2016 Bordeaux

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau l'Eglise Clinet

  Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $699. 00

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  $8388.00 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 L'Eglise-Clinet is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked between 21 September and 4 October for the former and on 6 October for the latter. It was cropped at 43 hectoliters per hectare and matured in 80% new oak, with around 14.2% alcohol. Lucid in color, it has a quintessential L'Eglise-Clinet bouquet with blackberry, raspberry coulis, liquid minerals and hints of iris and incense. The palate is very precise and crisp, some of the finest tannins that you will encounter in Pomerol, tensile right from the beginning, taut and linear with immense precision towards the extended mineral-soaked finish. This is nothing less than a brilliant wine from Denis Durantou, undoubtedly one of the stars of the vintage.
  97-99 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  A flash of spearmint gives this a fresh feel, while the core of raspberry and boysenberry fruit follows up quickly, carried by lively acidity. The long, fruitcake-filled finish keeps a sense of elegance. Very enticing.-J.M.
  94-97 points
  Wine Spectator

  This has so much violet and black-olive character to it. It's full-bodied and powerful with incredible power and depth of old-vine tannins. It just rolls on and on. What a finish.
  98-99 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 L'Eglise-Clinet is a magnificent, heart-stopping wine. Deep and expressive, yet with striking translucence, the 2016 simply has it all. Scents of graphite, crushed rocks, blueberry jam, spice, menthol and smoke resonate on the palate with soaring intensity and tremendous richness. Mind blowing in its depth, with tremendous persistence, an extraordinary poise, the 2016 is captivating.
  96-99 points
  Vinous

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau L'Evangile

  Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $599. 00

  Bottle

  $7188.00 Dozen

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  Long considered one of the top three wines of Pomerol (along with Petrus and Vieux Chateau Certan), Chateau L'Evangile is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and produce a full bodied, rich, opulent, and long lived wine. The Chateau is under the same ownership as Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 L'Evangile is made from 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with notions of plum preserves, Black Forest cake, red cherry compote and black raspberries with touches of menthol, chocolate box, licorice and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features fantastically ripe, velvety tannins and beautiful freshness, lifting the generous, brightly fruited mid-palate and giving bags of energy to the very long-lingering, minerally finish. Drink 2021 - 2047.
  97 points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (Dec 2018)

  The 2016 L'Évangile is just as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Huge and explosive in the glass, the 2016 possesses stunning depth and textural resonance. At first a bit somber, the 2016 needs time in the glass to open up. Once that happens, all the elements fall into place in an effortless, gracious wine. Floral overtones add brightess to the dark cherry, chocolate, leather and spice flavors, while silky tannins round things out in style. Jean-Pascal Vazart describes 2016 as a late year. Harvest started on September 26, about ten days later than normal. The 2016 spent 16 months in French oak, 85% new. Drink 2026-2056.
  96 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  So ethereal and great on the nose with glorious fresh flowers, such as violets, together with black olives. Dark berries, too. But the archetypal Pomerol nose. Full-bodied yet, at the same time, so refined and structured. Glorious tannin tension and focus. Vibrant finish. Shows energy and focus. Try after 2024.
  99 points
  James Suckling

  The grand vin 2016 Château L'Evangile is more primordial than the second wine, sporting a deep purple color and a huge nose of blueberries, scrub brush, violets, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. Deep, massively textured, with building minerality, a brilliant mid-palate, I'd imagine this is a modern-day version of the 1982. A sexy, sexy, wine, it should drink well in 4-6 years but is capable of last for 2-3 decades. Drink 2023 - 2053.
  98 points
  Jeb Dunnuck

  The first thing you notice is the spice and floral components before moving on to the mocha, truffle and juicy plums. Full-bodied, with velvet textured tannins, everything feels great. The wine has layers of depth, waves of silky, pure, opulent fruits and a finish that stands out, due to all the decadent fruit. The wine is fresh, elegant, long and incredibly rich, as well as tannic. So give this 12 years or so in the cellar before popping a cork.
  98 points
  Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau La Conseillante

  Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $499. 00

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  $5988.00 Dozen

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  As a wine often compared to Burgundy, Chateau La Conseillante produce one of the most refined and elegant examples in all of Bordeaux. Vines here are planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, and are situated on some of the finest land in Pomerol (with a touch of Saint-Emilion!).

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 La Conseillante is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc aged in 70% new and 30% one-year-old French oak for 17 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slips provocatively out of the glass with a lifted perfume of roses, candied violets and lavender over a core of warm red and black plums, chocolate box, unsmoked cigars and baked cherries with wafts of wild thyme and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate exudes polish and sophistication with bags of fragrance, freshness and energy, sporting exquisitely fine-grained tannins and finishing very long and minerally. Around 3,808 cases produced. Drink 2022 - 2057.
  98+ points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate (Dec 2018)

  The 2016 La Conseillante is a brilliant wine from the team led by Technical Director Marielle Cazaux. Polished and sophisticated, the 2016 possesses stunning vertical lift, with soaring aromatics that make a strong first impression. Silky and seductive on the palate, the 2016 is all about precision and energy in the early going. It is also one of the most quite, soft-spoken Pomerols of the vintage. Hints of blackberry, lavender, licorice and spice add nuance, but in 2016 La Conseillante stands out for its sublime balance and total sense of harmony. The 2016 spent 17 months in oak, 70% new. As gorgeous as the 2016 is, my impression is that the best is yet to come. Since arriving at La Conseillante, Cazaux has changed much in the farming of the property, including introducing cover crops and limiting yields. She also now works with no sulfites in winemaking and opts for lower temperatures in fermentation. In other words, the full results of all of that work is yet to be seen. For now, though, the 2016 Conseillante is a pretty special wine. Don't miss it. Tasted two times. Drink 2026 - 2041.
  97 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  The aromas of violets and dark berries with licorice and sweet black tea are so attractive. What really impresses is the sweet fruit in the dense middle palate. So attractive. At the same time, there’s plenty of plush and ripe tannins that give the wine form and brightness. And it still remains bright on the finish, as the tannins roll on. A great Conseillante. Try after 2024.
  99 points
  James Suckling

  Bottled in June of 2018, the 2016 Château La Conseillante is a beautifully seamless yet powerful version of this cuvée that has the hallmark fragrance and elegance of the estate front and center. Complex blackberries, cassis, flowers, incense, forest floor, and floral notes all soar from this full-bodied, pure, and polished Pomerol that has an undeniable class as well as wonderful purity of fruit, perfect integration of its tannins and acidity, and a blockbuster finish. It's an incredibly complete wine that flirts with perfection and will keep for 30-40 years. The blend is 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, aged in 70% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. There are less than 4,000 cases made, but this is a wine you want in your cellar. Drink 2019 - 2059.
  99 points
  Jeb Dunnuck

  Spell-binding in every sense of the word, you know this wine is a future legend from the initial sniff of its delicate floral, truffle, dark cherry and cocoa infused perfume. Silk and velvet-textured, ripe, sweet, fresh fruits with a beautiful sense of purity hit you next. The finish keeps all its themes going. This is an incredibly sexy bottle of wine that belongs in every Pomerol fans cellars. Give it perhaps 12 years of sleep and it should start revealing its true potential at that point.
  100 points
  Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau La Dominique

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $130. 00

  Bottle

  $1560.00 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 La Dominique was tasted on several occasions. Deep in color, it has a blackberry and bilberry-scented bouquet, a touch of oyster shell developing in the glass. There is intensity here, but it is tightly coiled. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, showing more freshness at the Rolland Laboratory tasting than elsewhere, a dash of spice with a structured, saline finish. This was more promising than recent vintages that I have tasted and hopefully augurs for what is in bottle. There was some variation here, hence the question mark against my banded score.
  91-93 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  This has a piercing spearmint streak amid the core of plum and blackberry fruit, with racy acidity buried on the finish. It's vibrant and enticing, but needs to fill out a bit more on the back end.-J.M.
  90-93 points
  Wine Spectator

  Layered and juicy with lots of ripe fruit and soft tannins. Decadent and generous. Lots going on here.
  93-94 points
  James Suckling

  This wine is impressive in both structure and ripe, generous fruits. It is solid, with good potential for aging, though the dark tannins suggest that it will develop slowly. Enjoy through 2032.
  92-94 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 La Dominique is powerful, dense and explosive. Mocha, plum, lavender, sweet spice and menthol are some of the many notes that flesh out in the glass. Exotically ripe and voluptuous, but not at all heavy, the 2016 possesses superb balance and integration of all of its elements. The style leans on overt ripeness and density. Readers should expect a decidedly concentrated, rich Saint-Émilion. Michel Rolland is the consultant. Tasted three times.
  90-93 points
  Vinous

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau La Garde

  Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $44. 99

  Bottle

  $539.88 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 La Garde, blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, offers dark berry fruit on the nose, hints of cedar and sandalwood, nicely poised and gaining intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, rounded in the mouth with black tea-tinged dark berry fruit and a composed, harmonious and almost easygoing finish. This is a step up from the 2015.
  88-90 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  This sports a warm fruitcake note out front, followed by slightly toothy plum and raspberry paste flavors, turning to licorice hints on the well-toasted finish. A bit ambitious, but the showy fruit will have fans.-J.M.
  90-93 points
  Wine Spectator

  Soft and round tannins frame pretty chocolate and spice character. Medium to full body and lots of juicy fruit. Not quite at the 2015's quality level but very pretty.
  91-92 points
  James Suckling

  Velvety tannins give this wine its open charm and fine texture. Structured yet crisp in acidity, hold this wine until 2027.
  92-94 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 La Garde offers considerable depth, not to mention plenty of personality. A host of blue/purplish fruit, grilled herb, lavender and cloves infuse this deeply expressive Merlot-based blend. The oak needs time to fully integrate, but the 2016 is impressive just the same.
  87-90 points
  Vinous

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• • 93
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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau La Lagune

  Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $120. 00

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  $1440.00 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  At least for this writer, the 2016 La Lagune is a return to form after their 2015 did not light my fire last en primeur. Lucid purple/black in color, it has a very intense bouquet with blackberries and sloes, whilst maintaining delineation and focus, almost pastille-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, perhaps just a little brittle on the entry, though it is commensurate with others 2016s that I tasted in barrel. I appreciate the focus and the "correctness" of this La Lagune, notwithstanding the freshness and tension that defines the persistent finish. This is a long-term wine, so do not be afraid to give this four or five years in the cellar. This is an excellent La Lagune, one of the best in recent years.
  93-95 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  The 2016 La Lagune has a classic tobacco and cedar bouquet with fine delineation and nicely integrated oak. The medium-bodied palate offers gentle grip on the entry and plenty of tarry black fruit. A touch of mint emerges toward the linear but impressively focused finish. I like the vivacity and penetration here. This should drink well over the next two decades. Drink 2021-2045.
  93 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

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  2016 Chateau La Lagune Magnum (1500ml)

  Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $220. 00

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  $2640.00 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  At least for this writer, the 2016 La Lagune is a return to form after their 2015 did not light my fire last en primeur. Lucid purple/black in color, it has a very intense bouquet with blackberries and sloes, whilst maintaining delineation and focus, almost pastille-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, perhaps just a little brittle on the entry, though it is commensurate with others 2016s that I tasted in barrel. I appreciate the focus and the "correctness" of this La Lagune, notwithstanding the freshness and tension that defines the persistent finish. This is a long-term wine, so do not be afraid to give this four or five years in the cellar. This is an excellent La Lagune, one of the best in recent years.
  93-95 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Both samples of the 2016 La Lagune I tasted were slightly pruny and oxidized, which could be caused by overripe fruit and/or low sulfur levels in the samples. I look forward to tasting the 2016 again, as there is good plushness and silkiness to the fruit. Tasted two times.
  84-87 points
  Vinous

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion

  Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $999. 00

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  $11988.00 Dozen

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  Located across the road from sister property Chateau Haut-Brion, the 26 hectare vineyard of Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is not only equally as accomplished today, it often bests the First Growth wine. In fact if the classification of Bordeaux happened again today you would expect La Mission to be included as a First Growth, such is the quality and consistency of the wines.

  The deep gravel and clay vineyard is planted to 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc for the red wine, and 62% Semillon, 38% Sauvignon Blanc for the white. Often seen as a more robust and structured wine than Haut-Brion, La Mission is no less concentrated and complex, and can be extremely long lived.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is just a little muted to begin, soon unfurling to reveal slowly growing scents of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries, dark chocolate and candied violets with nuances of crushed rocks, tobacco leaf, forest floor and fragrant earth plus a hint of bergamot. Medium-bodied and exquisitely elegant, the palate offers perfectly ripe, fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness with layer upon layer of perfumed fruit and a very long, ferrous-laced finish.
  98+ points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion was stunning from barrel, and now in bottle. It has a sublime bouquet of blackberries, briar and hints of dark chocolate and rose petals that gain intensity with aeration while maintaining ethereal delineation. It never steps on the accelerator too hard. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is still a veneer of new oak that will need to be assimilated over the coming years. This is a deep La Mission that caresses the mouth. Touches of graphite lingering on a finish that fans out gloriously. Is the 2016 up there with the 1955 or 1989? Nearly.
  99 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion is flat out gorgeous. Today, La Mission is incredibly primary, with stunning purity in its red/purplish berry fruit. Readers will have to cellar the 2016 for the better part of a decade at a minimum before the telltale aromatics of this fabled château start to blossom in bottle. I adore the 2016 for its gracious personality, fine tannin and remarkable freshness, not to mention that it is absolutely delicious and the kind of wine that is so suggestive of a very bright future.
  97+ points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  Regal wine, showing alluringly ripe and dark plums, that carries a wealth of complexity in its DNA - fine spices, leaves, graphite, violets and more. The palate has very precise drive and super focused style and delivers authoritative tannins that are arranged in linear fashion. Power with elegance. Try from 2024.
  97 points
  James Suckling

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau La Pointe

  Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $99. 99

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  $1199.88 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 La Pointe is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc this year. It has a charming, perfumed bouquet with dark cherries, red plum and quite intense incense aromas that are well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and well-judged acidity. This is a well-focused, classically styled Pomerol with seams of tobacco towards the persistent finish. This is a very fine Pomerol from Eric Monnoret, in fact, it is the best La Pointe produced so far.
  92-94 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Lively, offering raspberry and boysenberry fruit infused with anise, carried by velvety structure and backed by bright acidity. A light apple wood spine keeps this honest.-J.M.
  89-92 points
  Wine Spectator

  Rich and layered La Pointe. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Polished texture. Pretty and impressive.
  93-94 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 La Pointe offers good immediacy in a somewhat rustic, rough around the edges style. There is good depth and intensity to the fruit, but some angular contours remain. Tasted three times.
  86-88 points
  Vinous

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Lafaurie Peyraguey (375ml)

  Sauternes, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $54. 99

  Bottle

  $659.88 Dozen

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  Since new owners took over at Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey in 2014 it has undergone a complete renovation of the cellars and winemaking facilities, along with a decrease in yields to ensure only the best grapes go into their top label. Their renewed attention to detail is also evident in the new bottle design, introduced from the 2013 vintage and featuring a smart engraved logo. The 41 hectare vineyard is planted on clay over limestone soils, with a varietal mix of 93% Semillon, 6% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Muscadelle.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a perfumed, minerally bouquet that is taut and focused, beautifully defined and very precise. The palate is very well balanced with peach, nectarine and honey on the entry. This is a complex Sauternes, armed with superb acidity and bite, leading to a persistent finish that offers a dab of peaches and cream on the aftertaste. This is excellent.
  94-96 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  This has a good, direct core of apricot, peach and mango notes, with a warm crust backdrop through the rounded finish. Still showing a bit of turbidity, so could move up as it continues to settle in.-J.M.
  91-94 points
  Wine Spectator

  This is really crazy. The layers of fruit to this and the sheer intensity are really superb. Full-bodied and very sweet yet energetic and focused. Dense and tight. Tasted it and said OMG right away!
  98-99 points
  James Suckling

  A perfectly balanced wine, this boasts a beautiful harmony between bright acidity and ripe, sweet fruit. It is rich, but balanced by great acidity as well as lingering spicy notes. It is suited for long-term aging.
  93-95 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Lafaurie-Peyraguey is arrestingly beautiful. Passion fruit, mango, mint, white pepper and flowers give it a distinctly exotic feel. Unctuous and plush on the palate, the 2016 possesses superb balance and tons of personality. Naturally, the style leans toward the more tropical side of things - as it always does - but all the elements are impeccably balanced. Yields were just 17 hectoliters per hectare, while the blend, unusually, favors Sauvignon Blanc rather than Sémillon.
  92-95 points
  Vinous

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• • 97
  • 99
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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Larcis Ducasse

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $170. 00

  Bottle

  $2040.00 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Larcis Ducasse sashays gracefully out of the glass with beautiful Black Forest cake, red cherry compote, raspberry preserves and blackberry pie scents plus hints of cigar box, Ceylon tea, dried lavender and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers gorgeous red and black fruit preserves flavors with a wonderfully plush texture and very long, perfumed finish.
  96 points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  The 2016 Larcis-Ducasse, matured in 50% new oak, has an intense, flamboyant bouquet of black cherry, soy and hoisin aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with dense tannin, and quite masculine, having firmed up since en primeur. The finish is precise. This is a sophisticated Larcis Ducasse that may surprise some people with its restraint, yet Nicolas Thienpont and his team have retained the intensity that has become the signature of this Saint-Émilion.
  94 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  The 2016 Larcis Ducasse is absolutely gorgeous. Fresh, vibrant and alluring, with tremendous vibrancy, the 2016 has so much to offer. Expressive savory and blood orange notes add brightness to the red cherry and plum fruit, with beams of firm yet well-integrated tannins that give the wine its shape and energy. In 2016, Larcis brings together undeniable raciness and power in a complete package that is irresistibly beautiful. Give it a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften.
  97 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  The aromas here are so spellbinding with shitake mushrooms, wet earth and moss, as well as tree bark and, finally, dark fruit. The palate is incredible as it builds and grows with full body, but always tight and reserved. It shows so much depth and complexity. Please try not to touch this until 2025.
  99 points
  James Suckling

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion

  Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $79. 99

  Bottle

  $959.88 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Larrivet Haut Brion has a generous bouquet with red cherries, crushed strawberry, cigar box and light smoky scents that seem very seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin. The new oak here seems a little ponderous and slightly occludes both the fruit and terroir expression, therefore drying out the finish and leaving a mouth-puckering effect. Hopefully this will gain more balance during its barrel maturation, and gain more cohesion and detail on the finish. At the moment, I would favor the excellent 2015 Larrivet Haut Brion. Tasted three times with consistent notes.
  89-91 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Lively cassis and damson plum fruit gives this a fresh feel, while light sanguine and singed alder notes add contrast through the finish.-J.M.
  90-93 points
  Wine Spectator

  Solid red with a lovely core of ripe fruit and hot-stone character. Full body and soft and juicy tannins. Pretty young wine. May be the same level as the 2015.
  93-94 points
  James Suckling

  With tannins that are ripe and velvety, this is already a generous wine. At the same time, it has a line of acidity that keeps it crisp and brings out the black currant fruitiness. Put the two elements together and the wine will be on top form after 2027.
  92-94 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The Larrivet-Haut-Brion is terrific. Bold, pungent and super-expressive, the 2016 hits the palate with a rush of red fruit, blood orange and white pepper, all of which give the wine its distinctive, lifted aromatics. Persistent and sculpted throughout, the 2016 is wonderfully polished in this vintage. There is plenty of personality and class. The blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Stéphane Derenoncourt and Frédéric Massie consult. Tasted two times.
  89-92 points
  Vinous

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Leoville Las Cases

  Saint Julien, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $550. 00

  Bottle

  $6600.00 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Chateau Leoville Las Cases is one of the larger classified estates in Bordeaux, with the Second Growth Saint-Julien property totalling 98 hectares. Winemaking is very traditional, using old oak vats for fermentation, and up to 90% new French oak for maturation. While the wines can look rather austere in their youth, from great years they can resemble some of the finest First Growth wines as they reach maturity.

