En Primeur 2018 Reviews by Andrew Caillard MW
Château | Communes | Review | Score |
La Fleur-Pétrus | Pomerol | Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, dark plum praline aromas with inky notes. Gorgeously seductive wine with deep-set dark cherry, dark plum fruits, dense supple totally ripe tannins, excellent mid-palate richness and superb acid line. Finishes velvety and long. A substantial wine with the density and perfect structure to age for the long term. | 100 |
Palmer | Margaux | Deep colour intense dark cherry, black currant fruits with mocha espresso notes. Amazingly powerful and expressive wine with deep set blackcurrant pastille fruits, richly concentrated graphite tannins. Incredible balance and mineral length. Superb density and complexity. The wine of the vintage? | 100 |
Pétrus | Pomerol | Deep colour. Aniseed herb garden dark cherry plum shellac aromas. Immensely concentrated densely packed wine with dark plum panforte flavours, espresso mocha notes, fine loose knit supple and chocolaty textures, superb richness and volume, integrated acidity. Lovely tannin plume at the finish. Really lovely powerful but elegantly proportioned wine with all the elements in perfect balance. Like the 1947. | 100 |
Vieux Château Certan | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Beautiful dark plum, cassis, inky, violet aromas with vanilla notes. Supple and smooth with inky rich plum dark plum, cassis, herb flavours, fine loose-knit lacy smooth tannins, lovely viscosity and generosity. A plume of tannin at the finish. Superb effortless wine. | 100 |
Ausone | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Dark chocolate mocha ripe plum mulberry fruits with graphite mineral notes. Gorgeously balanced wine with supple dark berry fruits, roasted chestnut, mocha notes, lovely mid-palate richness and long fresh acidity. A slight aniseed kick at the finish. Plush yet brilliantly balanced wine with lovely fruit complexity volume and drive. One of the best. | 99 |
Cheval Blanc | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense dark cherry plum chocolate praline aromas with vanilla roasted chestnut notes. Round and smooth with lovely dense ripe pure lack current plum fruits, fine long dense beautifully precise tannins and fresh acid line. Finishes firm and pastille like with long tannin plume. Like a peacocks tail on steroids. | 99 |
Figeac | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Really lovely dark plum mulberry dark chocolate aromas.Generous and supple with phenomenal density powerful dusty graphite tannins, volume and fruit sweetness, superb viscosity. Really well balanced with integrated mineral acidity and lovely roasted nut oak complexity. Pure and beautiful. Undeniably a great Figeac vintage. This will part of my coup de Coeur. | 99 |
Latour | Pauillac | Deep inky colour. Amazingly dense and polished with pure black currant pastille cedar aromas, fine grainy yet persistent tannin, integrated new roasted chestnut oak notes, juicy acidity and mineral length. Graphite plume at the finish. Massive potential. 99 points | 99 |
Mouton Rothschild | Pauillac | Deep colour. Beautiful blackcurrant mulberry aromas with mocha, roasted chestnut notes. Concentrated wine with lovely pure blackberry blackcurrant mulberry fruits, fine plentiful chalky tannins, mocha toasty roasted chestnut oak notes and super mineral length. Impressive wine with superb density and modulated power. Still in the elemental stage but in very good balance. | 99 |
Climens | Sauternes Barsac | Tasted in parts as usual. The wine promises to be exceptional this year. After no crop in 2017 and a minute follow up vintage in 2018, this wine exemplifies the story of fine wine. The botrytis arrived on the 25th October and an otherwise near disastrous vintage morphed into a very good one. The parcels tasted are very pure with classic medium pale colour, superb fruit expression, honeyed ginger notes, density, viscosity and acid line. | 98? |
Clos Fourtet | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Impressively focussed wine with fresh blackberry cassis plum aromas lovely graphite herb nuances and vanilla notes. Dense compact palate with deep sweet blackcurrant pastille fruits, blackberry notes and fine brambly textures, underlying vanilla roasted chestnut oak. Finishes firm and long. A very high calibre wine. | 98 |
Conseillante | Pomerol | Deep colour. Dark cherry mulberry aromas with dark chocolate notes. Hints of violets. Inky wine with lovely supple dark berry ripe plum mulberry fruits, five dense chalky tannins and underlying savoury oak. Classical wine with lovely richness and freshness. Very good. A lot of work put into this wine. 3% in amphora!! | 98 |
Ducru Beaucaillou | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Dense dark chocolate. Black currant mocha aromas. Well concentrated wine with dark chocolate dark cherry, cassis flavours, plentiful fine grainy tannins, underlying roasted chestnut, spicy notes. Builds up very firm with long mineral acidity. Not as upfront as La Croix but really well balanced and classic. | 98 |
L'Évangile | Pomerol | Deep colour. Beautifully composed wine with plum, graphite, praline, polish, mocha aromas. Lovely concentrated inky deep dark plum, blackberry fruits, plentiful fine graphite al dente tannins and underlying savoury oak. Powerful and full bodied but impressively balanced. | 98 |
Pavie | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh mulberry plum, toasty roasted chestnut aromas with star anise notes. Dense supple fruit with intense dark plum, panforte mocha flavours, fine plentiful dense vigour chalky textures. Roasted nut lead pencil notes. Finishes gravelly firm, long and chocolaty. Powerfully expressive wine with extraordinary energy and density. | 98 |
Certan de May | Pomerol | Deep colour. Lovely wine with lovely plum, mulberry, dark cherry touch marzipan mocha oak notes. Dense and velvety with plum, chocolate, panforte flavours and fine chocolaty tannins. Lovely runnel of acidity lengthens the palate. Superb. A very fine Pomerol | 97 |
Cos d’Estournel | Saint-Estèphe | Deep crimson. Intense dark plum cassis praline aromas with liquorice. Deep set dark plum, black currant pastille, fresh long dense gravelly tannins. Finishes chalky firm. Massive volume, viscosity and plenty of richness and underlying savoury oak. This is spectacularly good this year. 14.5% | 97 |
Haut Bailly | Pessac-Leognan | Deep colour. Perfect claret style with intense blackcurrant plum graphite aromas with some savoury notes, fine graphite grainy tannins and underlying vanilla oak. Tannins are plentiful but perfectly ripe with some al dente notes and plenty of thrust. Elemental but voluminous needing time to meld. Sine inky mineral notes at the finish. | 97 |
Lafaurie Peyraguey | Sauternes Barsac | Pale medium colour. Attractive pear drop lemon curd grapefruit aromas with sine honeyed toasty notes. Well concentrated and tightly structured with lovely crystalline fruits and piercingly long acidity. Lovely drive and vinosity. | 97 |
Léoville-Las Cases | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Intense mulberry, blackcurrant pastille herb garden liquorice aromas with underlying savoury mocha notes. Well concentrated and proportioned with deep-set dark mulberry black currant fruits, fine persistent grainy/ graphite tannins and mocha espresso notes. Builds up very chalky/ chocolaty at the finish with some cedar notes. Quite muscular but should soften out with time. Impressive richness and weight with long ageing potential. | 97 |
Lynch Bages | Pauillac | Deep crimson. Intense cassis aniseed aromas with espresso notes.well concentrated and inky with dense ripe chalky tannins, lovely mid-palate richness and espresso mocha notes. Finishes firm and tight with a gravelly long plume. | 97 |
Margaux | Margaux | Deep colour. Intense dark plum, cassis, red currant liquorice aromas and flavours, fine plentiful loose-knit chalky graphite tannins, underlying new vanilla oak and lovely integrated acidity. Elegantly styled wine with understated power, density and complexity. Very enjoyable wine. | 97 |
Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande | Pauillac | Deep colour. Intense liquorice dark chocolate, creme de cassis aromas with fragrant herb chamomile notes. Lovely weighted wine with generous dark berry fruits, fine plentiful grainy tannins and underlying mocha oak. A classic Pauillac with all the richness and volume expected of a great year. Absolutely in form. | 97 |
Tertre Roteboeuf | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Ripe stone fruit, blackberry, mocha notes. Generous and richly flavoured with ripe fine ripe tannins, plump and round with toasty oak notes. Fine plume if tannin at the finishes with aniseed kick. 16.2% alc but carries its weight with freshness and life. Lowest acidity highest alcohol? Magnifique. | 97 |
La Fleur | Pomerol | Medium deep colour. Dark plum praline fruits with mineral chinotto notes. Well concentrated plum liquorice flavours, fine slinky tannins, attractive generous dark musky plum chocolaty textures, mid-palate volume and richness and mineral length.Kick at the finish. Powerfully elegant wine with the substance and balance for long term ageing. | 96+ |
Lafite | Pauillac | Deep colour. Intense dark cherry cassis aromas with cedar notes. Very concentrated wine with deep set blackcurrant blackberry flavours, plentiful cedar tannins and marked long acidity. Very precise wine with linear structure and pure fruit expression. but Surprisingly restrained for Lafite. Maybe a root day. | 96+ |
Angélus Buy Now |
Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Very attractive wine with red plum, cranberry, dark cherry aromas with vanilla notes. Chalky textured wine with lovely generous red cherry, cranberry, mulberry fruits, loose-knit lacy tannins, attractive mid-palate richness and long fresh mineral notes. Very good wine. | 96 |
Brane Cantenac | Margaux | Deep crimson. Very attractive blackcurrant, liquor day mocha aromas. Supple and well concentrated with inky blackcurrant blackberry fruit, classic but dense grainy tannins. Finishes long and fresh. Very good density and vinosity. | 96 |
