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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

The 2018 Grand-Pontet is gorgeous and extroverted, just as it was en primeur. A blast of dark fruit, chocolate, mocha, leather and licorice hits the palate. Rich and resonant on the palate, the 2018 exudes raciness from start to finish. Soft curves add to the wine's considerable appeal. The 2018 really blossoms with a bit of air.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGUnusual blend for St-Emilion with a high proportion of Malbec, and there is no question that it comes through in a deeply spiced cinnamon and black pepper punch through the mid-palate. Different profile aromatically from the palate, with big tannins and a whoosh tick of fresh mint through the mid-palate, alongside cool blue fruit and a ton of black chocolate. A little less St-Emilion typicity perhaps, and the rich spice puts the focus on a slightly hard finish rather that salinity from the limestone soils (no doubt accentuated by low yields of 19hl/ha), but there is a lot to recommend, and it provides an enjoyable look at where St-Emilion might go in the future to cope with warmer vintages. Excellent violet rim. Jean-Philippe Fort is consultant at this property, which is owned by the Pourquet-Becot family. 90% new oak. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 92 DECPolished aromas of blueberry, dried lavender, cedar and dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied with firm, caressing tannins that frame a core of ripe fruit. 39% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon, 39% cabernet franc and 12% malbec. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 92 JSDeep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Grand-Pontet—a blend of 39% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc and 12% Malbec—comes prancing out of the glass with flamboyant notes of plum preserves, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by suggestions of cinnamon stick, cumin seed and ground cloves with a waft of unsmoked cigars. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers bags of spicy black and blue fruit flavors, framed by velvety tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with a minty lift.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPLots of ripe black raspberry, cassis, and graphite notes emerge from the 2018 Château Grand-Pontet, another beautiful Saint-Emilion from this estate, which appears to be on an upward trajectory. With medium to full-bodied richness, silky, polished tannins, and a focused, elegant texture, it's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for a decade. If it gains more mid-palate depth as well as richness over the coming couple of years, it will warrant an even higher rating.Jeb Dunnuck | 91+ JD

This is pretty powerful. Extremely tight dark fruits right now - quite a change in profile from a decade ago, now showing brambled blackberries and cassis, majoring on Cabernet characteristics. Delicious, savoury and sappy, with crushed mint on the finish. A yield of 42hl/ha. Ageing in 50% new oak (mainly large-format casks). (Drink between 2026-2040)Decanter | 94 DECThe estate is surrounded by the suburbs of the city of Libourne and this wine is produced by the team at Château Cheval Blanc. That combination has produced a sequence of fine wines, like this release. Rich fruits have been given a sheen of wood aging and crafted tannins to make a wine that will age well. Drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEQuinault l’Enclos comes from off a very gravelly soil with great drainage, but there’s not a lot of water during dry periods. Adeptly produced by the team of Cheval Blanc (who purchased the estate in 2008), the wine nonetheless maintained its poise under the dry and warm ripening conditions of 2018, coming in at a respectable pH of 3.67 and relatively moderate alcohol of 14.1%. The 2018 Quinault l’Enclos has a deep garnet-purple color and beautifully expressed notes of baked black cherries, ripe black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of violets, dark chocolate, star anise and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate has a gorgeous velvety texture and oodles of freshness supporting the perfumed black fruits, finishing long and fragrant. This vintage is a blend of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak and the rest in one-year-old 500-liter barrels and foudres. It is tempting to drink this right now, but give it two years in the cellar for full impact and enjoy it over the next 17+ years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93+ RPThe 2018 Quinault L’Enclos is so impressive. Bright and delineated, the 2018 pulses with energy from start to finish. The aromatics alone are just captivating, with floral and savory notes that soar out of the glass. Lavender, sage, menthol, licorice, crushed rocks and plum all build as the 2018 shows off its considerable allure. The 2018 is such a gorgeous wine.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGComing from a walled vineyard near the town of Libourne, the 2018 Château Quinault L’Enclos reveals a dense ruby/purple color to go with lots of earthy red and black currant fruits, truffle, leather, camphor, and bouquet garni-like nuances. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it needs plenty of air to show at its best, so don’t be afraid to give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon. It should have two decades of overall longevity.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDA juicy red with creamy, polished tannins and attractive blackberry, blackcurrant, wet-earth and bark flavors. Rich finish. Needs time to come together, but already very attractive. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 93 JS

