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This wine is rich, generously textured and ripe. Acidity is comfortably integrated into the wine’s texture, offering hints of tropical fruits, taut minerality and a spicy and warm future. Drink from 2024. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEA beautiful, classic wine from this appellation located south of Bordeaux, the 2018 Château De Fieuzal reveals a dense purple hue as well as textbook notes of ripe black cherries, currants, smoked earth, tobacco, and chocolate. Textbook Graves all the way with its smoky, earthy, yet voluptuous and medium to full-bodied style, it’s going to benefit from 3-5 years in the cellar and shine for 10-15 years. It’s the finest wine I’ve tasted from this Château since the 2009 and is well worth seeking out.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDA touch of reduction on the palate right now. This has clear, bright berry fruits, clearly at full ripeness, with liquorice and black chocolate. The tannins are chewy and just a tiny bit overpowering right now, but they will soften and there is a lot to enjoy here. Showing its potential. (Drink between 2023-2040)Decanter | 93 DECFresh blackberry, bark, cedar, oyster shell and gravel. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Fresh and flavorful with a juicy, savory finish. Velvety-textured tannins. Try from 2023.James Suckling | 93 JSPlum and raspberry compote notes are juicy and delicious, while dark licorice, fruitcake and mesquite note fill in on the finish. Nice tarry edge at the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2030. 7,000 cases made. Wine Spectator | 92 WSDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 de Fieuzal rocks up with gregarious scents of baked plums, stewed cherries and dried mulberries plus suggestions of Chinese five spice, unsmoked cigars and sautéed herbs. The rich, full-bodied palate has loads of exotic spice and raisin cake layers with a firm, chewy frame, finishing just a little hard.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RP

This is a generous, full-bodied wine. Touches of vanilla indicate the wood aging but that will go as the elegant structure and black fruits come to the fore. The wine’s future is assured, promising impressive drinking from 2027. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThis drapes wonderfully, with its range of warmed cassis, plum reduction and blackberry preserve flavors displaying a cashmere feel while warmed anise, alder, juniper and bay details peek in throughout. Rich yet defined finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036. 7,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSBlueberry, blackberry, black tea, dark chocolate and walnut on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, well integrated tannins. Silky and richly flavored. Always shows finesse. Lots of character at the finish, from wet earth and mushroom to currant and berry. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSOne of the few wines I wasn’t able to taste from barrel, the 2018 Château Kirwan is certainly an outstanding wine now from bottle. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as beautiful notes of crème de cassis and earthy currant fruits, it’s medium to full-bodied and has a kiss of background oak, plenty of spicy, floral nuances, and a great finish. It’s another terrific 2018 with solid up-front appeal yet the balance, structure, and class to evolve for 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThe deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Kirwan comes barreling out of the glass with notes of cedar chest, cloves and stewed plums, followed by notions of cassis, dried Provence herbs and tobacco leaf with a waft of dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating, juicy black fruits with a plush texture and plenty of freshness, finishing long and earthy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2018 Kirwan has really come together nicely in élevage. Powerful and yet impeccably balanced, the 2018 has a ton to offer. Ripe red berry fruit, iron, dried herbs, mocha, licorice and espresso build with time in the glass. I would open the 2018 in advance if possible. This is very nicely done. Antonio Galloni | 92 AGEnjoyable, with touch of reduction on the first note but backed up as it clears by coffee, mocha and damson. A contemporary look with confidence and polish. Needs time in the glass and certainly in the bottle to soften, but there is real potential here. A glossy Margaux. 13% Petit Verdot completes the blend. A yield of 25hl/ha, with 65% new oak. Bottled February 2020. (Drink between 2025-2042)Decanter | 92 DEC

This is intense with tons of tar and cloves against the well-defined cassis fruits and lovely vibrant violet edging. The silky texture and legs indicate generous alcohol, but this is balanced, if on the larger side. It takes its time in the glass, at first a little overpowering, but it settles into itself and has been well handled offering good ageing potential. There were new owners as of harvest 2018, as French entrepreneur Jérôme Pignard took over from American co-owners; the Gant, Ferenbach and Sachs families. Drinking Window 2023 - 2040.Decanter | 94 DECThe deep ruby-hued 2018 Château La Vieille Cure is a smoking wine that readers should snatch up! Lots of red and black currants, cedary spice, dried tobacco, and a touch of chalky minerality all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a fruit-loaded, concentrated mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It has a touch of background oak, but that should integrate with 2-4 years in the cellar, and this gorgeous Fronsac will shine over the following decade or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDAromas of plum, blueberry, dark chocolate and walnut husk. Some pine cone, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Chewy, creamy and polished all at once. Extremely well done. Try from 2023.James Suckling | 93 JSDeep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Vieille Cure opens with cedar chest, graphite and tree bark scents, giving way to a core of baked blackberries, stewed plums and cherry compote, with wafts of Sichuan pepper and star anise. The full-bodied palate (15% alcohol) is wearing a lot of oak at this stage, with a good core of baked black fruits and loads of exotic spice accents, supported by grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing woody. Give it a good 5 years for the oak to integrated and drink it over the next 12-15 years or more.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92+ RPThe 2018 La Vieille Cure is a total pleasure bomb. Rich, sumptuous and exotically beautiful, the 2018 grabs hold of all the senses and never lets up. Inky dark fruit, spice, new leather, licorice, mocha and chocolate build as this exuberant, deeply layered Fronsac shows off its soft curves and considerable charms. In a word: fabulous.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThis has a succulent feel, pulling you into its mix of fresh plum, red cherry and raspberry coulis flavors while bergamot and red tea accents stay in the background. The finish is juicy but tightly focused, with an underlying chalky thread lending precision. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2030. 7,633 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The austerity of the tannins is accentuated at this point after ageing, but backed up by richly layered cassis fruits and a brilliant swish of Médoc eucalyptus. This is going to power through the next decade, and is one to watch out for. (Drink between 2024-2038)Decanter | 93 DECPretty aromas of wild blackberries, violets, milk chocolate and licorice. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Polished and concentrated. Better from 2024.James Suckling | 93 JSThis is a big-hearted wine, ripe with both black-plum flavors and generous tannins. At this stage the structure is prominent, but with the weight of the fruits, the wine will balance out full, ripe and ready to drink from 2026. Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEJust as it was from barrel, the 2018 Poujeaux is superb. Succulent red cherry, spice, cedar, tobacco and leather give the 2018 striking textural richness to match is bold, racy personality. Silky tannins make the 2018 very easy to taste now, but this is a wine with the potential to age beautifully for many years. Impressive. Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThere are lots of impressive Moulis in this vintage and the 2018 Château Poujeaux is one of them. This medium to full-bodied, soft, nicely textured, mouth-filling beauty has lots of blackberry and black cherry fruit, notes of tobacco and damp earth, no hard edges, and a great finish. It’s certainly an outstanding wine and has another decade of prime drinking or more ahead of it. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in one-third new French oak.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

