Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

The 2017 Clos Marsalette is ripe, bold and juicy, with quite a bit of raciness and more overt ripeness than I remember seeing en primeur. At the same time, there is plenty of floral and savory lift from the Cabernets. Sweet red plum, mint, sage, tobacco and cedar are all laced together in this super-expressive, inviting, mid-weight Pessac-Léognan Graves from Stephan von Neipperg. This is such a pretty wine. Tasted two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)

The 2018 Clos Marsalette is quite bold and racy in this vintage and yet there is a good bit of underlying structure as well. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, licorice and spice are all given an extra kick of juiciness. I really like the wine's extroverted personality. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)

The 2018 Clos Marsalette is quite bold and racy in this vintage and yet there is a good bit of underlying structure as well. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, licorice and spice are all given an extra kick of juiciness. I really like the wine's extroverted personality. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92)

The 2020 Clos Marsalette opens with a blast of dark cherry fruit, smoke, gravel, licorice and incense. A big, broad wine Clos Marsalette offers tremendous intensity from start to finish. I imagine it will require at least a few years in bottle to fully come together as the tannins are pretty incisive at this stage. Even so, Clos Marsalette is a super-expressive Pessac Léognan with a good deal of potential.

For those appreciative of renowned vintage wines, the Clos Rene 1979 is an unmissable delight. From the acclaimed Bordeaux region in France, this exquisite Pomerol grew in historic terroir characterised by rich, gravelly soil conducive to creating wines of profound depth and complexity. Clos Rene, the esteemed producer, has been associated with artisan viticulture since the 18th century, preserving time-honoured cultivation techniques to ensure optimal condition and sublime taste.

Prepared using a fifty-fifty blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Clos Rene 1979 offers irresistible sophistication. The wine imparts a collection of refined aromas, including ripe plum, truffle, and forest floor, culminating in a sensuous palate experience. Its harmonious integration of tannin and acid has matured impeccably over the years, resulting in the wine's enchanting, velvet texture. A testament to the exceptional wine-making of Clos Rene, the 1979 vintage truly substantiates the reputation of this illustrious house. Indulge in the undeniable allure of Clos Rene 1979.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92+)

The 2018 Clos René, for me the top-performing Pomerol within the western sector of the appellation, has a very well-defined and focused bouquet of perfumed blackberry, briary and truffle aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, fresh and tensile, leading into a classic Pomerol finish of black truffle, white pepper and light tobacco notes. This is a classy Pomerol that should age with style.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2019 Clos René displays impressive clarity and terroir expression on a focused nose of vivid red berry fruit; black truffle and sage aromas come through with time. The palate is well balanced with a fleshy opening and then builds toward quite a substantial, complex, slightly savory and certainly peppery finish. Superb.

Jeb Dunnuck (92-94)

The 2020 Clos René showed beautifully, with a pure, elegant style offering lots of cassis and black cherry fruits as well as notes of Christmas spice, flowers, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe, present tannins, it's very much in the style of this ripe yet fresh, lively vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (92-94)

The 2020 Clos René showed beautifully, with a pure, elegant style offering lots of cassis and black cherry fruits as well as notes of Christmas spice, flowers, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe, present tannins, it's very much in the style of this ripe yet fresh, lively vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (92-94)

The 2020 Clos René showed beautifully, with a pure, elegant style offering lots of cassis and black cherry fruits as well as notes of Christmas spice, flowers, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe, present tannins, it's very much in the style of this ripe yet fresh, lively vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (92-94)

The 2020 Clos René showed beautifully, with a pure, elegant style offering lots of cassis and black cherry fruits as well as notes of Christmas spice, flowers, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe, present tannins, it's very much in the style of this ripe yet fresh, lively vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (92-94)

The 2020 Clos René showed beautifully, with a pure, elegant style offering lots of cassis and black cherry fruits as well as notes of Christmas spice, flowers, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe, present tannins, it's very much in the style of this ripe yet fresh, lively vintage.

James Suckling (91-92)

A solid red for the vintage. Medium-bodied with medium, round tannins and a soft texture. Mineral and dried-citrus undertones.

James Suckling (91-92)

A solid red for the vintage. Medium-bodied with medium, round tannins and a soft texture. Mineral and dried-citrus undertones.

James Suckling (91-92)

A solid red for the vintage. Medium-bodied with medium, round tannins and a soft texture. Mineral and dried-citrus undertones.

James Suckling (91-92)

A solid red for the vintage. Medium-bodied with medium, round tannins and a soft texture. Mineral and dried-citrus undertones.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94+)

The 2015 Clos Saint Julien is terrific. Deep, dense and explosive, it exudes personality. Inky blue and purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice run through this flamboyantly ripe, dense Saint-Émilion. All the elements are simply in the right place. In 2015, Clos Saint Julien is decidedly opulent. I would give it a few years to lose some of its baby fat. Clos Saint Julien is equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new barrels. Tasted two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2016 Clos Saint-Julien is gorgeous and also quite a bit more reserved than it was from barrel. Voluptuous and racy, with remarkable freshness, the 2016 has so much to offer. A rush of black cherry, violet, lavender and spice builds as this sensual, caressing Saint-Émilion shows off its personality. The purity of the fruit and the wine's sheer harmony both make for a fabulous drinking experience.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2017 Clos Saint Julien is a total knockout. Lavender, mint, inky dark fruit, spice, licorice, chocolate and leather all open up in the glass, but it is the wine's nuance and total sense of precision that impresses most. A wine of great delineation, the 2017 is simply brilliant. Don't miss it.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2018 Clos Saint-Julien is much more understated from bottle than it was from barrel, and that's a good thing, especially in this vintage. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mint and spice-box all meld together effortlessly in the glass. Silky and poised, with exceptional balance Clos Saint-Julien is a winner in 2018. Exquisite.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2020 Clos Saint-Julien is magnificent in the way it balances richness, energy and structure. Inky blue/purplish fruit, spice, lavender, licorice and chocolate all meld together in a Saint-Émilion endowed with dazzling purity and class. The 2020 is so wonderfully alive. Don't miss it.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

An absolutely brilliant wine in the vintage, the 2021 Clos Saint Julien reveals a healthy ruby hue to go with a terrific perfume of darker currants, cherries, camphor, spicy wood, and tobacco. It's medium to full-bodied, has fabulous concentration, fine tannins, and a great finish. This is one of the few 2021s that will compete with prior vintages. It offers pleasure today, yet this is one I wouldn’t be surprised to see shut down with 2-5 years of bottle age. I think it will ideally be given 5-7 years of bottle age, and it's going to see its 20th birthday in fine form. Hats off to the team for this remarkable effort.