Wine from France

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 99 points: This is a strong candidate for the best wine yet produced by the Cathiard family at Smith Haut Lafitte. The inky color lets you know this is going to be packed and stacked with layers of ripe fruit. But there is more...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: This gorgeous 2011 continues the succession of impressive wines made by this estate since it was acquired by the Decoster family. Beautiful black raspberry, blueberry and black currant fruit notes intermixed with a touch...

Vinous, 92 points: The 2013 Brut Nature Cumières exudes depth and creaminess. A host of dried pear, licorice, lemon confit, orchard fruit, brioche and spices flesh out in the glass. The Cumières is a blend of equal parts Pinot Noir, Meunier...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: Wonderful aromas of tobacco, sweet fruit and licorice follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that caress every inch of your palate. Love the length and subtlety to this young wine. Gorgeous. Drink after 2024.

Decanter, 96 points: Another hit, although this is not as glamorous as some vintages of Mouton. The expression here is just a little more Pauillac, rather than Mouton. Layers of blackberry and grilled almonds are marked by a touch of...

jamessuckling.com, 97 points: (JS96-97 points) Here is a wine with great pedigree near Ausone. Full body, yet fast and agile. The finish lasts for minutes. You see the chalky soil in the wine.

Decanter, 100 points: (98-100) This has incredible persistency and density of flavour in 2018. It’s extremely well knitted with everything drawn out and taut through the mid palate, slowly layering on the succulent, plump notes of damson...

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: I absolutely loved the 2015 Léoville-Barton and this has everything you could want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. Cassis, smoked earth, graphite, tobacco leaf, and thrilling amounts of minerality all emerge from this inky...

jamessuckling.com, 94 points: 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.

Vinous, 93 points: (90-93) Pale, bright straw-yellow. Highly aromatic nose combines pit fruits, pineapple, rose petal, menthol and vanillin oak. Penetrating, intensely flavored and precise, with sweet flavors leavened by solid acidity. Very...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: The aromas of blackcurrants, sweet tobacco and sandalwood are tantalizing. Then it turns to subtle, dried fruit. Full-bodied with dense and powerful tannins, yet ending with finesse and vertical nature. Very deep. Power...

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points: Rich, powerful, deep and sensuous, the smoke, spicy red fruits, tar, tobacco and spice box aromatics are already delivering the goods. Concentrated, full bodied, rich, powerful, long and fresh, the tannins are silky and...

Wine Enthusiast, 93 points: Ripe and spicy with delicious open fruit this wine is rounded yet has a straight line of pure acidity. It has a light touch while showing depth of flavor for the future. - R.V.

jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (98-100) A candidate for the wine of the vintage is the 2018 Léoville Las Cases. My notes on this incredible wine are laced with expletives that I, unfortunately, can’t repeat here. Safe to say, however, it’s one of the...