Search results for: 'paraje de clesse'

97 Points! Like a stallion out of the gate, this shows an initial explosion of power, in the form of mouthwatering flavors and fine texture, before quickly settling into an elegant gait. The racy acidity is seamlessly knit, buoying the lacy mousse and flavors of cassis, toasted brioche and tangerine, with accents of candied ginger, hazelnut and fleur de sel lingering on the long, creamy finish. Drink now through 2035. - Wine Spectator

97+ Points! Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Missouri Hopper is a little youthfully mute to begin, slowly revealing evocative crème de cassis, blueberry pie, chocolate box and black tea notes with nuances of forest floor, wild sage and crushed rocks. Full-bodied and packed to the gills with black fruits and earthy layers, it has a firm, grainy frame and just enough freshness, finishing with epic persistence. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com

99–100 Points – James Suckling
“A glamorous wine for the vintage, with mesmerizing perfumes of flowers, al dente fruit and citrus flowers. Black currants with some mineral and stone undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and an endless finish. The tannins lead you on a great trip. It is the most Cabernet Sauvignon ever used in the blend in recent memory. Balanced and structured. 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot.”

98–100 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers, crème de cassis, blackberries, Cuban cigars, graphite, cedar, smoke, and espresso form the aromatic core. On the palate, the wine is deep, concentrated, and incredibly refined. There is a vibrancy and purity to the fruit that elevates the wine, while the tannins are remarkably polished. The finish lingers with waves of cassis, crushed stone, tobacco leaf, and floral notes. This is one of the great vintages of Mouton Rothschild and a clear contender for Wine of the Vintage.”

97–99 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Château Mouton Rothschild is based on 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot that's resting in 100% new barrels. A blockbuster nose of crème de cassis, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite gives way to a rich, powerful, yet focused and precise Mouton on the palate, with the signature texture this estate is known for, flawless balance, ripe, silky tannins, integrated acidity, and a gorgeous finish. It hit 13.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.76. It's unquestionably a beautiful Mouton in the making.”

97–99 Points – Wine Advocate
“A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, the 2025 Mouton Rothschild is a dense, powerful wine, unwinding in the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, blueberries, espresso roast, cigar wrapper and violet. Full-bodied, deep and dense, it's rich, layered and concentrated, with prodigious mid-palate presence and a long, youthfully structured finish. Small berries in Cabernet Sauvignon, below one gram even in the older vines, explain this Mouton's remarkable intensity of flavor. The grand vin represents 52% of the production and checks in at 13.1% alcohol.”

98 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
Jane Anson highlights the wine's exceptional balance, floral complexity, and precision, noting that despite its immense concentration, the 2025 remains remarkably poised and refined. The combination of Cabernet Sauvignon purity, freshness, and Pauillac minerality places it among the elite wines of the vintage.

98 Points – Decanter
Decanter praises the wine's remarkable finesse and aromatic detail, emphasizing layers of cassis, graphite, violets, cigar box, and crushed stone. The review notes the wine's seamless texture, refined tannins, and extraordinary persistence, calling it one of the standout First Growths of 2025.

96–98 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Mouton Rothschild is a wine of striking purity and elegance. Dark red fruit, lavender, graphite, espresso, and crushed stone build beautifully in the glass. Less overtly powerful than some recent vintages, it impresses with its harmony, balance, and exceptional persistence. The finish is long, refined, and classically Pauillac.”

95–98 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2025 Mouton Rothschild slowly reveals notes of crème de cassis, blackberries, and fresh blueberries, leading to nuances of violets, cigar wrapper, graphite, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is densely packed with vibrant black fruit and mineral layers, framed by beautifully ripe tannins and impressive tension, finishing very long and perfumed.”

