Amazing aromas here with tobacco, crushed stone, cigar box, currants, tar, and lead pencil, as well as spices, iron, and dried ginger. Medium- to full-bodied, with a density and tightness. Very compact and complex. Racy. Delicacy with strength. Orange peel undertones. A wine to contemplate. You must understand it to understand the great Lafites of the past and those of the future. Only 12.8% alcohol. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot and 1% petit verdot.

Elegant, sophisticated, long, clean and expansive, this is showing just great due to all its layers of perfectly ripe, red fruits, silky tannins, length and freshness. There is a real verve here, with concentration, sweetness, lift and complexity allowing the wine to age and evolve. The finish leaves you with more of those sweet, ripe, juicy berries. Today the second wine of Mouton Rothschild is superior to every vintage of Mouton produced in the 70s and most of the 80s! The wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

The 2020 La Clarté de Haut-Brion is a blend of 74.8% Sémillon and 25.2% Sauvignon Blanc, harvested from 19th to 28th August, with an estimated alcohol of 13.4%. It opens with intense notes of fresh pineapple, white peaches and lemon curd with suggestions of honeysuckle, paraffin wax and chalk dust. The medium to full bodied palate delivers bags of juicy peaches and citrus flavors, accented by tropical fruit opulence and supported with refreshing acidity, finishing with a spicy kick. La Clarté de Haut-Brion is the second wine of both Haut-Brion Blanc and La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, produced from the declassified selections from both estates.

Forest leaf, cigar box, herbs, flowers, cherry pipe tobacco, forest scents and spice nuances start off the perfume. On the palate, the wine is juicy, silky, fresh and vibrant, with layers of fresh, sweet, vibrant, polished red fruits that linger. Elegance is the keyword here. This is probably the finest vintage of Le Clarence de Haut Brion ever produced. It is a great example of a baby Haut Brion.

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.

Red pit fruits, flowers, cedar, and plums with a touch of tobacco leaf create the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, soft, and energetic on the palate, with an air of elegance, refinement, and silky textures, which feel great on the mid-palate and in the finish. This is the debut vintage produced in their new cellars, which helped shape the wine, allowing the team to vinify for the first time on a parcel-by parcel basis.

The 2016 is a red wine blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine has notes of black fruit and cocoa bean on the noes with a dense texture and elegant tannins. The palate is full-bodied with notes of black currant, pencil shavings and spice that lead into a very pleasant long finish. Drink from 2026-2036.

This wine has a tightly-knit tannic texture and a beautiful, long,aromatic aftertaste. It is fruity, spicy and oaky (the oakiness is normal at this early stage).2012 Quintus starts out quite smooth on the palate, going on to showripe fruit and a freshness that might be referred to as mineral which is very typical of the terroir.

Chateau Margaux is one of the prestigious first growths, and the only one from the Margaux appellation of the left bank of Bordeaux. In existence since 1500, the Ginestet family acquired the property about 1950, then purchased by the Mentzelopoulos in 1977 who still runs it to this day. The Chateau Margaux red blend is an assemblage of 90% Cabernet Sasuvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. A brilliant Bordeaux according to critics boasting powerful aromas of blackcurrants, sweet tobacco, spices, violets and pencil shavings. The palate is elegant, yet complex and compelling. This vintage scored a perfect 100 points from several critics; one of several vintages of the decade to have scored this high. This will age for decades.

Chateau Montrose is a 2nd growth in the Saint Estephe appellation of the left bank of Bordeaux. The location itself is exceptional, facing the Gironde Estuary which means the 95ha vineyard benefits from the moderating influence of this body of water during hot summers and harsh winters. This red blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot and scored over 95 by many of the critics. All typical Medoc aromas and flavours of blackcurrant, licorice, pencil lead, crushed stones, warm spices and violets. Balanced and impressive, give this a decade before opening and age for the next 30+ years.

Tasting Note
Delicate golden color with soft green glints. Intense nose with tremendous aromatic richness. Initial notes of citrus zest are followed by lemon tart, and then toasted notes reminiscent of freshly baked brioche. The palate offers mandarin zest and candied orange, enlivened by a touch of star anise which underscores the wine's aromatic freshness. Dense and rich, the palate has good length with a pleasant hint of bitterness on the finish.
It is only in Sauternes that botrytis can develop, giving Rieussec its unique richness. This noble rot meets our grapes to create a delicate osmosis that we reveal by harvesting each grape at the ideal moment. Once bottled, our wine starts its life cycle, drinkable from the earliest stage to the longest aging potential: when kept chilled once opened, it can be enjoyed for several weeks without deteriorating and can match a thousand flavors and occasions from noon to midnight.
Blend: 89% Sémillon, 9% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle

Winemaker Notes
A creamy attack, buttery and spicy, characteristic of Pagodes de Cos precedes elegantly balanced aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry,blackberry, violet, bergamot and black tea. The 2019 vintage also presents velvety tannins and a very long finish with a magnificent,refreshing touch of salinity. Incredibly dense and elegant, Pagodes de Cos 2019 is a wine with instantaneous powers of seduction.
Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot

Benefiting from the same care as Château de Camensac, it is blended from carefully selected batches, specifically for the second wine, in accordance with its identity. Soft tannins, ripe fruit, elegance, and always excellent value! Château de Camensac's second wine is predominantly Merlot, subtly complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon.

