James Suckling (98)

Extremely perfumed and beautiful with ripe strawberries and citrus fruit, as well as aromatic flowers. Full-bodied with plenty of fruit and creamy, chewy tannins that are polished and very impressive. Long and linear. One of the best of this bottling. Drink after 2023, but already a gorgeous bottle.

James Suckling (98)

Red cherries, strawberries, spiced plums, violets, cloves, dried herbs, undergrowth and a touch of smoke on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Firm, mineral and tea-like tannin quality. Very focused and structured. Needs time. Try after 2025. From biodynamically grown grapes.

Wine Anorak (93)

North part of Chassagne, they have 2 hectares. Rocky soil with lots of limestone. Linear, bright and mineral with a citrus fruit core and a bit of spicy oak. There’s a tiny hint of bitterness under the fruit. Has a bit of pineapple and pear richness, too, and some hazelnut. Lovely focus.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Cask sample. Mid dark crimson. Sweet oak spice entwined with really ripe cherry fruit. Dark, dry finesse on the palate. Extremely elegant but all hidden at the moment. Plenty of freshness like a seam through the dark, dry youthful reticence.

The Chantal Lescure Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Suchots 2022 is an epitome of exceptional elegance and complexity. This lush, red wine hails from the famed, noble slopes of Vosne-Romanee in Burgundy, France. The winery, Chantal Lescure, founded in 1975, is renowned for employing techniques that respect the vineyard's ecology, enhancing the terroir’s unique qualities. The 2022 Suchots, optimally harvested, is a concoction of hand-picked, perfectly ripe Pinot Noir grapes.

The wine seductively unfurls a bouquet of ripe red berries, violet, and spicy notes, encouraging an unforgettable taste adventure. Expert oak-barrel ageing bestows a layer of subtle tannins, delivering a splendidly balanced structure. This Chantal Lescure Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Suchots 2022 continues to maintain the winery's fine lineage of exceptional wines; a testament to its meticulous craftsmanship and profound respect for tradition. An outstanding choice for discerning palates, it paints a vivid picture of its prestigious, terroir-driven provenance.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2011 Chapelle d’Ausone has a well-defined, quite focused bouquet with high-toned but precise red berry fruit, crushed stone and rose petal aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation, lifted red berry fruit laced with truffle, black pepper and a touch of clove. Lovely cohesion on the finish, this is an excellent 2011 that is ageing with style. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker (94)

Deep garnet with a touch of purple, the 2009 Cluster M45 Shiraz has notes of fragrant earth and forest floor over youthful black fruits and tar. Full-bodied and built like a brick house with firm chewy tannins and a nice acid backbone, it has a wonderfully long, earthy finish. James Suckling (2009) 94 pts Peat, smoke and bonfire with a plump mid-palate pushing the envelope, with some stemmy complexity keeping the tone drinkable. Most powerful wine of the tasting. Drink now or hold.

Vinous (94)

Bright ruby. Powerful aromas of raspberry liqueur, cherry pie, incense and succulent flowers, along with a smoky mineral element that builds in the glass. Vibrant red and dark berry liqueur and candied licorice flavors stain the palate and display superb clarity and spicy lift. Silky tannins frame the wine’s sweet fruit on an impressively long, precise finish that leaves candied lavender and cherry notes behind.

Jeb Dunnuck (95-97+)

The 2019 Côte Rotie Nève isn't far off the 2018 in style and might even be a bigger, richer wine. Black raspberries, candied violets, flowers, and a kiss of classy oak all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant. This floral, mineral-laced, structured Côte Rôtie is going to need 2-4 years of bottle age and will drink brilliantly for 20 years or more.

Wine Advocate (100)

Leading off three single-vintage whites from Hermitage, the stunning 2013 Ermitage Cuvee de L’Orée has an off-the-hook bouquet that includes just about everything you could think of when considering Hermitage Blanc. White peach, white flowers, almond paste, quince and wet rock are just some of the nuances, and it packs a serious punch on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a flamboyant, expansive texture and riveting focus and purity. Give it a year or so and drink it over the following 2-3 decades.

