Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac) – there’s no denying that no matter what vintage, the name of Rothschild will carry the weight and cachet for selling itself, not to mention scoring very high. Cassis, raspberry coulis, and blackberry dominate on a palate of crisp tannins, enormous structure and concentration. Always give this time to age to allow the wine to come into itself. Drink from 2027- 2045. 

Chateau Brane-Cantenac (Margaux)- Lovely, fragrant and elegant, this classy wine is well- defined with aromas of blackberry, cedar and tobacco with a palate of good structure and concentration, streamlined acidity, and velvety texture in this classic Margaux. Drink from 2025-2035.

Jane Anson 96 Points for Inside Bordeaux: "The 2016 Fleur Cardinale is a muscular, beautiful and profound wine full of olive tapendade, tar, smoked earth, and tons of liquorice, bitter chocolate shavings, cassis and blueberry fruits. Things close in to a slate textured finish that gives balance and makes your mouth water, and as things open you get clearer peony floral aromatics curling out of the glass. This was the point at which the Decoster family were really making me sit up and take notice of what was happening at Fleur Cardinale, and it is starting to sing as five years old." (11/2021)

The 2001 Léoville Las Cases is a vintage I’ve encountered many times. Now at two decades old, it has a generous nose with those black plums still in situ, along with graphite and cedar; this bottle is a little more backward, probably due to the provenance. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, white pepper and sage and fine grip. Though it’s not as precise or chiseled as recent vintages, there is admirable complexity on the lightly peppered, tobacco- and rooibos-tinged finish. Excellent. 2021 - 2050

Reserve de la Comtesse is the second label of the Chateau Pichon Longueville, a 2nd growth of Pauillac in the 1855 Classification. From the suprisingly quality vintage of 2014, this wine is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot. With clear ageing potential (due to the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon) there is a deep core of plum, cassis, raspberry and cedar notes with a lush, concentrated and structured palate. Although this is in a good place for drinking now, it can be aged further.

Chateau Canon-la-Gaffeliere is a Premier Grand Cru Classe, located in the St. Emilion appellation on the right bank of Bordeaux. Owned by the von Neipperg family, there are links to viticulture here since the 13th century. Canon -la-Gaffeliere is one of only two Bordeaux properties that is Certified Organic. The 2014 is a red blend of 55% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of preserved blackberry, fig and black currant. The palate is medium-bodied with good structure and a spicy finish.

The history of Chateau Duhart-Milon is not as well known as it should be. In the 18th century the wines of Milon became the "second" wine for Chateau Lafite. The 1855 classification awarded Duhart-Milon the only 4th growth in Pauillac, recognizing it for the quality of its soil. Sometime between 1830-1840 35 acres was left to the Casteja family who subsequently possessed a 99acre vinyard name Duhart-Milon. Over the years the property changed hands many times and suffered a decline in the quality of the wines. The property was acquired in 1962 by the Rothschild family who totally overhauled the vineyards and brought back the quality of the wine as a 4th growth. The 2019 Duhart-Milon is a red Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with an up front fruity nose of black currant and blackberry, along with typical Pauillac nuances of pencil shavings, forest floor and cedar. Round, layered and creamy through the palate this wine has excellent potential for great ageing Drink from 2025-2045.

94 points-Vinous "Another sleeper from Saint-Estèphe, the 2016 Phélan Ségur is super impressive. An enticing bouquet laced with crushed rocks, graphite, iron, smoke, lavender, mint and inky blue/purplish fruit makes a strong opening statement. A wine of power, resonance and gravitas, the 2016 Phélan is remarkably expressive and also full of potential. (AG)" (1/2019)

Beautiful ruby colour . Ripe and fairly intense bouquet of crunchy red fruit (cherry). Well-integrated oak flavours. Smooth on the palate, the wine reveals excellent fruits with plenty of rich tannin.

" I loved the 2016 Château d'Issan and this is a certainly a wine to seek out. Made from a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot from yields of 55 hectoliters per hectare, aged 18 months in 50% new oak, it has a beautiful perfume of blue fruits (cassis, blueberries, etc.) as well as hints of graphite, subtle oak, and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, with integrated acidity, a terrific mid-palate, and perfect balance, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and is going to cruise in good cellars for 20-25 years or more. It's a beautiful, elegant, seamless wine that's very much in the style of the vintage." -Jeb Dunnuck (2/2019)

97 points - Decanter

"Uplifting aroma of ripe blackberries and black plums, wrapped around by a layer of smoked bacon, sweet spices, cedar and forrest floor. Structured, dense and dry palate with most fruit elements hiding behind the big frame for now. Even at this young age, there is already some degree of balance between acidity and tannins after an hour in the decanter. Not ready to drink now, let it age for 3-5 years and this Margaux will develop gracefully for the next decade." - Wine Enthusiast

94 points- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate" Blended of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Clos du Marquis has a very deep garnet-purple color and is a little broody to begin, giving way to notes of crushed blackcurrants and black cherries with touches of warm plums, pencil shavings, earth and new leather with a waft of yeast extract. Medium-bodied with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins, it has bold fruit matched by freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. (LPB)" (11/2018)

95 points - Jeb Dunnuck

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."