96-98 Points! The 2012s made from Bordeaux varietals include their flagship wine, the 2012 Proprietary Red Les Pavots, a sensational blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. A prodigious effort, it rivals some of the fabulous past vintages such as 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2007. The inky/purple-colored 2012 boasts classic notes of crème de cassis, roasted coffee, vanilla bean, cedar, forest floor and blueberries. Full-bodied and complex with sweet tannin as well as hints of charcoal and camphor, this opulent, multi-leveled, Bordeaux-styled 2012 can be drunk now or cellared for 25-30+ years. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

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

98 Points! The 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron is young and unevolved, with a barrel sample-like feel, offering cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and incredible purity. Powerful and structured, it has remarkable depth, rock-solid concentration, and seamless integrated structure and tannins. Based on 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot aged 18 months in 70% new oak, this classically styled, inward Pauillac is one of the most promising wines of the vintage and should evolve for 40+ years. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! The 2022 Pichon Baron is one of the most elegant, polished wines I have ever tasted here. Silky and refined, the 2022 is super-impressive right out of the gate. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. Blood orange, herbs and floral notes lend notable delineation to a core of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. As I did enprimeur, I find the wine's balance nothing short of exquisite. There's more freshness and vibrancy here than in the past, along with a noticeably lower oak imprint and more sensual tannins that lend notable sophistication throughout. The Grand Vin spent 16 months in French oak barrels, 70% new, and then two months in wood vats prior to bottling. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

97 Points! The 2022 Pichon Baron was picked 8 September to 3 October and matured in 70% new oak. It has wonderful precision on the nose, with intense blackberry and bilberry fruit, crushed stone and graphite. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is tensile right from the start. Taut and linear, fresh, quite saline with a nuanced touch of black pepper toward the finish. Real pedigree and sophistication here, this is a magnificent Pichon-Baron that achieves a new level of precision thanks to the more piecemeal Sauternes-inspired harvest in tandem with their new winery. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

98 Points! What a nose with complex aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, graphite and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, this has layers of tannins and intense richness but is framed and held together by the phenolic structure. Vertical and deep, it goes on for minutes on the palate. Great finish. 81% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot. Give this five to six years to come together more. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little swirling to coax out notes of warm black currants, juicy black plums, and mulberries, followed by hints of camphor, charcoal, and tapenade with a touch of violets. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely laden with rich black fruit flavors, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and savory. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

95-97 Points! An unusually gourmand, sensual wine from this estate, the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron bursts with aromas of crème de cassis, sweet dark berries, licorice, lilac and pencil shavings. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with excellent concentration and a rather rich, supple profile. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, it's the result of sub-block by sub-block picking and cooler than usual fermentation temperatures. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

98 Points! Wonderfully aromatic and expressive, with dark fruit, floral scents, chocolate, cinnamon and liquorice. Smooth, svelte, bursting with energy. Juicy strawberries and cherries have crunch from fine tannins and mineral edges. Calm and controlled, yet quietly powerful. Fruit and oak emerge over time, layering chalky, powdery, ripe, spiced and fresh textures. Ends as joyously as it starts, and very moreish. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com

98 Points! The gem of the 2014s is the 2014 Pluribus, which comes from a 7-acre site on Spring Mountain. This incredible wine offers a full-bodied, seamless, perfectly balanced profile as well as heavenly notes of black and blue fruits, white chocolate, and licorice. With a world class texture, fine, fine tannin, and a great finish, it’s a tour de force in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that’s as good as anything out there. - Jeb Dunnuck

97+ Points! Very deep purple-black colored, the 2014 Pluribus offers up notions of crushed black plums, black currant cordial and pencil shavings over a meaty core of chargrill and beef drippings plus hints of Chinese five spice and underbrush. Full-bodied and firmly framed with chewy tannins and a lively backbone, it features plenty of earthy and savory layers, finishing long and minerally. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com

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

100 Points! A vintage of precision and aromatic purity, this is one of the finest Angélus wines ever made. A blend of 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, the nose is heady and complex, filled with dark chocolate, cherries, blackcurrants, violets, and rose. On the palate, it’s silky, scintillating, and fresh, with a crystalline clarity and balance that feels almost effortless. Chalky yet creamy tannins add depth, while flashes of heat and liquorice spice on the finish bring structure and length. Juicy, deep, and incredibly moreish, this dances across the palate with finesse and vibrancy. A wine of energy, persistence, and sheer sophistication. 100% new oak (50% Cab Franc in foudre). 3.7 pH. 75 IPT. Organic. - Georgia Hindle, Decanter Magazine

