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The nose to this is fascinating with orange peel, mangoes, stones and hints of blanched walnuts. Full-bodied, yet dense and reserved. It shows amazing length and finesse. The finish shows wonderful, subtle and pure fruit. Breathtakingly subtle and complex. Better in 2018 but I love it.James Suckling | 96 JSThe 2012 Lafleur presents a distinctly red-toned profile to match its silky, open-knit personality. Crushed flowers, sweet red cherry, plum, mint and spices are all nicely layered throughout. Medium in body, the 2012 nevertheless possesses lovely depth and pliancy, both of which suggest it will provide readers with a long window of exceptionally fine drinking. Proprietor Baptiste Guinaudeau describes 2012 as a cool vintage of open-knit wines and compares his 2012 to the 2001. This is a superb showing and one of the standouts of the year. Readers will find many terrific 2012s, but Lafleur is distinguished by its soul, something that is not to easy to find in Bordeaux. The 2012 is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot.Antonio Galloni | 95 AG(Château Lafleur) The 2012 Château Lafleur has more merlot in it than is customary, as the merlot was perfect and the cabernet franc required quite a bit of selection to ensure that only the choicest vats were included in the grand vin this year. The resulting wine is exceptional, offering up a deep, complex and cool nose of cassis, dark berries, espresso, gravel, both currant and tobacco leaf and a very discreet base of spicy new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and very suave on the attack, with a rock solid core of fruit, excellent focus and nascent complexity, ripe, fine-grained tannins and outstanding length and grip on the soil-driven and stunning finish. Château Lafleur has been one of the most consistently excellent estates in Pomerol over the last four vintages, but though this is not as powerful as some of the previous wines, stylistically, the 2012 may well be my favorite here since the lovely 2008 (even though the exceptional 2010 Lafleur is probably the superior wine in absolute terms). This is one of the stars of this vintage! (Drink between 2025-2075)John Gilman | 95 JGDeep ruby to the rim, the 2012 Lafleur possesses beautiful kirsch, sweet raspberry fruit, ripe tannin, and a lushness and roundness. It is medium to full-bodied and complex, with an exceptional texture and purity – all hallmarks of this property. This wine should drink well for another 15 or more years.Robert Parker | 94+ RP

Firm tannins guard the ripe blackberry flavors on this rich wine. Spice and sweet tannins add to the intensity. Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEThe 2012 La Pointe has fresh, wild berry, cranberry, incense and wild heather aromas that unfurl in the glass, a touch of black truffle emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is still some new oak to be absorbed, but it is well balanced with good acidity, notwithstanding what you might describe as a "solid" structure towards the finish. It is a very fine Pomerol, though my advice is to wait 4-5 years to get the most from Eric Monnoret’s fast-improving Pomerol. Tasted March 2016.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RPRipe and fleshy, with friendly boysenberry, plum and anise notes that glide through the licorice-accented finish. Turns rather suave and graceful in the end, presenting a lingering mineral edge. Drink now through 20182020. 6,665 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WSPlum and blackberry character with a medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now or hold. Stylish for the vintage.James Suckling | 90 JS

This is a vivid wine with terrific clarity and vibrance aromas and flavors. Full body, ultra fine tannins and a long, long finish. Class. Really superb for the vintage. Needs two or three years of bottle age to soften.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2013 L’Eglise Clinet has a very precise, tightly wound bouquet with limestone-tinged, brambly red berry fruit, the Merlot still very expressive and imparting comely floral scents. There is something almost Burgundy-like about the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin surrounding a core of citrus-fresh, lively red fruit, silky smooth in texture, approachable in style, with an almost symmetrical finish. This was a great L’Eglise-Clinet in barrel in the context of the vintage and it remains a very persuasive wine in bottle. Bravo Denis Durantou - a winemaker that can overcome even the most deplorable of growing seasons.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 94 RP-NM93–95. Barrel Sample. A rich and structured wine, this combines both the ripeness of mature Merlot and a solid, dry texture. It’s full, with a good future.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEWell-rendered, with sleek raspberry and blackberry coulis notes, presenting a backdrop of anise and warm fruitcake flavors and a fleshy, polished finish. Pure and lengthy.Wine Spectator | 89-92 WSUnusual concentration for the year. Aromatic persistence with complex, exotic notes. Lovely suave texture. Ample fine-grained tannins. Good length.Decanter | 91 DEC

With a higher proportion of Merlot (92%) than usual, this is a round, ripe wine released at just 20% of normal production. The generous texture and tannins are well integrated into the rich fruit. It's juicy, broad and showing the typical acidity of the vintage. With its tannic structure, the wine will age well. Drink from 2020.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEThe 2013 Vieux Château Certan has plentiful fruit on the nose considering the vintage: raspberry coulis, crushed strawberry and a touch of blackcurrant pastilles. The palate is medium-bodied and while it might not rank with the greatest VCC's of recent years in terms of complexity, there is admirable depth and purity with a crisp, almost edgy finish that leaves you wanting another sip. This comes recommended for the vintage and I suspect it will give 12-15 years of drinking pleasure.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 92 RP-NMVery enticing, featuring crushed boysenberry and raspberry fruit, accented by fruitcake, black tea and bramble notes. Shows excellent length and energy for the vintage, with enough stuffing for the cellar. This has developed grip since the barrel tasting. Best from 2018 through 2028. 1,665 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSLess than 1,000 cases, 4,000 in a normal year. Mainly (92%) Merlot. Suave texture. Rich and ripe. Structured palate but a little less definition. Very good all the same. Drinking Window 2020 - 2035.Decanter | 91 DECThis is soft and silky with chocolate, orange peel and dust. Medium body, round and light tannins. Fresh finish. Drink now.James Suckling | 91 JSThe 2013 Vieux Château Certan is another very fine vintage for Alexandre Thienpont, one of the best on the Right Bank. Blackcurrant and raspberry on the nose, not complex but pure and open. The palate is medium-bodied with decent depth, no signs of any greenness and a finish with just the right amount of dryness. This is an earlier drinking VCC but enjoyable.Vinous Media | 90 VM

