Bordeaux Blends

This is a special late release from Château Giscours: their second wine from an outstanding vintage. The label is the winning design from a competition launched in March 2021, designed by James Albon, and 100% of the profits from the sale of this wine will be donated to The Drinks Trust’s Covid-19 relief fund, to support members of the UK hospitality industry adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. The wine itself is beautiful. Notes of violets and pure, dark Cabernet fruit on the nose, while the palate is detailed, with fine tannins and a savoury note underpinning the core of ripe fruit. The finish is chiselled and intense, with lots of energy shining through. This demonstrates why 2015 in Margaux is such a legendary vintage: it’s a stunning wine, for an excellent cause.

Tasted April 2023. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 14.6% ABV. 50% new oak. Picked from 1st September. Aromatic and floral on the nose with bright black berry fruit and some fresh cherries. Opulent style of fruit compared to Le Chenade this year, with plenty of ripe tannin and a seam of stony freshness. Layered with stone and dried petals.

Montaiguillon’s 2020 is another resounding success, continuing a string of excellent vintages at the estate. It is a deep ruby colour with notes of spiced plums, cassis and blackberries on the nose. There’s a savoury, graphite note woven through the juicy, sumptuous palate. Its rounded tannins are already integrated with the plump fruit, and the finish has a fresh, balanced length, the likes of which you’d expect from wines with much bigger price tags.

The 2016 Langoa Barton is a real star from St-Julien. A beautifully classical nose of bramble fruit, sandalwood and graphite with accents of violets and wild herbs. The palate is supple and full of freshness with a certain muscularity and depth which builds to the long, savoury finish with tinges of tobacco and pencil shavings.

Tasted April 2022. Seriously impressive in 2021, La Garde has good concentration and a velvet, almost creamy texture. The flavours are full of bramble, blackcurrant, red plum and violets, and there's a developing silkiness to the tannins.

The 2022 is a superb vintage from this Tuscan estate, based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. There is a richness of red and black berry fruits combining with leather, liquorice and cinnamon spice. The tannins are plush and velvety and there is a refreshing acidity that lingers on the finish, displaying this wine's pedigree.

Château Thénac is undoubtedly the finest wine from Bergerac that we’ve come across. The 2015 is deep in colour with notes of ripe plum, dark chocolate, and bramble. There’s plenty of grip here, with vanilla spice and a hint of cedar, and fresh, lifted acidity. This really punches above its modest price tag.

From the Durantou family of wines, this is a bottle that will never disappoint. There's a coolness here, but still so much fruit, and wonderful tannic structure. For a wine at this price point this will age brilliantly - everyone should have a bottle or two in their cellar.

The 2020 Tronquoy is one of the best wines we've tasted from this estate. It offers cocoa dusted cherry, graphite, wild herbs, green tobacco. Sleek and sinewy in the palate, a modern style with a lot of energy and precision while notes of graphite, violets and black tea add complexity. Very pure and sinewy in style with iodine and kelp notes – lovely tension and fluidity. A wine you'll want a few cases of for the years to come.

The 2019 La Gaffeliere is a drop-dead gorgeous St-Emilion: the best wine I have tasted from this historic estate. Violets on the nose, with a wonderfully refined, focussed palate. This is so long, and so moreish. A top buy in 2019.

Elena Pozzolini has brought this Tuscan estate, which borders the heralded Bolgheri region, to new heights and this Bordeaux blend displays the richness and concentration of the vintage with the restraint and focus that the Sette Cieli wines offer.

A bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a small % of Sangiovese that is aged in oak burgundy barrels for 2 years. Blackberry fruits and bramble fruits are supported with cassis and bell pepper notes as well as tobacco and cedar spice. Tannins are firm, yet have a suppleness to them.

Ormes de Pez is the kind of wine we buy year in, year out En Primeur here at Lay & Wheeler. Made by one of Bordeaux's most talented teams - the team behind Lynch-Bages - it's a wine that delivers spectacularly for its price. Savoury and focused in 2020, there's beautiful energy here: this is classic claret that will never cease to impress. In short, it's a cornerstone of your cellar in the years to come.

A wine to challenge the brilliance of the 2015 and 2016 at this estate, notes of small plums and blackberries, and wild violets. The palate is silky and voluminous but not overblown, and there’s charming detailing on the finish. An estate you should buy every year.

Tasted April 2023. This has the same bright red fruit character as La Gaffeliere, and has a lovely silky texture, with summer fruits on the palate and a chalky note to the finish. Balanced and pure, with a long finish and some taut, densely-packed tannin. Puyblanquet is a brilliant wine this year and a complete bargain.

Owned by the Vauthier family, of Château Ausone fame, Fonbel rarely fails to impress and in 2010 they have produced a truly beautiful wine. On the nose, notes of attractively pure dark fruit come through. On the palate, the core of fruit is fresh and fragrant and the tannins are well-refined, soft and expressive, giving this a deliciously layered texture. Poised and mineral on the finish, this offers excellent value for money.

Tasted April 2023. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot. Once again, Meyney is performing at the level of a classed growth, and remains brilliant value as a result. This estate, sandwiched between Montrose and Calon-Ségur, is in a great spot to manage the warm, dry conditions in 2022. The clay soils bring a welcome coolness, likewise their proximity to the river. There's a significant proportion of Petit Verdot, giving depth, concentration and spice. It's taut and structured, with ripe tannins, around a core of fleshy black fruit. We can't recommend it highly enough.

The blend is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has turned out well in 2010, producing a richly fruity, elegant style of Pomerol with loads of berry fruit, cedar wood and roasted herbs as well as hints of coffee bean and cedar. Rich, medium to full-bodied , but never losing its finesse (which is usually the style of La Croix de Gay), this wine should drink nicely for up to 15 years. 91 points, Robert Parker

Described by Bruno Borie at Ducru-Beaucaillou as being another expression of Ducru, rather than simply a second wine, this is a wine that has certainly seen an enormous increase in quality over recent vintages.

Very attractive and pure, perfumed, blueberry and blackcurrant nose, with creamy notes and a touch of graphite. On palate the fruit is pure and focused. The tannins are fine and accessible and the finish is fresh and of good fruit length. Gently expressed, very well balanced and likely to represent a fabulous quality to price ratio.

Deep and brooding, very mineral and fine, striking tannic structure and there's a depth to the fruit. Power, balance and intensity. Really impressively put together with energy and length.

Deep hedgerow fruit notes on the nose, which carry through onto a broad, expressive palate. Tannins here are quite robust, giving a delineated framework to the concentration of ripe fruit. Some oak comes through on the finish, but this is balanced by a vein of freshness.

Matthiasson are renowned for their elegant style, with earlier picking than their neighbours to protect the bright, expressive red cherry and bramble fruit. There's some floral lift here and subtle spice. A refreshing, appetising version of Napa Cabernet that remains excellent value.

Almost as deep as the Grand Vin, the aromas are scented and floral, with appealing dark cherry fruit to the fore. Revealing impressive intensity, with dark cherry and berry, there is the same fragrant and floral lift as evidenced in Ausone itself. Juicy and vibrant in style, this is an impressive Chapelle – very intense, and mineral to the finish, with a lush quality to the fruit.

Robert Parker: 93-95 points (Wine Advocate 188)

Jean-Michel Cazes' property is firing on all four cylinders in 2000. Dense in colour it has a feeling of warmth, richness and concentration only achieved in great years. The natural acidity on the finish will enable this wine to age and develop into a classic Pauillac. Fabulous!

Voluptuous with silky definition, l’Etoile is evidently the brainchild of the Vieux Chateau Certan outfit with a quality fleshy feel from the 85% merlot and gorgeous, perfumed fruit.

Ripe, scented, attractive and appealing, with a gently creamy, but mainly perfumed nose of red and black berry aromatics. Seamless texture and balanced weight. The fruit here is wonderfully pure, tannins are finely tuned and the wine is sustained by long, mineral freshness.

Robert Parker: 94-98+ points (Wine Advocate 188)

Another top ‘Cru Bourgeois’ that is owned and run by the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages and which makes rich, fine quality wines. Attractive on the nose, with notes of cassis and wet stones. There is a creamy touch to the fruit on the palate and a rich nature. None-the-less, the minerality that one comes to expect from St-Estèphe adds a delightful balancing freshness, giving this a sense of elegance in an opulent vintage.

Very intense in the glass with floral-edged, dark-berry fruit and a pure, sweet note of ripeness. The palate reveals a soft, fruit-laden attack and glorious depth, with layer upon layer of sumptuous fruit. Beneath the fruit there is an assertive, underlying structure but with more than enough substance to balance out. A long-term effort a grand vin in the truest sense.

“Joseph Phelps’ flagship wines include the incredibly ageworthy Insignia. The 2012 Insignia Proprietary Red is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, all aged 24 months in 100% new French oak. The vintage was of such high quality and quantity that 17,500 cases were produced. A magnificent Insignia that will be bottled in several months, it boasts an opaque purple color as well as fabulous notes of graphite, blackberries, blackcurrant liqueur, camphor, barbecue smoke and spice box. Rich, full-bodied and opulent with plenty of tannin and structure lurking beneath the extravagant generosity of fruit, this stunning 2012 should drink well for 25-30+ years.”
(96-100) points, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

With 30 hectares of vineyards situated next to those of Lagrange (and averaging 40 years old), winemaking expertise straight from over-achieving super-second Ducru-Beaucaillou (and the investment that comes with it), Lalande-Borie is really starting to show great potential. The blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc has produced a lovely wine for medium-term ageing. It is already very approachable and displays a juicy and fresh texture, dominated by black cherries and a hint of red fruits.

"This is one of my all-time favorite wines from Domaine de Chevalier, a silky, rather classic Pessac-Leognan with notes of scorched earth, tobacco leaf and black and red currants, but no hard edges. Fragrant, complex aromatics are followed by a savory, expansively flavored wine made from a final blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine hit 13.5% natural alcohol, which must certainly be among the highest they have ever achieved, even eclipsing the 2009. An opulent, precocious style of wine that seems much more developed, complex and delicious than I thought from barrel, this beauty can be drunk in 5-6 years or cellared for 20 or more. " 95 points, Robert Parker

One of the outstanding wines of the vintage. Scents are an amalgam of opulent, profound and sumptuous black fruits and spices whilst the palate is both rich and luscious with perfect harmony of tannins, fruit and acidity. An ultra-generous and lace-textured pauillac.

Concentrated, with considerable yet very fine-grained tannins, this is incredibly impressive. Blackcurrant notes and pencil shavings abound, with freshness and real complexity. A wine that is punching way above its price point, this still has a considerable, and exciting, future ahead.

Scented dark fruits on the nose, with notes of plum and damson. On the palate, this is supremely elegant, with finely expressed tannins and a voluptuous fruit core. Mouthfilling and rich, yet balanced by freshness that ensures that this wine remains a charming and attractive Moulin-St-Georges.

“What a wonderful 2009 from La Croix de Gay, as a new chapter opens in its history. It is blessed with a beautiful, very pure bouquet with floral red cherries strawberry and a touch of marmalade and apricot blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins, great precision with fine mineralite and length. Superb.” Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 92 Points (January 2010)


“A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc from this well-situated vineyard on the plateau of Pomerol… [I]t displays plenty of kirsch, sweet cherries and red currants along with some sandy/loamy soil and roasted herb notes in a very sexy, up-front, lush, medium to full-bodied style. There’s not a hard edge to be found in this La Croix de Gay…” Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 Points (February 2012)

Dense and opaque in the glass. With coaxing, aromas of sweet cassis, blackcurrant leaf and wet gravel reluctantly emerge. The initial impression is one of cool, fresh ripe fruit. This is so streamlined, rich and dense (perhaps more so than many young Lafite of the last decade) and has staggering purity. A textural style, on account of silken, round tannins and seamless, with pure fruit of soft-skinned blackcurrant, allied to notes of tobacco leaf and graphite. There is a racy, focused linear nature to this vintage, with concentration gradually building across the palate. Long, refined and driven, this is a bold Lafite with considerable power, yet always retaining hallmark refinement. Just how great this is, time will tell. Exceptional.

Robert Parker: 98-100 points (Wine Advocate 188)

In this vintage Carruades comprises near equal proportions of Cabernet and Merlot, with around 10% of Cabernet Franc. The quality of the second wine of Lafite continues to impress: deep appearance in the glass, with a smooth flowing texture and ample dark mulberry and currant fruit. The 2005 seems more generous than previous Carruades with a pleasing weight and a peppery touch to the tannins. Fresh and pure, this is classic pauillac.

The 2019 Seña is a vibrant, ripe, yet incredibly refined red from this iconic estate. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 15% Carmenère, and 4% Petit Verdot, it shows refinement of tannins, poise, and a long and stony finish. There’s tons of energy here, and a slightly smoky finish. This is quintessentially Chilean, but with real poise.

Nicely pure on the nose, with fresh blackcurrant and a hint of plum. There’s a floral element here, and silky, sensuous, cool tannins. Brilliant length and a juicy, mouthwatering finish.

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, picked in four separate passes through the vineyards. The fruit leaps out of the glass, even at this early stage: lovely intense cassis and raspberries, with a fresh edge of blackcurrant leaf and herbs. Winemaker Alexandre Thienpont accurately describes the texture of the tannins as 'cashmere' and the wine as 'archi-classique'. Great purity and elegance, with a tightrope quality, an unusually delicate concentration, which promises a great future. Legendary.

Once one of the most highly thought of properties in Bordeaux at the time of the 1855 Classification, Château Rauzan-Ségla's reputation declined over the years until it was bought by Chanel in 1993. Since then, substantial investment and the influence of talented wine-maker John Kolassa has led to this property undergoing a major turn-around and it now produces some of the finest Margaux in any vintage. Charming nose of creamy cassis fruit. The palate shows a fresh, vibrant fruit character with black and red fruit spreading across the mid-palate. Beautifully textured with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannin giving length to this appealing Rauzan.

This is an excellent second wine from Les Carmes Haut-Brion, undoubtedly one of the most-improved estate in Pessac-Léognan in recent years. The vintage was saved by an Indian summer, hence this cuvée's increased proportion of late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, giving it uncommon backbone for a wine of this price.

This château exemplifies the fine quality available from the more humble estates in 2010. A well defined taut and linear structure is balanced by ripe concentrated fruit with a supple texture and good density. Well pitched and one of the successful gems of the Médoc. Described by Robert Parker as “under-valued and tast[ing] like a mini-version of the well-known Pauillac, Grand-Puy-Lacoste”.

The 2020 Château La Gaffelière is another incredible wine from this estate, that's producing some of the finest wines on the right bank right now. Chiselled and precise, with lots of energy, this manages to balance the solar character of the vintage, with real purity and precision. An incredible wine, and one of the picks of the vintage.

Charming, with sweet-ripe fruit characters awoken in the glass. On the palate, this has a glossy, plum and damson nature, offset by enlivening violet notes. A dart of minerality and a swathe of silky-fine tannins are balanced by seductive fruit, but this a subtle wine that carries its weight and structure with great poise and grace.

A deliciously approachable claret that opens with fleshy bramble and hedgerow fruit with a little savoury accent of tobacco and wild herbs. Mid-weight and bright, this is soft and supple on the palate with an easy charm. Excellent value.

Picked at optimum ripeness following cool nights in the vineyard, which led to high natural acids and a fresh structure, the palate was immediately perfumed. Almost black in the glass, it nevertheless showed sweet ripe summer fruits and fine, mouthcoating, tannins. A prickly acidity keeps all that structure in place and leads onto a long, rich finish. An excellent performance from this property.

The 2018 Serre Nuove is another stunning second wine from Ornellaia. A blend of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 17% Petit Verdot, it’s an elegant, spicy wine from this legendary estate, with wonderful freshness and a rich core of black fruit. Very long indeed: brilliantly put together.

Petit Eglise is a wine of stunning quality. The second wine of Château Eglise-Clinet, it is a wine of epic proportions on every level. A wonderfully expressive and complex nose is jam packed with dark plummy fruit, but there is a really appealing meaty and spicy note. The palate is opulent and gorgeously smooth, with the most amazing mouthfeel. Sweet black fruit, chocolate and coffee notes are underpinned by massive, superfine tannins and balanced by just enough acid to retain freshness. A wine of depth, balance and truly seductive nature.

One of the oldest estates in the Médoc producing a classic and typical Pauillac.
Complex on the nose, with notes of cassis, chocolate and mocha, with a hint of cloves and cinnamon. Blackberries, chocolate notes and cream texture, with nuances of vanilla and nutmeg on the palate, there is a real plush richness to this wine. It is held together beautifully with very well integrated tannins and a soft vein of acidity running through the finish. An excellent wine that should not be missed!

The vintage conditions at Vieux Château Certan were somewhat reminiscent of 1988, with a dry but not too hot summer that favoured Cabernet Franc. There is only one word to describe the result here: stunning. Very ripe plum characters, with a leather and tobacco edge, are beguiling. The texture is simply magnificent, with plenty of richness yet retaining a fresh edge, extremely fine tannins and a fantastic length. A Pomerol classic in the making.

Initially a little closed on the nose, this is awoken to give dark berry notes and a touch of woodsmoke. On the palate, appealingly fresh, with notes of cassis and red berries to the fore. Tannins are well-integrated, giving this a silky-texture. Very good Cru Bourgeois Margaux and excellent value.

A great vintage, and a great Pomerol. This is one of the finest Conseillantes made, one with an incredibly long lifespan ahead.

Bought by Cheval-Blanc in 2006 and located next-door to the property. This has a beautifully scented nose of violets, cloves and ripe red cherries. The lovely fruit intensity on the mid-palate is framed by silky, ethereal tannins and a vein of acidity that make this wine both elegant and concentrated. Exquisitely balanced, with a persistent finish.

