Wine Advocate (90-92+)

.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

The exuberance and depth of 2015 is found in abundance here, with red and black fruits, touches of fig and pomegranate, velvety and supple in texture. Firm but fine slate tannins, and lots of them, suggesting this will age well. It's balanced, super enjoyable with plenty of grip. Harvest September 28 to October 15. Marjolaine de Coninck technical director and CEO, owner Nathalie Perrodo.

Wine Advocate (96)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with hints of potpourri, star anise, menthol and tapenade. Full, rich, firm and grainy, with fantastic freshness lifting the densely packed palate, it has a long, beautifully fragrant finish.

Wine Advocate (96)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with hints of potpourri, star anise, menthol and tapenade. Full, rich, firm and grainy, with fantastic freshness lifting the densely packed palate, it has a long, beautifully fragrant finish.

Wine Advocate (96)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with hints of potpourri, star anise, menthol and tapenade. Full, rich, firm and grainy, with fantastic freshness lifting the densely packed palate, it has a long, beautifully fragrant finish.

Wine Advocate (96)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with hints of potpourri, star anise, menthol and tapenade. Full, rich, firm and grainy, with fantastic freshness lifting the densely packed palate, it has a long, beautifully fragrant finish.

Wine Advocate (96)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Marquis d'Alesme Becker leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with hints of potpourri, star anise, menthol and tapenade. Full, rich, firm and grainy, with fantastic freshness lifting the densely packed palate, it has a long, beautifully fragrant finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-95)

Brought into the US exclusively by Jeffrey Davies, the 2017 Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker might just be the finest wine from this estate to date. Made from 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in 65% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a gorgeous perfume of crème de cassis, black cherries, crushed violets, and cedary spice. Possessing terrific purity of fruit, medium to full body, building tannin, and a great finish, this balanced, impeccably made 2017 will need 2-4 years of cellaring and keep for two decades or more. It’s a gem in the vintage and readers owe it to themselves to check out this estate, which has an undeniably gorgeous terroir.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

A rock star Margaux that should be snatched up by readers, the 2018 Château Marquis D'Alesme reveals a dense purple hue as well as ripe, sexy notes of blackcurrants, spicy oak, tobacco leaf, earth, and cedar. Deep, full-bodied, and gorgeously concentrated, it has velvety tannins, a layered, mouthcoating texture, and a great finish. It's a baby, but wow, what a wine. Hide bottle for 5-7 years if you can (you'll be forgiven for opening a bottle early) and it's going to evolve for 30-40 years.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

The 2019 Marquis d'Alesme Becker was very impressive from barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained those engaging aromas of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and a pinch of spice, well defined and quintessentially Margaux. The palate is understated on the entry, smooth and sensual in texture, with gorgeous, very pure red fruit. I adore the harmony of this wine, and the way it sashays toward the finish. Deceptively approachable, this will mature beautifully in bottle.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

The 2019 Marquis d'Alesme Becker was very impressive from barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained those engaging aromas of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and a pinch of spice, well defined and quintessentially Margaux. The palate is understated on the entry, smooth and sensual in texture, with gorgeous, very pure red fruit. I adore the harmony of this wine, and the way it sashays toward the finish. Deceptively approachable, this will mature beautifully in bottle.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (96)

A don't miss wine, this has wonderfully powerful fruits delivered with class and character. The abundant tannins have slate-edged grip and the black cassis and bilberry fruits sit alongside waves of oyster shell, liqourice, sage and black pepper. Delivers depth and personality and an effortless Margaux finesse. Harvest September 23 to October 2. Marjolaine de Coninck technical director, owner Nathalie Perrodo.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2023 Marquis d'Alesme is sleek and silky right out of the gate. Dark blue-toned fruit, lavender, mocha, licorice and crushed flowers all grace the palate. Margaux at its most delicate.

The Wine Cellar Insider (94)

Elegant, silky, fresh and vibrant, the fruit is soft, polished, ripe and pure. If you look closely, you can already find the floral nuances along with licorice, cherry, black raspberry and smoke. Give this 8-10 years and it is going to be a beauty!

