The Morey premier cru from Lambrays has better density than the village-level wine; there is a ripe plummy fruit with notes of liquorice underlined with a note of dark chocolate. The texture has more weight and substance, and... Read More

Exuberant, lively wine with a fresh lovely plummy fruit character coloured with notes of smoke, cedar, and Havana cigar. The texture is supple and light, but there is an intense floral perfume that continues on the palate. The... Read More

I was able to taste a few lots destined for the 2021 Cornas Renaissance, and it appears to be a forward, charming wine with plenty of ripe fruit, medium body, and supple tannins. There's plenty of classic Clape character here,... Read More

A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits indicates that this will be a fresh, well-balanced style of Cornas. The acidity is high this year, and the tannins are classically Cornas in their granitic grain and intensity. A highly... Read More

Ripe and attractively layered notes of exotic tea, anise and hoisin add breadth to the suave, round and very seductively textured middle weight flavors that tighten up noticeably on the dusty, persistent and youthfully austere... Read More

This is aromatically similar to the Vosne villages with just a bit more wood influence. The super-sleek and sophisticated middle weight flavors are even more intensely mineral-driven while displaying excellent length on the youthfully... Read More

One of the world’s greatest expressions of Grenache year-in and year-out, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is all varietal that was brought up in larger foudre. This cuvée comes from the Charbonnieres... Read More

The 2010 is a remarkable wine and is a testament to all the efforts of the Cathiard family and their team. Complex and dense, the bouquet reveals a gorgeous array of blackcurrants, graphite, smoke, spices, gum trees, tobacco and... Read More

One of the more notable successes in Pessac-Léognan is this 2018 thanks to its wonderful bouquet of red cherry, spring flowers, cedar and liquorice, graphite aromas and elegant earthy notes. With building tannins, a fresh,... Read More

The last vintage under Jean Gautreau, and it's a great one to remember him by. Serious, with shoulders and muscles, reflecting the excellent gravel and clay soils at this spot of the Médoc in St Seurin de Cadoune. This... Read More

Dark chocolate, bramble tones, not overly floral or fruity with some cedar and cinnamon notes. Lovely high acidity straight away, forward, bright and energetic with lovely crunchy blue fruit on the palate but creamy textured tannins... Read More

This too is elegant and pure if slightly more deeply pitched with its aromas of both red and dark currant laced with freshly turned earth. Once again there is excellent verve and detail to the medium weight flavors that also possess... Read More

Once again there is a plethora of floral elements adding elegance to the nose of cool and restrained aromas that also include an exotic tea component. There is a bit more size, weight and volume to the more powerful, and more... Read More

The 2021 Chambolle-Musigny Village, a blend of five plots, has a well-defined bouquet, red and black fruit intermixed with blood orange. The stems are neatly assimilate here. The palate is well balanced with crunchy spicy red... Read More

This is notably ripe but not roasted with its combination of cassis and liqueur-like aromas of plum, black cherry and sauvage hints. There is better freshness on the palate of the delicious, dense and mouth coating middle weight... Read More

A ripe but notably fresher nose speaks of dark cherry, raspberry, anise, violet and a hint of exotic tea. The much finer medium-bodied flavors are also more minerality driven while offers excellent length on the balanced finale.... Read More

Once again firm reduction buries the fruit and its nuances. There is excellent volume and mid-palate density to the quite full-bodied flavors that possess almost as refined a texture though the underlying muscle seems more obvious... Read More

It's clear how well this wine is constructed in 2016. Vibrant cassis and violet notes are joined by a powerful shot of freshness then an austere finish with touches of white pepper, showing poise and power. A touch of Carmenère... Read More

Plump black fruits, medium to full intensity plum colour with a violet rim and slate-edged tannins that slow things down on the end of the wine. The trick with a Margaux wine is to get concentration without losing elegance, and... Read More

Brooding and equally reticent aromas are comprised by notes of cool floral, especially violet, dark cherry, spice and enough earth character to mention that continues onto the delicious, succulent and quite suave medium-bodied... Read More

A tasting of the various constituent lieux-dits revealed that the Bachesson parcel had a peppery side and its characteristic rose scent, and an unmistakably granitic texture. The Chalaix lieu-dit was precise, fine, with no huge... Read More

