Jeb Dunnuck (97-100)

Checking in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot brought up in 60% new French oak, the 2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte reveals a saturated purple color as well as rock star notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, graphite, crushed rocks, and spice. Deep, profoundly concentrated, beautifully seamless and textured on the palate, it reminds me of the 2009 with its opulent, powerful style. It's a brilliant wine from this terrific estate and up with the top wines in the vintage. Hats off to director Fabien Teitgen who continues to make an elegant yet powerful, uncompromising style of wine.

The Wine Cellar Insider (97)

Intense, attention seeking notes of lemon, lime, flowers and stone open to a wine with depth, richness and concentration. The wine is long, fresh, plush and polished with plush textures and a mélange of citrus and mineral sensations. There is a purity to the sweet fruits that remain on your palate for close to 40 seconds.

Vinous (98)

Antinori’s 2018 Solaia captures all of the elegance of this important vintage. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. It speaks to the stunning beauty and pedigree of Cabernet Sauvignon as grown at the Antinori family’s Tignanello property. Sweet scents of crème de cassis, lavender, graphite, mint, spice and espresso lead into a fine, delineated palate. Bright and energetic, Solaia is decidedly medium in body in 2018, with striking purity and exceptional beauty. I can’t remember ever tasting a young Solaia with this much sheer appeal and balance in the early going. In 2018 Solaia is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 7% Cabernet Franc. Production is down to around 60,000 bottles because of strict selection.

Vinous (94)

The 2018 Carema is a very pretty, ethereal wine. Sweet dried cherry, mint, tobacco, cedar, dried flowers, mint and rosewater all grace this beautifully lifted, understated Carema. Spice and earthy notes develop in the glass, adding layers of nuance. The 2018 is a jewel of a wine. This understated silky Carema is all class.

Wine Advocate (98-100)

Another potentially perfect wine, the 2018 Lamella Shiraz, from the Eden Valley, is full-bodied and velvety in texture. Offering swirls of complex mixed berries, tea and spice, it finishes long and tannic, with plenty of backbone and structure, plus intriguing hints of espresso and chocolate. In contrast to The Standish, it's more impressive, while The Standish is more opulent and generous.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

Mint, sage and thyme accent blackberry and black cherry fruit in the 2018 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, it finishes tremendously long, with silky, cocoa-powder-like tannins. It should drink well for a couple of decades.

Wine Advocate (98-100)

The 2018 The Standish Shiraz (a sample blend from barrel) is a bit stalky (it's about 50% whole cluster), but it's gorgeously perfumed, with hints of herbal tea, raspberries, blackberries and licorice. It just exudes complexity, while also being full-bodied, plush and creamy, with a long, elegant finish. This seamless beauty is a candidate for perfection.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2018 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard was aged for 10 months in French oak, 46% new. It has a very classy nose of ripe peaches, fresh yellow apples and allspice followed by fresh ginger, cashew and acacia honey plus a waft of sea spray. Full-bodied, rich, satiny and with fantastic intensity and tension, it finishes very long and chalky. YUM! 600 cases were made.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

Very few recent South African releases have been as eagerly awaited as this 2018 red from the old Cordoba property on the flank of the Helderberg. And it doesn't disappoint in the slightest. Cabernet Franc-centred, with 24% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, the new crescendo is a beautifully refined, detailed red from 21-year-old vines. Violet and cut grass aromas lead into a palate that is fresh, bright and comparatively low in alcohol with filigree tannins, subtle wood, fine tension and the focus and balance to age. What a début!

