A red with lots of currant, blackberry, fresh-herb and tobacco character. Hint of mushroom, too. It’s full and layered with polished, chewy tannins and a bright and fresh finish. Very long and focused. Give it time to come together. Very classic character here. Best after 2026.

95 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)

Green pepper and herbaceous notes on the nose with minty eucalyptus alongside ripe cherry and blackcurrant aromas - so classic. A lovely mouthfeel here, smooth, well defined and preise. Quite direct, serious and darkly fruited - such a concentrated core - but with smooth tannins, a soft sweetness and freshness that lifts the overall frame. Balanced with succulence. Makes a lasting impact and impression. A great value pick.

94 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2022)

The 2019 Cantemerle has a fruit-driven bouquet with opulent blackberry and blueberry fruit, certainly one of the most floral in the flight with pressed violets developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins, fleshy and rounded, though I am looking for more tension and precision on the finish. This is a really fabulous Cantemerle that surely represents outstanding value. No excuse not to have this in your cellar. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

93 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2023)

Sweet berry, plum and cassis fruit, this is ripe with precision, finesse and tension, fragrant rose and black tea aromatics, balanced, easy to share, the finesse of Cantemerle is on full display, chalky with a scrape of graphite, plenty of Left Bank signature. 55hl/h yield, 40% new oak for ageing, Eric Boissenot consultant, Philippe Dambrine estate director.

93 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2025)

Blueberries, violets and shaved graphite with flint, black mushroom and gunmetal undertones. Hints of cedar and bark. Medium- to full-bodied with chewy tannins, yet they are spread out and frame the fruit beautifully. Selection of the best old vines with most over 100 years old. Drink or hold.

96 points, James Suckling (May 2024)

The 2019 La Rose Perrière is gorgeous, just as it was in barrel. Super-ripe black cherry, plum, spice, tobacco and chocolate are all kicked up in this racy, flamboyant Lussac from Jean-Luc Sylvain. The 2019 is beautifully done.

93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)

Bright dark cherries, sandalwood, candied violets, plums, and spicy oak all emerge from the 2019 Château La Rose Perrière, a medium to full-bodied, rich, structured 2019 that needs bottle age. I like its mid-palate, and it has rock-solid density to buffer its tannins, so give bottles 3-5 years if you can. It should drink brilliantly over the following decade.

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

There’s some blackcurrant and wet earth in the nose here, together with some sliced fresh mushroom. Medium-bodied with a pretty core of round tannins and a polished finish. It shows some serious winemaking and craftsmanship. Try after 2024.

92 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)

A gorgeous wine, the 2019 Château Pédesclaux shines for its pure, elegant, yet concentrated style, and it's certainly one of the finest vintages from this address. Cassis, black cherries, lead pencil, and violet notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. The purity and finesse are truly something here, and while it already offers pleasure, it deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for 20+ years.

94+ points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

This is really floral and beautiful with lavender, lilac and blackcurrant aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with firm, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. It’s very racy and refined with structure. Linear. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Best after 2024.

94 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)

The 2019 Pédesclaux is quirky and full of character. It offers a beguiling mix of super-ripe dark fruit and savory Cabernet coupled with accents that offer a striking counterpoint. Black cherry, chocolate, new leather, spice, tobacco, incense and scorched earth lead into the substantial finish. There's more raciness than finesse in this Pauillac, but it all works well.

93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)

The 2019 Poujeaux has a very delineated, focused bouquet of blackberry, cedar, mint and light tea leaf scents, one of the most complex I have encountered from this great estate in recent years. The medium-bodied palate is fresh, vibrant and grippy, with slightly chalky tannins and a saline, persistent finish. Quite structured and broody, this Moulis deserves ample time in bottle.

94 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2022)

Very attractive chocolate, red-chili and cedar aromas and flavors. Lavender, too. Medium body with firm, polished tannins and a caressing finish. Pretty texture to this. It will be ready sooner than some. Try after 2024.

93 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)

A fleshy, dramatic rendition of this Moulis benchmark, the 2019 Poujeaux unwinds in the glass with a deep bouquet of blackberries and plums mingled with subtle hints of cigar wrapper, loamy soil and violets. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's deep and seamless, with succulent acids, powdery tannins and a long, expansive finish. This has turned out brilliantly and numbers among the real sleepers of the vintage.

92 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)

Poujeaux is a well constructed wine that often needs a few years to soften into itself, and is capable of ageing at least a decade and usually two - certainly in serious vintages such as 2019. Expect plenty of brambled fruits with a rustic hedgerow edge, juicy liquorice and cocoa, smoked earth and campfire. Not quite at the heights of Poujeaux in 2016 or 2010, but still excellent quality. 48hl/h yield (a good result after a low-yielding 2018). They have 7ha in organic trials since 2018, of their 70ha in total. 33% new oak.

92 points, Jane Anson (Jan 2023)

Bright nose, strawberries, red cherries and touches of dark chocolate with soft perfume aromas. Nice plump fruit here with a milky chalky edge to the tannins that are quite mouth coating right now. It has good drive and underlying acidity giving lift and you can feel the powerful and well-handled fruit underneath. Black cherries, fig and some pune and dark chocolate notes. A deeper, headier style that will be great in a few years.