Calon Segur | Saint-Estèphe | Medium deep colour. Intense dark plum, blackberry fruits with fresh vanilla dukkah oak notes. Chalky textures wine with volume and density. Generous and inky deep with deep-set dark black currant, lovely nutty dukkah oak notes and fine chalky tannins. Fresh minerally finish with aniseed notes. Very successful. | 96 |
Carruades de Lafite | Pauillac | Deep colour. Attractive dark plum, cassis aromas with graphite herb notes. Generous and supple with fresh blackcurrant pastille praline flavours, supple but plentiful graphite tannins, roasted chestnut notes. Finishes with fine feathery long tannin plume. | 96 |
Couvent des Jacobins | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense dark chocolate, cassis, mulberry aromas with aniseed notes. Plush inky and delicious with superb concentration, dense chocolaty yet vigorous tannins, balanced new nutmeg vanilla oak and superb mineral length. | 96 |
Croix de Beaucaillou | Saint-Julien | Very deep colour. Creamy blackberry, violet, mocha aromas with some pastille notes. Lovely buoyant wine with deep set sweet blackberry plum cassis fruits, supple tannins and totally integrated oak. Superb density and richness. Bloody good. | 96 |
d’Armailhac | Pauillac | Deep colour. Fresh liquorice cassis pure blackcurrant aromas with some mocha aniseed notes. Well concentrated buoyant wine with deep set liquorice blackcurrant fruits, plentiful ripe tannins and integrated acidity. Finish firm. Really lovely density and purity of fruit with gravelly notes. | 96 |
d’Issan | Margaux | Deep colour. Fragrant cassis plum white flower aromas with aniseed notes. Well concentrated and rounded wine with deep-set dark berry, blackcurrant inky notes and plentiful round graphite firm tannins. Finishes gravelly firm but long and flavourful with blackcurrant pastille notes. Very good. Not classic but the frame is outstanding. | 96 |
de Fargues Lur Saluces | Sauternes Barsac | Pale medium colour. Classical style. Apricot peach nectarine honey ginger aromas and flavours. Deep set unctuous palate with concentrated dried fruits, some honeyed notes, superb viscosity and richness. Loaded with fruit and complexity but quite solid almost a meal in itself. | 96 |
Gazin | Pomerol | Deep crimson. Attractive plum inky cassis herb garden flavours, supple and well concentrated with fine graphite tannins and vanilla spice oak notes. Finishes chocolaty firm and minerally. Effortless in its class and elegance. | 96 |
Giscours | Margaux | Medium deep colour. Fresh mulberry cassis aromas with chinotto cedar notes. Generous supple wine with inky liquorice cassis, blackberry flavours and fine grainy tannins. Classical wine with power and tannin density. | 96 |
Haut Brion | Pessac-Leognan | Deep crimson. Deep plum praline vanilla aromas with herb garden notes. Generously proportioned wine with rich dark plum dark chocolate fruits, brambly chocolaty textures, lovely mid-palate viscosity and mineral length. Still in evolution. | 96 |
Haut Brion Blanc | Pessac-Leognan | Pale colour. Fresh grassy asparagus tropical fruit aromas. Lovely sweet lemon curd, grapefruit glacé fruits, some pastille notes, Lovely sweet middle underpinned by crisp acidity and new oak. Lovely wine. | 96 |
L’Aurage | Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux | Deep colour. Beautiful white flowers stone fruit apricot mulberry aromas. Concentrated mulberry apricot nectarine fruits, wonderful lacy chalky textures, lovely mid-palate richness, wonderful and fine long chalky graphite plume. Decadently aromatic and supple. Ripe pure fruit. Aniseed kick. | 96 |
La Mission Haut Brion | Pessac-Leognan | Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, blackberry fruits, shells wood varnish notes. Plentiful chocolatey tannins, some mocha/ espresso notes. Vigorous slightly leafy finish with some roasted chestnut notes. | 96 |
Latour a Pomerol | Pomerol | Deep crimson. Liquorice, musky plum, blackberry fruits, with some mocha espresso notes. Beautifully concentrated palate almost plush in texture with inky liquorice dark plum, blackberry fruits, fine plentiful chalky tannins and underlying savoury, vanilla complexity. Finishes firm and tight. Classic Pomerol | 96 |
Leoville Barton | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Very attractive wine with cassis blackberry aniseed aromas and mocha, espresso notes. Generously proportioned and inky with deep-set creme de cassis, blackberry fruits, brambly textures and vigorous finish. Plenty of energy and life for the long term. | 96 |
Pavie Macquin | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense enervating blackberry cedar wood varnish aromas with aniseed notes. Generous vigorous sweet fruited wine with plentiful new oak and fine grainy graphite tannins. Still elemental but balanced. Massive dense graphite wine with great potential. | 96 |
Pichon Longueville Baron | Pauillac | Classic. Intense dark blackcurrant cassis blackberry liquorice aromas with mocha notes. Generous and classic in structure with plentiful fine-grained tannins, superb density of fruit and lovely mineral length. Very good. | 96 |
Roc des Combes | Cotes de Bourg | Deep colour. Fresh blackberry pastille, with graphite toasty oak notes. Dense and chocolatey with blackberry, mulberry fruits, some inky notes, fine dense fine ripe tannins. Beautiful fine lacy finish with aniseed length. Well made wine with fresh acid and alcohol line. Idiosyncratic but wonderful wine. Australians will love it. | 96 |
Aromes de Pavie | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Very attractive fresh musky plum, inky dark chocolate aromas with aniseed notes. Iron fist in a velvet glove type wine with superb compact deep-set dark plum mulberry panforte fruit, supple yet dense almost ball bearing like tannins and long mineral tannin plume. Very impressive wine with power, massive flavours and structure. Pretty good but needs some time to come around. | 95 |
Barde Haut | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh dark plum, blackberry, liquorice aromas with vanilla cedar notes. Lovely generosity of fruit, dark plum, blackberry fruits, fine chalky tannins and lovely mineral length. Classic with excellent vigour and expression. | 95 |
Beychevelle | Saint-Julien | Deep crimson. Blackcurrant praline aromas with herb chinotto notes. Blackcurrant praline espresso, fine plentiful fine grainy tannins and integrated savoury oak. Really good. | 95 |
Chapelle de Ausone | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense dark plum mocha praline aromas with violet notes. Generous and deep set with ripe dark cherry, blackcurrant fruits, fine chocolaty tannins. Long fresh sweet fruit finish. Classic proportioned wine with energy and density. | 95 |
Clarke | Moulis-en-Medoc | Deep crimson. Attractive cassis dark chocolate aromas with herb garden notes. Richly concentrated wine with vigorous fine graphite tannins and superb volume of ripe blackcurrant blackberry fruit. Finishes chalky firm. Very good for this chateau. | 95 |
Clos Cantenac | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Very attractive dark cherry, blackberry, espresso aromas with underlying nutmeg oak. Richly concentrated with lovely brambly dark plum, blackberry fruits, fine supple chocolaty textures. Lovely roasted chestnut, nutmeg notes. Velvety smooth finish. Really impressive wine with gorgeous fruit complexity. Will turn out very well. | 95 |
Clos de Marquis | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Fresh intense black currant mocha aromas with herb garden aniseed notes. Well concentrated wine with deep-set black currant mulberry fruit, fine plentiful chalky tannins and underlying mocha dukkah oak. Classical structured wine with good potential. | 95 |
Clos L’Oratoire | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Intense dark berry, plum, blueberry aromas with granite and aniseed. Wonderfully exuberant with dark plum, blackberry fruits, dense chocolaty tannins and fresh new savoury roasted chestnut oak. Finishes chocolaty firm. Very good. | 95 |
Clos Saint Martin | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Gorgeous wine with superb cassis, blackcurrant, mulberry aromas with hints of praline and chamomile. Smooth as silk on the palate with superb rich blackcurrant pastille, dark plum fruits, velvety textures and savoury nuances, Finishes long and minerally with a tannin kick at the finish. Beautiful wine with superb balance and vinosity. | 95 |
Duhart Milon | Pauillac | Deep colour. Very classical with pure blackcurrant pastille aromas and toasty vanilla notes. Medium powered but really well-balanced wine with pure blackcurrant cassis fruits, fine lacy graphite tannins and underlying mocha vanilla notes. | 95 |
Pauillac | Deep colour. Fresh cassis dark plum fruits with roasted chestnut notes. Very polished wine with deep set, supple textures and firm gravelly tannins. Finishes firm chocolaty. | 95 | |
Fombrauge | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Classic dark chocolate, dark plum aromas with mocha notes. Delicious rich and voluminous wine with lovely density, fruit sweetness, generosity and mineral length. | 95 |
Grand Puy Lacoste | Pauillac | Deep colour. Lovely blackcurrant white pepper aromas with herb notes. Well concentrated black currant aniseed flavours, fine-grained but plentiful tannins. Lovely inky graphite plum. | 95 |
Gruaud Larose | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Very attractive cassis mocha aromas. Palate is densely packed yet sinuous with lovely blackcurrant, blackberry fruits, praline notes and fine long grainy tannins. Very good. | 95 |
La Croix de Gay | Pomerol | Deep crimson. Intense deep set wine with fresh dark plum panforte roasted chestnut notes. Rich concentrated wine with dark musky plum panforte flavours gravelly textures, plenty of roasted chestnut/ walnut oak notes. Finishes firm and chocolaty. Pretty nice. | 95 |