(Château Lafleur, Pomerol, Red) In a difficult vintage like 2013, reassuring hands are what you look for, those with an instinctive ability to tease out the best possible from the character of the year. Weather wise things were pretty much the opposite of 2003, making for another interesting pairing in this line-up - where that was earliest harvest on record this was almost the latest, with everything brought in during October (unlike 2003 where every grape came in during September). The result here is not about weight but lift, nuance and sculpted berry fruits. It has a more softly spoken key than the 2010 or 2002, quite clearly, but there is complexity here, teased out in layers of medium-bodied but pure cassis and blueberry fruits. It’s a clear testament to the possibilities of this estate. (Drink between 2021-2045)Decanter | 95 DECVery pretty aromas of rose petal, lavender, black cherry and hot stone. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and enduring finish. A beautiful red for the vintage. Very LafleurJames Suckling | 95 JSThe 2013 Lafleur was one of my favorite wines from barrel because, as Baptiste Guinaudeau remarked when I visited the property, he did not try to make a Pomerol beyond what it could be. The nose might not possess the complexity of the best vintages of Lafleur, but it is clearly delineated and fresh, with blackberry and raspberry fruit, a subtle granitic scent tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, as is often the case for Lafleur, with crunchy red berry fruit and a stony, almost reserved but fresh finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is an excellent wine considering the growing season.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 93 RP-NMThe 2013 Lafleur, from the infamously maligned growing season, was picked entirely in October. It has a light and slightly monotone bouquet with mulberry and blackberry scents, a touch of briary and floral scents. The aromatics are nothing to be ashamed of. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, more Merlot than Cabernet Franc-driven, balanced if missing the complexity of most vintages from this esteemed Pomerol growth. Not bad, however it is not a long-term prospect and lacks the cerebral element that Lafleur often brings to the table. Tasted at the Christies’ Lafleur masterclass in London.Vinous Media | 90 VM

A ravishing red that pours out aromas of crushed raspberries, blueberries and dried flowers. Black truffle skins and undertones of violets. Full-bodied yet so tight and refined with incredible finesse and polish. The beauty and chic runs on for minutes on the finish. A truly endless and breathtakingly harmonious wine. It just rolls off the palate. Drink in 2022.James Suckling | 98 JSThis features a remarkable display of fruit, both fresh and steeped--primarily raspberry, but with notes of blackberry and boysenberry as well--all gliding through seamlessly while light anise, Lapsang souchong tea and roasted mesquite details underscore the finish. The texture is equally sublime. Best from 2020 through 2040. 348 cases made.Wine Spectator | 97 WSTypical Le Pin. Almost Burgundian, berry-fruit fragrance. Delicate sweetness on the palate. Elegant texture with finely woven tannins. Persistent, fresh finish. Elegant, balanced and digestible. Drinking Window 2020 - 2035.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2014 Le Pin has a really quite lovely bouquet. Tasted alongside its "cousin" Vieux-Château-Certan, it is more exotic and outgoing, yet it maintains fine delineation and complexity with upfront blueberry and black cherry fruit, quite a noticeable menthol note emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet and embracing entry, caressing in texture thanks to the succulent tannin, though these are counterpoised by the silver bead of acidity. There is just a touch of salted licorice that pops up on the finish. To quote Alexandre Thienpont (since Jacques and Fiona had to be in Belgium), this is a "classic" Le Pin, though I feel it will be overshadowed by the 2015.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 93 RP-NMThe 2014 Le Pin has a powerful and quite showy bouquet with ample red berry fruit, black truffle, singed leather and a light marine influence that comes through with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity, fresh and lively with fleshy red cherry, crushed strawberry and white pepper notes on the satisfying finish. It is a fine Pomerol even if it does not quite match up to recent vintages from Jacques Thienpont. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.Vinous Media | 92 VM

The purity of fruit is so alluring in this wine. Aromas of crushed berries, lemon rind and flowers follow through to a full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. All in finesse and texture. So fine and persistent. Try in 2022 but already an inspiration to taste.James Suckling | 97 JSOne of the more backward wines in the vintage, the 2014 Château L’Eglise Clinet is nevertheless packed with potential. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new barrels, this deep ruby/purple colored beauty boasts vibrant notes of blackcurrants, blueberries, violets, tobacco leaf, and damp earth. With full-bodied richness, bright yet integrated acidity, and fine tannin, it has incredible purity and focus, as well as beautiful richness and depth. Give bottle 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 96+ JDThe 2014 L’Eglise Clinet was tasted from a single bottle but from two glasses, each poured at different times before I arrived for the tasting. They were almost identical on the nose but the one poured later was more compact. It has a very pure bouquet with blackberry, myrtle, a touch of iris and a touch of garrigue (actually reminiscent of fynbos, the wild South African shrubland). The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, a silver bead of acidity, wonderful precision and beguiling purity. This is an outstanding Pomerol for the vintage from Denis Durantou, sophisticated and classy, yet the bottom line is quintessentially Pomerol. Bravo Denis.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 95 RP-NMThe 2014 l’Eglise-Clinet was picked 25 September and on 4 October for the Merlot, the 6 October for the Cabernet Franc. Against expectations, here it seems more fruit-driven than the 2015 with plenty of wild strawberry and cranberry fruit laced with truffle and light cedar scents. This is quite vivacious and unlike the 2015 appears to show no signs of closing down. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly tough tannin on the entry that will soften with bottle age. There is certainly good matière here with a gentle grip towards the finish that shows great depth and finesse. Maybe this will become a prettier l’Eglise-Clinet compared to the 2015, if not quite possessing the same longevity. Tasted at the l’Eglise-Clinet vertical at the château in April 2018.Vinous Media | 95 VMThis has a big ball of raspberry confiture at the core, with dark licorice and warm fruitcake notes. Hedonistic only to a point, as a serious graphite beam runs throughout, giving this serious drive through the finish. This will keep pace with the top dogs in this vintage. Best from 2020 through 2035. 1,835 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSClassic blend of 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Another fine effort from Denis Durantou. Nose pure and racy with cherry, dark fruit and spice notes. Palate ripe, full and textured with a lovely grain of tannin behind. Fresh and persistent on the finish. Drinking Window 2020 - 2035.Decanter | 93 DEC

