Wine Producing Countries

wines

The 2022 Muscadet “Clisson” from Domaine de la Pépière is another absolutely great,wine in the making. These very old vines are now more than ninety-five years of age. The wineshows remarkable depth on the nose, wafting from the glass in a mix of breadfruit, green pear,ocean breeze, a beautiful base of granite minerality, white flowers, a touch of iodine and a lovelynote of leesiness from the wine’s extended aging prior to bottling. On the palate the wine is pure,full-bodied, precise and youthful in personality, with a great core of fruit, superb mineral undertow,zesty acids and impeccable balance on the long, complex and very, very classy finish. This superbMuscadet deserves at least five years in the cellar before broaching, as there are many more layersto reveal here with the passing of time! 2025-2065+.John Gilman | 95 JG

Lots of tangy fruit with spicy lemon, lime, lemongrass and raw ginger character and just a hint of waxy undertones. Medium-bodied, tight and focused, with a frame of fruit and a solid finish. Lots of spices and green fruit as well as fresh herbs like basil and sage. A blend of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, ribolla gialla and malvasia. Drink or hold. Screw cap.James Suckling | 96 JSThis elegant white is vibrant and inviting, with a sense of finesse as a racy spine of acidity is enmeshed with fruit flavors of melon, kiwi fruit and pink grapefruit glâcée, plus accents of green almond and white blossoms. Spice and mineral notes play on the mouthwatering finish. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia Istriana. Drink now through 2034. 5,833 cases made, 840 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 92 WSSeashells and crushed stone mingle with tart orchard fruits, creating a vivid aromatic profile in this blend of Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, and Malvasia. Bright and refreshing, the wine’s mouthwatering acidity is like a cool ocean breeze with ocean spray spritz freshly cut apples. It’s zippy on the finish, with a salty minerality that’s reminiscent of an early morning walk along the beach.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

The 2022 Chardonnay Banfield Vineyard starts to shine with sunny fresh fruit, revealing notes of fresh melon, lime cordial, beeswax, and a clean feel throughout, a little savory. The palate has a fantastic structure, with a lovely and distinct feel, and it has concentration but incredible length. Drink 2025-2037.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDLayers of richness unfold gradually in this full-bodied wine. On the nose, candied citrus, perfumed pears, fresh herbs and Marcona almonds along with white peppercorns and cool salinity. Length and an almost petrol-like perfume in the finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JSThe 2022 Chardonnay Banfield Vineyard is powerful and expressive! It floods the senses with apricot, peach and nectarine, plus accents of panna cotta, lily, toast and well-integrated oak spice. The full-bodied palate delivers concentrated, spicy flavors in a silky texture. It’s balanced by bursts of mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPCandied lemon peel, white flowers, mint and tangerine peel all build nicely as Arista’s 2022 Chardonnay Banfield Vineyard opens in the glass. Medium in body, with fine energy and plenty of translucence, the Banfield is an absolute delight. It is one of the classiest wines in this range.Vinous Media | 93 VMSalted toffee, candied ginger and marmalade notes are plump and generous up front, showing plenty of grace and polish on a juicy frame, accented by fresh citrus zest, orange sherbet and salted buttery shortbread. Ends with a long, impressive finish. Drink now. 250 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The first-ever Estate Pinot Noir from Ramey, sourced from the family’s home ranch, Westside Farms, which neighbours Williams-Selyem and Rochioli. This historic site has been farmland since the mid-1800s and borders a mile and a half of the Russian River. "Context is important, especially in a challenging vintage," says Alan Ramey. To illustrate this, they presented the wine side by side with an Échezeaux Grand Cru. "Temperatures are changing, and Burgundy is getting warmer. Our wine has nearly the same TA, pH, and ABV, yet the style is slightly different—and then there’s the value play… this Burgundy costs about $300 more than ours. We want to show that our wines can stand alongside those at much higher price points." Ramey ferments in stainless steel before transferring to a barrel, whereas the Burgundy was fermented in a barrel with 100% new French oak. The Ramey Estate Pinot Noir is aged in approximately 40–50% new French oak. The wine displays beautiful vibrancy, with a light- to medium-bodied character and a gentle sweetness to its red-fruited core. Blood orange acidity and elevated, velvety tannins add a crisp edge. The long finish carries layers of red berry fruit, blood orange, clove, coriander cream, sassafras, and pressed wildflowers, all underpinned by hints of loamy, sandy earth. Savoury and bone dry, with remarkable intensity balanced by freshness.Decanter Magazine | 96 DECThe 2022 Estate Pinot Noir Westside Farms is the inaugural release of Pinot Noir from the Ramey family’s Westside Farms ranch. It comes from vines planted in clay-loam soils along the Russian River in 2001. The grapes were harvested on August 18 and 19, before the Labor Day heat wave, and only free-run juice was included. It was fermented in tank with 25% whole clusters and matured for 18 months in 45% new French François Frères barrels. It has a pale ruby color and open, inviting aromas of cranberry sauce, rhubarb, blood orange, allspice and Angostura bitters. The medium-bodied palate surprises with its highly concentrated, layered flavors and is lent complexity by emerging earthy nuances. It’s structured by lacy tannins and vibrant acidity and has a very long, layered finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. It will be released in September of 2025.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2022 Pinot Noir Westside Farms is a bright red color and has a spiced profile with notes of ripe cherries, strawberries, toasted spices, and forest floor. The palate is highly elegant, with a medium-bodied frame, and it has an elegant freshness, refined tannins, and an even finish. (Ramey did a wonderful job of keeping elegance and freshness in this vintage.) It’s going to be released in the fall and will have a wide window for enjoyment over the next 10-12 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDWonderful savory, woodsy aromas and good, complex dark berry and black plum flavors in this full-bodied, moderately tannic wine. Elements of pine, redwood bark, bay laurel, black raspberries and wood smoke. Made using one-fourth whole clusters, with skin contact of three weeks and barrel aged for 20 months, all of which emphasize the savory aspects. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSOffers streamlined raspberry and blood orange coulis notes infused with a light potpourri accent through the finish, which is marked by pretty perfume. Drink now through 2027. 428 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