La Dominique | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh praline dark cherry plum aromas. Generous wine with deep-set dark cherry plum fruits, gravelly textures, superb mid-palate richness and mineral length. A very high-quality wine with potential. | 95 |
La Grave | Pomerol | Deep colour. Ripe and expressive wine with pure blackberry praline aromas with hints of herb garden. Generously proportioned wine with deep set blackberry blackcurrant pastille. Fresh smooth lacy tannins and lovely mid-palate volume. Wonderful wine. | 95 |
La Mission Haut Brion Blanc | Pessac-Leognan | Fresh grapefruit, tropical fruit slightly grassy aromas and flavours, bittersweet palate with generous tropical fruit, tonic water flavours and long fresh acidity. Lovely volume and freshness. | 95 |
Lagrange | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Inky blackcurrant dark cherry aromas with underlying new oak notes. Very well concentrated with rio blackcurrant pastille mocha flavours and vigorous cedar tannins. Finishes firm with tannin plume. Delicious wine. 95 | 95 |
Larcis Ducasse | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense musky dark plum liquorice aromas. Dense supple inky textured wine with fine integrated tannins, fresh nutmeg vanilla oak notes and long tannin plume. Really good 95 | 95 |
Le Bon Pasteur | Pomerol | Medium deep crimson. Intense liquorice blackberry confit. Chocolate Turkish delight, plum flavours, classic chocolaty textures and fresh long minerally acidity. A style that Australians will like and understand with the mid-palate volume and richness of fruit. | 95 |
Le Petit Cheval | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Attractive fresh mulberry red plum aromas with chocolate notes. Very well concentrated and supple with richly concentrated fruit and persistent fine graphite tannins, underlying savoury toasty notes. Very inky finish with superb fresh roasted nut notes. Teflon silky. Bloody good wine. | 95 |
Leoville Poyferre | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Intense blackcurrant liquorice aromas and flavours. Dense chalky wine blackcurrant espresso fruit, brambly textures, lovely mid-palate richness and volume. Finishes firm, long and fruit sweet. Very good. | 95 |
Les Forts de Latour. | Pauillac | Deep colour. Slightly reclusive wine with classical black currant herb garden cedar aromas. Well concentrated wine with dark plum cassis brambly flavours, fine long graphite tannins and underlying savoury nuances. Elemental but lovely balance. | 95 |
Marquis de Terme | Margaux | Medium deep crimson. Fresh dark cherry, liquorice dark chocolate aromas and flavours. Dense fresh cherry cassis mocha flavours, fine plentiful ripe chocolaty tannins. Finishes long and sweet. Very good this year. | 95 |
Monbousquet | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Hint reductive. Red currant, plum aromas with toasty hint flinty, roasted coffee notes. Generous wine with dark cherry fine supple dense chocolaty textures. Builds up massively graphite and drying firm but all in balance. Underlying savoury espresso notes. Tannin slick. Quite ballsy and heavily pixilated. | 95 |
Montrose | Saint-Estèphe | 72% Cabernet Sauvignon Dark crimson. Intense dark cherry, black currant dark chelate aromas with plentiful mocha oak notes. Fresh deeply concentrated sine with dark chelate, cassis fruits, fine chocolaty tannins and vanilla roasted chestnut notes. Finishes firm yet long. Really sorry unforced wine with deep-set fruit, very attractive mid-palate volume and superb structure. Very good. |
95 |
Pavie Decesse | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Church-like frankincense spicy black currant, roasted chestnut aromas. Well concentrated blackcurrant pastille inky fruits, five plentiful chalky tannins. Firm grippy finish. Will come around. | 95 |
Pavillon Rouge Ch Margaux | Margaux | Deep colour. Fresh fragrant mulberry plum fruits with some saline chalky notes, and savoury oak. Gentle wine with lovely cassis plum fruits, lacy tannins and mineral length. Impressive wine. | 95 |
Prieure Lichine | Margaux | Deep colour. Classical cassis herb garden aromas with liquorice notes. Dense and quite tannic with cassis brambly fruits. Attractive mid palate volume and mineral length. Chalky dry finish. | 95 |
Rauzan Segla | Margaux | Deep colour. Intense blackcurrant pastille blackberry aromas. Fresh, buoyant wine with dense blackcurrant blackberry pastille fruits, fine ripe but plentiful tannins and underlying new oak. Very good. Classic in structure with beautiful tannin plume. | 95 |
Rieussec | Sauternes Barsac | Pale medium colour. Apricot butterscotch roasted almond aromas, grapefruit glacé, apricot flavours, lovely mid pale viscosity and fine chalky textures. Minerally and long. | 95 |
Séraphine Buy Now |
Pomerol | Deep crimson. Intense dark plum, chocolate, espresso aromas with oak notes. Richly concentrated, dark plum, dark chocolate, liquorice flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures, roasted chestnut notes, some chinotto characters. Inky complexity and firm chalky finish. Well-balanced wine which will build more complexity and richness with time. | 95 |
Sigalas Rabaul | Sauternes Barsac | Pale medium Grapefruit, apricot aromas and flavours, well-balanced wine with lovely marzipan apricot grapefruit flavours. Superb mid palate viscosity and fresh crisp acidity Very good wine. | 95 |
Smith Haut Lafitte | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep colour. Intense dark cherry hint rhubarb fruits with panforte notes. Dense and powerful with deep-set mulberry dark cherry fruits, rich chocolaty tannins, vanilla oak notes. and persistent acidity. A whip of alcohol on the finish. Very impressively structured and supple. | 95 |
Soutard | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Elderberry, dark cherry, dark plum fruits with new oak. Lovely chewy wine with deep-set dark fruits, anise, violet, fine dark praline notes, plentiful dense chocolaty tannins. Finishes long and sweet. | 95 |
Talbot | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Fresh blackcurrant plum fruits with liquorice notes. Lovely volume with cassis brambly flavours, fine grainy touch al dente textures, and underlying g espresso notes. Finishes inky firm and long. | 95 |
Trotanoy | Pomerol | Deep crimson. Dark cherry, dark plum aromas with liquorice cedar notes. Well made wine with generous dark plum herb garden flavours, some mocha praline notes, fine dense tannins and attractive mineral length. Fresh and elemental. | 95 |
Valandraud | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Intense dark plum cedar spicy aromas with wood varnish notes. Immensely concentrated and oaky with attractive inky complexity and plentiful graphite textures. Elemental but impressive despite the oak right now. Should settle down into completeness. | 95 |
Blason d’Issan | Margaux | Medium deep colour. Very attractive medium powered dark plum, black currant pastille aromas with rainwater/ petrichor notes. Supple and inky with lovely plentiful round fully controlled graphite tannins. Finishes chalky firm and inky long. Very good wine for this level. | 94+ |
Grand Puy Ducasse | Pauillac | Deep colour. Impressive wine with dark cherry blackcurrant fruits, fine graphite grainy textures, some aniseed notes. Finishes chalky firm long and minerally with fresh long dark fruits. Should develop really well. | 94+ |
Guillot Clauzel | Pomerol | Medium deep colour. Plum, cherry stone aromas with some flint complexity. Fresh richly concentrated wine with smooth dark berry plum fruits, supple velvet tannins with fresh acidity. Has vinosity and freshness. Lovely with some chinotto notes. | 94+ |
Pontet Canet | Pauillac | Medium deep crimson. Intense expressive spicy dark cherry, musky plum panforte, slight raisiny liquorice notes. Well concentrated and densely packed with deep-set spicy dark cherry, cassis, panforte flavours, fine plentiful grainy tannins, pastille-like notes. Finishes gravelly and long. Very different but attractive in weight density and structure. Exotic in nature perhaps reflecting the biodynamic philosophy Should do well albeit on the riper style. | 94+ |
Beauséjour-Duffau-Lagarrosse | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Fresh dark plum, mulberry fruits, praline herb notes. Generous supple wine with dark berry, dark plum, mulberry fruits, fine loose-knit graphite chalky textures and underlying savoury oak. Really good. | 94 |
Belair Monange | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Fragrant and expressive red cherry mulberry star anise aromas with espresso notes. Inky deep wine with attractive red cherry, strawberry, mulberry raspberry fruits and fine loose-knit chalky tannins. Finishes chalky firm with long fresh juicy raspberry redcurrant fruits and savoury dukkah oak notes. | 94 |
Bellevue Mondotte | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Dark plum, blackcurrant fruits with Liquorice. Intensely concentrated and brambly with deep-set, chocolaty textures. Finishes brambly and long. Plenty of grunt but this will soften out. | 94 |
Cadet Bon | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Attractive mulberry, dark plum aromas with cedar notes. Generous inky wine with plentiful dark fruits and savoury touch mocha new oak. Still elemental but balanced and lengthy. | 94 |
Canon La Gaffeliere | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Mulberry red plum mocha aromas and flavours. Generous and quite inky with mulberry red currant fruits, fine chalky tannins and roasted chestnut oak/ vanilla notes. Finishes firm and tight. | 94 |
Cantemerle. | Haut Medoc | Classical claret blackcurrant herb garden and aniseed. Lovely medium powered wine with redcurrant cassis flavour, persistent loose knit fine-grained tannins. Really well-managed wine with impressive balance and integrity. | 94 |
Cantenac Brown | Margaux | Deep crimson. Black currant, blackberry brambly aromas. Generous supple-textured wine with cassis herb chinotto flavours, fine plentiful chalky tannins and attractive mineral length. | 94 |
