"Blend: Merlot (51%), Cabernet Franc (45%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (4%)
Drinking Window: 2032–2045

98-100 Points - Robert Parker
“A blend of 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2025 Château Cheval Blanc stands out once again as among the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of blood orange and iris, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific mid-palate density, sweet tannins and a long, vibrant, violet-inflected finish. With its striking aromas, intensity of flavor and resolutely classical proportions (checking in at 12.7% alcohol and pH of 3.76), the 2025 gives every indication of being one of the great Cheval Blancs of the decade.”"

"Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (86%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Cabernet Sauvignon (1%)
Drinking Window: 2032–2045

96-100 Points - Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com
“Damson colour, this has a ton of juicy blue and black fruits, well judged density, energy and lift, clear ageing ability, grilled cumin, peony, iris flowers, slate and crushed rocks, 40% new oak, with large oak casks for almost half of the production. Less Cabernet Franc in this blend simply because of the size of the berries. 3.7ph. Blason no longer sold En Primeur, so not tasted here. Juliette Couderc director. Harvest began on August 26 with young Merlot on gravel. 23hl/h overall yield, fascinating to see how they split across different terroirs in the L'Evangile vineyard - on gravel 15hl/ha, on clay 28hl/ha, on sand, 38hl/h all due to size of berries. In practise this meant a lot of intra-plot harvesting, going through four or five times. The result is impressive.”"

Château Le Bernet produces acclaimed wines in Bordeaux, France, with two distinct identities: a 9-hectare Médoc estate focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot and a Graves estate producing acclaimed dry white and red blends, often managed by Vignobles Guignard. Known for a balanced, fruity, and traditional style, the wines represent classic Bordeaux terroir.

The 1982 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière is a highly regarded, mature Saint-Émilion Grand Cru known for its silky texture, medium-bodied profile, and notes of sweet red/black cherries, tobacco, and earthy, rustic spice. Considered a success in a strong vintage, it generally shows a, complex, and developed character with softened tannins, often offering notes of truffle and, occasionally, smoky oak.

The 1982 Château Lynch-Bages is a legendary, fully mature Fifth Growth Pauillac that defines the vintage's power and richness, often considered a benchmark for the estate. It offers a complex bouquet of cedar, creme de cassis, tobacco, and cigar box, with a full-bodied, opulent, and fleshy palate that has fully resolved tannins.

The 1982 Château Cheval Blanc is a legendary, fully mature Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé (approx. 60% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot) that represents a benchmark for the vintage. It offers a complex bouquet of dried fruits, truffles, cedar, and mint, featuring a silky, medium-bodied palate with soft tannins and a long finish.

The 1990 Château Margaux is a legendary, 100-point Bordeaux wine known for its immense depth, velvety texture, and remarkable longevity. It features opulent, aromatic layers of blackcurrants, violets, cedar, and truffles, with a powerful yet silky, full-bodied palate. It represents a "monumental" vintage now at peak maturity, yet capable of further aging until at least 2050.

The 2019 Château L'Eglise-Clinet is a premier, highly acclaimed Pomerol, renowned as the last masterpiece produced by the late Denis Durantou. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it offers immense concentration, power, and elegance, featuring notes of black fruit, violet, truffle, and graphite with refined tannins.

The 2017 Le Pin is a highly sought-after, 100% Merlot Pomerol known for its exceptional elegance, depth, and balance, offering complex notes of black fruit (cherries, plums, raspberries), floral hints (violets, lilacs), earthy tones (truffle, forest floor, ironstone), and spice, all carried by silken tannins and vibrant freshness for a long, fragrant finish, showcasing remarkable complexity for the challenging vintage.

The 2004 Le Pin is a highly-rated, opulent Pomerol known for its plush, fleshy texture and complex aromas of ripe black fruits (plum, cherry), cassis, espresso, vanilla, and earthy notes, offering a luxurious experience with smooth tannins that can be enjoyed young or aged, showcasing the vintage's quality despite challenges.

Château Lagrange's "Parcellaire Haut Bois" is a special, limited-release single-plot Cabernet Sauvignon from their Saint-Julien estate, known for intense black fruit (cherry, cassis) mixed with spicy, earthy notes, floral hints (violet, rose), and a powerful yet silky structure, often with tobacco, mint, and liquorice undertones, built for aging and showcasing a specific terroir's character, distinct from the main Château Lagrange blend .

The Château Lagrange Heritage Collection 2023 is a limited-edition Saint-Julien red wine created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the estate's acquisition by the Japanese Suntory group in 1983. This unique cuvée is a modern reinterpretation of the estate's historical blend from that era.

