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...
France
Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal 2020 (JS 95-96)
Chateau Haut-Bergey 2020 (JS 93-94)
JS94James Suckling Lots of crushed stone and blackberry with some walnut and mushroom. Dried-earth undertone. Medium-to full-bodied with round, ripe tannins and a savory finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certification. Barrel Sample: 93-94. WE93 Wine Enthusiast This wine is dense, with serious initial tannins that mask the black fruits. The structure is in place and behind the black currant fruits. Together they promise a wine with plenty of aging potential. Barrel Sample: 91-93
Chateau Haut-Veyrac St Emilion Grand Cru 2016 (JS 92) (Ex-OWC 6)
James Suckling 92 points. Gold Medal, Guide Hachette. Gold Medal, Gilbert & Gaillard. Gold Medal, Feminalise. Buy 6 or more and pay 49sgd/bottle. This little family owned gem is located on the hillsides of St Emilion, boasting Fleur Cardinale as their neighbours.. Only 2000 cases are produced from the 8 hectares of vines, which are planted with 75, 50 and 35 year old vines. The wine is a blend of 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc. Traditionally made to the same meticulous Grand Cru Classe formula for 6 generations. It spends 12 months in French oak, 50% new before being bottled. Dense ruby color with bluish reflect, signs of a beautiful...
Chateau Kirwan 2019 (WE 97)
Margaux Rated 97 by Wine Enthusiast Barrel Sample. With its new cellars, the estate is performing at top speed and this vintage keeps up the fine track record. Firm tannins and beautifully perfumed fruit are blending together to give a wine that has style as well as structured fruitiness, with all the elegance of great Margaux. Think long-term aging for this wine. JS95 Rated 95 by James Suckling Blackcurrants with bark, cedar and dried flowers coming through in the nose. Full-bodied with integrated tannins and a long, linear finish. Racy and refined. Sophisticated. Try after 2024. #end19 #margJ
Chateau La Confession 2019 (YB 93)
St-Emilion Yves Beck (2021) 93 / 100 73% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc. Vignoble de 7,3ha avec une densité de plantation de 6666 pieds/ha. En 2019 la production a été de 29’800 bouteilles. La subtilité et la complexité sont parties intégrantes de La Confession… tant d’un point de vue olfactif que gustatif. Que de précision et quelle définition tannique avec une belle finesse de grain. Le vin a de la tension, de la densité et de la persistance. Il mérite un peu de garde. 2024-2039. #end19
Chateau La Dominique 2019 (AG 94-96)
St-Emilion This is a young red with chewy yet polished tannins that lead to a full-bodied palate with ripe fruit, chocolate and minerals. Some cloves, too. Muscular wine for the vintage, yet remains refined and well crafted. Date Tasted: June 2020; Rating: 94-95 Points; James Suckling The 2019 La Dominique just shimmers with beauty. Bright, floral and vibrant, the 2019 is a total stunner. Freshly cut flowers, mint, cedar and red cherry jam open up in the glass, but it is the wine's purity that impresses most today. The oak and overall extraction - often an issue at La Dominique in recent vintages - are really well-judged. This is a fabulous...
Chateau La Gaffeliere 2019 (JS 96)
St-Emilion The 2019 La Gaffelière wafts from the glass with a rich bouquet of blackberries and cherries mingled with subtle hints of burning embers and loamy soil that’s framed by a deft application of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, it’s a concentrated, vibrant wine built around bright acids and fine, powdery tannins. Its vivid fruit tones and classical balance make this Cabernet Franc-rich blend a promising candidate for sustained bottle age. Anyone who has tasted the great wines this estate produced in the 1950s and 1960s knows how great this site can be; and with stricter selection as well as the...
Chateau La Gurgue 2020
Totally surrounded by classified growths, La Gurgue enjoys a privileged terroir, and the attentive care of Mrs Villars (also owner of Ferrière, classified growth of Margaux, and Haut-Bages-Libéral, classified growth of Pauillac), distinguished in the Top 25 of the best producers of the Bettane&Desseauve 2020 guide. Certainly the best quality/price/pleasure ratio in the appellation.
Chateau La Lagune 2019 (WA 93-95)
Haut Medoc WA (93-95) Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 La Lagune bursts from the glass with vivacious notes of crushed black and red currants, boysenberries and wild blueberries plus nuances of wild thyme, smoke, cinnamon toast and pencil lead with a touch of crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, the palate is tightly wound, offering loads of very finely stacked black fruit, baking spice and mineral layers with a solid frame of ripe, finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with lots of savory sparks. Shimmering with energy, this 2019 La Lagune is a real head-turner! LPB Jun 2020. Decanter 94 points. James Suckling 94-95...
