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...

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.

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.

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.