Search results for: 'plot red'

93 Points! The appellation series Malbecs are typically made in the same manner, seeing 11-13 months in 100% French oak, a small percentage of it new. Here, the 2022 Malbec Appellation Paraje Altamira is from the cooler region of Altamira, where it retains acidity and freshness while offering crisp red fruit and silky texture, lasting for days on the palate. It should age well another 10-12 years as well. - Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

92 Points! Another highlight of the Catena Appellation range is the 2022 Appellation Paraje Altamira Malbec, opening with the region's signature purple-flower note and accented with fresh herbs and a citrus-driven zest quality. On the palate, it combines a svelte, seamless purity with lifted, focused energy that runs through the crunchy, high-toned finish. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2023 Etna Rosso A Rina wafts up with a savory profile, mixing woodland berry with nuances of sage, wet concrete and a burst of tangerine. This displays a lovely sweetness with its ripe strawberry and cherry fruits as rosy inner florals cascade throughout. It leaves a saturation of primary concentration as depths of tart raspberry mingle with autumnal spices through the long, refreshing finish. The product of severe selection, this is the only red from Girolamo Russo in 2023 due to the challenges of the year. It is not to be missed.  - Eric Guido, Vinous Media

93 Points! Smoky and perfumed with aromatic herbs, a bit of tar and lifted dark fruit. Medium-bodied. It shows firm, dusty, yet good tannins with crisp acidity and a tight finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

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

94 Points! Rich and intense nose, concentrated with dark bramble fruits. A shot of sharp intense strawberry and raspberry fruit hits the palate, super succulent and instantly mouthwatering, quite lean and linear though there is a nice expansion of fruit flavours while the tannins stay quite firm and straight. Touching on austere and severe but the softly plump juiciness keeps this enjoyable and there is layering of elements. Acidity is on the prominent side but this is quite captivating with crunchy, bright, just-ripe red fruits and chalky texture on the finish. Yield: 35 hl/ha. 30% new oak barrels. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com

92 Points! A firm and tight red with blackberries, crushed stones, ink and iodine. Medium-bodied with medium tannins that are polished and very pretty. Refined and delicious. Always an excellent value. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The 2022 Château D'Aiguilhe brings more of everything, with a gorgeous nose of black raspberries, crushed stone, spring flowers, and violets that opens up beautifully with air. This carries to a medium to full-bodied effort delivering ripe, polished tannins, a seamless mouthfeel, and a great, great finish. - Jeb Dunnuck

96 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Aromatic intensity, wild flowers, some chocolate and blackcurrant notes. Grippy and filling but soft, chalky and saline, with ripe bramble berries, cool blue fruit and lots of cola, liquorice and wet stones. Very transparent and hands off. Juicy, fun, clean, pure. Balanced.”

95–96 Points – James Suckling
“Very polished, with fine tannins that caress your palate while the fruit is ripe but al dente, with red currants, plums and peach undertones. Refined and intense finish.”

94 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“This delivers the classic character of a Left Bank wine with plenty of concentration and deep fruits. Rich plum on the nose, crayon and pumice stone, with sapid and supple blackcurrant and pomegranate fruits. Just the right level of austerity of a young Armailhac.”

93–95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A classic, beautifully layered Pauillac that most likely ranks with some of the top vintages of this château. Loads of cassis, black raspberries, graphite, and spicy tobacco nuances define the wine. Full-bodied, with ripe, polished tannins, outstanding length, and a fresh, focused style that's hard to resist.”

93–95 Points –  Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 d'Armailhac comes bounding out with exuberant notes of black raspberries, fresh black currants, and mint tea, giving way to hints of pencil shavings and dried roses. Bright and elegantly styled with fine-grained tannins and a refreshing line.”

93–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Spicy tobacco leaves, currants and floral aromas show well in the perfume. The medium-bodied palate is soft and supple, with lift, energy, and crispness to the sweet red fruits and berries. The endnotes display a refreshing touch of mint and tobacco.”

94 Points! The 2018 Fonbadet is superb. Classically elegant and refined, the 2018 graces the palate with exquisite finesse right out of the gate. Red berry, floral, blood orange and minty flavors convey freshness as the 2018 opens in the glass. Bright acids perk up the nuanced, persistent finish. Readers won't find too many 2018s that are this delicate, sensual and flat-out charming. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

93 Points! The 2018 Fonbadet makes good on the promise it showed last year, presenting a finely chiseled bouquet of blackberry, graphite and light sous-bois scents. Coy at first, it unfolds with confidence. The palate is very cohesive with well-judged natural acidity. There is plenty of coiled-up energy in this Fonbadet, but what really distinguishes it is the fineness of the tannin's and the persistence on the finish. Bravo! - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

