This wine combines opulent ripe fruit flavors with striking, silky, almost Graves-like tannins that persist on the palate; this a serious red wine.”

- Nigel Kinsman, winemaker

TASTING NOTES

The nose of the 2019 Laurea is... Read More

Composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, the opaque purple-black colored 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon ERA explodes with bombastic scents of crème de cassis, blueberry compote, chocolate-covered cherries... Read More

The 2021 Involuntary Commitment Red Wine is made of 56% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Malbec. The nose offers delightful smoky red fruit tones with notions of black cherry with a seductive mineral and... Read More

You can tell that this is ripe with so much plum and peach character, yet it remains fresh and vivid. Medium to full body with ripe and round tannins and a savory undertone. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot. So... Read More

Aromatically complex and intriguing, this offers a spiced plum pastry note that melds with petrichor, pine, dried violet and cocoa powder elements. The palate is round and richly textured, with Szechuan peppercorn accents to the... Read More

The 2014 Angelus has developed with some panache during its barrel maturation and now in bottle, it conveys attractive blackberry, briary and vanilla pod aromas, the oak neatly integrated. It is not the most powerful bouquet that... Read More

A blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Angelus reveals a deep garnet-purple color and fragrant aromas of crushed red currants, warm plums and pencil shavings with hints of incense, sage, violets and tobacco. Full-bodied,... Read More

Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2016 Angélus erupts from the glass with powerful notes of blackberry pie, ripe black cherries and juicy black plums with an undercurrent of star anise, rose petals, chocolate mint,... Read More

Blend / Composition: Sources differ slightly, but one retailer describes the 2021 as “herbal edged raspberries … floral, lifted … red summer berries … bitter orange elements … salty minerality... Read More

The family de Boüard de Laforest, which for eight generations has been solely dedicated to the production of great wines in Saint Emilion, today has taken a step in an alternative direction with the creation of a new wine... Read More

Strength and elegance go together in this wine. It has a pure line of clear berry fruits that float above the tannic core. It is not so much rich as dense the tannins a vivid counterpoint to the fruit. The wine finishes with fine... Read More

The wine is powerful and impressively rich. Its perfumed character is intense from 50% Cabernet Franc. With layers of great, velvety tannins and wonderful juicy acidity, the wine is set to age well.

#5, Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2025

A big wine with rich tannins and a dense structure, the wine is solid, the clay soil showing both in the wine's ripeness and its power. It is a fine wine, concentrated and with layers of black plum flavors. Drink this wine... Read More

Blend: 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc

Plenty of fresh plum fruit alongside the bitter chocolate in the nose, but on the palate this retains the Margaux lightness and elegant dryness, the finish just slightly warm. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)... Read More

The 2022 Baron de Brane is a gorgeous second wine. Merlot drives the blend, and that comes through in the wine's plush contours and forward, succulent fruit. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol all meld together in an... Read More

Drink: 2024-2064

Tasting Note:

Its dark garnet color shows the great quality of this vintage. The red fruit aromas (Strawberry, Cherry....) burst into the palate. Smooth fruity with well blended silky tannin this wine is definitively great and... Read More

The vines on the property have an average age of 45 years; their roots are dug deep in the layers of Pauillac’s gravelly terrain, specifically situated in the lieu-dit known as “Plateau de Padarnac”. The estate... Read More

A first-growth level wine. With aristocratic ease it conveys nimble energy and sneaky sensuality. Pencil lead, white tobacco, cassis, juicy blackberry and cherry gorgeously delineated with refined tannins providing impressive... Read More

A very strong effort for this estate, the 2020 D'Issan wafts from the glass with aromas of dark berries and cassis mingled with notions of violets and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vibrant, with good depth at... Read More

The 2021 D'Issan offers up attractive aromas of wild berries, violets, fresh mint and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, polished and seamless palate that's layered and suave, with a pretty core of fruit... Read More

A sleeper, Du Tertre's 1996 exhibits a black ruby/purple color, a sweet black fruit-scented nose, medium to full body, well-integrated tannin, and fine purity and depth. This wine should age nicely, yet have a degree of accessibility... Read More

A youthful deep purple color shines in the glass. Black cherry and plum aromas are augmented by hints of cedar, wild herbs, and cocoa powder. The palate is ripe and chewy, with grainy, slightly gritty tannins supporting the medium-bodied... Read More

Powerful and muscular, the 2019 Ducru-Beaucaillou offers up aromas of cassis, raspberries and cherries mingled with notions of violets and iris, framed by a generous application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, velvety and concentrated,... Read More

Distinctive, with atypical (for St.-Emilion) force and drive to the black currant, roasted cedar and maduro tobacco flavors, which are supported by a dense, loam-tinged structure. Terrific roasted espresso, ganache and fig paste... Read More

The tasting

Nose

The nose gives off elegant, fruity and floral fragrances.

Palate

Round and smooth, this wine seduces the palate with its intense fruity expression, its fine tannins and its great freshness.... Read More

The 2016 Fleur Cardinale is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and bursts from the glass with crushed blackberries, mulberries and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of spice cake, dried herbs and fragrant soil. The palate... Read More

Aged in high quality oak barrels, the wine acquires its complexity over a period of months, subtly combining aromas of dark fruit and spices with the tannins in the wood, to reach a sublime balance. The complex blending procedure,... Read More

This firm wine shows the tannic side of the vintage. Those tannins are dusty, enriched with black-currant fruits and a dense backdrop. The wine is concentrated and elegant, very ageworthy and not likely to be ready before 2025.... Read More

#1, Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2025

A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, the 2022 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a brilliant classic in the making, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, violets and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied,... Read More

The 2020 Haut-Brion is more aromatically demonstrative than La Mission Haut-Brion, bursting with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with licorice, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied,... Read More

A few more years will add more weight and complexity to the sweet, elegant, fresh, bright, black raspberry and plum notes. You can drink this early, but time will allow this to unfurl. Quite nice for the vintage.