Blackcurrant, bitter-chocolate, dried-lavender and graphite aromas. It’s full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Tight and mineral at the moment. Really well-crafted. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSConsiderable renovation work is beginning to pay off in the quality of this latest vintage from this estate. The wine has depth, concentration, dark-chocolate flavors, rich tannins and equally rich blackberry fruits. With its high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon,the wine is set for aging and will not be ready before 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEOwned by Jacky Lorenzetti, a brilliant-quality estate on largely gravel soils that is always worth seeking out. There are chewy and powerful tannins that will hold the fruit well over the next decade at least. A yield of 48hl/ha, with ageing in 35% new oak with some 400-litre barrels. (Drink between 2023-2036)Decanter | 93 DECThe 2018 Lilian Ladouys is showing nicely now that the wine is in bottle. It has a riper bouquet compared to, say, the Calon-Ségur, more lush – a 2018 with wider appeal, featuring blueberry and cassis scents that soar from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that disguise the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It is not the most powerful Lilian Ladouys in recent years, safeguarding its linearity and strictness all the way through to the finish. But it conveys a sense of classicism and has abundant freshness that should see it age well over the next two decades. Vinous Media | 92 VMA year-in, year-out value, the 2018 Château Lilian Ladouys checks in as 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was brought up in 35% new oak. Jammy blueberries, ripe cherries, damp earth, tobacco, and spicy wood notes define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a plump, rounded texture, opulent aromas and flavors, and a great finish. (Drink between 2021-2036)Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDIn 2018, the Lorenzetti family purchased two neighbor estates, Château Clauzet and Château Tour de Pez, adding these to the Lilian Ladouys vineyard to almost double its planted area to 77 hectares. These additional vineyards are composed of gravelly soils of the same level as the best blocks of Lilian Ladouys. Soils are a typically Saint-Estèphe mix of sandy-gravel and clay with some limestone deposits. It is planted at 8,500-10,000 vines per hectare, with an average vine age of 35 years in 2018. The wine will see 12 months aging in 35% new and 65% two-year-old barriques. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, and it has 14.41% alcohol. From the lieu-dit Blanquet and with a deep purple-black color, the 2018 Lilian Ladouys gives up wonderfully spicy black fruit preserves notions: plum preserves, crème de cassis and blueberry with hints of exotic spices, menthol and violets. Medium to full-bodied, firm and fine-grained in the mouth, it has layer upon layer of rich, spicy black fruits with a lift to the finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90-92 RPThis has a nice winey core of steeped red and black currant fruit laced with bay, charcoal, savory and olive notes. The fruit keeps pace through the mineral-edged finish, with a late tug of dark earth. Solid, if just slightly on the rustic side of the stylistic ledger. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2031. 28,300 cases made. Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Aromas of blackberry, plum, cocoa, iodine, clove and graphite. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins. Tightly wound and mineral at the moment, with dusty gravel and graphite notes, yet with focus and precision. Such balance and harmony for the vintage. Try from 2025.James Suckling | 96 JSThe top wine, the 2018 Château D’Issan is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. It offers a beautiful, singular bouquet of blackcurrants, new leather, smoked tobacco, scorched earth, and camphor. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, seamless Margaux with wonderful tannins, beautifully integrated acidity, and just a flawlessly balanced, elegant, layered style that’s going to evolve for 20-25 years. It’s one classy 2018 that has loads to love.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDWell-balanced, fleshed out by redcurrant, raspberry and black cherry fruits. There is tannic build-up, gently layering but adding up to quite the wall at this stage, suggesting a long life ahead, and beautifully judged cigar smoke edging through the finish. Good stuff from Issan, and a wine I have tasted both at en primeur and during ageing in barrel. 50% new oak. Drinking Window 2026 - 2045.Decanter | 95 DECThe 2018 D’Issan is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, aging in 50% new and 50% second year barrels for an estimated 18 months. With 13.97% alcohol and a deep garnet-purple color, it features baked berries, warm cherries and cassis with spice box and fragrant earth plus tea hints. Medium to full-bodied, it has a great core of muscular fruit with firm, fine-grained tannins, with nice freshness, finishing layered with mineral notions.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94-96 RPThe 2018 d’Issan is a potent, backward wine that is going to need a number of years to come into its own. Dark and brooding, with serious intensity, the 2018 shows off real depth in its blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, spice, smoke and leather flavors. The tannins are imposing today, but, then again, everything about the 2018 feels large in scale. I can’t wait to see how the 2018 ages.Antonio Galloni | 94 AG

