Search results for: 'paraje de class'

93-95 Points! The 2020 Gigondas Clos Des Tourelles should be a step up. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and remarkably well-balanced, it has a terrific mix of red and almost blue fruits as well as peppery herbs and flowers. Already complex and nuanced, yet concentrated and rich, it’s a serious effort from the Perrin family that’s going to have 15+ years of overall longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! The NV (2021) Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Longitude 1er Cru shows the lighter, airier side of the year. Crushed rocks, lemon peel, white pepper, slate and chalk all confer brightness. This sculpted, saline Blanc de Blancs is impeccable. The Longitude is a blend of parcels in Vertus, Cramant, Avize and Oger. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: April 2024; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

96 Points! A really flamboyant wine beginning with lots of berries, plums, asphalt and orange peel before turning to blue fruits. Full-bodied and medium round tannins give a softness and drinkability. Long finish. Give it three to four years to come together but already gorgeous. Hard not to drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Up there with the top second wines in the vintage, the deep purple-hued 2022 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild offers up textbook Pauillac (and Mouton) notes of ripe black fruits, spicy wood, crushed stone, and graphite, with a terrific floral character with air. It's medium to full-bodied, pure, layered, and flawlessly balanced. Drink bottles over the coming two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

95 Points! Flowers, cherry pipe-tobacco, black raspberry, spearmint, black cassis, and plums open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is lush, fresh, sweet, spicy, pure, and rich, with a vibrant, long deep, black and blue fruit and tobacco packed finish. This is Jr. Mouton Rothschild! The wine blends 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19.% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.14.2% ABV, 3.86 pH. Drink from 2024-2045. - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

94 Points! Darkly scented nose, liquorice, dark chocolate and black bramble fruits, smells rich, intense and fragrant. Smooth and supple, clean, clear and crisp, a nice purity to this with clear minerality and bite. A touch lean, some austerity here though balanced by juiciness and corresponding acidity, nicely bright but serious at the same time given the dark fruits and spiced edges. Tannins are well integrated, this is just a little sharp and straight, not yet softening and expanding but such great potential. Good grip and intensity, this is a powerful wine, focussed with persistence. A great stand out with lots of promise. 11.3% press wine - usually at 7-8% maximum. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.86pH. 80 IPT. Aged 60% in new barrels. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com

95 Points! Deep garnet-purple colored, it features evocative cassis and black cherry preserves scents, giving way to a very pretty perfume of lilac, cinnamon stick, and licorice. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating blackberry preserves flavors with beautifully ripe tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long and perfumed. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

97–98 Points – James Suckling
“The depth of fruit comes through clearly, with a medium body and plenty of berry, chocolate, walnut and bark aromas. Creamy and polished, with a lovely texture and a long and rather endless finish. Soft and precise.”

95–97 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge strides confidently out of the glass with notes of cassis and fresh plums, followed by hints of pencil shavings, wild sage, and lilacs. The medium-bodied palate is velvety and refreshing with black fruit and floral layers, finishing long and fragrant.”

95–97 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Domaine de Chevalier is a total stunner. The oak imprint is a bit strong, but the 2025 possesses notable richness and textural depth to handle it all. Signature red-toned fruit and floral overtones soar through the layered, expansive close.”

95 Points – Decanter
“Aromas of plum, raspberry, loam and wet stone minerality suggest the pedigree beneath. The palate is decidedly structured, almost reminiscent of grape skins tasted at harvest, with a firm, tightly wound tannic frame. A more muscular style of Domaine de Chevalier. The freshening acidity both lifts and accentuates the abundant tannins. For now, it remains firm, but the underlying material is strong and should harmonise with élevage.”

