’The 2016 Carmes de Rieussec is absolutely gorgeous. Hints of passion fruit, pineapple and mint all run through this gracious Sauternes. Medium in body, open-knit and accessible, the 2016 is easy to drink and enjoy right now.’’
- www.vinous.com

95 points Vinous: "The 2016 Lagrange has a tightly knit, focused bouquet of intense blackberry, briar and cedar aromas. This is impressive, and it gains intensity with aeration. The medium-bodied palate delivers grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a vivacious, spicy, almost peppery finish. One of the most powerful Lagrange that I have tasted. A Saint-Julien that is consistently underrated, this 2016 will give a great deal of pleasure over the next 30-plus years. (NM)" (1/2019)

The Le Clarence Haut-Brion is the 2nd wine of the first growth Chateau Haut-Brion. It was in 2007 that this wine was renamed Le Clarence Haut-Brion as a tribute to Clarence Dillon, who acquired the property in 1935. The 2016 vintage is a blend of 51% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It has a beautiful nose of cassis, violets, graphite and crushed rocks. Medium to full body, it has good concentration, grainy tannins and finishes with a long mineral note. Drink until 2036.

"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with hints of potpourri, star anise, menthol and tapenade. Full, rich, firm and grainy, with fantastic freshness lifting the densely packed palate, it has a long, beautifully fragrant finish.(LPB)" (3/2019) -96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

93 points - James Suckling

Blend: 51% Merlot, 47.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1.5% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 1988-2030

Discover the exceptional Château Pape Clément 1982, a Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé that has matured to perfection. This iconic vintage reveals complex layers of dark fruit, tobacco, and subtle spice, framed by a silky texture and elegant, lingering finish. Highly prized by collectors and connoisseurs, it showcases the heritage, finesse, and timeless quality of one of Bordeaux’s most esteemed estates.

86 Points - Neal Martin
“A mature, tawny rimmed colour. The nose is typically -Graves- with scents of cedar, singed leather, briary, cigar box and a touch of wild mint. Good definition but lacking a little vivacity. The palate is certainly mature, rather diffuse with soft, furry tannins and low acidity. Mocha on the finish that deserves more grip and persistency, but this wine has a degree of charm."

Blend: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46.5% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2029-2049

97 Points - James Suckling
"As to the Grand Vin, the 2024 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is based on 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, resting in 100% new oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by a terrific 2024 that defies the challenges of the vintage. Pure cassis, darker currants, graphite, crushed stone, and sappy violet notes all emerge on the nose. It's medium-bodied, with a beautifully layered, concentrated mid-palate, ripe yet velvety tannins, and a great finish. This classic Saint-Julien will benefit from bottle age and is another brilliant effort from the team. It's one of the richer, more structured wines in the vintage, yet it remains balanced, precise, and never overdone."

The 2019 Alter Ego de Palmer is a vibrant, complex Margaux Bordeaux, known for its intense dark fruit (black cherry, cassis, plum), floral notes (violets), and hints of spice, tobacco, and chocolate, offering a rich, velvety texture with silky tannins, great freshness, and a balanced, energetic profile that delivers depth often associated with a Grand Vin, showcasing a forward, fruit-driven style that's enjoyable young but capable of aging. 

Embodying an iconic legacy, Chateau Latour Martillac 2020 offers aromatic intensity featuring truffle, plum, and subtle oak nuances —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

This is another property owned by the famous Rothschild family, acquiring this estate in 1970, embarking on an ambitious renovation of the vineyards. Vines were replanted, parcels were consolidated and technical improvements were made including the building of a new vat room. Chateau Clerc Milon is a Fifth Growth located in Pauillac that adjoins both Chateau Mouton and Rothschild. This 2019 is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Containing the highest amount of cabernet sauvignon since the 1980's, this is classic Pauillac with fresh cassis, red cherry and plum that has nuances of classic, lead pencil, cedar and tobacco. This can be enjoyed now with a decant but has the ability to age very well for the next 20 years.

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: 47% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2028–2045

Driven by Merlot, this plush and inviting Carruades shows fresh red berries, cherries, and fine tannins. It's elegant, crunchy, and charming, with delicate floral and mineral notes through a nuanced finish.

94 Points - James Suckling
"A juicy and fruity Carruade that's driven by Merlot this year. Fresh red berry and cherry fruit, with a medium body and a light, composed framework of tannins. Fresh, crunchy and elegant, with a delicate, nuanced finish. 47% merlot, 45% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot."

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, subtle rim brightening. Delicate liquorice, ripe red cherry fruit, some cassis and candied orange zest in the background. Medium complexity, delicate dried plums, fresh acidity, blackberry fruit on the finish, mineral aftertaste, already easy to drink.

The rosé displays a beautiful pale color. On the nose, it is complex and balanced with aromas of strawberries, redcurrant, and grenadine. The palate is well-balanced, offering a nice fresh length.

