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The 2019 Echo De Lynch-Bages is the second wine of Château Lynch-Bages and it’s beautifully done, with a more floral, perfumed, pretty style compared to the Grand Vin, yet it still brings plenty of structure. Red and black currants, sappy flowers, tobacco leaf, and gravelly earth all define the bouquet, and it’s medium-bodied, has integrated acidity, gorgeous tannins, and a great finish. It’s beautifully balanced and already accessible, yet will nevertheless benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThe second wine of Lynch-Bages shows all the power of this estate. The difference lies in the tannins and the ripe flavors of the wine. It has power without the tannins that demand long-term aging. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WELifted floral aromas, smells pretty and inviting, with a sweet note to the black fruit. Tannins are a little present, they’re not dry or austere, more on the smooth and chalky side but are just covering the fruit right now, although the blackcurrant and plum notes come back through. Chewy, ripe, fresh. This is lovely if just a bit shy at the moment. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2030Decanter | 91 DECThe 2019 Echo de Lynch-Bages, matured in one-year-old barrels for 12 months, has a crisp blackberry, briar and cedar bouquet with touches of mint, quite vibrant and lively. The medium-bodied palate offers succulent tannins and mulberry and black plum flavors intermingling with black truffle and white pepper. Maybe just a little abrupt on the finish at the moment, but that will fill out in time.Vinous Media | 90 VMJuicy, featuring racy-edged plum and black currant fruit flavors that show nice purity, with lively anise and apple wood accents filtering in through the finish, where a subtle note of charcoal chimes. Modest in scale but nicely done. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2032.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Jeremy Chasseuil continues to make a brilliant, ripe, incredibly sexy Pomerol that always seems to put a smile on my face. His 2019 Château Feytit-Clinet is inky-hued and has a blockbuster nose of ripe black fruits, damp earth, chocolate, and tobacco. This all carries to a full-bodied Pomerol with background oak, ripe, velvety tannins, a great mid-palate, and one heck of a finish. I wish there were more wines like this in the vintage. It offers pleasure today yet will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for over two decades. Bravo!Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDRich and layered red with black olive and walnut on the nose, as well as blackberry. Full-bodied and powerful with superb depth and richness. Walnut and chocolate, too. Opulent, yet fresh. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2019 Feytit-Clinet is superb. In most vintages, Feytit-Clinet is one of the more intense and tannic Pomerols. In 2019, though, some of that intensity is dialed down. On the plus side, though, that means the 2019 will drink well with minimal cellaring. Inky dark fruit, licorice, graphite, lavender, dried herbs and rose petal build into the sumptuous, creamy finish. Usually I advise cellaring Feytit-Clinet, but that will be less necessary in 2019. As always, Feytit-Clinet is one of the most distinctive wines in the Right Bank.Antonio Galloni | 95 AGEvocative and expressive nose full of dark chocolate and clear truffle aromas with red cherry nuances. This has a nice svelteness, supple tannins but there is also a serious aspect to this - a straightness and linearity right now . Definitely on the dark spectrum with clear liquorice, coffee, black cherries, figs, prunes and raisins as well as black pepper and some bitter dark chocolate too. Heady and powerful, oaky and tannic but lifted by excellent acidity. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2045Decanter | 95 DECThe 2019 Feytit Clinet delivers aromas of rich, chocolaty berry fruit, plums, fig jam, espresso roast and toasty new oak. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s muscular and extracted, with broad shoulders, soft acids and plenty of powdery, youthfully chewy tannin, concluding with a heady finish. To my taste, this flirts with over-ripeness; but it held up well over several days in bottle, inclining me to give it the benefit of the doubt.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPSpicy and full of dark fruits, this is setting out to be a richly balanced wine. Blackberry and plum skin flavors have a hint of chocolate, supported by ripe, textured tannins. There is good aging potential here. Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

The black cassis comes out of the glass, together with iodine, sandalwood and subtle moss and wet-bark undertones, then turning to violets. The palate is mind-blowing, with a cashmere texture that unravels on the palate and continues on for minutes. It’s full of superbly complex, ethereal character and mouth-feel, One of the wines of the vintage. As glorious as it may be to taste now, this is one for your deep cellar. Try in 2029.James Suckling | 100 JSThe 2019 Haut-Brion is seriously impressive. A dark, virile wine, the 2019 impresses with its vertical energy and statuesque elegance. It's a Haut-Brion that will only reveal itself over many years. Today, the density and resonance are super-impressive and also hugely promising. Classic savory and mineral notes start to emerge over time. I can't wait to see how this ages.Antonio Galloni | 98 AGCompared to the La Mission Haut-Brion, the 2019 Château Haut-Brion is more backward and mineral-laced, with a dense purple color as well as notes of blueberry liqueur, black cherries, new leather, scorched earth, graphite, camphor, liquid rock-like minerality, and an almost Hermitage-like burning embers character. It doesn't have the overt power of Mouton, nor the sexiness of Château Margaux, yet it builds slowly and incrementally, with flawless balance, full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a magical finish. My money is on this being one of the all-time greats from this address, in the same league as the 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, and 2018. It will need a solid decade of cellaring and have 40-50+ years of prime drinking.Jeb Dunnuck | 98-100 JDPowerful and confident, there is no mistaking this concentration of ripe damson and black cherry fruits, set against coffee, earth, sage and black chocolate. Tons of tannins on display but extremely fine, to the point that you almost don't notice them, then once the wine has left your mouth you suddenly realise how many there are, and how they are still exerting a pressure. Great persistency, slowing everything down and asking you to stop and think. Clear ageing ability here. Harvest September 10 to October 3. (Drink between 2029-2050)Decanter | 97 DECThe 2019 Haut-Brion is a blend of 48.7% Merlot, 43.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.1% Cabernet Franc, harvested from the 10th of September to the 3rd of October. The estimated label alcohol degree is 14.5%. Displaying a deep garnet-purple color, it comes off incredibly shy and reticent to begin, needing considerable coaxing to reveal notes of dark chocolate-covered cherries, blackberry preserves, woodsmoke and sandalwood, before launching into a full-scale fireworks display of iron ore, cumin seed, redcurrant jelly, red roses, oolong tea and Sichuan pepper scents plus a waft of cardamom. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers the most exquisitely ripe, finely grained tannins with a lively backbone of freshness supporting the tightly wound, earth-laced black fruit layers, finishing very long and minerally. This is one of the most finely structured, tightly knit wines of the vintage. Given time, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it goes atomic and eventually takes top place for the vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97-99+ RPA beauty, with a remarkably refined feel from start to finish, as the caressing but substantial structure lets waves of steeped plum, mulled raspberry and blackberry preserve roll through repeatedly, picking up singed alder and apple wood, dried anise and sweet tobacco accents through the finish, where a curl of woodsmoke lingers. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2038. Wine Spectator | 96 WSLuscious ripe fruits are underlined by tannins to give a wine that is both structured and concentrated. Rich tannins, spice aromas and power are all enclosed in this wine that is ready to age. Drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WE