Made of 100% Merlot, the 2018 Bellevue has a deep garnet-purple color and a profound nose of plum preserves, blackberry compote and stewed black cherries, followed by an undercurrent of cedar chest, violets, aniseed and iron ore with a touch of garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate packs the mouth with wonderfully energetic black fruits and a lively backbone, framed by ripe, rounded tannins, finishing on a lingering ferrous note.Bellevue is the pretty little vineyard poised just above Château Angelus in Saint-Émilion. The soils here are clay/limestone, and it is planted to 100% Merlot.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2018 Bellevue has a gorgeous bouquet of copious red berry fruit, crushed rock, rose petals and cedar scents that gain intensity with aeration. The fresh, vibrant palate is very well balanced with fine tannins, perfect acidity, precise mineral drive and a classy finish. This is a superb Bellevue that lives up to its promise from barrel.Vinous Media | 93 VMLots of red and blue fruits, violets, orange blossom, and more exotic notes emerge from the 2018 Château Bellevue. Medium to full-bodied, it offers beautiful purity, ripe tannins, and a good spine of acidity that keeps everything fresh and vibrant. Beautifully done, it will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for upwards of 15 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThere is clear austerity on the approach, with the fruit pulling inwards through the mid-palate before widening out. It has an impressive texture with fleshy plum and ripe red apple fruit. You can feel the softness of the tannins, gently laying in wait, and this gets pretty big on the juicy, seductive finish, where there’s a ton of liquorice to fall into. An organically-certified estate owned by the de Bouard family. Drinking Window 2026 - 2040. Decanter | 93 DEC

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 JSThe 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 VMBright, 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 DEC

Pretty aromas of blueberries, violets, dark chocolate and cedar. It’s full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Polished and creamy with a core of ripe black and blue fruit. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSA gorgeous second wine, the 2016 La Dame de Montrose is incredibly expressive today. Supple, radiant and inviting, La Dame has all the potential to be an overachiever in this vintage. Today, it is quite open, and, even more importantly, flat-out delicious. In some moments, La Dame is rather nuanced, while at other times it is a bit more potent. It will be interesting to see what aging in bottle brings, but one thing is certain; the 2016 La Dame is a stellar wine. Don’t miss it.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGRelatively open and welcoming even at this early stage. Aromatics of cedar oak, followed by sweet black cherry fruit through the palate. A lighter-framed Pomerol, but one that is attractive, well-paced, carefully spiced and with a real sense of personality. Enjoyable stuff from director Eric Monneret and consultant Hubert de Boüard. (Drink between 2024-2042)Decanter | 92 DECComposed of 74% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 La Pointe has a deep garnet-purple color and quite a cedary nose to begin over a core of warm black cherries, blackberry pie and spice cake plus nuances of mossy bark, pencil shavings and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, chewy texture and soft freshness enveloping the muscular, savory layers, finishing a little drying.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 89-91 RPVery caressing in feel, with a silky structure that lets steeped plum, fig and blackberry fruit flavors sail through unencumbered. Subtle black tea and sweet tobacco accents fill in on the fine-grained finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 4,830 cases made. Wine Spectator | 91 WSLots of spiced darker cherry and currant fruits as well as savory herbs, damp earth, and cedar emerge from the 2018 Château La Pointe, another rich, concentrated yet seamless Pomerol in 2018 that has tons to love. Showing more chocolate and spice with time in the glass, it has plenty of mid-palate depth, soft, integrated tannins, and is already hard to resist. It should nevertheless gain additional complexity with 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JDWhile this wine does have density and a tannic layer, its open accessible character promises medium-term aging. Ripe blackberries and acidity come through with attractive freshness. Drink from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE

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 2018 Grand Mayne keeps everything under wraps on the nose, at least for the first 60 minutes, then it blossoms to offer gorgeous pure blackberry, briary, crushed stone and light rose petal aromas. The new oak is beautifully integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, superb acidity, gentle grip and an almost symmetrical finish of laser-like precision. An outstanding Grand Mayne, certainly one of the finest in recent years.Vinous Media | 94 VMVibrant and fruity nose of blackberries, currants, cherries, violets, licorice and pine needles. Full-bodied with firm, broad tannins. Plenty of concentration and ripe dark fruit with a floral undertone. Try in 2023.James Suckling | 93 JSA rich, perfumed wine, this has ripe black-fruit and vanilla flavors. Dense tannins from both from the wood and the fruit add spice and smokiness to this full wine. The firmness needs to soften into the fruit, so wait to drink until 2026. Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEMedium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Grand Mayne sashays out of the glass with flashy, upfront notes of preserved plums, stewed black cherries and blackberry pie, plus hints of eucalyptus, wild sage, lavender and cloves. The full-bodied palate is seductively fruity with a sturdy frame of chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with a spicy kick.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2018 Château Grand Mayne is terrific and has a masculine, age-worthy style. A deep ruby hue is followed by a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Saint-Emilion with notable chalky minerality, loads of sumptuous blackberry fruits, notes of chocolate and leafy herbs, firm, present, yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. It shows a more backward, reserved side to the vintage, yet I love its purity of fruit, its balance, and its overall class. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it should keep for two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045)Jeb Dunnuck | 92+ JDPowerful, confident, liquorice and black cherry, this is a big-shouldered wine as it was en primeur. It’s not yet softening to fully release the tight fruits, but this has a ton of promise. (Drink between 2026-2042)Decanter | 92 DEC

The 2018 Clos de l’Oratoire is an absolutely gorgeous wine that needs quite some time to release all of its aromatic intensity, nuance and energy. Bright floral notes soar over a core of dense, red-toned fruit as the 2018 gradually shows off its considerable allure. The 2018 is vivid and striking, with character to burn.Antonio Galloni | 95 AGThe team of Stephan von Neipperg knocked it out of the park in 2018, producing a brilliant lineup of wines. The 2018 Clos De L’Oratoire checks in as 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 45% new French oak. As with most of the new releases here, it has a crunchy, vibrant style in its blue fruits, scorched earth, violets, cedarwood, and dried flower-like aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced, pure, elegant, and seamless, this incredibly classy Saint-Emilion is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age (if not longer) and evolve for 30 years in cold cellars. It’s certainly in the running for the finest vintage I’ve tasted.Jeb Dunnuck | 95+ JDAromas of fresh blackberries, dried leaves, bitter chocolate, lemon zest and walnuts. Some wet earth, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Tight, focused layers. Rather juicy wine. Better from 2025.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2018 Clos de l’Oratoire sports a deep garnet-purple color and rock-star nose of plum preserves, chocolate-covered cherries and mulberries, plus hints of candied violets, licorice and Sichuan pepper with a waft of tapenade. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with juicy black fruits plus loads of exotic spice and earthy accents, supported by very ripe, soft tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPA mix of dried herb, floral and steeped cherry and damson plum notes is layered tightly together, while mouthwatering sanguine and iron hints run alongside. Sandalwood edge to the finish. A long, very precise, mineral-driven style. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2032. 4,000 cases made. Wine Spectator | 93 WSDeep plum colour, this has the rich texture and multi-layered dried herbs and spice feel that you often get with Clos de l’Oratoire. Juicy damson fruits come in through the mid palate and this is big and confident, and well balanced by slate minerality through the finish. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 93 DEC

