Wines

95 Points! The 2017 Chimère reminds me a little of the 2011 with its more elegant yet still powerful style. Beautiful notes of black cherries, blueberries, cured meats, pepper, tree bark, and new leather all emerge from the glass, followed by a rich, medium to full-bodied, tight, backward and unevolved Mourvèdre that needs forgotten for 4-5 years. As always, this cuvée is primarily Mourvèdre (it’s normally blended with Grenache and other varieties, even some white varieties) and there are a scant 100 cases made. - Jeb Dunnuck

This is another stellar set of Champagne from Christophe Baron. The 2018s are simply lights out. Readers will note the addition of a new wine in this range, the Closeaux, which rounds out the collection of four pure Meunier Champagnes, all bottled in magnum only. Mignon and his cousins practice a decidedly Burgundian approach to winemaking. The wines are fermented in 600L Taransaud demi-muids (25% new), with heavy lees stirring, an approach Baron favors for building the wines, especially on the mid-palate and that allows for bottling with no dosage. As for 2018, Baron calls it a typical modern vintage for Champagne marked by climate change. “You better get used to it, because this is the future!” he told me emphatically. - Antoni Galloni, Vinous Media

96 Points! Aromas of crushed stone, blackcurrants and blackberries. Full-bodied with extremely well-crafted tannins that are chewy and layered, yet polished and fantastic. Love the finish. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 25% petit verdot, 22% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. Drink after 2026. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

95 Points! The 2019 Clerc Milon is a real success. At more than 70%, this blend contains one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon in the property's recent history, and the result is a wine of real nobility. Offering up aromas of violets, wild berries, licorice, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with notable depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. From clay-limestone soils rather than the sandy gravels that characterize d'Armailhac, this is by some margin the more structured and serious of Mouton-Rothschild's two Pauillac stablemates. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

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.”

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

98 Points! The Grand Vin from this terrific Pomerol estate, the 2022 Château Clinet checks in as 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 19 months in 80% new barrels. It's a beautiful Pomerol that clearly ranks with the greats from this address, offering a vivid purple hue, classic notes of cassis, leather, graphite, and black cherries, full-bodied richness, and a layered, seamless mouthfeel. It's another remarkable 2022 that brings the richness and depth of the vintage while staying light on its feel and flawlessly balanced. It has plenty of upfront appeal even today, yet there's ample structure here as well, and it's going to evolve beautifully over the coming 30 years or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

96 Points! Streamlined and sleek, silky smooth but also gorgeously textured, clean and clear with grip and interest. Less fleshy and chewy than some, more charming and elegant with tannins that have a weight in the mouth. There is clear power and concentration underneath the juicy acidity with a straight backbone and direct energy from start to finish. Appealing layers of salinity, blackcurrant fruit, creamy vanilla, cool cola touches and crushed stones on the finish. Feels well made and sophisticated. 3.74pH. A yield of 34hl/ha. Earliest harvest ever starting on 6 September for Merlot and 20 and 21 September for Cabernet Sauvignon. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com

96 Points! The 2022 Clinet is terrific. Vibrant, aromatic and beautifully sculpted, Clinet is also a terrific example of the energy quality-minded winemakers were able to achieve in 2022. Crushed rose petals, spice, blood orange, mint and white pepper give Clinet a compelling upper register of presence in the bouquet. Wonderfully delineated, Clinet builds effortlessly into the mid-palate and finish, where a closing burst of red/purplish fruit framed by clean mineral notes leaves a lasting impression. This is stellar. Tasted two times. Drinking window : 2030-2052 - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

97 Points! Intense aromas of dark violets and blueberries as well as terra-cotta follow through to a full body, yet it’s tight and focused with beautifully framed fruit from polished tannins and a long and rather endless finish. A complete and fresh Pomerol in 2022. - JamesSuckling.com

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

95-96 Points! A full-bodied young red with blackberries, lemons, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. There’s an earthy, terroir-drive vibe at the end. Solid. Well done. - James Suckling

92-94 Points! The 2024 Clinet is a dark, stylish wine. Black cherry, lavender, spice, licorice and blue-toned fruit are beautifully delineated. Dark and vibrant in the glass, with terrific depth, Clinet is super-expressive in 2024. Ronan Laborde bled the musts to bring the wine into the rich, textured style he seeks here. Clinet is a rare Pomerol that is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Cabernet very much in evidence. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

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."

