Search results for: 'pre'
- Angelus Saint Emilion 2023 Pre-ArrivalDEC97JD93-96JS97-98WA95-96VM94-96JA96$344.98Availability:In Stock
PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE
97-98 Points! The transparency of fruit and the finesse is really something here. There’s depth and beauty to the pristine, fresh fruit. Full-bodied and muscular with wonderful tannins that provide tension and form. Subtle and weightless, this is a thought-provoking young wine. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. - James Suckling
97 Points! Gorgeous nose, floral and scented with roses and violets, expressive strawberries and raspberries and some herbal elements. Full and filling, but soft and smooth, almost crushed velvet in texture. It’s not so tense and straight but has a solid backbone of freshness and plush fruit but very cool. It’s more on the structured side than overt acidity, serious but still with crunchy blueberries, chalky blackcurrant, lots of graphite and minerality on the finish. Less fruit forward than some but layered with complexity - a subtle opulence. Fleshy ripe tannins with mouthwatering acidity adding a serious touch. It’s missing that Angelus hug on the mid palate, but I like it a lot and you can’t fault the refinement and precision on show. It’s got body, length, tannins, crunch, freshness, and a vein of minerality underpinning the expression. Georgie Hindle, Decanter
96 Points! Cocoa bean, liquorice, pomegranate, smoked earth, sage, anis, fennel, slate tannins, this combines nuanced and sinewy tannins with a generous supple expansion through the palate, building in power and impact. Beautifully fragrant, measured and skilful. 50% in foudres for Cabernet Franc, 50% new oak for the Merlot. Harvest September 14 through to October 1, Benjamin Laforest winemaker, Stephane de Boüard-Rivoal owner. - Jane Anson
95-96 Points! A classic blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Angélus reflects this estate's continuing evolution with regard to ripeness, extraction and élevage choices, offering up attractive aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with hints of mint, potpourri, rose petals, vine smoke and orange zest. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple, with a velvety attack that segues into a core of pure, pillowy fruit framed by supple, powdery tannins, it's cool and harmonious, concluding with a long, perfumed finish. This is a terrific effort that foregrounds the vintage and the terroir at their best. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
- L'Evangile Pomerol 2023 Pre-ArrivalJD93-95+JS96-97VM94-96JA96$199.98Availability:In Stock
PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE
96-97 Points! A fine line of tannins runs through this medium- to full-bodied wine. Chocolate, walnut and lead pencil on very fine tannins. Classy and focused, providing elegance with strength. Tight at the end. 78% merlot, 21% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. - James Suckling
96 Points! A fascinating exercise in terroir, as this shows the same alcohol as the Blason, but the density, fruit character and even the IPT (tannin) count are very different. You see the impact of clay soils in the building of the powerful architecture and the plush damson and black cherry fruits. There is density but tenderness to the tannins, with grilled caramel that gives a beautiful Pomerol signature. Violet floral edging arrives towards the finish, as things open up, and this is an impressive L'Evangile that can age with ease. 42hl/h yield, a record in recent years here. Certified organic since 2021. Great stuff from technical director Juliette Couderc. - Jane Anson
94-96 Points! The 2023 L'Évangile was picked from September 4 to 28 at 42hL/ha, which is the highest for many years. Matured in 50% new oak (including 15 foudres) and 8% in amphoras (my sample only from used barrels), this has a very floral and precise bouquet with dark red fruit, blueberry, hints of blood orange and light sous-bois scents. It's very L'Evangile. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins. Crisp and precise, there’s fine tension toward the finish with a lingering black pepper note. This is a lovely L'Évangile that deserves five or six years in bottle. It will be worth the wait. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
Learn More - Lynch Bages Pauillac 2022 Pre-ArrivalDEC97JD96-98JS98-99WA93-96VM95-97TWI95-97$139.98Availability:In Stock
PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE
98-99 Points! Wow. Blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries and flowers. Full-bodied with beautifully integrated tannins that melt into the wine. Persistent and precise. A fantastic wine for the cellar. 66% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. - James Suckling