One of the unquestioned stars of the vintage, the 2014 Vieux Château Certan soars out of the glass with aromatic intensity, bright acids and finely sculpted fruit. Cool, intense but very much reserved in the style of the year, the 2014 exudes class. The flavors are intense and vibrant throughout. Dark red and purplish-hued stone fruit, lavender, mint and spice lead into the striking finish. The 2014 is just as impressive today as it was from barrel. As always, Vieux Certan has the rare ability to confer power without excess weight. The 2014 is a magical bottle. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. The blend is back to classic proportions of 80 % Merlot and 20 % Cabernet Franc.Antonio Galloni | 97+ AGThe 2014 Vieux Château Certan is glorious stuff that has more personality and sexiness than just about every other wine in the vintage. Kirsch, black cherries, flowers, forest floor and exotic spice characteristics all emerge from this ethereally textured, elegant, beautifully rich 2014 that has notable acidity, sweet tannin, and a great finish. With an almost Burgundian elegance and purity, it’s already drinking nicely, but will be even better in another 3-4 years and keep for two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThis is so gorgeous with black truffles, stones and subtle blackberries. Black mushrooms, too. Full-bodied, so dense and deep with very silky tannins and an endless finish. The density of fruit is superb. Truly irresistible. Drink in 2022 but already wonderful to drink.James Suckling | 97 JSThis is a rich, finely structured wine. It is highly perfumed, packed with black fruits and has a dark, firm texture. At the same time, the acidity is intense and the structure tight, suggesting a wine to age. Beautifully endowed with great fruit, it will take time to develop. Drink from 2026. Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEThe 2014 Vieux Chateau Certan is a blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked in three stages: 19-20 September, 29 September to 2 October, and 7 and 8 October. The yields came in at 38.7 hectoliters per hectare with 13.4% alcohol. It was one of my stars of the vintage and now in bottle, I find no reason to change that. It is endowed with an exquisite bouquet, really one of the best I encountered throughout my tastings: perfumed blackberry, wild strawberry, cold stone and wilted rose petals. Like in barrel, it is not powerful, yet it is blessed with wondrous precision. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and fine tannin, a slightly masculine VCC due to its linearity and precision. There is tension here from start to finish, a sophisticated and cerebral Pomerol that transcends the growing season. It is a totally different kettle of fish to the 2015 (and doubtless the pre-natal 2016). This is unashamedly classic in style, fanning out towards the mineral-rich finish with great frisson and energy. A cellar without the 2014 Vieux-Château-Certan would be a great pity.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 96 RP-NMGorgeous, with a core of remarkably pure blackberry, raspberry and black currant fruit wrapped up in a fresh tobacco leaf accent. Everything is carried by silky yet persistent tannins, while the finish lets suave warm stone and singed juniper details fill in. Shows some coiled-up energy, which should make for fun cellaring. Best from 2020 through 2035. 3,167 cases made. — JMWine Spectator | 96 WSEnjoyably full of rich dark fruits, pretty serious in feel and in tannic hold that supports without crushing the fruit. Overall the layers are starting to peel back and show cassis, blackberry, earth, cigar box and tobacco smoke. Plenty of pleasure on offer here. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2038Decanter | 94 DEC

A monumental wine is the 2015 Hosanna and it’s 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc raised in (I suspect) all new barrels that’s from a single parcel of older vines. One of those rare wines to pair incredible opulence with off the charts elegance and purity, it’s up with the top handful of wines in this vintage and readers should do whatever they can to taste this beauty. Loaded with notions of blackcurrants, black raspberries, toasty oak, truffles, graphite, and spice-box, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an ethereal, seamless texture, perfect balance, and a huge finish. It’s unquestionably one of the superstars in the vintage and should last for 25-30 years. Hats off to the Moueix team!Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDThis has the wow factor; it’s very impressive. The nose is saturated with dark, rich plums and wet-earth aromas, not to mention the roasted-coffee and crushed-violet undertones. The palate has polished, lustrous appeal, and dark plums and ripe blueberry flavors abound. Long, deep-set tannins with incredible depth. This has x-factor depth and elegance. Best from 2025.James Suckling | 98 JSA blend of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Hosanna had a medium garnet-purple color, charging out of the glass with an exotic perfume of smoked meats, truffles, sandalwood and Indian spices over a compelling core of cherry cordial, blackberry tart and blueberry compote plus suggestions of garrigue and rose hip tea. The full-bodied palate is absolutely laden with taut, muscular black and blue fruits, with a solid frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with languidly lingering licorice and spice flavors. Incredibly seductive and just plain delicious right now, hedonists can enjoy this captivating wine while it’s relatively young, while traditionalists can wait ten years and drink it over the next 25 years or more.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPA dense, powerful Pomerol, the 2015 Hosanna hits the palate with a huge center of fruit and layers of flavor that open up effortlessly in the glass. Hosanna is easily the most exotically ripe, flamboyant wine in the Mouiex range. Dense, powerful and also quite structured, with huge tannins, Hosanna is going to need at least a number of years before it is at its best. Hosanna is also one of the darkest and most potent Pomerols readers will taste in 2015.Antonio Galloni | 95 AGThis wine with its dense and dusty tannins has considerable power as well as concentration. The small 10-acre vineyard has produced a wine packed with both tannins and luscious black fruits. Acidity complements all this richness with its own freshness and balance. Drink from 2027.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEFleshy and inviting, featuring warm fig, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit notes laced with ganache and tobacco accents. Long and especially velvety through the finish, with waves of fruit and ganache in lockstep. This will have fans for sure. Best from 2022 through 2035. 1,030 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSSignature spicy, smoky, coffee, dark chocolate and damson; deep, brooding and earthy with a lingering freshness and a long finish. Drinking Window 2022 - 2032.Decanter | 91 DEC

