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.

The 2020 Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour is a blend of 53% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vivacious notes of stewed blackberries, raspberry...

This youthful Loire red has a touch of funk on the nose that slowly dissipates with aeration to reveal a wealth of red-berry fruit and some wild herbs. On the fresh, medium-bodied palate there’s plenty of depth and some...

97+ There were only seven barrels of the superb 2020 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Très Vieilles Vignes, as the Roty family's ancient vines yielded a mere 18 hectoliters per hectare. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of...

Looking better than it did from tank, Cristina's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is ripe and rounded, with ample amounts of black cherries and plums, an exception to the overall red-fruited nature of the vintage. Full-bodied...

Aged in wood for 10 months, this wine has weight and richness that are underlined by the density and juicy acidity. It provides a fine example of Pinot Noir from Sancerre, with intensity and a promising future. Drink from...

Dense, with blackberry and plum flavors shaded by iron, earth and spice. Shows broad shoulders and dusty tannins, but plenty of fruit too. Drink now through 2028. 442 cases made, 775 cases imported.

Here too there is a Chablis-like hint of quinine adding breadth to the decidedly cool and citrusy green apple-scented nose. There is excellent cut and energy to the delicious medium weight flavors that exude a subtle...

The 2020 Dame de Montrose does not quite have the horsepower of its peers on the nose—quite floral and Margaux-like—though it is nicely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe, sweet entry. Marmalade- and...

The 2020 Lascombes has a discrete, finely delineated bouquet that unfolds in the glass with blackberry, bilberry, crushed violet and a touch of iodine. The palate is medium-bodied with sour cherry and brown spices on the...

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.

Stating 15.5% alcohol on the label, the modern-styled 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. Pale ruby-colored, swirling the glass unveils aromas of cooked red and black...

Fresher aromas of poached plum, red and dark cherry and a hint of spice combine with notably more energetic medium-bodied flavors that coat the palate with dry extract on the lingering and much better-balanced finale...

Evoking aromas of dark berries, cassis, violet and spices, the 2020 Clos Puy Arnaud possesses a medium to full-bodied texture on the palate, lively acidity, structuring tannins and a long, saline finish. This vintage...

The 2020 Bélair-Monange has a more backward nose with dense black fruit. There is a very noticeable cedar/Cabernet element here that indicates that it might be Lafleur. The palate is medium-bodied with fine...

(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...

A tangy, harmonious red, with dusty earth and potpourri merging with bitter cherry and dried currant. Delivers a refined profile, thanks to tangy acidity and silky tannins, with gamy underpinnings and an iodine note...

Generous on the nose, the wine presents juicy aromas of black plum, blackberry and crème de menthe, with a layer of violets and fine granite minerality. The palate is equally luscious and presents a silky texture with...

Moving to the single vineyard 2020 Côte Rôtie La Landonne, this beauty is 100% Syrah that spent 16 months in a mix of new and used barrels. It's similarly deep purple/plum-hued yet has a more mineral-laced, focused...

90+ The 2020 Gevrey villages from Philippe Harmand is really strong this year. The wine delivers a vibrant aromatic constellation of sappy black cherries and dark berries, grilled meats, dark chocolate, woodsmoke, a fine...

The 2020 Côte Rôtie Terrasses is terrific and shows the forward, sexy style of the vintage while still being classic Côte Rôtie! Black raspberries, peppery herbs, spring flowers, and a kiss of game all define the bouquet...

Shimmering ruby. Fresh black and blue fruits, candied flowers and baking spices on the expressive nose. Appealingly sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy blueberry, cherry and spicecake flavors that firm up...

The 2020 Pinot Noir Clos de la Faille Monopole is from vines planted in 1998 next to a geological faultline at 280m altitude on a mix of Triassic sandstone and limestone topped with iron-rich tertiary conglomerates. The...