Bordeaux Wines

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Talk about a gem in the vintage, I was blown away by the 2016 Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker on each of the three times I was able to taste it. This estate has been on an undeniable roll since the arrival of Marjolaine de Conicnck in 2009, and the 2016 is unquestionably the best yet. A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc, brought up in 65% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by an essence of Cabernet bouquet that includes loads of crème de cassis, blueberries, graphite, crushed rocks, sandalwood, and violets. Almost Saint Julien in style, this beauty is laser-focused on the palate, medium to full-bodied, brilliantly textured, and has a blockbuster finish. It deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for 25-30 years. Bravo!Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with hints of potpourri, star anise, menthol and tapenade. Full, rich, firm and grainy, with fantastic freshness lifting the densely packed palate, it has a long, beautifully fragrant finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPThe 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker is going to need a few years to come into its own, but there is no question it has turned out beautifully. Espresso, savory herb, licorice, mint and raspberry jam build in a resonant, expressive Margaux that speaks with a real sense of distinction.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGThere has been a lot of investment in this property from the all-female team, from owner Nathalie Perrodo to winemaker Marjolaine Maurice-de Coninck. Don't think this means a feminine take on the vintage though; we have the full gamut of chewy tannins running through well structured, ripe cassis fruit. It holds back on the finish, with a sense of confidence and careful extraction. Maybe not as floral as some, but for me it's another step up in quality from this fast-rising estate. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050.Decanter | 93 DECRipe and fragrant nose that says Margaux loud and clear. Then comes the rather concentrated and powerful palate, where the supple tannins build nicely. Needs some time for them to resolve. Try it in 2022.James Suckling | 93 JSAlluring, with a core of warmed plum sauce and black currant paste flavors, melding with incense, black tea and alder notes. Shows a velvety texture on the finish and a perfumy echo as the fruit lingers gently. Best from 2022 through 2032. 5,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

A rock star Margaux that should be snatched up by readers, the 2018 Château Marquis D’Alesme reveals a dense purple hue as well as ripe, sexy notes of blackcurrants, spicy oak, tobacco leaf, earth, and cedar. Deep, full-bodied, and gorgeously concentrated, it has velvety tannins, a layered, mouthcoating texture, and a great finish. It’s a baby, but wow, what a wine. Hide bottle for 5-7 years if you can (you’ll be forgiven for opening a bottle early) and it’s going to evolve for 30-40 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe 2018 Marquis d’Alesme Becker is from the lieu-dit Les Terrasses de Margaux. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has 14.5% alcohol. It was aged for 18 months in 65% new and 35% two-year-old barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs considerable swirling to unlock notes of ripe blackcurrants, wild blueberries and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of violets, star anise, underbrush and Sichuan pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is charged with energy, featuring loads of red and black fruit preserves layers and a finely grained texture, finishing long and mineral tinged.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPGorgeous mouthfeel right from the first sip, with a velvety, fine-grained texture that lets the range of dark plum, black currant and blackberry fruit flavors splay out without losing focus, while mouthwatering black tea, alder and mineral notes wait gracefully in reserve, showing just a hint, for now, of what they can do on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 6,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WSThis is a wonderful wine with dark berries, wet earth and dark tea. Full body, firm and striking tannins and a long, flavorful finish.James Suckling | 94-95 JSThe 2018 Marquis d’Alesme is a very silky, elegant wine. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and mint are laced throughout this wonderfully nuanced Margaux. Bright red berry fruit, mid-weight structure and silky tannins add to an impression of total finesse. The 2018 is so impressive, even in the early going.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGThis is the third vintage using Marquis d’Alesme’s handsome new cellar, which has contributed to a marked change in the wines since the 2015 vintage. The 2018 has expansive floral aromas and very pure, seductive raspberry fruit flavours and a creamy texture. All the fruit goes into the grand vin here, as the property is quite small, with only 15 hectares of vines. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 5% each Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, which come from very old vines planted on the appellation’s limestone plateau. Drinking Window 2024 - 2045.Decanter | 94 DEC

Chewy and very tannic with a solid depth of dark fruit, showing blackberry and currant character. Full and powerful. Real structure here.James Suckling | 94-95 JSThe 2020 Marquis d’Alesme is matured in 50% new oak and was bottled a little later than other châteaux. It has a crisp bouquet with redcurrant, white-tipped strawberry, cedar and crushed violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine and quite saturated tannins, mainly black fruit tinged with spice, smooth in texture with a touch of piquancy towards the finish. It is persistent and it blossoms in the glass. Very fine.Vinous Media | 94 VMThe 2020 Château Marquis D’Alesme Becker showed well, and this tiny Margaux estate continues to producer fabulous wines under the helm of Marjolaine de Coninck. Based on 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it has a juicy, medium-bodied, round, even sexy style that carries lots of cassis and assorted darker, blue fruits, notes of spicy wood, flowers, and violet, soft tannins, terrific balance, and great finish. Coming from a mix of gravelly, sandy soils and aged in 50% new French oak, this beauty hit 14% natural alcohol (no doubt helped by the large Merlot component) and is going to benefit from just a few years of bottle age. It’s going to see its 20th birthday in fine form.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDSolidly built, with a singed sandalwood and alder frame holding a core of dark plum and warmed cassis together, while light charcoal, bay leaf and earth details emerge on the finish. A strong showing. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2036.Wine Spectator | 93 WSJuicy and upfront, this is deep and rich with a dominant aspect of liquorice, salty stones, dark chocolate and cola, giving this a bit of a savoury and heady aspect with the fruit in the background slightly. Excellent weight on the palate, I like the firm structure and the integrated tannins. Serious and confident, I love the energy and the texture, it’s just a great density in the mouth, not too thick but the concentration matched by the acidity, and the freshness is great. Juicy and balanced. Quite tannic overall, but lovely life and lift at the end. Well worked. Decanter | 93 DEC