The 2018 Cos Labory has a deep garnet-purple color, bursting from the glass with bold notes of warm cassis, blackberry compote and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of roses, unsmoked cigars and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate has a very sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and tons of freshness supporting the rather delicately played fruit, finishing long and earthy/minerally. The structure stands out a little now, which I enjoy, but for those preferring softer, rounder expressions, give this a good 3-5 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 15-20 years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2018 Cos Labory is fabulous. An extra kick of richness from the warm year and a bit more Petit Verdot than usual result in a Cos Labory that is wonderfully savory, powerful and layered. Black cherry, plum, cloves, chocolate and dried herbs build as this potent, exotically ripe Saint-Estèphe opens in the glass. Today, the 2018 is dark, brooding and in need of cellaring. Cos Labory is a bit wild, but that just adds to its considerable allure.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGA lovely sense of balance and restraint. Plenty of black fruit, lots of cassis and bilberry. A good wine that is going to age very well, with plenty of tannic bite, if a little high in acidity. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042Decanter | 92 DECAromas of blackberries and blueberries with cloves, graphite and dark chocolate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Sleek and refined with an austere, mineral finish. But polished texture. Better from 2024.James Suckling | 92 JSThe Audoy family has produced a structured wine, dense with tannins and backed by dark plum and berry fruits. It is rich, with a good future ahead of it, textured with richness as well as initial dryness. Drink the wine from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WELots of rich red and black currants, tobacco, savory spice, and new leather notes emerge from the 2018 Château Cos Labory, a medium-bodied Saint-Estèphe with terrific overall balance, ripe, velvety tannins, lots of character, and outstanding length. It’s well worth cellaring and drinking any time over the coming 15+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

Lots of crushed black and blue fruit on the nose with licorice and crushed gravel, too. Hints of tobacco. It’s full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and precise. Tight at the finish. Tannins are integrated and mouth filling. The grow nicely on the palate. 68% cabernet sauvignon and 32% merlot. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSVery fresh and silky in feel, with a bright display of raspberry coulis and cassis notes that glides through, infused gently with rooibos tea, incense and savory details through the caressing finish. Understated style, but there’s a lot to like. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2034. 10,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSVibrant purple in colour with clear fruit aromatics of redcurrant and raspberry, this has vibrancy and lift and is full of life. The juicy fruit is shot through with peppery spice and herbs, along with touches of slate and tobacco leaf. The acidity is on the higher side, making it more perky than seductive, with good persistence and no intention of going anywhere fast. Dauzac was still owned by insurance company MAIF during the 2018 season but the estate has since changed hands, so the maturation will be overseen by new owner, French businessman Christian Roulleau, with director Laurent Fontin remaining in place. A new system of extraction called Air Pulse keeps the berries in permanent suspension during fermentation, so a hard ’marc’, or cap of skins, never forms. It means they have no need for traditional pumping over, and in theory ensures softer extractions. Harvest September 17 to October 8.A 45hl/h yield, which is impressive considering they are using algae-derived treatments against mildew to reduce use of copper. 65% new oak. Drinking Window 2027 - 2040.Decanter | 93 DECThe 2018 Château Dauzac is another charming, nicely balanced, textured wine from Margaux with plenty of ripe red and black fruits, notes of dried flowers, chocolate, and incense, light tannins, and outstanding length. It’s a fleshy, balanced, flavor-filled beauty that is already drinking nicely today yet is going to keep for 15 years in cold cellars.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDPowerfully structured, this is a big wine. Black fruits, ripe tannins and concentration are not shy in their richness. Juicy blackberry flavors are just beginning to develop and integrate with the structure. Drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEMedium to deep garnet-purple colored, 2018 Dauzac comes galloping out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and blueberry compote, plus suggestions of violets, clove oil and underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with ripe black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with a peppery kick.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RPThe 2018 Dauzac, a wine that I did not taste out of barrel, has a concentrated bouquet of layers of blackberry, raspberry, violet and just a touch of pitted black olives. The palate is medium-bodied with good grip on the entry. This felt angular when I first poured it; allowing it 2–3 hours to soften, it does remain quite strict and linear. There is just a touch of herbaceousness toward the finish, though it is minor and I fully suspect it will be subsumed with time. So my advice is: be patient.Vinous Media | 90+ VM

Blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, mushrooms and earthy notes. Spices as well. It’s full-bodied with an unctuous texture. Balanced and savory with a fine, chewy tannin structure. Flavorful finish with length. One of the best ever from here. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2018 Rouget is not going to win any prizes for subtlety, but it sure is delicious. Racy and flamboyant to the core, the 2018 saturates the palate with super-ripe red fruit, mocha, spice and copious new French oak. I would give the tannins a few years to soften. There is certainly a lot to look forward to. Readers should expect a dense, heady style.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGThe 2018 Château Rouget is a beauty and well worth seeking out, especially for those who love the richer, more full-bodied side to Pomerol. Lots of black fruits, chocolate, leafy herbs, and cedar notes emerge from this beauty, which has silky tannins, wonderful overall balance, and a great, great finish. This is one pleasure-bent, sexy 2018 that can be drunk any time over the coming 15 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDGrilled oak influence on the nose, with excellent density to the flavours through the palate. Needs time to open up but it works and really has a sense of confidence and personality. 30% new oak. Drinking Window 2026 - 2045.Decanter | 93 DECDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Rouget offers up expressive scents of baked black cherries, blackberry preserves and boysenberries with hints of underbrush, pencil lead and cedar chest, plus a waft of bouquet garni. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of muscular, oak-infused black fruit with lots of earthy accents and a sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins, finishing just a little warm and tannic. There is a lot going on here, but it’s all a bit disjointed right now. Give it a good 4-5 years in bottle and drink it over the next 15 years or more.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91+ RP

The 2018 Peyrabon is fulfilling its promise from barrel. It has a well-defined and focused bouquet of lively blackberry and briary scents, touches of cedar and tobacco coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and a fine lattice of tannins that impress, considering this is a Bordeaux Supérieur with excellent length. Bon vin!Vinous Media | 91 VMSweet black cherry and blackberry fruits, with good balance and freshness on the finish. Mouthwatering, with touches of grilled rosemary, pepper and woodsmoke. A consistent success rate at this property that is owned by Millésima négociants. Vineyards of gravel and sand soils over a clay subsoil. A yield of 22hl/ha, aged in 25% new oak. Drinking Window 2022 - 2038.Decanter | 91 DECBlackcurrant, tea-leaf, mocha and some praline aromas. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Flavorful and structured. Drink from 2022.James Suckling | 90 JS

Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, herbs and cedar. It’s full-bodied with elegant tannins. Fleshy and well balanced on the palate. Beautiful, pure fruit at the finish. Second wine of Talbot. Try after 2023.James Suckling | 92 JSBright, ripe and defined, with bay, violet, cassis and dark plum fruit all racing along in unison. Excellent energy and tension through the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2028. 18,335 cases made. Wine Spectator | 90 WSFilled with gourmet notes of chocolate shavings and brioche, with sweet black fruits and firm tannins. This is an enjoyable second wine with well-ripened fruits and a charcoal edge through the finish. A little austere as things close out. The tannins have a pretty muscular bite to them. (Drink between 2023-2036)Decanter | 90 DECThe 2018 Connétable de Talbot has a fragrant bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and light crushed stone aromas. The oak is nicely integrated (15%). The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and plenty of freshness on the structured, graphite tinged finish. This is simply the best Connétable de Talbot that I have tasted.Vinous Media | 89-91 VM

From the partner estate to Château Giscours, this wine is as elegant as you would expect. While it is structured, it also has ripe fruits, rich tannins and great potential. The dry and firm core of this wine will propel it forward. Drink from 2027.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEVery seductive, with warmed plum sauce, cassis and raspberry confiture flavors stitched together with singed sandalwood and light mineral notes. Ends with a velvety edge while a flash of alder darts in the background. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe 2018 Château Du Tertre is solid, offering an attractive bouquet of red and black fruits, vanilla bean, dried flowers, balsam (which I always seem to find in this wine), and sandalwood. It’s beautifully complex, has medium-bodied richness, moderate tannins, and a forward, charming, already delicious style that’s ideal for enjoying over the coming 15 years. (Drink between 2021-2036)James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2018 Château Du Tertre is solid, offering an attractive bouquet of red and black fruits, vanilla bean, dried flowers, balsam (which I always seem to find in this wine), and sandalwood. It’s beautifully complex, has medium-bodied richness, moderate tannins, and a forward, charming, already delicious style that’s ideal for enjoying over the coming 15 years. (Drink between 2021-2036)Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD Brushed grilled cedar edge on the nose here, deep silky texture and lots of lovely fruit. Touches of heat on the finish but a clear bitter chocolate ending keeps things focused. 50% new oak. 14% Petit Verdot makes up the blend. (Drink between 2026-2042)Decanter | 92 DECJust as it was from barrel, the 2018 du Tertre is a powerful, virile wine. Game, scorched earth, incense, savory herbs, licorice and tobacco lend a distinctive aromatic profile. On the palate, the 2018 comes across as a bit compact, but otherwise it is nicely done.Antonio Galloni | 91 AGMedium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 du Tertre delivers a good intensity of stewed black plums, kirsch and black raspberry notes, plus hints of dried Provence herbs, tobacco leaf and cedar chest. The medium-bodied palate offers plenty of red and black fruit preserves flavors with a soft texture and loads of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

