Brilliant violet color. Aromas of fresh red/blue fruits, candied flowers and smoky minerals pick up a spicy nuance with air. Taut and focused on the palate, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, boysenberry and spicecake...

2015 was an exceptional vintage in this part of the world, making many second wines a shrewd value purchase. Luckily this doesn't disappoint, although I cannot recommend highly enough that you go for the 2010 at this...

(VN 93-95 points) Full, bright-rimmed violet. Highly fragrant cherry and black raspberry scents, along with suggestions of pipe tobacco, olive, peony and baking spices. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering...

Very minerally with crushed stone and limestone. Black berries and blueberries. Violets. Full-bodied with tight and firm tannins and lovely length. Tannic and firm. Needs time to soften and come together. But beautiful...

Incredible aromas of blackberries, blueberries, minerals and stone. Wow. Full-bodied, silky and firm. So polished. Sexy. Drink in 2022.

(92–94 points) Barrel sample. A solid effort, this is a wine with great fruit and firm structure to support it. Ripe and full in the mouth, it's a firm and complex wine with a delicious juicy aftertaste. ROGER VOSS

In this stylish wine, fruit and tannins are in harmony. Black plum flavors are richly concentrated with the firm structure. The wine is set for long-term aging. Drink from 2027. - Roger Voss

The 2015 L'Amiral is an impressive, savory, refined Cabernet Franc that is almost Bordeaux-like in its classicism. This cuvée is only made in what the producer deems to be an exceptional year, and then aged in barrel for...

The 2010 Pontet-Canet is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-black in color, it sashays out of the glass with opulent scents of Chinese five spice, smoked...

Moving to the three Hermitage releases, the 2020 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes offers a deep, saturated purple hue as well as a powerful bouquet of scorched earth, creosote, peppered meat, liquid violets, and both black...

This is ripe, juicy and mouthfilling, with lots of enticing raspberry, boysenberry and fig compote flavors enlivened with anise, fruitcake and mulling spice accents. Shows good energy through the finish. Grenache, Syrah...

What a brilliant vintage this is - just so complete. Honestly at this level, where prices don't change that dramatically between vintages, you should go for the 2016 if you have the option. It's on a different level in...

A touch of licorice enlivens the smoky, oaky nose on this wine, supporting a brooding note of elderberry. The palate comes in with juiciness, portraying plump, aromatic dark fruit reminiscent of fleshy black cherry. Ripe...

The 2019 Faurie de Souchard is fabulous, just as it was from barrel. There is a feeling of exuberance in the 2019 that is absolutely irresistible. Succulent dark cherry, mocha, cedar, tobacco, licorice, dried herbs and...

This wine is a little austere, while showing good aging potential. It has spice, acidity and the weight of fruit as it develops. With its juicy berry flavors still submerged by the firm tannins, it will take its time...

(91-94 points) Two plots, of, which one, next to the Clos des Epeneaux, was planted in 1904. The other is also very old. Lighter purple at the edge. This is very classy on the nose, graceful and with detail. Succulent...

I was blown away by the quality of the 2020 L'Hetre, and this estate, as well as the entire Castillon region, is one to watch going forward. Based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, brought up in 30% new French oak, it...

Blueberries, tar and licorice on the nose. Full-bodied, solid and dense. Velvety tannins. Long finish. Down on this! Needs at least two or three years to soften.

This family-owned estate has produced a structured and dark wine with great concentration balanced by acidity and pure, creamy fruit. It is a wine with a good future. The aftertaste leaves juicy acidity and firm tannins...

A very floral and gently leafy edge with lighter red fruit, leading to a very smoothly fleshy, red-fruited palate that’s sleek, even and elegant. Drink or hold.

Blended from three estate parcels at the center of the appellation, this wine includes fruit from Aux Caves vineyard, where 80-year-old vines add concentrated fruit to this wine. It has flavor intensity without weight...

The 2014 Chateau Poesia has a very well-defined bouquet with plenty of red and black fruit, crushed rose petals and just a touch of smoke. I love the detail here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp and...

Black cherries, plums, flowers and a dollop of cocoa pop in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is supple creamy and fresh with a nice sweetness to the fruits, lift and a dusty, edged finish. Drink from 2025-2040.

Impressive richness and clarity of red and dark berries. Lightly spiced-pastry aromas, too. The palate has a very crisp, polished and groomed tannin texture, as well as super fresh flavors that carry long. Great wine. Try...

Easily the best Pauillac de Latour in recent years, showing supple tannins at five years old, textured and rippling with juice, opening to show gourmet smoked plum and blueberry fruit. Has the graphite edge of the...

The 2019 de Pressac is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. A complex, mesmerizing wine, Pressac offers up an exotic mélange of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and menthol. All...