Jeb Dunnuck (94-96)

Readers looking for an off-the-charts value should snatch up the 2020 Château Capbern, which emerges from the same team as Calon Ségur. Offering a vivid bouquet of cassis, leafy tobacco, violets, damp earth, and chocolate, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, perfectly ripe fruit (not overripe, not underripe), ultra-fine, integrated tannins, and the mix of freshness and richness that’s part of all great wines. It’s a hidden gem in Saint-Estèphe.

Vinous ()

The 2014 Barolo Barolo Rupestris is a very pretty, fragrant wine. In this vintage, the Rupestris is a bit more ethereal than it usually is, and yet there is a lovely underpinning of structure that gives the wine its shape. Beautifully perfumed and gracious, the 2014 Rupestris opens with enticing scents of sweet tobacco, mint, dried herbs, orange peel, dried cherry, cedar and rose petal. The 2014 should drink well with minimal cellaring, but I expect it will also age gracefully while retaining its somewhat delicate feel.

James Suckling (95)

This is a very decadent Brunello with dried stems, charcuterie, bay leaf, Thai basil and earth. Full-bodied and dense, the deeply interlocked layers of dark fruit nearly tripping over the ropey, chewy tannin structure. Drink from 2026.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

Classic Sangiovese aromas of wild berry, forest floor, rose and new leather waft out of the glass along with whiffs of camphor. Delicious and smooth, the elegantly structured palate features ripe wild cherry, blood orange and licorice alongside polished tannins. It's well balanced, with fresh acidity—what a fantastic showing. It's already accessible but will age well for years to come.

Kerin O'Keefe (96)

All about finesse and flavor, this stunner opens with quintessential aromas of classically crafted Brunello including violet, perfumed berry, new leather and forest floor that mingle with eucalyptus notes. It dances across the palate, offering juicy red cherry, orange zest, star anise and saline before a white almond close. Lithe tannins and fresh acidity keep it elegant and bright. Delicious and already approachable, it will age well for another decade or more.

Wine Spectator (96)

This red is all about finesse, delivering superb balance and complexity, with cherry, raspberry, earth and wild herb aromas and flavors. Succulent and charming, yet with a solid base of tannins and vivid acidity, this remains focused through the long aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2042. 4,575 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.

Wine Advocate (92)

Tasted at the UGC in London. Ripe nose with lime, gooseberry and a touch of cut grass: good definition and lift. The palate is ripe and full of grapefruit, lime and gooseberry notes, but just lacking some tension towards the finish. This should be better considering that 2007 was a favourable vintage for Bordeaux Blanc. Drink now-2014. Tasted November 2009.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

This wine's smooth texture is deceptive. Under this creamy guise, a taut, steely character promises long-term aging. Richness and fruitiness harmonize with complexity. Drink from 2022.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Just about as close to perfection as a wine can get, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Chris Carpenter comes mostly from mountain vineyards and is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot. This full-bodied, rounded, thrillingly textured beauty boasts a saturated purple color as well as a huge nose of crème de cassis, new saddle leather, barbecue smoke, and scorched earth. It has perfect integration of its fruit, tannins, acidity, and oak, carries remarkable power and intensity, yet still glides over the palate with no heaviness or sensation of weight. It’s going to be a legendary Napa Valley Cabernet and will have 3 decades or more of longevity.

Jeb Dunnuck (98+)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is based on a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot that spent 22 months in 81% new French oak. It’s a wonderfully complete, borderline perfect wine that shows the class of this estate as well as the vintage, revealing a seamless, full-bodied style that carries lots of blackcurrant, graphite, lead pencil, and tobacco aromatics, a deep, layered mid-palate, ultra-fine tannins, and flawless balance. As with most of Chris’s 2018s, it’s a wine that builds slowly with time in the glass, offering a layered, singular character. It’s a gorgeous 2018 that can be drunk today with ample pleasure, but it will ideally be given 4-6 years of bottle age, at which point it should evolve gracefully for 30-40 years.

James Suckling (94-95)

A really succulent, refined second wine with berries, chocolate and light toasted oak. It’s full and completely integrated with seamless tannins and a fresh finish. Lovely, sweet ripe fruit in the center palate. Extremely refined. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc.

James Suckling (94-95)

This is very fine and racy with refined tannins that are long and really precise. It’s medium-bodied with a lovely, creamy texture. Really long and bright.

James Suckling (94-95)

There’s depth and beauty to this wine. It offers crunchy fruit, a chalky undertone and a hint of raw coffee bean. Medium body. Fine tannins. Bright and transparent. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc.

Embodying the epitome of fine viniculture, the exquisite Carlmagnus 2019 is a testament to centuries of refined winemaking. This timeless creation originates from the revered vineyards of the Franconian region, Germany, known for its idyllic winemaking conditions. Meticulously crafted by the esteemed Müller-Catoir winery, a family-owned establishment steeped in wine tradition since the 18th century, the Carlmagnus 2019 symbolises years of expertise and dedication.

