Search results for: 'plot red'

90 Points! Among Dureuil's reds, the 2023 Mercurey has turned out especially well, offering up notes of sweet berries, spices and licorice, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, velvety and polished palate. The higher-quality vine genetics that Dureuil replanted with here make a clear impact. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

100 Points! Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte checks in as a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. Reminding me of a more elegant version of the 2010, it has a dense purple hue to go with a rich, powerful, full-bodied, sensationally complex nose of cassis and darker berries interwoven with woodsmoke, scorched earth, chocolate, and chalky minerality. Concentrated, deep, and layered on the palate with ripe, velvety tannins, it's a sensational, absolutely heavenly effort that will keep for 40-50 years. Along with the 2009, 2010, and 2020, this is one of the greatest wines to ever come from this address. Don't miss it. - Jeb Dunnuck

100 Points! Deep and evocative, this bursts with blackcurrants, milk chocolate and floral perfume. Instantly captivating, the palate is silky yet structured, with tannins seamlessly supporting vibrant red and black berries. Broad and powerful, yet it glides, showcasing Cabernet’s structure, Merlot’s generosity and cool spiced fruit. A mineral core adds complexity, with flint-like nuances. A masterclass in power and balance – and unmistakably Smith. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Organic. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com

98 Points! The vivid fruit character here is so impressive for this hot and dry vintage. It's medium- to full-bodied, showing gorgeous crushed grapes and dark berries. With density, clarity and beauty, it really speaks of great cabernet sauvignon. The tannins are integrated and go long, taking you deep and complete on the palate. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Seems almost drinkable now but needs at least five years of bottle age. - JamesSuckling.com

97+ Points! The 2022 Smith Haut Latte is silky, elegant and nuanced. It's all there. A wine of precision and class, the 2022 is so impressive. Rened, supple tannins wrap around a core of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, espresso and mocha. I nd the 2022 a bit buttoned up today, but that is probably a very good thing for its long-term prospects. I look forward to seeing it age. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

90-92 Points! A floral, elegant bouquet of violets, iris, lilac and mulberries introduces the 2024 Grand Village, a moderately weighted, juicy and seamless wine. It offers a lively core of fruit framed by refined yet slightly austere tannins, lending the wine both charm and underlying structure. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

90-92 Points! The 2024 Grand Village (Lafleur) checks in as 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc that's resting in one-third new oak. This vivid ruby, semi-translucent hued effort has pretty red currants and subtle berry fruits as well as subtle floral and mineral-like nuances. It's medium-bodied, elegant, has supple, polished tannins, and outstanding length. - Jeb Dunnuck

90-91 Points! A fresh, crunchy red with sliced apples, cherries and light tannins. Medium- to light-bodied, it has a stone undertone and a clean finish. This will drink nicely. A blend of 88% merlot and 12% bouchet (cabernet franc). - JamesSuckling.com 

*Pre Arrival - Jan 2027 

100 Points! Even more flamboyant and sexy than the 2000, the 2005 Pavie has everything you could ever want from a wine. Deep, inky purple-colored, an awesome perfume of cassis, blackberries, toasty oak, graphite, and incredible minerality, full body, sweet tannin, and a blockbuster finish all make for an extraordinary Saint-Emilion. It’s still a baby but offers incredible pleasure today. It’s going to last for another 3-4 decades. - jeb Dunnuck, 2018

100 Points! The 2005 Pavie is deep garnet with a touch of brick. It skips out of the glass with bright, lively notes of Morello cherries, plum preserves, red roses, and candied violets followed by hints of menthol, dark chocolate, and underbrush. The full-bodied palate is so vibrant and energetic that it sparkles. Youthful red and black fruit notes comingle with mineral and floral sparks, framed by fine-grained tannins and wonderful tension, finishing with epic length and depth. This is a triumph. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, 2023

90 Points! A destemmed blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Carignan, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône is ruby/plum-hued and offers a beautifully pure, medium-bodied, elegant profile in its red and black fruits, peppery herb, and leather-like aromas and flavors. This juicy, vibrant, balanced Côtes Du Rhône will drink well for at least 4-5 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