The 2015 L’Eglise-Clinet is one of the wines of the vintage. Even better from bottle than it was from barrel, the 2015 towers out of the glass with stunning power and richness. Super-ripe black cherry, plum, licorice, tobacco and menthol are some of the many notes pulse through this riveting Pomerol. There is plenty of structure, but the tannins are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. Hints of lavender, smoke, spice, licorice reappear to round out the finish. L’Eglise-Clinet is 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, aged in 70% new oak. More importantly, the 2015 is a total pleasure bomb. This a fabulous wine from Denis Durantou. Don’t miss it.Antonio Galloni | 99 AGThe violets, roses and dark fruits are so evident but they entice you in a subtle and fresh way. Full-bodied, dense and tannic, yet everything is so in tune with everything else and there are no hard edges or loose ends. It’s like a whirlpool that draws you down and then shows you its beauty. The harmony and complexity is phenomenal. Try in 2024 but I don’t want to wait.James Suckling | 99 JSComposed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 L’Eglise Clinet comes bursting out of the glass with a gorgeous perfume of exotic spices and potpourri over a core of blueberry compote, red currant jelly, spiced black plums and mulberries with touches of unsmoked cigars, powdered cinnamon and licorice. Big, rich and full-bodied, the palate offers exquisite harmony, packed with exotic spice and red and black fruit layers, finishing on an epically long-lasting mineral note. In an understated word: WOW.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPThis delivers a fresh, enticing beam of raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry coulis flavors that stretch out admirably while light anise, singed apple wood and fruitcake notes check in. Picks up some sneaky grip and a pretty mineral twinge through the finish. Rather elegant overall considering how much is here. Best from 2020 through 2035. 1,510 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe second wine of Eglise Clinet, the 2015 La Petite Eglise is a pretty, elegant, even Burgundian, 2015 that opens up beautifully with time in the glass, Ripe red currants, cherries, sandalwood, cedary spice, and dried floral notes all emerge from this medium-bodied 2015 that has fine tannin and a great finish. It’s certainly not a blockbuster but excels on its finesse and elegance. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste the top cuvee from this estate.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

The 2015 Vieux Château Certan is every bit as magnificent from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich, sumptuous and explosive in the glass, the 2015 is pure class. The flavors are deep and boldly sketched in this sumptuous, spectacularly ripe Pomerol. Inky blue/purplish fruit, spice, lavender, licorice and menthol all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s textural richness and intensity that stand out most. As good as the 2015 is today, it is going to need at least 15-20 years to be at its very best. Is there anything more I can ask of the 2015? No, there is not. This is a tremendous showing.Antonio Galloni | 100 AGI was able to taste both the 2015 and 2016 grand vins, and these are heavenly, magical wines that could not be any better. Starting with the 2015 Vieux Château Certan, it shows the opulent, flamboyant style of the vintage to a T and reveals a saturated purple/ruby color, a monster bouquet of blackberries, tobacco, kirsch, dried spices, and loamy earth, full-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. A thrill a minute, wine doesn’t get any better, and I only wish every reader could taste this beauty. Drink it any time over the coming 30 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDThe blackberries, blueberries, oyster shell and violets are so mesmerizing. Full-bodied, focused and deep. It takes you to another space and plane. Dried flowers and dark fruit. The tannins are perfectly crafted. Keeps going as you taste it. Drink in 2023 but why wait?James Suckling | 100 JSBlended of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Vieux Chateau Certan opens with profound notes of blueberry compote, dried mulberries, black forest cake, licorice, violets and garrigue with wafts of black truffles, sandalwood and rose hips. Medium to full-bodied, very earthy/savory and beautifully layered with very plush yet present tannins, it offers lovely freshness and a very long minerally finish. So very Pomerol!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPThis is a beautifully fragrant wine that has power along with an elegant acidity. It has wonderful juiciness that cuts through any of the tannins to give great freshness, a silky texture and fruitiness at the end. Perfumed and stylish, this is a very fine wine.Wine Enthusiast | 98 WEExpressive and alluring aromas of warm plum reduction and boysenberry puree lead off here, followed by fleshy, seamlessly layered notes of blackberry, black currant, melted black licorice and smoldering tobacco. Shows a lovely tug of dark earth through the finish without sacrificing a sense of polish or giving ground to the waves of fruit. Displays terrific latent energy through the finish. Best from 2023 through 2040. 3,750 cases made.Wine Spectator | 97 WSAromatics here are a little more evolved than with the 2016, showing tar notes, Liquorice Allsorts, anise, raspberry and blackberry fruits. This is a good quality wine with impact and character and the subtle complex shades of flavour that VCC does so well. Really does need time in the glass, suggesting it will hit full stride in another two or three years. (Drink between 2023-2042)Decanter | 95 DEC

Aromas of tar, black olive skin and blackberries follow through to a full body. Ultra-fine tannins and a long, linear finish with super intensity. Well-crafted in every sense. A fabulous Pomerol for the future. Try in 2022.James Suckling | 98 JSNewly-arrived Technical Director Marielle Cazaux turned out a jewel of a wine at La Conseillante in 2015, her debut vintage. A polished and super-sophisticated Pomerol, La Conseillante is all class. Precise, lifted aromatics make a strong first impression, but it is the wine’s overall feel and sense of harmony that truly dazzle. Over the last two years, the 2015 seems to have gained in freshness, precision and nuance. What a wine! The blend is 81% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc. Don’t’ miss it.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGComposed of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc and aged for 18 months in 70% new and 30% one-year-old French oak, the medium garnet-purple colored 2015 La Conseillante opens with reticent, earthy notes of dusty soil, garrigue, forest floor and iron ore with a core of warm plums, cassis, cigar boxes, star anise and dark chocolate plus a hint of violets. Medium to full-bodied with decadent fruit and a gorgeous plushness to the texture, the palate features impeccable poise and compelling depth, finishing on a lingering mineral note.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPReminding me of the 2009, the 2015 La Conseillante is more overt and sexy compared to the 2016, offering a huge nose of mulled black fruits, spring flowers, chocolate and gravely/clay-like earthiness. This is a full-bodied, complex, elegant and layered 2015 that has a singular character and the class to drink well for 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDThis is reserved, with subtle Earl Grey tea, singed apple wood and warm fruitcake aromas opening slowly ahead of a core of dark boysenberry, raspberry and blackberry compote flavors. A lovely swath of velvety tannins carries the finish, with the fruit and spice aromas pulling together nicely. Some patience is needed here, but this is one of the elite of the AOC in this vintage. Best from 2023 through 2040. 3,333 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WSThis is a perfumed wine, rich in tannins and with a good balance between the Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the blend. Ripe black fruits and velvet tannins give the wine elegance and charm. It is juicy and ripe, with a background of firm structure set against a crisp final texture. The wine will develop well; drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEA warm, sunny vintage, giving crème de cassis flavours and a crème caramel edging. Still young, but packed with gourmet, creamy character. Very much on primary flavours right now, so more focused on plum and black cherry than black truffle, but not question that this will appear over the next few years. Traces of heat on the finish. 70% new oak. A yield of 39.5hl/ha. Drinking Window 2024 - 2042.Decanter | 94 DEC

