Search results for: 'mostly a one plot'

PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

96-97 Points! An excellent wine from this challenging vintage. It shows good depth and density of fruit with fine, silky tannins, but it’s nevertheless reactive. Juicy and quite polished, with a round core of fruit on the medium-bodied palate before a long, elegant finish. Lovely precision and focus from the filigreed tannins. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc. - Zekun Shuai of James Suckling

94-97 Points! The 2024 Larcis Ducasse is dense, powerful and imposing, almost surprisingly so. All of the wine's instensity is in the mid-palate. Black cherry, plum, mocha, lavendar, chocolate and cinnamon meld together in the glass, but it is the wine's mind-blowing balance that stands out the most. This is another stellar showing from Larcis Ducasse. There's real potential here. Tasted four times. 

 

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94 Points! The 2018 Fonbadet is superb. Classically elegant and refined, the 2018 graces the palate with exquisite finesse right out of the gate. Red berry, floral, blood orange and minty flavors convey freshness as the 2018 opens in the glass. Bright acids perk up the nuanced, persistent finish. Readers won't find too many 2018s that are this delicate, sensual and flat-out charming. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

93 Points! The 2018 Fonbadet makes good on the promise it showed last year, presenting a finely chiseled bouquet of blackberry, graphite and light sous-bois scents. Coy at first, it unfolds with confidence. The palate is very cohesive with well-judged natural acidity. There is plenty of coiled-up energy in this Fonbadet, but what really distinguishes it is the fineness of the tannin's and the persistence on the finish. Bravo! - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

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PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

97-98 Points! A really classic Ausone, reminiscent of the great ones of the 1980s. Medium-bodied, it has such clarity and brightness and length. Purity and precision with drive and focus from superb viticulture and winemaking. A blend of 65% cabernet franc and 35% merlot. - James Suckling

94-97 Points! A classic blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot resting in new barrels, the 2024 Château Ausone sports a vivid ruby hue to go with a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, subtle cassis, graphite, sappy flowers, and lead pencil. It's gorgeous on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, focused, remarkably elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and perfectly integrated oak. This classy, perfumed, sensationally elegant Ausone will drink nicely with just a few years of bottle age. - Jeb Dunnuck

93-96 Points! The 2024 Ausone is pure sensuality. Intensly perfumed, pliant and silky on the palate, Ausone is haunting in its beauty. All the elements are so well balanced. Black cherry, lavender, mocha, espresso and exotic spice overtones all take shape in the glass. A wine of understated depth, the 2024 is impressive. Even in the early going, the 100% new oak is not at all evident, suggesting a wine with superior balance. The blend is 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

 

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95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Quite a fragrant, aromatic nose, full of intense violets and irises. Sleek and so svelte, this has such a silky, almost creamy texture, tannins are gorgeous and this has such a juicy, lively core. Nothing out of place here. Super accessible and one of the best primeurs samples for consistency tasted three times. Ends salty with a stony grip.”

94 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Captures the austerity that you expect and want during En Primeur, wet stones and graphite, plenty of elegance and balance, measured acidities that give Left Bank typicity, a ton of ageing potential and curls of gunsmoke and flowers.”

93–94 Points – James Suckling
“This shows an attractive nose of flowers and subtle spices from the oak. It has good concentration and a balanced palate, with a clear, expressive fruit profile.”

93–95 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Cantemerle pops from the glass with vivacious notes of freshly crushed blackcurrants and raspberries, giving way to an undercurrent of red roses, pencil lead, and cedar with a touch of black olives. The medium-bodied palate is bright and refreshing with firm, fine-grained tannins and a long, fragrant finish.”

92–94 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Currants, cedar, flowers, and tobacco leaf create the perfume. Medium-bodied, vibrant, soft, and refined, with sweet cassis and polished tannins on the finish.”

 

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97–99 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Crème de cassis and black raspberry fruits intermixed with spring flowers, graphite, tobacco leaf, and spicy wood all emerge from the 2025 Château Gruaud Larose. Full-bodied on the palate, it has a layered, graceful mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and a great finish, all grounded by a remarkable sense of balance and elegance. This is a heavenly Saint-Julien.”

97–99 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Gruaud Larose is a towering Saint-Julien. Deep, layered and explosive, the wine possesses exceptional depth and textural richness while maintaining striking freshness and precision.”