The wine is environmentally conscious, produced organically with intricate fermentation methods in wooden barrels. Its tantalising profile boasts depth and finesse, presenting an elegant melange of fruit and spice. Dominant notes of ripe pear, white peach and a teasing hint of exotic spice dance on the palate, making the Carlmagnus 2019 a sublime choice for the discerning wine enthusiast. This captivating wine personifies the essence of meticulous German winemaking, ensuring a luxuriously unforgettable experience with every sip.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2017 Carmes de Rieussec is dazzling. Here, too, the winemaking team captured a striking balance of richness and energy. Most second wines from Sauternes these days are light and floral. The Carmes has plenty of those qualities, but it is far from an easygoing Sauternes; rather it packs a serious punch. Lemon confit, passion fruit, exotic flowers and mint meld into the creamy, resonant finish.

James Suckling (97)

This is one of the most direct and clear Caros in a long time with blue-fruit, violet and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Crushed-stone, too. Full-bodied, yet tight and contracted with a level of shyness to its strength. The length derives from the excellence of the cabernet. One for the cellar. Blend of 74% malbec and 26% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2023, but exciting to drink all the same.

Tim Atkin MW (98)

Combining the considerable talents of Fernando Buscema and Philippe Rolet (the former made the wine, the latter did the blend), Caro is one of the wines of the vintage in 2018. Paraje Altamira is the source of this finely judged cuvée of Malbec and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 80% new wood. Subtle, graceful and perfumed, it’s a wine that carries its structure and concentration lightly, with graphite, cassis and blueberry fruit, fresh acidity and harmonious, caressing tannins. Superb stuff.

Tim Atkin MW (95)

A very impressive red in its own right. Malbec-based with 34% Cabernet Sauvignon for company, followed by ageing in 50% new wood, it’s an inky, structured, nuanced pan-Mendoza blend, showing plum, blackberry and cassis flavours and firm, ageworthy tannins.

The Wine Independent (96)

The 2021 CARO, 79% Malbec and 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, is deep garnet-purple in color. It soars from the glass with expressive notes of plum preserves, blueberry compote, and licorice with hints of candied violets and spice cake. The full-bodied palate is jam packed with perfumed black fruits, framed by super-ripe, super-plush tannins and tantalizing freshness, finishing very long and fragrant. This is an impressive showing for this joint venture between Lafite Rothschild and Nicolas Catena.

The exquisite Caroline Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 2019 is a product of meticulous craftsmanship and the unique terroir of Burgundy. Produced by prestigious winemaker Caroline Morey, this Pinot Noir is a testament to her dedication to quality. Sourced from the illustrious appellation of Chassagne-Montrachet, the Rouge 2019 delves into a complex world of flavours. Savour the well-knit aromas of ripe cherries, wild berries and earthy undertones, layered with a grasping bouquet of spices, followed by an elegant, long finish.

Caroline Morey has left no stone unturned in her efforts to create wines of unparalleled character and quality. Legacies of winemaking variances including hand-harvesting, whole cluster fermentation, and the strategic use of oak barrels contribute to the wine's impressive depth and character that has won rave reviews from wine critics across the globe. Indulging in Caroline Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 2019 is a sensory journey into Burgundy's esteemed vineyards.

James Suckling (94-95)

The most tannic and textured Carruades ever. Full-bodied, big and powerful. Very, very long. New style?

James Suckling (97)

Exquisitely fine tannins to the currant, lead-pencil and chocolate character. The palate is full, yet very refined and linear with a long, lingering finish. Such polish and tension. The tannins are intense, yet so fine, giving almost a powdery texture. So Lafite-like. Best Carruades ever? 56% cabernet sauvignon and 38% merlot, the rest cabernet franc. Drink after 2026.

James Suckling (96)

This is a beautiful Carraudes with currant, sweet-tobacco and wet-earth aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with a dense center-palate and tight, polished tannins. Fresh, with tension. Reminds me of the 1995 Lafite. This is so Lafite in character. It shows so much cabernet sauvignon character. It’s 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot and the rest cabernet franc. Try after 2026.

James Suckling (96)

So perfumed and subtle with roses, lavender, sage, and currants. Medium-bodied. So much Spanish cedar, cigar box, currants, fresh tobacco and spice. Classic Lafite character. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% merlot. Better after 2028.

James Suckling (96)

So perfumed and subtle with roses, lavender, sage, and currants. Medium-bodied. So much Spanish cedar, cigar box, currants, fresh tobacco and spice. Classic Lafite character. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% merlot. Better after 2028.

James Suckling (96)

So perfumed and subtle with roses, lavender, sage, and currants. Medium-bodied. So much Spanish cedar, cigar box, currants, fresh tobacco and spice. Classic Lafite character. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% merlot. Better after 2028.

James Suckling (94-95)

Soft and attractive character to this wine, showing a polished-tannin frame and a juicy center-palate. Medium body with medium, velvety tannins. Juicy. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.

James Suckling (96-97)

Extremely perfumed with sweet tobacco and blackcurrants as well as cedar and dark chocolate. Aromatic. Medium-bodied with an intense center palate of blackcurrant, orange peel and peaches. Nervy. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.