The nose is élégant and offers power (in finesse/controlled), a beautiful racy grain and a good definition. It reveals notes of boysen berry, fleshy/juicy strawberry, small notes of small wild fruits associated with fine touches of cornflower, pulpy/juicy violet plum as well as fine hints of tobacco, very discreet hints of cuben pepper, tonka bean, caramelized almond and an imperceptible hint of coffee (in the background). The palate is elegante, very finely tight, racy and offers a good definition, complexity, a beautiful silky/delicate touch, a beautiful finesse of the suavity/fat, tension, a racy power (in finesse/controlled) as well as a good guideline and finesse of the tension. On the palate this wine expresses notes of blackberry, cassis, small notes of wild strawberry associated with small touches of small ripe/crushed red berries as well as hints of mild tobacco, tonka bean, mocha, cardamom, a subtle hint of zan, juicy violet plum, discreet hints of coffee, vanilla and an imperceptible almost saline hint (in the background). Tannins are precise, structuring, coating. Good length. Like a square of silk, we perceive thousands of small grains/threads that melt in the mouth.

This first collection case contains unique bottles sealed with wax, direct from the Château, and includes: 1988, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2008 vintages

Composed of 56% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6.5% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Haut-Brion is deep garnet in color. The nose beings with simple licorice notes before slowly unfurling to deliver growing scents of creme de cassis, plum preserves, dark chocolate, and lilacs, followed by suggestions of crushed rocks, tar, black truffles and cardamom. The full-bodied palate is a tightly coiled spring, taut with black fruit preserves and earthy layers and framed by very firm, grainy tannins, delivering a burst of freshness to carry the long, long, long finish. This will need a good 7-10 more years to fully blossom, and it will be well worth the wait.

The vineyard is planted with the Sauvignon grape (75%), which provides the fruit, the aroma and freshness to the wine, whilst the other grape variety, the Semillon (25%), imparts roundness and finesse to this fine wine. M. de Malle Graves is a complex and well-structured wine that will benefit from some additional aging in the bottle, but is also enjoyable to drink now. 

The Rosé de Giscours is a refreshing and elegant wine with a pale pink color. On the nose, it offers aromas of red berries and citrus fruits, with a hint of spice. On the palate, it is dry, crisp and well-balanced, with a lively acidity and a long, fruity finish. This wine is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, grown in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux.

Chateau Leoville-Barton (Saint Julien)- this wine is massive and powerful with the bulk of this coming from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc providing the lift. It has a solid core of cassis, blueberry compote, sweet oak and plum flavours wrapped with licorice and pencil lead. Muscular, yet lean, drink from 2025-2035. 

The La Tour Carnet from Haut-Medoc is a blend of 68% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot to add that backbone structure. Dark red cherries, plums, smoke, leather, and cedar abound with silky tannins and fresh acidity. Although this is ready to drink now, give it ample time in a decanter for optimal drinking experience!

Sauvignon Blanc 50% Semillon 50% Beautiful balance between the fruity (fruits of passion, white peach and fresh almond) and the woodiness (vanilla and grilled notes). The sweet part of the wine gives it its fatness and volume. The end of the mouth has the length and the amplitude of the high-classes wines.

Winemaker Notes

A wine of good density ruby red, with brown, mahogany, biscuit hints. The rim is fairly thick and the legs are fine, clear, abundant and regular. At once expressive, forthright and complex. There are notes of all families of fragrance: fruit, flowers, and spices. The attack is forthright, round and suave, soothing even. The intense aromas initially recall the complexity of the nose. There is leather and lightly charred wood, and roasted notes. The beauty of the wine is revealed by its elegance rather than its full-flavor. The wine has an attractive aromatic range with a finish of remarkable elegance.

It is arrayed in an intense, bright garnet red hue flecked with purple. The charming and pleasant nose offers a lovely bouquet of red fruit and liquorice. The equally expressive palate combines aromatic freshness and fruity intensity, interpinned with a velvety texture. A succulent, elegant wine, smooth and well-balanced.

A Red wine from Bordeaux Superieur, Bordeaux, France. Made from Merlot 50%,Cabernet Sauvignon 50%

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.

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.

"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

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

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: 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."

The 2014 Château Branaire-Ducru is a highly regarded Saint-Julien Fourth Growth, praised for its elegant, fresh, and balanced style. It offers a fragrant nose of violet, cassis, and spice, with a structured yet silky palate featuring notes of plum, blackcurrant, and graphite, making it ideal for drinking from 2021 onwards.

Reflecting centuries of winemaking mastery, Chateau Cantenac Brown 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.

A testament to its prestigious terroir, Chateau Pontet Canet 2019 offers aromatic intensity featuring truffle, plum, and subtle oak nuances —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.”