96 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Such scented notes on the nose with jasmine, lavender, violets, peonies and deep blackcurrants alongside tobacco and clove. Supple and wonderfully textured with precision, concentration and intensity.”

95–97 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“Warm cassis, black cherries and red currant jelly are layered with sandalwood, rose oil, pencil shavings and forest floor. Elegant yet intense with super fine-grained tannins and a lively line.”

95–97 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“Tightly wound black fruit, sous-bois and tobacco with fine delineation and firmly classical in style. A more tertiary Gruaud Larose that lingers beautifully in the mouth.”

95 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“You get the tannic grip of the vintage in spades, but as you sit with the wine, a creaminess appears through the mid palate that is highly appealing. A ton of potential here, great quality.”

96–98 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers, black currants, cedar, cigar wrapper, spice, smoke, and black cherries fill the perfume. The palate is deep, concentrated, vibrant, and layered with ripe tannins, freshness, and a long finish loaded with sweet cassis and graphite. This is one of the top vintages of Gruaud Larose in recent memory.”

94–96 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
“Unwinding in the glass with notes of dark berries, cassis, plums mingled with hints of violet and pencil shavings, the 2025 Gruaud Larose is medium- to full-bodied, supple and suave, with a deep core of fruit, lovely energy and ripe, powdery tannins.”

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94 Points! A flinty, herbaceous aroma leads to nicely layered flavors of citrus, ginger and limestone in this complex, subtle and fascinating wine. Nervy acidity braces the ample herb and fruit flavors for an especially energized mouthfeel. - Wine Enthusiast

Winemaker Notes: The 2023 vintage was long and temperate, and at times, blissfully cool. The resulting wine has a great balance of richness and texture and a very well-delineated backbone of vibrant acidity. Aromatics and flavors of lemon, mandarin, Asian pear, and white peach with fresh, floral notes of cassis bud and lime. Very long and mouth-wateringly juicy.

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94 Points! Showing apricots, peaches and sage, this is layered and savory. On the palate, it’s vibrant and refined with silky texture, crisp acidity and a long finish. From organically and biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

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95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Sultry nose with ripe red fruit and soft jasmine and fragrance – dried flowers, pot pourri. Juicy and filling with a lovely light hand in terms of tannins. Mouthwatering and lifted, nothing feels heavy and you're left with a smile on your face.”

95 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Closed on the nose, elegant with fine but plentiful tannins that layer up fast in the palate. Violet and peony floral notes, clear savoury edge of blue fruits. This is precise, well structured, with huge potential for ageing but also for pleasure.”

93–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Cigar wrappers, flowers, cedar, mint leaves, currants, blackberries and licorice scents blend together to create the nose. Elegant, soft, and polished, the layers of fruit with their refined character and lift make this a standout wine.”

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95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Sultry nose with ripe red fruit and soft jasmine and fragrance – dried flowers, pot pourri. Juicy and filling with a lovely light hand in terms of tannins. Mouthwatering and lifted, nothing feels heavy and you're left with a smile on your face.”

95 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Closed on the nose, elegant with fine but plentiful tannins that layer up fast in the palate. Violet and peony floral notes, clear savoury edge of blue fruits. This is precise, well structured, with huge potential for ageing but also for pleasure.”

93–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Cigar wrappers, flowers, cedar, mint leaves, currants, blackberries and licorice scents blend together to create the nose. Elegant, soft, and polished, the layers of fruit with their refined character and lift make this a standout wine.”

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PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

92-93 Points! A fresh and solid TL with currants and cherries. Hints of chocolate and spice. Medium to full body. Juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Lovely richness and depth. A blend of 59% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot and 6% petit verdot. - James Suckling

92-94 Points! Dark cocoa, flowers, tobacco leaf, and spicy currants show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, lush, deep, and loaded with chocolate coated plums, spice, and cherries. There is richness to the layers of fruit on the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine sports a new name as it is now known as only Tronquoy. The label has been updated as well with a new, modernized design. 14.5% ABV, 3.8 pH. Drink from 2026-2040. - Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 Points! Lots of plums, blue and black fruits, earth, chocolate, and hints of earth all emerge from the 2022 Château Tronquoy, a full-bodied, pure, powerful Saint-Estèphe with impressive tannins and a great finish. It shows more floral and red-fruited nuances with time in the glass, and this is clearly a beautiful wine in the making. It shows the ripeness of the vintage while staying pure, balanced, and seamless. - Jeb Dunnuck

 

 

