Super perfumed, attractive violets with a thread of fresh blueberries, cassis, blackberries and dark plums, delivering a very enticing impression. Beautiful ripeness here. The tannins are perfectly ripe and layers meld into each other, carrying deep, graceful and plush, velvety dark fruit long into the vibrant and seductive, chocolate-laced finish. Great potential. Try from 2024.

Subtle and profound aromas of blackberries, wet earth and sweet tobacco. Hints of spice, too. Full-bodied and so deep. It’s incredibly vertical and long. Just like looking down a well. Firm and powerful tannins, yet polished and balanced. Goes on for minutes. One of the greatest ever. Try after 2025.

Dark ruby with purple reflections, subtly brighter at the rim. Inviting bouquet of blueberry, black cherry as well as fine floral nuances, with tangerine zest underneath and a hint of nougat in the background. Accessible, with an attractive bouquet. Juicy, elegant and freshly structured, with fine, ripe tannins that give the wine great length, the wine seems very light on its feet and finessed by Pavie standards. Already accessible but will blossom significantly with some maturity.

The nose on this fresh Valpolicella is driven by pretty and upfront fresh floral notes followed by zippy red-berry fruit notes and hints of tobacco. The palate is lifted with fresh cherries, mixed herbs and underbrush—all well balanced—giving the wine an easiness about it yet a complexity that keeps you coming back.

This has the typical structure of a Saint-Estèphe, fleshed out with ripe black fruits. There is fine juicy acidity and rich tannins. An impressive opulence gives this wine good potential.

Deep, dark, ruby-red, is not quite opaque. The nose is cedary with quite high-toned, ripe dark fruit, overlaid by lovely top notes of coconut & vanilla. The concentrated cassis fruit in the palate is very classy, it is lean, structured & cedary with hints of coconut & vanilla. Fine tannins give grip while retaining some suppleness. The wine has a wonderful elegance thanks to beautifully balanced acidity. Alcohol is also balanced, leaving the finish long & fine.

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.”

The medium to deep ruby-red color is not quite opaque. The nose shows a little clean cassis perfume over precise toasty oak. On the palate lovely freshness allows vivid cassis hints to show ahead of a classic cedary mid-palate that is dominated by the wine's fine tannic structure. Alcohol is balanced & the finish endures well. The fruit on the finish is closed & unsupple.

A surprisingly dense color which stays very bright despite its depth. Initially, a certain reticence conceals the wine’s aromas, but its richness is very quickly felt. The attack surprises with its sensation of dense, highly complex fruit volume. Little by little the tannins fill the mouth. They are silky, smooth and mellow, to which is added gentle notes of very subtle woodiness. The whole effect is so succulent you could almost eat it. The wine is long and very elegant. It is perfectly balanced in structure.

Extremely good color, dense and young for this vintage. The aromas of this young wine burst upon you. Again this is a wine that is aromatically perfectly balanced. Wood scents do not prevail in this young wine. The approach is soft, and unctuous. The aromatic balance melds in the mouth with soft dissolving tannins. No rigid tannin but rather a slight hint of licorice that melts into the softness of the finish. Thanks to its ageing, the wine will reach its apogee.

The characteristic of this wine is its harmony between the very soft and very fine structure and the complex aroma given by the earth of the “Graves”. There is a lot of charm in this bottle which could be consumed either in the next few years or be kept in the cellar as the wine will age remarkably.

The estate vineyards of Opus One, comprised of 4 parcels, sit in the western portion of the famed Oakville AVA. Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, are within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard. These are complemented by the combined 70 acres of the Ballestra and River parcels, which envelop the winery. In the vineyards, hand-harvesting and other traditional approaches are taken wherever they work best. When modern techniques benefit the winegrowing process, they are researched, evaluated and integrated into practice.

Mature first impressions from this Pavie 2007, with its intense ruby color and violet highlights, reveal a carefully crafted structure and concentration. The aromatic range is very expressive, showing ripe and juicy aromas of pepper, abundant spice, licorice and black cherry jam. The wine is smooth and supple in the mouth, with a tight and powerful texture from well-presented tannins; the mid-palate is worthy of a great terroir. This dense wine from a rather difficult vintage with a hint of severity needs time and aeration for greater accessibility. A long finish of flavorful, complex aromas with pepper and cinnamon notes. Prepare rich meats for this wine, like flank steak, beef cheek stew, thyme-scented lamb filet, or a winter dish of feathered game.

1986 is an astonishing vintage; its very slow development in a way reminds us of the previous generation's wines. Its tannic structure is very tight-knit, very dense and softens only very slightly from year to year. The bouquet is starting to open up; however, we feel that it is still only showing a limited part of its enormous potential. It is full and rich on the palate, still a little bit firm. Should we drink it?. A great vintage, but which seems to belong to another, older era.

