Wines

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

94 Points! Mostly Chardonnay, the 2020 Limoux Blanc is a terrific white that has real class in its aromatics as well as texture. Light gold-hued, with a great nose of poached pears, honeyed citrus, crushed stone, toasted hazelnuts, and white flowers, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness that carries terrific mid-palate depth, bright, racy, yet brilliantly integrated acidity, and a crisp, clean, lengthy finish that brings an undeniable sense of salinity. A seriously good white, it deserves 2-3 years of bottle age (it needs a decant if drinking any time soon) and will evolve for over a decade. Bravo. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! This has very pretty energy and focus with sliced melon, pears, stone and fresh ginger. Dried flowers. Citrus, too. Medium-bodied with a solid density of fruit with white peaches and honey. Tangy and flavorful. Drink or hold. - James Suckling.com

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

97 Points! This is phenomenal with superb depth and texture. Full-bodied and very sweet, yet the bright acidity balances the wine out. Creamy mouthfeel with phenolic undertones. Great finish. This wine has a great future. Better in 2021, but already great. - James Suckling

94-96 Points! Full and rich, this is a powerful wine. It’s packed with botrytis-driven flavors of wild honey and peach, balanced by tight acidity. For long-term aging. - Wine Enthusiast

93-95 Points! The 2013 Suduiraut has one of the more flamboyant bouquets of the vintage, one that is actually reminiscent of de Fargues. There are copious Satsuma and dried honey scents, hints of beeswax and almond that keep your snout in the glass. The palate is very well-balanced with a viscous entry, just a touch of marmalade and quince coming through, and then blossoming toward the weighty finish that shows just a touch more oak at the moment. This is an excellent Suduiraut. - Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

94 Points! This is on the exotic side of the ledger, with mouthfilling ginger, mango, quince and papaya flavors that course through, backed by a singed marshmallow note on the long, unctuous finish. Approachable, but no hurry. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! Fresh and zesty with an almost minty-herbal edge. Deceptively rich as well (150g/L RS). Sweet attack on the palate, then long and linear on the finish. The acidity is present but wrapped in fruit. - Decanter

95-97 Points! Possibly even better, and a remarkable white in the vintage, the 2022 Château Suduiraut Vieilles Vignes reveals a vivid gold hue as well as an already complex bouquet of bright citrus, caramelized limes, tart melon, and minty herbs. A blend of 55% Sémillon and 45% Sauvignon Blanc that's still resting in 30% new barrels, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, and a great finish. This rich, textured, incredibly impressive white is going to shine on the dinner table. It should benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and drink nicely over the following decade. - Jeb Dunnuck

94-95 Points! A classic Sauternes with dried peaches, lemon zest and crushed stone character. Full body. Layered and phenolic. Dry at the end. 55% semillon and 45% sauvignon blanc. - James Suckling

92-94 Points! The 2022 Suduiraut Vieilles Vignes Blanc Sec debuted two years earlier and comes from oldest vines in the best terroirs,. It has a lovely bouquet with orchard fruit, honeysuckle and melted wax aromas. The palate is well balanced with good depth, fine acidity, much more complexity than the Lions, with a touch of stem ginger furnishing the finish. Lovely. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

93 Points! Coming from old vines between 45 and 60 years old that are likely to have resisted the heat of the vintage better, this has both complexity and depth of flavour, with juicy white pear, saffron and mandarin zest. Still a richer expression than in fresher years like 2021, but plenty to enjoy, with oyster shell salinity on the finish. 30% in new barrels, 70% from barrels of one vintage. - Jane Anson

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

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

94-96 Points! Flowers, pineapples, mango, apricot and candied lemon notes get the wine going. The palate, with its layers of sweet, ripe and overripe, honeyed yellow, and orange fruits is fresh, long, intense, balanced, and most importantly, delicious! And isn't that the purpose of a wine? Drink from 2025-2055. - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 Points! The 2022 Coutet has a beautifully-defined nose with pure botrytised fruit: tangerine, saffron, honeysuckle and orange rind hints. This has impressive focus. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous opening, fine acidity, pure and harmonious. A tensile and persistent finish drags you back for another sip. Superb. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