96-98+ Points! The Grand Vin 2022 Château Lynch Bages checks in as 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It actually reminds me slightly of the 2019, and while it's a classic Lynch Bages powerhouse, it has beautiful balance and purity. Cassis, graphite, lead pencil, and chalky minerality all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with terrific tannins and a layered, incredibly impressive profile that continues to open and evolve with time in the glass. Tasted twice with consistent notes. - Jeb Dunnuck
96-98 Points! Opaque in color, the wine is packed with with smoky cassis, blackberries, tobacco leaf, black cherries, licorice, flowers, chocolate, and blackberry liqueur. Powerful, full-bodied, rich, dense and intense, the wine is long, vibrant and intense. 2022 is a palate staining wine with never before seen levels of concentration. But, even with all that concentration, the wine remains balanced, fresh, and Pauillac in style. The finish holds your attention for 50 seconds or more while it builds and refreshes. The wine blends 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, 14.2% ABV. 3.71 pH. The harvest took place September 12 - September 24. The yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced from 70% of the harvest. Drink from 2027-2060. - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
95-97 Points! The 2022 Lynch-Bages was picked 12 September, around 15 days earlier than usual until 24 September at around 35hL/ha. Aged for 18 months in 75% new oak, it has a backward nose that demands a lot of encouragement. This is not as immediate as the 2016 or 2019 at the same stage. Powerful blackberry and boysenberry fruit, cedar and light tobacco notes, this feels like an edifice of aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, beautifully balanced, very harmonious yet there is an enormous backbone here that (again) is reminiscent of Mouton. Extremely long on the finish, this will need its barrel maturation to fully knit together and it is going to be a Pauillac for the long haul. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
97 Points! Blackcurrant and bramble fruit with savoury herbal nuances on the nose, this smells rich and potent. Tense and focussed, compact from the get go, present tannins give grip and hold. This is definitely not out to charm, more serious, stern and focussed but there's such overall precision. This is in high definition, supremely controlled and well worked with mouthfilling ripe tannins. I like the chewy aspect and there’s balancing acidity, hidden now by the density, that will sustain the wine for decades to come. Floral notes and some minerality come through giving the nuance so it’s not all heft, but there’s clear muscle on show. A long finish gives the sense of structure and style. An impressive wine. 95 IPT. 3.71pH. Ageing 18 months, 75% new oak. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 4.1 g/L total acidity. Harvest 12 September - 24 September. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com
95-97 Points! The 2022 Lynch-Bages is composed of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is a little closed to start, soon revealing evocative creme de cassis, blueberry pie, and chocolate-covered cherries notes with suggestions of cast-iron pan, black truffles, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut with muscular black fruit and loads of mineral sparks, framed by very firm, grainy tannins and a refreshing line, finishing long and earthy. pH 3.71, TPI 95. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
95-97 Points! The 2022 Lynch-Bages shows all the classic Lynch layers, but dialed up to the maximum. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2022 packs tremendous punch. Sweet dark cherry, spice, leather, menthol, licorice, plum and mocha all open with time in the glass. The tannins are imposing, and yet there is more than enough fruit to balance things out, at least to some degree. I expect the 2022 will need a decade to shed some of its tannin, but it is formidable, even in the early going. Impressive. Tasted two times. "This is the third time in history we are above 14% in alcohol, the others were 2018 and 2019," Jean-Charles Cazes explained. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
93-96 Points! One of the vintage's most powerful, muscular wines is the 2022 Lynch-Bages, a full-bodied, broad-shouldered Pauillac that unfurls in the glass with aromas of cassis, cherries, mint, pencil shavings and petroleum jelly, framed by nicely integrated new oak. Liberally extracted, its deep core of fruit is underpinned by an imposing chassis of rich, powdery tannin and lively acids. Always rather forbidding from barrel, Lynch Bages always seems to come together in bottle, and the 2022 has the makings of another success for this address. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
- Cheval Blanc Saint Emilion 2021 Pre-ArrivalDEC96JS97-98WA97VM98$530.00Availability:In Stock
96-98 Points! The 2021 Cheval Blanc is one of the wines of the vintage. Vertical and aristocratic in bearing, Cheval is just stunning. Time in the glass brings out compelling inner sweetness and perfume to play off a core of rich dark fruit, gravel, spice, menthol and dried flowers. I also tasted the final three blending components, none of which hints at the magnificence of the Grand Vin. Stunning. - Vinous
