France

Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy, 91 points. Bottled end November, which is the usual time. Fresh ruby purple, and the fruit also is fresher on the nose, very attractive. I can still perceive the sunshine on the skins but this is very juicy succulent and will give great pleasure. Tasted: February 2022. The Greeks called the holly “agria” (wild plant). The Romans latinised this into agrifolium, aquifolium. This plot may have been given this name because it was covered by thorny plants before it was planted with vines. Located next to the famous Clos des Mouches, in the middle of the slope, Les Aigrots faces east. The stony soil of this...

Burghound 91 points. Organic. "A plethora of floral elements, especially violet, combines with notes of spiced plum and cherry. The medium weight flavors are not as concentrated but they're finer thanks to the fine-grained tannins shaping the bitter cherry pit-inflected finish that is both dusty and refreshing finish. This needs better depth, but the development potential appears promising." AM April 2021 With an area of ​​1, 27 ha, this plot located in the middle of the hillside looks to the Southeast. Its soil has a good balance between limestone, silt and clay. A name derives from a former owner a canon of the 13th century, Johannis...

Burghound 90-93 points. Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy, 90-92 points. A pink-purple tinge to the colour at the edges. Darker purple in the middle. Quite a sumptuous bouquet of super ripe fruit. Three tanks, one of which has been vinified with whole bunches. Dense succulent dark fruit but nothing cooked. Firm tannins right at the back, but easily enough fruit to cover them. In the sunny style of 2020 yet in balance - but you will need to wait. Tasted: February 2022. With an area of ​​1, 27 ha, this plot located in the middle of the hillside looks to the Southeast. Its soil has a good balance between limestone, silt and clay. A name...

Burghound 90 points. Organic. "Here the nose is mildly reduced though I suspect that it will pass quickly. Otherwise there is fine freshness and verve to the more refined middle weight flavors that also possess good underlying tension while exhibiting good length on the textured finish where the only nit is a hint of warmth. This too could use more depth but it's already attractive." AM April 2021 Burghound This 1.27-hectare vineyard (3 acres) is located at the bottom of the slope. It enjoys a soil composed mainly of clay and loams. Pottery fragments found in this vineyard show that this was a farming settlement in Gallo-Roman times. After...

Burghound 90-92 points. This 1.27-hectare vineyard (3 acres) is located at the bottom of the slope. It enjoys a soil composed mainly of clay and loams. Pottery fragments found in this vineyard show that this was a farming settlement in Gallo-Roman times. After the farm disappeared, the site remained without vines for a long time before being planted again. “Sanvignes” [vineless] then changed to “Cent-Vignes” [hundred vines] – since a plot with vines cannot be “Vineless”! These reds are remarkable for their colour and the delicacy of their aromas. In the mouth, they combine complexity with mellowness.

Wine Enthusiast 93 points. Gentle woodsmoke and red cherry combine on the nose of this wine and continue on the bright body where ne, taut tannins carry the ripeness of the vintage with ease. Freshness emanates from a lively core, giving energy to this wine that shows real elegance - A.K. Published 12/1/2020. This plot of 67 acres is located at the top of the hill and looks to the southeast. It enjoys a limestone soil mixed with silt, sand and clay. This climat extends on both Beaune and Savigny communes. This name comes from Marcomans (lat marcomani or men of the border), a West Germanic tribe existing until the fourth century; this type of...

Burghound 92 points. Organic. "A cool and airy blend is composed by notes of poached plum, black cherry, raspberry and an interesting hint of clove. The beautifully textured middle weight flavors possess a caressing and sappy mouthfeel that also contrasts with the dusty, youthfully austere and markedly firm finale. This too is very promising though it's a wine that's going to need at least 5 to 7 years of cellaring first." AM April 2021 Burghound This plot of 67 acres is located at the top of the hill and looks to the southeast. It enjoys a limestone soil mixed with silt, sand and clay. This climat extends on both Beaune and Savigny...