The second wine of Château Ausone, always produced in limited quantities, provides a fine echo of the top wine. Bold tannins and fine perfumes give this wine richness and excellent potential. Layers of black fruits are impeccable, right in the balance with the wine’s texture. This will certainly age, drinkable from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2018 Chapelle D’Ausone is another second wine that can easily compete with most estates’ top wines. Coming from a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that will spend 20 months in oak, it tastes like a mini Château Ausone with its beautiful limestone minerality and sweet black fruits, spice, and graphite aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, concentrated, with building structure, it’s a serious second wine that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 93-95+ JDA red with black berry, blue berry, iodine, muscle shell and hot stone character on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied and very tight with a compact palate of beautiful fruit with a minerally undertone. Very long and polished. Fine yet structure. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2018 Chapelle d’Ausone is made of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, as impenetrable as this wine’s big-brother grand vin wine is, this is the precocious, show-off younger sibling. It comes skipping out of the glass with bright, cheery scents of redcurrant jelly, black raspberries, stewed plums and Black Forest cake, giving way to suggestions of rose oil, dusty soil and garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with juicy black and red berry layers, framed by beautifully ripe, finely grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and perfumed. Delicious right now, if money’s no object, buy this and the grand vin. The 2018 Ausone is going to take a good few years to come around, but this second wine offers a true enough taste of that epic feast of a wine to come.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RPChapelle d’Ausone might very well be the best second wine in Bordeaux in 2018, and it is certainly a lot more compelling than many top cuvées. Inky, deep and voluptuous, the Chapelle shows all of the natural suppleness of Merlot to great effect. Soft curves and silky tannins round things out in style. It is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty from the Vauthier family. Simply magnificent.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGYou definitely get the brushed damson fruits and slight grilled notes of oak, but it is oh-so carefully handled, and just gives the most gorgeous blend; 80% young vines up to 10 years old (planted at 12,000 vines per hectare), plus some lots that didn’t make it into the first wine. That makes this an extremely successful Chapelle with just so much personality and depth. Such incredible precision here to the freshly crushed mint leaves. This is an expensive second wine, but it absolutely delivers the ’wow’ factor. 20 months in barrel, 100% new oak, as per Ausone, but pure limestone so it just sucks it up. Normally 20,000 bottles of Ausone and 5-6,000 bottles of Chapelle. A high Silver. And a yield now up to around 37-40hl/ha. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040Decanter | 93 DEC

The 2018 Franc-Mayne is vibrant, lifted and full of energy, just as it was en primeur. Freshly cut flowers, rose petal, mint, sage and lavender abound. Medium in body and wonderfully translucent, Franc-Mayne has a ton to offer. It is one of the more elegant, classy wines of the year.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGAromas of cherries, plums, flowers and cedar. It’s full-bodied with very fine tannins that show finesse and polish. Lovely length. The tannin texture is excellent. Extremely well done. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSBased on 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Château Franc Mayne is a pretty, complex, medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion revealing lots of red and blue fruits, flowers, spice, and sappy herb/sous bois-like nuances. With considerable elegance and purity on the palate, this is a more ethereal, seamless wine, delivering terrific tannins, a juicy yet integrated spine of acidity, and outstanding length. It’s certainly the finest wine I’ve tasted from this estate to date, and the 2019 also looks to be another great vintage here, so this is an estate to keep your eye on.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDA blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Franc-Mayne comes wafting out of the glass with a compelling perfume of raspberry preserves, baked plums and boysenberries plus hints of cinnamon stick, rose hip tea and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers juicy red and black berry flavor layers with a soft texture and plenty of freshness, finishing spicy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RPThis has an uplift from beginning to end, with blackberry and raspberry fruits, but overall this is feeling pretty austere at this point in its life. There is good spice and plenty of potential to improve over the next few years in bottle. Lighter-framed in style overall, with subtle smoke across the closing moments of the wine. A yield of 45hl/ha.Drinking Window: 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 91 DECWith 90% Merlot, this wine has density and ripe, jammy fruits. Dark chocolate and firm tannins contrast with the fruitiness, giving the structure for this solid wine to age. Drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WE