97-98 Points! This is so finely textured with very precise, tight tannins. Medium to full body. Lots of layers here with black and blue fruit, stones, tar, dark cocoa and spices. Dried herbs. Long and persistent. Stays focused all the way. So precise. 52% cabernet franc, 43% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon. - JamesSuckling.com
97 Points! The 2021 Cheval Blanc has turned out beautifully in bottle, and director Pierre-Olivier Clouet even considers it to be superior to the 2020, a preference that I share. Wafting from the glass with aromas of mulberries and cherries mingled with incense, iris and rose petals, framed by a deft touch of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a velvety attack that segues into a rich, concentrated mid-palate framed by sweet, powdery tannins and concluding with a long, penetrating, rose-inflected finish. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Learn More - Gómez Cruzado Rioja El Predilecto 2021WA92$26.98Availability:In Stock
92 Points! The new young red 2021 El Predilecto recovers Predilecto, which was a historic brand of the house, a wine with less aging than the rest and more fruity character. In this case, they want it to show the fruit expression of the vineyard without oak. They call it the new old concept in Rioja, what the wines used to be before the arrival of the French, pure fruit. It's a blend of 65% Garnacha from Cárdenas and Cordovín and 35% Tempranillo from Samaniego that fermented destemmed but uncrushed (so not exactly a carbonic maceration) with clean and fresh aromas and flavors. It's ripe and hedonistic, with 14.5% alcohol and good freshness. It matured in concrete for five months. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com
Learn MoreHURRY, ONLY 6 LEFT! - Saintayme Saint Emilion 2020 Pre-ArrivalDEC92JS93VM92JA93$19.98Availability:In Stock
93 Points! Orange peel and fruit with chocolate. Medium-bodied with round and polished tannins. Very pretty fruit and finesse. So pretty. Drink or hold. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
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93 Points! Cooler soils can be a little austere in this structured vintage of 2020, and you'll find angular tannins on the opening beats, speaking of the limestone, along with salinity, energy and clear purity of blueberry and raspberry fruit. Lovely, a lyrical take on St Emilion limestone from the Durantou family, Olivier Gautrat director. The first year with Noemie Durantou as winemaker, having taken over from her late father Denis. Cellar master Olivier Gautrat. ie in particular had also worked alongside him for several years as winemaker, along with cellar master Olivier Gautrat). - Jane Anson - Meyney Saint Estephe 2023 Pre-ArrivalVM91-93JA94$27.98Availability:In Stock
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94 Points! Often a benchmark wine for me in a vintage, and it is a good sign for the Left Bank in 2023 that Meyney is tasting great. A punch of inky plum and blackberry fruit, good lift and freshness, plenty of tannic grip, an excellent wine. A buy. CA Grands Crus owners. - Jane Anson
91-93 Points! The 2023 Meyney is terrific. Silky and polished, the 2023 shows a side of Meyney I have not seen before. There's also terrific freshness and overall brightness. Dark red plum, blood orange, chalk, mint and dried herbs are all beautifully delineated. More than anything else, I admire the wine's poise. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
Learn More - Grand Puy Ducasse Pauillac 2023 Pre-ArrivalJD93-95+VM93-95$33.98Availability:In Stock
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93-95+ Points! The 2023 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is concentrated and inward, with a dense bouquet of smoky black fruit, iron, leafy tobacco, and lead pencil. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Pauillac that has beautiful overall balance, ripe yet certainly building tannins, ample background oak, and a great finish. I love its overall balance, as well as its purity, but this brilliant Pauillac is going to be for those with a touch of patience. I suspect a solid 7-8 years should put it in the early stages of its drinking window, and it should have at least three decades of overall longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck
93-95 Points! The 2023 Grand-Puy Ducasse is fabulous. In fact, the 2023 is one of the best recent vintages I have tasted here. A wine of grandeur and sweeping intensity, this Grand-Puy Ducasse is seriously impressive. Silky tannins enshroud a huge core of dark fruit. Hints of graphite, dried flowers, mint and spice appear later, adding shades of complexity. It's a magnificent effort by the team led by Technical Director Anne Le Naour. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
Learn More - La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou Saint Julien 2023 Pre-ArrivalJS94-95$42.98Availability:In Stock