Burghound 90-93 points. "Discreet touches of wood and menthol can be found on the ripe aromas of poached plum, warm earth and black raspberry. The lilting but very punchy medium-bodied flavors possess fine mid-palate density thanks to the abundance of mouth coating sap that also serves to buffer the very firm, and firmly austere, finale where a hint of warmth appears. This is also quite good, but patience absolutely required." This plot of 67 acres is located at the top of the hill and looks to the southeast. It enjoys a limestone soil mixed with silt, sand and clay. This climat extends on both Beaune and Savigny communes. This name comes...

Wine Enthusiast 92 points. - Anne Krebiehl MW A hint of tar clings to slight black-cherry notes that play on the nose of this wine. The palate then showcases the fruit in all its richness and freshness. This wine is glossy and generous, but also juicy, carried by ripe, supple tannins. It captures the generosity and ripeness of 2018 well. Burghound 92 points. A markedly ripe yet still reasonably fresh nose grudgingly reveals its aromas of poached plum, black cherry liqueur, kirsch and a pretty violet hint. The supple, round and generously proportioned medium-bodied flavors possess good definition before culminating in a dusty, youthfully...

Burghound 93 points. Organic. Located in the middle of the slope with a south-easterly exposure, the soil of this one-hectare plot (2.5 acres) is mainly limestone, enjoying a good balance of loams, sands and clay. Its name, “Les Teurons” (or “Les Theurons”), may be derived from Turno, meaning a small rise of land – a landscape feature that does exist at this location. These deeply-coloured wines are often full-bodied and powerful. Well balanced, they reveal great richness. They are the perfect accompaniment for Eggs Meurette, meat in sauce, game birds or hard pressed cheeses (Cîteaux, Saint Nectaire, Reblochon, Comté, etc)....

Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy, 92 points. From the upper part of the vineyard, bottled in November. Medium deep crimson purple. Whether the earlier bottling has calmed it down or not, this wine is less exotically seductive than some of the others. It is still sufficiently sumptuous to give pleasure but there is a little enjoyable restraint also, with some well-integrated tannins to finish. Good length. Tasted: February 2022

Wine Enthusiast 93 points. Only the merest hint of tar and black cherry can be made out on the shy nose of this wine. Black cherry appears on the juicy, ripe but fresh palate, leaving the tar as a mere footnote and emphasizing juicy freshness and robust tannins. The nish has a little heat but speaks of the rounded, full-bodied generosity of 2018. - A.K. Published 12/1/2020. Facing south-west, this plot of 77 ares (2 acres) has a soil combining loam, clay and limestone. This vineyard, “protected by all the saints”, produces rich wines with a nose of red fruits and good complexity in the mouth. It can be served with “jambon persillé”,...

Burghound 89-92 points. Facing south-west, this plot of 77 ares (2 acres) has a soil combining loam, clay and limestone. This vineyard, “protected by all the saints”, produces rich wines with a nose of red fruits and good complexity in the mouth. It can be served with “jambon persillé”, red meats or goat’s cheese.

Anne Gros is one of the superstars of Burgundy, a winemaker whose talents lie in crafting exquisite wines from her Domaine based in Vosne-Romanee. Her estate in Minervois, in partnership with Jean-Paul Tollot, also crafts excellent wines. The serious winemaking skill brought by this couple means that these wines are achieving immense acclaim from the critics. Jeb Dunnuck notes that these are "serious, structured and age-worthy efforts," while David Schildknecht notes that "they are rendering wines unlike any others in Minervois, or indeed the whole of the Languedoc." This is Anne’s ‘great terroir’ wine, one that benefits from a unique...

Burghound 89-92. "A deft touch of wood sets off brooding and deeply pitched aromas of dark currant, violet and a hint of humus. There is excellent power and concentration to the sleek, intense and stony flavors that evidence obvious muscle that really comes up on the palate coating finish. This robust effort manages to stop short of displaying any overt rusticity but at least some patience will be required." BH April 2017 PERNAND-VERGELESSES 1ER CRU LES VERGELESSES SITUATION PERNAND-VERGELESSES is located between the municipalities of Aloxe-Corton and Savigny-lès-Beaune. This Premier Cru is one of the best, very close to the Ile des...