100 Points! Gorgeous aromas of dark plums and violets. Orange peel, too. Some crushed stone. Bark. Stems. Iron shavings. Full-bodied, but very tight and compacted. The tannins are all here making it very structured, yet they are polished and melted together. Needs years to show all of its greatness. Incredible polish and structure. - James Suckling

100 Points! This has grip and poise, it edges forward with slate textured tannins, not givin too much away at first, but sit with it, because the future brilliance of this Margaux is there to be seen if you take your time. It displays a seriousness of intent that sets it apart in expression from vintages like the 2018, and has dense and powerful red and black fruits along with supple and plentiful tannins that have no intention of relinquishing their hold for decades to come. Gingerbread, liqourice root, grilled sandalwood, red peppers, mint leaf and peony flowers add waves of complexity as it widens and softens through the mid palate, along with raspberry puree and edges of patisserie cream. A Margaux for the ages. - Jane Anson

90 Points! The 2022 Cairanne Vieilles Vignes is incredibly floral, with notes of rose, red fruits, raspberries, spice, and some minerals all defining its aromatics. Medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, if a touch mid-weight, it’s nevertheless nicely balanced and seamless. This 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Carignan blend was aged 18 months in concrete vats and will drink well for 5-7 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

#Domaine_Alary_Part_II

98-100 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

"Beau-Séjour Bécot has been on fire lately, and the 2025 shows why. Concentrated, lusciously textured, creamy, and fresh, the wine delivers an intensity of fruit and a surreal sense of purity. The finish is all about its nonstop, seamless layers of velvety fruit that coat your palate as they linger for over 60 seconds."

98-100 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous

"The 2025 Beau-Séjour Bécot has all the requisites to take its place alongside the 2022 and the other extraordinary wines of 2025. Aromatic and layered, with striking presence, the 2025 is majestic. The purity here is just off the charts. There are good wines, exceptional wines, and then emotional wines. Beau-Séjour Bécot falls into the third category."

97-99 Points Jeb Dunnuck

"Sporting a stunning deep purple hue, the 2025 reveals cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and black raspberry along with a liquid rock minerality. Medium to full-bodied, with ultra-fine tannins, remarkable richness, polish, depth, and classic purity."

97-99 Points Wine Advocate

"One of the estate's finest wines to date. Dark berries and plums mingle with iris and lilac. Deep and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit, sweet tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long mineral finish. The limestone terroir is front and center."

97-98 Points James Suckling

"A medium-bodied red with a very salty and bright character and a lovely silky texture. Round, polished, and intense, with superb mineral and iron undertones. Racy, refined, and Burgundian in texture."

96 Points Decanter

"An ethereal Beau-Séjour Bécot. High energy, verve, focus, and gorgeous precision. Juicy and succulent with soft creamy textures, perfectly placed tannins, and a beautiful expression of limestone freshness."

96-98 Points Lisa Perrotti-Brown

"Fresh blackberries, ripe black plums, and red currant preserves lead to rose bud tea, lavender, pencil lead, and iron ore. Wonderfully energetic with crisp acidity, fine-grained tannins, and a long chalky finish."

95 Points Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

"Clear depth, sinew and crunchy cranberry, blueberry and red cherry fruit, with tension, minerality, salinity, and mouthwatering freshness. Great precision and the unmistakable DNA of this exceptional site."

94-96 Points Neal Martin, Vinous

"Mineral-rich black and red fruit with graphite and briny notes. Limestone dominates the character, giving the wine a distinctly rocky profile. Linear and precise with excellent potential."

91 Points! Ripe and fruity red with blackberries, mulberries, blue flowers and sweet spice aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, mellow and succulent with supple tannins and a bright, fruity finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

90 Points! Meaning 'Friends and Family,' the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kith & Kin is deep purple-hued with an upfront, delicious, plump style in its assorted darker fruits, spice, tobacco, and chocolaty aromas and flavors. It's soft, medium to full-bodied, ready to go, and undeniably delicious. - Jeb Dunnuck

98–100 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Iris, violets, and roses might start the aromatics, but that's not all there is, as you also find cherries, currants, dried flowers, and hints of spice. The palate is the star of the show with vibrant, sweet, ripe, clean, and pure fruits coupled with vivid energy driving the long, seamless, elegant, and sensuous finish.” 