Another stunning vintage from this brilliant estate that is just delivering hit after hit. Concentration and intensity right from the initial aromatics, damson, cassis and blackberry fruits that you could almost drink now until the tannins build up across the palate and remind you that this is built to last. Velvety texture, black chocolate and crushed stone minerality on the finish. One of the wines of the vintage. Tasted twice, one week apart. 60% 1st wine. A yield of 45hl/ha. (Drink between 2027-2044)Decanter | 98 DECFrom one of my favorite châteaux on the Right Bank, the 2019 Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) is 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. It's a tighter, more closed 2019, yet it offers beautiful purity and focus in its cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as notes of tobacco leaf, graphite, chocolate, and chalky minerality. Rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and again, with this remarkable purity and precision, it has enough tannins to warrant 4-6 years in the cellar and will be incredibly long-lived. It's a beautiful Saint-Emilion. It’s worth pointing out that the 2019 is the vintage bottled by Nicolas Thienpont and starting in 2021, the estate is in the hands of Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse.Jeb Dunnuck | 96+ JDThe 2019 Beauséjour (Duffau Lagarrosse) has turned out beautifully in bottle. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild blueberries, raspberries, violets, rose petals and forest floor, framed by a deft application of creamy new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and layered, with a lively core of fruit, bright acids and fine, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, precise, saline finish. It displays all the structural refinement and vibrancy of flavor that this sector of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau is capable of.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPBlackberries and black chocolate with licorice and berry highlights. Flowers and crushed stones, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. Plenty going on here. Very subtle and refined for this estate. Needs two or three years to come together. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2019 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse, matured in 60% new oak, has maintained wonderful purity on the nose of ebullient red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit, very elegant and poised and perhaps delivering less of the blue fruit element than I noticed from barrel. The cohesive palate conveys exquisite balance, fine, slightly granular tannins and a very subtle ferrous note toward the finish. This is an understated wine that is endowed with ample freshness, and I can see it aging beautifully for 30 or more years.Vinous Media | 95 VM

Is the 2019 Château Margaux the wine of the vintage? A strong case in its favor could certainly be made. Soaring from the glass with aromas of blackberries, raspberries, rose petals, violets, pencil shavings and vine smoke, it’s full-bodied, layered and sensual, with a strikingly vibrant core of fruit that’s framed by ripe, powdery tannins and bright acids, concluding with a penetrating, mouthwateringly saline finish of almost interminable duration. Complex, elegant and utterly compelling, this is a brilliant Bordeaux that anyone with the requisite disposable income is going to want to own.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 100 RPAnother utterly heavenly wine from this estate is the 2019 Château Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot coming from a selection of just 37% of the total production. Deep purple, with an incredible array of ripe currants, blueberries, sweet tobacco, sandalwood, and toasted spices, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, powerful, yet incredibly sexy mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. As I wrote in the barrel review, it reminds me slightly of the 2016, but has a touch more sun-kissed profile. It already offers incredible pleasure yet deserves 4-6 years of bottle age and will blow you away any time over the coming 40+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDAmazing aromas of crushed stones and wet soil with fresh mushrooms, then going on to violets and other flowers. Dark fruit, too. Full-bodied, yet agile and fine, with a linear flow of tannins that run through the center of palate. The finesse of the tannins is exceptional, like raw silk and changing all the time. Cool and energetic, yet reserved. Zen-like. 37% of the production and 90% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. So well balanced that you can drink it now, but this is one to leave for a decade and more. Ethereal.James Suckling | 100 JSThe 2019 Château Margaux possesses off the charts richness to go along with plush contours and mind-blowing balance. All the elements are so wonderfully woven together. It’s as if all the Château Margaux signatures are dialed up to eleven, but without losing any of the classic Margaux character. The purity of the red-toned fruit is just breathtaking. The Merlot was picked early, but then rain during harvest delayed the ripening of the Cabernets, which turned out to be a huge advantage.Estate Manager Philippe Bascaules and his team turned out two spectacular wines in 2019. Bascaules describes 2019 as an easy vintage. Flowering was normal and set was good. Yields came in at a healthy 47 hectoliters per hectare, more than 2017 or 2018, the summer heat spikes notwithstanding. Bascaules opted to pick the Merlot early and gave those lots very gentle extractions at low temperatures, whereas the Cabernet Sauvignon vinifications were a much more typical 20-22 days at 28-30 degrees Celsius. In tasting, the 2019s have more tannins than any other vintage, with the exception of 2018, and yet the wines don’t show that at all. The bottled wines are every bit as impressive as the barrel samples.Antonio Galloni | 99 AGThis wine, packed with Cabernet Sauvignon, is dense but shows a majestic structure. By contrast and equally stunning, it has such perfumed fruits that are poised between power and elegance. The balance of this magnificent wine is there, bringing together black currant fruit and rich, sumptuous tannins. There is amazing aging potential here.Wine Enthusiast | 99 WEWonderful aromas on the nose, quite dark and concentrated contrasting the palate which is abundant, juicy and immediately mouthwatering, giving a rush of bright red cherry and strawberry flavour. But it’s the texture here that is so captivating - soft, light, bright, then deep and layered, the velvet tannins coming into support but harmoniously and effortlessly, nothing feels too much. A direct wine from start to finish with great drive and persistency offering a wonderful balance of having an immediate drinking appeal but also the structure, power and density to age. Sculpted, elegant and nicely framed. 37% of total production. Drinking Window 2030 - 2051.Decanter | 98 DECPretty gorgeous, with a cashmere feel right from the get-go as pure, unadulterated cassis, plum reduction and blackberry preserve notes sail through. The finish is laced with alluring red and black tea, violet, incense and savory notes, with a subtle mineral hint lingering to the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2038. 10,833 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WS