  The Chateau also produces a second wine, Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases (from 2009), which is not to be confused with Clos du Marquis, a wine that is always produced from a separate parcel and is considered a standalone brand. 

  Other Reviews....
  Very deep purple-black colored, the 2016 Léoville Las Cases (composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc) is quite closed to begin, yet with patient coaxing it unfurls beautifully to reveal suggestions of ripe blackcurrants, black raspberries, warm redcurrants and wild blueberries, followed by touches of unsmoked cigars, tilled red soil, cast iron pan, fallen leaves and lavender plus wonderfully fragrant wafts of lilacs and baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly knit, very subtle layers of minerals, floral notions and black and red berries, all framed by exquisitely ripe, silt-like tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. Simply captivating even in its youth, give it at least a decade in the cellar and then enjoy it over the next 50+ years.
  100 points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  The 2016 Léoville Las-Cases underwent three more months in barrel than usual, and was bottled in September 2018. It has an extremely intense bouquet that manages to retain otherworldly delineation. It is not as expressive as its peers at this early stage (but then again, it rarely is). Yet there is palpable coiled-up energy on the nose, and you can feel the mineralité. The palate is medium-bodied with super-fine tannin and layers of pure black and blue fruit laced with allspice and a pinch of white pepper. It fans out wonderfully on the finish, which exerts fine grip but never overwhelms. This is undoubtedly one of the best wines ever made by the estate. Close to perfection.
  98 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  The 2016 Léoville Las Cases is a majestic, seamless, opulent wine. Yes, I am talking about Las Cases, traditionally one of the Left Bank's most austere, forbiddingly tannic wines. Sumptuous and full-bodied, the 2016 takes over all the senses, with seemingly endless layers of inky, purplish fruit. Mint, lavender and white flowers are some of the many notes that emerge from the exotic, arrestingly beautiful bouquet as the 2016 makes its case for consideration as one of the wines of the vintage. The 2016 got an extra three months in barrel and was therefore bottled on the later side, but that does not appear to have done anything to close the wine down. The 2016 was magnificent on both occasions I tasted it. Put simply, the 2016 Las Cases is a total stunner. Don't miss it!
  98 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  Very complex and alluringly spicy aromas that bubble in and out of the nose, together with fresh tobacco, raspberries and iodine, moving into blackcurrants, blackberries and a gently gravely, stony edge. The palate has incredible polish that is a foil for the intense power and concentration of this wine. The texture is flawless, building smoothly with fine-grained and focused tannins that sustain a long, fresh finish. The new 1986, which was a legend. This is probably better. A blend of 75 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 14 per cent merlot and 11 per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2024.
  100 points
  James Suckling

  Delivery Information
• • 90
  • 91
  • 91
  • 88

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau les Cruzelles

  Lalande de Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $56. 99

  Bottle

  $683.88 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Les Cruzelles, Denis Durantou's second estate in Lalande-de-Pomerol, is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked 22-29 September and on 6 October, respectively. The yield is 40 hectoliters per hectare, and it is matured in 50% new oak. It has a very fragrant bouquet with perfumed red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit infused with minerals, like the La Chenade, very harmonious and detailed. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy red berry fruit, crisp acidity, a little spicier than the La Chenade and perhaps with a touch more persistence on the finish. Cellar space should be made for this sensual and engaging wine, and if prices follow their trend as in previous years, it could be one of the Right Bank's outstanding values.
  91-93 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  The juicy, fun raspberry and blackberry fruit has melded nicely with singed anise and fruitcake accents. Polished finish.-J.M.
  88-91 points
  Wine Spectator

  A very finely textured red with cherries, chocolate and berries. Medium body and fine tannins. A beauty.
  91-92 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Lés Cruzelles is a more serious, structured wine than the Chenade. Beams of tannin give the wine its sense of energy and drive. Blue and purplish hued stone fruits, licorice, lavender, menthol and graphite are nicely delineated. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2016 will need a year or two in bottle to be at its best. I was not at all surprised when Denis Durantou told me he planned to give the 2016 an extra month or two in barrel. The wine will probably need all of that added time in barrel to fully come together.
  90-93 points
  Vinous

  Delivery Information
• • 95
  • 92
  • 93
  • 91

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Lilian Ladouys (375ml)

  Saint Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $26. 99

  Bottle

  $323.88 Dozen

  Sold Out

  ABV: 13.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Originally known as La Doys, Saint-Estephe property Chateau Lilian Ladouys has 47 hectares of vineyards planted to a mix of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. While the makeup of their vineyards is moving to more gravel and clay soils with recent purchases, there are still areas planted on limestone soils.

  Totally opaque midnight black dark red colour with a vibrant deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated ripe red currant and mulberry aromas are interwoven with dusty vanillin cedar, earth, subtle dried herbs and spice. Elegantly structured, rich red to black currant and ripe mulberry fruits fill the medium to full bodied palate. Subtle liquorice, vanillin cedar, earthy graphite and spice elements add complexity. Well balanced bright acidity with sturdy yet finely tuned tannins provide some grip to the finish. Excellent length with a long, slightly chewy aftertaste.
  Cellar 6-8 years.
  Alc. 13.5%

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is a blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot aged in 30% new French oak for 15 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it sings of baked plums, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with bay leaves, pencil lead and menthol. Medium-bodied, elegant and packed with vibrant flavor layers, it finishes long.
  91 points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice. Drink from 2022.
  93 points
  James Suckling

  This is the third time I have tasted the 2016 Lilian Ladouys in bottle. It retains a very intense blackberry and boysenberry bouquet laced with minerals, but displays a little more amplitude than it did in August. The tightly knit palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and still shows the graphite seam that I remarked upon previously. There is a little more persistence now, hence the slightly higher score. Good potential.
  92 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is just as beautiful from bottle as it was from barrel. Lifted, silky and exceptionally perfumed, the 2016 has so much to offer. Bright red toned fruits laced with expressive floral top notes run through this sensual, totally gracious Saint-Estèphe. There is so much to like. Lilian Ladouys is a rare Saint-Estèphe where Merlot takes precedence over Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted two times.
  91 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years.
  92 points
  Jeb Dunnuck

  Delivery Information
• • 95
  • 92
  • 93
  • 91

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Lilian Ladouys

  Saint Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $49. 99

  Bottle

  $599.88 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Cellar: 6 - 8 Years (2025-2027)

  ABV: 13.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Originally known as La Doys, Saint-Estephe property Chateau Lilian Ladouys has 47 hectares of vineyards planted to a mix of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. While the makeup of their vineyards is moving to more gravel and clay soils with recent purchases, there are still areas planted on limestone soils.

  Totally opaque midnight black dark red colour with a vibrant deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated ripe red currant and mulberry aromas are interwoven with dusty vanillin cedar, earth, subtle dried herbs and spice. Elegantly structured, rich red to black currant and ripe mulberry fruits fill the medium to full bodied palate. Subtle liquorice, vanillin cedar, earthy graphite and spice elements add complexity. Well balanced bright acidity with sturdy yet finely tuned tannins provide some grip to the finish. Excellent length with a long, slightly chewy aftertaste.
  Cellar 6-8 years.
  Alc. 13.5%

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is a blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot aged in 30% new French oak for 15 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it sings of baked plums, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with bay leaves, pencil lead and menthol. Medium-bodied, elegant and packed with vibrant flavor layers, it finishes long.
  91 points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice. Drink from 2022.
  93 points
  James Suckling

  This is the third time I have tasted the 2016 Lilian Ladouys in bottle. It retains a very intense blackberry and boysenberry bouquet laced with minerals, but displays a little more amplitude than it did in August. The tightly knit palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and still shows the graphite seam that I remarked upon previously. There is a little more persistence now, hence the slightly higher score. Good potential.
  92 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is just as beautiful from bottle as it was from barrel. Lifted, silky and exceptionally perfumed, the 2016 has so much to offer. Bright red toned fruits laced with expressive floral top notes run through this sensual, totally gracious Saint-Estèphe. There is so much to like. Lilian Ladouys is a rare Saint-Estèphe where Merlot takes precedence over Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted two times.
  91 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years.
  92 points
  Jeb Dunnuck

  Delivery Information
• • 92
  • 98
  • 97
  • 96

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Lynch Bages

  Pauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $299. 00

  Bottle

  $3588.00 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Along with Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste also from Pauillac, Chateau Lynch Bages continue to rise well above their lowly ranking of Fifth Growth status. While it's true they haven't been as consistent as some of the higher classified properties, in the great years they make wines equal to anything else in the region. This is most clearly evident with legendary wines such as the 1961, 1989, 1990, and most recently the 2016.