Capbern | Saint-Estèphe | Medium crimson. Fresh mulberry raspberry cassis aromas and flavours, fine loose-knit graphite tannins, lovely minerally textures and supple mid palate. Finishes chalky firm it long and inky. Really surprisingly very good. Elegantly styled but energy buoyancy and persistency. | 94 |
Cleric Milon | Pauillac | Deep colour. Fresh aromatic wine with red plum red currant cassis aromas with toasty oak notes. Supple wine with red currant black currant fruits, plentiful grainy tannins and underlying espresso notes. Finishes firm and tight. | 94 |
Clos Grangeneuve | Pomerol | Deep colour. Attractive musky plum, cassis aromas with herb notes. Very attractive ripe plum blackcurrant fruits, supple fine but plentiful tannins. Finishes long and fruit sweet. | 94 |
Clos L’Eglise | Pomerol | Medium deep crimson. Dark plum blackberry fruits with lovely savoury new oak notes. Elemental and highly toned with deep-set dark fruits, firm chocolaty tannins and attractive mineral length. Very good wind with great potential. | 94 |
Coutet | Sauternes Barsac | Medium colour. Attractive lemon curd, grapefruit honey aromas and flavours, fine crisp acidity. Chalky textures. Finishes long and sweet with very fresh run of acidity. | 94 |
de Bel-Air | Lalande de Pomerol | Deep colour. Intense praline, dark plum, panforte aromas and flavours. Inky rich palate with deep-set dark berry fruits, fine persistent and grainy tannins. Finishes long and velvety. Really good. | 94 |
Destieux | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Attractive musky plum mulberry fruits, fine chocolaty textures, attractive richness and density and superb underlying new roasted chestnut oak notes. Not widely known but very good. | 94 |
Doisy Vedrines | Sauternes Barsac | Classic style pale medium coloured. Apricot flinty honey aromas. Intensely concentrated wine with deep set apricot grapefruit glacé fruits, supple rich viscous textures and integrated acidity. Finishes chalky firm and long. | 94 |
Domaine de Chevalier | Pessac-Leognan | Medium crimson. Quite gentle compared to many wines of the vintage with attractive mulberry cassis dried herb aromas, fine dry persistent chalky tannins, attractive mid-palate richness and length. | 94 |
du Glana | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Attractive dark plum, elderberry aromas with dark chocolate/ mocha notes. Generous wine with deep-set dark chocolate, mocha dark berry fruits, fine chocolaty powdery tannins and plentiful new oak notes. Finishes chalky firm with inky plume. | 94 |
Grand Mayne | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Mulberry raspberry aromas and flavours with attractive integrated toasty savoury nutty oak. Fine plentiful chalky tannins, mid-palate volume and fruit sweetness. | 94 |
Haut Bailly II | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep colour. Very perfumed violet, cassis pure dark fruit aromas with hints of graphite. Lovely classic claret with mulberry inky fruits, five persistent graphite tannins and underlying savoury oak. Lovely freshness and vinosity. Despite the alcohol and tannin density there is lovely integration and softness. | 94 |
Haut Batailley | Pauillac | Deep colour. Dark plum cassis brambly aromas. Well concentrated plum blackcurrant brambly wine with pronounced tannins, juicy elements and long fresh acidity. Finishes firm and tight. | 94 |
Haut Peyreguey. | Sauternes Barsac | Pale medium colour. Fresh honey tangerine lemon curd aromas with some lifted v.a. notes. Lovely crisp and generously sweet wine with honey lemon curd flavours and supple textures and mineral acidity. Very good. | 94 |
La Clarté de Haut Brion | Pessac-Leognan | Pale colour. Fresh grapefruit lemon curd aromas with some tonic water/ yeasty notes. Well concentrated wine with plenty of sweet fruit, light chalky textures, savoury complexity and mineral length. Fresh and delicious. Alas overpriced for our market. | 94 |
La Dame de Montrose | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Fresh dark plum, black currant strawberry aromas with herb garden notes. Generous and supple with very attractive cassis,’ strawberry plum fruits, fine slinky chalky tannins and underlying espresso notes. Finishes with a tannin plume. Lovely wine. Powerful and silky with aromatic complexity. | 94 |
La Tour Blanche | Sauternes Barsac | Medium pale colour. Attractive pineapple grapefruit aroma with marzipan notes. Well concentrated and sweet with deep-set rich pineapple grapefruit apricot flavour, plentiful chalky textures and long acidity. | 94 |
La Tour Carnet | Haut Medoc | Deep colour. Deep colour. Intense cassis blackberry brambly aromas. Massively concentrated and brambly in texture with plentiful chocolaty tannins and integrated oak. A big-boned wine with the richness and volume to pull it off. | 94 |
Lagrange | Pomerol | Deep colour. Intense liquorice, dark plum, graphite aromas with espresso notes. Rich and voluminous with concentrated dark plums, cassis flavours, vigorous chalky tannins and savoury oak complexity. Very rounded and sinuous. | 94 |
Lalande Borie | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Lovely fresh mulberry cassis fruits with inky cedar complexity. Intensely concentrated and juicy with fresh dark berry fruits, some brambly notes, fine slightly gritty tannins and underlying cedar notes. Very good at this level. | 94 |
Laroque | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Vigorous wine with dark cherry, blackberry espresso aromas. Lovely fresh concentrated palate with deep-set dark fruits and supple yet classically fine-grained tannins. | 94 |
Larrivet Haut Brion | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep crimson. Well concentrated wine with attractive dark plum creme de cassis aromas, and beautiful savoury oak complexity. Supple and well concentrated with fine persistent grainy tannins and toast savoury oak at the finish. Gentle wine despite the volume of tannin. | 94 |
Les Grifons de Pichon Baron | Pauillac | Deep colour. Fresh mulberry cassis herb aromas with mocha notes. Smooth velvety cocoa textures with inky dark fruits, attractive toasty oak notes. Finishes chalky firm with plenty of dark fruits. Punches well above its category. | 94 |
Les Ormes de Pez | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Fresh dark plum black olive walnut aromas with cedar spicy church like notes. Very concentrated and densely tannic with plentiful dark fruits and chocolaty dirty tannins. Generous and inky substantial wine. | 94 |
Marques d’Alesme | Margaux | Deep colour. Fresh blackberry graphite roasted chestnut cedar aromas. Deep set concentrated sine with blackberry confit fruit, fine but brambly al dente textures. Good volume and richness with long fresh acidity. Very big wine. | 94 |
Marquis de Calon Segur | Saint-Estèphe | Medium deep crimson. Ripe plum carob, hint raisin aromas. Very attractive palate with generous red plum, raspberry, cassis fruits, some panforte notes, smooth velvety tannins. Larger framed than Capbern with density and volume. Very good. | 94 |
Pagodes de Cos | Saint-Estèphe | Deep crimson. Intense plum mocha slight wood varnish notes with graphite. Well concentrated wine with deep set plum mocha fruits, fine velvety tannins. Finishes chalky firm long and sweet fruited. Good. | 94 |
Pape Clement | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep colour. Red currant plum inky violet aromas. Vigorous wine with generous fine plentiful graphite tannins, underlying chestnut oak notes. Finishes slinky and long. Generous and supple with attractive density and vinosity. | 94 |
Pensee de La Fleur | Pomerol | Medium deep colour. Floral musky plum liquorice aniseed aromas. Well concentrated supple and minerally with deep-set musky plum blackberry fruits, fine slinky textures and fresh aniseed notes. Lovely density and mineral notes.94 | 94 |
Petit Cantenac | Saint-Émilion | Deep medium crimson. Intense dark cherry, dark blackberry dark chocolate aromas with cedar. Well concentrated and elemental with lovely ripe blackberry brambly fruit, chocolaty slight al dente textures, underlying spicy nutmeg notes and fresh integrated acidity. All in balance. Impressive potential. 94 points. | 94 |
Phelan Segur | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Intense inky dark plum cassis fruits. Lovely wine with fine graphite supple tannins and plentiful sweet juicy fruit. Finishes chalky firm but long. Very good. Not as phenolic as other St Esteohes. | 94 |
Puygueraud | Francs - Cotes de Bordeaux | Deep colour. Fresh blackberry Elderberry liquorice aromas with hint of praline. Juicy brambly wine with lovely fruit density and chocolaty textures. Aniseed liquorice finish. Impressively concentrated wine with plenty of energy and richness to develop. Should offer great value. | 94 |
Quinault L’Enclos | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh dark plum dark cherry aromas with attractive star anise notes. Well concentrated and classical with smooth dark berry fruits, some inky notes and fine lacy textures. Finishes long and plummy with integrated acidity and Long fresh lacy plume. Very good. | 94 |
Suduiraut. | Sauternes Barsac | Pale medium colour. Apricot, white peach, barley water aromas with honeyed notes. Very fresh, not overly cloying with apricot nectarine barley water marzipan flavours, attractive viscosity on the mid-palate, loose-knit chalky textures and fresh long acidity. Only 125g/l more elegant a style but surprisingly refreshing. | 94 |
Tertre de la Mouleyre | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Lovely fresh mulberry dark plum touch apricot with shellac mocha notes. Generous and chocolatey with deep-set mulberry dark plum cassis fruits, five plentiful vigorous chalky tannins and fresh mocha touch roasted nut notes. Lovely wine. | 94 |
Tronquoy Lalande | Saint-Estèphe | Deep crimson. Fragrant cassis, plum praline aniseed aromas. Attractive concentrated wine with plentiful black currant inky characters, fine loose-knit powdery cocoa textures and precise long acidity. Very good wine with lovely energy and vigour. | 94 |