92 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2022)

The most impressive aspect of the Castello della Sala ethos is its ability to reinvent itself. This latest edition of Umbria's headline white is a true delight. Renzo Cotarella and his team have created an Italian masterpiece that is reminiscent of the great whites of Burgundy. The 2023 Cervaro della Sala opens to an elegantly reductive note of flint or crushed granite before sliding gracefully into silky fruit sensations, breakfast pastry and crème fraîche. It offers carefully balanced richness and textural importance. Winemaking is moving away from 500-liter barrels to embrace larger foudre. No bâtonnage is implemented. The wine is mostly Chardonnay, with a smaller part (between 5% and 10%, depending on the vintage) of Grechetto that has been further reduced in order to avoid any rustic tones from the Italian grape. Part of the Chardonnay does malolactic fermentation, but the Grechetto does not. This gives energy and verve to the final results. Castello della Sala has recently planted more Chardonnay (now totaling 80 hectares) for flexibility in choosing the best clusters. Throughout its many reinventions, this is the best Cervaro della Sala I have tasted.

97 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Nov 2025)

Classic Burgundian style. On the nose white chocolate, pink grapefruit, lemon zest and white flowers. Full-bodied, it shows weight, vibrancy and tension, with a silky texture and a salted citrus finish. Amazing balance in this vintage, with lemon peel bitterness in the aftertaste adding an extra dimension. Drink or hold.

97 points, James Suckling (May 2025)

Youthfully coy, the 2023 Cervaro della Sala blows off an air smoky reduction to reveal depths of crushed yellow apples, sesame seeds, pine shavings and nuances of vanilla custard. This is pure elegance in the glass, as silken textures envelop the palate. A bump of residual acidity maintains energy throughout, even as the 2023 tapers off tannic and potent, with a resonance of mineral-infused apricots. This is a suburb rendition of Cervaro della Sala.

95 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Oct 2024)

The 2019 Rol Valentin has turned out beautifully. Rich, ample and creamy, the 2019 is utterly beguiling from the first taste. Crushed raspberry, mint, spice, blood orange and mocha all build in the glass as this creamy, succulent Saint-Émilion shows off its curves and overall allure. The 2019 is even more impressive from bottle than it was from barrel.

94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)

This estate continues to make outstanding wines, and their 2019 Château Rol Valentin sports a deep ruby/plum color to go with beautiful notes of red plums, darker cherries, Asian spices, graphite, and dried herbs. Medium-bodied on the palate, it's beautifully balanced, has good mid-palate density, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Beautifully done, it should have 15+ years of prime drinking.

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

This has aromas of blackberries, toasted bark, pine cones and spice box. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tight tannins. Some citrus peel on the structured and chewy finish. Better after 2024.

92 points, James Suckling (Jan 2022)

Up front there's a compact feel to this firm red but also a sense of balance and integration. Opens in the glass, revealing a fragrant overtone of dried flowers, eucalyptus, star anise and mocha, with flavors of plumped cherry and baked plum that linger on the finish. Best from 2026 through 2035. 1,000 cases made, 300 cases imported.

92 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (Mar 2025)

The 2020 Reserva Selección is Tempranillo sourced from San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Ábalos, Rioja Alta. Aged for 16 months in new oak barrels (50/50 American and French), this purple wine presents caramel and lactic notes, along with enveloping vanilla, cedar and coconut tones atop a black-fruited core. Dry, creamy and juicy on the palate, the fine-grained, fairly chalky mouthfeel lingers with an oaky flavor. This is a New World expression of Rioja red.

91 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous (Apr 2024)

Deep purple colour, medium to full intensity, and a feeling of confident tannic hold from the off. Such an impressive run of vintages at this Haut-Médoc property that has just been named Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel. The spice that Petit Verdot adds is clear, alongside well-brushed tannins, striking aromatics of brambly fruits. Not as luxuriously textured as in 2018 but in its place is a more serious outlook, and this is extremely sleek, elegant and well made.

93 points, Decanter (Jan 2022)

Rock star stuff readers should snatch up, the deep ruby/purple-hued 2019 Château Belle-Vue gives up a gorgeous bouquet of ripe currants, black cherries, tobacco, and cedar pencil. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, round, supple, elegant Haut-Médoc with velvety tannins, remarkable balance, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous bottle of wine that will keep for over a decade.

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

This fresher style of wine offers layers of black-currant acidity. They go with the ageworthy tannins to promise richness as the wine matures. Drink from 2025.

92 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Jul 2022)

The 2019 Belle-Vue has come together nicely. Powerful and earthy in the glass, the 2019 Belle-Vue is loaded with character. Tobacco, dried flowers, mint and dried flowers lend quite a bit of aromatic complexity. This super-expressive Haut-Médoc has quite a bit to offer.

91 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)

Aromas of mulberries, dark cherries, wet earth, soya and smoke. Medium-to full-bodied with firm tannins. Structured, with a fleshy texture and a fruity finish. 54% merlot, 26% cabernet sauvignon, 18% petit verdot. 1% cabernet franc and 1% carmenere. Drink from 2023.

