Bordeaux Wines

wines

Milk chocolate creaminess on the nose, soft and delicate, with blackcurrant sweets. Good definition here, chewy tannins but they’re well integrated and support the bright fruit, but also that creamy milk chocolate taste too. I like this, sweet core, red cherry skin texture, grippy and holds interest while the juice and brightness go underneath and then to the long cool finish. Not a showstopper but really has a lot of lovely elements to it. Tannins need a bit longer. (Drink between 2023-2034)Decanter | 92 DEC

The 2019 Côte de Baleau is classy, super-polished and ready to offer pleasure. Bright floral and spice accents lead into a core of sweet red/purplish berry fruit, spice, mocha, tobacco, licorice and incense. The 2019 has gained a bit of weight in élevage, but it remains gracious and understated in bearing. I loved it.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGThe 2019 Château Côte De Baleau shows beautifully, with lots of spicy red and black fruits, subtle background oak, medium to full body, and a great finish. I loved the 2016 and 2018, and this is certainly in the same ballpark.Jeb Dunnuck | 91-93 JDPine needles, bark, potpourri, blackberries and currants on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with tight, chewy tannins. Fleshy, textured finish. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 91 JSAustere attack to the wine, with cassis and blueberry fruits that show salinity and mouthwatering qualities but also the flipside of pronounced acidity. This has plenty of life ahead, with a texture that softens as the charred oak adds sweetness and width. Owned by the Cuvelier family with Michel Rolland as consultant. (Drink between 2025-2040)Decanter | 90 DECDisplaying an opaque purple color, the 2019 Cote de Baleau bursts with plum preserves, baked blackberries and blueberry pie scents plus nuances of mocha, bouquet garni, tapenade and woodsmoke. The medium to full-bodied palate is coated with rich, dark fruits and oodles of freshness, framed by plush tannins and finishing on a lingering aniseed note.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 89-91+ RP

A serious, brooding nose, darkly seductive with touches of sweet oak and black berries. Alive and fruit forward on the palate but also quite linear and direct. The instant generosity of fruit flavours is really appealing, the mouth is filled with bright summer berry touches and the tannins are ample and supple coating the tongue yet this still has an aerial quality. Feels suave and charming - well worked with lots of precise details with such a minty fresh finish. Excellent ageing potential. Drinking Window 2025 - 2045.Decanter | 96 DECA combination of floral and earthy character here, with aromas of ripe dark and blue fruit and hints of licorice, nut shell and wet earth. Cigar box, too. Medium-bodied, chewy and lingering with bright, vibrant fruit. It has a firm, savory finish with hints of crushed stones. Very typical and true to its terroir. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 93 JSThis powerful wine with layers of new wood and dense black fruits is setting out for serious aging. It comes from one of the largest estates in Pomerol, less well known than it should be. Drink this wine that has great potential from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThe 2019 De Sales has a deep garnet-purple color, rolling effortlessly out of the glass with impressively intense baked cherries, plum preserves and fruitcake scents with nuances of potpourri, licorice, chocolate box and fragrant earth. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of ripe, seductive black fruit preserves, framed by rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RPA stylish, understated wine, featuring gentle cherry, raspberry, incense and savory notes that glide through easily, with the savory note lingering on the silky finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028. 10,000 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. Wine Spectator | 90 WSA classic, fresher, elegant Pomerol from the vintage, the 2019 Château De Sales has a ruby hue as well as a pretty nose of red, black, and blue fruits intermixed with sappy herbs, flowers, and cedar pencil. Medium-bodied, elegant, very pretty, and lightly textured, I love its purity of fruit as well as its balance, although I’d like to have seen a touch more richness and depth. Drink bottles over the coming 10-12 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JDThe 2019 Château de Sales offers raspberry ripple and crushed strawberry on the pretty, if slightly straightforward nose. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins and moderate depth. I would like to see more grip and complexity on the finish. A second bottle direct from the château showed a little more depth.Vinous Media | 88-90 VM

An utterly brilliant Pomerol and the finest wine from this estate to date, surpassing even the 2016, the 2019 Château La Conseillante checks in as 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc and was raised in 70% new French oak. A wine of incredible finesse, purity, and precision, its deep purple hue is following by an incredible array of blueberries, crème de cassis, spring flowers, damp earth, and violets. Flawlessly balanced, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has a beautiful mid-palate, ultra-fine, utterly seamless tannins, and a heavenly finish. It doesn’t have the sheer density or outright power of some of the other top Pomerols, but as I wrote in the barrel sample review, no one marries elegance with opulence as well as Conseillante. This magical Pomerol will take a decade to hit full maturity and will evolve for 30 years or more. This is haute couture at its absolute pinnacle, and as I wrote in the barrel review, hats off to Marielle Cazaux for producing one of the top wines of the vintage.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDThe 2019 La Conseillante is performing brilliantly and rivals the 2016 as Marielle Cazaux’s finest vintage at this leading Pomerol estate to date. Wafting from the glass with striking aromas of raspberries, plums, violets, raw cocoa, sweet soil tones and licorice, framed by a deftly integrated touch of classy new oak, it’s full-bodied, ample and enveloping, its broad attack segueing into a seamless, layered mid-palate that’s vibrant and concentrated, framed by powdery tannins and lively acids, before concluding with a long, saline finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RPThe transparency and vibrancy here is impressive. From the very start it’s so aromatic, showing crushed-berry, dark-chocolate, coffee and cedar character. Full-bodied, yet tight and wonderfully tailored, with tannins that are fine-textured, but intense and so long, giving this wine great length. A joy to taste, but needs many years to soften and come together. Wonderful development here. Try after 2028.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2019 La Conseillante is elegant and nuanced, just as it was from barrel. All of the freshness and energy that was present en primeur comes through in the bottle. There is an element of sophistication, of reserve, that needs time to be fully expressive. The 2019 is a wine of linear precision more than volume or density. It should age exquisitely for many years to come.Antonio Galloni | 98 AGVivid red pink in the glass with an expressive nose filled with softly fragrant red cherries, raspberries and purple flowers. This has a lovely texture and appeal straight away - it’s juicy and lively all the way through from start to finish but with a rich, mineral, wet stone core balanced by silky tannins. Detailed and graceful with presence and a satisfying weight on the tongue edged with lashings of black liquorice and slate. Star quality and such Pomerol glamour here with such a long finish. Lots of life ahead. A gorgeous wine. (Drink between 2030-2050)Decanter | 97 DEC95–97. Barrel Sample. While the wine is dense, there is a gentle richness here. It shows ripe tannins and soft black plum flavors. At the same time, the wine’s potential is obvious and powerful. It has balance, ripeness, structure and a fine future.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WE

