Decanter (94)

The alcohols are a touch higher than usual here, as at Ausone, but it retains an excellent fresh feel. This is always my wine to buy from the Vauthier lineup for the 95% of us who can't afford Ausone, and here again it is gorgeous, with the most perfect line of sight to the generous black fruits, showing sapidity and juice. 100% new oak.

Decanter (94)

So full of deeply-drawn berry fruit, fresh and juicy with touches of liquorice bud and rosemary, thirst quenching and yet thirst inducing in that amazing way that limestone can both refresh and make you thirst for more at the same time. An excellent Moulin St Georges, and such a step up from the more sandy soils that you find at Fonbel and the two Simard estates in this year's range of Vauthier-owned wines that this alone can help you understand how to navigate 2020.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

From a cooler terroir just across from Ausone and aged 18 months in 100% new barrels, the 2023 Château Moulin Saint Georges offers up cassis, crushed stone, flint, and violet nuances. It's medium-bodied, with a pure, graceful, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and integrated acidity. I love the overall balance here, and it has the fresher profile of the terroir, perfectly integrated oak, and a great finish. It's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. It's a beautiful wine. Drink 2028-2045.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

From a cooler terroir just across from Ausone and aged 18 months in 100% new barrels, the 2023 Château Moulin Saint Georges offers up cassis, crushed stone, flint, and violet nuances. It's medium-bodied, with a pure, graceful, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and integrated acidity. I love the overall balance here, and it has the fresher profile of the terroir, perfectly integrated oak, and a great finish. It's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. It's a beautiful wine. Drink 2028-2045.

Vinous (94)

Hailing from a warm vintage that was one of the best in what would otherwise have been a fairly ordinary decade, the 1985 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon is starting to take on a deep golden appearance, commencing to amber. It offers a gorgeous, suave texture and a very complex nose that's a touch oxidative but that adds a layer of additional intrigue: it's all nuts, raisins, walnuts, olives, warm pastry, cinnamon, cooked orange peel. It's round and sweet (95g/L) but not unctuous with richness on the mid-palate while retaining enough acidity to refresh the mouth on the long finish. A wine that is very comfortable in its own skin, providing a very relaxing experience.

Vinous (90)

Nineteen nighty six wasn't a legendary vintage unlike the season that would follow. The 1996 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon, a product of a fairly warm season, it is not overtly warm in its fruit profile with some lightly botrytised spice character, plus a rose-like scent, apricots and almonds. With just 76g/L of residual sugar it's not the sweetest interpretation, but its joy is its super smooth, refined texture. Medium length.

Vinous (95)

Starting to take on a deep golden hue, the 1997 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon is a sensuous sweet wine (92g/L of residual sugar) that offers ripe and concentrated flavors of apricot jam, cooked oranges botrytis-derived spices (60% of the fruit was affected by botrytis, a high proportion for this wine). It is intense, rich and honeyed, coating the palate with its sucrosity. There's just enough acidity here to keep things going but it does not have the vivacious refreshment of cooler years, providing a weightier, fully charged expression. The finish is lengthy and fragrant.

Embodying the prestige of Southwest France's winemaking, the Moulinet-Lasserre 2017 captivates both the palate and the eye. Handcrafted by Domaine de Moulinet-Lasserre, this elegant vintage boasts of an idyllic blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Born from meticulously tended vineyards located in the heart of the Côtes de Bergerac AOC, it draws a unique mineral resonance and rich fruitiness from the clay-limestone terroir.

Critical to the wine's distinct palette is the wise winemaking process, entailing regulated temperature fermentation and careful maturation in French oak barrels for 18 months. A beautiful dark ruby in colour, with complex aromas of black fruits, spicy notes and a hint of vanilla, the Moulinet-Lasserre 2017 embodies a multilayered presentation that tantalises the senses. On the palate, the wine shows a rigorous structure with fine tannins, presenting a long, elegant finish. This vintage is the exemplification of Domaine de Moulinet-Lasserre's commitment to quality and tradition.

Regarded as a notable testament to fine French winemaking, Moulinet-Lasserre 2018 exemplifies a rich heritage stemming from the distinguished appellation of Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux. This vintage is the result of meticulous viticulture, hand-harvesting and mindful vinification process, affirming Moulinet-Lasserre's prestige.

Marking an exceptional year, the Moulinet-Lasserre 2018 decants an unblemished balance of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, showcasing beautiful dark fruit aromas and a refined palate, reflecting the calcareous soils that characterise their vineyards. Structured yet subtle tannins indicate promising ageing potential. It bears the distinctive imprint of its creators, the Thienpont family, who remains committed to producing limited quantity, superior wines.

As a fine wine connoisseur, indulge in the Moulinet-Lasserre 2018’s intense, expressive character and complex, lush layers. It remains an exquisite portrayal of its region and a substantial addition to any wine enthusiast's collection.

Please enjoy the Moulinet-Lasserre 2018 responsibly.

Wine Advocate (93)

Disgorged in November 2024 without dosage yet retaining over six grams per liter of residual sugar, Moussé’s NV Blanc de Noirs Eugène is a perpetual cuvée, composed of 50% wine from the 2022 vintage, with its origins tracing back to 2003. Comprising 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir—whose ripe skins impart a delicate pink hue—it unveils an expressive bouquet of candied orange peel, pear, peach, plum and pastry. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, with a concentrated core of fruit, succulent yet racy acidity and phenolics that lend a gently bitter edge to the long, resonant finish. While the residual sugar lends it a touch more giving style, it represents a considerable step up in complexity from L’Esquisse and comes highly recommended.

Wine Advocate (93)

Disgorged in November 2024 without dosage, the latest release of Moussé’s NV Blanc de Noirs Les Vignes de Mon Village—despite its zero-dosage style—presents a more demonstrative profile, owing to its four grams of residual sugar. Comprising a perpetual cuvée that blends vintages from 2014 to 2022—with 50% from 2022—it opens with expressive aromas of pear, peach and tangerine zest. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, ample and giving, with ripe yet racy acidity and a long, elegantly phenolic finish. As always, it is crafted entirely from Pinot Meunier sourced from Cuisles.

Wine Advocate (93)

Disgorged in November 2024 without dosage, the latest release of Moussé’s NV Blanc de Noirs Les Vignes de Mon Village—despite its zero-dosage style—presents a more demonstrative profile, owing to its four grams of residual sugar. Comprising a perpetual cuvée that blends vintages from 2014 to 2022—with 50% from 2022—it opens with expressive aromas of pear, peach and tangerine zest. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, ample and giving, with ripe yet racy acidity and a long, elegantly phenolic finish. As always, it is crafted entirely from Pinot Meunier sourced from Cuisles.

Vinous - Neal Martin (98)

The 1961 Mouton-Rothschild is an audacious Pauillac that on this occasion had the temerity to outpace the '61 Latour. A Second Growth too! Layers of black fruit unfold on the nose, with hints of cassis, pencil shavings and mint, aromas noted in previous bottles. Fabulous concentration on the palate, channelling the decadence of the 1982 yet maintaining absolute control and delineation. I find a touch more complexity on the finish compared to the Latour, fanning out with ineffable sensuality. Utterly divine. Tasted at the 1961 dinner at Ami restaurant in Hong Kong.

Wine Advocate (88)

This wine, which was a medium-weight, charming example in its youth, continues to develop well. Recent bottles have been the finest I have tasted of the 1971 Mouton-Rothschild. The color remains a deep dark garnet with some amber at the edge. The wine offers up a classic Pauillac nose of cedar, black currants, and lead pencil aromas. On the palate, it reveals a savory, sweet, cedary, currant flavor profile with good freshness, adequate acidity, and ripe tannin. The wine is fully mature, but is capable of lasting for another 5-10 years. Anticipated maturity: Now-2006. Last tasted 10/97