Yon Figeac | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Attractive mulberry dark cherry aromas with aniseed praline herb garden notes. Generous inky textures with ripe mulberry plum fruits, fine slinky touch vigorous tannins and underlying espresso notes. Crisp acidity. | 94 |
Beaumont | Haut Medoc | Medium deep crimson. Attractive plum blueberry fruits with hint of mocha/ walnut. Lovely classical proportioned wine with bright plum blueberry fruits, fine loose-knit slinky/chalky tannins and underlying savoury nuances. Plentiful tannins but will soften out. One of the great value wines of the vintage? 93+ | 93+ |
Clinet | Pomerol | Medium deep colour. Musky plum, liquorice, touch silty on the palate but good deep musky plum cassis fruits, fine chalky al dente textures and pronounced alcohol kick. 93+ | 93+ |
Domaine Les Combes | Bordeaux | Deep colour. Elemental wine flinty, toasty aromas with figgy dark fruits. Generous dark berry stone fruits fig flavours , fine looseknit chalky textures, fine chalky textures. Superb mineral length. Touch reductive but won’t be there at bottling. 93+ | 93+ |
Larmande | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Ripe dark cherry, blackberry grilled chestnut aromas. Lovely concentrated wine with plenty of rich fruits and fine plentiful tannins. Fresh acid line. Lovely freshness. Hint of aniseed. 93+ points | 93+ |
Lafleur Gazin | Pomerol | Deep colour. Slightly tainted wine. Intense dark berry dark chocolate aromas with herb notes. Fresh dark plum berry fruits, fine supple tannins and inky richness. Problem with sample. Barrel taint. | 93? |
Berliquet | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Liquorice dark cherry dark plum aromas with vanilla notes. Well concentrated inky wine with lovely dark cherry plum fruits, fine looseknit slinky touch al dente/brambly tannins and attractive mineral length. 94 | 93 |
Blanc de Lynch Bages | Bordeaux | Fresh grapefruit tonic water grapefruit aromas. Generous grapefruit tonic water lemon curd notes, fine chalky textures and fresh long juicy acidity. 93 | 93 |
Bouscat | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep colour. Intense dark chocolate blackberry aromas. Generously concentrated wine with supple dark and blueberry fruits, plentiful tannins and underlying savoury roasted walnut notes. 93 | 93 |
Branaire Ducru | Saint-Julien | Deep crimson. Red plum red currant cassis fruits. Quite plummy and well concentrated with fine chocolaty tannins and underlying savoury oak. Aniseed alcoholic kick at the finish. | 93 |
Cap de Mourlin | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Attractive dark plum cassis chocolate aromas and flavours. Plush dense and massively chocolaty with deep-set ripe dark plum fruits and underlying savoury notes. One of the biggest wines this year? | 93 |
Carbonnieux | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep colour. Fresh elderberry cassis aromas with liquorice notes. medium powered wine with elderberry blackcurrant aniseed flavours, fine gritty loose knit and plentiful tannins with mineral length and kick. | 93 |
Carillon | Saint-Émilion | Dark crimson. Intense dark plum, praline, cedar aromas. Very concentrated wine with deep set juicy plum, dark cherry flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures, savoury dukkah oak. Finishes bittersweet. Still elemental, crisp and structured but should fatten up with time. | 93 |
Chantecaille Clauzel | Saint-Émilion | Fresh red cherries sinewy style with buoyant red fruits, red cherries and cedar oak notes. Finishes firm and tight. Plenty of fresh acidity. | 93 |
Clos de Boüard | Montagne St Emilion | Medium deep colour. Fresh plum chocolaty aromas and flavours with plentiful ripe tannins and integrated acidity. | 93 |
Clos des Jacobins | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Attractive mulberry raspberry fruits with savoury nuances. Well balanced wine with attractive dark and red berry fruits, fine long cedar tannins, mid-palate richness and mineral length. | 93 |
Clos Lunelles | Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux | deep colour. Plum mulberry fruits with some musky violet notes. Generous and densely packed with prominent graphite textures and plentiful new oak. Elemental but balanced. | 93 |
Cos d’Estournel Blanc | Bordeaux | Pale colour. Flinty tonic water grassy grapefruit aromas. Well concentrated lemon glacé. Lacy textures, tonic water yeasty notes. Finishes minerally and long with plenty of fruit sweetness. | 93 |
De Lamarque | Haut Medoc | Deep colour. Cherry cassis Violet aniseed aromas. Generous and supple with inky dark fruits, fresh vigorous and plentiful graphite tannins. Tannin-rich slick at finish. | 93 |
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Sauternes Barsac | Pale medium. Rich and unctuous wine with apricot spicy ginger aromas and flavours, spicy new oak, fine chalky textures and attractive mid-palate viscosity. Finishes minerally and long with tobacco notes. | 93 |
Domaine de L’Alliance Definition | Bordeaux | Medium pale. Attractive ripe tropical fruit. Pear drop aromas with chalky notes, plentiful chalky dry textures, good mid-palate fruitiness and mineral length. Very good compared to the overpriced white wines of the left bank. | 93 |
Faugeres. | Saint-Émilion | Deep Colour. Well made wine with buoyant dark plum mulberry fruits, fresh supple tannins, lovely inky mid palate. Finishes long and sweet. 93 points | 93 |
Gloria | Saint-Julien | Medium deep colour. Intense blackberry, cassis fruits, with savoury notes. Attractive loose-knit but dense palate with blackberry brambly notes and fine plentiful chalky tannins. Finishes minerally and long with a touch of aniseed. | 93 |
Haut Bages Liberal. | Pauillac | Deep colour. Cassis elderberry aniseed aromas. Quite elemental with pronounced elderberry aniseed notes, vigorous tannins and marked acidity. Adolescent wine. | 93 |
Hosanna | Pomerol | Deep colour. Mulberry, lead pencil cedar aromas with some tea leafy notes. Well concentrated and inky in texture with mulberry graphite characters, fine persistent tannins, and some savoury oak notes. Finishes chalky firm, long and minerally. Needs time to build complexity and richness but the elements are aligned. | 93 |
Kirwan | Margaux | Deep colour. Fresh cassis roasted walnut inky aromas. Buoyant fresh supple-textured wine with deep-set black current blackberry fruit, dense ripe tannins and aniseed herb notes. | 93 |
La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion, | Pessac-Leognan | Deep crimson. Fresh dark plum leaf pencil aromas with some inky notes. Well concentrated wine with dark plum, cassis flavours, fine loose-knit graphite tannins, some cherry stone notes. Bittersweet finish. Attractive wine with suppleness and length. 93 | 93 |
La Clotte | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Cedar dark plum mulberry aromas. Dense cedary palate with mulberry plum fruit, cedar mocha notes and chewy long tannins. Well balanced with aniseed notes at finish. | 93 |
La Fleur Monange | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Fresh aromatic wine with mulberry floral aniseed notes and savoury/ roasted walnut notes. Fresh vigorous palate with firm grainy tannins and underlying oaky notes. Firm finish. | 93 |
La Tour de Mons | Margaux | Medium deep colour, fresh dark plum liquorice mocha aromas. Well concentrated wine with dark plum cassis fruits, fine bitter but fine tannins, mid-palate richness and length. | 93 |
Lacoste Borie. | Pauillac | Deep colour. Fresh cassis blackcurrant fruits. Juicy wine with cassis herb flavours, fine loose-knit chalky tannins, liquorice notes. Finishes with chalky long plume. Very good. | 93 |
Lafon Rochet | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Surprisingly rounded and chocolaty with dark berry praline aromas with herb garden notes. Plush wine with deep-set dark berry fruits, fine chocolaty tannins and roasted chestnut notes. | 93 |
Langoa Barton | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Blackcurrant blackberry aromas and flavours. Quite tight and elemental with blackcurrant graphite flavours ours, fine persistent grainy tannins. Juicy but slightly sinewy finish. Not as good as Leoville Barton even though across the road. | 93 |
Laroze | Saint-Émilion | Mulberry blackberry inky aromas, fine loose-knit supple tannins and savoury oak complexity. Attractive richness and density. | 93 |
Lascombes | Margaux | Deep colour. Fresh cassis mocha herb aromas. Inky deep with deep-set blackcurrant herb flavours, dense but quite sinewy tannins. Finishes firm and tight. | 93 |
Latour Martillac | Pessac-Leognan | Deep crimson. Deep liquorice elderberry fruits with dark chocolate. Densely packed wine with saturated fine graphite slightly grippy tannins and toasty oak. Aniseed alcoholic finish. Always good in a year like this. But will take a little time to come around. | 93 |
Le Blason d’Evangile | Pomerol | Deep colour. Fragrant camomile plum praline aromas with some herb notes. Generous supple inky wine with silky fine loose knit textures and integrated acidity. Lovely wine. Tannins completely tamed. | 93 |
Le Boscq | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Fresh liquorice blackberry mocha aromas. Generous and chocolaty but not overly muscular with inky blackberry fruits and underlying roasted walnut notes. Finishes chocolaty firm but all in balance. | 93 |
Le Clarence de Haut Brion | Pessac-Leognan | Deep crimson. Fresh mulberry cassis aromas. Slightly more powerful that the Chapelle. Generous and chocolate with some so dense notes, some leafy nuances. Finishes ghostly/ gravelly long. Seems a touch forced. | 93 |
Malartic Lagraviere | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep colour. Intense elderberry cassis aromas with coffee notes. Quite heavily built with dense chocolaty textures, and concentrated dark fruits. Finishes chalky firm and long. Not bad. | 93 |
Monbousquet Blanc | Bordeaux | Pale colour. Intense grapefruit, tropical fruit grassy pear drop aromas. Generous and ripe with lacy tannins. Finishes long and sweet with fresh mineral cut, underlying new oak notes. Classic lines. | 93 |