95 Points! This offers a gorgeous kaleidoscope of fruit -- kumquat, yellow plum, starfruit and quince -- atop a bed of silky-fine mineral notes and subtly bitter tannins. Honeyed, full and rich, with a refined texture and a very long finish edged in piecrust and toast, showing acid verve and impressive structure. Drink now through 2030. 130 cases made, 50 cases imported. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! I loved the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vin De La Solitude Blanc, an exotic, floral white based on 30% Clairette, 20% each Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, and the rest Clairette Rose, Picpoul, and Bourboulenc. Ripe melon, honeyed orange, toasted bread, and minty herbs all emerge from this complex, nuanced, medium-bodied beauty, and it has good depth and richness, a great sense of freshness, and outstanding length. - Jeb Dunnuck

92-94 Points! The 2021 Chablis Le Bas de Chapelot comes across quite closed on the nose, though Edouard Vocoret mentioned how this cuvée has closed down at the time of my visit. The palate is complex with touches of apricot and white peach, plenty of minerals and flint, focused with a long tail on the finish. This is apparently mercurial during its barrel maturation but this bodes well. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

99 Points! Forget the world and fly into this incredibly concentrated and subtle recreation of a Chateauneuf from two centuries ago. A cornucopia of gingerbread, dried cherries, bitter chocolate and wild herbs on the nose. The quality of the tannins is as unique as the aromas. Endless layers of flavor in the super-refined finish. A cuvee of 23% grenache, 22% syrah, 20% counoise, 20% mourvedre, 7% cinsault, 3% clairette, 2% clairette rose and 1% each of bourbelenc, picpoul and roussanne. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Lastly, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vin De La Solitude checks in as 25% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 20% Counoise, 7% Cinsault, 2% Clairette Rose, and the rest a mix of varieties. It has a more medium-bodied, elegant, silky profile as well as remarkable complexity in its savory red fruits, pressed flowers, savory garrigue, and spicy nuances. I love its overall balance, and it has fine yet building tannins and a great finish. As always, this cuvée is more about complexity and elegance than power. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Pouring a deeper ruby red color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epenots is a lovely wine with a ripe feel, featuring notes of black raspberries, fresh violets, and a darker, earthy, and floral bouquet. The palate is rounded and supple, with ripe tannins and a fruity character, although gentle earthy notes are also present. It’s a pretty style for this site to drink over the coming 15 or more years. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

93 Points! Pure seduction from the first tilt of the glass, the 2023 Pommard Clos des Epenots 1er Cru mixes crushed violet and lavender with dried black cherries, nuances of stone dust and allspice. It's surprisingly juicy, blending tart raspberry with autumnal spices and crunchy mineral tones, all offset by a core of tantalizing acidity. A youthfully nervous feel is balanced by lasting freshness as rosy inner florals linger through the long, classically dry finish. -Eric Guido, Vinous Media

95 Points! Mostly Merlot (there's roughly 20% Cabernet Franc), the 2019 Château Valandraud Virginie De Valandraud from the Thunevin team reveals a deep purple hue to go with a brilliant nose of spiced currants, black cherries, new saddle leather, Provençal herbs, and subtle floral nuances. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, with gorgeous tannins and a great finish. It's the finest vintage for this cuvée I've tasted, surpassing the 2015, 2016, and 2018. It's going to drink brilliantly for 20 years or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! The 2019 Virginie de Valandraud is wonderfully deep and super-expressive. Red plum, raspberry jam, espresso, crushed rocks, rose petal, lavender and tobacco build into the richly textured, resonant finish. This explosive, flavorful Saint-Émilion has a ton to offer. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94 Points! Blackberry, chocolate and hazelnut character on the nose, following through nicely to a medium body with integrated tannins and a fresh finish. Tight at the end, suggesting more to come with bottle age. Hints of mushrooms and earth. Second wine of Valandraud. Hint of wood at the end that will dissipate with age. Drink after 2024. - JamesSuckling.com

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.”

