Cotes de Francs

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 juicy and flavorful red with blackberry, chocolate and hazelnut character. Medium to full body. Structured yet juicy. Plenty of grip and structure. Savory. Salty. Most impressive wine I have had from here. Pure merlot. 80% aged in cask. - James Suckling

92-94 Points! This medium to full-bodied 2022 Marsau is an attractive wine produced from 100% Merlot. It has a delightfully pure bouquet of peony, violet, iris, menthol and cassis, followed by a crunchy and juicy yet fresh texture and then by a mineral-driven finish of remarkable purity, expressing elegant notes of licorice and pencil lead. Anne-Laurence and Mathieu Chadronnier have produced a red wine that punches above its weight. Bravo! - Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

94 Points! Lovely dark fruity fragrance with perfumed floral aromas on the nose, smells expressive and open. Smooth and supple, a lovely combination of tension, mouthwatering acidity and fruitiness here, such sleek texture with definition and soft juiciness. The tannins have grip and purpose with a softly fleshy and mineral sensation - liquorice, wet stone and graphite - giving a wide and interesting expansion on the palate. Feels cool and controlled, serious and focussed, with balance, still with concentration and power and grip. Feels very classy on the palate. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com

90-92 Points! The 2022 Marsau is powerful, rich Cotes de Bordeaux. It emerges from a 12-acre, biodynamically farmed parcel of Merlot on clay 20 kilometers east of Saint-Émilion. Dense and vibrant, the 2022 possesses notable density in its fruit and also plenty of structure. Marsau is unique in that it is aged 80% in foudre, the rest in used oak, tank and amphora. Larger format oak naturally yields a wine that is quite reticent within the context of Bordeaux, especially en primeur. Drinking window : 2025-2034 - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

93 Points! Aromas of blackberries, dried lavender, black olives, tobacco, herbs and some smoked meat. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Layered and concentrated with a sleek, savory finish. 85% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 3% malbec. Better from 2022. - James Suckling

92 Points! This is great stuff and highly drinkable with a wonderful richness on the nose and palate. It’s pretty fierce in fact and has real impact with the austerity of the mid palate quickly filled out by rich sweet black cherry fruit and a deeply spiced finish. - Decanter

92 Points! Coming from the talented Thienpont team, the 2018 Château Puygueraud is a juicy, up-front, undeniably delicious 2018 offering lots of perfumed, floral, and violet notes, sumptuous blue fruits, medium-bodied richness, and a juicy, balanced, lengthy style that keeps you coming back to the glass. The balance is spot on, as is the purity of fruit, and it's ideal for enjoying any time over the coming decade. The blend is 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and the rest Malbec. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Beautifully pure cherry, berry, black-olive and lightly toasted coffee-bean aromas follow through to a full body with a lovely center palate and purity of fruit. Lots of fine tannins. Balanced and poised. Wonderful depth. Tiny production – only 20% of the normal production. Pure merlot. From organically grown grapes. Needs two or three years to come around. Try after 2022. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! From the talented Nicolas Thienpont, the 2019 Château La Prade sports a deep ruby/purple color to go with a great nose of spicy dark fruits, damp earth, and violet. Wonderfully pure, medium-bodied, elegant, and seamless on the palate, it's easily the finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted. It's going to drink brilliantly for 10-12 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

92 Points! An intense, aromatic red with notes of ripe plums and blackberries, spices, chocolate and tar. Polished and refined with an array of fine-grained, chewy tannins and a velvety mouth-feel. Full-bodied, compact and long. Impressive power and depth. Drink in a year or two or hold. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com