"A deft touch of wood sets off brooding and deeply pitched aromas of dark currant, violet and a hint of humus. There is excellent power and concentration to the sleek, intense and stony flavors that evidence obvious muscle that really comes up on the palate coating finish. This robust effort manages to stop short of displaying any overt rusticity but at least some patience will be required." Alan Meadows, Burghound, April 2017 #DEC

Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points. Wine Advocate 94 points. Deeper, earthier and spicier than the other bottlings, the 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape A la Gloire de Mon Grand-Père is essentially all old-vine Grenache from the La Gardiole lieu dit. Dustings of cinnamon, allspice and clove accent black cherries and loam on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and velvety, ending long and softly dusty. It should be the longest-lived of the magnificent trio of 2018 reds produced at Bosquet des Papes. JC Sep 2020.

Jeb Dunnuck Almost all Grenache (there are splashes of Cinsault and Clairette), the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape A La Gloire De Mon Grand-Père was 50% destemmed and brought up in a mix of foudres and demi-muids. It has a riper, sexy bouquet of kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, toasted spices, dried flowers, and sweet Provençal garrigue to go with a full-bodied, beautifully textured, seamless style on the palate. It still has a classic feel, yet there’s certainly more fruit and opulence here compared to the more concentrated, masculine style of the Chante Le Merle cuvée. This beauty is going to drink nicely right out of the gate and cruise...

WA 94 Because of its rich tannic structure, I expect the 2017 Châteauneuf du Pape A la Gloire de Mon Grand-Père to be among the longer-lived wines from this estate. It's loaded with concentrated notes of plums, raspberries and cherries, all delivered on a full-bodied, velvety palate and ending with chewy tannins and salted licorice.JC Aug 2019.

Wine Advocate 94-96. A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre from a one-hectare parcel in the Mont Redon lieu-dit, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape la Folie was still in barrel at the time of my visit. Produced only in exceptional vintages (2007, 2015, 2016), it offers up notes of cedar, vanilla and mint alongside ripe black cherries. It's not new oak, but it must still be relatively young, and the result is a big, rich, rather New World-styled wine guaranteed to please open-minded hedonists and horrify stodgy traditionalists. Velvety, plush and long on the finish, there's no denying the quality here, although whether you will love the style...

Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points. Moving to the old vine cuvée, which is a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Mourvèdre, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes reveals a deeper ruby/purple color as well as a richer, slightly more powerful bouquet of blackcurrants, jammy black cherries, roasted garrigue, black licorice, and assorted background notes of spicy meatiness. It’s full-bodied and has a beautiful mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish. This is another classic yet ripe, pure, and beautifully balanced wine from this estate that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 15+ years or more. Range:...

Wine Advocate 93-95 points. From 80-year-old vines, mainly in Mont Redon, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Chante le Merle Vieilles Vignes was made using only whole bunches. As a result, it's spicy, stemmy and herbal at first, with peppery, minty notes adding nuance to the deep fruit flavors of black cherries and blackberries. Full-bodied, rich and salty-stemmy on the long finish, this is a terrific-looking effort. JC May 2022.

Wine Spectator 94 points. This has a core of warmed plum sauce and cherry compote notes laced liberally with singed sandalwood, red tea and tobacco leaf flavours. Accents of perfumed fruit, singed chestnut, shies leaf and the lightly dusty structure mark the old school finish. JM. Wine Advocate. More concentrated and slightly darker-fruited than the 2020, the 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Tradition boasts scents of clove and allspice alongside ripe cherries. It's full-bodied and richly tannic but also mouthwatering and long. It's a sturdy CdP that can be drunk young with grilled beef or lamb or aged and then paired with rich braises and...

WA 97 The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape la Folie is a special cuvée that has only been made three times: in 2007, 2015 and 2016. As Nicolas Boiron points out, it's a "modern style" of Châteauneuf, completely destemmed and aged in demi-muids and barriques, with a fair proportion of those barrels being new. Mocha cedar notes mark the nose at this early age, while the flavors resemble caramelized cherries and baking spices. Full-bodied, rich, creamy and undeniably plush, it's still recognizable as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, showing velvety hints of chocolate on the long finish. The assemblage is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre. JC Sep 2018. The best...

