Search results for: 'paraj de point'

97+ Points! Moving to the tiny production 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz, which is mostly Grenache with around 25% or so of Syrah, it has a rich, full-bodied, dense, and almost backward style to go with powerful black fruits, ground pepper, and violet aromas and flavors. I love its purity of fruit, and it builds nicely with time in the glass, showing more mid-palate depth as well as ripe tannins. It’s a stunning bottle of wine, but patience will be required. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! Blackberries, plums, currants, tobacco and violets on the nose. Bitter chocolate and mocha, too. It’s refined and focused, with a medium to full body and firm, tightly-knit tannins. Very long, laser-focused and polished. Very classy. Best of the trilogy. Try after 2027. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

97 Points! Heady and expressive on the nose, seductive tones of ripe fruit and perfumed flowers. Gorgeous intensity on the palate, rich, round and ripe - gently chewy - but cool and refreshing too. This has a dynamic undercurrent with tannins that are fine but firm giving a slightly narrow frame. It’s a bit more serious than some, brooding, but clearly well made with definition. There’s a confidence here, vibrant and detailed fruit with an excellent lingering impression of the terroir in the slightly salty, chalky, graphite touch. Layered and well built with supreme classicism. A top buy. I'd like to own this one! - Decanter Magazine
 

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

95 Points! The 2019 Bellevue Mondotte, picked at 18hL/ha on a single day (October 5) has a tightly wound bouquet of blackberry, briary, blueberry and light violet petal scents, but less of the marine aromas that I picked out from the barrel sample. However, there are some lovely orange pith scents that percolate through with continued aeration, and these are accentuated after a couple of hours. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, good acidity and fine backbone. This is quite a sturdy Saint-Émilion with impressive density toward the finish. It needs just a little more charm and personality, though they may develop with time. Very fine, but patience required. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

98 Points! More seamless and elegant than the more powerful, structured Pavie Decesse (these all emerge from the Perse team), the Merlot-dominated 2019 Bellevue Mondotte just about jumps out of the glass with its ripe, spicy red, blue, and black fruits as well as spring flowers, graphite, chalky mineral, and violet-like aromas and flavors. Almost Pomerol-like with its seamless, polished tannins and gorgeous mouthfeel, it's flawlessly balanced, has a deep, layered mid-palate, and a great, great finish. This stunning Saint-Emilion will benefit from just 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for 30+ years in cold cellars. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points, Dunnuck's #19 Wine of the Year! Another wine I underrated on release, the 2020 Château Haut-Bailly is just about pure perfection, and whereas the 2018 is closer in style to the 2009, this plays things a little closer to its vest and is reminiscent of the 2010. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it nevertheless cuts a focused, precise path across the palate and brings incredible purity in its darker fruits, smoked tobacco, cedar pencil, and Asian spice-driven aromas and flavors. The tannin quality here is off the charts, and this beauty has everything you could want from wine. It needs a solid 4-6 years (if not longer) to hit the early stages of its prime drinking window, and it's going to evolve for 50+ years. - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

99 Points! A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a bit of swirling to coax out notions of black cherry compote, blackcurrant pastilles, and blackberry preserves, giving way to fragrant wafts of violets, dark chocolate, cardamom, and sassafras, with a touch of Indian spices. The medium to full-bodied palate is an exercise in poise, delivering tightly wrapped black fruit, exotic spice and floral layers, with a super-plush texture and seamless acidity, finishing very long with loads of mineral sparks and tons of energy. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

98-99 Points!  This is incredibly classic in style with so much currant, lead pencil, crushed stone and sweet tobacco. It’s full-bodied with minerally, stoney and powerful tannins. It goes on and one. Real Las Cases here. Solid as a rock. Progresses to violet, graphite and licorice at the end. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

96-98 Points!  The 2020 Léoville Las Cases is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot, aging in 80% new French oak barriques, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.68%, a pH of 3.8 and an IPT (tannins index) of 79. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from the 21st to the 27th of September, the Merlot from the 12th to the 15th of September and the Cabernet Franc on the 18th and 19th of September. With an opaque purple-black color, it slowly unfurls to reveal beguiling notes of fresh blackcurrants, Morello cherries, candied violets and dark chocolate, giving way to an undercurrent of crushed rocks, unsmoked cigars, clove oil and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate is a powerhouse of energy, delivering tightly wound red and black fruits, mineral and floral layers, supported by fantastic tension and incredibly ripe, silt-like tannins. The finish has jaw-dropping fragrance and depth. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

97-99 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

"Smoke, licorice, charcoal, black raspberries, espresso, dark chocolate, and floral aromatics open the perfume. Elegant, energetic, deep, and long, with layers of sweet, polished fruit, espresso, licorice, and a profound mineral essence."