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2023 Marquis de Terme is every bit as impressive as it was en primeur. Rich and explosive, the 2023 offers up a heady mix of dark red fruit, blood orange, incense, cinnamon and pomegranate. The stylistic direction here over the last few years has been quite positive.

Vinous - Neal Martin (83-85)

The 2017 Marsau, 14-hectares on clay soil, offers light brambly red fruit on the nose that lacks a little depth and concentration compared to other vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, sharp on the entry with quite high acidity, leading to a straightforward, slightly austere finish.

The Fleur Morange Mathilde 2018 is a singularity in the realm of Saint-Émilion grand crus. This magnificent wine is a testament to the expert craftsmanship of its creators, Véronique and Jean-François Despagne. Cultivated from 100-year-old Merlot vines on a solitary hectare of limestone and clay soil, it captures the essence of one of the most revered wine appellations in Bordeaux.

The 2018 vintage proffers a fine balance of freshness and power, expressing a bouquet of ripe blackberries, black currants, and underlying earthy notes. This full-bodied wine, matured for 18 months in new oak, offers a lusciously dense palate, with a prolonged finish portraying the elegance and complexity of its terroir.

Fleur Morange Mathilde 2018's remarkable quality and charm resoundingly affirm the Despagne estate's commitment to preserving and propagating Saint-Émilion’s distinguished wine heritage. It's a captivating addition for any wine lover's collection.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2017 Mazeyres is bold, juicy and super-expressive. Mocha, espresso, licorice, grilled herbs and menthol all develop nicely, with floral and savory overtones that add brightness and lift. The Cabernet Franc is especially notable in both the wine's flavor and structural profile. I would prefer to drink this perfumed, expressive Pomerol over the next decade or so. The 2017 is very nicely done. Tasted two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-93)

The 2018 Mazeyres is absolutely gorgeous. Bright, exquisitely perfumed and nuanced, Mazeyres shows just how attractive the best wines from Pomerol's sandier soils can be. Floral notes add lift to a core of red/purplish berry fruit, with striking textural depth and nuance that builds in the glass. Although quite accessible, Mazeyres also offers a good bit of depth while retaining its mid-weight personality. Tasted four times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2019 Mazeyres is bright, effusive and so inviting. Blood orange, mint, rose petal, white pepper, espresso and incense are some of the many notes that soar from the glass. Mazeyres is not a big or obvious wine. Instead, it is a Pomerol that is all about understatement and class. As always, the Cabernet Franc is a strong marker.

Jancis Robinson (18.50)

Tasted blind. Very dark crimson. Rich array of aromas on the nose. Ambitious with lots of stuff covering a pretty massive charge of tannins. Just slightly inky. Exciting finish. Very persistent. Classic build with lots of ambition. Everyone thought this was Montrose! VGV

Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Tasted blind. Very dark crimson. Intense Indian ink on the nose. Give me my calligraphy pen! Rich and round. Very glamorous. So much effort has gone into every drop of this …. VGV

James Suckling (95-96)

A very dense yet tight and focused red with blackcurrants, blackberries and hints of spices and walnuts. Full-bodied, very compact and long. Intense finish.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

The 2019 Meyney has a divine bouquet, so pure and winsome with floral red berry scents, beautifully integrated new oak and superb precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy to the point where you can almost overlook the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It could have been blowsy, yet it retains superb balance and feels luxuriant and long on the finish. This is a stellar showing easily eclipsing its performances either in barrel or just after bottling. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

Wine Advocate (91-93)

A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Montlandrie gives up notes of crushed black plums, red currants and black cherries with suggestions of cigar box, yeast extract, tapenade and underbrush. Medium-bodied with a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, it has beautiful freshness and a mineral-tinged finish.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

Produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with 14.5% alcohol and is currently aging in 40% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, it features fragrant notes of lilacs, Morello cherries and blueberry compote over a core of plum preserves and woodsmoke plus a waft of underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is richly fruited with black and blue fruits, lifted by earthy accents and lovely freshness, finishing long and velvety textured.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10.