Robert Parker: 92-94 points (Wine Advocate 188)

Perfumed on the nose, this is restrained, with a cool, menthol aspect to its ripe creamy fruit. There is a terrific freshness and purity to this vintage, as well as wonderfully ripe blackcurrant fruit. A linear style, with plenty of racy, fine tannins courtesy of an elevated, impeccable Cabernet component. Again, another classically proportioned style with impressive length – surely one of the finest vintages for d’Armailhac.

Pure, lifted cassis nose - ripe and perfumed. Lovely grace through the mid-palate, giving a layered feel to the fresh berry fruit-laden palate. The tannins are gently mineral on a finish of fresh, fruit skin grip. An elegant Langoa, which shows a classy lightness of touch.

One can't help but be impressed by Château Ausone, set at the top of a tortuously twisted road, with its caves and chapelle dug into the limestone cliff. It is a fittingly romantic location for one of the world's greatest wines. A blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, this is dark and brooding in the glass. The nose is exceedingly rich and dense, with attractive black cherry and bramble fruit characters. The tannins are firm and structured, yet ripe and well integrated with the rich core of dark cherry, cassis and damson fruit. A stony minerality and a dart of refreshing acidity reflect the terroir and lend backbone to the rich succulent fruit.

Deep brilliant purple colour with a strikingly rich herbaceous and cinnamon essenced aroma. In the mouth there is a wonderfully enticing, almost gamy character supported by sweet black fruit flavours. This is a tremendously concentrated wine with an incredible weight of fruit which truly expresses the wine's origins. Full and flavoursome.

The commune of St-Estèphe has enjoyed particular success in this challenging vintage. A very different style from Lafon-Rochet, for here the accent is on restraint and finesse. The wine has good colour and is medium bodied with defined yet supple tannins. The elegance is particularly appealing, not overstated but fine-tuned and reserved with a long and attractive finish. Phélan Ségur is definitely an estate to watch, and major value for the vintage.

The commune of St-Estèphe has enjoyed particular success in this challenging vintage. A very different style from Lafon-Rochet, for here the accent is on restraint and finesse. The wine has good colour and is medium bodied with defined yet supple tannins. The elegance is particularly appealing, not overstated but fine-tuned and reserved with a long and attractive finish. Phélan Ségur is definitely an estate to watch, and major value for the vintage.

Hard to believe but the quality here is still on the up! Jean-Guillaume Prats is clearly maximising the full potential of this Cabernet-dominant cuvée. In fact, the assemblage here comprises 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. In the glass, a wine of great colour with pronounced tobacco nuances as well as clove and cinnamon spice on the nose. The superlative quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon really shines through, defined, structured and powerful. Despite great extract and depth, the balance here is so fine it can be described as elegant despite the power and personality that it exudes. A fine, long finish – a truly memorable Cos.

Very primary at the moment on the nose, with dark fruits, violet notes, and a sprinkling of well-integrated sweet fruit. In the mouth the power builds, but the thread of freshness ensures a weightless quality. With excellent acidity, fine-grained tannins, and intensity of flavour, the 2013 Caro has all the characteristics required for a long life ahead.

This is perfectly aged claret: a wine from an area for those in the know. There's beautifully pure fruit, with notes of dried plums, graphite, and store cupboard spice. The tannins are finely judged, with drive on the finish. All in all, an excellent wine.

Deep, dense and almost opaque in colour with a restrained nose of cassis and plum. The palate has a core of dark fruit, cedar wood and a rich violet edge. There is firm structure here but the tannins are ripe and well integrated. Styled in a similar vein to the highly impressive grand vin, this shows terrific promise.

The recent run of strong wines from Malescot has continued in some style with the 2009. Vivid, bright nose of ripe fruit, both red and black. This has the ripeness of fruit and a lovely silky texture, in a structured medium bodied style. There is a lot of volume here, but backed up by a degree of restraint that makes it very appealing and a winning combination of both vintage and commune.

Robert Parker: 95-97 points (Wine Advocate 188)

Le Boscq overlooks the Gironde, on a deep gravel bank. It gets better and better: the 2019 might just be the best yet. It’s a wine for the cellar: one that really over delivers.

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah. The 2018 Bard is a showcase of the best Cabernet the Valley had to offer in this widely celebrated vintage. It's got a fantastic balance of intensity and power, with dense cassis and black plum with rich chocolately texture, and fresh, vibrant floral notes of violet and lavender, along with woody herbs. Incredible mouth-coating texture and richness, this also shows enough grip to age gracefully for years to come. A seriously exciting Napa wine.

Floral and expressive, haunting aromatics with wonderful ripeness of fruit. Palate is very textured and fresh, and very saline. Impressive density and length on the finish. This is wonderful.

Power and depth on the nose, cassis and blueberries. The 2018 is a brooding monster, with a touch of pot pourri and of volcanic stones. Such detailing and layers, touch of herbs but also so much red liquorice. It’s fine and silky, and such intensity and complexity. Keeps unfurling, floral delicacy, saline and iodine high points, ensuring this remains savoury and layered. A perfect wine?

Lalande de Pomerol is an appellation that is often overlooked, but that seems to have worked well in 2015. This has a good density of sweet, ripe fruit without being overbearing. It has a good balance of acidity and fine-grained tannins, with a roundness to the finish.

58% Cabernet, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot make up the 2011 blend. Baptiste Cuvelier rates the 2011 as 2008++ and I agree. It has the same freshness, but with more flesh. Raspberry and violet aromas lead into a concentrated but elegant palate of juicy fruit, fine tannic structure and excellent length. Very fine and excellent value.

A consistently high performing château.The wine shows sweet, ripe blackcurrant fruit with notes of
cedar on the palate.The tannins lend definition and structure for cellaring.A graceful wine with a
natural balance and a long finish. Great value, which will reward cellaring.

Owner Mme Gasqueton is clearly very pleased with this vintage, and rightly so. Careful selection from healthy fruit (roughly 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, the rest Cabernet Franc) has produced a fragrant wine, with ripe, dense black and red fruit on the mid-palate, hints of spice and beautifully melted tannins. Very well balanced with a long finish.

Splendid in 2003. The partnership of wine-maker Michel Raoul, consultant oenologist Jacques Boissenot and the Barton family has chalked up successes in each and every vintage of the last twenty years. Abundant black fruits on the nose and palate – blackberry, cassis, plum and blueberry are all here – plus spices, and graphite (lead pencil), ably supported by a firm mattress of structured tannins. This is a prodigiously-built Barton – huge colour, power and concentration – yet there is no lack of harmony nor the indefinable saint-julien elegance.

The 2017 Caro is a really impressive, structured wine. Dark and intense, with lots of grippy tannins and a very fine finish, this will be brilliant in a few years. The best yet?

A mini Ornellaia, this second wine is made up of a Bordeaux blend of Merlot (44%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Cabernet Franc (13%) and Petit Verdot (13%). 2020 saw rather changeable weather with very long periods followed by heavy rainfall and drops in temperature, resulting in a longer harvest than usual to enable the different varieties were picked at optimum ripeness and condition. A combination of hand picking, sorting tables at the winery as well as the addition of an optical sorter in 2016 has resulted in a wine that is of impressive quality. The wine is aged in French barriques (25% new) for 15 months before being bottled and remains in bottle for a futher 6 months prior to release. The winemaker believes the 2020 is reminiscent of 2018, 2013 and 2010, and having tasted all three recently, this wine is destined for great things. Expect red plums and red wild berry perfume, combined with liquorice spice and herbal undertones.

Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, but with a whole host of supporting grapes ranging from the expected to the totally unexpected, this is surely the Languedoc's greatest wine. The 2016 is impressive, with amazing balance between concentration of flavour and freshness. Unfortunately, yields were way down in 2016 - so this is a wine that needs to be bought on first release.

Friends Arnaud and Christophe craft this fine St-Emilion from just 1.8 hectares of vines. 2019 is their maiden vintage, and the result is absolutely stunning. Fresh with floral lift and perfectly ripe cherry and black plum fruit. Beautifully silky tannins and a hint of toasty oak in the background. Definitely one to watch.

Some of this fast-improving Château’s plots of vines touch the vineyards of Château Margaux, and the quality of its illustrious neighbour has certainly rubbed off in 2015. A silky, sensuous texture, with ripe yet pure fruit and a well defined finish, this shows Margaux’s classic power and precision.

A broad, deep wine of volume and depth which, whilst not expressive at this young stage, displays stature and sheer class. Ripe fruit, almost liqueur-like in its intensity, covers fine tight-grained tannin, given focus by an underlying fresh minerality. A wine of precision and delicacy, with an incredibly persistent finish and highly-nuanced complexity. Complete in every way and, although it is currently quite subdued in character, be assured that this classy wine will blossom into a spectacular one.

Robert Parker: 98-100 points (Wine Advocate 188)

The 2016 Rahoul is a blend of 60% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot picked from 28 September until 10 October. It has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry, sandalwood and light smoky aromas. I like the focus and detail of this Rahoul. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, very refined with nicely integrated new oak and a long, quite sensual finish. You know, this is a very good Rahoul that will surpass the excellent 2015.