Chateau La Pointe 2019 (JS 95)
Pomerol James Suckling 95 points. Forest-fruit aromas of blackberries and strawberries with some bark and pine cone. Black licorice, too. Full-bodied and chewy with lots of fine tannins and a juicy finish. Traditional and fascinating. Drink after 2026. JS. #end19
Chateau Lagrange 2020 (WA 94-96)
Wine Advocate 94-96 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Lagrange leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of redcurrant jelly, ripe blackcurrants and minted blackberries, followed by nuances of dark chocolate, star anise and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is both super intense and super elegant, featuring exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness to frame the bright, crunchy black and red fruits, finishing long and mineral laced." 05/21
Chateau Laroze 2020 (VV 94-95)
"On the nose, it is racy and offers freshness, a small concentration as well as a certain power and deepness. It reveals notes of crushed blackcurrant, fleshy Boysenberries, small notes of strawberry associated with touches of small fleshy/ripe red fruits, fresh violet, lily as well as hints of spices, toasted, de zan, a discreet hint of green pepper and mocha. On the palate it is fruity, balanced discreetly tight and offers gourmandize, a juicy/acidulous frame, tension (in finesse) as well as some concentration, a good definition, a good structure. The wine expresses notes of wild pulpy/fleshy cassis, small fresh/juicy black berries small...
Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion Rouge 2019 (WA 92-94)
Pessac Leognan Wine Advocate 92-94 points. "Opaque purple-black colored, the 2019 Larrivet Haut-Brion charges out of the gate with wonderfully fragrant scents of black raspberries, Morello cherries and wild blueberries with suggestions of blackcurrant pastilles, candied violets, chocolate mint and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with red and black fruit layers, framed by firm, exquisitely ripe, velvety tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Just stunning!" - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (7/9/2020, Bordeaux 2019 Issue), Ratings: (92-94)+, Drink: 2024-2042. #end19
Chateau Latour 2004 (WA 95)
Wine Advocate 95 points. The 2004 Latour is perhaps evolving slower than I expected, although it remains one of the finest Left Bank wines of the vintage. It has that quintessential graphite-scented bouquet intermixed with blackberry and cedar, although the liquorice note that I observed previously has receded. Again, there is wonderful definition. The palate is full-bodied but surprisingly more sultry than I expected, especially here where I was able to directly compare it with the other 2004 First Growths. It delivers the "authority" you expect from Latour, although I might be inclined just to give it another 2-3 years in bottle. Tasted...
Chateau Latour-Martillac 2019 (JD 96)
Pessac Leognan Jeb Dunnuck 96 points. I loved the 2019 Château Latour-Martillac, and I under-rated it from barrel. Revealing a dense ruby/plum color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherry, smoked tobacco, gravely earth, and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, supple tannins, and one heck of a finish. It's beautifully done and will cruise for 25+ years in cold cellars. It needs plenty of air if drinking any time soon. RP94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot, harvested from the 19th of September to the 11th of...
Chateau Le Bon Pasteur 2019 (NM 96, JS 96)
Pomerol Vinous | Rating: 96 The 2019 Le Bon Pasteur is different in style to previous vintages, and I mean that in a positive sense. This is very elegant and classic in style, pure dark cherry and blueberry fruit entwined with a touch of truffle. The palate is well balanced with gentle grip, slightly chalky in texture with well judged acidity, harmonious with a creamier finish, a hint of salted liquorice lingering on the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted three times with consistent notes. Drink Dates: 2024-2045 Author: Neal Martin James Suckling | Rating: 96 A tight, focused red with blackberry and dark-chocolate character. It’s full-bodied...
Chateau Lynch Moussas 2020 (JS 95-96)
This is a very structured red with lots of blackberry, currant, walnut and graphite. Full-bodied and long. Nice chewiness. 72% cabernet sauvignon, the rest merlot. Score: 94 - 95James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 23 May 2021.