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

Despite its weight, this is a well-crafted wine. It combines richness with sophisticated tannins, dense black fruits and considerable potential. Ripe berry flavors give depth. Drink this wine from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2018 Malartic Lagravière is every bit as compelling as it was en primeur. Inky dark fruit, dried herbs, licorice, lavender and chocolate are all kicked up in this sumptuous Pessac-Léognan. Soft curves and silky tannins add to the wine’s considerable appeal. The 2018 is undeniably flashy and alluring, I loved it.Antonio Galloni | 95 AGThis remains a little hidden and distant at this point in time, but there are some gorgeous rich liquorice and cassis fruits here, and the texture stands out for its silkiness. Clearly a very good wine, which opens up slowly and carefully. Classic but with depth and grip, continuing a run of successful vintages at Malartic. Last vintage before they take on Eric Boissenot as consultant. 2% Petit verdot makes up the blend, with 70% new oak for ageing. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2042Decanter | 95 DECAn outstanding wine, the 2018 Château Malartic Lagraviere (57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and the rest 3% Cabernet Franc) offers a deep purple hue as well as beautiful cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with lots of graphite, gravelly earth, violets, and spring flower-like aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannins and impressive purity of fruit, it’s another gorgeous 2018 that can be drunk today or cellared for 15 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDBlackberry, hot-stone and blueberry aromas follow through to a full body with chewy, dusty tannins that are long and chewy. It shows lots of Pessac character, reminding me of the stoney soils of the area. Give this at least three or four years to come together. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSComposed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc and aged in 70% new oak barriques, the 2018 Malartic Lagraviere has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and pronounced notions of stewed black and red plums, boysenberries and cassis on the nose, with hints of hoisin, dried Provence herbs and unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate has a firm, grainy texture and just enough freshness to support the black fruit preserves flavors, finishing savory.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPFresh, forward style with a nice burst of bing cherry preserves as well as plum sauce, melted red licorice and singed vanilla notes. Juicy, friendly finish has a late tug of tar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 10,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Another rich, powerful Saint-Emilion, the 2018 Château La Couspaude sports a dense purple/plum color as well as a rocking nose of black cherries, wild herbs, iron, tapenade, and spicy oak. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has an expansive mouthfeel, terrific mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It needs 2-4 years of bottle age to shed some oak, but this is a beautiful, layered, hedonistic 2018 with loads to love.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDBlackberries, blueberries and violets. Dark-purple fruit. It’s full-bodied with very polished tannins that are beautiful and very intense. Chewy and creamy. Needs time to open. A little tight now. Give it time to open. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSThe vineyard, on the edge of Saint-Emilion city, has produced a juicy, well-structured wine. Restrained tannins back up ripe black-currant fruitiness. An attractive smoky perfume from rich Cabernet Franc in the blend enhances complexity and density. Drink the wine from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEThis has a solidly built core of red and black currant fruit spliced with an alder streak and backed by subtle black tea and mineral accents through the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2032. 3,000 cases made, 750 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 91 WSDark plum colour, with the palate kicking in with black cherry and plum compote. Unquestionably heavily oak-influenced, with liquorice and mocha. Closes down on the finish. 100% new oak barrels. Vineyards on heavily limestone soils with a yield of 35hl/ha.Decanter | 91 DEC

