Wines

97–98 Points – James Suckling
“A serious Aile d'Argent with sliced green mangoes, pears and green apples. Full-bodied. Framed with phenolics and minerals. Complex and real. A touch of flint and cedar at the end. Super finish. A blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 29% Sémillon, 7% Sauvignon Gris and 1% Muscadelle.”

94–96 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
“The 2025 Aile d'Argent pops from the glass with vivacious notes of Bosc pears, white peaches, and pink grapefruit, giving way to hints of honeysuckle, orange peel, and beeswax with a touch of jasmine tea. Medium-bodied, the palate is satiny-textured and crisp with intense orchard fruit flavors and a long, fragrant finish. The blend is 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 29% Sémillon, 7% Sauvignon Gris, and 1% Muscadelle. It has a pH of 3.13 and the alcohol is 13.6%. It is due to age in French oak barrels for 9 months, 45% new. No malolactic was performed this year.”

93–95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 29% Sémillon, 7% Sauvignon Gris, and a splash of Muscadelle, the 2025 Château Mouton Rothschild Aile D'Argent Blanc offers bright green citrus, crushed stone, minty herb, and savory aromatics, with an incredibly mineral-driven character. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, with bright, racy acidity and a clean finish. This exotic, complex, perfumed white is going to benefit from a few years in the cellar and I suspect have a long drinking window.”

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

93 Points! Dark chocolate and floral notes on the nose. This has an appealing density on the palate, lovely weight, with a sculpted feel to the softly chewy tannins and dark fruit. Less immediately lively, bright and accessible than the 2018 but still stylish with a sense of character. Cool blue fruits meld with mint, liquorice, flint and touches of toast. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in ex-Lafite barrels as well as stainless steel and cement vats. - Decanter Magazine

93 Points! Made by a Bordeaux winemaker who moved to Napa and is now the winemaker and a partner at Realm, Benoit Touquette, the deep garnet-purple colored 2022 Arbalest is a blend of 60% Merlot (from the Right Bank) and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (from the Médoc). Black cherries, juicy plums, and black raspberry scents jump from the glass, followed by hints of cinnamon toast, potpourri, and black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of savory spiked black berry layers, supported by plush tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long with a peppery lift. 2000 cases were made. This would benefit from decanting but is approachable right now, or it will easily cellar for 8-10+ years. At an SRP of $22, this is a no-brainer bargain to stock up on.

I tasted this just a couple of weeks ago, and it was so good (and cheap) that the wine inspired this article...This iconoclastic blend of 60% Merlot from the Right Bank and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Médoc would be heresy if made by anyone but Benoit. He is not allowed to divulge his fruit sources, but let’s just say Benoit is pretty well connected in Bordeaux and the fruit tastes classified-y. 2022 was a warm, ripe, spectacular vintage, resulting in drop-dead deliciousness. Unfortunately, only 2000 cases were made. If you can find some, back the car up and load in all you can. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW. TWI

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

97-98 Points! A really classic Ausone, reminiscent of the great ones of the 1980s. Medium-bodied, it has such clarity and brightness and length. Purity and precision with drive and focus from superb viticulture and winemaking. A blend of 65% cabernet franc and 35% merlot. - James Suckling

94-97 Points! A classic blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot resting in new barrels, the 2024 Château Ausone sports a vivid ruby hue to go with a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, subtle cassis, graphite, sappy flowers, and lead pencil. It's gorgeous on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, focused, remarkably elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and perfectly integrated oak. This classy, perfumed, sensationally elegant Ausone will drink nicely with just a few years of bottle age. - Jeb Dunnuck

93-96 Points! The 2024 Ausone is pure sensuality. Intensly perfumed, pliant and silky on the palate, Ausone is haunting in its beauty. All the elements are so well balanced. Black cherry, lavender, mocha, espresso and exotic spice overtones all take shape in the glass. A wine of understated depth, the 2024 is impressive. Even in the early going, the 100% new oak is not at all evident, suggesting a wine with superior balance. The blend is 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94–96 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers and plums fill the perfume. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, juicy, fresh, long, and packed with ripe, sweet black cherries, chocolate, oceanic influences, mint, and licorice. The finish has great energy, with flesh and length. Clearly, this is one of the best vintages of Barde Haut ever produced.”

94–96 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“The nose of the 2025 Barde Haut is a field of flowers—violets, roses, and lavender—leading to a core of black raspberries and black cherries, plus a hint of forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully graceful with very fine-grained tannins and fantastic tension framing the perfumed black and blue fruit layers, finishing long and minerally.”

93–95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Château Barde-Haut has beautiful notes of ripe black fruits, sappy flowers, tobacco, and chocolate on the nose. Rich and medium to full-bodied, with a deep, layered mouthfeel and a great finish. This is a seriously impressive Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé that's well worth your time and money.”

93–95 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Barde-Haut is powerful and resonant. Macerated dark cherry, spice, new leather, cedar and menthol confer tons of intensity. Broad and ample, with notable textural intensity.”

100 Points! The 2020 Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse), made mostly by the team of Nicolas Thienpont (the final blend was put together by Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse), is another tour de force from this incredible terroir, and undeniably one of the wines of the vintage. Based on 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new French oak, it offers a sensationally pure bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, scorched earth, graphite, and a dense, smoky, floral character that emerges with time in the glass. With a voluptuous, layered mouthfeel, gorgeous mid-palate depth, building tannins, and a liqueur of mineral-like character on the finish, it shows the density, purity, precision, and vibrancy of this vintage perfectly and displays that rare mix of richness, intensity, elegance, and length that are the hallmarks of a truly great wine. This is unquestionably in the ranks of the 2009, 2010, and 2016 and will evolve for 40 years or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! Intense but delicate, really an exciting wine to taste where you feel the energy build through the palate. Unmistakable limestone influence with the floral aromatics, a jumble of peony, roses and violets, opening up to brambled raspberry and loganberry fruits, with fennel, oyster shell and slate. Huge ageing potential. Cabernet Sauvignon rather than Cabernet Franc in this blend, just one of the many ways in which it stands out from its peers even on the limestone plateau of St Emilion, its delicacy suggesting it is one of the most Burgundian of Bordeaux wines. This vintage was overseen during the growing season and vinification by the team under Nicolas Thienpont, but given its final blend and ageing by new co-owner Josephine Duffau-Lagarosse, along with Prisca Courtin-Clarins. - Jane Anson

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.”

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

95-96 Points! Very good poise, tension and depth, with a light peppery, mineral and citrusy touch to the fruit. Good fruit here, with medium to full body and elastic, chalky tannins. There is something quite pure and transparent in the middle. So elegant, al-dente and long. An excellent wine from this difficult vintage. 70% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Picking between September 26 to October 8. - Zekun Shuai, James Suckling

92-94+ Points! A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2024 Château Bellefont-Belcier is deep purple-hued and opaque, showing remarkable purity in its black and blue fruits, graphite, crushed stone, and violet notes. Medium-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it has a pure, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and integrated acidity. This château continues to never put a foot wrong, and their 2024 will absolutely be worth your time and money. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! This is the second year for Berliquet under the Canon team, and it is proving to be an excellent addition to the stable of wines - with a more powerful, cocoa bean, espresso and blackberry fruit character than its sibling (and neighbour, as Canon is within walking distance of Berliquet), but still with the mouthwatering, gunsmoke, salted caramel and saffron hit of a limestone-dominant terroir. 45hl/ha yield, 45% new oak for ageing. Thomas Duclos consultant. - Jane Anson

94 Points! The 2019 Berliquet is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, wild berries, sweet spices, violets and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with terrific depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, it concludes with a long, mineral finish. It's produced from a 9.5-hectare vineyard that encompasses three soil types: Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau (like its sibling, Château Canon); the slope, characterized by deep clay; and then sandy, colluvial soils at the foot of the slope. Right now it's planted with 70% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc, but the percentage of the latter is increasing as replanting progresses. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

97+ Points! The 2022 Château Beychevelle comes from 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in barrel. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by an absolutely stunning nose of crème de cassis and plum fruit intermixed with leafy herbs, spring flowers, and crushed stone-like minerality. This full-bodied Beychevelle has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, finely polished tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This is brilliant stuff that already offers pleasure today yet will cruise over the following two to three decades. It's the finest Beychevelle I've tasted. - Jeb Dunnuck

96 Points! The 2022 Beychevelle is so impressive. A wine of precision and stature, the 2022 has so much to offer. Inky dark fruit, licorice, mocha and lavender build in a sumptuous, creamy Saint-Julien. All of that intensity mounts through the mid-palate, reaching a stunning crescendo on the explosive, resonant finish. Even with all of its obvious intensity, the 2022 retains a gorgeous sense of freshness and vibrancy. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

95 Points! Intense blackberries and blackcurrants with spice and lead-pencil aromas. Medium-bodied, it has creamy and polished tannins and a long and flavorful finish. The cabernet sauvignon is singing here. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 4% petit verdot. Give it three to five years of bottle age. - JamesSuckling.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! Rich and velvety, bursting with blueberry, plum, cherry and exotic spice aromas and flavors, filling the mouth with flavor and refined tannins. A seductive wine with real backbone to carry it through. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. - Wine Spectator

97 Points! A Saint-Estèphe of stature and vertical intensity, the 2021 Calon Ségur dazzles from the very first taste. Spice, menthol, licorice, black cherry, mint and espresso are some of the many notes that build with a bit of coaxing. The 2021 clocks in at a modest 12.9% in alcohol, yet it possesses tremendous density and textural resonance. What a wine! Tasted two times. –Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

97 Points! In the winery's style, this is seriously dense with solid tannins and concentration. It is a powerful wine with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that has structure and dense black fruits, The wine is likely to age well. Drink from 2028. - Wine Enthusiast

97 Points! Lots of crunchy red cherries and blue plums followed by violets, fresh sage and Christmas spices with baking spice and coconuts. Medium- to full-bodied with superb fine-grained racy tannins and beautifully refreshing acidity that gives an edge to it. Gorgeous finesse and elegance with harmony and precision. Delightful, too. Already drinkable but give this a few more years to come around. Try after 2026 and it should be beautiful for a long time. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! The 2021 Canon opens in the glass with a pure bouquet of raspberries, cherries and plums mingled with pretty top notes of iris, licorice, mint and sweet spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's fleshy and sensual, with a deep and seamless core of fruit framed by ultra-refined tannins, a bright spine of acidity and a long, mineral finish. With an impressively low finished pH of 3.37, it was taken out of barrel a month earlier than usual and saw no fining—as has been the case since 2010. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

96 Points! Gorgeous fragrance, pretty and pure. Juicy and clean, this has such a lovely energy and focus to it – lifted, bright but not searing, juicy but not too acidic, weighty but still streamlined and direct. I love the fine tannins, still with some tension, and a soft, sality liquorice outline. Feels elegant and finessed, polished and stylish with lift and movement. - Decanter Magazine

95–97 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Black cherries, licorice, flowers, chocolate, smoke, and mint leaves create the perfume. The multiple layers of fruit grab your attention with their elegance, purity, and energy, finishing with a refreshing touch of chocolate-mint and a light touch of sea salt, adding sapidity.”

95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Beautiful aromatics, floral notes and Chinese five spice with sweet red berry fruit. Juicy and lifted, with a calm, chiselled frame and velvety tannins. Balanced and poised with lovely layering of texture and aromatic complexity.”

94–96 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2025 Canon-la-Gaffelière slowly emerges with notes of lavender and lilacs, red currant jelly, fresh blackberries, mossy tree bark, tar, and cardamom. Tightly wound with mineral-laced fruit layers and a savory lift.”

94 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“High pumice stone grip, certainly very much on the limestone character, attractive and with plenty of lift and grip, with attractive drama from grilled sandalwood and incense oak notes.”

94–96 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Canon La Gaffelière is bright and beautifully focused right out of the gate. Orange peel, sage, mint, pipe tobacco, dried flowers and mocha soar out of the glass. I especially admire the energy here.”

92–94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A lighter, more herbal-styled wine offering juicy red fruits, sappy flowers, graphite, tobacco, and a kiss of minerality. Medium-bodied, with fine, polished tannins and a good finish.”

93-94 Points! Apples and pears with stony minerality to it. Medium- to full-bodied with a polished, lightly phenolic finish. Attractive and lengthy. - James Suckling

92 Points! This has a nice lively quinine note running underneath lemon gelée, white peach and star fruit flavors. The finish glistens nicely, gilded with salted butter and verbena. Delicious. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2028. - Wine Spectator

91 Points! The 2022 Château Cantelys Blanc is a classic, juicy white with revealing notes of lemon, pineapple, and minty flowers. Medium-bodied, round, and supple on the palate, it has nicely integrated acidity and a clean, refreshing finish. You wouldn’t know it was from hot, dry year by tasting it! Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Aromas of blackcurrants and kirsch with hints of dried blood orange, licorice and cocoa. Medium- to full-bodied with layers of well-integrated, finely polished tannins. Structured and toned with a fresh and lively fruit-forward palate, seasoned with spices and dried herbs. Lingering, chalky finish. Delicious now, but better after 2026. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Lovely perfumed fragrance on the nose, ripe black fruits and scented flowers - Parma violets. Juicy and clean, this has lovely weight and texture, great acidity and juiciness with a delicate sweetness, but countered with cool, fresh, minty blackcurrants. Not trying too hard, still with some coolness - blue fruits, berries and black cherries with a clean texture. Sleek, well balanced. Lovely weight. Everything very well done here. Good drive, classic and well framed. Very easy to like. - Decanter Magazine

93 Points! (58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot). Ruby red colour, bursting with brambled fruit, these are young and still closed down tannins, trace of chalkiness, opening to show cassis and blueberry fruit, sleek and pretty. Attrractive austerity in this wine gives this a savoury quality, medium bodied, with cocoa bean and mint left on the finish. Tasted twice, love the aromatics after a good few hours of opening. 45hl/ha yield, 40% new oak. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Quite a fragrant, aromatic nose, full of intense violets and irises. Sleek and so svelte, this has such a silky, almost creamy texture, tannins are gorgeous and this has such a juicy, lively core. Nothing out of place here. Super accessible and one of the best primeurs samples for consistency tasted three times. Ends salty with a stony grip.”

94 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Captures the austerity that you expect and want during En Primeur, wet stones and graphite, plenty of elegance and balance, measured acidities that give Left Bank typicity, a ton of ageing potential and curls of gunsmoke and flowers.”

93–94 Points – James Suckling
“This shows an attractive nose of flowers and subtle spices from the oak. It has good concentration and a balanced palate, with a clear, expressive fruit profile.”

93–95 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Cantemerle pops from the glass with vivacious notes of freshly crushed blackcurrants and raspberries, giving way to an undercurrent of red roses, pencil lead, and cedar with a touch of black olives. The medium-bodied palate is bright and refreshing with firm, fine-grained tannins and a long, fragrant finish.”

92–94 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Currants, cedar, flowers, and tobacco leaf create the perfume. Medium-bodied, vibrant, soft, and refined, with sweet cassis and polished tannins on the finish.”