A nose of exotic spice and ripe plums, with a hint of spearmint, this is a fresh, complex, yet generous Pomerol. There’s lovely length, and a silky, suave mouthfeel. A fantastic vintage for l’Evangile, this class has rubbed off on the second wine.

When asked whether the Château was having to change anything to compensate for climate change, Marie Descotis, who heads up the Château's research and development department, explained that their terroir is proving to be perfect for the somewhat warmer and drier conditions over the last few years, allowing their Cabernet Sauvignon to flourish. The blend this year is made up of 86% of this Cabernet, 10% Merlot and the rest split between Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The resultant wine is the most concentrated they have ever produced, yet it is also incredibly poised and balanced. Dark berry fruits, notes of woodsmoke and spice come through on the nose. The palate is immediately fresh and pure, with a layered sense of fine tannin, depth and power. There is a graphite-like grip to the structure, a definite minerality and a core of cool-natured, classic fruit. Despite the concentration and density in the wine, the balance is such as to give it an almost approachable sensation. Beautiful rather than pretty, this is an elegant and refined wine that shows what could be achieved in 2011 with great terroir and a deft hand.

“The 2011 Le Serre Nuove is striking for its beauty and symmetry. Some vintages of Le Serre Nuove are open and radiant, others are more structured. The 2011 seems to bring together elements of both in a wine of superb pedigree and pure class. Mocha, dark raspberries, tobacco and grilled herbs all flesh out on the inviting, vivid finish. Today, the 2011 is absolutely singing and points to a spectacular vintage at Tenuta dell'Ornellaia. This is impressive juice. In 2011 the blend is 57% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 12% Cabernet Franc. The relatively high amounts of both Petit Verdot and Franc are very much felt.”

94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Expressive on the nose, with notes of dark hedgerow fruits and a touch of spice. The palate is broad and expansive, with vibrant fruit characters offset by dense, finely-tuned tannins. A Margaux in the classic vein.

Perfumed on the nose, this has attractive notes of dark berry fruits. On the palate, this has a layered texture, with good density to the rich, dark fruit character. The tannins are fine and ripe, giving an appealing layered texture to this impressive Haut-Bages-Liberal.

"This 100% Merlot cuvée (which, during this era, came from the choicest parcels of La Croix de Gay) is a rich, concentrated, extracted Pomerol with a dense ruby/purple color, sweet mocha, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, some licorice and truffle. It is medium to full-bodied, still quite young, but very approachable." 90+ points, eRobertParker.com #219
Jun 2015

Catena and the Rothschilds continue to show what can be achieved in Mendoza. The 2015 Caro is superb: blackberries and plums, with notes of fresh herbs and smoke. It’s beautifully balanced, with ripe tannins and a freshness that gives a touch of salinity. Already impressive, and there’s clearly a long life ahead of this.

“The 2011 Napanook is deep, rich and intense for the year. Plums, mocha, spices, licorice all flesh out in an inviting wine to drink now and over the next few years. The 2011 has no hard edges or greenness, but the medium-bodied structure suggests it is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc.” 91 points, Antonio Galloni, VinousMedia.com

This is a classic Italian red, with notes of crushed herbs, wild morello cherries, and also plenty of citrus fruit. The palate is cool and structured, with beautifully refined tannins, and plenty of minerality. Blind, you’d think this was worth a lot more.

Mas de Daumas Gassac’s quirky blend has earned it many fans over the years. It really works in 2020, with its heady, dark, black fruit aromas. The main component of Cabernet Sauvignon gives it structure and tannic backbone, whilst Merlot fleshes out the mid-palate. Spiced notes from Petit Verdot and a herbaceous lift from Cabernet Franc help add complexity. So far, so Bordelais… But the Mas de Daumas has an extra edge, engendered through the baking southern sun of the Languedoc, and the unusual components of Tannat and Pinot Noir that also play supporting roles. The overall impression is a rich, full-bodied wine, with a dried herb-scented lift, and fine, peppery tannins.

Luxurious and coated with ripe stone fruit flavours. Dense and concentrated.

Brilliant, ageworthy Bordeaux, with red and black bramble fruit, mineral notes, truffle and then light smoke and graphite as it develops in the glass. The tannins are resolving, leaving the palate silky and supple. Medium-bodied, fresh and appetising, with years ahead it of despite considerable time in bottle already.

La Garde sits on a gravel bank above Latour-Martillac, and offers some of the best value we know of. It's classic claret, with black fruits, as well as classic Pessac smokiness, and well-judged, matte tannins. Such a great bottle to have in your cellar, particularly at this price.

This is one of the oldest estates in the Médoc, and in 2019 it’s produced a superlative Margaux. Plush on the palate, with plenty of silky tannins, and a very fine thread of acidity, it a model of balance from Emmanuel Cruse.

A source of excellent St-Emilion at an excellent price, the 2019 Pavie-Macquin from Nicolas Thienpont really delivers. Showing richness of fruit, but maintaining freshness, it’s a blend of 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.

A vintage where St-Estèphe has soared makes this a smart buy. Such expressive juicy fruit, amazing power and definition, great balance and power. The finish long and floral and lots of iodine and sea spray. Complex, this punches way out of its league. The best ever.

The 2018 Ducru has 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s deep and intense and powerful, lovely cassis and floral and gorgeous intensity. It shows a more serious side of St Julien: this is a wine that will go the distance.

A blend of 90% Merlot and 10 % Cabernet Franc. This wine has a vigorous attack, concentrated and full bodied with density and tannin. This is a powerful wine and is notably muscular compared to its Pomerol peers. That said, the fruit is supple and round and there is precision, control and freshness. Yet another great success for Denis Durantou.

Notes of plum and dark cherry mould with silky tannins and graphite hints, and remarkable length for a wine of this price. It comes from young vines throughout the estate, including some from the celebrated ‘L’enclos’ vineyard. It’s a wonderful taste of Château Latour.

Under the same ownership and vinified by the team at neighbouring Château Cheval Blanc, the star of La Tour du Pin is most certainly in the ascendant. An aromatic red floral nose leads on to a red cherry and raspberry fruit dominated palate. Fleshy and full on the mid palate, finishing on a subtle note of dark chocolate and spice, the tannins, fruit and acidity are harmonious.

Made in tiny quantities, this, the second wine of acclaimed Château Evangile, represents great value in 2011 vintage. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, it represents 27% of production at the estate this year. Described by Robert Parker as “an elegant, dark ruby-hued, medium-weight wine offering notes of raspberries, licorice, herbs and earth.”

The second wine of Château Lafite, Carruades always offers a more approachable expression of the Grand Vin, but in 2011 it has truly excelled. Deep purple hues and notes of pure cassis and fresh, juicy blackberry are followed on the palate by an almost sweet, rounded texture and a firm tannic structure. The whole is expertly balanced and quite delicious.

One of last year's success stories, this wine continues in fine form in this vintage. While initially quite closed on the nose, perfumed fruit comes through with time. Layered on the palate, with fine tannins and a subtle structural minerality, melded with a core of glossy fruit.

Made from a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Merlot, this is an open and expressive wine, with a glossy, approachable dark fruit nature. On the palate the fine, ripe tannins give this a powerful and full-bodied nature but, when combined with the freshness of this vintage, they make this a stylistically very well-balanced example. Very long on the finish, but fruit- rather than tannin-driven.

Appealingly fragrant on the nose, Berliquet 2010 exhibits a robust tannic structure and full-bodied ripe fruit with hints of fresh herbaceousness and spicy cloves. Some minerality and savoury character on the lingering finish. This is a good example of modern, rich and full St Emilion.

This wine presents a counterpoint to some of the opaquely structured and tannic wines from the left bank in this vintage. Owned and made by the team responsible for Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Haut-Batailley has a bright, expressive and fluid concentration of fruit. The structure, weight and tannin are presented with a lightness of touch, class and elegance. This is thoughtful and considered winemaking.

Léoville-Poyferré have been exhibiting the class of their terroir in increasingly impressive fashion and the 2010 is no exception. Stunning purity of fruit dominates the nose, with crême de cassis brought into the ethereal by lighter, more floral notes of freshly picked violets. Anyone able to move on from this beguiling perfume will find a rich, almost chocolatey palate with ripe cherries, reminiscent of black forest gâteau. This impressive wine is completed by a very long finish - surely one of the wines of the vintage?

A higher than normal percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon was used in the blend (73%), chiefly because the quality of the Cabernet grapes was superior to the Merlot. The remaining 27% was Merlot though, adding flesh to the classic Cabernet bones, which are unmistakeable this year. Aged largely in new oak barrels, the resultant wine is dominated by raw power, allied to a savoury complexity that hints at a long and distinguished life. The palate itself is closed as yet, but shows very tightly-wound, attractive fruit. Very Cabernet despite the Merlot content. A marzipan note comes through on the finish, balancing the acidity that makes for an appetizing whole. Very fresh, and very long.