Tim Atkin MW (96)

Payen is a fantastic, co-fermented blend of Syrah with 7% Cabernet Franc that expresses the quality of one of Chile's genuine Grand Cru sites. Dense, concentrated and full bodied, with blood, damson and blackberry flavours, intense minerality, lots of savoury grip and some sweet spices and toast from 20% new oak. 2023-30

Tim Atkin MW (98)

Overall Red Wine of the Year - Chile 2022 Special Report. Well, well, well. Who would have anticipated this? My best Chilean red wine of the year is a Malbec - and not just any Malbec. Roca Madre is an incredible, world-class red from the volcanic soils of the Río Hurtado vineyard, located at 1,600 metres in the remote Limarí Andes. Racy, tangy, grippy and intensely perfumed, it's an incredible expression of the variety, with violet, plum and black cherry concentration, fine-grained tannins and a pithy, energetic, mineral-etched core.

James Suckling (94-95)

Very attractive core of pretty fruit and polished yet chewy tannins. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a driven finish. One of the best Talbots in a long time.

Halliday Wine Companion (97)

This is a spectacular chardonnay, eschewing malolactic in the name of precision and freshness, while sacrificing nothing in the way of flavour and textural detail in doing so. A reductive riff of gunflint segues to notes of white fig, honeydew melon, nectarine and creamed cashew. A chassis of mineral and bright acidity carry the flavours long and broad, chaperoned by high class oak that is nestled into the fray. This will age beautifully over the coming decade, but oozes class and such poise already that it is difficult to refrain from opening a bottle or, at least in my case, finishing the glass.

Wine Advocate (94)

The Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Gresy 2010 Langhe Virtus is a blend of 60% Barbera and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is always a late release, and there's a big risk to that with so much bottle and vintage variation to account for. However, this 2010 expression has all its ducks in a row. The bouquet is concentrated and thick, with plenty of power and depth. The bouquet shows dark fruit, with licorice, camphor ash and ink. This is a treat for people who love the magic of old wines. Exactly 8,433 bottles were made.

Jeb Dunnuck (95)

Spiced orchard fruits, dried pineapple, toasted bread, and beautiful spicy nuances emerge from the 2018 Chardonnay Bentrock Vineyard, a slightly more generous, rounded beauty that has good concentration, plenty of acidity, and a great finish. It's going to impress over the coming decade.

Jeb Dunnuck (93)

The 2018 Pinot Noir Estate is equally brilliant, offering a vivid ruby/purple hue as well as loads of raspberry and tart cherry fruits, notes of violets and spice, medium-bodied richness, silky tannins, and a great finish. Drink it any time over the coming 4-5 years. I suspect it will keep even longer.

Wine Advocate (98)

This wine brought to mind precise imagery of tailcoats, striped dress pants, wingtip collar shirts and other gentlemen's fashion choices from the Roaring Twenties. Sporting a retro but classic personality, the Marchesi Antinori 2018 Tignanello is quite the dapper and jovial wine that hits the market just as much of the world is emerging from a dark chapter of lockdowns and coronavirus curfews. I love the optimism that springs bright with such clarity and detail from within this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The 2016 vintage was a benchmark for sure, but I prefer the 2018, thanks to that tinge of nostalgia or emotion that is so deftly rendered in this cool, long growing season.

Decanter (99)

The must-try wine Tightly wound yet with cashmere tannins, soft kid-glove oak and cut-finger minerality. The anise, clove and cinnamon-edged palate is unbelievably svelte, like melted chocolate. On day two, succulent, spicy cherry fruit emerges, with blackberry liqueur, roses and violets. Savoury cep undertones, graphite and cedar follow through on an endless finish. A stunning blend of six old vineyards, one planted in the 1850s.

Wine Advocate (98+)

Very deep purple-black colored, Torbreck's 2010 The Laird offers an extraordinary perfume of Chinese five spice, sandalwood, rose petals, espresso and licorice over a core of prunes, dried mulberries and blackcurrant preserves plus a touch of cloves. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and packed with dried black fruits and exotic spice flavors, the generous fruit is structured with velvety tannins and just enough freshness. It finishes with commendable persistence.

James Suckling (96-97)

Blueberry and blackberry character with hints of white pepper and chalk. Salty, too. Full-bodied, tight and polished with fantastic texture and length. Very closed and tight with gorgeous tannin quality.