This wine shows how well Fronsac can do in 2018, and it’s a value pick of the vintage. There’s so much volume through the palate here, it’s extremely juicy with great concentration and an explosion of damson and black cherry fruit, given definition by slate on the finish that speaks of the limestone soils. Truly a brilliant testament to Patrick Leon, as this was his last vintage, but don’t think this score is sentimentality - the wine deserves it. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2035Decanter | 94 DECDeep purple-black colored, the 2018 Les Trois Croix bursts from the glass with bold notions of stewed black cherries, prunes and blackberry preserves, plus hints of Chinese five spice, tree bark and black truffles with a waft of licorice. The rich, concentrated, full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits with a velvety texture and just enough freshness, finishing with a spicy kick.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2018 Château Les Trois Croix is a ripe, sexy, powerful wine that has lots of blueberry and blackberry liqueur fruits, notes of graphite, spice, and roasted meats, full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a big finish. It’s a rich, heady, opulent beauty that holds everything together beautifully.Jeb Dunnuck | 90-92 JDThe 2018 Les Trois Croix has a nicely detailed, mineral-driven bouquet of lifted black cherries, wild strawberry and pencil lead aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, crisp acidity and a classically styled, graphite-tinged finish. This is another classy Fronsac from a property that has been on a strong run of form.Vinous Media | 91 VMBlack plums, blackcurrants, cloves, dried herbs and earth on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, grippy tannins. Structured with an austere finish. Will soften with a little bottle age. Better from 2024.James Suckling | 91 JSHigh-pitched, with chalk and lilac notes out front, followed by damson plum, bing cherry and red currant fruit flavors. Light singed-cedar accent peeks through on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2027. 5,166 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Black cherry, clove, cedar and dried earth on the nose. Some vanilla and licorice. It’s medium-bodied with firm, chewy tannins. Some wet earth. Polished and layered, with wonderful freshness, too. Very tight now. Better from 2025.James Suckling | 96 JSBased on 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 18 months in 40% new French oak, the 2018 Château Petit Village performed even better from bottle than barrel and ranks with the finest vintages I’ve tasted from this estate. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as gorgeous damp earth, spice, and floral aromatics, it has sumptuous levels of black and blue fruits, nicely integrated oak, ripe, polished tannins, medium to full body, and outstanding length on the finish. This is classic Pomerol elegance and purity paired with plenty of richness and depth. It’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and have two decades of overall longevity. Well worth seeking out, it’s a beautiful Pomerol.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDThe 2018 Petit-Village is sumptuous and racy, but remains very much medium in body. Silky tannins add to the wine’s finesse. Dark-toned fruit, chocolate, spice, menthol, licorice and dried herbs all meld together in a Petit-Village of distinction and class. The 2018 is very nicely done.Vinous Media | 93 VMThis dense wine is richly structured by firm black-fruit flavors. It has a solid core that is concentrated yet balanced by a fine freshness that is typical of the vintageWine Enthusiast | 93 WEMedium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Petit Village, a blend of 72% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, strolls out of the glass with open-for-business scents of stewed black plums, blackberry pie and blueberry compote, plus hints of spice cake, Sichuan pepper and fallen leaves. Full-bodied, rich and spicy, the palate delivers lovely freshness and a soft texture, finishing satisfyingly savory.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPDark plum and blackberry compote flavors fill this out nicely, while licorice, sweet spice and black tea notes glide in on the back end. Warm stone hint through the finish gives it the slightly austere spine of the vintage. Solidly built. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2034. 2,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSAlways a little subdued when first poured, because it is made in a very reductive style during fermentation and ageing, but this opens to show excellent black fruits and plenty of uplift as it travels through the palate. This has a lovely perky feel, with blackberry, autumn berry fruits, some tobacco on the nose and a good, rich mouthfeel, with balance and a savoury edge. 3.7pH. 40% new oak.Decanter | 92 DEC

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

Pretty blackberries, blueberries and violets with some crushed-raspberry aromas follow through to a full body with wonderfully crafted and pure tannins that intertwine wonderfully with the blue fruit and blackberries. Long and endless. A triumph here. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2018 Haut-Bages Libéral is super-impressive right out of the gate. It shows all the depth and intensity I saw from barrel, with maybe a bit more tannic impact. Ripe red cherry, plum, orange peel, cedar and sweet spice all build in the glass. The 2018 is going to need a few years to come into its own, but it is a gorgeous Pauillac.Vinous Media | 94+ VMSome pretty fierce tannins on display; then as it opens the emphasis goes to pencil lead and cassis. There is plenty of Pauillac character here but you have to wait for it to unfurl. Partly aged in amphorae, alongside 40% new oak. A good yield of 45hl/ha despite current conversions to biodynamics.Decanter | 92 DECThe 2018 Haut-Bages Liberal is deep garnet-purple in color. It charges out of the gate with scents of crème de cassis, stewed black plums, and bay leaves, plus hints of wood smoke, pencil shavings, and olives. Medium to full-bodied, the palate gives just enough expressive black fruit, with a soft texture and a savory finish.The Wine Independent | 92 TWI