96 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“A great Pomerol in the making. Really floral and so perfumed with violets and iris notes. Juicy and bright with strawberry and red cherry, the acidity up front while the fine tannins gently coat the sides of the mouth in a chalky powderiness. Monumental precision and freshness.”

96 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Packed full of muscular tannins, each strand feeling luscious and silky, deep intense fruit, this is Pomerol at its heart, black chocolate, cocoa bean, olive tapenade, red rose petals, creamy blueberry fruits.”

95–97 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A Merlot-heavy blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 Clos Du Clocher has a brilliant nose of juicy red and blue fruits with notable complexity in its spicy wood, flowers, and graphite-like nuances. Rich and medium to full-bodied, with wonderfully polished tannins and a great finish.”

94–96 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“The intense floral aromatics promise to capture your attention. The palate is silky, vibrant, and fresh with lift and refinement to all the sweet red berries and pit fruits. The finish is refined, long, and lifted.”

94–96 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“The 2025 Clos du Clocher bursts with vivacious notes of juicy black plums and boysenberry preserves, opening out to reveal hints of crushed rocks, tapenade, and espresso. Very bright, shimmery Pomerol and a real head-turner.”

95-98 Points Jeb Dunnuck

"Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Clos L'Église is a beast of a Pomerol with a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, liquid violets, gravelly earth, and chocolate. Full-bodied with remarkable power, ripe and beautifully integrated tannins, a dense, stacked mid-palate, and a great finish."

95-97 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

"Deeply colored, with chocolate-covered plums, flowers, forest floor, leafy greenery, and spice box aromatics. Elegant, concentrated, silky, and deep, with ample lift and freshness. The extensive finish displays chocolaty plums, licorice, and spice from beginning to end."

94-96 Points Lisa Perrotti-Brown

"Powerful notes of plum preserves, boysenberries, and blackberry pie are accented by licorice, tar, and chargrill. Dense black fruit preserves fill the palate, framed by firm tannins and seamless freshness with a lingering anise finish."

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."

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

97 Points! The 2022 Clos Lunelles comes from vines just outside the (St. Emilion) appellation, just across from Faugères, and is based on 80% Merlot and 10% each Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Black raspberries, crushed stone, flowers, and chocolaty nuances all shine in this brilliant Castillon, another riveting wine from this team that brings full-bodied power and richness while staying elegant and seamless. You can put this up with the best in Saint-Emilion and it will do just fine. - Jeb Dunnuck

95 Points! A fresh and vivid red with lots of black fruits and blueberries as well as violets and other flowers. It's full-bodied with very silky and fine tannins. Flavorful finish. Lots going on. Made from only nine hectares. Impressive for the appellation. 80% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2027. - James Suckling

93-95 Points! The 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots-du-Milieu is excellent, wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of wild berries, plums and cassis mingled with hints of spices, grilled meats and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's deep and tightly wound, with powdery structuring tannins and lively acids. This is a serious Santenots that will require some bottle age, and it's among the best that I can remember tasting chez Lafon over the last decade. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

97 Points! Dried tropical fruits like mangoes and green papaya, with lemons and green apples. Limes, too. Full-bodied yet tight and compacted with great length and persistence. Muscular yet fresh. 66% sauvignon blanc and 34% semillon. Drinkable but needs five or six years to soften. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

96 Points! Ripe and expressive on the nose, aromatically complex with notes of carmalised lemons, honey, peach and wet stones. Clarity and precision from the start, such a well defined palate with striking high acidity, crisp and sharp citrus fruits and a salty undertone. Soft spicing comes in towards the finish suggesting this needs more time and will have a long life ahead but the nuanced bitterness, freshness and lift are all so appealing. Excellent weight and balance too with a bright and long finished - a gourmet style with plenty to like. - Decanter Magazine

96 Points!  The 2020 Château Cos D'Estournel Blanc, a blend of 66% Sauvignon Blanc and 34% Semillon, brings another level of density as well as complexity. Honeyed pineapple, melon, crushed stone, and spicy, savory herbs notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a beautifully layered, elegant mouthfeel and a great finish. It's a gem of a white and ranks with the crème de la crème of the vintage. It should keep for 10-15 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

97-98 Points! This shows real precision and sophistication. Tight and dense palate that is concentrated but not heavy, with intensity and minerality. Sea salt and white pepper at the end. This is really at the top level of dry white Bordeaux now. 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon. - JamesSuckling.com

95-97 Points! The 2023 Château Cos D'Estournel Blanc includes slightly more Semillon and checks in as 70% Sauvignon and 30% Semillon, raised in just 7% new French oak, with the rest in once-used barrels. A selection made mostly in the cellar, it has a vivid gold hue as well as a stunning nose of ripe lemon, honeyed flowers, mint, crushed stone, and subtle hints of toast. Gorgeously textured, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, with the bright, almost racy acidity of the vintage, it's pure class. - Jeb Dunnuck

96 Points! This stands out for its structure, subtle power, balance and finesse. Perfumed and softly sweet on the nose, ripe and concentrated, glorious and inviting. Creamy and chalky at the same time, lovely texture and density with bright and concentrated strawberry and red cherry fruit. Crisp, sweet, salty and sour, a lovely combination of flavours and textures with great drive and an undercurrent of minerality and salty wet stone finish – real St-Estèphe signature. - Decanter Magazine

95 Points! Floral aromas with violets, lavender and currants. Lead pencil, too. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins that caress and please. Elegant and sophisticated. Linear line of tannins running through this. Needs two or three years to soften. Hold for now. - JamesSuckling.com

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

98–99 Points – James Suckling
“A density to this, yet it remains balanced and complex, with well-integrated tannins and a juicy finish. Intense yet subtle blackberries, lead pencil and hazelnuts. Persistent and reserved at the end. Great potential.”

98–99 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Cos d'Estournel is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Grand, dramatic and sweeping, with notable textural intensity, the 2025 hits all the right notes. Dark red/purplish fruit, spice, new leather, tobacco, lavender and mocha build effortlessly in the glass. A masterpiece.”

98 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Plush, plump and chewy yet serious in a tight, cool blue fruit and graphite way. Lots of gravelly minerality keeps this focused and straight with lovely fine layers of flavour and fruitiness. Refined but well built and definitely not overripe.”

97–99 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Cassis, currants, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite all define the 2025 Château Cos D'Estournel, a powerful, ripe, concentrated beauty. Full-bodied, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, integrated oak, and a great finish. I'd happily put this up with the crème de la crème of the vintage.”

97–99 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Dark in hue, without fanfare, the aromatics showcase black cherries, flowers, licorice, smoke, raspberry, and spice-filled nuances. The palate is even better, with a vivid display of sweet, energetic, lingering fruits, licorice, oceanic influences, dark chocolate, and Indian spices. There is richness, density, lift, and length. Balanced and harmonious, this wine will offer an extraordinary tasting experience.” 

97 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Incense and sandalwood aromatics combine the density and concentration of a hot vintage with the freshness and balanced alcohols of a cooler vintage. A real breadth and wide spectrum of possibilities are contained here.”

96–98 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
“The 2025 Cos d'Estournel appears to be one of the finest wines this property has produced in the last decade. Full-bodied, ample and velvety, with beautifully fresh, concentrated flavors contained within very classical proportions.”

95–97 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“Gorgeous black plum and damson aromas, pencil lead and iodine scents delivered with impressive delineation. There is a real crescendo of flavours in this Cos d'Estournel, fanning out gloriously towards the sustained finish.”

96–98 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“The medium-bodied palate has fantastic energy with vivacious black fruit flavors and a lively line, framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and minerally.”

95 Points! Honey, apple tart and lemon rind. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and very spicy with intense flavors of mace, apple and honey. Long finish. Thick and powerful. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! The 2022 Coutet delivers nuances of pineapple, tangerine oil, orange confit and spice. Exotic and unctuous, it's also light on its feet for such an obviously rich wine. There's great balance here. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94+ Points! One of the wines of the vintage, the 2022 Coutet opens with notes of apricots, spices and exotic fruits, setting the stage for a medium to full-bodied, round and supple palate enhanced by brightness and tension that culminates in a spicy, minty finish. Its balanced structure and lively acidity contribute to an ethereal ending, making it a very elegant yet chiseled Barsac. This blend of 94% Sémillon, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Muscadelle is matured for 18 months in barrels. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

94 Points! Lots of dried-apricot and peach aromas with hints of dried white mushrooms and flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, this has lots of sweetness but a spicy flint and citrus character with dried pineapple and white peaches. Extremely long and flavorful. Such a balance and classiness to this. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Bight and fun, a lovely easy, clean and sleek texture, quite straight with focus and a sense of cool freshness on the palate with some soft bitter edges that are so appealing. Has a great frame, slowly expands, not so overtly sweet or zingy, but this is refined and well delivered, still with concentration in the depth and overall long length. 158g/l residual sugar. 3.88pH. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com