93+ Points! Scents of pine resin and hints of mint accent black cherry and cassis notes on the nose of Ink Grade's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. It's a sturdy, wiry effort, with the ample tannins and coiled intensity that often mark mountain wines, followed by a lingering, gently astringent finish. Like the other reds from Ink Grade, it spent time in a combination of oak tanks and barrels, yet the wood is scarcely noticeable. Give it a few years to unwind. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

95 Points! Very beautiful aromas of blackcurrants, violets, and lavender with hints of sandalwood. Medium to full body. Chewy mountain tannins, but they are so well integrated and polished that they melt into the wine. Hints of dried cocoa powder at the end with some cedar. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Sultry nose with ripe red fruit and soft jasmine and fragrance – dried flowers, pot pourri. Juicy and filling with a lovely light hand in terms of tannins. Mouthwatering and lifted, nothing feels heavy and you're left with a smile on your face.”

95 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Closed on the nose, elegant with fine but plentiful tannins that layer up fast in the palate. Violet and peony floral notes, clear savoury edge of blue fruits. This is precise, well structured, with huge potential for ageing but also for pleasure.”

93–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Cigar wrappers, flowers, cedar, mint leaves, currants, blackberries and licorice scents blend together to create the nose. Elegant, soft, and polished, the layers of fruit with their refined character and lift make this a standout wine.”

95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Sultry nose with ripe red fruit and soft jasmine and fragrance – dried flowers, pot pourri. Juicy and filling with a lovely light hand in terms of tannins. Mouthwatering and lifted, nothing feels heavy and you're left with a smile on your face.”

95 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Closed on the nose, elegant with fine but plentiful tannins that layer up fast in the palate. Violet and peony floral notes, clear savoury edge of blue fruits. This is precise, well structured, with huge potential for ageing but also for pleasure.”

93–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Cigar wrappers, flowers, cedar, mint leaves, currants, blackberries and licorice scents blend together to create the nose. Elegant, soft, and polished, the layers of fruit with their refined character and lift make this a standout wine.”

95–96 Points – James Suckling
“A very structured red with black currants, blackberries and chocolate aromas. It’s full and flexing, with solid tannins and a long finish. Impressive. Better than 2022?”

93–95 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Malescot Saint Exupéry is classic Malescot. Dark, powerful and quite brooding. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, incense, licorice, tobacco and dried herbs are delineated with serious concentration and pure, unbridled power. This backward, massively tannic Margaux is a wine for readers who can be patient.”

92–94 Points –  Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2025 Château Malescot St. Exupéry offers up aromas of sweet blackberries, plums, pencil shavings and licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a sun-kissed core of fruit and powdery structuring tannins, it's a dramatic, generous, crowd-pleasing style of Margaux.”

95–96 Points – James Suckling
“Lots of purity, with freshness and a linear, evenly distributed dark fruit profile. There is elegance and a chewy texture that’s precise and focused, with good definition.”

95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Dark aromas on the nose, fragrant purple flowers, tobacco, cedar, liquorice and black cherries. Round and so well textured, smooth and friendly, this has such a gorgeous dollop of red fruit on the mid palate with fine, delicate tannins, but it’s the energy that I really like too. So well constructed and balanced. A fabulous wine.”

93–95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Cassis, assorted blue fruits, sappy flowers, and violets all emerge from the 2025 Château Pédesclaux, with graphite and classic Pauillac nuances rounding out the bouquet. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a pure, balanced, layered mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It's one of the finest I've tasted from this château.”

97 Points!  A seductive Margaux with an intense nose of black fruit and red plums. Some herb and wood notes, too. It’s full-bodied with pretty, pure-berry flavors with some crushed stones and cement. The texture is silky and fine-grained and the tannins melt into the wine. Precise, flavorful finish with length. Try after 2024. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

94 Points! The Grand Vin 2021 Château Léoville Poyferré from this brilliant estate checks in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. It has a serious, concentrated, inward style as well as impressive red and black currant-like fruit supported by notes of graphite, smoked tobacco, spicy oak, and chocolate. With terrific richness, a layered, concentrated mid-palate, and fine tannins, this is clearly one of the gems in the vintage. It needs to be forgotten for just 4-5 years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for over two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

96 Points! Excellent depth and complexity with a nice modern touch of cocoa powder to the black olives, pencil shavings, cassis, violets, black mushrooms and dark earth. Full-bodied palate with fresh, vertical tannins and lots of juicy fruit that seamlessly dissolve into the flavorful, persistent finish. Refined power with real length. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