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Very typical of Nuits-St-Georges, with a dark plummy fruit, notes of earth and mineral, and an almost savoury edge to it - slightly rustic, yet still very refined. The grapes from this 0.4ha parcel were fermented as 60% whole-cluster, which imparts a slight edge of herbs or menthol to the wine, but this amplifies in a good way the slightly sauvage character. Delicious. 94 Charles Curtis MW, Decanter Magazine

"Background hints of wood and menthol are present on the super-spicy aromas of black cherry, raspberry and a plenitude of floral wisps. The sleek, intense and very rich medium weight plus flavors possess a caressing mouthfeel that possess notably better punch on the youthfully austere, balanced and impressively persistent finale. This is sufficiently compact that it's going to need at least a few years of keeping first." 92-94 Points, Allen Meadows, Burghound Learn More

94 Points! This is a beautiful, fresh 2017 Brunello with fine tannins and a medium body of cherry, bark, cedar and pine-needle flavors. It’s long and polished with ultra-fine tannins and fresh acidity. Nicely done for the vintage. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

93 Points! Tenute Silvio Nardi is an estate worth visiting. It occupies one of the most extreme locations in the appellation, tucked away into the hills north of the town in a wild no-man's-land of its own. Once you get there, there is a cozy, warm feeling, with vineyards carved out of the surrounding Mediterranean shrub oaks and forests. If you taste forest floor, button mushroom and wild flowers in the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino, you could easily imagine this magical place. This is a silky, mid-weight Brunello with a cool-climate character (which is preserved despite the hot vintage). - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

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95 Points! Displays beautiful aromas of ripe fruit, with currant, plum and blackberry. Complex and full-bodied, with soft, polished tannins and a long, long finish. This shows a deft hand in the winemaking. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! Still very young. Shows complex aromas of ripe fruit, blackberries, plums and currants. Polished, with soft tannins, a full body and a very long finish. - James Suckling, 2013

94 Points! The 2005 Ornellaia opens with striking, compelling aromatics that draw the taster in. Still deep, rich and intense throughout, the 2005 has held up beautifully. Sweet herbs, tobacco, spices, sage and plums add shades of dimension to a core of super-ripe, exotic fruit that is one of the vestiges of a late-ripening vintage in which the fruit was allowed to hang until the very end. The 2005 remains an infant. It should drink well for another 15+ years. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 2015

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94 Points! Fresh and vibrant satsuma tangerine, Meyer lemon, pear pastry and ginger notes mingle with Honeycrisp apple and lemon sherbet, with accents of brioche, sweet cream and spices on a supple, elegant frame. Drink now through 2034. - Wine Spectator

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97 Points! Dried tropical fruits like mangoes and green papaya, with lemons and green apples. Limes, too. Full-bodied yet tight and compacted with great length and persistence. Muscular yet fresh. 66% sauvignon blanc and 34% semillon. Drinkable but needs five or six years to soften. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

96 Points! Ripe and expressive on the nose, aromatically complex with notes of carmalised lemons, honey, peach and wet stones. Clarity and precision from the start, such a well defined palate with striking high acidity, crisp and sharp citrus fruits and a salty undertone. Soft spicing comes in towards the finish suggesting this needs more time and will have a long life ahead but the nuanced bitterness, freshness and lift are all so appealing. Excellent weight and balance too with a bright and long finished - a gourmet style with plenty to like. - Decanter Magazine

96 Points!  The 2020 Château Cos D'Estournel Blanc, a blend of 66% Sauvignon Blanc and 34% Semillon, brings another level of density as well as complexity. Honeyed pineapple, melon, crushed stone, and spicy, savory herbs notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a beautifully layered, elegant mouthfeel and a great finish. It's a gem of a white and ranks with the crème de la crème of the vintage. It should keep for 10-15 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

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PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

94-96 Points! Based on 51% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2024 Château Pavie is still aging in 65% new barrels. It's tight and focused at this stage, with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of black raspberries, juicy cassis, graphite, violets, and crushed stone. I love its overall purity. It has beautiful tannins, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It plays in the fresher, more focused style of the vintage, yet still brings classic Pavie texture, depth, and richness. - Jeb Dunnuck

95-96 Points! A very precise Pavie, this has a compacted palate of blue fruit as well as raspberries and hints of sandalwood. Medium-bodied with a tight, linear finish. Racy and fresh at the end. A blend of 51% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 17% cabernet sauvignon. - James Suckling