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94-95 Points! The purity of fruit is so beautiful here with blackcurrants and violets, as well as freshly shaved lead pencil. It’s medium-bodied with refined tannins that are wonderfully polished and give plenty of texture. Goes on for minutes. Second wine of Ducru. 58% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 2% petit verdot. - James Suckling
Learn More - Ducru Beaucaillou Saint Julien 2023 Pre-ArrivalJD95-97JS96-97VM94-96, 95-97$164.98Availability:In Stock
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96-97 Points! This has aromas of blackberries and blackcurrant, as well as graphite and flint. Some gunpowder. It’s full-bodied with extremely refined tannins, a creamy character and al-dente fruit at the finish. Crunchy, succulent and linear. Mineral edge to it, like licking a stone. Energetic. 83% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot. - James Suckling
95-97 Points! As to the Grand Vin, the 2023 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou brings everything up a level, offering a gorgeous perfume of crème de cassis, spring flowers, graphite, and crushed stone. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, pure, incredibly elegant Ducru that has ample mid-palate depth, building tannins, and a great spine of acidity. It’s another gorgeous wine from this chateau that plays in the style of the 2010, 2016, and 2020. The 2023 is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, again in new barrels, and it hit 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.7, and an IPT of 89. It will have 50+ years of longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck
95-97 Points! The 2023 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a heady, sumptuous Saint-Julien. The aromatics alone are captivating. Truffle, rose petal, blood orange, pomegranate, spice and menthol build in a creamy, lavish Ducru. The 2023 is a classic Bruno Borie wine that emphasizes textural opulence. time in the glass brings out gorgeous floral and spice-driven top notes. The balance of opulence and vibrancy is compelling. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
94-96 Points! The 2023 Ducru-Beaucaillou, matured in 100% new oak for a planned 18 months, has a less forceful bouquet than the 2022 last year and, consequently, shows more refinement and poise. The scents don't come barging out of the blocks, but they creep up on you. The palate is medium-bodied with a fresh entry. Showing moderate depth, it's quite linear in style and grippy. A faint touch of bell pepper emerges on the classically styled finish that reminds me of some of the old vintages of Ducru-Beaucaillou. This is the strictest vintage I have encountered in some time. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
- Malescot St. Exupery Margaux 2023 Pre-ArrivalJD92-94JS96-97WA93-95VM92-94$47.98Availability:In Stock
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96-97 Points! This has a very deep and beautiful palate with cherries, chocolate, hazelnut and orange peel. Pretty blackcurrants and blue berries, too. Medium body. The finish has gorgeous al-dente fruit at the end and is always subtle. Open tannins. A blend of 58% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot, and 5% petit verdot. - James Suckling
93-95 Points! One of the most suave, classy vintages from this estate in some years, the 2023 Malescot St. Exupery is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, berries, licorice and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and succulent, with good depth at the core, supple tannins and a harmonious, integrated profile. Part of the blend is maturing in foudre. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
92-94 Points! The 2023 Malescot St. Exupéry is a powerful Margaux that will need a bit of time to come together. Potent tannins wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit, lavender, mint and dried herbs. These days, Malescot is not quite as unyielding as it used to be , but this remains a decidedly old-school Margaux in style and overall philosophy. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
92-94 Points! Rocking red and black fruits, spicy wood, savory herbs, and sandalwood notes all define the 2023 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry, and it's medium-bodied, supple, and elegant on the palate, with beautiful tannins. It's another impressively textured, balanced Margaux in the vintage that has ample charm and character. - Jeb Dunnuck
Learn More - Prieuré Lichine Margaux 2023 Pre-ArrivalJD92-94JS93-94WA91-92VM91-93$34.98Availability:In Stock
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93-94 Points! A very fine and polished PL with blackcurrant, fresh-herb, terracotta and crunchy-seed character. Medium body, fine and focused tannins and a flavorful finish. Lots there in a classic way. - James Suckling