  Plantings on the 100 hectare property are 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot , 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine is normally powerful and concentrated, but also has great complexity and is known for ageing extremely well.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Lynch Bages is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot with 13.7% alcohol and an IPT of 95, the highest ever for this property and probably one of the highest on the Left Bank this vintage. It was picked between from 27-30 September for the young vines, then the picking team stopped, restarting on 3 October with the Merlot and the Cabernets finished on 12 October. This vintage is matured in 75% new oak. It has a very concentrated, almost opaque bouquet that required some coaxing from the glass, developing floral and crushed limestone scents with time: disarmingly fresh and with stunning vivacity. The palate is concentrated and tannic, although they are not obtrusive and appear neatly embroidered into the multi-layered black fruit. This is a classic Lynch Bages with ambition and recalls vintages like 1990, a Lynch Bages built for long-term ageing. That arching backbone is counterbalanced by the keen line of acidity and a freshness that knows no bounds. There is ethereal delineation and tension on the finish, but I would give this at least ten years in bottle to enjoy this audacious Lynch Bages at its peak. Maybe the biggest surprise of the vintage, this has all the makings of a sensational wine.
  97-99 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  This flashes some sporty flavors of ripe cassis, plum and blackberry compote, but quickly pulls everything together with the terrific graphite spine. Alluring tobacco and anise notes line the finish. Delivers fruit, power and cut. A great showing.-J.M.
  96-99 points
  Wine Spectator

  This is really back-ended thanks to a powerful and almost endless finish. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with incredible concentration and length. Round and polished tannins. Layered. This unravels bit by bit. Energetic acidity gives it such superb freshness. This is at the 2010/2009 level.
  98-99 points
  James Suckling

  This wine is ripe and opulent, while still elegant. The balance is fine, showing plenty of concentration and a light touch of acidity. Black currant fruit matches the tannins and structure, making this one for the long term.
  96-98 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Lynch-Bages is deep, racy and sensual, with soft contours, silky tannins and striking juiciness in its fruit. All of the elements seem to fall into place effortlessly. Today, Lynch-Bages is unusually well put together for such a young wine. Expressive floral aromatics give the flavors lift, energy and brightness, while beams of present but well-integrated tannins extend the finish.
  92-95 points
  Vinous

  Delivery Information
• • 99
  • 99
  • 99

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Margaux

  Margaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $1299. 00

  Bottle

  $15588.00 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Chateau Margaux has an impressive history of producing the best wines of Bordeaux, with winemaking on the property dating back to the 12th century. In the 1700's Thomas Jefferson included Margaux in his list of the greatest four wines of Bordeaux, and this was later vindicated when Chateau Margaux was awarded First Growth status in the 1855 Classification.

  Traditional in style, Chateau Margaux is a wine of finesse and purity, but also one with richness and aromatic complexity, with an enviable history of cellaring potential. Vineyards are planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, while the final blend normally uses around 85% Cabernet Sauvignon.

  Other Reviews....
  Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Château Margaux (blended of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot) sashays out of the glass with glamorous red currants, candied violets, kirsch and crushed blackcurrants scents followed by notions of tilled black soil, forest floor, cast iron pan and cigar box with subtle wafts of lavender and oolong tea. Medium-bodied, mineral laced accents hover over the palate with an ethereal sensation of weightlessness, yet it is super intense with layers of red and black flavors supported by a firm texture of silt-fine tannins, finishing wonderfully fragrant and incredibly long.
  99 points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  The 2016 Château Margaux represents 28% of the entire production this year. It has an alluring, gorgeous bouquet that blossoms with aeration to reveal black cherries, veins of blue fruit, crushed violet petals and a suggestion of vanilla. The poised, mineral-driven palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin and just the right amount of salinity. The 2015 Château Margaux is ahead by a nose, but this will be a formidable first growth with a five-decade life span.
  98 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  A gorgeous, captivating bouquet gives the 2016 Margaux an irresistible allure. Weightless and yet wonderfully persistent, in the way only the château's wines can be, the 2016 Grand Vin is a wine of exceptional breeding and pedigree. So many wines in this vintage are obvious, but Margaux is a wine that takes time to discover, like a great book or piece of music. Shades of tobacco, cedar, mint, licorice and bright, red-toned fruit reveal themselves over time. And yet it is a sense of total harmony and seductiveness that elevates Margaux into the stratosphere in 2016.
  99 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  It’s very friendly and warm on the nose showing flowers, such as roses, and red fruit. But then on the palate, it lets you know how serious it is. Full-bodied, yet reserved, extremely tight and well-formed with super polished tannins that go on for minutes. A solid and typical Margaux with all the personality and beauty in strength. Try after 2027.
  99 points
  James Suckling

  Delivery Information
• • 88
  • 94
  • 90
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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Monbousquet

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $120. 00

  Bottle

  $1440.00 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Monbousquet is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 38 hectoliters per hectare at 14.46% alcohol. It was picked between 6-11 October and matured in 70% new oak, the remainder one-year-old barrels. It offers an opulent but well defined bouquet of black cherries, violets and fresh fig, a little tight initially but soon unfolding in the glass. The palate is quite rich and generous on the opening with layers of blackberry and raspberry laced with graphite and a pinch of cracked black pepper. It tapers in a little towards the finish, completing a bold and assertive Monbousquet that is likely to require four or five years in bottle in order to soften those tannins. Interestingly, the sample tasted at Pavie was a little more flamboyant than the more classically styled one that I tasted elsewhere and preferred.
  90-92 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  This is packed with fig, boysenberry and raspberry fruit flavors that keep cascading over one another while enticing anise and plum cake notes fill in throughout. Gorgeous mouthfeel, with a creamy, rounded edge, yet never giving up a generally racy and focused feel.-J.M.
  93-96 points
  Wine Spectator

  This is very layered and firm with beautiful tannins and richness. Full-bodied, tight and spicy with lovely depth. Refined and pretty.
  94-95 points
  James Suckling

  The home of Pavie owner Gerard Perse is on the Saint-Emilion plain, classified as a Grand Cru Classé in a recent re-classification of Saint-Emilion estates. This wine is richly concentrated, powered by both fruit and tannins in equal quantities. It should age well over the long term.
  93-95 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  Black cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and spice infuse the 2016 Monbousquet. Many of the wines in the Perse stable are made in a less extracted style than in the past. Monbousquet appears to be the exception. This is an especially pushed, voluptuous style.
  88-90 points
  Vinous

  Delivery Information
• • 88
  • 92
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  • 89

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Montlandrie

  Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $49. 99

  Bottle

  $599.88 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 3-17 October. It was picked at 40 hectoliters per hectare and raised in 60% new oak (although my sample was from a one-year-old barrel). It is the first vintage to include more than 80% of the vines that were planted by Denis Durantou after 2008. This has a more broody bouquet than the two Lalande-de-Pomerols, just a touch of leafiness originating from the Cabernet Sauvignon that enhances the complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure, more saline than the Les Cruzelles, backward at the moment, but the Cabernets impart some lovely graphite notes on the saline finish. Superb. Expect this to land towards the top of my banded score once in bottle.
  91-93 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Fresh and engaging, with lovely raspberry and plum fruit, backed by a pronounced minerally edge. Shows a slightly firm spine through the spice-tinged finish.-J.M.
  89-92 points
  Wine Spectator

  Very fine and polished with pretty tannins, balance and fruit. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean. All about clarity.
  92-93 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Montlandrie is powerful and bold to its core. Layers of dense, dark fruit, chocolate, lavender spice and sweet oak saturate the palate. Dense and voluptuous, this racy wine from Denis Durantou is packed and ready to deliver maximum pleasure upon release. Tasted two times.
  88-91 points
  Vinous

  Delivery Information
• • 93
  • 97
  • 97

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Montrose

  Saint Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $399. 00

  Bottle

  $4788.00 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Montrose is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc (no Petit Verdot this year) picked between 23 September to 14 October and matured in 60% new oak. It has a very sophisticated bouquet with blackberry, briary, a touch of blue fruit and violets. Sometimes this Saint Estèphe can be a little broody at en primeur, but this certainly is more expressive, maintaining very fine delineation and precision, unfolding with each swirl of the glass and revealing a hidden graphite/marine influence. The palate is very fresh on the entry. The first facet of this wine that strikes you is the freshness that lasts from start to finish. This is an animated, vivacious Montrose that starts in almost understated fashion yet builds in the mouth towards what is almost a sensual finish, not a descriptor often applied to Montrose. It is a disarmingly and hauntingly beautiful 2016, extremely long and the aftertaste lasting two or three minutes. NB This is one example where I felt my second visit, over a fortnight after the first, revealed a wine with much greater potential, and I therefore raised my banded score accordingly.
  97-99 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  A solid and tight Montrose with a linear structure of ripe tannins that gives wonderful length and energy. Full-bodied, yet reserved and toned. Stone and mineral character underneath is impressive. Beautiful center palate. The class and focus are marvelous. Better than 2015. This is what Montrose is all about.
  97-98 points
  James Suckling

  Barrel Sample. Big in tannins and fruit, this is an impressive, complete wine. Its structure and density are magnificent, as is its black fruitiness. The wine has an edge of austerity, along with dry tannins that promise considerable aging. A major performance from this estate.
  96-98 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Montrose is a wine of remarkable depth, density and power. Large-scale and ample in all dimensions, the 2016 hits the palate with a serious richness. Today, the 2016 comes across as incredibly youthful and primary. There is not much in the way of bouquet at this stage. Instead, the 2016 impresses with its power, drive and exceptionally persistent finish. It is a remarkable wine in every way, but won't be ready to drink anytime soon. Tasted two times.
  93-96 points
  Vinous

  Delivery Information
• • 90
  • 95
  • 92
  • 91

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Nenin

  Pomerol, Bordeaux,

  $155. 00

  Bottle

  $1860.00 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Nenin is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc picked from 18 September until 8 October at 37 hectoliters per hectare. For the first time, the Grand Vin includes the new selection of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from sections on the plateau that were replanted in 1999 and 2000 (last year, the 2015 included only part of the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon). It has a lifted and generous bouquet with raspberry, wild strawberry and violet aromas, just a hint of clove emerging with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin that I feel are finer than I have encountered before at this property. There is a lovely savory/bell pepper note originating from the Cabernet Franc and there is very good depth and persistence on the finish. Whilst this Nenin does not possess the detail and precision of the finest Pomerol growths in 2016, it is certainly a very strong follow-up to the 2015 and suggests that there is better to come.
  92-94 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  This is enticing, with a raspberry ganache edge around the core of bright plum and blackberry fruit. Light anise hint through the finish, which is silky in feel but keeps good energy.-J.M.
  91-94 points
  Wine Spectator

  A linear and dense wine that sneaks up on you with fantastic depth of fruit and structure. Full and racy. Shows finesse and muscle. Better than 2015?
  95-96 points
  James Suckling

  Made by the winemaking team of Léoville las Cases in Saint-Julien, this is a densely structured wine, rich in generous fruit while also having balanced acidity. Drink after 2027.
  93-95 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Nenin offers quite a bit of depth and power. Dark cherry, plum, tobacco, violet and menthol give the wine its shape and overall feel. Although the fruit is quite intense and forward, there is an attractive underpinning of tannin as well. The malolactic fermentation was done in equal parts barrique and stainless steel. In 2016 the blend is 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc.
  90-93 points
  Vinous