This wine reflects the vintage with greater tropical expression, revealing hints of honey, beeswax, candied citrus peel, and apricot. These elements combine to create a wonderfully warm richness, layered with brown baking spices and pressed wildflower notes. Medium-bodied on the palate, it strikes a fine balance of an almost chalky or velvety texture with great energy. Following blending, half the wine underwent malolactic fermentation while the other half did not. Aged in all new oak for 7 months on the less with no stirring. The result is impressive in its length, with saline-tinged acidity bringing brightness and zesty complexity to the finish.Decanter Magazine | 95 DECAttractive aromas of white nectarines and salted lemons with hints of raw almonds, dried flowers and cream. Medium- to full-bodied, delicate and sleek with beautiful acidity that brings balance and energy. Silky and lingering. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSBold and confident, with plenty of aromatics up front, including honeysuckle, cardamom, toasted brioche and marzipan. However, what makes this wine memorable is the wonderful tension between these rich aromatics, plus its sleek, juicy thread of fresh Fuji apple, lemon curd and caramelized pineapple. Offers a long, expressive and highly detailed finish. Drink now through 2031. 1,200 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSAttractive white peach and tangerine fruit, as well as some honeyed mint notes, all emerge from the 2022 Chardonnay A26, a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, elegant Chardonnay from the Atlas Peak region that has good overall concentration as well as integrated acidity. It’s a solid, impressive Chardonnay to drink over the coming 3-4 years or so.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

Dark berry aromas with some graphite and stone. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins that are creamy and polished. Succulent and very long. Juicy finish. Lovely tension and drinkability already. Blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot, aged 35 months in barrels. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JS