Ripe and opulently styled, with a rich, glossy texture that is well-balanced by a lighter touch to the tannin and overall mid-weight nature of the palate. Extroverted in character, it also carries a layered depth and multidimensional complexity to give an accomplished, complete wine.

Robert Parker: 95-97+ points (Wine Advocate 188)

This has an inviting nose of almost-crystalline red fruit, with an earthy, almost black truffle like, mineral backdrop. On the palate, this shows great ripeness and harmony at this early stage, as well as a long, refreshing finish. Assured and elegant, an excellent example of how good the 2009 vintage can be.

Thanks to huge investment in both vineyard and winery from M. Frey, La Lagune is improving with every vintage. With notes crushed bramble fruit, woodsmoke and violets on the nose, this is really enticing. The palate has a rich, firm feel, with sweet, grippy tannin, lots of black berry fruit and a long complex finish of vanilla and liquorice.

Robert Parker: 94-96 points (Wine Advocate 188)

The nose is heady and opulent and dominated by intense cassis fruit. Plenty of volume here, the fruit is super ripe, but not at all over done, and the tannins are integrated into the wine. This has some structure, but it is the fruit that makes this wine. The finish is long and it is only here the tannins finally show. This is very persuasive.

Almost exotic on the nose, with plenty of cassis, lead pencil and spice. Classic in style, with the ripe fruit nature kept nicely in check by a fine framework of tannin and acidity. While approachable in youth, this will give so much more with a little time in the bottle.

Vivid fruit intensity, with clarity, purity and a creamy-textured accent. This is a wine of intensity and depth of character, which carries the ripeness of the vintage with a restrained elegance and poise. Delineated, with a pinpoint focus, this wine is well-honed and balanced, in a natural fresh style. Perfectly judged and highly impressive.

Robert Parker: 94-96 points (Wine Advocate 188)

The 2009 Ducru Beaucaillou will eclipse the brilliant wines produced in 2005, 2003 and 2000. It will be interesting to see how the 2009 fares against the 2010 after twenty years of aging, but my money is on the 2009. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that achieved 13.5% natural alcohol, this inky purple, unctuous wine possesses classic aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, blueberries, violets, licorice and Christmas fruitcake. Full-bodied and intense with Ducru's inimitable elegance and purity, it should firm up in the bottle after 7-10 years of cellaring and last for 40-50 years. Magnificent!

100 Points - Robert Parker

Opaque, brooding in hue, the aromas suggest scented, spice-laden cassis, black fruit and cardamom. The abundant juicy berry fruit on the palate shows a distinct minty lift. Seriously intense, layered and opulent, there is simply layer upon layer of gloriously textured fruit, with elements of mocha, chocolate and toast. Effortless – the tannins are superfine, sweet and round. Will this ever close down? This is a wine with a gradually building sense of concentration and a distinct mineral, gravelly touch on the finish. So refined and well-balanced, this is a wine that has the potential to be one of two or three best Mouton vintages since the legendary 1986.

Robert Parker: 96-98+ points (Wine Advocate 188)

Scented, sweet, restrained berry aromas with a cedary aspect. The success of the Grand Vin is shared here. This is admirably fresh and pure with a juicy, dark berry nature and a surprisingly layered intensity, all of which is coupled with notes of blackcurrant leaf and toast. Streamlined and harmonious, the tannins are round and unobtrusive, making for a glossy, appealing Carruades. Very polished, with fine intensity and length, this is comfortably the finest Carruades ever made. A very attractive, classical style.


Robert Parker: 92-94+ points (Wine Advocate 188)

The redoubtable Madame Gasqueton continues to produce some of the most appealing and finest wines not just of St-Estèphe but the entire Médoc.This deeply coloured wine is marked by noticeable freshness on both the nose and palate. Currant and dark berry fruits dominate in a palate that is full and long. The tannins are almost invisible which only adds to the appeal.This is atypical for a st-éstèphe being almost accessible now due to the fine balance and deep fruit overlaying the tannins. A fine result for Calon-Ségur.

A six hectare property that is located opposite Château Angélus. Bellevue
is under the same stewardship as Pavie-Macquin, with the highly
reputed Nicolas Thienpont and his capable team responsible for
winemaking. A 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc assemblage, Bellevue
reveals a rich, generous nose, with open, luscious, spicy fruit on the
palate. As usual, this is a wine with a solid structure, yet we found a
genuine refinement in the wine and juicy flamboyance.

Made with a higher Merlot content than its “big brother”, the esteemed Château Léoville-Las-Cases,
Clos du Marquis has a great sense of richness. Fragrant raspberry characters come through on the
nose, leading on to almost chocolatey dark berry fruit on the palate.

An exemplary cru bourgeois Pauillac that is produced by the wine making team at Pichon Longueville (Baron) led by Christian Seely and the talented technical director Jean-René Matignon. A 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvée that displays juicy, cassis inspired scents and flavours. We admire the freshness and purity of this wine which, as Jean-René explained, benefits from a gentle approach in vinification that avoids over-extraction. However Pibran is not without substance and the harmony of the 2006 is impressive.

Attractive bramble and currant fruit notes on the nose, with floral nuances. On the palate, the tannins are fine grained and there is a core of pure, concentrated blackcurrant and blueberry fruit. This wine is all about purity, a characteristic emphasised by a vein of freshness with cool, stony minerality running throughout. This is a near-perfect example of textbook margaux. Very good indeed.

Deep in the glass, with ripe currant and dark berry aromas. A layered, natural style on the palate, effortless and round, with a bright acidity. There is a sense of fine precision here, and a distinct minerality. Very textural with a fine ripeness to the expansive berry fruit. Mid-weight, pure and refined, Les Forts lacks the muscle or structure of the grand vin, but works so well, with its harmony and striking purity. Long and poised.

A terrific Las Cases that is clearly one of the wines of the Left Bank vintage. Although analytical profiles are not the ‘be all and end all’ in determining quality, it is interesting to note regisseur Bruno Rolland comments that alcohol, acidity and tannin levels of the 2006 exceed those achieved in 2005, a fabulous wine in an extraordinary vintage. Very dark, almost opaque, Scents of cassis vie with floral notes. The palate is voluminous, the first impression is of power and strength, yet there is a seamless quality and extraordinary length in this Las Cases which is brimming with cassis, blueberry and Victoria plum flavours. Strength allied to elegance, power with finesse. Tasted blind, this would be more reminiscent of Pauillac than Saint-Julien. Fine quality from an estate with an impeccable track record.

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 176: Clearly a wine made for future generations, Clos de Sarpe, with its tendency for tiny yields of under 25 hectoliters per hectare, has fashioned a 1,000 case blend of 85% Merlot and the rest old vine Cabernet Franc. Over recent vintages, this wine has been among the most concentrated and formidably tannic and backward made in Bordeaux. A claret for those with 19th century tastes, it offers good purity, ripe tannin, and an extraordinary display of concentration, extract, power, and tannic clout. The 2005 is a mammoth yet incredibly well-balanced St.-Emilion that represents an anomaly in modern day winemaking. It is a pleasure to see a proprietor push the envelope and create a wine that will be appreciated for 40-50 years. Classic sweet black cherry, licorice, roasted herb, and underbrush characteristics are present in this formidable, full-bodied, powerful wine. 95+ points.

Tasted no less than five times during April and impressive on every occasion. A wine that portrays the Margaux terroir ‘to the letter’ with its floral character, vibrance and finesse. Finely honed and precise with carefully handled vinification that avoids over-extraction and manipulation. Since acquiring the estate in 1989, Hubert Perrado has renovated the château and invested in the vineyard with resulting improvement and consistency in the property’s wines. A delicious and expressive 2005 that marries concentration with finesse. One of the leading crus bourgeois of the 2005 vintage.

RObert Parker, Wine Advocate # 176: Probably the greatest Pape-Clement ever made, the dense purple-colored 2005 (a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits sumptuous notes of smoky scorched earth, graphite, melted licorice, and blackberries. Once past the exquisite perfume, the wine reveals full body, extraordinary concentration, plenty of chocolate, smoke, cassis, and blackberry flavors, and that unmistakable volcanic ash-like earthiness that comes from this appellation. The tannins are slightly sweeter than those found in most northern Medocs, but this is still a backward, large-scaled effort that requires 7-8 years of cellaring. 98 points.

2005 Les Ormes de Pez comprises 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. There is a creamy touch to the fruit revealed on the nose, while the palate delivers a lovely intensity, mid weight with pleasing texture. This is not light on substance but retains a fine sense of poise and refinement. The tannins are well expressed, gently gripping and adding focus to this appealing wine.

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 176: We haven’t seen a Clinet this good since the late Jean-Michel Arcaute’s stunning duo of 1989 and 1990. This dense ruby/purple-tinged, exotic 2005 boasts soaring aromas of roasted herbs, plums, black currants, and caramelized chocolate. Savory, broad, and expansive with sensational purity, intensity, and length, this beauty possesses so much fruit and glycerin that it nearly hides the substantial tannins. 92 points.