96-98 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous

"Elegant, polished, and super refined. Bracing mineral notes cut through dark red and blue-toned fruit, spice, mocha, leather, and licorice. Seamless and profoundly elegant with magnificent balance and a gorgeous sustained finish."

96-98 Points Jeb Dunnuck

"Ripe currants, black cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and chocolate define the bouquet. Full-bodied with deep, layered richness, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Loaded with potential."

97 Points Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

"Fragrant, intense and vivid with rose bud and violet flowers. Powerful chalky tannins build slowly across the palate. Concentrated, elegant, savory and incredibly satisfying."

97 Points Decanter

"Supple and juicy with beautiful acidity, ripe strawberries, blueberry notes, chalk, flint, and graphite. Friendly, balanced, smooth and full of energy and elegance. A real wine of its place."

96-97 Points James Suckling

"A deep and layered red with chocolate, berry, cherry, orange peel, and limestone aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with lovely fruit and a tangy, vivid finish."

94-96 Points Wine Advocate

"Dark berries, plum, and kirsch mingle with iris and anise. Full-bodied, layered, multidimensional, with tangy acids and a long penetrating finish."

94-96 Points Neal Martin, Vinous

"Bright aromas of red and black fruit, orange rind, and crushed limestone. Succulent ripe tannins, citrus freshness, graphite and white pepper emerge on a long, satisfying finish."

99 Points! Very classy and refined with subtle complexity and linear structure. Floral and perfumed. Medium- to full-bodied. Fine velvety tannins and a bright finish. Racy and fine. Really intense. Juniper and fresh sage. Bitter lemon. Botanicals. Bright. 88% merlot and 12% cabernet franc. Drink or hold. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

98 Points!  Glamour and seduction in spades at L'Evangile giving classic Pomerol typicity with a kick. Floral and expressive on the nose with pink and purple flowers, pink peppercorns, white and dark chocolate, raspberries and black cherries. Gorgeous texture on the palate, rich, deep, potent in the weight and tannic frame - chalky, ripe, mouthfilling, gently chewy giving bounce to the blackcurrant, plum, strawberry and cherry fruit while the minerality and salinity give a cool, fresh undercurrent. Clearly youthful and strict but such long length, really direct and focussed. Sleek yet muscular, everything feels precise and sculpted with a lingering clove and cinnamon edge giving the angles and tension right now. Clean and straight with precision, shape and style, tons of energy and juiciness. A great wine. - Decanter Magazine

98 Points, Dunnuck's #11 Wine of the Year! The 2020 Château Clinet checks in as a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 80% new French oak. It's a rich, yet gorgeous wine with a wonderful sense of freshness in its ripe blue and black fruits as well as tobacco, chocolate, and damp earth. Full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has perfect tannins, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and one hell of an impressive finish. One of the finest Pomerols in the vintage, it will benefit from just 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

98 Points! What a beautiful young wine, showing so much finesse and tension, with ultra-fine tannins and subtle and long flavors and character. It’s medium-bodied with extremely silky tannins that grow on the palate to a seamless finish. Harmonious. Another fine Pomerol for the cellar. Drink after 2027. - 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

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

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

98 Points! This shows blackcurrants, blackberries, violets, lavender, pencil shavings and hints of metal shavings. Medium- to full-bodied with a firm and juicy character of extremely polished and integrated tannins that caress your palate. Compact and poised with tension and focus. A blend of 89% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot and 1% cabernet franc. 13.1% alcohol. Drink after 2029. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Concentrated and characterful, layered and super-finely presented. Round and full, juicy and textured, more powdery than tense and grippy with almost blackcurrant skin texture, while juicy red and black cherry juice goes through the centre, added to by dried mint, wet stones, clove and liquorice. Serious, with power but poise, all the elements on show – perhaps not quite settled, but individually showing the complexity of this great wine in the making. - Decanter Magazine