Gorgeous pink rim to the wine. Softly floral on the nose, violets and roses. The palate has such a smooth and velvety texture that really stands out - it frames the overall feel giving structure and support to the spicy, muscular mid-palate. This has power but wrapped up delicately, delivering smoothness and elegance but also precision and definition. Lovely layers, the tannins take hold and you’re reminded this is still a young wine, but then you get this lick of spice, the florality of the fruit and the density and length. One to buy and hold on to for a few more years. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2024-2032)Decanter | 94 DECThis has so much pure fruit with clarity and brightness. Crushed stone, too. It’s medium-bodied with a racy tannin structure and excellent length. Second wine of Giscours. A blend of 70% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, 9% petit verdot and 9% cabernet franc. Already impressively delicious, but best after 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 La Sirène de Giscours has turned out beautifully. Soft, succulent and inviting, the 2019 is charming right out of the gate. Sweet red cherry, lavender, rose petal, spice and blood orange flesh out in a racy, sumptuous second wine that is incredibly alluring. In 2019 La Sirène is an absolute delight. Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThe second wine of Giscours in Margaux, the 2019 La Sirene De Giscours reveals a deep purple color as well as lots of juicy black cherry and mulberry fruits that give way to more tobacco, cedar, and earth with time in the glass. Medium-bodied, nicely textured, and elegant on the palate, it’s a terrific, fruit-forward, delicious second wine.Jeb Dunnuck | 90-92 JDAromas of creamy berry fruit, cherries, plums and spices introduce the 2019 La Sirène de Giscours, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine with fine depth at the core, lively acids and a long, penetrating finish. It’s 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, and that shows in the best way.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

Beautifully expressive nose that jumps out the glass - red cherries, strawberries, jam, and more. Great acidity and nice drive. It’s more sombre on the palate than you’d expect from the nose. It settles very quickly with the tannins taking hold and masking the fruit a little right now. This has great acidity and good mouthwatering freshness but needs more time for the tannins to integrate. (Drink between 2024-2034)Decanter | 91 DEC90–92. Barrel Sample. This is a ripe, jammy wine reveling in a bold structure as well as darkly tannic fruit. The 60% Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine structure and tannins that will allow it to age well. Wine Enthusiast | 91 WEThe 2019 Maucaillou is a very pretty, elegant and nuanced wine with lovely aromatic presence and fine balance. A wine of delicacy and understatement, the 2019 is super classy and impeccable. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry, mint. This is beautifully done. Antonio Galloni | 90 AGTerrific stuff, the 2019 Château Maucaillou has ample redcurrant and mulberry fruit as well as attractive floral, spicy, and leafy herb nuances. Nicely textured, medium-bodied, and balanced, it’s a classic, up-front, undeniably delicious Moulis to drink over the coming 7-8 years, possibly a decade.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JDAromas of ripe plums, cherries, lemon zest, bark and licorice. It’s medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and fresh acidity. Structured and fresh. Drink from 2024.James Suckling | 90 JS

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Pedesclaux has a beguiling perfume of violets, warm cassis, preserved plums and licorice with suggestions of rose hip tea, dark chocolate, kirsch and cinnamon toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with vibrant black and red fruits, supported by ripe, finely grained tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Gorgeous wine—bravo!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RPA gorgeous wine, the 2019 Château Pédesclaux shines for its pure, elegant, yet concentrated style, and it’s certainly one of the finest vintages from this address. Cassis, black cherries, lead pencil, and violet notes all emerge on the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. The purity and finesse are truly something here, and while it already offers pleasure, it deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for 20+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JDPerfumed aromatics on the nose, violets, red cherries - really perfumed though - I love it! Gorgeous texture, it’s soft and supple and not over the top. The tannins are super integrated providing just the right amount of support to the fruit. Delicate but with a good core of dark fruits and some cherry flesh texture. Soft and smooth but fleshy too - a great balance between freshness and structure. Bright lift at the end and overall good acidity with enjoyable hints of bitter dark chocolate and savoury black liquorice which add complexity and interest away from the fruit. Overall quite dark in style but one for earlier and enjoyable drinking. Nice refined winemaking on show and clear markers of the terroir and vintage. Carafe if drinking soon or buy and age. First vintage in conversion to organic which has been being tested since 2012. Half the vineyard is currently farmed biodynamically. Drinking Window 2024 - 2032.Decanter | 94 DECThis is really floral and beautiful with lavender, lilac and blackcurrant aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with firm, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. It’s very racy and refined with structure. Linear. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Best after 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 Pédesclaux is quirky and full of character. It offers a beguiling mix of super-ripe dark fruit and savory Cabernet coupled with accents that offer a striking counterpoint. Black cherry, chocolate, new leather, spice, tobacco, incense and scorched earth lead into the substantial finish. There’s more raciness than finesse in this Pauillac, but it all works well.Antonio Galloni | 93 AG