It is immediately apparent that this is from the same winemaking stable as first growth Mouton-Rothschild. The blend here comprises 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, a little Petit Verdot and the seldom seen Carmenère. Sweet, open attractive red and dark berry fruits on the nose, with a note of creamy vanillin. There is a sense of opulence on the palate with characters of soft fleshy summer fruits, blackcurrant and toast. It reveals good substance on the mid-palate, but is nonetheless much more elegant than the norm here with no harsh edges, just a little firm, yet fine tannin on the finish. A more than worthy inclusion – our first purchase for some time. Very good indeed.

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 176: Sweet, toasty, oaky notes interwoven with hints of black olives, blackberries, cassis, and spice box are found in this densely saturated ruby/purple-hued 2005. While rich, with impressive concentration and purity, it is also tannic, full-bodied, and painfully backward and foreboding. This is another long-term prospect that will require patience. 91 points.

Comprises 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Scents of bright brambly fruit steeped with cinnamon. Displays volume and concentration but with a sumptuous, cushioned texture and combines structure with textbook margaux flair, elegance and charm. A flattering du Tertre with a sensuous lacy feel. Proprietor Eric Albada Jelgersma’s purchase of the property (and Giscours) has raised the profile of this estate and lifted quality to its best ever levels. A delightful du Tertre that is strongly recommended.

On tasting it becomes immediately apparent that Haut-Batailley is crafted in much the same way as its stable partner, Grand-Puy-Lacoste. The assemblage is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot – marginally more Cabernet than the norm. The aromas here suggest leafy blackcurrant and plum with a fresh accent. The palate is open with good richness for its level. Mid-weight with a lovely sense of vibrance and balance. A deft silky texture with characters of pure dark berry and stone-fruits render this immensely appealing. The tannins are once more finely-expressed, exuding a gentle, precise grip. Finely-tuned, cedary and elegant – very much in keeping with the style of Grand-Puy-Lacoste.

The palate oozes the purest of fruit flavours, a palate that is both vibrant and sensuous yet underneath the ripeness, tannins provide impressive support. Poyferré's benchmarks are elegance, texture and sophistication and these characteristics are so impressively expressed in the '05. A beautiful and natural saint-julien that reveals seduction and clarity of flavour.

In this vintage the grand vin represents 50% of the château's production. Half the blend is aged in new barrels, the other half in barrels that have been used for one previous vintage. When asked to draw a comparison, Gildas d'Ollone, Director of Wine at Pichon-Lalande alluded to 2000, 1996 and even 1986, commenting that it represented a synthesis of all three!

A large proportion of the vineyard of Duhart-Milon was replanted in the last ten to fifteen years and finally a sense of depth is returning to a wine that always showed promise. The nose displays some of the capsicum aromas as well as ripe, dark-berry fruits associated with Cabernet, while the palate is ample, mouthfilling and with plenty of obvious attraction. Soft, deep berry flavours and fine gravely notes make for a complex yet generous feel. A very harmonious wine with a purity of fruit that is common to all the Rothschild properties in this vintage.

A long-time favourite, 2004 Angludet will please its regular buyers. Wine-maker Ben Sichel believes that it is one of his most successful vintages and on tasting it displayed the benchmark floral, fruity notes of the margaux appellation. With appealing succulence and juiciness on the palate and a pleasing sense of proportion, we expect Angludet to evolve well over the next few years.

A highly-regarded 2004, a vintage which is being up-rated. And just look at the drinking window! Deep, near opaque in the glass, with forest fruit aromas and a sweet scent of ripeness. There is real intensity here.

Bruno Borie could not have chosen a better year to take over the proprietorship of this great estate hugging the banks of the Gironde. This is a wine of sheer class, focusing on the 80% of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Incredibly dark in colour, this has layers of fruit on the palate with rich fine tannins, a fresh character and pure finesse on the finish. A class act.

Pontet Canet enjoys an enviable terroir, just next to Mouton Rothschild, and Alfred Tesseron has made a great job in re-establishing the quality of this château. It certainly has time on its side, but is now starting to show its charms. It has a lovely pure scent of ripe blackcurrants, laced with a classic pauillac smoky minerality. A powerful, rich and velvety body is packed with concentrated black fruit flavours which last for ages after swallowing.

The 2000 Canon is a model of restraint, with superb balance and purity. Black cherry, clove and earth come together with fine tannins and acidity in what is a beautifully judged St-Émilion.

Haut-Bailly is an estate we love, and Veronique Sanders has knocked it out the park in 2019. This is elegant and pure, with remarkable definition and refined tannins. It's one of the wines of the vintage this year.

An emotional vintage for Château Margaux, which proved to be Director Paul Pontallier’s finale due to his untimely death in early 2016, has created a truly remarkable wine. This is the epitome of Margaux and of Cabernet Sauvignon, which constitutes 87% of the blend, showing huge power alongside incredible elegance. It is balance that defines the 2015 Margaux, with wonderful depth of fruit balancing pretty perfume, and considerable yet very fine tannins balanced by excellent freshness. This has so much definition, so much elegance.

Made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, this is a classic and well-structured claret, with an enticing core of ripe, plum fruit. The terroir of the site allowed full-maturity of the Cabernet fruit in this vintage and it is this that contributes to the well-judged structure and freshness of this very pleasing wine.

One of the rather pleasant surprises of this vintage. Tasted at Pichon-Longueville, this showed incredibly well. Made of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is immediately open and fragrant on the nose, with notes of white flowers alongside cassis and plum. On the palate, this seems effortlessly balanced: a core of ripe attractive fruit hemmed in by very fine tannins and a zip of acidity. Incredibly charming, it won us all over.

Headily aromatic on the nose, with notes reminiscent of black forest gâteau, a fragrance imparted by a higher proportion of Petit Verdot than usual. On the palate, there is delicious freshness and a lovely sense of purity to the fruit. The tannins are fine and well-integrated, giving structure to cassis and morello cherry fruit. This has a lot of density and power, which Marie Descotis attributes to the drought and the small size of the grapes as a result. She believes that this has never before been as close in style and quality to the grand vin.

This Pauillac aristocrat shows off its breed with a beautifully pure nose of cassis liqueur with hints of tobacco leaf and graphite. The palate is endowed with excellent depth of fruit, plenty of very fine-grained tannins and a long finish of kirsch and freshly crushed berries. The finish is intense and very persistent. This is an excellent effort from the team at Pichon-Lalande.

2010 Ormes de Pez has a very pure, stunningly rich nose. Loaded with cassis and bramble fruit, nuanced with subtle notes of cedar. This is a big, but very beautiful wine with silky texture and refreshing acidity all in perfect harmony. The finish goes on for an age and hints at what is to come with this cracking St-Estèphe.

This year the blend is a mixture of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. We tasted it at Mouton in a flight with its relatives and, like most, it displayed an austere Cabernet character to the fore. This slightly antiseptic quality gives rise to a powerful mid-palate, showing the (desirable) mix of ripe dark fruit, crisp acidity and mouthfilling tannins. This balance is crucial this year and is distinctly different to the opulence of 2009. The jury is still out as to which is superior but both will be long-lived and are at the top of the quality tree.

Gazin's vineyards are superbly situated, adjacent to Pétrus. Interesting on the nose, with notes of woodsmoke, concentrated black fruit and grilled herbs. Mouthfilling, with almost sugar-coated tannins, intense blueberry fruit and a long, dark chocolate finish. Was excellent last year, but this is bigger-boned and should be better in time.

Robert Parker: 94-96 points (Wine Advocate 188)

With enticing aromas of blackcurrant and purple flowers and a hint of coffee, the 2017 has you rushing to taste it as soon as it's opened. More juicy, black and blue fruits on the palate lead into lovely texture and complexity, with fine tannins and a lengthy finish.

The majority of the 2011 Le Crock blend is Merlot, which gives a wonderfully plush texture and rich fruit character. There is also an unusually high percentage of Petit Verdot, which was particularly successful in 2011 and gives structure and spice. Deep, dark notes of ripe cassis, Christmas cake and muscovado sugar. Incredibly charming, seductive and stunning value.

Expressive on the nose, with notes of cassis and damson. On the palate, this is well-balanced, with an immediately evident freshness that lifts and balanced the rich core of dense, ripe fruit. Finishes with a touch of minerality. Charming.

Jean-Michel Cazes' team confidently handled both vineyard and fruit at Lynch-Bages in 2003, a vintage which has produced an outstanding example of rich, fine pauillac. The entry in the mouth is one of suppleness and richness, but supported by a firm direction of both fruit and tannins in the mid-palate. Finishes with tremendous structure. A very fine, classy wine.

Now showing its true class. Intense in appearance and equally so on the palate where there is a substantial weight of deep berry fruit. Cedary nuances are building too and there is a lovely sense of freshness coupled with distinguished purity. 2002 continues Léoville-Barton’s rich form over the last decade.