97–99 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)

“One of the most refined and seamless wines of the vintage, the 2025 Palmer wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet blackberries, plums and licorice complemented by floral accents of violet and wisteria. Full-bodied, suave and layered, with a long, penetrating finish.”

97–98 Points – James Suckling
“Plush is the word to describe this red. Full-bodied and layered, with velvety tannins and a savory finish. Juicy at the end. Flashy and posh.”

97 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Strongly perfumed aromatics with roses and blackcurrants. Instantly alive in the mouth with captivating energy. Aerial almost, yet with complexity and seamless structure.”

96–98 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A brilliant, dense purple-hued wine offering a massive array of red, blue, and black fruits supported by chalky minerality, liquid violets, and graphite. Full-bodied, with a round, sexy mouthfeel and a great finish.”

96–98 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Palmer is unusual in that Merlot drives the blend this year. Black fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice, gravel and chocolate build into a driving, potent finish.”

96 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Clear spice, cumin, cloves, incense, wonderfully balanced, extremely slow unroll through the palate, floral Cabernet character dominant with crushed rose petals.”

95–97 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“Quintessentially Palmer on the nose with extravagant floral violet scents that blossom in the glass. Wonderful delineation and focus with impressive density and finesse.”

95–97 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“The 2025 Palmer charges out with energetic notes of freshly crushed plums, red currants, and ripe blackberries with nuances of violets, rose buds, anise, and fertile loam. A real head-turner!”

100 Points! The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, violets, damp earth, and truffle, it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated, building style that carries ripe, supple tannins, gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits, and an endearing, layered, multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty! - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

98 Points!  Even without knowing any of the story behind the bottle, you would be hard-pressed to pass this wine by. It has obvious intensity but as you sit with it the softness and approachability of the tannins becomes apparent, helped by the inviting floral edge to the nose, adding peony and violet lift. The black fruits running through the palate are tight but silky and seductive - this has a higher Cab count than usual because the Merlots were more affected by the challenges of the vintage. The palate pulses, switching between richness and delicacy, feeling expertly handled. You get the feeling that you can relax - they've got everything covered! It will inevitably close down in a few years, but until then you could almost go for it with a good carafe. - Decanter

98-100 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous

"The 2025 Canon is a total stunner. Deep and sumptuous in the glass, it offers tremendous textural intensity along with vibrant saline energy. Dark-fleshed fruit, mocha, new leather, herbs, and dried flowers build gradually, leading to a huge, dramatic finish laced with blood orange, pomegranate, and chalk. The interplay of finesse and power is dazzling."

98-100 Points Lisa Perrotti-Brown

"Fresh blueberries, mulberries, and black raspberries emerge alongside violets, licorice, Sichuan pepper, mossy tree bark, and lavender. The palate is intense, packed with layers of black, blue, and red fruit supported by very finely grained tannins and vibrant acidity. A real 'wow' wine."

98-99 Points James Suckling

"The finesse and sophistication are very impressive, with a medium body, ultra-fine tannins, and a seemingly endless finish. Poised, refined, and exceptionally long. A great wine."

97-99 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

"A bouquet of red, white, and purple flowers immediately grabs your attention. The palate balances lift, energy, concentration, and juiciness perfectly, finishing with layers of sweet, ripe black and red fruits, oceanic salinity, herbs, and mint. A beautifully balanced Canon."

96-99 Points Wine Advocate

"A blend of 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 Canon continues this property's brilliant run of exceptional wines. Cherries, raspberries, exotic spices, licorice, and petals unfold from the glass. Suave, concentrated, and refined, with a bright spine of acidity and a long, penetrating finish."

96-98 Points Jeb Dunnuck

"Ripe cherries, graphite, crushed flowers, and blue fruits define the 2025 Canon. Medium to full-bodied, with a remarkably polished, flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. A pure, graceful, classic Canon."

96-98 Points Neal Martin, Vinous

"Very pure and refined on the nose, with wonderful delineation and a strong mineral signature. Medium-bodied with filigree tannins and a limestone-driven finish that tingles with energy. An uncompromising expression of terroir."

