France

95 Points! The aromas of orange peel, citrus, fresh mushroom, bark, smoked meat and currants is fantastic. The palate is pure and focused with super-fine tannins and a long, long finish. Muscular and formed, yet agile, Takes the appellation to a new level. Partially aged in amphore. From organically grown grapes. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! A svelte, seductive and seriously appealing 100% Merlot grown atypically on clay-dominant soils on one of the highest points of the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux. Wild strawberries, Morello cherries and subtle spices on the nose and palate, softly sweet, generous, round, plump, juicy and mouth filling, all harmoniously packaged and carefully balanced with freshness from start to finish. Complete and evocative with purity of expression. Seek it out. - Decanter Magazine

93 Points! Composed of 100% Merlot, the 2019 Marsau is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It struts out of the glass with assured notes of juicy black plums, blackberry preserves, tar, and cumin seed with touches of violets and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is elegant and lively, with lots of bright, savory sparks to the restrained black fruits, finishing on a lingering mineral note. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

97 Points! The 2021 Haut-Brion confirms its fine showing en primeur, cementing its status as one of the wines of the vintage. Its complex bouquet of dark berries and cassis mingled with notions of cigar wrapper and burning embers unfurls in the glass. Full-bodied, deep and velvety, it’s concentrated and layered with a multidimensional core of fruit, sweet tannins and lively acids, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. Reflecting the timeless elegance of Haut-Brions from cooler years, the 2021 will delight Bordeaux purists. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

97 Points! This is beautifully crafted and very perfumed, with ultra-fine tannins and vivid dark fruit such as blackcurrants, as well as dark chocolate, hazelnuts and hints of forest floor, mushrooms, tar, matchstick and oyster shells. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! One of my absolute favourite wines in 2021 with Figeac's star power clearly on show. Amazing aromatic complexity on the nose; dark chocolate with perfume from the Cabernet Franc - pink flowers, red cherry touches vanilla and cinnamon - such a seductive smell. Pure and focused - so smooth and sleek with a clear tang to the palate. Quite taut, so defined and pure. The minerality comes through the sweet strawberry and raspberry fruit giving that chalky, salty flavour and texture on the palate. Everything is precise and in the right place. You can tell this is ripe, the concentration is there in the fruit, alongside such bright freshness but also these fun and playful red fruit flavours with lively acidity. Classic Bordeaux style with vibrancy, clarity and harmony - you feel the St-Emilion terroir and the understated glamour. This is an epic wine, a brilliant Figeac and contender for wine of the Right Bank. - Decanter Magazine

97 Points! Lovely aromatics right off the bat, good spice, white peppers, touches of savoury cassis. This 71% mix of the two Cabernets is the highest ever at Figeac, and you feel it in this savoury, rosebud, leafy character to the palate, brilliantly handled and one of the wines of the vintage. This delivers careful balance, sculpted fruits, with a juicy finish. 100% new oak. Romain Jean-Pierre technical director. 38hl/h yield, harvest September 21 to October 19 (with a three week gap between Merlot and Cabernet). 3.65ph. First vintage with the new cellar. 70% production into Figeac, 8% press wine. Tasted twice, excellent quality. - Jane Anson

96+ Points! A wine that transcends the vintage's challenges, the 2021 Figeac is performing brilliantly in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with striking top notes of violet, rose petal, iris and mint. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and suave, it's pure and vibrant, its enveloping core of fruit framed by ultra-refined tannins, concluding with a long, floral finish. Readers in the habit of drinking top grand cru Burgundy are liable to find themselves seduced by this immensely elegant, perfumed Saint-Émilion, a wine I'll definitely be adding to my own cellar. It's the result of gamble that paid off, as Figeac's team chose to wait to pick their Cabernet Sauvignon despite the menace of forecast rain—a menace that, in fact, scarcely transpired. The 2021 saw a somewhat shorter-than-usual élevage of 16 months in barrel without fining. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

98 Points! The standout wine of the tasting (as expected). Opulent, concentrated with intense cassis notes on both the nose and palate, with a deep-purple hue in the glass (although not quite as deep as the 1995). Mint, cool, menthol on the nose with restrained oak hovering in the background. The palate is ultra-elegant with a freshness from the acidity and perfectly-ripe tannins, combined with subtle oak and intriguing spicy, cedary notes. - Decanter Magazine, 2021

97+ Points! The last time I tasted the 1996 Mouton Rothschild (maybe a couple of years ago?), I recall it was a bit broody and closed. This showing was anything but! Deep garnet in color, it sashays out of the glass with lavishly dressed, gregarious crème de cassis, baked blackberries and plum pudding scents plus touches of menthol, fenugreek, star anise and sandalwood with fleeting glimpses at dried rose petals and oolong tea. The full-bodied palate is richly fruited, opulent and oh-so seductive, with bags of youthful black fruit and lovely finely grained tannins, finishing with fantastic freshness and length. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com 2019

97 Points! Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 1998 Mouton Rothschild is deep garnet-brick in color with lovely crème de cassis, dried roses, hoisin and baking spice notes with underlying notions of dried cherries and mulberries plus touches of wood smoke, incense and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied and packed with rich fruit framed by firm, chewy tannins, it is stacked with complex, evolving flavors and finishes with incredibly long-lasting perfumed notes. According to winemaker Philippe Dhalluin, this needs about three hours of decanting at this stage. I simply love the place this wine is in right now, possessing plenty of mature, tertiary characters yet still sporting bags of fruit. It won’t be fading anytime soon either and should cellar nicely for 20-25+ more years. Drink: 2018-2043. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com 2018

The forgotten wine? Bouchard's Beaune Greves Vignes de L'Enfant Jesus gets all the run but did you know they made another wine from this site at 1/3 the price? And it's terrific...

93-95 Points! Wild strawberries, raspberries, spring lowers, sandalwood, and Provençal spice notes all emerge from the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Sables De La Crau, a beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied Châteauneuf du Pape based on 100% Grenache that was fermented with some stems and brought up all in used barrels. It shows the ripe yet still fresh, elegant style of the vintage beautifully. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! Deep and highly aromatic on the nose - freshly picked red berries with dried herbs and a touch of liquorice. Supple and forward, this has nice energy and bounce. Creamy, super juicy and with a cooling mineral bite that comes across as slightly spiced with graphite and pencil lead accents and a slight chalky powderiness on the tongue. Really lovely frame and focus. Great to drink now, has plenty of punch but with lovely finesse too. Easy to enjoy this. - Decanter Magazine

93 Points! Very perfumed, bright and crunchy. Rose petals, lemons and other citrus fruits. Medium body with citrus and raspberry flavors. Linear and long with lovely energy and vivacity. Drinkable now, but better in a couple of years. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Robust, floral and intense. 100% old-vine grenache, expressing aromas of wild berries, sweet cherries, orange peel, dried flowers, grilled herbs and loads of spices. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Juicy at the center with so much energy. It’s vibrant and focused with good drive in the finish. Bright and agile. From organically grown grapes with Ecocert certification. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! There's a lot to love in this ethereal red, with stunning purity and allure. The perfumed nose is marked by black fruit, pepper, smoked bacon and tobacco, with smoky oolong tea in the backdrop. Concentrated yet doesn't feel weighed down, with fine, chalky tannins landing the finish, which stretches out in effortless harmony and reveals earthy tugs of tar and juniper. Its beautiful suppleness makes this approachable now, but this will also go the distance in the cellar. Drink now through 2040. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! Vibrant, scented and delineated, showing expressive blue fruit, hibiscus, cassis, minerals and spices. The medium- to full-bodied palate is evenly packed with fresh and fine tannins. Graceful, velvety yet al dente. Spot-on balance with a lengthy but tightly wound finish. Already attractive, but wait three years if you want a more complete Bordeaux. This has the potential to develop for at least another eight to ten years. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! (47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot). A lovely vintage of Senejac, plummy dark fruits, luscious cocoa bean and espresso, edges of rosemary and sage, good stuff. Eric Boissenot consultant, Bignon-Cordier family owners. - Jane Anson

93 Points! I like the biscuit and brioche aromas here. Some fig, walnut and apple crumble, too. It’s rich an creamy with delicious, toasty undertones. Rounded yet very fresh finish. Disgorged in 2023. Dosage 3g/L. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

52% Vertus Premier Cru, 27% Bergères les Vertus Premier Cru, 21% Cramant Grand Cru  Côte des Blancs, 40+ year-old vines.

97 Points! The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Domaine du Banneret is superb, wafting from the glass with a perfumed bouquet of peonies, wildflowers, dark cherries, red berries and garrigue. Medium- to full-bodied, suave and seamless, it’s layered and textural, with a delicate, juicy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins and concluding with an expansive, lingering finish. This is arguably one of the finest wines ever produced at this address—and without contest, one of the wines of the vintage. It’s a blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and the remainder made up of small percentages of the other permitted varieties. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

93 Points! Based on Bourboulenc, Viognier, and Marsanne, the 2024 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel Blanc is a killer white offering honeyed peach, orange blossom, white flowers, and a kiss of minerality. It's medium-bodied, pure, focused, and elegant, with a layered mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish. This is legit fabulous stuff that's as good as many a top Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc and will drink beautifully over the coming 4-6 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! At the time it was shown as a barrel sample in early 2007, this was the best wine of 2006. That accolade remains. It has all the power of the Cabernet Sauvignon in Pauillac, which was the greatest success of the vintage. That power comes from the dense tannins as well as the black plum and spice flavors and minerality. The texture becomes velvet, giving a final richness, but never losing its long aging potential. In a year that is good, but not at the top, Mouton has made a great wine. - Wine Enthusiast

96 Points! I loved the 2006 Château Mouton Rothschild, a complex, nuanced, flawlessly balanced Mouton based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. Tobacco, cedarwood, lead pencil shavings, and both red and black fruits define the bouquet, and this is clearly in its prime drink window, with a terrific mix of ripe fruit and just developing secondary aromas. Full-bodied and concentrated, with sweet tannins, this elegant, layered, silky 2006 has another 20 years of prime drinking. The label comes from the famed English portrait painter Lucien Freud (1922-2011). - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! Still tight, with an energetic core of white peach, creamed pineapple, persimmon and white ginger flavors. The backdrop of orange blossom and singed almond notes adds extra dimension on the finish. This will go a long way in the cellar. - Wine Spectator

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."

Jeb Dunnuck – 95-97 Points

Cassis, blueberries, smoky tobacco, and the classic Margaux spice and complexity all define the 2025 Pavillon Rouge Du Château Margaux, which has more than a passing resemblance to the Grand Vin. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc that's being raised in 60% new barrels, it's rich and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a deep, layered mouthfeel, remarkable ripeness and purity, and a great finish. Checking in at 13.9% alcohol with a pH of 3.68, it's incredibly textured and is really a great wine in its own right.

Decanter – 96 Points (Georgina Hindle)

Fresh prune, some balsamic notes, fresh rose petals. Fragrant and dark notes, a touch of spice, some soft minerality. Juicy and succulent – there's acidity for sure but what stands out is the texture, so soft and creamy on the palate with bright but cool blueberry acidity, some liquorice spice, violet touches and a lot of graphite and pencil lead salinity on the finish. Clearly structured but so generous in terms of fruit purity. Quite a serious Pavillon. Started harvesting young vines on September 8, Merlots on September 11 and Cabernets on September 19, finishing on September 29. A yield of 22hl/ha. pH 3.68. IPT 78. 28% second wine production, usually 30%. 12% press wine. 4% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

Jane Anson – 96 Points

Flavoursome, this is luscious and juicy, with the concentration and ripeness that I was expecting in more of the wines this year. Rose petals, damson, slate, crayon, cocoa bean, mint, DNA of the Margaux appellation on display. Just 2018 and 2022 were higher numbers in terms of phenolic compounds, and the 3.68 pH is still low, but the perception is far less intense than in many properties. 22hl/ha yield across the vineyard, harvest September 8 for young Merlot, then Cabernet Sauvignon began September 19 and finished September 29. IPT 78. 28% of the overall production.

The Wine Palate – 94-96 Points (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux sings of bright black currants and fresh blackberries, leading to suggestions of dried mint, dark chocolate, and vanilla with a touch of cardamom. The medium- to full-bodied palate delivers taut, muscular black fruit with firm, grainy tannins and a refreshing line, finishing long with a compelling floral lift. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. It has a pH of 3.68 and the alcohol is 13.9%. This is 28% of production—it is usually around 30%.

The Wine Cellar Insider – 93-95 Points (Jeff Leve)

Boysenberries, flowers, cocoa, espresso, and black cherries create the aromatic profile. The elegant, medium-bodied, and fresh palate delivers layers of sweet, zesty fruits, with character. Lift is the name of the game here, along with length and volume, providing a long, sweet, fruit-filled, vibrant, refined finish. The wine was made from blending 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13.9% ABV. Drink from 2029-2045.

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."

97-99 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Flowers, black raspberries, mint, cherries, and crushed rocks form the perfume. The palate is creamy, rich, lush, and fruity. The fruits stand out for their textural profile, energy, freshness, and elegance. The wine finishes with chocolate-covered cherries, plums, mineral influences, and a touch of spice."

97-99 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"The 2025 L'If is a total stunner. It's like no other vintage I have tasted thus far, perhaps because of the high percentage of Cabernet Franc. Chalk, mint, white pepper, blood orange, and jasmine gradually open in the glass. A saline edge shapes the brisk mid-palate and brilliant, chiseled finish. Magnificent. The best L'If to date."

97-98 Points James Suckling
"Medium- to full-bodied and chalky but charming, with definition and clarity. 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Best ever."