91 points, James Suckling (Sep 2022)

The 2019 Belle-Vue is made of 54% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenere. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has quite an earthy / savory nose of tar, truffles, and damp soil over a core of baked plums and boysenberries with a touch of dried herbs. Medium-bodied, soft, and well-crafted, it has bags of savory flavors and a fragrant, understated finish. This is a wine for those who prefer savory to fruity!

91 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (May 2022)

Blackberry, bark, mushroom and orange-peel aromas follow through to a medium body with firm, tight tannins that run the length of the wine, coupled with citrusy acidity and a vivid finish. Very well done. Drink after 2024.

93 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)

The famous McCrea Cuvee Orleans came from this vineyard, and the 2022 Syrah Motor City Kitty continues the site’s reputation for greatness, offering a ripe style and lots of wood, but showing something very special in its spicy, meaty, herbal complexion, memorable particularly for its sense of purity and balance. Made in a dense, brooding, full-bodied style, it spent time fermenting in concrete tank on its skins for 45 days before settling into 500-liter puncheon for 15 months on the lees. Dark fruit and spicy dried herbs accent the core of the wine, which will benefit from further aging, 10-12 years.

98 points, Virginie Boone, Jeb Dunnuck (Jul 2025)

This is an extremely complex, smoky, terroir-driven syrah that offers crushed wild berries and plum skins layered with hints of white pepper and cured meat. Broad, mouth-filling and full-bodied, it has a mineral, peppery edge and dusty, very fine tannins. Long and persistent, showing hints of crushed herbs and ashy soil in the end. Drink or hold.

98 points, James Suckling (Mar 2025)

Redcurrants with sweet tobacco, hazelnut, mint and moist earth, following through to a medium to full body, ultra-fine tannins and a palate that grows at the finish. Needs a minimum of three or four years to come around. Try after 2025.

95 points, James Suckling (Jan 2022)

Nuanced, concentrated, still very much in primary phase but full of Sociando character, back into the heart of what this estate can deliver. It will clearly age for decades, and it is gorgeous, laced through with cassis, black chcocolate, pomegranate, graphite, balanced and juicy. Harvest September 18 to October 11, 90% new oak, 12 months in barrel then 6 months in vat, 77ha in production. 43hl/h yield. A tribute to Jean Gautreau on the label (you'll find the words Hommage à Jean Gautreau), as he died aged 82 in October 2019. Consultant oenologist Michel-Bernard Couasnon.

95 points, Jane Anson (Jun 2024)

Some savoury elements on the nose, olive and black tapenade. Excellent concentration on the palate, less fruit forward at this point than the Demoiselle second wine, but excellent tension and power – really taut, all in line, straight, driven. A lot going on aromatically – cinnamon, cigar box, cedar, smoke and dark chocolate – really super-complex, with tannins that are smooth but present and a minty finish. Layered and precise, you can feel the sculpting of the fruits and the well-handled oak and extraction. Excellent.

95 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2022)

One of the best Haut-Médocs out there, and a wine that competes with any number of classified growths, the 2019 Château Sociando-Mallet is ruby/plum-hued and has a great nose of ripe red and black currants, spice, smoked tobacco, and loamy earth. It shows the more expressive, open, seamless style of the 2019 vintage and is medium to full-bodied, has beautifully polished tannins, and just about perfect balance. Smart readers will buy a case (or more) of this beauty, and it will have an incredibly broad drink window, with 30-35 years of overall longevity.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)

The 2019 Sociando-Mallet has gained composure since I tasted the barrel sample. Now it has engaging red and black fruit, cedar and freshly rolled tobacco scents, focused and quite vigorous. The palate is structured, with firm grip, very well-judged acidity, good substance and a cohesive, black-pepper- and pencil-lead-tinged finish that has real length. Top-drawer Sociando-Mallet.

94 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2022)

Notes of minty cassis, cigar wrapper and loamy soil, deftly framed by toasty new oak, introduce the 2019 Sociando-Mallet, a medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine that’s incipiently complex and elegantly muscular in profile. The style of the vintage has lent this more youthful polish than is sometimes the case, and it will offer a broad drinking window.

93 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)

A blend of 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet, the 2023 Geyserville is dark and brooding. Virile and intense, this is a monster wine that's only at the very beginning of its evolution. So impressively articulated, the 2023 somberly marches from the glass with dark shadings of tobacco, inky black fruit, cracked pepper, sage, turned earth and pine, building powerful minerality with aeration. The 2023 will need several years to come around. It's a sleeping giant today.

95+ points, Billy Norris, Vinous (Oct 2025)

A perennial standout for the winery that is produced for wider distribution, the 2023 Zinfandel Geyserville is a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante, the 2023 a highly ageable vintage with great acidity. That freshness helps to define the wine's juicy core of well-mannered, supple tannins and oak, the wine aged entirely in 100% air-dried American oak, 15% of it new. It truly offers the perfect balance of dark fruit and freshness, within a full-bodied richness and structure still built for aging, as with all Ridge wines. Enjoy now through 2033.