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• • 100
  • 98
  • 98

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Palmer

  Margaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $750. 00

  Bottle

  $9000.00 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Chateau Palmer has been one of the most consistent and highly regarded wines in Bordeaux for many years, and also one with fantastic ageing potential. Situated in Margaux and covering 66 hectares, the vineyard is planted to 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. Soils here are a mix of gravel, clay, and sand. Interestingly their greatest parcel of land that is situated just behind the Chateau was not part of the property at the time of the 1855 classification, and explains in part why Palmer was only granted Third Growth status.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Palmer is a blend of 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Opaque garnet-purple colored, it slowly glides out of the glass with compelling notes of blueberry compote, warm cassis and kirsch with emerging hints of violets, cigar box, black tea, sandalwood and Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied, wonderfully rich, concentrated and packed with latent energy, the palate literally grows in the mouth, revealing layer upon layer of black, blue and red fruits and tons of floral sparks, framed by super ripe, incredibly fine-grained tannins and finishing with epic length. It’s a wine that makes you wanna drape yourself languidly over a chaise lounge, glass of Palmer in hand, sighing with deep satisfaction, “This is so wonderfully Palmer.”
  98+ points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  Such attractive fruit and alluring ripeness that it draws you in from the get-go. The discreet power here is delivered with a very astute touch. Assorted dark-berry aromas, as well as red plums, abound on the nose. The richness and depth in the mouth is stunning. The tannins are super polished and layered and they draw pristine dark fruit flavors deep into the finish in effortless mode. This is a star of the vintage. A blend of 47 per cent merlot, 47 per cent cabernet sauvignon and six per cent petit verdot. Try from 2024.
  98 points
  James Suckling

  Technical Director Thomas Duroux and his team made one of the most brilliant wines of the 2016 vintage. Palmer is simply exceptional. Rich and dramatically sweeping in the glass, the 2016 is breathtaking. All the elements simply fall into place in a wine of mesmerizing beauty. The counterpoint of dark, sumptuous fruit and floral notes makes for an utterly compelling Palmer that will take its place among the estate's finest vintages. Dark cherry, lavender, spice and mocha are some of the many notes that build into a deep, substantial finish that is truly unforgettable. In a word: magnificent!
  100 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  The 2016 Palmer was bottled in summer 2018 and matured in 60% new oak. This year it has the same proportion of grape varieties as planted in the vineyard. The gorgeous, extremely pure and floral bouquet features intense black cherries, humidor, crème de cassis and crushed violet. It is quintessential Palmer in every way. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure and density, matched by perfectly judged acidity. Black fruit infused with pencil lead and hints of black olive gives way to a more cassis-like note toward the finish, which displays superb structure. This is a great Palmer, one from Thomas Duroux’s top drawer. 13.5% alcohol.
  97 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  Delivery Information
• • 98
  • 96
  • 98
  • 96

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Pape Clement

  Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $210. 00

  Bottle

  $2520.00 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Cellar: 10 - 12 Years (2029-2031)

  ABV: 14%

  Closure: Cork

  Named after its most famous owner, Pope Clement V, Chateau Pape Clement in Pessac Leognan makes both red and white wine from their 32.5 hectare vineyard. Vineyards for the red are planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, while the soils here are a complex mix of gravel and clay over a base of clay, limestone and sandstone. Maturation takes place in 100% new French oak, and while Bernard Magrez has refined the style since taking over winemaking duties the wines are still rich and lush in style with a concentration of ripe fruit.

  Impressively coloured the 2016 Pape Clement has an impenetrable inky black core and a very deep dark red black hue. Soaring from the glass are heady aromatics of ripe blackcurrant and liquorice tempered by hints of violets with toasty vanillin cedar, subtle graphite notes, black olive, light dried tobacco and spicy herb notes ensuing. Rich, seductive blackcurrant and liquorice fruit has a pillowy feel, underpinned by elements of cigar box, dried herbs, tobacco, subtle black olive, scorched earth, graphite and spice. Framing the opulent fruit are seamlessly integrated yet superbly structured tannins that are velvet like in their appearance. Outstanding power finishing gloriously long and finessed. This is one of the richer and more open 2016’s and will have a wide drinking window.
  Cellar 10-12 years.
  Alc. 14%

  Other Reviews....
  Blended of 60% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Pape Clement has a deep garnet-purple color and quite a serious, earthy nose with truffles, tilled soil, underbrush and smoked meats over a cassis, baked plums and redcurrants core plus a touch of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy, the palate is built like a brick house, supporting muscular black fruit and earthy notions and finishing very long and mineral laced.
  96 points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  Stunning concentration of perfectly ripe blackcurrants here with a delicate whiff of vanilla oak and extremely fine tannins that are almost perfectly integrated on the seductive and delicate palate, right through the almost literally breathtaking, super-long and very polished finish. Try from 2022.
  98 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Pape Clément bursts out of the glass, offering ripe blackberry, raspberry coulis, fresh mint and hints of licorice on the well-defined nose. It is perhaps a little more opulent than its peers, but unlike in the past, I don’t find it excessive. The palate is well balanced with supple tannin. There is a killer line of acidity and real panache toward a velvety, almost Pauillac-like finish armed with shimmering black fruit laced with graphite. Superb.
  96 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  The 2016 Pape Clément is fabulous. Racy and sumptuous in the glass, the 2016 captures the style that now characterizes Bernard Magrez's wines from his estate in Pessac. Specifically, the 2016 is wonderfully deep in the glass, and yet retains terrific freshness as well. A rush of dark cherry, plum, smoke, scorched earth, grilled herb, leather and menthol builds as the 2016 shows off its compelling, inviting personality. I would prefer to give the 2016 at least a few years in bottle to allow its full breadth of aromatics to develop. Even so, there is so much to like. Pliant, supple and super-expressive, Pape Clément is gorgeous in 2016. Tasted two times.
  96 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  Tasted on two separate occasions, the 2016 Château Pape Clément never failed to impress, offering a huge, powerful, full-bodied personality as well as beautiful notes of cassis, graphite, high-class cigar tobacco, asphalt, and graphite. About as sexy as it gets in the vintage, with silky tannins and loads of fruit, it’s perfectly balanced and has a great finish. The 2016 is a blend of 60% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, all raised in 60% new barrels.
  97 points
  Jeb Dunnuck

  Delivery Information
• • 90
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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Pedesclaux

  Pauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $99. 99

  Bottle

  $1199.88 Dozen

  Sold Out

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Pedesclaux is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, picked between 29 September and 18 October, matured in 60% new oak. It has a tightly-wound bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit, a touch of iodine and graphite. I like the subtle nature of this Pedesclaux, the brooding intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, crisp and fresh, a gorgeous salinity and a long and persistent, lightly spiced finish. This leaves the 2015 Pedesclaux far behind.
  93-95 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Ironclad grip frames a core of dark currant fruit, with flecks of tobacco and pepper chiming in on the finish. Textbook Pauillac.-J.M.
  90-93 points
  Wine Spectator

  The 2016 Pédesclaux is ripe, voluptuous and downright delicious. Although not especially complex, Pédesclaux has an immediacy that is hugely appealing. Black cherry, chocolate, smoke, mocha and licorice add to its sumptuous, racy personality. This is a wine of pure, unadulterated pleasure. The 2016 spent a whopping two months on the skins (including a 10-15 day cold soak) and will see about 50% new oak during its planned 18 months in barrel. Eric Boissenot is the consulting winemaker. Tasted two times.
  90-93 points
  Vinous

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron

  Pauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $350. 00

  Bottle

  $4200.00 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron was formed when Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville finally passed in 1850 after managing the large estate for 70 years, dividing it amongst his children. Two fifths of the estate went to his two sons and became Pichon Baron as we know it today, while three fifths went to his three daughters and became Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.

  While the 73 hectare estate is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the last two varietals are used exclusively on the second wine; Les Tourelles de Longueville. Annual production is around 18,000 cases.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot picked between 3 and 18 October at 39 hectoliters per hectare for estate (therefore the Grand Vin will be less). It is matured in 80% new oak and 20% one year old for 18 months. It has a very intense, extremely pure bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, cedar and graphite notes; it is a straight-down-the-fairway Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied with a very tensile opening, that seam of graphite penetrating the black fruit. There is a wonderful structure here, unapologetically classic in style with just the right amount of austerity on the aristocratic finish. The aftertaste is incredibly long, lingering after two or three minutes in the mouth. This is a majestic Pichon-Baron and it may well to surpass both the 2009 or 2010.
  96-98 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Has the pure, fresh, racy feel of the vintage, which is even more admirable considering the depth of the red currant, plum and cherry preserve flavors at the core and the power of the structure on the back end, pulling in accents of graphite and loam. A thumper of a Pauillac.-J.M.
  96-99 points
  Wine Spectator

  I have been waiting for this for a long time. It's a remake of the legendary 1990 Pichon Baron. Full body, ultra-polished yet powerful tannins and a glorious finish. The will evolve beautifully. The core of fruit and tannins are great. A truly great Pichon Baron.
  98-99 points
  James Suckling

  This is a sumptuous wine, its black fruit tones surrounding ripe tannins. It is generous in acidity as well as an open ripe-fruit character. It is concentrated and obviously designed to age well; drink from 2024.
  96-98 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Pichon-Longueville Baron is fabulous. In fact, the 2016 is one of the best recent Pichon-Barons I can remember tasting. Smoke, gravel, chocolate, graphite, licorice, leather, black cherry and grilled herbs open up first as the wine shows off its extraordinary aromatic palette. Like so many wines in this vintage, the 2016 delivers serious flavor intensity, but with no excess weight. The richness of the Cabernet, at 85% of the blend, is palpable, as is the quality level. Vivid and deep to the core, the wine finishes with notable density, yet retains its midweight structure.
  93-96 points
  Vinous

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  • 98
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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  Pauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $399. 00

  Bottle

  $4788.00 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is the sister property to Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron, formed upon the death of Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville in 1850. The parcel of vines we now know as Pichon Lalande were passed to the Baron's three daughters, and today is one of the most elegant wines in the Haut Medoc. This elegance should not be confused with being underweight, as the wines have enormous richness and intensity, and age extremely well.