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

93 Points! The 2021 Volnay 1er Cru Les Angles wafts from the glass with scents of cherries, raspberries, red plums, rose petals and orange zest. Medium to full-bodied, supple and layered, with sweet, powdery tannins that are largely concealed by its succulent core of fruit, it's fine-boned and mineral. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2021 Volnay Les Angles from Domaine Louis Boillot is an excellent young wine and also nicely black fruity this year. The nose wafts from the glass in a pure blend of dark berries, cassis, raw cocoa, pigeon, bonfire, a fine base of dark soil and a deft framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and complex, with lovely soil signature, a superb core of fruit, fine-grained tannins, lovely balance and a long, focused and very precise finish. When this is ready to drink, it will be the epitome of Volnay elegance. - John Gilman, View From The Cellar

95 Points! A fine-tuned, elegant Barolo with aromas of dried cherries, dried roses, licorice and mint. Full-bodied, it shows smoothness, density, weight and soft tannins despite the structure, with refreshing acidity and a long, vibrant finish full of savory flavors. Drinkable now, but best from 2026. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Laced with cherry, strawberry, rose, mineral and white pepper flavors, this red is expressive despite being linear and taut. Firms up on the finish, where lively acidity drives the fruit and savory elements. Shows excellent harmony and potential. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! A blend of fruit from five MGA sites (Brunate, Liste, Cerequio, Cannubi and Raviole)...The Damilano 2021 Barolo Lecinquevigne offers nice intensity and standard Nebbiolo complexity with dark fruit, cassis, spice and toasted tobacco leaf. You do not taste the personality of any one site, but that's not the point. Aged in large botte, the wine is open-knit in texture and immediate. You can wait longer or pull the cork now. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

94–95 Points – James Suckling
“A fresh and savory red with ripe currant and raspberry aromas. Medium-bodied with velvety, creamy tannins and a fruity finish. Caressing and pretty.”

93–95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A serious, concentrated Saint-Estèphe, the 2025 Château Meyney reveals darker berries, graphite, chocolate, and hints of tobacco on the nose. It's rich and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a nicely concentrated, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's clearly an outstanding wine from this estate.”

93–95 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Meyney has a beautifully defined bouquet with blackberry, cassis, cedar, graphite, and subtle floral aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and impressive freshness. Focused and classic in style, this is a beautifully balanced Saint-Estèphe with excellent precision and persistence.”

92–94 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Meyney is a powerful, structured wine. Dark fruit, graphite, lavender, spice, and crushed rocks build through the palate. Vibrant and energetic, with plenty of Saint-Estèphe character and a long, mineral-driven finish.”

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

96 Points! Intense aromas of black cherries, lavender and spice, such as nutmeg. Some sandalwood and bark, too. Full-bodied with a solid core of fruit and tannins for the vintage. Rather chewy, suggesting that additional bottle age is needed. Try after 2026. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Rich with compact and velvety layers, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino offers fleshy aromas of fig, black licorice, mocha, and roasted sage. It is full-bodied and displays more freshness and transparency on the palate, although it remains fully ripe, with black cherry, plum, turned soil, and macerated violets. It has full and present ripe tannins, a hint of crushed rock, and a saline, savory finish. With its liqueur-like richness throughout, this is a fantastic expression, but it needs a couple of years in the cellar before drinking over the following 10. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

93 Points! Ripe and juicy, this red reveals plum, cherry, earth, tobacco and menthol aromas and flavors. Well-structured, delivering dense, dusty tannins and ample fruit to match, with a long, complex finish. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! While never as big or concentrated as the Mazane, I still tend to prefer this cuvée from Alaine Jaume due to its complexity and just sheer charm. Spicy red and black fruits, Provençal garrigue, and tons of spice all shine from the 2023 Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue, and it's medium-bodied, has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It was aged primarily in tanks with a small portion in barrel. This complex, incredibly Provençal beauty will drink well over the coming 8-10 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

“Deep garnet-purple colored. Sashays out with bold notes of raspberry coulis, black cherries, and mulberries, leading to hints of forest floor, crushed rocks, and lavender oil. The medium-bodied palate is bright and shimmery with layers of red berries and mineral, framed by super-silky tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and layered.” 94-96, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2025

“Solid and very precise, showing wonderfully integrated tannins with drive and focus. Polished and extremely poised. Medium-bodied, this has creamy texture and a long, vibrant finish. Reminds me of the superb 1995. A blend of 64% merlot and 36% bouchet (cabernet franc).” 94-95, James Suckling, May 2025 

“The 2024 Les Pensées was picked September 23 to 30. This has quite a complex bouquet with blackcurrant, bilberry and light estuarine scents percolating through with time. The palate is quite arresting, one of the few Merlot wines with genuine grip and heft, but it maintains refinement on the peppery finish. The 2024 feels long and sustained and worthy of bottle age. It will develop wonderfully in time.” 92-94, Neal Martin, Vinous, Apr 2025 

*Pre Arrival - Jan 2027