Pristine, attractive fruit with perfume and freshness. Dark-berry and plum notes, as well as cassis and brambleberries, define the character of both nose and palate. The tannins are saturated in ripe dark berries and plums and deliver a superbly fresh, shimmering, dark-fruited finish. Wow-factor is strong here in 2016.

Another well known Chateau from Margaux, this popular third growth of the 1855 Classification offers great value/quality from Margaux. With a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 20% Merlot, this is a ‘pretty' wine with floral and black tea notes interwoven with the plum, red cherry, cassis, cedar, and graphite. A classy wine that can be enjoyed now.

Chateau Haut-Bailly (Pessac-Leognan)- Chateau Haut-Bailly always delivers amazing wine, and this vintage is no exception. With aromatic and dense black fruits of cherry and cassis the 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Merlot is savory and delightful with earthy minerality and tobacco nuances. Be patient and you will be rewarded with a supremely delicious wine. You won't have to wait too long though as 2024 will mark 10 years in the bottle and the wine will start to show well. Drink 2024-2035.

Without a doubt, Chateau Troplong Mondot has one of the most enviable and unique terroirs on the St. Emilion appellation on Bordeaux's Right Bank. Specifically located on the highest point of Saint-Emilion's famous limestone plateau, the 43ha estate has ideal soils and exposure. The resulting wines combine strength and elegance, complexity and precision. The 2019 Troplong Mondot is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon with attractive aromas of blackberry liqueur, blueberries, licorice, chocolate, and spice. With mouth-filling, juicy, and concentrated textures and flavours, this 2019 received a perfect score of 100 from Wine Enthusiast. Best from 2027-2040.

Perhaps not as popular as the neighbouring vineyards of Lynch-Bages, it is still very much Pauillac with many improvements being done at both the Chateau and in the vineyards in recent years. Made from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon for that power, structure, and flavour profile; and 17% Merlot for softness and roundness, this can still be further aged, but can be opened and enjoyed now. Enjoy the notes of tobacco, graphite, plum, black currants, mushrooms, and dried fruit of this wine!

Chateau du Tertre is a 5th growth in the 1855 Classification, located in the Margaux appellation on the left bank of Bordeaux. The chateau itself is 1000 years old, stretching over 52ha. In 1961, the estate was acquired by Phillipe Gasqueton who restored the vineyards and chateau after WWII. After his death in 1995, his widow sold the property to the neighbouring owners of Chateau Giscours, a 3rd Growth. In 1997, the estate was restructured and redesigned by the current Dutch owners of Albada-Jelgersma. This red blend has mainly cabernet sauvignon, with the balance of merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot. A typical Margaux style with elegant floral and red fruits on the nose, yet with plenty of tobacco, cedar and dried herbs with a soft texture, and fresh acidity. Wait a couple of years to enjoy this and drink from 2025-2040.

The 2016 Château Duhart-Milon is a highly-rated, elegant 4th Growth Pauillac blend (typically ~67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot) featuring a deep, dark ruby color. It offers intense aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, and violets. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with silky, well-integrated tannins, excellent freshness, and a long, savoury finish. 

Château Haut Boutisse is a highly-regarded Saint-Émilion Grand Cru from Bordeaux, known for its rich, structured red wines dominated by Merlot, blended with Cabernet Franc/Sauvignon, offering complex notes of dark fruit, spice, earth, and oak, with deep tannins and elegant structure, grown on limestone/clay soils with mature vines, resulting in wines with excellent aging potential and complexity.

Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 1995-2025

Experience the refined Château Potensac 1982, a Médoc Cru Bourgeois that has aged gracefully over decades. This distinguished vintage reveals elegant layers of dark fruit, cedar, and subtle earthy notes, with a smooth, balanced texture and lingering finish. Perfect for collectors and wine enthusiasts, it exemplifies the finesse and tradition of one of Médoc’s most respected estates.

91 Points - Jean-Marc Quarin
“Very tall Outsider. I still have a few bottles of this wine that continues to surprise me. And I'm not the only one since served blind at another dinner behind the Pichon Baron 1994, the guests preferred it! Intense and fine nose. Royal on the palate and very homogeneous through and through, with a smooth body and above all a nice and long, dry finish"

This second-label wine is a fine reflection of the estate. It is rich, with beautiful tannins and a creamy texture that has soft and generous blackberry fruits

A high percentage (75%) of new wood has given this wine a very fine polished character. Along with the structure, it has brought out impressive aromas of black fruits, cinnamon spice and power. The wine is has a fresh black-fruit aftertaste.

Nose: Intense aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and cherry, with hints of cedar, tobacco, and vanilla.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of ripe dark fruits, such as blackberry and plum, complemented by notes of spice, licorice, and dark chocolate.

Palate: Well-structured with velvety tannins, offering a smooth and elegant mouthfeel. The finish is long and lingering, leaving a pleasant aftertaste of black fruits and subtle oak.

