The 2019 Mouton Rothschild is the most dramatic of the Médoc first growths, soaring from the glass with aromas of cassis, blackberries and violets mingled with rich aromas of cedar, cigar wrapper, licorice, loamy soil and... Read More

A sensational effort, the 2006 Mouton Rothschild exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a classic Mouton perfume of creme de cassis, flowers, blueberries, and only a hint of oak. Dalhuin told me that in whisky barrel-tasting... Read More

Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Palmer delivers a beguiling array of black fruit—warm plums, cassis and black cherry compote—with kirsch and wild sage sparks plus profound suggestions of fragrant earth, black truffles,... Read More

The 2019 Château Pavie is another beauty that offers more density and sexiness than just about every other wine in the vintage, yet it is still an unnecessarily restrained expression of this terroir, which is the fad in... Read More

A great showing for this wine in the mini-vertical, the 2001 Pavie has a slight lightening at the edge of its dark garnet/plum/purple color and a big, sweet kiss of cedar wood, incense, licorice, blackberry and lead pencil shavings.... Read More

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pavie delivers tantalizing suggestions of candied violets, star anise and tapenade over a core of prunes, blueberry compote, Morello cherries and fruitcake with touches of underbrush and bouquet... Read More

This amazing wine has turned out to be a modern-day classic. Like its bigger sister, Pavie, it has dropped some of its baby fat and exoticism, but remains a dense ruby/purple color with notes of mocha, mulberries and black cherry... Read More

Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron Pauillac 2010 is borderline perfection in a bottle, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as truly extraordinary aromatics of creme de cassis, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality, graphite,... Read More

#8, Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Pontet-Canet comes charging out of the glass with fantastically expressive notes of black cherry preserves, black raspberries and blackcurrant pastilles plus touches of kirsch, wilted roses,... Read More

A voluptuous wine, this is rich and fruity yet properly balanced by a magnificent structure. Pure, crisp and packed with a black currant flavor, this will be a remarkable wine as it develops. Still young, it needs many years to... Read More

Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 Rieussec sings of crème caramel, chopped nuts, baked apples and spiced pears with hints of jasmine, peach blossoms and beeswax. Full-bodied, rich and decadently creamy in the mouth,... Read More

Blend: 89% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Vieux Château Certan bursts with aromas of blackberries, sweet spices, rose petals, orange zest, burning embers and violets framed by a deft application of creamy new... Read More

#50, Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2025

100 points, Kerin O'Keefe

The ripe yet fresh aromas are so alluring and compelling, showing plums, cedar, rose petals and hints of leather. Full-bodied yet framed and tensioned with fantastic length and intensity. Polished tannins are powerful but reserved,... Read More

#6, Wine Spectator Top 100 2025

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Clos Fourtet is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notions of warm black cherries, crème de cassis, blackberry compote and dark chocolate with hints of garrigue, bay... Read More

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Clos Fourtet (a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Franc) opens with wonderfully pure, intense black fruit notes of ripe blackberries, crushed black cherries and warm plums,... Read More

The nose of the 2019 Brézé is richly fruited and creamy, showing tropical pineapple characters and giving the impression of opulence. It is concentrated and powerful with real intensity of flavor. Well-judged oak... Read More

The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina is a strong candidate to be wine of the vintage. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, it combines scents of black truffles and black cherries with hints of cedar and vanilla... Read More

Supremely rich and concentrated, Colgin's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard nevertheless remains vibrant and energetic. Hints of bay leaf perk up scents of dark chocolate and black cherries on the nose, while the... Read More

Colgin's 2021 Cariad is explosive, effusive and all charm. All the elements are so well put together. Deep, sweet floral and savory spice nuances lift a core of red/purplish fruit, all wrapped together with broad, chocolatey... Read More

2019 was a late-ripening vintage at Colgin’s IX Estate on Pritchard Hill. Much was picked during the third week of October, allowing winemaker Allison Tauzier to perform a little more co-fermentation. The 2019 IX Estate... Read More

The 2021 IX Estate is such an elegant wine. Sleek, aromatic and refined, the 2021 is one of the most polished young wines I have tasted from this site. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint abound. Silky and delineated,... Read More

The Conterno Fantino 2020 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra has a note of perfumed oak spice, pine cone, licorice root, Pastis, root beer, plump cherry fruit, baked ripeness and wild mint to close. This is a generous,... Read More

A vintage set apart for its perseverance and resilience, 2021 Continuum is one of refined concentration – a resounding expression of both measured intensity and enduring vibrancy. This is a multi-layered magnificent vintage... Read More

A vintage set apart for its perseverance and resilience, 2021 Continuum is one of refined concentration – a resounding expression of both measured intensity and enduring vibrancy. This is a multi-layered magnificent vintage... Read More

'“This is dark, sultry and almost animalistic in nature, as crushed fall leaves and earth tones open the experience, giving way to masses of macerated black cherries, cedar shavings, spiced cookies and a lifting hint... Read More

With a much higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%, with 9% Cabernet Franc), the Dalla Valle 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is less floral than the Maya but more obviously fruity and up front. Bold black cherries and cassis... Read More

The 2019 Vigno had a spectacular and ever-changing nose from the moment I uncorked it. It started with some meaty notes and slowly started developing subtle nuances of roasted coffee, milk with cinnamon and herbs. It has a vibrant... Read More

The ultra elegant, sleek and mineral 2021 Moncerbal has amazing freshness, ultra refined tannins and lots of complexity, with layers and layers of flavors and aromas and great depth. There is a sense of harmony here that is captivating—this... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow is a blend of 78.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.4% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 5.1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slips effortlessly from the glass, singing of ripe black cherries,... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 4.5% Malbec and 4.5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of cassis, plum preserves,... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% Merlot, 8.7% Malbec and 2.8% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts with vibrant scents of wild blueberries, chocolate-covered... Read More

Suave and generous, the 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Reine de Nuit, vinified with whole clusters, offers complex notes of licorice, candied black cherry, chocolate, coffee and eucalyptus. Full-bodied, the wine's layered silky... Read More

A slightly riper nose of blue skinned fruit, plum, anise and more evident floral influence is complemented by the equally ripe, rich and opulent larger-bodied flavors where the seductive texture contrasts markedly with the firm,... Read More

from an incredible 6.46 ha parcel, which doesn't include the .67 ha section planted to chardonnay. This is aromatically quite similar to the 1er except that it is notably more restrained and requires considerable swirling... Read More

Expected Arrival Time: September 2025

I asked for the blend rather than tackling the individual components. A fine bright rich purple. An exquisite bouquet, still a baby but you can feel that there is a multitude of detail to... Read More

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier comes skipping out of the glass with energetic scents of ripe red and black currants, fresh blackberries and boysenberries, plus nuances of wild sage, cloves... Read More

Pale gold color with some vivid glimmers. Intense and exotic floral nose of yellow peach, mangoes, and citrus fruits. Dense, generous, greedy but lively palate, without heaviness. Refines, ripe, and very delicate flesh. Long,... Read More

The nose brings out deep, intense floral and fruity notes, mixed with hints of spice. Described as a more muscular wine, the palate is straightforward yet complex, elegant and full-bodied. The finish is long and intense, suggesting... Read More

he 2023 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru has a gorgeous bouquet that blossoms in the glass. Dark cherries, touches of violet and iodine just soar with aeration—wonderfully delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with... Read More

The coiled, intense 2023 Pinot Noir Bloom's Field is dark-fruited and floral on the nose, leading to a multidimensional palate that combines textural depth and breadth with stunning saturation and focus. The palate is vibrant... Read More

The remaining reds all possessed plenty of tannic structure for support and the ability to develop over time. The Grands-Echézeaux is even more generous than the Echézeaux, open and succulent, displaying cherry,... Read More

The latter offers opulence and a silky texture, along with rose, strawberry, cherry, sandalwood and mineral flavors. It is open and translucent, balanced and long, in a word, sexy, despite the structure underneath.

...the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is another magical wine, and I might have rated this cuvée a perfect score more than any other Southern Rhône. Unquestionably in the same realm as the 2017, 2016, 2010,... Read More

Much like the Evocelles, the very pretty nose is quite cool and restrained with its broad-ranging panoply of aromas that include red cherry, violet, lavender and a hint of wood. There is excellent volume to the refined, intense... Read More