France

99 Points! Let yourself go and sink into this deep dark chasm that will swallow you whole if you let it. Enormous concentration, but every bit as much finesse, the finish extremely long and fine. And this is just beginning to give its best! - JamesSuckling.com

99 Points! Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Léoville Las Cases rocks up with a drop-dead gorgeous nose of baked blackberries, warm plums and crème de cassis with suggestions of violets, rose hip tea, dark chocolate, menthol and sandalwood. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and decadent in the mouth, it has super ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and exotic. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com, 2019

92-94 Points! The 2021 Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes, tasted from a one-year-old barrel (there will (be) 20% new in the final blend) has a tightly-knit bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit, quite elegant after three or four minutes of aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a lovely, confit-like entry, very well balanced with a silky texture, hints of raspberry jam and white pepper on the finish. Beautifully defined from start to finish. Excellent. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

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. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

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

92 Points! Lots of redcurrant fruit, with notes of blood orange, tobacco leaf and sage. Sleek, focused and racy, this is a forthright expression of cool climate Burgundy that some may find a bit challenging, but which excites us. Lots of candied citrus and some dried cranberries at the structured finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

1 x Marie-Jeanne (2.25 Liter) 100% Cabernet Franc edition of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2017

1 x L'Eau des Carmes (30ml) Limited Edition. This skin fragrance tells the story of a century at Les Carmes Haut-Brion, an original creation by Barnabé Fillion

This exceptional case tells the story of a century at les Carmes. A unique experience, a DIALOGUE between the WINEGROWERS of Carmes and BARNABÉ FILLION, perfume designer. Olfactory design, wine design, crafts that inspire each other to PAY TRIBUTE TO A CENTURY OF HISTORY. To Bijou, to the freedom of a woman who lived here for a long time, to the daring that expresses itself on a TERROIR. To the Peugue banks, where the WINEGROWERS celebrate nature and culture. To the genius of plants, and to that of CABERNET FRANC in particular, whose oldest plants have been exploring the area for over 90 years. To the next generation, grateful, brave and creative.

93 Points! Slightly more prominent wood frames aromas of ripe apple, fennel, wet stone and a plethora of citrus elements. The rich, concentrated and impressively scaled big-bodied flavors coat the palate with sappy dry extract that also buffers the firm acid spine shaping the bitter lemon zest and beautifully long if youthfully austere finish. This is muscular but not rustic vintage for En Buland, which always ages well, and the 2021 version should be no exception. - Allen Meadows, Burghound #92

91 Points! Subtle but not invisible wood is present on the cooler aromas of Granny Smith apple, essence of pear and a plentitude of citrus elements. The rich, generous and full-bodied flavors possess good power while delivering fine length on the palate soaking, clean and dry finale where a touch of rusticity slowly emerges. Solid quality here. - Allen Meadows, Burghound #92

97 Points! From the 5.83-hectare walled vineyard in a cooler, 'classic' vintage for Champagne, giving this a finessed and charming expression. Baked pastry and soft lemon curd notes on the nose, smells inviting and softly floral - honeysuckle, jasmine, lemon and lime rind with some peach. Juicy and so zesty straight away, bright, mouthwateing, scintillatingly fresh and lively, thrilling even, with tiny persistent bubbles that instantly froth and fill the mouth. Alive and energetic with lemon rind and juice, succulent green apples and strawberries, grapefruit and ginger bitterness with touches of salinity and graphite dotting the finish. This makes you instantly want another glass, but this has structure too and such a long finish. No malolactic fermentation. Dosage 4.5g/l. Made by Charles Philipponnat and Thierry Garnier. - Georgia Hindle, Decanter Magazine

96 Points! The 2014 Clos des Goisses, 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay, is Extra Brut at 4.5 g/L dosage and was disgorged in March 2023. It needs a little coaxing to bring out delicate scents of wet pebbles, lime blossom, and green apples plus emerging wafts of Marcona almonds, yuzu, and baking bread. Light-bodied and very dry, the palate is super-fine and delicately crafted, with a lively backbone supporting the intense flavors, finishing long and minerally. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

97 Points! There’s nothing obvious about this intensely spicy gewurz. In fact, studying the aromas is like solving an intricate puzzle. Very powerful and creamy with succulent tropical-fruit character, the bold minerality balancing the touch of sweetness. The palate is no less intriguing, thanks to the cool depths that are ever more revealed on the very refined finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. – JamesSuckling.com

From the lieu-dits Paton, Lys de Volan, la Bonnette, Rochecourbe, Les Rivoires, Merlant

93 Points! Ripe tangerines, honeyed flowers, spice, and a kiss of minerality all define the 2022 Condrieu, an elegant, incredibly pure Condrieu delivering classic richness and depth while staying pure, focused, and elegant. - Jeb Dunnuck

90 Points! Aromatic nose with baked lemons, spiced apples, dried herbs, dried leaves and mild spices. Medium body with texture and volume on the mid-palate. Ripe lemons and a positive bitterness dominate in the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. - James Suckling

94+ Points! The swan song vintage of this cuvée, Doyard's 2015 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru mingles aromas of citrus oil with notions of buttery pastry, dried white flowers and warm biscuits. Medium to full-bodied, layered and structured, with chalky dry extract and lively acids, it's a taut, compact wine that will require a bit of bottle age to unwind. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

92 Points! A minerally Champagne, with smoke and brine notes underscoring crunchy green apple, black raspberry, brioche and marzipan flavors. The bright finish is driven by firm, lemony acidity. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged June 2022. Drink now through 2026. - Wine Spectator

92 Points! A step up, the 2021 Saint Joseph Le Lombard Blanc is more rounded and complete, with beautiful honeyed quince, spice, and dried herbs in a medium-bodied, round, supple package that's already a joy to drink. - Jeb Dunnuck