The 1983 Château Lagrange, a Saint-Julien Third Growth (3ème Cru Classé), is described as a classic, savory Bordeaux with firm tannins, earthy notes, and mature black fruit (plum, cassis), showing complexity with hints of leather and pencil shavings, holding up well with age but benefiting from decanting to reveal its depth, reflecting the era when Suntory began its major revitalization of the estate.

The 2022 Château Le Pin is a highly acclaimed, 100% Merlot Pomerol, described as an elegant, full-bodied, yet balanced wine with intense aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, violet, and spice, plus notes of cedar, truffle, and mocha. It features velvety tannins, seamless integration, and a long, fresh, spicy finish with layers of dark fruit, earth, and minerality, offering both immediate appeal and aging potential, often compared to a luxurious, weightless texture.

The Château Margaux Year of the Horse Set is a rare, limited-edition collection released to celebrate the Chinese Zodiac's Horse, typically featuring three iconic vintages like 1978, 1990, and 2002, presented in a special case with a unique certificate signed by the château's director. This set offers a journey through different eras of Château Margaux, highlighting exceptional vintages known for their power, complexity, and aging potential, appealing to collectors and enthusiasts of fine wines.

Blend: 65% Malbec, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2025–2035

Tasting Note:
"Deep garnet with a violet rim. The nose is opulent and expressive, revealing aromas of dark chocolate, vanilla, and freshly ground coffee, interwoven with ripe blackberries, wild blueberries, and a hint of sloe. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured, with firm tannins and a balanced freshness. The finish is long and spicy, leaving a lasting impression of dark fruit and subtle oak nuances."

"Le Plus de La Fleur de Boüard" is a rich, full-bodied red wine from Lalande-de-Pomerol that is 100% Merlot, made from the estate's oldest vines. It is known for its aromatic complexity, remarkable elegance, and powerful structure, with a lengthy aging process in new French oak barrels. Key tasting notes include cassis, black cherry, and hints of chocolate, smoke, and truffle, balanced by a fresh, vibrant acidity and a persistent finish.

Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2058

95 Points - Robert Parker
"The 2021 Château Margaux saw a traditional élevage in new barrels, with bottling in July, and as readers will remember, it's a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that benefited from late picking, appreciable percentages of saignée, and a strict selection. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, blueberries and raspberries mingled with hints of licorice, white flowers and charcoal, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a broad attack, lively purity and sweet structuring tannins, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. It's a classic that will richly reward bottle age."

Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2050

96 Points - James Suckling
"This wine has a tightness and linear energy, with red currants, herbs, plums and hints of dark chocolate. Medium-bodied with beautiful integration and length. Racy and focused. Just the right amount of wood and fruit with tannins. Second wine of Chateau Margaux."

Blend: 67% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2050

98 Points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2021 Vieux Château Certan is a spectacular tour de force from Alexander and Guillaume Thienpont. What a wine. Vibrant and magnificent in its precision, the 2021 races across the palate, revealing seemingly endless layers of nuance over time. Dark blue/purplish fruit, cinnamon, new leather, graphite, lavender and crushed rocks all build effortlessly. The Cabernets are dialed up in 2021 and that comes through in the wine's flavor profile and overall feel. The purity of the flavors is just mind-bending. Harvest took place between September 25 and October 4. The blend is 67% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Readers who can find the 2021 should not hesitate, as it is truly magical. Score

Blend: Cabernet sauvignon 86%, merlot 9%, cabernet franc 3% and petit verdot 2%
Drinking Window: 2012-2055

100 Points - Robert Parker
"The 2003 Lafite Rothschild comes as close to perfection as any of the great Lafites made over the past three decades (1982, 1986, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010). This sensational effort came in at 12.7% natural alcohol, it is made in the style of one of this estate's great classics, the 1959. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color to the rim along with a luxurious bouquet of cedarwood, lead pencil shaving, white chocolate, cocoa and cassis. Fat, rich, opulent and full-bodied with low acidity and stunning seductiveness and complexity, this noble wine possesses a bountiful, generous, heady style. It is just coming into its plateau of maturity where it should hold for 20-25 years. This is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage - make no mistake about that."

Blend: Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc: 5%
Drinking Window: 2012-2033

97 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2007 Petrus offers a compelling nose of dark berries, graphite, and hints of spice and earth. Medium to full-bodied, it is rich yet refined, with smooth tannins and a lush texture. The wine is elegant and well balanced, with a core of black fruit accented by mineral undertones. The finish is long and persistent, demonstrating fine depth and purity. A slightly cooler vintage that delivers finesse and charm rather than sheer power.”