99 Points! This is a powerful Angelus, showing incredible depth and intensity as well as tannins that are totally melted into the wine, giving incredible energy for such a young bottle. It makes me think of the great reds of the 1940s or 1950s but with modern precision. Full-bodied but agile, this has endless length, the blackberries and crushed stones, light herbs and dark chocolate showing throughout. Such balance. Al dente. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. So attractive now but will age forever. - JamesSuckling.com

98+ Points! Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Angelus is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that spent 21 months in 100% new barrels, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. It reveals a pure ruby/purple hue as well as stunning aromatics of black raspberries, cassis, spring flowers, and graphite that show more floral nuances with time in the glass. It's incredibly well-balanced, has fine tannins, and a rare mix of purity, finesse, and richness. It's an absolutely gorgeous Angelus that deserves a decade in the cellar and will cruise for 40+ years. The style here has shifted considerably towards elegance and finesse, sometimes at the expense of texture and richness, yet this classic beauty delivers perfectly balanced richness, depth, and elegance. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! The 2022 Chateau Angelus is made from 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it erupts from the glass with intoxicating notes of blackberry pie, blueberry preserves, and red currant jelly, leading to suggestions of potpourri, underbrush, cinnamon stick, and anise. The full-bodied palate has a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and bags of freshness supporting the red and black fruit layers, finishing long and fragrant. Classic Angelus! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

100 Points! The wine of the vintage in Saint-Julien, if not all of the Médoc, the 2019 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, aged in 100% new French oak, that hit a natural alcohol of 14.2% with a monster IPT (number of tannins) of 88. It's certainly one of the most concentrated Saint-Juliens, revealing a dense purple hue to go with a stacked bouquet of crème de cassis, freshly sharpened pencils, damp clay, tobacco, and hints of spring flowers. Concentrated, full-bodied, and powerful, it has incredible tannins, flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. While most estates today are playing it safe and producing more ethereal, elegant wines that drink well right out of the gate, thankfully, this estate continues to make concentrated, powerful, age-worthy wines, and this heavenly beauty is as good as it gets! It will need a decade of bottle age to hit the early stages of maturity and will evolve for 50 years or more. Bravo to Bruno Borie! - Jeb Dunnuck

99+ Points! The 2019 Ducru-Beaucaillou is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows and unfurls on the nose to reveal notions of smoked meats, black truffles, licorice, and crushed rocks with a core of creme de cassis, blueberry preserves, candied violets, and cedar chest, plus an exotic waft of cumin seed. Medium to full-bodied, firm, and grainy, the palate has layer upon layer of tightly packed black fruits and earthy accents, finishing with epic length and a provocative spiciness. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

98 Points! Originally a part of the legendary Piper-Heidsieck Champagne house, Rare is moving their Champagne Millésime to a new brand and want it to stand alone. (Think Delamotte and Salon.) The 13th vintage for this cuvée, the 2013 Champagne Millésime is a blend is 70% Chardonnay with the rest Pinot Noir, with the majority of the blend coming from the Montagne de Reims Grand Cru and Premier Cru. A bright yellow hue, its aromatics are exquisite and well-balanced, with fresh notes of key lime, candied apple, fresh croissant dough, fresh pineapple, and honeysuckle. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with a rounded and supple texture and a pillowy mousse. It’s long on the palate and has a silky personality as well as a long, pristine finish. It has fantastic balance of decadence and freshness, and I could drink this all day. It’s going to have a long drinking window. Drink 2024-2044 and beyond. Disgorged December 2022. - Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com