92-94 Points! The 2024 Pavie is potent and explosive to the core. Blackberry, espresso, licorice, cloves and leather are dialed up to the maximum. The 2024 is an imposing, brawny Pavie that is likely to need a bit of time to be at its most expressive. Today, the 2024 is quite bruiser, especially in terms of its tannin profile. Like so many wines in 2024, the balance here is on the razor's edge, suggesting that elevage will be critical, especially in terms of perserving the wine's fruit. Aging is 65% new oak and 35% once-used barrels, in other words, on the lower side in terms of new oak at this address. Tasted two times. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

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96–98 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Arômes De Pavie has a gorgeous, Cabernet-like nose of red and black fruits, smoky tobacco, crushed stone, and chocolaty, truffly nuances. It's rich and powerful on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, flawless balance, and a great finish. You'd be excused for mistaking this for the grand vin of a few years ago, and it's more in the style of the classic Pavie than the Grand Vin in 2025.”

95–97 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers, black cherries, black raspberries, licorice, smoke, espresso, and crushed rocks create the perfume. Rich, supple, and energetic, the wine combines depth, freshness, and minerality with layers of ripe fruit and a long, vibrant finish. This is one of the finest vintages ever produced for Les Arômes de Pavie.”

94–95 Points – James Suckling
“This shows density and beauty in the integration of tannins and fruit. Medium-bodied with attractive blue fruit and a dark, earthy finish. Lightly salty. 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.”

93–95 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2025 Arômes de Pavie features fragrant notes of blackberry preserves, fresh black plums, and aniseed, plus touches of garrigue, pencil lead, and lavender. The medium- to full-bodied palate is chock-full of bright black fruit flavors, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a crisp line of tension, finishing long and chalky. Impressive! The blend is 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc. The alcohol is 14.25% and the pH is 3.5.”

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94 Points! Fragrant, focused and precise, offering flavors of lemongrass and lemon blossoms, with Meyer lemon and green papaya accents, plus a touch of tangerine. Shows green tea, lemon balm and white pepper notes on a mouthwatering frame, with a hint of salinity that lingers. - Wine Spectator

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94 Points! Savory, meaty and rustic on the nose, with an array of olives, tomato leaves, wild cherries, paprika and dried spices. It’s full of flavor, spicy and driven, with a medium to full body and a wild earthy minerality coming through. Drink after 2025. - JamesSuckling.com

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95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Raspberries and red cherries on the nose with some rose petal aromas. Juicy and alive, great energy and brightness straight away, so generous, plump, a little darker on the palate with some dark chocolate, liquorice, blackcurrant and hints of cedar. Dynamic and vibrant, great tannic frame, lively and so compelling.”

95 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Captures the muscular leanness of the vintage, coupled with great intensity and depth, waves of cloves, red liquorice, dark autumnal fruits, huge sapidity, coffee bean and cappuccino, clear richness with creamy weight through the mid palate.”

94–95 Points – James Suckling
“A juicy and structured Clerc that is very typical with a firmness and brightness. It's medium-bodied with a solid center palate and a linear and racy finish. Just a hint of flint in the end. Vivid and pretty.”

93–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Black cherries, flowers, blackberries, spice box, currants, and tobacco wrappers form the nose. The medium-bodied, elegantly textured palate continues along that line with its vivid display of red cherries, strawberry, licorice, blackberries, espresso, and leafy herbs.”

93–95 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
“The 2025 Clerc Milon has turned out beautifully, offering up notes of dark berries, petals and orange zest, framed by a deft touch of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with lively acids and a chalky finish.”

93–95 Points – Vinum
“Cool blackcurrant fruit, cold fireplace, subtle cedar, blackberries; focused and vertical on the palate, with polished tannins and incredibly crisp fruit, saline, like licking a stone, balanced, elegant and with very good length.”

92–94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A balanced, graceful Pauillac, the 2025 Château Clerc Milon shows cassis and black cherries, graphite, and crushed stone minerality. Medium to full-bodied with a pretty, pure, almost understated profile that builds nicely with time in the glass.”

92–94 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The palate is very rounded and supple on the entry, a mixture of red and black fruit, white pepper and tobacco, gaining more weight towards the finish with a sustained aftertaste.”

92–94 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Clerc Milon is powerful and explosive in the glass. A rush of dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mocha, new leather and a kiss of new oak makes a strong first impression.”

 

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