Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2018 Château de Pez was shut when I tasted it from cask with winemaker Nicolas Glumineau, so much so that I felt it was inappropriate to score it because I felt there was a great wine lurking behind that door. And so it turned out. Now in bottle, this has a gorgeous bouquet of lifted blackberry, graphite and flinty aromas, razor-sharp in terms of delineation. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine-grained tannins and a subtle marine influence that becomes more prominent with aeration. The oak is wonderfully integrated and the focus very finished. This is one of the best Château de Pez that I have tasted, but it clearly needed to wait until it was in bottle to show its potential.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2018 Château de Pez was shut when I tasted it from cask with winemaker Nicolas Glumineau, so much so that I felt it was inappropriate to score it because I felt there was a great wine lurking behind that door. And so it turned out. Now in bottle, this has a gorgeous bouquet of lifted blackberry, graphite and flinty aromas, razor-sharp in terms of delineation. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine-grained tannins and a subtle marine influence that becomes more prominent with aeration. The oak is wonderfully integrated and the focus very finished. This is one of the best Château de Pez that I have tasted, but it clearly needed to wait until it was in bottle to show its potential.

Exuding elegance, the Chateau de Ricaud Bordeaux Superieur 2018 is a subtle yet complex expression of sophisticated wine making. Crafted in the esteemed Loupiac region of Bordeaux, known for its favourable clay-limestone terroir, the vineyards of Chateau de Ricaud have, for centuries, yielded wines of outstanding quality. This distinguished producer employs traditional wine making techniques, fostering the full expression of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes in this blend.

Presenting a fine balance of ripe fruit and firm tannins, an extended 12-month maturation period in French oak barrels yields enchanting nuances of black fruit, spice and subtler hints of coffee. Supple and refined, this bottle shows off its ageing potential while remaining approachable in its youth.

When sipped, the Chateau de Ricaud Bordeaux Superieur 2018 offers a memorable journey, encapsulating the time-honoured tradition and excellence of Bordeaux wines - truly a testament to the terroir's celebrated character.

Wine Advocate (91-93)

.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)

The 2018 du Glana is a deep, sensual wine. Ripe red cherry, sweet spice and floral notes all flesh out in a Saint-Julien that offers tons of near and medium-term appeal. Glana's radiant, immediate personality is so appealing. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)

The 2018 du Glana is a deep, sensual wine. Ripe red cherry, sweet spice and floral notes all flesh out in a Saint-Julien that offers tons of near and medium-term appeal. Glana's radiant, immediate personality is so appealing. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

Wine Advocate (89-91+)

.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2018 Le Crock offers plenty of Saint-Estèphe character in its brambly red berry fruit and burly, but well-balanced tannins. Cedar, tobacco, smoke and earthy notes add quite a bit of aromatic presence. This is an especially rich, potent edition because of dry, warm east winds that caused dehydration, thereby lowering yields. There is plenty of personality here.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

The 2018 Le Pape is surprisingly gracious in this vintage. Floral notes lift sweet red berry fruit, cedar, licorice and mocha flavors as this stylish, mid-weight Pessac-Léognan shows off its considerable allure. Even with all of the natural richness of the year, Le Pape remains elegant and nuanced. I would cellar the 2018 for at least a few years to allow the tannins to soften. If enjoyed young, a few hours of aeration will do wonders.

Decanter (93)

2018 is the first year with Cabernet Franc in the mix at Le Thil, and it gives an extra lift to the nose and an extra kick of tension on the finish. On the palate you get the silky, rich roundness of the Merlot, then a muscling in of the tannins towards the finish. There were no stems this time because they felt that there were already plenty of tannins in the skins (since 2014 they have been using a small percentage of whole-bunch fermentation, so this is an interesting departure). 21hl/ha yield.

James Suckling (93-94)

Lovely red with currant and berry aromas and flavors and just a hint of walnut. Full-bodied yet bright and vivid. Delicious fruit and firmness. Shows depth and tension. One of best ever.