  Plantings on the large property include a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is blended of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc aged for 18 months in 60% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, it is a little mute, slowly unfurling to reveal a core of crushed blackcurrants, blueberry compote and black raspberries with nuances of cinnamon stick, violets, star anise, menthol and pencil shavings plus a waft of fallen leaves. Medium-bodied and super intense in the mouth, the palate bursts with black fruits and savory layers, complemented by red fruit sparks and framed by fantastically ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing very long with a lingering suggestion of minerality.
  98+ points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  The 2016 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has an enthralling bouquet of tobacco-infused black fruit, shaved truffle and pencil shavings; crushed stone emerges with continued aeration. The Cabernet Sauvignon is clearly in the driving seat here, just like the 1996. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, more saline and marine-influenced than Pichon Baron, and a tad spicier toward the finish, which is one of the most impressively persistent I have ever encountered in a Pichon-Lalande, fanning out with gusto and leaving the mouth still tingling 60 seconds after it has departed. This is a benchmark for the estate, the best Nicolas Glumineau has overseen in his tenure... thus far.
  97 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  The 2016 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is every bit as regal as it has always been. Towering and spectacularly rich in the glass, the 2016 captures every ounce of potential is showed from barrel. The 2016 is a vivid, dramatically sweeping wine that will leave readers week at the knees. Beams of tannin give the 2016 soaring intensity that is matched by a host of aromas and flavors that open up in the glass. Blackberry jam, graphite, spice, menthol, licorice, pencil shavings and spice are all finely sketched in a bold, savory Pauillac that hits all the right notes. The 2016 Pichon Comtesse has been riveting on each of the four occasions I have tasted it from barrel thus far, making it easily one of the wines of the vintage. Nicolas Glumineu and his team turned out an epic Pichon Comtesse in 2016. Don't miss it!
  100 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  Glorious aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries and flowers, from violets to roses. Iron and rust undertones. Full-bodied, dense and very layered with loads of richness. It goes on for minutes. Reminds me of the 1986. Best in decades? Take a first look at it in 2025.
  98 points
  James Suckling

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Pontet Canet

  Pauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $350. 00

  Bottle

  $4200.00 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Today Chateau Pontet Canet is one of the most popular and collectable wines in all of Bordeaux, and much of this success has come from the extraordinary quality of wines made in the last two decades. While ranked as a Fifth Growth in the 1855 Classification, today the property would easily be regarded as a Second Growth as the wines often rival the best in the region. Much of the emphasis at Pontet Canet is in the vineyard, and the property has converted to 100% biodynamics as of 2005.

  The vineyard is next to Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, and is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot and 39% Merlot, less Cabernet this year because of the size of the berries. I tasted the wine on two visits to the property around two weeks apart, plus additional tastings at négoçiants. It has an intense bouquet with layers of blackberry, sloes and fresh mint, just a hint of black truffle in the background. It is certainly a little more opulent compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, a little spicier than I expected (in a positive sense) with gentle grip in the mouth. It fans out with confidence, a voluminous Pontet-Canet with an extremely persistent aftertaste, and a saline and balsamic finish. This is an extravagant Pauillac for the vintage that will age over many years.
  95-97 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Vivid and full of energy with blackberry, currant and salt. Full body, intense and long. Harmony. Purpose. Classicism. The mineral and currant character is all year. A seamless tannin texture. Great wine. You want to drink it now!
  98-99 points
  James Suckling

  This wine is so dense and concentrated, with magnificent fruit. The tannins are velvety, but, at the same time, the wine has a dry side that will allow it to age so well. Juicy blackberries and great tannins work in harmony. The estate is in its seventh vintage certified biodynamic.
  97-99 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Pontet-Canet has been absolutely brilliant on the three occasions I've tasted it so far. Exotically ripe, powerful and voluptuous, it brings together the richness of the 2009 with the structure of the 2010. There aren't too many other 2016s where that is the case, but it is undoubtedly true here. The 2016 is a spectacular wine by any measure, while Pontet-Canet confirms its rarefied place as a true original in Bordeaux. Technical director Jean-Michel Comme added that Cabernet Sauvignon plays a slightly lesser role in the blend because the berries had less juice than normal at harvest. Comme also bumped up the new oak slightly, to 55 percent. The rest of the wine was aged in neutral oak (10 percent) and amphora (35 percent). In a word: Superb. Tasted three times.
  96-99 points
  Vinous

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  • 91
  • 91
  • 88

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Poujeaux

  Moulis en Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $69. 99

  Bottle

  $839.88 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Poujeaux has an impressive bouquet with plenty of blackberry, briary and cigar box aromas that are very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin on the entry. This is a "smoky" Poujeaux with commendable depth and structure, a little more "solid" than recent vintages with good depth on the black pepper-tinged finish. The 2015 Poujeaux was very good, but this may well surpass that and achieve the level of some of the legendary wines from yesteryear.
  91-93 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Supple-edged, with pretty notes of fresh earth, mulled plum and incense weaving together, showing subtle persistence on the finish.-J.M.
  88-91 points
  Wine Spectator

  A red with a tight palate of dark fruit and spices plus chewy tannins. Medium body, integrated tannins already and a chewy finish. Solid.
  91-92 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Poujeaux is fabulous. Rich, deep and beautifully layered, it has a level of pure intensity I don't recall seeing in the past. Succulent red/bluish fruit and silky tannins add to the wine's considerable finesse. Racy and succulent to the core, yet still very much medium in body, the 2016 delivers the goods. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. This is a terrific showing from the Cuvelier family and winemakers Stéphane Derenoncourt and Julien Lavenu. Don't miss it. Tasted two times.
  88-90 points
  Vinous

  Delivery Information
• • 90
  • 90
  • 86

  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Puygueraud Blanc

  Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $24. 99

  Bottle

  $299.88 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Puygueraud Blanc is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sauvignon Gris. It offers simple pear and peach skin aromas on the nose, not intense, clean if not complex. The palate is sharp on the entry with a twist of sour lemon. There is moderate depth with a little waxiness towards the finish, although I found myself wanting more Sauvignon Gris à la 2015. Drink over the next three or four years.
  86-88 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  A rich and juicy white with sliced-mango and cooked-apple character. Medium to full body and a delicious finish.
  90-91 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Puygueraud Blanc is gorgeous. In a vintage in which so many whites veer toward the richer side, it has maintained gorgeous freshness and vivacity. Lemon peel, white flowers, sage, stone fruit, pear and a host of Sauvignon Blanc-driven varietal notes run though this deeply expressive, chiseled white. I tasted the 2016 from tank just prior to bottling. In 2016, the winemaking team bumped up the Sauvignon Blanc and decreased the Sauvignon Gris to keep as much freshness as possible.
  90-91 points
  Vinous

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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Chateau Raymond Lafon (375ml)

  Sauternes, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $42. 99

  Bottle

  $515.88 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Raymond-Lafon felt rather lean on the nose and needs more botrytis to come through. The palate is taut on the entry with pleasant marmalade and nectarine notes, although I would be seeking a little more complexity and botrytis to come through once this Sauternes is in bottle.
  90-92 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Tasty tangerine and apricot notes form the core, with flashes of peach and melon on the finish.-J.M.
  90-93 points
  Wine Spectator

  This is without doubt one of the most precise and concentrated Sauternes on the nose this year. The 2015 perhaps showed a little more freshness, but this is beautifully rich, majoring on gorgeous bitter orange flavours. The salinity on the finish slices right through. 3.75pH and 124g/l residual sugar.
  93 points
  Decanter

  This is full of ripe fruit notes, with layers of botrytis giving it a dry core. The acidity balances the generous honey and apricot flavors, resulting in a delicious experience.
  93-95 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  Gracious and lifted, Raymond-Lafon is one of the more ethereal Sauternes readers will come across in 2016. Pear, apple, chamomile, lemon confit and lightly honeyed tones all develop in the glass. Overall, the 2016 is bright and delicate in style.
  90-93 points
  Vinous

   

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  2016 Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $69. 99

  Bottle

  $839.88 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  Linear and very long with a magnificent ripeness of fruit and a character defined by stones, berries and light chocolate. All there. Find it. Insider's wine.
  94-95 points
  James Suckling

  From a small 5.5-hectare vineyard between La Gaffelière and Pavie, the 2016 Saint-Georges (Côte Pavie) is one of the most intriguing wines I tasted this year. There is noticeable depth and texture to the red cherry and plum fruit, along with good aromatic lift from the floral, spiced notes that develop in the glass. In their first vintage working at the property, winemakers Stéphane Derenoncourt and Hannah Fiegenschuh opted for some whole clusters in fermentation and a hands-on approach to winemaking, with manual pumpovers and punchdowns. It will be interesting to see how things develop here. There certainly appears to be quite a bit of potential. The wine is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.
  88-91 points
  Vinous

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  2016 Chateau Sanctus

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $54. 99

  Bottle

  $659.88 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  Fruit-driven style, with alluring cassis and raspberry purée flavors that glide along, carried by well-integrated acidity. Polished feel, but this has noticeable energy too, with lively black tea and spice on the finish.- J.M.
  89-92 points
  Wine Spectator

  A dense and rich red with lots of fruit and tannins. Full, flavorful and ever so long.
  92-93 points
  James Suckling

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• • 93
  • 92
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  2016 Chateau Serilhan

  Sainte Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $39. 99

  Bottle

  $479.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2019-2025)