Impressive fresh violets and earthy notes with ripe dark plums. Leads to a very rich palate with ripe dark cherries, mulberries and boysenberries. Smooth tannins exude suave polish, and there’s terrific fleshy appeal into the finish. All class. Try from 2022.James Suckling | 95 JS Dark and saturated with fig flavors, showing extra boysenberry and black currant compote notes. Ganache and tobacco accents fill in the finish, giving this a slightly gutsy profile. Should mellow with cellaring, as the fruit is hedonistic. Best from 2020 through 2030.Wine Spectator | 92 WSRipe and full but not excessive. The generosity of the vintage is evident. Round and supple on the attack with firm, fresh tannins behind. Well defined and well balanced. Offers great value.Drinking Window 2022 - 2035Decanter | 92 DECNo written review provided. | 92 W&SPowerful tannins give a dense wine, rich with ripe black fruits and solid tannins. The acidity and the weight of the fruit hold the promise for the future of this concentrated wine. Don’t drink before 2026. Wine Enthusiast | 91 WEThe 2015 Bourgneuf is a plump, juicy Pomerol that will drink well upon release. Pliant and expressive, with silky tannins, the 2015 offers plenty of forward fruit, but in a super-classic, mid-weight frame. Tobacco, mint and crushed flowers add layers of nuance. Although not the last word on complexity, the 2015 is really quite lovely and delicious. Tasted two times.Antonio Galloni | 90 AGManaged by the Moueix team, the 2015 Château Bourgneuf offers a darker, earthier style in its ripe black fruits, tobacco, earth, and underbrush scented bouquet. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Pomerol that has ripe tannin and plenty of length. Drink this total charmer anytime over the coming decade or so. (Drink between 2018-2028)Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

This has a darker sheen of fruits in the blackberry and blood-plum spectrum with sweetly spicy and earthy aromas and some violets to boot. The palate has quite a forthright tannin firmness. A very long, linear wine with a full body and a smooth, fresh, blueberry/plum finish. An impressive wine that rolls endlessly through the finish. This has plenty of ageing potential. Try from 2023.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2015 Certan de May is composed of 80% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Cabernet Franc, displaying a medium garnet-purple color and nose of warm red cherries, mulberries, crushed red and black plums and raspberry leaves with nuances of wild thyme, dried roses, cloves and eucalypt. Medium to full-bodied and boasting great harmony in the mouth, the palate delivers loads of red and black fruit layers interspersed with floral and herb accents and framed by a firm, ripe, fine-grained backbone, finishing with wonderful length and freshness.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThe 2015 Certan de May is deep, powerful and imposing. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and mint are some of the many notes that fill out the wine’s frame. Vertical in feel, with potent tannins, the 2015 needs time to fully come together. Even so, it does not appear to be an especially refined wine. The blend is 80% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGDepth, interest and a sense of reaching through the charm of the vintage to bring something with lasting power. Cassis, chocolate, spice and a flash of gunsmoke on the finish. This is getting ready to drink. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 94 DECWith its proportion of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has an elegant profile, while the Merlot reflects the natural opulence of the vintage. Acidity, concentration and black fruits are all there, along with the tannin that will allow the wine to age. Drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEPretty raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry fruit aromas and flavors are infused liberally with accents of mulling spices, while velvety structure runs underneath. Black tea and cinnamon details infuse the finish, which has a slightly firm plum skin edge. Best from 2022 through 2032. 2,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSFalling under the Moueix umbrella and based on 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Certan de May comes from a top terroir situation between La Fleur Petrus, Petrus, and Vieux Château Certan, certainly good neighbors to have. It’s a beauty offering medium to full-bodied terrific notes of black cherries, underbrush, spice and dried earth. With fine tannin, nicely integrated acidity, loads of character, and moderate tannin, it’s unquestionably an outstanding wine to drink over the coming two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

Beautiful aromas of plums and filtered coffee follow through to a full body. Firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Bright acidity and spice character. Tight and focused. Needs two or three years to open.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2015 Rouget is a fabulous wine done in a forward, voluptuous style that is sure to find many admirers. Super-ripe dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, spice and mocha fill out the wine’s ample, soft-textured frame effortlessly. Silky contours add to an impression of flamboyant elegance. I would give the 2015 at least a few more years in bottle to allow some of the elements to fuse together a bit more fully. Time in the glass brings out very pretty red-toned fruit and floral overtones. There is certainly plenty to admire on this inviting, impeccably balanced Pomerol. Michel Rolland consults.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGDeep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Chateau Rouget leaps from the glass with preserved plums, spice cake and cassis notes plus touches of underbrush, game and smoked meats and a waft of Provence herbs. Full-bodied, powerful and densely packed with taut, muscular fruit, it’s something of a bruiser and yet with an alluring contrast of a plush, velvety backbone and seamless freshness, finishing long and earthy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPA generosity of poached damsons and vanilla spice over savoury cedar and woodsmoke; plush and concentrated with ample, focussed tannins. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038.Decanter | 92 DECAnother gem from the Michel Rolland team is the 2015 Rouget. Offering a hedonistic, fruit-loaded, full-bodied style as well as lots of darker fruits, espresso roast, chocolate and damp earth, it’s a textbook Pomerol that’s going to benefit from a year or three of bottle age and keep for a decade.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

Breathtaking aromas of perfectly ripe fruit with blackberries, black olives, licorice, cedar and sweet tobacco. Full body, incredible depth and power, yet this is always in reserve and check. Everything is in the right place for this new legend from Trotanoy. Try it in 2026. Will age for decades in the future.James Suckling | 100 JSComposed of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Trotanoy reveals a medium to deep garnet-purple color and comes prancing out of the glass with the most striking black fruit preserves, plum pudding, red currant jelly and blueberry compote notions, followed up by nuances of rose petals, chocolate box, licorice and menthol plus a waft of wild mushrooms. Full-bodied, rich and decadent, it fills the palate with generous perfumed black and blue fruit layers with a seductive frame of velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and very minerally.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPExotic aromatics reflect a warm year but offer kick and pleasure. A little more evolved than you might expect from Trotanoy, particularly as other 2015s are pretty closed down at the moment, but a core of freshness and spice picks things up, along with touches of tar and smoke that show greater oak impact than their concentrated 2016. Drinking Window 2024 - 2045.Decanter | 97 DECThis is laden with fig bread, ganache, smoldering tobacco, warm currant confiture and fig paste aromas and flavors that rumble through a charcoal-tinged finish. Dense, but the grip is thoroughly melded with the fruit, giving this a very composed feel through the lengthy finish. Best from 2024 through 2040. 1,718 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSThis wine is rich with tannins and superb fruit. The blackberries and black plums are succulent and chewy, giving the wine an opulent, ripe character. This 18-acre vineyard, with 93% Merlot, has produced an impressive wine. Drink from 2027.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2015 Trotanoy has generous black cherry, blackberry, briary and white pepper aromas on the nose that seem to envelop the senses. There is just a hint of autumn bonfire in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, fresh and nicely poised. A dash of spice toward the peppery finish, hints of Chinese five-spice on the aftertaste. This is a serious and quite compelling Trotanoy for long-term aging, but hey, what’s new? Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 95 VMManaged by the talented Moueix team, the 2015 Château Trotanoy is a ripe, hedonistic, heady beauty that boasts awesome notes of ripe cherry fruit, toasted spices, fruit cake, and forest floor, with more floral and incense nuances coming through with time in the glass. A blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, this full-bodied, sexy, exotic, and beautifully textured 2015 has sweet tannin, moderate acidity, and a great finish. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age to round into form but will impressive for 20+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 95+ JD

Cedary oak adds spices to pristine plums and dark berries. Terrific clarity and allure. The palate delivers a seamless and fluid build of smooth tannins, carrying bright cherries, plums and dark chocolate through to a deeply classy finish. Superb. Best from 2020.James Suckling | 96 JSNotes of cassis, crushed violets, spice, and distinct minerality emerge from the 2015 Château Petit-Village, and this Merlot dominated blend (there’s 10% Cabernet Franc) is medium to full-bodied, elegant, and seamless on the palate. With fine, polished tannin, the freshness and purity that’s the hallmark of the vintage, and integrated tannin, it’s a rock-star of a Pomerol to drink anytime over the coming 20+ years. (Drink between 2018-2038)Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JD93–95. Barrel Sample. There is a fine touch of perfume here along with the generous flavors. Spice, smoky aromas and blackberry fruits are forward in this rounded, opulent wine that shows an extra push in quality from this estate.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEA gutsy style, with lightly roasted fig, plum and blackberry fruit flavors matched to brambly, slightly chewy grip. An ample dose of ganache and roasted alder drives the finish. The pieces are there, but this needs time in the cellar. Best from 2023 through 2033. 2,583 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSComposed of 71% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 15 months in barrels, 60% new, the 2015 Petit Village reveals a deep garnet-purple color and gregarious notes of crushed blackberries, crème de cassis and preserved plums with touches of cedar chest, black olives, bay leaves and Marmite toast. The decadently rich, medium to full-bodied palate is superbly supported by a firm frame of grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and savory.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RPThe 2015 Petit Village has a clean and precise bouquet with blackberry, black truffle, smoke and graphite aromas developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a crisp line of acidity, tapering in slightly toward the graphite infused finish. Plenty of energy here, but give it three or four years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 90 VMA concentrated gourmet complexity of blackberry and cherry fruit on smoky toffee brittle and coffee bean spice. Grippy and firm. (Drink between 2023-2037)Decanter | 90 DEC

The 2015 La Fleur de Gay is dark and sumptuous in the glass. Plum, bittersweet chocolate, cloves, new leather, incense and tobacco all meld together in this unctuous, flamboyant Pomerol. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to look forward to. This is an especially ripe style, but it all works nicely.Antonio Galloni | 95 AGLots of delicious, smoky and ripe fruit character. Chocolate, too. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a decadent, rich finish. Gorgeous, young wine. Drink in 2021.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2015 La Fleur De Gay is another awesome Pomerol in the vintage and this appellation is near the top of the hierarchy in 2015. Made from 100% Merlot from the plateau of the appellation, this ripe, sexy effort offers lots of blackcurrant jam, smoked herb, plums and espresso aromatics, full-bodied richness, a beautiful opulence, and decadence, as well as notable purity and elegance. It will be better with short-term cellaring and keep for two decades. (Drink between 2018-2038)Jeb Dunnuck | 93+ JSThis has a toasty, fleshy profile, with an alluring mocha note melded with a core of dark plum, boysenberry and blackberry preserve flavors. A velvety swath of fruit runs through the finish. Best from 2019 through 2029. 667 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

One of the monumental wines in the vintage is the 2016 Château Eglise Clinet from proprietor Denis Durantou. Based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, this utterly perfect wine boasts a saturated purple color as well as an essence of Pomerol bouquet of ripe black cherries, blackcurrant liqueur, smoked tobacco, camphor, and graphite. Deep, full-bodied, incredibly powerful, and layered, yet always with class and balance, it offers a remarkable marriage of power and finesse. It’s already sexy and seductive yet also a baby, and needs 7-8 years of cellaring. It should keep for 3-4 decades (probably longer), but why wait?Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDWe are now levitating somewhere above the rest of Denis Durantou’s excellent range. Typical of the incredibly deft and precise way of working that is his signature, this wine brings cinammon and clove then hugely deep, rich dark fruits. Utterly elegant, it completes a circuit around your mouth. This is a physical reaction to a wine that you only get in certain vintages and in very few wines. A great European wine. 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc aged in 80% new oak. 43hl/ha yield from 4.2ha. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050Decanter | 98 DECThe depth and beauty in the aromas really draw you in with black truffles, blackberries, crushed stones, violets and other flowers. Black olives, too. Full-bodied, super refined and structured with perfectly manicured tannins and a very, very long finish. It’s full of soul and precision. Take a look after 2024.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2016 L’Eglise Clinet has a medium to deep garnet-purple color with aromas of warm black cherries, mulberries and Black Forest cake slipping seductively from the glass plus nuances of rose hip tea, baking spices, fragrant soil and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, it’s wonderfully elegant in the mouth with fantastically plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and very perfumed. Beautiful!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPThe 2016 L’Eglise-Clinet was matured in 80% new oak and bottled in mid-April 2018. Crystal clear in color, it has an equally crystal clear bouquet that is utterly seductive, featuring red cherries, wild strawberry, peony and iris flowers and a hint of bay leaf. You could sit and nose this all day. The balanced palate is medium-bodied and grippy in the mouth, displaying supple tannin and a perfect line of acidity. Again, there is a symmetry about this Pomerol that is utterly beguiling, and the persistence is up there with the very best. Simply put, this is one of the best L’Eglise-Clinet wines I have tasted in recent years. Stunning.Antonio Galloni | 98 AGThis pulls it all together, with a gorgeous core of creamed plum, blackberry and boysenberry confiture notes, laced with singed anise and incense accents and backed by long echoes of anise and black tea. Delivers ample flesh from start to finish, and should easily finish soaking up its toast with some time in the cellar. Best from 2023 through 2038.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

Beautiful aromas of plums, flowers, truffles, earth, and hot stones. Full-bodied, yet the very fine and polished tannins have fabulous poise and elegance. Plush. Love the finish. One of the best ever from here. Drink from 2025.James Suckling | 96 JSThis has more concentration than the 2015, less immediately seductive but the layers are evident, and it’s hard to fault the construction. Plush and sexy and full of Pomerol pleasure, but also real depth, power and spice. Lovely wine, with the juicy saline kick on the finish that you want in Beauregard. Love this, but needs time - those tannins are chewy right now. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2040Decanter | 95 DECDeep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Beauregard is a little closed on the nose, opening to warm black plums, blackberries and mulberries with touches of chocolate box and dried herbs plus violets hints. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and packed with muscular fruit, finishing long and earthy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPI loved the 2016 Château Beauregard, which was firing on all cylinders during my visit. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure, with good acidity and a meaty nose of black fruits, truffle, bouquet garni, and earth, it’s beautifully balanced and about as classic Pomerol as it gets. Give bottles another handful of years and it will deliver the goods over the following 10-15.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDStructured from the start, with a light charcoal edge and a strong graphite spine supporting the core of dark plum, blueberry and açaí berry flavors. Tobacco and alder details are etched on the finish, with the fruit driving through. Slightly taciturn in style, but cellaring should lighten the mood. Best from 2023 through 2033. 2,917 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Incredibly aromatic and expressive nose full of ripe red fruits and floral scents. Smooth and sappy with bounds of energy and vibrancy. The red berry fruit feels really well worked, smooth and detailed, ripe but not too much so you get nuance and refinement to the overall impression. Succulent and just so tasty. Tannins are massy and chewy though also have a slightly chalky edge giving more texture and flavour detail. This 100% Merlot, made by the same team as Château Clinet in Pomerol with a collection of growers across Bordeaux, is incredibly delicious and joyful, a perfect time to drink yet feels as if it has more life left in it yet. A top buy!Decanter | 93 DECThe Merlot-dominated 2016 By Clinet (there’s 5% Cabernet Franc) is a charming, already delicious effort that gives up elegant notes of chocolate-laced plums and dark fruits, notes of leafy herbs and truffle, medium to full body, and a layered, charming mouthfeel. It’s a terrific Bordeaux to drink over the coming 7-8 years or so.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

Wow. This is very polished and full of purpose with dark berries, hazelnuts, cedar and chocolate, as well as black olives. Full-bodied, chewy and intense with a focused tannin backbone and intensity. Loads going on here. Finishes strong. This could be the best wine ever from here. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 96 JSThe 2016 Rouget is a total turn on. A rush of red cherry/raspberry jam, sweet spice, chocolate and tobacco builds as this exotic Pomerol shows off its racy, opulent personality. The full throttle-style works beautifully. There is not a whole lot of subtlety, but the Rouget is undeniably delicious. I loved it. Tasted three times.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGThe 2016 Rouget is deep garnet-purple colored with baked plums, dried mulberries, tobacco and crushed rocks scents with wafts of beef drippings and Indian spices plus bay leaves hints. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and laden with earthy layers, it has a savory finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2016 Rouget is deep garnet-purple colored with baked plums, dried mulberries, tobacco and crushed rocks scents with wafts of beef drippings and Indian spices plus bay leaves hints. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and laden with earthy layers, it has a savory finish.Wine Spectator | 92 WSThe alcohol gives a slight headiness to this wine, but it’s balanced by plenty of succulent red and black fruits that power through the palate, driving forward with a real lilt and liveliness. It’s restrained on the finish, held in by bitter chocolate and liquorice. Drinking Window 2024 - 2036.Decanter | 92 DECShowing lots of upfront oak influence, the 2016 Château Rouget nevertheless has some serious density and depth, with beautiful fruit. Notes of chocolate, smoked earth, and camphor all develop with time in the glass, and on the palate, it’s full-bodied, firm and chewy. It could use more elegance, but this is going to round into form with 2-4 years of bottle age, at which point the tannins are going to be more integrated and it’s going to show more charm. It should keep for 15 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 90+ JD

Tasted on four separate occasions, the 2016 Château Clinet is another brilliant wine from this estate. Showing slightly more freshness and purity than the 2015, its saturated purple color is followed by a thrilling array of crème de cassis, graphite, ground herbs, and a terrific sense of minerality. Deep, full-bodied, with building tannins, and a magical sense of purity and elegance paired with real density and depth, it needs short term cellaring and will keep for three decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDThe 2016 Clinet is composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged using the Oxoline system, in 70% new and 30% one-year-old barrels for 16 months. It has a deep garnet-purple color with cedar and smoked meats on the nose giving way to black and red plums and earthy notions with wafts of cassis and pencil shavings. The palate is medium to full-bodied, elegant, polished and vivacious with loads of red and black fruit layers and an earthy finish. Around 4,416 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThis is a wine that makes you want to slow down, take your time and let those flavours envelop you. It’s a little subdued right now, but the texture pulls you in and holds on tight. There is Cabernet in the DNA here and you feel it: a touch of austerity in the first breath, then an intense punch of dark, tight cassis fruits with a liquorice and dark chocolate finish. It’s taken on more flesh on the bones during ageing, with the aromatics blossoming through the glass and revealing floral, violet-stained edging and a silky smooth tannic frame. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 97 DECBeautiful blue fruit and earth with hints of black truffle, this has a violet and fragrant edge, too. Really complex, youthful impression here. The palate has mouthwatering fruit flavor and terrific sense of fresh energy and cut on the finish. A blend of 90 per cent merlot and ten per cent cabernet sauvignon. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2016 Clinet has a gorgeous bouquet of copious red berry fruit mixed with truffle and undergrowth scents, all fresh and vibrant. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and, like the L’Evangile that preceded it at this blind tasting, displays noticeable acidity. However, it is more knitted together than that wine, and it fans out wonderfully on a long, spicy, quite firm finish that prompted me to score lower than I might have done, because it remains a very fine Pomerol in the making. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.Vinous Media | 94+ VMWarm and fleshy in feel, showing dark plum, boysenberry and blackberry sauce flavors infused with mulling spice and black tea notes. Singed alder and tobacco hints flicker on the finish, adding texture. This delivers an encore of fruit detail on the finish too, with some sneaky length. Seductive. Best from 2021 through 2034. 4,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

So ethereal and great on the nose with glorious fresh flowers, such as violets, together with black olives. Dark berries, too. But the archetypal Pomerol nose. Full-bodied yet, at the same time, so refined and structured. Glorious tannin tension and focus. Vibrant finish. Shows energy and focus. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 99 JSThe grand vin 2016 Château L’Evangile is more primordial than the second wine, sporting a deep purple color and a huge nose of blueberries, scrub brush, violets, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. Deep, massively textured, with building minerality, a brilliant mid-palate, I’d imagine this is a modern-day version of the 1982. A sexy, sexy, wine, it should drink well in 4-6 years but is capable of last for 2-3 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDFor me, this is going to be every bit as great as the 1989, and is a worthy follower to the 2015. It’s tight and reserved on the nose, with powerhouse Pomerol Merlot lurking behind. There’s a creamy side to the raspberry and blackberry fruits in the mouth, and the power and intensity tells you that this wine has an amazing future. The texture is silky-smooth, attesting to great freshness balanced by well-ripened fruits and seductive tannins. A serious wine. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 98 DECThe 2016 L’Evangile is made from 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with notions of plum preserves, Black Forest cake, red cherry compote and black raspberries with touches of menthol, chocolate box, licorice and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features fantastically ripe, velvety tannins and beautiful freshness, lifting the generous, brightly fruited mid-palate and giving bags of energy to the very long-lingering, minerally finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe 2016 L’Évangile is just as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Huge and explosive in the glass, the 2016 possesses stunning depth and textural resonance. At first a bit somber, the 2016 needs time in the glass to open up. Once that happens, all the elements fall into place in an effortless, gracious wine. Floral overtones add brightess to the dark cherry, chocolate, leather and spice flavors, while silky tannins round things out in style. Jean-Pascal Vazart describes 2016 as a late year. Harvest started on September 26, about ten days later than normal. The 2016 spent 16 months in French oak, 85% new.Antonio Galloni | 96 AGFeatures a wide swath of espresso, loam and smoldering tobacco flavors out front, followed by a tighter beam of black currant and blackberry paste. Dense and fleshy in feel, with echoes of warm earth and bittersweet cocoa scoring the finish. This wine flaunts its muscle. Best from 2024 through 2040. 250 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSRipe black fruits and rich tannins mark out this wine, almost entirely made from Merlot. It is succulent, crisp and fresh while not losing sight of the essential richness and structure of the vintage. Drink this generous, full wine from 2023.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WE

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Gazin features a beautifully perfumed nose of violets, Ceylon tea, cigar box, sandalwood and fallen leaves over a core of plum preserves, kirsch and blackberry preserves plus a waft of aniseed. Medium-bodied and elegant, with compelling restraint, it has a seductively plush texture, finishing with bags of poise, perfume and persistence.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThis sophisticated Pomerol slowly creeps up on you, then suddenly you’re in the deep end. The complex and delicate, floral and mangosteen aromas are married to a great tannin structure and nothing about this wine is a jot exaggerated. Long, mineral and spice finish with a weightless quality. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSA rich and elegant Gazin, cohesive yet still extremely young. You can taste the Cabernets coming through strongly, an elegant, stately expression of cassis with a silky texture and nice balance. The palate is intense and concentrated but with a real sense of lift. It’s always a wine that takes its time to show its colours as it’s a touch austere in its first five to eight years, but this is going to age beautifully. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2016 Gazin has developed into a super-refined wine. Silky tannins and floral aromatics add to an impression of total finesse. Blood orange, sweet red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal and mint are all finely knit in this gracious, subtle Pomerol. More importantly, the 2016 has grown into an absolutely striking wine that is even more expressive and complete than it was from barrel.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGThis is fresh in feel despite some frankly ripe cherry compote and plum pâte de fruit notes, with light floral and tea nuances imparting lift. Silky overall, with some sneaky grip at the very end adding length. Offers lovely, seductive fruit. Drink now through 2029. 7,083 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSAlmost pure Merlot, this dense wine is rich and packed with black fruits. Its concentration and density are massive, with tannins that are almost velvet in character. Drink this wine from 2023. ROGER VOSSWine Enthusiast | 92 WEThe 2016 Château Gazin is outstanding, but it’s firm, straight, and closed, and would certainly be better with more flesh and opulence. Vivid ruby/purple-colored, with notes of cassis and black raspberries as well as spring flowers, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, firm tannins, terrific purity, and a clean finish. The blend is 87% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Cabernet Franc. It’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15+.Jeb Dunnuck | 91+ JD