James Suckling (93-94)

Lovely red with currant and berry aromas and flavors and just a hint of walnut. Full-bodied yet bright and vivid. Delicious fruit and firmness. Shows depth and tension. One of best ever.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

Made from 100% Merlot, the 2018 Les Gravieres is deep garnet-purple and rocks up with gregarious blueberry pie, chocolate-covered cherries and plum preserves scents with nuances of violets, spice cake and mocha. Big, full and decadently fruited, it has a firm frame of super ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and layered.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

Made from 100% Merlot, the 2018 Les Gravieres is deep garnet-purple and rocks up with gregarious blueberry pie, chocolate-covered cherries and plum preserves scents with nuances of violets, spice cake and mocha. Big, full and decadently fruited, it has a firm frame of super ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and layered.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

Made from 100% Merlot, the 2018 Les Gravieres is deep garnet-purple and rocks up with gregarious blueberry pie, chocolate-covered cherries and plum preserves scents with nuances of violets, spice cake and mocha. Big, full and decadently fruited, it has a firm frame of super ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and layered.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2018 Chauvin is rich and generous in the glass, with plenty of black cherry, espresso, menthol, licorice, chocolate and new oak flavors. Beautifully layered and sumptuous, Chauvin is so expressive today. The 2018 is quite lush, but it has enough energy to keep things in balance. Best of all, it will drink well with minimal cellaring.

Hailing from the prestigious vineyards of the Loire Valley, the Chereau 2018 is a must for the discerning oenophile. This vintage, produced by esteemed winemakers Maison Chereau, showcases a mesmerising blend of Melon de Bourgogne grapes, embodying their signature style perfected over centuries. Delicate processing methods, including both sur lie and in-bottle ageing, inject a unique complexity, resultantly marrying the wine's innate minerality with a distinctive freshness.

On the palate, the Chereau 2018 unravels a symphony of bright citrus nuances, enlivened by sharp undertones of white peach. A radiant acidity balances the opulent fruitiness, contributing to a lingering finish of serene elegance. As a Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie, it stands testament to the sophisticated craftsmanship of Maison Chereau's centuries-old traditions.

Experience the subtle alchemy of quality French horticulture, transformative vinification, and passionate craftsmanship with the Chereau 2018. It's more than a bottle of wine. It's the embodiment of a rich heritage.

The Wine Cellar Insider (100)

If awards were given out for sensuality, this gem would take the trophy. Incredibly sexy, with its velvet drenched textures, silky tannins and opulent personality, this wine stands out in a crowd. The nose, with its aromatic display of flowers, plums, cherries, espresso, licorice, dark cocoa and oyster shell is compelling. The seamless finish crosses the 60 second mark with its non-stop display of concentrated, perfectly ripe, dark sweet, red fruits, chocolate, licorice and spice. If you can afford it, it is a wine you should have in your cellar and you'll want to age this for at least 15 years before popping a bottle. The wine was made using 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV. This wine is a legend in the making.

The Wine Cellar Insider (100)

If awards were given out for sensuality, this gem would take the trophy. Incredibly sexy, with its velvet drenched textures, silky tannins and opulent personality, this wine stands out in a crowd. The nose, with its aromatic display of flowers, plums, cherries, espresso, licorice, dark cocoa and oyster shell is compelling. The seamless finish crosses the 60 second mark with its non-stop display of concentrated, perfectly ripe, dark sweet, red fruits, chocolate, licorice and spice. If you can afford it, it is a wine you should have in your cellar and you'll want to age this for at least 15 years before popping a bottle. The wine was made using 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV. This wine is a legend in the making.

Vinous - Neal Martin (89+)

The 2018 Citran has retained its well-defined, marine-influenced nose of black fruit infused with seaweed and oyster shells but is less diffuse than it was out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a little foursquare, perhaps, but fresh and showing more cohesion and complexity on the finish compared to some of its peers. Good show. And maybe it will improve further.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2018 Clarke is a potent wine. A blast of dark red cherry fruit, iron, smoke, grilled herbs and menthol makes a strong opening statement. Readers should plan on being patient, as the 2018 is going to need a number of years to soften. Even so, it is pretty impressive today. Cedar, leather and game add aromatic nuance, but Clarke is ultimately a pretty rich, potent Listrac that just needs time. The only question is how much.