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2018 Castello dei Rampolla d'Alceo IGT Rosso ToscanaTuscany, ITALY$290. 00Bottle$3480.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkCastello dei Rampolla is located in Panzano’s famous Conca d’Oro or ‘golden basin” district, an amphitheater of striking, pristine hillside vineyards in Tuscany. The di Napoli family has owned Rampolla since 1739, and Alceo di Napoli inherited the estate in 1965. At the time, Rampolla was essentially a summer residence. Wheat, olive trees and other mixed crops were cultivated, but there were no vineyards. With the assistance of Piero Antinori amongst others, Alceo began making and bottling wines under the Rampollo label in 1975. Rampolla are now a reference point for the highest level of quality that does not fit into Chianti Classico or Brunello for Tuscany.
Alceo di Napoli dreamt of planting high-density vineyards with Bordeaux varieties, something that was unheard of in Chianti Classico at the time. In 1988, di Napoli started clearing the land, which at the time was planted with olive trees and housed the property’s stables. Importantly, this land had never been farmed for grapes before, so it was virgin land. The first terraces were planted with Cabernet Sauvignon in 1990. Petit Verdot followed in 1991 and 1992. Sadly, Alceo di Napoli passed away in 1991, but his children Luca and Maurizia stepped-in to run the family estate. In 1994, Rampolla converted to biodynamic farming, the d’Alceo plots have essentially been farmed biodynamically since the beginning, as they had no real previous history to speak of, nor conventional farming regime from which to adjust. Today, d’Alceo is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. The first vintages spent about 18 months in French oak barrels. Since 2007, d’Alceo spends 10-12 months in barrel, with only 10-15% new barrels, a decision Rampolla took to preserve more freshness and reduce the flavor impact of oak.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 d'Alceo is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), with Petit Verdot (15%) in a supporting role. The wine reveals an inky dark appearance with dried blackberry, rum cake, succulent blackberry and syrupy kirsch. There is a good amount of fruit weight to carry the wine over the palate, but the quality of the fruit is superb; and the finish is finely textured and silky despite the robust aromas. It is powerful, yet weightless at the same time. That in itself is something of a small miracle. Fruit is sourced from across a six-hectare vineyard with south and southeast exposures. Production is 11,028 bottles and 100 magnums. Drink 2025 - 2048.
97 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Feb 10, 2023)The 2018 D'Alceo is a wild, exotic wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot come together in a wine that is sumptuous, layered and exceptionally beautiful. Inky blue/purplish fruit, sage, mint, lavender and chocolate are some of the many notes that take shape. The 2018 was fermented in cement then aged 12 months in a combination of 500L tonneaux and barriques. This really blooms with time. Drink 2028-2058.
99 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousLots of blackcurrant and blackberry aromas follow through to a full body with firm tannins and a chewy finish. Lots of black licorice, aniseed and light asphalt. Lead pencil, too. Try after 2025.
96 points
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2022 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte BlancPessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
It appears likely that the 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc will overtake its 2019 counterpart as one of the most successful white wines this estate has produced to date, something that's especially impressive in the context of the vintage. Exhibiting aromas of linden, menthol, crisp orchard fruit and smoke, it’s medium to full-bodied, fleshy and crystalline, with racy acids and an unctuos mid-palate. Chalky structuring dry extract makes its presence felt on the long, mineral finish. This is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris.
93-95+ points
Yohan Castaing - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is airy, weightless and gracious. Citrus confit, mint, white pepper and tangerine oil and a kiss of French oak are all beautifully lifted. There’s lovely richness and texture but without the opulence of most warm, dry years. The 2022 will be a gorgeous wine at the dinner table. Drink 2025-2037.
94-96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThis zooms over the palate from the minute you taste it with energetic acidity, grapefruit, pear, lemon and white peach character. Dried, candied lemon. Crushed stone, too. Medium-bodied with polish and class. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon and 5% sauvignon gris.
97-98 points
James SucklingThe flagship 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a normal blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% each of Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon. Aged in 55% new French oak, it shines in the vintage and brings plenty of classic richness and depth while at the same time staying pure, clean, and balanced. Honeyed lemon, orange blossom, white flowers, and crushed stone all define the aromatics, and it has a beautiful mouthfeel that certainly brings the richness and depth of the vintage. This is another gem of a white from this incredible château.
95-97 points
Jeb DunnuckLovely perfumed notes, floral, intensely fruity with vanilla, elderflower, green apple, pear, peach and white blossom, expressive and aromatic. Succulent and juicy straight away, a real hit of citrus juice, sharp and intense, so lively and yet the texture is quite filling giving a well balanced mouthfeel. Calm but layered, you feel the precision of each aspect, the soft toasted notes, bitter grapefruit and lemon peel, crisp green apple and mineral salinity - each is carefully presented. It’s rich and has concentration but keeps the focus delivering a supremely drinkable and nuanced wine. I love the mineral tang and long length. You get the feeling of a large, warm vintage but the acidity and focus is there, so it doesn't end heavy. Lots to like here and one of the best whites of 2022. 3.2pH. Drink 2023 - 2037.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterHoneysuckle, lemon rind, spice, crushed rocks, white peach, tangerine and vanilla deliver the complex aromatics. Fresh and creamy, with layers of sweet, yellow citrus, pineapple, and a breath of herbs on the backend, the wine shows promise. This is going to be simply fabulous on release. The harvest took place August 18 - September 2. The wine blends 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, and 5% Sauvignon Gris. ABV %14.5. Drink from 2025-2035.
95 points
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2022 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte BlancPessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
A blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon, the 2022 Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc is a solid effort, exhibiting aromas of peach, pear and smoke with flinty notes. Medium-bodied, charming and fleshy, it has racy acids, a delicate tannic sensation and a long, delicate core of fruit (lemon oil) with a penetrating finish.
91-93 points
Yohan Castaing - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc is a jewel of wine. Bright, focused and finely cut, the 2022 bristles with energy and tension. The blend is 80% Sauvignon and 20% Sémillon, done in a style that is all about energy. Citrus peel, almond, chamomile, dried flowers and herbs all race through to the finish. Drink 2025-2032.
92-94 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousPretty apples, pears and lemons with crushed stone. Medium to full body. Creamy texture. Bright and lively acidity at the end. 80% sauvignon blanc and 20% semillon.
94-95 points
James SucklingI always seem to prefer this cuvée over the Les Hauts de Smith Blanc, and the 2022 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a solid step up. A blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon, it has beautiful melon, honeyed citrus, and floral aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, vibrant, yet still concentrated, balanced white that should have a decade of longevity.
92-94 points
Jeb DunnuckCreamy rich, lightly honeyed lemon and lime on the nose with peach and pear and floral scents. Round and ripe with a soft juiciness in the middle accented by a touch of sweet and sharp citrus and orchard fruit with a weighty, creamy, fatness at the end. A more gourmet take with an enjoyable unctuous element and general weight. Gentle, confident, rich but maintains definition, balance and focus. Compelling with a cool wet stone minerality on the finish that is so moreish. This will continue to age well and change with the Semillon taking on more body. 3.2pH. 50% new barrels. Drink 2023 - 2028.
93 points
Georgina Hindle - Decanter -
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2022 Chateau Beausejour (J. Duffau-Lagarrosse)Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$425. 00Bottle$5100.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2022 Beauséjour (Duffau Lagarrosse) promises to be the finest wine that this superb limestone terroir has produced in at least several decades. In recent years, the quality of the site always shone through, but it was sometimes obscured by an impactful vinification and élevage (plenty of creamy new oak and malolactic fermentation in barrel). Much of the estate's Cabernet Franc was frequently eliminated from the blend. Joséphine Duffau Lagarrosse has changed that, incorporating fully 31% Cabernet Franc in the blend to deliver a complex and compelling wine evocative of wild berries, plums, rose petals and violets. Medium to full-bodied, pure and vibrant, it's supple and layered, with beautifully refined tannins, terrific depth at the core and a long, chalky finish.
95-97+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse was picked on 6-9 September for the Merlot and 23 for the Cabernet Franc, representing the highest percentage to date. It was cropped at 42hL/ha with 14.9% alcohol and a pH of 3.5. Aged in 68% new oak, it has a delicate nose that completely disguises that summer's warmth. Precise redcurrant and raspberry fruit aromas are laced with minerals. The limestone soils percolate and evince the estate's style under Joséphine Duffau Lagarrosse. It seems to deepen, to "stretch out" with aeration, manifesting more darker fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, mineral-driven and almost pastille-like in terms of purity with its mélange of red and blue fruit and granular texture. Background notes of tobacco and black truffle begin to surface with time. There's just a trace of white pepper on the finish. Precise, focused and with plenty of substance, this is a characterful and intellectually satisfying Duffau. Most importantly, not only will it be flippin' delicious, but you get the sense that Joséphine is only just getting started. Drink 2030-2065.
95-97 points
Neal Martin - VinousA beautiful and enticing red with blackberry, hazelnut, dried flower, spice and berry character. It’s full yet poised with finesse and richness while also being bright and energetic. Precise.
97-98 points
James SucklingThe 2022 Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) looks to be another brilliant wine from this incredible terroir located just outside the village of Saint-Emilion. Based on 69% Merlot and 31% Cabernet Franc resting in 68% new oak, it sports a dense purple hue as well as a floral, intense bouquet of cassis, liquid violets, black cherries, truffly earth, and graphite. Hitting 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.5, it's full-bodied and has a pure, layered, opulent mouthfeel and just about perfect tannins. There's a little bit more clay in the soils at this estate (there's still plenty of limestone) which gives the wines plenty of power and richness, and the 2022 holds onto a beautiful sense of elegance.
96-98+ points
Jeb DunnuckOne of the clear standouts of the vintage! A sensual, fun, salivating and sublime wine from winemaker Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse that manages to give such generosity, power, terroir markers and overall drinkability. Aromatic, scented, open and expressive with cherries, blackcurrants, purple flowers and crushed stones. Sleek and supple, sharp, tangy acidity and concentrated ripe fruit - it’s forward and intense, direct but defined and detailed. Fine and supportive tannins have bite and a mineral tang putting you squarely in St-Emilion on limestone. Raw and wild in a way, but so expressive and open - honest and just such a captivating wine that belies the heat of the vintage with its cool menthol, blue fruits and lifted finish. Streamlined and focussed, sustained, determined and characterful - sleek in the best way, this is confident but not showy. Succulent, classy, polished. A brilliant wine. 3.5pH. A yield of 42hl/ha. Harvest 6 - 9 September for Merlot and 23 September for Cabernet Franc. Julien Viaud and Axel Marchal consultants. Drink 2026 - 2048.
98-100 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterFlowers, black raspberries, crushed rocks, saffron, cloves, licorice, and plum liqueur create the nose. Elegant, silky, and fresh, there is intensity along with a haunting sense of purity to the fruits. The wine is perfectly balanced between power, and refinement, which you can easily taste and feel in its layers of ripe, sweet, sensuously-textured fruits. The seamless, mineral-packed finish crosses the 50 second mark with ease. The wine blends 69% Merlot with 31% Cabernet Franc. 14.9% ABV, 3.55 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 23. This is the earliest harvest in the history of the estate. Yields were 42 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027- 2055.
97-99 points
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2021 Juniper Cornerstone Wilyabrup ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$62. 99Bottle$755.88 DozenCellar: 5 - 6 Years (2028-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinFrom vines planted in 1973 with ageing taking place in French oak for a period of 10 months. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a distinct glimmer of green to the edges and a watery hue. Elevated white peach, pear and dried honey scents are married to subtle roasted almond, lemon butter and faint gun flint notes. Light to mid weight with a fresh elegant feel the palate features pear and citrus fruits over grapefruit, biscuity oak and infusions of gun flint. Finishes with brisk acidity and a tightly focused conclusion.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
This is a blend of different clones – 74% Clone 95 and the remainder the traditional Gingin from the original Wilyabrup vineyard. Whole bunch pressing straight to barrel for natural fermentation has contributed to both its structure and the fruit complexity and intensity. After fermentation it spent nine months in oak with nearly half new. Yet the fruit intensity has swamped the oak so it is perfectly balanced and poised. In the end, barrels were selected before the final blending. Complex and creamy with a savoury nougat and oatmeal influence while fine lingering acidity sustains its linear mouth feel. Drink 2023-2033.
95 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com -
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
NON 7 Stewed Cherry & CoffeeAUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesClosure: Crown Seal**Not in immediate stock. Please allow 2-3 business days for stock to be on hand.
Developed to expand the non-alcoholic options - defy and redefine reality. That's the mantra from former Noma chef William Wade and business partner Aaron Trotman when they conceived this project back in 2019. The concept has caught on, and you'll now find NON on the drinks list at some of Australia’s top restaurants. While it may look like a bottle of pet-nat, NON are a zero-alcohol wine alternative that’s technically a tisane, or herbal tea of the highest calibre.
NON 7 is their stewed cherry & coffee expression. Dry and lightly carbonated, this shows rich dark fruits, a fragrant spiced nose, and undertones of coffee. Store refrigerated or at cellar temperature (10-12%), refrigerate after opening and consume within 2-3 days. Natural sediment may occur, so shake lightly and pour.
- Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Older PackagingSCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 43%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
'...God, I love this stuff... this is exactly how a vatted malt should be and one of the best samples I've come across since its launch.' - 95 points, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017.Johnnie Walker Green Label is the only whisky in the Walker range to carry the 'Blended Malt Scotch Whisky' certification. It replaces the older term 'Vatted Malt' and indicates that the whisky has been blended exclusively from single malts, and not blended with inexpensive grain whisky. The Walker family began buying some of Scotland's finest distilleries over 100 years ago. Now, with over 27 malt whisky producers in ownership, the company doesn't have to look too far for the very best material. They can choose from the cream of the crop, and have also acquired over a century of distilling experience in the process, guaranteeing the quality of their whisky well into the future.
Undisputed as one of the all-time classics in its genre, Green label is instantly recognisable as a Walker blend, with a profile of fresh and slightly fruity aromas with hints of mango and toffee followed by the trademark whiff of peat & sea air that distinguishes most of the JW stable.