In 2022, the estate will only be producing a small quantity of the single-vineyard Riservas, with the majority of fruit going into the 2022 Barbaresco. It pours a jeweled ruby red color and reveals a seductive yet very pure nose of cherry cordial, crushed roses, sweet herbs, and peppery spice. Medium-bodied, it has supple ripeness in the fruit yet wonderful clarity in its tannins and acidity, giving the wine excellent definition and balance. Roughly 133,333 bottles were produced. Drink 2026-2050.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDViolet, rose and dried herb scents over black cherry, raspberry and a touch of tar. Medium-bodied yet firm on the palate, its succulent red fruits are framed by fine tannins and fresh acidity. The clean and persistent finish shows floral, red-fruit and mineral nuances.Decanter Magazine | 94 DECBright and overtly fruity, this is full of intoxicating violets, cinnamon, blood oranges and black cherries, expressing mint and balsamic depth. Full-bodied with a soft, smooth attack, dusty yet velvety tannins and brilliant acidity. The chocolaty finish shows licorice and a mouth-coating texture. Delicious and balanced. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSThe straight 2022 Barbaresco from Produttori del Barbaresco is fragrant and refined, with aromas of blue flower, red berry, citrus and a balsamic whiff of eucalyptus. Surprisingly fresh and juicy for the hot, extremely dry vintage, it boasts flavors of tart red cherry, orange zest and star anise alongside taut, refined tannins that leave some grip on the finish. Drink through 2030. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 94 KOThe 2022 Barbaresco is a pretty rich, heady wine. Dark cherry/plum fruit, cloves, licorice and mocha build as the 2022 shows off its considerable depth. This is one of the few 2022s that is quite resonant texturally. The aromatics could be more lifted and the tannins could use a bit more polish, but those qualities were next to impossible to come by in 2022. The inclusion of some juice from Riserva lots is a great help. All things considered, this is a stellar showing.Vinous Media | 93 VMPacked with cherry and raspberry flavors, this red is round and succulent, with a fleshy profile and a solid base of tannins. Mineral and menthol accents add depth, and the finish is fresh and long. Best from 2028 through 2042. 25,000 cases made, 600 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The 2023 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold yet refined Napa Valley classic, brimming with layers of ripe blackberry, cassis, and dark cherry wrapped in notes of espresso, dark chocolate, and cedar spice. Full-bodied and elegant, it delivers plush fruit balanced by fine-grained tannins and a long, lingering finish that speaks to both power and polish. Impressive now with decanting, yet built to age gracefully, this Cabernet is the perfect choice to elevate a special dinner.Sokolin Tasting Panel | 95 SP

Rich, powerful and gorgeous, drenched in fruity, savory, mushroomy flavors on a full body and super-smooth tannins. It is deep in black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar and pine character that expands on the palate and lingers in the finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSA touch more saturated red in color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Laurène is deeper and more layered in the glass, with notes of pine, sage, ripe cherries, fresh leather, and pressed floral perfume. It has a refined and plush texture, with ripe tannins and elegant notes of dark earth. Drink 2025-2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2023 Pinot Noir Laurène is darkly floral, with a coy mix of dusty lavender and violets complementing dried black cherries. A round and supple persona soothes as ripe wild berry fruits wash across a stream of cool-toned acidity. Stainingly long, the finish boasts a pleasant black-tea-like bitterness that tugs at the cheeks. Classic to the core.Vinous Media | 94 VMPrecise and vibrant, with sleek flavors of cherry and raspberry highlighted by stony mineral and black tea accents as this gathers richness toward refined tannins Drink now through 2034. 3,725 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

So pretty, charming and elegant, with floral aromas, light tannins and quiet vibrancy. Fresh raspberries, sour cherries, red cherries, rose petals and minerals give it complexity and appeal. Finesse, nerve and great balance. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSA bright red color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Roserock Zephirine offers focused and expressive notes of wild raspberries, framboise, rosy perfume, and sweet herbs. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins and an approachable feel, with its underlying mineral focus shining through the midpalate and finish. It’s delicious now but will only improve over the next 6-7 years and drink well over the coming 15 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDThe 2023 Pinot Noir Zéphirine wafts up with an understated blend of dried flowers, spiced citrus and wild strawberries. A stern mineral core and brisk acidity enliven the tart wild berry fruits. Youthful tension pinches at the cheeks, leaving angular tannins and admirable freshness.Vinous Media | 93 VM

Always a centerpiece of the Tyler range, the 2023 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard is distinguished by an additional layer of high-resolution clarity in this vintage, elevating what is routinely one of the region’s finest Chardonnay expressions. It combines a sumptuous, textural power with an equal measure of incredibly focused, mineral-driven energy throughout. Radiant, pure, herbal and honeyed on the nose, the palate exudes a broad, powerful muscularity that glides smoothly into a seamless, measured and mouthwatering finish that lingers with chalky grip.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPThe 2023 Chardonnay La Rinconada Vineyard is an alluring, incredibly textural wine, with a generous, ample personality and impressive delineation of flavors. Mint, toasted spices, yellow apple, chamomile and chalk embrace a sumptuous, creamy mid-palate, leading to a finish of great precision. This is a beautifully balanced white with tons of suaveness and a clear mineral accent.Vinous Media | 96 VM