#PiperRare

97 Points! The old vine cuvée that incorporates more stems with the goal of longer aging potential, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Cuvée Du Papet is deep ruby-hued and offers ripe red and black berry fruits, black olive, pepper, and crushed stone-like minerality. Based on 80% Grenache with 10% each Syrah and Mourvèdre from the La Crau, Bois Dauphin, and Montalivet lieux-dits, it was partially destemmed and aged in a mix of large foudres, demi-muids, and clay jars. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shows the vintage's more polished style with ripe underlying tannins and outstanding length. It's very much in the forward, charming style of the vintage yet still has plenty of structure. With roughly 1,000 cases produced, give it 3-4 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following two decades. It's certainly up there with the crème de la crème of the vintage. - Jeb Dunnuck

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

98 Points! One of my favorite wines (although it's hard to find), La Violette makes a rich, sexy, yet always elegant and seamless style of Pomerol. Their 2019 Château La Violette is deep purple-hued and offers an incredible perfume of blue fruits, iron, tobacco, spice box, flowers, and loamy earth. Full-bodied on the palate, it shows the pure, elegant style of the vintage, has beautiful tannins, perfect balance, and a great, great finish. There's lots of creamy background oak that needs time to integrate, but this is another remarkable release from this team. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following 20-25. - Jeb Dunnuck

95 Points! The 2019 La Violette offers typical ravishing scents of blueberry, crème de cassis and violet (of course), modern yet irresistible and well-defined, and better than in previous years. The palate is medium-bodied, fleshy yet balanced, with supple tannins, copious, lightly spiced red fruit and a pure, concentrated finish. A delicious Pomerol that offers hedonic pleasure. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

97 Points! The beautifully expressive 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Wynns John Riddoch radiates with lavender and violets over a deep core of blackberry and gravel. The fine oak is seamlessly balanced. There's a fantastic brightness of flavor with dried herbs, fennel seed and rosemary intertwined with layers of robust dark fruit flavors. A heart backbone of dense tannins is sure to reward the patient for what is a searingly weighty Coonawarra Cabernet. - Angus Hughson, Vinous Media

96+ Points! The 2020 John Riddoch Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon is supple and red fruited, layered with an abundance of cassis, bramble, black cherry, creme de menthe inflections and lashings of soft garden leaf herbs. In the mouth, the tannins are seamless, pliable and flexible. They splay over and around the fruit, shaping it in an ebb and flow of texture. A beautiful wine, it undulates as much as it resists the tide. It drinks beautifully, ages beautifully. Gorgeous wine. - Erin Larkin, robertparker.com

98 Points! This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon features big, round, silky, and lush blackberry flavours with sagebrush nuances and dark chocolate. It is full-bodied with a rich, dense black and blue fruit core, complemented by tantalising acidity. Dazzling in its opulence, it is perfectly balanced by superb, fine-grained tannins and bright minerality. Favia is the project of husband and wife duo viticulturist Annie Favia and winemaker Andy Erickson. - Decanter Magazine

98 Points! Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville explodes with bombastic notes of creme de cassis, black cherry preserves, and boysenberries giving way to nuances of cedar, graphite, and lavender oil. The full- bodied palate is jam packed with intense black and blue fruit layers supported by a solid line of firm grainy tannins and amazing tension, finishing long and with wonderful purity. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, TWI

97 Points! Opaque violet color. A highly perfumed and finely detailed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, exotic spices, vanilla, smoked meat and candied flowers, along with smoky mineral and botanical herb notes that build steadily with air. Stains the palate with vibrant black raspberry, cherry preserve, boysenberry, licorice and violet pastille flavors that convey a suave blend of depth and elegance. Fine-grained, polished tannins frame a strikingly long, finely detailed finish that strongly echoes the floral and mineral notes. All de-stemmed fruit; fermented in large, new oak casks and then raised in used barriques. - Vinous Media

97–99 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A Cabernet-dominant blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 Château Léoville Barton checks in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.6. Crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, liquid violets, iron, and an incredible sense of graphite all define the aromatics of this brilliant, deep, pure, and layered beauty. On the palate, it's full-bodied, inward, and powerfully structured, and reminds me slightly of the 2010 with its deep, concentrated style. It has enormous potential.”