The Merlots were so good this year that most have gone into the first wine, giving this a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than usual and making it a serious Dame de Montrose, with clear ageing potential. Elegant and balanced, with purity and juicy black fruits. It has that savoury Cabernet quality which is very Médocain, this is absolutely one to look out for, packed with estate signature. 30% new oak. 43% of total production. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Lovely new label here also, with rose gold roses across it. (Drink between 2025-2040)Decanter | 94 DECThe second wine of Montrose is seriously structured with dark tannins. It has impressive weight and concentration, a big wine while polished appropriate for this estate. Drink from 2025. ROGER VOSSWine Enthusiast | 94 WEJuicy and pleasantly chewy with milk chocolate, walnut and currant aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, creamy and flavorful. Second wine of Montrose. Drink after 2024.James Suckling | 93 JSVery solid, with a core of lightly steeped plum and blackberry fruit, supported by a streak of iron and framed by smoldering tobacco and dark earth notes. Good energy throughout as well, with a mouthwatering echo at the end. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2032.Wine Spectator | 92 WSThe 2019 La Dame de Montrose, which I tasted in June and September 2021, has a fresh mulberry, black plum and granite-scented bouquet that is quite precocious; touches of morel appear in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, quite structured and almost Pauillac-like, thanks to veins of graphite toward the finish provided by the 48% Cabernet Sauvignon. Saline on the aftertaste, though not tremendously long, this is a very promising Deuxième Vin. Vinous Media | 91 VMThe 2019 La Dame De Montrose is another impressive second wine and certainly worth seeking out. Ripe darker cherries, currants, leafy herbs, tobacco, and a hint of classic Saint-Estèphe damp earth all emerge on the nose, and it’s medium-bodied, with a silky, graceful texture, light tannins, and a great finish. It’s everything a second wine should be and will evolve nicely for 10-12 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

The 2019 La Gaffelière is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Bright and tightly wound, La Gaffelière sizzles with energy. Dark red fruit, mocha, blood orange, mint and dried flowers lend striking aromatic presence. There is some youthful austerity here, but nothing time in bottle won’t take care of. The 2019 doesn’t quite match the stratospheric grandeur of the magical 2018, but it comes close. Antonio Galloni | 96 AGA vibrant, fragrant red with aromas of blackberries, currants, walnuts and mint chocolate. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Pretty walnut notes on the polished finish. Fantastic length. Driven acidity and focus. Try in 2025.James Suckling | 96 JS95–97. Barrel Sample. This estate has made a dark, dense wine in this vintage. That density is penetrated by the freshness of the black currant fruits. The result is a wine that is powered both by structure and crisp fruit. There is definitely plenty of aging potential here.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2019 La Gaffelière wafts from the glass with a rich bouquet of blackberries and cherries mingled with subtle hints of burning embers and loamy soil that’s framed by a deft application of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, it’s a concentrated, vibrant wine built around bright acids and fine, powdery tannins. Its vivid fruit tones and classical balance make this Cabernet Franc-rich blend a promising candidate for sustained bottle age. Anyone who has tasted the great wines this estate produced in the 1950s and 1960s knows how great this site can be; and with stricter selection as well as the elimination of fruit from vines growing on the plain from the blend, that potential appears to be being unleashed at last.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPA rich and round nose, bursting with ripe fruit aromas. Plump and voluptuous on the palate all while having excellent acidity that really lifts it up, so you have depth but also this real aerial aspect. Tannins are smooth and really well framed and this is super fresh. Delicate yet deep, round yet layered with chalky minerality. Elegant and engaging. Drinking Window 2027 - 2045.Decanter | 95 DECThis rolls out dense fig, boysenberry and red currant paste flavors laced with pronounced chalky minerality and notes of tobacco, dried anise and juniper. The serious tannic drive on the finish puts this in the ’classically austere’ camp. Worth cellaring for sure, but patience is required. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2040. 7,500 cases made, 500 cases imported. Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe flagship 2019 Château La Gaffeliere is mostly Merlot, yet the cuvée always includes around 15% Cabernet Franc. It offers a complex array of spiced red and black fruits, cedary herbs, lead pencil, and a kiss of tobacco to go with a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, impressively balanced style on the palate. It shows the more classic style of the vintage, has no hard edges, and a killer finish. It’s going to be relatively accessible in its youth yet also age gracefully for 15+ years or more. Tasted twice.Jeb Dunnuck | 93-95 JD

Forest-fruit aromas of blackberries and strawberries with some bark and pine cone. Black licorice, too. Full-bodied and chewy with lots of fine tannins and a juicy finish. Traditional and fascinating. Drink after 2026.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2019 La Pointe offers impressive clarity on the nose of perfumed red fruit, raspberry and cranberry intermingling with truffle and light crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, taut and fresh, and quite saline, with fine-grained tannins and a cohesive and more sophisticated finish than any recent vintage. Maybe it just needs a little more persistence; otherwise, this is a top-notch La Pointe. Vinous Media | 94 VMRipe black cherries, hints of plums, damp earth, tobacco, and some floral notes all emerge from the 2019 Château La Pointe, a pure, elegant, seamless, medium to full-bodied Pomerol. I love its overall balance, the tannins are fine and polished, it has a great finish, and it’s going to cruise for 15-20 years in cold cellars.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDHigh toned and vibrant cherry and raspberry fruits on the nose. Polished on the palate, this is sleek and well worked with a core of rich, liquorice-edged strawberries and black cherries with a gorgeous minerality that comes across as wet stone and graphite. A strong, well built wine but presented delicately with refinement. Definite power here but also glamour and a vein of gently warming spice from start to finish that lingers on the tongue providing a dominant base for the fruit. (Drink between 2025-2045)Decanter | 94 DECPresents a tasty mix of juicy and gently mulled black cherry, blackberry and boysenberry flavors, laced with red tea and a twinge of iron through the focused finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032. 5,330 cases made. Wine Spectator | 91 WSThe 2019 La Pointe wafts from the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries, sweet spices, tobacco and licorice. Full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with velvety tannins, lively acids and a nicely defined if somewhat fleeting finish, it’s a succulent, giving Pomerol that will drink well with minimal bottle age.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

The 2019 La Vieille Cure is just as fabulous from bottle as it was in barrel. Super-ripe red cherry, mocha, spice, new leather, licorice, tobacco and cedar are all dialed up in this decidedly flamboyant Fronsac. All the elements are so well balanced.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGA year-in, year-out best value, the 2019 Château La Vieille Cure is another winner from this château that does everything right. Revealing a deep ruby/purple hue as well as great aromatics of black cherries, tobacco leaf, spicy oak, and loamy earth, it’s medium to full-bodied, perfectly balanced, has silky tannins, and a great finish. It’s just an impeccably made, satisfying, classic Right Bank beauty to drink over the coming 10-12 years. Bravo!Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDVibrant nose of wild raspberries, brambleberries, lemon zest, thyme and sandalwood. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins and bright acidity. Vibrant and fragrant. Firm yet elegant finish. Drink after 2024.James Suckling | 93 JSStylish, with crushed plum and lightly warmed cassis flavors infused gently with dark earth and tobacco accents, followed in the end by a hint of cast iron. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2032. 5,180 cases made, 500 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Baked-plum aromas., together with candied spices, earth, tobacco and light coffee, following through to a full body with firm yet polished tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. It really builds and shows loads of structure and intensity. Give it time to soften slightly, but the flavors and texture are already balanced and sophisticated. Classic style to this. The palate really builds. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2019 Larcis Ducasse is magnificent. Deep and beautifully layered, the 2019 offers tons of youthful resonance wrapped into a super-classic frame. There is a feeling of translucence here that is so beguiling. Sweet dark cherry, tobacco, cedar, menthol and dried flowers are some of the many aromas and flavors that take shape over time. Regal and refined, with an elegant, polished finish, Larcis is magnificent in 2019. Aging in equal parts barrique and 500L tonneaux (which are rare in Bordeaux) helps preserve vibrancy. Larcis Ducasse might be the single most under the radar wine in all of Bordeaux!Antonio Galloni | 96+ AGThe 2019 Larcis Ducasse has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, wild berries, burning embers, spices and licorice. Full-bodied, sumptuous and enveloping, with a fleshy core of fruit, ripe tannins and succulent acids, it’s a giving, generous wine that’s softer and rounder than Pavie Macquin, its stablemate. This beautiful vineyard, managed by Nicolas Thienpont, is located on the limestone slopes of Saint-Émilion, sandwiched between Pavie and Bellefont-Belcier.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPLushly layered with dark plum, fig and blackberry compote flavors, this is inlaid with singed alder and licorice root notes. Sports a burst of tobacco and warm earth hints through the finish, all while the fruit keeps pace. A lingering echo of violet is a sign of some buried purity as well. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038.Wine Spectator | 94 WSMoving to the Grand Vin, the 2019 Château Larcis Ducasse sports a deep ruby/plum color as well as a reserved bouquet of ripe black cherries, leafy tobacco, graphite, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated, with clean, ripe tannins, it’s holding things relatively close to its vest and is going to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age. I don’t see it matching the greats from this estate, but it’s a beautiful wine. The blend is 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, and there are just under 3,000 cases produced.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDCoffee and liquorice on the nose with some dark chocolate and black cherries. Wow, a deep, dark style here, majoring on liquorice but just gently spicy and quite savoury with some truffle and cedar notes. Really well defined, this has a lovely precision to it - you can feel the polish. Tannins are quite mouth filling and this feels like a fairly serious wine with so much potential. Potent is the word, with such a long lasting flavour. Needs time to come around but will be excellent. (Drink between 2025-2038)Decanter | 94 DECThe wine’s richness shows from the start with dense black tannins and great structure. It is a powerful wine, concentrated and full of potential. The black fruits are open, generous. Drink from 2026. ROGER VOSSWine Enthusiast | 94 WE

97–99. Barrel Sample. A very fine, rich and structured wine, this has all the hallmarks of one of the stars of this vintage. Packed with rounded tannins and rich black fruits, the wine is impressively concentrated in layers of blackberry flavors and lifted acidity. Expect this wine to age for many years. Wine Enthusiast | 98 WELike its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs. Offering up aromas of blackcurrants, plums, pencil shavings and licorice, it’s full-bodied, deep and concentrated, its deep core of fruit framed by a chassis of rich, powdery tannin that makes itself felt on the youthfully firm finish. While it’s clearly built for the long haul, its structural seamlessness and mid-palate plenitude mark it out as one of the finest wines from this château in recent times. Could it be a more concentrated modern-day version of Anthony Barton’s brilliant 1985?Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It’s never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. Pure cassis, black currants, scorched earth, new leather, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. This textbook Léoville Barton demands a decade of bottle age and will keep for 30-40 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe 2019 Léoville Barton is so impressive. Rich and heady in the glass, the 2019 offers up a beguiling mix of dark fruit intermingled with scents to tobacco, gravel, pencil shavings, leather, licorice, scorched earth and cloves. Today, Léoville Barton is decidedly virile, imposing and in need of cellaring. It is also hugely impressive. Léoville Barton is one of the first Bordeaux I tasted, many years ago. It remains a favorite for its combination of quality, personality and fair price, all values the late Anthony Barton championed during his long and distinguished career. Antonio Galloni | 96 AGA strapping young wine, offering notes of blackberry paste, plum preserves and black currant coulis that show energy throughout, with plentiful bramble, tar and licorice root accents. There’s a mouthwatering echo of apple wood at the very end, with a flash of violet adding a hint of purity. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2042. 11,850 cases made. Wine Spectator | 96 WSA dark nose here, savoury with animal tones, bramble fruits and leather nuances. The palate is excellent, grippy with tannins that just take hold and coat the mouth but underneath you feel there is such well defined fruit - a core of ripe blackcurrants and liquorice tinges. There is an elegance to this despite the mouthful of creamy tannins that are doing all the talking at the moment. This will be excellent in time. Sumptuous and utterly enchanting. (Drink between 2024-2045)Decanter | 96 DECCurrants, sweet fruit and fresh flowers on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that are chewy and powerful. Long and muscular, yet in a toned and polished way. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 96 JS

The 2019 Marquis d’Alesme Becker was very impressive from barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained those engaging aromas of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and a pinch of spice, well defined and quintessentially Margaux. The palate is understated on the entry, smooth and sensual in texture, with gorgeous, very pure red fruit. I adore the harmony of this wine, and the way it sashays toward the finish. Deceptively approachable, this will mature beautifully in bottle. Vinous Media | 95 VM(Chateau Marquis D’Alesme) The 2019 Château Marquis D’Alesme is terrific and a good follow-up to the brilliant 2018. Sporting a deep ruby/purple hue, it gives up a great nose of ripe darker cherries, blackberries, mulberries, leafy herbs, cedar pencil, and violets. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied Margaux with a rich, fleshy, expansive mouthfeel, polished tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. I’m not sure it will make terribly old bones, but it shines for its purity of fruit as well as its terrific overall balance and purity. As I wrote from barrel, it’s one of those pretty, elegant wines that still packs rocking levels of fruit! Drink it any time over the coming 15-20 years. (Drink between 2022-2042)Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDNice welcoming and inviting nose, expressive and generous. Fresh, juicy, supple and bright, this shines quite brightly with good acidity gives things immediate lift then the tannins come in, filling the palate with dense fruit and wet stone flavours. Seriously mouth filling, but in a pleasant way, structured and well rounded. Defined fruit. Tannins just need to settle a little and let the wine expand. (Drink between 2024-2038)Decanter | 94 DECThe 2019 Marquis d’Alesme has tuned out well, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berry fruit, woodsmoke, licorice and sweet soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, it’s supple and charming, with a succulent core of fruit, powdery tannins and fine length.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

Notes of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries, vanilla, licorice and dark chocolate with touches of earthiness and nutmeg-like spice. Medium-bodied with ripe, velvety tannins and delicious fruit. Polished and refined. Try after 2023.James Suckling | 94 JS93–95. Barrel Sample. From a reliable estate, this wine is firm in feel. It also has open black fruits that pair alongside the generous tannins. It is good long-term aging.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEA solid, slightly burly version, featuring streaks of tar and bay leaf mixed with dark plum and black currant preserve flavors. The finish is underscored by a warm paving stone note, which adds cut, drive and a hint of old school. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. 16,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported. Wine Spectator | 93 WSThe 2019 Meyney is a deep, powerful wine. It shows all the richness and intensity that are such signatures, but with that added kick of vibrancy that has become the norm in recent years. Tobacco, cedar, wild flowers, mint and incense add layers of nuance to a core of red/purplish fruit. The 2019 is beautifully done.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGCassis, currants, ripe tobacco, and cedar pencil notes define the bouquet of the 2019 Château Meyney, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Saint-Estèphe that shows the elegant, moderately concentrated, yet nicely structured and balanced style of the vintage. It’s already accessible with a decant but will benefit from just a handful of years in the cellar and have 15 years or more of longevity.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDSmells quite medicinal and herbal on the nose. This has nice energy on the palate, lively acidity drives the fruit, the tannins are a bit pronounced at this stage and this is drying towards the finish but overall it’s balanced, soft and smooth with great freshness and fun juicy strawberry fruit. The tannins just need to soften and integrate. (Drink between 2025-2036)Decanter | 92 DECAromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with tobacco, loamy soil and petals introduce the 2019 Meyney, a medium to full-bodied, seamless and lively wine with fine depth at the core, powdery tannins and an attractive sense of completeness. This is an understated but charming Saint-Estèphe that has turned out nicely in bottleRobert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP

Aromas of green apple, lime, kumquat, fresh thyme, flint, stone and oyster shell. It’s medium-bodied with tangy acidity and a saline, mineral and zesty palate. Vibrant and intense. So much energy and freshness. Lots of vivid acidity. Tight at the end. Give this another three to four years of bottle.James Suckling | 97 JSThe flagship white of the château is the 2019 Château Pape Clement Blanc, which is a mix of 46% Sauvignon, 40% Semillon, and the balance Sauvignon Gris. Its light gold hue is followed by a gorgeous perfume of mandarin orange, honeyed grapefruit, white flowers, and chalky minerality. I love its freshness and vibrancy on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, sexy, opulent mouthfeel, good acidity, and a great finish. It’s a beautiful, seamless, complete Bordeaux Blanc that will keep for 15 years or more in cold cellars, although it’s stunning even today. The style of the white here today is one of more finesse and elegance compared to the richer, more sexy style of the past.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDLovely dark red fruits on the nose, a gorgeous sultry florality to it, something a little bit savoury too, pencil led and smoke - extremely welcoming. Great succulence on the palate, juicy and alive, really fresh with the charm of Merlot fully on show. Characterful, structured, mouthwatering and approachable with soft and smooth tannins. Seductive and so enjoyable. From a single 9ha block estate, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 900m away from Haut Bailly. (Drink between 2024-2030)Decanter | 94 DECThis vintage shows swathes of ripe fruits that have a youthful, textured character. Wood aging has added spice and rounded out the white-fruit-flavored texture. This complex wine will age and should be drunk from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEEnticing, featuring a flash of brioche amid the white peach, verbena and lemon peel notes, with a subtle echo of salted butter through the finish. Stylish and sneaky long, too. Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris. Drink now through 2027. 1,665 cases made. Wine Spectator | 93 WSThe 2019 Pape Clément Blanc is a hard wine to read. In 2019, the Blanc is rather airy and ethereal, which is to say quite different from the more unctuous style Bernard Magrez once favored here. At the same time, though, the wine also feels disjointed and a bit elusive. I admire its freshness and energy, and yet also wish it had a bit more depth. Antonio Galloni | 92 AGBursting with aromas of grapefruit, gooseberry, tropical fruits and fresh bread, Pape Clément’s 2019 Blanc is medium to full-bodied, bright and vibrant, its elegantly fleshy core of fruit animated by lively acids and chalky dry extract that lends pleasing grip to the finish. This is a seamless, refreshing Sauvignon-dominated (in percentage as well as personality) blend that is drinking well out of the gates. Though this derives from a warm terroir in a warm vintage, that’s not especially evident, and this is far less unctuous and overtly oaky than was the case a decade ago. Equally, though it can’t be faulted in terms of haut couture winemaking, the lack of yesteryear’s pronounced signature reveals a wine that’s just a little simple.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP

The 2019 Château Pavie is another beauty that offers more density and sexiness than just about every other wine in the vintage, yet it is still an unnecessarily restrained expression of this terroir, which is the fad in Bordeaux these days. Based on 50% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 80% new French oak, this deep purple-hued effort has a great bouquet of ripe black cherries, darker currants, tobacco leaf, violets, and graphite, with a beautiful sense of minerality and salinity on the palate. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it has plenty of background oak, a deep, layered mid-palate, terrific tannins, and a great finish. It shows the more understated, elegant style of the vintage yet is still pure Pavie. Hide bottles for 5-7 years and enjoy over the following 30+.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDLots of blackberry and grilled meat with earth and spice. Some smoky undertones, too. Blackcurrants. Complex. Full-bodied with round, juicy tannins, yet they turn extremely fine and very linear and go on for minutes. Great length. A blend of 50% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 18% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2027, but already a joy to drink.James Suckling | 98 JS97–99. Barrel Sample. This wine has an aristocratic air. The tannins and fruit flavors are rich but not showy, indicating how this estate has found its stride. With its firm structure and bold black fruit tones, it is going to be a wine for long-term aging.Wine Enthusiast | 98 WEThe 2019 Pavie is incredibly elegant right out of the gate. Aromas of crushed rose petal, cedar, mint and sweet pipe tobacco are immediately alluring. The 2019 is sensual and inviting, with no excess weight and fabulous overall balance. Blood orange, red/purplish fruit, cinnamon and mint develop effortlessly. Time in the glass brings out Cabernet Franc aromatics and structure, leading to a feeling of vertical intensity that is hugely appealing.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGDreamy right from the start, with a seductive mouthfeel to its mix of raspberry puree, cassis and creamed plum flavors infused with rooibos tea, black licorice and alder accents. Long and extremely fine-grained through the finish, with subtle floral lift and a lingering hint of chalky minerality. Gorgeous. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2025 through 2040. 8,000 cases made. Wine Spectator | 97 WSSuch an expressive nose, especially after five minutes, dark black bramble fruits with raisins and plums on the nose alongside touches of tobacco and coffee too. Quite refined on the palate, less upfront plump fruit and chewiness, more knitted and focussed with a juicy core yet still powerful, underlying and driving. It’s serious, muscular and strong, really a vein of direct fruit coated in wet stone minerality. I love the tension and acidity with the heady density of fruit and soft perfume around the edges. So much going on here. It’s a bold, confident style, but overall feels well made and purposeful. (Drink between 2026-2046)Decanter | 96 DECWhile the 2019 Pavie does display a touch more restraint that the wines produced here a decade ago, it remains one of the most powerful, extracted wines in all of Bordeaux, exhibiting a glass-staining, opaque purple-black color and a rich bouquet of cherries, blackberries and berry fruit liqueur mingled with sweet spices, loamy soil, licorice and rose petals. Full-bodied, powerful and muscular, it’s thick and textural, with a layered, multidimensional mid-palate laden with ripe fruit and rich, chewy tannins, concluding with a long, youthfully grippy finish. The evolution of the early Pese-era wines at age 20 leads me to suspect that time will be kind to this 2019, but couldn’t this great site—which naturally delivers elevated maturity combined with low pH—be rendered with more charm and sensuality?Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RP

A ripe and layered red with lots of currant and chocolate character, as well as some walnut and cocoa powder. Crushed stones, too. It’s full and layered with round tannins and a juicy and plush texture. Crushed velvet that turns to silk. Very cool and long. Plenty going on here. Give it three to four years to come together. But will age beautifully for years to come. A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2019 Giscours is every bit as compelling today as it was from barrel. Dark and sumptuous in feel, Giscours shows off its notable dimension and breadth. Succulent black cherry, plum, leather, tobacco, menthol and licorice intensify as this gorgeous, beautifully layered Margaux builds with time in the glass. The 2019 is a big wine, but not quite as exuberant as the 2018. Tasted two timesAntonio Galloni | 96 AGGorgeous floral aromatics, so perfumed and pretty, really leaping out the glass with an amazingly vibrant pink/purple colour too. Such an excellent delivery of flavour on the palate, you have shiny, bright fruit and well-expressed terroir with smooth and supportive tannins. It shows the heat of the vintage in the density and deep core of spice-edged red and black fruit but also has a juicy, bright acidity that underpins the fruit and keeps things refreshing. Full of elegance, precision and confidence - all the elements in harmony with consistency and persistence. A wonderful wine. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot. Drinking Window 2025 - 2039.Decanter | 96 DECThe 2019 Giscours has turned out very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, burning embers, lilac and violets framed by a discreet patina of new oak. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s polished and perfumed, with a velvety, seamless profile and bright animating acids, concluding with a long, resonant finish. Alexandre Van Beek and his team are taking this estate to heights it hasn’t hit since the 1970s, and this is another of the great bargains of the 2019 en primeur campaign.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPChecking in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, the 2019 Château Giscours is one heck of an impressive Margaux. Deep purple-hued, with a great nose of both black and blue fruits as well as sappy herbs, tobacco, and flowers, it has nicely integrated oak, medium to full body, ripe yet certainly present tannins, and a great finish. It’s beautifully done. Hide bottles for 4-6 years and enjoy over the following two decades or so.Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JDReally solid for the vintage, with a fresh edge to the mix of black currant, blackberry and fig paste flavors. This wine’s energy extends through the finish, where humus, singed cedar, savory and iron-tinged minerality add range and cut. Still shows the vintage’s excessive heat, but this manages it better than most of its peers. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2035. 23,000 cases made, 5,000 cases imported. Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Plenty of chocolate, tobacco and blackcurrant character on the nose. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins that are polished and present. Long and intense. This is rather tight and mouth-puckering. Give it time to soften. Very structured. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2025.James Suckling | 95 JSWafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, wild berries and cassis mingled with hints of dark chocolate, pencil shavings and violets, the 2019 La Lagune is medium to full-bodied, broad and sensual, its ample core of fruit framed by polished tannins and succulent acids. In its elegant, generous style, it’s reminiscent of a modern-day version of the brilliant 1990.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2019 La Lagune is fabulous. A wine of power, depth and tension, the 2019 is compelling right out of the gate. Black cherry, plum, rose petal, sweet pipe tobacco and blood orange lend striking complexity. Persistent and engaging, the 2019 is a thrilling La Lagune loaded with classy, personality and pedigree. It’s one of the best recent vintages I can remember tasting. Don’t miss it!Antonio Galloni | 94 AGThe 2019 Château La Lagune is terrific and well worth seeking out. Ripe dark cherries, currants, smoky tobacco, and cedar pencil notes define this utterly classic, medium-bodied, balanced Haut-Médoc. With plenty of tannins as well as good concentration, it’s going to hit maturity in 7-8 years and have two decades or more of longevity if properly stored. It’s an impeccably put together wine. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDLovely perfumed, floral and fruity nose - generous and inviting aromatics. Good texture here, smooth with fine-grained tannins, the fruit is not super bright and exuberant though, it’s dense, compact and more subdued at the moment. Linear and direct with tannins that are taught, austere and quite present at the moment. Good quality with a cooling finish that’s so appealing. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038.Decanter | 94 DEC

I continue to love the wines from this château. The 2019 Château Chauvin shows an impeccably balanced, elegant, yet still concentrated style that’s well worth seeking out. Mostly Merlot (there’s some Cabernet Franc as well as a tiny amount of Cabernet Sauvignon), its deep purple hue is followed by a clean, pure, medium to full-bodied wine offering classic ripe darker cherry and currant fruits as well as spicy oak, chalky minerality, and hints of tobacco. It’s still closed and reserved today, yet the balance is spot on, it has beautifully ripe tannins, and a great mid-palate. It’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and have at least two decades of prime drinking. It’s wonderful stuff.Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JDExtremely aromatic with chalk and dried flowers, as well as blackberries and blueberries. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a steady layer of medium, round and chewy tannins and a long, spicy finish of white pepper and dark fruit. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 Chauvin has a lovely bouquet of pretty brambly red fruit, rose petal and light sous-bois aromas, fragrant and floral. The palate is medium-bodied, crisp and taut, quite classic in style, with fine tannins and a structured, off-dry finish. Give this 3–5 years in bottle because there is a lot of substance here.Vinous Media | 93 VMHigh toned cherry fruit on the nose, smells lively. Lovely purity on the palate and also some perfumed aspects which I really like. Nice solid core of flavour - elegant and refined. Textured almost like chewing grape skins with the dryness but also the flavour at the same time. Good overall impression and one for earlier approachability. Drinking Window 2023 - 2041.Decanter | 93 DECA ripe, fruity and smoky wine, this is a solid example of this vintage. The black fruits are open and luscious, giving juicy berry flavors. The tannins lurk underneath where lies the power and aging potential. This Sylvie Cazes wine is all set for medium-term aging.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEA success from proprietor Sylvie Cazes, the 2019 Chauvin delivers aromas of rich berries and plums mingled with hints of sweet spices and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, lively and seamless, it’s layered and nicely concentrated, with bright acids and powdery tannins. This will merit a bit of patience.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91+ RP

This is wonderfully perfumed with blackcurrant and floral aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with super-integrated tannins that go on to the very end. Bright and vivid. One of the best Dauzacs ever. 73% cabernet sauvignon and 27% merlot. Best after 2026.James Suckling | 95 JSMulberries, tobacco, new leather, redcurrants, spicy herbs, and violets all define the bouquet of the 2019 Château Dauzac, a pretty, medium-bodied, remarkably elegant and seamless Margaux with tons to love. It’s certainly worth seeking out and is going to cruise for 15-20 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDThe 2019 Dauzac is an absolutely gorgeous wine that will appeal most to readers who enjoy sumptuous, flamboyant Bordeauxs. Plush, silky tannins envelop the finish, adding to the wine’s considerable allure. The unabashedly flamboyant style is surely not for everyone, but there is certainly plenty to like here. Waves of inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, sweet oak, chocolate and espresso linger on the huge finish.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGExpressive and aromatic on the nose, violet edges and bright fruit. I like the chewy tannins here, mouth coating for sure but underpinned by creamy fruit that’s round and soft. Good concentration and drive with balanced acidity. Nice sweet lift on the finish and although the tannins are quite present it does feel in balance. (Drink between 2023-2042)Decanter | 93 DECRich, ripe and forward, with mouthfilling waves of plum sauce and blackberry preserve, joined by anise, singed alder and ganache notes through the finish. Very solid for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2034. — JMWine Spectator | 92 WS