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

Extremely aromatic, with incredible wet-earth, bark, stone and graphite notes on the nose, then changing to violets, blackberries and blackcurrants. Full-bodied, yet so linear and fine, with titanium tannins that go on so long. Builds and builds then just rolls around the palate through the endless finish. Real Bordeaux here. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 4% cabernet franc, and 4% petit verdot. Exceptional. Better after 2029.James Suckling | 99 JSA floral bouquet on the nose, soft but deep with such clarity and such a beautiful vivid pink red colour in the glass too. The texture here is striking, smooth and mouth filling with intensity but so well presented, precise, fine and amazingly detailed. The word for 2019 is energy and this has it in abundance, it’s vibrant and alive in the mouth with such brightness. Mouthwatering acidity is set against a chalky texture so you get a full mouthfeel without any heaviness. Great structure and balance. You could almost drink this now to enjoy the immediate enjoyment but a recent tasting of the 2009 suggests this has a very long life ahead. A wine you can fall in love with! (Drink between 2024-2047)Decanter | 97 DECThe 2019 Haut-Bailly had just been bottled prior to my visit. This is better than the 2018 with brilliant delineation on the nose and newfound purity. The palate is silky smooth with enormous depth, wonderful concentration and outstanding precision towards the finish with layers of lightly spiced black fruit. This is Fabulous with a capital "F". Tasted at the Haut-Bailly vertical at the château.Vinous Media | 97 VMThe 2019 Haut-Bailly unwinds in the glass with complex aromas of dark berries, bay leaf, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, framed by a discreet patina of new oak. Full-bodied, velvety and elegantly muscular, it's powerful and concentrated, with lively acids and an abundance of ripe but youthfully assertive structuring tannin that will demand some patience.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPA beautiful, elegant, and quintessential expression of this terroir, the deep ruby/purple-hued 2019 Château Haut-Bailly offers up a tight yet promising bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, darker cherries, iron, tobacco leaf, scorched earth, and cedar pencil. Possessing incredible minerality, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and a classy, aristocratic, regal style, it opens up nicely with air and will benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and have a lengthy prime drinking plateau of 20-30 years. It's another pure class release from this great estate, which is run by the talented Véronique Sanders.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JD95–97. Barrel Sample. This is a very fine wine, showing layers of the densest structure as well as stylish black fruits. It is possible to taste the balance that will emerge as the wine ages, bringing out the sumptuous fruits and soft tannins. The wine is sure to age for a considerable time. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WE

The 2019 Mouton Rothschild has come together beautifully since I tasted it from barrel. Today, it is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Powerful and statuesque in its beauty, Mouton is remarkable in every way. Layers of dark-toned fruit confer seriousness and intensity that builds with time. All of the finesse I saw in barrel is still present. Since then, the 2019 has gained flesh and vibrancy. Magnificent!Antonio Galloni. | 99 AGThis is incredibly complex, with all the cabernet descriptors, from mint and lead pencil to blackberry, blackcurrant and menthol. It changes all the time in the glass, just as in the nose. Yet, it remains cool and classy. Full-bodied with very fine, tight tannins that run the length of the wine, carrying on and on and on. Well-framed and compact wine. Never-ending procession of currant, berry and black cherry fruit, together with licorice, earth and just a hint of black truffle. 90% cabernet sauvignon, 9% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Give this until 2028 to show its true greatness.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2019 Mouton Rothschild is the most dramatic of the Médoc first growths, soaring from the glass with aromas of cassis, blackberries and violets mingled with rich aromas of cedar, cigar wrapper, licorice, loamy soil and spices. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, it’s deep and powerful, with huge levels of concentration and an ineffably complete, seamless profile, concluding with a long, resonant finish. Plenty of ripe tannin is hidden by its ample core of fruit, and despite its youthful polish, this will require plenty of bottle age to realize all its potential. This blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot tastes in many respects like the 2016 Mouton’s more sun-kissed cousin.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPPlows straight ahead, with a rather towering display of cassis as well as cherry and plum reduction notes that are pure, defined and deftly supported by a seamlessly embedded iron spine. Features light savory, floral and red tea notes that flash in the background, while the fruit glistens through the extremely lengthy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2045.Wine Spectator | 98 WSThe 2019 Château Mouton Rothschild is based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, and it hit a relatively normal alcohol level of 13.5%, which is higher than the 2009 and shows the quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon in the vintage. It shows the new, modern style of Bordeaux in its purity, elegance, and finesse while still being an incredibly concentrated Pauillac, and where some vintages of Mouton can just about jump out of the glass, this is a more seamless, streamlined, elegant beauty that builds with time in the glass and is just about impossible to fault. Gorgeous crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, forest floor, licorice, damp earth, and graphite, as well as some espresso nuances, emerge on the nose, and it’s rich, medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This is pure haute couture in Bordeaux that unquestionably offers pleasure today (again, just about all modern Bordeaux from a great vintage offer pleasure in their youth) but will require a solid decade to hit maturity, and it should evolve for 20, 30, 40 years or more. This is not an unformed beast of wine that demands bottle age, and I suspect it will have a broad, forgiving drink window that consumers will love.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDGorgeous nose with a soft sweetness to the fruit aromas - a quality of the cooler year with freshness and vibrancy to the fruit profile. A great core of black fruits - blackcurrant, plums and cherries, balancing power but also succulence in the best way. Muscular but refined and finessed, feels so well constructed with harmonious tannins. The texture is smooth, deep and coursing but with such elegance to the overall frame. Deep and concentrated, but I love the touches of sour cherry and then smoky, liquorice aspects with a mineral freshness. It feels as if when it’s ready it will expand and just give and give. I love it. Drinking Window 2028 - 2050.Decanter | 98 DECMade from 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a sumptuous and powerful wine that is built by considerable tannins and immensely rich fruit. At the same time, there is a perfumed charm that balances all that power. The wine’s structure and richness are harbingers of enormous aging potential. Wine Enthusiast | 98 WE

This is full and plush for an Haut-Medoc with medium to full body. Lots of blackberries and fresh herbs with redcurrants, too. Chewy, but polished. Give it two or three years to soften. Best after 2024.James Suckling | 92 JSDark brambles on the nose. Great intensity and sculpted fruit here, this has some dark fruits and definite liquorice aspects to the palate but feels really precise and controlled. It’s smooth with soft tannins and good presence until the end. Also has great freshness and cooling mint cordial tang on the finish. I love it. Drinking Window 2022 - 2035.Decanter | 92 DECThe 2019 Beaumont, cropped at 50hL/ha, has a lovely, delineated bouquet of blackberry, briary and light tobacco notes. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, and not quite as supple as before, though I appreciate the tangy seaweed note toward the finish. Just what you want from a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur.Vinous Media | 91 VMThis estate has produced a fine, elegant wine. Black fruits and a hint of chocolate do not detract from the firm structure that is a fine passport for the future. Dense, dry but never excessive, this is a wine for medium-term.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WEBlack cherries, plums, Asian spices, and sandalwood notes all emerge from the 2019 Château Beaumont, a nicely concentrated, medium to full-bodied Haut-Médoc with good depth of fruit and juicy acidity. This château always makes a solid wine, and the 2019 is no exception.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JDThe 2019 Beaumont has turned out very well, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berry fruit, pencil shavings and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and melting tannins, it’s charming and nicely balanced. It’s the finest wine from this large château that I can remember tasting.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