98 Points Decanter

"An outstanding Canon. Cherry, cola, liquorice, slate, blackcurrant, and milk chocolate notes lead into a palate that is chewy yet juicy, round, alive, and impactful. There is tremendous purity, focus, and complexity here. A fabulous wine in the making."

97 Points Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

"An impressive Canon with seductive limestone character. Slate, chalk, and pumice stone are wrapped around vivid iris flowers, cool blue fruits, and understated spice. Deft, skillful, and deeply rooted in place."

90 Points! The 2022 Vinha Grande is a blend of Touriga Francesa, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz that matured in used French oak barrels for 12 months. 2022 was a very warm and very dry year (with one-third of the normal amount rain; 2005 was the driest year in Douro). It's an aromatic, gentle and approachable red with notes of berries, herbs and spice, a certain creaminess and a velvety palate with contained ripeness. They have room for growth here, because this wine is a mixture of grapes from different vineyards, showing the character from Douro; it's approachable and good for the table, with a certain structure and fine tannins. It's soft and easy. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

91 Points! Lifted, with cherry cola up front, the 2020 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley has a generous palate of fresh cranberry cocktail, sweet baking spice, and tangy acid on the finish. This red is hard not to love and is full of pleasure. Drink it now or over the next 5-6 years. - Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com

99-100 Points – James Suckling

"The precision is so seductive and intellectual, with aromas of fresh flowers, iron, graphite, cedar, blood oranges and black fruit. It's medium-bodied with a compact palate of intense tannins that melt into the wine. Rather weightless in nature. It kicks in at the end with incredible intensity and focus. 13% alcohol. 65% whole cluster."

98-100 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

"Almost opaque in color, it takes no effort to dig into the floral display. From there you encounter black cherries, licorice, spice box, menthol, cigar wrappers, blackberries and crushed rocks in the aromas. The palate is what steals the show with its vivid display of black and red fruits, elegant, silky textures, and most importantly, purity of fruit. The velvety finish spreads all over your palate with touches of sea salt, cocoa, Indian spices and lingering dark fruits. Clearly, this is in competition with the best vintages the estate has ever produced."

96-98 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

"The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a huge, powerful wine that is going to need many years to come into its own. Dark red and purplish fruit, lavender, incense, melted road tar and licorice make a bold entrance. Readers will find an especially deep, potent Carmes. Today the 2025 is a mere infant. It's another exceptional wine from Guillaume Pouthier and his team."

96-98 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

"Deeper-hued than the C des Carmes cuvée, with a gorgeous perfume of red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with graphite, leafy herbs, iris, and subtle floral, minty, and almost peppery nuances. Wonderfully textured and medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered, expansive mouthfeel and ultra-fine tannins."

95-98 Points – Wine Advocate

"The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion reveals a complex, harmonious bouquet of pomegranate, iris and peony, intertwined with cassis, mulberries and dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and structured, with a long mineral-inflected finish. Combining tension with an ethereal profile, it delivers remarkable clarity, freshness and elegance."

95-97 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous

"The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion takes time to open, revealing black plum and iris flower aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit, Earl Grey tea and subtle ash-like notes. Linear toward the finish but very sustained in the mouth. There is plenty of energy here and it should age with style and grace.”

100 Points! One of the wines of the vintage is the 2018 Château Pavie, and Gérard Perse continues to produce one of the greatest wines in the world, in just about every vintage. Based on 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 shows the slightly more restrained style of the estate today yet still brings classic Pavie richness, depth, and grandeur. Revealing a deep purple color as well as a sensational bouquet of crème de cassis, damp earth, tobacco, chalk, and lead pencil shavings, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, incredible purity, a dense, concentrated mid-palate, and a liqueur of rocks-like sense of minerality on the blockbuster finish. There's a backward, inward style here that actually reminds me of the 2000. This is another magical, probably immortal wine from this terroir that marries power with elegance perfectly. Don't miss it! - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