Extremely fine tannins here that melt into the wine, which leads you down to a palate of real density and polish. Really impressive. One of the best in years.James Suckling | 93-94 JSThe 2019 Monbrison is classy, polished and elegant, just as it was in barrel. Crushed flowers, sweet berries, spice, mint and sweet pipe tobacco give this understated, expressive Margaux an air of finesse that is unmistakable.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThe Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated 2019 Château Monbrison (there’s 25% Merlot) is a young, unevolved barrel sample with loads of blue fruit and violet notes to go with a full-bodied, rich, beautifully mouthfilling style on the palate. It shows more floral and exotic notes with time in the glass and has wonderfully polished tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It’s a beautiful Margaux in the making that’s going to shine with just 2-4 years or bottle age.Jeb Dunnuck | 92-94 JDChocolate, slate and charcoal character from the first attack, this plumps up the gourmet side of the appellation, successfully so within a wine that will be ready to drink within a few years although be aware that the style is fairly intense. Supple and enjoyable wine from the Vonderheyden family. Tasted twice one week apart. Drinking Window 2023 - 2023.Decanter | 90 DECCasting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2019 Monbrison comes bounding out of the glass with expressive plum preserves, blueberry compote and blackcurrant pastilles scents plus suggestions of molten chocolate, camphor and woodsmoke. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing and vibrantly fruity, featuring approachable, finely grained tannins and a minerally kick to the finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 89-91 RP

A serious, rich and dark nose filled with tobacco and black chocolate. Great clarity and punch on the palate though, a real lively kick from start to finish with a deep core on the mid palate. This has structure and good density, feels more heady and seductive, the fruit with a soft sweetness and floral touch and then a menthol-liquorice finish but super clean with such minerality. A great feeling at the end. Elegant and expressive. You could drink now but this has some chewy aspects still so needs a little more time to soften. Lovely. 6% Petit Verdot completes the blend. (Drink between 2023-2035)Decanter | 94 DECBeautiful purity of fruit here with currant and berry aromas, as well as fresh roses and other flowers. Citrus peel as well. Full-bodied with creamy and lightly velvety tannins that are long and beautiful. Hints of citrus to the lovely fruit. Textured and polished. A blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 13% cabernet franc and 6% petit verdot. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 du Tertre opens in the glass with aromas of sweet cassis and plums mingled with undergrowth, cedarwood, violets and subtle hints of cigar wrapper. Medium-bodied, bright and integrated, with a nicely concentrated core of fruit, lively acids and fine, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish, it delivers a certain generosity of fruit in a fine-boned package. Even if this numbers among the more powerful du Tertre vintages of recent years, it remains a wine defined by elegance more than impact.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2019 du Tertre is powerful and virile, just as it was en primeur. Black cherry, graphite, smoke, tobacco, licorice, incense and crushed rocks lend notable complexity to this decidedly brooding, potent Margaux. I have always wondered if du Tertre, which is always a bit monolithic, can be more. The château is under new ownership, so perhaps we will find out.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThe Grand Vin 2019 Château Du Tertre checks in as 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. This beautiful Margaux offers awesome notes of black raspberries, crushed flowers, sandalwood, spice, and a touch of bouquet garni. With medium to full-bodied richness, polished tannins, and a great finish, it’s certainly the finest wine I’ve tasted from this domaine. It’s going to evolve nicely over the coming two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 92-94+ JDOffers incense and black tea notes that give this aromatic intrigue, while roasted plum and cherry compote flavors provide the bulk of the experience. Delivers a swath of warm humus on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032. 8,000 cases made. Wine Spectator | 90 WS

A red with lots of currant, blackberry, fresh-herb and tobacco character. Hint of mushroom, too. It’s full and layered with polished, chewy tannins and a bright and fresh finish. Very long and focused. Give it time to come together. Very classic character here. Best after 2026.James Suckling | 95 JSCabernet Sauvignon, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, Red) Green pepper and herbaceous notes on the nose with minty eucalyptus alongside ripe cherry and blackcurrant aromas - so classic. A lovely mouthfeel here, smooth, well defined and preise. Quite direct, serious and darkly fruited - such a concentrated core - but with smooth tannins, a soft sweetness and freshness that lifts the overall frame. Balanced with succulence. Makes a lasting impact and impression. A great value pick. (Drink between 2025-2045)Decanter | 94 DECThis grand classed growth has produced a richly structured wine that is balanced by ripe black fruits. It shows spice from the touch of Petit Verdot in the blend, as well as fine acidity and freshness that give it poise and a vibrant finish.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEOpening in the glass with notions of rich berry fruit, licorice, cedar, violets and loamy soil, the 2019 Cantemerle is medium to full-bodied, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and powdery tannins that gently assert themselves on the finish. This shut down a little after bottling (some 11 months ago at the time of writing), but it is beginning to bounce back to reveal a wine of real charm and character.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2019 Cantemerle is a very pretty and understated wine. Sweet red cherry, plum, blood orange, spice, tobacco, leather and dried herbs all grace this expressive Haut-Médoc. The 2019 is super classy from start to finish, but there is a bit less depth and overall substance than there was at the outset.Antonio Galloni | 91 AGAn incredibly consistent estate that always delivers a quality wine, the 2019 Château Cantemerle checks in as 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Classic Médoc notes of red and black currants, cedar pencil, sappy herbs, and tobacco give way to a medium-bodied 2019 with terrific balance, ripe, polished tannins, good acidity, and outstanding length. This terrific wine will benefit from just short-term cellaring and keep for 15+ in cold cellars.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JDVery direct in feel, offering plum and cherry puree notes gilded with violet and anise hints. Shows a graphite accent on the finish, which adds depth as the fruit blossoms around it. Solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 33,000 cases made. Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Famed for its white wine, this estate has produced another impressive vintage. It has great poise between lusciousness and a tight mineral texture, giving balance and longevity. Nutmeg flavors come from the wood aging. It should cellar well.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WESmells like cassis liqueur on the nose. This is full and bold but with excellent, mouthwatering acidity - lots of energy here. A lifted style but still with that core of deep, dense chewy fruit. Really a winning combination of all the elements with the oak giving structure, weight and texture. Sculpted fruit and well handled acidity. Still has some spiky edges to the fruit, hints of cedar and clove giving a piquance but this is lovely stuff. (Drink between 2024-2044)Decanter | 94 DECPerfumed and elegant, the 2019 de Fieuzal wafts from the glass with aromas of blackberries, licorice, coniferous forest floor and incense. Medium to full-bodied, lively and charming, with a pretty core of fruit, powdery tannin and a saline finish, it’s a seamless, vibrant Pessac that—like its white counterpart—reflects the progress this 80-hectare Pessac-Léognan estate is making. It’s a sleeper of the vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPBlackcurrants, smoked earth, cedarwood, and foresty, herbal notes all emerge from the 2019 Château De Fieuzal, a medium-bodied, elegant, balanced 2019. It opens up nicely with time in the glass, has a classic, focused, structured style, good (though maybe not great) concentration, and outstanding length. It’s a beautiful, elegant, classic wine from this estate that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15+. It’s well worth seeking out.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDAromas of blackberries, blueberries, plums, cloves and iodine. Medium-bodied with sinewy tannins. Layered and velvety with supple and fruity character. Juicy finish. Drink from 2024.James Suckling | 92 JSThe 2019 de Fieuzal, tasted from two sample bottles, has a clean and pure bouquet with perfumed, quite floral scents that infuse the blackberry and bilberry. The oak is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, saline in the mouth and spicier than some of its fellow Pessac-Léognans. Moderate depth, a distinct marine influence emerges towards the finish that lingers nicely. Could it have been better with more flair? Maybe, but it’s a fine de Fieuzal.Vinous Media | 91-93 VM