The fruit is highlighted and offers an elegant aromatic palette.When young, the wine develops a crisp density that becomes patinated with a beautiful complexity as the years pass.

"The 2016 Durfort-Vivens is gorgeous. Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics and structure play off the natural intensity of the year beautifully. Blackberry, grilled herbs, licorice, leather and crème de cassis are all vividly sketched in this layered, expressive Margaux. (AG) " --- Vinous (1/2019)

96 points - James Suckling

" The 2016 Haut-Bages Libéral has turned out beautifully. Rose petals, lavender and sweet red cherry are some of the notes that grace this fine, translucent Pauillac. Medium in body and precise, with exquisite finesse and nuance, the 2016 is incredibly expressive today. This is a fabulous showing from proprietor Claire Villars Lurton. (AG)" (1/2019) -Vinous 95 points

The nose displays plenty of menthol, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas. On palate, this medium-bodied wine is fresh and ripe with a long, clean, mineral and herbal finish. An incredibly food-flexible wine!

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.

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. This 2014 Bordeaux red blend consisting of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc The wine has a rich fruit basket of blackcurrants, blackberries and raspberries accompanied by graphite, espresso and earth. The palate is fresh and precise that is rich, classy and elegant. Drinking well now, but certainly has 20 years of life left in it!

91 points -Jeb Dunnuck "The outstanding 2016 Château Marquis de Terme is an attractive, elegant wine that has classic Margaux character. Black cherry and blackberry fruits, hints of graphite and smoke earth, and plenty of tobacco leaf all emerge from this medium-bodied effort, which has some firm tannins and a great finish. Give bottles 3-4 years to let these tannins chill out, and it should drink beautifully for 15+ years. " (2/2019)

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

"Wet earth and sliced, fresh mushrooms. Menthol. Dark berries, such as blackberries and blueberries. Full-bodied, dense and whole, but you don't feel the tannins, even though it is so powerful and structured. Detailed and defined. Cashmere. Wonderful finish. Glorious young Cheval. Try after 2025, but so wonderful already. " -James Suckling (2/2019)

100 points - Robert Parker

99 points - James Suckling

98 points - Decanter

Château Haut-Bailly 2015
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
ABV: 13.5%


Drinking Window: 2023–2035

Tasting Note:
The 2015 vintage presents a vivid and powerful red with an intense bouquet of blackberry, blueberry, and crème de cassis, underscored by subtle black olive aromas. On the palate, it offers a full body with chewy tannins and a harmonious balance of fruit and spice. The finish is long and persistent, revealing layers of dark fruit and a touch of minerality.

Château Haut-Bailly 2016
Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc
ABV: 13.5%


Drinking Window: 2023–2055

Tasting Note:
The 2016 vintage is characterized by its brilliant nose, offering exquisite delineation and focus with aromas of blackberries, potpourri, crushed stone, and hints of violet petal. The medium-bodied palate is supported by fine-grained tannins and perfectly judged acidity, leading to a cohesive and almost Pauillac-like finish. This wine is a classic example of Haut-Bailly's elegance and aging potential.

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: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2004-2045

93 Points - Robert Parker
“Ausone's extraordinary minerality is present in the 1995, yet there are more aromatics, a richer, more multidimensional palate impression, and a fuller texture - all with the terroir brilliantly expressed. The wine boasts a dense ruby/purple color and an emerging but tightly knit nose of spring flowers, minerals, earth, and black fruits. Rich, with an opulent texture and surprising sexiness for a young vintage of Ausone, the medium bodied 1995 displays exquisite balance between its acid, tannin, alcohol, and fruit. Although it is not yet seamless, all the elements are present for an extraordinary evolution in the bottle. This wine will age at a glacial pace for 30-40 years. "

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2000 - 2035

88 Points - Robert Parker
"The 1981 tastes remarkably velvety and supple for such a young Latour--not that this is a malevolent occurrence--because the excellence, complexity, and richness of the wine are still present. The color is dark ruby, the bouquet offers plenty of ripe cassis and spicy oak, and the flavor is generous, silky, moderately tannic, and long in the finish. This Latour may turn out to be similar to the 1971."

