This scorching hot 32-year-old Speyside single malt was carefully aged at the Tomatin distillery starting from 1988, and recently bottled for the revitalized Connoisseurs Choice series by Gordon & MacPhail on March 15, 2021. Drawn from refill American hogshead number 6656 at its natural cask strength of 54.6% ABV, this rare release comprises just 145 bottles, each elegantly presented in a lovely oak presentation case.

As so often with Lafite, it is power that marks this wine. That, and density of texture. The additional element in this vintage, and at this stage of the wine's development, is a dominant wood element. The vanilla and tannins from the wood match well with the concentrated tannins of the fruit, which is dark, dense and tight. This is a wine for long-term aging: in 15 years this will have superb richness.

The color is bright and the aroma, while not that intense, is precise and extremely pleasing thanks to how clean and assorted it is. The bouquet has notes of blueberry, blackberry and juniper, all topped with a balsamic touch. The mouthfeel is extraordinarily soft, perhaps too much so, but fortunately this is balanced by a lively acidity. It is decidedly impossible not to like this wine.

One of the wines of the vintage, the 2000 has barely budged in its evolution since it was bottled and released in 2002. After ten years in bottle, it still reveals a dense opaque purple color along with a potentially sensational bouquet of blueberries, black currants, graphite, asphalt and background oak. Extremely powerful, full-bodied and superbly concentrated with good acidity and high but round tannins, this massive La Mission-Haut-Brion should take its place among this estate's most hallowed vintages when it hits full maturity in another one to two decades. I was surprised by just how youthful this wine tasted at age 12. If tasted blind, I would have guessed it to be around 4 to 5 years old. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050.

Nose: Sweet toffee and candied orange aromas with silky white chocolate and sugared violets. Tropical fruit notes come to the fore with hints of coconut and ripe banana. A nutty note lingers in the background.
Taste: Intense sweetness to begin then fading to reveal herbal aniseed and peppery notes. Dried tropical fruit; pineapple, lime, and coconut flavours complement madagascan vanilla pod.
Finish: Rounded, with lingering vanilla tones with an herbal edge.

Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Rich brown sugar and stewed apples lead to glacé cherries and raisins alongside a subtle touch of honey and ginger.
Taste: Dark honey and almond flavours lead to raisins, warm ginger and lingering fruit loaf.
Finish: A light and delicate finish with soft cherries and toasted almonds.

94/100 Whisky Advocate

"Highland toffee, dried banana, salted caramel, seashells flipped from rock pools, and crispy-skinned oily fish barbecuing over a fire. Sweet toffee meets cinnamon, pepper, and clove, as an express train of smoke clatters through, leaving intense citrus peel oils and green fruits in the backwash. A spasm of spice marks the finish: arid, amid baked fruits and toffee. Leave me now, I have everything I need."

Second label of Chateau Latour.

Critic tasting note: "There is a velvet touch to this smooth, rounded wine. With some dark tannins as well as blackberry fruits, it is rich with some concentration. At the same time, the acidity shoots through the wine to give a really fruity aftertaste." - 94/100, Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of sweet smoke, buttered toast, and mixed nuts invite admiration, while the palate revels in balanced flavors of nutty caramel brittle, pastry crust, and apples. A subtle smoked maltiness weaves through, connecting all elements to a smooth and effortless finish.

Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé is a complex, full-bodied Champagne with a light, delicate pink hue and vibrant, fine bubbles. It offers an intense nose of red berries (like raspberries and red currants), citrus, and smoky, spicy notes, with a velvety, refined palate of concentrated red fruits, tartness, and a persistent saline, smoky finish.

Beautiful aromas of fresh and dried violets, fresh blackberry, blueberry, and boysenberry, black-plum jam, chocolate, vanilla bean and flower and toasted wood. The palate confirms the nose with an integration of flavors that incorporate a delicacy and subtle elegance to these component parts that come together in a cohesive crescendo and lead toward a long, lingering finish.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 1%
Drinking Window: 2003-2030

A Pauillac Grand Cru Classé that has matured to perfection. This distinguished vintage reveals remarkable depth and complexity, with layers of dark fruit, earth, and subtle spice, complemented by a refined, silky texture and long finish. A prized choice for collectors and wine enthusiasts, it embodies the artistry and heritage of one of Bordeaux’s most respected estates.

88 Points - Wine Advocate
“A solidly made effort, the 1982 Pontet Canet reveals some pink at the edge, but it remains a medium-bodied wine offering hints of menthol and red as well as black currants. Although it lacks concentration, the sensuality and suppleness provided by the vintage character are still appealing.”

Blend: Sémillon 80%, Sauvignon blanc 20%
Drinking Window: 2025-2080

100 Points - James Suckling
“A perfect Yquem again after the 2021, which is fresher and more refined than the 2022. The perception of sweetness is super-knit. Lots of botrytis, with turmeric, saffron, cream, roasted meringue, pine nuts, spices and dried mangoes. This is a powerful, seductive and lush wine. Ornamented and richer this year than 2021, but there is so much charm and harmony. Long and spicy, with a hint of petrol at the end. Wow. The second most concentrated Yquem after 1945, according to the winemaker. About 160 grams of residual sugar. So approachable now, but better in five or six years. It will live forever."

Blend: 84% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2057

97 Points - Vinous
"The 2024 Troplong Mondot is a total stunner. As has been the case for some years now, the Grand Vin is blended before being barreled down, which means at the time of tasting en primeur, the wine has seen less wood than the vast majority of its peers. That lends this wine a certain raw energy that is impossible to miss. The purity and intensity of the flavors are simply remarkable. Troplong Mondot is one of the standouts of 2024. Even in this vintage, Troplong Mondot possesses remarkable textural presence, but that richness is matched by notable freshness and linear drive. It was deeply impressive on the two occasions I tasted it. Élevage is planned to be 55% in new oak, 26% in 20HL barrels and 19% in once-used barrels."

Step into a world of luxury. Made to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with an exclusive offering. The Special Limited Edition" The Emperor- Year of the Dragon" where only 3000 bottles are meticulously hand- crafted, enduring an exclusive experience for spirits enthusiasts.

Blend: 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2028-2045

99 Points - James Suckling
"Wow. This is really something for the vintage. Such a long finish, while being subtle and sophisticated with wonderfully silky tannins that are so fine and very long. It's medium-bodied with a beautiful, compact palate from the beginning to the end, including the mid-palate. The finish shows walnut, hazelnut and dark-chocolate character. Exceptional."

Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot
Drinking Window: 2026-2045

97 Points - James Suckling
"A precise, classic vintage showing depth of fruit, but with beautiful austerity and minerals. Mostly red fruit, with touches of dark cherries and currants. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine-etched tannins and lots of brightness. So long and refined in the finish, showing restraint. 51% cabernet sauvignon, 46.5% merlot and 2.5% cabernet franc."

Blend: 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2028-2059

98 Points - James Suckling
"This year, the style of Haut Brion shows through with transparency, beautiful balance and precision. Fine austerity, with excellent minerality, dark olives and red and dark berries. Structured on the mid-palate. Beautiful depth for the vintage, with really fine-grained tannins and a lengthy finish that lingers. So much vibrancy and finesse. A classic vintage."

Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2029-2055

98 Points - James Suckling
"Really impressive depth, concentration and perfume this year, with fine tannins. Lots of violets, red flowers, black cherries and currants. Full-bodied and seriously structured, with impeccable freshness and a very long finish. Dense and powerful for the vintage, with tension, vibrations, good concentration and a tannin framework."

Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2027-2055

96 Points - James Suckling
"Good, pure fruit with scented violets, black cherries and some currants. Full-bodied and richer than most from the vintage, with lots of fresh, dusty tannins and impressive concentration. Fresh, pure, compact and long."

Blend: 51% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2027-2055

98 Points - James Suckling
"A really classic Ausone, reminiscent of the great ones of the 1980s. Medium-bodied, it has such clarity and brightness and length. Purity and precision with drive and focus from superb viticulture and winemaking. A blend of 65% cabernet franc and 35% merlot."

Blend: 51% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2027-2050

96 Points - James Suckling
"A very precise Pavie, this has a compacted palate of blue fruit as well as raspberries and hints of sandalwood. Medium-bodied with a tight, linear finish. Racy and fresh at the end. A blend of 51% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 17% cabernet sauvignon."

Blend: 76% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2027-2045

96 Points - Vinous
“The 2024 Pavie Macquin is positively gorgeous. Silky, layered and voluptuous, the 2024 is so impressive right out of the gate. Plush contours wrap around a core of purplish fruit, lavender, licorice, spice, menthol and chocolate. All the signatures of this site come through loud and clear. Savory and floral notes supported by clean veins of salinity extend the persistent finish. Pavie Macquin shows what was possible in 2024. The choice to harvest everything in October (from the 3rd to the 8th) paid off big time. Aging is in French oak, with about 15% in larger 500-liter barrels, 45% new wood overall. Tasted three times.”

Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot
Drinking Window: 2028-2055

98 Points - James Suckling
"This shows plenty of drive with dusty and creamy tannins that run the length of the wine and builds at the end. It’s medium-bodied showing a focus and energy. Dark currants and flowers flavor. This really has length and it has the depth to improve with age. 93% cabernet sauvignon and 7% merlot."

Blend: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2026–2045

A bold and expressive Saint-Émilion, the 2024 Château Larcis Ducasse delivers impressive structure and depth. Rich layers of dark fruit, spice, and florals unfold with power and finesse. This is a wine that showcases remarkable balance and ageing potential.

97 Points – Vinous
“The 2024 Larcis Ducasse is dense, powerful and imposing—almost surprisingly so. All of the mid-palate. Black cherry, plum, mocha, lavender, chocolate and cinnamon meld together in the glass, but it is the wine's mind-blowing balance that stands out most. This is another stellar showing from Larcis Ducasse. There's real potential here.”

Blend: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2028–2045

Elegant and refined, the 2024 Haut-Bailly impresses with its aromatic complexity and graceful texture. Despite the challenges of the vintage, this wine shows remarkable poise, layered red fruit, and finely etched tannins.

95 Points – Vinous
“The 2024 Haut-Bailly was picked from September 25 to October 4 and matured in 50% new oak, possibly with a shorter élevage. As usual, it deserves patience at this stage as it gradually opens and coheres with aeration. This has a perfumed bouquet built around redcurrant, cranberry and wild strawberry fruit. It's quite floral in style with finely delineated touches of freshly-rolled tobacco and wilted rose petal. The palate is creamy on the entry and velvety in texture, with finely chiseled, lace-like tannins. It is very well balanced with one of the few sensual vintages that you will find from this year. This will be much earlier drinking than other vintages, but that does not detract from what will be one of the most pleasurable 2024s to drink.”

Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2033–2066

A cerebral, elegant Lafite in a throwback style, this 2024 vintage showcases red fruit, graphite, and cedar with a Burgundian finesse. Nuanced, refined and deeply expressive, it possesses freshness, poise, and incredible length on the finish.

97 Points - Vinous
"According to Technical Director Eric Kohler, the 2024 Lafite-Rothschild was picked from September 23 to October 7 and underwent a short vinification—less than three weeks—plus a gentle extraction. The blend includes 16% vin de presse. It has an understated and typical Lafite nose with crushed stone infusing the black fruit, black olive tapenade and marine scents. It comes across as statesmanlike, which is just how you want your First Growth, even in a tricky vintage like this. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh saline notes on the entry. Tensile from the start, this has very impressive focus and is a tad more peppery than previous vintages. This is an assured Lafite-Rothschild with a very seaweed/Japanese wakame-tinged finish. Very promising and one of the very few "cerebral" Left Bank wines in 2024."

Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2032–2050

A true classic in the making, Montrose 2024 is firm, precise, and deeply layered, highlighting its record-setting proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. Vivid cassis, cigar wrapper, and mineral notes meet refined tannins and remarkable length.

97 Points - James Suckling
"This shows finesse and elegance as well as plenty of subtle red currant and blackcurrant character. Medium-bodied with refinement and length. Tender, vivid and pure. Extremely well done in a difficult year."

"A consistently perfect wine every time I've had it, the 2009 Château Pontet-Canet is the greatest wine from this address to date as well as one of the greatest Pauillacs out there. Still youthfully ruby/purple and with a gorgeous perfume of blackcurrants, lead pencil, graphite, crushed rocks, and damp earth, it's still youthful but is just now starting to show more nuance and complexity. Full-bodied on the palate, with a powerful, concentrated mid-palate, incredible depth of fruit, and flawless balance, Bordeaux simply does not get any better." (11/2020) -Jeb Dunnuck (100 points)

100 points - Robert Parker

99 points - Wine Enthusiast

"This great St.-Estephe estate has turned out a succession of brilliant wines. The 2005, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, has put on weight over the last year. An opaque ruby/purple hue is accompanied by a sweet nose of earth, smoke, cassis, and cherries as well as a textured, full-bodied mouthfeel. While the tannin is high, there is beautifully sweet fruit underlying the wine's structure. It will require 8-10 years of cellaring after release, and should drink well for three decades."

This wine is beautifully structured and well-balanced in a classic style, with surprising body and sparkle. The initial firmness evolves into a rounded, creamy texture, complemented by a subtle sweet and sour note of pink grapefruit!

This family owned Domaine has a prestigious location: they are the only Domaine located inside the walls of Clos Vougeot itself. They are the largest owners of land with 5.5ha, many of these with Pinot Noir vines that were planted in 1910. Although they always farmed organically, they received their certification in 2021. This 2019 Pinot Noirs shows tightly packed black and red fruit accented with notes of violets, mineral, earth and wild herbs. This is powerful and rich, with firm tannins, lots of body, and the ability to age almost indefinitely. Try from 2026

The 2019 La Fleur-Pétrus dares to outshine Trotanoy this year, wafting from the glass with aromas of rich berry fruit, plum preserve, dark chocolate, cigar box and spices. Full-bodied, rich and enveloping, it's broad and layered, with beautifully polished tannins, a ripe core of fruit and a seamless, enveloping profile. This is an elegantly muscular, generous Pomerol whose sumptuous personality reflects the warm, dry vintage. Drink Date 2025 - 2055

Elevate your celebrations with the exquisite LOUIS XIII End of Year Edition coffret. This limited-edition coffret, adorned with a dazzling fireworks design, embodies the vibrant spirit of the season and the captivating symphony of aromas within each drop of LOUIS XIII.