93-94 Points! Tempting dried fruit here with spice and floral character. Full and creamy with attractive acidity and a textural finish. - James Suckling

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

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

96-97 Points! So vibrant and minerally with salt and dried apple, peach and pears. Medium to full body. Creamy texture. Some phenolics. Dried fruit skin. Vivid acidity. 3.18 pH. 52% sauvignon blanc, 39% semillon, 8% sauvignon gris, and 1% muscadelle. - James Suckling

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

98-99 Points! The purity of fruit is really impressive here with crushed apples, pears and lemons. Some mineral and stone, too. Honeysuckle. Very clear and bright. The palate is full and very direct and focused, with a long, salty dried lemon finish and minerality. Fine phenolics at the end. 63% sauvignon blanc, 35% semillon and 2% muscadelle. - James Suckling

95 Points! Mint, white peach, green apples, and pear aromatics open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is ripe, creamy, and focused on its wealth of sweet, yellow citrus, pineapple, white peach, and orange rind notes in the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon and 2% Muscadelle. Picking took place August 28 - September 2. Drink from 2025-2035. - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94 Points! The 2022 Pape Clement Blanc was cropped at 35hL/ha between 28 August and 2 September and matured in under 20% new oak. It is very fragrant on the nose, with lemon verbena, white peach and honeysuckle scents. Really fine definition and sense of focus. The palate is well balanced, a little steelier and more linear than recent vintages with plenty of tension on the saline finish. This should age well in bottle. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

90-93 Points! A blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Sémillon and 2% Muscadelle, the 2022 Pape Clément Blanc exhibits aromas of spices, spring flowers, lemon, peach and hints of jasmine and grapefruit. The palate is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and satiny, with an oaky frame. The finish is long, persistent and elegantly spicy. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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

95 Points! A bright and vivid white with sliced lemon, grapefruit and mineral character. Medium to full body. Crisp acidity and a minerally finish. Lots of energy this year despite the hot and dry growing season. 67% sauvignon blanc, 22% semillon and 11% muscadelle. Drinking beautifully already. - James Suckling

92 Points! The 2022 Blanc de Lynch-Bages is bright and nicely focused, with tons of Sauvignon Blanc aromas and flavors driving the blend. Citrus, white flowers, mint, chalk and tomato leaf are very nicely delineated. The 2022 has just been bottled, but its freshness is notable. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

92 Points! A bright and fresh white with sliced apple and pear and a steely undertone. Medium body. Crisp and clean. 54% semillon and 46% sauvignon blanc. - JamesSuckling.com

90 Points! Starting off the dry whites, the 2022 Lions De Suduiraut is 54% Sémillon and 46% Sauvignon Blanc raised in equal parts barrels and tank. It has a light hint of green in its vivid gold hue as well as citrus, honeydew melon, and minty herb-driven aromas and flavors. Already bottled, this medium-bodied, bright, juicy, vibrant white is perfect for drinking over the coming 3-4 years or so. - Jeb Dunnuck

96 Points! This estate makes a brilliant white, and their 2020 Château Couhins Blanc is pure gold, offering a bright citrus and lemon zest core as well as lots of white flowers and honeyed mineral-like nuances. Medium-bodied, bright, racy, yet also concentrated, it's going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! A pretty white with dried pear, lemon and some mango. Full-bodied and lightly tannic with a creamy texture and a flavorful finish. More fruit-forward and clean. Nice acidity for the vintage. 2/3 sauvignon blanc and 1/3 sauvignon gris. Drink or hold. -  James Suckling

99 Points!  The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an opulent texture, vibrant acidity, and again, an incredible sense of minerality, despite having no shortage of sweetness or richness. The 2016 is a classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon that hit 14.2% alcohol with 135 grams of residual sugar. It’s already complex and approachable yet will keep for 3-4 decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! A very classic Yquem. Breathtakingly wide spectrum of floral honey, exotic fruit (passion fruit, mango and pineapple), caramel and marzipan aromas. But none of this is a jot too much. In fact, the wine is extremely precise and finely nuanced. Wonderful freshness and textural complexity, in spite of the considerable concentration and extravagance. Very suave and sensual finish that goes on and on. - James Suckling

98 Points! Containing 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, the pale lemon-gold colored 2016 d'Yquem leaps from the glass with honeyed apricots, pineapple, green mango, crushed rocks, candied ginger, coriander seed and citrus peel with hints of orange blossom. The palate is very tightly wound, vibrant and refreshing with layer upon layer of minerals and spices, finishing with epic poise and persistence. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

95 Points! Le Petit Cheval Blanc 2020 soars from the glass with notions of white peaches, green guava, and passion fruit, giving way to hints of orange blossom, beeswax, elderflower, and cedar. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing and elegantly weighted, with intense tropical flavors and a long zippy finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

96 Points! The 2020 Le Petit Cheval (Blanc) is fabulous. Rich, creamy and wonderfully expansive, the 2020 is just gorgeous. Lemon confit, white flowers, passion fruit and a touch of oak all grace this wonderfully expressive dry white from Cheval Blanc. I especially like how the 2020 gains freshness with aeration, always a good sign with whites. There's tremendous precision and class here. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94 Points! A totally Burgundian dry white with a base of chalky minerality behind the creamy lees character, delicate toasty oak, lively acidity and a whole spectrum of fruit aromas, from lemons through pears and peaches to a hint of something tropical. Very long, elegant and refreshing finish. Drink or hold and this should age magnificently. - JamesSuckling.com

55% Sémillon, 45% Sauvignon Blanc

97 Points! The 2019 Rieussec is absolutely gorgeous. Gracious and supremely elegant in feel, the 2019 is immediately impressive. An exotic melange of lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, passionfruit and tangerine oil opens effortlessly. The 2019 is compelling from start to finish. Harvest took place from October 8 to 15, in three passes. The 2019 is the first vintage that will be offered in a stylish new bottle. It is no secret Sauternes has struggled of late. I must say I really liked the new and very modern presentation, which shows a more playful side of Sauternes that might just work in creating a bit more excitement around these wines. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94-96 Points! Pale lemon-gold in color, the 2019 Rieussec flaunts a delicately scented nose of fresh grapefruit, lemon curd, lime leaves and clover honey with wafts of jasmine, white truffles and nutmeg. The palate slowly builds, revealing layers of apple and citrus fruits with loads of savory accents, framed by refreshing acidity and a seductively oily texture, finishing on a lingering honey-nut note. - Wine Advocate

95 Points! This is the 2019, because Rieussec is no longer showing En Primeur but instead when it is in bottle. Marmalade and bitter orange peel is totally gorgeous, and this is one of the best Rieussec's that I can remember. A ton of juicy minerality, not overly concentrated but full of fresh pineapple and white mango, white peach and pear. 120g/l residual sugar. A brilliant Rieussec with so much personality and a full, rich texture through the mid palate. - Decanter

98 Points! Tasting the 2019, I noticed that it has a slightly paler hue compared to recent vintages (though I never read too much into the colour of young Sauternes.) For certain, it has a highly-aromatic bouquet that is beguiling in purity, enticing aromas of honeysuckle and saffron, soon joined by camomile, white flowers and orange blossom. It has wonderful delineation and gains intensity with aeration. The palate is supremely well-balanced with fine bead of acidity. Very harmonious and armed with just the right amount of viscosity, this Yquem is surprisingly understated at first but gains presence, offering irresistible flavours of layers of honey, lemongrass, lemon thyme and orange pith. Yquem is so tempting in its youth, but I feel that this vintage will repay those with the nous to cellar for at least a decade. - Vinous

97 Points! The 2019 vintage of Château d'Yquem has the highest proportion (45%) of Sauvignon Blanc in any modern Yquem. The Sauvignon Blanc adds to the freshness, acting as a great balance to the succulent, sweet and voluptuous palate. Intense peach and apricot, combined with lemon and orange zest, make this highly appealing to drink right away - an ideal vintage with which to start Yquem’s ‘lighthouse’ project. However, it would be a shame not to give this 10+ years maturation to see how it develops. Very well, I suspect. - Decanter