95 Points! Reminding me of a classy Hermitage, the deep purple-hued 2020 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine Des Grands Chemins offers up a brilliant perfume of redcurrants, blackberries, saddle leather, lavender, and bouquet garni. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, richly textured, balanced Crozes that has velvety tannins, some classic northern Rhône gamey, peppery nuances, and a great finish. It needs a decant if drinking any time soon, but the tannins are supple and ripe, and this beauty will have a broad drink window. I wouldn't be surprised to see it still going strong at age 20. Bravo. - Jeb Dunnuck

95 Points! They adjusted the picking dates, and the 2022 Camino de Auritz sees a jump in freshness and elegance, finishing with a full 1% less alcohol than the 2021 (this has 13.5%). It's Garnacha from two old plots of 0.22 and 0.1 hectares on limestone soils at 450-plus meters above sea level, where they found some plants of Garnacha Gris. It fermented with 50% full clusters and indigenous yeasts (including malolactic) and matured in used French oak barrels for 11 months. This is a big jump in quality from the previous year. Unfortunately, there are only 874 bottles of this wine. It was bottled in August 2024. The wine is harmonious and approachable but should also age nicely in bottle. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Offers tension and grip, a slow unroll, reserved at first but as it opens you get luscious white peach and pear fruits, along with elderflower and apple blossom florals. Great stuff from this lovely structure-driven white wine.”

93 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“Just bottled, the Blanc de Lynch-Bages is a gorgeous, refreshing dry white to drink now and over the next handful of years. Lemon peel, white pepper, mint and chalky undertones are beautifully delineated.”

93 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Grapefruit, vanilla, green apples, and floral notes are all over the place. The palate is equally brisk, with its vibrant, crisp display of yellow citrus and crunchy green apples, with hints of white peach, juicy pineapple, and white pepper on the finish.”

93 Points! A co-fermented blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, the 2022 Cote Rotie Blonde du Seigneur evokes a complex, fresh and elegant bouquet of spices, smoke, violets, roses and dark wild berries mingled with a touch of herbs. Medium to full-bodied, tense and juicy, it's elegant, with a discreet tannic frame, good depth at the core and a tense, energetic mid-palate, leading to a long, saline and mouthwatering finish. Fermented with 10% whole bunches and crafted from vines planted in Coteaux de Semmons, Bassenon and from the young vines from Maison Rouge, this classic, well-crafted and stunning Côte-Rôtie was matured in barrels, of which 10% were new. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

96 Points! Even more outstanding than the 2020, the incredibly priced 2021 Reserva is young in boisterous blue fruit, with a generous, full-bodied palate of richness and upfront power. The tannins add length and breadth to the wine, which is tasting great and could go another 10-15 years. - Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

96 Points! Elegant yet perfectly structured, this is the most floral of the Murrieta Reservas I’ve tasted in recent years. With 8% Graciano and 4% Mazuelo, the nose is perfumed with pretty rose petal and delicate red berry fruit, as well as wild herbal aromas. Blueberry fruit typical of Tempranillo directs the palate, rounded out with a little fleshy Garnacha, and framed by subtle American oak. It offers immediate appeal but will age gracefully for many years to come. - Decanter Magazine

95 Points! Their flagship wine comes from one of the finest vintages in recent times. The 2021 Marqués de Murrieta was previously called the Reserva and still qualifies as such, but it's not included in the name now. It was produced with 86% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha Tinta from their 300 hectares of vines in their Ygay estate on limestone and clay soils with alluvial influence. The grapes were picked between the 27th of September and the 15th of October, and each plot and variety was vinified separately in stainless steel, matured in American oak barrels for 26 months, then blended and kept in concrete for a few months until bottling, which was a longer élevage this year. It's very spicy, peppery, with a combination of berry fruit and some incipient tertiary aromas, hints of forest floor and truffle. It's very Rioja, with clout, elegance and freshness and the elegant tannins that are the signature of 2021. It comes in at 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.6, denoting ripeness and balance. It's delicious, fresh and available. Bravo! - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! Bright, with crushed-stone and floral character on the nose. Medium body with a firm core, expanding through the palate. Vivid and bright. Lots of good energy. Crushed-stone and lightly chalky character at the end. Needs two or three years to come around. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

92 Points! The 2019 Potensac is fabulous. Bright and focused, the 2019 impresses with its energy, balance and total class. Crushed flowers, mint, cinnamon, crushed rocks and blood orange all open in the glass. The 2019 is class personified I love the purity here. The 2019 is a standout, and should be a terrific value, too. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

