Decanter (100)

I love the 2012, but honestly the 2013 just has the edge, because it is just as concentrated and full of fruit but acidity and floral nuance balances out the richness. Dark deep rosemary spice and black olive paste deepens the flavours through the mid-palate and you just have to hang on as this goes spiralling through, drawing the flavours out to a lengthy finish. 2% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 18 days skin contact.

Decanter (98)

One of the great years of Bordeaux now at 10 years old and showing why this is such an unusual vintage in terms of the depth of structure and muscular concentration that was achieved. In fact, I am upping the drinking window from the last time I tasted this, as there is such a pulse of life and grip that shows no signs of going anywhere. The initial layers are starting to be peeled back, but this retains primary black and blue fruits that are still full of flesh alongside baked earth, tons of liquorice and black chocolate with a grippy tannic structure, fresh acidities and a serious attitude. Brilliant stuff, that is clearly going to power on for decades. Harvest September 22 to October 20.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard displays loads of charcoal, barbecue smoke, blueberry and blackberry fruit, an opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, and hints of charcoal and subtle oak in a full-bodied, multi-dimensional style. Drink it over the next 20 years.

Wine Advocate (100)

The second perfect score I have given to a Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (the other was the 2002), the 2013 is as spectacular as his 2002 was. There are 638 cases of this massive wine that comes across like a first-growth Pauillac. Lead pencil shavings, cedar wood, blueberry and blackberry liqueur as well as hints of forest floor and tobacco leaf are all present in this fragrant, sumptuously textured, full-bodied, massively rich yet sensationally well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a finish of well over 55 seconds. This is amazing work, and interestingly, I believe Hobbs was the first to offer a Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Advocate (100)

This vintage is a blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, coming from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Magill Estate. Very deep inky purple-black colored, the 2013 Grange has a profoundly scented nose of crème de cassis, preserved black plums, blueberry pie and licorice over nuances of baker’s chocolate, smoky bacon and fragrant earth, plus exotic spice wafts of cumin seed, cardamom, fenugreek and star anise. Unfurling and slowly building in the medium to full-bodied mouth with wonderful grace and depth, it reveals an incredible array of ripe black fruit, spice, meat and earth-inspired flavors, with a rock-solid frame to support this beauty (it should easily cellar for 40+ years!), while previously latent flavors emerge fully on the epically long finish, culminating in that ultimate Grange experience. Oh, yes.

Vinous (96)

From the Coal and Derwent Valleys (Tas) and the Adelaide Hills; Handpicked and pressed to French barriques (62% new, 38% 1yo) for 8 months. The wine is so precise and tightly wound it is hard to imagine it went through 100% mlf, but at the same time, the decision to limit the amount of new oak falls neatly into place. It is developing at such a leisurely pace it is hard to visualise an end point. Gun flint, wet stone, green apple and grapefruit are among the contributors to the seamless flavour stream.

Wine Advocate (100)

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Petrus opens a little broody, with gentle crushed rocks, cast iron pan and fragrant earth notions giving way to a core plum preserves, baked blueberries, licorice and Black Forest cake plus wafts of pencil shavings, garrigue and violets. Full-bodied, the palate is beautifully poised with a firm line of exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness bolstering the generous fruit, finishing very long and very, very classy. Collectors fortunate enough to have a few bottles of this vintage are advised to be patient and allow it a further 7-10 years to loosen-up and emerge gloriously from this rock-solid structure.

Wine Enthusiast (100)

This famed Champagne comes from one of the steepest vineyards in the whole region, facing across the Marne river. With a blend of 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay, the densely textured wine shows great richness, a magnificent sense of place and structure. This is a very fine wine, a monument among Champagnes, one that will age for many more years. Drink through 2030.

Wine Enthusiast (99)

The new release of this Champagne is impressively stylish. It comes from a vertiginous vineyard facing north across the Marne river, the soil producing a wine with intense minerality and texture that demands time to soften. So, the blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is set for further aging. Ideally, wait for this magnificent wine until 2025.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Although ready to drink, this very fine Champagne has plenty of aging to go. With its rich Pinot Noir and ripe fruits, it is generous while also fully textured. Complex and balanced, mature fruit and toast working together, this is a great wine.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2010 Pontet-Canet offers a very deep garnet color. Whoa—the nose explodes with a vast array of black fruit preserves and savory nuances: plum preserves, blackcurrant cordial, black cherry coulis and licorice with wafts of dried lavender, melted chocolate, charcuterie, black olives, truffles and camphor plus a hint of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is completely filled with black fruits, exotic spices and earthy nuances with a firm foundation of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. So much more expressive and seductive than a lot of 2010s at this stage, and yet it is still incredibly youthful!

Wine Advocate (99)

The best wine so far (although I suspect the 2015 may ultimately enter the picture as well) is the nearly perfect 2013 Promontory Estate. It is simply richer and fuller, with greater integration of tannin, and tastes spectacular. With an opaque, dense purple color and notes of graphite, wet rocks, blackberry and blueberry fruit, some charcoal, and again, loads of spice and loamy soil nuances, the wine has great intensity, a full-bodied texture, and finely grained, sweet tannin. This is a stunner and again, accessible, but its best days are probably a good decade away, as this could very well turn out to be a 40- to 50-year wine.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Monforte d’Alba. Paler than most. Scented and already quite haunting. Lovely lift and acidity. Dry, but all seems to be in balance.

Essi Avallen MW (96-99)

The 2013 vintage is so very Rare, so pure. True to the classical Rare recipe its Chardonnay origins include a luxurious amount of Villers-Marmery and Côte de Blancs Grand Cru fruit, without forgetting the all-important ‘spice’ of Montgueux. The Pinot Noir mix plays with the cool verticality of Verzy and Verzenay, but on a crisp year like this more generosity was lent from for example plush Ambonnay and Bouzy fruit. Intense, shiny bright lemon-green colour. Stunningly refined toasty nose with fine herbal freshness, lemon and birch leaves. There is a lovely vanilla-laden exotic spicy touch to the pineapple and peach fruitiness. Creamy-caressing and salivatingly energetic at the same time. There is a lovely ethereal lightness to the airy whole. Perfectly pure and compact, promising extreme longevity and capacity for majestic complexity.

Wine Advocate (88-90)

The 2013 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru les Chaignots has darker fruit on the nose than the village cru: blackberry and raspberry, light sous-bois scents emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly lactic entry, hints of mocha lining the red berry fruit with quite a forward, sumptuous finish that comes as a surprise given the vintage. This may improve once in bottle.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

This ethereal Tokaji Aszú is golden in color, with aromas of delicate acacia flower, honeysuckle, fresh peach and tinned apricot. The flavors come alive on the palate, showing luscious apricot, floral honeycomb and fresh pear juice. The acidity is perfectly balanced to prevent this delightful wine from being too cloying.

Vinous (99)

The 2013 Salon is a huge wine. Dense and explosive, the 2013 possesses almost shocking textural richness for a young Salon. If offers a perfect example of the vintage in the Côtes des Blancs, a year in which ripeness and acids were both elevated. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, mint and white pepper explode onto the palate. Bright saline notes pull it all back together on the finish. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter.

Pedigreed from the illustrious vineyards of Napa Valley, the Schrader Assortment Case 2013 presents a tantalising collection of six distinct Cabernet Sauvignons, harmonising tradition and innovation. Produced by Schrader Cellars, a world-renowned California winery, these wines are crafted with scrupulous detail under the gifted hands of famed winemaker, Thomas Rivers Brown.

Employing centuries-old dry farming practices, each vine yields an intensity of flavour that captures the essence of its specific vineyard origin, expressed beautifully in every bottle. Old Sparky, CCS, RBS, T6, LPV and Colesworthy are the stellar expressions within the Schrader Assortment Case 2013, encapsulating the unique terroir of Beckstoffer To Kalon and Las Piedras vineyards.

Lauded as a genuinely outstanding vintage, the Schrader Assortment Case 2013 is an emblem of Schrader Cellars' commitment to quality, precision, and consistency, making it an extraordinary addition to any connoisseur's cellar.

Wine Advocate (95+)

Made from the estate's oldest vines, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a bold and powerful wine that shows enormous precision and grit. On the Brunello scale, this expression from Siro Pacenti offers more dark fruit, plum, spice, tar and smoke. The wine reveals beautiful density and an important mouthfeel that hits the palate with seductive determination. This wine is holding up beautifully since I tasted it last and has even improved in terms of its complexity and overall elegance. It still has a long way to go.

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.

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.

Wine Advocate (96)

The top Cariñena is the 2013 Les Tosses, which for Dominik Huber is the pure expression of graphite and cherries, from an ancient plot on black slate soils fermented with full clusters and a short maceration and matured in oak foudres for two years. There was a volatile whiff and that sensation of warm slate that really transported me to the character of the roads in Priorat. There's also something that made me think of iron and raw meat. It's all relative of course, because compared to most other Priorats, this would feel extremely elegant and floral. The palate has even more of that tactile sensation of the graphite, with abundant, albeit extremely fine tannins and showing great balance. Some 1,000 bottles were filled in August 2015.

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.

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 (98)

A juicy, young Brunello with berry, dried mushroom and flower character. Orange peel, too. Full body, firm and velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. So complex and beautiful. It goes on for minutes. I love the balance that makes it so enjoyable to try now but it will age for decades ahead. Try to leave it until 2021.

Tim Atkin MW (100)

Vega Sicilia Único Reserva 2010 (14%) Perfection is as rare in wine as it is in most things in life, but this is a stunning Único, reflecting the quality of one of the greatest vintages of the last century. Blended with 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, as it was in 2009, it's still a very youthful wine right now, with closeknit tannins, thrilling acidity, layers of spices, fresh earth, tobacco, red and black fruits, some oak sweetness and a wonderfully refreshing, leafy undertone. Simply stunning.

Wine Advocate (99)

The Vietti 2013 Barolo Riserva Villero is a stunning wine, full of life, energy and beautiful complexity. This vintage opens in such a graceful manner, tickling the senses like a feather. With time, that initial softness begins to rise, and the wine grows in aromatic momentum and textural importance to take on magnificent fruit weight. It is soft, caressing and long. Tasted seven years after the harvest, this Riserva is expertly integrated with vibrant primary fruit, tangy acidity and non-intrusive tannins. These elements that make up the grand totality of the wine are carefully contained and chiseled down to a most elegant and beautiful common denominator.

Burghound (90-93)

An appealingly fresh nose is composed of essence of pear, floral and white peach aromas that are trimmed in a touch of citrus. The vibrant and impressively detailed flavors deliver ample power and punch on the intense and impressively persistent finish.

Vinous (94)

The 2013 Viñedo Chadwick came from a generally typical year in terms of climate, although March and April were cool, stretching out the Cabernet Sauvignon’s ripening period. The wine spent 22 months in 90% new French barrels. It’s garnet red in the glass. It has a nose of pyrazine, mint and red fruit over secondary aromas from the aging process which provide a well-judged frame. In the mouth, the tannins are firm with throat-tickling freshness and plenty of energy. The grippy flow is well-balanced and relaxed with a flavorful backdrop and ends with a lively, and lengthy, finish.

Halliday Wine Companion (96)

An archetypal Black Label, which over many decades continues to deliver. This intensely fruited with lashings of oak to support. With its almost impenetrable colour, it is set for a very long life. The palate is where it all comes together with a mouthcoating array of fruits, oak and tannins. Super long.