92-94 Points! The 2023 Château Prieuré-Lichine checks in as 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, raised in 35% new oak. Its deeper ruby hue is followed by gorgeous aromatics of cassis and black raspberries as well as classy oak and savory flower-like nuances. With medium-bodied richness, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and ripe tannins, it's very much in the more mid-weight style of the vintage yet has tons of character, complexity, and length. It's going to need 4-5 years in the cellar, but it’s clearly a terrific effort. - Jeb Dunnuck
91-93 Points! The 2023 Château Prieuré-Lichine has a well-balanced and quite detailed bouquet with pretty black cherries, cedar and wilted violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, with light tannins matched by a crisp bead of acidity. It doesn't possess a dense or concentrated finish, yet there is balance here, and it will provide very pleasant drinking for 15 to 18 years. This is just a delicious Margaux wine in the making. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
91-93 Points! The 2023 Château Prieuré-Lichine offers up copious red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint. This is very nicely perfumed. Silky tannins add to an impression of finesse. There is just a touch of dryness on the finish, which is the only real question mark here. Tasted two times. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
91-92 Points! Fleshy and demonstrative, the 2023 Prieuré-Lichine offers up aromas of sweet berries, plums and smoke, framed by creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and textural, with good depth and persistence, it's a strong effort that will offer a broad drinking window in a more modern style. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Learn More - Mangot Saint Emilion 2023 Pre-ArrivalJS92-93WA92-94$27.98Availability:In Stock
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92-94 Points! Another beautiful wine from this perpetually improving property, the 2023 Château Mangot delivers aromas of blackberries and mulberries mingled with hints of licorice, pencil shavings, bay leaf and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a seamless, complete profile and impressive mid-palate density, it's a blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with élevage combining, as usual, new oak, used barriques, foudre and amphorae. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
92-93 Points! The density of fruit grabs your attention, showing fullness and richness with blue fruit and a hazelnut undertone. Chewy at the end of the polished and solid palate. Structured young wine. - James Suckling
Learn More - Chapelle d'Ausone Saint Emilion 2023 Pre-ArrivalJS95-96$165.98Availability:In Stock
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95-96 Points! Wow. This is really alluring, with multi-dimensional texture and length. Crisp and al-dente. It's medium- to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and crunchy, pure fruit. Salt comes through. 60% cabernet franc, 35% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon. - James Suckling
Learn MoreHURRY, ONLY 12 LEFT! - Ausone Saint Emilion 2023 Pre-ArrivalJS98-99WA95-97VM96-98$589.98Availability:In Stock
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98-99 Points! I don't think I have tasted an Ausone like this. The purity of fruit and fluidity is so primary, like perfectly picked grapes with their juice. Then there is citrus freshness. It's muscular, with toned tannins that caress the palate and give a seamless finish. This really could push the boundaries for the character of Ausone, in the way of finesse with structure. Watch it. 60% cabernet franc and 40% merlot. - James Suckling
96-98 Points! The 2023 Ausone was picked September 14 to 30 and matured for a planned 20 months. It has a wonderful bouquet that is very floral in style and perfectly controlled, perhaps more refined than the 2022 (which incidentally had a degree more in alcohol). The palate is medium-bodied with a silky smooth entry, finely tuned with impressive mineralite. It just gently "rolls out" on the languorous finish. This is a more understated Ausone compared to recent vintages, but it exudes sophistication and could easily surpass the Vauthiers' 2022. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
96-98 Points! The 2023 Ausone is a powerful, heady wine. Dark, layered and explosive, the 2023 possesses tremendous depth and tons of sheer resonance, something that becomes increasingly apparent with time in the glass. Strong saline notes frame a core of dark-toned fruit, mocha, spice, new leather, pencil shavings and lavender. The savory, mineral-drenched finish is eternal. All the 2023 needs is time. Readers lucky enough to own it should be thrilled. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
95-97 Points! The 2023 Ausone reveals an incipient bouquet of violet, smoke, dark wild berries, spices and cherries, all beautifully interwoven with creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with a rich chassis of tannin, it has a vibrant core of fruit and a long, mineral, vanillin-inflected finish. At 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, this ranks alongside the 2014 vintage as one of the most Cabernet-dominant Ausone vintages of recent years, and it will mature for 20 months in new oak barrels. - Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
- Chateau de Fieuzal Rouge Pessac Leognan 2023 Pre-ArrivalJS93-94WA94-96JA93$27.98Availability:In Stock
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94-96 Points! The 2023 Fieuzal reveals a bright, perfumed bouquet of mulberries and cherries mingled with floral accents of violets, lilac and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, it’s pure and seamless, with a fleshy core of fruit, bright acids and powdery, ultra-refined tannins, concluding with a mineral, penetrating finish. This blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot stands out in this challenging vintage for gravelly, sandy terroirs. Under the adept guidance of Stephen Carrier, the estate - positioned on the border of the Pessac-Léognan appellation - has hit new heights in recent years. - Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
93-94 Points! Very impressive freshness and focus here. Bright and succulent, al-dente fruit right upfront and continuing through the whole length of the wine. Notes of forest floor, sea shell and iodine. Medium body. It has bright acidity that adds tension and a lot of energy. Fine tannins, already beautifully integrated. - James Suckling
93 Points! Vibrant plum in colour, with juice, density and grip, another sign of how they are evolving the structure and architecture of this wine, giving it nuance without sacrificing the complexity. Cocoa bean, sweet berry, fruits, this is delicious. - Jane Anson
Learn More - Echo de Lynch Bages Pauillac 2023 Pre-ArrivalJS92-93$34.98Availability:In Stock
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92-93 Points! A balance of blackberry, chocolate and stone with a medium body, creamy texture and a soft finish. The length and depth are very pretty, while the juicy, velvety tannins are so attractive. - James Suckling
Learn More - Le Clarence de Haut Brion Pessac Leognan 2023 Pre-ArrivalJS95-96$139.98Availability:In Stock
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95-96 Points! Intensity and focus to this, with length and raciness for the second wine of Haut-Brion, showing polish and a refined texture. It’s medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and an exquisite finish. Caressing. 55.5% merlot, 40.9% cabernet sauvignon and 3.6% cabernet franc. - James Suckling
Learn More - La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion Pessac Leognan 2023 Pre-ArrivalJS95-96$64.98Availability:In Stock
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95-96 Points! The solid center-palate and sure nature says La Mission, as it should, being the second wine of the estate. Medium body with a creamy and refined tannin structure that is long and true. Oyster-shell and blackcurrant character, as well as crushed stones. Direct. 48.3% merlot, 39.4% cabernet sauvignon and 12.3% cabernet franc. - James Suckling
- Lynch Bages Pauillac 2023 Pre-ArrivalJD95-97JS97-98VM94-97JA96$99.98Availability:In Stock
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97-98 Points! Blackberry, black cherry, crushed stone and graphite. Lead pencil, too. It’s full-bodied with juicy, chewy tannins. Vertical and layered with lovely length. Quite plush. Chewy tannins at the end. Cabernet sauvignon driven. Showing excellent potential. - James Suckling
95-97 Points! The flagship 2023 Château Lynch-Bages is based on 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, resting in 75% new French oak. One of the biggest, richest wines in the vintage, it’s deep purple-hued and offers up some classic Lynch richness in its smoky black fruits, smoked earth, graphite, and tobacco-driven aromatics. These carry to a full-bodied Pauillac with ample mid-palate depth, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. While it's clearly in the lively, fresher style of the vintage, it's a serious, structured, incredibly impressive Pauillac with tons to love. It's not far off the style of the 2019. - Jeb Dunnuck
94-97 Points! The 2023 Lynch-Bages is a dark, brooding wine. In so many vintages, Lynch-Bages is a wine of sensuality, but in 2023, it is quite the powerhouse. Formidable tannins wrap around a core of black fruit, spice, menthol, licorice and gravel. This is a somber, introspective Lynch-Bages with a ton of Cabernet Sauvignon character. I can't wait to taste this from bottle. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
96 Points! Concentrated, intense and muscular, not a word that I have used very often in 2023 Bordeaux. You get a deeply-rooted tannic grip, with soot, squid ink, cassis, blackberry, bilberry, liqourice root, slate scrap, pummice stone and mint. Lynch Bages seems to be wrought from a different place than it was a decade ago, impressive, powerful Pauillac, with an eye on long ageing. - Jane Anson
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