A gorgeously fresh, airy and cool nose combines notes of green apple, a panoply of white flowers nuances, wet stone and a pretty array of exotic spice elements, especially jasmine. There is a notably more refined mouthfeel to... Read More

Even better than when I tasted it prior to bottling, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone Le Mazet comes from five hectares in Serrignan, next to the Plan de Dieu. A 60-40 blend of Syrah and Grenache, it's plummy and slightly peppery on... Read More

Full and generous on the palate, no lack of fruit or depth here. Powerful and plentiful fine tannins and a great, rising sense of energy and freshness. Impressive, with real finesse and precision - no excess weight, but great... Read More

Almost all Grenache, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape A La Gloire De Mon Grand-Père comes from the La Gardiole lieu-dit and was aged 80% in demi-muids and 20% in foudre. Its deep purple/plum color is followed by a stunning... Read More

A much more powerful wine based on 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Deus-Ex Machina reminds me slightly of the 2011 with its spicy, perfumed, complex bouquet of red and black fruits, dried flowers,... Read More

A cool and equally restrained nose also derives mostly from the red side of the fruit spectrum, especially cherry and raspberry along with pretty floral hints. There is excellent volume and punch to the medium-bodied flavors that... Read More

Ripe and fresh aromas combine notes of red and dark raspberry, violet, the sauvage and a hint of newly turned earth. There is excellent richness and mid-palate density to the caressing yet powerful flavors that exude a subtle... Read More

I remember how delicious this was at en primeur, and it remains a stately, elongated, perfectly poised Pauillac. It's austere, certainly, but is also full of rich fruit pared down by a slate texture, the sense of minerality... Read More

Tight but plentiful fruit extraction. The expression is a little less full than in 2016, but there is both finesse and grip to the fine, firmly held tannins as they travel through the palate, accompanying cassis, fern, rosemary,... Read More

A blockbuster from Margaux is the 2015 Château Labégorce and I was blown away by this beauty. To reiterate, the southern Médoc, and Margaux in particular, is the sweet spot in 2015. A blend of 50% Cabernet... Read More

Massively extracted ripe fruit – lots of depth but little finesse evident so far but it will age well.

Pretty mesquite and red tea aromas lead off, followed by silky red cherry and raspberry fruit. Shows a light garrigue hint through the finish, as the perfume just lingers and lingers. Small in scale, but extremely stylish.... Read More

Background hints of wood are present on the brooding and much more sauvage-inflected aromas of plum and dark currant. The supple and delicious medium weight flavors possess better volume as well as mid-palate density, all wrapped... Read More

Appealing graphite and black cherry notes on the aromatics, a little subdued once you hit the palate, elegant, juicy, really needs time in the glass, fennel, those lovely wild herbs that add an extra dimension and kick, has persistency... Read More

A balanced, measured, incredibly tight delivery of the triumvirate of tannins, fruit and acidity. The architecture hits the level of the 2010, fairly unusual in a year where the tannins have such a deft brush stroke in the main.... Read More

This estate hit a home run with their 2016 Château Haut-Batailley. This medium to full-bodied beauty oozes classic Pauillac notes of dried tobacco, new saddle leather, and earthy, spicy dark fruits. Nicely concentrated,... Read More

This is muscular yet so well defined and toned. Full-bodied with deep and dense fruit on the palate, yet powerful and rich at the same time. So much sandalwood and blackberry character. Chewy and rich at the finish. This is a... Read More

This is stunning. Troplong never has trouble conjuring up wonderfully rich fruit, but here it is plump and dense without being pumped up. The tannins are chewy rather than chalky, but the elegance of the vintage is unmistakable,... Read More

La Tourtine sits just above Cabassaou. The soil here is more homogeneous, with rich clay. La Tourtine produces powerful, tannic wines with gorgeous fruit character. Since Cabassaou sits lower on this hillside, it is protected... Read More

Ripe but nicely cool and restrained aromas of red currant, plum and earth are trimmed in wood and menthol nuances. There is both good vibrancy and focused power to the attractively textured medium-bodied flavors where the moderate... Read More

The 2021 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Les Dames Huguette is initially quite bashful on the nose, dark berry fruit intermingling with brown spices and orange blossom, gently unfolding with aeration. The palate is well... Read More

So much purity and definition, this is a beautiful wine with clarity of flavour. Touches of grilled almond and rosemary, mocha, smoke and coffee bean, there is so much freshness, with juice rushing in between the muscles and a... Read More