#BordeauxBlowout

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

97 Points! Exquisite aromas of lavender, cigar ash and Spanish cedar with dried citrus follow through to a medium body and a solid palate with powerful, ultrafine and linear tannins. The muscle and long finish are so beautiful. Give it two or three years but already a solid wine. Drink after 2028. - James Suckling

95 Points! The 2019 Forts de Latour is a tannic, backward wine, as it has always been. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, graphite, sage and mocha open with a bit of coaxing. Even so, the 2019 is incredibly tight at this stage. Despite its imminent release, I would not dream of touching a bottle any time soon. Rain just before harvest in this warm vintage helped keep things in check and resulted in fairly generous yields of 45 hectoliters per hectare. At the same time, the mid-palate is a bit compact, while the tannins are imposing. (Drink between 2029-2049) - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

95 Points! Composed of 65.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.9% Merlot, and 2.3% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Les Forts de Latour is deep garnet-purple in color. It opens with classic scents of cedar, cassis, and plum preserves, followed by suggestions of bay leaves, lavender, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is tight-knit, bright, and refreshing, with fine-grained tannins and a mineral-laced finish. - Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

96 Points! The 2019 Château Croix De Labrie is gorgeous and jumps out in the vintage. Almost all Merlot brought up in new barrels, it offers a beautiful bouquet of red and black currants, spicy oak, dried herbs, and flowers, with a beautiful loamy earth and chalky minerality emerging with time in the glass. With remarkable purity and finesse, it's full-bodied, has a great mid-palate, silky tannins, and a great finish. It could be drunk today with a decant but will ideally be given 4-5 years of bottle age. I suspect it will have 20-25 years of overall longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

98 Points! Fabulous aromas of blackberries, blueberries, pine needles and spices, such as nutmeg and allspice. White pepper, too. Full-bodied and very tight with a solid core of fruit and ultra-fine yet powerful tannins. It’s got so much energy and drive. Vibrant at every level. Precise and not overpowering, yet so structured. 97% merlot and 3% cabernet sauvignon. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. This needs time to soften. Try after 2026. - James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com

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

95 Points! Aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, pencil shavings and tobacco. Medium- to full-bodied, this is creamy and crunchy with open, velvety tannins and a juicy finish. 71% merlot, 23% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot and 1% cabernet franc. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The 2022 La Dame de Montrose is deep, pliant and rich. All of the intensity of this warm, very dry vintage comes through in the wine's sheer size and ripe, dark profile. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice, spice and espresso are all amplified in this decidedly intense, concentrated La Dame. Qualitatively, there is little question this could have easily been a Grand Vin in a preceding generation. The 2022 is a stunning La Dame. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

93 Points! One of the smart purchases this year is the 2022 La Dame de Montrose, a second wine that would embarrass numerous classified growths. Based on 71% Merlot, the Dame sees a more reductive élevage than the grand vin, which is perfectly adapted to this variety. Opening to reveal aromas of sweet cassis, cherries and berries mingled with hints of violets, spices and orange zest, it's full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with a powerful but controlled profile. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

98–99 Points – James Suckling
“A tight and powerful wine with a precise and structured texture. Restrained, steely and racy. Goes on for minutes. So much intensity. A bright and shining white. Stunning balance.”

97–99 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc gets my vote for the white wine of the vintage. Rich and powerful in the glass, but also beautifully vibrant, the 2025 dazzles from start to finish. Lemon confit, pear, slate, mint, white flowers and tangerine peel are some of the many aromas and flavors that develop over time. The 2025 is quite simply stunning. Don’t miss it!”

97 Points – Decanter
“The cooler microclimate at this estate favours hot and dry weather, and this proved no exception in 2025. Always showing the exciting combination of freshness and white stone fruit fleshiness expressed in a suave palate texture with nuance and refinement, evoking Meursault-like depth and opulence. A great success.”

95–97 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“The 2025 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc soars from the glass with vibrant notes of grapefruit essence, Granny Smith apples, and passion fruit, leading to a fragrant undercurrent of honeysuckle, lime blossoms, and sea spray. The medium-bodied palate is intense with citrus and tropical fruit layers with a refreshing line and chalky texture, finishing with great length and energy.”