The vineyards surrounding the 12th-century castle have produced this rich and densely structured wine. Powerful tannins give a smoky character to the ripe, black-plum fruits. It definitely needs aging, so drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThe 2018 La Tour Carnet has calmed down a bit since I tasted it in barrel, but it still delivers plenty of punch. Inky dark red fruit, cedar, mint, dried herbs, mocha and pipe tobacco give the 2018 notable complexity. Somber and a bit brooding, the 2018 is going to need a few years to be at its best, which is always the case here. Bernard Magrez makes a wide range of compelling wines. La Tour Carnet is one of his finest.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGLots of impressive cassis and currant fruit as well as tobacco, lead pencil, new leather, and spice notes emerge from the 2018 Château Tour Carnet. It’s a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant 2018 with good concentration, ripe tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and outstanding length. It’s well worth buying multiple bottles and is going to drink brilliantly for 15 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDClear, rippling black cherry and raspberry fruits; beautiful aromatics with floral edging. This has a pretty tight layer of tannins to navigate through before you get to the fruit, but it is early days and this has plenty of distinction to suggest that it will age well. Has character, but needs a good few years to soften. Drinking Window: 2028 - 2044Decanter | 92 DECBlueberries, plums and blackberries, as well as herbal notes. It’s medium-to full-bodied with solid, tight tannins. Fine texture with pleasant acidity and a nice grain. Blackcurrant and light tar in the aftertaste. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 92 JSDeep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 la Tour Carnet is a little closed and broody to begin, slowly unfurling to offer glimpses at notions of tar, star anise, damp soil and tapenade with a core of stewed plums and boysenberries, plus a waft of cassis. The medium-bodied palate has lovely freshness and bags of savory-laced black fruits framed by rounded tannins, finishing with a lively lift.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RPCassis and cherry notes stream through, laced with light anise, black tea and sweet tobacco accents along the way. Late tug of earth on the finish adds nice contrast. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2028. 48,300 cases made. Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Emerging from the same team as Château Montrose and 51% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château Tronquoy-Lalande is a spicy, chocolaty, medium to full-bodied, already complex beauty with ripe, velvety tannins, solid mid-palate depth and outstanding length on the finish. Loads of ripe black cherry and currant fruits as well as tobacco and spice define the bouquet, and it has the fruit to offer pleasure even today yet should keep for two decades or so. I overestimated this from barrel, but it’s still a beautiful wine.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThere’s great concentration here but it’s juicy at the same time, delicious in its liquorice and plummy black fruit notes. There are traces of heat from the higher than usual alcohol levels in the Cabernet Sauvignon (Montrose wine director Vincent Decup called it ’the ultra-concentration of the Cabernets’), but again it’s balanced by softly seductive tannins. There was a little less mildew here than at Montrose, so they managed a 45hl/ha yield, harvested between 18 September and 4 October. 3.65pH. 93IPT.Decanter | 93 DECWonderful aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries and flowers with some plums. It’s full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that are long and polished. Nice, linear ending that drives long and pretty. Give this three or four years to open. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 93 JSA rich, broad-shouldered wine, the 2018 Tronquoy-Lalande delivers aromas of jammy cherries and blackberries mingled with notions of asphalt and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and succulent, it’s broad and enveloping, with a layered core of fruit and sweet structuring tannins. Readers who gravitate to more powerful styles will especially appreciate this vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2018 Tronquoy-Lalande is powerful and also inviting, with layers of dark-toned fruit that envelop the palate. Blackberry, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice, scorched earth and leather all flesh out in the glass. As it was from barrel, Tronquoy is a dark, somber wine. It has enough sheer richness to develop well for another 10-15 years, maybe more.Vinous Media | 92 VMUnder the same ownership as Château Montrose, this estate is performing right up to its potential. With its rich tannins, dark-chocolate flavors and smoky wood aging character, the wine is coming together well. It should be ready from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WERacy and vibrant, with a pure beam of violet, cassis and damson plum notes streaming through. A sleek finish keeps the elements nicely focused, while pebbly tannins linger. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2031.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Aromas of blackberries and black olives with grapey undertones. Graphite as well. It’s tight and full-bodied, yet very polished and refined. Creamy texture. Just a hint of tar on the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Tiny production. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2018 Ferrière is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Inky dark fruit, gravel, cured meats, graphite, smoke and lavender all run through the 2018. Readers will have to be especially patient, as the 2018 needs time to unwind. Yields are down from an average of 45 hectoliters per hectare to just 26, which no doubt contributes to the wine’s natural intensity. The blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, in other words, the Cabernet Sauvignon is especially high, a recent trend here because of climate change. This is the first year in which a portion of the wine was aged in cement and amphora (20%), which according to Claire Lurton allows for lower SO2 in aging.Vinous Media | 94 VMThere has been a clear improvement in the sculpting and concentration of this wine over the past few years. 2018 was a difficult vintage in terms of low yields, (20hl/ha after mildew), but they have really done a good job of keeping a sense of uplift and freshness. 5% Petit Verdot gives a deep spice and eucalyptus. Jacques Lurton has been doing some consulting across these estates.Decanter Magazine | 92 DEC