The five lives of Mas de Daumas Gassac Red Wines Laid down in a cool cellar (14°-16°C, 57-60°F) even the oldest can happily wait with no problem for many years. However, being laid down in warmer temperatures will... Read More

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Guigasse is cut from the same cloth, with a big, spicy bouquet of ripe black cherries, Asian spice, Provençal garrigue, and sappy flowers. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, has... Read More

Absolutely brilliant and my favorite of the lineup, the 2010 Chapelle St. Theodoric Châteauneuf-du-Pape le Grand Pin comes from a single plot of old Grenache vines located next to the Rayas lieu-dit. From sandy soils and... Read More

Dark color with purple tint on the rim, black cherry, blackcurrant, and fresh prune. Powerful and unctuous with a lot of freshness. This vintage seems to be very approachable and well balanced. Tannins are dense and very silky.... Read More

Another 2020 that's going to demand patience, the 2020 Château Léoville Las Cases is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot that was raised in 80% new French oak. It's... Read More

Full-bodied, generous in fruit and glycerol. The tannins and acidity seem to meld together into a single vertebral column. The alcohol is present, lending sweetness rather than heat. Remarkably elegant for a wine of these dimensions,... Read More

As usual, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes brings more richness and depth without losing any sense of elegance or balance. Blackberries, ground herbs, chalky minerality and loamy earth flow to a ripe, medium... Read More

Deep purple – almost blue – in color, the 2020 Château Léoville Barton offers up an exotic, vibrant, perfumed nose that carries loads of pure cassis fruit interwoven with violets, sappy green herbs, and... Read More

Incorporating 20% Cabernet Franc, the Merlot-dominated 2016 Château Barde Haut is one of the darker colored wines in the lineup. It offers a Grand Cru Burgundy-like purity and elegance as well as beautiful cassis and darker... Read More

Bright ruby-red. Superripe, soil-driven aromas of currant, plum, cherry pie, mocha and minerals; almost liqueur-like in its ripeness, in a 1947 way. Then huge, sweet and plush, with great volume and depth to its flavors of cassis,... Read More

Pure perfection in a glass, the 2016 offers notes of cherry, liquorice, smoke, graphite, plum and eucalyptus. It is fresh and racy. This is a perfectly balanced wine, full of energy and freshness, juicy and fleshy on the palate,... Read More

Not as rich or concentrated as I was expecting, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes still delivers ample layers of dark fruit, hints of cola, mint and spice elements. It's full-bodied, silky and long, but it looks... Read More

Possibly the wine of the vintage, the 2017 Vieux Chateau Certan is a blend of 81% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from the highest point on the Pomerol plateau. Deep purple, with a heavenly bouquet of creme... Read More

Lastly, the 2020 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is another legendary wine from this château that has been on an incredible run over the past decade. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that was brought up all... Read More

Concentration and intensity to the cassis and bilberry fruits. Well expressed, carefully extracted and there is good balance with a crushed mint freshness on the finish. Really starts to show subtle floral edging with time in... Read More

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The inky hued 2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot that spent 18 months in 70% new barrels. It's a dense, rich, powerful 2020 offering loads of pure cassis... Read More

In the 19th century, it was a common practice of the time to “hermitage” the wines. Bordeaux chateaux would add to their wines a certain quantity of wine from the Rhone - notably from the region of Hermitage –... Read More

This too is intensely floral in character with nuances of rose petal, violet and lavender to the subtle spicy red berry fruit scents. There is both excellent precision and verve to the beautifully textured medium weight flavors... Read More

Rich and concentrated with violet reflections and a wall of tannins. Well structured, it sets its feet deep in the ground and will need time to soften and develop. Good quality with depth. The tannins are far more present than... Read More

Salty and tangy, this has excellent energy and persistence, really driving from start to finish in a straight line, giving expression and nuance. Well delivered, good bitter edges as well as bright and shiny citrus - a real mix... Read More

The youngest wine we had in the vertical, and clear evidence of how the 10 year rule for classified Bordeaux is far too soon for first growths in great vintages. For Lafite, this was the last great vintage before 2016 came around,... Read More

The 2020 Château Trotte Vieille has closed down since I tasted it as a barrel sample in 2021 and needs lots of air, but this is an incredibly gorgeous wine. Its dense purple hue is followed by powerful, inward bouquet of... Read More