97 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Beautiful vintage at Léoville Barton, delivering layer upon layer of crayon, graphite, textural interest and character. Black chocolate and espresso coupled with finesse and fragrance take you into the heart of Saint-Julien. A flood of flavour, what a brilliantly judged wine.”

97 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Beautiful aromas, expressive and open, really fragrant with bright purple flowers and dark cherries. Supple and so energetic, with tension coming from really quite high acidity matching the soft fleshiness of the dark blackcurrant and raspberry fruit. Crushed stone minerality on the finish.”

95–97 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Léoville Barton has an exquisite bouquet already, with ebullient blackberry and bilberry scents, beautifully integrated oak, keeping the DNA of Léoville Barton despite the warm summer. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, gentle grip, very pure fruit and a cool, focused finish. Superb.”

95–96 Points – James Suckling
“Dark ripe fruit and a touch of licorice on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with a firm tannic structure on the palate, showing dark fruit, chocolate and walnut flavors.”

94–96 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Léoville Barton is deep, powerful and wonderfully refined. Dark red-toned fruit, graphite, lavender, cedar and spice all build beautifully in the glass. A Saint-Julien of real pedigree and class.”

95–97 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Léoville Barton bursts with bold notes of cassis and kirsch, leading to hints of crushed rocks, violets, mossy tree bark, and damp soil. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully bright and earthy with great tension and firm, fine-grained tannins supporting the intense black fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed.”

93–95 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
“Another wine that will appeal to purists, the 2025 Léoville Barton offers up notes of crème de cassis, violets, pencil shavings and new oak, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, taut and penetrating palate that's racy and youthfully structured.”

95–97 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers, black currants, cedar, cigar wrapper, spice, and graphite create the perfume. Deep, layered, vibrant, and energetic, with polished tannins and a long cassis-filled finish.”

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

100 Points! Reminding me of the 2018 (as well as the 2009), if not slightly more concentrated, the 2022 Château Léoville Poyferré is one of the most opulent and flamboyant wines out of the Médoc in 2022, and it has incredible intensity while staying light on its feet and graceful. Its dense, glass-staining purple hue is followed by a sensational perfume of crème de cassis, graphite, darker chocolate, scorched earth, and flowers. Full-bodied on the palate, it brings extravagant levels of fruit as well as a seamless mouthfeel, beautifully integrated oak, tannins, and acidity, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish. It shines even today, yet it has beautiful underlying structure and will evolve gracefully over the coming 30+ years. The 2022 is based on 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged 18-20 months in 80% new oak. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! A mind-blowing Leoville Poyferre, probably one of the best for a long time. Huge depth and structure, showing a deep matrix of fruit full of fresh blackberries and a dash of ink and lead pencil. Such verticality on the full-bodied palate with beautiful balance and a clear finish that goes on and on for more than a minute. Great potential ahead. This was tasted at the UCGB tasting and was one of the best wines of the day. - JamesSuckling.com

96+ Points! The 2022 Léoville Poyferré was picked 8 to 28 September at 33.4hL/ha and matured in 80% new oak. It has a high IPT of 93 and 14.4% alcohol (half a degree less than the 2018). It is quintessentially LP on the nose, with those extravagant and sensual black and blueberry fruit, intermingling with crushed violet and iris. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very harmonious and focused, perhaps more linear than expected with a velvety-smooth finish. This is a very classy, sophisticated Saint-Julien that may well rest at the top of my banded score once in bottle. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

96 Points! The 2022 Léoville-Poyferré is super-exotic. Dense and pliant, with striking mid-palate depth and exquisite balance, this is pure sensuality. Red cherry, apricot, blood orange, wildflowers and spices all meld together as the 2022 opens in the glass. Seamless, refined tannins extend the mid-palate and finish. The purity of the fruit is remarkable. I also find the new wood imprint—long a signature here—much less evident than in the past. Earlier picking in the Merlot today yields a wine with more red fruit tones than in the past, when Léoville-Poyferré was a darker wine. It will be interesting to see if these are long-term trends. Tasted three times. Stellar. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