95 points, Virginie Boone, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2025)

Just a mile from the winery in Lytton Springs, the Geyserville vineyard sits in an overall warmer pocket of Sonoma, but even here, 2023 was unusually cool and slow to start. The winemaking team states that this was the latest Geyserville harvest on record, since the first vintage in 1966. The crew was picking grapes up to November 1st. This classic old-vine field blend is always anchored by Zinfandel, with Carignane, Petite Sirah, and a few other varieties playing supporting roles in varying proportions, depending on the vintage. In 2023, with 70% of Zinfandel, the blend feels expressive and aromatic, with black and blue fruit leading the way, lifted by fresh herbs, a touch of mint, and a layer of baking spices. The oak is still settling in, but the structure is already in place, thanks in part to the 18% Carignane, which adds depth and acidity. It’s a young wine with plenty of promise, already showing well, with slightly chalky tannins, but it will really hit its stride with a few years in bottle.

95 points, Ana Carolina Quintela, Decanter (Apr 2025)

Robust and simmering with intensity, this red serves up dark blackberry and cherry flavors laced with black pepper, licorice, cardamom and other dark spices. The finish is firm yet integrated. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. Best from 2026 through 2035. 8,000 cases made.

94 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator (Aug 2025)

Bright and moderate aromas of red cherries, blackberry compote, coffee beans and spices. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and a focused acidity that leads into a rounded and pure finish. A blend of 70% zinfandel with touches of carignan, petite sirah and alicante bouschet, which benefited from a cooler vintage. Drink or hold.

94 points, James Suckling (May 2025)

The 2023 Geyserville is a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet that matured for 16 months in 15% new air-dried American oak. It has youthfully dense aromas of blackcurrant, tar, violet, mint, turned earth and squid ink. The full-bodied palate is powerfully styled with highly concentrated, mineral-driven flavors. It’s framed by muscular, grippy tannins and juicy acidity and has a long, latent finish. It should be long lived in the cellar.

93+ points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Sep 2025)

Showing off its youthful, vibrant nature with all manner of flavours from cassis, mulberries and redcurrants to baking spices, nori and a distinct whiff of licorice – even warm bitumen – and a flutter of leafy freshness. Fuller bodied but well composed with ripe, if slightly sandy, tannins and the cedary oak neatly tucked in, just giving off a slight green walnut note. Appealing now but in a way, it’s still finding its groove and will be more complete with an extra year or so in bottle.

95 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (Aug 2024)

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon leads with glossy black fruits, dried mint, licorice, pink peppercorn and blood plum. The tannins are chewy and supple and feel ultra fine in the context of the length of flavor and intensity thereof. Silty is another word. It's a lovely wine, from a very good Cabernet vintage in Margaret River. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

94 points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate (Nov 2024)

Dusty tobacco, savory herbs and an umami note threads dense blackcurrant and menthol. With quiet power and chiseled, cat's tongue tannins, this is still young and tightly wound, but should unravel gracefully over the next decade. Classic, polished Margaret River Cab.

94 points, Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast (Mar 2025)

A blend of fruit from mature vineyards from Wilyabrup, Yallingup, Wallcliffe and Treeton, that spends 14 months in 40% new French oak barriques. Classic lifted Margaret River cassis with fresh ocean brine, nori, satsuma plum, cooling granite and a touch of myrrh. Balanced if slightly grainy tannins, with notes of nigella and caraway seed, strawberry top and hibiscus florals. Prickles of wild spice and Sichuan pepper with knife-like acidity. Firm, ripe tannins with poised width and length – and plenty of persistence.

94 points, Cassandra Charlick, Decanter (Jan 2025)

The 2019 Château Puygueraud is also terrific, with ripe darker cherry, plum, leafy tobacco and hints of chocolate on the nose. This medium-bodied, rounded, supple, elegant beauty has soft tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade.

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

Violets and blackberries with hints of spices on the nose. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Drink now or hold. Always excellent value.

92 points, James Suckling (Mar 2012)

A Nicolas Thienpont wine that has a successful mix of Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. Touches of gooseberry, elderflower and nectarine, great tension through the palate, fresh acidites give a mouthwatering finish and this has precision and juice. Easy to recommend and great value.

92 points, Jane Anson (Jan 2022)

Fragranced milk chocolate and black cherries on the nose - a gorgeous smell. Rush of fresh fruity flavours on the palate - blueberries, raspberries and blackcurrants alongside hints of minty, stony bitterness that edge the fruit giving texture and tang. Round with silky tannins. Easy to drink and easy to recommend.

92 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2022)

The 2019 Puygueraud exhibits aromas of black cherries, violet and iris, thyme, menthol and touches of spices. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, juicy and vibrant, with delicate aromas of plum and cassis. This vintage can be approached with pleasure, even if it has three to five years of evolution ahead of it.

91 points, Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)

This full Merlot from the far east of the Bordeaux vineyard, is suffused with ripe, smoothly textured dark fruits. It has a touch of spice at the end from the Cabernet Franc. Structured tannins come at the end.