The flagship 2020 Cornas is a beauty! Clearly in the same league as recent top vintages, it has a wild bouquet of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, game, and iron, with some incense and spice thrown in for good measure. It's... Read More

I always find the wines of Domaine du Cayron to be singular and exotic, and I love them, but admittedly, they’re not for everyone. Their 2020 Gigondas checks in as 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault and Mourvèdre... Read More

Leave it to Breton to take summer heat and turn it into a light summer breeze in a glass. No matter the elements, Breton always manages to bring out the best in his Gamay. His guiding principle is simply to make Morgon he wants... Read More

100% Cabernet Franc
Purchased fruit, farmed organically.
Short maceration to keep the wine light.
Natural fermentation and aging entirely in concrete.
The name “La Peau de l’Ours” comes from the French expression,... Read More

I love it when a wine steals up on you, and you very definitely get that here, taking its time on the first attack then rapidly expanding outwards and upwards. Undoubtedly it will knit down as Las Cases can't help itself but... Read More

This has so much tannic power, with density, layers and structure along with layers of blackberry, liquorice, baked earth, cigar box and the signature exotic spices of Mouton. A big, textured and complex wine that is taking it... Read More

Inky purple in colour, with peony and iris aromatics, then a whoosh of freshness that makes your mouth water before you are even halfway through. This is extremely impressive, well balanced, with fine tannins and real discretion... Read More

Always more muscular and powerful than Armailhac, there's no surprise that this has closed down more than its sibling. The complexity of the layers are still on display, showcasing fresh menthol, cranberry, white pepper, black... Read More

This accelerates on the palate with incredibly ripe tannins and finesse. Full body, roasted fruit, leather and grilled meat. Dried flowers, too. It shows superb tannin backbone and polish. Tight and youthful. Just starting to... Read More

A concentrated but graceful feel to this Issan, showcasing why it is one of the powerhouses of Margaux without necessarily flexing its muscles the most obviously. Takes a few moments to unroll on the palate but as it does it expands... Read More

Vivid ruby. Spice-accented red and dark berries, licorice and_ garrigue_ on the highly perfumed nose. Sappy, expansive black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors unfurl and become sweeter with air while picking up a suave floral... Read More

Jacques Devauges keeps each portion of the Clos des Lambrays separate throughout the growing season, winemaking and maturation. The final assemblage of each part, however, is synergistically better than any of the separate sections,... Read More

A burst of bright cherries, raspberries, and blood orange emerge from this stunning Pinot Noir. Medium-bodied with a mineral tension to balance the fur-fruited aroma and flavors that announces its status as a top-level red Burgundy.... Read More

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is terrific, offering classic darker berry fruits as well as peppery garrigue and sappy flower notes. As with the Boisrenard release, this has plenty of tannins and structure, but it’s... Read More

A discreet if easily perceptible dollop of wood frames the fresh and bright aromas of essence of red currant, mineral reduction and anise. There is again a beguiling texture to the medium weight flavors that also brim with minerality... Read More

Rich fruit that is full of that classic exotic Cos spice, yet more restrained than in the past with a slatey graphite base. Beautifully put together; an exciting wine that will grow in complexity and flavour.

A rocking second wine, the 2018 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion (58% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) offers lots of ripe blackcurrants, cassis, damp earth, tobacco leaf, violets, and spring... Read More

Entirely new wine this year from Ducru Beaucaillou plots in Haut-Medoc (in Cussac Fort Médoc, just over the border). This has a juicy balance, and round supple tannins, approachable but with ageing potential if you want... Read More

The finest bottle I’ve had of this wine (which came from the estate), the 1982 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou continues to drink brilliantly and is a magical Saint-Julien. Still healthy ruby hued with a mature yet insanely... Read More

It's clear that this is hugely concentrated, as is the Montrose right next door, but there's also beautiful juice and freshness underneath the black fruits and the powerful grip. Tannins, acidity and fruit: it's all... Read More

Tasted at the château, the 2014 Montrose builds on the promise it showed in barrel with gorgeous blackberry, raspberry, cedar and orange sorbet scents that are extremely pure and refined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple... Read More

Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2015 Lafite-Rothschild is endowed with serious volume and textural resonance. Super-ripe plum, smoke and spice notes emerge in the glass, but only with great reluctance. Although the aromatics... Read More