94 Points-Wine Enthusiast "This is a beautiful tropical fruit and spice-flavored wine. It has an exotic, ripe feel to it that is already attractive. The tight, mineral texture promises good aging."

93 Points-Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "The Chateau de Fieuzal Blanc 2014 has an attractive nose: lime mixed with citrus fruit and touches of grilled walnut coming through with aeration. The palate is quite shrill on the entry with attacking lime and citrus scents. The acidity is quite strong here, but there is plenty of fruit and a lovely sense of tension on the finish. This is an excellent Pessac-Leognan from this rejuvenated estate. Range: 91-93"

93 Points-James Suckling "A dry white with lots of mineral and white-pepper character as well as lightly cooked apples and lemons. Full-bodied, yet this remains agile and lively. Intense finish. Layered and structured. Little oily. Drink now or hold."

The Chateau Lynch Bages 2019 ( one of the most famous 5th growths) is in line with the previous wines of the property with a blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), along with the addition of 24% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. This great Bordeaux wine offers a characteristic fruity nose with fresh and spicy notes, as well as fine woody notes. The smooth and balanced palate is supported by a beautifully dense and powerful tannic structure, providing plenty of precision and fruit. Put this one away for awhile. Drink from 2029 and will age for the next 30 years. A perfect score given from Jeb Dunnuck.

Chateau Angelus in St. Emilion, Bordeaux's right bank has been in existence since 1782. Now operated by Stephanie de Bouard-Rivoal, who represents the 8th generation of the Bouard de Laforest family. Her goal is to ensure the Angelus name continues to represent excellence and timelessness. Although the estate has been farming organically, they are going through the process to obtain official organic certification. The 2019 Angelus is a red blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Full and powerful the blackfruits of black cherry, cassis, plum, dried flowers and forest floor are evident with ripe tannins, medium+ body and a full, long finish. This wine is sure to age for 30 or more years.

Chateau Haut Bailly is one of the most loved and most prestigious wine estates in all of Bordeaux. This Cru Classe of Graves has been owned by the Wilmers familiy since 1998, even though it has been in existence since 1530 and passed down the Bailly family line. With the investment made by the Wilmers family, the winery was custom built to a contemporary building, which allows them to carry out precision work in optimal conditions- that was debuted with the 2021 vintage. This 2019 is a red blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet France and 4% Petit Verdot. The aroma is elegant and complex with blackcurrants, earth, cigar box and pencil shavings with full body, ripe tannins and lively acids. This vintage received scores of 96+ from many critics.

The 2016 Château Haut-Simard is a well-structured Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, known for its rich dark fruit (plums, cherries), hints of chocolate, spice, and earth, with velvety tannins and a fresh finish, offering complexity and aging potential from a stellar vintage. It's praised for being balanced, juicy, and expressive, showing classic Bordeaux character with notes of herbs, violets, and sometimes a peppery edge.

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.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon: 64%, Merlot: 31%, Cabernet Franc: 4%, Petit Verdot: 1%
Drinking Window: 2021 - 2048

97 Points - James Suckling
"The 2017 Pontet-Canet is a vibrant and polished wine with aromas of black cherries, cassis, forest floor, and hints of violet. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers a rich and plush texture, supported by fine-grained tannins and lively acidity. The palate showcases layers of ripe dark fruit, mineral complexity, and subtle spices. The finish is long and elegant, reflecting the vintage’s balance between concentration and freshness. Ready to enjoy now but built for several years of further ageing.”

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon: 65%, Merlot: 30%, Cabernet Franc: 4%, Petit Verdot: 1%
Drinking Window: 2019 - 2050

98 Points - Neal Martin, Vinous
"The 2014 Pontet-Canet is a captivating example of biodynamic Bordeaux at its best. It offers an intense and complex nose of blackcurrants, blackberries, crushed stones, and cedar with hints of graphite and spice. The palate is full-bodied, richly textured, and beautifully balanced, with ripe tannins that provide structure without heaviness. Layers of dark fruit, mineral notes, and a subtle earthiness develop seamlessly, culminating in a long, precise finish. This is a profound wine with great ageing potential.”

Blend: 78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2027-2045

97 Points - Vinous
"The 2024 Canon is superb. One of the standouts of the vintage, the 2024 possesses striking mid-palate depth to match its vertical personality. Chalk, white pepper, mint, lavender, rose petal, slate and blue/purplish fruit all stain the palate. There's gorgeous depth and density here, and yet the 2024 remains a super-classic wine from the property. This is a real stunner. That's all there is to it. Tasted four times."