Blend: Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc: 5%
Drinking Window: 2010-2065

99 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2000 Petrus is a stunning, deeply concentrated wine that marks a modern classic for the estate. It reveals an intoxicating bouquet of black cherries, blueberries, graphite, and subtle floral notes. The palate is incredibly rich, silky, and powerful, with layers of ripe fruit, fine-grained tannins, and a persistent, velvety finish. This wine exemplifies the elegance and intensity Petrus is known for, with a balance that makes it approachable yet built for decades of ageing.”

Blend: Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc: 5%
Drinking Window for Magnum Size: 2013 – 2050

98 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"This 1998 vintage of Petrus is dense and powerful, with aromas of black currant, plum, and a touch of graphite. It is structured and muscular, showcasing a firm tannic backbone that promises long ageing potential. The palate features concentrated dark fruit, a touch of earthiness, and hints of licorice and espresso. The wine is dense and full-bodied, with a long finish that echoes the layered fruit and mineral complexity. A slightly more reserved but very promising vintage.”

Blend: Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc: 5%
Drinking Window: 2008 – 2040

98 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"This 1998 vintage of Petrus is dense and powerful, with aromas of black currant, plum, and a touch of graphite. It is structured and muscular, showcasing a firm tannic backbone that promises long ageing potential. The palate features concentrated dark fruit, a touch of earthiness, and hints of licorice and espresso. The wine is dense and full-bodied, with a long finish that echoes the layered fruit and mineral complexity. A slightly more reserved but very promising vintage.”

Blend: Merlot 95%, Cabernet Franc: 5%
Drinking Window: 2006 – 2035

98 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 1994 Petrus is one of the most expressive and opulent wines of the vintage. It opens with a seductive nose of blackberries, cassis, graphite, and hints of smoky incense. On the palate, it is powerful yet refined, boasting tremendous depth and concentration. The tannins are firm but polished, supporting a complex core of dark fruit and mineral notes. The finish is long and nuanced, revealing layers of spice, cedar, and dark chocolate. A classic Petrus that will continue to evolve beautifully.”

Blend: Merlot: 95%, Cabernet Franc: 5%
Drinking Window for Magnum Size: 2001 – 2047

98 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 1986 Petrus is a masterpiece of balance and elegance. It offers an intense bouquet of black cherries, plums, violets, and subtle hints of truffle and earth. The palate is full-bodied, rich, and lush, with beautifully integrated tannins and a remarkable length that lingers in the finish. The wine has aged gracefully, showing layers of complexity with hints of leather, tobacco, and forest floor emerging. A sublime expression of Merlot’s potential at its peak.”

Blend: Merlot: 88%, Cabernet Franc: 12%
Drinking Window: 2011-2027

97 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2007 Château Le Pin is a beautifully poised wine with aromas of ripe blackberries, blueberries, violets, and a touch of cedar. It is medium to full-bodied with a dense, velvety texture and fine tannins. The palate delivers a balance of dark fruit, mineral notes, and subtle spice, framed by elegant acidity. The finish is long and refined, showcasing the wine’s purity and precision. A classic Le Pin that combines power with grace, promising excellent ageing potential.”

Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window for Magnum Size: 2028–2060

98 Points - James Suckling
"The 2018 Pichon Lalande is rich and opulent with expressive aromas of blackberries, black cherries, rose petals, and toasted spices. The palate is full-bodied and dense with silky tannins and layers of ripe fruit supported by fine acidity. Flavors of dark chocolate, licorice, and graphite add complexity, while the finish is long and persistent. This is a powerful yet elegant wine with excellent ageing potential, showcasing the hallmark finesse of Comtesse de Lalande.”

Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2065

98 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"Aromas of sweet dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and licorice introduce the 2022 Pichon‑Longueville Baron, a full‑bodied, layered and multidimensional wine that’s deep, dense and lively, with terrific concentration, sweet tannins and a long, penetrating finish. Integrated and serious, this hints at the lavishness inherent to the vintage, while remaining classic and controlled.”

Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot
Drinking Window for Magnum Size: 2028–2070

99 Points - James Suckling
"Alluring ripe fruits—blackberry, dark cherry, mulberry, plum—with espresso, cedar and slate minerality; fine, plush tannins”

Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot
Drinking Window for Magnum Size: 2025–2060

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast
"Rich, generous and structured—black currant essence and elegant tannin combine superbly for long-term aging.”

Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot
Drinking Window: 2017 - 2060

100 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2009 Mouton Rothschild has a striking label from Anish Kapoor. The wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot that begs comparison as a young wine with what the 1982 tasted like in 1985 or, I suspect, what the 1959 may have tasted like in 1962. Representing 50% of their production, the wine has an inky purple color to the rim and not terribly high alcohol for a 2009 (13.2%), but that is reflected by the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a remarkable nose of lead pencil shavings, violets, crème de cassis and subtle barrique smells. It is stunningly opulent, fat, and super‑concentrated, but the luxurious fruit tends to conceal some rather formidable tannins in the finish. This is an amazing wine that will be slightly more drinkable at an earlier age than I thought from barrel, but capable of lasting 50 or more years. Kudos to the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and the entire Mouton team, led by Monsieur Dhalluin.”

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon: 66%, Merlot: 19%, Cabernet Franc: 13%, Petit Verdot: 4%
Drinking Window: 2000-2060

99 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The late Michel Delon always thought that this was the greatest vintage he had produced. We often tasted it side by side with the 1982… the 1986 is a monument to classicism, with great tannin, extraordinary delineation, and a huge, full‑bodied nose of sweet, ripe cassis fruit intermixed with vanilla, melon, fruitcake, and a multitude of spices. The wine has always been phenomenally concentrated, yet wonderfully fresh and vigorous. It still seems young… a great example of Léoville‑Las Cases.”

Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2018-2047

96 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2012 Lafite Rothschild is a well-structured, precise wine with aromas of blackcurrants, cedar, graphite, and spices. The palate is medium to full-bodied with firm tannins and bright acidity. The flavours are layered with dark fruit and mineral notes, leading to a long, elegant finish. This vintage is classic Lafite in style and offers excellent aging potential.”

Blend: 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13.5% Merlot
Drinking Window: 2010-2033

96 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2001 Lafite Rothschild is a structured, refined wine with aromas of black cherry, cedar, tobacco, and spice. It is medium to full-bodied with firm tannins and vibrant acidity. The palate is layered with black fruit and mineral notes, showing excellent balance and finesse. The finish is long and graceful, reflecting the wine’s aging potential.”

Blend: 57.5% Merlot, 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window for Magnum Size: 2024-2080

98 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2016 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Magnum is a spectacular expression of this prestigious estate, showing intense aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, tobacco, graphite, and spice. The nose is beautifully layered with hints of cedar, fresh herbs, and dark chocolate. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated, boasting firm yet silky tannins that support a rich core of black fruit flavors intertwined with mineral and earthy nuances. The wine has a lively acidity that provides freshness and balance to the dense fruit, culminating in a long, complex, and persistent finish. This magnum bottle preserves the wine’s vibrancy exceptionally well and is expected to age gracefully for decades, offering a remarkable drinking experience.”

Blend: 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2020-2055

96 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"The 2014 Château Cheval Blanc is a beautifully balanced wine with fresh aromas of blackcurrant, plum, tobacco, and a hint of graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with excellent definition and finesse, offering vibrant dark fruit flavors supported by polished tannins and a mineral-driven finish. It has a silky texture and a bright acidity that provides energy and length. This is a precise and elegant vintage, combining richness with restraint, and will develop gracefully over the next 15–20 years."

Blend: Merlot 55%, Cabernet Franc 45%
Drinking Window: 2012-2040

97 Points - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
"The 2006 Château Cheval Blanc is an exquisite example of this legendary Saint-Émilion estate. It opens with an intensely floral bouquet of crushed violets, potpourri, and fresh spring flowers. These aromatics are layered with deeper, more complex notes of leather, cigar box, and truffle that develop with time in the glass. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied but resolute, showing remarkable precision and finesse. Flavours of dense cassis, plum, and dark cherry are underscored by a vibrant mineral backbone and bright acidity. The tannins are fine-grained and persistent, coating the mouth with a gripping, almost tooth-dusting texture. The finish is long and refined, lingering with subtle spice and earthy undertones. Initially reserved and tightly wound, this wine reveals complexity and balance that make it a truly majestic vintage. The structure promises excellent aging potential, with a maturity window spanning from 2015 to at least 2035, and some critics suggest it may evolve gracefully for even longer."

Blend: 78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2027-2045

97 Points - Vinous
"The 2024 Canon is superb. One of the standouts of the vintage, the 2024 possesses striking mid-palate depth to match its vertical personality. Chalk, white pepper, mint, lavender, rose petal, slate and blue/purplish fruit all stain the palate. There's gorgeous depth and density here, and yet the 2024 remains a super-classic wine from the property. This is a real stunner. That's all there is to it. Tasted four times."