80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Consult. 7000 bottles produced. Intense red colour with deep yet delicate aromatic notes. Structured and soft tannins. Well balanced, it can be drunk now or cellared for 10 years. Wine Advocate 90 points. A bit darker-fruited and more richly textured than the 2020, the 2019 Cotes du Rhone Domaine Nicolas Boiron is also less aromatic, with dense black cherry and raspberry fruit and some earthy underpinnings. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety on the finish, where it adds some black olive nuances. JC May 2022.

St Emilion JAMES LAWTHER MW - JANCIS ROBINSON 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Carmenère. Barrel sample.Fresh fruit aroma and flavour with a savoury edge. Palate lively, juicy, with light, chalky tannins. Simple but appetising. Score: 16/20. This estate has a long history that dates back to the time when the ancient Romans were active in Saint-Émilion and cultivated grapes for wine. However, the modern era for the Château de Fonbel began in 1971, when Alain Vauthier bought the estate. It also has the 1er Grand Cru Classé A Château Ausone , Château Moulin Saint Georges but also the Grand Cru Classé La Clotte . Today, Pauline...

Pomerol Decanter 98-100 points. From the very first moment your nose approaches the glass you know something special is happening. Seductive, rich, mouth-filling to the point that you really understand what that means. Just pops out of your mouth, with evident density of luscious blackberry and brambled raspberry fruit but also vertical climb through the palate. Violet notes marry with baked earth, grilled liquorice, tension and seduction. Highest level of Cabernet Franc in the blend in recent history, and first time that they have used all of the Cabernet Franc available in the vineyard - also first time to have this touch of Cabernet...

St Emilion 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon WA 92-94+ Opaque purple-black colored, the 2019 Mangot strides confidently out of the glass with ripe, expressive scents of baked plums, blueberry compote and Black Forest cake followed by suggestions of allspice, espresso, aniseed and pencil shavings. The full-bodied palate has loads of densely layered black fruit flavors intertwined with spice box and mineral accents and framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and earthy with a slight touch of wood poking through. LPB Jun 2020. #end19

94-96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com: “Coming from a gorgeous vineyard on the eastern, cooler side of Saint-Emilion, and 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Barde-Haut has a bright, juicy, yet powerful bouquet of ripe blue fruits, scorched earth, tobacco, and cedary herbs. It has a kiss of background oak (it’s aging in 60% new barrels), medium to full-bodied richness, a ripe, textured mouthfeel, and serious underlying structure that comes out with time in the glass. It should have some upfront appeal, yet smart money is on giving bottles at least 4-5 years of bottle age, and it will keep for 2-3 decades.” 05/21....

96-97 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: “A very sophisticated, layered red with dark-plum, chocolate and walnut character. It’s full and flavorful with a cashmere-like texture. Flavorful at the end.” 4/21 93-95 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2020 Bellefont-Belcier is a dark, brooding beauty. Intense red-toned fruit graphite, leather, cedar and incense give the 2020 layers of aromatic dimension. More than anything else I am impressed by how well the potent tannins are integrated. Bellefont-Belcier is still a powerful wine, but not the behemoth of years past. Sweet floral notes and red toned fruit perk up the...

St Emilion Very attractive plum and cherry aromas with hints of flowers and wet earth, following through to a medium to full body with linear, polished tannins and a juicy finish. Juicy fruit to finish with some minerality and forest-flower undertones. A little tight, but very pure at the end. Drink after 2025. - James Suckling 95 points. The 2019 Bellefont-Belcier was very impressive from barrel, and I have no reason to change that view in bottle. This is beautifully defined on the nose, which features vivacious red fruit laced with graphite and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins, fine tension and an...

Wine Advocate 94-96 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2020 Berliquet is composed of 69% Merlot and 31% Cabernet Franc, weighing in at 14.5% alcohol. It is aging in French oak barrels, 50% new. Deep purple-black colored, it trots casually out of the glass with effortlessly flamboyant scents of stewed black cherries, warm plums and baked blackberries, plus hints of chocolate mint, violets and licorice with a touch of fertile loam. The medium to full-bodied palate is very tightly wound with layers of ripe black fruits and earthy accents, framed by finely grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and...