Blend: Chardonnay 100%
Drinking Window: 2026-2035

From one of Meursault’s charming vineyard sites, the 2023 'Les Narvaux' by Domaine Rémi Jobard is a wine of elegance and finesse. Aromas of white flowers, ripe citrus, and delicate almond notes open the experience, while the palate reveals vibrant stone fruit, subtle honeyed richness, and a fine, mineral-driven finish.

This Meursault reflects Jobard’s dedication to precise vineyard work and traditional Burgundian winemaking, offering both immediate pleasure and aging potential. Ideal with seafood, poultry, or creamy cheeses.

Reflecting centuries of winemaking mastery, Chateau Giscours 2020 offers silky tannins interwoven with flavors of blackberry, tobacco, and graphite —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

The Château Talbot 2020 is a powerful yet elegant Saint-Julien Bordeaux, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, offering deep color and complex aromas of blackberry, cassis, tobacco, and licorice, with firm tannins, fresh acidity, and notes of graphite and spice, promising excellent aging potential with a balanced, savory, and persistent finish, considered a great success for the château. 

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.

Balancing complexity and finesse, Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot 2020 offers silky tannins interwoven with flavors of blackberry, tobacco, and graphite —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.

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.

Deep, dark, almost opaque ruby-red color with hints of purple at the rim. There are lovely licorice notes overlaying the bursting dark-fruit on the nose. The palate combines juicy dark fruit, licorice and some earthy grip. The wine has good acidity, warming alcohol & a very smooth texture on the finish. The fruit on the finish is ripe in character with black-cherry and black olive flavors.

Château de la Vieille Tour Reserve Tradition 2020 is a dense, dark-fruited organic Bordeaux red blend (typically 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon). This 14.50% ABV wine balances velvety tannins with deep, ripe berries, making it an excellent, structured addition to your cellar.

The 2021 Giscours has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries and licorice mingled with hints of violet and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and suave, it's seamless and enveloping, with good depth at the core, beautifully polished tannins and a long, perfumed finish. This is one of the real successes of the vintage. As readers may remember, it's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Drink 2027-2045.

Bright light pink with sparkling core. Aromas of red grapefruit, gooseberry and a touch of nettle on the nose, mineral finish. Taut on the palate, with plenty of traction, juicy fruit and long finish.

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.

Though it was a very dry year, this vintage still managed to keep its impressive elegance. The wine opens with enticing aromas of wild cherry, fresh and dried roses, incense, wild herbs and savoury spice. The palate is an example of thoughtfulness and craft with a core of deep wild berries, black tea, and crushed stones that are all supported by supple tannins and lifted acidity." - 97/100, Wine Enthusiast

"This impressive wine is structured yet well balanced by an attractive fruitiness that parallels the tannins and the smokiness from wood aging. The density of the palate is countered by fresh acidity that shines through. Drink 2024. Roger Voss" - 95/100, Wine Enthusiast

The watchword for this wine is style. Tannins underline the fruit. This rich structure, while not losing the swaths of berry flavors and crisp black currants, presents the balance between the ripeness and freshness of the vintage. Drink this wine from 2024. Roger Voss

Offering up aromas of rich cassis and blackberry fruit mingled with burning embers, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, the 2019 La Tour Carnet is medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a broad attack that segues into an ample core of fruit that's framed by ripe, powdery tannins and lively acids. This is a seamless, rather giving Médoc that has turned out very well. Best After 2023

Francois Mikulski was born to a Burgundian mother and a Polish father. He spent many summers in Burgundy falling in love with the vineyards and the lifestyle. In 1992 he inherited his first vineyard in Meursault and since then has been pursuing his passion for producing authentic, pure, and elegant wines that are non pretentious. He uses only natural yeasts and 20-30% new oak to ensure he lets the purity of the Chardonnay shine through. Jasmine, honey, white peach, poached pear and citrus, makes this wine with a creamy, mouth coating palate that is truly unforgettable.

Casa Raia was purchased in 2006 by Frenchman Pierre Jean Monnoyer who restored the old vineyards and began producing natural wines with three labels, the "supertuscan" Bevilo, a Sangiovese Rose and this Brunello di Montalcino. Made with 100% Sangiovese (as required by law) this ageable beauty is elegant with a nose of cherry, cinnamon, thyme and hints of pencil shavings and earth. Certainly one of the best "natural" wines out there.