2009 is perhaps the greatest young Château Margaux we have tasted over the last 30 years. The 2009 Château Margaux is an unparalleled vintage in its tannic power and fullness (reminding us of 2005) and its softness (reminiscent of 1990). And since its alcoholic degree is barely over 13, its finish remains fresh, flavoursome and of astonishing length. When to drink it? This is a question that is difficult to answer as it already gives so much pleasure, but with such enormous potential.

The Cabernet, is both fine and dense at the same time and dominates the personality of the Château Margaux 2007. The Merlot gives full, tender and rich texture, along with the Cabernet Franc which clearly benefited from the conditions of the vintage. We can start drinking it now even if wisdom would have us wait several more years.

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.

Surprisingly woodsy, with truffle, cassis, earth, tobacco, cedar chest and blackberry in the developed nose. There is a nice softness to the tannins and fruit. Not yet fully mature, but quite developed for a vintage of Latour at 10 years of age, the wine offers pleasure, refined textures, balance and sweet berries in the finish. Drink now, or wait 5 years for more complexity

Medium to deep ruby red in color. Notes of graphite & chocolate dominate the dark fruit on the nose. The palate is big, rich and concentrated with lots of cassis that is lifted by good acidity. The tannins are huge with good grip, but do not quite close-up the fruit. Alcohol is balanced and the finish has good length. A big wine but with lively fruit & good equilibrium

Always one of the top performers in Margaux, this dense and concentrated wine has a bold, ripe character from the plum and berry fruits. It has the weight to develop. Drink from 2020.

Yjar is a blend of old vines of Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, Granegro, and Rojal, all indigenous to the region. Selected from the property’s oldest and finest plots, the wine is vinified and aged in French oak barriques for 30 months. Despite Rioja’s tumultuous history, Telmo Rodríguez is demonstrating the region’s ability to produce world-class wines, and Yjar is a testament to his success in doing so.

If you're looking for Beaujolais Cru, look no further. Of the 10 Cru, CLS has wines from seven. Rather than sourcing the grapes from all across the Beaujolais region, each individual Cru has their own terroir and soil structure; all made with 100% Gamay with the resulting wines unique and set-apart from each other. This Chiroubles is an example of the new, organic/bio-dynamic philosophy that Arthur and Pierre, 5th generation family winemakers, introduced when they took over the estate in 2011. The grapes are harvested by hand to ensure that only healthy clusters are used. Natural yeasts are used for a spontaneous fermentation, following a partial carbonic maceration. A refreshing expression of Gamay with full berry flavours, a clean acidity, and soft tannins.

If you're looking for Beaujolais Cru, look no further. Of the 10 Cru, CLS has wines from seven. Rather than sourcing the grapes from all across the Beaujolais region, each individual Cru has their own terroir and soil structure; all made with 100% Gamay with the resulting wines unique and set-apart from each other. The Fournaise vineyard of the Cote de Brouilly is located on the steepest hill of the Cru, where all the work has to be done manually, normally in very hot temperatures. The hill has an elevation of 480 m and is totally covered by 60-year old vines. The roots have to work hard to break through the blue volcanic rock. The resulting wine is powerful and it needs time to reveal its depth and minerality. The palate is full with an amazing concentration and an outstanding, complex finish.

This is a beautiful wooden box with shimmery blue lettering that holds 3 different vintages - 2 each of 2008, 2011 and 2018. 

Valenciso (founded in 1998) may be young in years, but founders Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso (who gave their surnames to the bodega) were already long in experience when they began. They had worked together for 28 years by the time they left Bodegas Palacio to start their own business. Valenciso seeks to make classically structured, subtle and elegantly fine wines using 100% Tempranillo grapes from low yielding old vines in the Rioja Alta. Winemaker Alicia Eyaralar uses exclusively French barriques, a third being new each year, to produce this terrific wine in very small quantities. In this box, there are two bottles each of 2008, 2011 and 2018, all scoring very high. Cherry deep colour, spicy nose, intense. There are some notes of leather, licorice and fountain pen ink, over a core of ripe berry fruit, with some spicy notes from the oak and a faint animal character. The palate is medium-bodied with some dusty, slightly rustic tannins and a dry finish.

The remarkable 2021 Montrose gets my nomination for the title of "wine of the vintage" in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of cassis and dark berries mingled with subtle hints of mint, orange, pencil shavings and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered and multidimensional core of fruit underpinned by beautifully ripe, refined tannins. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it entirely transcends the limitations of the year. This young classic, reminiscent of the estate's 1996 but far better, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink 2031-2065.

The purity of fruit here is terrific, with redcurrants, blackcurrants, licorice, lead pencil and hints of fresh basil—so aromatic—that follow through to a full body with creamy, round tannins and lots of volume and fluidity in the center-palate for the vintage. Very structured at the end. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Leave this for at least five or six years. Try after 2030.