St Julien James Suckling 96 points. Dark-berry and blue-fruit character to the firm, chewy tannins that are polished and solid. Medium to full body. Wood and walnut undertones now. Impressive. Tasted: June 2020; Rating: 95-96 Points; James Suckling. Wine Advocate 95 points. 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...

Margaux Derived exclusively from the château's holdings on the deep gravel soils of the plateau of Brane, the 2019 Brane-Cantenac has turned out brilliantly and merits a special effort to seek out. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, pencil shavings, violets, sweet loamy soil and cardamon, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with lively acids, ripe tannins and a beautifully seamless, perfumed profile. Retaining all the estate's signature elegance but with an extra dimension of depth and intensity, it's the finest Brane-Cantenac of the modern era and one of the great successes of the 2019 vintage. - William...

Graves JS94 Rated 94 by James Suckling Black fruit, dried sage, charred bark, lavender, graphite and oyster shell on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, tightly wound tannins. Focused. Excellent tannin framing. Best yet. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Try in 2026. JD94 Rated 94 by Jeb Dunnuck The 2019 Château Carbonnieux sports a deep purple/ruby hue to go with a brilliant nose of red and black currants, spring flowers, spicy oak, and hints of tobacco. It's beautiful on the palate as well and is medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's the...

Fronsac Wine Advocate 90-92 points. The deep garnet-purple colored 2019 Carlmagnus bursts from the glass with ripe black and blue fruit notions of plums preserves, blueberry compote and blackberry pie with hints of hoisin, licorice and clove oil plus a touch of dark chocolate. The full-bodied, rich, seductive palate is laden with spicy black fruits and a beautifully velvety texture, finishing with a peppery lift. LPB Jun 2020. #end19

Medoc Vinous Media 92 points. The 2019 Charmail has an understated bouquet that unfolds with aeration, revealing pretty red berry fruit, rose petal and crushed stone. I admire the focus here. The palate is rounded, sweet and nicely poised, with nice grip. A little oak toward the finish suggests this will age with style. Very fine. Wine Advocate 90-92 points. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Charmail rolls out of the glass with notions of plum preserves, baked cherries and fruitcake plus hints of spice box, gingerbread and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of spicy black fruit preserves on offer with a...

Wine Advocate 98+ points. Composed of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, yields for the grand vin in 2017 were 43 hectoliters per hectare, and it was aged in 60% new oak. It came in at an alcohol of 13% and an IPT of 68. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cos d'Estournel needs a little coaxing to unfurl, revealing beautiful expressions of preserved plums, boysenberries, blackcurrant pastilles and wild blueberries with hints of Indian spices, menthol, lilacs and mossy tree bark plus a compelling suggestion of iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins and...

Paulliac James Suckling 93 points. Blackcurrants, spices and blueberries with some lead pencil on the nose. Medium body with fine tannins that are polished and pretty. Nice finish. Not the most structured 2019, but very attractive and well crafted. Drink after 2025. #end19

93-94 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "A fresh, layered red with blackberry and chocolate. It’s full and beautiful. Cool finish. Soft tannins spread across the finish. Savory." 05/21.

Nice purity on the nose blending wild berries with violet, dark berries and Kirsch, a gentle hint of oak in the background. Very nice concentration and weight with modest extraction, plenty of finely grained tannins and a fresh acidity underneath, layers of flavour intense dark fruit and a very long finish, stylish and glossy. About Andreas Larsson - 95 points. James Suckling 94-95 points.

"Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, discreet ochre brightening on rim. Dark wild berry fruit with a hint of nougat, ripe cherries, inviting bouquet. Juicy, fine cherry fruit, good freshness, vivid tannins, dark chocolate on the finish, certain ageing potential.." - 91/100, Falstaff. Wine Advocate 90-92. A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2020 De Malleret is aging for 12 months in French oak barrels, one-third new. Deep purple-black colored, it offers an impressively pure nose of crushed blackcurrants, fresh blackberries and black cherries, plus hints of dried Provence herbs, dark chocolate and...