Not just Barolo, but single vineyard Barolo which makes these wines even more special. The typical flavours of roses and dried cherries is evident in this powerful Nebbiolo and of course these wines will age for decades, into 2040. On the nose, the wine exhibits rich, intense aromas of red fruits, such as cherries and raspberries, alongside hints of licorice, tobacco, and leather. On the palate, it is full-bodied with firm tannins, a great structure, and a long, persistent finish. The wine has a complex flavor profile that includes dark berries, plums, and black pepper, with subtle hints of vanilla and spice. The oak aging process adds a layer of complexity and depth to the wine, while the high acidity gives it a vibrant freshness. This is a well-balanced wine that showcases the elegance and power of the Barolo region. It can be enjoyed now or aged for several years to come.

In the commune of La Morra, Sergio Molino vinifies wine from only 2.5 ha of Nebbiolo vines. The Molino family vineyards, bottled under the Ernesto Molino label is an homage to Sergio's father. Like many micro-wineries, it's a "hands-off" approach, allowing the terroir to speak for itself. Cranberry, violet, hints of vanilla and even an iron note, put this one away for a while to let those austere tannins settle down. Best after 2027.

Saint Joseph in the Northern Rhone is only authorized for 100% Syrah. Black pepper, warm spice, black cherry, and iron minerality, it would be best to put this away and let the tannins settle down, or open for several hours before serving to open. Classic Rhone Valley Syrah.

Antinori is one of the four oldest winemaking families of Italy. With 26 generations of experience, more than nine estates in Italy, one in the US and one in Chile, they are leaders in quality and their name is sought after the world over.  From ‘Tuesday night pizza wine’ to collectible, ageworthy wines from Chianti Classico and Bolgheri, there is a wine for everyone’s budget in the Antinori portfolio.

From one of the three oldest families of Italy, spanning 26 generations, one of their luxury brands, Solaia is located on the sunniest slope of the Tignanello vineyard. Here, the best grapes of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, and 10% Cabernet Franc make this aromatic, complex wine with notes of raspberries and mulberries with additional, distinct notes of coffee beans, chocolate, and licorice. The palate is well-balanced and structured with spicy undertones that give way to an exceptionally long. This wine is only produced in exceptional vintages.

"Lush fruits of black cherry, blackberry and red plum. Rich notes of freshly turned earth, magnolia flower and sweet touches of white chocolate. Young round silky tannins provide a long finish. These soil series were born from the volcanic eruptions of the Blue Mountains 15 million years ago, which created basalt islands that still sit on the top of Northern Willamette Valley hills. This representation of those volcanic soil series is specifically from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Ken Wright has been working with their Estate vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills since the late 80s and they are now firmly tapped into the volcanic basalt parent material. This mother rock is what gives wine true character and identifiable regional complexities of this Volcanic AVA." - Ken Wright Cellars

This classic Cabernet Sauvignon fills the glass with vivid aromas of blackberry, black cherry, warm earth, and baking spice. The flavors richly echo the wine's aromas, adding juicy layers of summer briar fruit, berry compote, cinnamon, lively red and black plums, and mocha with a long, radiant finish.

Rich in red and blue flowers giving pleasure in the notes of lavender, passionflower, magnolias and gardenias. A lot of citrusy hints describe the secondary scene. Medium to full bodied, extremely light, gentle tannins of very fine grain and a harmonic, balanced finale with a smooth, progressive closure.

From the Piedmont wine region, BARBARESCO 2014 is an intense and full-bodied Barolo with dark fruit, underbrush and earthy flavours on the palate and would benefit from a couple more years in cellar.

Chateau Gazin is a high quality winery located in the Pomerol AOC on the right bank of Bordeaux, representing five generations of owners and growers. With 23ha of vineyards, the clay-gravel plateau is perfect for merlot and cabernet franc. The 2019 is a blend of 89% merlot, 7% cabernet sauvignon and 4% cabernet franc. A solid Pomerol that has spicy red and black cherry fruit, notes of cedar, violets and plum with a vull-bodied, velvety and textural palate. This will no doubt age incredibly over the long haul!

Winemaker Notes
Blend: 58% Sauvignon Blanc, 42% Sémillon
This wine has a pale yellow color with golden reflections. Its nose is very expressive, with notes of citrus fruits, white flowers and fresh fruits. The lemony freshness of the attack gives way to an ample, complex and aromatic mouth, very tasty. It is a refined wine with a delicate texture, in complete harmony.

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.

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)

This underrated wine is made by the Chateau Cheval Blanc team, so it's no slouch. With 74% merlot, 14% cabernet sauvignon and 12% cabernet franc, this medium bodied wine is pure and balanced with cherry, plum, tobacco, leafy herb, and chocolate notes. Enjoy this wine now!