The 2021 Cos d'Estournel is one of the denser, more muscular wines of the vintage, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, charcoal, sweet cigar wrapper and subtle hints of smoked meats, framed by a touch of toasty new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's rich and quite concentrated for the vintage, with a chassis of sweet, generously extracted tannin and a long, lusty finish. Drink 2026-2045.

Lirac Charles I, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, is sourced from both the estate's vineyards and selected terroirs. It has a bright ruby color and a lively aromatic profile with notes of raspberries, currants, black cherries, licorice, and spices. On the palate, it is fruity and full-bodied, with firm yet well-integrated tannins and a long, mineral-infused finish. This wine pairs well with game birds or grilled red meat and, while ready to drink now, it can evolve beautifully with a few years of cellaring.

92 points James Suckling:
Outer quote mark This has aromas of blackberries, porcini mushrooms, tobacco and charred bark. It’s medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins. Savoury, with plenty of earth and mineral character. Fresh finish. Inner quote mark

Founded in 1942 by Désiré Rolet, Domaine Rolet stands as an iconic producer of Jura wines. Managed by Désiré’s children Eliane, Bernard, Guy, and Pierre, the estate expanded its vineyards across four Jura appellations - Arbois, Château-Chalon, Côtes du Jura, and Etoile. Since 2018, the winery has been under the direction of Cédric Ducoté. The estate's 65 hectares of vineyards predominantly grow Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard, Trousseau, and Pinot Noir grapes, all harvested by hand for their production. This particular wine has benefited from several years of bottle aging, displaying a slightly evolved character. Its color is a light garnet red at the core, fading into a brickish tinge at the rim. Aromas of wild blackcurrant, kirsch, forest floor, tobacco, and mushroom dominate the nose. The wine's fine tannins and dried sour cherry flavors are well-balanced by its prominent acidity, leading to an earthy and light finish.

Displaying hues ranging from garnet to light purple, Copper Moon Shiraz presents a captivating bouquet of plum, black cherry, and licorice. This medium-bodied wine unfolds with smoothness on the palate, offering juicy flavors of plum and cherry. As it concludes, a medley of ripe berries and a hint of sweet spice lingers on the finish, creating a delightful sensory experience. Ideal for pairing with chili, spicy sausage, and hearty winter stews, this Shiraz complements a variety of robust dishes.

Winemaker Steve Doerner, renowned for his work at Calera and Cristom, introduces Luke Jefferson, a new wine project named in homage to his son and Thomas Jefferson. Produced in minuscule quantities, it reflects Steve's personal vision apart from Cristom's style, with his spouse Irene also involved. This Pinot offers intoxicating notes of ripe raspberry, bright cherries, and fragrant spices, promising further development with five years of aging.

Colour: Cherry. Nose: sweet spices, scrubland, ripe fruit. Palate: spicy, balsamic, good acidity, fresh.

This biodynamic producer has hit in two consecutive vintages. The 2011 is a bit funky at first, so you may want to decant it before serving, but once some cabbage-like aromas dissipate, the wine delivers plenty of blackberry fruit, some garrigue notes and a touch of licorice. It's full bodied and creamy in texture, with a long, silky finish.

Color: Brilliant ruby Aromatic: Fully ripe wild berries with a spicy undertone, slightly roasted from the ageing which also brings out a complex bouquet of red flower floral notes. Palate: Fruit forward at the beginning with a balanced tannic structure showing later. Fresh and consistently aromatic finish.

The Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru La Toppe au Vert presents vivid red cherries and black plums on the nose, displaying focus alongside refinement and poise. With time in the glass, blue fruits emerge, adding depth to the aroma profile. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with fine tannins, initially displaying a subtle ferrous character. There's a fine grip in the mouth, with chalky tannins on the finish that provide a long and satisfying conclusion.

The Legacy Collection epitomizes the apex of excellence in the Okanagan Valley, representing our unyielding pursuit of quality. Each vintage, we meticulously hand-select the finest fruit from our estate vineyards to craft these small-lot wines, revered as our most esteemed and cellar-worthy offerings. Back in 1981, the Okanagan Valley was largely unexplored as a wine region, yet its potential was recognized amidst the region's stonefruit orchards. As grape growers dared to plant vines in uncharted terrain, the valley's glacier-formed landscape revealed varying soil profiles, basking in long, sun-drenched days and diverse microclimates, offering an opportunity for wines of unmistakable terroir. Fast forward to today, where Mission Hill Family Estate stands as Canada's sole five-time winner of Winery of the Year, with multiple international accolades for our varietals. Anchored in our profound connection to the valley and the meticulous care of our vineyards, we continue to embark on this enduring journey of winemaking excellence. In our winemaking philosophy, akin to a quatrain's harmony in verse, four harmonious grapes converge. Fermented in small French oak fermenters and aged in French oak barrels, each component contributes to the wine's elegance and purpose, with Syrah lending depth and character to the blend.

Named after the Roman emperor who restored vine planting in France, this wine has structure and a dense texture. It is balanced with a good freshness to it and a poise in its step.