95 Points! As to the Grand Vin 2021 Château Mouton Rothschild, this beauty is in the running for one of the wines of the vintage, and it brings more depth, richness, and texture than just about anything else in the Médoc. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new barrels, it sports a dense purple/plum hue as well as powerful aromatics of spicy black fruits, leafy tobacco, graphite, and freshly sharpened pencils. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a building, layered mouthfeel and impressive concentration and intensity in its aromas and flavors, velvety tannins, and gorgeous finish. You'd be hard pressed to know this came from a challenging vintage. It's going to take at least 5-7 years to hit the early stages of its prime drinking window and will evolve gracefully over the following 20-25 years. Bravo. For tech geeks out there, this hit 13.1% alcohol, has an IPT of 59, and a pH of 3.73. - Jeb Dunnuck

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

97-98 Points! Very classy, the transparency of this Angelus giving brilliance to the pure fruit in such a difficult growing season. Medium-bodied, it has a compacted palate and creamy, polished tannins. Very melted and harmonized. Dark cherries, raspberries and orange peel come through beautifully with some stones. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. - James Suckling

94-96 Points! A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc aging 50% (Cabernet Franc) in foudre and the rest in new oak, the 2024 Château Angélus has a deeper ruby hue as well as a beautiful nose of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and flowers. It's wonderfully pure, has medium-bodied richness, a focused yet incredibly elegant mouthfeel, and ultra-fine tannins. It's a beautiful, classy Angélus that might surprise with its longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck

98-99 Points James Suckling
"Bright, vibrant aromas of sliced apples, pears and lemons with acacia and flint. Dense and tight on the palate with so much chalk and oyster shell character. Extremely long and pure, with vivid energy and precision. Sharp and driven by acidity."

96-98 Points Jeb Dunnuck
"Honeyed citrus, orange blossom, mint, crushed stone and brioche define the bouquet. Medium to full-bodied with rich, layered fruit and a lengthy, seamless finish. One of the whites of the 

96 Points Jane Anson
"Bright citrus, mint leaf, liquorice, sea spray, oyster shell, wet stones and white tea. The most structured and reserved of the estate's white wines, with impressive aging potential."

96 Points Decanter
"Vanilla, honey, flint, white peach and apple aromas. Gorgeously clear and sophisticated with more tension, drive and energy than recent vintages. Beautifully delineated and balanced."

96 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"White peaches, orange rind, pineapple, pears and flowers lead to a palate filled with sweet ripe fruit, creamy textures and vibrant freshness. Rich, expressive and beautifully balanced."

94-96 Points Neal Martin, Vinous
"White peach, Mirabelle plum, jasmine and pressed flowers. Rounded and textured with excellent density and freshness. A great success in the context of a warm vintage."

94-96 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Rich, creamy and expansive with fabulous balance. Dried pear, acacia, chamomile and white pepper notes build beautifully through the palate. Impeccable."

95–96 Points – James Suckling
“This is juicy and incisive, with expressive dark fruit and fine-grained, almost grainy tannins. A savory quality in the long finish. Persistent and cohesive.”

93–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers, smoke, cigar box, black with red currants, and an array of spices fill the perfume. The palate delivers ripe, soft, round, creamy-textured fruits with refined, elegant dark berries and a touch of chalk.”

93–95 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Talbot has a generous bouquet with red and black fruit intermixed with mocha and light undergrowth scents. Fine tannins, well judged acidity and satisfying density on the mid-palate.”

93 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“This is good quality, with lovely power, black fruits, campfire edges and grilled sandalwood.”

92–94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2025 Château Talbot is a beautiful Saint-Julien with spicy red and black fruits, dried flowers, and graphite. Medium-bodied with soft tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish.”

92–94 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“The 2025 Talbot zips out with notes of wild blueberries and red cherries, giving way to bay leaves, graphite, and tapenade. Firm structure with lively acidity and savory finish.”

92–94 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Talbot is a huge, potent wine. Blackberry, gravel, incense, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and dark spice soar out of the glass.”

97 Points Decanter
"Crushed tobacco, violets, and a seamless interplay of red and black fruit. Remarkable energy and vivacity with depth and lift. A fabulous expression of site and vine age, and a standout in Saint-Émilion."