The 2019 Grand Mayne has a beautifully defined, pure bouquet of black cherry, blueberry, crushed violet and mineral aromas. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied with fine definition, crisp acidity and touches of dark chocolate toward the finish, which displays both power and elegance. This is a superb Grand Mayne courtesy of Jean-Antoine Nony.Vinous Media | 95 VMThe 2019 Château Grand Mayne showed brilliantly. Very much in the more elegant, classic style of the vintage, it’s medium to full-bodied and straight and focused on the palate, yet brings plenty of mid-palate depth as well as ripe, polished tannins. Black cherries, new leather, dried herbs, and Asian spice notes all define the bouquet, and this is going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDIntense and full of character on the nose. Excellent energy here - the fruit is bright and upfront though gets a little overwhelmed by the supple tannins that come in almost straight away. You can feel the liquorice and dark chocolate edges to the black fruit which give the overall frame texture and depth and it has freshness throughout. Just needs time to soften. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2038Decanter | 92 DECThis estate’s proprietor, Jean-Antoine Nony, is a passionate wine lover with a fine palate, so when he asked me to revisit the 2019 Grand Mayne, I was happy to oblige his request. Offering up notions of sweet black fruits and blueberry preserve framed by a generous application of creamy, spicy new oak, the wine is full-bodied, rich and textural, with a lavish core of ripe fruit, impressively lively acids and a long, vanillin-laden finish where powdery tannins assert themselves much more gently than was the case six months ago. While it is indeed somewhat less extracted than I had perceived, it remains somewhat jammy and creamy, and even if it’s a well-made effort in this style, I can’t help but think that the site could deliver more.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP

95–97. Barrel Sample. With its new cellars, the estate is performing at top speed and this vintage keeps up the fine track record. Firm tannins and beautifully perfumed fruit are blending together to give a wine that has style as well as structured fruitiness, with all the elegance of great Margaux. Think long-term aging for this wine. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEBlackcurrants with bark, cedar and dried flowers coming through in the nose. Full-bodied with integrated tannins and a long, linear finish. Racy and refined. Sophisticated. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 95 JSRich nose, nicely expressive. The palate is filled with cool but also softly sweet blue fruits, black cherries, blueberries and blackcurrants. Liquorice and wet stone comes through straight away, a real mineral aspect, while there’s some stalky aspects too - smoked cedar around the edges that needs a bit of time to soften. I like the structure and clarity here, such precision and balance. Lots to enjoy - one to hold on to. (Drink between 2023-2035)Decanter | 93 DECLets very dark plum sauce, cassis and boysenberry preserve flavors unfurl over silky tannins, with black tea and a light sanguine hint infusing the finish. What you see is what you get—and it’s delicious. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Drink now through 2032. 10,416 cases made. —Wine Spectator | 92 WSRedcurrants, Bing cherry, graphite, licorice, violet, and flowery incense notes all define the bouquet of the 2019 Chateau Kirwan, a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Margaux that has a pretty, elegant, juicy style. It doesn’t have the density of the top wines in the appellation, yet it’s certainly nicely balanced, has supple tannins, and nicely integrated acidity, all making for a beautifully polished, elegant 2019 to drink over the coming 20 years or so.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

A solid Haut-Medoc with currant and walnut character and some dried mushroom. It’s full-bodied with medium, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Well done. Drink after 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 La Tour Carnet has turned out beautifully. Dark, pliant and super-expressive, the 2019 possesses tremendous richness as well as character. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, leather, spice, licorice, iron and dried herbs infuse the 2019 with gorgeous layers of dimension. La Tour Carnet is a consistently outstanding bottle, as it is again in 2019.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGOffering up aromas of rich cassis and blackberry fruit mingled with burning embers, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, the 2019 La Tour Carnet is medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a broad attack that segues into an ample core of fruit that’s framed by ripe, powdery tannins and lively acids. This is a seamless, rather giving Médoc that has turned out very well.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2019 Château La Tour Carnet is terrific, with a pure, medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated style as well as impressive cassis, tobacco, spicy wood, and graphite aromas and flavors. The purity here is spot on, and it has ripe, polished tannins, outstanding balance, and a great finish.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDRipe and expressive on the nose, such a lovely purity here. Good drive and initial impact of the fruit on the palate then the spice kicks in and the fruit flavour drops a little. I love the perfumed cherry at the beginning before it settles and goes a bit sombre at this point. The minerality comes through giving quite a taught and clean feeling on the palate with freshness lifting the finish. Definitely a less extracted more refined style. Attractive. Drinking Window 2023 - 2034.Decanter | 92 DECThis has a good burst of dark plum and blackberry preserve flavors, along with a solid dose of roasted vanilla and tobacco. Ends with a graphite hint for support. Well done. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 68,500 cases made, 3,500 cases imported. Wine Spectator | 91 WS