Chateau Lynch-Bages 2018 (JD 98+, WA 98)
JEB DUNNUCK 98+ / 100 One of the finest vintages I've ever tasted from this address, the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages has everything you look for in a great wine: incredible aromatics, richness without weight, perfect balance, and a purity of fruit that's just about off the charts. Dense purple, it reveals a glorious perfume of blackcurrants and blackberry fruits, a deep, unctuous mouthfeel, building tannins, and a complex array of cedar pencil, tobacco, wood smoke, and chocolate. A true blockbuster in every sense, with masses of fruit and tannins as well as moderate acidity, it will probably merit a triple-digit score in a decade and is a...
Chateau Lynch-Bages 2019 (JD 100)
Paulliac JD 100 jebdunnuck.com, April 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,...
Chateau Mangot 2020 (WA 92-94)
92-94 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Composed of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2020 Mangot is scented of ripe black plums, blackberry preserves and black cherry compote, followed by hints of licorice, dark chocolate and cardamom, with a waft of wild mushrooms. The medium to full-bodied palate gives a great intensity of juicy black fruits with soft, rounded tannins and just enough freshness to support, finishing earthy." 05/21 93-94 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "I like the balance and tannin integration to this chewy, polished red....
Chateau Marjosse 2020 WA (91-93)
Lisa Perrotti-Brown 94 points. Wine Advocate 91-93 points. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Marjosse comes barreling out of the glass with rambunctious scents of cassis, crushed blackberries and black plum preserves, followed by hints of dark chocolate, anise and tar, plus a fragrant waft of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is soft, juicy and wonderfully refreshing, delivering wonderful poise and expression with a fun burst of pure black fruit on the finish. Delicious!. LPB May 2021. Marjosse forms part of the Lurton stable, which also includes Yquem and Cheval Blanc. This is one of the best relative value wines one will ever find in...
Chateau Monbousquet 2019 (WE 96)
St Emilion Rated 96 by Wine Enthusiast Barrel Sample. This estate is producing some exceptional wines. The latest vintage is solidly structured and dense in black fruits. Bright acidity gives it that fine spark of freshness and balances the power of the wine. It shows good aging potential. WS95 Rated 95 by Wine Spectator Drips with warmed raspberry confiture, plum sauce and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors, delivering light anise, apple wood, sweet bay leaf and black tea notes along the way. The seamless, lengthy finish has very fine detail despite its heft. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. JD95 Rated 95 by Jeb Dunnuck A...
Chateau Nenin 2020 (JS 97-98)
97-98 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "This is from only the old vines in the clay and gravel soils on the plateau. Really fantastic. It’s medium-to full-bodied and the tannins just roll off the palate at the end. Dark fruit and spices. So long. One of the best modern wines from here? 68% merlot and 32% cabernet franc." 05/21 94-96+ Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A blend of 68% Merlot (harvested 8th to 16th September) and 32% Cabernet Franc (harvested 21st to 23rd September), the 2020 Nenin is aging in French oak barriques, 40% new. It has an alcohol of 14%, a pH of 3.65 and an IPT (tannin index) of...
Chateau Ormes de Pez 2019 (JS 92-93) OWC
Paulliac Owned by Ch Lynch-Bages. James Suckling Notes 92-93 Points, James Suckling: "Plenty of spice and plums on the nose. Full body, round tannins and flavorful finish. Raspberries and hazelnuts at the end." 6/20. Decanter Notes 92 Points, Jane Anson, Decanter: "Plenty of punch in this Ormes de Pez, full of rich ripe black fruits, traces of exotic spices of cinnamon and saffron from the heat of the summer, and brilliant value if looking for personality and appellation signature in St Estèphe. Blend completed with 3% Petit Verdot." 5/20 #end19
Chateau Pape Clement 2019 (Ex-OWC 6) (WA 96-98+)
Pessac-Leognan WA 96-98+. Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, the 2019 Pape Clement was harvested from the 18th of September to the 11th of October. Ninety-three percent is aging in French oak barriques, 66% new, and 7% is aging in large foudres. Deep garnet-purple in color, it hits the ground running with bold, expressive notes of warm cassis, boysenberries and black cherries with an undercurrent of clove oil, fertile loam, cedar chest and tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a rock-solid foundation of firm, ripe grainy tannins and tons of freshness supporting the densely packed black fruit and earthy layers,...
Chateau Pape Clement 2020 (WA 96-98)
Wine Advocate 96-98 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "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...
Chateau Pedesclaux 2019 (JS 95)
Paulliac James Suckling Notes 94-95 points, James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com: "This is very structured with a deep, dark palate, showing tightness and reserve. Full-bodied, chewy and linear. A very classic Pédesclaux with 72% cabernet sauvignon, which is one of the highest percentages ever." 05/20. Wine Advocate Notes 93-95 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Pedesclaux has a beguiling perfume of violets, warm cassis, preserved plums and licorice with suggestions of rose hip tea, dark chocolate, kirsch and cinnamon toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with vibrant black and red...