Strikingly plump plummy fruit aromas, this wine balances vibrance and freshness with a rich volume of fruit. The tannins are soft but present — a wine that exemplifies the Clos Fourtet style.

In 1986,Viña Concha y Toro decided to produce a premium wine that would to help position Chile as a producer of high-quality wines. The objective was not only to produce the finest red wine possible from Chile, but also to create a wine that reflected the unique terroir of the Alto Maipo Valley. Since its inaugural vintage, it has earned a noteworthy reputation as one of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignons. The grapes are carefully selected from different old vine blocks of the highly regarded Puente Alto vineyard, located in the foothills of the majestic Andes mountain range. “Don Melchor is a blend of the expressions of each of its blocks… by joining them together we achieve a better, more complete, more complex wine that reflects the personality of the Puente Alto vineyard”, explains winemaker Enrique Tirado. Don Melchor is one of the great examples of top quality Cabernet Sauvignon from this prized corner of the New World.

The 2008 Don Melchor is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc that is aged for 15 months in French oak. Crisp, precise and attractive aromas of cassis, black cherry and dark plum are supported by rich mocha and toasty oak. There are fine, grippy tannins enswathed in juicy blackberry fruit, accompanied by a subtle hint of iodine and black olive, leading to a freshly spiced finish. This is a lovely, focused wine of great weight and depth that will be drinking well into 2020 and beyond.

The 2015 Othello is a brilliant example of this wine for those in the know: the best made yet, surely. Dark cassis and plum on the nose with hints of tapenade and spice are encompassed in ripe, voluptuous tannins, with a fine thread of acidity running through the wine. A brilliant introduction to the Californian wines of Christian Moueix, and a wine that will prove harder and harder to secure.

This Pauillac is produced by Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) using grapes collected from younger vines at Château Duhart Milon and Château Lafite Rothschild. From the fantastic 2019 vintage this is charming, elegant and full of dark berry fruit, black plum, hints of graphite and cedar. Drinking beautifully at this young age but it will also keep and provide fantastic drinking for years to come.

Situated on St-Emilion’s famed limestone plateau, but with merlot planted on deep clay soils abutting Château Troplong-Mondot, Château Laroque’s terroir couldn’t be much better. Yet without much attention, it’s flown under the radar for years. Until now. From 2018 David Suire has managed the estate. He’s best known for his work at Larcis-Ducasse, working alongside Nicolas Thienpont to turn it into one of St-Emilion’s most prized properties.

Following on from the brilliance of Lafite, Carruades is special this year. A beautiful nose, crushed rocks, stony and cassis, and tons of liquorice and spices, too. Very Pauillac, with finesse, fine acidity and beautiful tannins, lovely structure and intensity.

This very well placed Domaine in the heart of the Pomerol plateau is a refined, pure wine in 2015. The palate has lovely weight, with growing but very fine tannins. This is likely an excellent choice for affordable Pomerol in a very good vintage.

Quintessential st-julien, Ducru-Beaucaillou’s characteristics are of the most wonderful elegance and breeding. The 2004 is a masterclass in classic bordeaux – and in particular the lithe, sensuous, fine-grained sophistication of traditional claret. The 2004 vintage comprises 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot. The late and greatly revered Jean-Eugène Borie once commented to me that he intended his legacy to the next generation to be that Ducru should have acquired a reputation for being one of the most elegant wines of the region. I think that he would have been very satisfied and proud of Bruno and Sabine’s glorious 2004 vintage. This is beautifully harmonious st-julien, a wine with a glossy sheen and poised refinement.

There's plenty of eucalyptus and mint on the nose, here, with richness of fruit on the palate and quite a plush, silky mouthfeel. Fronsac is a warm appellation, and you feel the sun here, but it's impeccably balanced. This is very well done, and will be delicious.

The final vintage from Denis Durantou, and a wine that’s not to be missed. This is grippy and finely judged, with a very long, savoury finish. A wine you simply want to drink.

On the main street in Margaux, Château Malescot-St-Exupéry has been a top Margaux performer in recent years. The 2019 offers an outstanding opportunity to secure an excellent wine, at the lowest price of any vintage on the market.

Ducru's nose is just stunning: superbly expressive and perfumed. There's cedar, a touch of smoke, lavender, and lovely pure blackcurrant fruit. The tannins are silky and there's obvious drive and energy on the palate. Excellent length, and the flavours just keep building.

Lalande-de-Pomerol is often accused of producing slightly rustic wines, but this 2016 L’Etoile from Guillaume and Francois Thienpont is anything but. Guillaume is better known for crafting brilliant wines at Vieux Chateau Certain and Le Pin, and in Lalande the team have created a beautifully balanced and finessed wine with plenty of potential for ageing. Perfectly ripe black fruit and just enough crunchy red fruit creating freshness. The tannins are fine and there is a lovely velvet texture. A truly stunning wine that would not look out of place in a more illustrious appellation.

Pleasingly perfumed in the glass. On the palate, there is a dense and concentrated fruit core, balanced by fine-grained tannins and a seam of mineral freshness. A very good example of the quality of some of the Cru Bourgeois in this vintage.

Perfumed notes of lifted and intense cherry and berry fruit. This wine is supple textured with a fine cedar note, coupled with plum and blackcurrant fruit. Supported by fresh acidity and fine, integrated tannins, the finish is long and balanced, with a subtle and lingering tobacco touch. This is a rare taste of the grand vin at a fraction of the cost.

Regarded as one of the best vintages for the property for many years. Possesses an intensely deep appearance and a powerful currant and Victoria plum perfume. The palate is dense and solid in the classic st-estèphe style. Deep stone fruit and cassis flavours are supported by mineral notes, tannins and toasty oak. Class in a glass!

Château Pichon-Longueville (Baron) is a property that has seen immense improvements in the quality of its wines from the early 1990s and most particularly since 2000. Substantial investment and expert management, both under Jean-Michel Cazes (of Lynch Bages fame) and more recently under Christian Seely, have led to this property rivalling and in some cases surpassing its sister property of Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Opaque and dense with expressive, deep berry characters on the nose. There is lovely weight of fruit on the palate and a very nicely balanced sense of proportion. This displays a glamorous lusciousness and opulence. A Pauillac of the highest quality. Robert Parker Score: 93 points

Cabernet leads the way in imperious fashion, accounting for 87% of the blend, the balance Merlot and a little Cabernet Franc. The colour is suitably deep, with aromas revealing ripe-scented black fruit, with a more mineral-derived note. Concentrated on the palate with well-expressed, layered berry fruits. Very fine fruit quality indeed- no doubt due to the near perfect conditions afforded to Cabernet in the latter stages of the vintage. There is a very fine-nature to the tannins; grippy structure evident though not forced. A very pleasing sense of balance and harmony. A bright future beckons for a classically proportioned vintage for Lafite. A little less than half of Lafite’s production made it into the Grand Vin in this vintage.

A cooler vintage and long ripening period in 2017 made for a beautifully fresh and vibrant Diana Madeline. This has sumptuous notes of dark cherry and plum and a floral uplift showing elgance and restraint. There's a hint of eucalyptus and rosewood rounding off the silky, smooth palate.

99% Merlot with just a dash of Cabernet Franc, from deep clay soils. It's focused and intense, with amazing detailing and long and savoury tannins. This is a brilliant St-Emilion from an estate that gets better and better.

This is a classic Pomerol from the Lafite stable: a second wine that offers fantastic value for money. There's plush merlot fruit, with spice and a silky tannic backbone offering support. A wine to buy every year, you overlook the 2014 Blason at your peril.

A cool summer, followed by ideal ripening conditions in September have resulted in a darkly fragrant and beautifully detailed Alter Ego. Comprising 52% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, the remainder is made up with a higher than usual proportion of the late to ripen Petit-Verdot – a great success in 2014. Wonderful purity of fruit and polished tannins, Palmer’s baby brother is a serious contender this year and better than many grand vins from neighbouring properties.

Pure, soft-natured fruit on the nose. On the palate, the tannins are finely structural, giving this quite considerable depth and character. Supple and attractive, with subtle use of oak, this has a refreshing core of dark berry fruit. Last year's Plince was truly excellent and this follows ably in its footsteps.

The quality of the wines from Château Haut Bergey have steadily improved since the acquisition of the estate by Sylviane Garcin-Cathaird in the 1990s; it's fast become one of our favourite properties in Pessac-Léognan for value and drinkability. This 2002 is smoky and complex, with savoury cedar notes, and a core of dark fruit. Even after two decades, there remains a freshness and vibrancy that makes the wine a delight to drink.

The 2015 Sena is a knockout wine. There’s a delicacy on the nose, with purity to the fruit character of mulberries, crunchy cranberries and fresh blackcurrents. Hints of mint and violet support the fruit, with a beautiful fine, supple tannic structure and lacy acidity providing freshness and length. This is surely one of the finest Chilean wines ever produced.

