(95-97 points) Not yet bottled, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is all very old vine Grenache from the sandy soils of the Cristia lieu-dit. Brought up in demi-muids and a mix of new and used barrels, it gives...

Saturated ruby. Assertively perfumed, mineral-tinged red berry, cherry, lavender and incense scents show outstanding clarity and spicy lift. Concentrated yet lively black raspberry, cherry-cola, succulent herb and floral...

A really refined, expressive and layered Clos Apalta with fine olives, incense, cigar box, cocoa powder, Spanish chocolate, pencil shavings, graphite and fine spices. Juicy, bright and full-bodied palate with a fine...

The 2020 Barbaresco Cottá is another fabulous wine in this range from Sottimano. Dark and super-classic in bearing, the 2020 has tremendous stature along with a darker and more somber personality than usual. The balance...

(VN 94-96 points) Inky violet. A wild, smoke- and spice-accented bouquet evokes kirsch, cassis, smoked meat, olive and succulent herbs, with mineral and floral notes emerging as the wine opens up. Firm, sharply etched...

Love the perfume and finesse here with fresh flowers, blackberries, crushed stones and cement. Cedar. Full and very long with tight and muscular tannins that go on for minutes. Tight and thoughtful. Soulful. Try after 2030.

Perfumed aromas of red and black cherries, red licorice, cooking spice and rose water. Medium-to full-bodied with steady acidity that helps to articulate the dark-fruit and tobacco flavors, but retains freshness...

A very lovely and fresh, bright expression of 100% Napa Cabernet with nicely delineated dark fruit, liquorice, and tobacco notes. A wonderfully textured, medium-to-full-bodied wine with tremendous concentration on the...

The 2020 Riesling Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) opens with a clear and savory bouquet of crushed lemon skins and concentrated Riesling berries. Highly delicate and pristine on the palate, this is a...

The wonderful red-cherry fruit with hints of redcurrant and blackcurrant pulls you into this very expressive wine. For all the ripeness, the really striking thing about this is the great vitality, the way it leaps and...

Seaspray and brine lend savoury nuances to penetrating flavours of sun-drenched white peach and honeydew. Augmented with small proportions of botrytised grapes, it's a steely, breathtakingly elegant wine marked with spice...

Jasmine, white peaches, apricots, bananas, crushed stones, almonds and lemon pith on the nose. Shells too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a fresh, vibrant palate. Firm and mineral. From organically grown grapes. Try...

(VN 96-98 points) Opaque magenta. Displays an array of fresh red and dark fruit, floral and spice qualities on the intensely perfumed nose, along with building mineral and succulent herb notes. Vibrant and silky in...

Very attractive nose with ripe blackcurrants, spiced chocolate, grilled thyme, hazelnuts and bacon. Notes of tobacco and cedar, too. Full-bodied, so refined and polished with layers of finely chiselled tannins spread...

This is a glorious 2020 with such pure fruit of currants and blackberries, as well as dark chocolate. It’s full and layered and opens in the glass to a lovely layer of fine, velvety tannins that are bright and citrusy...

The 2020 Chablis Blanchot Grand Cru, half aged in 400-litre oak barrels, has a rather straightforward nose considering the vineyard in question, although it opens with aeration. The oak here is a little obtrusive. The...

The 2020 La Gaffelière is superb. Rich, dense and explosive. Black cherry, gravel, licorice, grilled herbs and menthol race out of the glass. Deep, pliant and explosive, the 2020 is magnificent. At this stage, the 2020 is...

This white starts out rich, turning leaner and focused on the finish, with vanilla, butterscotch, apple tart and lemon flavors that ride a vibrant structure. Shows fine length. Drink now through 2026. - BS

Dried flowers, lots of pot pourri scents on the nose, very aromatic in a floral sense with some rich Cabernet blackcurrant flavours at the back. Smooth and lively, excellent acidity from the get go, this has a nice bounce...

The black olives and dark fruit come through on the nose with violets and wet earth. Full and very chunky and powerful. Yet it’s lively and vivid with excellent energy. Fantastic. Pure merlot. Leave it until 2030.

Very attractive nose with ripe blackcurrants, spiced chocolate, grilled thyme, hazelnuts and bacon. Notes of tobacco and cedar, too. Full-bodied, so refined and polished with layers of finely chiselled tannins spread...

(96-97 points) Very plush and tannic with full body and lots of structure and intensity. Top second wine. Very solid and quite muscular with fine tannins and texture.

The 2020 Château Valandraud Blanc is both deeper and richer, with a more concentrated, medium to full-bodied style as well as incredible aromatics of ripe melon, white fits, lemon, minty herbs, and chalky minerality. With...

Another notable success is the 2020 Fleurie Poncié, a medium to full-bodied, elegant and lively wine evocative of cherries, red berries and rose petals. Structurally refined and charming, it concludes with an expansive...

95+ The 2020 Bernkasteler Lay Auslese opens with a clear, intense and fascinating floral bouquet with (honey) blossom aromas intermingled with refreshing mineral notes of crushed stones. Round and mouth-filling yet very...

How is it possible to marry this kind of syrah power with the extraordinary refinement of this Cote-Rotie? It just glides effortlessly over your palate. Then, right at the end, the power creeps up on you and inexorably...

Elegant and intense, boasting violet, black currant, black cherry, mineral and spice aromas and flavors. Open-knit, yet with light grip on the finish, this should develop nicely over the medium term. Features fine harmony...