Chateau Phelan-Segur 2020 (JS 95-96)
95-96 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "Bright and perfumed with some chocolate, berry, sandalwood and cedar. Very elegant and fine, medium to full-bodied palate with very integrated tannins and refined, polished texture. The tannins melt into the wine. Long finish with serious structure. Vivid and refined. Class here. Very Bordeaux. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot." 05/21. Decanter 94 Points, Jane Anson, Decanter: "The austerity to the tannins works in this wine's favour giving a juicy grip to the concentrated blackcurrant and bilberry fruits without strangling them. Excellent stuff,...
Chateau Pierre 1er Grand Cru St Emilion 2020 (JS 95-96)
95-96 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "This is a solid red with lots of blackberry, crushed-stone, pine-needle and iron character. It’s full-bodied with layers of ripe, chewy tannins that are polished and poised. Extremely well crafted. A top wine from here." 05/21. The No 1 bargain of the monumental 2020 vintage.
Chateau Potensac 2020 (JS 93-94)
James Suckling 93-94 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: “This is very balanced and round with lovely softness. Plenty of fruity. Medium body. Lots of salinity and savoriness. Long and delicious. Friendly already. 44% merlot, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 22% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.” 6/21
Chateau Prieuer-Lichine 2019 (AG 95, JS 95)
Margaux The 2019 Prieuré-Lichine is impeccable. Creamy, layered and resonant in the glass, the 2019 hits all the right notes. Sweet red cherry/plum, lavender, rose petal, spice, mint and blood orange all build effortlessly. Over the last handful of years Prieuré-Lichine has been the single most under the radar wine in Margaux. The 2019 is another fine edition. Class, polish and sensuality make Prieuré-Lichine absolutely irresistible. Antonio Galloni | 95 AG. Wonderful aromas of dried orange, blackcurrant and crushed stone follow through to a full body with beautifully polished tannins that are composed and fine. Lots of subtle and complex...
Chateau Rouget 2019 (JS 95-96)
Pomerol James Suckling 95-96 points. This is really finely crafted with sleek, polished tannins and beautiful, deep fruit. It’s full-bodied. Flavorful finish. Gorgeous texture. - James Suckling Decanter 94 points. Inky plum colour, clear aromatic concentration and a relatively low yield of 33hl/ha. These levels of concentration are repeated on the palate, and this is one of the more intense Rougets, particularly if comparing to years like 2017 but also more muscle here than the 2018. High quality, with rippling tannic muscle and smoked black fruit, will take its time to come around. Harvest 17 September to 10 October. Drinking Window 2027...
Chateau Saint Pierre 2020 (WA 94-96)
Wine Advocate 94-96 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Saint-Pierre bursts with baked blackberries, stewed plums and cassis, followed by hints of dried mint, chocolate box and tapenade with a waft of pencil lead. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled with impressive freshness and ripe, fine-grained tannins supporting the energetic black fruits, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. The blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, aging for around 14 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. The alcohol is 13.3%." 05/21.
Chateau Saintayme 2020 (JS 94-94)
94-95 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "A gorgeous red with so much black fruit and salty, mineral character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy, polished tannins and a long finish. The precision and fine texture is impressive. One of the best I have had for a while." 05/21.
Chateau Sansonnet St Emilion Grand Cru 2019 (WA 94-96+)
St Emilion ~ Buy Six and Pay $75 Net Each ~ 85% proportion of Merlot is blended with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Advocate 94-96+. Opaque garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Sansonnet comes skipping out of the glass with vibrant notes of Morello cherries, blueberry compote, mulberries and warm black plums plus hints of raspberry leaves, Sichuan pepper, cassia and cumin seed with a waft of tree bark. The full-bodied palate is packed with crunchy black and red fruits, framed by exquisitely ripe, rounded tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Beautiful! LPB June 2020. #end19
Chateau Tour Saint Christophe 2020 (WA 93-95)
93-95 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Tour Saint Christophe stampedes out of the glass with powerful scents of baked blackberries, stewed black plums and boysenberries, followed by suggestions of cedar chest, mocha, tar and fertile loam, with lifted wafts of licorice and cardamom. The full-bodied palate is rich and densely packed with juicy black fruits, supported by velvety tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and opulent." 05/21. 95-96 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: “Full-bodied and creamy with lots of spice and walnut character. Lovely softness and...
