Bordeaux Wines

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(Chambertin- Domaine Trapet Père et Fils) Like the Latricières, the Trapets’ 2017 Chambertin was showing brilliantly at the time of my visit. This is a stunning example of this great terroir, offering up a pure and aristocratic aromatic constellation of red and black cherries, bitter chocolate, black plums, grilled meats, a very complex base of soil, mustard seed, a touch of anise and a fine base of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, structured and very, very complex, with a great core of fruit, stunning transparency, ripe, seamless tannins and great grip and focus on the very, very long, magical finish. One of the wines of the vintage! (Drink between 2030-2100)John Gilman | 97+ JGThe 2017 Chambertin Grand Cru wafts from the glass with a beautifully complex bouquet of sweet wild berries, cherries, grilled meats, raw cocoa and cedary new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and reserved, with a layered, multidimensional core, tangy acids and velvety tannins, concluding with a long, pure finish. This is a lovely Chambertin in the making that displays excellent focus and tension for the vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RPThe 2017 Chambertin Grand Cru has an open, expressive, beautifully defined bouquet of brambly red fruit, rose petal and subtle sous-bois scents; a star anise/menthol scent emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins, dense and sappy. The finish does not convey the terroir as well as others in this flight, though it meliorates in the glass and develops more intellect with aeration. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.Vinous Media | 95 VMA background application of wood surrounds the cool and airy aromas of dark cherry, plum, earth and a whisper of the sauvage. There is terrific intensity to the beautifully delineated mineral-driven flavors that possess a refined mouthfeel before culminating in a saline, focused and strikingly persistent finish. This is almost a hypothetical combination of the Chapelle and the Latricières with the richness and volume of the former allied with the minerality, finesse and power of the latter. Patience advised.Burghound | 93 BH

Lush aromas of poached strawberry and cherry liqueur make for a hedonistic opening to the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The palate lands beautifully, offering ripe strawberry, pomegranate and candied cherry flavors, yet it sports a relatively light, acid-washed frame that allows accents of mace, star anise and cardamom to shine through. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEMore vibrant, floral notes emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard, which has complex notes of candied cherries, orange blossom, raspberries, and exotic spices all emerging from the glass. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it offers integrated acidity as well as a fresh, focused texture and shows the more racy, lively style of the vineyard beautifully.Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JDA cooler site that gets early fog that lingers long and protects the vines. The nose is very perfumed and fragrant with a fresh core of red cherries. The palate delivers detailed and defined tannins that hold focused and fresh. Long, smooth finish. Ripe tannins and higher alcohol (14.7%) add richer texture. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSIntense flavors of dried blackberry and dark currant are backed by firm acidity and tannins in this powerfully ripe version. Forest floor notes join hints of black licorice and baker’s chocolate on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 488 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSAged 19 months in 41% new French oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard is medium ruby in the glass and youthfully shy on the nose, slowly offering rose petal, crushed stone, fresh cranberries and Bing cherries. It’s light to medium-bodied, perfumed and elegant with a gentle, grainy frame and fantastic juicy freshness to lift the finish. This feels youthfully closed or like I got it on an off day, so my score may look conservative later. 475 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

This is really minerally with crushed stones and dark berries. Some licorice. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a beautiful, tight and focused finish. Such energy, delivered down a straight line.James Suckling | 94-95 JSA blend of 65.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 0.8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Les Forts de Latour is deep garnet-purple in color and strides confidently out of the glass with classic notes of plum preserves, warm cassis and pencil shavings with nuances of mulberries, pencil lead, Indian spices and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate packs a lot of fruit into a very elegant, tightly knit palate, delivering expressive blackberry and spicy flavors with a firm frame of grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with a peppery kick.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPSmells lovely, really aromatic and shining out of the glass, forward and expressive with clarity and precision on the nose full of red fruit and floral scents. Sleek and crisp, this has energy and lifeforce, I love the shape and straightforwardness but it’s the texture that’s so captivating - slightly firm but dense and chalky tannins give the bounce and cushioning on the palate while the fruit is lean and well defined. So well worked, feels careful, controlled, refined and polished. Sophisticated and just so seamless. Extremely young right now, coiled and tense still, direct from start to finish, it needs to slow down and soften and relax. Lovely pure and perfumed red fruits raspberry and blueberries alongside a slightly sharp, bitter grapefruit edge to the tannins as well as graphite and slate which lingers on the tongue and gives the mighty grip that doesn’t let go. Stylish and enjoyable. 64 PIT, 6.7% press wine. 45.4% production. Harvest 11 September to 4 October. Technical director Hélène Genin. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.Decanter | 94 DECThis bold, structured wine is packed with blackberry fruits and ripe tannins. Freshness and structure from the Cabernet Sauvignon are very present, giving a crisp edge to the solid backbone. This is a wine for aging. Don’t drink before 2023. ROGER VOSSWine Enthusiast | 94 WEBright and fresh, featuring floral, cassis and plum aromas and flavors allied to a sleek, iron-tinged frame. Racy tension through the finish lets the fruit play out while the minerality blossoms. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2038.Wine Spectator | 93 WSA step up, the 2017 Les Forts De Latour includes more Cabernet Sauvignon and is 65.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and a splash of Cabernet Franc. Creme de cassis, unsmoked tobacco, damp earth, and a touch of cedar pencil all emerge from the glass, and it’s beautifully textured and medium to full-bodied, with terrific purity and a great finish. While it’s a second wine, I suspect it will evolve for 20-30 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThe 2017 Les Forts de Latour conveys airiness on the nose, reflecting the relatively lightest vintage in recent years. Graphite and sous-bois infuse black fruit, offering a slightly welcome herbaceous/undergrowth tincture. The palate is very well-balanced and will appeal to those seeking a sleeker, lighter style of Pauillac. Not lean by any account, but this Les Fort de Latour is understated, with appealing black pepper and tobacco notes emerging on the finish. Fine.Vinous Media | 92 VM

