 or more years.
JS 94 (2/2015): Amazing aromas of dried flowers, blueberries and minerals follow through to a full body, fine and polished tannins and a long finish. All in finesse and harmony. Little tight now. Better in 2018.
VM 92 (1/2016): A pretty, open-knit wine, the 2012 La Conseillante is quite expressive today. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, new leather, cedar and cloves flesh out in the glass. Supple, racy and inviting, the 2012 is an attractive, mid-weight Conseillante built on harmony and textural finesse. There is plenty to like, although I would have liked to see a bit more depth through the mid-palate and follow through to the finish. The 2012 is 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, which is to say more Merlot and less Franc than is the norm, aged in 70% new oak. Winemaker Jean-Michel Laporte, who has since been replaced by Marielle Cazaux (formerly at Petit-Village) characterized 2012 as a year with high disease pressure and alternating periods of sunshine and rain that made finding the right time to work in the vineyards a challenge. The 2012s came in around 14% alcohol, whereas alcohols were closer to 13.5% in 2014. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Cos d'Estournel |
2011 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,553.98 |
1 |
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| |
JS 95 (1/2014): A dense, refined wine, with blueberries, blackberries and spices. Full body with integrated tannins and a polished texture. Love the mouthfeel to this. Extremely well done for the vintage, considering the hail in St Estephe. Try in 2018.
WA 91 (4/2014): The 2011 Cos d’Estournel exhibits a dense ruby/purple color and sweet, toasty, oaky notes intermixed with floral and forest floor characteristics. The complex aromatics suggest this is a top success in 2011. In the mouth, the wine is slightly more compact than one would find in a great vintage, such as 2009 and 2010, but it has impressive richness for the vintage as well as light to moderate tannin and admirable purity. It will benefit from 2-5 years of cellaring, and should keep for 15-20 years. Only 30% of the production was utilized for Cos D’Estournel, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.
VM 90 (7/2014): Good deep ruby. Spicy aromas of dark plum, red cherry, botanical herbs and graphite. Dense, bright and energetic, with good herbal lift to the precise blackcurrant and dark plum flavors. This fresh, lively wine picks up flesh and depth with aeration. The tactile, chewy finish is pure, long and perfumed. Ian d'Agata. |
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|
2019 |
St. Estephe (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$952.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 97-99+ (6/2020): Harvest for the grand vin began on the 23rd of September and finished on the 7th of October. Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot (with no Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc this year), yields for this wine in 2019 were 43 hectoliters per hectare, and it is aging in 55% new oak. It came in at an alcohol level of 14.02% and an IPT of 67. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Cos d'Estournel soars out of the glass with vibrant black raspberries, Black Forest cake and crushed blackcurrants scents plus nuances of red roses, wild sage, dark chocolate and cast-iron pan with a waft of woodsmoke. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut, muscular and built like a skyscraper, with firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness supporting the concentrated black fruit flavors, finishing with incredible length and depth. This wine so beautifully, clearly captures the juxtaposition between the periods of dry heat and those hallelujah moments of refreshing rain - the hallmarks of this great vintage. It's a vinous masterpiece in the making.
JD 97-99 (6/2020): The grand vin 2019 Château Cos D'Estournel is indeed grand and just about instantly transports you to the northern Medoc. Sensational notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil, unsmoked tobacco, new leather, and Asian spices all emerge from this gorgeous wine. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it shines for its incredible purity, balance, and elegance, with the vintage’s seamless and sexy style front and center. It's not a blockbuster, but it’s gorgeous in every way. It reminds me of a slightly softer version of the 2016.
JS 98-99 (6/2020): A very powerful and structured Cos. It’s full and layered, but not overpowering in terms of fruit. It’s more about the abundant, very fine tannins. It’s a classic wine with historical grip and power. Real Bordeaux. Sophisticated and provocative. |
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2021 |
St. Estephe (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$429.99 |
10 |
|
| |
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| Le Dome |
2022 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,712.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
St. Emilion (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,721.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. La Dominique |
2016 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$425.99 |
10 |
|
| |
| JS 93-94 (4/2017): Layered and juicy with lots of ripe fruit and soft tannins. Decadent and generous. Lots going on here. |
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| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,157.98 |
1 |
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| |
JS 100 (11/2013): The nose is phenomenal with perfect aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon with currant bush, blackberries and minerals. A pure expression of Cab. The palate is perfect with a full body, but has perfectly integrated tannins with a texture like the finest cashmere. It's strong but noble with perfect form and beauty. All in harmony. A fabulous wine that everyone who loves Bordeaux should have a bottle or case of. Better in 2020.
WA 98+ (3/2029): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Ducru-Beaucaillou bursts from the glass with bold, expressive blackcurrant cordial, baked plums and mulberries scents plus wafts of menthol, Marmite toast, black olives and dried lavender. Full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, with solid walls of super firm, super ripe tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing with great length.
JD 98+ (11/2017): A monumental wine that’s going to be just about immortal is the 2010 Ducru-Beaucaillou. Coming from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot brought up in new barrels, it sports a saturated purple color to go with dense, yet incredibly pure, classic notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil, crushed rocks and liquid violets. With full-bodied richness, a massive, unctuous texture, and again, incredible purity, it needs to be forgotten for 7-8 years and will keep for just about as long as you’ll like to hang onto bottles.
VM 95+ (7/2013): Medium red-ruby. Sexy, ripe aromas of black- and redcurrant, cedar and minerals, lifted by a subtle minty note; an essence of perfumed Saint-Julien cabernet sauvignon. Then rich, deep and incredibly vibrant, displaying major dimensions for Ducru as well as a dense kernel of complex, delineated blackcurrant, red cherry, milk chocolate, cedar and fresh herb flavor. Finishes wonderfully long and subtle, with suave tannins that eventually dust the front teeth and a quintessentially silky texture. If the 2010 vintage is a modern classic, this wine could be Exhibit A. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2015 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,330.99 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 98 (2/2018): The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is phenomenally great. Inky, powerful and explosive, the 2015 pulses with energy in all of its dimensions. Creme de cassis, blackberry jam, graphite, smoke, leather and incense, along with the wine's muscular tannins, convey an impression of brooding intensity. The 2015 has been nothing short of sensational on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. Readers should be prepared to be patient. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (8/2020): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou rocks up with flamboyant baked black plums, crème de cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries scents plus hints of cinnamon stick, black tea and candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with black fruit preserves and spicy accents, with a firm, velvety frame and finishing with great length and perfume. Ideally, I'd give it another year to fan out just a bit more, but it is coming around nicely and is already fantastically delicious!
JS 97 (12/2018): Aromas of oyster shell, iron and currants. Hints of iodine. Full-bodied, very tight and focused. Love the finish of sandalwood, cinnamon, violets and lavender. Wonderful tannin texture. Linear and driven. Drink in 2022.
JD 96 (11/2017): The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated wine (there’s 5% Merlot) that was brought up in 100% new barrels. It’s a classic, elegant, classy 2015 revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as terrific notes of crème de cassis, smoked earth, lead pencil, and violets. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, and a stacked mid-palate, it should start to shine in 6-7 years and keep for three decades. |
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| La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2016 |
St. Julien |
$59 |
1 |
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VM 93 (8/2020): The 2016 Croix de Beaucaillou has a very attractive bouquet of high-toned but controlled blackberry and blueberry fruit neatly enmeshed with some quality new oak. The medium-bodied palate delivers fine-boned tannins, well-judged acidity and a silky-smooth, sensual finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is a very impressive 2016. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2023-2045). Neal Martin.
JD 93 (2/2019): While the top wine gets all the attention, the second wine 2016 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is well worth seeking out and unquestionably shows some of the class and purity of the grand vin. A more forward, fleshy wine with oodles of black raspberries, cassis, and floral hints, it’s a total charmer with its fine, supple tannins and great finish. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged 12 months in 60% new barrels, drink it any time over the coming 15-20 years. (Drink between 2019-2039).
WA 92 (11/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 La Croix de Beaucaillou gives up aromas of cassis, earth, black plums, black cherries and mulberries with wafts of menthol, cigars and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is lively and earthy with firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and mineral-laced. |
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|
2019 |
St. Julien |
$39 |
1 |
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JD 94 (4/2022): The second wine of this great château is the 2019 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, which is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new barrels. It fits into the lineup beautifully and sits nicely between the Le Petit Ducru and the Grand Vin. Deep purple-hued, with full-bodied aromas and flavors of pure cassis, crushed stone, graphite, lead pencil, and smoked tobacco, it has building yet fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It shows the more regal, classy, elegant, yet still concentrated style of this vintage perfectly. Give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and it will have upwards of two decades of prime drinking. (Drink between 2022-2042).
VM 94 (2/2022): The 2019 La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou is matured for 12 months in 60% new oak. Interestingly, that Earl Grey tincture continues to define this very classically styled wine, enhancing the black fruit. Hints of ash emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and plenty of graphite-infused black fruit that render this quite Pauillac in style. Impressively persistent on the tobacco-tinged finish. Leave this for 4–5 years in bottle just to smooth its edges. (Drink between 2025-2045). Neal Martin.
WA 94+ (4/2022): Rich aromas of cassis, licorice, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and creamy new oak introduce Bruno Borie's 2019 La Croix de Beaucaillou, a full-bodied, deep and concentrated wine that's rich and lively, with a fleshy core of fruit and plenty of fine, chalky tannin. Like for example Clos du Marquis and Les Forts de Latour, La Croix de Beaucaillou isn't a second wine per se, but rather a cuvée produced from dedicated parcels. |
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| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2022 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,421.99 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 97-99 (5/2023): Moving to the Grand Vin, it's a slightly more Merlot-influenced blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot, raised in new barrels. It brings the same level of concentration and structure as the La Croix but has another level of class, elegance, and purity, with sensational aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed stone, sandalwood, and graphite. The purity here is truly remarkable, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, perfectly integrated oak, silky tannins, and a great finish. This beauty hit 14% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.8 and an IPT of 95. Given its balance as well as its texture, it's going to offer pleasure with just short-term cellaring yet also evolve for decades.
VM 95-97 (5/2023): The 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou is elegant and nuanced. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, blood orange, mint and spice give the 2022 unusual brilliance. In most recent vintages, Ducru has been on the opulent side. The 2022, on the other hand, is strict and linear in construction, a wine that is more about persistence than size. Bright saline underpinnings extend the mid-palate into the striking, beaming finish. Harvest took place over four weeks, the longest ever, as opposed to the two weeks or so that is the norm. Yields were 30hL per hectare, down from the 35-37 typical in recent years. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94-96 (5/2023): One of the Médoc's most powerful wines this year is the 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot that opens in the glass with aromas of dark cherries and berries mingled with pencils shavings, vanilla pod and spices. Full-bodied, broad-shouldered and muscular, with a core of ripe but lively fruit underpinned by a chassis of powdery, liberally extracted tannin that asserts itself on the finish, it's a punchy, modern Saint-Julien reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of the 2018 and 2020.
JA 98 (5/2023): Deep damson colour, poised and intense, a serious wine with crushed mint, graphite and bitter black chocolate on the opening beats, setting the tone for a slow reveal of confident St Julien character. Powerful tannins convey purity and precision, set against creamy cassis and bilberry fruits, with softer smoked earth and baked spice, and a slate finish. The construction is careful and measured, extremely impressive, this is has decades ahead. 3.8ph, 95IPT. 100% new oak. 30hl/h yield. |
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| Ch. Duhart Milon |
2011 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,078.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. L' Eglise Clinet |
2012 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,461.98 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (4/2015): A gorgeous wine from proprietor Denis Durantou, this blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc is an inky purple color, with gorgeous purity of black raspberries, blackcurrants and blackberry with a hint of truffle and spring flowers. Its is full-bodied, opulent and a tour de force in this vintage. Great presence on the palate, fabulous purity and a long finish make for a magnificent bottle of wine to drink over the next 20-some years. |
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|
2013 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$596.98 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (8/2023): The 2013 L'Eglise-Clinet has a clean and precise bouquet with black fruit, sous-bois, shavings of black truffle and hints of morels. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins on the entry, red fruit laced with mocha and delicate acidity with a harmonious, if simplistic (for this estate) finish. Fine. Neal Martin. |
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|
2021 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$786.98 |
1 |
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VM 96 (2/2024): The 2021 L’Eglise-Clinet is stellar. Dark, dense and also a touch somber, the 2021 is laced with generous black fruit, gravel, spice, new leather, licorice and incense. Readers will have to give this time to come together. I especially admire its substance, textural resonance and overall balance. Readers lucky enough to own the 2021 can look forward to years of exceptional drinking once the tannins soften a bit. (Drink between 2031-2061). Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (4/2024): The flagship 2021 Château L'Eglise Clinet brings another level of concentration and depth, with ripe red and black plum fruits intermixed with notions of damp earth, tobacco leaf, graphite, and violets. Medium to full-bodied, with rock-solid mid-palate density, sweet tannins, and the vintage's fresher, focused, elegant style, it brings plenty of fruit and I'd wager is clearly better than the vast majority of vintages from the 1980s and 1990s, and even many of the 2000s. I was able to follow this bottle for multiple days, and it only got better with air. This will be absolutely loved by the traditionalists out there and plays with the crème de la crème of the vintage. The blend of the 2021 is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc (Noëmie commented that the Cabernet Franc was the standout in the vintage) that was raised in 75% new French oak, which is perfectly integrated. Give bottles just 2-4 years if you can (it already offers pleasure) and enjoy over the following two decades. |
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| Ch. Feytit-Clinet |
2012 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$913.97 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Figeac |
2011 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,053.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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2013 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,681.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Petit Figeac |
2016 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,095.98 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Figeac |
2020 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,272.99 |
1 |
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| |
JD 98+ (3/2023): The Grand Vin 2020 Château Figeac checks in as 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 18 months in new barrels. They also utilize plenty of press wine, and the 2020 has 8% in the blend. Straight-up awesome aromatics of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, iron, spring flowers, and an almost bloody, salty character emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and absolutely perfectly integrated oak. It's still tight and reserved, which is certainly the vintage, so do your best to hide these in the cellar. It should hit the early stages of its prime drinking window in 8-10 years and will have 30+ of overall longevity. It will unquestionably flirt with perfection at maturity.
JS 97 (1/2023): Very subtle and classy aromas of blackberries, hazelnuts and chocolate with some wet bark. It’s so subtle on the nose. Full-bodied, yet so fine and polished with an inner strength to this. Ultra-fine and polished tannins that run the length of the wine. This goes on for minutes. Classy. Sophisticated. 37% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2027, but it’s one for the cellar.
VM 96 (2/2023): The 2020 Figeac is incredibly polished and refined. Bright saline underpinnings and lively acids shape the 2020 beautifully, lending notable energy throughout. This is the last vintage made in the transitional cellar before the new winery became operational with the 2021 vintage. My only question mark is a slightly gritty quality in the tannins that lurks beneath. There's terrific purity and drive, though. Figeac is a wine of saline tension and energy more than size. The 2020 will need a number of years in bottle to be at its best. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-98+ (5/2021): The 2020 Figeac is a blend of 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.9% and a pH of 3.7. Opaque purple-black colored, it bursts from the glass with a beautifully vibrant initial wave of pure, pristine black fruits: fresh black cherries, juicy black plums and ripe blackcurrants. With swirling, a whole array of floral and spice notes is unleashed: lavender, ground cloves, cumin seed, cardamom and rose oil. The medium-bodied palate is surprisingly graceful for the intensity of aromas, featuring ethereal, perfumed black berry notes, framed by a seamless line of freshness and ripe, grainy tannins, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. Far more cerebral and quietly introspective than it is hedonic, this could only be Figeac. |
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2022 |
St. Emilion (3X750ML) 3-Bottle OWC |
$957 |
1 |
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JD 96-98+ (5/2023): A beautiful wine that, shockingly, reminds me of the 2016, the 2022 Château Figeac checks in as 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon that was harvested from the 1st of September to the 25th. Director Frédéric Faye commented that verasion took longer than usual, and they had to do a slight green harvest to get uniform ripeness. The results are stunning. The wine has a vivid purple hue as well as remarkable freshness and purity in its black and blue fruits, which are followed by notes of wild herbs, chocolate, graphite, spring flowers, and a touch of classic Cabernet Sauvignon graphite. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a silky, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This classic, ultra-precise Figeac is going to warrant a solid decade of bottle age and be very long-lived given its purity and balance.
VM 96-99 (5/2023): The 2022 Figeac is a magnificent, super-classic Figeac, as odd as that might sound in this freakish vintage. A wine of sublime delicacy and nuance, the 2022 possesses tremendous aromatic presence, finely sculpted fruit and phenomenal persistence. I especially admire the wine's freshness, energy and clean, mineral finish. The 2022 is a towering Figeac, a wine that brilliantly showcases the unique qualities of this site. Figeac is a rare Right Bank estate with gravel and blue clay soils that are not often found here, planted approximately with equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Antonio Galloni.
WA 98-100 (5/2023): A blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Figeac is a brilliant wine with which to celebrate this property's elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" status. Wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cassis mingled with notions of iris, forest floor, cigar wrapper and pencil lead, it's medium to full-bodied, pure and perfumed, with a deep and multidimensional core of fruit, bright acids and beautifully refined tannins. Serious yet civilized, it's the quintessential Figeac, testament to the late Thierry Manoncourt's vision to plant such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. Such is the inherent complexity of Figeac's terroirs that harvest took place sub-block by sub-block between September 1st and 25th. Congratulations are in order for the Manoncourt family, director Frédéric Faye, consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos and all their team.
JA 98 (5/2023): Vibrant damson in colour, edges of gunsmoke and red rose petals on the aromatics, as you so often find in Figeac, with dense cassis, black cherry, incense, graphite, slate, mint leaf, cocoa bean, cappucino and liquorice on the palate. This is creamy but airy, and full of joy. Close to the 2016 vintage in its construction and effortless confidence, no question of the ageing ability of this wine, and a fine vintage to mark the first year as Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Breaking down how they got here, you find inevitably careful winemaking with no pumping over, cool 26C for fermentation, making use of techniques learnt in the hot, dry summer of 2018, from cover crops to minimum green harvesting. Blend finished including 8% press in March, 3.7ph, harvest began September 1, earliest on record, until 26, second vintage in new winery. Frederic Faye director. |
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| Ch. La Fleur Cardinale |
2014 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$630.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Les Forts de Latour |
2005 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,871.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (4/2008): The 2005 Forts de Latour (10,000 cases produced) possesses much of the same character as Latour, but sweeter tannins, more obvious and forward fruit, medium to full body, and a more seductive, plusher style, but not the great stature, richness, and architectural precision of its bigger brother. Nevertheless, it is a gorgeous Pauillac that should drink well for two decades or more.
VM 92 (6/2008): Good red-ruby. Exotic aromas of roasted plum, currant and graphite. Big, round and sweet but with the broad shoulders of the year. The silky flavors of currant, tobacco and sweet oak show extraordinary baby fat and volume. Wonderfully rich, expressive wine with a very long, silky, aromatic back end. "Better than the 2007 Latour today, and almost as long," says Engerer. (The 2006 Forts de Latour had just been fined.) |
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2011 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,273.98 |
2 |
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JS 90 (3/2012): Aromas of dried berries and fresh herbs such as lemongrass. Full body with firm, chewy tannins and a chocolate, pie-crust, berry and mineral character. A little salty and mineral. Needs at least five to six years.
WA 90-92 (4/2012): One of the finest second wines now being made, Les Forts de Latour comes from the same parcel every year. The 2011 is composed of 61.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38.5% Merlot. Forty-three percent of the Latour production was relegated to this cuvee. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, underbrush, licorice and incense. Medium to full-bodied, deep, fleshy and already appealing, this 2011 should gain complexity over the next 5-7 years, and last for 15-20. |
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2012 |
Pauillac (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,607.99 |
2 |
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| |
JS 92 (2/2015): Perfumed and bright with mineral, currant, raspberry and citrus character. Full body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. Orange peel. Better in 2017.
WA 90 (4/2015): The second wine, from vineyards outside of their famous walled l'enclos, the 2012 Les Forts de Latour (75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance mostly Merlot) is a beautiful, elegant wine with a dense purple color, notes of sweet black cherries and blackcurrants, subtle background minerality and no evidence of oak. This medium to full-bodied, beautifully constructed and layered Les Forts de Latour should drink nicely for 15 or more years. |
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|
2016 |
Pauillac (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$702.99 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2022): The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (2/2019): The winner of the best second wine in the vintage goes to Château Latour. Their 2016 Les Forts de Latour is a match for just about anything out there. It shares its bigger siblings stature and class, with a sensational perfume of cedarwood, black currants, graphite, and lead pencil. Seamless, ultra-pure, and medium to full-bodied, it too needs a good 5-7 years of bottle age and will keep for 2-3 decades.
WA 95 (3/2022): The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is superb, unwinding in the glass with notions of blackcurrants, wild berries, sweet loamy soil, cigar wrapper and English walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s concentrated and tightly wound, with superb depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins. This is an impeccably balanced, utterly classical Forts de Latour worth a special effort to seek out.
JS 96 (1/2019): The fresh currant and violet aromas are so complex and beautiful on the nose. Full body, ultra-refined tannins and lovely tannin tension. Shows focus and such finesse. Beautiful finish. Try after 2024. |
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2019 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,199.97 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95 (1/2025): The 2019 Forts de Latour is a tannic, backward wine, as it has always been. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, graphite, sage and mocha open with a bit of coaxing. Even so, the 2019 is incredibly tight at this stage. Despite its imminent release, I would not dream of touching a bottle any time soon. Rain just before harvest in this warm vintage helped keep things in check and resulted in fairly generous yields of 45 hectoliters per hectare. At the same time, the mid-palate is a bit compact, while the tannins are imposing. (Drink between 2029-2049). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (2/2025): The 2019 Les Forts de Latour appears to have tightened up a little since I last tasted it a few years ago. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of sweet cassis fruit mingled with hints of cedar, iris, orange zest and new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and nicely concentrated, with a ripe core of fruit underpinned by chalky structuring tannins. While it's approachable after a decant, it certainly merits additional patience. As readers will remember, this bottling mostly derives from dedicated parcels located further inland from Latour's famous "Enclos," next to Château Haut-Batailley.
JA 94 (2/2024): Inky, great depths with a vivid violet rim, this is exceptional, balanced and full of character. Coming out of its serious early years, showing fleshy plum, damson and cassis fruits, along with graphite, slate, fennel and toast. If you like your wines particularly powerful, you can go for it now and over the next few years, but it will age for a good few decades from here. Chiseled, very much speaking of its Pauillac heritage. 70% new oak for ageing, 39% of Latour's production in this vintage. Hélène Genin technical director, second year certified organic.
JD 93+ (3/2025): The 2019 Les Forts De Latour is more open, expressive, and complex, with a medium to full-bodied style as well as terrific aromatics of ripe currants, leather, graphite, and cedary spice. I love its overall purity, and it has fabulous balance and outstanding length. Coming from slightly less ideal parcels (those farther from the Gironde estuary), it doesn't have the density of the 2020 or 2022 but shines for its overall equilibrium and elegance, while still bringing some solid Pauillac power. |
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| Clos Fourtet |
2019 |
St. Emilion (3X750ML) 3-Bottle OWC |
$327 |
1 |
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| |
VM 95-97 (6/2020): The 2019 Clos Fourtet continues its strong run of form under the direction of Mathieu Cuvelier and his team. It sprints out of the blocks with intense blackberries, raspberry coulis, blood orange and crushed violet aromas, touches of iodine developing as it musters ever increasing delineation. The palate is medium-bodied but (as expected) contains more weight and girth compared to its peers. Firm grip, solid and yet graceful, there is a crescendo of flavours towards its heady, focused and very persistent finish. Wonderful salinity in the mouth, the aftertaste is one of the longest you will find on the Right Bank. Fabulous. Neal Martin.
JD 95-97 (6/2020): Located on the upper limestone plateau and 90% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Château Clos Fourtet gives up a bright purple color to go with loads of black raspberry and chocolate-covered cherry fruits as well as plenty of tobacco, damp earth, and truffly aromas and flavors. It shows the vintage's purity, elegance, and sunny, sexy character to a T. It will be a brilliant Saint-Emilion that will be drinkable with just a handful of years in the cellar and evolve for 20-25 years or more.
JS 95-96 (6/2020): A beautiful core of ripe fruit in the center palate with deep, dark-chocolate undertones. It’s full-bodied with layers of fruit and ripe tannins. Flavorful finish. |
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2020 |
St. Emilion (6X750ML) 6-Bottle OWC |
$594 |
1 |
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JD 97 (3/2023): Much more closed and backward now from bottle, the 2020 Château Clos Fourtet is nevertheless a brilliant Saint-Emilion that ranks with the crème de la crème of the vintage. A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, its deep purple hue is followed by an incredibly pure, classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of darker cherry and cassis-like fruit as well as chalky minerality, lead pencil shavings, and white flowers. Concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced, it has perfectly integrated oak, an incredible sense of minerality, good acidity, and a great finish. It's going to need a solid decade of bottle age but will evolve for 30-40+ years in cold cellars. The Château deserves far more attention in the market today as they’re consistently producing some of the greatest wines in a vintage. (Drink between 2031-2071).
WA 94 (4/2023): The 2020 Clos Fourtet offers up aromas of dark berries, plum preserves and pencil shavings framed by nicely integrated new oak. It is medium to full-bodied, with a rich core of ripe fruit that's framed by powdery, youthfully firm tannins that assert themselves on the finish. This limestone site always delivers low pHs, so the wine remains fresh and vibrant, even if its fruit flavors are marked by the warmth and sunshine of the vintage.
VM 92 (11/2024): The 2020 Clos Fourtet has a very well-defined bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit, melted dark chocolate and a touch of mocha. The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry and fine balance. It's a little more muscular than its peers, with a very structured finish. More backward than expected (hence the lower score in this blind tasting), this needs four or five years before it entertains drinkability. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2029-2050). Neal Martin. |
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|
2021 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,161.97 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Ch. La Gaffeliere |
2019 |
St. Emilion (3X750ML) 3-Bottle OWC |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 91-93 (6/2020): The flagship 2019 Château La Gaffeliere is mostly Merlot, yet the cuvee always includes around 15% Cabernet Franc. It offers a complex array of spiced red and black fruits, cedary herbs, lead pencil, and a kiss of tobacco to go with a medium-bodied, elegant, impressively balanced style on the palate. It shows the more classic style of the vintage, has no hard edges, and is going to be relatively accessible in its youth yet also age gracefully. |
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| Ch. Le Gay |
2012 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,523.99 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95 (1/2016): The 2012 Le Gay is beautifully seductive, powerful and layered from start to finish. A wine of crystalline precision and nuance, the 2012 literally sparkles with striking aromatic presence and fabulous overall balance. Lavender, slate, mint and crème de cassis are some of the many notes that blossom in a silky Pomerol that has it all. I imagine the 2012 will reward readers with many years of fine drinking.
WA 93+ (4/2015): This is a beautiful, dense, meaty, purple-colored wine, with loads of earth, iron, blackberry and cassis fruit. It is full-bodied, rich and opulent with great length, terrific purity and surprisingly sweeter tannin than I would expect from this terroir that tends to produce a masculine style of wine. Impressive and backward, this Le Gay should drink well for at least 20 years.
JS 92 (2/2015): This is dense and polished with refined tannins and beautiful fruit. Full-bodied yet reserved and elegant. Very long and attractive. Better in 2018. |
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2016 |
Pomerol |
$139 |
2 |
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JS 98 (1/2019): Exotic aromas of blackberries, truffle, earth and cedar follow through to a full body, rich and layered tannins and a long, long finish. Shows so much here. Exotic. Give it at least three or four years of bottle age. Exuberant. Try from 2023.
WA 95+ (11/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Le Gay has a rock star nose of flamboyant Black Forest cake, crushed redcurrants and lilacs scents with underlying nuances of yeast extract, wood smoke, iron ore and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate truly struts its stuff with generous black and red fruits and a fantastic line of super ripe tannins, building to a very long, seductively perfumed finish.
JD 94+ (2/2019): As with the La Violette, the 2016 Château Le Gay shows a slightly more elegant, structured style yet still packs rocking levels of fruit and texture. Mulled dark fruits, new saddle leather, camphor, and tobacco all give way to a full-bodied Pomerol that has building tannins, solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It’s still holding things close to its vest, and while I miss some of the sheer opulence found in vintages such as 2005, 2009, and 2010, this is still going to be brilliant. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and it should shine for two decades or more.
VM 94 (1/2019): The 2016 Le Gay is terrific. Rich, explosive and vertical in feel, the 2016 is a wine of pedigree and real class. Inky blue and purplish fruit, licorice, lavender all race across the palate. From bottle, Le Gay is more a wine of subtlety and vibrancy than pure power. As good as it is, my impression today is that the fruit is a bit dried out. I liked the 2016 more from barrel. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Giscours |
2016 |
Margaux |
$85 |
2 |
|
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JS 96 (1/2019): This has attractive, glossy, ripe red-plum and licorice aromas with cedar, flowers and red berries, as well as a stony edge. A very fragrant, cabernet-driven nose. The palate has elegance and grace with sleek and charming, balanced style and a discreet tannin structure that holds the finish long and fresh. A blend of 81 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 19 per cent merlot. Try from 2023.
JD 93 (2/2019): The 2016 Château Giscours is fabulous stuff, offering a beautiful, complex (and classic Margaux) perfume of smoke tobacco, black currants, truffly earth, and spring flowers. Finesse-driven, medium-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it has ultra-fine tannins and no hard edges, and is already drinking beautifully. Nevertheless, it’s going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 20-25 years or more. The blend of the 2016 is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot and it’s well worth a case purchase.
WA 93 (11/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Giscours gives up aromas of cassis, chocolate, earth, tar, pepper and hoisin with touches of flowers and a meaty nuance. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with a great core and a long finish. |
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|
2021 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$719.99 |
3 |
|
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VM 95 (2/2024): The 2021 Giscours is not quite as showy as some recent vintages, but all the ingredients are there. Aromatic, deep and layered, with tremendous balance, the 2021 has so much to offer. Rose petal, mint, spice, orange peel and dried herbs are some of the notes that build. The 2021 is a wine of exquisite precision—bright and driving, with notable tension. It is seriously impressive at this stage. (Drink between 2028-2041). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94+ (2/2024): The 2021 Giscours has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries and licorice mingled with hints of violet and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and suave, it's seamless and enveloping, with good depth at the core, beautifully polished tannins and a long, perfumed finish. This is one of the real successes of the vintage. As readers may remember, it's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.
JD 92+ (4/2024): Slightly closed and inward aromatically, the 2021 Château Giscours nevertheless shines for its depth, balance, and elegance on the palate. Ripe red and black fruits, graphite, and hints of tobacco slowly open up in the glass, and this hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, good mid-palate depth and concentration, and enough tannins to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. This is one 2021 that should still be drinking nicely at age 20. (Drink between 2026-2041) |
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| Ch. Gloria |
2016 |
St. Julien |
$53 |
1 |
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| |
VM 96 (1/2019): The 2016 Gloria is one of the undisputed stars of this vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, menthol, licorice and dried rose petal all add complexity. In 2016 Gloria is a real head-turner. It should be a fabulous value as well. There is not much else to say. Antonio Galloni.
JA 95 (11/2022): Plum colour, with spiced damson and raspberry leaf aromatics. A good few years from being truly open and ready to drink, this is nevertheless superbly enjoyable, even if closed in. Unrolls to show waves of cocoa bean, dark chocolate shavings, espresso, crushed rocks, bilberry and blackcurrant fruits. The chewy tannins are confident and dominating the structure, exerting quiet control over the shape and form of the palate. Bursting with poential. 40% new oak, with one of the latest harvests in the vertical, running from September 29 to October 17. Remi di Constanzo technical director.
JD 94 (2/2019): I was lucky enough to taste the 2016 Château Gloria on multiple occasions and it’s unquestionably the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in 42% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a powerful, medium to full-bodied wine that has thrilling purity in its ripe black and blue fruits, tobacco, and graphite-laced aromas and flavors. Deep, layered, with ripe tannins and the purity and freshness that makes the vintage so special, this is a brilliant Gloria to drink over the coming 20+ years.
WA 93 (10/2022): The 2016 Gloria is showing brilliantly and appears to be entering the beginning of its drinking window. Offering up a deep bouquet of sweet crème de cassis and blackberries mingled with sweet spices and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with fine concentration, ripe tannins and bright acids, it's a vibrant, precise wine from this sometimes rather flamboyantly styled estate, impressing for its purity of fruit and structural seamlessness. Gloria in excelsis! |
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2017 |
St. Julien |
$49 |
2 |
|
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VM 94 (3/2020): The 2017 Gloria is just as delicious from bottle as it was from barrel. A rush of bright red cherry and plum fruit, blood orange, iron, dried flowers and mint gives the 2017 its sense of energy. Medium in body and full of character, Gloria is one of the highlights of the vintage. Don't miss it. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92 (2/2020): This estate continues to make a powerful, ripe style of wine, and their 2017 Chateau Gloria offers plenty of oak as well as terrific cassis fruits, hints of violets, and flowery incense, medium to full body, and a layered, pure, beautifully balanced style. While I wasn’t able to get a release price, I’m sure this is going to represent a smoking value! Based on 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, aged in 40% new barrels, representing just 65% of the total production, it will evolve gracefully for two decades or more. |
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| Ch. Grand Puy Lacoste |
2009 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$700.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2012): Performing better from bottle than it did from cask (and comparable to their wines 2005, 2000, 1990 and 1982), this is a great classic from Xavier Borie’s estate situated on the back roads west of the town of Pauillac. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by hints of spring flowers, crushed rocks, black currants, cedar and earth/underbrush. Precise and elegant as well as backward and foreboding, it should put on weight in the bottle and evolve for two decades. Very concentrated as well as velvety-textured, it is a beauty of finesse, balance, purity and nobility. It will benefit from 5-7 more years of bottle age.
VM 95 (3/2019): The 2009 Grand Puy Lacoste is one of the great vintages from this estate in the modern era. It storms from the glass with scents of blackberry, undergrowth, cedar and mint, retaining the classicism of GPL. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity. Very harmonious with a gorgeous, lithe, graphite infused finish that lingers in the mouth. Bon vin. Tasted blind at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting. Neal Martin.
JS 95 (2/2012): Complex and decadent. Blackberries and black currants, with fresh herbs on the nose. Tea too. Full body, with soft tannins and an earthy finish. Juicy wine. Turns to pure black currants. Best in 2018. |
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| Ch. Haut Bailly |
2012 |
Pessac Leognan |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94 (10/2023): In the same ballpark quality-wise as the 2006, 2008, and 2014, the 2012 Château Haut-Bailly has beautiful ripeness in its sweet red and black fruits as well as notes of smoky tobacco, tapenade, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a broad, rounded mouthfeel and shows the inherent elegance that's the hallmark of this terroir. It's still youthful but drinking brilliantly. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 15+ years.