"With its perfumed Cabernet Franc and supple Merlot, this wine is packed with fruit and tannins. It is rich although the fruitiness is most apparent, a juicy wine that hides its structure in the cushioning fruits. Drink from 2024. Roger Voss" - 96/100, Wine Enthusiast

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron 2018 reveals a deep, almost black colour. The nose is delicate, with notes of black fruits and a hint of subtle, well-integrated wood. The palate is generous and full, with powerful and luscious tannins. The balance is rich and harmonious with tension.

The 2020 Echo de Lynch-Bages is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, aging for around 12 months in one year-old French oak barriques. It has an alcohol of 13.03%, a pH of 3.78 and an IPT (tannin index) of 80. Deep garnet-purple in colour, it rolls out of the glass with expressive, upfront notes of baked black and red cherries, plum preserves and blackcurrant cordial, followed by hints of new leather, tobacco leaf and a medicinal waft. The medium-bodied palate is chock-full of savoury flavours, with a chewy texture and just enough freshness, finishing a little rustic.

Located in the heart of the Graves, the Chateau is named after the family it belonged to until 1851. Now owned by the Quinn family, although more famous for minerally driven Bordeaux white blends, their red wines are also excellent. The current winemaker is a big believer in translation of terroir: he wants all the wines to have a sense of place. The 2014 Fieuzal is a red blend made with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc for a ripe and fruity wine with herbal and earthy nuances, underpinned with firm, yet refined tannins and well-balanced acidity. Exellent potential for ageing.

The Chateau Lynch Bages 2019 ( one of the most famous 5th growths) is in line with the previous wines of the property with a blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), along with the addition of 24% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. This great Bordeaux wine offers a characteristic fruity nose with fresh and spicy notes, as well as fine woody notes. The smooth and balanced palate is supported by a beautifully dense and powerful tannic structure, providing plenty of precision and fruit. Put this one away for awhile. Drink from 2029 and will age for the next 30 years. A perfect score given from Jeb Dunnuck.

Margaux shows us the elegance and feminine side of Bordeaux. This second label of Chateau Brane Cantenac, a Second Growth of Bordeaux is a blend of 65% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Already silky and very promising, it expresses black fruit aromas of blackberry and fleshy cherry mixed with elegant toast, smoke, and vanilla. The tannins are refined and balanced and is absolutely in the drink window.

Medium-bodied, elegant and refined, with lovely, fresh, sweet, red fruits, silky tannins and floral aromatics. The wine is bright, refined and finesse driven. There is purity in the fruit, length and energy here.
The wine was made from blending 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, reaching 14.5% alcohol and aging in 50% new French oak barrels

The very expressive bouquet shows attractive hints of cherry and raspberry. The wine is ethereal on the palate, with beautiful freshness that highlights the delicious fruitiness. The long aftertaste confirms the overall charm and attractiveness.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon: 65%, Merlot: 30%, Cabernet Franc: 4%, Petit Verdot: 1%
Drinking Window: 2019 - 2050

98 Points - Neal Martin, Vinous
"The 2014 Pontet-Canet is a captivating example of biodynamic Bordeaux at its best. It offers an intense and complex nose of blackcurrants, blackberries, crushed stones, and cedar with hints of graphite and spice. The palate is full-bodied, richly textured, and beautifully balanced, with ripe tannins that provide structure without heaviness. Layers of dark fruit, mineral notes, and a subtle earthiness develop seamlessly, culminating in a long, precise finish. This is a profound wine with great ageing potential.”

Reflecting centuries of winemaking mastery, Chateau Giscours 2020 offers silky tannins interwoven with flavors of blackberry, tobacco, and graphite —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

Reflecting centuries of winemaking mastery, Domaine De Chevalier 2019 offers silky tannins interwoven with flavors of blackberry, tobacco, and graphite —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

The Château Marquis d'Alesme 2016 is a red Bordeaux wine, noted for its deep garnet-purple color and rich, concentrated flavors. It features notes of plum preserves, crème de cassis, and Black Forest cake, along with hints of potpourri, star anise, menthol, and tapenade. The palate is described as full, rich, firm, and grainy, with good freshness and a long, beautifully fragrant finish.

"This impressive wine is structured yet well balanced by an attractive fruitiness that parallels the tannins and the smokiness from wood aging. The density of the palate is countered by fresh acidity that shines through. Drink 2024. Roger Voss" - 95/100, Wine Enthusiast

"Aromas of wood and fresh fruit translate to the palate, giving this wine depth and concentration. It is powerful but also balanced and fresh, displaying the elegance of the vintage. While never overpowering, the wine's structure will allow it to age well. Drink from 2024. Roger Voss" - 96/100, Wine Enthusiast

The watchword for this wine is style. Tannins underline the fruit. This rich structure, while not losing the swaths of berry flavors and crisp black currants, presents the balance between the ripeness and freshness of the vintage. Drink this wine from 2024. Roger Voss