Search results for: 'paraje de crush'

99 Points! A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2005 Dominus is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It needs a lot of shaking to release notes of baked blackcurrants, fruitcake, and blueberry compote, plus hints of baking chocolate, licorice, dried mint, and pencil lead, plus a waft of wood smoke. The concentrated, hedonically styled, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with layers of black and blue fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully ripe, grainy tannins and well-integrated acidity, finishing very long, profound, and shimmery. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

98 Points! This blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (note that rarely is any Merlot utilized at the historic Napanook Estate in Yountville). The alcohol, by California standards, is a relatively modest 14.1%. Blending the best of French savoir faire with the brilliant fruit purity and ripeness of Napa Valley, Moueix has turned in another tour de force that seems far superior today than it did when it was first released. This is one of the vintage’s greatest wines. Dense purple and youthful, with a glorious nose of earth, blackcurrants, sweet black cherries and incense, the oak is pushed way in the background, as it is in all of the Moueix wines, and the result is a wine of terroir, of great originality and authenticity. This full-bodied classic from Dominus can be drunk now, but really won’t hit its prime for another 4-5 years and last at least another two decades or more. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

95 Points! Aged nine months in 100% neutral oak barrels, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers crushed citrus, oyster shell, white flowers, and a kiss of salty minerality. It's medium-bodied, has remarkable purity, vibrant acidity, and a great finish. As I've written many times, this appellation release can stand toe to toe with any Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! Shows harmony and intensity, with focused flavors of tangerine, Meyer lemon, lime and pomelo that are lovely at the core, plus aromatic notes of lemongrass, lemon thyme and oregano. A fresh thread of acidity and details of Himalayan sea salt gain momentum on the finish. Drink now. - Wine Spectator

From the winery: This bottling is comprised Chardonnay from four vineyards within the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. 3D, Machado, Hapgood, and Perilune vineyards all contribute to the wine which exhibits a drive, richness and pedigree expressive of our special growing area coupled with the purity of fruit and firm structure which have been the trademark of Brewer-Clifton.

3D The primary emphasis of the predominantly sandy 10 acre vineyard is chardonnay, with five clones planted. In addition to chardonnay, there is a smaller field of pinot noir planted to Swan, Pommard and 667 clones.

MACHADO 15 acre parcel on the Machado family land is located adjacent to Clos Pepe and immediately behind the Kessler-Haak vineyard. The site is marked by a gorgeous rolling terrain with sandy clay loam soils.

HAPGOOD In slightly richer soil, the vineyard is planted to the Mount Eden selection of chardonnay. The elevated clay loam content results in larger volume and a more dense palate expression. Our most recent installation, planted in 2010, is this small 2 1/2 acre section of pinot noir planted to Merry Edwards clone.

Only neutral barrels are employed. We strive for whole cluster fermentation. We farm with a focus of ripening the stems alongside the fruit, allowing the cluster to be in harmony. Working with the stems allows for wines that are structured, earthy and balanced with our beautiful Sta. Rita Hills fruit.

93-95 Points! The 2022 Pommard Grands Epenots 1er Cru bides its time in the glass, opening discretely with blackberry, redcurrants, briar and forest floor. Quintessentially Pommard, graceful and focused. The oak here is neatly assimilated. The medium-bodied palate has finely sculpted tannins, poised and very refreshing. There's good substance on the finish with insistent grip. This will need 5-6 years in bottle, but this represents a very classy, refined take on the vintage, a very sophisticated Pommard.

Winemaker David Rebourgeon lives virtually next door to Thibaud Clerget, and they have almost opposite personalities; Rebourgeon is more quietly spoken and perhaps introverted. Yet what they both have in common is excellent wines. That’s definitely the case in 2022, where I think Rebourgeon oversaw a couple of marvelous cuvées, amongst the best reds in the Côte de Beaune. “Everything was harvested by hand with a good ambiance,” he tells me after failing to remember exactly when he started picking. “I do both pigeage and remontage but did a little less pigeage this year. The alcohol levels are between 13% and 13.5%. The yields were not too high: We had half a crop in 2021 and one and half of a crop in 2022. The Premier Crus are all matured in 20% to 25% new oak. I am very happy with the 2022s. It was a generous vintage with fine balance and depth.” Readers should check out his tremendous Volnay Santenots and Les Caillerets – amongst the best you will find, plus a seriously good Pommard Grands Epenots. These classically styled wines don’t sing and shout, but their virtues stealthily creep up on you! - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