James Suckling (98)

This is a very linear red and layered at the same time, showing blackberry, blueberry, black-truffle, bark and stone character. Chalk and minerality, too. It’s full-bodied and well framed with gorgeous intensity and freshness. Muscular with wonderful structure and brightness. Salty and savory notes on the finish. Try after 2024.

Wine Advocate (96)

I had previously reviewed this blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot in a preview capacity. Now on the market, the 2018 Giusto di Notri comes together with seamless beauty. This is a rich and generous expression that delivers dark fruit intensity with blackberry and black currant, wrapped tightly together with ample oak notes of spice, tar and cured tobacco. The wine offers smooth transition and rich textural fiber, with soft angles and contours that frame the wine's full-bodied approach. Production is 33,000 bottles.

James Suckling (98)

Lots of chocolate and berries, as well as spice, walnuts and vanilla. It’s full and layered. Extremely long and flavorful. So juicy and sexy. Luscious is the word. Opulent with polish and presence. Chewy at the end. Brightness and energy here. Try after 2022.

Wine Business Magazine (96)

Brilliant Barossa Shiraz that comes off the back of an unnervingly good array of new releases. This sits just above medium weight with great depth of flavour but a levity and freshness born from fine tannin and bright acidity. Red berries, lots of sweeet spice, light herbal notes and judicious wood seasoning. This drinks like a charm

Wine Advocate (98)

Just like last year, this patch of the Eden Valley has turned out a magnificent wine. The 2018 Yacca Block Menglers Hill Shiraz boasts fragrant notes of violets and blueberries spiced with hints of cinnamon, caramel and roasted meat. It's the biggest of the Block wines, labeled at 14.3% alcohol, but despite being full-bodied, comes across as impeccably balanced. It's fleshy and generous, but supple tannins, which turn silky on the lengthy finish, keep the overall impression one of savory elegance.

The Ultimate Bordeaux Collection 2010 is an exquisite blend of perfection for the discerning palate. Cultivated in the globally esteemed vineyards of Bordeaux, France, this special vintage is a testament to the careful crafting of fine wines. Produced by some of the world's most distinguished winemakers, this collection is a rarity, embodying the unique terroir of Bordeaux.

Harvested from mature vines, each grape is handpicked at optimum ripeness, enhancing its vibrant taste profile. The grapes undergo meticulous fermentation processes, developing the wine’s complex structure and opulent finish. French oak barrel ageing imbues it with deep, velvety textures, setting the stage for a tantalisingly long finish.

The Ultimate Bordeaux Collection 2010 is revered for its cellar-worthy potential, adding exquisite depth and evolution to the wine. Its rich aromas and elegant tannins mark a flawless fusion of power and finesse. Immerse yourself in the luxurious experience of this outstanding Bordeaux, for it is a true symphony of flavours.

James Suckling (96)

Fresh and very floral with violets and berries. Blackberries and orange peel, too. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, linear tannins. Excellent length and structure. Seriously structured, Better after 2024, but already beautiful.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

Produced entirely with estate fruit since the 1996 vintage, Valbuena combines Tinto Fino with 4% Merlot that's planted in the lower part of the farm close to the Duero river. Showing the structure and focus of the 2018 vintage, this is a scented, complex, savoury red that's just starting to get into its stride, with Mediterranean herb scents, fine tannins and some underlying grip and minerality.

Containing 1 bottle each of:

Vérité La Muse 2018 | 100 WA, 99 JD

Vérité La Joie 2018 | 98 WA, 98+ JD

Vérité Le Désir 2018 | 97+ WA, 98+ JD

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2018 Vieux Château Saint André is owned by the Berrouet family, of course, synonymous with Petrus. It has a lovely nose of lilting red berry fruit and a light saline influence, hints of orange blossom emerging with continued aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and very well-judged acidity. This Montagne Saint-Émilion has a bit of bite, especially on the tensile finish. Berrouet’s magic touch shows here.