James Suckling Full-bodied with layers of bark, black tea and intense blackberry and earth. Iodine, too. It’s powerful, chewy and focused. 68% cabernet, 27% merlot, 3% petite verdot and 2% cabernet franc. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certification. Barrel Sample: 95-96. V96 Vinous The 2020 Ferrière is a powerhouse. Gravel, scorched earth, licorice, cloves, lavender and inky dark fruit saturate the palate. A virile, potent wine, Ferrière shows the more virile side of Margaux off to great effect. Readers will find a wine of tremendous gravitas. Aging is 40% in new oak, 40% in one year barrels and 20% in concrete tanks....

95-97 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2020 Feytit-Clinet is one of the most compelling wines in Pomerol, or all of Bordeaux, for that matter. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, chocolate, espresso, lavender, licorice and gravel race across the palate. Explosive and powerful to the core, the 2020 is endowed with tons of pedigree. The tannins are incisive, as they so often are, but also impeccably balanced. What a wine! Tasted two times." 06/21

James Suckling A reserved, focused Fontenil with blackberry, dark-walnut, dark-chocolate and mushroom character. The tannins are tight and poised, lending serious tension and framework to the wine. Serious. Barrel Sample: 93-94. RP94Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Opaque purple-black in color, the 2020 Fontenil needs a little swirling and coaxing to release opulent scents of plum preserves, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries, plus suggestions of candied violets, ground cloves and fertile loam. The full-bodied palate is rich with generous black and blue preserves layers, supported by beautifully plush tannins and fantastic...

Margaux #4 James Suckling's 10 Best Value 2019 Bordeaux A ripe and layered red with lots of currant and chocolate character, as well as some walnut and cocoa powder. It’s full and layered with round tannins and a juicy and plush texture. Plenty going on here. Give it three to four years to come together. A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot. Try after 2024. - James Suckling. 97 points. Wine Advocate 95 points. The 2019 Giscours has turned out very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, burning embers, lilac and violets framed by a discreet patina of new oak. Full-bodied, layered and...

92-94 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Opaque purple-black colored, the 2020 Gloria comes soaring out of the glass with notes of blackcurrant cordial, preserved plums and blueberry compote, followed by suggestions of powdered cinnamon, cedar chest and menthol, plus a waft of graphite. The medium to full-bodied palate is completely coated with juicy black fruits, framed by grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 11% Petit Verdot, aging for approximately 14 months in French oak barrels, 40% new. The alcohol is 13.3%."...

Paulliac James Suckling 95 points. Blackcurrants and walnuts with sweet berry and cherry undertones. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Linear and intense tannins run the length of the wine with intensity and persistence. JS. Antonio Galloni, 93-95 points. The 2019 Grand Puy Ducasse is a stunning wine. In 2019, the Grand Vin is statuesque and towering in its beauty, with tons of fruit intensity but none of the harder edges that have characterized some previous vintages. The 2019 has found a way to capture an intense, flamboyant expression of fruit without being too much, as some vintages have been. The result is an...

94-95 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: “This is very linear and tight with beautifully crafted tannins that give a long, intense and energetic finish. The mid-palate is tight and poised.” 4/21. 92-94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com: “Checking in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Haut-Brisson brings some serious fruit, offering a monster nose of chocolate-covered blueberries, iron, tobacco, and candied violet aromas and flavors. Rich and full-bodied, it has ripe tannins and outstanding length. It pushes on the ripeness scale, yet I've no doubt it's going to show more freshness and elegance from...

James Suckling Unique character to this with mushroom, wet-earth, spice, and black-tea character on the nose and palate. It’s full and layered with chewy tannins that are plush and pure. Rose-bush and bark undertones to the fruit. Old merlot vines showing through! 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Barrel Sample: 95-96 V95Vinous The 2020 Haut-Bages Libéral is a powerhouse in its first impression. Veins of bright mineral notes give the 2020 its textural feel and persistence. Bright red fruit, cedar, dried flowers, mint, spice and sweet tobacco. Time in the glass brings out very pretty floral notes that...