99 Points! From the C1 Block of Beckstoffer To Kalon, winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown has worked with these Clone 4 Cabernet vines since 2005. This is a block bottling like many of the Schrader wines. Lush, generous fruit but with structure – all the elements amplified but on equal proportions. Explosive nose of rich black fruits, black olive, dried wild herbs and baking spices. Incredibly textural with pixelated three-dimensional tannins finishing with pops of dried tobacco and purple-red florals. A joy to drink but among the most collectable and cellar worthy wines of the vintage. The 'CCS' on the label refers to the initials of proprietor Carol Colesworthy Schrader. - Decanter Magazine

98 Points! Throws off a range of sassafras, chaparral and anise aromas before yielding up a prodigious core of açaí berry, plum and blackberry compote. Offers a nice interplay of power and purity, with tarry violet and loamy incense accents. While tannic through the finish, this terrific version reveals a subtle ripple of acidity and a hint of iron. Best from 2024 through 2040. - Wine Spectator

98 Points! The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville is another heavenly wine in the lineup. I always find another level of purity in this cuvée, and the 2019 offers remarkably pure crème de cassis-like fruits as well as notes of white flowers, incense, toasted spice, and unsmoked tobacco. Full-bodied, deep, round, and plush on the palate, I love its tannins, it brings incredible richness while staying perfectly balanced and fresh, and it’s just already a joy to drink. - Jeb Dunnuck

96-98 Points Jeb Dunnuck

"Dense purple-hued, the 2025 Château Clinet is a ripe, sumptuous, and seamless beauty with so much to love. Ripe red, blue, and black fruits, violets, smoky tobacco, and chocolate all shine on the nose. Full-bodied, layered, and graceful, with ultra-fine tannins and a great finish. Unquestionably among the crème de la crème of the vintage."

96-98 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

"Deep in color, the wine exudes aromas of licorice, flowers, black cherries, espresso, plums, herbs, and chocolate. The palate is even better, with waves of opulent, lush, soft, polished, expressive, and fresh fruit. The balance among depth, sweetness, flesh, and lift is exactly where it needs to be."

96-98 Points Neal Martin, Vinous

"Perhaps the most elegant and refined Clinet I have encountered at this stage. Vivid red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry aromas lead to a medium-bodied palate with chiseled tannins, exquisite focus, and a crystalline finish. This is a Clinet I would like in my cellar. Or at the dinner table. Or in my glass."

94-96 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous

"A dark, brooding wine shaped by its significant presence of Cabernet Sauvignon. Plum, blackberry, gravel, incense, licorice, and scorched earth stain the palate. A powerful and distinctive Clinet."

94-95 Points James Suckling

"A composed, well-structured and precise Pomerol showcasing red berries and baking spices. Plush tannins, fresh acidity, and impressive energy drive the focused finish."

94 Points Decanter

"Fragrant floral aromatics with mint, blackcurrant leaf, pepper, and tobacco. Supple and generous, combining plush fruit with freshness, chalky tannins, and excellent lift. Elegant, refined, and full of character."

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

100 Points! One of the greats in the vintage, the 2022 Château Montrose is deep ruby/purple-hued and has a massive perfume of sweet crème de cassis, sappy tobacco, and freshly sharpened pencils. With incredible purity and precision in its aromatics, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, powerful, yet still somehow elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Based on a classic blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, it spent 18 months in 60% new French oak. As I wrote during En Primeur, it has the essence of a Montrose-like character. While it’s not a massively backward or austere example of the château, it nevertheless deserves 10-12 years of bottle age and should have at least half a century of longevity. It is, without a doubt, in the same league as the 1989, 1990, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2020. - Jeb Dunnuck

100 Points! From barrel, I wrote that 2022 Montrose was so compelling that assigning it a bracketed score seemed a mere formality, and so it has proven. Unwinding in the glass with a deep and brooding bouquet of cassis, wild blueberries, violets, pencil shavings and burning embers, it's full-bodied, deep and dense, somehow marrying all the tannic authority that has long been such a signature of Montrose with a suavity and purity that represents the quintessence of contemporary Bordeaux. The broad, palate-staining finish lasts for more than a minute. This is a profound young wine that readers aren't going to want to miss. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

100 Points! The 2022 Montrose is insanely beautiful. That much is obvious. When it might be ready to drink is another question. In recent years, Montrose has acquired notable finesse in its tannins, so that is not an issue. But the 2022 is packed with tremendous density and concentration that will need time to soften. Blackberry, graphite, licorice, lavender and chocolate stain the palate in a stunning, riveting wine of the very highest level. I can only hope to be around when the 2022 starts to drink well! Montrose is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Unforgettable. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

100 Points! Deep garnet-purple colored, it charges out with powerful notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums, and garrigue, giving way to nuances of candied violets, Sichuan pepper, and mossy tree bark, plus a touch of iron ore. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with black fruit preserves layers, supported by super-firm, super-ripe tannins and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering ferrous note. Epic. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

99 Points! Great depth in the nose, taking you into its core of blackcurrants, pencil shavings, graphite, tar, inkpot and cassis. Full-bodied and very tight, this flexes its polished muscles, showing form and tension. Compacted. From organically grown grapes. 66% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. - JamesSuckling.com

98 Points! The 2022 Montrose was picked 2 to 22 September comprising all four grape varieties and all the Cabernet Franc, with 13% pressed wine, matured in 60% new oak. There is 14.5% alcohol this year, which is less than 2018. It has an extremely pure nose with black cherries and blueberry. Quite floral in style with hints of blood orange percolating through with time. The palate is very precise with exceptional mineralité and tension. Very focused, superb concentration, with what is becoming Montrose's trademark sense of symmetry and sustained aftertaste, this could be the finest Saint-Estèphe in 2022. – Neal Martin, Vinous Media

100 Points! The 2023 Dominus is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Opaque purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal a powerful core of blackcurrant jelly, ripe black plums, and fresh blueberries, followed by hints of menthol, crushed rocks, dried sage, black truffles, and black olives. The full-bodied palate is both generous and energetic, displaying an impressive array of savory and earthy nuances among the dense black fruit layers and a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and beautiful tension, finishing with epic length. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

99 Points! Black currant, pencil shaving, subtle sandalwood, wet earth, forest floor and violet aromas follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate with ultra-fine tannins that integrate perfectly at the end. A polished and caressing texture that goes on for minutes. The balance and drinkability of this Dominus is terrific, and it will age beautifully. A blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon, 9% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. From organically grown grapes. Very drinkable now, but will age beautifully. - JamesSuckling.com

94-95 Points! I can’t remember a Haut-Batailley this tannic, yet the tannins are savory and very ripe with beauty and purity. Full-bodied, chewy tannins and a long and intense finish. - James Suckling

94 Points! The flagship 2018 Château Haut-Batailley checks in 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak. It's another deeply hued, classic Pauillac in the vintage that has wonderful purity as well as loads of ripe blackberry and currant fruits, medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful aromas and flavors of graphite, cedarwood, and tobacco, building yet polished tannins, background oak, and a great finish. This pure, classic Pauillac needs 7-8 years of bottle age (it will certainly offer pleasure earlier) and will drink fabulously well for over two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

92-94 Points! Blended of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot aging in 60% new barriques, the 2018 Haut Batailley is very deep purple-black in color and takes some coaxing to reveal profound notes of dark chocolate, crème de cassis, blueberry pie and anise with waves of raspberry pie, lavender and Indian spices. Full, very tightly would and jam-packed with layers of crunchy black and blue fruits, it has a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long with a mineral hint coming through. - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

92 Points! The 2018 Haut Batailley has come together well. Plump and juicy in feel, the 2018 possesses quite a bit of creaminess in its dark fruit, chocolate, spice and leather. The new oak is prominent at this stage. Even so, this is nicely done and promising. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

100 Points! The perfect 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot, all of which spent 22 months in 80% new French oak. The idea of this release is to showcase fruit from throughout the valley, and to say that winemaker Chris Carpenter succeeded would be an understatement. It boasts off-the-charts richness and depth as well as notes of cassis, toasted spices, graphite, tobacco, and espresso, with perfectly integrated oak. Inky purple-hued, full-bodied, voluptuously textured, and flawlessly balanced, it can be drunk any time over the coming 25 years or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! Lovely purple fruits with violets, lead pencil, mint, crushed stones, pine needles, resin, and ceramic. Medium to full body with ultra-fine tannins that show a silky beautiful texture. Blend of Stags Leap, Saint Helena, Yountville, and Atlas Peak plus all the mountain vineyards of Cardinale. A blend of 91% cabernet sauvignon and 9% merlot. - James Suckling.com

98 Points! In my tasting with winemaker Chris Carpenter, we talked at length about differentiating sub-appellations of Napa in the Lokoya wines. Still, with Cardinale, the Oakville-based crown jewel in the Jackson Family portfolio, the idea is the sum must be greater than the parts. This is not an estate wine. It is culled from multiple appellations, typically between three and nine, depending on the vintage. Sources have been Vine Hill Ranch and To Kalon in the past. The 2021 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap, Rutherford, and St. Helena, with 9% Merlot from the 24ha Keyes Estate Vineyard on Howell Mountain, aged 22 months in 80% new French oak. Super savoury aromatics of black cherry, cedar, black liquorice, graphite, black tea, tobacco leaf, rose petal and sagebrush. Full-bodied with all those aromatic qualities making appearances on the full-bodied palate, framed by a soaring tannin profile that resolves with beautifully crisp and mouthwatering acidity, which is so impressive given the density of the wine. The acidity is so pure and cleansing it gives the sensation of fresh, crisp mountain water washing away the deeply robust and powerful tannins that frame this powerhouse wine, readying you for another sip. - Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter Magazine

95–97 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Château Bellefont-Belcier is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that's being raised in 30% new barrels, 30% oval foudres, and the balance in once- and twice-used oak. Coming from a beautiful site just beyond Larcis Ducasse, it has fabulous aromatics of cassis and assorted red and blue fruits, along with spring flowers, graphite, tobacco, and smoke. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, graceful, remarkably elegant mouthfeel, polished tannins, and integrated tannins. It's an impressive Saint-Emilion that shows just how successful the Côte Pavie hillside can be in the vintage.”

95–96 Points – James Suckling
“The depth and intensity in the center palate makes you think. It’s medium- to full-bodied with very integrated, polished grape tannins. Creamy texture. A curated and transparent effort.”

95 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Sweet berry fruit, shows lovely grip and clear limestone signature without sacrificing flesh. Raspberry, blood orange, pomegranate, wet stones, grilled cumin, incense, oyster shell rise through the palate. Harvest September 5 to 23. 30% new oak. 3.48 pH. Yield 33 hl/ha, JC Meyrou director, Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi technical director.”

94–96 Points – Wine Advocate (Yohan Castaing)
“The 2025 Bellefont-Belcier stands out once again as one of the highlights in the Vignobles K range. It offers a lively bouquet of cassis, mulberries and cherries mingled with spices and pencil lead. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and seamless, it’s built around a concentrated core of fruit that's animated by bright acidity and framed by velvety tannins. The finish is long, ethereal and perfumed. It's a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured one-third in foudres, with a pH of 3.48. This is one of the most accomplished wines produced at this address to date.”

92–95 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Bellefont-Belcier is another step forward for this Saint-Émilion estate. Aromatic and silky but with plenty of power, the 2025 hits all the right notes. Crushed flowers, mint, tobacco, incense and anise present gorgeous layers of aromatic nuance. Silky tannins frame the close. Tasted two times.”

98–100 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
“A blend of 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2025 Château Cheval Blanc stands out once again as among the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific mid-palate density, sweet tannins and a long, vibrant, violet-inflected finish.”

98–100 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Purple in hue, the wine explodes with an array of flowers, smoky truffles, black plums, black cherries, blue fruits, orange rind, tobacco leaf, licorice, and chocolate in the perfume. The palate perfectly balances hedonistic tendencies with a touch of restraint. There is length, intensity, opulence, and lift with seamless silk and velvet tannins throughout the extensive finish.”

97-99 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Cheval Blanc is seamless and textured. A wine of mystery and seduction, the 2025 dazzles. Sage, mint, lavender, cloves and cool blue-toned fruit all build in the glass. More intellectual than exuberant, this is a Cheval Blanc that will require years in bottle to fully reveal itself.”

96 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Of all the wines I tasted in the 2025 En Primeur season, this is the one that I have thought about the most. Deep plum colour, intense, slate, graphite, carved tannins, campfire, chamomile, bitter chocolate, cassis, mint leaf and crushed rocks. Stunning and impressive with extraordinary ageing potential.”

96 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“One of the lowest yields of Cheval Blanc ever at just 15hl/ha with no Petit Cheval made this year. Supple and fleshy, round and enveloping yet softly chalky. Generous yet reined in, glossy, bright with lovely acidity. Complex, charming, soft, pretty and delicious without trying too hard.”