This wine comes from an estate that is performing with distinction. It is rich, the tannins cushioned by ripe blackberry fruits and good acidity. Showing both structure and fruitiness, the wine will develop well, everything in balance. Drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEThe 2018 Lafon-Rochet is such a classy wine. Power and finesse meld together in this Saint-Estèphe that is gorgeous, right from the very first taste. Black cherry, herbs, leather, licorice and dried flowers all build in the glass. In 2018, Lafon-Rochet is richer and bolder than it usually is, and yet all the elements are so nicely balanced. I would give it a few years in the cellar to allow some of the baby fat to melt away.Vinous Media | 94 VMThe upper Médoc did brilliantly in 2018, and that’s certainly apparent when tasting the 2018 Château Lafon-Rochet. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of ripe black and blue fruits, lead pencil, forest floor, chocolate, and leafy herbs, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, mouth-filling texture, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It doesn’t quite have the precision of the top wines in the appellation, but it’s loaded with charm and character, and I’d certainly be thrilled to drink a bottle. This rich, textured, flavorful Saint-Estèphe will benefit from 4-6 years in the cellar and keep for two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDSmoke and grilled cedar on the nose. Clearly ambitious, this is good-quality, with plenty of power and forward motion, depth of liquorice and a Bendicks Mint feel of bitter chocolate and mint. Precision, depth and power, with years ahead of it, if closed and a little austere right now. Brilliant value among the classifieds. A 46hl/ha yield also, so generous.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2018 Lafon-Rochet is such a classy wine. Power and finesse meld together in this Saint-Estèphe that is gorgeous, right from the very first taste. Black cherry, herbs, leather, licorice and dried flowers all build in the glass. In 2018, Lafon-Rochet is richer and bolder than it usually is, and yet all the elements are so nicely balanced. I would give it a few years in the cellar to allow some of the baby fat to melt away.James Suckling | 94 JSSeductive, with a gush of dark plum and blackberry preserve notes leading off, while light bay, dark tobacco and charcoal notes peek through. Has a racy edge through the finish, even with the warm fruit keeping the upper hand. Nicely done. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032.Wine Spectator | 92 WSDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Lafon-Rochet delivers impactful scents of baked blackberries, warm cassis and black cherry compote, with suggestions of chargrill, tar and tobacco leaf, plus a waft of wild mushrooms. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves and earthy accents, supported by firm, chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great length, if a little chewy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RPLafon-Rochet 2018 has a deep garnet-purple color. It starts out a little rubbery and reduced, leading to a core of warm cassis, blackberry pie, and chargrill, plus touches of garrigue, dried herbs, and tobacco. The medium to full-bodied palate has a good concentration of savory flavors with chewy tannins and soft acidity, finishing a little firm.The Wine Independent | 91 TWI

I was really looking forward to the bottled version of the 2018 Pingus after a great showing of the cask sample last year. Part of the wine matured in 20,000-liter oak casks, so it’s not all barrique. This is the first time they used the vats, and based on the results, Sisseck thinks in the future Pingus will be around 50% in oak vats. The Pingus vines were planted in 1929 in two different sectors of the village of La Horra, Barroso and San Cristobal and contain some 2% other varieties. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic and are manicured like few vineyards in Spain. The wine is subtle and harmonious, elegant and insinuating, with all the components in very good balance. This is precise and pure; Sisseck is thorough and meticulous, and the wine shows that precision. This follows the line of the 2016, showing very well even if it was bottled only one month before I tasted it. 9,300 bottles were filled in August 2020.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 100 RPAmid all the hype about its price and cult status, it’s easy to forget that Pingus is also a magnificent expression of both Ribera del Duero in general and the estate’s tiny vineyard in particular: a seamless, satiny texture, with not a hair out of place; superb depth of pure mulberry flavour with subtle shadings of spice, but no feeling of excess; contained power – beautifully balanced with a seam of high-plateau freshness; gorgeous young, but years ahead of it. Biodynamic.Decanter | 98 DECVery perfumed and aromatic with blackberry, cherry, blueberry and fresh flowers, such as violets. Full-bodied with a tight, clipped, fine-tannined structure and a long, focused finish. Refined and linear. Long. Drink after 2023.James Suckling | 97 JS