At twelve years old, this pre-teen is more than ready to be enjoyed! Bordeaux wines with dominant merlot tend to be more approachable and easier to enjoy as a younger wine. The merlot dominant wine is soft and smooth yet full of blackberry, plum, green pepper, smoke and vanilla aromas and flavours. 

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 30%
Drinking Window: 1992-2042

Experience the extraordinary Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1982, a Saint-Julien Grand Cru Classé that exemplifies Bordeaux excellence. This iconic vintage has aged gracefully, revealing layers of blackcurrant, cedar, and fine spice, with a silky texture and impressive length. Perfect for collectors and connoisseurs, it is a rare and highly coveted wine that captures the elegance and tradition of one of Bordeaux’s most prestigious estates.

97 Points - Wine Advocate
“The harvest lasted 16 days from the 16th September," proprietor Bruno Borie mentioned about the 1982 Ducru-Beaucaillou. Medium brick colored, it comes galloping out of the glass with bold, expressive notes of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and mincemeat pie with hints of cigar box, star anise, eucalyptus and espresso plus wafts of roasted nuts and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, generous and opulent, the palate has beautifully ripe, fine-grained tannins and tons of youthful fruit, finishing with epically long-lasting layers of preserved black fruits and exotic spices.”

Deep, dark ruby-red is not quite opaque. The nose is classic for Lafite, with meaty notes to the dark fruit complimenting cedary oak. The aromas are deep & brooding. Cassis & dark fruit on the palate is overlaid by coffee notes & plentiful cedar. There is excellent freshness. There is a good concentration of deep, dark fruit supported by fine tannins. Alcohol is balanced & the finish is long. This is a nice classic example of Lafite.

A Cape Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz and Mouvedre.  We tasted this wine in Feb 2026 and found it to be very showing well now.  A great find.  My notes would read - "this wine is fully developed, enjoy now, it is not suitable for further aging.  It is at the top of its game.     

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

The essence of Tokaj wine region in one small bottle. This vintage raised excellent quality, concentrated aszú berries. These wine specialties is extremely rare, they can born in very few vintages and only a very small quantity. The number off bottles produced is 599.

Exceptionally complex, fine-smelling aszú made with furmint base wine and linden-leaf aszú grain. In addition to its intense fruity aroma and good acids, it has a completely smooth, elegant structure. Its sugar content can be described in the background, its main value in its complexity and impeccable balance. A lovely but firm wine, taking full advantage of the vintage. An excellent accessory for desserts and cigars.

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 wine is beautifully structured and well-balanced in a classic style, with surprising body and sparkle. The initial firmness evolves into a rounded, creamy texture, complemented by a subtle sweet and sour note of pink grapefruit!

Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2065

99 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"This has always been one of my favourite wines from the estate… a quintessentially elegant, classic wine of Bordeaux—firm, rigid… with loads of black currants, cedar wood and vanillin, needing 7–8 years of cellaring, and should last for 30+ years.”

The color is concentrated, intense. Aromas of fresh black currant, sweet and ripe, bring great intensity to the wine's fruity youthfulness. Careful barrel aging shows well. This 2010 vintage is fresh and powerful on the palate, with an evolution focusing on tight and firm tannins. The mid-palate is very fleshy, finishing on a slightly dry note produced by the wine's youth and the harvest's maturity. This wine has great power with very good aromatic length. Grapes harvested at full ripeness give fruity retro-olfactive aromas which fully express the potential of Pavie's terroir. Wait at least another five to 10 years, and this wine will make a memorable meal all the more special.

The 2019 Château Lafite Rothschild is a complex, elegant, and powerful Pauillac blend (94% Cabernet Sauvignon) known for its deep garnet color, velvety texture, and seamless integration of ripe dark fruits (blackberry, cassis, plum) with graphite, cedar, cocoa, and spice notes, all framed by polished tannins, minerality, and a long, perfumed finish, offering both immediate charm and significant aging potential. 

Beautiful, resolved nose, a touch of delightful oxidation, coffee and chocolate but still that cherry ripe red fruit clarity. In the mouth it is silky and dense, a flood of quite meaty and fleshy black fruit, super ripe tannins and lovely plum and cherry skin acidity giving length. A beautifully resolved and complete wine.

Exceptionally complex, fine-smelling aszú made with furmint base wine and linden-leaf aszú grain. In addition to its intense fruity aroma and good acids, it has a completely smooth, elegant structure. Its sugar content can be described in the background, its main value in its complexity and impeccable balance. A lovely but firm wine, taking full advantage of the vintage. An excellent accessory for desserts and cigars.

"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

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: 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.”

Award tasting note: "Opulent, fresh, intense flavours and aromas of linseed oil and smoky flint. This has huge complexity and length." - Silver, International Wine Challenge

A real curiosity. Tokaj in a small bottle. An excellent quality vintage with concentrated aszú berries. These wines are only created in extraordinary vintages and are thus a real rarity, only produced in small amounts, in this case 599 bottles.

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."

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.

There is 52% Merlot in the blend and it shows in an enticing, opulent aroma of plum and blackberry. A little more backward than the other wines in the Haut-Brion stable so far, but all the ingredients are there to make a brilliant wine. There is a great depth of ripe fruit, impressively fine tannins, lovely balance and excellent length. It is superbly fresh and has exceptional potential for the future.
(52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot)

This wine is beautifully structured and well-balanced in a classic style, with surprising body and sparkle. The initial firmness evolves into a rounded, creamy texture, complemented by a subtle sweet and sour note of pink grapefruit!

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider: "It was a close call picking a favorite here between LMHBB and HBB, but, perhaps the La Mission has just a bit more going here. The perfume is packed with honeysuckle, lemon rind, pomelo, white peaches and herbs, with a touch of spice cover all the bases. Full-bodied, rich, fleshy and deep, the wine fills your palate with wall of ripe, yellow and orange citrus, crushed rocks, mango and a dab of honey, with ample acidity to keep everything up-beat and fresh. Drink from 2025-2040." 97 Points

As so often with Lafite, it is power that marks this wine. That, and density of texture. The additional element in this vintage, and at this stage of the wine's development, is a dominant wood element. The vanilla and tannins from the wood match well with the concentrated tannins of the fruit, which is dark, dense and tight. This is a wine for long-term aging: in 15 years this will have superb richness.

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.

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..

92/100, Wine Enthusiast: "This wine offers a full, bright bouquet that is packed with notes of cherry, chocolate, exotic spice, leather, rum cake and a touch of cinnamon. The palate shows smooth, fine tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish."

Blend: 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot
Drinking Window: 2020-2060

98 Points - Robert Parker
“The 2010 Ausone struck me as another brilliant, potentially perfect wine, which should come as no shock to people who have been following Vauthier's work over the last decade or more. Backward and intense, this wine offers up notes of crushed chalk/rock mineralilty interwoven with blueberry, black raspberry and cassis as well as some graphite and vanillin. It is incredibly rich but at the same time precise, fresh and vivacious. This is a super wine, but it will require enormous patience from its potential suitors. Forget it for a decade and drink it over the following 50+ years."

The 2010 Château Léoville-Las Cases in 1.5L magnum is a legendary, full-bodied Saint-Julien second-growth wine (82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc) known for its immense, long-term aging potential and structural perfection. It features intense cassis, graphite, dark berry, and cedar notes, exhibiting polished tannins, fresh acidity, and remarkable concentration.

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.”

"This great St.-Estephe estate has turned out a succession of brilliant wines. The 2005, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, has put on weight over the last year. An opaque ruby/purple hue is accompanied by a sweet nose of earth, smoke, cassis, and cherries as well as a textured, full-bodied mouthfeel. While the tannin is high, there is beautifully sweet fruit underlying the wine's structure. It will require 8-10 years of cellaring after release, and should drink well for three decades."

"Violet and iris aromatics curling out of the glass, starting to reach their full expression at 20 years old. Beautifully finessed and elegant, with hints of black truffle, cloves and rich blackberry fruits, this is a vintage that showcases the best of Margaux. It took its time to reach this point but it has been worth the wait, and the wine just gets better and better over a few hours in the glass. Highlights the success of the partnership between owner Corinne Mentzelopoulos and director Paul Pontantallier, with this château delivering some of the most memorable wines of the turn of the century years in Bordeaux. (JA) " (7/2020) -Decanter (100 Points)

100 points - Jeb Dunnuck

100 points - James Suckling

99 points - Robert Parker

1 Bottle Each of the following wines:
Ausone 100 JS / 99 VM / 98+ WA
Cheval Blanc 100 WA / 100 JS / 100 VM 
Haut-Brion 100 JS / 98+ JD / 98 VM / 98 WA
Lafite Rothschild 100 WA / 100 JS / 98 JA 
Margaux 100 WA / 100 JS / 100 JA 
La Mission Haut-Brion 100 JD / 99 WA / 99 JA
Mouton Rothschild 99 JS / 99 AG / 98+ WA 
Petrus 100 JD / 98 VM / 98 JA / 98 DE 
Yquem 98 VM / 97+ WI / 97 JA / 97 DE

Deep ruby-red color is not quite opaque. The aromas are tightly wound being dusty at first over cassis, them becoming more ceadry & perhaps chalky. The palate is tight & closed at present. There is a delicate leafy cassis fruit but the wine is dominated by plentiful, fine, smooth tannins. Acidity is good alcohol is balanced & the finish has superb length. The wine's fruit is largely closed up, but its excellent balance suggests this could open spectacularly with age.

Blend: 66% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2004-2045

A timeless expression of Right Bank elegance.

The 1989 Château Cheval Blanc captures the soul of Saint-Émilion with effortless grace and intensity. From a warm, generous vintage, this masterpiece marries the opulence of Merlot with the perfume and finesse of Cabernet Franc in perfect harmony.

The nose is intoxicating, ripe plum, black cherry, tobacco leaf, cedar, and exotic spices swirl together in a seductive bouquet. On the palate, it’s velvety and expansive, with superb balance, silky tannins, and a lingering finish that echoes with truffle, graphite, and dark fruit.

Now at the peak of its powers, the 1989 Cheval Blanc offers an unforgettable experience, rich, refined, and emotionally resonant. It is a wine for connoisseurs, collectors, and anyone who believes in the artistry of Bordeaux.

Critic Notes:
96 Points | Neal Martin (Vinous) - Wine Journal Sep 2011
“Tasted at Cheval Blanc dinner at The Ledbury. One of the finest vintages of Cheval Blanc in recent years, this is the best bottle that I have encountered. It has a show-stopping bouquet of bacon fat, roasted chestnut, blackberry and still that heavenly tincture of Italian meats. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, so vigorous and 'confident' with a tangible meatiness to that ebullient red fruit that is degrading at a glacial pace. Lovely poise on the finish with that walnut notes once again, although I did remark that over time in the glass it relinquished some of its harmony. Still, this is a Cheval that oozes charisma. Drink now-2020+ Tasted November 2010.”