95–97 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Cheval Blanc includes all 47 plots on the estate except one that was sold off. Blackcurrant, raspberry, strawberry and blueberry fruit mingle with tobacco and graphite. Medium-bodied with sapid red berry fruit and a structured, vertical finish driven by Cabernet Franc. An uncompromising Cheval Blanc that will require patience.”

97-99 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

"Showing a depth of color, at first you are almost overwhelmed by the violets, cherries, and tobacco in the perfume. The initial sip shows off its character with elegance, vitality, and purity. Everything is in balance and harmony here. The silk and velvet finish is almost too much of a good thing. Seamless, weightless, and built to age for decades."

96-98 Points Jeb Dunnuck

"Cassis, assorted red and black fruits, spicy wood, tobacco, and graphite all emerge from the 2025 Rauzan-Ségla. Concentrated on the palate, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, flawless balance, and a great finish. Clearly among the finest wines in the appellation and the vintage."

97 Points Decanter

"Gorgeous violet aromas with remarkable fruit purity. Juicy, alive, approachable, and focused, with layers of fine tannins and brightness. Concentrated yet welcoming, carrying exceptional freshness and energy."

97 Points Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

"Sleek, powerful, and filled with energy and uplift. Rose bud and iris flowers, licorice, and black chocolate are wrapped in a beautifully constructed framework that will age effortlessly for decades."

95-97 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous

"Totally seamless in the glass. Dark-toned fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice, menthol, and dried herbs infuse the palate with tremendous textural depth. Polished, supremely elegant tannins support the finish. What a stunner."

95-97 Points Lisa Perrotti-Brown

"Perfumed notes of lavender and lilacs lead to fresh black currants, wild blueberries, and black raspberries. Fine-grained texture and lovely freshness support the nuanced fruit layers, finishing on a lingering mineral note."

95-96 Points James Suckling

"Blackberry, dark cherry, and crushed stone notes with a medium to full body, chewy tannins, and a long finish. Juicy and muscular."

94-96 Points Neal Martin, Vinous

"Quintessential Rauzan-Ségla. Pure black fruit laced with violet on the nose, followed by gorgeous caressing fruit, bright acids, and a sorbet-like freshness on the finish. One of the best wines from the estate in recent years."

94-96 Points Wine Advocate

"Opening with notes of cassis, pencil shavings, sweet soil tones, and a deft framing of oak. Bright, layered, vibrant, and concentrated, with fine tannins and a penetrating finish."

99–100 Points – James Suckling
“Intense aromas of sweet tobacco, dark cedar, cigar humidor, mushroom, roses, and wet earth follow through to a medium to full body with firm, velvety tannins and a driven, intense finish. Very structured with bones. Reminds me of Lafite from the 1980s.”

98–100 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Lafite Rothschild waltzes out of the glass with flamboyant notes of warm cassis, fresh black plums, and iris, giving way to nuances of star anise, fertile loam, and underbrush, with a touch of black truffles. The light-bodied palate offers an exhilarating texture of silky yet firm tannins with incredible tension and mineral persistence.”

98–100 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Lafite-Rothschild possesses a deliriously intoxicating nose with nuanced blackberry, bilberry and estuarine scents, all beautifully defined and seamlessly integrated with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins and extraordinary harmony. A very succinct and refined Lafite-Rothschild.”

97 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Gorgeous and sculpted, showcasing the ability to remain Lafite through so many differing vintage conditions. Slate and rosebud notes with a sappy and highly drinkable character. One of the smallest yields on record at 27hl/ha.”

96–98 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2025 Château Lafite Rothschild sports a classic, deep ruby hue as well as a complex and classic nose of cassis, spicy wood, tobacco, violets, and graphite. Quintessential Lafite on the palate with class, ripe yet polished tannins, and beautifully integrated acidity.”

95–97 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
“The 2025 Lafite Rothschild unwinds with a deep and brooding bouquet of dark berries, violets, rose petals and pencil lead. Medium- to full-bodied, supple and layered, with suave tannins, bright acidity and excellent concentration.”

97–99 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers, black currants, cedar, tobacco leaf, graphite, cigar wrappers, and crushed stones define the perfume. The palate is refined, elegant, fresh, and vibrant, with layers of silky fruits, polished tannins, and remarkable purity. One of the wines of the vintage.”

