Very ripe blueberries here, married to delicate, smoky-oak and baking-spice character. Concentrated and succulent with a wonderful, mineral freshness at the long, energetic finish. A very flexible food-wine. Drink or hold.

(WA 98-100 points) One of the great wines of the vintage, and one that can rival its 2022 counterpart, the 2023 La Conseillante wafts from the glass with a strikingly floral bouquet of violets, lilac, raspberries, exotic...

(TWI 97-99+ points) A blend of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc, Vieux Chateau Certan 2023 has a pH of 3.74 and it is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of fresh blackberries, juicy plums, and black cherries slowly...

(JS 99-100 points) Floral and tensioned with precision that gives it incredible brightness. It’s dreamy and energetic with purity and serenity. Full-bodied yet structured and polished. Dynamic young wine. Merlot and...

(WS 97-100 points) The nose on this already suggests a deep and contemplative wine with blackberry dried flowers and sweet berries. Evolves to black olive and hints of asphalt. Full-bodied with supersilky tannins and...

(VN 98-100 points) The 2023 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked between September 10 and 14 and matured in 82% new oak. It has a stunning bouquet with enthralling delineation and focus, very intense with blackberries, raspberry...

(JL 96-98 points) Violets, lilacs, chocolate, truffle, black cherries, smoke, licorice, and plums fill the nose. But, the magic is on the palate with its lush, supple, creamy, elegant textures, soft, polished tannins...

Still young, this is evolving at a glacial pace, yet there is no denying the greatness in this bottle. Deep in color, the wine pops with notes of licorice, black plum liqueur, dark cherries, chocolate, espresso, truffle...

The crushed-berry, smoke and stone aromas are appealing. Medium to full body, round and chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Shows depth and structure. Give it a year or two to soften and come together. Drink in 2022.

(JS 97-98 points) Already shows very classy aromas of black berries, currants and black olives. Violets and other dried flowers. Full-bodied yet tight and polished with a reserved and muscular form, with finesse at the...

(JS 97-98 points) Very tight for this chateau, with blackberry, chocolate and black-cherry character, as well as a hint of smoky oak. Full and very poised with focus and beauty. 96.5% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 0.5%...

Sweet dark fruits on the nose, like black cherry jam with lovely touches of Cabernet Franc apparent in the herbal, perfumed nuances. Super soft and succulent, this is rich and concentrated but delivered in a velvet glove...

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.

(TWI 95-97 points) The 2023 Clinet has a deep garnet-purple color. It slowly emerges from the glass with wonderfully fragrant scents of dark chocolate, violets, plum preserves, and blueberry compote, leading to hints of...

Opulent, lush, and loaded with layers of perfectly ripe, black and red plums, chocolate, cherries, flowers, truffle, licorice, smoke, and a background note of mint. The wine is concentrated, long, deep, and fresh, with...

Attractive red berries and light licorice notes with a lick of iodine lead to a palate that has plenty of red-fruit and -licorice flavors. Smoothly groomed tannins and a fresh cherry-pip finish. Try from 2020.

The 2020 L'Evangile is composed of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is a little closed to start, soon emerging with flamboyant scents of kirsch, crushed blueberries, and fresh plums...

(WA 98-100 points) One of the great wines of the vintage, and one that can rival its 2022 counterpart, the 2023 La Conseillante wafts from the glass with a strikingly floral bouquet of violets, lilac, raspberries, exotic...

I tasted two vintages of L'Evangile at separate events while in Australia this year, both the 2010 in Melbourne and the 2011 in Sydney. A tough choice, but I think I am going to have to go with the 2010, although both are...

A rocking effort that brings the goods, the 2016 Château Montviel is a tiny production cuvée based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels. Surpassing the terrific 2015, it boasts a deep purple...

Exotic aromas of blackberries, truffle, earth and cedar follow through to a full body, rich and layered tannins and a long, long finish. Shows so much here. Exotic. Give it at least three or four years of bottle age...

The purity of fruit is so alluring in this wine. Aromas of crushed berries, lemon rind and flowers follow through to a full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. All in finesse and texture. So fine...

A tight and subtle wine with very pretty ripe-fruit character and chocolate. Medium to full body. Needs time to open. Better in 2020.

The 2009 Trotanoy is deep garnet in color. It gallops out with powerful scents of plum preserves, blueberry compote, and candied violets, leading to nuances of mocha, licorice, and tapenade, plus a waft of smoked meats...

The 2019 has a beguiling bouquet with red berry fruit, truffle and light Provençal herb scents that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. This is exquisite in terms of balance, silky...

The 2020 L'Evangile is composed of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is a little closed to start, soon emerging with flamboyant scents of kirsch, crushed blueberries, and fresh plums...

The blue fruits and flowers with some dark chocolate come through clearly. It’s medium-bodied with firm tannins that are integrated and long. Savory finish. Needs three or four years to soften. Drink after 2026.

(VN 98-100 points) The 2023 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked between September 10 and 14 and matured in 82% new oak. It has a stunning bouquet with enthralling delineation and focus, very intense with blackberries, raspberry...

This was so good in the barrel, it is hard to believe that the wine improved from there. But isn't that what all great wines are supposed to do? Inky dark in color, the wine is equally dark on the palate with all of its...

Deep, dark berries with lots of tree bark, black tea and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-body and enveloped by fine, polished tannins that give it form and focus. Try after 2023, yet very approachable even now.