Pauillac (de Chateau Latour) | Pauillac | Deep crimson. Glossy black currant herb garden aniseed aromas. Well concentrated black cherry black currant fruits, fine grainy textures, mid-palate suppleness and mineral length. Some juicy notes. Very good wine. Not really a third wine. | 93 |
Petit Faurie de Soutard. | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Dark plum mulberry aromas with savoury notes. Classical palate with generous cassis dark plum fruits and fine grainy tannins. | 93 |
Petit Mouton | Pauillac | Medium deep colour. Lovely blackcurrant herb aromas. Sweet blackcurrant black cherry fruits, fine slinky textures and toasty oak notes. Still elemental with firm tannins. Pretty wine. | 93 |
Plince | Pomerol | Medium deep colour. Fresh cedar, frankincense aromas with red plum cherry notes. Well balanced but medium powered wine with red plum, redcurrant, red cherry fruits, chalky dry textures and attractive mineral length. Quite traditional in style but has its appeal. | 93 |
Puy Blanquet | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh red plum, mulberry aromas with some inky complexity. Generous and supple with mulberry, red plum fruits, fine al dente textures and fine long fresh acidty. Very good vinosity and attack. | 93 |
Relais de Dominique | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh liquorice dark cherry fruits, plentiful fine chalky al-dente textures, and liquorice aniseed notes. Refined wine with elegant structure and buoyant fruit. Should age well. | 93 |
Reserve de la Comtesse. | Pauillac | Medium deep crimson. Inky dark chocolate, blueberry, cassis aromas and flavours. Well concentrated wine with inky cassis blueberry fruits, some vanilla spicy oak and long vigorous tannins. Finishes cedar and long. Good. | 93 |
Siaurac | Lalande de Pomerol | Lovely dark plum cassis fruits. Wonderfully buoyant wine with lovely fine grainy tannins, and richness of fruit. Ch Latour technical team!! | 93 |
Simard | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Dark plum espresso mocha aromas. Generous plum espresso flavours, cedar roasted walnut notes. Finishes firm and chocolaty with cedar oak. Elemental but plenty of fruit density to carry it off. | 93 |
Soutard | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Plum elderberry cedar fruits with strong aniseed notes. Well concentrated sine with plum elderberry fruits, liquorice notes and fine graphite tannins. Fresh chalky loose-knit textures are the finish with persistent fruit. | 93 |
Villemaurine | Saint-Émilion | Deep. Crimson. Mulberry plum shellac aromas with cedar notes. Well concentrated and supple with deep-set fruits and fine lacy dry tannins. Aniseed finish. | 93 |
Aiguilhe | Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux | Deep colour. Very attractive wine with dark plum graphite aromas. Fresh dark plum fruits, fine graphite slightly bitter tannins but good vinosity and length. | 92 |
Bellefont Belcier. | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Perfumed raspberry, dark cherry plum aromas with some dried fruit notes. Fresh but quite linear in structure with red plum raspberry fruits, some blackberry mocha notes and plentiful chalky tannins. Well balanced wine. | 92 |
Chateau Pibran | Pauillac | Deep colour. Fresh liquorice aniseed, dark cherry cassis aromas. Generous and juicy with deep set blackberry fruits, chocolaty slight leafy textures and attractive mineral length. Finishes long and sweet. | 92 |
Chevalier de Lascombes | Margaux | Medium deep colour. Redcurrant plum cassis aromas. Well concentrated and inky with supple tannins and fresh mineral acidity. Finishes long and sweet. | 92 |
Citran | Haut Medoc | Deep colour. Intense cassis dark cherry grilled nut aromas and flavours. Lovely plump fruit and gravelly tannins. Good concentration and mineral length. Some alcoholic kick. 92 | 92 |
Clos La Madelaine | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Fresh mulberry graphite aromas with some herb garden notes, Well concentrated and supple but slightly reductive wine, plenty of volume, fine loosknit chalky tannins and long fresh integrated acidity. Should be good. | 92 |
d’Arce | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Attractive mulberry plum aniseed aromas and flavours with gravelly textures and attractive mid palate volume. 92 | 92 |
Echo de Lynches Bages | Pauillac | Deep colour. Well concentrated wine with cassis inky graphite aromas withvsome dark chocolate notes. Slinky textures palate with plenty of dark fruits and suppleness, dense fine tannins. Finishes firm and tight. 92 | 92 |
Fayat | Pomerol | Inky deep colour. Very concentrated wine with deep set dark plum chocolaty aromas and flavours, plentiful chalky tannins and mid palate richness. Vigorous firm finish. 92 | 92 |
Fleur Cardinale | Saint-Émilion | Attractive red plum herb chinotto aromas and flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures and attractive mineral length. Medium powered but characterful. | 92 |
Fourcas Dupré | Moulis-en-Medoc | Medium deep. Inky cassis blackcurrant fruit with herb aniseed notes. Generous supple wine with dark fruits, cedar notes and fine plentiful tannins. Fruit is a touch underpowered for the structure. Al dente bittersweet finish. | 92 |
Fourcas Hosten | Moulis-en-Medoc | Medium deep colour. Fresh cassis brambly aromas with praline herb notes. Well concentrated minerally salt notes, black currant brambly textures and gravelly al dente tannins. Has power but bitter sweet cola notes. | 92 |
Grand Corbin | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Mulberry inky red liquorice aromas and flavours, plentiful grainy tannins. Finishes chocolaty al dente firm. Well concentrated but medium powered wine. | 92 |
Haut Bergey | Pessac-Leognan | Deep colour. Intense cassis mulberry aromas. Inky truffle cassis mulberry flavours, fine loose-knit chalky tannins. Finishes long and sweet with some aniseed notes. Very attractive wine with plenty of substance concentration and mineral length. | 92 |
La Gaffeliere | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Dark plum smoky toasty oak aromas and flavours. Quite sinewy on the palate with ripe dark plum mulberry fruits and fresh persistent al dente tannins. Chewy finish. Adolescent wine. | 92 |
Malescot St Exupery | Margaux | Deep colour. Cassis red plum aromas with espresso notes. Well concentrated with inky red plum cassis fruits, plentiful slinky tannins. Finishes chocolaty firm with attractive mineral length. | 92 |
Moulin St Georges | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense espresso mocha herb aromas. Well concentrated espresso mocha dark cherry flavours, fine grippy tannins. Inky graphite plume. | 92 |
Ormes de Pez | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Mulberry red fruits, rhubarb violet aromas. Enquire tight graphite textured with mulberry toasty dis kits and vigorous fine tannins. Attractive wine with quite a lot of muscle but very fragrant and flavourful. | 92 |
Petit Village | Pomerol | Deep crimson. Dark plum liquorice chocolate fruit. Concentrated soup textures wine with deep-set dark fruits, mocha praline notes and fine persistent gravelly tannins. Finishes long and sweet with some bitter chinotto chicory notes. | 92 |
Poisia | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Musky plum blackberry fruits with savoury notes. Well concentrated but muscular wine with vigorous fine tannins, mid-palate richness and chalky tannin finish. Very minerally and elegant. | 92 |
Rahoul | Graves | Deep colour. Blackberry cedar wood varnish aromas and flavours with cola notes, substantial chocolaty firm tannins, mid-palate volume and plentiful cedar oak. In parts but should come around. | 92 |
Rouget | Pomerol | Medium deep crimson. Red plum red currant fruits. Concentrated and supple but red fruited wine completely in style with fine loose-knit lacy textures and fresh mineral acidity. | 92 |
Sociando de Mallet | Haut Medoc | Medium deep colour. Fresh plum blackcurrant with mocha notes. Well concentrated mulberry cassis fruit, fine plentiful chalky textures. Finishes chalky dry but good fruit persistence and mineral length. | 92 |
Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Intense dark plum blackberry aromas with vanilla mocha notes. Well concentrated wine with dark plum aniseed flavours, fresh chalky tannins and marked acidity. Finishes long with some liquorice notes. | 92 | |
Alcée | Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux | Medium deep colour. Inky, dark cherry, mulberry aromas with spice touch varnish notes. Sweet fruited wine with generous richness and chocolaty dry textures. Some herbal elements. | 91 |
Balestard La Tonnelle, | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Dark chocoberry aromas with a touch of aniseed. Rich and chocolatey with smooth dark berry liquorice flavours, rich assertive and chocolaty graphite tannins. Vigorous wine with a strong alcoholic kick and integrated acidity. | 91 |
Bellevue | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Very fresh and complex dark plum with herb garrigue notes. Well concentrated supple and inky with fresh dark plum fruits, chalky persistent tannins. Minerally and long. Underlying savoury toasty oak. Elemental wine. | 91 |
Bourgneuf | Pomerol | Deep crimson. Elemental wine with flinty dark berry fruits with vanilla notes. Quite tightly structured with ripe dark plum fruits, fine grainy but al dente tannins, some graphite flinty notes. Finishes chalky firm and minerally. | 91 |
Carmes Haut Brion | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep colour. Musky plum rhubarb raspberry aromas - overripe. Supple and squashy with fine integrated but plentiful tannins. Good acid line but fruit loses power. Surprisingly simple wine with some decent volume and richness. | 91 |
Connetable de Talbot | Saint-Julien | Medium deep colour. Dark plum cassis aromas with herb garden red cherry notes. Supple wine with pure dark berry fruits, fine plentiful chalky tannins and inky length. | 91 |
Cos Labory. | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Fresh chalky blackcurrant blackberry fruits. Very concentrated but muscular with vigorous fine rusty tannins and deep-set fruit. Finishes firm and tight. | 91 |
Coufran 85% Merlot | Haut Medoc | Medium deep colour. Dark plum cassis aromas and flavours, plentiful chalky tannins and minerally notes. Medium bodied wine with good vinosity and length. | 91 |
d’Arsac | Margaux | Deep colour. Very fresh elderberry cassis aromas with aniseed note. Bright but tannin-rich wine with elderberry brambly fruit, vigorous al dente texture. Finishes dry and long. Elemental but will come around. | 91 |
Domaine de L’Alliance exterieurs | Bordeaux | Pale colour. Fresh grapefruit, tonic water with yeasty notes. Minerally wine with grapefruit yeasty flavours, fine chalky slight al dente notes, bitter finish. | 91 |
Ferriere | Margaux | Medium deep colour. Red plum cassis chalky aniseed aromas. Inky plum cassis fruits, fine loose-knit sinewy tannins. Underlying savoury oak. Finishes firm and tight. | 91 |
Feytit Clinet | Pomerol | Medium deep crimson. Plum blueberry violet aromas with toasty notes. Generous and smooth of plum blueberry spicy flavours and slinky textures. Very floral wine with aniseed notes. | 91 |
Fonroque | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Attractive floral mulberry fruits with dense chocolaty tannins and plenty of fruit richness. Finishes firm but lovely plume of tannin and sweet fruit. | 91 |
Franc Mayne | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Dark cherry dark plum aromas and flavours. Generous and supple with cherry elderberry fruits, fine loose knit chalky dense tannins. Some roasted nut, over-ripe notes. | 91 |
Goulee | Saint-Estèphe | Deep crimson. Intense red cherry, cassis aromas and herb notes. Juicy and supple sine with black currant dried roses, fine chalky tannins. Finishes long and juicy. Attractive wine. | 91 |
Haut Simard | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh but flinty dark cherry grainy huge aromas and flavours, chocolaty firm textures and underlying savoury notes. Brambly so dense finish. | 91 |
La Cabanne | Pomerol | Medium deep crimson. Dark plum blackcurrant hazelnut graphite aromas and flavours. Supple slightly gritty textures, attractive mid-palate volume and lifted alcohol notes. Still very early stages. | 91 |
La Tour de Bessen | Margaux | Medium deep crimson. Attractive plum chinotto aromas with aniseed notes. Inky and generous with plum red cherry chinotto flavours, chocolaty firm tannins and attractive mineral length. Toasty new oak notes. | 91 |
Lynch Moussas | Pauillac | Deep colour. Touch stale. Dar cherry cassis carob aromas and flavours, fine persistent tannins with some elderberry notes. Gritty finish. | 91 |
Marzelle | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh ripe blackberry musky plum fruits with vanilla notes. Generous and inky with supple fine chalky dense tannins and attractive mineral length. | 91 |
Pagodes de Cos Blanc | Bordeaux | Pale colour. Fresh lemon curd aromas and flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures. Some mandarin notes. Finishes long and sweet. | 91 |
Pavillon Blanc | Bordeaux | Tropical fruits, guava, yeasty, tonic water aromas and flavours, grapefruit flavours, tonic water notes, light chalky textures and crisp long searing acidity. | 91 |
Petit Lions | Saint-Julien | Medium deep colour. Dark plum cassis herb aromas and flavours with medium weighted fruit, fine supple slight graphite textures and attractive mineral length. | 91 |
Rauzan Gassies | Margaux | Medium deep colour. Redcurrant red cherry blackcurrant aromas with carob notes. Inky textures wine with grainy textures, plentiful red and so fruits and underlying oak. Chocolaty finish. | 91 |
Rayne Vigneau | Sauternes Barsac | Grapefruit, honey slight mushroom aromas and flavours. Fresh well-concentrated wine with apricot marmalade flavours, fine supple textures and integrated acidity. | 91 |
Verso de Ch Haut Batailley | Pauillac | Medium deep colour. Fresh dark plum red currant fruits with hints of strawberry. Attractive medium powered wine with red currant plum herb flavours, fine plentiful chalky tannins and integrated long acidity. Not bad. | 91 |
Bastor Lamontagne | Sauternes Barsac | Medium pale. Honey apricot stonefruit aromas. Supple and sweet with stonefruit notes fine graphite notes and searing acidity. Not a huge amount of botrytis coming through. | 90 |
Cote de Baleau | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense fragrant red cherry, musky aromas with dark plum notes. Hint of rhubarb and overripe notes. Very youthful jammy dodger wine with plentiful raspberry and strawberry fruits, brambly textures and vanilla nuances. Attractive generous and exuberant wine. | 90 |
de Fieuzal | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep crimson. Dark cherry rhubarb slight overripe fruits, fine chocolaty fine textures and integrated roasted walnut toasty oak. | 90 |
de Fonbel | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Pure aniseed plum dark cherry aromas. Well concentrated black cherry dark plum aniseed flavours, brambly textures. Attractive density and weight. Finishes chalky firm. | 90 |
Esprit de Pavie | Bordeaux | Medium deep colour. Intense dark plum mulberry fruits some cola chinotto notes. Well concentrated with our mulberry fruits and brambly textures. Brambly violet finish. Very good albeit firm slight sappy wine. | 90 |
La Dauphine | Fronsac | Deep colour. Intense liquorice blackberry fruits, generous supplement chocolatey with attractive fruit density and mineral length. | 90 |
La Fontaine | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Fresh red plum aromas with a touch of bramble blackberry. Inky and juicy with fine chalky textures and lovely pure fruits. Crisp and tight. | 90 |
La Tour de By | Haut Medoc | Deep colour. Intense dark plum, liquorice aniseed aromas with mocha notes. Generous but massively tannic with deep-set panforte dark plum fruit, integrated acidity. Chocolaty dry finish with sweet alcoholic kick. | 90 |
La Tour Figeac | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Fresh dark plum musky red currant fruits. Quite alcoholic with plentiful ripe dark and red berry fruits, liquorice and aniseed notes, chalky textures and integrated acidity. | 90 |
Les Grands Chenes Bernard Magrez | Medoc | Deep colour. Attractive plum mulberry cranberry fruits and plentiful chocolaty tannins, underlying richness and density of fruit. | 90 |
Montlandrie | Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux | Medium deep colour. Fresh plummy cassis fruits, fine long slinky tannins with some inky notes. Builds up firm. | 90 |
Olivier | Pessac-Leognan | Deep colour. Red currant marzipan chestnut aromas. Well concentrated slightly soupy wine with red currant plum chestnut flavours, plentiful slinky textures. Finishes graphite firm. Inky finish. | 90 |
Pez | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Fresh cassis liquorice chinotto herb aromas. Sinewy wine with brambly textures marked acidity and alcohol. Like a furball. Muscular wine with drive but fruit is so overwhelmed by structure. | 90 |
Samsonnet | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh deep set plum dark chocolate fruits plentiful chocolaty textures, mid-palate richness and integrated acidity. finishes firm and long. | 90 |
Bellegrave Pomerol | Pomerol | Deep colour. Ripe Ribena plum slight herb notes. Supple wine with ripe cassis Ribena rhubarb fruits, five slinky tannins and mineral length. | 89 |
Broustet | Sauternes Barsac | Pale medium colour. Lemon curd chalky mi weak aromas with light apricot flinty flavoured, chalky textures and fresh acidity. Some aniseed notes. | 89 |
Cap de Faugeres | Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux | Deep colour. Plum rhubarb slight overripe notes. Sweet ripe rhubarb musky plum fruits, fine persistent chalky tannins. | 89 |
Ch Bellevue | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Quite restrained with raspberry, Loganberry mulberry fruits, fine loose-knit muscular tannins. Finishes long and minerally. Will build richness with time. | 89 |
Clement Pichon | Haut-Medoc | Very deep colour. Liquorice aniseed herb aromas. Muscular wine with elderberry cassis fruits and brambly textures. Brutish wine, but should calm down eventually. | 89 |
Cru Robin | Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux | Brambly wine with dark plum, dark cherry brambly fruits with aniseed notes. Quite brambly in textures with sappy notes but attractive mid-palate volume. Violet notes. | 89 |
Dame de Boüard | Montagne St Emilion | Medium deep colour. Generous and buoyant with deep-set plum dark chocolate fruits and fine plentiful grippy tannins. | 89 |
de Ferrand | Saint-Émilion | Dark crimson. Fresh boysenberry blackberry fruits with vanilla ginger notes, plentiful chocolaty tannins and underlying savoury notes. Touch drying at the finish with an alcoholic kick. | 89 |
de France | Pessac-Leognan | Medium deep colour. Fresh toasty varnish aromas with dark berry fruits, cedar textures, volume and attractive mineral length. Cedar oak pervades. 89 | 89 |
Fonreaud | Moulis-en-Medoc | Deep crimson. Cedar toasty aromas and flavours. Oak dominated wine with blackcurrant black olive notes, fine plentiful cedar tannins. Oily oaky finish. | 89 |
Fontenil | Fronsac | Deep colour. Deep set wine with plenty of choco-berry aromas and flavours, generous rounded but dense tannins and marked acidity. Rolland wine. | 89 |
Grand Corbin Despagne | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Dark berry cedar aromas. Dense chocolaty wine with fresh savoury chalky tannins and generous deep dark chocolate black currant fruits. Finishes cedar and long. Elemental. A tad over tannic. | 89 |
Jean Faure | Saint-Émilion | Dark crimson. Mulberry, blackberry brambly fruits, supple textures, attractive mid-palate volume and an inky long finish. Next to Ch La Dominique) | 89 |
La Couspaude | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Intense dark plum cedar liquorice aromas. Ripe dark fruits, fine plentiful grainy tannins and pronounced new cedar oak. Finishes minerally and dry. | 89 |
La Louviere | Pessac-Leognan | Deep crimson. Intense blackberry blueberry fruits with panforte notes. Well balanced buoyant wine with velvety textures building up very firm and tight. Furball finish. | 89 |
La Prade Francs | Cotes de Bordeaux | Deep crimson. Intense red plummy berry strawberry aromas with liquorice notes. Fresh and supple with juicy flights saline notes, muscular long tannins. Vigorous with plenty of baby fat. Pronounced acidity. A lot of drive and impact. | 89 |
Labegorce | Margaux | Deep colour. Very cedar wine with dark fruits, muscular dry tannins, but attractive mid palate. Finishes firm and long. Chocolaty firm and tight. Quite vigorous and dense. Muscular dry finish. | 89 |
Laniote | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh mulberry, blueberry, rhubarb musky plum fruits. Generous and ripe with plentiful dense chocolaty tannins and vanilla oak complexity. Nice drive but a fruit bomb. | 89 |
Le Chatelet | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Fresh but extracted wine with deep-set dark berry fruits, plentiful chocolaty dry slightly sinewy tannins. Tannin slick at the finish. | 89 |
Le Prieure | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Dark plum inky aromas. Chalky textures wine with plentiful dark fruits and savoury oak notes. Elemental. | 89 |
Les Fiefs de Lagrange | Saint-Julien | Deep colour. Black cherry, blackcurrant, slight milk chocolate carob notes. Well concentrated slightly flat wine with chocolaty textures and attractive mid pale richness. Aldehyde firm finish. Not a great sample. | 89 |
Montbrison | Margaux | Medium deep colour. Red currant cedar walnutty aromas. Chocolaty textures wine with red currant, plum cedar characters, fine sinuous tannins. Finishes firm with pronounced acidity. | 89 |
Pindefleurs | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense blackberry brambly aromas with noticeable slightly wood varnishy oak. Well concentrated wine with deep set blackberry brambly flavours, plentiful cedar, slightly oily notes, fine grainy/ gravelly tannins. Finishes juicy and firm. Should develop quite well. | 89 |
Pique Caillou | Pessac-Leognan | Medium crimson. Raspberry, red currant fruits with savoury cedar notes. Medium concentrated wine with raspberry red currant dark plum fruits, fine plentiful al dente tannins and pronounced acidity. | 89 |
Rochebelle | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Paneforte musky plum, rhubarb aromas with savoury notes. Attractive buoyant juicy fruits, fine chalky loose-knit textures. | 89 |
Siran | Margaux | Deep colour. Dark chocolate, cassis aromas with walnut notes. Quite vigorous with blackcurrant fruits, fine sinewy tannins. Grippy dry finish. | 89 |
Grand Pontet | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Stale example. Black fruits, Carob notes, fine slinky textures, mid-palate volume and integrated acidity. | 88? |
Angelique de Monbousquet | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Fresh mulberry chinotto with hints of espresso. Sweet fruited wine with brambly Alderney bitter textures. Buoyant and bright but tannins are quite sinewy and surprisingly underripe. | 88 |
Camensac | Haut Medoc | Medium deep colour. Cranberry, raspberry, redcurrant fruits with chestnut notes, fine chalky, chunky tannins. Finishes chocolaty firm. | 88 |
Chasse Spleen | Moulis-en-Medoc | Medium deep colour. Elemental wine with well-concentrated raspberry jam blueberry fruits, persistent graphite al dente tannins. Builds up into a fur ball. Full throttle tannins my overwhelm the wine. | 88 |
Chauvin | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. A touch extracted with dark plum, panforte dark chocolate aromas and flavours. Dense chocolaty textures and pronounced new oak. A brutish wine but will come around. | 88 |
Clos Puy Arnaud | Bordeaux | Medium deep colour. Fresh almond, marzipan red plum cassis aromas. Not as fresh marzipan touch aldehyde notes, fine brusque textures and long minerally acidity. | 88 |
Corbin | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Dark plum dried fruit aromas with a hint of vanilla. Generous and supple with plentiful fruit richness, integrated savoury tannins and mineral length. | 88 |
Dassault | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Elderberry inky liquorice aromas and flavours. Grippy and chocolaty with fresh acidity and juicy fruit flavours. At sixes and sevens but brutish and phenolic. | 88 |
Dauzac | Margaux | Medium deep colour. Fresh dark plum raspberry fruit with some floral mocha notes. Buoyant quite ripe dark plum slingshot pruny stone fruit, plentiful chalky tannins and long fresh acidity. Leafy dry finish. Ripe & overripe characters. | 88 |
de Chantegrive | Graves | Medium deep colour. Fresh mulberry plum cassis aromas with chinotto notes. Medium weighted wine with red currant plum mulberry, fruits, marzipan notes and fresh chalky dense tannins. | 88 |
de Pressac | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Dark plum slight raisiny notes. Generous palate but slightly saline with plentiful chalky textures, and fresh vibrant red and black fruits. | 88 |
Desmirail. | Margaux | Slightly stale aniseed, liquorice blackcurrant blackberry fruits. Fine chalky dry tannins, mid-palate richness. Finishes chocolaty. | 88 |
du Tertre | Margaux | Deep colour. Fresh dark cherry cassis aromas with a hint of graphite. Well concentrated plum herb cola notes with fine-grained tannins and noticeable aniseed alcohol. Finishes hot. | 88 |
Dutruch Grand Poujeaux | Moulis-en-Medoc | Medium deep colour. Red currant plum with aniseed notes. Well concentrated wine with red cherry redcurrant fruits and bitter fine tannins. Al dente finish. | 88 |
Faurie de Soutard | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Red cherry raspberry plum fruits touch of aniseed, fine chalky tannins and vanilla oak. Medium powered wine but fresh and long. | 88 |
Grand Faure La Rose | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Inky creme de cassis, dark fruits with herb notes. Fresh dark cherry plum, crisp tannins and fresh acidity. | 88 |
La Garricq | Moulis-en-Medoc | Deep colour. Chocolaty wine with dark fruits, dark chocolate fruits, plentiful dense chalky tannins. Salty mineral finish. | 88 |
La Serre | Saint-Émilion | Deep colour. Intense liquorice, blackberry, some musky plum notes. Full-bodied wine with spicy, blackberry fruits, some raisined notes, spicy touch planky dukkah oak notes. Finishes long and sweet. Touch overripe but could develop into something. | 88 |
Moulin du Cadet | Saint-Émilion | See crimson. Buoyant wine with dark chocolate dark berry fruits, slinky tannins and underlying savoury oak. Firm finish with some inky notes. | 88 |
Pontensac | Medoc | Medium deep colour. Not much different to above. Red currant mulberry fruits with herb garden aniseed notes. More evolved but still quite callow. | 88 |
Poujeaux | Moulis-en-Medoc | Deep colour. Dark plum cassis walnutty Ronas and flavours. Extracted wine with gritty chocolaty slightly soupy textures, attractive mid-palate richness but tannins overtake. | 88 |
Ripeau | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Red cherry red currant fruits. Medium powered with some rhubarb confectionary notes and fine loose-knit chalky tannins. | 88 |
Saint Georges Cotes Pavie | Saint-Émilion | Deer colour. Dark berry, liquorice cedar aromas and flavours, sinewy muscular tannins. Inky dry finish. | 88 |
Carlmagnus | Fronsac | Deep colour. Quite oaky dark cherry, chocolaty wine muscular tannins and pronounced acidity. | 87 |
Chapelle de Pontensac | Medoc | Medium deep colour. Red currant mulberry fruits, loose-knit graphite textures. Underpowered for this vintage. | 87 |
Clos de Sarpe | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Contrived wine, almost overripe with rhubarb, red cherry fruits, juicy red berry flavours, fine loose-knit chalky tannins and underlying savoury oak. | 87 |
Ferrande | Graves | Medium deep colour. Red plum cola aromas with herb notes. Medium powered but chocolaty tannic. Muscular finish with aniseed notes. Fruit not weighty enough for the structure. | 87 |
Haut Marbuzet | Saint-Estèphe | Deep colour. Mulberry cranberry aromas with a touch of aniseed. Generous but quite walnutty and tannic. Muscular and sinewy wine. | 87 |
Joanin Becot. | Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux | Fresh cranberry red plum fruits. Medium powered wine with red plum dark berry fruits, fine slinky textures and salty mineral notes. High alcohol. | 87 |
La Commanderie | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Very concentrated but extracted wine with plentiful dark fruits, sinewy dry tannins and firm muscular finish. | 87 |
La Pointe | Pomerol | Medium deep colour. Underpowered wine with red cherry varnish aromas. Oaky palate with red currant red cherry fruits and bittersweet tannins. Pretty ordinary. | 87 |
La Vieille Cure | Fronsac | Medium deep colour. Dark plum carob aromas with walnutty notes. Gritty palate with dense fruit and pronounced acidity. Furball finish. | 87 |
Les Grandes Murailles | Saint-Émilion | Medium deep colour. Fresh red currant, red cherry aromas. Simple red currant, red cherry mulberry fruits with skinny dry tannins and underlying new oak notes. Finishes muscular and dry. | 87 |
Maurianne | Puisseguin Saint-Émilion | Medium deep crimson. Plum rhubarb herb aromas. Very chocolaty rasping tannins. | 87 |
Cap St George | St Georges Saint-Émilion | Medium colour. Red cherry redcurrant slightly stale. Firm loose-knit tannins and crisp acidity. | 86 |
Fonplegade. | Saint-Émilion | Deep crimson. Quite shy and unforthcoming with cherry stone aromas and flavours, chalky tannins and savoury notes. | 86 |
Maucaillou | Moulis-en-Medoc | Medium deep colour.Cherrystones red plum aromas with aniseed notes. Muffled wine with cherry plum bilgy flavours, fine loose knit tannins. Sinewy dry finish. Hollow wine. | 86 |
Vrai Canon Bouché | Canon-Fronsac | Deep colour. Oak stave mushroom dark fruits. Firm dense tannins, attractive mid-palate volume and marked acidity. | 86 |