The 2019 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is a terrific second wine. Ample, bold and dramatic, the 2019 packs a huge punch. Black cherry, plum, new leather, graphite and incense build as this flamboyant, opulent Saint-Estèphe shows off its considerable allure. The 2019 is a big wine, but the 15.1% alcohol is not especially evident.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGA chewy, structured red with blackberry, chocolate and some walnut and bark. It’s full-bodied and solid with lots of fruit and tannins. Second wine of Calon Segur. Needs five or six years to soften. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 94 JSGorgeously plump blackberry and damson fruit here, high impact with chewy tannins that build through the palate and give an impression of confidence and pleasure. A clear crowd pleaser, with cocoa bean and chocolate shavings, no need to wait too long to approach. 30% new oak. (Drink between 2024-2040)Decanter | 93 DECDeep purple-black colored, the 2019 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur wafts out of the glass with fragrant potpourri, garrigue and Darjeeling tea scents over a core of redcurrant jelly, plum preserves and blackcurrant pastilles plus a touch of cracked black pepper. The full-bodied palate has a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins with loads of freshness supporting the crunchy black fruits, finishing long and savory.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90-92 RPA bottle of wine I’d happily drink, the 2019 Le Marquis De Calon Ségur sports a ruby/purple hue as well as classic Saint-Estèphe notes of red and black fruits, damp earth, leafy herbs, and even some spicy, floral nuances that I don’t normally find in young Saint-Estèphe. Medium-bodied on the palate, it’s nicely balanced, has well-integrated acidity and tannins, and outstanding length. It’s a rock solid second wine with loads to love.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThis second wine of Calon-Ségur is a rich, black fruits surrounding tannins and giving a fine style to the bold structure and the wine’s juicy aftertaste. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

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

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

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

The 2019 Montrose is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, inky and towering in concentration, the 2019 possesses off the charts intensity and tons of structure to back it up. Succulent black cherry, plum, tobacco, gravel and licorice infuse the 2019 with striking depth. The 2019 is not quite as opulent as some recent vintages, and that’s a good thing. Readers will find a regal wine that marries elegance with power. Unforgettable. Tasted two times.Antonio Galloni | 100 AGA generous and abundant nose full of fruit and aromatic intensity followed by a gorgeous mouthfeel showcasing fruit density and concentration wrapped up in soft, velvety-smooth tannins. Just so much depth but also refinement here, it feels well made with just the right amount of fruit, toasty spice, tannins, freshness and acidity. The overall structure is gently framing all the elements - big and bold but quietly confident. The tannin impact is also enjoyable giving a feeling of approachability despite the long life ahead. Just superb - one of the best in 2019. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 12% press wine. 60% new oak. Drinking Window 2029 - 2046.Decanter | 99 DECThe 2019 Montrose has turned out very well in bottle, wafting from the glass with a dramatic, perfumed bouquet of wild berries and cassis mingled with notions of lilac, violets, pencil shavings and warm spices, framed by nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, layered and seamless, it’s deep and multidimensional, with lively acids, beautifully refined tannins and a long, resonant finish. Checking in at 14.4% alcohol (rather higher than, for example, the brilliant 2009’s 13.7% or the 2016’s 13.3%), this is an undeniably powerful, ripe Montrose, but for now everything appears to be kept in check.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe flagship 2019 Château Montrose is also brilliant, although it’s not going to match the all-time greats from this estate. Gorgeous cassis, graphite, damp earth, cedar pencil, and tobacco are just some of the nuances here, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a pure, graceful, layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It doesn’t have the overall density or mid-palate of the 2018 or 2016, but it’s flawlessly balanced and just incredibly impressive. Showing more and more tannins with time in the glass, it will need a decade of bottle age and will evolve for 30+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDBlueberries, cracked white and black pepper with dried flowers. Some crushed stone and slate, too. Full-bodied with tannins that grow on the palate and continue on. It’s polished and very fine with lovely length. Drink after 2027.James Suckling | 97 JSLush and lovely, showing a mix of creamed loganberry, plum, boysenberry and mulberry flavors that borders on exotic, but everything stays harnessed by sleek floral and iron notes through the finish. This has ample structure for balance that’s well-embedded in the fruit, making this seemingly approachable now but there’s absolutely no rush. A beauty. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2040. Wine Spectator | 96 WS

Such pure and beautiful aromas of blackberries and black cherries with violets and red roses. So aromatic and enticing. Full-bodied with extremely integrated tannins that are velvety and curated. Fresh and sweet fruit at the end with an orange-peel undertone. Crushed stone and sandalwood, too. This is a very beautiful second wine of Ausone. 60% cabernet franc and 40% merlot. Drink after 2025.James Suckling | 96 JSThe second wine of Ausone comes from specific parcels of the vineyard. With 60% of Cabernet Franc in the blend with Merlot, the wine is structured and firm, perfumed and rich. It will age well, drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEA blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, the 2019 Chapelle d’Ausone is deep garnet-purple in color. Lifted notes of black raspberries, redcurrant jelly, and blackberry preserves waft from the glass, followed by hints of unsmoked cigars, baking spices, and violets. The medium-bodied palate is plush and juicy, with loads of fragrant layers and a lively, perfumed finish.The Wine Independent | 94 TWIA blend of wine from young vines with a few barriques of declassified Ausone (though anything that doesn’t make the grade is sold off in bulk), the 2019 Chapelle d’Ausone exhibits attractive aromas of cherries, sweet berry fruit, violets, spices, rose petals and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it’s elegant and refined, with a deep core of fruit and impeccable balance.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2019 Chapelle d’Ausone has a taut nose, a mixture of red and black fruit, quite marine influenced with a tang of Japanese nori. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins, fine depth though not the most powerful Saint-Émilion, compensating with admirable elegance on the finish. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.Vinous Media | 92 VM

