The dried-fruit and wet-earth character are eye-catching with some cedar and sandalwood. Full body, tight tannins and super polish and finesse. Velvety. A great second wine of Château Pavie. Try in 2022.

A wine I was able to taste on multiple occasions, the 2015 Troplong Mondot is a tour de force that readers need to snatch up. This cuvee comes from the cool, clay and limestone soils on the upper plateau (it’s the highest...

Quite floral, this shows a wealth of very ripe plums and black cherries. The tannins are powerful with a thread of spicy cinnamon-infused oak. Rippling with power. Yet ever so refined and beautiful. Try around 2025.

As it was recently bottled the nose is a little closed right now, but with a minute in the glass this starts to drum roll, building up flavour and layers of texture. This is going to age beautifully. Just 38hl/ha were...

Sweet floral aromas, as well as potpourri, earth-dusted dark berries and cassis. The palate’s dusty tannins are bathed in rich, dark berry and plum flavors. Great plushness and intensity here. A weighty finish. Drink or hold.

Inviting dark violets on the nose with a fresh earthy undercurrent and intense blueberries, cassis and blackberry fruits. Some orange peel, too. The palate’s silky, smooth, supple and seamless. Superb. Drink or hold.

Subtle and complex aromas of dried flowers, berries, blackberries and black olives. Minerals, limestone and rust to boot. Full-bodied, layered and tannic, yet the phenolic structure is all about strength with finesse. It...

Intense aromas of blackberries, blueberries and spices. Hints of limestone and a graphite edge also come out now. Full-bodied, structured and muscular. Layered and intense. Dark berries and hints of sea salt on the...

The 2015 Tertre Roteboeuf is medium to deep garnet in color. It bursts with a first wave of profound black fruit preserves - prunes, boysenberries, and blackberry jelly - before slowly unfurling to uncover notes of...

Impressive dark plums and mulberries with nicely intertwined spices and violets. Attractive leafiness and sweet, earthy depth. The palate has suave, flowing tannins that carry a plush, plump core of dark-plum and mulberry...

94+ A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new French oak for 18 months, the 2015 Badette is deep garnet-purple in color with pronounced baked plums, crème de cassis and chocolate-covered cherries on...

The level of richness and fruit power captured in this elegant, silky St.-Emilion is impressive. Dark plums, roasted coffee and baking spices are wrapped up in solid, silky tannins. Great depth. Best from 2020.

The 2015 La Closerie de Fourtet is silky, perfumed and quite pretty. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, dried cherry and mint grace this second wine of Clos Fourtet.

(93-94 points) Dense and powerful red with a chewy mouthfeel and loads of ripe fruit. Full body. Velvety tannins. 75% merlot, 25% cabernet franc.

(93-94 points) Dense and powerful red with a chewy mouthfeel and loads of ripe fruit. Full body. Velvety tannins. 75% merlot, 25% cabernet franc.

There’s a very fresh and expressive feel to the nose here. It has a wealth of spiced blueberries and fresh violets. The palate delivers immense concentration of ripe dark plums and black cherries, while the oak sits...

Pure perfection in a glass and unquestionably one of the great vintages for this cuvée, the 2015 Pavie is a blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 80% new French...

Incredibly dense nose of cocoa powder and savory notes. Hard to imagine how a red wine could be more delicious than this beauty, which glides effortlessly over your palate. In spite of all the richness, this is filigree...

(95 points) From an estate owned by the Grégoire family and managed by Julien Salles that’s seeing huge investments and renovation, the 2015 Château Ripeau checks in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up all in...

Subtle and complex aromas of dried flowers, berries, blackberries and black olives. Minerals, limestone and rust to boot. Full-bodied, layered and tannic, yet the phenolic structure is all about strength with finesse. It...