90 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Oct 2022)

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Puygueraud shows signs of preserved plums and wild blueberries with touches of forest floor and wild sage. Medium to full-bodied, it has taut, muscular fruit and a firm, grainy texture, finishing savory.

90 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (May 2022)

A terrific effort from this large and immaculately maintained property on the clay-limestone slopes of the Côtes de Castillon, the 2019 d'Aiguilhe exhibits aromas of cherries and cassis mingled with notions of burning embers, licorice and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a mineral finish, it's intelligently matured in tank and large-format oak as well as small barriques.

92 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)

Black cherries, spicy oak, chalky minerality, and hints of white truffle all emerge from the 2019 Château D'Aiguilhe, an elegant, beautifully balanced, seamless 2019 from the Castillon region. It has plenty of ripeness, medium body, present tannins, and the balance and class to keep for 10-15 years.

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

Aromas of ripe blackberries, grilled plums, tobacco and dark chocolate. It’s medium-bodied with firm, chewy tannins. Compact and structured. Drink after 2024.

92 points, James Suckling (Jan 2022)

Brilliant wine maintaining clear grip from start to finish, powerful black fruits with a silky smooth texture. Clear austerity with fresh acidities, this is mouthwatering on the finish and totally moreish.

92 points, Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2020)

Made from 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 d'Aiguilhe is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It needs a little swirling to reveal notes of crushed black cherries, black raspberries, and violets, plus wafts of tobacco and wild sage. The medium to full-bodied palate has a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and lively acidity, finishing with a skip in its step.

91 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (May 2023)

Restrained but with good inner juiciness to its plum and cassis notes, while red licorice and red tea hints chime through. Shows a subtle chalky minerality that lengthens the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2026. 26,540 cases made, 2,200 cases imported.

90 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2022)

The 2019 Chasse-Spleen is very perfumed on the nose, offering vivid brambly red fruit, leather, undergrowth and cedar aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and cohesive, with a sappy opening and fine acidity. Lightly spiced, showing plenty of substance on the finish. While not the most consistent estate, Chasse-Spleen has it in its grasp to make great wines, and the 2019 is one of them.

93 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2022)

Offering up aromas of cassis, plums, pencil lead and licorice, the 2019 Chasse-Spleen is medium to full-bodied, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish with a very civilized expression of Moulis-typical grip. Forget it for a decade and follow it for the next two.

92+ points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)

Aromas of cassis, black cherries, licorice, dried tobacco and wet earth. Some leafy character, too. Medium-bodied with chewy tannins and vibrant, juicy fruit character. Firm and compact with hints of crushed stones in the finish. A little timid at the end. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 6% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc. Drink after 2024.

92 points, James Suckling (Mar 2022)

The nose of the 2023 Albariño Cepas Vellas is very austere, and it took a long time in the glass to take off. It has lower alcohol and more contained ripeness than its siblings, with a brighter color and a higher-pitched palate, serious and austere, like liquid granite to me. This is pure elegance and finesse in a year of great balance. 9,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2024, a little later than the other 2023s. It should be very long lived.

96+ points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Jul 2025)

Based on 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre from the more southern portions of the Costières appellation and vinified with 30% whole clusters and aged one year with 25% in barrels, the 2023 Costières De Nîmes Nostre Païs reveals notes of black raspberries, pepper, wildflowers, lavender, and spice. It's medium-bodied, has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and outstanding length. This is a “wow” Costières de Nîmes that's best enjoyed over the coming 4-6 years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve longer. Drink 2025-2031.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2025)

This is a savoury expression of Costières de Nîmes, with sloe, elderberry and strawberry flavours. It's an appealing, full-bodied, generous style that's concentrated but not heavy thanks in part to its zesty acidity. Alcohol is gently warming but not hot.

92 points, Matt Walls, Decanter (Jan 2026)

The 2024 Pinot Noir Mirabai shows a light reduction that will benefit from a bit of air if opened young. Pouring a jeweled ruby color, it is pure and inviting, with notes of wild raspberry, pomegranate, pressed roses, and orange peel. Medium-bodied, it has lovely finesse, silky length, dark mineral undertones, and an exceptional perfume. The 2024s are simply stunning aromatically. This is far more than a basic entry-level wine and will only improve with another 6-12 months in bottle. Drink over the coming 15 years.

95 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2026)

The 2024 Pinot Noir Mirabai mixes wild strawberries and chalk dust with nuances of white pepper, pine and mint. On the palate, it is soothingly round, with a subtle citrus inflection and crisp wild berry fruit, as a bump of juicy acidity maintains wonderful energy. It tapers off with a tactile mineral crunch and gentle tannins, while leaving the mouth watering for more. The Mirabai blends old-vine fruit from four different vineyards throughout the Dundee Hills.

93 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Jul 2026)

Luscious ripe fruits are underlined by tannins to give a wine that is both structured and concentrated. Rich tannins, spice aromas and power are all enclosed in this wine that is ready to age. Drink from 2026.