  ABV: 14%

  Closure: Cork

  Very deep black dark red core with a dark red hue. Slightly reticent at first, aromas of blackcurrant, a hint of liquorice and ripe mulberry gradually evolve from the glass and build in intensity. Ensuing are subtle scorched earth, vanillin cedar and spice. Medium bodied the palate is quite forward approachable revealing rich ripe blackcurrant and subtle liquorice fruit over mulberry, vanillin cedar, light earth and spice. Good acid structure with cleverly concealed tannins. Excellent length with a savoury, medium to long, red to dark fruit laced finish.
  Drink over the next 5-6 years.
  Alc. 14%

  Other Reviews…
  The 2016 Sérilhan has a wonderful, quite high-toned and generous bouquet with ample blackberry and raspberry scents laced with violet and hints of iodine. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip in the mouth, quite symmetrical and focused with impressive precision on the finish. This feels dialed back in terms of power to the benefit of this elegant Saint-Estèphe. Tasted at the Cru Bourgeois tasting in London. Drink 2019-2034.
  92 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  Layered and very intense with dark-fruit and spice character. Hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, juicy and fruity. Long finish. Best ever from here?
  92-93 points
  James Suckling

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• • 88
  • 93
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  2016 Chateau Sociando-Mallet

  Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $84. 99

  Bottle

  $1019.88 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Sociando-Mallet has a refulgent purple/black color. It has a very intense and rich, you might say "ambitious" bouquet with layers of small black cherries, blueberry and a touch of sloes, less tertiary than previous vintages and certainly more opulent. The palate is medium-bodied with juicy ripe tannin that almost disguise the firm structure underneath. I admire the completeness of this Sociando-Mallet, the neatly embroidered new oak and the freshness on the finish. The 2015 Sociando-Mallet did not fire on all cylinders last year, but this 2016 is totally convincing. It comes highly recommended as one of the best wines produced at this estate in the northern Médoc. This is an outstanding wine from Mon. Gartreau.
  92-94 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Tight and chewy yet polished and beautiful. Medium to full body, a pretty core of fruit within the center palate and a flavorful finish. Better than 2015 and on the same level as the excellent 2014.
  93-94 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Sociando Mallet is endowed with remarkable density and pure power, but it will be a number of years before the 2016 is ready to show all it's got. Today, the wine's sheer luxuriousness is remarkable. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice and leather are all pushed forward. This is an especially concentrated, powerful vintage for Sociando, perhaps too much, but the wine's exotic beauty is, in my view, irresistible. Tasted two times.
  88-91 points
  Vinous

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  2016 Chateau Soudars

  Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $36. 99

  Bottle

  $443.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2024-2025)

  ABV: 13.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Lifted ripe blackcurrant scents intermix with hints of liquorice and black olive followed by earthy vanillin cedar, subtle tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. The elegant medium bodied palate has a refined flavour profile of spicy red to black currant, earthy cedar, light tobacco characters and spice supported by balanced fresh acidity and slightly dryish but fine grained tannins. Concludes with plenty of finesse on the medium to long finish.
  Cellar 5-6 years.
  Alc. 13.5%

  Other Reviews…..
  A focused and tight Haut-Médoc with blackberry, currant and stone aromas that follow through to a full body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. One of the best in a long time. A blend of 50 per cent merlot, 49 per cent cabernet sauvignon and one per cent cabernet franc. Drink after 2021.
  93 points
  JamesSuckling.com

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• • 94
  • 96
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  2016 Chateau Troplong Mondot

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $299. 00

  Bottle

  $3588.00 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Troplong-Mondot is a blend of 89% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc cropped at 48 hectoliters per hectare between 3-27 October, matured in 77% new oak. It has a decadent bouquet that seems to carry more alcohol than its peers, very pure and floral and miraculously managing to maintain satisfying delineation. The palate is underpinned by enormous tannins! This is a massive Troplong Mondot that is very dense and sinewy, a bit of a "bruiser" in its infancy. It exerts a vice-like grip in the mouth with layers of fruit laced with black pepper on the prolonged finish. What's the Spinal Tap quote about turning everything up to eleven? This is a Saint Emilion that will either transform into a legend or will topple over by the sheer weight of the tannins, which is why I gave a slightly enlarged banded score. I'll be fascinated to re-taste this in bottle.
  93-96 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Beautifully pure and expressive, with creamy-textured cassis, raspberry and boysenberry puree notes streaming through, gilded by a violet note and backed by refined minerality on the finish. There's a backdrop of alluring spice-infused toast, but the fruit takes center stage here.-J.M.
  94-97 points
  Wine Spectator

  Tar and blackberries here on the palate with very polished tannins and dense, beautiful fruit. Tight and centered. Wow. Can it be better than the 2015? We will see.
  96-97 points
  James Suckling

  In a style that this estate has made its own, this is a lush, superripe wine. There is a sense of high alcohol, although the fruit and the tannins are so generous that all is forgiven. An immensely rich wine, it should have a long cellaring future.
  96-98 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Troplong Mondot is one of the most intense, primary wines I tasted this year. At this early stage, the 2016 tastes like it was just drained from tank, as the flavors and textures are remarkably intense. The malos are not fully finished, which is quite normal here. Even so, the purity of the flavors is striking. Plush, sensual and inviting, the 2016 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Super-ripe dark purplish fruit, chocolate, new leather and spice overtones build into the huge, dramatic finish. As always, Troplong Mondot is one of the most flamboyant Saint-Émilions readers will come across. Macerations lasted between 21 and 35 days, with a portion of the wine vinified in 600-liter barrels. Jean-Philippe Fort is the consultant. Tasted three times.
  94-97 points
  Vinous

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  2016 Chateau Verdignan

  Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $34. 99

  Bottle

  $419.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2024-2025)

  ABV: 13%

  Closure: Cork

  Totally opaque black dark red colour with a bright dark red black tinged hue. Elevated aromas of ripe red and black currants subtlety tinged with liquorice intermix with earthy tobacco characters, dusty cedar and spicy fresh herb notes. Elegant and structured in its feel there’s an attractive earthiness to the red and black currant fruit on the medium bodied palate. Cedary tobacco elements, subtle dried herbs and spice are also evident. Dryish finish with slightly chalky tannins and bright acidity leading into a chewy medium to long aftertaste.
  Cellar 5-6 years.
  Alc. 13%

  Other Reviews…..
  Blueberry, blackcurrant and floral aromas follow through to a medium body and firm, chewy tannins. A blend of 70 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 25 per cent merlot and five per cent cabernet franc. Needs a year or two to soften. Better after 2020.
  92 points
  JamesSuckling.com

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• • 91
  • 94
  • 91
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  • Nick's Import

  2016 Clos de l'Oratoire

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $94. 99

  Bottle

  $1139.88 Dozen

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  The 2016 Clos de l'Oratoire is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that was picked between 10-17 October and matured in 45% new oak. It has a fresh, perfumed and floral bouquet, with pressed rose petals infusing the red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit. There is a sense of airiness here that I like. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, slightly grainy tannin, hints of tobacco and leather complementing the black fruit with a welcome soupçon of austerity towards the masculine finish. Excellent.
  91-93 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Pure and unadorned, with a lovely beam of cassis and cherry compote stretching out, flecked by subtle anise, singed alder and mineral accents. Refined finish.-J.M.
  92-95 points
  Wine Spectator

  Lovely silky tannins and juicy fruit. Medium body and pretty energy. Lots of walnut, crushed-stone and subtle fruit flavors. Very fine.
  94-95 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Clos de l'Oratoire is terrific. Deep, dense and powerful, with more finesse in its tannins than is often the case, the 2016 boasts superb balance. Black cherry, smoke, tar, licorice and incense add to its rich, exotic personality. Plush and unusually supple, this is a real knockout. The tannins are there, but they are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. The 2016 is shaping up to be a superb Clos de l'Oratoire. Tasted three times.
  91-94 points
  Vinous

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  2016 Clos de l'Oratoire (375ml)

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $49. 99

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  $599.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 14.5%

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Clos de l'Oratoire is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that was picked between 10-17 October and matured in 45% new oak. It has a fresh, perfumed and floral bouquet, with pressed rose petals infusing the red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit. There is a sense of airiness here that I like. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, slightly grainy tannin, hints of tobacco and leather complementing the black fruit with a welcome soupçon of austerity towards the masculine finish. Excellent.
  91-93 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Pure and unadorned, with a lovely beam of cassis and cherry compote stretching out, flecked by subtle anise, singed alder and mineral accents. Refined finish.-J.M.
  92-95 points
  Wine Spectator

  Lovely silky tannins and juicy fruit. Medium body and pretty energy. Lots of walnut, crushed-stone and subtle fruit flavors. Very fine.
  94-95 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Clos de l'Oratoire is terrific. Deep, dense and powerful, with more finesse in its tannins than is often the case, the 2016 boasts superb balance. Black cherry, smoke, tar, licorice and incense add to its rich, exotic personality. Plush and unusually supple, this is a real knockout. The tannins are there, but they are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. The 2016 is shaping up to be a superb Clos de l'Oratoire. Tasted three times.
  91-94 points
  Vinous

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  2016 Clos Fourtet

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $270. 00

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  $3240.00 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Clos Fourtet is a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc aged in 60% new oak. It has a generous, well defined licorice-tinged fruit that is very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, blackberry and boysenberry fruit with that salted licorice theme continuing. This Clos Fourtet has impressive concentration, yet there is real elegance and persistence, fanning out wonderfully towards the finish. Mathieu Cuvelier has overseen another outstanding Clos Fourtet. Tasted twice, with a second bottle demonstrating a tad more backbone but equally admirable.
  95-97 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Gorgeous from the get-go, with plum sauce, cassis and violet notes streaming through, showing ample richness yet relying more on cut, while anise, black tea and chalky mineral flavors persist on the finish. A beauty in the making.-J.M.
  96-99 points
  Wine Spectator

  This is a solid and structured 2016 with fabulous density and freshness. Full-bodied yet vibrant and exciting. Wow. We will see.
  95-96 points
  James Suckling

  This wine is full of ripe fruit, starting on the nose and following through to the structured palate. It's an imposing wine from an estate that seems at the top of its form. It should age well for many years.
  95-97 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  Vivid, creamy, ample and explosive in all of its dimensions, the 2016 Clos Fourtet maintains striking aromatic freshness and tension despite its intensity. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. The final blend is 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. The 2016 spent about four weeks on the skins. New oak is around 60 percent. This is a superb showing from an estate that has been on a roll. Tasted three times.
  93-96 points
  Vinous

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  2016 Clos Haut Peyraguey (375ml)

  Sauternes, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $39. 99

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  $479.88 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  This is ripe, with enticing mango, papaya and peach notes carried by a creamy texture through a hazelnut cream-accented finish. Showy.-J.M.
  92-95 points
  Wine Spectator

  This is really spicy and rich with lots of dried-pineapple and honey character. Full-bodied, oily and flavorful. Really captures your attention. Better than the 2015.
  94-95 points
  James Suckling

  This dense wine is poised between rich botrytized fruit and fresh acidity. The structure of the wine and the dry core certainly suggest the potential for it to age well.
  93-95 points
  Wine Enthusiast

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  2016 Croix de Ducru-Beaucaillou

  Saint Julien, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $110. 00

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  $1320.00 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 La Croix de Beaucaillou is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot that is matured in 60% new oak for 12 months and the remainder in one-year-old barrels. It has quite a rich and opulent bouquet, quite glossy with scents of kirsch, crushed strawberry, crème de cassis and a touch of vanilla. The palate is medium-bodied with quite sumptuous tannin counterbalance but a keen thread of acidity (the pH is 3.65). There is great tension here, immense purity with quite a structured, almost flinty finish that is classic in style. Though it is a Deuxième Vin, it deserves several years in bottle.
  92-94 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  This is lovely from the get-go, with notes of warm ganache and incense in front of a core of alluring crushed blueberry, açai and cassis flavors. Polished and suave on the finish.-J.M.
  91-94 points
  Wine Spectator

  This is very tight and focused with blackberries, blackcurrants and licorice. Lots of crushed stones, too. Full-bodied, tightly wound and pretty. Exciting second wine from Ducru.
  94-95 points
  James Suckling

  This is a firm, dark wine, with dense tannins. It is well balanced, having the ripe fruit that is the hallmark of this vintage. It comes from a single parcel of Ducru-Beaucaillou vineyards. It is likely to age over the long term while showing attractive fruit at an early stage.
  94-96 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is a wine of pure sensuality. Silky tannins, soft contours and deeply spiced flavors inform this racy, supple Saint-Julien from proprietor Bruno Borie. A gracious yet dense wine, the 2016 will drink well with minimal cellaring. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off the 2016. It is a wine of pure and total pleasure. Tasted two times.
  90-92+ points
  Vinous

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  2016 Echo de Lynch Bages

  Pauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $94. 99

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  $1139.88 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Echo de Lynch Bages is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, representing about one-third of the total production. It has a clean and precise bouquet, very polished and developing crushed violet scents with time. The palate is medium-bodied with quite crunchy, firm tannin on the entry. Quite saline in the mouth, masculine and grippy with just a little toughness on the finish that should mellow by the time of bottling. Best give this Deuxième Vin a couple of years in bottle if you can.
  89-91 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Shows a slightly dusty edge, but the core of fruit bursts with friendly cassis and cherry compote flavors. Cedar and singed vanilla accents score the finish.-J.M.
  90-93 points
  Wine Spectator

  The second wine of Lynch is linear and tight with beautiful blackberry and currant character. Medium to full body, firm tannins and an energetic finish. Super concentrated on the center palate.
  93-94 points
  James Suckling

  The 2016 Echo de Lynch Bages offers lovely intensity in its bold, forward fruit. Sweet dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol infuse this deep, racy Pauillac. Sumptuous and resonant on the palate, the 2016 will drink nicely right out of the gate. Today, the primary fruit is super-expressive.
  89-92 points
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  2016 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion

  Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $210. 00

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  $2520.00 Dozen

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  The 2016 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion is a blend of 36.5% Merlot, 21.5% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon picked from 19 September to 14 October. Matured in 23% new oak, it has a very succinct bouquet with tensile black cherry and pressed flower aromas, subtle at first but soon gaining intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very precise and focused with razor-sharp definition. This is one of the most sophisticated La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion releases that I have tasted from barrel and it bodes well for the future. I expect this will nudge past the 2015 once in bottle. Let's see!
  91-93 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  Minerals and blueberries with plenty of blackcurrant character. Medium body and silky tannins. Pretty second wine of La Mission.
  92-93 points
  James Suckling

  While this wine has great tannins, it is the fruit that makes it-black currant, blackberry and acidity all come together in great balance. This will age quickly over the next 10 years.
  93-95 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion is a striking second wine. Medium in body, but certainly not lacking in depth, the 2016 speaks to balance and feel above all else. Gravel and floral notes lead into a core of intense dark red cherry/raspberry fruit, licorice and dried flowers. There is wonderful depth and density here, but also a refreshing sense of grace.
  90-93 points
  Vinous

  
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  2016 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion

  Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $310. 00

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  $3720.00 Dozen

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  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a blend of 51.3% Merlot, 13.1% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2.6% Petit Verdot. It has a little more fruité compared to the La Chapelle de la Mission Haut Brion, yet not quite the same mineral tension or complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple black fruit, a fine line of acidity and gentle grip, but I would be seeking a little more personality and depth towards the finish. That said, it does have commendable freshness, but my money would be on the La Chapelle this year.
  89-91 points
  Neal Martin eRobertParker.com #230 (Apr 2017)

  This is powerful and intense with lots of minerals, crushed stones and dark fruit. Dense and linear. Minerally and very energetic.
  94-95 points
  James Suckling

  This second wine of Haut-Brion is structured and firm in tannins, with a dry core. By contrast, the wine also has great acidity and black currant fruitiness. It shows the structure that comes from this great vineyard.
  93-95 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is a dense, powerful wine. I have no doubt that at other times in Bordeaux's history, the 2016 Clarence could have passed for Grand Vin in terms of its quality. Gravel, woodsmoke, tobacco, incense and dried flowers infuse a core of dark red stone fruits in this powerful, voluptuous second wine from Haut-Brion. This is a tremendous showing.
  91-94 points
  Vinous

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  2016 Petit Figeac

  Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $115. 00

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  $1380.00 Dozen

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  This has a fun core of blackberry and black currant fruit, picking up light spearmint and anise notes along the way. Twinge of apple wood on the finish.-J.M.
  89-92 points
  Wine Spectator

  Refined and very pretty with chocolate, berries and hints of cedar. Medium body, very fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Very well done. Second wine of Figeac.
  92-93 points
  James Suckling

  The density of this wine is impressive. Powered by its velvety tannins and ample acidity, ripe black fruits thrust forward to offer both richness and intensity. The crisp, black currant flavor on the finish lifts the whole wine.
  93-95 points
  Wine Enthusiast

  The 2016 Petit-Figeac is dark, supple and inviting, with lovely midpalate depth and creaminess. It is exactly what a second wine should be: an introduction to the house style. In 2016, Petit-Figeac has more Cabernet Franc than is often the case, and this, along with the personality of the vintage, gives the wine vibrancy, freshness and energy. Very nicely done. Tasted two times.
  90-92 points
  Vinous

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  2016 Vieux Chateau Certan

  Pomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE

  $599. 00

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  $7188.00 Dozen

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  Vieux Chateau Certan is regarded as one of the finest estates in Pomerol, and given their neighbours include Petrus, Lafleur, Certan de May, and l'Evangile, this is no surprise. Much of the vineyard is planted on the clay and gravel plateau of Pomerol, with the mix of grapes being 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2016 Vieux Château Certan is blended of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with pristine, vivid notions of candied violets, chocolate-covered cherries, blackberry compote and mulberries with fragrant touches of raspberry leaves, crushed rocks, licorice, cumin seed and yeast extract plus a waft of red roses. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully elegant, the palate builds from a quiet intensity to an incredibly well-sustained aria of crunchy red and black cherries notes plus tons of floral undertones, framed by exquisitely soft yet firm tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long with lingering mineral and floral sparks. How does this 2016 compare to the also amazing 2015 vintage? Stylistically they are very different, as my notes on each should convey, but beyond this I am struck by the incredible harmony and seamlessness of the 2016 along with its amazing depth and energy this year. Bravo!
  100 points
  Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

  The 2016 Vieux Château Certan is the first vintage to be entirely bottled by the estate’s own bottling machine (just in case that ever comes up in a wine quiz). Alexandre Thienpont mentioned that he assiduously left out the stressed vines, and he places this above his more hedonistic 2015. The wine takes a few minutes to open in the glass, but boy, is it worth the wait: it reveals pixelated red fruit (crushed strawberry and raspberry) and crushed stone, plus a hint of graphite emanating from the Cabernets. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly chalky tannin that frames pure black and red fruit infused with graphite and almost flint-like notes. This is one of the most mineral-driven VCCs that I have encountered in over 20 years, with dizzying precision on the finish. A very intellectual Pomerol, in the realm of the profound.
  100 points
  Neal Martin - Vinous

  I have been fortunate to follow the 2016 Vieux Château Certan almost from the beginning, starting with a tasting of several lots from barrel in early January 2017, in which Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont showed me the wines in a sequence arranged by the year of planting of various parcels. Even then, it was clear, the 2016 had the potential to be a majestic wine. Now, from bottle, it is every bit as captivating as early tastings suggested it would be. Sweet red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, rose petal and spice infuse this exquisitely beautiful, layered Pomerol. Alexandre Thienpont adds that the harvest was saved by September rains that gave the parched vines just enough water to restore some of the balance that had been lost earlier in the season. Put simply, the 2016 VCC has it all.
  100 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  The ripeness in this wine is incredibly balanced and perfect with plum and orange-peel character, buttressed by the ripe seeds of the grapes that give a hazelnut and coffee undertone. Turns to violets. Full body with firm and very sexy tannins that are perfectly balanced and polished. Some chocolate and dried black tea-leaf character in the aftertaste. Wonderful finish. Needs five to six years to soften, but already a joy to experience. Try after 2025.
  99 points
  James Suckling

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