Chateau Troplong Mondot 2019 (Dec 99)
St Emilion Such a seductive soft perfume to the nose, delicate yet generous aromatics of cherry and rose. The palate is juicy and fresh, charming yet energetic with such crystalline purity and balance. Tannins are smooth but softly textured giving nuance to the flavours where refreshing high toned ripe red and black cherry fruit play alongside mint, dark chocolate and graphite. Clearly powerfully but carefully controlled from start to finish giving such a satisfying overall mouthful and lasting impression. Incredible. Drinking Window 2028 - 2050. --GH, Decanter, 99 points. Has any Bordeaux château realized a more wholesale stylistic...
Chateau Trotte-Vielle St Emilion Grand Cru 2019 (JS 96-97)
St Emilion Decanter :95 James Suckling :96-97 Neal Martin :93-95 Antonio Galloni (VINOUS) :94-96. "A really classy, beautiful red with seduction and force at the finish. Aromas and flavors of currants, wet earth and truffles, as well as mushrooms. Full bodied, tight and tannic. Toned and steely. A new, traditional style. 49% cabernet franc, 48% merlot and 3% cabernet sauvignon." 96-97 Points, JamesSuckling.com. The name literally translates to ‘trotting old lady’ and origin of this name somewhat contested. Some say it is a reference to an 18th-century lady who ‘trotted’ about the village in search of gossip while the winery says they...
Chateau Trotte-Vielle St Emilion Grand Cru 2020 (JS 99)
99James Suckling Fantastic texture and structure to this wine with firm, silky tannins that go on and on. Love the crushed blackberries, blueberries and salt. Floral and mineral character, too. Full and tight with great length. Chewy at the very end, indicating real structure. All about structure and length. 50% cabernet franc, 49% merlot, and 1% cabernet sauvignon.Barrel Sample: 98-99 D96Decanter xcellent grip and tension through the palate, a well-judged and well-balanced Trottevieille, doing exactly as well as expected in a vintage that favours clay and limestone soils that keep freshness and focus. Elegant and sleek, plenty of tight...
Chateau Valandraud 2019 (WE 100)
St Emilion Rated 100 by Wine Enthusiast Barrel Sample. This is a dense and luscious wine, the best yet from this estate. Its great structure and tannins show a style that is powerful but all within. This is a magnificent vintage from this Premier Grand Cru Classé estate, and fully deserves to be aged for many years. JD99 Rated 99 by Jeb Dunnuck The local bad boy of Bordeaux, Jean-Luc Thunevin, continues to fashion truly brilliant wines, and his 2019 is no exception. Based largely on Merlot with small amount of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Château Valandraud is a deep purple-hued beauty offering up a kaleidoscope-like...
Chateau Vieux Maillet 2020 (WA 90-92)
Wine Advocate 90-92. Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Vieux Maillet rolls out of the glass with upfront scents of plum preserves, blueberry compote and spice cake, plus hints of black truffles and crushed rocks. The elegantly crafted, medium-bodied palate is chock-full of crunchy black fruits with ripe, rounded tannins and great freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. LPB Jun 2021. Falstaff 92 points. Deep ruby, opaque core, purple reflections on the rim. Fresh cherry fruit, a hint of cassis underscored with new wood spices. Medium body, fine cherry fruit, fresh, well-structured, integrated tannins, remains...
Clos de l'Oratoire 2019 Grand Cru St Emilion (JD 96)
St Emilion Wine Advocate 93 points. Stephan von Neipperg's 2019 Clos de l'Oratoire has turned out very nicely in bottle, opening in the glass to reveal aromas of sweet wild berries, cherries, loamy soil and raw cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's broad and succulent, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a nicely defined finish. It's produced from holdings on sandy-clay soils in the northeast of Saint-Émilion. WK Apr 2022. 96 points Jeb Dunnuck "Ripe black fruit (there's some red fruit as well), tobacco leaf, damp earth, exotic flowers, and some chocolaty notes all emerge from the 2019 Clos De L'Oratoire, another beautiful...
Clos du Marquis 2020 (WA 93-95)
93-95 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “The 2020 Clos du Marquis is composed of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.57%, a pH of 3.76 and an IPT (tannins index) of 84. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from the 26th to 29th of September, the Merlot from the 11th to the 16th of September and the Cabernet Franc from the 18th to the 29th of September. Deep purple-black in color, it bursts from the glass with flamboyant notes of crushed blackberries, ripe, juicy plums and blackcurrant pastilles, with suggestions of licorice, red roses and espresso. The...