This parcel has some soil diversity and is planted exclusively to Dijon clones. The nose has leafy aromas with blue fruit and darker cherries, as well as earthy, deep-set spices. The palate has bold tannins, fuller and rounder style and the finish is deep and plush. Quite supple and quite dense. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JS

A very complex wine on the nose with flowers, earth and spiced blue and red cherries on offer, as well as sappy notes. The palate has plenty of up-front fruit and such intense, deeply layered tannins that carry red-cherry flavors so long and so deep. Long and impressive. Dry-farmed. This will cellar for up to ten years.James Suckling | 95 JS

This has such deep, red-fruit aromas and a beautifully sappy edge, too. The vibrant fruit here is so striking and so deep with a glossy feel and very fine, silky tannins. This is so full of pleasure. So supple and silky. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JSVibrant, offering concentrated cherry flavors that feature rich pastry notes, backed by firm tannins and powerful acidity. Mineral and spice details show on the restrained, pure-tasting finish. Drink now through 2025. 2,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe 2017 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard aged 19 months in 47% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and nose of pomegranate, spiced cranberry sauce, crushed blackberries and lavender with black tea, earth and dried leaves plus graphite nuances. The palate is medium to full-bodied, intense, earthy and firmly framed, with just enough freshness on the long finish. 2,000 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

Moving to the two reds, the appellation 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast reveals a ruby/purple, translucent color as well as a stunning perfume of black raspberries, cassis, crushed violets, spice box, sweet earth. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, has beautiful depth, a kiss of background oak, and a great finish. Mostly destemmed and aged 17 months in 40% new French oak, it's a brilliant wine to drink over the coming decade or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDLots of the blue fruits and dried flowers on the nose. Oyster shell too. Medium to full body, linear and vibrant. Energetic. Clean and intense finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSSourced from a slew of outstanding vineyards, including Kanzler and Gap's Crown, this coastal wine is smooth, seductive and earthy, with focused acidity and tension. Orange, blackberry and strawberry are seasoned in cardamom and dried herb.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEThe 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was aged for 10-17 months in 40% new French oak, 15% wood tanks and 6% concrete tanks. Medium ruby, it's broodily scented with black cherries, underbrush, pencil shavings and dried tobacco leaves with notions of spice and red berry sparks. Light to medium-bodied and earthy in the mouth, it has a pleasantly chalky frame and great juicy freshness, finishing long. 7,550 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

This plot is on the flats and planted to the 667 clone, on predominantly goldridge soils. This gets winemaker influence to tease out complexity. The nose has brambly, sappy herbs and whole-bunch influence. The palate has succulent, fleshy and rich flavors with a very juicy, very rich and round finish. The final bottling of this plot. Drink now.James Suckling | 94 JS

This has an earthy edge with red and blue fruit and leafy nuances on offer. There’s a brambly, sous-bois edge, too. The palate has impressive depth and weight with a succulent, smoothly fleshy feel. The tannins are very polished and supple with a glossy texture and a juicy, deep finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSClean and elegant aromas of black-raspberry sorbet are enhanced by light dashes of cardamom on the intense and dark nose of this single-vineyard expression. The palate is immensely complex and pleasurable, offering cranberry, orange-rind, jasmine and carnation flavors.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEAged in 46% new French oak for 19 months, the medium ruby colored 2017 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard opens with a touch of alcoholic heat and balsamic, very slowly giving up fresh strawberries, raspberries, crushed stone and pomegranate with notions of tree bark and spices. Medium-bodied, silky and with youthfully energetic red fruits, it has a soft frame and lip-smacking acidity, finishing long and still coiled. Give this another 2-3 years in bottle at least. 350 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPWith scents of mulled berries, plums and graphite, this wine has a confident richness, with grape-skin tannins contributing to the formidable structure.Wine and Spirits | 92 W&SLively raspberry tart and dark cherry flavors mesh easily in this fruity, savory style. Rooibos tea, dark chocolate and Asian spice notes emerge on the complex finish, turning creamy and rich. Drink now through 2024. 371 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS