Beautiful fragrance on the nose, blackcurrant and floral reflections with violets. Smells expressive and round. Smooth on the palate, filling but calm and controlled. Suave and sophisticated, plump with lovely high...

The 2022 Couhins Blanc, a blend of 93% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Sauvignon Gris, is showing well today, evoking aromas of white fruits, lemon, lemon peel, spring flowers and fennel. Medium to full-bodied, juicy and enrobing...

(97 + points) Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2019 has a deep garnet-purple color. It has a lifted nose of kirsch and redcurrant jelly, with hints of rose oil, Indian spices, and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate is intense...

(94+ points) Aromas of rich cherries, cassis, burning embers, violets and dark chocolate introduce the 2020 Pape Clément, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine that's ripe, layered and generously extracted but...

This was bottled in September 2024, so at the time of tasting has only been in bottle three months. The blend is 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot, with 70% whole-cluster vinification, and the...

Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion needs a swirl or two to unlock notes of blackberry pie, creme de cassis, and espresso plus nuances of truffle, tapenade, and fragrant soil. The medium to...

93+ Lively, gourmand and pure, the 2022 Blanc from de Fieuzal evokes aromas of verbena, white fruits, flowers and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, enrobing and charming, it's seamless with a fleshy, gourmand core of fruit...

The 2005 Haut Bergey is delightfully aged after just over a decade, with a plummy mauve hue in the glass and a rich, aromatic nose. Plum, blackcurrant, gravel and ash hint at the complexity to come on the palate. Still...

The 2019 de Fieuzal has a deep garnet-purple color. It bursts with ripe notes of prunes, fruitcake, and Chinese five spice, plus touches of dried lavender and black olives. The medium-bodied palate coats the mouth with...

The 2015 Haut Bailly was first tasted at the Farr Vintners tasting, although I felt that this bottle did not show as well. Another at the Vinous Icons event in New York is more representative. Vibrant red berry fruit...

(JD 95-97 points) As to the Grand Vin 2023 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, this beauty checks in as 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot that was fermented with 60% whole cluster, brought up in 70%...

I loved the 2019 Château Latour-Martillac, and I under-rated it from barrel. Revealing a dense ruby/plum color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherry, smoked tobacco, gravely earth, and chocolate, it...

The Bonnie family's estate has produced a richly structured wine, full of the ripe tannins indicative of the vintage. To balance the structure, powerful flavors of black currant and dark berries give ripeness. It is a...

Medium bodied, energetic, soft, earthy expression, that already shows an elegant, easy to drink charm. The finish delivers ripe, sweet, red berries and tobacco. This will be a pleasure to well early in life, yet it can be...

The Bonnies' work in the vineyard and the vines' maturity is paying off in more complexity, precision and silkier tannins, with elevated, layered aromas and flavours. The bouquet is herbs and lavender, the juicy, open and...

The combination of silky-soft texture and powerful intensity of flavour is completely seductive. Violet aromas and deep, black fruit flavours dominate now. Whole-bunch fermentation for about half the grapes and a high...

Bottled after 24 months' élevage, much of which took place in large foudres, the 2020 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion offers up aromas of dark berries, plums and spices complemented by hints of rose petal and licorice. Medium...

(JD 94-96 points) Cassis, spring flowers, graphite, black cherries, and some smoky nuances all emerge from the 2023 Domaine De Chevalier, another medium to full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly impressive Pessac that has...

Offering up aromas of sweet mulberries and blackberries mingled with hints of licorice, violets and red fruit compote, the 2020 de Fieuzal is medium to full-bodied, rich and gourmand, its broad attack segueing into a...

Peony and violet floral notes, raspberry and redcurrant fruits, tannins a little austere right now but this has great structure and depth to the flavours. Of the recent vintages, I recommend the 2014 for the next few...

This is beautifully crafted and very perfumed, with ultra-fine tannins and vivid dark fruit such as blackcurrants, as well as dark chocolate, hazelnuts and hints of forest floor, mushrooms, tar, matchstick and oyster...

(93+ points) The 2020 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a very finely delineated, concentrated and generous bouquet with layers of red and black fruit, pressed violets and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with silky...

The 2015 Les Carmes Haut-Brion has a lifted, finely delineated nose with black cherry, wild mint and a dab of cough candy in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with plush tannins, but there is structure behind...

The 2019 Malartic Lagraviere is deep garnet-purple in color. It is quite closed to begin, delivering notes of cedar and tar, before opening out to an array of black cherries, mulberries, cassis, and fragrant earth scents...

More introverted and shy than during the en primeur tastings, the 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion offers up aromas of dark berries and spices mingled with pencil lead notes. Medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated...

(JD 93-96 points) Ripe citrus, honeyed flowers, mint, and a kiss of background oak all define the 2023 Domaine De Chevalier Blanc, a beautifully textured, medium-bodied white that has terrific mid-palate depth and...

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 de Fieuzal rocks up with bold, confident Black Forest cake and crème de cassis scents followed by nuances of cigar box, new leather and Chinese five spice plus a waft of potpourri...

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Malartic Lagraviere Rouge features expressive scents of baked plums and stewed cherries with hints of dried herbs, unsmoked cigars, and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate...

The 2014 Château de Fieuzal has a high-toned nose with a little more VA than its peers. It's lush and gains harmony with time in the glass, dried black cherries mixed with raisin and fig. The palate is medium-bodied with...