Once again, I found the 2023 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard to be a centerpiece of the Tyler portfolio, offering up a dramatically richer and more saturated frame than its counterparts in the lineup, while sacrificing no clarity or complexity. The nose is strikingly dark, floral and pure, with clear-cut graphite and cola notes that are often common to larger-scale Pinot Noirs yet rendered here with poise and precision. On the palate, it packs the most substantial punch of the roster, oozing with a rich, cake-like texture while refraining from overt decadence. The finish is deep, long and layered, with a lumbering richness that sets it apart from the more high-toned and soaring counterparts in the lineup.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPPlush and juicy, the 2023 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard is a flashier, more forward wine with great suppleness and a core of intensely ripe blueberry fruit. A bold, confident wine, the Fiddlestix saturates the palate with inky mineral tones and gentle acids. Nicely done.Vinous Media | 93 VM

Reminding me of a great Meursault with its richer nose of honeyed stone fruits, toasted bread, blanched almond, and hints of crushed stone, the 2023 Chardonnay offers a pure, layered, ripe, yet vibrant style. Based on 100% Chardonnay from the Ladybug, Little Bit, and Seashell vineyards and aged on lees for 22 months in 70% new French oak, it’s rich and medium to full-bodied with terrific depth and complexity. There are roughly 1,511 cases produced, and it should age gracefully for a decade. Drink 2025-2035.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDSleek and juicy, a generous expression of candied lemon peel, pear drop and mango puree, with details of salted caramel, dried ginger and plump melon, plus lingering accents of nutmeg, gingerbread and jasmine. Drink now through 2033. 1,511 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe 2023 Chardonnay Estate is creamy, open-knit and polished. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, marzipan, white flowers and a kiss of French oak all grace this super-expressive, vibrant Chardonnay. It’s a terrific introduction to the range.Vinous Media | 93 VMGenerous ripe fruit like pears and golden apples resting on a relaxed, rich texture. This wine is gentle, almost sweet tasting, with Bartlett pears, vanilla bean, creme brulee and white chocolate on the palate. Drink now.James Suckling | 93 JS

The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Vidovich Lane hits the palate with dark-toned fruit, leather, incense, chocolate, gravel and dried herbs. This is an especially virile, potent Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that paints a starkly different side of St. Helena vis-à-vis the Panek. Give this a few years to soften. Memorable.Vinous Media | 97 VMComing from a site just beside Dr. Crane in St. Helena and all See clone, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Vidovich Lane is a beautifully pure, elegant, finesse-driven wine in the vintage. Red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with spicy, floral, and candied violet nuances define the aromatics. It’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, with remarkably pure, polished tannins and outstanding overall balance. This charming Cabernet Sauvignon can be drunk today or cellared for 15+ years. There are 395 cases produced. Drink 2025-2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDFrom a two-acre site located south of the city of Saint Helena, near Dr. Crane, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Vidovich Lane Vineyard has layers of ripe cherries tinged with dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied and really supple but still shows ample structure and length.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94-96 RP

