98 points -Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "Deep purple-black colored, the 2016 Pavie Decesse bursts boldly out of the glass with confident blackcurrant preserves, baked blackberries, baked plums and sandalwood notes with touches of Indian spices, mocha and lilacs plus touches of cedar chest and pencil lead. Big, concentrated and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, it has a truly impressive structure of very firm, finely grained tannins and racy freshness lifting all that densely packed fruit to a very long, multilayered finish. Wow! (LPB)" (3/2019)

99 points - James Suckling

94 points - Wine Spectator

Lush, round, medium bodied and packed with fresh, ripe red fruits, licorice, earth and mocha, the wine is forward, elegant and supple textured in the fruit filled finish. ---The Wine Cellar Insider:

94 points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate" Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it absolutely sings of red roses, black tea and tilled black soil with a core of crushed blackberries, Morello cherries and cassis plus a hint of cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a great intensity of ripe black berries and floral layers, framed by soft, silken tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. (LPB)" (11/2018)

94 points - James Suckling

93 points - Wine Enthusiast

"The 2010 Pontet-Canet offers a very deep garnet color. Whoa—the nose explodes with a vast array of black fruit preserves and savory nuances: plum preserves, blackcurrant cordial, black cherry coulis and licorice with wafts of dried lavender, melted chocolate, charcuterie, black olives, truffles and camphor plus a hint of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is completely filled with black fruits, exotic spices and earthy nuances with a firm foundation of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. So much more expressive and seductive than a lot of 2010s at this stage, and yet it is still incredibly youthful! (LPB)" (5/2020) -100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

100 points - James Suckling

98 points - Jeb Dunnuck

The second label of First growth Chateau Latour is just as impressive as its big brother, and at 12 years old, if there is more than one bottle in the cellar, time to see how it's evolving. Not an epic vintage, but well made, nonetheless. The tannins are fresh, there is good weight in the mouth and the typical flavours of cassis, cedar and graphite are here in this iconic Pauillac.

96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Medium to deep garnet colored, the nose slowly, measuredly emerges with notions of preserved Morello cherries, baked blackcurrants and blackberry compote, giving way to nuances of pencil shavings, unsmoked cigars, Chinese five spice and sandalwood plus ever so subtle hints of cardamom and eucalyptus. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit preserves with a firm, grainy-textured frame and fantastic freshness, finishing with a veritable firework display of lingering spices and minerals. This is a more restrained, relatively elegant vintage of Latour that may not have that "iron fist in a velvet glove" power of the greatest vintages but nonetheless struts its superior terroir and behind-the-scenes savoir faire with impressive panache. It is drinking nicely now with suitably rounded-off, approachable tannins, and the tertiary characters are just beginning to bring some more cerebral elements into the compote of temptingly primary black fruits. But, if you're looking to drink it in full, flamboyant swing, give it another 5-10 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20-25 years+. (LPB) 96+ (3/2020)

97 points - Decanter

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 99 acre 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. This 2011 is a red blend from Pauillac in Bordeaux that is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, this is a medium bodied wine with finesse and purity showing ripe berries, tobacco, spice and leather with an excellent freshness on the palate. This wine is ready to drink now, and should age for a few more years yet.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), Merlot (14%)
Drinking Window: 2035-2065

98-99 Points – James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
“A magnificent Ducru-Beaucaillou that combines remarkable precision with effortless elegance. Aromas of cassis, blackberries, violets and crushed stones are layered with graphite, cedar, cigar box and delicate exotic spices. The palate is concentrated yet impeccably refined, showcasing a seamless core of pure dark fruit supported by ultra-fine tannins and vibrant acidity. Powerful without excess, it displays exceptional balance, mineral tension and depth, unfolding gracefully toward an extraordinarily long and polished finish. A classic Saint-Julien of outstanding pedigree and exceptional aging potential.”

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (34%), Cabernet Franc (1%)
Drinking Window: 2032 - 2040

96-98 Points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com
“The 2025 Echo de Lynch-Bages is a pretty serious second wine that is going to need a number of years to soften. Quite frankly, I don't think I have ever tasted an Echo with this much power and overall structure. Dark-fleshed fruit, gravel, incense, licorice and scorched earth convey gravitas. There's a lot of wine here, but patience is required.”

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%), Petit Verdot (5%)
Drinking Window: 2030-2045

95-96 Points - James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
“Well composed, textural and velvety, with currants, herbs and baking spices on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Refined texture with substance and harmony. Focused, lingering finish. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 5% petit verdot.”