Clos Rene 2019 (JS 93)
Pomerol Rated 93 points by Vinous Media. The 2019 Clos René is a very beautiful wine. From bottle, the 2019 shows a touch more freshness than it did as a barrel sample. Inky dark fruit, licorice, chocolate, spice and new leather emerge first, followed by a whole range of floral and savory accents that liven things up. The Cabernet Franc is quite expressive. Tasted two times. JS93 Rated 93 by James Suckling Redcurrant and sweet-berry aromas with flowers and tile. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm yet polished tannins and a juicy finish. Savory and lightly peppery at the end. Give the tannins time to soften. Try after 2024. #end19
Daniel Rion Nuits St Georges Les Grandes Vignes 2016
Rich and deeply colored, with wild fruit flavors: blackberry, blackcurrant, with elegant and present tannins. Its intense dark color announces the powerful and complex flavors that mix blackcurrant, blackberry and bilberry. The tannins are firmer for the parcels located at the South and more flexible for those of the North of the town of Nuits Saint Georges, a solid structure. In the vineyard... The Grandes Vignes, 30 to 80 years old, are on limono-clayey colluviums of the bottom of the slope (230m of altitude), calcareous and very stony, which rest on marls. The parcel of Lavières, at an altitude of 250m, is slightly sloped. Its calcareous...
Domaine du Pegau Cuvee Reservee CDP 2019 (WA 95-97)
Wine Advocate 95-97. The 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée looks set to rival the best examples of this bottling. Made up of approximately 80% Grenache, with 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and smaller amounts of other permitted varieties, it's impressively complex on the nose, with scents of black cherries, blackberries and black olives, plus mysterious wafts of violets and garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it finishes long and velvety, a sure-fire bet for cellaring. JC May 2022.
Haut-Bailly II 2020 (VM 92-94)
92-94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: “The 2020 Haut-Bailly II is superb. The tannins and overall structure are suggestive of an important Pessac-Léognan that is going to need time to come around. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender and menthol are front and center. A wine of savory energy and intensity, Haut-Bailly II sizzles with energy.” 05/21.
Justin Girardin Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2021
The Burgundy Pinot Noir from the Justin Girardin estate 2021 offers a beautiful ruby colour and a fresh and elegant nose. Fresh and elegant nose. Red fruit aromas. Supple wine, lightly structured, fruity and fresh. Age of vines: 50 years old Grape variety: Pinot Noir Ageing: French oak barrels Origin of wood: Allier and Vosges 50 % in oak (no new oak) 50% in tank Wine remained 15 months in barrels. Viticulture: Pruning style: Cordon de Royat and Guyot simple Manual harvest Green work (de-budding, leaf-thinning,...) Triple sorting: in the vineyard (twice) and in the winery on sorting table Winemaking: Grapes are destemmed, put into vat at...
Justin Girardin Chass-Montrachet 1er C La Boudriotte 2019 JM 91
JASPER MORRIS MW 91 points. From purchased grapes as Justin is a fan of red Chassagne-Montrachet. A beautiful glowing pale ruby purple. The nose is particularly stylish, on the cusp of raspberry and cherry, less sweet fruit and more tannins, but with a class throughout and finely textured. Not massive but definitely good! Tasted: February 2021. La Boudriotte is a small Premier Cru vineyard site of the Chassagne-Montrachet appellation in Burgundy. Located just southeast of Chassagne-Montrachet village, this gently sloping, east-facing vineyard may produce red wines from Pinot Noir and white wines from Chardonnay. La Boudriotte lies within the...
Justin Girardin Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru La Boudriotte 2020
Age of vines 25 years Grape variety Pinot Noir Ageing French oak barrels. Origin of wood: Allier and Vosges 25% of new oak. Wine remained 15 months in barrels. Viticulture Pruning style: Cordon de Royat and Guyot simple. Manual harvest. Green work (de-budding, leaf-thinning,...). Triple sorting: in the vineyard (twice) and in the winery on sorting table Winemaking Grapes are destemmed, put into vat at 12°c during 5 days (cold pre-fermentary) to extract the primary aromas. Indigenous yeasts. Smooth extraction respecting the grape variety, terroir and vintage. Fermentation lasts around 20 days. Tasting notes The bouquet is round and offers...