99 Points! The 2018 Pavie is a blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has a 3.58 pH and 14.48% alcohol. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with a fabulously expressive nose of crème de cassis, baked plums and blueberry preserves, leading to an impressive array of nuances, featuring notions of dark chocolate, camphor, licorice, rose petals and fertile loam, plus hints of crushed rocks and iron ore. The rich, full-bodied palate offers layer upon layer of opulent black and blue fruits with loads of exotic spice sparks and pretty floral and mineral accents, supported by firm, super plush tannins and remarkable tension, finishing with epic length and depth. This could only be Pavie. It makes for a seductively stylish glass now, but patience will be rewarded if it is afforded 5-7 years in bottle, at least, then drink it over the next 30+ years. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

91 Points! A generous, creamy and dense red blend with notes of dark berries, dark plums, chocolate and grilled herbs. Full-bodied with creamy tannins and texture. Plain with a well-rounded character. Juicy with berries and a chocolatey finish. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

90 Points! The 2021 Barrel Blend is composed of 34% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Zinfandel, 13% Malbec, 10% Petit Sirah, 9% Syrah, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts with ready to go notes of juicy plums and cassis, giving way to nuances of dried mint, spice cake, and licorice. Full-bodied, the palate is chock fruit of blackberry and plum preserves flavors with a soft texture and bags of freshness, finishing on a peppery note. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

100 Points! Produced from 100% old vine, Cabernet Franc, the aromas of smoked roses is what you initially notice before finding tobacco leaf, cherries, black raspberries, mint, menthol, and cigar box scents. The wine offers striking purity, similar to eating the berries off the vine. On the palate, the wine is supple, fresh, elegant, and refined, with silky textures, finesse, and depth. The red fruits continue expanding, taking on additional notes of herbs, tobacco, and cigar wrappers in the long, seamless finish. This is a benchmark wine for Cabernet Franc. 80% of the wine is aged in new, French oak barrels, with the remaining 20% aging in foudres. Only 5 barrels were produced. Each bottle is packaged in its own, numbered box. 14.5% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink from 2030-2055. - The Wine Cellar Insider

98-100 Points Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate

"The 2025 Haut-Brion is, as usual, more reserved and austere at this stage than La Mission, unwinding in the glass to reveal notions of dark wild berries mingled with spices, pencil lead and licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and layered, it's built around a multidimensional core of fruit framed by structuring yet well-integrated tannins, delivering a notably controlled expression of power and concluding with a long, perfumed, subtly ethereal finish. While still tightly knit at this stage, it possesses considerable depth and will require extended cellaring. It stands as one of the more impressive renditions of Haut-Brion in recent years."

98-100 Points Neal Martin, Vinous

"The 2025 Haut-Brion has a very pure and elegant bouquet with ebullient brambly red fruit, crushed stone, potpourri and touches of Earl Grey. Wonderful delineation and a little more refined than the 2020 or 2022. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, greater complexity than La Mission, more depth and minerality, finishing with a fresh, marine-tinged character that makes you want to come back. This year, the First Growth has put a bit of distance between itself and La Mission."

98-99 Points James Suckling

"Haut-Brion delivers a red with great structure and length and superb intensity and power. It is a full-bodied red with character and depth, giving it endless length. Muscular yet polished and agile. Juicy at the end."

97-100 Points Jeb Dunnuck

"A Merlot-forward blend of 62% Merlot, 26.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11.8% Cabernet Franc aged in 60% new French oak, the 2025 Château Haut-Brion is slightly more dense and structured compared to its sibling, La Mission. Gorgeous black cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and smoke all define the bouquet, and on the palate it's remarkably pure, with polished, serious tannins, and incredible length. Its purity, concentration, and overall sense of class are riveting."

97 Points Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

"Such a taut, slate-strewn journey through the palate here, slow burn. An exceptional Haut-Brion, with beautiful toasted cumin and sandalwood notes, cloves, cassis, pomegranate and cocoa beans. Muscular, structured and brooding, this is going to run and run."

96-98 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous

"The 2025 Haut-Brion is quite the powerhouse. Black fruit, cloves, new leather, tobacco, chocolate and menthol open before a wave of huge tannins and incisive acids take over. Haut-Brion can be rather dark and somber. That is very much the case with the 2025, a wine that speaks with sepia-toned, baritone inflections. It also conveys more obvious ripeness than La Mission Haut-Brion at this stage."