The 2023 Pinot Noir Koosah Vineyard is ruby red in color and is charming upfront, offering notes of grenadine, purple flowers, sweet herbs, and dusty earth. Focused on the palate, with angular tannins and lively acidity, it has a floating texture and perfumed notes of peach that last on the finish. There’s a refined tension and Nebbiolo-like structure, with a linear drive here that I absolutely love. Drink through 2045.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDEola-Amity Hills evangelist Ken Pahlow does his most recognised work with Chardonnay, but his Pinot Noirs from his own high-profile site for the Valley’s next generation of winemakers are also remarkable. Leaning into minerality and white pepper, the aromatics pop with taut red berries and sea salt. Briny on the front palate, the mineral zip leads to fresh strawberries and mint leaves. There’s a streak of graphite that centres minerality directly into the finish.Decanter Magazine | 95 DECThe 2023 Pinot Noir Koosah Vineyard comes from mixed clone vines planted in 2016 in volcanic soils at 720 to 1,080 feet in elevation. Fermented with 25% whole clusters and matured for 15 months in 45% new French oak, it has slowly unfurling scents of blackberry, rhubarb, blood orange, forest floor, violet and tobacco. The medium-bodied palate is powerfully styled with concentrated yet detailed flavors. It’s framed by chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, spicy finish. 175 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2022 Pinot Noir Koosah Vineyard opens with a savory herbal flourish complicated by hints of chalk dust and wild blueberries. This displays textures of pure silk, pliant and supple, with depths of red and blue fruits that slowly saturate toward the close. It leaves a tart cherry saturation with nuances of licorice and spice over a bed of gently grippy tannins. Koosah is shaping up to be one of the most exciting locations Walter Scott works with.Vinous Media | 94+ VMThe 2023 Koosah Vineyard pinot noir from Walter Scott saw forty-five percent new oak in this vintage, with no whole clusters used. The wine’s élevage was done entirely in two hundred and twenty-eight liter casks. It comes in at 13.5 percent octane this year and also gets my vote as the most beautiful wine label to be found anywhere! The wine’s gorgeous bouquet wafts from the glass in a mix of sweet dark berries, black cherries, coffee bean, a complex base of volcanic soil, hints of the cola to come, cedary oak, violets and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, pure and full-bodied, with a beautiful core of fruit, fine soil signature and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins, tangy acids and impeccable balance on the long, nascently complex and precise finish. This is going to be a superb bottle of pinot noir in due course, but it is classically structured and will demand some extended cellaring before it starts to drink with generosity. (Drink between 2040 - 2085)John Gilman | 94+ JGA dark raspberry dipped in dark chocolate aroma is a heck of a way to make an introduction. Beyond the fruit and chocolate are traces of loamy soil and coriander. The Koosah feels fresh and energetic on the palate, as snappy acidity energizes flavors like boysenberries, lemon zest and a hint of black pepper.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

The 2023 Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru has a backward nose despite aeration, but it’s still nicely defined. Dark berry fruit and a touch of white pepper dominate, with hints of blue fruit emerging later. The medium-bodied palate features slightly chalky tannins and is more saline than the Chapelle-Chambertin. There is impressive precision and tension here, plus plenty of backbone on the finish. Excellent.Vinous Media | 95-97 VMThe 2023 Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru is a beauty, bursting with notes of plums, red berries, orange zest and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, it’s suave and sensual, with polished tannins and a vibrant core of fruit, concluding with a perfumed finish. As usual, it’s the most ethereal, elegant wine in the Dugat cellar.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RPFirm reduction overshadows the underlying fruit today. More interesting are the elegant and beautifully refined, if decidedly punchy, flavors that exude evident minerality on the sleek, precise, moderately austere and impressively long and powerful finish. This is gorgeous and quite classy. If you can find it, buy it.Burghound | 93-96 BH

The 2023 Pinot Noir Pisoni Estate comes from some of Pisoni Vineyard’s oldest vines, located at 1400 feet of elevation and planted on granite-based soils. Medium ruby-purple colored, it needs a little swirling to unlock evocative scents of ripe raspberries, kirsch, and mulberries, followed by hints of anise, wild thyme, and underbrush, plus a touch of iris bulbs. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut with muscular black and red berry layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and perfumed. Gorgeous!Drinking Window 2025 – 2035The Wine Palate | 98 TWPBrilliant and worthy of comparison to top Pinot Noirs and Burgundies, the 2023 Pinot Noir offers a gorgeous array of red and black fruits intermixed with forest floor, dried flowers, baking spices, and leather. This medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir reveals a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Made with 30% whole clusters and fermented in oak tanks before 11 months in 65% new French oak, it shows the softer, supple, incredibly charming style of the vintage and will drink beautifully over the coming 10-12 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDThis always attention-grabbing bottling shows a slightly lighter shade this vintage, which sets up a very cellar-worthy experience. Juicy aromas of cherry sorbet topped with tarragon leaf make for a super inviting nose. The texturally firm palate picks up strawberry, mint and loam-caked mushroom, pairing fruit and earth expertly. Drink now-2043.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2023 Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée is a beautiful, super-finessed wine. This year marks the first inclusion of fruit from the newest vineyard in the Pisoni/Franscioni portfolio—WindRock—which joins the typical lineup of Pisoni, Garys’ and Soberanes. The 2023 is a model of elegance. Floral-inflected notes of blood orange, lavender and sweet spices build in a broad yet focused, supple, velvety Pinot Noir. The finish lasts long beyond each sip. Everything here speaks to refinement, polish and poise.Vinous Media | 95 VM