Tasting note: Brassy gold / impeccable clarity. A sophisticated, expressive nose offers an assemblage of soft, sweet peat, oatmeal biscuit, dried mango / fig, white pepper with good freshness - sustained even after several minutes in the glass. Full and well rounded in the mouth with nipping spices carrying the malty attack, along with flavours of salted crackers, restrained peat and an oily-yet-crisp finish with strong staying power. The vivacious and intensely flavoured character of this vatting will keep you coming back time and again. Forget Blue Label: Green and Gold remain the stars in the JW line up. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Just as complex as Johnnie Walker Gold, but fuller and more richly textured. (Not surprising, given that there are no grain whiskies in Johnnie Walker Green.) This is one of the finer vatted malts on the market. Its flavors are well-integrated. You’ll find creamy toffee and nougat at its core, which is then layered with notes of vanilla, mint, fresh brine, and even a hint of mustard seed. Excitingly fresh and vibrant on the finish. A whisky for both the blend and single malt drinker. And at the price, it is also fairly valued for an all-malt whisky.
89 points - maltadvocate.com (Summer 2005) Reviewed by: John Hansell - Suntory Toki Blended Japanese Whisky (700ml)JAPAN$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 43%
Directly translated to 'time' in Japanese, Toki draws from all three of Suntory's distilleries, placing Hakushu and Chita forward in the blend. Expect a light herbaceousness with some fresh, crisp green apple and citrus, followed by a delicate sweetness.
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Holmes Cay Heritage Blend Esotico Edition Rum (750ml)Caribbean,$140. 00Bottle$1680.00 DozenABV: 43%In some countries, like the U.S., rum is still largely defined by hackneyed references to tropical themes and limiting cocktail programs. Those in the know recognise that there is so much more to rum than pitchers of pina coladas or Tiki Tuesdays. Enter Eric Kaye - a serial entrepreneur and a rum lover and collector. Kaye saw an opportunity to elevate the category, and in 2019, his label 'Holmes Cay' (pronounced ‘key’) was launched as a modern take on a centuries-old product. The company's focus remains on sourcing unadulterated, limited-edition casks from respected and up-and-coming distilleries that are difficult to procure via mainstream supply chains.
The Heritage Blend is a tribute to the three rum traditions that arose in the Caribbean basin. Each component celebrates the diversity of the spirit, employing three key styles: rum, rhum and ron. Specifically, the Esotico edition is composed of a molasses-based pot / column still blend from Barbados, a Venezuelan Ron molasses-based column still component and a Martinique rhum cane juice-based column still addition. There's no sugar, no colour and no other flavours added. Offering notes of vanilla custard, dried fruits, citrus and baking spice and bottled at 43%, the Heritage Blend shows gracefully in classic cocktails but is primarily intended to be a great sipper on its own. The label design is a collaboration with Esotico’s Daniele Dalla Pola, paying homage to vintage travel posters and the thrill of travel.
Other reviews… Complex aromas include almond and vanilla, plus a seaside saline breeze. The mouthwatering palate shows coconut and espresso bitterness and finishes notably long—a ribbon of almond, coconut and vanilla fading off into the distance. Best Buy. 96 points - Wine Enthusiast, reviewed by: Kara Newman 2023
Notes from the importers... Nose: Funky fruit salad with a side of floral frangipani(?) garnished with an herbaceous, grassy grassy note. Palate: Super creamy banana custard at first, then it dries out and turns on a more candied rind quality. Finish: More citrusy notes and a slight aniseed leaning at the back end of this short crisp finish. This is a rum that has been designed to sip neat, slide nicely over ice or slap into your favourite cocktail or tiki drink with negative perspiration! It plays nice anyway you like it. And you’re gonna like it, I promise. There’s just nothing not to like in this easy drinking rum/rhum/ron combo!
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1983 Sazerac 18 Year Old 2001 Release Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$3999. 00Bottle$47988.00 DozenABV: 45%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Named American Whiskey of the Year by Whisky Advocate Magazine in 2001.
Distilled in Spring 1983 and bottled in the Fall of 2001, this time capsule bottle harks back to the earliest days of BT's Antique Collection. When the Sazerac Company acquired what is now called Buffalo Trace distillery in 1992, one of their long-term intentions was to see the eponymous rye brand return. They began distilling it for the first time in 1998, introducing the modern version of Sazerac Rye in 2006. Prior to this, a Sazerac 18 year old was launched in 2000 as part of the now famous Antique Collection. These were bottled from a legendary batch of rye distilled by Schenley at Buffalo Trace when it was still known as George T. Stagg. Distilled in the early 1980s with the intention of releasing a rye line for its popular Cream of Kentucky brand, the company lost interest in the project and the casks were left to age far beyond the normal period for such whiskeys. To the surprise of many, the forgotten liquid had turned into an exceptional product. With 1984 being the final vintage for the Cream of Kentucky, the remaining casks were placed into steel tanks in 2004 to prevent over-maturing. This 2001 release was reportedly bottled directly from the wood. Meanwhile, the tanked rye continued to provide whiskey for the annual release Sazeracs until 2015 when the inventory finally ran out. 45% Alc./Vol. Collectable. (Information on this bottling was partly sourced from whiskyauctioneer.com).
Other reviews... Deep amber color. Bold and surprisingly youthful aromas, and quite vibrant for its age-huge spicy notes (mint, cinnamon, vanilla, anise, freshly ground pepper), with rich toffee, caramel and background fruit. Rich, enveloping body. Enormous in flavor, with youthful dynamic spices (mint, cinnamon, vanilla, pepper), wrapped in rich toffee and molasses, tamed by mature oak and leather notes. The flavors intensify on the palate, ultimately reaching a crescendo. The boldness of the spices and maturity of age dovetail perfectly. Its finish is very satisfying and seemingly eternal. 96 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) - Pre 2006 bottlingKentucky, UNITED STATES$11999. 00Bottle$143988.00 DozenABV: 45.2%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
It's no secret that Pappy Van Winkles are known as some of the best whiskeys money can buy - and the hardest to find. Millionaires have just as much difficulty as the average Joe. But Pappy isn’t impossible to obtain, you just have to be ready to purchase on release. About 80,000 bottles are offered annually. Truly unusual, uber-rare discoveries are the historical bottlings like this. Judged to be a pre-2006 bottling, one clue to the dating of Pappy Van Winkle is the raised lettering on the label. The words “Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve” were embossed so they protruded until around 2006, when a new label style was introduced that used flat lettering. You can see the difference in a side-by-side comparison of Pappy 20YO from 2005 and 2008, for example. For this edition, the back label features a picture of Pappy completing a round of golf. 45.2% Alc./Vol. One only.
"...beautifully constructed and remains one of my favorite bourbons ever." - breakingbourbon.com
In a blind taste test of whiskey labels from around the world, the Beverage Tasting Institute in Chicago gave the 20-year old Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve a 99 out of 100 rating... the highest mark ever awarded. It began as a rye-heavy style but it's now a wheated bourbon, making the whiskey softer, sweeter, mellower and more rounded. It remains the most-awarded of the Pappys, and is sometimes compared with top shelf cognac, helped by its slightly younger age and slightly lower proof.
Other reviews... An ancient Bourbon, so should be a flavour powerhouse. But this is all about understatement and complexity. 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020
...Amber mahogany. Rich, mature aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, leather, tea berry, coconut, and dark fruit-very complex indeed. Big, coating, soothing texture. Flavors are very mature, rounded and nicely balanced, with notes of molasses, dried fruit, cinnamon, and teaberry. It finishes long, with a very soothing demeanor.... An exemplary example of the style. 92 points - whiskyadvocate, 3rd Quarter 2001 Issue-Vol. 10#3
...This has always been my favorite Van Winkle bourbon and after this recent tasting, it remains that way. It has aspects of all of the other Van Winkle bourbons in a single package. It’s nose is by far the best out of the bunch. It proves how important a bourbon’s nose really is to the entire tasting experience. The palate features the rich fruit flavors of the 12 Year, the cinnamon of the 15 Year, and a touch less oak than the 23 Year. It’s beautifully constructed and remains one of my favorite bourbons ever. - breakingbourbon.com
...Nose: Deep, powerful and concentrated. This has moved into almost rancio territory: eucalypt/laurel, spice, burnt orange peel, apple, pear, biscuity wood. Palate: Soft and surprisingly delicate given the age. A charred note adds to the complexity. Gentle and elegant: cigar box, prune, molasses, soot. Finish: Long. In fact it’s very, very long and complex. Comment: A subtle sipper to be taken neat and definitely without ice! 90 points David Broom - whiskymag.com
Raised lettering. See "Other Tips" https://whiskeyid.com/van-winkle-timeline/
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2022 Chateau Lafite RothschildPauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE$1950. 00Bottle$23400.00 DozenClosure: CorkOften seen as the most elegant of the First Growth wines, Chateau Lafite Rothschild has long been considered one of the greatest wines from not only Bordeaux, but from anywhere in the world. Prices too reflect its status as the most collectable wine in Bordeaux, spurred on since 2008 when it ruled the Chinese fine wine market.
While the vineyards are planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, each year the proportions vary according to the vintage, normally with Cabernet Sauvignon accounting for 80-90% of the blend.Other Reviews....
A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Lafite Rothschild unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, sweet soils tones, cigar box and lilac. Medium to full-bodied, it's the most tensile of the first growths this year, with a layered, concentrated but youthfully introverted mid-palate, lively acids and a long, saline finish. It checks in at a rather high pH of 3.85, which belies its incisive profile, from a harvest that extended from August 31 to September 24.
95-97+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Lafite-Rothschild is a magnificent, thrilling wine. A Lafite for the ages, the 2022 possesses off-the-charts richness and yet never loses its unique Lafiteness. It's as if all the elements are dialed up to the maximum, but without sacrificing clarity. That's quite an achievement in my book. Inky red fruit, blood orange, spice and incense are some of the many notes that build in the glass. The 2022 is a Lafite of nearly indescribable beauty, driven by a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and spellbinding overall balance. Vinification was carried out over 22 days, after which the wine was racked into French oak, 100% new, for an élevage of 15 months. Drink 2030-2062.
98 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA benchmark modern Lafite showing tobacco, orange peel, cedar, pencil shavings, violets and cigar box—so perfumed. Medium-bodied with lots of graphite, stone and hints of redcurrants on the palate. It goes on for minutes. Reminds me of Lafites that I love made decades ago. Could be the great 1986. A blend of 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Best after 2030 but already fascinating.
100 points
James SucklingThe 2022 Château Lafite-Rothschild is based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that was harvested between the 31st of August and the 24th of September. It's a richer, more opulent wine compared to the more classic 2020 (although the pH is higher in the 2020) and has a deep, full-bodied, concentrated profile as well as classic Lafite aromatics of spicy red and black fruits, freshly sharpened pencils, graphite, and tobacco. Deep, rich, and concentrated, it nevertheless stays pure and flawlessly balanced, with ample, ripe tannins and a great finish. It's going to have some up-front appeal by Lafite standards but should still require a decade of bottle age. Director Eric Koher compares this to the 2005, but this modern-day clone of the 1959 is one of the most powerful, concentrated Lafites I've tasted.
97-99 points
Jeb DunnuckA wonderful example of restraint and delicacy in a year where it was easy to overdo. Sharp and straight, you feel the acidity as soon as this enters the mouth, alive, pulsing, bright and shining. Aromatically so expressive after a few minutes. Delicate almost, such a fine tapestry of tannins, present and at the fore but like taffeta or finely woven silk. It has power but you don't feel it, not instantly anyway, the focus is on the beautiful texture with edges of cool red and blue fruits, flint, graphite, liquorice and tobacco nuances with high acidity that all help build a layered and well constructed mid palate. The structure then focuses and narrows to a mineral, fresh finish. Has bite and succulence, gently muscular with tons of vibrancy. This is definitely one of the less showy wines that really grows on you. A delicious, defined, poised, refined and finessed Lafite. Calm, collected and incredibly charming already. Earliest harvest in over a century, 31 August to 24 September. 17.5% press wine. 3.8pH. 64IPT. 41% grand vin production. Drink 2033 - 2050.
98 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterGarnet in color, a single swirl brings out its cornucopia of scents: flowers, currants, cherries, smoke, leather, lead pencil, Cuban cigar wrapper, orange rind and smoke. The wine is pure silky, elegance in texture. This is perhaps the most sensuous vintage of Lafite ever produced with its dream texture on the palate. In the mid-palate, the wine shifts from black to red to black fruits before moving to its wave of orange citrus, ending with refreshing mint notes. The purity in the fruits is striking. The over 60-second finish is seamless, which is a good thing, because this wine is so good, you never want it to end. The wine is complete from start to finish. The wine blends 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. It is interesting to note that the wine includes 17.5 % press wine in the blend, which sets a record for Lafite. 13.6% ABV, 3.85 pH. Harvesting starting August 31 for the young Merlot vines, for the grapes used in the Grand Vin, September 5, - September 23. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. 40% of the harvest went into the Grand Vin. This is an earth-shattering vintage of Lafite that buyers with the disposabile income should add to their cellar. Drink from 2030-2065.
98-100 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider - Bitter Queens Marie Laveau Tobacco Bitters (148ml)California, UNITED STATES$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 50%
Nicknamed Marie Laveau, this unusual bitters packs a punch with its savoury tobacco notes coalescing with smoked tea, clove, and vanilla. It promises to be an addictive additive to whiskey-based drinks, rum, and coffee, as well as pork and chicken dishes! (Contains no tobacco). 50% Alc./Vol.
What started as a spirited hobby amongst a duo of cocktail enthusiasts quickly evolved into a passionate business endeavor: The Bitter Queens are a small-production, San Francisco-based business raising the bar through the creation of unique, handcrafted bitters and cocktail accoutrements targeting cocktail dens, home bartenders and imaginative chefs. Progress continues as the boys spread their bitter love to the world.
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Powers Three Swallow Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)IRELAND$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 40%Produced at the famed Midleton Distillery in County Cork where due to the different still combinations that can be achieved from three pot and three column stills, a range of whiskeys can be produced which includes the likes of Redbreast, Jameson, the Spot range, Midleton Very Rare, and Powers.
The unusually named Three Swallow has several connotations in Power's history, two of which are held dear to the brand as explained by Christopher Null at drinkhacker.com: "Powers’ original distillery, John’s Lane, was known for incredibly high standards, including that of its horse stables and coaches. Each coach had three coachmen – a driver and assistant up front, and another at the rear. Coachmen were accustomed to bringing a small flask of Powers on long rides, with just enough whiskey to give each man a good swallow, but not enough to interfere with his job. In addition, the migration of the Irish Swallow signifies the beginning of the distillation season in Ireland, and Powers has historically used two or three swallows to signify the age, quality, and purity of their pot still products. Over time, because of the high quality across their entire portfolio, all Powers whiskey came to bear these iconic swallows."
Three Swallow is crafted from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills before being matured in 2nd and 3rd fill Bourbon barrels. Finally, it receives a finishing in aged sherry casks, just like its award winning cousin, Redbreast. It is intended as a modern representation of what the original Powers tasted like back in the days of John’s Lane distillery. But to confuse matters slightly, it's been released at two different ABVs: 43.2% and this one, which lands at 40%. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The rich, buttery palate opens with baked pear, vanilla, raisin and toasty brioche, sliding into a clove-accented finish with just hint of smoke on the exhale. 93 points - wineenthusiast.com
"Light and fruity on the nose, with apples, bananas, oak, and vanilla. In the mouth tropical notes continue to be showcased, with apples, bananas, and coconut joining forces with crème brûlée, butterscotch, and a hint of sherry spice that becomes more pronounced during a nice, medium finish." 88 points - distiller.com
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2021 Rutini Wines Encuentro ChardonnayMendoza, ARGENTINA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2023-2026)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinFifty percent of this wine was matured in a mix of first and second use French oak barrels. Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Lifted peach, apricot and tropical fruit aromas are trailed by some spicy melon notes. Rich and textural the palate is filled with ripe peach, tropical fruit and apricot flavours which overlay some light butterscotch and spice. Refreshing acidity with a well rounded, long fruit driven conclusion.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
A hint of toast with salted lemons, fine lees and pineapples. Quite a flavorful, medium- to full-bodied palate with pretty length. A hint of brioche in the finish. Drink now.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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- Reduced
Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Perpetual Collection Vat 03 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLANDReduced from $199.99$129. 99Bottle$1559.88 DozenABV: 50.2%Glenfiddich as you may never have experienced it before. Elsewhere pay $200+
"epitomically Glenfiddichian... long, on apples, marzipan and amaretti." - whiskyfun.com
Along with Number 4, Vat 03 in Glenfiddich's Travel Retail Perpetual Collection is arguably the more appealing for drinkers, partly because of its age statement and partly because it lands at a higher ABV than numbers one and two. Also created via a Solera vat process which adds continuous layers of flavour by only ever bottling half the whisky in the vats before refilling, this edition was matured in x-sherry European oak and x Bourbon casks. Tasted straight, Vat 03 delivers vibrant orchard fruits and vanillan oak giving the sensation of fruit yoghurt, or perhaps the whisky equivalent of peaches and cream. Adding ice or water instantly emphasises the zero chill filtration, ramping up the juicy, malty mouthfeel and providing a finishing lick of vanilla, baking spice and hints of marzipan. Aimed at showcasing 'Fiddich's signature style, Vat 03 is predictably true to the malt they churn out in large volumes - and for good reason - it’s proved hugely popular and is incredibly accessible, only here there’s more of everything, which means extra bang for your buck. It's yet another delicious, seamless, and dare we say, smashable Glenfiddich. You'll find it hard to stop at one. 50.2% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... There's new oak, bourbon and European oak sherry inside. Colour: gold. Nose: feels bourbony at first, with even a little putty and light varnish, as well as marzipan, before it would become all a matter of apples (and a few pears), something that I've always found epitomically Glenfiddichian. Fresh, stewed, a juice, as compote, even as jam, even as eau-de-vie (some varietals do work, others remain bland). With water: the largest bag of ripe and overripe apples ever, plus a little maraschino and marzipan. Mouth (neat): really sweet. Apple compote with some honey and a cinnamon/nutmeg spice combo. Feels a touch fizzy, like good cider. No problems. With water: water brings a soapiness onto the palate (saponification), a soapiness that takes its time before it would leave us alone. The good news is that after around ten minutes, we're left with more wonderful apples and rather notes of Turkish delights. Finish: long, on apples, marzipan and amaretti. And perhaps an ultra-tiny soapiness remaining in a corner (nope, haven't changed water). Pears in the aftertaste, which makes it even more Glenfiddichian. Comments: very good cuvée but be careful with water. 84 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Intriguingly complex aroma with sweet heather honey and vanilla fudge combined with rich dark fruits. Taste: Silky smooth revealing layers of sherry oak, marzipan, cinnamon and ginger. Full bodied and bursting with flavour. Finish: Satisfyingly rich with lingering sweetness.
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2022 Chateau Haut-BaillyPessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE$415. 00Bottle$4980.00 DozenClosure: CorkBased in Pessac-Leognan on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, Chateau Haut-Bailly has 30 hectares under vine planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. As it is only recently that the wines have truly excelled, with knock out wines in 2005/2009/2010/2015/2016, they are one of the best values in Bordeaux, but also one of the hardest to find.
Other Reviews....
The 2022 Haut-Bailly offers up aromas of dark berries complemented by accents of iris, lilac, rose petals, graphite and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, dense, it's layered and textural, with a deep core of fruit, powdery tannins and a penetrating, saline finish. Vinified along traditional lines, it is a structured wine that will take some time to hit its stride, but at this early stage it appears suppler and more seamless than its 2020 and 2019 predecessors. A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc from grapes picked from September 7 to 27, it's maturing half in new barriques and half in one- or two-year-old barrels.
94-96 points
Yohan Castaing - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Haut-Bailly is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted here in a very long time. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, rose petal and blood orange are all finely laced together in the glass. There's a new sense of polish at Haut Bailly these days. The 2022 is a great example of that. Readers will find a supremely finessed wine with striking fruit purity, gorgeous length and a slightly linear build that is not at all typical (in a good sense) for a warm, dry vintage. Clean mineral notes support the finish. Drink 2032-2062.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousIncredible complexity of aromas here with ripe currants and blackberries, but also dried flowers like violets and roses. Then there’s forest flower character such as bark, mushroom and sandalwood. Black truffles. Full-bodied with tight and chewy tannins that are polished and pure, with a solid and tight finish. It builds on your palate and frames the wine beautifully. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc.
97-98 points
James SucklingThe 2022 Château Haut-Bailly is going to be one of the legendary vintages at this château, and it should be a no-brainer purchase for readers. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it has an incredible perfume of cassis, ripe black cherries, crushed stone, smoke tobacco, and wood smoke. Earning more than a few expletives in my notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and ultra-fine, silky tannins. Hold onto your hats, ladies and gentlemen, this is an incredible wine in the making!
98-100 points
Jeb DunnuckFragranced nose, purple fruits, blackcurrants, juniper, liquorice, crushed stones, salt, violets, roses, dark chocolate and cherries - perfumed, alive and expressive. Smooth, but generous with crunchy fruit and salty touches that come in and coat the super fine tannins with a powdery sensation that really fills the mouth. Nice terroir aspects, smooth, well textured and elegantly weighted. Gives dark fruit, subtle savoury tones with dark chocolate and herbal aspects giving nuance. Excellent length and freshness, it's graceful but almost a bit light in terms of fruit density and plushness - although the tannins are exceptional, really so sleek and silky with definition and detail. Feels well worked, gentle, confident and shiny. It's missing a touch more excitement and juicy liveliness but it’s extremely finessed and you can't fault the attention to detail of the tannins and the moreish quality they give. Great potential. 3.92pH. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. A yield of 30hl/ha. Consultants Christophe Olivier and Axel Marchal. Harvest 7-27 September. Drink 2029 - 2046.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterInitially, you find a display of flowers before moving on to all of its cigar wrapper, spice, blackberry, currant, black cherry, smoke, and hints of forest leaf in the perfume. Deeply concentrated, vibrant, and refined, the palate is packed with multiple-layers of perfectly, ripe, red fruits, a fabulous sense of purity, silky, soft, polished tannins, and ample lift in the finish, providing the backdrop to age, and evolve for decades. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV, pH 3.92. Picking took place September 7 - September 27. The yields were only 30 hectoliters per hectare. This is in serious contention as the best vintage ever produced at Haut Bailly. Drink from 2027-2060.
98-100 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Durfort VivensMargaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, the 2022 Durfort Vivens is a lovely wine that wafts from the glass with aromas of minty dark berries, sweet plums, licorice and burning embers. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with a deep and lively core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins.
93-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Durfort-Vivens is a wild, exotic wine that very much shows the natural opulence of the year. Super-ripe dark red/purplish fruit, pomegranate and sweet spice are front and center. There’s a bit more Merlot in this year’s blend, and that seems to come through in the wine’s overall fruit intensity. The final blend is project to be 70% new oak and 30% amphora, but the sample I tasted was only taken from oak components, as the wine had only been racked into amphora shortly prior to this tasting. Drink 2030-2052.
92-94 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe quality of the tannins are pure velvet yet so, so fine in texture. Medium to full body with a weightless presence and beautiful heart. Rose stem and other flowers. 84% cabernet sauvignon and 16% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.
96-97 points
James SucklingThe 2022 Château Durfort-Vivens showed brilliantly and is a seriously good wine in the making. Vinified at Brane-Cantenac and aging in 60% new oak, with 40% in amphora, it has a pure, focused, medium to full-bodied style as well as both red and black fruits, some violet and floral nuances, nicely integrated oak, and a great finish. This is one of those wines that builds with time in the glass, and it should clearly be outstanding, if not truly exceptional.
94-96 points
Jeb DunnuckLovely freshness and aromatic complexity on the nose; herbs, spices, flowers, bitterness, freshness. Juicy and alive, a brightness and liveliness straight away. The energy here is wonderful, so lean and clean, pure and precise, very pretty, fun and joyful with a salty tang underneath. Delicate almost with such well integrated tannins giving a soft push from start to finish. Really very compelling and drinkable, easy to approach with layers of freshness and the most gorgeous acidity. Not as dense or fleshy as others, but makes up for it in bite, energy and enjoyable minerality. Effortless winemaking. 3.65pH. 12% press. 85-90 IPT, but you wouldn’t tell, it’s so sleek, the power is channelled in a straight line from start to finish. Ageing: 18 months, 70% in new oak barrels and 30% in amphorae TAVA. Drink 2028 - 2049.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - Decanter -
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2022 Chateau Calon SegurSaint Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE$360. 00Bottle$4320.00 DozenClosure: CorkAs one of the three original estates in Saint-Estephe, the history of Calon Segur can be dated back to 1146. Always solid but rarely reaching above their Third Growth status, the Chateau has been on a steady increase in quality since an ownership change in 2012. Completely rejuvenated cellars and a replanting regime have reaped early rewards, with excellent wines in made 2014 and 2015, and perhaps their best ever effort in 2016.
Other Reviews....
The 2022 Calon-Ségur is another superb wine from this historic Saint-Estèphe third growth that began a comprehensive renaissance the better part of a decade ago. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with hints of fresh mint, burning embers, licorice and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific depth at the core, supple tannins and a long, saline finish. The blend consists of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Vincent Millet observed that "when you tasted the Merlot, you were under the impression that you were tasting Cabernet."
96-98 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Calon Ségur is a wine that I found "uncompromising" when I tasted it at en primeur. Now that the wine is in bottle, it has a strident bouquet that marches from the glass with blackcurrant, bilberry, cedar and pine aromas. It’s very well defined and quite classic in style with finely chiseled tannins. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and a little more saline than it showed out of barrel. Indeed, it has a tad more elegance now, though it still harks back to some of the classic postwar wines that I tasted in the past—in a good way. Very fresh on the finish, this is a sophisticated Saint-Estèphe born to give years of drinking pleasure, but my word, give it at least a decade before entertaining the idea of opening a bottle. Drink 2032-2062.
95 points
Neal Martin - VinousStunning depth and minerality with fine spices, dark olives, ashtray and a hint of white pepper, paprika and iron. Powerful but also really fine, complex and classy, with full body and super-fine-grained tannins. Spot-on balance helps highlight depth and layers. Really long and restrained. Very complete. Already appealing but will improve in the next decade. Drink from 2027.
97 points
Zekun Shuai - jamessuckling.comA wine that's going to flirt with perfection, the 2022 Château Calon Ségur is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, harvested between September 12 and 26, from yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare. Its deep purple hue is followed by a heavenly bouquet of cassis, smoke tobacco, flowery incense, and toasted spices. This ripe, sexy, full-bodied beauty has ultra-fine tannins, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a great finish. Its tannins, as well as its overall balance and purity, are just about off the charts, and this remarkable effort shows how successful the northern part of the Médoc was in 2022. Bravo!
97-99 points
Jeb DunnuckRich and vibrant on the nose, smells concentrated and alcoholic. Crisp and clean on the palate however with bite to the cherry, plum and blackcurrant fruit alongside a hint of sweet strawberry and herbal raspberry on the mid palate that gives some instant energy before the clear concentration and heft of the wine shows through. Not so much in the texture but in the ripe flavours, cool minty and stone edged tannins and clear liquorice and clove spice. Still taught but detailed with elements of generosity. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.65pH. A yield of 26hl/ha. Ageing 17 months, 30% new oak. Drink 2029 - 2047.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterInky dark in color, the wine pops with crème de cassis, blackberries, smoke, lead pencil, 5 spice, and flowers in the aromatics. The wine explodes with endless waves of cassis, peppery blackberries, Asian spice, espresso, and dark chocolate on the palate. Everything is in place here. The wine coats your teeth, palate, and gums with fruit, and freshness that sings. The seamless finish is made even better with a refreshing hit of chocolate mint at the end. The wine builds, and expands in the finish as it crosses the 60 second mark. The wine blends 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Cabernet franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 15% ABV, 3.8 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 27. The is the earliest harvest in the history of the property. Yields were 26 hectoliters per hectare. Only 53% of harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. The wine is aging in 100% new, French oak barrels for 20 months before bottling. Drink from 2028-2060.
97-99 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Pontet-CanetPauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE$330. 00Bottle$3960.00 DozenCellar: 15 - 20 Years (2040-2045)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkPuts on a formidable display of rich, expansive red to black fruit framed by dense, muscular tannins.
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.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Intense ripe red to black currant and red liquorice aromas flood the olfactory senses with some violet, crushed rock, vanillin cedar, dried herb, subtle tobacco and spice notes lending further complexity. Rich and expansive yet firmly built, a formidable core of red to black currant and red liquorice fruits are framed by dense, muscular tannins. Vanillin cedar, earth, subtle dark chocolate, graphite, delicate tobacco and spice elements unravel across the assertive back half. Boasting magnificent power, the exceptionally long, tightly coiled finish is one that combines energy, sophistication and a robust feel.
Cellar 15-20 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews....
The 2022 Pontet-Canet is a super-refined wine from the Tesseron family. It is perhaps a touch less opulent than in years past, but in exchange, it boasts more energy, focus and cut, all qualities that are so welcome here. Bright red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and mocha all build effortlessly in the glass. In 2022, Pontet Canet is shaping up to be an absolute gem. Drink 2028-2042.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe concentration of dried herbs such as thyme, sage and mint with blackcurrants and Spanish cedar is mesmerizing. Full-bodied with a dense and intense palate, this has creamy, crunchy tannins and a long and flavorful finish that goes on for minutes. Punchy and rich with lots of power. The real identity of Pontet-Canet comes through despite the hot and dry growing year. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2029.
99 points
James Suckling
A sensational Pauillac as well as the finest wine from this château since the 2009 (although the 2010 might have something to say about that), the 2022 Château Pontet-Canet sports a deep purple hue as well as a heavenly perfume of crème de cassis, smoke, incense, leafy tobacco, and chocolate. This beauty has sensational purity, a deep, layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, flawless balance, and incredible precision and detail in its aromas and flavors. Despite its opulence and power, it has a solid underlying structure, and its tannins are sweet and polished; it has remarkable depth and concentration, and it just does everything right. I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up slightly over the coming 3-5 years, although I don't expect it to truly shut down. It should have 40, 50, if not 60 years of overall longevity. The 2022 is based on 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 50% new barrels, 35% in amphora, and the rest in once-used oak. Drink 2037-2097.
100 points
JebDunnuck.com
Dark and ripe on the nose, with deep blackcurrant, cocoa powder, and espresso notes alongside fragrant dried herbs, adding a savoury elegance. The palate is clean and crisp, offering a streamlined weight and a lovely bite to the tannins — powdery yet refined, with hints of milk chocolate and bitter orange. Restrained power meets finesse, with a touch of spice and soft warmth on the finish. Still youthful and compact, but incredibly detailed, with pure, bright fruit shining through. One of the finest Pontet-Canets in years - round, complete, and beautifully textured. Bright, finessed, and highly accessible. Drink 2029-2050.
97 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterDeep purple with a blue hue in color, the wine is almost opaque in color. Cassis, flowers, plums, licorice, and tobacco leaf aromas adorn the perfume. It is already clear that with this wine, it is the purity in the fruit that stands out. The palate is equally pure, with its layers of glycerin-filled blackberries, and plums. The wine is lush, as well as refined. The finish meshes concentration with elegance, power with purity, lift and length. The peppery, spicy note, along with the resounding minty-freshness, and a touch of anise in the long, finish is what stands out here. There is no sensation of heat or over ripeness in this wine in the mid-palate or in the finish. The wine blends 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot.14.7% ABV, pH 3.8. Harvesting took place September 8 - September 28. This is longest harvest and the earliest harvest in the history of the estate. The wine is aging in a combination of 50% new, French oak, and 35% Amphora. Pontet Canet is often a slow starter in barrel. My score could go higher when the wine is in bottle. Drink from 2028-2060.
96-98 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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Bouvet 1851 Brut RoseLoire Valley, FRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkBouvet Ladubay is regarded by many wine lovers as the finest expression of sparkling wine from the Loire Valley. After many years of ownership by Champagne Taittinger, Bouvet Ladubay is once again fully owned by the Monmousseau family who have continuously run the business since their purchase in 1932. Bouvet Ladubay employs precisely the same wine making process as Grand Marque Champagne, delivering French sophistication at an everyday price.
Produced from Cabernet Franc grapes this delightful Sparkling Rose pours with a frothy mousse that shows good hold over a pale salmon tinged base that has a steady stream of generous bubbles flowing through it. Attractive raspberry and strawberry aromas are complimented by some peach, subtle yeast lees and citrus notes. On the palate delicious peach and strawberry fruits carry an appealing fleshy feel with delicate toast and yeast lees characters lingering underneath. Brisk, racy acidity finishing dry, creamy textured and refreshing.
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2019 Conterno Fantino Barolo Mosconi Vigna PedPiedmont, ITALY$265. 00Bottle$3180.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The Conterno Fantino 2019 Barolo Mosconi Vigna Ped (with 6,250 bottles made) is perhaps more floral, with plenty of rose, and fruity, with lots of cherry, compared to the other new releases in this portfolio. This Barolo is very lively and bright thanks to the lifted quality of its primary fruit. The style is a little more immediate, but this wine delivers lots of satisfying Nebbiolo typicity nonetheless. The tannins show an elegant, dusty side. Drink: 2024-2044.
95 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (August 2023)Attractive dried strawberries and dark cherries with crushed walnuts, dark spices and cocoa. Hints of forest floor, too. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine tannins and mellow texture. Refined, even and silky at the end. Try after 2026.
95 points
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2019 Conterno Fantino Barolo Castelletto Vigna PressendaPiedmont, ITALY$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The Conterno Fantino 2019 Barolo Castelletto Vigna Pressenda is medium dark and more concentrated compared to many of its peers. This wine shows a solid bouquet with fixed aromas of wild cherry, long-stemmed rose and candied orange. With time, even more floral aromas are coaxed forward from the bouquet. Beyond those are oak-driven notes of allspice and cinnamon. The tannins are polished, and the wine offers quite a bit of fruit texture. Production is 6,600 bottles. Drink: 2025-2045.
95 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (August 2023)Fresh and vibrant with red berry, blood orange, crushed hazelnut, hibiscus and spice aromas and flavors. Medium- to full-bodied, tense and linear with a backbone of firm, finely grained tannins and steady minerality. Needs some time. Try after 2027.
95 points
jamessuckling.com -
- 95
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2019 Conterno Fantino Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sori GinestraPiedmont, ITALY$280. 00Bottle$3360.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra has an almost botanical feel with lots of wildflowers, iris and garden herb that are layered into dark fruit, spice and rusty metal. The wine does not shy back in term of complexity, and there are many more adjectives that could be applied to the bouquet. In terms of mouthfeel, this elegant Barolo is quite smooth, with enough tannins and acidity to guarantee a long aging trajectory. Production is 11,820 bottles.Drink: 2025-2045.
97 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (August 2023)A great Barolo with an intoxicating nose of dried violet, almost potpourri, with intense cherry and pomegranate aromas. The elegance and intensity of Ginestra stands out here with incredibly well handled, velvety tannins, lifted acidity, and a super-savoury character. The vibrancy on the finish combined with its cleansing, elegant style ensure it's one for the long haul. Drink: 2023-2050.
95 points
Aldo Fiordelli - DecanterNotes of cherries, bergamot, lilac and pine nuts with hints of bark and licorice. Full and wide with compact but ultra-fine tannins that are evenly distributed across the palate. Very long and deep. Refined and opulent. Well-crafted. Try after 2027.
96 points
jamessuckling.com -
- 93
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- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau Pape Clement BlancPessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE$345. 00Bottle$4140.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2022 Pape Clement Blanc is a very pretty, exotic white. Drops of Muscadelle in the blend add a very pretty hint of jasmine and lime to play off the richer, riper flavors on the palate. The 2022 offers lovely density and creaminess, with plenty of orchard fruit, marzipan and chamomile flavors, yet also remains light on its feet and wonderfully fresh. Tasted three times. Drink 2025-2032.
93-95 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe purity of fruit is really impressive here with crushed apples, pears and lemons. Some mineral and stone, too. Honeysuckle. Very clear and bright. The palate is full and very direct and focused, with a long, salty dried lemon finish and minerality. Fine phenolics at the end. 63% sauvignon blanc, 35% semillon and 2% muscadelle.
98-99 points
James SucklingThe 2022 Château Pape Clément Blanc is another beauty from this team, and if it puts on some weight over the course of its élevage, it will merit an even higher score. Honeyed lychee, minty herbs, melon, and stone fruits define the bulk of the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with good concentration, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. I was able to taste this on multiple occasions with consistent notes.
94-96+ points
Jeb DunnuckCitrus kick straight away, great direction and focus - there's purity to the lemon, peach, green apple, pear and apricot fruit. Sharp and straight but stylish. Fruity and juicy, precise and detailed, a touch tense still but there's excellent sculpting here and lots of life. Quite bold, some toasted nuances putting the wood at the fore and narrowing some of the expression but there's so much to like with a long, spiced finish. Harvest 28 August to 2 September. Yield of 30hl/ha. Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud consultants. HVE3 and Bee friendly certified. Rolland & Associés consultants. Drink 2025 - 2036.
93 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterMint, white peach, green apples, and pear aromatics open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is ripe, creamy, and focused on its wealth of sweet, yellow citrus, pineapple, white peach, and orange rind notes in the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon and 2% Muscadelle. Picking took place August 28 - September 2. Drink from 2025-2035.
95 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
- 96
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- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau ClinetPomerol, Bordeaux, FRANCE$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenClosure: CorkGiven Chateau Clinet are situated on some of the finest terroir in Pomerol, the wines from here are relatively under the radar relative to some of the most revered wines from the region. Planted to 88% Merlot, 11.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 0.5% Cabernet Franc, the wines are typically supple with generous richness and complexity. However, as with many in the area, production is small with an average of 3,200 cases produced annually.
Other Reviews....
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that represents the earliest harvest in this estate's history (beginning on September 6), the 2022 Clinet is a success, offering up aromas of cherries and dark berries mingled with hints of spices and a discreet patina of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, it's impressively vibrant, with a rich core of fruit framed by powdery tannins from judicious extraction. This has more in common with the more refined 2018 and 2019 vintages at this address than with the powerhouse 2020, and that is no mean feat in an even more extreme vintage. Bravo to Ronan Laborde and his team.
94-96+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Clinet is a very sexy, racy wine. Dense and pliant, with striking silkiness, the 2022 offers up an exciting mélange of blackberry, sage, graphite, crushed rocks, lavender and menthol. This needs time to open, but it's classic Clinet. The 2022 spent 30 days on the skins (on the higher side here), with one pumpover per day. Élevage was 18 months in French oak barrels, 80% new. Drink 2027-2047.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousIntense aromas of dark violets and blueberries as well as terra-cotta follow through to a full body, yet it’s tight and focused with beautifully framed fruit from polished tannins and a long and rather endless finish. A complete and fresh Pomerol in 2022. Drink after 2031.
97 points
James SucklingThe 2022 Château Clinet showed beautifully, with an almost Médoc-like style in its darker cassis, graphite, cedar pencil, and tobacco aromas and flavors. Full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe, velvety tannins, a round, layered mouthfeel, and remarkable purity. Pomerol was one of the erratic appellations in 2022, but this beauty does everything right and brings a beautiful mix of richness and elegance. It should round into form with just short-term bottle age and evolve for two decades. The blend is the usual 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
96-98 points
Jeb DunnuckStreamlined and sleek, silky smooth but also gorgeously textured, clean and clear with grip and interest. Less fleshy and chewy than some, more charming and elegant with tannins that have a weight in the mouth. There is clear power and concentration underneath the juicy acidity with a straight backbone and direct energy from start to finish. Appealing layers of salinity, blackcurrant fruit, creamy vanilla, cool cola touches and crushed stones on the finish. Feels well made and sophisticated. 3.74pH. A yield of 34hl/ha. Earliest harvest ever starting on 6 September for Merlot and 20 and 21 September for Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2025 - 2045.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterInky, dark in color, the wine explodes from the glass with its floral display before moving to its wealth of dark red pit fruits, chocolate, truffle, wild cherry, and mint aromas. However, it is the velvet-drenched layers of dark fruit, opulent-textures, and cashmere tannins where the wine really takes off. The finish is pure hedonistic-decadence that must be felt to be believed. You have plenty of time to experience it as the fruits remain on your palate for over 60 seconds! This is Pomerol. and Clinet at its best! The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV, 3.75 pH. Harvesting took place September 6, September 21. This is the earliest start to a vintage in the history of Clinet. Yields were 34 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2060.
97-99 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Clos FourtetSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$335. 00Bottle$4020.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
Now incorporating the vineyards of the former Grand Murailles, the 2022 Clos Fourtet is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, rose petals, orange zest and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's deep and complete, with a layered core of vibrant fruit and a long, saline finish. This is another terrific wine from this 19-hectare vineyard situated on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, just outside the village. It's a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.
94-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Clos Fourtet is every bit as compelling as it was en primeur, maybe even a bit more so. Vertical and explosive, the 2022 offers a captivating mix of textural opulence and classic structure. The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. One of the key signatures of Clos Fourtet is the presence of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is rarely seen on the Saint-Émilion plateau but seems to add weight and gravitas here. Dark blue fruits, new leather, spice, menthol and espresso stain the palate as the 2022 gradually reveals its considerable pedigree. The 2022 was raised in a mix of 58% once-used barrels, 40% new oak and 2% amphora. More importantly, it is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Drink 2032-2062.
99 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThis is broad and opulent with a full body and fine-grained, velvety tannins. Deep dark fruit, crushed violets and spices. Structured, layered and really long. Wow. So long and refined with great clarity.
97-98 points
James SucklingHarvested around the 9th of September and based on 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc (it also includes grapes from the discontinued Grandes Murailles bottling), the 2022 Château Clos Fourtet reveals a vivid purple hue as well as aromatics of black cherries, blackberries, white flowers, and crushed stone. A quintessential Saint-Emilion from the upper plateau, it has an incredible sense of minerality as well as full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, a vibrant sense of freshness, and a great finish. The 2020 was brought up in 40% new barrels, with the balance in once-used oak and a tiny portion in clay amphora. Tasted twice.
96-98 points
Jeb DunnuckGorgeous perfume on the nose, roses and violets, floral, expressive and so inviting. Sleek and straight from the start, the grip comes almost straight away - a crushed stone and graphite edge to the tannins giving cool freshness as well as bite. Feels suave and controlled, nothing too much or out of place. Refined and supremely elegant but still with a serious and dark core, it’s powerful and intense but that comes a few minutes after the playful juiciness and lively acidity settles. Complete and cool and puts you in St-Emilion on limestone with an inescapable and intense salty grip. Confident and supremely well made with a light touch. A yield of 36hl/ha. 3.54pH. Ageing 14-18 months; 40% new barrels, 58% second wine, 2% amphora, in underground cellars. Harvest 9 September - 27 September. Derenoncourt consultants. Drink 2025 - 2045.
97 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterWith a dark, almost purple hue, the wine expresses flowers, licorice, smoke, black cherries, blue fruits, spice, salt and oyster shell. The fruits on the palate are long, rich, elegant, deep, and ripe. There is concentration, silky tannins, vibrancy, length and strong, mineral-influences on the mid-palate, and in the opulent, lively, long and intense finish. This is the first vintage where the parcels of Grandes Murailles were integrated into Clos Fourtet. The wine blends blending 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV, 3.54 pH. The harvest took place, September 9 - September 27. Drink from 2027-2055.
97-99 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Lynch BagesPauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE$375. 00Bottle$4500.00 DozenClosure: CorkAlong 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....
One of the vintage's most powerful, muscular wines is the 2022 Lynch-Bages, a full-bodied, broad-shouldered Pauillac that unfurls in the glass with aromas of cassis, cherries, mint, pencil shavings and petroleum jelly, framed by nicely integrated new oak. Liberally extracted, its deep core of fruit is underpinned by an imposing chassis of rich, powdery tannin and lively acids. Always rather forbidding from barrel, Lynch Bages always seems to come together in bottle, and the 2022 has the makings of another success for this address.
93-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Lynch-Bages has a showstopping bouquet that is well defined, very pure and focused, displaying black fruit laced with cedar and graphite. Hints of pressed violet emerge with aeration. This has actually gained pixelation in barrel. The palate is taut and crisp, with touches of graphite flourishing with aeration so that it could only come from Pauillac. There's plenty of energy coiled up in this Lynch Bages. The 2022 will give a lot of pleasure over the next 30 years or more. Superb. Drink 2032-2075.
96 points
Neal Martin - VinousA terrific Lynch from a hot vintage with blackcurrants, mint, dried lavender, graphite and thyme on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied, it shows fantastic tannins with a lovely texture that reminds me of cashmere, becoming slightly chewy in the finish. Give this four to five years of bottle age. Try after 2028.
98 points
James SucklingThe Grand Vin 2022 Château Lynch Bages checks in as 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It actually reminds me slightly of the 2019, and while it's a classic Lynch Bages powerhouse, it has beautiful balance and purity. Cassis, graphite, lead pencil, and chalky minerality all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with terrific tannins and a layered, incredibly impressive profile that continues to open and evolve with time in the glass. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
96-98+ points
Jeb DunnuckBlackcurrant and bramble fruit with savoury herbal nuances on the nose, this smells rich and potent. Tense and focussed, compact from the get go, present tannins give grip and hold. This is definitely not out to charm, more serious, stern and focussed but there's such overall precision. This is in high definition, supremely controlled and well worked with mouthfilling ripe tannins. I like the chewy aspect and there’s balancing acidity, hidden now by the density, that will sustain the wine for decades to come. Floral notes and some minerality come through giving the nuance so it’s not all heft, but there’s clear muscle on show. A long finish gives the sense of structure and style. An impressive wine. 95 IPT. 3.71pH. Ageing 18 months, 75% new oak. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 4.1 g/L total acidity. Harvest 12 September - 24 September. Drink 2030 - 2050.
97 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterOpaque in color, the wine is packed with with smoky cassis, blackberries, tobacco leaf, black cherries, licorice, flowers, chocolate, and blackberry liqueur. Powerful, full-bodied, rich, dense and intense, the wine is long, vibrant and intense. 2022 is a palate staining wine with never before seen levels of concentration. But, even with all that concentration, the wine remains balanced, fresh, and Pauillac in style. The finish holds your attention for 50 seconds or more while it builds and refreshes. The wine blends 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, 14.2% ABV. 3.71 pH. The harvest took place September 12 - September 24. The yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced from 70% of the harvest. Drink from 2027-2060.
96-98 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Larcis DucasseSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$265. 00Bottle$3180.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 15 Years (2025-2040)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkRich, powerful and opulent yet robust with an impressively long finish.
A blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, wine critic Jeb Dunnuck recently rated this his number one wine in his Top 100 Wines of 2025. Dense inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Intense blackcurrant aromas are complimented by some liquorice, black cherry, spicy vanillin cedar, tobacco, delicate dusty earth and subtle dried herb notes. Rich, powerful and opulent yet possessing a robust structure, the medium to full bodied palate is flooded with blackcurrant, liquorice and black cherry fruits. Lying underneath is some nicely integrated toasty vanillin cedar, earth, tobacco, dried herb and spice elements. A ripe yet firm tannin structure lends a chewy feel to the impressively long finish.
Drink over the next 10-15 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews....
One of the more muscular, concentrated 2022s in my tastings, the 2022 Château Larcis Ducasse sports a deep ruby/plum hue to go with serious aromatics of ripe red and black cherries, smoked tobacco, new leather, truffle, and an incredible sense of crushed stone-like minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and massively concentrated on the palate, this intense, flawlessly balanced, voluptuous 2022 has a stacked mid-palate, velvety tannins, and fabulous length on the finish. I wouldn't be surprised to see this close down with 3-4 years of bottle age only to re-emerge after a decade. Based on 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc raised in 40% new oak, this modern-day legend has a terrific pH of 3.48 and an alcohol of 14.8%.
Drink 2037-2077.
100 points
JebDunnuck.com
This is marked by the chalky tannins, which are very cohesive and caressing. The ripe and dry year gave a more savory character to the wine, with notes of mussel shells, fine spices and dried orange peel coloring the fruit. Medium to full body with a compressed mouthfeel from the vibrant, powdery tannins. Drink or hold.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com
Less super-ripe than was sometimes the case in the past, the 2022 Larcis Ducasse has a completely seductive bouquet of cassis, mulberries, licorice, pencil lead and menthol, combining beautiful spices and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it's seamless and concentrated with a multidimensional core of fruit, velvety tannins, a vibrant mid-palate and a long, saline finish. Drink 2028-2042.
95+ points
Yohan Castaing – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
The 2022 Larcis Ducasse is a huge, vertical wine. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2022 will need quite a few years to shed some of its considerable baby fat. Dense dark red fruit, new leather, licorice, rose petal and mocha are all broadly sketched. Imposing and vertical in build, this is immensely promising. The 2022 spent 14 months in oak (40% 225-liter barrels, 40% 500-liter barrels and 20% foudre), then three months in cement. I can't wait to see how this develops. Tasted two times. Drink 2030-2062.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous
Smells gorgeous, black fruits, milk chocolate and floral notes. Supple and lively, crystalline and pure, you get both the juicy, fleshiness of the dark and concentrated fruit but with tension and detail and definition. Clarity and bite, this really works and delivers everything you want in terms of tannins, minerality, freshness and density. Controlled and purposeful and keeps a quiet confidence and strong intensity the whole way through. Clearly powerful, but refined and sophisticated. Compelling, darkly seductive and oh so drinkable. A fantastic wine in the making. Harvest 9 - 23 September. Ageing 16-18 months; 60% new barrels, 40% one wine (225L and 400L). Derenoncourt consultants. Drink 2025 - 2040.
97 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterThe dark, purple hue stands out. Licorice, smoke, oyster shell, espresso, black cherries, and plums are all over the perfume. The wine explodes from the glass with its layers of opulent, black and red fruits, dark chocolate, espresso, smoke and chocolate on the palate. Full-bodied, powerful, and most importantly pure, there is a depth of flavor, and richness on the mid-palate that sticks with you through to the extended, mineral-driven finish. I would not be surprised to see this score even higher once it is in the bottle. The wine blends 86% Merlot with 14% Cabernet Franc, 14.6% ABV, 3.5 pH. The harvest took place September 13-September 23. Yields were 34 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2055.
97-99 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Pape ClementPessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE$225. 00Bottle$2700.00 DozenClosure: CorkNamed 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 wine is 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.
Other Reviews....
The 2022 Pape Clément is a classy, elegant wine. Soaring aromatics open first. On the palate, the 2022 is vibrant and explosive, with terrific depth and exceptional balance. Today's wines here are simply striking because of their energy and verve. Those qualities help make Pape Clément one of the most changed wines in Bordeaux over the last decade or so. Red/purplish fruit, blood orange, cinnamon, new leather and sage are some of the many notes that linger on the sustained finish. The 2022 is a superb Pape Clément. Tasted three times. Drink 2028-2047.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThis is a very structured 2022 with powerful tannins that run the length of the wine. Yet it’s perfumed and fresh with flowers and subtle undertones of stone. Pure. It’s full but not heavy with backbone and structure. Lots of crushed stone and currants. One of the most transparent you Pape’s I have tasted. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet sauvignon.
97-98 points
James SucklingA full-bodied, concentrated, awesome Pessac, the 2022 Château Pape Clément offers up loads of spiced red and black fruits, some leafy tobacco, gravelly earth, and graphite aromatics, building, ripe, polished tannins, and a stacked mid-palate. Beautifully done, with remarkable purity and a great finish, it's going to rank with the crème de la crème of the vintage and is well worth seeking out.
96-98+ points
Jeb DunnuckFocussed and charming, good weight and depth, the tannins come into play almost straight away coating the mouth in fine but plump, fleshy black fruit with cool blue fruit touches and high acidity giving a different, lighter nuance. Well made, with good definition. Not as lively as some, but has supreme complexity and shine, everything feels well worked with touches of oak, liquorice spice and clove that dot the palate. Strong and serious but confident and controlled. A thoroughbred. Tightly knitted but still showing glamour. Harvest 7-27 September. Bee friendly, HVE3 certified. Celebrating 770 vintages in 2022. Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud consultants. Drink 2025 - 2045.
95 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterDark, almost opaque in color, the wine grabs your attention with its showy display of flowers, cinnamon, chocolate, spice, tobacco, blackberries, and black cherries in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is rich, lush, sweet, deep, and intense. There is a wealth of flavor in the black cherries, white pepper, dark chocolate, and espresso on the palate. The endnote sticks for almost 50 seconds, delivering a peppery, orange rind, refreshing note in the finish. The wine blends 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14% ABV, 3.6 pH. The harvest took place September 7 - September 28. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2055.
96-98 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau Joanin BecotCastillon Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkRich, polished entry with juicy red to black fruits, fresh acidity and a sturdy tannin structure.
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Dense midnight black core with a vibrant dark red black tinged hue. Alluring ripe red currant aromas intermix with red liquorice, fresh herb, violet, spicy cedar and delicate earth notes. The rich, polished entry onto the palate is laden with juicy red to black currant and liquorice fruits which meld into a spicy vanillin cedar, dusty earth, delicate graphite and fresh herb infused back drop. Bright fresh acidity enhances the juicy feel with a sturdy tannin structuring lending a gentle muscularity across the long, deeply fruited finish. Delicious drinking now but can also be cellared for a further 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews....
Full and fruity nose, expressive and ripe, nicely perfumed and expressive. Clean and clear, extremely mineral, graphite, pencil lead and flint stone notes on the palate alongside clear blue fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants and some red summer berries. Super smooth in terms of texture but also quite lean in terms of fruit flavour, this has bite and tang, a touch austere but also really quite juicy and floral too. Needs a bit of time, but feels precise and focussed with grip and intensity. I like the fruitiness, really quite upfront but keeping the liveness and energy. Succulent and nicely sweet touches with juicy acidity. Easy enjoyment, plush, mineral, all in balance. 3.6pH. 12% press wine. A yield of 39hl/ha. Drink 2026-2044.
92 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterOne of my favorites this year and surely a wine that punches above its weight, the 2022 Joanin Bécot reveals a perfumed, vibrant bouquet of iris, lilac, dark berries, licorice and violet. Medium to full-bodied, supple and satiny, it's lively and juicy with a fresh core of fruit, bright acids and fleshy texture, concluding with a fresh, ethereal and mouthwatering finish. This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is a real success and worth hunting down. Drink 2025-2032.
92+ points
Yohan Castaing - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateI loved the 2022 Château Joanin Bécot, a juicy, lively, nicely balanced Castillon that has perfumed red fruits as well as the classic mineral and floral nuances of the region. It's medium-bodied, has integrated acidity, and a great finish. The blend is 80/20 Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the cooler, limestone Castillon region east of Saint-Emilion, and this beauty will drink well for 10-15 years if well stored. Readers could do much worse than a case of this in the cellar. Drink 2025-2040.
91 points
Jeb Dunnuck -
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2022 Chateau Rauzan-SeglaMargaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 20 Years (2025-2045)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkExceptionally deep, layered and rich yet showcasing Margaux’ trademark refinement and class.
Magnificent depth of colour featuring a pitch black heart and near equally deep dark red black hue. Soaring out of the glass is a kaleidoscope of aromas that includes violet, blackcurrant, subtle liquorice, vanillin cedar, earth, dark chocolate, dried herb, tobacco and spice scents. Exceptionally deep, layered and rich yet showcasing Margaux’ trademark refinement and class, the mid weighted palate is flooded with fleshy blackcurrant, liquorice and dark cherry fruits. Sweet earth, vanillin cedar, tobacco, dark chocolate and spicy dried herb elements unfold across the back half. Magnificent power with the beautiful tannin structure seamlessly integrated with the fruit. Concludes very long with exquisite finesse.
Drink over the next 10-20 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews....
The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is showing well in bottle, unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with licorice, burning embers and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, ample and velvety, it's suave and seamless, with its dense core of fruit framed by powdery structuring tannins that lend a more evident backbone than it exhibited en primeur. As readers may remember, the 2022 is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot; and in 2022, the east-facing sides of the vines, which see the afternoon sun, were picked separately, along with anything that showed signs of stress. Drink 2030-2055.
96 points
William Kelley – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is a classy, elegant wine. Even so, the 2022 very clearly lacks the immediacy of some surrounding vintages. Readers should be prepared to cellar this for a number of years The mid-weight, gracious presence of Rauzan-Ségla is very much present, and yet the tannins are pretty imposing. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, graphite and white pepper are all beautifully delineated in the glass. The 2022 is pure and total sophistication. This is a wine that may very well have more to say in the future. Tasted four times. Drink 2032-2062.
97+ points
Antonio Galloni - VinousAromas of blueberries and blackberries with walnuts and hints of tar that follow through to a medium to full body with plush and velvety tannins and a lovely, caressing mouthfeel. It closes up at the end. Extremely long, pure and structured. Classic 72% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot and 2% petit verdot. From organically grown grapes. Give this at least until after 2030 to open and come around.
98 points
James Suckling
The flagship 2022 Château Rauzan-Ségla checks in as 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot, all aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. It's much more focused and precise compared to the second wine and has brilliant aromatics of crème de cassis, crushed violets, graphite, and smoky oak. Gorgeously concentrated and full-bodied, with riveting purity and precision, this stunning Margaux has ripe yet building tannins, a terrific mid-palate, and flawless overall balance. I love it today yet 7-8 years of cellar are warranted and it will cruise over the following 3-4 decades in cold cellars. It's another sensational wine from this estate. Drink 2033-2073.
98 points
JebDunnuck.com
Gorgeously fragranced on the nose with perfumed black fruits and pink flowers - smells very Margaux. Clean and crisp, a beautiful precision from the start with ripe and rich fruit but cool fresh acidity and sleek, fine tannins. A little shy, still compact and tightly knitted, but lovely detail, so well worked, almost delicate but there's still quite fleshy, plush fruit. Excellent concentration but delivered with an easy sleight of hand, expanding with time in the glass. Glamorous, scented, inviting, deep and seductive. A brilliant and totally moreish wine. Yield of 30hl/ha. 3.7pH. 17% press wine. Harvest 2-28 September. Ageing in French oak for 14-16 months, 15% new. In organic conversion. Tasted twice. Drink 2029 - 2048.
97 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterDark in color, the array of floral notes shoot out with violets, lilacs, and roses. From there you find truffle, red and black fruits, cigar box and cedar also come through in the nose. While the perfume is catchy, it is on the palate where the wine takes off. Texturally, the wine is drenched in velvet. There is intensity, richness, and concentration, as well as weightlessness on the palate. With this wine, the seamless finish must be felt, as well as tasted. The wine is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot. This marks the highest percentage of Cabernet in the blend and with 17% press wine in the blend, it is the highest portion of press wine as well. 14.5% ABV, 3.7 pH. The harvest took place September 2 - September 28. This is the earliest start to a harvest for Rauzan Segla. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced from 50% of the harvest. Drink from 2027-2065.
96-98 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 L'IfSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$430. 00Bottle$5160.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Aromas of raspberries, cherries, spices and bay leaf introduce the 2022 L'If, a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy wine that's taut and vibrant, built around lively acids and fine, chalky tannins. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the decision to halve the volume of pump-overs have delivered a suave Saint-Émilion, even in this structured vintage.
93-95 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 L'If is seriously beautiful. Dark, racy and layered, the 2022 captures all the natural intensity of the year and yet remains so polished. L'If is 80% Merlot (from four parcels) and 20% Cabernet Franc (from two parcels), spread across Saint-Émilion. The 2022 spent 14 months in French oak, 50% new. A touch more Cabernet Franc than in the early days and a parcel on the St. Etienne de Lisse plateau (from 2020 on) have added more aromatic freshness and vivacity here, which is especially beneficial in torrid vintages. As good as the 2022 is today, I get the impression there is a lot in reserve. Drink 2028-2044.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA curious wine that offers lots of fruit character on the nose, beginning with blackberries and flowers that move to integrated tannins, proceeding to a firmness and a well-framed palate. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc. This needs four or five years but is lovely already.
98 points
James SucklingComing from the limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion, the 2022 Château L'If is based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new oak. This is a mineral-bomb, delivering ample black raspberry fruit and floral nuances, full-bodied richness, a layered, ripe, textured mouthfeel, and outstanding length. Harvested from September 14-26, with an alcohol level of 14.3% and a pH of 3.52, it's an utterly classic Saint-Emilion that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and have 20-25 years of overall longevity. This might be the finest vintage I've tasted.
94-96 points
Jeb DunnuckFlowers, wild cherries, plums, spices,, and crushed rocks show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is lively, crisp and fresh, but there is also a depth of flavor. The berries are ripe, sweet, and energetic. But with the 2022, you can really feel the influence of the limestone. The wine is upbeat, and vibrant, with an elegant textures and a spicy tone to the finish. This remains one of the new stars of St. Emilion, and is a wine to follow before prices jump. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, 14.3% ABV, pH 3.51. The harvest took place September 14 - September 26. Drink from 2027-2055.
96-98 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Pichon-Longueville BaronPauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE$475. 00Bottle$5700.00 DozenClosure: CorkChateau 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....
Aromas of sweet dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and licorice introduce the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron, a full-bodied, layered and multidimensional wine that's deep, dense and lively, with terrific concentration, sweet tannins and a long, penetrating finish. Integrated and serious, this hints at the lavishness inherent to the vintage, while remaining classic and controlled. This blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot was bottled in June. Drink 2032-2065.
98 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2022 Pichon Baron is one of the most elegant, polished wines I have ever tasted here. Silky and refined, the 2022 is super-impressive right out of the gate. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. Blood orange, herbs and floral notes lend notable delineation to a core of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. As I did en primeur, I find the wine's balance nothing short of exquisite. There's more freshness and vibrancy here than in the past, along with a noticeably lower oak imprint and more sensual tannins that lend notable sophistication throughout. The Grand Vin spent 16 months in French oak barrels, 70% new, and then two months in wood vats prior to bottling. Drink 2030-2062.
98 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousWhat a nose with complex aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, graphite and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, this has layers of tannins and intense richness but is framed and held together by the phenolic structure. Vertical and deep, it goes on for minutes on the palate. Great finish. 81% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot. Give this five to six years to come together more. Best after 2030 and beyond.
98 points
James SucklingI loved the Grand Vin 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, which is based on 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that will spend 18 months in 70% new oak. It's not the most showy or exuberant 2022, yet it shines for its incredible class and purity, as well as balance. It has a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated profile (no surprise) with its focused, precise, inward style that still brings gorgeous depth and richness. Cassis, graphite, espresso roast, crushed stone and spring flowers are just some of its nuances, and where many 2022s are broad and mouth-filling, this stays tight, compact, and focused, with a wonderful mix of elegance, concentration, and richness. The 2022 is pulled from 48% of the total production, and it's going to warrant 7-8 years of bottle age and have 50+ years of overall longevity.
96-98 points
Jeb DunnuckBeautiful fragrance, lots of fresh and ripe black and red bramble fruit - so alive and expressive on the nose with liquorice, wet stones and cedar spicing. Smooth, ample and full in the mouth, but not overly textured or plush. There’s a real refinement to the tannic structure, clearly giving the frame to the wine but detailed and precise with edges of liquorice, slate, dark chocolate, cedar and tobacco. It balances richness, intensity and concentration with sleekness, bright acidity and a real charm to the juicy fruit. Rich and tense, just giving a hint of it’s potential, clearly powerful but totally seductive too. A sublime wine in the making. Ageing 18 months in French oak, 70% new, 600% one wine. Drink 2030 - 2047.
97 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterWith a solid depth of color, the wine jumps from the glass with its show display of licorice, black fruits, lead pencil, currants, lavender, cocoa, and spice in the aromatics. The show-stopping palate is rich, intense, long, concentrated, spicy, and most importantly, concentrated and pure. While your palate bathes in the wine, the sensation is all about its freshness, purity and length. The first vintage produced with the efforts of the estates new Technical Director, Pierre Montegut is a resounding success. This is clearly one of the best vintages in the history of Pichon Baron! The wine blends 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot. 14.3% ABV, 3.63 pH. The harvest took place September 8 - October 3. Yields were 34 hectoliters per hectare. 48% of the harvest went into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2028-2065.
97-99 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Phelan SegurSaint Estephe, Bordeaux, FRANCE$140. 00Bottle$1680.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2022 Phélan Ségur was picked between 14 and 26 September, 9 out of 13 days with one plot immediately after another, using selected indigenous yeasts for around half the production. It was cropped at 28hL/ha with 14.2% alcohol at the moment, the pH is 3.8. This year contains higher Merlot (56%) due to its higher yield than Cabernet (frost and berry size). On June 20 at 8.15pm, three blocks were hit by hail that was horizontal accompanied by 25mm of rain within 10 minutes. This cost them 30% production overall. "We did less extraction at the end of the alcoholic fermentation and stopped the pumping over two days earlier at 1.010 [which without getting too technical is the Gravity of one liter of must relative to one liter of distilled water] and did more like an infusion." Aged in 55% new oak, it has an enticingly pure bouquet with blackberry and bilberry fruit, blackcurrant, iris flower and light iodine scents. Very intense and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, a liberal sprinkling of freshly cracked black pepper laced over the black fruit. A quintessentially Saint-Estèphe with a structured and very persistent finish. Allowing the wine to open in the glass, it reveals impressive depth (more so than the 2019 and 2020) and precision. This will require several years in bottle, but it will certainly be worth the wait. Drink 2030-2065.
95-97 points
Neal Martin - VinousLoads of fruit here. Energetic, with layers of tannins. Full-bodied. It builds at the end and opens like a butterfly. Hints of minerals and iron. Best ever? 56% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot.
96-97 points
James SucklingI was lucky enough to be able to taste the 2022 Château Phélan Ségur on multiple occasions, and it always impressed, offering a deep purple hue as well as a ripe, powerful bouquet of darker currant and cassis-like fruits interwoven with leafy herbs, tobacco, and chocolate. A ripe, full-bodied, opulent wine, it has beautiful tannins, a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, and a great finish. It’s going to be as good, if not better, than the 2018 and 2019, and I continue to love what director Véronique Dausse accomplishes at this address.
94-96 points
Jeb DunnuckA delicious and well-constructed wine from the Phélan team in 2022. Polished, balanced and just so drinkable - proximity to the river and clay soil helping keep freshness in the hot and dry conditions. A gorgeous texture straight away, clean and clear, juicy, vibrant and grippy with a chalky, flint and graphite element to the fine tannins. You really feel they've taken the best the vintage had to offer with precise definition to all the elements; ripe bramble and cherry fruit, high acidity with a wonderful spiced and mineral signature from the St-Estephe terroir. A combination of power and charm that builds in structure and intensity while keeping a mouthwatering energy from start to finish. A top buy - and could be upscored in bottle! Tasted four times throughout April and loved it every time. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.8pH. 96IPT. Harvest took 13 days in total, from 14 - 26 September whereas the last three years picking has started on the 24th September. A yield of 28hl/ha. 75% grand vin production. The team have also been working for the past few years on different yeasts for fermentation in order to get more precision and a stronger link to the vineyards. 50% of production in 2022 was vinified using natural yeasts - five strains taken from five plots and used to vinify grapes from each of their respective parcels. Julien Viaud consultant. HVE/Terra Vitis. Drink 2027 - 2039.
95 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterDeep in color, the wine is smoky, with chocolate covered plums, black raspberries, spices, violets, and cinnamon coming through in the nose. The wine is rich, lush and polished. The fruits are dark, ripe, sweet, and fresh, leaving you with a finish packed with powdered chocolate, black cherries, turmeric, black currants, plums, licorice, and espresso. This should be quite enjoyable on release. The wine blends 56% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 14.2% ABV, 3.8 pH. Harvesting took place September 14, - September 26. Yields were only 28 hectoliters per hectare. 2025-2045.
94-96 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider - Glenfarclas 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$11999. 00Bottle$143988.00 DozenABV: 50%
With an inventory to rival the likes of Macallan, Glen Grant and Glenlivet, Glenfarclas have tapped into their deepest whisky stocks launching a 50-year-old malt. It’s not the first time the venerated producer has released an expression this old - a 2016 was part of a Collector Series and a 2019 sherry matured expression was another, both offered in extremely limited quantities). Capping off winning Distiller of the Year at the 2023 Icons of Whisky Awards, the latest bottling is intended to celebrate Chairman John Grant’s five decades in the whisky industry. He is one reason why the brand itself has remained independent in a world of rampant distillery conglomeration. Selected by Distillery Manager, Callum Fraser and Managing Director, Douglas Belford, the liquid takes you back a half century to when Douglas MacDonald led the operation.
“Creating products like Glenfarclas 50-Year-Old is the reason I come to work,” said Fraser. “To me, this dram is exquisite. It has an incredible depth of character and showcases every element of the whisky making process–from the earthy smell of the dunnage warehouse through to the light, natural smokiness of the Speyside peat that was used back then and the unique taste of the water we use in our production process. A whisky that evolves over time, both on the nose and on the palate, is truly exciting as it’s ever changing and developing. I hope the distillery manager in 50 years time is as impressed as I am by the quality of the spirit we are laying down for the future, today.”
With a full term in Spanish sherry casks, official tasting notes include marzipan, almond and cedar on the nose, followed by a touch of smoke, stewed apple, dark chocolate and toffee on the palate. Limited to just 836 bottles globally, the liquid is contained in a Glencairn vessel encased in a sleek presentation box with sliding latch door. Typically, prices increase exponentially once age statements exceed 25-30 years. No question this edition belongs in very exclusive company, but compared with what Macallan, Glenfiddich or Bowmore at fifty years of age would fetch, the outlay for this rarity remains reasonable. Investment grade / collectable. Very limited stocks.
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2022 Chateau Fleur CardinaleSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2022 Fleur Cardinale is soft, open and forthcoming. Dark fruit, chocolate, sweet spice, leather and licorice all open nicely. There's good depth but less in the way of energy or excitement. All the elements are very well balanced. Perhaps I caught this on a quiet day. Tasted two times. Drink 2027-2037.
90-92 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousPlenty of ripe berry and currant character with some freshly cut black cherries. Hints of chocolate. Medium body with firm tannins and a flavorful finish. Yet all in reserve. Crunchy.
95-96 points
James SucklingOne of the finest vintages to date for this estate, possibly eclipsing the 2016, the 2022 Château Fleur Cardinale offers a medium to full-bodied, seamless, incredibly elegant and balanced profile that brings beautiful richness in its ripe black raspberry and cassis fruits as well as some spicy, floral, and herbal nuances. Balanced and nicely concentrated, with ripe tannins, it does everything right in the vintage. (Tasted two times.)
94-96 points
Jeb DunnuckFloral flecks with ripe black fruits on the nose. Straight and linear, concentrated but kept in check by fine and firm tannins that keep the frame relatively narrow and focused from start to finish. Nice purity and clarity of elements with cool blueberries alongside slate, liquorice and crushed stones giving the mineral nuance. Still has tension so you're not getting much width at this point but everything is presented so nicely and formally, all in its place with high acidity making it such an appealing, friendly and drinkable wine. Great stuff from this estate that continues to impress. Yield 38hl/ha. Harvest 19-30 September. Ageing 12-14 months, 72% new French oak barrels, 18% one wine, 7% 30hl foudres, 3% 750l amphora. 3.6pH. Bee friendly. Jean-Philippe fort consultant. Drink 2027 - 2043.
94 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterDark in color, the wine is rich, concentrated, dense, lush, and packed with toasty oak, black plums, licorice, and espresso. Sweet, long, and round, with a chocolate covered black cherry filled finish. The blend is 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. All that extra Cabernet really makes a difference adding more freshness, complexity, and individuality. Drink from 2025-2042.
94-96 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Pavie MacquinSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$240. 00Bottle$2880.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
This site can deliver such powerful, tannic wines that I was left especially impressed by the supple, harmonious style of the 2022 Pavie Macquin. Unwinding in the glass with notions of sweet wild berries, rose petals, spices, violets, bay leaf and new oak, it's full-bodied, deep and vibrant, with a layered core of fruit, bright acids and a long, penetrating finish, where powdery structuring tannins make themselves felt but without any asperity. Of course, this remains a deep and powerful wine, but Nicolas Thienpont and his team continue their shift toward more judicious extraction, with excellent results.
94-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Pavie Macquin is stellar, as it was en primeur. Inky blue/purplish fruit, licorice, new leather, spice and plum run through this powerful Saint-Émilion. Silky in the glass, it boasts plush, seamless tannins and fine balance. As always, Pavie Macquin is very sexy—one of the most sensual and hedonistic wines of the vintage. Drink 2030-2052.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousAnother wine that's going to flirt with perfection is the 2022 Château Pavie Macquin, and this might be the finest vintage I've ever tasted from this address. A blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon, it reveals an inky purple hue as well as a stunning bouquet of pure cassis, liquid black raspberries, truffle, scorched earth, and graphite. Full-bodied, concentrated, and massive on the palate, it may be the largest-scaled Pavie Macquin ever produced. But don't let that scare you off – it stays flawlessly balanced, has pure, fine-grained tannins, and a great finish. I'll be a buyer.
96-98+ points
Jeb DunnuckPerfumed and aromatic, smells rich but not too intensely with roses and soft purple flowers. Succulent and really quite crisp and clear, such clarity to the fruit, with both a sharpness of acidity and mineral bite to the tannins. Liquorice, blue fruits, cool chalky tones. You get a sense of the power and structure, it’s wide and full, thick but keeping the freshness and tension with super high acidity giving the mouthwatering nature and a touch of austerity. Precise and detailed with energy and tension as well as depth and clarity. Great potential. A yield of 31hl/ha. Harvest 23 September - 11 October. Ageing 16 months; 70% new barrels, 30% one wine. Derenoncourt consultants. Drink 2025 - 2045.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterDark garnet in color, the wine offers its nose of cherry blossoms, licorice, black fruits, orange rind, olives, and tobacco leaf profile with ease. The perfect blend of power, elegance, and oceans of fruit, there is a beautiful balance, and harmony here. The opulent, silky fruits deliver purity, length, and freshness that is close to seamless. The sensations linger on the backend long after the wine has left the glass. The wine blends 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.7% ABV, 3.4 pH. The harvest took place September 14-September 20. Drink from 2027-2055.
97-99 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien)Saint Julien, Bordeaux, FRANCE$170. 00Bottle$2040.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
A particular success for this estate, the 2022 Saint-Pierre offers up aromas of cassis, licorice and violets, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's lively and sapid, with powdery structuring tannins and a penetrating finish. Its tannic weight tempers the wine's sweetness of fruit to deliver a classy, nicely balanced result.
93-94+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Saint-Pierre was picked 12-26 September at around 35hL/ha and matured in 48% new oak. It has an intense bouquet with black cherries, iodine and touches of blood orange. Delineated and focused. The palate is where the action is with gorgeous svelte tannins, perfectly judged acidity, harmonious, plush but not overbearing. Velvety toward the finish, yet there is real tenderness here. It actually is reminiscent of Las-Cases at the moment. Drink 2029-2065.
94-96 points
Neal Martin - VinousA real "wow" wine in the making, the 2022 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) checks in as 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. This darker, powerful wine offers up loads of pure cassis and black cherry-like fruits as well as ample chocolate, graphite, and lead pencil nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated, and structured, it nevertheless stays pure, impeccably balanced, and shows a real sense of elegance. The alcohol here is 13.9% and the élevage is in 48% new French oak. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
95-97+ points
Jeb DunnuckSmells dark and deep; dark chocolate, savoury liquorice spice and ripe fruit. Joyously fruity and juicy on the palate with a salty tang that really carries the freshness and sense of minerality. I love the frame and the flavour with intensely grippy tannins but it works, excellently presented with flow and movement, direction and finesse. Cool and classic with great mineral markers of salt, liquorice and crushed stones. Feels sophisticated and really compelling, a great surprise and top buy. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Harvest 12-26 September. Yield of 34hl/ha. Drink 2029 - 2049.
94 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterConcentrated, lush, deep, ripe, full, and intense, the fruits are elegant, creamy, ripe, and polished. There is a purity to the fruits, and a sensuality to the texture that really works here this year. The wine blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. 13.9% ABV. Drink from 2025-2045.
94-96 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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2022 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de LalandePauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE$580. 00Bottle$6960.00 DozenClosure: CorkChateau 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 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is one wine where a comparison with this estate's magical 1982 doesn't appear to be far-fetched. Wafting from the glass with deep aromas of cassis, plums, violets, rose petals, tobacco leaf and pencil shavings, it's full-bodied, supple and fleshy, with a layered, seamless core of fruit that largely conceals its chassis of powdery structuring tannin. Concluding with a long, expansive and beautifully perfumed finish, it's a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that has the potential to equal or even surpass the 2019 and 2016 vintages at this address. It checks in at a very classical 13.6% alcohol and a rather high pH of 3.80.
97-99 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has a very sensual, perfumed, floral bouquet with crushed violets and licorice infusing the black fruit. It needs time to really open in the glass, manifesting more underlying graphite scents with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins and quicksilver thread of acidity. It offers the sensuality of this Pauillac Classed Growth with structure and poise, just firming up a little with time, which is not a bad thing. This estate has enjoyed a scintillating run of form in recent years, and this latest bottled vintage shows that there is no end in sight. Drink 2029-2065.
98 points
Neal Martin - VinousWhat perfect aromas of blackcurrants, lead pencil, violets, blood oranges and blood. Some iron. Medium- to full-bodied, this has incredible tannins that are completely loaded and integrated, melting into the wine with such a glorious mouthfeel. The finish goes on and on, lightly austere in the most sophisticated way. Racy and rigorously focused. 78% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. Try after 2030, but already a new benchmark for this estate.
99 points
James SucklingOne of the gems from Pauillac is unquestionably the 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande, which is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. A hypothetical blend of the 2019 and 2020, it's a full-bodied, concentrated, opulent Comtesse offering beautiful blue fruits, some chocolate, leafy herbs, and undeniable minerality, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. Despite the higher Cabernet Sauvignon component, this stays silky, expansive, and incredibly sexy. It's going to be drinkable with just 4-5 years of bottle age but should have a lengthy drink window. Hats off to director Nicolas Glumineau for another legendary wine from this château.
97-100 points
Jeb DunnuckOne of my favourite wines from 2022, utterly seductive from the first sip, this is a stunning effort that shows the power of Pauillac in 2022 delivered with elegance and class. Heavily scented on the nose, full of dark fruits, savoury notes of salty chocolate and floral scents. Smooth and so appealing in the mouth, the texture stands out, deep and rich but soft and chalky, tannins have a subtle powderiness that spreads the mouth, cooling and refreshing giving the minerality while the cool black and blue fruits linger in layers expanding vertically. This is so refined and polished - it's serious no doubt, not super fun, but it doesn’t need to be, it’s rich and sumptuous with sweet blue fruits balanced by high acidity that keeps the focus and energy. Bright, bold, well worked, clean, crystalline and pure. Somehow delicate and punchy at the same time. A mind-blowing wine that you just have to marvel at with intensity, brightness and vibrancy, building as it goes. A long, clean finish leaves you wanting more, salivating for that next sip. 3.8pH. A potential 100-point wine. 3.8pH. 50% grand vin. Tasted twice. Drink 2030 - 2050.
98 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterWith an inky, dark, garnet hue, the wine asks for a bit of coaxing before its leather, cedar, spice, flowers, truffle, mint, currants and dark cherries show in the perfume. The wine is pure silk on the palate. There are no edges or corners. Everything feels in place. It is completely seamless. The wine is pure, fresh, and expansive. The mid-palate picks up its currants and plums, while the finish holds them in place, and expands in all 4 directions, with perfect balance in its 60-second plus finish. This is the best vintage of Pichon Comtesse ever produced! If you have the extra money, this is the wine to buy as it will provide dividends for decades as it ages and evolves. The wine blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 13.65% ABV, 3.80 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 27. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Only 50% of the harvest goes into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2027-2065.
98-100 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
- 96
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- 93
- 93
- 94
- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau Cantenac BrownMargaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
A few years ago, this estate purchased 22 additional hectares in the heart of the plateau of Margaux, including old vine Cabernet Sauvignon that is now making an appreciable contribution to the blend, and that helps to explain why the 2022 Cantenac Brown is so good. Unwinding in the glass with notes of dark berries, plums, charcoal, pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and elegantly muscular, with a layered core, refined tannins and a penetrating finish. The finest wine that José Sanfins has produced to date, the 2022 only improved during the several weeks I spent in Bordeaux. It's a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot.
94-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Cantenac Brown has an elegant nose, showing pure black cherry, wild strawberry, blackcurrant pastilles and cedar aromas. I appreciate the mineralité here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple but firm tannins, nicely structured. There's a crescendo of fruit toward the mineral-driven finish. Cohesive and full of character, this is another superb Margaux from an estate in the ascendant under winemaker José Sanfins. Drink 2030-2070.
94-96 points
Neal Martin - VinousA solid Margaux with creamy and fine tannins that spread across the palate. Medium-bodied, layered and already delicious. Hints of dried citrus at the end.
93-94 points
James SucklingThe dense purple-hued 2022 Château Cantenac Brown is based on 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot. A beautiful Margaux, it offers lots of smoky red and black fruits intermixed with violets, graphite, and lead pencil-like nuances. With medium to full-bodied richness, a vibrant spine of acidity, and nicely integrated tannins, it plays in the more focused, elegant, pretty end of the spectrum. It's going to reward a solid 5-7 years of bottle age.
93-95 points
Jeb DunnuckJuicy and lively, cool and crisp with concentrated but cool tannins that give the structure and density. It's massy, full, upfront, but retains a charm in that nothing is harsh or austere or too spiced. It's full but there's something very captivating about this, has excitement and vibrancy and will be totally delicious and moreish when the time is right. Lovely acidity, beautiful red fruits, crisp and tense yet layered and ripe, mineral too. Gives you the emotion! Harvest 7-27 September. Ageing in French oak, 60% new, 40% one year old. Drink 2025 - 2045.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterDeeply colored, the wine shows off its violets, lilacs, licorice, black cherry, and currant character with a single swirl. On the palate, the wine is rich, lush, polished, creamy, and loaded with black, red and blue fruits. There is length, opulence, and layers of ripe, sweet, pit fruits that linger. The wine is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot. 13.8% ABV, 3.64 pH. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced using only 52% of the harvest. Picking took place September 7 - September 27. Drink from 2027-2055.
94-96 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
- 97
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- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau Trotte VieilleSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$215. 00Bottle$2580.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The quality of the 2022 Trotte Vieille took me by surprise, but clearly more diligent viticulture, combined with a new winery equipped with fully 26 vats for the estate's 11 hectares of vineyards, is beginning to pay off, as this is the most complete, integrated young wine I have ever tasted at this address. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, rose petals, violets and incense, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with a deep core of vibrant fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a long, saline finish. A blend of fully 50% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot, it derives exclusively from Trotte Vieille's historic clay-limestone walled vineyard.
94-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Trotte Vieille is a hugely intriguing wine. The aromatics alone are wonderfully alluring. Sweet red-toned fruit, mint, blood orange, spice, licorice and rose petal infuse the 2022 with compelling inner perfume. Layered and complex, with tons of character, Trotte Vieille is shaping up to be terrific. In 2022, Trotte Vieille is not as bombastic as it has been in some recent years, and that is a positive. Drink 2028-2052.
94-96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe most structured and impressive Trottevieille I have ever tasted. It is full-bodied yet compacted with a fine velvet texture. Intense finish with super tension and focus. Could move up a notch.
98-99 points
James SucklingMy rough note on the 2022 Château Trotte Vieille included more than one expletive, and this beauty is straight-up gorgeous. Vivid blue fruits, violets, flowers, and chocolate all make an appearance on the nose, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered texture, perfect tannins, and nicely integrated oak. Based on 50% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it remains to be seen if this will ultimately match the magical 2020, but we're not far off. This is a château readers need to have on their radar.
95-97 points
Jeb DunnuckA striking and seriously impressive Trotte Vieille in 2022. Serious and strong aromatically, fully expressive with dark ripe bramble fruits, softly fragrant with gentle perfumed nuances. Bright and alive in the glass, has some tension, a sense of linearity and focus, with not much expansiveness at this point but the tannin detail and definition is exceptional with a soft creamy, chalky, powdery and firm texture. So refined, feels almost light in the mouth but there’s concentration and power underneath with mouthwatering acidity keeping the sense of life. Extremely well constructed with poise and a sense of definition to the overall frame. Very precise and totally moreish in a brooding way. A very complete wine with so much to like. 100% new oak. 60% grand vin. 30hl/ha. 3.70pH. First vintage fully operating in the new gravity fed cellar. Drink 2030 - 2050.
97 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterAlmost opaque in color, the wine pops with black cherries, tobacco leaf, flowers, plums, smoke, and chocolate in the aromatics. The palate is silky, vibrant, and plush. The fruits are deep, intense, long, vibrant, and most importantly, pure. There is length, complexity, opulence, balance and a strong sensation of crushed stones, blackberries, chocolate, and plums in the finish you can taste and feel. TrotteVieille has been on an incredible roll lately. Perhaps, with the aid of their new cellars, this is the best vintage in the history of the estate! The wine blends 50% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.14.5% ABV. The harvest took place September 8 - September 27. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2055.
96-98 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
- 93
- Organic
2021 Highgate Organic ShirazSouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2023-2027)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinCertified organic. Midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Showing plenty of intensity out of the glass are scents of dark plum and liquorice which are trailed by some toasty vanillin oak, earth and spice. Rich, lush dark plum and liquorice fruits flood the mouth with vanillin cedar, subtle scorched earth and pepper lying on the back half. Velvet smooth tannins further enhance the wines opulent feel. Finishes with lick of inky freshness on the juicy, generously endowed aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 93
2021 Narkoojee Tumbarumba ChardonnayTumbarumba, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2023-2028)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinBrilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Nectarine and white peach aromas flow from the glass trailed by hints of grapefruit, biscuit and gun flint. Mid weighted flavours of nectarine and pear show both generosity and elegance over a subtle dried honey, biscuity nougat and flint back drop. Gently fleshy in its feel it finishes with both freshness and length.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 96
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- Nicks Import
2022 La MondotteSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$485. 00Bottle$5820.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2022 La Mondotte is deep and concentrated, unwinding in the glass with brooding aromas of wild berries, licorice, violets and black truffle. Full-bodied, ample and layered, it's deep and youthfully introverted, its concentrated core of fruit girdled by lively acids and sweet, beautifully powdery tannins.
93-95+ points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2022 La Mondotte is another heady wine in this range from the Neipperg family. Inky dark fruit, gravel, pencil shavings, iron, sage and scorched earth infuse the 2022 with notable intensity and tons of brooding, somber character. Readers will have to be patient, as this is a potent, structured Saint-Émilion. I would not plan on opening a bottle anytime soon. The 2022 is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, so a bit more Franc than in some recent years. This spent 35 days on the skins followed by 16 months in French oak, 40% new. It's a superb edition of this wine made from one of the most distinctive sites in the appellation. Drink 2030-2052.
97+ points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThis is so floral with violets and dried rose petals on the nose as well as raspberries and blueberries. Medium-bodied, it has very fine tannins that grow in the finish, giving a salty and chalky impression. Positive austerity at the end. A cooler, higher energy La Mondotte. Wow. Drink after 2029 but already fascinating to taste.
99 points
James SucklingAnother absolute stunner from the Right Bank in the vintage, the 2022 La Mondotte just about jumps out of the glass with its intense yet also complex and elegant profile carrying pure cassis and black raspberry fruit, some crushed stone and violet nuances, medium to full body, ultra-fine tannins, and just awesome length on the finish. It has the inherent richness and power of the vintage yet is seamless, graceful, and just incredibly compelling. Its purity is off the charts. You can safely enjoy bottles today, yet I would still do my best to hide them in the cellar for 7-8 years if you can. It will certainly have 2-3 decades over overall longevity. Drink 2033-2063.
98 points
Jeb DunnuckIntensely floral and perfumed, rich, open and generous - quite intense though, smells a bit ripe and alcoholic. Bold but precise, this has a nice depth and density to the plush, ripe blackcurrant and black cherry fruit. Lovely sharp vein, mineral with bite and tang, slightly strict and tense on the one hand but soft, smooth, round and chewy on the other giving a push-pull of power and vibrancy. Clearly concentrated and powerful but holds interest and will age very well. Quite massy but I love the juicy core and raised acidity that gives it life. Mineral, salty, graphite and stony-laced tannins leave the lasting impression creating a moreish aftertaste. Fresh and finessed, but strong, broad and intense. Yield of 45hl/ha. 40% new oak barrels. Drink 2030 - 2048.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterFlowers, sea salt, mint leaves, licorice, spice, and red fruit aromatics burst on the nose. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, powerful, long, rich, and intense. The fruits envelop your palate with layers of black and dark red fruits, influenced by oyster shells, finishing with uplift, length, depth, and richness. Elegant in nature, the long finish harmonizes its mineral-driven aspect with its power and freshness. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. 2029-2060.
98 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
- 95
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- 97
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- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau Canon la GaffeliereSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$235. 00Bottle$2820.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Canon la Gaffelière exhibits aromas of raspberries and plums, complemented by notions of iris, rose petals, incense and burning embers. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's supple, suave and sophisticated, with a lively core of fruit, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish.
94-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Canon-La-Gaffelière soars out of the glass with a rush of exotic floral and spice notes. Rose petal, mint, white pepper, chalk, lavender and mocha make a strong first impression. Lithe and elegant, but with plenty of understated power, the 2022 is an absolute jewel of a wine. Drink 2030-2052.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousRedcurrants with dark chocolate and hints of fresh herbs like basil and thyme on the nose. Full-bodied with a beautiful center palate and a lovely fine tannin texture. Extremely long. Classy. 35% cabernet franc, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 50% merlot, From organically grown grapes.
97-98 points
James SucklingThe 2022 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière is brilliant stuff and should be snatched up by readers. Black cherries, iron, tapenade, and exotic floral notes all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a layered, opulent mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and no shortage of mid-palate depth or length on the finish. A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that will see 40% new oak, it's a flawlessly balanced, incredibly impressive Saint-Emilion that will have no problems competing with the 2019 and 2020.
95-97 points
Jeb DunnuckRipe perfumed, floral and black fruits on the nose. Intense and concentrated, with tobacco, cherries, violets and crushed stones. Full, chewy and round, plushly textured but keeping a cool and savoury touch to the palate with balancing acidity that keeps the interest and movement. Dynamic and structured, lovely detail and density to this, you have richness but there’s also a vein of sweetness and tension that focuses the wine and gives the definition. Smooth and elegant, not the most vibrant, but the composure and overall character is lovely. Higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than usual in the grand vin. A yield of 47hl/ha. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. A yield of 29hl/ha. A yield of 47hl/ha. 40% new oak barrels. Drink 2030 - 2047.
95 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterDeep, and dark in color, the wine opens with flowers, oceanic influences, plums, smoke, licorice, and black cherries. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, opulent, polished, vibrant, silky and fresh, finishing with multiple layers of chocolate-covered, plums, black cherries, espresso, crushed stones and spices. What makes everything work here is the balance, freshness, and purity in the fruits. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.2% ABV. Drink from 2027-2055.
96-98 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
- 96
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- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau AusoneSaint Emilion, Bordeaux, FRANCE$1999. 00Bottle$23988.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Ausone unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and cherries complemented by hints of crushed mint and spices, framed by a lavish patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and rather muscular, it's deep and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by a serious chassis of rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Given its imposing levels of structuring extract, it will require patience.
94-96+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)The 2022 Ausone, which was the earliest-picked ever on September 5 (although that is later than Cheval Blanc) has another very intense bouquet with layers of plush blackberry, blueberry, crushed violet and incense aromas that are beautifully entwined with the 100% new oak. Hints of blood orange emerge with a few minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins and perfectly pitched acidity. The slightly higher proportion of Cabernet Franc imparts a touch more pepperiness toward the finish. You can feel this on your tongue long after it has departed. There is a surfeit of freshness on the finish. This is an outstanding Ausone that can look forward to a very long future. Drink 2030-2065.
98 points
Neal Martin - VinousWow. This is such a big and beautiful Ausone with huge depth that slowly uncoils. Really powerful, mineral and naturally concentrated, with iron, chalk and a rich, almost opulent core of black fruit, but really fresh, with chiseled tapenade and wood spices that only tiptoe on the nose. Superb intensity hidden beneath the palate, with a matrix of chalky tannins that vibrate, shine and extend. Nothing stops it at the finish, which lasts well over a minute. Almost beguilingly drinkable considering the tannin quality, which is so fine and energetic, but I'd give it at least 3-4 years to let the wood spices integrate more and let the wine grow with more complexity. A bigger Ausone with higher alcohol, but fantastic and rather outrageous. 60% cabernet franc and 40% merlot. This will age well for at least two decades.
98 points
James SucklingThe Grand Vin from this hallowed terroir is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was fermented in wooden vats and will spend 20 months in new barrels. Its saturated purple hue is followed by an up-front, sexy, full-bodied Ausone offering a wealth of fruit as well as notes of black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of spring flowers. Concentrated and incredibly pure, with silky tannins on the palate, it has the texture and fruit to almost shine even now but should still evolve for 30 years or more.
96-98 points
Jeb DunnuckQuite intense nose, strongly perfumed and scented with purple flowers and a mix of red and black fruit. Fragrant with chocolate, tobacco, cedar, cinnamon, crushed stones and liquorice. Aromatically very inviting. Plush and sapid, tannins are ripe but the acidity gives it real tension so you get some intensity of texture and sharpness of fruit on the palate making it a bit serious and tense right now though with lovely detail and lots of precision in terms of tannins and fruit. Mouthwatering acidity is at the fore, really giving some zing and electricity to this while the crushed stones, liquorice and clove spice give the accents around the edges. Clear strength and concentration, such power underneath - you do feel the heat from the alcohol (15.4%!) but the acidity and soft mineral elements help keep the balance and frame though it’s not as demonstrably mineral as some years. Acidity does settle and this expands slowly - keeping the linearity and sense of focus but also giving hints to its power and ageability. Sculpted and well delivered, characterful and confident with long ageing potential. Long finish with graphite, pencil lead and toasted spices on the finish. 3.57pH 85% grand vin, 20,000 bottles. Harvest 5 and 9 September for Merlot, 21 and 27 September for Cabernet Franc. A yield of 38hl/ha. Potential upscore in bottle. Drink 2030 - 2050.
96 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterMint, licorice, spice, incense, blackberries, black cherries, espresso, flowers, crushed stones, spice and cocoa create the attention seeking nose. There is intensity, richness, depth, and energy on the palate. The influence of crushed rocks, stones, and chalk is strong on the palate. The peppery edge to the powerful layers of fruit provide additional complexity, and lift to the dark fruits. The resilient finish coats your palate with layers of salty, dark, sweet, black, red and blue fruits that linger. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Franc with 50% Merlot.15% ABV, 3.57 pH. Harvesting took place September 5-9 for the Merlot and September 21-27 for the Cabernet Franc. Yields were 38 hectoliters per hectare. 1,600 cases were produced. Drink from 2030-2065.
97-99 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
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- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau PalmerMargaux, Bordeaux, FRANCE$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenClosure: CorkChateau 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...
Thomas Duroux and his team opted to wait to pick the 2022 Palmer in pursuit of full maturity, taking advantage of the resilience of the estate's terroirs, and they have followed up with a brilliantly executed élevage that has retained pure, vivid flavors despite the wine's ripeness and unctuosity. Bursting with aromas of blackberries, crème de cassis, mulberries and violets, it's full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a sumptuous core of rich, fleshy fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins, taking on more and more floral nuances as it sits in the glass. This is one of the Médoc's most sensual wines this year. Drink 2030-2055.
97 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2022 Palmer is all class. Blackberry, mocha, spice, leather and espresso all meld together in a seamless, elegant Palmer that impresses with its sublime balance. All the elements are impeccably put together throughout. The only thing this is missing is perhaps a touch more energy. Even so, the 2022 is an exceptional Palmer. Yields were a minuscule 22 hectoliters per hectare. Small berries yielded a deep wine that needs time to fully emerge. As has been the case for a few years now, both Palmer and Alter Ego spend a year in small barrel and a second year in wood, a majority of that (65%) in cask. Drink 2032-2062.
98 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousLots of creme de cassis with cedar, dried flowers, blackberries and dark cherries. Opulent and flamboyant. Full-bodied and layered, this grows with plush, velvety tannins that caress every inch of your palate. Extremely long and attractive in the finish. Well-designed in this ripe year. 51% merlot, 45% cabernet sauvignon, and 4% petit verdot. Best after 2029.
98 points
James SucklingThe Grand Vin 2022 Château Palmer is based on 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare. It's a deep, unctuous, fabulously textured 2022 that does everything right. Ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, liquid violets, and freshly sharpened pencil notes define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, a remarkable floral character, and a great finish. It's a ripe, opulent, incredibly sexy Palmer that will benefit from a decade of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following 30-40 years. Drink 2035-2075.
97 points
Jeb DunnuckRipe and sweet strawberry and cherry fruit alongside milk chocolate and dried flowers on the nose, this smells so inviting. Fleshy and filling, tannins have a gentle grip and crushed velvet texture that is so appealing, gently covering the mouth and slowly expanding the expression. The blackcurrant and cherry fruit is persistent but mint, liquorice and cola accents emerge towards the finish adding layers of nuance. Calm but confident, this is out to please and does so effortlessly. Great acidity and salty bite. It has relaxed since Primeurs, not so taught, but incredibly seductive with undeniable power. Works well with the vintage and still emerges cool and fresh. Drink 2030-2050.
97 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterIf you liked 2018 Palmer, you are going to love the 2022! Produced in a similar style, the wine is ostentatious, flamboyant, and incredibly concentrated, yet it is also elegant, upbeat, and complex. The perfume is on the floral side with spices, and sweet, dark, with red berries. Also, like all the best vintages here, it is the texture that steals owns the show. The palate is pure silk, and velvet, making the perfect backdrop for its non-stop waves of sensuous fruit that start and keep on going, long after the wine has left the glass. The wine blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2029-2065.
99 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider
















