The 2019 Branaire-Ducru unwinds in the glass with aromas of raspberries, blackcurrants, sweet soil tones and hints of cigar wrapper, rose petals and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s youthfully tightly wound, with terrific concentration, tangy acids, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish. While this is a little reserved out of the gates, its energy and classical proportions will richly reward bottle age.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPVery clear fruit character of blackcurrants, orange peel and spices. Some walnut, too. It’s full-bodied with integrated, polished tannins and shows finesse and focus. Love the focused fruit at the end of this. Strength with finesse. Give it four to five years of bottle age. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 95 JSThis is a richly perfumed wine that has bold tannins and dense black fruits. There is a fine line of juicy acidity cutting through all the richness to lend freshness against all the concentration. This is for long-term aging. Wine Enthusiast | 95 WELeads with vivid violet and cassis, while dark plum, blackberry and boysenberry reduction notes follow quickly. Racy, structured and well-built, with graphite and apple wood driving through the finish. Very pure and aromatic, featuring a nice sanguine echo that lingers at the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 13,000 cases made, 1,950 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSBeautiful blue fruits, tobacco, damp earth, and floral notes all emerge from the 2019 Château Branaire-Ducru. It’s medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, has silky tannins, and shows the quality of the vintage perfectly. A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades or more. It reminds me of the 2009.Jeb Dunnuck | 94-96 JDLifted floral notes are combined with dark currant fruit flavour and fine tannins on the palate. A very elegant Branaire-Ducru and relatively restrained in the context of 2019. Will appeal to those who prefer the more subtle style of Bordeaux, with more nuance than up-front power and weight. The fruit is clean and pure, and there is a lovely freshness on the finish. Good mid-term drinking.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2019 Branaire-Ducru is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it flies out of the glass with notes of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries, and stewed plums, plus wafts of rose oil, cinnamon toast, and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate is juicy and plush, with lively acidity and a spicy finish.The Wine Independent | 93 TWIThe 2019 Branaire Ducru has a fresh and vibrant bouquet, very well defined with beautifully integrated oak, quite precise graphite-infused black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a ferrous opening, gritty in texture, quite edgy and sharp with an almost citrus fresh, tensile finish. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.Vinous Media | 92 VM

Fragrant and full with deep, rich, dark and silky tannins underpinned by great freshness. It has a smooth texture, the flavours of sweet but fresh and vibrant cherry fruit and a touch of menthol just gliding across the palate, supported by tight-knit tannins. High-toned with well-defined edges and a consistency from start to finish. You could drink this now for its rich but seductive charming fruit-forwardness.Decanter | 95 DECThe wine from a single vineyard within the Léoville Las Cases estate shows power with discretion. Its tannins and rich black currant fruits from Cabernet Sauvignon are solid, ripe and also stylish. That makes for a wine that will have balance between structure and fruit, concentration and openness. The wine is set for long aging. Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEThe 2019 Clos du Marquis is another cuvée from the Delon family that’s smaller than usual this year, as fully 20% of the vineyards that inform this bottling are in various stages of replanting, with the objective of bringing the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon vines up to more than 70%. Exhibiting aromas of inky cassis, plums, incense, wood smoke and spices, it’s medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with lively acids, beautifully powdery tannins and a supple, more immediately charming profile than its big sibling across the street, Léoville-Las Cases.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPI continue to just love this terroir. The 2019 Clos Du Marquis brings beautiful richness and depth with the purity and elegance of the vintage. Cassis, smoked black cherries, tobacco, gravelly earth, and spice are just some of the nuances, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a rich, dense mid-palate, serious, almost chewy tannins, and a great finish. It’s not for those looking for instant gratification and demands a good decade of bottle age.Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JDShows steeped plum, boysenberry and blackberry notes that form the core, with enough depth to absorb the apple wood and mesquite notes that line it, while a taut iron note drives the finish. Features lively savory and tobacco notes that add energy through the finish. A bit rigid in terms of structure, but that’s the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038.Wine Spectator | 93 WSSo much gravel and dark-fruit character with raspberries and blackcurrants, as well as currant leaf. It’s medium-to full-bodied with very fine, rounded tannins and a bright finish. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot and 7% cabernet franc. Drinkable now, but even better in 2024.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2019 Clos du Marquis needs a little more precision on the nose, dark berry fruit, cedar, touches of sage and crushed iris petals. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite pliant tannins. Gentle grip, but there is certainly structure evident here with quite a tannic finish. This will need time in the cellar. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.Vinous Media | 91+ VMThe 2019 Clos du Marquis, composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc, is deep garnet-purple in color. It wears a lot of oak on the nose, giving way to a core of plum pudding, baked blackberries, and tar plus a waft of tapenade. The medium to full-bodied palate has a sturdy structure of very firm oak tannins, appealing freshness, and taut, muscular fruit, finishing savory.The Wine Independent | 91 TWI

Aromas of currants and sweet tobacco with some lead pencil. Medium to full body with very fine tannins and a long, linear finish. Very fine, silky tannins. Pretty is the word. Direct and precise. Better in 2025 and onwards.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2019 Duhart-Milon is showing beautifully, mingling aromas of cassis and wild berries with notions of violets, cedar wood, orange rind, licorice and spice box in a perfumed bouquet. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it’s charming and refined, with a deep core of fruit, powdery tannins and succulent acids. This château is going from strength to strength.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPRacy and mineral-driven, with a chalky thread that runs from start to finish, adding a perfumed elegance to a core of steeped black currant and blackberry fruit flavors. This has a lushness to the fruit, with dark tobacco, steeped black tea and singed alder notes, but there’s plenty of range, detail and textural nuance as well. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2040.Wine Spectator | 94 WSA mixture of dark fruits and gorgeous ripe red cherries on the nose with a milk chocolate dusting. Smooth texture on the palate full of black fruits, darker and more serious in fruit profile than the nose suggests but with a clear mineral/wet stone element, such a cleanness and cooling freshness that comes across on the palate. Really elegant, refined and poised. Delicious juice on the first impact then settles with lots of nuance, grip and complexity coming through. Impressive and well balanced.Decanter | 94 DECThe 2019 Château Duhart-Milon is another incredibly successful wine in the vintage. Offering up-front currant and cassis fruits, it’s medium to full-bodied and has complex cedar and spicy nuances, ripe tannins, and a round, layered, balanced mouthfeel. It’s slightly less sunny and opulent than the 2018 but still brings plenty of beautiful, sunny fruit.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThe 2019 Duhart-Milon is bold, juicy and explosive, but also a bit hard in its tannin. I thought some of that austerity would start to resolve with élevage, but it has not, at least not yet. Dark macerated cherry, spice, tobacco and strong Cabernet Sauvignon inflections power through to the finish.Vinous Media | 92 VMA blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the 2019 Duhart-Milon is deep garnet-purple in color. Cassis, cedar, and juicy plums waft from the nose, followed by hints of iron ore and wild sage plus a touch of cedar. The medium-bodied palate offers tight-knit fruit with a sturdy backbone and a chewy finish.The Wine Independent | 90+ TWI