Aromas of blueberries, ash and stones with hints of blackberries, orange peel and chocolate. It’s medium-bodied with medium-round tannins that are polished and velvety but always in check. Cedar and baking spices like nutmeg on the palate. Lovely soft and silky texture with a long finish. Enchanting and delicious. 92% cabernet sauvginon, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2023 Napanook is deep, bold and luscious right out of the gate. Black cherry, lavender, dried herbs and graphite fill out its mid-weight frame quite nicely. I expect the 2023 will drink well with minimal cellaring, as it is already quite open and doesn’t quite have the tannic palate presence of more important years.Vinous Media | 93 VMDeep purple-hued and the second wine of this reference point domaine, the 2023 Napanook offers classic currants, leafy tobacco, graphite, and underbrush notes in a medium-bodied, very pretty, pure, elegant, and graceful style. Based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot and aged 20 months in 20% new French oak, it has ripe and polished tannins, perfectly integrated acidity, and a great finish. This classic, classy Cabernet will keep for 10-15 years. Drink 2025-2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

The 2023 Montrachet Grand Cru showed a little more cloudiness in the glass due to the lees (of course, they will disappear once racked). Perhaps the nose is a little primal as a result—it’s not as complete as the Bâtard or the Bienvenues. The palate is more indicative of where this Monty will be heading. It has intense, immense weight with an almost pixelated mineral-driven finish. This is going to be a great Montrachet, but it might take longer to reveal its true identity. Only six barrels were produced this year.Vinous Media | 96-98 VMSix barrels. This was slow to ferment and is still not clear after racking. A huge volume of pure white fruit with a slightly honeyed not as well, and a limestone backbone that drives the second half of the wine. Opulent in one sense yet managed, while the length and concentration of the finish is fully Montrachet worthy. Come back in many years. Lime as well as limestone, lingering in the mouth. Drink from 2032-2040. Tasted Oct 2024.Jasper Morris | 95-97 JMEnough wood to remark upon surrounds the cool and airy white orchard fruit aromas that are liberally laced with spice, zest and floral nuances. The sleek, intense and impressively scaled flavors brim with sappy dry extract that seems to have no effect on the precision of the wonderfully long, bone-dry, superbly long and well-balanced finale that is also supported by citrus-tinged acidity. This is not a massive Montrachet but it’s beautifully proportioned and a wine that should more than repay extended keeping. Moreover, it’s the class of the cellar in 2023.Burghound | 93-96 BH

This lovely, powerful wine offers aromas of greengage plum, Williams pear and apple. The texture is rich, but the wine is still elegant and not at all hard to love. This vintage is the first bottling of a white Boudriotte, as far as I can tell – it used to get blended into the broader Morgeot appellation. Like Morgeot, Boudriotte can be a blend of several different lieux-dits; for this wine, a new 0.26ha vineyard in Chaumes is blended with 0.11ha of Champs Jeandreau .Decanter Magazine | 94 DECFrom Champ Jeandreau and a more recent planting in Chaumes. Clean fresh fruit, not too powerful. Quite lean and tense, a little bit more citrus. A suggestion of some light peach behind, but adding a dimension rather than denaturing.Jasper Morris | 91 JM

The 2023 Pinot Noir Holstein Estate was fermented with 20% whole clusters and matured for 11 months in 20% new French oak. The nose is bursting with strawberry, pomegranate, blood orange, damp earth and tea leaves. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with layer after layer of perfumed, crunchy fruit. It’s framed by fine, chalky tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity and has a very long, layered finish. 350 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RP

The 2023 Pinot Noir Koosah Vineyard was fermented with 45% whole clusters and matured for 11 months in 35% new French oak. It has nuanced aromas of blueberry, pomegranate, lavender, charcuterie and tea leaves. The medium-bodied palate is brimming with crunchy, perfumed fruit. It has a silky texture, refreshing acidity and a long, elegant finish. 400 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