Wild-strawberry, blackberry and blueberry aromas with some spices and herbs. It’s full-bodied with a balance of firm yet elegant tannins. The savory mid-palate leads to a clean finale with serious length. Hard not to drink this now, but it needs four or five years to show its true excellence. Second wine of Angelus. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2018 Le Carillon d’Angélus is silky, pliant and wonderfully expressive. Dark red cherry fruit, mocha, cedar and dried flowers all flesh out. The Carillon benefits immensely from air, which really brings out its aromatic presence and layers. Silky tannins wrap around the finish. This is such a pretty wine.Vinous Media | 93 VMI loved the 2018 Carillon D’Angélus. This Merlot-dominated blend (there’s 15% Cabernet Franc) offers a healthy ruby/purple color as well as a complex, smoky bouquet of ripe black fruits, graphite, tobacco, and a kiss of earth. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, it has a sexy, seamless texture, polished tannins, and the class to drink nicely for 15 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDLifted and spicy on the nose with a splash of dark fruit, the wine affirms its style with freshness, clean lines and a lightness of touch. Nonetheless, there’s plenty of depth and the tannins have been finely worked, the 60% new oak well integrated. It has early appeal but will age. Produced from fruit from three separate parcels: close to Angélus, behind Figeac and at St-Christophe-des-Bardes.Decanter Magazine | 92 DECComposed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Le Carillon d’Angélus rolls out of the glass with upfront notions of baked plums, stewed black cherries and raspberry pie, plus suggestions of potpourri, Chinese five spice, tilled soil and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate is generous and spicy, supported by soft tannins and just enough freshness, finishing savory.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RPBright tobacco and herb notes sparkle out front until the black currant and blackberry compote flavors catch up. The solidly grippy finish shows a dark, slightly brooding profile. Distinctive. Merlot and Cabernet FrancWine Spectator | 90-93 WS

Plums and fresh flowers, such as roses on the nose with some stems and parsley. Full-bodied with round, polished tannins that are medium in stature but long and caressing, giving nice tension to the wine on the palate. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 93 JSFrom the younger vines of the estate, this second wine at Domaine de Chevalier is wood aged for 14 months. It has spice and also bursts with black fruits and acidity. Set to develop well, the wine should be ready from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEDark chocolate and mint on the nose, some sweet blackcurrant. I love the upfront juiciness here, it’s well textured with fine tannins that gently support the fruit letting it shine brightly on the palate. There’s a creaminess to this too which is so satisfying. Really a beautiful, gentle, delicate but nuanced wine. Good freshness and drinking appeal with fruit and energy. Easy enjoyment, well made. well structured. Good winemaking on show. Drinking Window 2022 - 2033.Decanter | 92 DECPresents a mix of bramble, mulling spice and savory notes, with steeped plum and red currant fruit flavors and a tarry tug on the finish. Shows good energy throughout. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2031. 8,333 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WSThe second wine of Domaine de Chevalier, the 2019 L’Esprit De Chevalier shows the fresher, more lively, complex style of this cool terroir and reveals a deep ruby/purple color, notes of tobacco, damp earth, violets, black cherries, and dark currants, medium-bodied richness and depth, and outstanding length on the finish. It has a lively spice of acidity as well as ample ripe fruit and is ideal for drinking any time over the coming 15 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 91-93 JDAromas of smoky blackberries, cherries, loamy soil and smoke preface the 2019 L’Esprit de Chevalier, a medium to full-bodied, ample and charming wine that’s rich but elegant, with its fleshy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins and succulent acids.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RPThe 2019 Esprit de Chevalier is a gorgeous second wine. Bright, plump and juicy, the Esprit will keep the domaine’s fans happy right out of the gate. A rush of sweet red cherry, red plum, mint, spice and licorice builds as this exuberant, radiant red shows off its fun-loving personality.Antonio Galloni | 89-91 AG

Fruity nose of ripe blackberries, currants, chocolate orange and oyster shell. It’s medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and fresh with some spicy and salty notes to close. Drink from 2023.James Suckling | 92 JSThe 2019 Lanessan is a powerful, deep wine. Grilled herbs, pepper, sage, mint and tobacco lend notable aromatic intensity. The Cabernet is especially marked here. Lanessan is pretty assertive in 2019. There is quite a bit of Cabernet savoriness and tannin.Antonio Galloni | 91 AGThe 2019 Lanessan continues to perform very well, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, licorice and fresh tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with rich, powdery tannins and a vibrant core of fruit, it’s a fine effort from a property with immense potential.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RPLovely texture here, deep and intense but also smooth, with high-toned blackcurrant and black cherry. There’s a pleasing chalky dryness to the tannins and an appealing minerality that comes through. Solid core, well presented but not hugely long. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2030Decanter | 90 DEC