95 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (May 2022)

Moving to the red, the 2019 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is a rich, broad, mouth-filling, spicy, complex and full-bodied style that has loads to love. Giving up lots of mulled red and black fruits as well as tobacco leaf, loamy soil, and chocolaty nuances, I love its balance, it has ripe tannins, and it will drink nicely for 25 to 20 years.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Larrivet Haut-Brion charges out of the gate with bold notes of blackcurrant cordial, redcurrant preserves, and baked plum, plus hint of sauteed herbs and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, it is jam-packed with opulent fruit framed by velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing savory.

94 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (May 2022)

An appealing sweetness on the nose alongside touches of blackcurrant leaf. This is lovely, a dark and cool style focussed on liquorice and clove flavours backed by a core of blue fruits - blueberries, cherries and plums. You can feel some tension to this too, layers of fruit are elegantly presented but with energy and a deep mid palate. Tannins are fine and soft, gently supporting the fruit which is almost in the background at this point. A touch of austere dryness towards the finish while the spiced elements take over. Needs time to come together more but this has lots of delicious aspects. A soft stoniness lingers in the background giving a dry, wet stone texture and almost spicy, mineral edge overall. Good quality, I like this a lot.

94 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2022)

The 2019 Larrivet Haut-Brion is terrific. Dark, fleshy and resonant in the glass. Wild cherry, tobacco, incense, leather, smoke and game all take shape in this potent wine. Franc top notes lend quite a bit of aromatic presence, but then again, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc make up most of the blend. Once again, Larrivet Haut-Brion is a classy, under the radar gem. Tasted two times.

93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)

Black fruit, cherry stones, tar, walnut husk and undergrowth on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, finely knit tannins. Layered and polished with a firm, mineral finish. Try after 2024.

93 points, James Suckling (Jan 2022)

Deep bright fruits, beautifully smoky and nuanced. A great quality wine with sleek damson fruits and a kick of cocoa bean that showcase the improvements of the past few years at this well-placed estate, located just next to Haut-Bailly. A yield of 35hl/ha, 70% new oak.

93 points, Jane Anson (Jan 2022)

This is probably the freshest and most eclectic among the four 2021 Finca wines that Achaval Ferrer produces now. Ripe but fresh and complex, with plenty of layers. Black and blue fruit, violets, graphite, dark chocolate and just a touch of balsam. Fresh yet hedonistic with fine veins of tannins. Plush and extremely long. A big step up from the challenging 2020. Likely one of the best, too. Drink or hold.

98 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Feb 2024)

A clear standout of the Achaval Ferrer portfolio, the 2021 Malbec Finca Altamira derives from vines planted in 1950 on sandy volcanic soils atop calcareous stones. It opens with the quintessential perfume of purple flowers that defines Altamira, supplemented by intense dark fruits, fresh herbs and a citrus-tinged freshness. The palate combines immense richness with tensile focus, delivered with sleek, polished precision. It concludes with an expansive, focused finish that lingers with an ethereal nuance and fantastic length. This is a textbook expression of contemporary Malbec from the Uco Valley.

96+ points, Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate (May 2025)

An expressive, robust minerality builds the framework of this fine, structured Malbec, with great sense of place and potential to develop in bottle. A juicy core of red plum, cherry and ripe fig is sprinkled with graphite and liquorice, and elegantly covered by a thin veil of cardamom and nutmeg. A wine to revisit in years to come.

96 points, Ines Salpico, Decanter (Sep 2025)

The second iteration of Reflection features older stocks than version one, and while the pale tawny color doesn’t suggest it, the profile certainly does. The nose is notably complex, but it’s also very measured and poised. Nothing screams with authority. Instead, it all flows out at a logical pace. Like other Blue Run offerings, it centers on effusive tree fruits with red apple, red pear, and apple butter before the toasty wood and more savory components enter the picture. Smoked meat, teriyaki, walnut paste, and vanilla are accented by dried cherry and a leafy brush undercurrent. The medium-full palate is more intense with the apple tones ramping up and taking on an overt baking spice character. The barrel tones are front and center with cinnamon, cacao nibs, and raw pecan. A little water unlocks the grains with pronounced oatmeal and spicy bread notes. The medium finish carries vanilla, peanut brittle, and pink peppercorn in a suave, even fashion. All in all, it’s solidly compelling and a great indication of the style that Blue Run’s stocks will take on as they continue to age.

93 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Aug 2026)

This one taps into older barrels than those used for Reflection I. Sweet and gentle on the nose, with buttered pancakes, maple syrup, and raspberry preserves, balanced by subtle dried herbs. The mouthfeel is smooth, with pleasant spice and light notes of cooked berries, cinnamon, and flavorful integrated oak. It’s a bit hot—ice is a good fit. The finish is mid-length and creamy. A bright, fun, easygoing, flavorful, and smooth sipper.