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

97-98 Points! This shows plenty of drive with dusty and creamy tannins that run the length of the wine and builds at the end. It’s medium-bodied showing a focus and energy. Dark currants and flowers flavor. This really has length and it has the depth to improve with age. 93% cabernet sauvignon and 7% merlot. - James Suckling

95-97 Points! One of the wines of the vintage, if not the wine of the vintage, the 2024 Château Mouton Rothschild checks in as a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, hitting 12.9% alcohol and a pH of 3.71, that's resting in 100% new barrels. It sports a dense purple hue as well as absolutely rocking aromatics of blackcurrants, freshly sharpened pencils, graphite, and smoked tobacco. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a layered, opulent mouthfeel, velvety tannins, ample mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's an incredible achievement in the vintage that will need just 4-6 years of bottle age and have a broad, lengthy drinking window. Hats off to technical director Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy and the entire Mouton team. - Jeb Dunnuck

94-96 Points! The 2024 Mouton Rothschild, which has a little more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, was picked between September 23 and October 5 and aged for 18 months in 100% new oak. This has an understated bouquet with blackberry, cedar and graphite scents that take their time to unfold. The nose possesses very fine delineation though the oak is a little more prominent at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied and quite linear in style with fine tannins. A less flamboyant Mouton Rothschild in keeping with the style of the vintage, the 2024 discretely gains depth towards the finish and reveals a dash of white pepper on the aftertaste. Classy, very classy. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

99 Points!  The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an opulent texture, vibrant acidity, and again, an incredible sense of minerality, despite having no shortage of sweetness or richness. The 2016 is a classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon that hit 14.2% alcohol with 135 grams of residual sugar. It’s already complex and approachable yet will keep for 3-4 decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! A very classic Yquem. Breathtakingly wide spectrum of floral honey, exotic fruit (passion fruit, mango and pineapple), caramel and marzipan aromas. But none of this is a jot too much. In fact, the wine is extremely precise and finely nuanced. Wonderful freshness and textural complexity, in spite of the considerable concentration and extravagance. Very suave and sensual finish that goes on and on. - James Suckling

98 Points! Containing 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, the pale lemon-gold colored 2016 d'Yquem leaps from the glass with honeyed apricots, pineapple, green mango, crushed rocks, candied ginger, coriander seed and citrus peel with hints of orange blossom. The palate is very tightly wound, vibrant and refreshing with layer upon layer of minerals and spices, finishing with epic poise and persistence. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

97 Points! A towering effort, the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes soars from the glass with pristine crème de cassis, raspberry jam, black plum, scorched earth, incense, mint, exotic spice and white pepper aromas. The precision of the individual perfumes has a laser-like quality rarely seen in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Full-bodied and framed by ever-so-velvety tannins, it reaches a spherical dimension in the mouth. The recent adoption of 3,000-liter Austrian oak barrels beautifully contributed to the shape of this wine, giving it terrific poise and tension. - Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous Media

97 Points! One of the world’s greatest expressions of Grenache year-in and year-out, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is all varietal that was brought up in larger foudre. This cuvée comes from the Charbonnieres and Les Esqueirons lieux-dits, which are mostly more sandy soils. Its deeper purple color is followed by a concentrated, medium to full-bodied, powerful yet elegant Grenache offering ripe cherry and darker berry fruits, notes of ground pepper, garrigue, and licorice, ripe yet certainly present tannins, and a great finish. Reminding me slightly of the 2006, which is drinking brilliantly today, it’s going to offer incredible pleasure over its lengthy life. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! Impressive depth of colour for the vintage, this is extremely round, fresh, clear and well-defined. Tannins are present and fairly strict in style, but they're ripe, and all in all this is exceptionally promising. Not huge in fruit or body, but well-balanced and precise. from 120-year-old vines planted on north-facing clay and sand lieux-dits of Charbonnières and Esquières. Fermented in concrete, aged in foudre. - Matt Walls, Decanter Magazine

ETA: Early Winter 2026

Jeb Dunnuck, 100 Points Deep purple in color, offering a powerful and complex array of pure Pauillac cassis-like fruit, lead pencil, graphite, chalky minerality, truffle, and espresso. Medium to full-bodied, with ripe, sweet tannins, classic Latour regalness, concentration, structure, and class, with just a hint of its normal youthful austerity. This flawless, balanced, structured, insanely good Latour will be drinkable in just 7 to 8 years but evolve for 40 to 50 years in cold cellars.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent, 100 Points Deep garnet-purple in color, coming barreling out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant jelly, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, followed by suggestions of pencil shavings, cast-iron pan, and charcoal. The medium to full-bodied palate is exquisitely constructed with a myriad of very fine layers, supported by ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful tension, finishing epically long and mineral-laced. Still very tightly wound and will require at least 5 to 7 more years in cellar, then should age gracefully for 50-years+. Drink 2027-2077.