VM 93 (4/2022): The 2012 Haut-Bailly has more charm and fruit concentration than the 2011. it offers a mixture of red and black fruit, forest floor and hints of wild mushroom. The palate is built around quite firm tannins that soften with aeration. Fleshier than expected with a subtle savoury character segueing into a peppery and quite sustained finish. This is just reaching its drinking plateau. Excellent. Tasted at the Haut-Bailly vertical at the château. Neal Martin.
WA 94 (7/2017): The 2012 Haut Bailly is a brilliant wine for the vintage. It has a very intense bouquet with scents of blackberry, bilberry, cedar and a touch of pencil lead. This is very well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, certainly one of the most structured Pessac-Léognan wines that I have encountered, yet it is struck through with wonderful balance and focus. It tightens up a little on the finish, a 2012 built for long-term drinking pleasure, and as such, I would afford it five or six more years in bottle if wishing to experience this in full flight. |
|
|
2016 |
Pessac Leognan (12X750ML) 12-Bottle OWC |
$1,860 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (10/2023): I obviously underrated the 2016 Château Haut-Bailly on release, and it easily tops out my scale. A hypothetical blend of the 2009 and 2010, it has the opulence and sexiness of a ripe, sunny vintage (à la 2009) paired with incredible purity, concentration, structure, and elegance (à la 2010). Incredible aromatics of cassis, liquid violets, cedar pencil, flowers, and minerals give way to a full-bodied, multi-dimensional, layered Haut-Bailly offering ultra-fine tannins, flawless overall balance, nothing out of place, and the class to drink well today yet evolve for 30-40 years. Absolute perfection in wine, this is a modern-day Legend from director Veronique Sanders. (Drink between 2023-2063).
WA 98 (11/2018): The 2016 Haut-Bailly is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. The nose opens with beautiful floral notes of violets and lavender accented with earthy notions and sparks of crushed rocks over a core of kirsch, cassis and wild blueberries. Full-bodied, rich and seductive, it has layer upon layer of red, black and blue fruits intermingled with earth and mineral hints leading to a very long, perfumed finish.
VM 96+ (4/2022): The 2016 Haut-Bailly is brilliant on the nose with exquisite delineation and focus: blackberries, potpourri, crushed stone and hints of violet petal. This is utterly seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, perfectly judged acidity, very cohesive and almost Pauillac-like towards the finish. This is a very classy Haut-Bailly as you would expect, and the length is stupendous. Tasted at the Haut-Bailly vertical at the château. (Drink between 2023-2055). Neal Martin. |
|
|
2019 |
Pessac Leognan |
$97 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (4/2022): The 2019 Haut-Bailly had just been bottled prior to my visit. This is better than the 2018 with brilliant delineation on the nose and newfound purity. The palate is silky smooth with enormous depth, wonderful concentration and outstanding precision towards the finish with layers of lightly spiced black fruit. This is Fabulous with a capital "F". Tasted at the Haut-Bailly vertical at the château. (Drink between 2027-2065). Neal Martin.
WA 96+ (4/2022): The 2019 Haut-Bailly unwinds in the glass with complex aromas of dark berries, bay leaf, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, framed by a discreet patina of new oak. Full-bodied, velvety and elegantly muscular, it's powerful and concentrated, with lively acids and an abundance of ripe but youthfully assertive structuring tannin that will demand some patience.
JD 96 (10/2023): The 2019 Château Haut-Bailly is more restrained and elegant, which is the vintage. Still vivid purple-hued with pure and vibrant notes of red and black fruit, sandalwood, minty herbs, and flowers, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered, elegant mouthfeel, undeniable minerality, and a gorgeous finish. This classy, utterly classic Haut-Bailly will continue to evolve gracefully for another 30+ years. (Drink between 2023-2054). |
|
|
2020 |
Pessac Leognan (12X375ML) 12-Half Bottle OWC |
$828 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2020 Haut-Bailly has developed into an elegant, richly-textured wine with all its elements in balance. Classy and polished to the core, the 2020 is a Haut-Bailly that favors finesse over power. It's a wine of extreme precision and persistence more than anything else. Red-toned fruit, dried flowers, spice and blood orange are some of the many notes that open over time. The 2020 spent 15 months in barrel, with 50% new oak. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (3/2023): The 2020 Château Haut-Bailly is a quintessential expression of this terroir and shines for its incredible purity, balance, and elegance. Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as a terrific bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, Asian spices, smoked tobacco, and leafy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a layered, seamless mouthfeel. Reminding me slightly of the 2016 with its pure, balanced, classical style, give bottles just 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two to three decades. President and CEO Véronique Sanders continues to do incredible job at this Château, and you won’t find a more classy, elegant wine out there.
JS 99-100 (4/2021): This has incredible power and drive with blackberry, black olive and graphite. It’s full-bodied, yet dynamic and agile, with so much polished and muscular tannin. Yet, it remains in harmony and balance. So much character. The head of the chateau calls it diabolical beauty. 25% less production than the 2019. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.
WA 96-98+ (5/2021): A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.3%. Deep purple-black in color, it prances out of the glass with naturally beautiful notions of fresh black cherries, violets, mulberries and boysenberries, giving way to hints of redcurrant jelly, star anise, tilled soil and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately crafted with velvety/grainy tannins and fantastic freshness framing the perfumed red and black berry layers, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. |
|
| Haut Bailly II |
2019 |
Pessac Leognan |
$36 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93 (2/2022): The 2019 Haut-Bailly II, the second wine of Haut-Bailly, has accentuated the sous-bois elements on the nose since bottling, now feeling quintessentially Pessac-Léognan and quite marine-influenced in style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, taut and fresh, still a little piquant on the finish but with more precision than I recall. This is very impressive. Excellent. (Drink between 2025-2040). Neal Martin.
JD 92 (4/2022): The second wine of this incredible château in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the 2019 Haut-Bailly II has a classic Graves scorched earth character as well as pure red and black fruits, tobacco, and cedary herb-like aromas and flavors. Round, plush, and sexy on the palate, it does everything you would want from a second wine and will drink nicely for 10-15 years. (Drink between 2022-2037).
WA 90 (4/2022): The 2019 Haut-Bailly II exhibits aromas of rich berry fruit, cassis, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and polished, with a ripe core of fruit and plenty of rich, powdery tannin, it's a Merlot-dominated blend that was composed at the moment of assemblage (as opposed to a selection of dedicated plots). |
|
| Ch. Haut Batailley |
2016 |
Pauillac ex-Negociant |
$59.95 |
56 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (4/2026): The 2016 Haut-Batailley has a more open bouquet than the '16 Lynch Bages, but quite compelling, with more red fruit here, touches of cedar and undergrowth, superb delineation and plenty of character. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very well balanced, a little fleshier in style, with a harmonious, lightly spiced finish. This is an absolute charmer. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Drink between 2029-2058). Neal Martin. |
|
|
2019 |
Pauillac (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$32.50 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 93-95 (6/2020): The 2019 Haut-Batailley is wonderfully resonant and deep in the glass Rose petal, lavender, spice and new leather overtones are nicely layered into a core of inky crème de cassis fruit. A wine of real substance and power, Haut-Batailley has quite a bit of potential. Antonio Galloni.
JD 93-95+ (6/2020): The Cazes family has turned out a beautiful 2019 Château Haut-Batailley. It has the pure, clean fruit and aromatics of the vintage as well as medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of cedary spice and tobacco notes, ripe yet certainly present tannins, and a great finish. It's largely in the same classic, elegant, concentrated style of the 2018 and is going to reward 5-7 years of bottle age.
JS 95-96 (6/2020): Plenty of blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. It’s full and chewy with a powerful finish. Tar and graphite at the end. Solid core of fruit and tannin here. One of the most structured I have had from here. Cazes family making the difference. |
|
|
2023 |
Pauillac Verso ex-Negociant |
$34.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Haut-Brion |
2013 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,296.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (10/2016): The 2013 Haut Brion has perhaps a little more complexity on the nose compared to the 2013 La Mission Haut-Brion at the moment. There is more depth and plenty of attractive fruit: cranberry, wild strawberry, hickory and a scintilla of scorched earth that becomes quite peaty with time. It is well defined and shows impressive focus. The palate is very well balanced with tensile tannin, a keen thread of acidity, lively in the mouth with more weight and presence than La Mission, though perhaps without quite the same precision at the moment. It still cuts away just a little short on the finish, but this is a decent Haut-Brion that may pull ahead of its "sibling" with bottle age. |
|
|
2015 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,199.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (2/2018): A blend of 50% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Brion is reticent to begin, languidly revealing crushed black cherries, ripe black plums and wild blueberries with sparks of cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, espresso, unsmoked cigars, tapenade, crushed rocks and lavender. The full-bodied palate possesses wonderfully complementary contrasts of bold black and blue fruit richness and delicately nuanced cherry fruit, baking spices and floral accents, strutting ripe, finely pixelated tannins and seamless acidity that is placed firmly in the background, finishing very long and with plenty of attitude. This impeccably poised, exquisitely perfumed 2015 Haut-Brion possesses the most alluring yet seemingly effortless beauty. While it bears only a passing resemblance in its opulent personality to the now legendary 1989, like that vintage the 2015 cannot fail to hedonically satiate and intellectually edify all lovers of great Bordeaux who drink it. What’s more, it also has the blue-blooded tenaciousness to remain this jaw-droppingly impressive, throughout its many guises over time, and for a very, very long time.
JD 100 (11/2018): The 2015 Haut Brion is a perfect wine that couldn’t be any better and is certainly at the top of this great vintage. A blend of 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, this full-bodied, concentrated, backward, yet sensationally pure 2015 boast knockout notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, ground herbs, and graphite, with a terrific damp earth/minerality quality emerging with time in the glass. Straight, focused, and built like a skyscraper, with a stacked mid-palate, forget bottles for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following three to four decades.
VM 99 (2/2018): A huge, dramatic wine, the 2015 Haut-Brion is magnificent. Vertical in its construction and towering in its reach, the 2015 is going to need a good decade-plus to even start becoming approachable, as it needs to lose baby fat and develop the full range of its aromatics. Even at this early stage, though, it is wonderfully complete and positively stunning. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. d' Issan |
2010 |
Margaux |
$115 |
1 |
|
| |
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.
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. |
|
|
2012 |
Margaux |
$76 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (4/2015): The 2012 Château d’Issan, builds on the richness of the second wine and adds more body, structure and density. It has an inky purple color and a stunning nose of spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry fruit as well as touches of incense and graphite. Medium to full-bodied and stunningly concentrated, this 2012 is a great success in the vintage, one of the superstars. Moreover, its precociousness suggests it could be drunk in the next 4-5 years or cellared through 2025. I underrated this wine dramatically in my report of April, 2013
JS 92 (3/2015): This is an excellent red now with sweet tobacco, truffles and berries. Full body, vevlety tannins and a savory finish. This shows the Issan character of decadence and richness.
VM 87-89 (5/2013): Bright red-ruby. Subdued but pure nose offers blueberry, violet, licorice, menthol and grilled herbs. Enters the mouth fresh and clean, then turns austere, with nicely integrated acidity framing delicate dark berry and herbal flavors. Finishes firm and fresh, with fine-grained tannins and a hint of herbaceousness. A juicy, brisk, classic Bordeaux red with no shortage of energy and lift. I'm always a big fan of Issan, but I wonder if this vintage's relatively modest quantity of ripe fruit will last |
|
|
2016 |
Margaux |
$76 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 94+ (2/2019): I loved the 2016 Château d'Issan and this is a certainly a wine to seek out. Made from a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot from yields of 55 hectoliters per hectare, aged 18 months in 50% new oak, it has a beautiful perfume of blue fruits (cassis, blueberries, etc.) as well as hints of graphite, subtle oak, and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, with integrated acidity, a terrific mid-palate, and perfect balance, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and is going to cruise in good cellars for 20-25 years or more. It’s a beautiful, elegant, seamless wine that’s very much in the style of the vintage.
VM 94 (1/2019): The 2016 d’Issan, matured in 50% new oak and bottled at the end of May, was impressive out of barrel, and thankfully, it is the same in bottle. The very well defined bouquet features blackberry, tobacco, pressed violets and a subtle estuarine tang, almost a marshland scent of salty air. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, good focused and just the right amount of salinity. My feeling is that this Margaux will close up for a while, so cellar it for several years if you can. Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Kirwan |
2020 |
Margaux |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 94 (3/2023): Lots of smoky oak, ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, tobacco, and chocolaty notes emerge from the 2020 Château Kirwan, a richly textured, medium to full-bodied Margaux. A wine that blossoms with time in the glass, it's a plush, sexy, yet brilliantly balanced 2020 offering velvety tannins and a great finish, and while the oak is preset right on opening, it integrated beautifully with air. This beauty is going to put a smile on your face any time over the coming 20-25 years. (Drink between 2023-2048).
WA 92+ (4/2023): Exhibiting aromas of sweet black fruits and licorice mingled with hints of creamy new oak, the 2020 Kirwan is medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with polished tannins, notably tangy acids for the vintage, and a suave, seamless profile despite its creditable concentration. In terms of aromatic purity and managed extraction, this is the finest Kirwan for some time.
VM 92 (11/2024): The 2020 Kirwan has a pretty, high-toned, slightly ostentatious floral bouquet with violet- and rose petal-infused black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant with fine tannins, not the most concentrated Margaux, yet it delivers tension and delineation. A combination of modern and classic Bordeaux, it works better on the palate than the nose, but overall, it's a very satisfying, competent Margaux. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2030-2060). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Lacoste Borie |
2017 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$260.97 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 88-90 (5/2018): The 2017 Lacoste Borie was picked from 15 to 29 September, cropped at 49hl/ha. It has a clean, fresh and slightly earthy bouquet, what you might call “classic” in style, perhaps not quite as precise as the 2016 but then again, few 2017s are. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and strict tannin, a little raw at the moment with a small attenuation on the slightly rough-hewn finish. Not bad although I would like to see more finesse by the time of bottling. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Neal Martin.
JD 84-86 (4/2018): The second wine from Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is also a solid effort. The 2017 Lacoste-Borie checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc (from slightly higher yields). It offers plenty of dark, earthy fruit, some minerality and tobacco, medium body, and a silky, nicely balanced style on the palate. It’s going to drink nicely in its youth. |
|
| Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
2000 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,231.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (6/2010): Since I gave this wine a perfect score, I suppose some could see this as a downgrade. I found everything still there for a perfect rating, but I was just struck by how tight and backward the wine was. A blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, the wine still has a dark ruby/purple color and an extraordinarily youthful nose of graphite, black currants, sweet, unsmoked cigar tobacco, and flowers. The wine is rich, medium to full-bodied, but has that ethereal elegance and purity that is always Lafite. I originally predicted that it would first reach maturity in 2011, but I would push that back by 5-7 years now, although it has 50-60 years of life in front of it. Owners of this beauty are probably best advised to forget it for 5 years. Tasted next to a 1996 several days after the 2000 tasting, the 1996, which is a perfect wine, was far closer to full maturity than the 2000.
JA 98 (8/2021): A baby, still barely evolved at 21 years old, perhaps the slowest out of the block of all Five Firsts in this vintage. A high Cabernet Sauvignon year, one of the highest on record, and although you had to be patient, it's clear that the 2000 vintage deserved the plaudits it received on release. The texture is velvety, seductive, with obvious width, and it remains extremely young . I would strongly recommend opening the 2001 over this (not a vintage that I specifically tasted in this vertical, but on recent examples) or certainly the 1996. If you drink this now you are missing out on the extra layer of nuance that is undoubtedly hidden underneath, although you'll already enjoy cassis puree, savoury black fruits, elegant yet concentrated with precision, heft and finely-sculpted tannins, signature Cabernet Sauvignon and signature Lafite. The power comes slowly, expanding through the palate to show graphite, pencil shavings, cigar smoke, all with firm acidities and a fantastic grip. 46% of the overall crop went into this wine in the 2000 vintage. A brilliant example of the success at Lafite under the longtime triumvirate of then-owner Baron Éric de Rothschild, CEO Christophe Salin and estate director Charles Chevallier. Last tasted July 2020. 100% new oak.
VM 97 (9/2021): The 2000 Lafite-Rothschild is deep in color. It has a beautifully defined bouquet of blackberry, cedar and mint, still quite closed but very focused. There is a lot of power here, but maybe not the same level of elegance as other vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, firm grip, very nicely judged acidity and good density on the finish. This is quite backward and muscular at the moment, although aeration/decanting shaves some of its edges. It’s just beginning to open and improves with time in the glass. (Drink between 2023-2060). Neal Martin. |
|
|
2001 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,882.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2004): The 2001 Lafite Rothschild’s deep, saturated plum/purple color is accompanied by lead pencil liqueur-like notes intermixed with sweet red and black currants, plums, and cedar. This blend of 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13.5% Merlot is a classic example of Lafite. Extremely elegant, medium-bodied, with intense concentration, richness, and sweet tannin, it appears to be on a rapid evolutionary track, at least in comparison to recent Lafite vintages that have been far more backward and powerful. The classy 2001 should be at its finest between 2007-2020. |
|
|
2005 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,606.97 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 100 (2/2011): An incredible nose, so subtle with red fruits, mint, minerals, and all sorts of flowers give way to Cohiba cigar tobacco. The palate has such freshness and density, with perfectly polished tannins. Slightly leathery, like a wonderful Hermes bag. What a wine, please leave this for another ten years. Pull the cork in 2020. 10% Merlot. Find the wine
VM 97 (4/2021): The 2005 Lafite-Rothschild is a gorgeous wine, but it is also very young. Readers lucky enough to own it will find a very classic, gracious Lafite-Rothschild that still needs a few years to be at its best. Bright red-toned fruit, crushed rocks, mint and licorice open first, followed by darker aromas and flavors that develop as the wine gains volume with air. Tasted next to its peers, Lafite is so typical of itself and less marked by the year. And that is one of the signs of a truly great terroir. Lafite-Rothschild is not as showy as many other wines in this vintage, but it is so true to its own identity, and that is the highest compliment I can pay it. The 2005 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, done in 100% new oak, which is not at all noticeable. At the time, the Cabernet percentage was quite high, but that has now become the norm. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (6/2015): Beautiful, elegant red, blue and black fruits (89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot) as well as some graphite and spice notes jump from the glass of the 2005 Lafite Rothschild. Medium-bodied, with superb purity and texture, this is not a blockbuster by any means, but a meticulously made, lovely-textured Pauillac. Long and pure, this wine should drink well for 25-30 years. There is no danger in pulling the cork on it today. |
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|
2006 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,117.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (2/2009): One of the fabulous surprises, although I had suggested last year that it could jump in quality, of my tastings, the 2006 Lafite Rothschild is a great, great wine made from a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. When I tasted it from barrel, it reminded me of their successful 1988, but it is dramatically superior to that vintage. Frankly, it may turn out to be as good as the 2005, which in all of Bordeaux is a far greater vintage than 2006. Lafite’s severe selection process (42% made it into the grand vin) resulted in a full-bodied wine boasting an extraordinary perfume of charcoal, truffles, lead pencil shavings, and sensationally sweet, ripe black currant and cedar notes. A wine of extraordinary intensity, texture, and depth with silky tannins as well as awesome concentration, this has turned out to be a remarkable Lafite Rothschild that should be drinkable much earlier than the 2005, but age for three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2035+.
VM 95+ (6/2009): Good full ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of cassis, graphite and cedar chips, lifted by peppery and floral high notes. Densely packed and superconcentrated but light on its feet, with compelling flavors of spicy berries and minerals. The very long, slow-building finish stains the palate with flavor. Very backward but not austere; and unlike some recent vintages of Lafite, which could appear deceptively light in the early going, this showcases its density and ripeness from the outset. I have the impression that most of the less-ripe fruit was declassified into the far lighter Carruades de Lafite (87), which shows a distinctly cool style for the year. |
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|
2014 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,651.99 |
1 |
|
| |
Decanter 98 (4/2024): Fragrant and deeply herbal, a mixture of fresh and savoury. Clean and clear, immediately quite zingy with acidity to the fore and while this doesn't get any weightier, and is definitely not plush, it continues the same initial flavour from start to a long finish. Keeps direction and definition, finessed and so well delivered. Balanced and harmonious, it's not shouting as Lafite never does, but this maintains a well proportioned expression and you feel like you could drink this now as well as age it further – it's almost timeless in that aspect. Slightly grainy, mineral-edged tannins on the finish. Structured despite being quite light. I love it. (Drink between 2024-2046)
JA 97 (2/2024): Fine swirls of gunsmoke on the first nose, totally enticing, very much in control, with mouthwatering salinity, fine tannic structure that initially masks the build up of power and concentration, with an expansion through the mid palate of raspberry, cassis, rose petals and tobacco leaf. One of those sapid, mouthwatering, moreish Lafites that beg to be drunk, but are deceptive because will continue to develop over the next decade, then hold on for another two or three. It's delicious, not the most luscious 2014, but elegant and on point.
WA 95 (3/2017): The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild, tasted with head winemaker Eric Kohler, has retained that very opulent and outgoing bouquet that dare I say actually reminded me of Mouton-Rothschild. There are layers of blackberry and boysenberry fruit, still that hint of juniper berry, certainly a more extrovert Lafite-Rothschild compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very focused and quite linear, again with plenty of black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco. It begins to clam up towards the saline finish, suggesting that it will need several years in bottle, but I still have high expectations for this First Growth once afforded several years in bottle.
VM 92 (3/2024): The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild has a typically refined nose at first, though I notice that it gains more richness after five minutes and replicates the menthol scents that I noticed in the previous bottle four years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, fleshy and ripe. White pepper and fennel infuse the red fruit. Perhaps it doesn't quite "kick on" towards the finish like Mouton, though it does feel reassuringly persistent. Maybe it has something up its sleeve? A second bottle tasted blind at Southwold was a bit "aloof". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting. (Drink between 2026-2055). Neal Martin. |
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2014 |
Pauillac (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,773.99 |
1 |
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Decanter 98 (4/2024): Fragrant and deeply herbal, a mixture of fresh and savoury. Clean and clear, immediately quite zingy with acidity to the fore and while this doesn't get any weightier, and is definitely not plush, it continues the same initial flavour from start to a long finish. Keeps direction and definition, finessed and so well delivered. Balanced and harmonious, it's not shouting as Lafite never does, but this maintains a well proportioned expression and you feel like you could drink this now as well as age it further – it's almost timeless in that aspect. Slightly grainy, mineral-edged tannins on the finish. Structured despite being quite light. I love it. (Drink between 2024-2046)
JA 97 (2/2024): Fine swirls of gunsmoke on the first nose, totally enticing, very much in control, with mouthwatering salinity, fine tannic structure that initially masks the build up of power and concentration, with an expansion through the mid palate of raspberry, cassis, rose petals and tobacco leaf. One of those sapid, mouthwatering, moreish Lafites that beg to be drunk, but are deceptive because will continue to develop over the next decade, then hold on for another two or three. It's delicious, not the most luscious 2014, but elegant and on point.
WA 95 (3/2017): The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild, tasted with head winemaker Eric Kohler, has retained that very opulent and outgoing bouquet that dare I say actually reminded me of Mouton-Rothschild. There are layers of blackberry and boysenberry fruit, still that hint of juniper berry, certainly a more extrovert Lafite-Rothschild compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very focused and quite linear, again with plenty of black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco. It begins to clam up towards the saline finish, suggesting that it will need several years in bottle, but I still have high expectations for this First Growth once afforded several years in bottle.
VM 92 (3/2024): The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild has a typically refined nose at first, though I notice that it gains more richness after five minutes and replicates the menthol scents that I noticed in the previous bottle four years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, fleshy and ripe. White pepper and fennel infuse the red fruit. Perhaps it doesn't quite "kick on" towards the finish like Mouton, though it does feel reassuringly persistent. Maybe it has something up its sleeve? A second bottle tasted blind at Southwold was a bit "aloof". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting. (Drink between 2026-2055). Neal Martin. |
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2014 |
Pauillac (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,814.97 |
2 |
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Decanter 98 (4/2024): Fragrant and deeply herbal, a mixture of fresh and savoury. Clean and clear, immediately quite zingy with acidity to the fore and while this doesn't get any weightier, and is definitely not plush, it continues the same initial flavour from start to a long finish. Keeps direction and definition, finessed and so well delivered. Balanced and harmonious, it's not shouting as Lafite never does, but this maintains a well proportioned expression and you feel like you could drink this now as well as age it further – it's almost timeless in that aspect. Slightly grainy, mineral-edged tannins on the finish. Structured despite being quite light. I love it. (Drink between 2024-2046)
JA 97 (2/2024): Fine swirls of gunsmoke on the first nose, totally enticing, very much in control, with mouthwatering salinity, fine tannic structure that initially masks the build up of power and concentration, with an expansion through the mid palate of raspberry, cassis, rose petals and tobacco leaf. One of those sapid, mouthwatering, moreish Lafites that beg to be drunk, but are deceptive because will continue to develop over the next decade, then hold on for another two or three. It's delicious, not the most luscious 2014, but elegant and on point.
WA 95 (3/2017): The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild, tasted with head winemaker Eric Kohler, has retained that very opulent and outgoing bouquet that dare I say actually reminded me of Mouton-Rothschild. There are layers of blackberry and boysenberry fruit, still that hint of juniper berry, certainly a more extrovert Lafite-Rothschild compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very focused and quite linear, again with plenty of black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco. It begins to clam up towards the saline finish, suggesting that it will need several years in bottle, but I still have high expectations for this First Growth once afforded several years in bottle.
VM 92 (3/2024): The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild has a typically refined nose at first, though I notice that it gains more richness after five minutes and replicates the menthol scents that I noticed in the previous bottle four years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, fleshy and ripe. White pepper and fennel infuse the red fruit. Perhaps it doesn't quite "kick on" towards the finish like Mouton, though it does feel reassuringly persistent. Maybe it has something up its sleeve? A second bottle tasted blind at Southwold was a bit "aloof". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting. (Drink between 2026-2055). Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Lafleur |
2012 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,912.97 |
1 |
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JS 96 (2/2015): The nose to this is fascinating with orange peel, mangoes, stones and hints of blanched walnuts. Full-bodied, yet dense and reserved. It shows amazing length and finesse. The finish shows wonderful, subtle and pure fruit. Breathtakingly subtle and complex. Better in 2018 but I love it.
VM 95 (1/2016): The 2012 Lafleur presents a distinctly red-toned profile to match its silky, open-knit personality. Crushed flowers, sweet red cherry, plum, mint and spices are all nicely layered throughout. Medium in body, the 2012 nevertheless possesses lovely depth and pliancy, both of which suggest it will provide readers with a long window of exceptionally fine drinking. Proprietor Baptiste Guinaudeau describes 2012 as a cool vintage of open-knit wines and compares his 2012 to the 2001. This is a superb showing and one of the standouts of the year. Readers will find many terrific 2012s, but Lafleur is distinguished by its soul, something that is not to easy to find in Bordeaux. The 2012 is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (10/2016): Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting, the 2012 Lafleur has a very well-defined bouquet that is complex and laden with blackberry, granite, cedar and veins of graphite, all with razor-like precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation and lovely poise. There are plenty of graphite-infused black fruit interwoven into this Pomerol with a cheeky dab of spiciness on the finish that needs to manifest just a little more precision in order that it attains full potential. As usual, Baptiste, Julie and Jacques Guinaudeau have conjured a serious Lafleur destined for long-term ageing. |
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2014 |
Pomerol
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$671.99 |
1 |
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JS 97-98 (3/2015): This is very tight and chewy with polished and intense tannins. Full-bodied with blueberries, blackberries, minerals and fine tannins. This is more Pauillac than many top Pauillac estates. Cabernet franc always makes the quality here and it’s 56% this year. Rest is merlot. Superb.
VM 94-97 (4/2015): The 2014 Lafleur-Petrus is one of the most captivating wines of the vintage for the way it marries power and finesse. Soaring aromatics open up in the glass, with scents of sweet herbs, rose petals, juniper berries, mint and raspberries. Huge and resonant on the palate yet with remarkable nuance, the 2014 is all about harmony. The magnificent, layered finish proves to be utterly irresistible. In 2014 the blend is 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, taken from the three sites that now constitute the entirety of the property. The combination of mostly gravelly soils with some clay and iron yields a Pomerol of pure pedigree. |
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| Ch. Lafon Rochet |
2016 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$649.97 |
1 |
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VM 95 (8/2020): The 2016 Lafon-Rochet has a very engaging bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit laced with pencil shavings and loamy scents. In fact, the more you nose this wine, the more its complexity becomes apparent. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine line of acidity, ripe and generous yet maintaining outstanding tension and revealing a judicious touch of peppercorns on the finish, which fans out gloriously. This is a fabulous Lafon-Rochet and certainly the best bottle of 2016 that I have encountered. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. Neal Martin.
JS 94 (1/2019): An explosion of all manner of black berries with discreet, toasty and smoky oak, makes this a joyful St.-Estèphe. Then the great balance of ripeness, lively acidity and velvety tannins come together beautifully at the elegant finish to make this the best wine from this producer in modern times. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2022. |
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| Ch. Lagrange |
2022 |
Pomerol (24x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$573.98 |
1 |
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| Ch. Langoa Barton |
2015 |
St. Julien (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$910.99 |
1 |
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| JD 94 (11/2017): A wine that overdelivers in the appellation is the 2015 Château Langoa Barton which is largely Cabernet Sauvignon yet includes 38% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Brought up in 60% new oak, it boasts a deep purple color and smokin’ good notes of caramelized cherries, crème de cassis, toasty oak, and graphite. Big, full-bodied, concentrated, and structured, with awesome purity of fruit as well as notable elegance, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for two to three decades. Bravo! |
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| Ch. Larcis-Ducasse |
2006 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$773.97 |
2 |
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JS 92 (2/2014): This is very exciting with slightly exotic character of dark fruits, citrus and minerals. An almost orange peel undertone. Full body, with silky tannins and a delicious finish. Refined. It’s just starting to come around now.
VM 91+ (5/2009): Bright red-ruby. Soil-driven aromas of blueberry, licorice, minerals, dark chocolate and iron. Juicy, spicy and penetrating, with a lovely light touch to the flavors of black fruits, spices, mocha, minerals and flowers. An elegant, aromatic, very sexy wine with terrific energy and lift from calcaire I love the suave texture on display here. Finishes very long and perfumed, with firm but perfectly buffered tannins and lingering notes of red berries and minerals.
WA 91 (2/2009): Since 2002, this great terroir has been fully exploited by the dynamic duo of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt. Following the monumental 2005,a legend in the making, it is hard to get excited about the 2006, even though it is an Outstanding effort. While more austere and not as concentrated as its predecessor, it is an impressive blend of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc displaying a deep, dark ruby color as well as a striking bouquet of powdered rocks/minerals, sweet cherry and plum-like fruit, and hints of Christmas fruitcake and spice box. It is an elegant, medium-bodied, moderately tannic, pure effort possessing Outstanding density. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 15-20 years. |
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2016 |
St. Emilion |
$94 |
2 |
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JS 99 (1/2019): The aromas here are so spellbinding with shitake mushrooms, wet earth and moss, as well as tree bark and, finally, dark fruit. The palate is incredible as it builds and grows with full body, but always tight and reserved. It shows so much depth and complexity. Please try not to touch this until 2025.
JD 97 (2/2019): From one of my favorite estates in Bordeaux, the deeply colored 2016 Château Larcis Ducasse is comprised of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 50% new French oak. It offers a huge bouquet of black, black fruits, smoked herbs, forest floor, graphite, and underbrush that builds beautifully with time in the glass. Deep, rich, opulent and expansive on the palate, with building tannins, it’s a rich, layered Saint-Emilion as well as another incredible wine from this estate. Give it a few years if you can. It’s capable of keeping for three decades or more.
VM 97 (1/2019): The 2016 Larcis Ducasse is absolutely gorgeous. Fresh, vibrant and alluring, with tremendous vibrancy, the 2016 has so much to offer. Expressive savory and blood orange notes add brightness to the red cherry and plum fruit, with beams of firm yet well-integrated tannins that give the wine its shape and energy. In 2016, Larcis brings together undeniable raciness and power in a complete package that is irresistibly beautiful. Give it a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (11/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Larcis Ducasse sashays gracefully out of the glass with beautiful Black Forest cake, red cherry compote, raspberry preserves and blackberry pie scents plus hints of cigar box, Ceylon tea, dried lavender and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers gorgeous red and black fruit preserves flavors with a wonderfully plush texture and very long, perfumed finish. |
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2019 |
St. Emilion |
$79 |
5 |
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WA 95 (4/2022): The 2019 Larcis Ducasse has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, wild berries, burning embers, spices and licorice. Full-bodied, sumptuous and enveloping, with a fleshy core of fruit, ripe tannins and succulent acids, it's a giving, generous wine that's softer and rounder than Pavie Macquin, its stablemate. This beautiful vineyard, managed by Nicolas Thienpont, is located on the limestone slopes of Saint-Émilion, sandwiched between Pavie and Bellefont-Belcier.
VM 95 (2/2023): The 2019 Larcis-Ducasse is classically-styled on the nose with tobacco and cedar infusing the black fruit, a little austere at first, yet there is a sense of stature. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, slightly candied in style but there is commendable structure behind this Saint-Émilion with a dash of black pepper on the finish. Exquisite. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2045.)
JA 95 (11/2021): Extreme in all the right ways - in the verticality, the salinity, the density, the forward motion and the stretching out through the palate. But it is also mouthwatering and drinkable, with a ton of blueberry and raspberry puree fruits alongside still austere tannins. Love it. Owned by the Gratiot-Attmane family, made by the Nicolas Thienpont team. 38.5hl/ha yield.
JD 94 (4/2022): Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2019 Château Larcis Ducasse sports a deep ruby/plum color as well as a reserved bouquet of ripe black cherries, leafy tobacco, graphite, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated, with clean, ripe tannins, it's holding things relatively close to its vest and is going to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age. I don't see it matching the greats from this estate, but it's a beautiful wine. The blend is 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, and there are just under 3,000 cases produced. (Drink starting 2027.) |
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| Ch. Lascombes |
2012 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$547.99 |
5 |
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WA 94 (4/2015): An intriguing blend of 48% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, this inky purple-colored wine is ripe, progressively styled, big, rich, thick and juicy. In other words, the 2012 Lascombes is loaded. No doubt the high percentage of Merlot in the final blend gives this wine a fleshiness and succulence that is unusual in the Medoc. Rich, pure and full, it should hit its prime in another 4-5 years and last at least two or three decades.
JS 92 (2/2015): Intense aromas of black cherries, violets, earth and chocolate. Full body, velvety tannins, lovely acidity and long, spicy finish. Grows on you. Drink in 2017. |
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2017 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$846.99 |
1 |
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WA 92-95 (4/2018): The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Lascombes gives up lovely scents of roses and lavender over a core of kirsch, crushed black plums and black raspberries with a waft of cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied with a rock-solid frame of firm, ripe, grainy tannins, it has a great core of muscular fruit and lingering spicy notes on the finish.
VM 91-94 (5/2018): The 2017 Lascombes is a very promising wine. Unctuous, super-ripe and flamboyant, the 2017 packs a serious punch. Crème de cassis, blackberry jam, spice, new leather and sweet French oak add to the wine's racy personality. Although Lascombes is not an especially typical Margaux, it is super-expressive today. That said, it is my belief that wines made with this sort of intense, concentrated approach need to be bottled early because there is a significant risk of the fruit drying out during elevage. Antonio Galloni.
JD 90-92 (4/2018): Loads of plums, spice, exotic flowers, and damp earth jump from the glass of the 2017 Château Lascombes. Possessing sweet tannin, surprisingly ripe, concentrated fruit, a seductive texture, and medium to full body, it’s a classic Margaux from this vintage that can be drunk young or cellared for 15-20 years.
JS 90-91 (4/2018): Tight and firm with dark-berry and chocolate character. Some mahogany, too. Medium-bodied, firm and silky. But should fill out with elevage. Shows potential. |
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| Chevalier de Lascombes |
2017 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$246.99 |
5 |
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VM 88-91 (5/2018): The 2017 Chevalier de Lascombes is a very appealing and expressive second wine from Lascombes. Crème de cassis, licorice, smoke, lavender and cloves all flesh out in this fruity, succulent Margaux. There is plenty of potential, especially if the 2017 goes into bottle with this level of fruit purity. Antonio Galloni.
JS 88-90 (4/2018): A linear and tight palate of dark fruits and hints of crushed stones. Medium-bodied, firm and a bright. |
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| Ch. Lascombes |
2021 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$455.99 |
5 |
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| Ch. Latour-a-Pomerol |
2009 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,846.98 |
2 |
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JS 93 (2/2012): A wine that is smoky and meaty, with hints of dried dark fruits. Full and juicy, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Loads of cocoa character. Balanced and pretty. Try it after 2018.
WA 92 (2/2012): A beautiful wine from the Moueix stable of right bank offerings, the 2009 Latour a Pomerol displays a dense plum/ruby/purple color along with a bouquet of mocha, roasted nuts, wood smoke, truffles and sweet cherries. Full-bodied, round and generous with sweet tannin, considerable power and no hard edges, this is a surprisingly up-front, precocious effort that can be drunk now or cellared for two decades.
VM 91+ (7/2012): Dark red. Superripe aromas of plum, black raspberry, mocha, herbs and spices. Then dense and backward on the palate, with a restrained sweetness to the rich flavors of bitter cherry and menthol. Some herbal nuances contribute to the wine's serious mien. Finishes with firm tannic spine and late notes of woodsmoke and tobacco. Very young, and a tough read today. |
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| Ch. Leoville Barton |
2008 |
St. Julien (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,128.98 |
5 |
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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. |
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2015 |
St. Julien |
$115 |
1 |
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JD 97 (11/2017): I absolutely loved the 2015 Leoville Barton and this has everything you could want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. Cassis, smoked earth, graphite, tobacco leaf, and thrilling amounts of minerality all emerge from this inky colored, full-bodied, power-packed, brut of a Saint-Julien that holds everything together and stays pure, balanced and elegant on the palate. It has a lot of tannins, yet more than enough fruit. The 2015 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, brought up in 60% new French oak, and it needs 7-8 years of bottle age and will shine for 2-3 decades. Bravo!
VM 96+ (2/2018): A dense, powerful wine, the 2015 Leoville-Barton is going to need quite a bit of time to come together, as it is massively tannic and structured at this stage. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (2/2018): This is a very focused Barton with ultra-fine tannins that are so polished and chalky. It drives through the center palate with currant and berry character. Full-bodied, polished and straightforward with driving tannin. Love the texture. Class. Yes. Drink in 2021.
WA 95 (2/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Leoville Barton offers up notions of warm red currants, black raspberries and dark chocolate with wafts of cigar box, violets and bay leaves. Elegant, medium-bodied and sporting great freshness, the taut, tightly wound palate of intense red fruits and floral accents is well-framed with firm, grainy tannins, finishing on a lingering mineral note. |
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2021 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$814.98 |
1 |
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| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2003 |
St. Julien |
$169 |
1 |
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WA 96 (8/2014): The spectacular 2003 Leoville Poyferre exhibits a dense purple color with a touch of lightening at the edge as well as notes of creosote, barbecue smoke, jammy black currants, licorice and spice box. This intense, voluptuously textured, full-bodied St.-Julien possesses low acidity and ripe tannin. Still fresh and exuberant, it is just entering its plateau of full maturity where it should remain for 10-15+ years.
VM 92 (6/2006): Medium ruby-red. Extravagant aromas of currant, loam, leather and graphite; like the 1990 in its roasted character. Then sweet and dense but with surprising aromatic lift in the mouth, not to mention considerable power. Liqueur-like black fruit, licorice and mineral flavors really stain the palate. Cuvelier maintained that this vintage was not acidified. The cabernet acidity, he said, was healthy and the grape skins gave up their acidity slowly during the vinification. A very impressive showing, and built to last.
JS 92 (3/2011): Ripe currants, almost cassis aromas with hints of dried flowers and tar. Full bodied, with chewy tannins and an elegant and lean structure. Long and stylish, this still needs some time. Pull the cork after 2013. |
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2005 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,879.98 |
2 |
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JS 96 (2/2021): Very clear and translucent with currants, blueberries and fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that are layered and beautiful. Together and polished with plushness and beauty. Drink or hold.
WA 93 (6/2015): Leoville Poyferre’s dense ruby/purple 2005 is soft, round and juicy, with lots of blackcurrant fruit, plum and Asian spice. It is medium to full-bodied and, along with Leoville Las Cases and Saint-Pierre, probably one of the best St.-Juliens I tasted in this retrospective. It is surprisingly supple and accessible. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.
VM 93 (4/2021): The 2005 Leoville-Poyferre really needed a number of hours to come together. An old school, powerful Saint-Julien, the 2005 Leoville-Poyferre packs a serious punch. Inky dark red fruit, iron, smoke, cedar, mint and white pepper lend striking aromatic depth. This virile, tannic Saint-Julien is a bruiser, but it is also pretty impressive. Tasting it feels like taking a step back in time. Antonio Galloni. |
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2010 |
St. Julien Bin-Soiled Label |
$165 |
3 |
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JD 99 (2/2018): Another massive, incredible release from this estate is the 2010 Leoville Poyferre. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot, its inky purple color is followed by a massive, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated 2010 that has awesome notes of pure crème de cassis, licorice, graphite, and spring flowers. As with the 2009, it has incredible depth of fruit, yet a slightly more focused, classic style, which is very much in the style of the 2010 vintage. With its new oak completely absorbed by its wealth of fruit, perfect balance, and sweet tannin, it’s a sensational, monumental effort to drink over the coming 3-4 decades.
WA 98+ (2/2013): The wine out distances both Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, but all three of them are compelling efforts. Full-bodied, dense purple in color, with floral notes intermixed with blackberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers, this full-bodied, legendary effort is long and opulent, with wonderfully abundant yet sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and a thrilling, nearly one-minute finish. This spectacular effort from Poyferre that should drink well for 30+ years.
VM 97 (4/2020): The 2010 Leoville-Poyferre has a very intense bouquet with blackberry, briary cedar and light estuarine/seaweed aromas that are very well defined. Pure class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, layers of pure black fruit laced with pencil lead and a pinch of white pepper. It fans out wonderfully towards the finish, a Saint-Julien demonstrating wonderful density and precision. What an outstanding wine, perhaps less flamboyant than other vintages, one that will last decades. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
JS 95 (2/2013): Wow. Very intense and aromatic nose with crushed currants and blueberries with hints of nuts and dried flowers. Full body, with very refined tannins and a lovely undercurrent of fruit. Balanced and juicy. Better in 2018.. Best from 2015 through 2030. 17,833 cases made. |
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2019 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,111.98 |
1 |
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VM 96-98 (6/2020): The 2019 Leoville-Poyferre has a typically seductive bouquet with layers of ripe black fruit laced with tobacco, sous-bois, touches of marmalade and dried orange peel. Give it another hour and more blue fruit begins to emerge. The palate is medium-bodied with lavish, luxuriant black fruit and a creamy texture that is instantly seductive. It is a more opulent Saint-Julien than the Barton with a satin-like texture on the finish. If you love the style of Leoville-Poyferre then you will adore this. Neal Martin.
JD 97-100 (6/2020): The 2019 Château Leoville Poyferre is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. It's a classic wine from this address, with a dense purple color as well as a blockbuster nose of blackberries, cassis, chocolate, toasted spices, graphite, and tobacco. This flamboyant, full-bodied, opulent wine has a massive, sexy texture, sweet tannins, and a finish that won't quit. It's better than the 2000, 2003, 2005, 2015, and 2016 and reminds me of the 2009 with its oversized yet balanced, beautiful profile. The alcohol checks in at just over 14%, but it isn't noticeable in the least. Buy this rock star by the case!
JS 96-97 (6/2020): Chewy and rich this year with lots of ripe tannins and solid depth of fruit. Chocolate and walnuts to the blue fruit. It’s full-bodied. Plenty of fruit at the end. Excellent length. |
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2019 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$571.97 |
1 |
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VM 96-98 (6/2020): The 2019 Leoville-Poyferre has a typically seductive bouquet with layers of ripe black fruit laced with tobacco, sous-bois, touches of marmalade and dried orange peel. Give it another hour and more blue fruit begins to emerge. The palate is medium-bodied with lavish, luxuriant black fruit and a creamy texture that is instantly seductive. It is a more opulent Saint-Julien than the Barton with a satin-like texture on the finish. If you love the style of Leoville-Poyferre then you will adore this. Neal Martin.
JD 97-100 (6/2020): The 2019 Château Leoville Poyferre is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. It's a classic wine from this address, with a dense purple color as well as a blockbuster nose of blackberries, cassis, chocolate, toasted spices, graphite, and tobacco. This flamboyant, full-bodied, opulent wine has a massive, sexy texture, sweet tannins, and a finish that won't quit. It's better than the 2000, 2003, 2005, 2015, and 2016 and reminds me of the 2009 with its oversized yet balanced, beautiful profile. The alcohol checks in at just over 14%, but it isn't noticeable in the least. Buy this rock star by the case!
JS 96-97 (6/2020): Chewy and rich this year with lots of ripe tannins and solid depth of fruit. Chocolate and walnuts to the blue fruit. It’s full-bodied. Plenty of fruit at the end. Excellent length. |
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|
2019 |
St. Julien (6X750ML) 6-Bottle OWC |
$474 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 96-98 (6/2020): The 2019 Leoville-Poyferre has a typically seductive bouquet with layers of ripe black fruit laced with tobacco, sous-bois, touches of marmalade and dried orange peel. Give it another hour and more blue fruit begins to emerge. The palate is medium-bodied with lavish, luxuriant black fruit and a creamy texture that is instantly seductive. It is a more opulent Saint-Julien than the Barton with a satin-like texture on the finish. If you love the style of Leoville-Poyferre then you will adore this. Neal Martin.
JD 97-100 (6/2020): The 2019 Château Leoville Poyferre is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. It's a classic wine from this address, with a dense purple color as well as a blockbuster nose of blackberries, cassis, chocolate, toasted spices, graphite, and tobacco. This flamboyant, full-bodied, opulent wine has a massive, sexy texture, sweet tannins, and a finish that won't quit. It's better than the 2000, 2003, 2005, 2015, and 2016 and reminds me of the 2009 with its oversized yet balanced, beautiful profile. The alcohol checks in at just over 14%, but it isn't noticeable in the least. Buy this rock star by the case!
JS 96-97 (6/2020): Chewy and rich this year with lots of ripe tannins and solid depth of fruit. Chocolate and walnuts to the blue fruit. It’s full-bodied. Plenty of fruit at the end. Excellent length. |
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2020 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-Bottle OWC |
$1,308 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2020 Léoville-Poyferré is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. If anything, it has gained in freshness and vibrancy with élevage. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, graphite and a kiss of French oak are some of the many notes that infuse the 2020 with tons of character. I especially admire its vertical energy and buttoned up personality. In some recent vintages Léoville-Poyferré has been quite showy, but the 2020 also has a more nuanced side that is hugely appealing. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (12/2022): This is really floral on the nose with violets and roses, and some black berries and dark cherries. It’s medium- to full-bodied with firm and polished tannins, and plenty of hazelnut and milk chocolate. Structured, yet so finely textured. So attractive and enticing now but needs three or four years to show what it has. Try after 2026.
JD 95-97+ (5/2021): Cut from the same cloth as the 2016 with its focused, pure, yet concentrated style, the 2020 Château Léoville Poyferré reveals a dense purple color as well as ultra-classic notes of crème de cassis, graphite, toasted spice, and unsmoked tobacco. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it has brilliant mid-palate depth and ripe, velvety tannins, all making for a beautiful Saint-Julien that will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and shine for 30-40 years or more. Tasted three times.
WA 95-97 (5/2021): Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass like an energetic young pup, delivering exuberant scents of crushed black cherries, juicy blackberries and warm cassis, with hints of ground cloves, dark chocolate, lilacs and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is wonderfully plush, delivering bags of ripe black fruits with a seamless backbone of acidity, finishing long and spicy. |
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| Ch. Lynch Bages |
1995 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,562.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 89+ (8/2011): A dense ruby/purple hue is accompanied by reticent, restrained aromatics suggesting earth, herbs and subtle fruit. The wine hits the palate with a brutal, tannic overlay, but behind that are impressive levels of black and red fruits. As is the case with many 1995s, the wine’s structural components still dominate, which makes one wonder if these cuvees will ever shed enough tannin to be charming and enjoyable to drink. Certainly depth, weight and richness are all present, but the tannins remain elevated and somewhat foreboding.
VM 89 (6/1998): Very good red-ruby color. Floral, nutty aromas of black cherry and iodine; as with the '96, one can smell the char of the barrels. Sweet and smooth on entry, then a bit tougher and less obviously ripe than the silkier, more voluminous '96, with a slight green streak and an impression of stronger acidity. The tannins here are a bit more spiky. Finishes with a note of pepper. In a typical, drier Pauillac style, a bit like the '88. Ian d'Agata |
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|
2000 |
Pauillac (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,876.97 |
1 |
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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.
JD 95 (4/2021): Finally rounding the corner, the 2000 Château Lynch-Bages is mature, with classic Pauillac darker currants, lead pencil, tobacco leaf, and spice-laced aromatics. With a deep plum color and slight lightening at the edges, it's medium to full-bodied and has a layered texture as well as integrated tannins. A classic, elegant, yet still powerful Lynch-Bages, it delivers plenty of sweet fruit and a great finish. It benefits from an hour of air and will certainly hold at this stage for another 10-15 years with no issues.
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. |
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|
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,321.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 97 (2/2022): Still a saturated ruby-black in hue, the 2010 Lynch-Bages offers up aromas of rich cassis fruit mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by firm, powdery tannins and lively acids. The most brooding, backward Lynch-Bages of the decade and one of the real successes of the vintage, this is a vibrant, tightly wound wine that is still an infant at age 10. Readers with bottles in their cellars might try one now out of curiosity, but this 2010 won't begin to hit its stride until age 20.
VM 95 (4/2020): The 2010 Lynch-Bages has a stunning bouquet with pixelated black fruit, crushed stone and graphite aromas that soar from the glass. This is just amazingly focused. The palate is medium-bodied with concentrated black fruit curiously tinged with cough candy, which here I find just a bit out of place. The acidity is extremely well judged and there is immense persistence on the finish. Bold, brassy and ambitious, this is an extremely impressive wine, although I suspect that there are better bottles out there. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
JS 98 (11/2013): A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I love the precision here. Try in 2018. |
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|
2015 |
Pauillac |
$145 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 96 (2/2018): One of the finest Pauillacs of 2015, Lynch-Bages is rich, racy and voluptuous. A rush of dark red and purplish stone fruit, mint, new leather, spice and blood orange give the 2015 a very decidedly exotic character that is impossible to miss. Raspberry jam, mocha, new leather and expressive floral notes appear with time in the glass, rounding things out nicely. Even though the 2015 is quite forward and open at this stage, the wine has plenty of stuffing as well as the underlying structure to support many years of exceptional drinking. This is a stellar showing for Lynch-Bages. Antonio Galloni.
JS 95 (2/2018): Brambly and attractive ripe blackberries and red-plum aromas with some floral accents, too. The palate has a very plush, polished and regal shape as tannins frame up a core of ripe black fruit. Succulent, impressive finish. Best from 2022.
JD 94+ (11/2017): The inky colored 2015 Château Lynch-Bages is a seriously impressive Pauillac that’s up with the crème de la crème of the appellation in 2015. Notes of ripe blackcurrants, caramelized cherries, tobacco leaf and a kiss of lead pencil all emerge from this textbook Pauillac that has medium to full-bodied richness, notable concentration, and building structure. Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that saw 75% new barrels, it needs 5-7 years of cellaring and will be one of the longer-lived wines from the Medoc.
WA 92+ (2/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Lynch Bages offers up crushed black berries, black cherries and dried herbs with an earthy undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate is firm and taut with lively fruit and a chewy finish. |
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|
2019 |
Pauillac (375 ML) |
$65 |
6 |
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JD 100 (4/2022): The 2019 Château Lynch-Bages is stunningly good, and it's going to be interesting to compare this to the 2018 over the coming decades. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 75% new French oak, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, freshly sharpened cedar pencil, spring flowers, smoke, and graphite, with an almost liqueur of rocks-like minerality. A massive, incredibly concentrated Lynch-Bages, Jean-Charles has hit a home run in the vintage, and this sensational wine has building, perfect tannins, insane purity, and a finish that won't quit. It has the purity, finesse, balance, and depth to offer pleasure not only today but to evolve for 40 to 50 years. Smart money will hide these for a good 7-8 years, but wow, what a wine. Bravo. (Drink between 2029-2072).
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2019 Lynch-Bages has an outgoing bouquet, the new oak not as well integrated as its peers at the moment, more inchoate by comparison. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, quite saline with black pepper, controlled and focused towards the classy finish. It oozes sophistication and feels extraordinarily long. Wondrous. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2026-2055). Neal Martin.
WA 96+ (4/2022): A true classic from this estate, the 2019 Lynch-Bages has turned out brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis and sweet blackberry fruit mingled with licorice, mint, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it's a deep, multidimensional wine built around a chassis of rich, powdery tannins and succulent balancing acids. The last vintage produced in Lynch-Bages old winery, it will be interesting to compare this benchmark wine with subsequent vintages over the coming years. |
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|
2021 |
Pauillac |
$109 |
3 |
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JA 94 (11/2023): This has the austerity that you want of a great Left Bank wine at the beginning of its life, with cool vintage savoury raspberry leaf, capsicum and peony. Tons of slate-textured tannins, not hugely concentrated which makes it an outlier of recent Lynch Bages vintages, but it's exceptionally well balanced, and has excellent appellation character, with cassis and blackberry fruits. A high tannin index of 90IPT. Harvest September 27 through to October 9. One of the best in Pauillac, finishing up with chewy tannins. 75% new oak.
WA 93+ (2/2024): The 2021 Lynch-Bages is one of the vintage's bigger, broader-shouldered wines, offering up aromas of crème de cassis, plums and spices, framed by a generous application of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, dense and chunky, with a velvety attack that segues into a layered core of fruit framed by generously extracted tannins, it concludes with a long, lusty finish. Fully 40 hectares of this estate is now cultivated organically, principally those parcels that adjoin the houses of Pauillac. As is almost invariably the case with this estate, it will repay a bit of patience. |
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| Echo de Lynch Bages |
2023 |
Pauillac ex-Negociant |
$45.95 |
11 |
|
| |
JD 93 (3/2026): A blend of 55% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc that spent 14 months in new and once-used French oak, the 2023 Echo De Lynch-Bages offers classic Pauillac notes of lead pencil, graphite, and ripe black fruits as well as an almost Graves-like smoked earth character. It's medium-bodied and balanced on the palate, with ripe, supple tannins and outstanding length. This is very much in the style of this ripe yet classic vintage. Drink 2026-2045.
JA 92 (4/2024): Rich and deep, cocoa bean, slate and espresso, so intense that you have to look twice to see that it is a 2nd wine. Tannins layer up through the palate, not drying but certainly chewy and firm, with lashings of blackberry and cassis fruit, held in place by espresso-laced tannins. Mix of new and one year old barrels for ageing, 3.63ph. Out to impress.
WA 91 (4/2026): Notes of cassis, dark berries, cedar and spice box introduce the 2023 Echo de Lynch-Bages, a medium- to full-bodied wine that is layered and structured, offering good depth at the core and concluding with a somewhat firm, spicy finish. Despite its rather classic, gently earthy profile, it is already approachable today. |
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| Ch. Malartic Lagraviere |
2016 |
Pessac Leognan (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$438.97 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 96 (1/2019): I love the deep and complex nose, in which the cassis and mint of cabernet sauvignon are beautifully married to the more generous blackberry of ripe merlot and the vanilla and toasty notes from the oak are marvelously integrated. On the palate it creeps up on you slowly; the first impression is ripe yet delicate, then the fine-grained tannins charge through and light up the sky. Very long finish. Drink or hold.
VM 95 (1/2019): The 2016 Malartic-Lagravière has a wonderful bouquet of perfumed, mainly red fruit laced with potpourri, black olive tapenade and light brine-like aromas - a bouquet full of personality. The fresh, harmonious palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and just the right amount of salinity toward the loam-tinged finish. Bon vin from the Bonnies. Neal Martin.
JA 95 (12/2018): The colour is rich and deep but with luminosity that gives nuance and fresh air. It's a lovely 2016, poised but not as powerful as some in the vintage, yet every inch the sophisticated reflection of the appellation.
JD 94 (2/2019): As to the red, the grand vin is the 2016 Château Malartic-Lagravière (53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot). Aged in 80% new barrels and hitting 13.5% natural alcohol, it offers a deep purple color with beautiful cassis, tobacco, crushed rocks, and subtle incense aromas and flavors. Balanced, medium to full-bodied, and straight-up seamless on the palate, it’s another brilliant Graves that offers ample pleasure today yet will keep for 20+ years or more. |
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| Ch. Malescot St. Exupery |
2015 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$995.97 |
1 |
|
| |
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2016 |
Margaux (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$511.97 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 97 (1/2019): A stunning red with currants, blackberries, roses and violets. Medium to full body, ultra-fine tannins and polish and finesse to the powerful tannins. A real stunner. Better than 2015. Take a serious look at it, beginning 2024.
JD 96 (2/2019): The ruby/plum-colored 2016 Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry comes from vines in the heart of the Margaux appellation and is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It’s a total rock star of wine and has fabulous notes of crème de cassis, barbecue smoke, graphite, and sandalwood that build beautifully with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, layered, and seamless, it’s incredibly impressive and I’d wager up with the finest vintages ever from this estate. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following 20-25. Bravo!
WA 95 (11/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Malescot St. Exupery sings of cassis, fragrant earth, tobacco and lilacs with a compelling waft of mocha. Medium to full-bodied and strutting loads of expressive fruit layers at this youthful stage, it's framed by ripe, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing with great length and depth.
VM 95 (1/2019): The 2016 Malescot Saint Exupéry is fabulous. Powerful and explosive on the palate, the 2016 offers serious intensity, but it also appears to be holding back quite a bit of its potential. Moreover, what impresses me most is that in 2016, intensity is delivered more with finesse than with the brutish power that is such a signature of Malescot. Deep and resonant, but also remarkably polished, the 2016 Malescot is a winner. Hints of iron, smoke, cedar, tobacco and scorched earth add nuance, but it is the wine's sense of poise that is most remarkable. I loved it. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Margaux |
1996 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,897.97 |
1 |
|
| |
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. |
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|
2000 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$12,126.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2019): Tasted from magnum, the 2000 Château Margaux is a prodigious, flawless wine that shows the elegance and seductive hallmark of the estate paired with incredible density, depth, and richness. Its still-ruby/purple color is followed by sensational notes of crème de cassis, spring flowers, lead pencil, and sandalwood that develop beautifully with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, opulent, and seamless, with a multi-dimensional, layered texture, it has a massive mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s drinking brilliantly today, and there’s certainly no need to delay gratification, but it’s going to continue evolving for another 3-4 decades. Bordeaux (or red wine, for that matter) doesn’t get any better. The 2000 is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot brought up new barrels.
JS 100 (4/2014): The 2000 Margaux kicked off a string of great wines. The aromas are spellbinding, with notes of raspberry and strawberry. The palate is incredibly silky yet structured. Impeccable balance.
WA 99 (2/2017): Tasted blind, the 2000 Chateau Margaux was a reminder of the peaks that the millennial vintage could reach. Noticeably deep in color, the bouquet rivets you to the seat with copious red berry fruit, clove and truffle, hints of cedar emerging with time. As the aromatics open and aerate, the fruit profile seems to darken and manifests blackcurrants and bilberries. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin. There is immense depth and symmetry conveyed by this First Growth, quite masculine for the estate with a gentle but insistent grip. It is a brilliant wine that flirts with perfection. Afford it another 3-4 years if you can, because it will last decades. Tasted November 2016.
VM 99 (9/2021): The 2000 Château Margaux has always been one of the stars of the millennial vintage. A dozen or so bottles over the years, starting with my first encounter from bottle with the late Paul Pontallier, have never disappointed. Philippe Bascaule did not decant this bottle, although it does deserve an hour’s aeration before serving. Deep in color with little aging on the rim, it has a very intense bouquet, sophisticated and almost aloof. Oddly, it reminds me of the 2000 Latour in its sense of aristocracy and breeding. The palate is medium-bodied with gorgeous, rounded, pliant tannins that frame the multilayered red fruit. Always a Margaux with considerable backbone, the 2000 has mellowed in recent years, though it has lost none of its complexity or ethereal balance. There is substance but not sinew, and the silky-smooth finish fans out gloriously. A brilliant Château Margaux from beginning to end. It’s difficult to find fault with this magnificent wine. Neal Martin. |
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| Clos du Marquis |
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,078.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 96 (2/2013): This shows beautiful aromas of flowers, raspberries and blackberries that follow through to a full body with ultra silky tannins and a long, long finish. It lasts for minutes. Best in 2018 or later.
WA 90 (2/2013): With the alcohol hitting 13.6% in a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, this wine displays plenty of sweet kirsch, licorice and black currant fruit in a classy, seductive style, with medium to full body, soft but abundant tannins and a long finish. It does indeed possess the elegance and finesse of its bigger sibling, Leoville Las Cases. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
VM 90 (8/2013): Deep, bright red. Inviting aromas of black cherry and sweet spices lifted by a floral nuance. Supple and fine-grained; remarkably smooth and plush for a young Clos du Marquis, with black cherry and dark berry flavors conveying a restrained sweetness and an impression of elegance. Plenty of stuffing here for mid-term aging but seamless enough to give immediate pleasure. |
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| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2002 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,268.99 |
20 |
|
| |
VM 91+ (6/2005): Bright ruby-red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat and warm stones. Dry, classic and deep, but quite closed today, even a bit youthfully austere. Finishes very long, with substantial dusty tannins and brisk acids. Much more backward today than the Haut-Brion, despite possessing a lower indice de polyphenols totaux (65, compared to 70). But both of these wines really call for at least six or seven years of cellaring.
WA 89 (4/2005): This angularly-styled La Mission possesses hard tannin that may or may not dissipate over time. It exhibits a dark ruby color in addition to a sweet perfume of dusty, loamy soil notes interwoven with notions of white flowers, blueberries, black currants, and hints of toasty oak in the background. Medium-bodied and austere, it requires 2-4 years of bottle age, and should keep for 12-15. |
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|
2009 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,588.97 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 100 (8/2012): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2009 La Mission-Haut-Brion stood out as one of the most exceptional young wines I had ever tasted from barrel, and its greatness has been confirmed in the bottle. A remarkable effort from the Dillon family, this is another large-scaled La Mission that tips the scales at 15% alcohol. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (47% of each) and the rest Cabernet Franc, it exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a magnificent bouquet of truffles, scorched earth, blackberry and blueberry liqueur, subtle smoke and spring flowers. The wine’s remarkable concentration offers up an unctuous/viscous texture, a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, sweet, sumptuous, nearly over-the-top flavors and massive density. Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime La Mission-Haut-Brion, the 2009 will take its place alongside the many great wines made here since the early 1920s. The good news is that there are nearly 6,000 cases of the 2009. It should last for 50-75+ years. Given the wine’s unctuosity and sweetness of the tannin, I would have no problem drinking it in about 5-6 years. The final blend was 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc.
JS 98 (2/2012): What a gorgeous nose of ripe dark fruits such as bramble berries, blueberries and currants, with hints of orange flowers. This is so tight and focused, with laser-guided tannins. It starts very slowly and then builds and builds and builds on the palate. Currants and blackberries galore, yet a tangy, firm and creamy textured tannin structure. Racy, muscular structure. Try in 2021.
VM 97+ (7/2012): Bright, deep ruby. Brooding, complex cabernet sauvignon-dominated nose of uncommon depth, offering notes of cassis, cigar box, minerals, cedar and dry herbs. Extremely pure and fresh, with massive but still totally unevolved flavors of blackcurrant, dark plum and minerals. I love this wine's impeccable balance and smooth, tactile finish. A monumental La Mission with Outstanding persistence. |
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|
2012 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,691.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (4/2015): As for the 2012 La Mission Haut Brion, this wine (41% of the total production) continues to perform as it has for nearly a century. At first-growth levels of quality, this is s stunning wine that is full-bodied and very concentrated with notes of graphite, subtle charcoal embers, crème de cassis, blackberry and underlying subtle earthiness. The wine is full and powerful, rich and concentrated. And sure enough, the alcohol level tips the scales at 15% from a blend 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc. This is a big, blockbuster La Mission Haut Brion that should age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. However, the tannins suggest that this wine should not be touched for another 5-6 years, as its one of the more backward of the 2012 Pessac-Leognans. Bravo!
VM 96 (1/2016): One of the clear wines of the vintage, the 2012 La Mission Haut-Brion shows off a vertical sense of structure along with imposing tannins and serious depth. The flavors are dark, bold and extremely vivid. Dark red cherry, smoke, grilled herbs, graphite and blackberry jam are some of the many notes that come alive on the finish. This brooding La Mission needs a few years to settle down after which it will offer spectacular drinking for several decades. In a word: magnificent! Antonio Galloni.
JS 94 (2/2015): Gorgeous aromas of stones, currants and blueberries. Very aromatic. Mesmerizing. Full body, silky tannins and a long finish. Dense and rich. Layered. Earth and bark character. Lots of structure for the vintage. Better in 2019. |
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2012 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,347.98 |
2 |
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WA 97 (4/2015): As for the 2012 La Mission Haut Brion, this wine (41% of the total production) continues to perform as it has for nearly a century. At first-growth levels of quality, this is s stunning wine that is full-bodied and very concentrated with notes of graphite, subtle charcoal embers, crème de cassis, blackberry and underlying subtle earthiness. The wine is full and powerful, rich and concentrated. And sure enough, the alcohol level tips the scales at 15% from a blend 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc. This is a big, blockbuster La Mission Haut Brion that should age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. However, the tannins suggest that this wine should not be touched for another 5-6 years, as its one of the more backward of the 2012 Pessac-Leognans. Bravo!
VM 96 (1/2016): One of the clear wines of the vintage, the 2012 La Mission Haut-Brion shows off a vertical sense of structure along with imposing tannins and serious depth. The flavors are dark, bold and extremely vivid. Dark red cherry, smoke, grilled herbs, graphite and blackberry jam are some of the many notes that come alive on the finish. This brooding La Mission needs a few years to settle down after which it will offer spectacular drinking for several decades. In a word: magnificent! Antonio Galloni.
JS 94 (2/2015): Gorgeous aromas of stones, currants and blueberries. Very aromatic. Mesmerizing. Full body, silky tannins and a long finish. Dense and rich. Layered. Earth and bark character. Lots of structure for the vintage. Better in 2019. |
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2015 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,125.97 |
1 |
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JS 100 (2/2018): Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024.
WA 98 (2/2018): The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+.
JD 98 (11/2017): More opulent, sexy and concentrated, the 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a tour de force that has everything you could want from Bordeaux. A huge nose of smoke tobacco, gravelly earth, graphite, cassis, and blackcurrants gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, perfectly balanced beauty that has incredible depth of flavor and intensity, yet with no weight. While the overall impression is upfront and in your face, it has incredible elegance and length on the finish (as well as ripe tannin), and will keep for three decades.
VM 98 (7/2019): The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of brilliantly focused and delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar - pure class. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate delivers fine-grained tannin and impressive depth. There is a slight savory element (just like the Haut-Brion) that infuses the middle, and brown spices and sage linger on the finish. This is a profound La Mission Haut-Brion that dares surpass Haut-Brion on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. |
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2019 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,338.99 |
1 |
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| JS 99-100 (6/2020): A tight and structured La Mission that takes you deep into the glass with super intensity and power. The tannins are omnipresent and envelop the palate. It’s full-bodied yet agile and complete. Iodine, sweet-tobacco and blackberry character. It seems never to finish. Another WOW wine that reminds me of some of the great classics of this estate, such as the 1955. |
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| Ch. Montlandrie |
2016 |
Cotes de Castillon (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$257.97 |
2 |
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JS 92-93 (4/2017): Very fine and polished with pretty tannins, balance and fruit. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean. All about clarity.
WA 91-93 (4/2017): The 2016 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 3-17 October. It was picked at 40 hectoliters per hectare and raised in 60% new oak (although my sample was from a one-year-old barrel). It is the first vintage to include more than 80% of the vines that were planted by Denis Durantou after 2008. This has a more broody bouquet than the two Lalande-de-Pomerols, just a touch of leafiness originating from the Cabernet Sauvignon that enhances the complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure, more saline than the Les Cruzelles, backward at the moment, but the Cabernets impart some lovely graphite notes on the saline finish. Superb. Expect this to land towards the top of my banded score once in bottle.
VM 88-91 (4/2017): The 2016 Montlandrie is powerful and bold to its core. Layers of dense, dark fruit, chocolate, lavender spice and sweet oak saturate the palate. Dense and voluptuous, this racy wine from Denis Durantou is packed and ready to deliver maximum pleasure upon release. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Cotes de Castillon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$193.97 |
1 |
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WA 93-95 (6/2020): The 2019 Montlandrie is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It comes bounding out of the glass with bright, cheerful scents of warm redcurrants, Morello cherries, wild blueberries and boysenberries with touches of lavender, red roses, cinnamon stick and cast-iron pan. Wow. I LOVE this energy on the elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate. The red and black fruit layers practically dance, intermingled with grainy (Cabernet-like) tannins and tons of freshness. It has a satisfyingly long, fragrant finish. Truly impressive!
VM 92-94 (6/2020): The 2019 Montlandrie, Denis Durantou's Côtes de Castillon vineyard, was picked from 30 September with the Cabernets picked 7-10 October before maturation in 40% new oak. It has a well-defined, very focused and compelling bouquet with intense cranberry and raspberry scents laced with cedar and sous-bois. The palate is exquisite: built around a core of finely chiseled tannins, a melange of black and red fruit with hints of liquorice and subtle briny notes on the persistent finish. This is outstanding. Antonio Galloni.
JS 92-93 (6/2020): A chewy, structured red with medium body. The flavor shows blue fruit with salty, minerally undertones. It’s tannic, yet driven. Tight. |
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| Ch. Montrose |
2000 |
St. Estephe (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,062.97 |
1 |
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JS 96 (4/2014): Just starting to open, it shows beautiful spices and dark fruit on the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with ultra-fine, integrated tannins and an extremely complex, refined finish. Drink or hold.
WA 95+ (6/2010): Originally rated 96, this wine confirmed its early rating, although again, the backwardness and still very obvious tannins suggest another 7- to 8-year wait. Dense ruby/purple, with a bouquet of blueberry, crushed rock, and some floral notes, the wine is medium to full-bodied , rich, powerful, but again very tannic and still strikingly youthful. For a wine that is already 10 years of age, it remains infantile. This blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot is indeed a special wine and should hit its prime in about 2020 and last at least 30 years afterward.
VM 94 (6/2003): Full red-ruby. Roasted, smoky aromas of blackberry, blueberry and licorice. Plush, dense and large-scaled; expands impressively in the mouth. Chocolatey-ripe but kept fresh by nicely integrated acidity. Offers lovely sweetness without going over the top. Finishes with big, dusty, horizontal tannins and lovely aromatic persistence. Offers extraordinary texture and depth of flavor for a wine with just 12.8% alcohol. |
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2010 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,665.97 |
1 |
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WA 100 (8/2014): This is considered to be among the greatest vintages ever made in Montrose, right up with the 1929, 1945, 1947, 1959, 1961, 1989, 1990 and 2009. Harvest was October 15 to 17. The wine has really come on since I last tasted it, and it needs at least another 10 years of cellaring. The blend was 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine is opaque black/blue, with an incredible nose of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, with hints of incense, licorice, and acacia flowers. Tannins are incredibly sweet and very present. The wine is full-bodied, even massive, with great purity, depth and a finish that goes on close to a minute. This is a 50- to 75-year-old wine that will repay handsomely those with good aging genes. (Note: The Chateau Montrose website gives an aging potential of 2020-2100.)
JS 97 (3/2013): A perfumed and pure Montrose, with lots of currants, berries and spices that evolve to chocolate and light coffee. Full body, with super racy tannins and bright and clean finish. Very fine and structured. A balance and freshness to it all as well as beautiful form and tension. Try in 2018.
VM 94+ (8/2013): Bright, deep ruby-red. Superripe, deep aromas of black raspberry, cassis, plum, minerals, licorice and bitter chocolate. Densely packed, elegant and classically dry, with creamy depth of dark fruit and mineral flavors given definition and cut by terrific vinosity. This compellingly pure, extract-rich wine showed increasing energy as it opened in the glass. Finishes with big, dusty tannins and Outstanding length and perfume. A great vintage for Montrose, in a modern style. Following the first couple vintages made under the direction of Jean Delmas, the '09 and '10 have shown considerably more stuffing. I would not be at all surprised if my score proved to be overly conservative. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2019 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,337.97 |
1 |
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| |
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2019 Montrose has a razor-sharp bouquet, a mélange of red and black fruit, touches of pencil box and cedar. Understated at first, it unfurls temptingly with each swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, fine acidity, blood orange infusing the black fruit with pencil lead towards the finish that fans out with style. There is a sense of grandeur to this wine that is compelling. Montrose? Stunning. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2028-2060). Neal Martin.
JD 97 (4/2022): The flagship 2019 Château Montrose is also brilliant, although it's not going to match the all-time greats from this estate. Gorgeous cassis, graphite, damp earth, cedar pencil, and tobacco are just some of the nuances here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, graceful, layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It doesn't have the overall density or mid-palate of the 2018 or 2016, but it’s flawlessly balanced and just incredibly impressive. Showing more and more tannins with time in the glass, it will need a decade of bottle age and will evolve for 30+ years. (Drink between 2032-2052).
WA 97 (12/2023): As I wrote last year, the 2019 Montrose is performing very well, wafting from the glass with a dramatic, perfumed bouquet of wild berries and cassis mingled with notions of lilac, violets, pencil shavings and licorice, framed by nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, layered and seamless, it's deep and multidimensional, with lively acids, beautifully refined tannins and a long, resonant finish. While analytically it's almost as powerful as the 2018, the 2019 is much more suave, sensual and polished, its tannic structure and alcohol more harmoniously integrated into its sweet core of fruit. |
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2022 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,695.97 |
1 |
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JD 100 (2/2025): One of the greats in the vintage, the 2022 Château Montrose is deep ruby/purple-hued and has a massive perfume of sweet crème de cassis, sappy tobacco, and freshly sharpened pencils. With incredible purity and precision in its aromatics, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, powerful, yet still somehow elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Based on a classic blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, it spent 18 months in 60% new French oak. As I wrote during En Primeur, it has the essence of a Montrose-like character. While it’s not a massively backward or austere example of the château, it nevertheless deserves 10-12 years of bottle age and should have at least half a century of longevity. It is, without a doubt, in the same league as the 1989, 1990, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
WA 100 (3/2025): From barrel, I wrote that 2022 Montrose was so compelling that assigning it a bracketed score seemed a mere formality, and so it has proven. Unwinding in the glass with a deep and brooding bouquet of cassis, wild blueberries, violets, pencil shavings and burning embers, it's full-bodied, deep and dense, somehow marrying all the tannic authority that has long been such a signature of Montrose with a suavity and purity that represents the quintessence of contemporary Bordeaux. The broad, palate-staining finish lasts for more than a minute. This is a profound young wine that readers aren't going to want to miss.
VM 98 (3/2026): The 2022 Montrose has a wonderful bouquet, beautifully defined with mineral-rich blackberry and bilberry fruit and a light touch of the Gironde Estuary in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins, well judged acidity, focused and poised, with a finish that is just quintessential Saint-Estephe. THe pedigree of this wine is so obvious. Tated blind at the Southwold tasting in London. (Drink between 2030-2058). Neal Martin.
JA 97 (5/2023): The intensity and the depth of expression is clear from the start, with ripe damson and fig fruits, incense and espresso given balance and tension by pomegrante, slate, lemongrass and mandarin rind. Unrolls to show the depth and class of Montrose, has density without shouting, keeping the estate signature and character. The first full vintage for Pierre Grafeuille as estate director, working alongside long time technical director Vincent Decup. 12% press wine, pretty much exactly the same as ever, this really is a vineyard that delivers consistency. |
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| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
1994 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,505.97 |
1 |
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| WA 91 (2/1997): After less than persuasive performances in two potentially great years, 1989 and 1990, Mouton-Rothschild appears to have settled down, producing fine efforts in recent vintages, culminating with the enormously promising, unquestionably profound 1995. The 1994 appears to be the finest Mouton-Rothschild made following the 1986 and before the 1995's conception. The wine exhibits a dense, saturated purple color, followed by a classic Mouton nose of sweet black fruits intermingled with smoke, pain grillee, spice, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, with Outstanding concentration, a layered feel, plenty of tannin, and rich, concentrated fruit, this wine is similar to the fine 1988. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025. By the way, the Dutch artist, Appel, has created a gorgeous label for the 1994. Although Mouton-Rothschild can be among the most inconsistent first-growths, when this estate gets everything right, the wine can be as compelling as any produced in Bordeaux. |
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1995 |
Pauillac (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,085.97 |
2 |
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WA 94+ (2/2022): While the 1995 Mouton Rothschild has begun to soften somewhat in the last six or seven years, it remains remarkably youthful. Offering up a deep and primary bouquet of ripe cassis fruit and creamy new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with a vibrant core of concentrated fruit, powdery tannins and a long, resonant finish. This is a pure, beautifully balanced Mouton that simply hasn't evolved very much, even as it closes in on its third decade. While I can attest that it can be drunk with great enjoyment today, real complexity has yet to emerge. 2020-2055.
VM 93 (6/2025): The 1995 Mouton Rothschild was tasted from ex-château bottles, and I had not tasted this vintage for a number of years. This puts in a very good performance given that it was not an auspicious decade for the First Growth. A mélange of red and black fruit gradually gives way to cassis on the nose, lending it a rather ostentatious bouquet that was synonymous with Mouton at the time. The palate offers precocious black fruit fused with graphite and prominent cedar aromas. The finish is luscious, maybe too luscious for some, though personally I would be inclined to afford it more time in bottle. Not classy, but very seductive. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux. (Drink between 2028-2048). NEal Martin. |
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2019 |
Pauillac (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,537.99 |
1 |
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VM 99 (1/2022): The 2019 Château Mouton Rothschild is based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, and it hit a relatively normal alcohol level of 13.5%, which is higher than the 2009 and shows the quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon in the vintage. It shows the new, modern style of Bordeaux in its purity, elegance, and finesse while still being an incredibly concentrated Pauillac, and where some vintages of Mouton can just about jump out of the glass, this is a more seamless, streamlined, elegant beauty that builds with time in the glass and is just about impossible to fault. Gorgeous crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, forest floor, licorice, damp earth, and graphite, as well as some espresso nuances, emerge on the nose, and it's rich, medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This is pure haute couture in Bordeaux that unquestionably offers pleasure today (again, just about all modern Bordeaux from a great vintage offer pleasure in their youth) but will require a solid decade to hit maturity, and it should evolve for 20, 30, 40 years or more. This is not an unformed beast of wine that demands bottle age, and I suspect it will have a broad, forgiving drink window that consumers will love. Antonio Galloni.
WA 98+ (4/2022): The 2019 Mouton Rothschild is the most dramatic of the Médoc first growths, soaring from the glass with aromas of cassis, blackberries and violets mingled with rich aromas of cedar, cigar wrapper, licorice, loamy soil and spices. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, it's deep and powerful, with huge levels of concentration and an ineffably complete, seamless profile, concluding with a long, resonant finish. Plenty of ripe tannin is hidden by its ample core of fruit, and despite its youthful polish, this will require plenty of bottle age to realize all its potential. This blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot tastes in many respects like the 2016 Mouton's more sun-kissed cousin.
JD 98 (4/2022): The 2019 Château Mouton Rothschild is based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, and it hit a relatively normal alcohol level of 13.5%, which is higher than the 2009 and shows the quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon in the vintage. It shows the new, modern style of Bordeaux in its purity, elegance, and finesse while still being an incredibly concentrated Pauillac, and where some vintages of Mouton can just about jump out of the glass, this is a more seamless, streamlined, elegant beauty that builds with time in the glass and is just about impossible to fault. Gorgeous crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, forest floor, licorice, damp earth, and graphite, as well as some espresso nuances, emerge on the nose, and it's rich, medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This is pure haute couture in Bordeaux that unquestionably offers pleasure today (again, just about all modern Bordeaux from a great vintage offer pleasure in their youth) but will require a solid decade to hit maturity, and it should evolve for 20, 30, 40 years or more. This is not an unformed beast of wine that demands bottle age, and I suspect it will have a broad, forgiving drink window that consumers will love. |
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2022 |
Le Petit Mouton Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,171.99 |
2 |
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| Ch. Ormes de Pez |
2016 |
St. Estephe ex-Negociant |
$63.99 |
60 |
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VM 96 (4/2026): The 2016 Ormes de Pez was the biggest surprise of the blind tasting. No-one predicted such a strong showing and it proved its mettle not once, but twice. It has a well-defended and complex bouquet with black fruit, melted tar, freshly rolled tobacco and sous-bois scents emerging with time. Good intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, gentle but insistent grip, white and black pepper sprinkled over the structured and very persistent finish. A big Left Bank '16 but there is also finesse here. Outstanding. Tasted twice blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting (just to check!) (Drink between 2030-2060). Neal Martin.
JD 92 (1/2019): A terrific Saint-Estephe that delivers the goods, the 2016 Château Ormes de Pez is mostly Merlot blended with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, all brought up in 45% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied effort has impressive ripeness and concentration as well as tannic structure to go with notes of ripe black cherries, graphite, smoked earth, and background oak. Beautifully textured, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades. (Drink between 2023-2043).
WA 91 (11/2018): The 2016 Ormes de Pez is deep garnet-purple in color with red and black currants, earth, sage and chargrill on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, refreshing and chewy with an herbal lift. |
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2016 |
St. Estephe (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$385.97 |
2 |
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VM 96 (4/2026): The 2016 Ormes de Pez was the biggest surprise of the blind tasting. No-one predicted such a strong showing and it proved its mettle not once, but twice. It has a well-defended and complex bouquet with black fruit, melted tar, freshly rolled tobacco and sous-bois scents emerging with time. Good intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, gentle but insistent grip, white and black pepper sprinkled over the structured and very persistent finish. A big Left Bank '16 but there is also finesse here. Outstanding. Tasted twice blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting (just to check!) (Drink between 2030-2060). Neal Martin.
JD 92 (1/2019): A terrific Saint-Estephe that delivers the goods, the 2016 Château Ormes de Pez is mostly Merlot blended with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, all brought up in 45% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied effort has impressive ripeness and concentration as well as tannic structure to go with notes of ripe black cherries, graphite, smoked earth, and background oak. Beautifully textured, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades. (Drink between 2023-2043).
WA 91 (11/2018): The 2016 Ormes de Pez is deep garnet-purple in color with red and black currants, earth, sage and chargrill on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, refreshing and chewy with an herbal lift. |
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| Les Pagodes de Cos |
2010 |
St. Estephe Lightly Scuffed Label |
$75 |
1 |
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WA 93 (2/2013): Probably the best second wine ever made at Cos (although the 2009 should not be discounted), the 2010 Les Pagodes de Cos is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot finishing at 14% natural alcohol. This wine exhibits beautiful, silky tannins as well as sweet, rich mulberry and black currant fruit with hints of spring flowers, licorice and subtle toast. A full-bodied, opulent and -ideal- second wine, most people who have tasted it would probably agree that it is actually better than many vintages of Cos d-Estournel from the 1960s and 1970s. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
JS 91 (3/2013): A wine with plum, spice, and currant character with full body, and silky tannins. Lovely texture to this wine. Give it a year or two to soften. Second wine of Cos. Better in 2015.
VM 91 (8/2013): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of crushed blueberry, cassis and nutty oak. Wonderfully dense and sweet, with considerable complexity and a hint of superripeness to its very ripe, sweet flavors of dark berries and complementary oak. Finishes with excellent breadth and length, and thoroughly sweet, fine tannins. A great success for this bottling. For drinking over the next 10 to 12 years. |
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2016 |
St. Estephe |
$55 |
1 |
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| JS 93-94 (4/2017): The brightness and focus to this second wine of Cos are certainly impressive. You can see the quality. Full body, a tight and focused palate and beautiful fruit and density. Ultra-fine tannins. Gorgeous. Sophisticated. |
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2016 |
St. Estephe Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
2 |
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| JS 93-94 (4/2017): The brightness and focus to this second wine of Cos are certainly impressive. You can see the quality. Full body, a tight and focused palate and beautiful fruit and density. Ultra-fine tannins. Gorgeous. Sophisticated. |
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2018 |
St. Estephe |
$55 |
2 |
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| WA 93+ (3/2021): The 2018 Les Pagodes de Cos (14.51% alcohol) is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aging in 20% new barriques. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bold notions of Morello cherries, blackcurrant pastilles, plum preserves and spice cake with suggestions of pencil shavings and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with spicy black fruits, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering savory note. |
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2019 |
St. Estephe |
$49 |
2 |
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JD 92 (4/2022): The second wine of Cos D'Estournel, the 2019 Pagodes De Cos is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, with the balance Petit Verdot. It's classic Saint-Estèphe on the nose with its pure black and blue fruits as well as notes of damp earth, sappy tobacco, cedar pencil, and graphite. This carries to a medium-bodied, elegant 2019 with impeccable balance, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. The balance and purity are spot on, and this will drink nicely for over two decades. It's not far off the style of the 2018 and certainly in the same ballpark qualitatively. (Drink between 2022-2042).
VM 91 (2/2023): The 2019 Les Pagodes de Cos has quite an elegant bouquet with ample brambly red fruit, cedar and light pencil shaving aromas. Quite precise. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, and fine acidity. Very Saint Estèphe in style, with a dry finish that might put off those seeking flesh and corpulence. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2026-2045). Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Palmer |
2005 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,121.97 |
1 |
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WA 97 (4/2008): This spectacular offering should continue to improve, and may merit an even higher score after additional aging. Stunningly rich and powerful, the dark purple-tinged 2005 Palmer is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. Aromas of incense, burning embers, black currants, plums, licorice, and flowers are followed by a full-bodied Margaux with more weight and power even than its nearby first-growth rival, Chateau Margaux. The abundant acidity and tannins are beautifully coated by the wine’s exceptional fruit extract and overall harmony and richness. It is so concentrated that one is hard pressed to find even a hint of new oak. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2045+.
VM 94 (6/2008): Good deep red-ruby. Deep, brooding aromas of blackberry, kirsch and chocolate mint, with a distinctly roasted, jammy character showing today. Compellingly sweet and explosive on the palate, with great fat to the flavors of plum, mulberry, coffee and mocha; like a cocktail of jammy fruits. This is downright massive, not to say decadent, for Palmer-at 14% alcohol the highest ever recorded here. A pure liquid confection. |
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|
2009 |
Margaux (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,282.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (11/2020): I've been lucky enough to have the 2009 Château Palmer numerous times over the past handful of years, and it continues to be a primordial yet heavenly wine every time, revealing a deep purple color as well as an incredibly powerful bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherry liqueur, smoked tobacco, graphite, crushed stone, and chocolate. Possessing full-bodied richness and a massive, dense, incredibly powerful style (not far off the 2018), it gains elegance and finesse with time in the glass, has ultra-fine tannins, and one hell of a finish. This magical Palmer needs another decade to hit maturity and will evolve for 50+ years or more.
JS 98 (2/2012): This has such class and power. Aromas of blueberries and blackberries, with hints of violets. Full-bodied, with polished tannins and a juicy finish. Solid and extremely pretty. Fabulous finish. Try in 2020.
WA 98 (3/2019): Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Palmer delivers a beguiling array of black fruit—warm plums, cassis and black cherry compote—with kirsch and wild sage sparks plus profound suggestions of fragrant earth, black truffles, iron ore and liquid licorice. Full-bodied, rich and decadently seductive in the mouth, the generous fruit is superbly framed with plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.
VM 96 (3/2019): The 2009 Palmer has a beautifully defined bouquet with bright black cherry and boysenberry fruit, crushed stone and rose petal. Not as decadent as the bottle poured at the BI tasting, yet precise. The palate is medium-bodied with supple and refined tannin, and crisp acidity. Wonderfully poised with quite a penetrating finish that delivers a payload of multi-layered blueberry and blackberry. This is a very well crafted 2009 Margaux destined for long-term ageing. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. |
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| Alter Ego de Palmer |
2019 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$562.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (2/2023): The 2019 Alter Ego de Palmer is delineated and focused on the nose with blackberry, cedar and graphite scents. More austere yet still complex and one with the most cerebral Margaux aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, quite saline and peppery, firm and insistent grip with quiet assertive tannins on the finish. A Margaux that should be given a long-term lease in your cellar. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2028-2055). Neal Martin.
JD 94 (4/2022): The second wine of Château Palmer, the 2019 Alter Ego De Palmer is rock-solid and reveals a dense purple hue as well as deep, rich, concentrated aromas and flavors of ripe black cherries, blackcurrants, tobacco, graphite, and chocolate. It might be the richest, most concentrated second wine out here, and truthfully, it tastes like a Grand Vin. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and textured, it has ripe tannins, a fleshy, mouth-filling texture, and a great finish. It's beautifully done.
WA 91 (4/2022): Aromas of sweet cherries, raspberries, berry fruit liqueur, licorice and spices introduce the 2019 Alter Ego de Palmer, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping wine with lively acids, melting tannins and a lavish core of ripe, creamy fruit. It's more immediate than the more muscular, powerful grand vin. |
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| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2005 |
Pessac Leognan (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,824.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (6/2015): Owned by Bernard Magrez, this great terroir a few miles from Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion has produced one of the superstars of the vintage. A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, Pape Clement’s 2005 has an opaque purple color and smoky barbecue and chocolaty notes intermixed with cassis and blackberries. There is also some underlying minerality in this full-bodied, super-concentrated wine, which has wonderfully sweet, well-integrated tannins. This majestic, multidimensional wines is one of the great, great wines of the vintage. It should drink well for at least another 25 years.
VM 97 (11/2015): The 2005 Pape Clement is a fabulous contrast to the Haut-Brion. The former represents modernism at its best, while the latter is one of the archetypes of classicism. Both are striking. Compelling and seductive from the outset, the 2005 Pape Clement races out of the glass with notable opulence and ripeness. Soft contours and heady aromatics make the 2005 a real joy to taste today. Just beginning to show the first signs of aromatic complexity, the 2005 Pape Clement looks like it won't be as long-lived as some of the other wines in this tasting, but it is extraordinarily beautiful today. The style is unapologetically flamboyant, yet all the elements are in the right place. When it comes to pure hedonistic pleasure, it's hard to match the 2005 Pape Clement. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2020 |
Pessac Leognan |
$78 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2020 Pape Clément is outrageously beautiful. Dark, virile and imposing, the 2020 is a rare vintage of Pape Clément that is vertical and statuesque in feel. Dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves infuse the palate with tremendous depth. In a word: magnificent. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (12/2022): Lots of blackberry, iodine and crushed stone here. Some black pepper and graphite, too. Full body and medium, fine tannins that have a powdery texture and open in the mouth. So much going on. Iodine and iron undertones with some raw mushroom bring you back for more. Muscular. This is for the cellar. Drink after 2027.
JD 97+ (3/2023): I loved the 2020 Château Pape Clément, and this beauty is up there with the top wines in Pessac. Checking in as equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged 18 months in 90% barrels and 10% in foudre, it offers a deep purple hue to go with a powerful, concentrated profile displaying both red and black fruits, lots of spicy, chocolate, flowery incense nuances, full-bodied richness, and an almost salty, bloody character on the finish. This beauty shows the concentrated yet utterly classic, focused, elegant style of the vintage and has so much to love. It's going to be even better with 4-6 years of bottle age and will see its 30th birthday in fine form.
WA 96-98 (5/2021): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Pape Clement comes barreling out of the glass with bold notes of cassis, plum preserves and licorice, giving way to scents of cedar chest, crushed rocks, charcoal and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly coiled with beautiful tension and a firm, finely grained texture locking in the layers of black fruits and minerals, finishing with great length and energy. The blend this year is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, aging mainly in French oak barriques, 66% new, with about 10% aging in large oak foudres. The wine will spend approximately 18 months in barrels. |
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|
2022 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$493.99 |
13 |
|
| |
JD 94-96+ (5/2023): The 2022 Château Pape Clément Blanc is another beauty from this team, and if it puts on some weight over the course of its élevage, it will merit an even higher score. Honeyed lychee, minty herbs, melon, and stone fruits define the bulk of the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with good concentration, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. I was able to taste this on multiple occasions with consistent notes.
VM 94-96 (5/2023): The 2022 Pape Clément was picked 7-27 September at 35hL/ha, aged in 60% new oak. It has quite an open and expressive bouquet at this stage, with blackcurrant and bilberry scents. A more sensual Pape Clément perhaps, the oak is neatly integrated. Black olives emerge with time, hints of sea spray - this is certainly a wine you have to stay with. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Layers of black fruit laced with graphite and cedar, rending this 2022 quite Pauillac-like in style. Nicely controlled on the finish, this is a Pape Clément with breeding. Tasted four times. Neal Martin.
WA 90-93 (5/2023): A blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Sémillon and 2% Muscadelle, the 2022 Pape Clément Blanc exhibits aromas of spices, spring flowers, lemon, peach and hints of jasmine and grapefruit. The palate is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and satiny, with an oaky frame. The finish is long, persistent and elegantly spicy.
JA 95 (5/2023): Deep and intense, but not the full on ink colour that I might have expected. Cocoa bean, fig, rosemary, kirsch, cigar box, black pepper, mint leaf, this ripples with the exuberance of the vintage but the tannins are firm, musuclar and hold things firmly in place, ensuring a sense of proportion. This walks the line, it is a big wine that absolutely delivers estate signature, and has a clear sense of future potential, with plenty of complexity. Rises to meet the vintage, not overpowered by it. Will age well. |
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| Ch. Pavie |
2016 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,928.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (3/2019): The 2016 Pavie a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Very deep purple-black in color, it needs a little coaxing to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal a fragrant perfume of violets, chocolate-covered cherries, crushed blueberries and eucalyptus over a core of preserved plums, kirsch, black raspberries and crème de cassis plus hints of licorice and chargrilled meat. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a solid foundation of firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness interknit with the black fruit preserves and minerally layers, finishing very long and very decadent. Superb!
JD 99 (2/2019): Turning the dial up considerably, the 2016 Château Pavie leaps out of the glass with a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, toasty oak, graphite, white truffle, crayons, and flowers. A blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 85% new French oak (the new oak has been dialed back in recent vintages), this full-bodied Pavie is made in a more elegant, seamless style compared to prior great vintages, yet it still has brilliant depth of fruit and concentration, ripe, present tannins, a seamless texture, and an awesome finish.
VM 98+ (1/2019): The 2016 Pavie is simply magnificent. Gracious, perfumed and exquisitely beautiful, the 2016 has it all. I can't remember seeing a Pavie with this much translucent energy and nuance. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol all infuse this explosive, young wine with tremendous character. In the glass, the 2016 is vivid, aromatically deep and full of saline-infused energy. It is without question one of the wines of the vintage. As it turns out Gerard Perse also opened the 2008. Although the two vintages (2016 and 2008) in question are quite different in style and quality, the trajectory Pavie has taken in recent years is evident. The 2016 is a thrilling wine. That's all there is to it. The blend is 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2023 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,677.99 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 95-97+ (4/2024): The Grand Vin 2023 Château Pavie is based on 51% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 72% new oak. It's a more inward, serious effort that has a layered bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, spicy oak, spring flowers, and smoke tobacco. This carries to a full-bodied 2023 revealing a beautiful sense of minerality, ample mid-palate depth, and a gorgeous finish. It shows the more elegant, vibrant style of the vintage while still being classic Pavie. If anything, it reminds me slightly of the château's 2001.
VM 95-97+ (4/2024): The 2023 Pavie is fabulous. Rich, dense and explosive in the glass, it offers up generous dark red fruit, cedar, spice, pipe tobacco, menthol and mocha. The 2023 impresses with its notable density and sheer palate presence. Naturally, this needs time to be at its best, but it is already incredibly expressive. This is a superb vintage for Pavie. Antonio Galloni.
JA 96 (4/2024): Plus damson and black cherry fruits, rich and ripe but balanced by tomato leaf, pumice stone. This is intense and concentrated, skilfully constructed showing fragrant cumin and turmeric spice that lifts through the palate, opening to show black tea, blood orange, cocoa bean, mint leaf, totally delicious and speaks clearly of its limestone soils. Feels at the top of its game. Harvest September 18 to October 5, 72% new oak for ageing, Gerard Perse owner. |
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| Ch. Pavie Decesse |
2020 |
St. Emilion (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$952.97 |
1 |
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| |
JD 99 (3/2023): Just about pure perfection, the 2020 Château Pavie Decesse has sensational notes of blue fruits (cassis, blueberries) as well as some spicy oak, flowers, and smoke tobacco. Its oak is perfectly integrated, and the wine is full-bodied, with ripe tannins and a kiss of salinity on the finish. Based on 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc coming from the upper plateau, just above Château Pavie, it has a rare mix of power and finesse and is going to evolve for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars.
WA 95-97 (5/2021): The 2020 Pavie Decesse is a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, aging in French oak barrels, 80% new. It has an alcohol of 14.81% and a pH of 3.52. Deep purple-black colored, notions of baked blackberries, preserved plums and black cherry compote come barreling out of the glass, followed by suggestions of dark chocolate, licorice and Indian spices, with a fragrant hint of lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with rich, spicy black fruits, supported by firm yet beautifully plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with lots of emerging earthy nuances.
VM 94-96 (5/2021): The 2020 Pavie Decesse was picked on September 23, the same day as Perse’s Bellevue-Mondotte, at just 17hl/ha, and matured in 80% new oak, the final blend to be made at bottling. This is rich and opulent on the nose, which delivers intense black cherries, raspberry coulis, blueberry and blood orange scents; the new oak is quite prominent. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, though I find this more nuanced and delineated compared to the Bellevue-Mondotte. More terroir is articulated toward the persistent finish, which displays subtle black pepper and clove notes. This actually challenges Pavie for my affections. Neal Martin.
JS 96-97 (4/2021): A tight, pinpointed Pavie Decesse with a medium to full body and racy tannins that are vertical and deep. Takes you down the palate. Chewy. Chalky tannins. |
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| Ch. Pavie Macquin |
2016 |
St. Emilion (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$646.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 97-98 (4/2017): This is a really fantastic PM! The licorice, fresh mushroom, sous bois and stone character is so exciting. It’s full and very layered with exceptional depth and length. Compressed and focused. Pure silk. |
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| Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux |
2019 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,019.99 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 92-94+ (6/2020): The 2019 Pavillon Rouge is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, accounting for 47% of the crop. The alcohol came in at 14.2%, the IPT was 75, and the pH was 3.66. Deep garnet-purple in color, it begins a little closed and broody, soon unfurling to offer notes of tar, black licorice, cracked peppercorns and woodsmoke over a core of Morello cherries, boysenberries and warm cassis plus an earthy touch of forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant, refreshing and wonderfully refined, with beautifully ripe, plush tannins and impressive freshness lifting the black fruit and earthy layers with a long finish. It should age beautifully!
VM 92-94 (6/2020): A gorgeous wine, the 2019 Pavillon Rouge represents 27% of the crop. All of the radiance of the year is on display. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, spice, cedar and new leather are all kicked up a few notches, with silky tannins that wrap it all together. Even with all of its obvious richness, the 2019 possesses notable energy as well as freshness.
JD 94-96 (6/2020): Starting with the second wine of this great estate, the 2019 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge reveals a saturated purple color as well as young, unevolved notes of blue and black fruits, unsmoked tobacco, chocolate, and spring flowers. It has a wonderful freshness and purity yet is still a rich, powerful wine. Full-bodied, concentrated yet seamless, it's an incredible second wine and possibly the finest Pavillon Rouge I've tasted.
JS 96-97 (6/2020): Succulent and gorgeous with such supple tannins, yet it’s full bodied and very rich. It’s very savory, too. Dense, yet polished on the palate, showing fresh, minerally and salty notes. You want to drink it already. 27% of the crop and a blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot, the rest petit verdot and cabernet franc. |
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| Ch. Peby Faugeres |
2006 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$545.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases |
2019 |
St. Julien |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 93 (4/2022): The second wine of the château, the 2019 Le Petit Lion is based on 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that saw 30% new French oak. Beautiful cassis and black cherry fruits as well as cedar pencil, tobacco, and damp earth all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a balanced, seamless texture, wonderful depth of fruit, and a great finish. It's one heck of a second wine that will have two decades of prime drinking. (Drink between 2022-2042).
VM 91 (2/2022): The 2019 Le Petit Lion offers light brambly black fruit laced with browning autumn leaves and Earl Grey on the nose, which is classic in style, fresh and well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, like the Clos du Marquis, gaining some density and muscle during its élevage. Crisp and quite saline on the finish, this will deserve a little longer in bottle than I anticipated before. Very fine. 14.01% alcohol. (Drink between 2024-2035). Neal Martin. |
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| Pichon Comtesse Reserve |
2016 |
Pauillac Lightly Bin-Soiled Label; Lightly Scuffed Label |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (2/2019): From a vintage compared to 1996 and 2009, both terrific yet different vintages, the 2016 Reserve de la Comtesse is a beauty with a classic Cabernet nose of blackcurrants, graphite, lead pencil, and flowers. It's medium-bodied, supple, incredibly elegant, and seamless on the palate, with loads of charm and character. It's another second wine that delivers the goods. |
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| Ch. Pichon-Longueville Baron |
2015 |
Pauillac |
$167 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (11/2017): Reminding me of the 1990, the 2015 Château Pichon Baron is a sensational bottle of wine made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot that spent 18 months in 80% new French oak. Boasting a deep purple color as well as awesome notes of black raspberries, toasted spices, cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco leaf and building minerality, this full-bodied, concentrated 2015 has sweet tannin, a great texture, and a big, big finish. Pauillac all the way, with both opulence and finesse, forget bottles of 4-5 years and enjoy anytime over the following two to three decades. This is a match for the 2009, 2000, and 1990.
WA 97 (2/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Pichon-Longueville Baron is enticingly scented of chocolate-covered cherries, crushed red currants and mulberries with touches of baking spices, potpourri and bay leaves plus a hint of fallen leaves. Sumptuously elegant, refreshing and medium-bodied with gorgeous, expressive, perfumed red fruits and very fine, very firm tannins, it has a persistent, perfumed finish. Its remarkable intensity, freshness and very firm frame suggest a long-lived Pichon Baron, which should cellar gracefully for 30+ years.
VM 97 (1/2019): The 2015 Pichon-Baron is a step up from the 2014, boasting an intense, multifaceted bouquet of blackberry, graphite and crushed stone that gains momentum in the glass; the purity here is deeply impressive. The medium-bodied palate delivers firm tannin cloaked in layers of graphite-infused black fruit. There is a sense of abiding symmetry to this Pauillac, and there is also tremendous length, the flavors almost refusing to let go of your senses. This is an awesome Pichon-Baron in the making, up there with the 1990, 2005 and 2009. Tasted at the Pichon-Baron vertical at the château. Neal Martin.
JS 95 (2/2018): This is a muscular edition with attractive, deeply ripe blackberries and plums set amid firm and assertively linear tannins that hold the finish long and on point. Cool-fruited finish. There’s great potential here. Try this from 2023. |
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|
2018 |
Pauillac |
$159 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97+ (2/2021): A beautiful, majestic Pauillac that reminds me a little of the 2000, the 2018 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. It shows the estate's more pure Cabernet, focused, elegant style yet offers full-bodied richness and serious depth of fruit as well as awesome notes of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and wet stone-like minerality. With building tannins, a fresh, focused texture, and a great finish, it's not for those looking for instant gratification, and I suspect it will need a solid decade or more of cellaring, but it will evolve for 50 years or more. It's a profound 2018. (Drink between 2031-2081).
VM 97 (3/2021): Suave and sophisticated, the 2018 Pichon Baron is a real head-turner. Silky, polished tannins wrap around a core of inky dark red/purplish berry fruit. More than anything else, the 2018 impresses for its exceptional balance. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. That will make the 2018 easy to drink relatively early, although my preference would be to leave it in the cellar for the better part of the next decade. Rose petal, spice, blood orange and mint add brightness and perfume on the long, finely-knit finish. (Drink between 2030-2058). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (3/2021): The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, aged for 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old. Production of the grand vin represents 50% of the harvest this year. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose bursts from the glass with flamboyant scents of stewed black plums, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of Indian spices, unsmoked cigars, pencil shavings and espresso. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers impactful black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and spicy. |
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|
2019 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,748.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98+ (4/2022): Based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot raised in 80% new French oak, the 2019 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron is pure class and just a beautiful, seamless Pauillac that does everything right. Revealing a deep purple hue as well textbook notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, freshly sharpened pencils, and liquid violets, it shows the more medium to full-bodied, elegant style of the vintage yet is brilliantly concentrated, has a supple, layered mouthfeel, ripe yet building tannins, and a great, great finish. It's more open and expressive than Mouton and shares plenty of similarities with Comtesse with its layered, supple, just perfectly balanced and classy style. It unquestionably already offers pleasure today (and it's a good time to try a bottle, as I wouldn't be surprised to see it close down), but it will need a decade to hit maturity and it will be a 50-year wine.
WA 97+ (4/2022): The 2019 Pichon-Longueville Baron will go down as one of this château's great wines of the modern era, along with 2016, 2010 and 1989. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of cigar wrapper, sweet loamy soil and violets, it's full-bodied, velvety and layered, with superb concentration, lively acids and rich, powdery tannins. Perfumed and resonant, this is a profound young Pauillac that bears more of a resemblance to its neighbor Château Latour than to Pichon Lalande this year. Pichon Baron was one of the great deals of the en primeur campaign, and readers who purchased futures are to be congratulated on their foresight.
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2019 Pichon Baron is quite closed on the nose, blackberry, bilberry and incense, with graphite and cedar developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, not quite as finessed as Pichon Lalande, but with great structure and density on the close. It needs a little more precision to develop on the finish but just give it time. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Neal Martin.
JA 97 (5/2020): Firm tannic grip lands you squarely in Pauillac from the first moment, with pencil lead and charcoal reinforcing the point. This is a serious Pichon Baron, carefully extracted black fruits that barely put a foot wrong, and a firm core of acidity. Takes its time to open in the glass, and will age for decades without breaking a sweat. 80% new oak. 49% of production in this wine. |
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| Ch. Pontet Canet |
2015 |
Pauillac |
$125 |
4 |
|
| |
JS 98 (1/2018): So much floral and dark-fruit character with almonds and walnut shell. Full body and ultra-fine tannins. Powerful. Classic style with a harmony and energy. Goes on for minutes. A superb wine with great fruit. Real Bordeaux. Try in 2025.
VM 97+ (2/2018): Proprietor Alfred Tesseron and winemaker Jean-Michel Comme produced an absolutely stellar Pontet-Canet in 2015. Sumptuous, racy and totally inviting, the 2015 is all class. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice and exotic floral notes build as the 2015 shows off its alluring personality. Even with all of its raciness, the 2015 speaks with authority and power. Fine tannins extend the persistent, highly nuanced finish. The 2015 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot aged 50% new oak, 4% in terra cotta and 15% in neutral oak. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (5/2020): Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Pontet-Canet comes charging out of the glass with fantastically expressive notes of black cherry preserves, black raspberries and blackcurrant pastilles plus touches of kirsch, wilted roses, tobacco, camphor and cinnamon stick with a waft of fragrant soil. Full bodied, the palate is laden with black and red fruit layers, supported by very firm, very finely grained tannins and provocative freshness, finishing with incredible length and stunningly perfumed.
JD 95+ (11/2017): The 2015 Pontet Canet is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot brought up in 50% new oak, and 35% in amphora. With textbook Pauillac notes of lead pencil shavings, tobacco leaf, smoke, and licorice, as well as a core of pure crème de cassis fruit, this beautiful, full-bodied, impeccably balanced is one of the few 2015s that’s going to demand cellaring. The tannin are high, yet sweet, and like its bright acidity, nicely integrated into the wine. Forget bottles for 5-7 years and enjoy over the following three decades. I don’t put this as the level of the 2009 and 2010, but it’s still a beautiful wine. Tasted three times.
JA 95 (9/2021): Vibrant plum colour, followed by spiced plum on the nose, more exotic in its range of flavours and silky texture than many vintages, still powerful and in its primary fruit phase. This is a gorgeous wine, hard to argue with, showing estate character over appellation or vintage. The tannins are softer at this stage that you will find with the 2016, even the 2014, but there is so much pleasure in the glass, and it will power ahead for decades. Harvest September 18 to October 3. This was the vintage where Tesseron decided to make no more Les Hauts de Pontet, with everything going either into the first wine, or declassified, as he felt both that the vineyard had reached the level he wanted, and also that philosophically that he wanted the wine to be a true reflection of the whole vineyard. |
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|
2017 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$579.99 |
1 |
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WA 96 (3/2020): Composed of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Pontet-Canet gives up beautifully fragrant notes of rosehip tea, lilacs, cinnamon stick, cloves, dried leaves and underbrush with a core of kirsch, raspberry coulis, warm plums and red and black currants plus a waft of pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing, minerally and wonderfully elegant with a well-played texture of approachable, plush tannins and a long, fragrant finish. Beautiful. Aging took place in 50% new and 15% in second fill barrels and the remaining 35% in amphorae for 16 months, much of the material for which came from the soil at Pontet-Canet!
JS 96 (12/2019): This has ethereal transparency to it with a fresh, red-berry and cherry nose. Terra-cotta and dried-flower notes. Plums, too. Quite complex. The palate has a very detailed tannin texture with attractive cassis and blueberries that hold very long, fresh and pure. Fruity and fresh. Try from 2023.
VM 95 (3/2020): A gorgeous, alluring Pauillac, the 2017 Pontet-Canet is racy and exceptionally polished, with floral top notes that bring out the natural brightness of the red-toned fruit. Super-silky tannins add to the wine's immediacy and sheer allure. The 2017 was the first wine made with the new sorting table. About half the fruit was destemmed by hand. As always, visiting Pontet-Canet is like stepping back into another time, a time in which wines were made much more manually than they are today. Here that means manual punch downs and pump overs, with no electricity. Harvest ran from September 18 through October 4. The blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Aging was done 50% in new oak, 35% in amphora and 15% in one year-old oak. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 93 (2/2020): Deep ruby/purple-hued and based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2017 Chateau Pontet-Canet spent 16 months in a 50% new barrels, 35% in amphora, and the balance in once-used barrels. It's an exceedingly elegant Pontet-Canet that has textbook Pauillac notes of blackcurrants, unsmoked tobacco, lead pencil shavings, new leather, and flowery incense. It's not a blockbuster and reminds me slightly of the 2004, yet it has wonderful depth of fruit, ultra-fine tannins, and beautiful purity and elegance. It's already approachable, but it’s going to be even better with 5-6 years of bottle age and have 20-25 years of prime drinking. |
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| Ch. Rauzan-Segla |
2012 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$971.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 94+ (4/2015): The 2012 Rauzan-Segla (54.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 1.5% Petit Verdot) is a classic Rauzan-Segla, still relatively backward and tannic, but concentrated and extremely promising. Dense blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit along with some licorice, vanilla, foresty notes and spice are all present in this full-bodied yet structured and big, beefy style of Rauzan-Segla . It may turn out to be somewhat atypical for this château in its size and masculine structure, but this is impressive wine, and one of the great successes of the vintage. Give it 5-7 years of bottle age and drink it over the following three decades.
JS 93 (2/2015): A full and silky wine with a slightly hollow center-palate now but it’s very pretty and chewy. Needs two or three years to soften. Very persistent and structured.
VM 87-90 (5/2013): Moderately saturated medium red. Blackcurrant, herbs and a hint of spicy chocolatey oak on the nose. Supple and vinous on the palate, with moderate flesh and depth to the flavors of blackcurrant, dried herbs and tobacco complemented by a wet earth nuance. Shows a slightly green tang on the moderately long finish. |
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|
2017 |
Margaux (375 ML) |
$59 |
1 |
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JD 94+ (2/2020): This estate continues to fashion a complex, elegant, seamless style of wine. The 2017 Chateau Rauzan-Segla offers a deep purple color as well as gorgeous notes of cassis, crushed violets, tobacco, and leafy herbs. Pure Margaux on the palate with its medium to full-bodied, ultra-fine, seamless texture, this flawlessly balanced 2017 will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20-25 years. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, all aged in 60% new French oak.
VM 94 (2/2020): The 2017 Rauzan-Segla was bottled at the end of May 2019 according to winemaker Nicolas Audebert. It has a broodier nose than expected, perhaps a tad closed after bottling, but there is certainly sufficient blackberry and raspberry fruit, subtle pressed violet, soupçon of shucked oyster shell scents emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins struck through by a fine bead of acidity. It feels rounded and velvety in texture, quite persistent in the mouth with a caressing finish that perhaps does not quite deliver the complexity or pixelation of a really top growing season. Otherwise, plainly speaking, bloody delicious. Neal Martin.
JS 94 (12/2019): There’s a very balanced feel to this wine with ripe blueberries and red plums, as well as dried flowers. The palate has a supple, smooth build of rich, blueberry and cassis flavor and a long, fine-tannin finish. A blend of 62% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot and 2% petit verdot. Drink or hold.
WA 94-96 (4/2018): Composed of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot and sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2017 Rauzan-Segla (Rausan-Segla) has a profound nose of cassis, warm blackberries and black plums with touches of baking spices, violets, mocha and smoke plus a waft of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied with a great core of sustained, energetic black fruit, a frame of fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone, it finishes with great length. |
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| Saintayme |
2022 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$350.99 |
10 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte |
2016 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,636.99 |
2 |
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| |
WA 98 (11/2018): Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot and matured in 60% new oak for 18 months, the 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte has a very deep garnet-purple color, opening with sensuous scents of warm black cherries, blackberry pie, star anise and fragrant lilacs with hints of chocolate box, cigar box and pencil lead plus wafts of truffles and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, rich and seductive, it completely fills the palate with perfumed black berry preserves and superbly plush tannins, finishing epically long and beautifully layered.
JD 97 (2/2019): Moving to the reds, the 2016 Château Smith Haut Lafitte checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 60% new oak. It’s undeniably a more elegant, reserved style from this estate, yet it still offers full-bodied richness and depth, with a classic perfume of cassis, black currants, cold fireplace, wood smoke, and tobacco. Deep, nicely concentrated, seamless, and, again, incredibly elegant, it’s going to flesh out nicely with short-term cellaring and keep for 20-30 years.
VM 95+ (8/2020): The 2016 Smith Haut-Lafitte has an opulent, lavish bouquet with layers of black cherry, Christmas cake, dark chocolate and vanilla. This wants to make an impression. The palate is very seductive, featuring lush red berry fruit, brown spices and saturated tannins. Some new oak is evident on the finish, but that will be subsumed with bottle age. I can see this aging well. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Neal Martin. |
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|
2019 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$631.99 |
8 |
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| |
JD 98 (4/2022): Reminding me a little of the 2009, the 2019 Château Smith Haut Lafitte has a rich, powerful style in its cassis, blueberry, and black raspberry fruit as well as its chalky minerality, smoked earth, tobacco, and lead pencil shaving-like aromas and flavors. A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, this rich, unctuously textured beauty has terrific concentration, sweet tannins, and the vintage's hallmark elegance and finesse. One of the most concentrated, powerful wines in the vintage, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age (or a healthy decant) and will evolve for 30+ years if stored properly. Not enough can be said about what proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard, as well as winemaker Fabien Teitgen, continue to achieve at this estate. (Drink between 2026-2058).
WA 96 (4/2022): The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with a complex bouquet of dark berries, cassis, forest floor, pencil shavings, licorice and spices. Full-bodied, broad and velvety, it's layered and elegantly muscular, underpinned by rich structuring tannins and lively acids, and it concludes with a long, expansive finish. This is another estate where the viticultural and stylistic evolutions of the last decade have delivered a beautifully balanced, harmonious 2019.
VM 96 (2/2023): The 2019 Smith Haut-Lafitte has a Burgundian like purity on the nose: raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, touches of pressed rose petal emerging with time. The oak is a little prominent at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a fine bead of acidity, fresh and focused, building all the time to quite a structured yet complex and engaging finish. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2050). Neal Martin. |
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|
2022 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$817.99 |
8 |
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JD 96-98 (5/2023): Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte checks in as 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. This ripe, powerful, concentrated wine reminds me of the 2010 with its structure, concentrated mid-palate, and just sheer density and regal, full-bodied style on the palate. Despite its size, it stays balanced, has a beautiful perfume of sweet black fruits, graphite, scorched earth, and spring flowers, building tannins, and a great, great finish.
VM 95-97 (5/2023): The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte is a regal, elegant wine. Succulent inky fruit, licorice, spice, lavender and mocha open in a gracious, sublime Grand Vin. Here, too, the wine’s persistence and energy are notable. The Cabernet is especially evident this year, in both the wine’s flavor profile and overall structural feel. In many vintages, the Grand Vin is more immediate and alluring. The 2022 is quite reticent. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94-95 (5/2023): The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte opens in the glass with attractive aromas of cassis, spices, tobacco, graphite and licorice, followed by a medium to fullbodied palate that is deep and layered, with good depth and powdery structuring tannins that assert themselves on the finish. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot will require some patience, given its somewhat extracted style.
JA 97 (5/2023): Inky colour, with vivid vibrant edging, curling and fragrant floral aromatics, plenty of energy from the first kick of peony and mandarin peel. The rich density of the blue and black fruits are set against slate and grippy tannins, giving textural contrast which makes it engaging, together with a saline scrape on the finish. Blueberry, cassis, ink, liquorice root, graphite, pink grapefruit, intensely expressed with a vertical rise through the palate, very much true to estate signature. 29hl/h, 3.65ph, 10% whole bunches fermentation, using a mix of full bunches and stalks that they select after destemming. 33% 1st wine, 4% press used in the blend, harvest September 5 to 30. Fabien Teitgen technical director. |
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| Ch. Tertre Roteboeuf |
1995 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,363.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95 (2/1998): This is the third vintage (1989 and 1990 were the other two) where Le Tertre-Roteboeuf exhibits a Le Pin-like exotic richness and opulence. The wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, and a compelling set of aromatics consisting of pain grille, ripe black cherry and cassis fruit, intermixed with truffles, mocha, and toffee. Dense and full-bodied, with layers of intensely ripe fruit, this plump, gorgeously pure, expansively flavored, multidimensional wine is even better out of bottle than it was in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2018. If wines were whores, Le Tertre-Roteboeuf would certainly be a potential candidate. These lavishly rich, sumptuously-textured, hedonistic wines hit all the sweet spots on the palate.
VM 94 (6/1998): Very good deep red-ruby color. Fabulously expressive, superripe aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, maple syrup, toffee and roasted oak, with a floral topnote adding complexity. Thick, silky and amazingly sweet, with Outstanding depth of flavor. As opulent and exotic as this wine is, it maintains lovely flavor definition. The toffee and smoky oak notes repeat on the palate. Suave tannins are buried in fruit. Wow! |
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| Ch. La Tour Carnet |
2019 |
Haut Medoc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$239.99 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (4/2022): The 2019 Château La Tour Carnet is terrific, with a pure, medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated style as well as impressive cassis, tobacco, spicy wood, and graphite aromas and flavors. The purity here is spot on, and it has ripe, polished tannins, outstanding balance, and a great finish. |
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| Ch. Moulin de Tricot |
2016 |
Haut Medoc |
$33 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Ch. Troplong Mondot |
2009 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,498.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 99 (2/2012): It boasts an inky/purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of mocha, chocolate, blackberry and cassis fruit, an unctuous texture, a full-bodied, viscous mouthfeel and a skyscraper-like, multilayered finish. This spectacular wine is nearly overwhelming in its richness, thickness and intensity. Once all its baby fat falls away, the terroir characteristics and additional nuances will emerge. This blockbuster, fabulous Troplong Mondot will benefit from 10-15 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. It is not shy either, bouncing over the palate with 15.5% natural alcohol.
JS 96 (2/2012): A wine, with a lovely velvety tannin structure with dark berries and espresso. Full body. Chewy, yet soft and caressing. Very long finish. Concentrated yet balanced. Try after 2020.
VM 95 (7/2012): Saturated medium ruby. Enticing aromas of cassis, coffee, mocha and licorice pastille. Hugely dense but fine-grained, offering a liqueur-like, exotic sweetness to its superripe dark fruit and chocolate flavors. For all its richness and baby fat, the wine's chalky underpinning prevents it from coming off as monolithic. Perhaps most impressive on the broad, extremely long, palate-staining finish, which features a boatload of ripe tannins and repeating sexy oak tones. This Outstanding Troplong-Mondot should drink well for the next 25 years. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2012 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,471.97 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2018): A flat-out gorgeous wine in the vintage is the 2012 Troplong Mondot, which sports an inky ruby/purple color to go with heavenly notes of black currants, smoked earth, plums, licorice and graphite. Full-bodied, seamless, ultra-pure and impressively concentrated, this blockbuster effort needs 3-4 years in the cellar to let the tannins integrate, and it will knock your socks off over the following two decades.
WA 96 (4/2015): The 2012 is another truly great wine from Troplong Mondot. It’s always sentimental to taste this wine, realizing that proprietress Christine Valette (the larger-than-life heart and soul behind this estate) has passed away. She was one of the bright, shining stars of Bordeaux. Nevertheless, her legacy is certainly well-established, and the quality of this wine is beyond reproach. Inky bluish purple, its great notes of cassis, blackberry, licorice are followed by a full-bodied, opulently textured wine with stunning concentration, purity and overall balance. It should drink well for 20-25 years and turn out to be one of the great superstars of 2012. Their 63-acre vineyard was cropped at 31 hectoliters per hectare, producing a final blend of 90% Merlot and 10 Cabernet Sauvignon that achieved 14.2% alcohol. |
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|
2017 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$911.99 |
4 |
|
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VM 98+ (3/2020): The 2017 Troplong Mondot is stunning, just as it was en primeur. Rich and ample, yet endowed with striking energy as well, the 2017 is the first vintage made by new CEO Aymeric de Gironde and consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos. The 2017 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. All of the power that is typical of this site is evident, it seems to come so naturally, and yet picking earlier and then using a lighter hand in the cellar yielded a Troplong of uncommon energy and vibrancy. The 2017 has been nothing short of thrilling on the four occasions I have tasted it from bottle so far. What a wine! Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (12/2019): Very perfumed and subtle with crushed currants, smoke and blackberries. Medium to full body. Compressed, round tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows focus and finesse with serious structure for the vintage. It grows slowly on the palate. Really beautiful. Drink after 2022.
JD 95 (2/2020): The 2017 Chateau Troplong Mondot continues in the new style of this estate and is based on 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc from healthy yields of 48 hectoliters per hectare. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a stunning perfume of creme de cassis, black raspberries, white chocolate, crushed flowers, and a terrific sense of minerality. Flawlessly balanced, medium to full-bodied, and nicely concentrated, it shows the more elegant, classical style of the vintage beautifully. It has the texture and balance to drink brilliantly today yet will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more.
WA 95-97 (4/2018): Troplong Mondot saw hardly any frost—less than 10%. The 2017 Troplong Mondot is blended of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. Very deep purple-black in color, it offers up a cedar chest, cinnamon stick and cloves-laced nose with a core of crème de cassis, blackberry compote and preserved plums plus wafts of licorice, violets and sandalwood. Full-bodied, concentrated and sporting a firm frame of velvety tannins, it has a lively line lifting the densely packed fruit, finishing long and on a compelling savory note. |
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|
2019 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$597.99 |
24 |
|
| |
WA 96-98 (6/2020): The 2019 Troplong Mondot is a blend this year of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, harvested from the 10th to the 25th of September. The pH is 3.55—pretty incredible when you consider the alcohol is nearly 15%! I hasten to add that from tasting, I would have guessed this was 14.3% to 14.5% alcohol. It is the kind of wine with so much energy it practically does pirouettes on your palate.
VM 96-98 (6/2020): The 2019 Troplong Mondot is sensational. Rich, vibrant and explosive, the 2019 pulses with energy. Black cherry, violet plum, licorice, lavender and dark spice build in a statuesque Saint-emilion endowed with tremendous energy and pure power. Troplong Mondot is not as obvious a wine as it was a few years ago, but its grandeur - and more importantly, the grandeur of this site - are evident. Troplong Mondot is a wine that simply can't be denied. The 2019 is aging in 60% new oak and 40% a combination of once-used barrels, foudres and amphora. Antonio Galloni |
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| Ch. Trotanoy |
2021 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$985.98 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Valandraud |
2008 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,651.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Vieux Chateau Certan |
2010 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,289.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (11/2013): A perfect wine with perfect purity of fruit. It shows gorgeous aromas of blackberries, currants and cedar with hints of chocolate. Full body, with a lovely sweetness of fruit and ripe tannins. It goes to chocolate, hazelnut and spices. Nutmeg too. Sexy and incredible. It has so much depth of fruit and density. Better in 2020.
WA 99 (2/2013): The 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan, a blend of 86% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol. Production was lower than in 2009 and the alcohol slightly higher, but the pH is 3.7, which is surprisingly reasonable given the lofty power and alcoholic clout this full-bodied wine possesses. Dense purple-colored , the 2010 displays a vivid yet astonishing array of spice box, red, blue and black fruits, crushed rock and spring flowers. The oak is well-concealed behind the lavish concentration and richness. Exceptionally pure, this unbelievable wine flirts with perfection. Unfortunately, there is 20% less of it than in 2009, and the tannins warrant a good 8-10 years of cellaring, as I suspect it could actually close down. This is another 40- to 50-year effort in 2010 that should elicit considerable interest from wine consumers.
VM 96+ (7/2013): Good deep ruby. Spicy aromas of blueberry, licorice, minerals, flowers and bitter chocolate. Sweet, suave and deep, with lovely lift to the complex cabernet franc-driven violet, cocoa and white pepper flavors. Firmly structured and long on the refined, youthfully chewy, tannic finish. This 2010 will really need at least a few years to expand, but will probably always remain a more austere wine than the 2009. I think will also prove to be a very ageworthy VCC. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2021 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,002.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98 (2/2024): The 2021 Vieux Château Certan may very well be the wine of the vintage on the Right Bank. Intensely aromatic and nuanced, with exceptional balance, the 2021 is super-classy right out of the gate. Naturally, it doesn't have the richness or density of most prior vintages, but it more than makes up for that with its sublime harmony and overall freshness. All the elements are so well proportioned. Readers should plan on cellaring this beauty for at least another handful of years (Drink between 2031-2061). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (2/2024): The 2021 Vieux Château Certan has turned out beautifully in bottle, unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper, black truffle, burning embers, mint and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with impressive density, beautifully refined tannins and a long, gently vanillin-inflected finish, it's a blend of 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter imparting complexity and structure. The result is somewhat reminiscent of the estate's exceptional 2011, one of the wines of that unheralded vintage.
JA 94 (1/2024): Skilful winemaking, with fragrant curling aromatics, gunsmoke, cigar. This is a year for taking the pleasure in aromatics, so make sure you give it time to open up, as there is a lovely structure here that curls around red roses, raspberry puree, full of joy. No chaptilisation, very light fining. 65% new oak, 3.63ph. Harvest September 24 to October 6.
JD 94 (4/2024): Harvested between the September 24 and October 6, the 2021 Vieux Château Certan is 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon (planted in 2012), raised in 65% new French oak. The alcohol hit 13.5% with a pH of 3.65. Ripe yet crunchy black cherries, sappy tobacco, spring flowers, and a kiss of crushed stone-like minerality all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, silky, seamless mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and the classic spine of acidity of the vintage. It clearly offers pleasure today with its vibrant, elegant style, yet this will cruise in cold cellars on its overall purity, balance, and acidity. |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Le Petit Cheval Blanc |
2020 |
Bordeaux Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$507.99 |
10 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (2/2023): The 2020 Le Petit Cheval (Blanc) is fabulous. Rich, creamy and wonderfully expansive, the 2020 is just gorgeous. Lemon confit, white flowers, passion fruit and a touch of oak all grace this wonderfully expressive dry white from Cheval Blanc. I especially like how the 2020 gains freshness with aeration, always a good sign with whites. There’s tremendous precision and class here. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. Coutet |
2023 |
Barsac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$302.99 |
20 |
|
| |
JD 95-97 (4/2024): The 2023 Château Coutet is another decadent, powerful Barsac in the vintage. Honeyed orange, toasted spices, sautéed pineapple, and assorted tropical, floral notes all just about jump from the glass, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a wealth of fruit, good acidity, and a great finish.
VM 94-96 (4/2024): The 2023 Coutet has a tightly-wound bouquet that demands more coaxing than its peers. It typically already possesses laser-sharp focus and is less flamboyant than fellow Barsacs, underpinned and sharpened by its limestone soils. The palate is well balanced with intense botrytised fruit, lightly spiced dried honey and orange rind notes, just a hint of apricot in the background, stretching out on the finish that lingers on the tongue. I am not sure it is the best Coutet in recent years, but it is certainly a very fine contribution to the vintage that should age well in bottle. Neal Martin.
JA 96 (4/2024): Beautiful aromatics, fresh acidity that picks things up from the first moment, crisp citrus, mango, pineapple, grated ginger, and a twist of bitter aniseed on the finish. Richly concentrated, reflecting small yields, but once again a wine that shows the huge potential of this style in the 2023 vintage. Harvest between September 20 and October 11. |
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| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2024 |
Blanc de Lynch Bages Bordeaux ex-Negociant |
$79 |
56 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$761.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 98 (1/2021): Beautiful aromas of lime curd, dried pear, grilled white peach and flint on the nose. So exotic on the nose. Some cream and honey, too. It’s medium-bodied with bright, tangy acidity. Creamy and focused with lingering dried-citrus and crushed-gravel notes. Long. Drink or hold.
WA 95 (3/2021): The 2018 Blanc is a blend of 57% Sauvignon Blanc, 39% Semillon and 4% Muscadelle. It was aged for around 14 months in 55% new and 45% second-fill French oak barrels. It races out of the gate with flamboyant scents of pineapple upside-down cake, lemon meringue pie and honey-drizzled peaches, plus suggestions of orange blossoms and yuzu peel. The medium to full-bodied palate has a decadent touch of oiliness to the texture with loads of spicy sparks to the tropical fruit layers, finishing long with a refreshing burst of zestiness. It's a richer expression, for sure, but it really works and it is seriously scrumptious.
JD 94 (3/2021): This estate has fashioned a pretty, elegant white in the vintage. Light gold-hued, with lots of pineapple, lemon curd, white flowers, and a touch of honeyed citrus and chalky minerality, the 2018 Château Pape Clement Blanc hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, solid depth of fruit, and a great finish. It doesn't match recent great vintages, but it's a balanced, layered, outstanding white to enjoy over the coming decade or so.
VM 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Pape Clement Blanc is quite pretty and understated. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, mint and chamomile all grace this wonderfully expressive dry white from proprietor Bernard Magrez. As with all of these wines, the Blanc is done in a less opulent style than in the past, an approach that works beautifully here. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2018 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$438.99 |
5 |
|
| |
JS 98 (1/2021): Beautiful aromas of lime curd, dried pear, grilled white peach and flint on the nose. So exotic on the nose. Some cream and honey, too. It’s medium-bodied with bright, tangy acidity. Creamy and focused with lingering dried-citrus and crushed-gravel notes. Long. Drink or hold.
WA 95 (3/2021): The 2018 Blanc is a blend of 57% Sauvignon Blanc, 39% Semillon and 4% Muscadelle. It was aged for around 14 months in 55% new and 45% second-fill French oak barrels. It races out of the gate with flamboyant scents of pineapple upside-down cake, lemon meringue pie and honey-drizzled peaches, plus suggestions of orange blossoms and yuzu peel. The medium to full-bodied palate has a decadent touch of oiliness to the texture with loads of spicy sparks to the tropical fruit layers, finishing long with a refreshing burst of zestiness. It's a richer expression, for sure, but it really works and it is seriously scrumptious.
JD 94 (3/2021): This estate has fashioned a pretty, elegant white in the vintage. Light gold-hued, with lots of pineapple, lemon curd, white flowers, and a touch of honeyed citrus and chalky minerality, the 2018 Château Pape Clement Blanc hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, solid depth of fruit, and a great finish. It doesn't match recent great vintages, but it's a balanced, layered, outstanding white to enjoy over the coming decade or so.
VM 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Pape Clement Blanc is quite pretty and understated. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, mint and chamomile all grace this wonderfully expressive dry white from proprietor Bernard Magrez. As with all of these wines, the Blanc is done in a less opulent style than in the past, an approach that works beautifully here. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Raymond-Lafon |
2009 |
Sauternes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$564.98 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Rieussec |
2010 |
Sauternes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$359.98 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96 (4/2014): The 2010 Rieussec was missing a little intellect when I tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle it has become a contender for the finest Sauternes of the vintage. It is blessed with a pure and lifted bouquet with ripe peach, nectarine and honey, hints of shaved ginger poke their head above the surface with aeration. It is very subtle. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, perfectly judged acidity and convincing harmony. This is a sophisticated Sauternes with superb mineralite and Outstanding persistency. I will confess that I pinned this as “Yquem” and was both shocked and pleased when its identity was revealed. Go buy. Drink 2016-2035.
JS 95-96 (4/2011): I love the botrytis spice character to this wine with dried apricots and tropical fruits. It’s full bodied, medium sweet with a long intense finish. It’s very layered. Sweet wine of the vintage.
VM 92-94 (8/2011): Bright straw-gold. Spectacular, intense, exotic botrytized nose is redolent of honeyed yellow peach, apricot and saffron. Then very sweet in the mouth, with concentrated flavors of dried peach, ginger and honey lifted by bright acidity. The finish is long and polished, featuring persistent peach, honey and white pepper nuances. Ian D'Agata. |
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| Ch. La Tour Blanche |
2013 |
Sauternes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$530.98 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Ch. d' Yquem |
2005 |
Sauternes (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,294.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 95 (5/2012): What an incredible nose of flowers, honey, spices such as clove, and sandalwood. With time, decadent aromas of apple tart and crumble develop. Full and very round on the palate, this is medium sweet with a velvety texture. Flavors of honey, apple and pear tart appear on the long finish. This is so beautiful, hard not to drink now but will greatly improve with more time. 140 grams of RS.
WA 95-98 (4/2008): No tasting note given. |
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|
2008 |
Sauternes (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,313.97 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96 (1/2012): Tasted single blind against its peers. The Yquem 2008 is easy to spot in a blind line-up: it is (to quote Tina Turner) simply the best. It has a subtle, delicate but very pretty bouquet with fine definition and astounding minerality. The palate is beautifully poised, tense and tightly coiled on the entry and then it just explodes in the mouth with pure, unbridled, joyous botrytized fruit struck through with a silver thread of acidity. It displays exemplary tension and freshness, along with great persistency in the mouth. This is an Outstanding Sauternes 2008 and another impressive Yquem. |
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|
2021 |
Ygrec "Y" du Yquem Bordeaux Superieur (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$994.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 97 (6/2023): Lime and spicy pear with crushed stone. Kumquats. Smoke and iron. Kiwi. Full and rounded with bitter pear and steel. Dried limes. Unique minerality. Bright acidity. Touch of sweetness at the end that makes it fascinating. 65% sauvignon blanc and 35% semillon. September release. Drink or hold. |
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|
2021 |
Ygrec "Y" du Yquem Bordeaux Superieur (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$459.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 97 (6/2023): Lime and spicy pear with crushed stone. Kumquats. Smoke and iron. Kiwi. Full and rounded with bitter pear and steel. Dried limes. Unique minerality. Bright acidity. Touch of sweetness at the end that makes it fascinating. 65% sauvignon blanc and 35% semillon. September release. Drink or hold. |
|
| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. de L' Arlot |
2017 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Forets St. Georges (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$851.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,333.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Maison Roche de Bellene |
2022 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,804.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Olivier Bernstein |
2015 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,058.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,778.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,000.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,757.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,628.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
|
2020 |
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,433.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,267.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,616.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,199.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Berthaut-Gerbet |
2019 |
Fixin Les Clos |
$55 |
13 |
|
| |
| VM 90-92 (12/2020): The 2019 Fixin Les Clos comes from tank and was filtered two days prior my visit. Darker fruit compared to the Fixin Village, this is still well defined with light violet aromas percolating up with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, slightly granular in texture with a closed finish that somehow still manages to convey a sense of energy. Good potential. Neal Martin. |
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| Dom. Francois Bertheau |
2017 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$828.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Sylvain Cathiard |
2014 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Murgers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,327.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Vosne Romanee (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,765.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Chandon de Briailles |
2010 |
Corton Bressandes Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,879.98 |
1 |
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| |
|
|
2010 |
Corton Bressandes Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$952.98 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Robert Chevillon |
2017 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Cailles |
$179 |
1 |
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| |
VM 93 (1/2022): The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Cailles 1er Cru has a focused bouquet of dark cherries with blueberry and briary touches and well-integrated oak. The medium-bodied palate delivers sappy blackberry and raspberry fruit, fine delineation and good grip. Quite spicy and peppery toward the finish. This is a vivacious Nuits Saint-Georges with plenty of matière . Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.
JD 93 (9/2021): Light to mid purple, there are some slightly herbaceous vegetal touches which should clear, and indeed they do to show ripe purple fruit with excellent clarity. There’s density and complexity, charcoal and chocolate, making an interesting complex wine. |
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|
2018 |
Nuits St. Georges Vieilles Vignes |
$114 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 88 (12/2020): Bottled last spring, the 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Village has an attractive nose of black fruit, touches of pain grillé and black pepper. The palate is medium-bodied with quite dense red fruit on the entry. Structured and serious for a Village Cru, and there is firm grip on the saline finish. This will require two or three years in bottle. (Drink between 2023-2030). Neal Martin. |
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|
2022 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Roncieres (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$741.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Bruno Clavelier |
2015 |
Corton Rognets Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,145.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean-Jacques Confuron |
2018 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaboeufs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$733.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Confuron-Cotetidot |
2018 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$733.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Coquard Loison-Fleurot |
2021 |
Vosne Romanee (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$545.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Joseph Drouhin |
2009 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Petits Monts (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,895.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,854.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Beaune 1er Cru Greves (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$792.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Beaune 1er Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,053.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Dujac |
2018 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,772.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,434.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Faiveley |
2011 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Les Ouvrees Rodin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,335.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,973.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$674.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Fourrier |
2018 |
Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,797.98 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 88-91 (1/2020): (from Les Champs Perriers in Brochon.) A top note of pomegranate can be found on the red currant, earth and attractively spicy aromas. There is better energy as well as better delineation to the relatively refined bitter cherry-inflected finish. Lovely. Drink 2025+. |
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|
2018 |
Griotte Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,699.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Geantet Pansiot |
2021 |
Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,088.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Vincent Girardin |
2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Beaux Monts (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,238.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Camille Giroud |
2013 |
Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$351.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Henri Gouges |
2021 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$696.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean Grivot |
2013 |
Richebourg Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,601.99 |
1 |
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| |
VM 95+ (4/2016): Bright dark red. Precise, high-pitched aromas of red cherry, raspberry, licorice and mint. Utterly spherical, fine-grained wine with outstanding intensity; conveys a powerful impression of force but without any hardness or brutality. The pungent red berry flavors are complicated by suggestions of leather and game and given further punch by strong underlying minerality. Finishes with big, broad, building tannins that will require patience. Boasts outstanding inner-mouth tension and energy, but the sensuality of Vosne-Romanée is also on display here. A great showing. Stephen Tanzer.
BH 95 (1/2016): This undoubtedly possesses the most floral nose of these 2013 grands crus with its notes of lilac, violet and rose petal along with a broad range of spice elements adding nuance to the dark berry fruit liqueur aromas. There is superb volume and intensity to the pungent mineral-driven and imposingly-scaled flavors that exude focused power on the extract-rich, explosively long and beautifully well-detailed finale. As good as the Echézeaux is, and it is indeed superb, the Riche is flat out great. As I have consistently underscored with the Grivot '13s though do not buy this wine in the hopes of instant, or even early, gratification as the Riche is going to require a very long snooze in a cool cellar. |
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| Dom. Robert Groffier |
2019 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,131.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Anne Gros |
2018 |
Richebourg Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,746.99 |
3 |
|
| |
| BH 91-93 (1/2020): The airy and overtly spicy nose reflects an abundance of floral influences on the red and dark currant aromas. The mid-palate of the big-bodied flavors is surprisingly supple, even succulent, though this impression contrasts with the firm, serious and robust finish where the tannins are again slightly raspy and mildly drying. As is the case with several wines in the range, my projected rating accords the benefit of the doubt this will eventually harmonize. Drink 2033+. |
|
| Dom. Alain Hudelot-Noellat |
2012 |
Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$13,847.98 |
1 |
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| |
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2012 |
Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,826.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
|
2015 |
Richebourg Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,984.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
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2017 |
Richebourg Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,668.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
|
2018 |
Richebourg Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,474.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Louis Jadot |
2018 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Domaine Louis Jadot (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,250.99 |
2 |
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| |
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2019 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses Domaine Louis Jadot (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,882.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Michel Lafarge |
2014 |
Volnay Vendanges Selectionees (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,221.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89-91 (1/2016): (these vines are now 53 years old): Healthy bright red. Very ripe red fruit aromas are complemented by smoky minerality. Ripe and creamy-sweet in the mid-palate, then clamps down on the back end, finishing taut and long, with excellent cut and stony grip. Should make an outstanding village wine. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Dom. Francois Lamarche |
2017 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,521.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
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2017 |
La Grande Rue Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,714.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JM 96 (9/2021): A fine clear even crimson colour. The fruit is very fine-bodied, quite ripe, interesting. Gorgeous succulent deep red fruit with a velvet texture, fine clean acidity just short of volatile, long and charming. Balanced throughout, fairly persistent. Grace and harmony, a splendid wine which will go the distance. Much more detail to come out even though open now. |
|
| Dom. des Lambrays |
2011 |
Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,086.99 |
1 |
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| |
BH 93 (1/2014): (produced from two large parcels of differing vine age - one that is approximately two-thirds of the blend and is now 50+ years of age and a second, smaller group of vines that is approximately 25+ years of age.) This offers a big step up in aromatic complexity with its ripe and expressive nose of red berry fruit liqueur, cassis, plum and violets. There is a very suave and seductive texture to the medium weight plus flavors that possess an abundance of mouth coating extract, all wrapped in a long, balanced and delicious finish where a touch of minerality adds lift. Drink 2023+.
VM 92 (3/2014): (100% vendange entier; 13.2% with a bit of chaptalization): Medium red. Highly complex nose combines wild dark berries, smoky herbs, brown spices, leather, rust and pepper. Suave, elegant and fine-grained; a lovely silky midweight with perfumed notes of iron, rust, olive, wild herbs, spices and pepper. Finishes with very good spicy length. This can be enjoyed now or cellared. Offers a Lambrays-typical blend of structure and finesse, not to mention terrific aromatic complexity. Incidentally, although Brouin described 2012 as one of his best vintages of the last 20 years, he maintained that the 2011 is more transparent to its site.
WA 89 (11/2014): Quite pale in color for a grand cru, the Clos des Lambrays 2011 has a very spicy bouquet with touches of wild mint and damp woodland scents coming through with aeration. The palate is light and slightly fleshy: fresh strawberry and red cherry leading to a light, peppery finish. It does lacks some substance at the beginning, although aeration sees it gaining more intensity while retaining its delineation and focus. |
|
| Lucien Le Moine |
2013 |
Clos St. Denis Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,994.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93-95 (1/2015): Bright red. Lovely lift to the aromas of redcurrant, iron and dried rose. Sappy and exuberant on the palate, showing complex soil-driven flavors of red fruits, iron, Asian spices and minerals. Chewy, saline, electric wine with a mounting peacock's tail of a finish featuring piquant minerality and lingering perfume. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2019 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,721.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Leroy |
2000 |
Vosne Romanee Les Genaivrieres (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$24,528.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Maison Leroy |
2003 |
Volnay (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,865.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Gevrey Chambertin (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,709.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Leroy |
2011 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$45,282.99 |
1 |
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2011 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$15,245.99 |
1 |
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| |
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|
2013 |
Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$22,500.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Maison Leroy |
2015 |
Gevrey Chambertin (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,661.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Georges Lignier |
2020 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,765.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Frederic Magnien |
2014 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos Baulet (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,113.99 |
1 |
|
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2016 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,363.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Frederic Magnien |
2016 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Ruchots (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,164.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Frederic Magnien |
2019 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,191.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Marchand & Tawse (Pascal Marchand) |
2017 |
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,199.98 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Meo-Camuzet |
2023 |
Richebourg Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,125.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Jean-Marc Millot |
2020 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,637.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Mongeard Mugneret |
2018 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,009.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Georges Noellat |
2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,860.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Perrot-Minot |
2013 |
Charmes Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,568.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Charmes Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,910.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Ponsot |
2018 |
Bourgogne Pinot Noir Cuvee du Pinson (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$354.99 |
1 |
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| |
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|
2023 |
Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,035.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. de la Pousse d'Or |
2020 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,688.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$901.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Jacques Prieur |
2018 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,255.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. E. Rouget |
2011 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Cros Parantoux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$35,978.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$20,346.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Georges Roumier |
2010 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$20,476.99 |
1 |
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| |
BH 96 (1/2013): (from a 1.5 ha parcel that is roughly divided in .90 ha of terres rouges and .60 ha of terres blanches, the latter of which has the slightly older vines). An overtly cool and restrained yet, somewhat curiously, an even spicier nose reveals notes of violet, black berry and cassis along with earth and stone hints. The dense, powerful, concentrated and muscular flavors possess an almost pungent minerality that adds lift to the extremely firm but not hard finish that possesses explosive length. This is breathtakingly good and somewhat like the Bussières, it's even finer than usual. A great Roumier Bonnes Mares. Drink 2028+.
VM 95+ (4/2013): Good full, deep, bright red. Black and blue fruits complicated by menthol and brown spices on the nose. Chewy and powerfully structured but more monolithic in the early going than the Amoureuses, showing little in the way of easy sweetness. This tactile but compact wine seems to be in the process of shutting down in bottle. But it boasts the balance, sheer intensity and tannic spine for a long and glorious evolution in bottle.
WA 95-97 (2/2012): The 2010 Bonnes-Mares is explosive and totally exciting. A big, broad- shouldered frame supports a core of black fruit, mint, flowers and licorice in this powerful, massively structured wine. Here, too, it is the wine’s energy and focus that truly stand out most. The finish turns weightless and totally sublime. As usual, I tasted the Bonnes-Mares from its two main components, and then in the blend, and it was the blend that was most convincing of the three wines. The 2010 Bonnes-Mares is a wine built for a long rest in the cellar before it begins to approach the early part of what promises to be a long drinking window. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2050. |
|
|
2021 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$9,255.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Armand Rousseau |
2017 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,306.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,937.99 |
1 |
|
| |
BH 97 (1/2020): (2.55 ha; 100% new wood.) Discreet wood is present on the ultra-fresh and incredibly spicy though even more restrained nose that reflects notes of red berries, the sauvage, earth, floral and exotic tea wisps. The gorgeous mouthfeel of the imposingly constituted and admirably concentrated flavors is one of contrasts as the mid-palate is quite supple yet the powerful, driving, austere and muscular finish is robust, serious and austere. This almost painfully intense wine is jaw droppingly good and somewhat curiously relative to how the Chambertin and the Clos de Bèze typically show at this stage, the Chambertin is the flashier of the two. We'll see in time though as it's usually the Chambertin that goes into a shell only to emerge 20+ years later. Be that as it may, today this is a genuine 'wow' wine. Drink 2037+.
WA 96-98 (1/2019): The king of the cellar is the 2017 Chambertin Grand Cru, a beautiful wine that offers up aromas of sweet cherries, wild berries, raw cocoa, warm spices and candied peel, complemented by ineffable savory nuances and a classy top note of peony. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and vibrant with juicy acids and a deep core of vibrant fruit that largely cloaks its fine structuring tannins. The Clos de Bèze may be richer and heartier, but the Chambertin is finer, longer and more complete.
VM 96-98 (1/2019): The 2017 Chambertin Grand Cru has an extraordinarily detailed and intense bouquet with a cornucopia of vibrant red cherries, crushed strawberry, cranberry and stony aromas, the latter becoming more and more intense with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive body and depth. It is beautifully balanced with svelte tannin, velvety smooth with ample red fruit and spicy finish that lingers for 60 seconds in the mouth. Noble and aristocratic - just as Chambertin ought to be. Neal Martin. |
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|
2022 |
Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,532.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Gabriel Tortochot |
2022 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Champeaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$691.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean & Jean Louis Trapet |
2011 |
Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,437.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$284.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| | Burgundy White |
| Dom. Henri Boillot |
2022 |
Puligny Montrachet (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$728.99 |
1 |
|
| |
BH 90 (6/2024): (from 1 ha of evenly mixed vines in Houlières, Charmes, La Rue aux Vaches, Rue Rousseau and Enseignères.) This is aromatically elegant and expressive with its cool and airy array of pretty floral, lemon lime and spice aromas. Once again there is a gorgeous mid-palate texture to the medium weight flavors that are concentrated but attractively vibrant, all wrapped in a complex, dry and sneaky long finish. This is an excellent Puligny villages and worth checking out. Drink 2029+. Outstanding!
VM 88-90 (1/2024): The 2022 Puligny-Montrachet is a blend of five domaine parcels spread across the village. A wine of reserve, the Puligny-Montrachet offers a compelling mix of textural richness and vibrancy. Lemon confit, white flowers and light tropical accents open nicely. I would give this at least a year in bottle, maybe more. Neal Martin. |
|
| Pierre Boisson |
2021 |
Bourgogne Blanc Les Belles Cotes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$743.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Vincent Dancer |
2023 |
Bourgogne Blanc (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,634.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin |
2023 |
Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$493.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$343.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Joseph Drouhin |
2017 |
Le Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,356.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Batard Montrachet Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,383.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Guffens Heynen |
2023 |
Macon Pierreclos Tri de Chavigne (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,734.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Antonin Guyon |
2023 |
Pernand Vergelesses Blanc 1er Cru Sous Fretille (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$458.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Heitz-Lochardet |
2019 |
Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrieres (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,154.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Louis Jadot |
2019 |
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine des Heritiers Louis Jadot (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,405.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrieres Domaine Louis Jadot (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,322.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
|
2020 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$867.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Sylvain Langoureau |
2022 |
St. Aubin 1er Cru en Remilly |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 92 (1/2024): The 2022 Saint-Aubin En Remilly 1er Cru has a very well-defined and focused bouquet of lemon mixed with grass clippings and Granny Smiths. The palate is taut and fresh, vibrant with flecks of orange rind and lime, deepening nicely toward the finish with a persistent aftertaste that is befitting of an En Remilly. Excellent. Tasted at merchants' 2022 Burgundy tastings in London. (Drink between 2026-2038). Neal Martin.
BH 90 (6/2024): A vaguely exotic nose freely offers up its ripe aromas of lemon-lime, white peach and passion fruit. I very much like the texture of the medium-bodied flavors that possess both fine volume and cut, all wrapped in a delicious, refreshing and lingering finish where the citrus character of the nose resurfaces. Lovely. (Drink starting 2028). |
|
| Dom. Jacques Prieur |
2018 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,827.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean-Claude Ramonet |
2016 |
Batard Montrachet Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,604.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 94 (6/2019): In the same fashion as the BBM, this initially plays on the edge of reduction but with air hints of exotic fruit, wood, petrol and a whiff of acacia blossom slowly emerge. Once again, like the BBM the flavors are not particularly dense but they do offer an absolutely beguiling texture that is at once sleek but refined, all wrapped in a clean, dry and sneaky long finish that really fans out like a peacock's tail as it sits on the palate. While there is a touch of warmth here as well, the overall impression is more harmonious. Drink 2028+_. |
|
|
2017 |
Chassagne Montrachet (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,347.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,568.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Roulot |
2022 |
Bourgogne Aligote (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$640.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Etienne Sauzet |
2022 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,201.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Champ Canet (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,216.98 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 92-95 (6/2024): A slightly riper nose is composed of apple, pear compote, white peach, just sliced lemon and a plethora of floral elements. There is fine volume and borderline painful intensity to the beautifully textured and caressing yet seriously energetic larger-bodied flavors that flash impressive power on the bone-dry and strikingly long finish. This very tightly wound effort is excellent and highly recommended. Drink 2034+. |
|
| | Champagne |
| Bollinger |
2007 |
V.V. Brut Francaises Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,445.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Grande Annee Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,145.99 |
16 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (7/2019): Bollinger's 2008 Grande Annee is rich, ample and full-bodied, with all of the pedigree of the vintage on display. Dried pear, dried flowers, chamomile, red plum and mint develop as the 2008 shows the breadth and creaminess that are such signatures of the Bollinger house style. A whole range of brighter, more floral and chalky notes appear later, adding translucence and energy. The 2008 is 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay taken across 18 crus, and it is the Pinot that very much informs the wine in both flavor and texture. More importantly, the 2008 is one of the best Grande Annees I can remember tasting. Bollinger fans won't want to miss it. Disgorged November 2018. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ulysse Collin |
BV17 |
Blanc de Noirs Les Maillons Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,134.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Delamotte Pere et Fils |
2008 |
Blanc de Blancs Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$876.99 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2019): The finest young wine I've encountered from Delamotte, the 2008 Blanc de Blancs unfurls in the glass with an expressive bouquet of freshly baked bread, lemon oil, green apple, oyster shell and mandarin. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, textural but incisive, with superb concentration and depth at the core and a long, penetrating finish. Less autolytic in style than the 2004, some 60,000 bottles were produced, around a third less than in an average vintage. This bottle was disgorged a year ago with seven grams per liter dosage. |
|
| Egly Ouriet |
2013 |
Brut Millesime Grand Cru Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,039.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
NV |
Brut Tradition Grand Cru Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$606.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Gosset |
2015 |
Grand Millesime Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$458.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Larmandier-Bernier |
2011 |
Vieille Vignes du Levant Grand Cru Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$952.97 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Philipponnat |
2004 |
Clos des Goisses Brut Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,282.97 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (3/2015): The 2004 Clos des Goisses is dense and powerful in the glass, with all of the pure, unbridled energy that has always been such a signature here. Hints of lemon peel, mint, spice and crushed rocks emerge with time in the glass, but, despite its considerable beauty and unquestioned pedigree, the 2004 is frankly years away from delivering the full Clos des Goisses experience. Disgorged February 2013.
WA 96 (11/2013): From their iconic steep, south-facing, riverside vineyard in Mareuil-sur-Ay - acquired in 1935 - Philipponnat's strikingly beautiful 2004 Brut Clos des Goisses betrays no suggestion of alcoholic weight or opacity such as one might associate with an especially warm, fast-ripening vineyard. On the contrary, this is a bottling that combines silken feel with delicacy, refreshment, and utmost transparency to nuance. Chamomile, mint and lily-of-the-valley don't just turn heads from the rim of the glass; they waft through this wine's entire palate performance, against a greenhouse-like background of diverse if elusive flowering and leafing things. Salivary gland-tugging salinity and hints of chalk suffuse a fruit matrix of white peach, lime, red raspberry and red currant whose juicy, subtly crunchy expressions put me a bit in mind of certain supreme Nahe Rieslings. This site's reflection in the Marne River is itself iconic, but its reflection in your glass will prove kaleidoscopically spellbinding. That effect persisted during the four days I had the pleasure of following this 2004, and I suspect that subsequent bottles will prove worth following for at least a decade.
VM 95 (12/2013): (65% pinot nor and 35% chardonnay; disgorged May, 2013): Vivid yellow. Heady, mineral-driven scents of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, white flowers, anise and iodine, with toasty lees and herbal notes coming up with air. Densely packed Meyer lemon and bitter pear skin flavors become sweeter with air and show excellent focus. The smoke and floral qualities come back on the mineral-dominated finish, which lingers with Outstanding tenacity. I'll bet that this superbly balanced Champagne will reward many years of cellaring. |
|
| Louis Roederer |
2008 |
Cristal Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,137.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2018): The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.
JS 100 (1/2018): Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.
VM 99 (12/2019): The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up. One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers and orchard fruit all build into the explosive, resonant finish. “We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.” Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (3/2020): Disgorged in September 2017 with 7.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Cristal was produced from 37 of the 45 parcels that are candidates for inclusion in this cuvee—some 40% of which were farmed organically back in 2008—and it's a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The finest young Cristal in decades, the wine wafts from the glass with a pure and vibrant bouquet of crisp orchard fruit, clear honey, warm brioche, citrus zest and white flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, intense and incisive, with superb concentration, racy acids and a long, searingly chalky finish. Pristinely balanced, there are some 500,000 bottles of this legend-in-the-making. |
|
| Roses de Jeanne (Cedric Bouchard) |
2016 |
Boloree Blanc de Blancs Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,178.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (3/2021): The 2016 Blanc de Blancs La Bolorée has turned out especially well, unwinding in the glass with notes of crisp white peach and pear mingled with white flowers, mirabelle plums, blanched almonds and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, it's deep and concentrated, with prodigious reserves of chalky dry extract, racy acids and a long, precise finish. This is a serious La Bolorée, built for the long haul—even if, like all of Bouchard's wines, it delivers plenty of pleasure straight out of the gates.
JD 98 (12/2025): The 2016 Champagne Blanc De Blancs La Bolorée is made from Pinot Blanc and has a light green tinge that could possibly come from the year. From vines grown in clay, limestone, sand, and chalk, planted in 1960, the wine has structure and focus. It’s still young, but it's demonstrating clarity with its notes of key lime. There’s no almond at this stage. I would never guess this is Pinot Blanc by blind tasting, except that it’s meant for those who appreciate earthy qualities. It's all mineral and soil initially, but as it opens up, it changes dramatically, revealing fresh pineapple notes, while the mousse is secondary but still very present. Drink this now or hold it for decades. Audrey Frick.
VM 97 (11/2020): The 2016 Blanc de Blancs La Bolorée is a Champagne of soaring intensity. Old Pinot Blanc vines on limestone yield a Champagne infused with striking mineral-laced energy. Green apple, pear, white flowers, crushed rocks and white pepper all race out of the glass. La Bolorée needs a few years in bottle to be at its best, although exercising that sort of patience in front of one of the world's most iconic wines is nearly impossible. Let me just say, when I want to serve my most cherished bottles for a special occasion, La Bolorée is often at the top of the list. Zero dosage. Disgorged: April, 2020. (Drink between 2023-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Champagne Savart |
2016 |
Le Mont des Chretiens 1er Cru Champagne (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,388.99 |
3 |
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| |
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NV |
l/’Ouverture 1er Cru Brut Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$467.99 |
3 |
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| |
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| Taittinger |
2011 |
Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$445.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2021): After the tightly coiled, hyper-concentrated 2008, Taittinger's 2011 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne represents a more immediate, charming rendition of this cuvee. Bursting from the glass with aromas of orchard and stone fruit mingled with notions of pastry cream, blanched almonds and mandarin, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and fleshy, with a soft and enveloping profile, lively acids and a pretty pinpoint mousse. Readers might think of the 2011 as a somewhat less reductive and less intense stylistic sibling of the 2006, and as it takes on more toasty complexity with bottle age, it will make for immensely seductive drinking. |
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| | Chile |
| Vinedo Chadwick |
2020 |
Red Wine (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$870.99 |
1 |
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| | Italy |
| Elio Altare |
2008 |
Barolo Vigneto Arborina (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$770.98 |
2 |
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| |
| VM 95 (4/2012): The 2008 Barolo Arborina is gorgeous for the way it combines layers of flesh dark fruit in a medium-bodied style of the year. Dark red cherries, flowers, spices and minerals are some of the notes that emerge from this beautiful, polished Barolo. The 2008 is all class and elegance. Layers of fruit meld together on the polished finish. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Altesino |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$64 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95 (1/2020): The Altesino 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows beautiful depth and latitude, with broad fruit aromas of dark cherry and cassis that recall the warmth and golden sunlight of the vintage. The wine is deceivingly streamlined in terms of mouthfeel, but that slim and buttoned-down backbone supports a broad range of flavors and sensations, from lavender essence and camphor ash to moist soil and toasted spice. All of these elements are delivered with impressive harmony and unity, and I expect that this wine will continue on a slow, steady and satisfying aging trajectory over the next 10 years or more. Fruit is sourced from across 21 hectares of vines with tufaceous limestone soils and Alberese rock, which contributes to the freshness and balanced structure of the wine. The wine was bottled in June 2019 (with 150,000 bottles made), and this wine was released in January 2020.
JS 95 (9/2019): Terracotta, earth, iron filings, cedar and leather make for an undergrowth-driven Brunello 2015, which doesn’t fall short in the fruit department either, where there are red plums and red cherries. The tannins are neatly stacked, one on top of the other, with tidy acidity drawing in vibrant fruit and keeping it taut throughout. Balanced and stylish. Drink from 2023.
VM 93 (4/2020): Altesino's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers a rich yet classic expression of Sangiovese fruit, showing ripe red berries coated in dusty earth tones, with hints of leather and dried florals completing the picture. On the palate, brisk acids frame silky textures, creating a polished expression of red and black fruits, savory spice and saline-minerals. The finish is long yet fresh, as cooling mint and licorice tones carry remnants of red berry fruit hovering above a core of fine tannins. Eric Guido. |
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| Piero Antinori |
2008 |
Solaia (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,996.99 |
1 |
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JS 96 (9/2011): Wonderful pure Cabernet character, with currants, spices, flowers and violets. Velvety and fresh. Long and intense. Less austere than the 2007 with very sweet and ripe tannins. Such beauty. This is really powerful. Give it three to four years before trying a bottle.
WA 93 (8/2011): The 2008 Solaia is richer and darker than the Tignanello, but it isn’t an appreciably more complex or complete wine. It shows gorgeous depth and textural richness to match an expressive core of blackberry jam, smoke, scorched earth, crushed rocks and cassis. This is a beautiful wine, but not as great as I had hoped. The 2008 Solaia is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
VM 92 (12/2013): I have never loved the 2008 Solaia, and that impression is reinforced on this night. If anything, the 2008 suffers in this setting, where the differences between vintages is stark. A mid-weight Solaia, the 2008 looks like it will drink best over the near and medium-term. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2008 |
Solaia (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,008.99 |
1 |
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JS 96 (9/2011): Wonderful pure Cabernet character, with currants, spices, flowers and violets. Velvety and fresh. Long and intense. Less austere than the 2007 with very sweet and ripe tannins. Such beauty. This is really powerful. Give it three to four years before trying a bottle.
WA 93 (8/2011): The 2008 Solaia is richer and darker than the Tignanello, but it isn’t an appreciably more complex or complete wine. It shows gorgeous depth and textural richness to match an expressive core of blackberry jam, smoke, scorched earth, crushed rocks and cassis. This is a beautiful wine, but not as great as I had hoped. The 2008 Solaia is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
VM 92 (12/2013): I have never loved the 2008 Solaia, and that impression is reinforced on this night. If anything, the 2008 suffers in this setting, where the differences between vintages is stark. A mid-weight Solaia, the 2008 looks like it will drink best over the near and medium-term. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
Tignanello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,113.99 |
11 |
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| Argiano |
2017 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$382.99 |
1 |
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|
2017 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$165.99 |
5 |
|
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| Castello Banfi |
2010 |
Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$451.98 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 97 (1/2015): A wine that sneaks up on you. It starts up slowly with dried-berry, chocolate and dried-lemon character. Full body, chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A wine that shows such layered, in-depth character. Tight and exciting. Give it three to four years more before drinking.
WA 95 (2/2015): The special vineyard selection 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Alle Mura opens to brooding dark concentration and an impressive sense of depth. The aromas that characterize the wine are in a school of their own. Instead of the standard red cherry and rose, this expression of Sangiovese gives you rich layers of blackberry pie, Indian spice, cured meat, wet terra-cotta, tar and black licorice. Some 90% of the wine is aged in French barrique and the remaining portion sees large oak casks made with Slavonian oak. Dive further and you begin to sense chocolate and toasted espresso. The tannin management is excellent and there's a distant point of textural firmness that will soften with a few more years of cellar aging. Brunello Poggio alle Mura is one of the biggest wines of the vintage, and you can't knock the quality. |
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| Produttori del Barbaresco |
2016 |
Barbaresco (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$691.98 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (11/2019): The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can't remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine! Antonio Galloni. |
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| Bibbiano |
2016 |
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Montornello Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$49 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Biondi Santi |
2004 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,992.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (10/2016): The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Annata is bright, finely sculpted and capable of drinking well for another 20+ years. Sweet red cherry, chalk, mint, rose petal and cedar add shades of nuance on the finish. The 2004 is a gorgeous, vivid wine that still needs time. Antonio Galloni. |
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| G.B. Burlotto |
2017 |
Barolo Acclivi (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$506.99 |
1 |
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| |
| JD 95 (5/2021): The Barolo Acclivi is only produced in the best vintages from a selection of the oldest vineyards located in Verduno of Monvigliero, Neirane, Rocche dell’Olmo, and Boscatto. The 2017 offers pure aromas of ripe cherry, dried earth, and rose petals. Within its refinement there is noble structure, with pomegranate pith, tea leaf, and dried herbs. Drink 2024-2040. Audrey Frick. |
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| Caparzo |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino 50th Anniversary |
$54 |
1 |
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WA 93 (1/2020): Caparzo is one of two properties in Montalcino owned by the beautiful and charming Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini. The other property is Altesino. This wine, the Caparzo 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is a very classic interpretation that delivers the goods without any distracting bells or whistles. The wine opens to red and purple fruit aromas with background tones of dried herb, potting soil, cedar wood and light spice. Fruit comes from a site with heavier clay soils, and you get hints of that extra density and richness here. This vintage offers all you need in a model Brunello from a very beautiful and generous vintage. I always admire the wines of Caparzo for their accessible and immediate drinking style. Some 160,000 bottles were corked in August 2019, and the wine hit the market in January 2020.
VM 92+ (4/2020): Medium bright red. Red cherry, raspberry, tobacco and pepper on the nose. Supple, juicy and broad, with cool, perfumed flavors of red berries, cherry, licorice and herbs. In a lighter style for a Brunello, but shows good cut without coming off as hard and offers lovely acid-fruit balance. (Drink between 2023-2030). Ian D'Agata. |
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| Domenico Clerico |
2016 |
Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$623.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Elvio Cogno |
2017 |
Barolo Ravera (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$893.99 |
1 |
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| |
JD 97 (5/2021): The 2017 Barolo Ravera makes a statement with its intense aromas of licorice, kirsch, pipe tobacco, and spice. Revealing a balanced and chiseled structure, the palate conveys dried raspberry, blood orange, and dried herbs. A great wine from the 2017 vintage, it feels like it will hold up to the test of time. Drink 2024-2042.
WA 94 (6/2021): The Ravera cru is seeing renewed energy and interest, thanks to the hard work of the Elvio Cogno team. They believed in Novello from the very beginning, and today a wine like the 2017 Barolo Ravera shows special confidence and pride. This pretty Barolo made with a blend of Nebbiolo clones (Lampia and Michet) reveals a slow succession of aromas with dark cherry and blackberry. The results are lasting, contoured and beautifully focused, thanks to mineral notes of rusty iron or brick. Nuanced notes of licorice and campfire ash round off the finish. Production is 13,000 bottles.
JS 94 (3/2021): Cherry and candied strawberry with flowers and some dried earth. Full-bodied, layered and chewy. Lots of wet earth and mushroom to the red fruit. Tight now. Try after 2023. |
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|
2018 |
Barbera d’Alba Pre Phylloxera (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$451.99 |
9 |
|
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| Castello di Fonterutoli |
2021 |
Siepi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$528.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Fontodi |
2015 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 99 (8/2019): The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is even more stratospheric than it was last year. Rich and ample on the palate, Flaccianello captures all of the best qualities of this radiant vintage. The blend of sites, all in higher altitude spots near the center of town, yields a gorgeous, riveting wine of the very highest level. Dense and brooding, with magnificent energy as well as nuance, the 2015 Flaccianello is positively stunning. Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (7/2019): This retrospective gave me the opportunity to taste the excellent 2015 vintage side by side with the highly anticipated 2016 vintage. These two years are famously in a tight race across Tuscany for supremacy. I'm ready to tip my hat at 2016. In comparison, the 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is slightly broader in the shoulders and heavier in the gait. There is more meat on these bones, and the 2015 vintage presented vintners with near-perfect growing conditions in which one textbook part of the vegetative cycle transitioned directly to the next. The wine is dark, exuberant and profound, and the quality of the tannins is superb, fine and firm. One difference with the 2016 vintage is that the 2015 is a tad more accessible and ready. You can wait and cellar it for thirty years, or pop the cork sooner if you don't have the patience to wait. |
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|
2016 |
Chianti Classico |
$55 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (8/2019): The 2016 Chianti Classico Fontodi brings together all the elements that make the Fontodi wines so unique, but with an extra kick of freshness and aromatic intensity that is the result of a year with notable diurnal shifts during the growing season. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and menthol develop in the glass, but it is the wine's extraordinary balance and sheer appeal that stand out most. In time, 2016 may very well become the new benchmark for Fontodi's Chianti Classico. The 2016 is flat-out delicious. That's pretty much all there is to it. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve |
$149 |
6 |
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WA 98 (7/2024): The Fontodi 2021 Flaccianello della Pieve opens to a medium-dark inky appearance and solid aromas of black fruit and pressed blackberry. The Flaccianello is a touch more accessible at this early stage compared to the Vigna del Sorbo, but both wines are undoubtedly built to withstand ample cellar aging. Flaccianello is the more powerful or the two, and the Vigna del Sorbo is more delicate in comparison. These dueling character traits are especially evident in this classic 2021 vintage. This wine also boasts a more generous mouthfeel supported by softly integrated tannins.
VM 98 (7/2024): The 2021 Flaccianello della Pieve is another exceptional wine from Fontodi this year. Ripe, silky tannins wrap around a core of dark fruit as the 2021 makes its presence felt from the first taste. Sumptuous, racy and dense, this is just magnificent. As has been the case for some time, Flaccianello is a blend of mostly three parcels throughout the estate but closer to town. (Drink between 2028-2046). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Fuligni |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$115 |
4 |
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| VM 96 (4/2020): Fuligni's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and alluring, pulling me closer to the glass with each swirl, as a mix of ripe black cherry, rosemary, smoke, and moist earth lift from the glass, with sweet florals and a bit of animal musk developing over time. On the palate, it glides across the senses like silk, with ripe dark red fruits paving the way for sweet spice, as saline-minerals slowly saturate in a display that was perfectly balanced and not missing a single step. The finish is long, showing the first notes of tannic heft, with dried red fruits and minerals. The 2015 Fuligni Brunello balances its beautifully ripe fruit with classic tannins and a truly gorgeous perfumed character. It’s sure to have a lot of fans, and as it youthfully closes up in the glass. I can imagine a long life ahead for it. Eric Guido. |
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|
2016 |
Rosso di Montalcino Ginestreto |
$39 |
1 |
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VM 92 (10/2019): The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino Ginestreto shows all the natural translucence that makes Sangiovese so alluring. Sweet tobacco, mint, red cherry, orange peel and spice are finely delineated in a vibrant, mid-weight wine that pulses with energy. There is so much to like. This is pure and total class. Antonio Galloni.
JS 91 (7/2018): This shows a distinctive and lifted candied tangerine edge, as well as blueberry peel and sour cherries. The palate’s very tight with edgy acidity, showing firm tannins and a bright finish. Not the richest of wines, but very endearing. Drink now.
WA 90+ (7/2019): The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino Ginestreto is a delightful wine with a bright ruby appearance followed by fresh fruit flavors. The wine offers wild berry, violets, lilacs and fragrant aromas of moist potting soil. A lasting sense of intensity and freshness drives this wine clean over the palate. It would pair nicely with any cheese-heavy dish such as pasta or lasagna. |
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|
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$109 |
5 |
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| |
VM 98 (11/2020): Dark, inward and intense, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a towering effort that will thrill collectors for many years to come. It arrives in waves, first black fruits evolving to red, then sage and earthy minerals, followed by brown spice and, finally, hints of tobacco. Youthfully dense, velvety and in no hurry to unfurl the complex web of fruit, minerals and tannins found within, this instead leaves you guessing at what’s to come. That said, there’s perfect symmetry here, along with the combination of structure and primary intensity to guarantee many years of positive maturation. Hints of licorice, currant and baker’s chocolate linger long. This is simply gorgeous. Eric Guido.
JS 97 (10/2020): Aromas of cedar, sandalwood and black cherries with some plums. Full-bodied and very chewy with lots of tannins and a fluid fruit base behind it all, providing such beauty and precision. Real purity and focus. Give this two or three years to come together. Try after 2022, but this has a long life ahead.
WA 95 (11/2020): The Fuligni 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows balance and symmetry with plenty of primary intensity to ensure a long cellar life. The bouquet opens to dark plum, dried raspberry, spice, aniseed and grilled herb. I get a lot of Mediterranean lavender and rosemary essence. This is a mid-weight Brunello with aromas that prove elegant and buoyant. If you have visited the Fuligni estate, you may agree that it occupies one of the best positions in the appellation with open views onto the enormous expanse of the Val d'Orcia that plays out until the horizon ends. This is one of Montalcino's historic cellars with many stories to tell. Luckily for us, much of that narrative unfolds in the beauty and the elegance of a wine like this. |
|
| Angelo Gaja |
2015 |
Langhe Conteisa (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,288.99 |
8 |
|
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|
|
2019 |
Barolo Sperss (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,443.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (5/2023): The 2019 Barolo Sperss is rich with dark mineral earth, black cherry, and Earl Grey tea. Long and mouthwatering, it has a powerful structure while retaining finesse. It is fantastically balanced, with gripping tannins, fresh acidity, and notes of forested earth and ripe red berries. A wine for the long haul, this is another great and noble wine to drink over the coming three decades. Audrey Frick.
VM 98 (10/2023): A wine of stature and breeding, the 2019 Barolo Sperss is pure Serralunga power. Dark toned fruit, lavender, licorice, gravel and crushed rocks soar from the glass. There is plenty of the brooding intensity and tannic heft that are such signatures, but the 2019 is also wonderfully refined. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2020 |
Barolo Sperss (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,315.99 |
1 |
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|
| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2004 |
Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,229.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,294.98 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2017): Here we have the venerated red label. The Bruno Giacosa 2011 Barolo Riserva Falletto Vigne Le Rocche commands attention and respect. The wine successfully, and somewhat magically, turns the tables on the overdone exuberance of the warm vintage and the natural heft that is inherent to Serralunga d'Alba. It does a great job of reining in all that power and transforming it into streamlined elegance instead. The wine opens to a dark and penetrating color and an immediately expressive bouquet. Thick layers of dark fruit, iron-rich earth, balsam herb, Darjeeling tea, dried ginger and cherry cola rise from the bouquet. The wine's Falletto signature is very strong. This is a Grande Vino with the proverbial capital G and capital V. |
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| Giodo |
2011 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$657.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Bibi Graetz |
2018 |
Testamatta Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$382.99 |
29 |
|
| |
JA 100 (8/2020): Finely textured, with a nuanced perfume that fills the glass and takes you to the intense underbrush of Tuscany. Succulent and yet savoury, this has a lilting freshness that is overlaid with ripe berry fruits, sage and white pepper spice, and clear minerality in terms of its scraping texture that makes your mouth water on the finish. Feels light and sculpted and yet has an intensity that skewers you to the spot. This is a great wine, with scope and imagination that doesn't want to let you go. Genuinely stands out among the wines of this tasting, and these are a fine array of wines. As with Colore, Bibi Graetz selects only old vines, the youngest 50 years old from five different vineyard sites across Tuscany, all farmed organically. Fermentations in open 225l barrels with natural yeasts and manual punch downs.
WA 94 (8/2020): The 2018 Testamatta shows elegant Sangiovese purity and transparency, starting with delicate wild berry and blueberry tones and finishing long with pretty accents of crushed limestone and a touch of campfire ash. In the glass, the wine is radiant and vivid with a luminous ruby or garnet color. Oak use is reduced to a bare minimum, with barrels that are up to their 16th year of use. "The older they are, the better," Bibi explains. As the wine opens in the glass, it presents pretty lilac and violet. This wine represents a blend of fruit from various sites (all with old vines that are farmed organically) across the region of Tuscany. The northern-most sites close to Florence tend to add the floral notes that are so characteristic of this cool vintage (which saw a bit more rain than average and extra work in the vineyards to kept these vines healthy). I visited the vineyards with Bibi in 2018 and remember how beautiful the grapes appeared on the vines. Much of the fruit used here comes from the Vigna del Cancello in Casciano del Murlo, which is midway between Siena and Montalcino. These southern sites give the wine its backbone and tannins. Bibi Graetz tells me that he struggled to create the blend for this 60,000-bottle release. He decided on a final blend, only to change his mind and re-blend two and a half months later. His second stab was specifically aimed at capturing finesse and softening the wine's tannic imprint. Indeed, the wine ultimately offers more in length (with fresh fruit flavors and bright acidity) than it does in power or mid-palate. The finish is silky, long and very fine. |
|
| Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) |
2017 |
Matarocchio Bolgheri (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,582.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Bartolo Mascarello |
2011 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,084.97 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 94 (6/2023): The 2011 Barolo from Bartolo Mascarello is such a surprise. Bright, translucent red, the 2011 immediately impresses with its captivating freshness and precision. There’s so much vibrancy. Given the warm, dry year, I was expecting to see a Barolo with some early signs of maturity, but the 2011 is incredibly young, not to mention an absolute delight. Time in the glass does start to reveal a bit less polish in the tannins relative to the very finest vintages, but that is expected in a very challenging vintage. This is a terrific showing. (Drink between 2022-2033). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2015): The 2011 Barolo is a very expressive wine with more determination and muscle than you usually get in the wines of Bartolo Mascarello. The bouquet opens to plush flavors of red fruit and cherry with grilled herb, tobacco and mineral delineation. Its structure is yielding and round and the finish is ripe with soft fruit flavors. Make no mistake, it doles out complexity and an ethereal sense of balsam herb, cola and licorice that is the hallmark of this historic estate with a tiny garage winery in the town of Barolo. The alcohol reading here is 14.5% compared to 14% in the 2010 vintage. |
|
| Mauro Molino |
2016 |
Barolo |
$49 |
9 |
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| |
JD 98 (5/2023): The 2016 Barolo has a medium ruby hue and offers more rich concentration in its notes of ripe red cherry, spiced plum, balsamic, and licorice. Ripe with sweet velveteen tannins and raspberry liqueur, it has layers of apricot and fresh earth that unfold with more depth and persistence. This beautiful wine has a lot of charm now and will be wonderful over the coming decades. Audrey Frick.
WA 93+ (7/2020): Here's a classic interpretation of this vintage and a wine that will bring a big return on such a relatively small investment with proper cellaring. The 2016 Barolo is a tonic and compact expression of Nebbiolo that will flesh out and take on more volume with time. This estate is based in the comune or village of La Morra, known for graceful, floral and softly textured Baroli. However, this wine is a blend of fruit from Annunziata and Berri in La Morra and Perno in Monforte d'Alba. This vintage offers the power and grit that will carry it forward, and with 45,000 bottles made, you should be able to get your hands on a case of it easily.
VM 91 (2/2020): The 2016 Barolo is a gorgeous entry-level offering. Crushed flowers, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, dried herbs and mint all lift from the glass effortlessly. Hints of dried cherry, pomegranate and earthiness appear later. I would prefer to drink this mid-weight, delicate, aromatic Barolo over the next handful of years, before the fruit fades. This is such a pretty wine, especially in its peer group. (Drink between 2020-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2019 |
Barolo |
$39 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2023): The Molino family shows a deft hand with Nebbiolo, as is illustrated by the 2019 Barolo. This wine shows great harmony, a lightweight style and a polished mouthfeel, with strong power too. The aromas follow a classic Nebbiolo playlist with small currants, blue flower and rusty nail. As far as classic Barolo goes, the 2019 is about as classic as they come. This wine is especially lifted and bright.
JD 93 (5/2023): Pale ruby with an orange hue, the 2019 Barolo is expressive with floral and spice, including dried flowers, fresh herbs, and pomegranate. It is medium-bodied and structured, with elegance and freshness, and strikes a balance between tension and gracefulness. Fresh with raspberries and a note of sandy earth, it is drinking well now but should not be ruled out for aging phenomenally over the next 10-12 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 90 (1/2023): The 2019 Barolo is gorgeous. Bright, translucent and wonderfully expressive, the 2019 hints at a very different style here than in the past. Crushed red berry fruit, wild flowers, mint, sweet red cherry and incense are all beautifully lifted in this weightless, super-classic Barolo from Molino. Impressive. (Drink between 2024-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| La Ca' Nova |
2016 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$393.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta dell' Ornellaia |
2012 |
Le Serre Nuove (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$412.98 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (10/2014): The 2012 Bolgheri Le Serre Nuove is a voluptuous and generous wine that bursts forth with wild-cherry aromas, blackberry, crème de cassis, oak spice and smoke. The blend of grapes this year is 52% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 12% Petit Verdot. It awards pleasure and smoothness, thanks to its plump tannins and ripe fruit overtones. Le Serre Nuove shows the acidity and structure for ten years or more of cellar aging. |
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|
2019 |
Ornellaia (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,795.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (3/2022): The 2019 Ornellaia is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted here. All the elements are so well-balanced. Dark and racy, with fabulous class and pedigree to burn, the 2019 is superb from the very first taste. Dark plum, mocha, new leather, licorice and spice build over time, but it is the wine’s stunning finesse that impresses most. The 2019 has the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon since the 2002. That very much comes through in the wine’s vibrancy and aromatic presence. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2022 |
Le Serre Nuove (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$418.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Siro Pacenti |
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (3/2021): The aromatics of the 2016 Pelagrilli are dark fruited and luxurious, with supple oak, warm baking spice, vanilla, and fresh black plum. The palate is consistent and inviting, with silky tannin and a rounded mouthfeel, with notes of cocoa and dried black cherry. Modern styled, it displays generous wood tones that are polished and which I believe will be well-integrated with some time. Enjoy over the next 15 years.Located northeast of the town of Montalcino, Giancarlo Pacenti has helmed this estate since 1988, when he first began to bottle the family’s wine under the Siro Pacenti label. (Drink between 2021-2036). Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (11/2020): Siro Pacenti is the estate behind some of the most contemporary and fruit-froward wines made in Montalcino. That said, the wines can sometimes feel a bit monotone and lacking in nuance because of the very powerful oak (especially when tasted this young). For sure, the Siro Pacenti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli is decidedly more focused on black fruit aromas rather than red fruit brightness, and it follows through with a healthy delivery of cedar, toasted spice, pencil shaving and campfire ash. Blackberry, fresh prune and plum cede to those oak-driven aromas. Like the other wines from this producer, I found that the oak tannins are not approachable in the near term. You really need to give this wine more time in the bottle. Siro Pacenti farms beautiful and carefully manicured vineyards on the north side of Montalcino.
VM 92 (12/2021): Tart cherries come together with nuances of dried flowers, citrus and old spice box as the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli opens in the glass. It’s silky and round, yet a core of salty minerality creates a savory tension, as bright red berries and inner florals amass toward the close. This finishes lightly structured with tart fruits and a hint of wild herbs. The Pelagrilli comes from the winery’s vineyards in the north, where the higher content of clay adds an attractively plush weight, which, coupled with 24 months in barrique, makes for a wonderfully opulent but balanced wine. (Drink between 2023-2030). Eric Guido. |
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| Fattoria le Pupille |
2021 |
Saffredi Proprietary Blend (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$623.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Castello Dei Rampolla |
2016 |
Sammarco (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$190.99 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 98 (9/2021): The 2016 Sammarco is a dense, flamboyant wine. Inky red fruit, spice, cedar, tobacco, menthol and licorice are some of the notes that build in a statuesque Sammarco that dazzles from start to finish. A wine of stunning textural richness and intensity, Sammarco is translucent, sculpted and full of character. All the elements are so well balanced. Rose petal, cedar, tobacco and mint linger on the eternal finish. The 2016 is a magical wine that can be, surprisingly, enjoyed now or cellared for a number of years. Time in the glass just brings out its energy and vertical drive. Sammarco is quite possibly the single greatest value in high-end Italian wine. Don't miss it. (Drink between 2026-2046). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (10/2021): A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, the Castello dei Rampolla 2016 Sammarco was held back for an extra year of aging before its commercial release. In fact, I already reviewed the 2017 vintage last year because that wine is many times more accessible and immediate than this one. The issue at hand are the tannins, which remain very tight and grippy in this bottle. That extra year in bottle has helped them to integrate, but this wine still has a very long way to go. Keep that in mind if you collect Sammarco. Despite that slight astringency, this is a wine of courage and vision. It shows expertly measured fruit weight and lots of lively intensity on the bouquet. |
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2019 |
Chianti Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$347.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Sammarco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$453.99 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 96 (9/2023): A blend of (organic and biodynamic) Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, the 2019 Sammarco is more austere and even robust compared to the punchier style prized throughout this portfolio. This is a firmly grounded wine, with a bigger baseline of aromas, spanning black fruit, baked plum, spice, tobacco and crushed limestone. You feel the natural concentration of the 2019 vintage and beautifully managed tannins in this wine. This is a release of 25,837 bottles and 292 magnums.
VM 94 (8/2023): The 2019 Sammarco is a very pretty, elegant wine with gorgeous aromatic intensity from the Cabernet Sauvignon that makes up the majority of the blend this year. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, mint, dried cherry, incense and crushed leaves lend notable aromatic presence to this young, nascent Sammarco. Time in the glass brings out striking inner perfume and sweetness. In 2019, Sammarco is more finesse than power. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Renato Ratti |
2016 |
Barolo Vigna Conca |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (7/2020): The Renato Ratti 2016 Barolo Conca is another stunning beauty from this leading estate in La Morra. Conca is a prized vineyard, and you will immediately notice light mineral signatures of crushed limestone and chalk suspended delicately over the bouquet, hovering there like a veil. After a few swirls of your glass, you'll find rose, licorice, dark cherry and berry fruit. You can make out some of the oaky spice, but those aromas are very well integrated into the bigger picture here at hand. I tasted this bottle after a double decant and am delighted with these excellent results. Camphor ash and menthol notes create a pretty signature on the close.
VM 94 (10/2020): The 2016 Barolo Conca is gracious and elegant, in a style that nicely balances the natural breadth and richness that are typical of Conca, but in the more classically-leaning style that is the norm at Ratti these days. Sweet red cherry, red plum, cinnamon and white flowers add lovely brightness as this inviting Barolo shows off its considerable charms. Best of all, the 2016 will drink well with minimal cellaring. I have to go very far back to remember a Ratti Conca with this much Nebbiolo purity. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Giuseppe Rinaldi |
2018 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,243.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| San Giusto A Rentennano |
2021 |
Percarlo (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$659.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Luciano Sandrone |
2017 |
Barolo Aleste (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$750.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) |
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$536.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Paolo Scavino |
2007 |
Barolo (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$783.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (12/2011): Moderately saturated medium red. Sexy red cherry and cinnamon aromas. Sweet and silky, with nicely integrated acidity framing the cherry, raspberry and tobacco flavors. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2016 |
Barolo Prapo |
$94 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (7/2020): The Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo Prapò (with fruit from Serralunga d'Alba) opens to a beautifully saturated appearance with bold fruit aromas of black cherry, plum and dried currant. Those rusty mineral notes that are so distinctive of this growing area come through loud and clear. This is the second harvest to emerge from this plot of land in Prapò that the Scavino family purchased in 2008 and replanted two years later. We're off to a great start with high-scoring and cellar-worthy wines from both 2015 and 2016. I'd give a slight edge to this vintage, thanks to the sharp precision and linearity of its aromas. |
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|
2016 |
Barolo Ravera |
$105 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (7/2020): Continuing in a tour de force presentation of some of the best growing sites in Barolo, the Scavino family introduces this, their second vintage, from the Ravera cru of Novello. The Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo Ravera draws its fruit from an east-facing parcel that is one of the last to be harvested each year. The site shows cool climate conditions even in the warmer years. In a classic vintage such as this, the wine delivers pretty balance and integration. The character of the wine reflects the dark, sultry fruit qualities that we associate with Ravera—prune, plum, blackberry, tilled earth, truffle and an appetite-arousing touch of smoked bacon. That compilation of aromas is simply fantastic, and the wine shows a terrific quality of tannins, imparting inner tension, sharpness and precision.
VM 97 (2/2020): Scavino’s 2016 Barolo Ravera is another highlight in this range. Tense, brilliant and finely sculpted, the 2016 has so much going on. Crushed flowers, iron, mint and cedar add beguiling aromatic breadth to a core of translucent, intense Nebbiolo fruit. The 2016 really captures the energy that makes wines from this site so distinctive. The 2016 was fermented in stainless steel and aged entirely in cask. (Drink between 2026-2046). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Barolo Bric del Fiasc |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (7/2020): Drawing its fruit from Castiglione Falletto, the Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc shows dimension, depth, precision and power. The wine opens to a dark garnet color with a saturated hue, leading to a full, all-encompassing bouquet. The Barolo Bric dël Fiasc is often the most representative wine in the Scavino portfolio, and never has this been more true than in this classic vintage. Dark fruit, licorice, spice and ferrous earth build a fluid and multifaceted bouquet. The mouthfeel sits firm and tight on the palate today, promising to evolve and soften tomorrow. This is a bottle for your cellar.
VM 96 (2/2020): The 2016 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is a powerful, muscular wine. Youthfully austere and tannic, the 2016 is going to need a number of years to come around, but it is magnificent, even in the early going. Layers of building tannins enshroud a core of dark Nebbiolo fruit, with hints of dried herbs, iron, leather and sweet tobacco that develop with a bit of coaxing. As always, Bric del Fiasc has a feral intensity to it. The 2016 is an especially fine edition and also a terrific example of the style of this Castiglione Falletto site. (Drink between 2026-2041). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Barolo Carobric |
$115 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (7/2020): Sadly, we are seeing the last vintages of this wine that is expected to be discontinued after the 2018 vintage. The Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo Carobric represents a historic blend of fruit from Rocche di Castiglione, Cannubi and Bric dël Fiasc. Because the lease on Cannubi was not renewed, Carobric lost one of its fundamental building blocks. Cannubi brought richness, generous flavors and textural suppleness to the final blend. If you are a fan of this wine, I suggest you stock up on this vintage that is poised to be one of the most memorable and age-worthy among this group of final releases. This classic vintage is rich with dark fruit, licorice, truffle-infused earth and a pretty touch of sweet hazelnut cream.
VM 95+ (2/2020): The 2016 Barolo Carobric is fabulous. Nervous and tightly wound, the Carobric offers up a beguiling mix of crushed flowers, herbs, mint and red berry fruit. There is a feeling of explosive energy that runs through the 2016 that gives its tremendous appeal. Carobric, a blend of fruit from Rocche di Castiglione, Cannubi and Bric del Fiasc, is a bit less showy than some of the other Barolos in the Scavino range, but it has historically aged beautifully. I expect that will be the case here as well. (Drink between 2026-2047). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Barolo Bricco Ambrogio |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (7/2020): From the comune or village of Roddi, the Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio offers an open-knit and accessible personality. The bouquet of this wine is very distinctive, offering some cedar, spice and toasted hazelnut that you don't get in the other Baroli in the collection from the Scavino family. Those nutty aromas cede to dark fruit, plum, spice and grilled herb. The wine is beautifully put together, showing the classic balance and energy of the vintage.
VM 94 (2/2020): The 2016 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio is very pretty in 2016. Medium in body and supple, the Bricco Ambrogio captures all of the personality of the year in a mid-weight style that makes it easy to drink and enjoy young. The balance of fruit, acid and structure is just superb here. Pretty floral and spice overtones add nuance. Bricco Ambrogio is always the most accessible of the Scavino cru Barolos. The 2016 is the finest wine from this site yet. (Drink between 2022-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera |
2008 |
Toscana Sangiovese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,855.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (2/2015): After the highly unusual and exotic 2007, the 2008 Toscana Sangiovese marks a return to a more classic Soldera style. Here the flavors are quite bold and savory, while the structure is that of a wine built for aging. Sage, rosemary, tobacco, mint and leather notes wrap around a core of dark red stone fruits as this vivid, crystalline wine shows off its personality and pedigree. Readers lucky enough to find the 2008 are in for a thrill. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Sottimano |
2015 |
Barbaresco Pajore |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94+ (10/2018): Far from an easygoing wine in this ripe vintage, the 2015 Barbaresco Pajorè is going to need time to come together. Today, the potent tannins are bruising. Even so, there is tremendous depth to the fruit and plenty of character. In 2015 Pajorè shows a much more red fruit-leaning profile and floral notes than its more typical balsamic profile. Antonio Galloni.
JS 93 (9/2018): Intense aroma of cloves, but also rose and earth notes. This rather sophisticated, medium-to full-bodied Barbaresco has bold, dry tannins that are well integrated and a long, dry finish. Drink or hold.
WA 93 (9/2018): Of these various single-vintage releases by Sottimano (including Basarin, Cottá and Fausoni), the 2015 Barbaresco Pajorè is very well integrated and smooth. The tannin management shows an excellent approach, and you don't get the astringency that comes forward in the Basarin. Instead, this expression offers increased focus on the ripe, round and plump fruit of the vintage. Only 5,000 bottles (including magnums) were produced. |
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|
2017 |
Barbaresco Pajore |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (7/2020): With fruit from Treiso, this wine is often recognized by its immediate and accessible personality, with silky tannins and delicate floral aromas. The Sottimano family farms five separate vineyard sites in the appellation. The 2017 Barbaresco Pajore is a little more subdued in this vintage with a wide assortment of earthy, wild fruit and licorice aromas. This expression offers a lower threshold on the aromatic high points. However, the palate is more elaborate and constructed in this vintage with firm, free-standing tannins that give lift and buoyancy. Some 5,000 bottles were made. |
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|
2019 |
Barbaresco Cotta |
$69 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 95 (10/2022): The 2019 Barbaresco Cotta shows all the richness and weight this site is capable of. Dark red fruit, rose petal, lavender, bllod orange and cedar open nicely in the glass, but ultimately it is the wine's huge mid-palate and fine balance that impress most. The 2019 is a tremendous Cotte. It is also one of the more finessed wines at Sottimano this year. There's plenty of size, but exceptional balance, too. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (8/2022): Slightly more subdued on first nose, the Sottimano 2019 Barbaresco Cottá is the kind of wine that will deliver its best results when it has had time to flesh out and evolve. You can taste the freshness and the tightness of the primary fruit in this vintage, along with plenty of wild cherry and crushed rose. Spicy oak tones emerge carefully as the wine warms in the glass. |
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2019 |
Barbaresco Pajore |
$67 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2022): Here's a beautifully elegant and fine expression of Nebbiolo from Treiso. The Sottimano 2019 Barbaresco Pajoré shows an earthy personality with crushed stone and potting soil that frame a pretty core of red and purple fruits. I love the depth and complexity of this wine and the slightly more structured tannins that give this wine power and importance.
JD 94 (5/2021): Of the 2018s, the 2018 Barbaresco Pajore has the darkest profile, with dried cherry, tobacco, mint, and cedar. Savory with blood orange, red plum skin, and turned earth, more firm tannins build, with more modest acidity. Drink 2024-2035.
VM 93+ (10/2022): The 2019 Barbaresco Pajorè is dense and quite closed in on itself. Then again, that is Pajorè. There's terrific depth and density here, but not quite the power of some recent releases. That's not a bad thing, as the more restrained style allows the nuance to come through. This is an especially refined edition of the Pajorè. Today, the Pajorè is quite compact and a bit of a bruiser, but there's terrific fruit intensity that just needs time to blossom. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2020 |
Barbaresco Pajore |
$67 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 97 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Pajorè is deep, sensual and mysterious, as wines from this great site tend to be. Black cherry, lavender, new leather and balsamic overtones infuse the Pajorè with tremendous complexity and textural resonance. The 2020 is still an infant, but its potential is evident. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (5/2023): Pouring a rich garnet, the 2020 Barbaresco Pajore is fleshy and ripe, with a pleasant touch of rustic aromas of saddle leather, black cherry, and balsamic herbs. This medium to full-bodied red is ripe with meaty tannins, rounded black raspberry fruit, potting soil, and mouthwatering salinity on the finish. It is a ripe yet very attractive wine to hold another 6-12 months and drink 2024-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (8/2023): The Sottimano 2020 Barbaresco Pajoré (with 6,000 bottles made) is a tight and elegant wine with mid-weight structure. The bouquet is very expressive with dried cherry, blackcurrant, iron ore and blue flower. Sottimano succeeds in crafting very linear and precise wines, and that is certainly the message delivered by this wine from the Pajoré Vineyard in the village of Treiso. It ends on a dry, chalky note. |
|
| Tenuta San Guido |
2006 |
Sassicaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,641.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2009): The 2006 Sassicaia may very well go down as one of the all-time great recent vintages for this Tuscan thoroughbred. The year started off very warm but by August evening temperatures had moderated, leaving the fruit with a stunning combination of ripeness, perfume, acidity and tannin. The wine is simply glorious, that’s all there is to it. Layers of dark fruit meld into smoke, leather, violets, menthol, earthiness and tar as this profound wine opens up in the glass. The creamy, silky finish lasts an eternity, as waves of fruit caress the tannins with breathtaking elegance. Everything is in the right place in this magical Sassicaia. This is one for the ages. In a word: Awesome. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2031.
VM 95 (10/2010): (85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% cabernet franc) Bright red-ruby. Complex nose melds red cherry, blackcurrant, minerals, dried herbs and a delicate oaky vanillin nuance; the fruit aromas show an almost roasted quality without going over the top. Sweet, concentrated and nicely fresh, with an impression of strong extract and a hint of exotic fruits to the flavors of ripe red and dark berries, chocolate, plum and wild herbs. The candied fruit quality carries through on the long, smooth finish, where there's a trace of heat and hints of menthol and minerals. A very successful Sassicaia but, in my notebook, just a little below the lofty heights of the 2001 or 2004. But given the quality of this wine, that's quibbling. Ian d'Agata.
JS 95 (4/2012): Sweet tobacco and berry with hints of currants. Full, soft and silky. Lots of fruit and a long finish. It's subtle, dense and sophisticated. Please give this another five years to really show what it has. |
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|
2009 |
Sassicaia (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$821.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 98 (12/2012): This is fantastic. Intense and super long on the palate. It's insanely complex yet subtle with so much going on, with a beautiful balance and tension. It is full and powerful with a big juicy character that goes on for minutes. Muscular yet covered with pretty fruit. Elegance with force. Hard not to drink. But better in 2016.
VM 97+ (9/2012): (80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% cabernet franc): Bright full ruby. Pure, perfumed aromas of blackberry, cassis, lead pencil, violet and minerals, complicated by a superripe note of crushed raspberry. Extremely primary and pure, offering sharply defined cassis, violet and mineral flavors of great class. The perfectly integrated acidity and a vibrant floral character from the cabernet franc give the middle palate terrific lift. Though very ripe in its flavor profile, this wine conveys a rare lightness of touch that is typical of Sassicaia but rare for this vintage on the Tuscan Coast. Finishes with noble tannins and outstanding palate-staining length. For all its creamy power and charm, I really like this wine's balance and the subtle delivery of its complex flavors. I have tasted every vintage of Sassicaia on countless occasions and, other than the legendary 1985, I have no doubt that this is one of the two or three best Sassicaias at a similar stage of development. Though the 2009 won't surpass the once-in-a-lifetime 1985, it is starting out its life in bottle with almost the same perfectly balanced, opulent creamy texture and depth of that incredible wine, which I remembertasting both in Rome and in Tuscanyimmediately upon release. In fact, that wine was so good that even thoughI was still auniversity student (and thus on a studentbudget), it was the firsttime in my lifeI ever bought a full case. If I were a university student today, I'd do the same with the 2009, even though the price of Sassicaia is far higher today. There's profound potential here, but younger wine writers and consumers who weren't seriously involved in tasting back in the '80s may well be surprised by this wine's voluptuous, atypically opulent texture and thus miss its sheer greatness. Ian d'Agata.
WA 96+ (4/2017): The 2009 Bolgheri Sassicaia is the richest and darkest edition in recent memory. This super-charged Sassicaia boasts enormous power and concentration thanks to its impressive phenolic foundation. Black currant and blackberry confit are followed by spice, leather, tar, road paving and black truffle. It shows preliminary tertiary signs with licorice and crushed mineral. The wine wraps thickly over the palate delivering tight textural firmness and integrated structure. You taste the sweetness of the fruit and the depth of the oak tannins. No matter how you approach it, this wine scores very high on the intensity meter. For the record: Tenuta San Guido General Manager Carlo Paoli expressed concern about the integrity of his sample, but I remained extremely pleased by the gorgeous wine before me. |
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|
2020 |
Le Difese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$198.97 |
6 |
|
| |
|
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2023 |
Guidalberto (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$334.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Tua Rita |
2016 |
Redigaffi (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$684.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (3/2019): The 2016 Redigaffi is another absolutely compelling wine in this range. Explosive and opulent, the 2016 manages to be both spectacularly rich and yet also retain tremendous freshness. Blueberry jam, lavender, crushed rocks and sweet oak all build as this sumptuous yet structured Merlot shows off its considerable personality. In 2016, Redigaffi is energetic, persistent and also very classy. Drink it over the next decade or so. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Vietti |
2014 |
Barolo Lazzarito (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$377.99 |
1 |
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2018 |
Barolo Cerequio (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$584.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2018 |
Barolo Lazzarito (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$750.99 |
6 |
|
| |
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|
2020 |
Barolo Cerequio (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$736.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Roberto Voerzio |
2015 |
Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata Torriglione (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$428.99 |
5 |
|
| |
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| | Loire |
| Dom. Pascal Cotat |
2023 |
Sancerre Les Monts Damnes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$889.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2023 |
Sancerre La Grande Cote (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$889.99 |
1 |
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| Dom. Couly-Dutheil |
2016 |
Chinon Baronnie Madeleine |
$25 |
1 |
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2018 |
Chinon Les Chanteaux Wine-Stained Label; Scuffed Label |
$25 |
1 |
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| |
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| Clos Rougeard |
2011 |
Saumur Champigny (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,754.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| | New Zealand |
| Kumeu River |
2020 |
Coddington Chardonnay (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$359.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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2022 |
Mates Vyd. Chardonnay (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$455.98 |
2 |
|
| |
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2023 |
Estate Chardonnay (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$234.99 |
4 |
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| |
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| | Other France |
| Richard Rottiers |
2019 |
Brouilly |
$19.99 |
2 |
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| |
| WA 92 (5/2020): The 2019 Brouilly offers up pretty aromas of raspberries, orange rind and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and elegantly fleshy palate that's bright and lively, with fine depth at the core and a long, energetic finish. Once again, this cuvee has turned out very nicely. |
|
| | Other Red |
| Boekenhoutskloof |
2020 |
The Chocolate Block Proprietary Blend (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$253.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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|
2020 |
The Chocolate Block Proprietary Blend (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$253.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Dom. Thierry Allemand |
2020 |
Cornas Les Chaillots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,191.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$477.99 |
1 |
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| |
JD 95-97 (8/2018): Moving to the two Châteauneuf-du-Pape releases and 35% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 12% Counoise, the rest other permitted varieties (Marc calls this a Mourvèdre vintage), the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape sports an inky purple color as well as a textbook Mourvèdre nose of black, black fruits, smoked meats, crushed rocks, charcoal, and pepper. It's deep and full-bodied, with beautiful purity and building structure. Production is down 40%, but this brilliant wine is certainly in the same league as the 2016.
WA 95-97 (8/2018): A tremendous effort, might Beaucastel's 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape outshine even the 2016? I tasted a preliminary blend that Marc Perrin said represented 80% of the wine, and it showed ridiculous floral and fresh aromas of licorice, lavender and spice, all backed by tremendous fruit that went beyond black and red and into hints of exotic stone fruit. The final blend will likely contain more than 10% Counoise, the highest proportion ever utilized at the estate. It's rich and concentrated yet silky and lithe, with a fantastically long, elegant finish. |
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| Auguste Clape |
2023 |
Cornas Renaissance (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$566.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Clos des Papes |
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$99 |
3 |
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| JD 98 (11/2021): Tasted out of bottle, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a stunning example of this estate as well as the vintage. Gorgeous kirsch, flowery incense, spice box, and garrigue-like notes define the nose, and it hits the palate with classic Clos des Papes elegance and finesse backed up by a great mid-palate, fabulous concentration, and a monster of a finish. Don’t miss this beauty. It can be enjoyed today with incredible pleasure or cellared for two decades. |
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| Dom. Clusel-Roch |
2021 |
Cote Rotie Champon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$661.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Saint Cosme |
2019 |
Cotes du Rhone |
$16 |
1 |
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| WA 91 (11/2020): While the 2019 Cotes du Rhone is not a single-estate wine (it's labeled simply Saint Cosme, without the "Château de"), this 100% Syrah is a perennial bargain—and this could be its best vintage to date. Aromas of violets, cracked pepper, cassis and blueberries leap from the glass, while the medium to full-bodied palate is ripe but silky, leading into a long, mouthwatering finish. A blend of fruit from the Gard (the right bank of the Rhône) and Vinsobres (the left bank, about 400 meters above sea level), it retains a sense of freshness not often found in Syrahs from the Southern Rhône. |
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| Alain Graillot |
2019 |
Crozes Hermitage (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$545.99 |
6 |
|
| |
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| Etienne Guigal |
2010 |
Cote Rotie La Landonne
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$583.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 100 (12/2014): As with the other two single-parcel Cote Roties, the 2010 Cote Rotie La Landonne is pure perfection in a glass. An incredibly massive, muscular, full-bodied effort, it has an insane amount of structure to go with an equal amount of concentrated fruit. Cassis, smoked bacon, coffee bean, cracked pepper and liquid rock-like qualities are all present here, and it hits the palate with a chiseled, focused textured, building tannin and terrific length. It’s the most backward of the 2010s and will require a decade of cellaring, but will keep for about as long as you’d like to hold onto bottles.
VM 96+ (2/2015): Glass-staining ruby. Potent smoke- and spice-accented black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by sexy potpourri and incense nuances that build with aeration. Sweet, penetrating blackberry and cherry liqueur flavors stain the palate, with licorice pastille and violet qualities coming in slowly. Rich yet lively and precise, finishing with Outstanding energy and chewy tannins that frame the wine's lush, alluringly sweet fruit. |
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|
2015 |
Cote Rotie La Mouline (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,204.99 |
1 |
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| |
JS 99 (7/2019): A very complex and complete nose with everything so integrated and beautifully judged. There are ripe blackberries, blood plums, fragrant spices, dark stones and roasted coffee, to name just some of what is already on offer here. The palate has such richness and such build and layering with ripe dark plums and blackberries, clothed in robes of spice-laden, velvety tannins in a majestic mode. Pure class and a great vintage for sure. One of the best ever. Best from 2025.
JD 98+ (12/2019): The 2015 Côte Rôtie La Mouline has closed down substantially since I tasted it from barrel, yet it’s nevertheless a magical wine in the making. Sporting a deep, saturated purple color as well as a monster bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed rocks, and hints of flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, and a focused, tight, backward vibe that’s going to need 4-5 years of bottle age. It’s going to be incredibly long-lived.
VM 98 (9/2019): Opaque, bright-rimmed ruby. Expansive, mineral-tinged aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, incense, bacon fat, olive, mocha and pungent flowers are accented by an exotic Moroccan spice nuance. Sappy and deeply concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering vibrant boysenberry, black raspberry, olive paste, smoked meat, five-spice powder and violet pastille flavors that are underscored by a vein of minerality. Supple, gently gripping tannins build steadily a floral- and mineral-driven finish that hangs on with resonating spiciness and superb tenacity. Josh Raynolds.
WA 98 (12/2019): The 2015 Cote Rotie La Mouline contains the most Viognier of any of Guigal's La Las: 11%. That tends to make it more open and approachable when young, but the 2015 seemed closed at the time of my visit. Cedar and vanilla frame mixed berries in a full-bodied, plush wine that somehow never seems heavy. It shows great elegance and length, and I'm confident the complexity it showed at earlier tastings will reemerge with a few years in the bottle. |
|
| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2011 |
Hermitage La Chapelle (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$453.99 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95 (3/2019): From a vintage that continues to deliver the goods, the 2011 Hermitage La Chapelle is one sexy, flamboyant beauty that shows the more sweetly fruited and charming style of the vintage beautifully. Sweet black raspberry and framboise notes give way to more tapenade, fennel, and mineral characteristics, and it’s full-bodied, powerful, and layered on the palate, with sweet tannins. It’s beautiful today yet will evolve for another two decades or more.
JS 97 (12/2014): A gorgeous intensity of plum, spice and grilled meat on the nose. Cloves and hints of dried spices. This is a big, structured La Chappelle. Full and powerful with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A bit austere and muscular but gorgeous. Tar, spice, dried meat and asphalt. Needs to be aged for at least another five or six years. This is another 1991 in the making.
WA 95 (12/2013): The 2011 Hermitage la Chapelle continues to shine (I wrote "love it" in the notes) and shows the sunnier, perfumed style of the vintage. Black raspberry, crushed rocks, olive and licorice all emerge from this full-bodied, open, sweetly fruited Hermitage. It has plenty of sweet tannin and will last for 20+ years.
VM 94 (4/2014): (made from yields that ranged from 10 to 19 hectoliters per hectare, according to Caroline Frey): Inky ruby. Heady aromas of candied dark berries, incense, violet and licorice, with a smoky topnote that gains strength with aeration. Offers sweet, palate-staining blueberry and cherry-cola flavors that are lifted and sharpened by juicy acidity. Broad, supple and spicy on the finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and sexy floral pastille and spicecake nuances. This wine is one of the standouts of the vintage in the entire Rhone Valley this vintage. (If you're fortunate enough to own any of the 2010 La Chapelle count your blessings because it's a stunner. While it's years--maybe even decades--away from optimal drinking, there's remarkable depth and power to its black and blue fruit and violet pastille qualities. There are tannins, to be sure, but they fold effortlessly into the wine's lush fruit right now. If you have a few bottles in your cellar, give one a try to see just how impressively it shows in its youth, then hold the rest for later--probably much later.) Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2013 |
Hermitage La Chapelle (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$430.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (3/2019): I think a small step up in quality over the 2014, the 2013 La Chapelle is nevertheless made in a very different style, showing a more firm, focused style. Giving up beautiful purity in its black raspberry, blackcurrants, crushed rocks, ground pepper, and spice-driven aromatics, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, integrated acidity, and building tannins that nevertheless stay integrated and polished. Give bottles another few years and drink it over the following 25 years or more. |
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|
2021 |
Crozes Hermitage Dom. de Thalabert (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$259.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. de la Janasse |
2014 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$827.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes |
$119 |
1 |
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JD 99 (8/2018): Bottled at the same time, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes gives up more cassis, tapenade, underbrush, cured meats, and earth, and it’s a slightly more dense, backward wine compared to the Chaupin. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, with tons of structure, it stays fresh and elegant, has sweet tannins, and a blockbuster finish. It's an incredible, borderline perfect wine from this estate that will keep for two decades or more.
WA 97+ (8/2018): Time will tell if this wine equals the stellar 2015; it's certainly very close in quality. The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a blend of approximately 75% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Syrah and the rest other permitted varieties. Tarry and deep on the nose, it delivers waves of blackberries and black cherries on the palate, framing those flavors with plenty of richness, layers of silky tannins and a long, elegant finish.
JS 96 (8/2018): There’s a very intense core of dark fruit. A deep, ripe and quite savory palate with spices and dark herbs. Bitter chocolate, too. Real depth and power here. Super-fresh, dark spice and cola give a real spark to the finish. Thrilling. A blend of four old-vine parcels from a variety of soils. Drink in 2020.
VM 94-96 (7/2018): Bright violet. Heady aromas of mineral-tinged dark berry liqueur, incense and cola, complicated by a suave floral nuance. Smoky and seamless on the palate, offering powerful, alluringly sweet black and blue fruit, spicecake, mocha and candied licorice flavors braced by juicy acidity. Closes with outstanding clarity, smooth tannins and floral-dominated persistence, leaving sexy floral pastille and star anise notes behind. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$819.99 |
1 |
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| |
JD 98 (8/2019): The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is another killer effort from this estate. Coming from the La Janasse and La Crau lieux-dits and brought up in foudre, its deep purple color is followed by blockbuster notes of crème de cassis, blackberries, chocolate, graphite, and earthy, rocky, mineral-like nuances. It's deep and full-bodied, with a ripe, powerful yet balanced style and a great finish. A classic example of this cuvee. it's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more.
WA 97 (8/2019): The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes derives from parcels planted on classic clay and galets roules soils. It's 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and 5% other varieties. Tight, intense, even clenched, it's in need of several years' cellaring before it becomes truly enjoyable to drink. For now, those gorgeous black cherries are restrained behind a firm wall of tannins. Full-bodied and rich, this is ripe, it just requires patience. |
|
|
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin |
$59 |
9 |
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| JD 97+ (8/2019): Deeper colored, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Chaupin comes mostly from the Chaupoin lieu-dit yet always has small parts from La Janasse and a sandy part of the La Crau lieu-dit. Blackberries, ground herbs, graphite, and new leather notes all emerge from this concentrated, rich, powerful wine that stays tight, focused, and elegant on the palate. It's a killer wine, but it's going to need time. |
|
| Bernard Levet |
2018 |
Cote Rotie Maestria (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$359.98 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2022): Opaque ruby. Mineral- and spice-tinged aromas of ripe cherry, dark berries, smoked meat and candied violet show impressive clarity and spicy lift. Chewy and energetic on the palate, offering juicy blackberry, cherry-cola, olive paste and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily through the back half. Becomes sweeter on the impressively long finish, which features well-integrated tannins and reverberating mineral and exotic spice notes. "Journaries" is the name of this bottling in the U.S., but for the rest of the world, it is called "Maestria". Most of the fruit here comes from La Landonne. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2022 |
Cote Rotie Maestria (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$351.98 |
1 |
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| JD 97 (5/2025): Aged for a year in foudre then moved to demi-muids, the 2022 Côte Rôtie Les Journaries (known by the Maestria name in Europe) comes from the Landonne and Côte Rozier lieux-dits and was not destemmed. It has a similar perfume to the Amethyste with its red, blue, and black fruits as well as rose, potpourri, and peppery notes, yet it's more seamless, full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and has a great finish. Drink 2025-2047. |
|
| Dom. Vincent Paris |
2019 |
Cornas Granit 60 (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$391.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93-95 (5/2020): Spice- and mineral-tinged dark berries, potpourri, olive and a hint of smoky bacon on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy, focused and appealingly sweet, offering densely packed blueberry, cherry liqueur, licorice and candied violet flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Slowly mounting tannins add grip to an impressively persistent, finely etched finish that strongly repeats the floral note. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Rene Rostaing |
2010 |
Cote Rotie Cote Blonde (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,265.98 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Dom. St. Prefert |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Auguste Favier |
$59 |
2 |
|
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| JD 99 (8/2019): Just about perfection in a glass, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve Auguste Favier reveals a deep purple color as well as extraordinary notes of blackcurrants, blackberries, smoked meats, incense, and dried flowers. Always based on Grenache yet with 10-15% Cinsault, this full-bodied, deep, opulent Châteauneuf Du Pape tastes like the essence of Provence, is incredibly complex, has sweet tannins, and despite all its richness and depth, stays pure, fresh, and light on its feet. It’s one of the finest vintages of this cuvee to date! |
|
| Le Vieux Donjon |
2009 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$797.98 |
2 |
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| |
WA 94 (10/2011): The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape is dominated by Grenache with major amounts of Mourvedre, Syrah and other authorized varietals. Its dense ruby/plum color is followed by aromas of smoked meats, roasted Provencal herbs, a gamy character and lots of kirsch, black currant and blue fruits. Rich and full-bodied, it is softer than most young vintages of Vieux Donjon tend to be, and should drink well for 12-15 years.
JD 93+ (9/2011): A very classically styled and structured wine, the 2009 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a blend of 80% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre, delivers captivating and slightly feral aromatics of garrigue, licorice, white pepper, leather, black cherry, and raspberry styled fruits on the nose. Readers looking for a textbook example of CDP for blind tastings couldn’t do much better than this wine and it screams southern Rhône on the nose as well as the palate. Medium to full-bodied and structured, with a clean, focused texture, medium concentration, and a solid, tannic finish, this might just have more structure than fruit and depth through the middle. It did fill in and evolve over the 4 days I had the bottle open, so I’m bullishly optimistic here and would give bottles 5-7 years of bottle age and then drink over the following decade. However, if you don’t mind tannin, don’t hesitate to open this over the near term as the bouquet is rocking.
VM 91-93 (4/2011): Bright violet. Deep aromas of cherry, black raspberry, garrigue and earth. Broad, spicy and sweet, with a velvety texture and lush dark berry and lavender pastille flavors. Finishes sappy and sweet, featuring fine-grained tannins and excellent thrust. This alluring wine looks like it will be approachable young. |
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|
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$75 |
3 |
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| |
JD 95+ (8/2019): The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a beautiful, elegant wine that also makes the most of this terrific vintage. Deep, rich, yet fabulously pure notes of blackcurrants, ground pepper, garrigue, and crushed flowers all emerge from the glass, followed by medium to full body, a stacked mid-palate, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. It's still backward and holding things a little close to its vest, yet it's a magical wine in the making. Give bottles 3-5 years of cellaring (although it's far from unapproachable today) and enjoy over the following two decades. It's as classic as it gets. The 2017 is a classic blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault, brought up all in foudre.
WA 95 (8/2019): One of the few estates where the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape actually eclipses the 2016, this is a top-flight effort. Black cherries and red raspberries combine with dried spices in a complex swirl of fruity and savory elements, garnished with sprigs of garrigue. Full-bodied, round and rich, this velvety wine should drink well through at least 2035.
VM 94 (12/2019): Limpid ruby-red. A highly perfumed, expansive bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, garrigue and exotic spices, and a smoky mineral note emerges as the wine opens up. Sweet and broad on the palate, offering juicy raspberry, cherry compote, spicecake and candied lavender flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Conveys both power and finesse and betrays no rough edges. Fine-grained tannins come in late on a very long, spicy finish that leaves suave floral and red fruit preserve notes behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Dom. du Vieux Telegraphe |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau |
$119 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (8/2018): Bottled just last week, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers a classic, gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, currants, violets, salty minerality, nori (seaweed wrapper) and licorice. Full-bodied, pure, incredibly elegant, with fine tannin, and a huge finish, this is classic Vieux Telegraphe all the way that has the balance to drink now. |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2020 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Roussanne Vieilles Vignes (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$607.98 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (11/2021): Even better, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes comes from a single parcel of very old vines and is 100% Roussanne brought up in barrel. It too is medium to full-bodied and incredibly concentrated, with brilliant white currants, green almond, honeyed mineral, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. The balance is just about perfect, as is the purity of fruit, and this incredible white is one of the top releases in the vintage. As I’ve written in the past, it’s the Montrachet of the Southern Rhône and can evolve for decades in cold cellars. |
|
| M. Chapoutier |
2023 |
Ermitage Blanc Le Meal (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,312.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Xavier Gerard |
2020 |
Condrieu Cote Chatillon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$302.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
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2022 |
Condrieu Cote Chatillon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$302.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Etienne Guigal |
2020 |
Hermitage Blanc ex Voto (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,268.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| | Southern France |
| Dom. Gauby |
2020 |
Catalanes Vieilles Vignes Rouge (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$659.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Spain |
| Artadi |
2007 |
Vina El Pison Rioja (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,132.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| R. Lopez de Heredia |
2004 |
Vina Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,322.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2004 |
Vina Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$677.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Vina Gravonia Blanco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$382.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. La Mascaronne |
2021 |
Cotes de Provence Rose |
$22 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 91 (5/2022): Bright salmon-skin color. Fresh pit fruits, red berries and a hint of orange pith on the incisive nose. Tight and sharply focused on the palate, offering vibrant strawberry, white peach and tangerine flavors that put on weight as the wine opens up. Shows fine clarity and spicy cut on the persistent finish, which features a late floral nuance. (Drink between 2022-2025). Josh Raynolds.
JD 90 (3/2023): Brought up all in tank, the 2021 Côtes De Provence Rosé has a Bandol-like vibrancy and more mineral-laced style. Light salmon-hued, with notes of orange blossom, chalky minerality, and a great finish, it's going to shine on its own as well as on the dinner table. (Drink between 2023-2023). |
|
| Alvaro Palacios |
2011 |
Finca Dofi (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$273.98 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Dominio de Pingus |
2009 |
Flor de Pingus (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,697.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95-98 (6/2011): The 2009 Flor de Pingus (3000 cases) will ultimately spend 14 months in a mix of new and used French oak. It is opaque purple in color with a primary perfume of pain grille, mineral, spice box, incense, and blackberry. Locked and loaded with remarkable concentration and depth, this mouth-coating lengthy offering manages to incorporate some elegance into its powerful physique. It will drink well for 30-40 years.
VM 93 (10/2011): Bright violet color. Smoky, mineral-laced boysenberry and blueberry on the nose, with suave oak spice and violet qualities coming up with air. Rich, fleshy and sweet, offering sappy black and blue fruit flavors and a sexy array of floral and spice accents For a rich wine this shows impressive finesse. The long, spice-accented finish features harmonious tannins and leaves sweet vanilla and cola notes behind. |
|
|
2015 |
Pingus (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,000.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Bodegas Ramon |
2014 |
Bilbao Rioja Reserva Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (2/2018): They had a lot of issues with the 2013 harvest, with abundant rain in October, and they didn't produce a Reserva or Gran Reserva. A modern blend of Tempranillo with 6% Graciano and 4% Mazuelo, the 2014 Reserva matured in oak barriques for 20 months and in bottle for a further 17 months before it was released. It's quite smoky and balsamic and has traces of cigar ash and incense with hints of cured meat and a twist of cereals/corn. It has good acidity and freshness, fine tannins and a soft texture, very approachable. |
|
| La Rioja Alta |
2010 |
Gran Reserva 890 Rioja (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,345.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | USA Red |
| 00 Wines |
2022 |
VGR Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (2/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir VGR is youthfully flinty to begin, requiring plenty of air to reveal blackberry, rhubarb, cinnamon stick and woodsy undertones. The medium-bodied palate offers expansive, layered flavors. It’s balanced by juicy acidity and has a long, nuanced finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar or some time in a decanter.
JD 93 (8/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir VGR (Very Good Red) has a bright ruby hue and boasts expressive aromas of wild raspberries, fresh lavender perfume, walnut, and forest earth. Medium-bodied, it offers a savory and lightly gamey richness, with refined tannins and elegant spices that linger on the finish. It's approachable now, though I imagine it has another 10 years of peak enjoyment ahead. Audrey Frick.
VM 92 (8/2024): The highly expressive 2022 Pinot Noir VGR mixes kirsch liqueur with crushed blackberries, violets and sage, taking on a savory whiff of seared meats. It’s round and pliant, displaying lovely lift as juicy acidity motivates its ripe red berry fruits. A subtle tinge of salty concentration adds depth toward the close. The 2022 tapers off with an almost crunchy sensation, long and tactile, leaving a spicy flourish and hints of sour cherry pit to linger on. This is a beautiful wine of contrasts. (Drink between 2025-2032). Eric Guido. |
|
| Araujo Estate |
1998 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (12/2000): The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard was bottled earlier than usual as this vintage is not as massive or concentrated as its predecessors. To my palate, the 1998 is good, although I am not convinced it will be long lived. There are 2,300 cases of this 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit-Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc blend. It is supple and elegant, with a complex, evolved bouquet of smoke, black currants, spice box, and cedar. In the mouth, the wine is forward with sweet tannin, gorgeously rich, concentrated fruit, and impressively integrated acidity and tannin. Drink this alluring charmer now and over the next 12-15 years.
VM 91 (6/1991): Medium-deep red. Complex, inviting aromas of plum, leather, spice, game and Burgundian earth tones. Lush and sweet in the mouth, with plum, meat and leather flavors. Harmonious acids give shape to the wine without drying it. Finishes with sweet, rich tannins and very good length. This has filled in very nicely since I tasted it from barrel a year ago. A real standout of the vintage. |
|
| Beaulieu Vineyard |
1988 |
Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$115 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
1988 |
Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Corroded Capsule |
$115 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
1995 |
Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$165 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 90-93 (6/1999): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of raw currant, coffee and smoked meat. Lush yet somewhat stunted flavors of black cherry and cassis. A substantial wine with plenty of fat and structure, but seems a bit pinched, even short today. The tannins build with aeration. Needs time in bottle.
WA 88 (8/1999): In 1995, the renowned Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve is extremely tannic, with noticeable oak, earth, and spice in the closed, unyielding aromatics. The color is a healthy dark ruby. The wine is medium-bodied with copious cassis buttressed by high tannin, generous oak, and sweet black currant fruit, a firm finish, and a closed personality. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2012. |
|
| Beaux Freres |
1999 |
The Beaux Freres Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 89+ (3/2001): Bright dark red. Reticent nose opened to show red fruits, scotch, vanilla and rose petal. Fat, silky and lush in the mouth, with burnished oak notes and complex flavors of redcurrant, strawberry and orange peel. Still a bit youthfully disjointed due to the strong oak component but already shows a more sophisticated texture-and more verve-than the '98. Tannins are serious but fine. |
|
| Beringer |
1992 |
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/1995): The opaque-colored 1992 exhibits a huge, chocolatey, smoky nose crammed with gobs of black fruits, This soft, voluptuously-textured, full-bodied wine boasts remarkable concentration and purity. It is a round, flattering, luscious style of Cabernet Sauvignon that will be hard to resist when young. It should keep for 15+ years. |
|
|
1997 |
Knight’s Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 89 (6/2000): Good medium ruby. Cassis, black cherry, mint and pungent oak spice on the nose. Not especially sweet but rather shapely and firm for the year; a distinctly fruit-driven cabernet with a pliant texture and good grip. Finishes with dusty tannins. I also tasted the same wine hours after the bottling, and found that the light filtration had softened the wine and slightly refined its tannins. I rated the bottled version.
WA 88 (12/2000): The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Knight's Valley is an excellent introduction to Beringer's style. It offers black fruits, a touch of licorice and cedar, a supple texture, medium to full body, and a soft finish. Drink this delicious Cabernet during its first decade of life. |
|
| Bond |
1999 |
Matriarch |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2003): Those lots deemed not quite up to the standards of the Melbury, Vecina, and St. Eden labels are blended together to form Bond’s second wine, The Matriarch. This is a second wine in name only. The complex 1999 The Matriarch displays a deep plum/purple color along with sweet, succulent aromas of smoky oak, lead pencil shavings, and a sexy concoction of chocolate, black currants, and licorice. Drink this rich, medium to full-bodied beauty over the next 10-12 years. |
|
| Cardinale |
1990 |
Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Caymus |
1990 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Signs of Old Seepage |
$475 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/1993): The 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon-Special Selection appears to be the best Caymus has produced since 1986 and 1985. Two thousand, six-bottle cases will be released in February, 1994. The wine offers a saturated, dark purple color, and a rich, spicy, oaky nose backed up by generous quantities of jammy blackcurrants. Ripe, highly extracted, and full-bodied, with copious amounts of sweet tannin and layers of fruit, this is a knock-out, flamboyantly-styled Cabernet for drinking over the next 15 or more years. |
|
|
1995 |
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (6X750ML) OWC |
$1,135 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (8/1999): While it is fashionable to criticize this wine because of its price, and the secrecy surrounding the amount produced (who really cares?), the wine is unquestionably Outstanding. The 1995 boasts a dark ruby/purple color as well as an attractive bouquet with lavish quantities of toasty new oak and black currants. There is moderate tannin, good purity, and an open-knit, sexy style. If the wine had not fallen a bit short on the mid-palate, it would have merited an even higher score. It should drink well for 10-15 years. |
|
| Chimney Rock |
1997 |
Three Graces Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Very Heavily Bin-Soiled Label; Heavily Tattered Label |
$50 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
1997 |
Three Graces Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Very Heavily Bin-Soiled Label; Heavily Tattered Label; Slightly Depressed Cork |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
1997 |
Three Graces Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Slightly Depressed Cork |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Constant |
1995 |
Diamond Mountain Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 90 (12/1999): The 1995 Diamond Mountain Vineyard is an outstanding effort. Made with the consultation of Philippe Melka, this blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc offers scents of melted tar, loamy soil, black currants, and minerals. Well-crafted, with moderate tannin, this austere, medium-bodied effort exhibits a sweet mid-palate, excellent overall harmony, and the tell-tale lead pencil, toasty oak, and black currant fruit indicative of a high-class Cabernet. Although not weighty, the emphasis is finesse and complexity. It will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and will last for 15-16 years.
VM 88 (6/2016): Good medium red. Mellow aromas of plum, redcurrant, mocha, sweet butter and woodsmoke. Quite smooth and moderately sweet, with a firm spine of acidity carrying through the wine. A slightly herbal Cabernet Franc element lifts the finish but clashes a bit with the firm, granular tannins, leaving the back end a bit dusty, not to mention green. But there's no shortage of energy here. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
1999 |
Diamond Mountain Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 90-92 (6/2001): Deep, saturated ruby. Precise, high-pitched aromas of black fruits, licorice and violet. Dense and deep but bright and lively, with floral and minty nuances contributing to the impression of verve. Seems destined to be the purest wine yet from this estate. Finishes with big, chewy, toothfurring tannins and juicy, palate-cleansing acidity.
WA 87 (12/2003): The 1999 possesses a dark garnet/plum/purple color as well as a sweet nose of loamy soil, dried Provencal herbs, red currants, cherries, and spice. Medium-bodied with an austere, tough finish, I doubt aging will be beneficial, although the wine will survive for 10-15 years. Although not as bad as some of its peers, this is a poster child for over-priced Cabernet Sauvignon. This winery tends to turn out hard, tannic Cabernets that are largely deficient in fruit and texture, but are very complex aromatically. |
|
| Dalla Valle |
1997 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2000): The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon (2,800 cases from a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc) boasts an opaque purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of mineral-infused black currants, and spicy oak. Full-bodied, structured, muscular, and multi-dimensional, it is approachable, but best cellared for 2-4 years, and drunk over the following 20-25 years. |
|
|
1997 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Very Heavily Bin-Soiled Label |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2000): The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon (2,800 cases from a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc) boasts an opaque purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of mineral-infused black currants, and spicy oak. Full-bodied, structured, muscular, and multi-dimensional, it is approachable, but best cellared for 2-4 years, and drunk over the following 20-25 years. |
|
|
1997 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2000): The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon (2,800 cases from a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc) boasts an opaque purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of mineral-infused black currants, and spicy oak. Full-bodied, structured, muscular, and multi-dimensional, it is approachable, but best cellared for 2-4 years, and drunk over the following 20-25 years. |
|
| Delectus |
1996 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Signs of Seepage |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Diamond Creek |
1990 |
Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Slightly Depressed Cork |
$289 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 82 (6/1992): I expected the 1990 and 1991 Cabernets from Diamond Creek to perform better. While they are certainly good, they are much lighter than what one has come to expect from this winery. On several occasions recently I have had the 1978s from Diamond Creek, which are among the greatest Cabernet-based wines I have tasted from anywhere in the world. It is hard to believe these current offerings will ever approach the richness and intensity that this estate's wines exhibited from the seventies to the mid-eighties. Could the wines be going through a temporarily awkward stage, or are they being made in a lighter, more easily accessible style? The 1990 Volcanic Hill is much lighter than the 1991, with an oaky, spicy nose, simple, straightforward, medium-bodied flavors, and a surprisingly short finish. I would opt for drinking it over the next 7-8 years. |
|
|
1990 |
Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$289 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 82 (6/1992): I expected the 1990 and 1991 Cabernets from Diamond Creek to perform better. While they are certainly good, they are much lighter than what one has come to expect from this winery. On several occasions recently I have had the 1978s from Diamond Creek, which are among the greatest Cabernet-based wines I have tasted from anywhere in the world. It is hard to believe these current offerings will ever approach the richness and intensity that this estate's wines exhibited from the seventies to the mid-eighties. Could the wines be going through a temporarily awkward stage, or are they being made in a lighter, more easily accessible style? The 1990 Volcanic Hill is much lighter than the 1991, with an oaky, spicy nose, simple, straightforward, medium-bodied flavors, and a surprisingly short finish. I would opt for drinking it over the next 7-8 years. |
|
| Dominus |
1991 |
Estate ex-Domaine |
$795 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 99 (6/1995): As for the 1991, 6,500 cases were produced of this potentially perfect wine. While this vintage of Dominus contains no Merlot in the blend, every time I taste it I am reminded of a great vintage of Petrus such as 1982, 1989 or 1990. Although different, the 1991 Dominus possesses extraordinary intensity, remarkable opulence, and amazing fruit extraction, all welded to a full-bodied structure. The wine's sensational purity and inner-core of depth must be tasted to be believed. The 1991 will be approachable young because of its sweet tannin, yet it exhibits the potential to last for 25 years. Perhaps 1994 will rival it, but for now, the 1991 is unquestionably the greatest Dominus, as well as a potential legend in the making.
VM 96 (11/2022): This 1991 Dominus was poured blind in Meursault and had me guessing Right Bank, perchance Cheval Blanc! Showing light signs of bricking on the rim, the bouquet unfurls gracefully with melted red fruit, cooked meat, ash and very subtle hints of hung game, all exquisitely defined. Mercurial in the glass, the aromatics seem to broaden out. The palate is beautifully balanced, with a perfect marriage of acidity, fruit concentration and harmony—a wine at that liminal point between primary and secondary phases. Quite savory, I suspected there was more Cabernet Franc in the blend than there actually is (around 10%, to the best of my knowledge). Red fruit, cigar box, touches of rosemary and sage open on long and sensual finish. With one foot in Bordeaux and the other in Napa, the 1991 captures the best of both and is at its absolute peak now. (Drink between 2022-2040). Neal Martin.
Decanter 100 (11/2019): One of the first Napa wines that I fell in love with and still going strong at almost 30 years old, with a good long while ahead of it still. This is delicate yet powerful, a wine that just gets better and better in the glass, showing off the black truffle and undergrowth flavours of a fully mature wine with melted tannins, leather, saffron and rich blackberries. It’s intense and balanced, still opulent and sexy. 40% new oak. Harvest in 1991 was October 6 to 18, but even so they harvested a little earlier in those days than they do today. Dominus is in the Yountville AVA (which was granted in 1999) but in 1991 still Napa Valley AVA. (Drink between 2019-2040) |
|
|
1995 |
Estate |
$249 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/1997): Christian Moueix and his talented winemaking team continue to rewrite the definition of a Napa Valley reference point wine. The 1995 Dominus (6,000 cases produced from a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot) is a ripe, plummy, supple, expansively-flavored wine with copious quantities of black currant fruit. Full-bodied and low in acidity, it possesses exceptional concentration and purity. Qualitatively, it is built along the lines of the 1992 and 1990. While it is not as powerful or intense as the 1996 or 1994, the 1995 is a large-scaled, rich, concentrated wine that should provide splendid drinking for two decades. |
|
| Far Niente |
1997 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (9/2017): (13.5% alcohol): Bright, dark red. Wild, expressive aromas of plum, game, coffee and woodsmoke suggest a sweet wine. Supple and plush on the palate, conveying a refined, resolved texture. Hints of herbs and mint add another dimension without compromising the wine's mellow red fruit flavors. Finishes with slightly green acidity and firm-edged, increasingly dusty tannins. This seems a bit clenched on the back end but is certainly close to its peak today--not to mention a bit less funky, and green, than the 1995 bottling I tasted last year. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Gary Farrell |
1999 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Lightly Scuffed Label |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Forman |
1987 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (7/2015): Good full medium red. Darker fruit aromas on the nose than the preceding vintages, showing black- and redcurrant, spices, mint, coffee and violet. Subtly complex and glossy in texture, conveying a savory character and classic dryness to its flavors of plum, black cherry and dried flowers. Bright, well-integrated acidity gives the wine a juicy quality. The long finish features substantial broad, dusty tannins and a repeating note of dried flowers. A lovely mature California Cabernet in a low-alcohol style: I might have identified this blind as a Bordeaux. I recall that I did not like this wine in the early going as I thought its acidity was out of whack, but today it's a beauty. (Drink between 2015-2025). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
1989 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 86 (4/1992): The 1989 Cabernet Sauvignon is an improvement over the disappointingly light, hollow 1988 and relatively lean, sterile 1987. The 1989 is dark ruby/purple, with a rich nose of cassis and spicy oak. In the mouth, there is excellent concentration, good weight and elegance, and soft tannins in the finish. It should drink well for at least 8-10 years.
VM 85 (7/2015): Medium red. Bordeaux-like nose combines redcurrant, leather, smoke, spices, minerals, pepper and a note of warm stones, plus a faint suggestion of Madeira. Plush on entry, with redcurrant, licorice and fresh herb flavors nicely framed by well-integrated acidity. Finishes with serious tannins that turn a bit dry. Ric Forman described this wine as "a bit lean and mean, like the 1995." (Drink between 2015-2021). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
1990 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label; Scuffed Label |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (6/1993): Forman's 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon may be this winery's best effort to date. This deep purple-colored wine displays a super-expressive nose of blackcurrants, licorice, and vanillin. With a beautifully etched, medium to full-bodied feel, exquisite concentration, decent acidity, and firm but soft, sweet tannins, this is a graceful, authoritatively flavored Cabernet for drinking over the next 12-15 years.
VM 92 (7/2015): Healthy bright red-ruby. Darker aromas of black- and redcurrant, cherry, smoked meat, coffee and dark chocolate are complicated by wild spices and a balsamic cedary suggestion. The plushest and silkiest vintage to this point in my tasting, but with a firm spine of tannins and healthy acidity giving serious grip to the wine's dark berry fruit. "I started allowing the fruit to get ripe in 1990, then even riper beginning in 2003," admitted Forman. Offers a lovely combination of complexity and tannic power for such a low-octane Cabernet and finishes with a slight oaky edge (this and post-1990 vintages have been aged in 50% to 75% new barrels). (Drink between 2015-2023). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
1990 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Base Neck Fill; Signs of Old Seepage |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (6/1993): Forman's 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon may be this winery's best effort to date. This deep purple-colored wine displays a super-expressive nose of blackcurrants, licorice, and vanillin. With a beautifully etched, medium to full-bodied feel, exquisite concentration, decent acidity, and firm but soft, sweet tannins, this is a graceful, authoritatively flavored Cabernet for drinking over the next 12-15 years.
VM 92 (7/2015): Healthy bright red-ruby. Darker aromas of black- and redcurrant, cherry, smoked meat, coffee and dark chocolate are complicated by wild spices and a balsamic cedary suggestion. The plushest and silkiest vintage to this point in my tasting, but with a firm spine of tannins and healthy acidity giving serious grip to the wine's dark berry fruit. "I started allowing the fruit to get ripe in 1990, then even riper beginning in 2003," admitted Forman. Offers a lovely combination of complexity and tannic power for such a low-octane Cabernet and finishes with a slight oaky edge (this and post-1990 vintages have been aged in 50% to 75% new barrels). (Drink between 2015-2023). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
1990 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Slightly Depressed Cork |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (6/1993): Forman's 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon may be this winery's best effort to date. This deep purple-colored wine displays a super-expressive nose of blackcurrants, licorice, and vanillin. With a beautifully etched, medium to full-bodied feel, exquisite concentration, decent acidity, and firm but soft, sweet tannins, this is a graceful, authoritatively flavored Cabernet for drinking over the next 12-15 years.
VM 92 (7/2015): Healthy bright red-ruby. Darker aromas of black- and redcurrant, cherry, smoked meat, coffee and dark chocolate are complicated by wild spices and a balsamic cedary suggestion. The plushest and silkiest vintage to this point in my tasting, but with a firm spine of tannins and healthy acidity giving serious grip to the wine's dark berry fruit. "I started allowing the fruit to get ripe in 1990, then even riper beginning in 2003," admitted Forman. Offers a lovely combination of complexity and tannic power for such a low-octane Cabernet and finishes with a slight oaky edge (this and post-1990 vintages have been aged in 50% to 75% new barrels). (Drink between 2015-2023). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
1990 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (6/1993): Forman's 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon may be this winery's best effort to date. This deep purple-colored wine displays a super-expressive nose of blackcurrants, licorice, and vanillin. With a beautifully etched, medium to full-bodied feel, exquisite concentration, decent acidity, and firm but soft, sweet tannins, this is a graceful, authoritatively flavored Cabernet for drinking over the next 12-15 years.
VM 92 (7/2015): Healthy bright red-ruby. Darker aromas of black- and redcurrant, cherry, smoked meat, coffee and dark chocolate are complicated by wild spices and a balsamic cedary suggestion. The plushest and silkiest vintage to this point in my tasting, but with a firm spine of tannins and healthy acidity giving serious grip to the wine's dark berry fruit. "I started allowing the fruit to get ripe in 1990, then even riper beginning in 2003," admitted Forman. Offers a lovely combination of complexity and tannic power for such a low-octane Cabernet and finishes with a slight oaky edge (this and post-1990 vintages have been aged in 50% to 75% new barrels). (Drink between 2015-2023). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
1992 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Slightly Depressed Cork |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 91 (12/1995): It seems like yesterday that Ric Forman began his career, yet he is now one of California's veteran wine-makers. From his early days (nearly 20 years ago) at Sterling he has built an impressive resume. The proprietor of beautiful vineyards tucked high in the hills between the Silverado Trail and Conn Valley, he has launched a new wine, a Merlot from a vineyard called Thorvilos, that he developed along with the well-known viticulturist, David Abreu. The 1995, which had just finished malolactic fermentation, blew me away, but the wine will not be in the marketplace for several years. The 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon is beginning to shut down and reveal more tannin. Some of the baby fat and thickness have taken a back seat to the wine's more structured aspects. Rich and full-bodied, it is less flattering and showy than when I first tasted it. It possesses outstanding concentration, as well as the potential for 20+ years of evolution.
VM 89 (7/2015): Good bright, full red. Less fruity on the nose than the 1991 or 1990, with a black cherry note complicated by licorice, menthol, pepper and shoe polish. Plummy and savory in the mouth but a bit simple and not nearly as interesting as the outstanding 1991. Finishes classically dry and savory, but the substantial, slightly drying tannins cut off the wine's fruit. I'd drink this soon. (Drink between 2015-2019). Stepen Tanzer. |
|
|
1994 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Slightly Depressed Cork |
$150 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/1996): The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a dense, ruby/purple color, an unevolved but promising sweet, cedar, blackcurrant, vanillin-scented nose, medium to full-body, fine elegance, underlying acidity, ripe tannin, and a Graves-like, tobacco component that provides complexity. This wine should be accessible young, but will not hit its stride for 5-6 years; it will last for two decades. It will be a fascinating wine to follow over the next 15-20 years. |
|
|
1994 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Scuffed Label |
$150 |
1 |
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| WA 91 (12/1996): The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a dense, ruby/purple color, an unevolved but promising sweet, cedar, blackcurrant, vanillin-scented nose, medium to full-body, fine elegance, underlying acidity, ripe tannin, and a Graves-like, tobacco component that provides complexity. This wine should be accessible young, but will not hit its stride for 5-6 years; it will last for two decades. It will be a fascinating wine to follow over the next 15-20 years. |
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1994 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Scuffed Label |
$150 |
1 |
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| WA 91 (12/1996): The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a dense, ruby/purple color, an unevolved but promising sweet, cedar, blackcurrant, vanillin-scented nose, medium to full-body, fine elegance, underlying acidity, ripe tannin, and a Graves-like, tobacco component that provides complexity. This wine should be accessible young, but will not hit its stride for 5-6 years; it will last for two decades. It will be a fascinating wine to follow over the next 15-20 years. |
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1997 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
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VM 91+ (5/2000): Medium ruby-red. Complex, quintessential Napa cabernet aromas of cassis, black cherry, shoe polish, licorice, graphite, dark chocolate and cedar, with suave oakiness. Lush entry, but lively acidity gives the cassis, chocolate and cedar flavors shape and grip. Firm tannins spread out nicely on the spicy, long finish. A youthful wine that should develop slowly in bottle. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 90 (1/2000): The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon is a beauty. One of Ric Forman's classics, it boasts a dark ruby/purple color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of cassis, dried herbs, cedar, blackberries, and minerals. This medium to full-bodied Cabernet exhibits firm tannin in the finish, in addition to excellent sweet fruit, and a subtle, nuanced personality. Cellar it for 3-4 years and drink it over the following two decades. |
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