91 points, David Fleming, Whisky Advocate (Spring 2023)

Coming from different villages within the estate, the NV Champagne Premier Cru L'Hommee Extra Brut has a pale silver/straw color and is named after traditional agriculture of the past. Based on the 2020 vintage, with 20% coming from 2019, it consists of 60% Chardonnay with the rest Pinot Noir, with vinification fully done in oak but using different sizes and ages. Medium-bodied, it does not come across as oaky; it just subtly frames the wine, allowing its fruit to shine in this release. It’s approachable and delicate, featuring toast, preserved citrus, fresh pear, and a delicately pillowy mousse with a touch of spice on the finish. It’s very enjoyable now and should drink well over the next 10 years. 3 grams per liter dosage. The nose is somewhat shy initially, but after disgorging in November 2023, it becomes very expressive as it opens.

94+ points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Dec 2025)

Based on the 2020 vintage and disgorged in November 2023 with a dosage of three grams per liter, the NV L'Hommée Premier Cru, a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, blossoms in the glass with aromas of peach, yellow cherry plum and Golden Delicious apple mingled with subtle notes of candied quince, kumquat and fresh brioche. Medium- to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, it possesses a rich core of fruit framed by ripe yet racy acidity. Textural and harmonious, it concludes with a long, precise finish.

93 points, Kristaps Karklins, Wine Advocate (Jul 2026)

The NV Extra Brut L'Hommée Premier Cru is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. Melted candlewax and stone are shy on the nose. The palate comes with freshness and frothy foam, framing an essentially salty, mouthwatering waxiness that recalls red apple skin. A beautiful vein of freshness pervades this and makes it shine from the inside out. Impressive depth and concentration. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: November 2023.

92 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Apr 2025)

In my humble opinion, this is the apex expression of St. Lucia Distillery’s Chairman’s Reserve range. As much as I loved the Chairman's 16-Year-Old Florida Rum Society Cask that we offered earlier this year, this one outdoes it in just about every metric. The expertise of master blender Deny Duplessis is on full display in this incredibly refined and poised stunner. The nose leads with subtle yet very complex citrus and quickly segues to heady varnish and petrol notes, before going back to the tropical side with mango and passionfruit. The savory side of the Chairman’s style comes out super-deep baking spices, pipe tobacco, salted chocolate, and Christmas cake before a flourish of high-toned cardamom. The palate is simply gorgeous in texture and mouthfeel, with the spice profile from the nose coming through in spades, down to the last detail. The citrus and tropical fruits are present in deep, concentrated blood orange and dried, candied mango that carry into a medium-long finish of Earl Grey tea and cardamom. I can’t emphasize how easy this is to drink, despite its incredibly heady complexity, so take your time and don’t get carried away. Or grab two bottles and let yourself get carried away. You can’t go wrong either way.

95 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Jul 2026)

Enticing, concentrated layers of dried stone fruit and funk lead into an intense palate. Apricot jam and baked apple mix with oak, pecan, nutmeg and torched cinnamon, enfolded by a whiff of campfire smoke.

95 points, Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast (Nov 2023)

Bright crystalline citrus, peach and white floral notes open. Something more mineral, like crushed stones and chalk dust, comes next, and a whisper of something more lactic below. The palate offers a wonderful zing of vibrant acidity, tamed by some slippery texture. Juicy fruit and gentle spice flavors prickle on the long finish. Delicious now, but still young. There's several decade of life left in this beauty.

95 points, Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast (Mar 2025)

It’s nervy, energising and still finding its groove. It pulses, with vibrant acidity taking the lead over everything, although there’s still lemon and grapefruit flavours, spicy oak and superfine gossamer-like nutty lees. In another year, this will be more compelling.

94 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (Aug 2024)

The nose is very focused and mineral-driven, with aromas of lemon peel, gun smoke, white peaches and sea spray. The palate is medium-bodied with focused acidity and a generous texture, giving notes of grapefruit pith, salt brine and green papayas. A very minerally and steely structure that will soften nicely in the years to come. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

93 points, James Suckling (Oct 2024)

A reserved opening of melon to start before pithy white grapefruit, flint, green apple with some sweet cinnamon spice in support. Some air and warmth unlocks nougat, seaspray and a whisper of nectarine. The palate is quite taut, tensile and hightoned with a burst of grapefruit, salted lemon, subtle fine cedar, white nectarine and seaspray coiled within a tight line of pithy phenolics and saline acidity to good length. This is tight and fine with line, freshness and tension aching to unfurl. Drink from 2025-2029. Tasted Dec 2024.

93 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (Feb 2025)

The 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs is a half-and-half blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the latter from ungrafted vines that are more than 60 years old. Waxy apple skin and damp earth on the nose immediately suggest a rounded, profound wine. The palate is wonderfully salty and concentrated, packing red apple flesh and earth alongside lemon and plum into a mouthwateringly salty package. This is sleek and yet so grounded, with a totally enticing, appetizing streak of saltiness. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged March 2023.

96 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Apr 2025)

Coulon's 2014 Blanc de Noirs Millésime, disgorged in July 2023 with a dosage of two grams per liter, is, as ever, a blend of ungrafted Pinot Meunier rooted in sandy soils and old-vine Pinot Noir. It soars from the glass with aromas of orange oil, buttery pastry, dried apricot and iris mingled with subtle nuances of mocha and nashi pear. Medium- to full-bodied and rich yet incisive, it is underpinned by a racy spine of acidity and has a saline profile, culminating in a long, citrus-inflected finish. This is a wine in fine form and well worth a special effort to seek out.