The 2019 Château La Fleur-Pétrus is a stunning example of what makes a great Pomerol – richness without weight, incredible elegance, complexity, and length, all of which it has in abundance. Giving up darker, powerful aromatics of blackcurrants, darker cherries, tobacco, chocolate, and just hints of spring flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, concentrated, incredibly sexy mouthfeel, perfect tannins, and a great finish. It’s one of the most opulent, seamless, impressive wines in the vintage, although it needs at least 7-8 years of bottle age. It should be a 30- to 40-year wine. Bravo!Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDSo much dried-flower, black-olive, earth and spice character, together with dried fruit, violets and black licorice. Full, yet so fine and linear. It accelerates at the finish, going on and on. A classic beauty. So racy. Best after 2028.James Suckling | 98 JSGorgeous aromatics with some savoury elements; truffle, tobacco, mocha and ripe black bramble fruits. Excellent precision and tension in the mouth, this is refined but layered with chocolate, coffee, liquorice, stone, some bitter orange notes alongside blackcurrant and black cherry. Incredible texture, mouth coating for sure but so sophisticated, it’s layered yet so well defined, pulsing with energy on the palate in waves of fruit then cooling mint then spice then more fruit which lingers in the mouth. Elegant but also so complex, you can sit with this for a while savouring each element. Such a fantastic wine.Decanter | 97 DECThe 2019 La Fleur-Pétrus dares to outshine Trotanoy this year, wafting from the glass with aromas of rich berry fruit, plum preserve, dark chocolate, cigar box and spices. Full-bodied, rich and enveloping, it’s broad and layered, with beautifully polished tannins, a ripe core of fruit and a seamless, enveloping profile. This is an elegantly muscular, generous Pomerol whose sumptuous personality reflects the warm, dry vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPSeriously dark and winey, showing a deep core of black currant preserve, warmed fig paste and plum reduction flavors inlaid with racy graphite, mouthwatering tobacco and enticing singed alder, bay leaf and freshly plowed humus. Delivers density, grip and definition on the long finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040. 2,880 cases made, 262 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 96 WSI grossly underrated the 2019 La Fleur-Pétrus blind at rued my initial score as it meliorated in the glass. It has a wonderful nose with blackberry, crushed stone and pressed flowers - the oak is beautifully integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and a generous heaping of white pepper; the oak is just a bit too pronounced on the finish, though it assimilates with time in the glass and gains more complexity. Give this 3-4 years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.Vinous Media | 95 VMComposed of 94% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2019 La Fleur-Petrus is deep garnet-purple in color. It opens with lifted kirsch, cedar, and black raspberry scents, followed by notions of sandalwood, preserved plums, and chocolate box plus a waft of star anise. The full-bodied palate is jam packed with ripe black fruits, framed by firm tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy.The Wine Independent | 95 TWIThe structure of the wine masks the superrichness of the black fruits. Tannins are definitely to the fore giving density and ripeness. This is a big wine, needing to age. Drink from 2027. Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEWith a lovely strawberry freshness, this wine, from a renowned estate on the deep clay and gravels of the Pomerol plateau, delivers its clean and lasting fruit in tastes of cassis and sweet cherries. Merlot dominates the blend, accounting for 91 percent of the 45.8 acres under vine. This should develop complexity as it ages.Wine & Spirits Magazine | 92 W&S

The 2019 Lafleur is an utterly profound young wine that unwinds in the glass with aromas of rose petals, raspberries and sweet spices mingled with notions of blood orange, violets and fresh tobacco that are hauntingly reminiscent of this estate’s great 1982. Full-bodied, deep and seamless, it’s layered and multidimensional, with a concentrated core of vibrant fruit, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, searingly intense finish. This magical Lafleur is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 100 RPIf tasting the 2019 Château Lafleur doesn’t just blow you away, I’m not sure what will. A perfect wine, if such a thing exists, it offers such a complex, singular profile in its black raspberries, kirsch liqueur, licorice, exotic flowers, white truffles, and sandalwood. On the palate, it has serious structure, yet the tannins build with time in the glass, and the mid-palate density and balance are so flawlessly integrated, you have to actually hunt for the structure. Pure, sensationally rich, and at the same time elegant, with awesome depth of fruit, this is what wine dreams are made of. It might be the finest young wine to ever pass my lips. It needs a solid decade of bottle age, 15 years would be even better (it will still blow your mind any time over the coming decade), and it will evolve gracefully over the following 30-40 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDFresh berries, plums, damsons, sloes, a touch of spice and irises and peonies. But that’s just the start. For as this gathers in the air, breathes, relaxes and then exhales just a little it releases more floral notes, almonds too, pain d’épices, cassis and then, eventually, graphite and cedar. Quite ethereal. But what is most amazing about this wine is its structure and the dynamism in the mouth that it imparts. The potential here is quite staggering. One of the most remarkable tasting experiences of my life.Decanter | 100 DECThis is crazy on the nose with crushed stones and violets really rising above the glass, together with iodine, seaweed and ink. Spellbinding. Full-bodied, yet so tight and reserved, with a fine cashmere-like texture and endless length and energy. You can sense the stones and the earth here, but then it reaches to the skies. It’s open, but you feel the depth of the soil. A reference point for the vintage. Try after 2028.James Suckling | 100 JSThe 2019 Lafleur has a more fruit-driven bouquet, perhaps a little less cerebral than its peers in this flight. Mulberry intermixed with pencil box and undergrowth. With aeration, thankfully, it does gain more nuance and complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, symmetrical, quite austere with Early Grey, bay leaf and clove, superb crescendo towards the almost audacious finish. Stunning. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.Vinous Media | 99 VMMade from 53% Merlot and 47% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc), the 2019 Lafleur is deep garnet-purple in color. It slowly grows in the glass, emerging with scents of blueberry compote, prunes, and dark chocolate, followed by suggestions of garrigue, cedar, and wild sage. The full-bodied palate is firm, grainy, and hedonic, featuring loads of savory nuances and finishing on a lingering aniseed note.The Wine Independent | 98+ TWI