96 Points! Another excellent showcasse for this estate run by Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. Supple, lively, fresh and round, a nice controlled core of red and black fruit - blackcurrants, cherries and violets with juicy acidity and lean tannins that are fine and well integrated. This feels powerful and concentrated no doubt but the strength comes underneath the fruit and acidity, like a creeping tiger waiting to pounce. Lovely frame and execution, feels on the more opulent and potent side but the acidity and tannin definition is brilliant and this has a really drinkable and moreish quality. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.87pH. 9% press wine. A yield of 33.4hl/ha. 75% grand vin production. Julien Viaud consultant. Tasted three times and was impressed each time. Ageing 18-20 months in French oak barrels, 80% new, 20% second fill. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com

98 Points! Wild blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, tobacco and dark spice on the nose. Dried violets, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins and a creamy texture. Intense, yet restrained and refined, with a solid core of dark berries and bitter chocolate. Really focused and crafted with exemplary Napa cabernet character. Try from 2024. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is based on 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 90% new French oak. It’s a beautiful wine that shows the vintage’s pure, elegant, yet concentrated style perfectly. Gorgeous crème de cassis, violets, blueberries, and cedar pencil notes emerge from the glass, and this beauty builds incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a lively, pure, layered texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It can be enjoyed any time over the coming 20-25 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is every bit as impressive today as it was last year. It might very well be the finest Private Reserve I have ever tasted. More than anything else, the 2018 impresses with its energy and total sense of finesse. It's a wine that marries power with vibrancy in grand style. As always, most of the fruit is sourced from Beringer's ranches on Howell Mountain. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

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

97 Points! The Grand Vin 2022 Château Palmer is based on 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare. It's a deep, unctuous, fabulously textured 2022 that does everything right. Ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, liquid violets, and freshly sharpened pencil notes define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, a remarkable floral character, and a great finish. It's a ripe, opulent, incredibly sexy Palmer that will benefit from a decade of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following 30-40 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! Lots of creme de cassis with cedar, dried flowers, blackberries and dark cherries. Opulent and flamboyant. Full-bodied and layered, this grows with plush, velvety tannins that caress every inch of your palate. Extremely long and attractive in the finish. Well-designed in this ripe year. 51% merlot, 45% cabernet sauvignon, and 4% petit verdot. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! The 2022 Palmer was cropped at just 22hL/ha due to the berries being 25-30% smaller than usual. It bursts forth on the nose with precocious black cherries, blueberry, violet and touches of marmalade and tobacco in the background. Complex and expressive. The palate is structured, with the tannic backbone, that winemaker Thomas Duroux talked about, lending this Palmer a sense of verticality. Hints of black pepper emerge with time, multi-layered, a powerful Margaux and yet the IPT is actually lower than elsewhere (76). Quite linear on the tobacco-infused finish, which is just quintessential Palmer. Do reserve a bin in your cellar for this and let it gather dust for at least a decade. 14.4% alcohol. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

98 Points! The 2022 Palmer is a wine of sublime beauty and refinement. Silky, caressing and super-expressive, the 2022 is also one of the most surprising wines of the year in that it does not show the drought or heat of the growing season at all either in its flavor profile or feel. Succulent black cherry, plum, leather, licorice, spice and dried herbs lend notable complexity throughout. The 2022 starts off rather slow, and then really explodes on the back end. It is a magnificent wine in every way. Drinking window : 2030-2052 - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

97 Points! Sharp, energetic, racy and electric. The power and concentration is evident in the dark, rich, concentrated fruit with tannins that grip and take hold with a crushed stone texture, liquorice, graphite, tobacco and cool mint spice. The expression is exceptionally delineated with focus and push from start to finish. Quite bold and charged, but I love the succulence, the perfumed fruit, chalky sensation and overall sense of confidence. In high definition in terms of sharpness and tang to the fruit. A big wine but delivered with poise. 3.79pH. 13% press wine. Harvest took one month from 7 September to 5 October. 70% grand vin, 30% Alter Ego. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com