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: 92.9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7.1% Merlot
Drinking Window: 2023-2078

100 Points - Vinous
“The 2016 Latour showed in stunning fashion out of barrel. Bottled in July 2018, it has retained a very deep, almost opaque color. The utterly beguiling bouquet features blackberry, graphite, crushed rose petals and a touch of licorice, though this ebbs with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with such fine tannins that the power and backbone of this Latour are barely registered by the senses. There is bewitching symmetry here, and incredible length, plus a persistency on the finish that is enthralling. Is it a perfect Latour like the best bottles of the 1928, 1961, 1982, 2000 and 2010? I think it might be. The 13.5% alcohol is a whole percentage point less than the 2010, making it more approachable. Drink 2023-2060"

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: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2005-2055

95 Points - Robert Parker
"Bottled in June, 1997, this profound Mouton is more accessible than the more muscular 1996. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 19% Merlot, it reveals an opaque purple color, and reluctant aromas of cassis, truffles, coffee, licorice, and spice. In the mouth, the wine is "great stuff," with superb density, a full-bodied personality, rich mid-palate, and a layered, profound finish that lasts for 40+ seconds. There is outstanding purity and high tannin, but my instincts suggest this wine is lower in acidity and slightly fleshier than the brawnier, bigger 1996. Both are great efforts from Mouton-Rothschild."

Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2008-2043

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
"A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 1998 Château Mouton Rothschild comes from a vintage that saw beautiful early season weather but rain in September and October that made the vintage more complicated for the Médoc and Graves region. A more medium to full-bodied effort, it has terrific complexity in its red and black currant fruits as well as smoked tobacco, loamy earth, spice box, and chocolate. Balanced, elegant, and silky on the palate, its oak is perfectly integrated, it has fine tannins, and it’s smack in the middle of its prime drinking window."

Blend: Cabernet sauvignon 83 %, Merlot 15 %, Cabernet franc 1 %, Petit verdot 1 %
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2055

96 Points - Decanter
"Gorgeous deep pink purple rim to the glass. The nose is bright and intense, heady with perfumed aromatics and edges of graphite, cocoa and sweet red cherries. Such clarity on the palate, excellent tension from the get go with beautifully expressed cherry and strawberry fruit that has a soft, ripe fleshy core. The tannins are fine but plentiful, coating the mouth providing the structure and frame. This has such a sense of quiet confidence - it's not shouting so much but gently showing off its many layers of fruit, acidity, minerality and freshness. This really grows on you, expanding and deepening as the flavours travel across the palate, coming in waves. Understated and introverted at the moment but still harmonious and classy. I love it. Just 41% of grand vin. 3.73pH. Drinking Window: 2027-2050"

Blend: 80% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc

Winemaker's Notes
“The blend of the 2015 is 80% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc, the vines (average age of 31 years) are located in the south of the Saint Emilion village where the soils are clay based with sand and gravel. Fermentation and ageing in concrete vats and then another 12 months in barrels. The winery converted to full organic farming in 2020."

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 69%, cabernet franc 16% and merlot 15%
Drinking Window: 2000-2050

100 Points - Robert Parker
"The 1986 possesses outstanding richness, a deep color, medium body, a graceful, harmonious texture, and superb length. The penetrating fragrance of cedar, chestnuts, minerals, and rich fruit is a hallmark of this wine. Powerful, dense, rich, and tannic, as well as medium to full-bodied, with awesome extraction of fruit, this Lafite has immense potential. Patience is required. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2030. Last tasted 11/94"

Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking Window: 2010-2030

90 Points - Robert Parker
"As I wrote last year, Lafite's 1994 is the first 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine made at this estate. The only other wine that had such a high Cabernet content was the 1961. The 1994 is not an easy wine to figure out. I felt more positively about it this year than last, but it is an atypically powerful, ferociously tannic, frightfully backward Lafite that appears to require 15-20 years of cellaring before its huge tannin level will begin to melt away. The extraordinarily dense color saturation and intense ripeness undoubtedly suggest that something profound may well emerge from this wine in two decades. On the other hand, 20 years of aging could result in a marvelously well-constructed wine that remains hard, tough, and charmless. It's a gamble, but for readers who love Lafite and have the necessary income, it may be worth it. Although it appears even more backward than the 1986 Lafite, it possesses enough positive components to elicit considerable interest. For your children's children's children? All of the wines in this segment were tasted between March 19 and March 28 in Bordeaux. Most of the important wines from both the 1994 and 1995 vintages were tasted three separate times during my ten-day stay in Bordeaux."

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: 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."