This is so aromatic with blackcurrants, black berries and raspberries. Pure fruit, together with coffee and nutmeg. Really fresh and clean with bright spices. Full-bodied, yet reserved and tight with fantastic structure. So long. This is a great Cos for the cellar. A real benchmark for the true character. Needs at least five or six years to open and come around. Try after 2029.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2019 Cos d’Estournel is a deep, powerful wine. That has been true on both times I have tasted it recently. Readers will have to be patient. Those who can afford it will be rewarded with a towering, statuesque Saint-Estèphe. With a bit of air the fruit starts to emerge, but this is a very reticent Cos that does not show the opulence that it often does in its youth. Gravel, smoke, incense, tobacco and dried flowers gradually unfurl over time, hinting at a very bright future. The 2019 is impressive. That’s all there is to it. Tasted two times.Antonio Galloni | 98 AGVivid red-purple rim to the glass; blue fruits, plums and black cherries presented with pleasant floral aspects alongside a wonderful freshly brewed coffee aroma, soft and delicate but just noticeable. This is absolutely delicious, round and plump on the palate but not heavy, well defined with a fruit precision marrying blackcurrants and cherries with some cocoa and liquorice nuance. The velvety texture and overall clarity stands out, driven and precise with layers of pretty chewy, perfumed fruit underpinned by generous acidity. Sophisticated and enjoyable. Wonderful styling at Cos in 2019. Drinking Window: 2028 - 2045Decanter | 98 DECThe 2019 Cos d’Estournel has turned out brilliantly, exhibiting aromas of minty cassis, sweet wild berries and wild plums mingled with hints of spices, loamy soil and potpourri. Full-bodied, broad and enveloping, it’s polished and seamless, its ample chassis of fine, velvety tannin entirely concealed in its deep core of succulent, crunchy fruit. Beautifully integrated at this early stage, the last decade has witnessed a number of changes at this address, including a trend toward less aggressively late picking, cooler fermentations and élevage with fewer rackings and more moderate percentages of less heavily toasted new oak: in 2019, the results speak for themselves.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97+ RPThe beautiful perfume of this stylish wine are the first impression. They set the scene for the wonderful black currant fruits and dark tannins that meld together on the palate. Made with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, this structured wine shows long-term aging potential.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEDark and winey, featuring black currant, fig and blackberry preserve flavors laced with a smoldering hint of cast iron, plus notes of anise, apple wood, sweet bay leaf and warm earth. The finish offers a long sanguine thread that stitches it all up. Gorgeous. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2040. 15,000 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 96 WSThe Grand Vin 2019 Château Cos D’Estournel checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot coming from 43 hectoliters per hectare and hitting a healthy 14% alcohol. Brought up in just 55% new French oak, it’s a pretty, elegant, seamless Saint-Estèphe that has plenty of redcurrant and cassis-like fruit as well as lead pencil, graphite, and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, it has supple, fine tannins, wonderful purity, and a classy, regal profile that will be loved by staunch traditionalists out there. Exceedingly elegant and finesse-driven, with a touch of Château Lafite-like character, I compared this wine to a more elegant version of the 2016 from barrel, but now from bottle, I think 2014 is a better comparison in its weight, balance, and just overall style. It has a silky, charming style that already offers pleasure but won’t hit maturity for a good 7-8 years and will have 25+ years of prime drinking.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JD

Aromas of grilled pineapple, clove, lemon peel, lime pith and green mango. White pepper, crushed stones and some cedar, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with bright acidity. Layered and very long. Serious white. Needs time to open and show more Exceptional form here. Drink from 2023.James Suckling | 97 JSApple, elderflower, white peach and apricot. Smooth and bright, this has finesse and class with real linearity and direction. I like the texture and mouthfeel - big enough to be quite a structured and round wine but with lightness and freshness too. This has real focus, perhaps not so layered and expressive at this point, but such an excellent drive of lemon and lime fruit and some bitter grapefruit edges too, that give spice and definition. Confident and poised. Great winemaking.Decanter | 95 DECThis wine is ripe with layers of intense white fruits and a structure that will let it age. The balance between fruit and wood aging is just right, giving a spicy edge and delicious acidity. Drink from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEA blend of 76.1% Sauvignon Blanc and 23.9% Semillon, the 2019 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock notes of lemongrass, grapefruit, and sea spray with hints of orange blossom and coriander seed. The medium-bodied palate is seriously tightly wound, with taut citrus and chalky layers and a crisp backbone, finishing with great length.The Wine Independent | 95 TWIThe 2019 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc is a super distinctive white that deftly balances fruit richness with energy, all in the weightless, transparent style that is such a signature here. Orchard fruit, flowers, mint and white pepper pulse with notable energy. The 2019 Blanc is absolutely gorgeous and well worth seeking out. I loved it.Vinous Media | 94 VMThe 2019 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc is rock-solid, with lots of honeyed grapefruit, pineapple, and lime aromatics as well as a medium-bodied, vibrant, incredibly pure, precise, and elegant style on the palate. This is age-worthy Bordeaux Blanc. Give bottles 2-3 years and it should keep for over a decade.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JD

Lovely soft spicing on the nose, liquorice touches and bramble fruits - gorgeous aromatics on show. Excellent clarity on the palate, this has a silky smooth texture with bright fruit flavours. Extremely youthful and brimming with energy. Fruit forward with cherry and cherry stone nuances. Really quite playful in the best way with charming fragrant touches from start to finish, - 2019 was the ’year of perfume’ according to Alexandre Thienpont. So much to like here.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2019 La Gravette De Certan is a solid second wine offering plenty of up-front richness and suppleness as well as classic Pomerol darker cherry and currant fruits, notes of damp earth, tobacco, and hints of flowers, beautiful balance, and enough ripe tannins to keep it drinking well for over a decade. I’d be thrilled with a bottle on the table.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThe 2019 La Gravette de Certan, 100% Merlot, is deep garnet-purple in color. It races out with bright, expressive notions of black cherries, raspberry preserves, and fresh plums with hints of crushed rocks and black olives. The full-bodied palate delivers a lively backbone and nice ripe, approachable tannins with a lifted finish.The Wine Independent | 93 TWIThe 2019 La Gravette de Certan is a fleshy, charming wine, bursting with aromas of cherries, minty blackberries and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, ample and giving, it’s sensual and succulent, with an enveloping core of fruit, supple tannins and lively acids. It’s entirely composed of Merlot this year and largely derived from vines planted in 2010, supplemented by a plot planted in 1998.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