A pioneer in Argentina, Catena Zapata is a benchmark for Malbec. There's power here but plenty of stony, elegant restraint too. The tannins are grippy and chocolatey, and the fruit is dense and ripe, with light crunchier red fruit notes. Developing earthy, truffle notes, this is built for the long haul.

This is a brand new wine from the Helderberg in Stellenbosch, generally thought of as the finest spot in South Africa for growing Bordeaux varietals. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, and shows lots of cassis fruit, savoury spice, and there's wonderfully refined tannins. This is a brilliantly exciting new wine: you should join this journey from the very beginning.

The 2002 G.V.B is a more-than-twenty year old wine that's looking great as it reaches peak maturity. It's smoky on the nose, with notes of pot pourri and a core of dark fruit. Meanwhile, on the palate there's silky tannins with no hint of dryness, and a lot of refined complexity. There's a density and depth here, and also excellent definition on the palate. This is very impressive, and will hold for another decade or more.

Now owned by the same team as Penfolds, Beaulieu Vineyards is famous for being one of the first Napa Cabernets back in the 1930s, located on the main highway nearby Opus One and the Robert Mondavi Winery. This 2019 vintage is beautifully rich and spicy, with graphite notes and very ultra-fine tannins. An absolutely classic Napa Cabernet.

The 2015 Dominus is simply astounding. Crushed stones, dried herbs and a core of dark fruit on the nose lead onto a palate of remarkable intensity and power. There are silky yet intense tannins, real vivacity, and a long, saline, stony finish. This is a wine for the ages.

'A massive, gorgeously rich and decadent version of this cuvee, the 2014 Estate Cuvee (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot) is reminiscent of a 2005 Pomerol with its huge bouquet of cassis, toasted spice, graphite, damp earth and leafy herb aromas and flavors. Thick, full-bodied, unctuous and palate-saturating, yet still with purity and grace, it's an insanely good Bordeaux blend (or close) from Paso Robles that will have two decades of overall longevity.'
98 points, Jeb Dunnuck, erobertparker.com, August 2016

"Flirting with perfection, the 2012 Dominus is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Five thousand cases were produced, a relatively modest amount from this large vineyard’s big crop. Christian Moueix told me that there was plenty of heat in 2012, but there were no excessive hot spells that can plague Napa Valley vintners during the growing season and harvest. This wine’s opaque plum/purple color is accompanied by a beautiful nose of sweet crème de cassis, a touch of background oak (only 40% new oak is used), spice box, cedarwood, black cherries and a hint of spring flowers. The complex, intense aromatics are followed by a deep, opulent, multidimensional, full-bodied wine with not a hard edge to be found. Everything is seamlessly crafted in this beauty and the vintage’s abundant richness is well-displayed. This 2012 can be drunk in its exuberant youthfulness or cellared for another 20-25 years." 99 points, Robert Parker.

The Keyneton Estate Euphonium is a brilliant example of Henschke's prowess. An elegant blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc harvested from both Eden and Barossa Valleys, 2015 is an impressive vintage here, and this has wonderful fragrance but also depth.

This wine displays bright red and black berried fruits as well as licorice and cinnamon spice notes that persist on the palate. The tannins are fine grained with a pleasant grip that provides the perfect structure, alongside the refreshing and juicy acidity.

This is an excellent Le Volte, capturing the magic of the season. There's fresh cherry and spice and bright acidity giving fantastic lift. Soft tannins and juiciness on the palate contribute to a wine that's just delightful to drink.

Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is the second wine of Ornellaia, one of the great ‘Super-Tuscans’ from the famous Bolgheri coast who sought to create a wine brand that would be recognisable on its own merits by consumers, out of restrictive DOC regulations. Ornellaia and illustrious neighbours Sassicaia eschew Sangiovese altogether and use only Cabernets Sauvignon & Franc and Merlot. Le Serre Nuove blends fruit from its own plots of vines to that of younger vines in the Ornellaia vineyards. Stretching out West toards the Sea,they benefit from the salty sea breeze cooling effect. This is truly a wine crafted as meticulously as the flagship wine. 45% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot, the 2010 Serre Nuove displays wonderful purity and depth of flavour, including plum, mocha, espresso and dark cherries. This is a beautiful, virile wine, endowed with considerable power and elegantly spiced, floral freshness. Undoubtedly a great opportunity to own a wine from this iconic estate – at a fraction of the price of its bigger brother.

This is surely one of the quirkiest blends around. Its backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small dash of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, echoes a classical Bordeaux. But its peppering of Tannat, Pinot Noir and a string of rare varieties set this wine apart. Add to that the wild, garrigue-strewn landscape of the Hérault, and you have something altogether unique. The tense and sappy freshness of this 2019, with defined, textural tannins, are marks of yet another brilliant vintage here.

Tasted April 2023. 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot. A spectacular 2022 with a record 70% whole bunch used this year. Gentle extraction, lower fermentation temperatures and careful use of new oak (replaced with large old casks) has left this year’s Carmes Haut Brion silky, pure and very fresh. There’s a taut, chalky feel on the palate, with fresh pepper and mint adding complexity.

The 2020 Château Beychevelle is a heady, opulent wine, with notes of blueberry and lots of dark fruit and dark chocolate. The palate is seamless, with just enough freshness to balance all that fruit weight.

Domaine de Chevalier is one of our favourite estates in Bordeaux. Just the name Domaine rather than Château gives a sense of the style here, and the 2020 has wonderfully elegant fruit, silky tannins, and a long and savoury finish. It's a lovely Pessac: one that will give great pleasure over the years to come.

The 2019 Réserve de Pichon Comtesse is the second wine of one of the wines of the vintage. It's intense and open: a brilliant taste of the estate in 2019.

One of the biggest bargains in Pomerol, the baby brother to L’Eglise-Clinet is an outstanding wine again in 2019. And Denis Durantou’s final vintage, this is a year to buy whatever you can.

Poujeaux is always an impressive Moulis - old bottles we've tried have been impressive - and this is a brilliant example. Dark berries and silky tannins, and lovely vibrant acidity. This will age beautifully.

Alter Ego is the second wine of Château Palmer, a safe purchase from one of the Médoc’s greatest properties. Farmed biodynamically, this is a second wine that shows the soaring quality of the estate.

Belgrave is situated just outside of the St-Julien commune, and the 2019 expresses all the hallmarks of this special place with inky blackcurrant fruit, sweet spice and a minty lift. There’s an earthy, gravel complexity and black pepper. Beautifully structured with fine tannins and a long flavourful finish.

The second wine of Château Lynch-Bages, Echo de Lynch Bages is easy to overlook, but you do so at your peril. It's a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 53% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and comes from a vineyard and berry selection. It's a taste of the brilliance of Lynch, at a lower price.

Château du Tertre is Margaux. Soft, elegant, and almost comforting, with tannins that are super fine with a lovely weight of perfectly ripe and balanced fruit. Creamy, plump and fun but with finesse, this is really such a good buy at the price. And it will provide excellent early drinking: it should be ready to pop a cork in 2025, but will last another 15 years or more.”

Château Giscours is a serious, thought provoking wine. Dense, black fruit, and intense concentration but with no sense of over-extraction. Remarkably fine tannins that cover its pure core with elegance and ease. More beguiling than its power house 2010 and far more reminiscent of its glorious 2005.

Château Palmer is undoubtedly the greatest property in Margaux, after Château Margaux itself, and in some vintages it makes the greatest wines going in Bordeaux. It has a higher level of merlot in the blend than most wines in Margaux, and this gives it a very specific flavour profile. It’s now farmed biodynamically, with sheep in the vine, and no chemicals used.

Haut-Brion is one of Bordeaux’s most historic wines: it was even mentioned in Samuel Pepys's 17th century diary. It was the only wine from outside the Médoc included in the 1855 classification, and this first growth is now one of Bordeaux’s most sought after wines.

Very floral and juicy, with sweet fruit, really good energy, finesse, power and opulence. This is an impressive second wine, with lifted acidity keeping it all together. The finish is long and clean. Bravo.

This is showing a bit too much oak at the moment, but behind that veneer there’s intense Cabernet character, with notes of gravel, petrichor, violets, cassis and a hint of dried herbs.

Just 4900 bottles produced of this spectacular wine. Very fine and elegant and silky. So floral and juicy and tons of balance and complexity, and very good energy on the finish, too. Love the quality of the tannins here, and a length and power.

Fresh berry fruit and spice. Lovely weight on the palate, nice grippy tannins but saline and finessed. Pretty long and very fine. A very smart buy from Pomerol.

This is gorgeous. Very elegant, fine and floral, with lovely delicacy and salintiy. There’s much purity to the fruit, with lovely lift and acidity, and balance in spades. The finish unfurls violets and stones, and tons of red fruit. Wonderful and saline, and so much energy.

Tronquoy-Lalande is owned by nearby second growth Château Montrose. The 2018 is a powerful wine with dense, dark fruit and aromatic blueberry flavours. The richness builds on the palate and shows this has some serious capacity to age. There is a round, smooth texture but a fine line of acid carrying the wine through to a long finish. Seriously impressive.