The Château Haut-Simard 2014 is a well-structured Saint-Émilion Grand Cru known for its elegant balance of ripe dark fruits (black cherry, plum, blackberry) with notes of spice (cinnamon, cloves), earth, and subtle oak, offering a smooth, medium-bodied palate with supple tannins and a fresh finish, reflecting classic Right Bank Bordeaux character. Primarily Merlot with some Cabernet Franc, it's considered an attractive, harmonious wine that's enjoyable now but has mid-term aging potential.

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

Tasting notes
An elegant wine with aromas of black fruits, spices and cocoa. The attack is silky in the mouth, rich and ample with nice roundness and generous tannins. The finish is long with lovely aromas of cherries and currants. 80% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Description
For more than a century, Chateau Bel-Air Eiffel has been the property of the descendants of Gustave Eiffel, the famous builder of the Eiffel Tower. On the most beautiful gravel lands of the Graves de Vayres appellation, between the city of Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion, this 40 acre estate combines Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vinification
The vines are cultivated organically and adhere to a gentle vinification to extract the very intense aromas of this terroir. With long macerations and oak aging for 12 months in French oak, 35% of which are new.

Drinking Window: 2000-2035

90 Points - Robert Parker
"Tasted from my cellar, the 1986 has consistently been outstanding, falling short of being sublime. The spicy, peppery bouquet reveals aromas of dried herbs and red currant fruit. Medium-bodied, austere, but youthful, vigorous, and concentrated, this wine still requires 4-5 years of cellaring. It is surpassed in this vintage (which favored the northern Medoc and Cabernet Sauvignon) by its rivals, Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild."

Blend: Cabernet sauvignon 74%, merlot 18% and cabernet franc 8%
Drinking Window: 2008-2040

95 Points - Robert Parker
"The 1995 Lafite-Rothschild (only one-third of the harvest made it into the final blend) is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. The wine was showing spectacularly well when I tasted it in November, 1997. It exhibits a dark ruby purple color, and a sweet, powdered mineral, smoky, weedy cassis-scented nose. Beautiful sweetness of fruit is present in this medium-bodied, tightly-knit, but gloriously pure, well-delineated Lafite. The 1995 is not as powerful or as massive as the 1996, but it is beautifully made with outstanding credentials, in addition to remarkable promise. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2028."

Blend: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2020-2052

95 Points - Robert Parker
"The 2010 Pichon Lalande is performing extremely well and at the top of the range I predicted several years ago. A final blend dominated much more by Cabernet Sauvignon than usual (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot), the wine is a tighter, more tannic and structured version of this famed Pauillac, which often tends to have more of a St-Julien-like personality than most Pauillacs. Structured, backward and tannic, yet showing a fat mid-palate that is more savory, broader and more expansive than I remember from barrel, this wine is somewhat reminiscent of the 1986, given the Cabernet Sauvignon domination of the blend. Full-bodied, impressively endowed, and less sexy and velvety than normal, this is a somewhat different style of Pichon Lalande than most readers have been used to. Whether you like it more or less will depend on your point of view, but this wine, unlike most Pichon Lalandes, needs a good 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for 30+ years."

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: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot
Drinking Window: 1992-2030

Discover the timeless elegance of Château Lagrange 1982, a rare and celebrated Saint-Julien Grand Cru Classé. This iconic vintage has matured gracefully over decades, revealing layers of dark fruit, cedar, and subtle spice, with a silky texture and remarkable depth. Perfect for collectors and connoisseurs alike, it embodies the pinnacle of Bordeaux craftsmanship and is a prized addition to any wine cellar or special occasion.

94 Points - Wine Spectator.
“One of the sleepers of the vintage. Traditional and rich. Dark ruby-colored, with a slight garnet rim. Masses of berry, chocolate and raspberry character. Full-bodied and very tannic, packed with fruit. Lengthy finish. A youthful and concentrated wine; a relatively good value.”

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon: 70%, Merlot: 30%
Drinking Window: 2014-2045

96 Points - Neal Martin, Vinous
"The 2009 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux is a splendid example of this second wine’s quality. It presents an expressive bouquet of dark fruits, floral notes, and cedar. On the palate, it is full-bodied and well-balanced with velvety tannins and a seamless texture. Layers of blackcurrant, plum, and subtle spice build through to a long, refined finish. This wine is seductive yet structured, demonstrating excellent ageing potential and the hallmark elegance of Margaux.”

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."