Sweet dark fruits on the nose, like black cherry jam with lovely touches of Cabernet Franc apparent in the herbal, perfumed nuances. Super soft and succulent, this is rich and concentrated but delivered in a velvet glove - sculpted. Clearly powerful with a dark core of black fruits but with such an appealingly smooth texture and lift all the way through. Freshness is key here and this has a cooling mint, liquorice and mineral aspect from start to finish. Svelte and supple, this has structure and sophistication. A classy, well made wine. Easy to recommend. Tasted three times.Decanter Magazine | 95 DECFrom an estate that appears to be on an upward trajectory, the 2019 Château Beauregard is a textbook 2019 with its pure, elegant, seamless style. Black cherries, darker currants, leafy herbs, and floral notes all emerge on the nose, and its wonderfully textured, medium to full-bodied, has gorgeous tannins, and a great finish. It’s up with the 2018 and certainly one of the finest vintages I’ve tasted from this address. It will drink well for 15-20 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDA perfumed nose of blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, sweet praline, chocolate and dried lemons. Medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins. Beautiful sweetly spiced fruit with a fleshy texture and a flavorful, creamy finish. Drink from 2025.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2019 Beauregard is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it prances out with a fragrant nose of dried roses, fallen leaves, and tilled soil over a core of plum preserves and kirsch. The full-bodied palate delivers a grainy texture and seamless freshness to support the muscular fruit, finishing savory.The Wine Independent | 92 TWIThe 2019 Beauregard offers up a rich bouquet of plums, cherries, baking chocolate and licorice, followed by a full-bodied, fleshy and sumptuous palate that’s broad and enveloping, with an ample core of fruit, melting tannins and ripe but succulent acids. This is a gourmand, demonstrative Pomerol that’s already drinking well. This certified-organic estate on the edge of the Pomerol plateau, opposite Petit Village, has been replanted at higher density and benefits from carefully winemaking.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP

Showing beautifully, with the polished, pure, elegant style of the vintage, the 2019 Château Gloria sports a deeper ruby/purple color as well as great aromatics of cassis and assorted blue fruits to go with smoked tobacco, cedar pencil, damp earth, and floral notes. I love its purity, and it’s just a quintessential, medium to full-bodied, layered Saint-Julien that can be drunk today or cellared for a solid two decades. It should be a no-brainer purchase for the wine lovers out there.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2019 Gloria personifies classic Saint-Julien, offering blackberry, wild hedgerow, cedar and tobacco scents, maybe a little conservative in style, but unashamed about that. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite firm tannins. Fresh and saline, this gets the saliva going with a precise, persistent finish and leaves hints of graphite on the aftertaste. Excellent.Vinous Media | 94 VMRock-solid, with a mouthwatering roasted apple wood and mesquite frame around a well-layered core of black currant, blackberry and plum fruit flavors. The finish features dots of tobacco and tar that add range, but the real driver is a long bolt of iron, which gives this a throwback feel. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2038.Wine Spectator | 94 WSSuch a deep, concentrated nose, full of ripe blackcurrants and black cherries. Great intensity and concentration on the palate, some dark spicy notes, liquorice, black pepper and cinnamon around the edges alongside layers of juicy and succulent ripe fruit. A full, bold wine no doubt, real power here but stylish and energetic. If you like the gourmet style, this one is great. (Drink between 2024-2039)Decanter | 94 DECSweet berry and cherry aromas with violets, following through to a medium to full body with creamy, linear tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Tight and curated, in a structured way. Try after 2027.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 Gloria has turned out very well, delivering aromas of blackcurrants, plums, burning embers and a deft framing of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and nicely concentrated, with a vibrant core of ripe and fleshy fruit, lively acids and powdery structuring tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully firm finish, this shows considerable promise.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93+ 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

An array of fresh dark and blue-fruit aromas, together with hints of baking spices, chocolate and crushed rocks. Full-bodied and compact with firm, polished tannins and delicious, succulent fruit. Refined and firm on the finish. 86% merlot and 14% cabernet franc. Drinkable now, but better in 2025.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2019 Château Puygueraud is also terrific, with ripe darker cherry, plum, leafy tobacco and hints of chocolate on the nose. This medium-bodied, rounded, supple, elegant beauty has soft tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDFragranced milk chocolate and black cherries on the nose - a gorgeous smell. Rush of fresh fruity flavours on the palate - blueberries, raspberries and blackcurrants alongside hints of minty, stony bitterness that edge the fruit giving texture and tang. Round with silky tannins. Easy to drink and easy to recommend. (Drink between 2023-2029)Decanter | 92 DECThis full Merlot from the far east of the Bordeaux vineyard, is suffused with ripe, smoothly textured dark fruits. It has a touch of spice at the end from the Cabernet Franc. Structured tannins come at the end.Wine Enthusiast | 90 WEComposed of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Puygueraud was harvested from the 27th of September to the 11th of October. Yields were 47 hectoliters per hectare this year. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with vibrant black cherries, crushed plums and black raspberry scents with hints of black truffles, fertile loam and wild thyme plus a hint of crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers loads of earth-laced black fruit layers with a seriously refreshing line and firm, chewy tannins, finishing on a compelling wild mushroom note. About 15,500 cases are anticipated to be made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 89-91+ RP