Wine Advocate (100)

Marked by sensationally deep notes of crushed stone, cassis and blueberry, the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite is a tremendous effort and a worthy rival to the wines produced in the past four vintages. Full-bodied, it's rich and restrained, expansive yet structured—just a complete wine from mouthwatering aromas to velvety mouthfeel and long, stony finish. While delicious now, I'd expect it to close up shortly, yet still be going strong two decades from now. Wow!

Wine Advocate (100)

Marked by sensationally deep notes of crushed stone, cassis and blueberry, the 2019 Ermitage l'Ermite is a tremendous effort and a worthy rival to the wines produced in the past four vintages. Full-bodied, it's rich and restrained, expansive yet structured—just a complete wine from mouthwatering aromas to velvety mouthfeel and long, stony finish. While delicious now, I'd expect it to close up shortly, yet still be going strong two decades from now. Wow!

Wine Advocate (100)

As in 2016, my favorite of the white parcel selections this year is the 2017 Ermitage l'Ermite Blanc (231 cases produced), as it perfectly balances richness and power with refinement and structure. Toasted brioche and citrus marmalade, honey and truffle notes deliver sheer full-bodied, mouth-filling decadence, supported by austere notes of crushed granite, zesty grapefruit rind and cooling brine. Huge and intense yet refreshing, it's the essence of granite-grown Marsanne.

Wine Advocate (99)

Surprisingly, I preferred the 2011 Ermitage le Meal Blanc over the 2012 on this occasion and it showed a more flamboyant, sexy style in its caramelized pineapple, tropical, honeyed and floral personality. Big, rich and decadent, with fabulous fruit intensity and length, this rock star flirts with perfection and will keep for another 3-4 decades.

Wine Advocate (100)

Even better and a prodigious effort that hits all my sweet spots, the 2011 Ermitage Le Pavillon comes from one of the top terroirs on Hermitage hill, the granite soils of the Les Bessards lieu-dit. Spectacularly perfumed, with raspberry, blackberry, licorice, toasted spices and assorted floral nuances, this full-bodied effort has massive depth and richness, no hard edges and masses of finely polished tannin that emerge on and frame the finish. It will be approachable at an earlier age than either the 2009 or 2010, yet should nevertheless have 2-3 decades of ultimate longevity.

Wine Advocate (100)

Aged entirely in barriques (25% new), the 2016 Ermitage le Pavillon shows only a hint of warm pencil shavings on the nose, beautifully setting up notes of fresh blackcurrants. Full-bodied, concentrated and plush across the mid-palate, it turns rich and velvety on the nearly endless finish, marked by savory notes of beef, licorice and espresso. If you wish to catch a glimpse of this wine's greatness, it would be no crime to open a bottle upon release, as I suspect it will close down for a number of years soon afterward.

Essi Avallen MW (94-97)

Charles Heidsieck’s racy 2013 vintage is a blend of ten Grands and Premiers Crus: Oger, Vertus, Chouilly, Cuis, Verzy, Aÿ, Ludes, Ambonnay, Tauxières and Avenay-Val d’Or. Usually appreciated for the richness and toast-enriched complexity of its Vintage cuvées, Charles Heidsieck 2013 plays on totally different assets, cool refinement and silky linearity. Despite excellent ripeness of the grapes, the October harvest brought about a tight acid line and fine aromatic restraint to it. Toastiness is subtle for the time being, but remarkably elegant, perfectly lining the sweet orchard fruit profile. Its best quality is the prism like radiance and purity of fruit. Showing highly youthful, this wine promises to be slowly but gracefully ageing. Suitably dosed at 9g/l.

Decanter (98)

The formerly little-known appellation of Cabardès made it into our Decanter World Wine Awards 'Best in Show' selection in London in spring 2018, and now the AOP has done it again, with yet another outstanding effort, this time impressing our Asian judges. This blend of 60% Cabernet Franc with 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache is saturatedly black-red in colour, surrendering fresh, floral aromas backed by enticing black-raspberry and mulberry fruits. On the palate, the wine is deep yet full of lively charm, perfectly summarising the 'crossover' appeal of this appellation, which lies half-way between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Fine-grained tannins and lacy, billowing acidity carry that raspberry/mulberry fruit all the way to a fresh, graceful finish. Cabernet Franc fans should seek it out. Drink 2018-2026

Wine Advocate (92)

This property is owned and managed by the Vauthier family of Château Ausone. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Fonbel—composed mainly of Merlot with splashes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère and Petit Verdot—is scented of warm black plums, blackberry preserves, tar and bay leaves with touches of scorched earth and chargrill. Medium to full-bodied with very fine, silky tannins and amazing freshness, the palate offers stacks of red and black fruits, going minerally on the long finish.

James Suckling (96-97)

Great texture to this wine with creamy, firm tannins that are so polished. Full and gorgeous. Very enticing. 96% merlot and 4% merlot.

James Suckling (91)

Very pale apricot color with aromas of peaches, sliced apples, jasmine, wet stones and watermelon. It's medium-bodied with bright acidity and succulent layers of ripe fruit. Juicy and packed with flavor, yet fresh and elegant. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

The 2016 Le Pape is a gorgeous wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. Ripe and luscious in the glass, with terrific depth and character, the 2016 offers tremendous near and medium-term appeal. Black cherry, plum, licorice, leather, spice and smoke add to an impression of darkness in this supple Pessac-Léognan.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)

One of the unquestioned Sleeper jewels of the year, the 2016 Le Prieuré is off the charts beautiful. Silky and impossibly refined, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total precision. Today, the 2016 is a bit more restrained than it was from barrel, when it was a more overt wine. That is not a bad thing, though, as I suspect the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its finest. Dark, beautifully perfumed and gracious, Le Prieuré represents the height of finesse in Saint-Émilion. Jean-Claude Berrouet consults for the Artemis Group, which is now the sole owner of Le Prieuré. The 2016 is a fabulous wine by any measure. Don't miss it.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)

One of the unquestioned Sleeper jewels of the year, the 2016 Le Prieuré is off the charts beautiful. Silky and impossibly refined, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total precision. Today, the 2016 is a bit more restrained than it was from barrel, when it was a more overt wine. That is not a bad thing, though, as I suspect the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its finest. Dark, beautifully perfumed and gracious, Le Prieuré represents the height of finesse in Saint-Émilion. Jean-Claude Berrouet consults for the Artemis Group, which is now the sole owner of Le Prieuré. The 2016 is a fabulous wine by any measure. Don't miss it.

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 (94+)

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is dark, ample and totally seductive. Black cherry, mocha, plum, spice, new leather and tobacco all meld together. Pliant and supple, the 2016 is already incredibly delicious. This is an especially mid-weight wine and style. Accordingly, the 2016 Estate will drink well with minimal cellaring. The Estate was bottled just two months before this tasting. I imagine it will put on some weight with further time in bottle. All the elements appear to be in the right place for that to happen.

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.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The Grand Vin 2020 Château Cheval Blanc checks in as a blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon that was raised, as always, in 100% new French oak. As usual with Cheval Blanc, it's primarily about finesse and elegance, as well as complexity, and exhibits a deep purple hue as well as a kaleidoscopic bouquet of sweet red and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy incense, loamy earth, and smoke tobacco. Absolutely flawless on the palate, it's full-bodied, has perfectly integrated oak, ripe, silky tannins, and a gorgeous finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. This powerful, concentrated Cheval Blanc offers pleasure even today (needs lots of air) but warrants 7-8 years of bottle age and will see its 40th birthday in fine form.

James Suckling (99)

Super refined and beautiful with flowers, spices, dried fruit and hints of stones. Medium to full body with very fine tannins and a gorgeous finish. Shows great finesse and depth. Savory character, as always, but in check. Drink in 2022.

James Suckling (100)

This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever. Discrete aromas of blackberries, flowers, stone and licorice. So perfumed. The integration of fruit, tannins and acidity is fantastic. Full-bodied, tight and solid with beautiful depth and integrity. Extremely long and exciting. Complex and compelling with such refinement and length. A blend of 62% malbec and 38% cabernet sauvignon. Available in September 2020. Better after 2024.