Balancing complexity and finesse, Chateau Figeac 2020 offers rich aromas of ripe berries, dark cherries, and delicate floral hints —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

Crafted with elegance and power, Domaine De Chevalier Rouge 2020 offers a structured palate with notes of cassis, spice, and cedar —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

Blend: 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2027-2050

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
"Based on 33% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2024 Château Figeac reveals a classic Figeac nose of ripe blue fruits, sappy tobacco, flowers, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, it has a fabulous, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. To have this level of quality in a vintage like 2024 is mind-blowing, and this is one of the top handful of wines in the vintage."

Blend: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2036 - 2058

98 Points - James Suckling
“Very classy, the transparency of this Angelus giving brilliance to the pure fruit in such a difficult growing season. Medium-bodied, it has a compacted palate and creamy, polished tannins. Very melted and harmonized. Dark cherries, raspberries and orange peel come through beautifully with some stones. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.”

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: 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."

The 2019 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is a, "gorgeous," and, "fabulous," second wine from the famed Pauillac First Growth, offering remarkable intensity, energy, and elegance that rivals previous, lesser-vintage First Growths. Composed primarily of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot, this 2019 vintage showcases a deep, complex, and full-bodied profile with a long, velvety finish. 

The 2019 Château Pavie showcases a deep, dark, opaque purple-black color with a rich bouquet of cherries, blackberries, and berry fruit liqueur, mingled with sweet spices, loamy soil, licorice, and rose petals, known for its power and structure.

A clear contender for the best, Left Bank value wine made today, this beauty is elegant, fresh, soft, silky, polished, medium-bodied, fruity, ripe, sweet and already accessible. Drink it over the next 5-7 years. 92 Points

A deep, dark, opaque, glass-staining wine. Restrained, composed & perfumed on the nose with black fruits, cedar, raspberries, blackberries and violets. The palate is very concentrated & extremely refined. Its fine grained tannins are tightly knit, powerful & muscular but in harmony. An outstanding wine.

Polished and refined with a firm, fine and linear tannin structure. Harmonious. Perfumed violets, roses and subtle licorice. All in balance here, with precise layers of black fruit, minerals and pencil lead. Rather seamless. Firm, yet fine and sleek to the end. Very classy. Fine-velvet texture. 96% cabernet sauvignon, 3% merlot and 1% petit verdot.

Polished and well-structured red with a medium body and firm but creamy and broad tannins. Perfumed already, with sandalwood, blackberry and currant character. Crushed stones. Tea leaves, too. Firm and solid to the end. Very solid for the vintage. 59% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 10% cabernet franc, 1.5% carmenere and 1.5% petit verdot.

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.

Rich and dramatic, the 2019 Valandraud bursts with aromas of berry fruit, plums and licorice, framed by a lavish but far from exaggerated application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, fleshy and sensual, it's broad and enveloping, its lavish core of fruit framed by ripe, polished tannins and succulent balancing acids.

Contention as one of the top vintages produced here, the wine is strong on its floral characteristics. Once past the opening bouquet of white flowers and dried roses, you find plums, black cherries, black raspberries, mint and cigar wrapper nuances. The palate provides a lush, opulent, vibrant, energetic backdrop for its wealth of deep red fruits and oceanic influences. The finish has a touch of salty chalk that adds complexity to its wealth of silky, ripe, red fruits.

Picture walking into a flower show with a basket of fresh berries and a lit Cuban cigar, and while that is not quite PC, it is the aromatic profile here. The wine is fresh, bright, vibrant, lifted, and floral on the palate. The wine is elevated, refined, soft, and silky, with a refreshing, silky edge to the fruits in the finish. The wine is pure elegance. There is nothing between you and the fruits. There is intensity, length, and a striking sense of purity. The wine lingers seamlessly for 60 seconds or longer..

The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot aging for an estimated 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. The production of the grand vin represents 48% of the harvest this year. Opaque purple-black in colour, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notions of blackberry pie, preserved plums and crème de cassis, plus suggestions of Chinese five spice, chocolate mint, graphite and cedar chest with a touch of violets. The medium-bodied palate is built like a brick house, featuring firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness to support the taut, muscular black fruits, finishing long and spicy.

Chocolate shavings and smoked coffee bean on the nose, it's a vintage where you can't get away from the tannins, but here they have sinew and juice, like the best translation of the tannins in the year. This has a real purity of fruit (very low SO2 addition at Palmer) and the gourmet touch you want in Alter Ego. 45% of overall production. 3.73pH. Survived mildew better than in 2018 because of my experience in dealing with the conditions. August 15 to 29 for the harvest.