Brilliant stuff, the 2019 Château Lafon-Rochet shows the best of the vintage with its pure, precise, elegant, yet at the same time concentrated style. Showing lots of ripe currant, plum, tobacco, Asian spice, and cedar pencil aromatics, it’s medium to full-bodied, has nicely integrated acidity, and just seamless tannins. It’s beautifully done and well worth seeking out. It’s going to evolve for 20-25+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThis 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 WERipe and sleek, delivering cassis, damson plum, loganberry and mulberry notes that glisten, with iron, anise, black tea and savory accents. Offers lovely precision and poise, even as the fruit flirts with an exotic blend. Mouthwatering finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.Wine Spectator | 94 WSRipe blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of sweet tobacco, walnuts and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and lingering crushed-stone character. Firm finish with some nuttiness to it. Bold and solid, classic St.-Estephe. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 Lafon-Rochet is tightly-wound on the nose, yet it seems delineated and focused, mineral-laden black fruit, sous-bois and dried tobacco scents unfurling in the glass. The palate is impressive with good concentration on the entry. This has an arching structure, fine acidity, off dry and slightly austere on the finish, but there is clearly the substance to ensure that it will age with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.Vinous Media | 93 VMA bit rustic and wild on the nose, in a good way, not savoury tones so much but brambles with cocoa powder, black pepper and spice - lots going on. The palate has a lovely soft but sumptuous aspect to it, rich fruit flavour with a deep core and soft tannins that settle giving a super comforting feeling. There is also a cooling effect in the mouth, refreshing and tinged with pencil led, wet stone and dark ripe fruits. A heady style but enjoyable with a sweet, lively lift at the finish. You could almost drink this now and enjoy the youthfulness or it will age gracefully.Decanter | 93 DECThe 2019 Lafon-Rochet has turned out nicely in bottle, mingling aromas of blackberries and red fruits with hints of violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, with lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, it’s a bright, precise wine, with plenty of depth and structure to support sustained bottle age, but with enough modern polish to temper any suggestion of structural asperity.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPA blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Lafon-Rochet is deep garnet-purple in color. It is quite closed to begin, revealing glimpses at blackcurrant jelly, fresh blackberries, and dark chocolate hints, followed by wafts of roses, cedar, and cumin seed. The medium-bodied palate is muscular and densely laden with serious black fruit and earthy layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with a spicy lift.The Wine Independent | 92 TWI

Fresh tobacco, currant and earth, opening up to forest flowers. It’s rich in tannins, but very soft and beautiful. Layered, with lots of fine fruit and a velvety texture. Blackberry and chocolate in the finish too. 27% of the crop and a blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot, the rest petit verdot and cabernet franc. Delicious already, but give it at least six years of bottle age. Better after 2027.James Suckling | 96 JSThe wine is rich, open and generous. The bold black fruits mask the tannins and bring out the fine balance between structure and fruit. Drink this very fine wine from 2026. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEGiven that Margaux’s second wine contains plenty of fruit that made it into the grand vin just a decade or two ago, great things are to be expected from this bottling. Yet I was nonetheless taken aback by the quality of the 2019 Pavillon Rouge. Wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries, plums and cherries mingled with rose petals and sweet spices, it’s medium to full-bodied, sensual and concentrated, with beautifully refined tannins, racy acids and a long, penetrating finish. This is an exquisite Pavillon Rouge that is well worth seeking out. I confess that I don’t buy many second wines, but I did purchase a case of this, with alacrity, right after tasting it.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2019 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge is absolutely brilliant, and jaw dropping stuff as a second wine. Deep purple-hued with a beautiful bouquet of ripe red and black fruits as well as sandalwood, spice, and tobacco, it’s medium to full-bodied, has polished, seamless tannins, great overall balance, and a stunning finish. It has more than a little Château Margaux class, and while it’s already impossible to resist, it has another 20-25 years of longevity.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2019 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux is deep garnet-purple in color. It slowly emerges from the glass with an alluring perfume of lilacs, fragrant soil, and cinnamon stick, over a core of warm cassis and wild blueberries. The medium-bodied palate is super-intense, with exquisitely ripe tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Gorgeous!The Wine Independent | 95 TWIThe 2019 Pavillon Rouge has a more austere bouquet than its peers, nuanced yet still well-defined, taut with black fruit laced with pencil shavings and freshly rolled tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, pliant and rounded, smooth and harmonious though not satin-like…there is still a bit of grit on the finish. It builds and opens nicely in the glass - a serious and quite compelling Deuxième Vin. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.Vinous Media | 94 VMLovely perfumed Merlot type fragrance on the nose, soft, delicate but defined giving blackcurrant and cherry aromas. Lovely texture here, so smooth, with an element of ripeness in the dark berry fruit but also seering freshness that lifts the palate, juicy and highly toned. Such a nice nuance of freshness and cooling fruit. The texture is dense but so soft you get an impression of cream. There’s a real quality to the tannins and framing of the fruit, textured and fresh. Delicious. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.Decanter | 94 DECDelivers a gorgeous velvety mouthfeel, with cassis, warmed plum and blackberry preserve flavors infused with black tea and incense. Features a fresh minerality that echoes through the suave finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2035. 8,333 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS