Vinous (89)

Good medium red. Aromas of redcurrant, smoke and leather. Suppler and sweeter than the Clos du Dessus des Marconnets; made in a plumper style. But this denser wine also shows more energy and length. Finishes with slightly dusty tannins. A very good showing.

The Labruyere Moulin A Vent Champ de Cour 2013 is a magnificent specimen of world-class fine wine. Skilfully crafted in the historical heart of Beaujolais, this prestigious blend imbues refined expertise from the celebrated Labruyere family, known for their superior viticulture since 1850. Reflecting the region's unique terroir, the Gamay grapes are found in the sought-after lieu-dit of 'Champ de Cour', contributing to its distinctive characteristics.

Heraldic of the meticulous vinification process, this 2013 single-vineyard cuvée was aged for fifteen months in neutral oak, bringing forth an exquisite tapestry of ripe, juicy red berries harmoniously woven with earthy undertones and subtle flecks of spice. The palate is complex, yet beautifully balanced, with a deep garnet hue adding further allure.

This prestigious Labruyere Moulin A Vent Champ de Cour 2013 is testament to the expertise of winemaker Nadine Gublin, sealing its legacy as a bottle of real distinction for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

James Suckling (95)

The aromas of Lafite in 2013 are complex and fascinating with cigar box, Spanish cedar, and dark fruit. Hints of hot stone. Full body, chewy tannins yet very polished and refined. Solid density on the palate. Very long and impressive. This needs three to five years to open. Very impressive for the vintage.

James Suckling (95)

The aromas of Lafite in 2013 are complex and fascinating with cigar box, Spanish cedar, and dark fruit. Hints of hot stone. Full body, chewy tannins yet very polished and refined. Solid density on the palate. Very long and impressive. This needs three to five years to open. Very impressive for the vintage.

James Suckling (95)

The aromas of Lafite in 2013 are complex and fascinating with cigar box, Spanish cedar, and dark fruit. Hints of hot stone. Full body, chewy tannins yet very polished and refined. Solid density on the palate. Very long and impressive. This needs three to five years to open. Very impressive for the vintage.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2013 Lafleur was one of my favorite wines from barrel because, as Baptiste Guinaudeau remarked when I visited the property, he did not try to make a Pomerol beyond what it could be. The nose might not possess the complexity of the best vintages of Lafleur, but it is clearly delineated and fresh, with blackberry and raspberry fruit, a subtle granitic scent tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, as is often the case for Lafleur, with crunchy red berry fruit and a stony, almost reserved but fresh finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is an excellent wine considering the growing season.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2013 Lafleur was one of my favorite wines from barrel because, as Baptiste Guinaudeau remarked when I visited the property, he did not try to make a Pomerol beyond what it could be. The nose might not possess the complexity of the best vintages of Lafleur, but it is clearly delineated and fresh, with blackberry and raspberry fruit, a subtle granitic scent tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, as is often the case for Lafleur, with crunchy red berry fruit and a stony, almost reserved but fresh finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is an excellent wine considering the growing season.

Vinous (87-90)

Dark red-ruby. Highly perfumed, refined aromas of red cherry, raspberry eau de vie, minerals and rose petal, complicated by sweet spices. Bright and clean in the mouth, with lively acidity lifting the red fruit and spicy floral flavors at the back. Finishes with repeating notes of juicy red berries and minerals. Strange as it may seem in a vintage of light wines like 2013, this Lagrange seems to have a deeper nose and more density than usual.

Vinous (94)

Medium-deep red. Complex, high-pitched perfume melds blackberry, cherry, wild herbs, black pepper, underbrush and dried flowers. Classic Clos des Lambrays in its combination of red and black fruits, dried flowers, minerals, spices, licorice and earth and its pungent inner-mouth energy. This wine actually reminded me of a 1978! Finishes with firm, noble tannins and terrific piquant length. This is actually easier to taste today than the village wine but should evolve very slowly.

James Suckling (92)

A firm and silky red with lots of currant, flower and citrus aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a long finish. Excellent for the vintage. Subtle finish. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (92)

A firm and silky red with lots of currant, flower and citrus aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a long finish. Excellent for the vintage. Subtle finish. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (94)

This is a solid cab with a backbone of ripe and chewy tannins and lots of wet earth, black currant and autumnal leaf character. Full and powerful. This needs a few years to soften. Better in 2019.

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker (96+)

The opaque purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) has a Château Latour-like nose of cedar wood, graphite, oodles of creme de cassis and forest floor, stunning concentration, power and structure. This is an amazing wine, and with 1,635 cases produced, has reasonable availability. This all is produced from the so-called clone 7, which became better known across the street and up on the Vaca hillsides as the Eisele Vineyard clone. This wine should really be laid down for 7-8 years and probably has a good 40-50 years of potential longevity.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2013 Firebelle Proprietary Red is a blend of 76% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This wine shows loads of roasted espresso notes mixed with white chocolate, plum, black cherry and currant. The wine is ripe, opulent, full-bodied and a very sexy, lush example of 2013 to drink over the next 15 or more years.

Wine Advocate (96+)

The Larmandier family excelled in this cooler vintage, so it's unsurprising that the 2013 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant has turned out beautifully. Wafting from the glass with notes of crisp yellow orchard fruit, brioche, white flowers, oyster shell and honeycomb, it's medium to full-bodied, deep, layered and incisive, with a tangy spine of acidity, terrific tension and a long, racy finish.

Wine Advocate (96+)

The Larmandier family excelled in this cooler vintage, so it's unsurprising that the 2013 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant has turned out beautifully. Wafting from the glass with notes of crisp yellow orchard fruit, brioche, white flowers, oyster shell and honeycomb, it's medium to full-bodied, deep, layered and incisive, with a tangy spine of acidity, terrific tension and a long, racy finish.

Vinous (97)

The 2013 Extra Brut Les Chemins d'Avize Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is floral and gracious, much more so than is common in Avize Champagnes, which tend to have more body. The 2013 is beautifully perfumed and ethereal from start to finish, with striking beams of salinity that confer tension. Candied lemon peel, white flowers, spice, hazelnut, dried flowers and chamomile are some of the many notes that are laced together. This subtle, wonderfully nuanced Champagne has so much to offer. It is the most restrained wine in this range. The Chemins d'Avize is a blend of fruit from Chemin de Plivot and Chemin de Flavigny, done in neutral oak. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: October, 2019.

James Suckling (94)

Aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate and cedar yet bright and fragrant. Full body yet tight and polished. It starts off and then slowly grows on the palate with wonderful dimension of complexity and polished tannins. Better in 2022 but already so impressive.

James Suckling (94)

Aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate and cedar yet bright and fragrant. Full body yet tight and polished. It starts off and then slowly grows on the palate with wonderful dimension of complexity and polished tannins. Better in 2022 but already so impressive.

James Suckling (94)

Aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate and cedar yet bright and fragrant. Full body yet tight and polished. It starts off and then slowly grows on the palate with wonderful dimension of complexity and polished tannins. Better in 2022 but already so impressive.

Vinous (97)

Deep red. Perfumed aromas of raspberry, strawberry, tea leaf and crushed stone are lifted by a lovely violet topnote. Bright, dense and juicy, this features lively, harmonious acidity extending the very precise, pure, multilayered flavors of red currant, sweet spices and red cherry on the long vibrant finish. A really beautiful wine. Bravi! Real Italian wine experts know that Le Chiuse owns vineyards in one of the best areas for Sangiovese in all of Montalcino; for example, it is from this area that Biondi-Santi sourced its Sangiovese grapes for many of its famous Brunello Riservas.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)

The 2013 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is soft, silky and medium in body. Rose petals, mint and sweet red berries all lift from the glass in an intensely floral wine supported by beams of mineral and graphite notes. Silky tannins add finesse to the supple, gracious finish. The 2013 is 57% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Cabernet Franc.

James Suckling (98)

Wow. This is the best syrah in Tuscany this year with incredible depth and beauty. The texture is so plush yet polished and caressing. Full body. The finish of chocolate, hazelnuts, smoked meat and fruit lasts for minutes. Drink or hold. Pure syrah.

A gem within the fine wine collection is the Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2013. Hailing from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, a prime Champagne region, this well-crafted wine bears the signature of Champagne Le Mesnil, a revered cooperative with unmatched commitment to quality. The vintage 2013 is 100% Chardonnay, meticulously hand-picked and vinified to produce a Blanc de Blancs of unparalleled strength and finesse.

Matured on lees for a noteworthy period, the wine showcases the unique terroir of Côte des Blancs, offering a mesmerising dance of creamy mousse, lush ripe fruit with hints of toasted almonds and brioche. The taste evolves on the palate, culminating in a long and magnificent finish.

If seeking a companion for a delicate entrée or a delightful standalone drink, the Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2013 exemplifies the best of Champagne. It's a sublime testimony to the producer's mastery over the grape and terrain.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (87-89)

The 2013 Petit Cheval is supple and easygoing. A wine with plenty of near and medium-term potential, the 2013 graces the palate with dark red cherry, plum, smoke and spices. Overall, the 2013 is a pretty, nicely textured wine, but there are elements of slight forwardness and evolution in the flavors that suggest the wine is best enjoyed upon release. The blend is 79% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Franc.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

The mousse is so soft and plentiful that the entire thing almost melts away in your mouth. Just an excellent Champagne that has real character, more minerality than fruit, moving towards saffran and quince. A more challenging vintage in Champagne than the 2012, but this has the charm that comes with bottle age, with a grilled almond edge, still with citrus and white flower undertones. Beautiful. Hervé Jestin winemaker. Soft 2.3/l dosage, making this Brut Zero. No need to wait longer.

Burghound (93-96)

Here the nose is restrained to the point of being all but mute and only aggressive swirling coaxes the grudging aromas of pear, white peach, apricot, acacia blossom and discreet menthol nuances. As is usually the case there is more size, weight and muscle to the medium weight plus flavors that possess a hint of bitter lemon on the massively long finish. What I find interesting about the 2013 Bâtard is not only that it is more elegant then usual but also that it manages to deliver so much volume and power without any appreciable weight. In a word, brilliant.

Wine Advocate (85-87)

The 2013 Bourgogne Blanc has plenty of light citrus fruit and orange blossom scents on the nose. The palate is fresh and clean with crisp lime and green apple notes, leading to a light, easy-drinking finish. Not bad, although I always think that it is worth trading up to the Puligny Village Cru if you must insist on Leflaive on a budget.