96-98 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Intense, deep, concentrated, and vibrant. Rich, creamy, and powerful, yet balanced and harmonious. The finish delivers waves of sweet, supple fruit and expanding mineral complexity."

95-97 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Powerful yet understated, with black cherry, lavender, sage, menthol, licorice, and espresso. Limestone-driven energy and broad, chocolatey tannins support a long, explosive finish."

94-96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
"A limestone-driven beauty offering red and black fruits, liquid violets, chalk, and graphite. Medium-bodied and focused with fine tannins, beautiful balance, and outstanding length."

94-96 Points Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Palate
"Juicy black plums, boysenberries, sandalwood, Indian spices, and crushed rocks. Supported by velvety tannins and lively freshness, finishing long and opulent."

93-95 Points Neal Martin, Vinous
"Mineral-rich black fruit, graphite, and tobacco define this more classical interpretation of La Mondotte. Lovely texture, tensile energy, and a brisk, peppery finish suggest excellent aging potential."

96 Points! Rich and dense aromatics, lovely black cherry and dried flowers, the Cabernet Franc bringing all the aromas. Supple and smooth, so alive in the mouth yet this has density and depth, something to chew on. It’s not plush, but there’s texture from start to finish, with delicacy and finesse to the expression. A highly drinkable Angélus that has really benefited from dialling back on the power. Great freshness and precision, while feeling as if it will age well. Impressively keeps the structure and density but with energy. - Decanter Magazine

95 Points! This is so delicious, with lovely focused cherries, flowers, dried sandalwood and some Indian spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and just a touch of wood to the pure fruit and a subtle and refined finish. 40% merlot and 60% cabernet franc, the most cab franc in a long time. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points – Decanter
"A beautifully crafted Saint-Estèphe with impressive depth, precision, and freshness. Dark fruits, graphite, cedar, and mineral notes are framed by fine tannins and excellent persistence."

96–97 Points – James Suckling
"A refined and focused Phélan Ségur with blackcurrants, graphite, crushed stones, and floral undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with polished tannins and a long, energetic finish."

94 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
"Fresh, vibrant and classically styled, with cassis, cedar, tobacco leaf, and crushed rock minerality. Excellent balance and aging potential."

93–95 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
"The 2025 Phélan Ségur offers lovely delineation with blackberry, cassis, graphite, and subtle floral aromas. The palate is structured and persistent with fine tannins and excellent precision."

92–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Black currants, blackberries, tobacco leaf, cedar, graphite, and crushed rocks form the aromatic profile. The wine is fresh, energetic, and loaded with classic Saint-Estèphe character, finishing with excellent length and minerality."

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

97–99 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Points Jane Anson
"This is so good, so much energy and depth, slate and wet stones holding interest as the palate expands, showing fragrant capsicum pepper, crushed mint, toasted spices, cumin, liquorice, cassis and cocoa bean, fully in the DNA of Smith Haut Lafitte. Last vintage of Daniel Cathiard, and a brilliant tribute to his legacy."

97-99 Points Jeb Dunnuck
"One of my favorite wines in the vintage. Beautiful darker fruits, scorched earth, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite all define the aromatics. Full-bodied with a deep, concentrated mid-palate, beautiful tannins, integrated acidity, and a seamless style."

97-98 Points James Suckling
"So aromatic and expressive, with pure currants, mint, chocolate and fennel. Deep fruit, velvety tannins and impressive precision. Very Cabernet in character, almost Pauillac-like in nature."

97 Points Decanter
"Fresh and vivid with smoky violets, ripe blackcurrants and white chocolate. Gravelly, salty, chalky and cool. Balanced, elegant and totally delicious with excellent length and minerality."

96-98 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Deeply colored with red, black and blue fruits, smoke, cigar box and tobacco. The finish starts strong and keeps on going long after the wine has left your glass. A vibrant and compelling Smith Haut Lafitte."

95-97 Points Neal Martin, Vinous
"A more classical style of Smith Haut Lafitte, with black fruit, Earl Grey tea, sous-bois and cigar box aromas. Refined, structured and delicious, with excellent aging potential."

93-95 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"A very classy, elegant wine. Lavender, spice and mint open first, followed by a burst of black fruit. Medium-bodied with terrific freshness and impeccable balance."