The 2023 Clos-de-la-Roche Grand Cru has a perfumed bouquet that’s quite floral with incense and bergamot tea scents and fruit that blossoms, but only after five minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, tea leaf and bay leaf with a gradual crescendo toward its intense, mineral-driven finish. This is superb.Vinous Media | 95-97 VMDelicious. The classic Clos de la Roche from Domaine Hubert Lignier is impressive, deeply-coloured wine, with a pronounced aroma of black cherries, peony, and spice. The old vines provide small bunches even in 2023, giving a concentration on the palate that impresses in this sunny year. Two-thirds of the grapes were planted by Laurent’s father in 1964-1965; the balance (in Fremières) by his grandfather in 1955. One-third of the harvest was fermented as whole clusters, and the wine is ageing now in cask (one-third new).Decanter Magazine | 95 DECTwo thirds comes from Les Monts Luisants, and one third from Les Fremières. A deep crimson/purple. The wonderful bouquet has all the charm in the world plus complexity. Here the richness of the fruit suits the grand cru structure of this wine. Dark berry fruit that flows cross the palate and covers the well-balanced tannins. The 2023 Clos de la Roche has plenty of energy as well as fluidity. Drink from 2033-2042. Tasted Dec 2024.Jasper Morris | 95-97 JMSubtle though still easily perceptible wood influence can be found on the spicy black currant, violet and softly gamy nose. The seductive and caressing but punchy and powerful larger-bodied flavors also conclude in a youthfully austere, serious and compact finale that displays first-rate persistence. The Lignier Clos de la Roche is almost always excellent if given sufficient time in bottle and the 2023 version should honor that tradition as well.Burghound | 92-95 BH

The sumptuous old-vine Hommage MCMLV Clos de la Roche from Domaine Hubert Lignier offers profuse aromas of ripe mulberry and redcurrants accented with a floral note, oak spice and a bright mineral element. The texture is firm and very tannic, but the extract, acidity and fruit are all balanced; this wine seems set to age for decades. The grapes are from 0.27ha planted in the lieu-dit Monts Luisants by Laurent Lignier’s grandparents in 1955, hence the label MCMLV. There are only two barrels from this plot, but it is well worth seeking out.Decanter Magazine | 97 DECThe 2023 Clos-de-la-Roche Cuvée MCMLV Grand Cru has more mineral drive on the nose. It has ethereal transparency, intensity and hints of wilted rose petals emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, satin-like texture and gentle but insistent grip. Very long yet tender, this is a magnificent wine in the making.Vinous Media | 96-98 VMThis cuvée is taken from a few rows in Les Monts Luisants, a 1955 plantation made by Laurent’s grandfather with massal selection, delivering lots of millerand grapes. More purple than crimson, rather headier, yet all in reds fruit without the darker notes. A youthful energy, with a little more structure as well. The two wines are clearly very different. A lightly menthol touch to finish. Drink from 2033-2045. Tasted Dec 2024.Jasper Morris | 95-98 JMIn contrast to the nose of the regular cuvée, here it’s firmly reduced. On the palate though, there is plenty of underlying tension and freshness on the equally scaled flavors that are exceptionally rich, even plush and velvety, while delivering even better depth and persistence on the noticeably firmer finale. This should also age out successfully and is a wine that’s going to need a minimum of at least a decade of patience.Burghound | 93-95 BH

This delicious wine is perennially among the most concentrated and nuanced in Lignier’s cellar—just don’t refer to it as ‘the blended premier cru’. He is at pains to point out that the rows start out in Faconnières and end up in Cheneverey, but that it is one single parcel. The wine boasts aromas of ripe plums with notes of violets, pepper, and a hint of dark chocolate. The texture is dense and rich but without any heaviness. The grapes are from 0.66 hectares of vines. The oldest were planted in 1936, and the youngest in 1962.Decanter Magazine | 95 DECThe 2023 Morey-Saint-Denis Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru comes from the usual three lieux-dits. It has an intense bouquet with cool but focused blackberry, briar and light flinty scents. The palate is medium-bodied and very well balanced, with finely sculpted tannins and seductive creaminess to the texture in the finish. Frequently one of Laurent Lignier’s finest cuvées, this is just wonderful.Vinous Media | 93-95 VMMostly Faconnières. Rich dark crimson with the most fruit to date, fully ripe. The palate offers a balanced headiness, with a fruit dark enough to include some plums. This is the more hedonistic of the two but I think my preference comes down narrowly on the more cerebral Chaffots. Drink from 2032-2038. Tasted Dec 2024.Jasper Morris | 92-95 JMA restrained but beautifully layered nose grudgingly offers up its aromas of black cherry, crushed anise and newly turned earth. There is slightly better density to the overtly powerful and more obviously mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors that culminate in a firm, serious and compact finale. This too virtually always ages well and the 2023 version should be no exception.Burghound | 91-94 BH