This 2005 is really coming into its own, with soft, welcoming rose bud, chalk, bilberry, cocoa bean and tobacco. The tannins remain well structured, and you can see the muscles that kept this pretty closed for the first...

The 2020 Franc-Mayne has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, spices and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless palate of real class and purity. Vibrant...

Crushed orange peels, plump lemon blossoms, spun sugar, clarified butter and a slight almond oil touch combine for a lush, layered nose on this bottling from the Carmel Valley producer. The palate presents an expert...

An alluring red, with fresh boysenberry and black pepper-dusted plum flavors underscored by smoked bacon, charred cedar and mocha. Pure and polished, this is well-built and seductive. Drink now through 2030. - J.M.

(VN 96-98 points) Glass-staining purple. Assertively perfumed cassis, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral aromas take on espresso, olive and smoky bacon accents with aeration. Juicy, chewy and energetic on the palate...

The 2020 L'Hêtre has a more restrained and nuanced bouquet that unfolds in the glass, with more mineralité and terroir expression than the preceding d'Aiguilhe. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins and...

The 2017 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for approximately 20 months in French oak. It comes in with 97 grams of residual sugar. This was only seen before bottling previously. Now, with some bottle aging, it looks...

Brought up all in tank, the 2021 Côtes De Provence Rosé has a Bandol-like vibrancy and more mineral-laced style. Light salmon-hued, with notes of orange blossom, chalky minerality, and a great finish, it's going to shine...

This is stylish, with perfumy black tea and smoldering charcoal aromas followed by lightly mulled plum, fig and blackberry fruit. An echo of juniper shows on the mineral-edged finish. Drink now through 2024. — JM

Among the oldest estates in St Emilion, dating back to the Middle Ages, this is pure restrained limestone, and stands as an excellent reflection of why this type of terroir worked so well in 2018. The ph for example, is...

2010 Lalande-Borie has a feisty and animated bouquet, more red fruit than black, with attractive pencil lead scents coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, tobacco and graphite, quite...

Primarily a blend of three vineyards, this is the flagship white from Bergstrom. The 2014 Chardonnay Sigrid has a savory/chalky nose of struck match, crushed stones and lightly browned toast over a core of warm peaches...

The 2014 Enclos Tourmaline is 100% Merlot from a tiny parcel in Peter Kwok’s property located on the plateau of Pomerol, between Chateau Clinet and Chateau Feytit-Clinet. This beauty is a terrific success in the vintage...

Brilliant violet color. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes red/blue fruit liqueur, candied flowers and Asian spices, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Impressively concentrated yet lively on the palate, offering...

Cask sample. Mid purplish crimson. Perfumed with deep, red-cherry fruit and some sweet oak spice. Notable freshness, and finesse in the tannins. Gentle and persistent. (JH) (17/20)

The 2019 Syrah Per Sempre is a rich, boisterous wine. A burst of dark-toned fruit, spice, new leather, licorice and espresso are all amplified in this decidedly extroverted Syrah. There's a bit more new oak in the 2019...

Lots of dried stemmy herbs and some dried fruit character. Apparently this was a challenging year thanks to the hail, although the fruit on the palate is fresh. Sweet fruit with fine-grained tannins and a peppery finish...