95 points, Kristaps Karklins, Wine Advocate (Jul 2026)

The 2014 Champagne Blanc de Noirs Millesime is made from Pinot Noir planted in Vrigny and from ungrafted Meunier grown on sandy soils in Geuex. The nose is expressive on opening, with appealing notes of pastry, preserved strawberries, apricot, and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, it presents a pithy texture on the palate, featuring savory earth and intensity, along with notes of orange pith, peppery spice, mouthwatering saltiness, and bitter citrus. It’s maturing gracefully and retains plenty of freshness. Drink 2025-2045. 2 grams per liter dosage.

95 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Dec 2025)

A super-intense, oxidative wine full of details from caramelized nuts to zabaglione, candied lemons to quince. Deep dairy aromas. Medium-bodied, it has a tight yet substantial palate, fine mousse and a long, polished finish with racy acidity. Very tasty. Drink or hold.

94 points, Aldo Fiordelli, James Suckling (Jul 2025)

At Roger Coulon, they age the wines after disgorgement so they are ready to drink upon release, with two years in the cellar before the release of the Heri-Hodie. The NV Champagne Premier Cru Heri-Hodie Extra Brut means "yesterday to today," symbolizing the connection between the nine generations that have run the estate over the course of centuries. The wine features a solera of Meunier started in 1995, with the main vintage being 2021. Made with 100% Meunier in the style of Vrigny, which has sandy soils, it's an inviting wine with pretty floral and impressively fresh aromas that are not oxidative, with fruity notes of strawberry, as well as fresh flowers and candied citrus. Juicy upfront, it’s medium-bodied, with a pleasing bitter citrus that creates a mouthwatering sensation complemented by a delicate salty spice. The palate is medium-bodied, with a fine peppery mousse, and it has a pleasing finish. It will be best enjoyed from 2025 to 2032. It’s raised in oak barrels, but the solera remains in a tank to preserve freshness. With a dosage of three grams per liter, it was disgorged in July 2023.

92 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Dec 2025)

The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo from Margherita Otto opens with aromas of eucalyptus, violet, cake spice and dark-skinned berry. Full-bodied and savory, the enveloping palate features succulent Marasca cherry, star anise, vanilla and mentholated notes. Polished tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced.

93 points, Kerin O'Keefe (Apr 2026)

A bright ruby red color, the 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo is a beautiful, fresh wine designed to be enjoyed young, yet it clearly has another gear. Aromas of ripe raspberries, mandarin orange, and fresh flowers lead into a medium-bodied palate that’s vibrant and energetic. While intended for early drinking over the next 5-7 years, I suspect it could easily surprise with longer aging, but why wait? Drink 2026-2032. About 12,000 bottles were produced.

92 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2026)

Showing a light ruby appearance, the Margherita Otto 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo offers a simple but pretty bouquet of dried cherry and rose petal. With fruit blended from five vineyard sites and a short 10- to 12-day maceration to preserve fruit and freshness, the wine remains straightforward yet delivers plenty of varietal character. Drink it young while those fresh, vibrant fruit tones are at their best. Aged for one year in large botti, production is 12,000 bottles.

91 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Jul 2026)

The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo is super classy and elegant. Sweet macerated cherry, cinnamon, dried rose petal, mint and cedar are all nicely lifted. A short fermentation keeps the flavors bright. This is so delicious. The aromatics alone are quite compelling.

91 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2026)

The 2022 Reserve Chardonnay is richer and more voluminous than the racy Steven's Road, and the wine exhibits a capacious mid-palate that tends to expand and widen as it progresses through to the long finish. This is a wine of profound complexity and length, yet it is steely, restrained and mineral in the extreme. Salivating acidity clinches the deal. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

97+ points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate (Jul 2024)

The reserve shines this vintage, coming across all superfine and linear, yet layers upon layers of flavour. Ginger florals, lemon balm and all manner of citrus charm. Ultra-refreshing with a live wire of acidity gathering all the elements and taking them on a joy ride. There’s a millefeuille effect of lees, fruit, oak and spice so this turns out moreish, savoury and complex. But above all, just a great drink.

96 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (Aug 2024)

Wonderfully complex and mineral-driven aromas of lime curd, lemon confit, sea spray and nougat. The palate is tightly bound with energetic acidity and powerful underlying notes of gunsmoke, grapefruit pith, orange blossoms and jasmine. Polished with incredibly high tension. Pure class. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

96 points, James Suckling (Oct 2024)

An exotic spring bouquet: jasmine, honeysuckle, cedar, sea spray and a crushed limestone minerality. Spicy, with a restrained flint character. Crystalline Meyer lemon fruit and a slight oak char. Mouthfilling yet not voluptuous. Taut, long and striking, with power and volume from the fruit core. A beauty. 100% Gingin clone from Xanadu’s oldest Chardonnay vineyard.

96 points, Cassandra Charlick, Decanter (Jun 2024)