The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion unwinds in the glass with aromas of inky berry fruit, wild plums and cherries mingled with notions of warm spices, burning embers and creamy new oak. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich... Read More

A solid step up over the Le Gay, the 2020 Château La Violette reveals a vivid purple hue to go with a jaw-droppingly good bouquet of pure black cherry and cassis-like fruits supported by complex notions of iron, violets,... Read More

Baron Eric de Rothschild, chairman of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR), described Château Lafite Rothschild and its terroir as a viticultural tour de force with the power to, “turn bare earth into heaven.”... Read More

One of the greatest wines produced in Bordeaux this year is the 2019 Lafite Rothschild, an impeccably balanced classic of immense charm and grace. Wafting from the glass with arresting aromas of cassis, blackberries and cherries... Read More

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Lagrange sashays out of the glass with notions of candied violets, cassis, underbrush and warm black plums with waves of Black Forest cake, cedar chest and yeast extract scents. Medium to full-bodied,... Read More

Vivid and racy cassis, blueberry puree and damson plum coulis flavors show serious cut and drive, while mouthwatering bramble and sweet tobacco notes fill in.

The dark plum sauce, blackberry coulis and steeped cherry fruit is laced with hints of with iron, roasted cedar and sweet tobacco. Well-coiled acidity helps the finish spring to life. Has some grip, but quite enjoyable overall.... Read More

Blended of 97.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.6% Merlot and 0.3% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Latour is exquisitely perfumed, displaying fragrant notes of crushed black cherries, raspberry preserves, cassis and black... Read More

The 2017 Latour is a blend of 92.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.8% Merlot and 0.1% Petit Verdot with 13.3% alcohol and an IPT of 66. Deep garnet-purple in color, it starts off a little broody before exploding from the glass with powerful... Read More

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Bon Pasteur offers up expressive notions of baked red and black cherries, mulberries and warm blueberries with hints of licorice, chocolate box and menthol. The full-bodied palate has great... Read More

Another absolutely perfect wine in this incredible vintage, the 2020 Château Tertre Roteboeuf comes from a tiny hillside vineyard (5.6 hectares) and is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised all in new Radoux barrels.... Read More

A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc.

The Petit Lion shares the philosophy of its two elder siblings; it is vinified and aged in order to preserve its fresh, ripe fruit flavours throughout its life. However, it is designed as a second wine, and is therefore made to... Read More

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a wine that harmonizes radiance, power, and depth. This stunning expression of Pessac-Léognan terroir has a hefty amount of Cabernet Franc, which is unusual for the Left Bank. The... Read More

As often quoted in the Médoc, There is no great vineyard which cannot see the river. As all the best Grands Crus from the Médoc area, Château Loudenne's vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir: two gravelly hills that... Read More

This has a nice generous feel, with cassis and damson plum unfurling easily, backed by light floral and iron notes through the fresh finish.

A true classic from this estate, the 2019 Lynch-Bages has turned out brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis and sweet blackberry fruit mingled with licorice, mint, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Full-bodied,... Read More

#3, Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

45% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Franc

The Chateau expands over a 28-hectare vineyard spread over the most beautiful terroirs of the Margaux appellation, with soils of Pyrenean gravel. At the tasting, the Chateau Malescot Saint Exupéry 2018 presents an expressive... Read More

The 2015 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium garnet-purple colored, the nose features oh-so-seductive notes of warm blackberries, cassis and black forest... Read More

Is the 2019 Château Margaux the wine of the vintage? A strong case in its favor could certainly be made. Soaring from the glass with aromas of blackberries, raspberries, rose petals, violets, pencil shavings and vine smoke,... Read More

Medium garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Marjosse Rouge needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of cast-iron pan, crushed rocks, and dusty soil over a core of red plums, blackberry preserves, and mulberries, plus a hint of bay leaves.... Read More

Château Meyney’s vineyard is planted of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, on a perfectly-drained gravel soil that provides ideal conditions for grapes ripening. This unusually high share of Petit... Read More

The red wines produced on this exceptional terroir of this estate of 33 hectares (82 acres) in one block are rich, with a great complexity, with aromas of ripe fruit.

The 2016 vintage of Château Moulin de Canhaut is dark in color and offers floral aromas, as well as dark berries, licorice, chocolate and sweet cherries. Round, fleshly, forward and fresh, the voluptuous mouth mixes freshness... Read More

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

The finest Nenin in many decades, the dense ruby/purple-colored 1998 exhibits aromas of coffee, melted caramel, vanilla, plums, and black cherry jam. It is full-bodied, with an unctuous texture, superb purity, and a silky, seamless... 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 opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, this brilliant 2011 possesses superb... Read More

This second label from Château Pavie consists of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

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

The 2012 Pavie celebrates its reclassification and upgrade to Class A St.-Emilion by sporting a new black label with gold print. Fortunately, every Pavie has benefitted since Perse began a complete makeover of this estate in 1998.... Read More

This 23-acre vineyard, acquired by Gerard and Chantal Perse in 1997, is situated on the south-facing limestone plateau above Chateau Pavie. This blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc (from vines averaging 41 years of age)... 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

This dense wine offers balance and fresh black-currant flavors. Its structure, still young, promises well. It will be ready from 2025.