Georgina Hindle, Decanter, 100 Points Dark blackcurrants with smoky tobacco, liquorice and slate. Cool straight away, fresh but so perfectly mouthfilling. Blue fruit, black cherry, fleshy like fruit skin texture. This is how a great Pauillac can taste: serious, deep, classic Cabernet markers, lots of minerality in the flint and stony aspects, strong tannins and a powerful, muscular structure with minty sides. An amazing Pauillac. This will last forever.

96-97 Points James Suckling
"A tight and juicy red with blackberry, cherry, plum, and spice aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture and a crunchy finish. Refined and focused, with plenty of character, balance, and length."

95-97 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Black currants, cedar, tobacco, flowers, cherries, licorice, smoke, and cigar wrappers define the aromatic profile. Medium-bodied, lifted, sweet, vibrant, and elegant, with polish, finesse, and beautiful textures. The finish expands with layers of fresh, pure fruit and remarkable energy."

95 Points Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
"Rose buds, cassis, and damson unfold in layers with slate, woodsmoke, and cold ash. Packed with promise, this is a finely structured d'Issan built for the future."

95 Points Decanter
"Violets and iris notes lead into a palate of sweet strawberries, fresh blackcurrants, liquorice, and cola. Streamlined, focused, detailed, smooth, and sophisticated."

94-96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
"Cassis, black cherries, smoky tobacco, graphite, and chalky minerality shine from the glass. Reminiscent of the 2016 in its balance and elegance, with a pure, graceful mouthfeel, fine tannins, and outstanding length."

94-96 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"The 2025 d'Issan is fabulous. Crème de cassis, menthol, licorice, cloves, gravel, and mocha all meld together seamlessly. Sumptuous, polished, and beautifully balanced."

94-96 Points Lisa Perrotti-Brown
"Intense notes of black and red currants and wild blueberries are accented by rose bud tea and graphite. The medium-bodied palate is lively and tightly wound with energetic black and red fruit."

94-96 Points The Drinks Business
"Rich, full, and succulent at the core. Pure, focused, precise, and elegant with impressive poise, harmony, and freshness."

93-95 Points Neal Martin, Vinous
"A beguiling bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry, and cassis with Margaux's classic violet signature. Fine tannins, admirable minerality, and excellent tension make this one of the finest d'Issans in recent years."

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

95-98 Points! The 2024 Cos d'Estournel could very well be one of the wines of the vintage. Bright and vibrant in the glass, with tons of energy, the 2024 impresses with its vertical structure, depth and overall balance. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, new leather, lavender and mocha are beautifully delineated throughout. The 2024 is super-classic. The modest 12.8% alcohol is notable, especially because that also means there is less extraction of wood. Cos is one of my early favorites in 2024. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

96-97 Points! There is huge depth and lots of intensity from this year's Cos. Quite powerful, deeply colored and dense, but there is freshness. Concentrated and tight-grained, with a full body and a pretty lengthy finish. Quite unique for its broadness and density, with lots of blackberries in the finish. - Zekun Shuai, James Suckling

93-95 Points! The 2024 Château Cos D'Estournel is a clear step up, with a concentrated, rich, yet still elegant profile. Cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and freshly sharpened pencil notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a focused, structured mouthfeel, good acidity, and building tannins. It's going to require patience but is clearly an outstanding Cos in the making. Based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, and a splash of Petit Verdot, resting in 50% new oak, it hit 12.76% with a pH of 3.57 and an IPT of 71. - Jeb Dunnuck

93-95 Points! The 2024 Cos d'Estournel is shaping up beautifully. Offering up aromas of sweet cassis, plums, pencil shavings and iris, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and suave, reflecting this estate's pivot to a more harmonious, less aggressively extracted style. With a layered, seamless core of fruit framed by plenty of sweet, powdery tannin, it's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.5% Petit Verdot that checks in at 12.7% alcohol. Cos is an early-ripening terroir, and that clearly played to the relative strengths of the vintage. Harvest here began with the estate's old-vine Merlot on gravel on September 23, concluding with the last Cabernet Sauvignon on October 7. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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.”