Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2020 Latour-Martillac has an impressive, quite engaging bouquet with blackberry, incense, graphite and faint touches of black olive. This is very harmonious and well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, very well balanced, quite saline with a poised and quite persistent finish. Quintessentially Pessac-Léognan, this has a bright future ahead.

James Suckling (93-94)

The blackberry and blueberry character comes through clearly here, alongside a hint of stone. Medium-bodied with creamy and polished tannins and a savory finish. Very typical for the appellation.

James Suckling (94-95)

A brilliant and intense white with oyster shell, lemon, pear and sea salt character. Full body, flavorful finish.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2017 Latour-Martillac Blanc is powerful and quite dense in the glass, with tons of structure that gives the wine its distinctive, almost phenolic feel. Orchard fruit, citrus and floral notes develop with air, but it is the wine's sheer power that stands out most.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2020 Latour-Martillac Blanc has shut down since tasting from barrel, yet it opens with yellow plum, jasmine and light frangipane scents. I admire the precision here. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, quite taut and well defined. Real precision on the finish that drags you back for one more sip. This is a classy dry white Bordeaux that will give immense pleasure over a number of years.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92-94)

The 2021 Latour-Martillac Blanc has a knockout nose with apple blossom, nettle, wet pavement and citrus peel aromas. Real energy here. The palate is well balanced with fine concentration, taut and fresh with plenty of extract, touches of spice emerge towards the finish. Excellent.

Indulge in the world-class elegance of Olivier 1990, a majestic Bordeaux from France's esteemed Château Olivier. As a trusted steward of tradition, Château Olivier is famed for creating nuanced, multi-dimensional wines that exhibit the rich character of Bordeaux's terroir. The 1990 vintage celebrates the pinnacle of their craftsmanship - a legendary year for winemaking in the region, yielding wines of extraordinary concentration and longevity.

The Olivier 1990 is typified by its depth and complexity - layers of ripe black fruits, truffles, and tobacco harmonising in a symphony of flavours. Remarkable tannic structure and a vibrant acidity offer an impeccably balanced palate. Matured for 18 months in oak barrels, this wine reveals intricate undertones of cocoa and spices that enrich the textural richness. Framed by the ethereal elegance of its Pessac-Léognan appellation, the Olivier 1990 remains an unparalleled example of long-lived Bordeaux, testament to its superior vintage. Immerse in the pure sophistication of this revered quaff, each sip promising a journey to the heart of Château Olivier's legacy.

Wine Enthusiast (92)

91-93 Dark tannins, polished herbal fruit, great acidity, a wine that promises much for the future. It has freshness as well as weight.

Decanter (92)

This is one of the more finessed and well expressed examples of powerful cassis and blackberry fruits in 2017. I love the sense of energy and juice that sits beneath the fruit - again, not something that you are seeing everywhere. A good job from Olivier, even if it hasn't quite reached the heights of 2015 and 2016. Very satisfying, and should develop nicely over next few years.

Wine Enthusiast (94-96)

Barrel Sample. This is a firmly structured wine with powerful tannins that contrast with the intense acidity and ripe black-currant flavor. It has a smoky edge and a hint of pepper. The future is good for this wine.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2015 Olivier Blanc has a fragrant bouquet of fresh pear, red apple and light lanolin aromas soaring from the glass. The palate is very appley on the entry: Granny Smith apples and a touch of pear segue into a ginger-tinged second half that fans out nicely. Lacks a little sophistication but is well-crafted. One of the better white Oliviers that I have tasted in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

James Suckling (92-93)

Tangy and flavorful with lemon-rind and cooked-apple aromas and flavors. It’s tight and lively with plenty of fruit and intensity. Consistently outstanding.

James Suckling (93-94)

A solid center palate of green apples and lemons with some stones. Full-bodied and layered with beautiful fruit and length. Tangy at the end.

Jancis Robinson (17)

Very rich, ripe and broad on the nose. Racy and lively. Great energy here. Bravo! Good balance of interesting fruit and zest. Hint of smokiness.

Wine Advocate (96)

This wine stands out as a sensational effort just a few years away from full maturity. A 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine displays loads of scorched earth and smoky barbecue scents along with blueberry, black raspberry and black currant. The wine is expansive, has a savory, broad palate and a full-bodied mouthfeel, yet possesses vivid purity and uplift. The tannins are still present, but they are sweet and well-integrated. This wine should hit full maturity in another year or two and last for at least 20 more years.

Wine Advocate (95)

This gorgeous, fully mature, complex Pape Clement exhibits notes of smoky tobacco, earth, loamy soil, forest floor, black cherries, plums and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, fresh and lively, the acids have fallen away and the tannins have melted into an opulent, fleshy, classic Bordeaux. Consume it over the next 10-15 years. Bravo!

Wine Enthusiast (93)

92-94 The fruit is packed full of intense black currants, while the acidity shows through the dark, dry tannins. A powerful wine.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92)

(-) Medium ruby-red. Exotic aromas of currant, plum, tobacco, minerals, smoke and spices, complicated by hints of cherry-cola and pepper. At once generous and juicy, with lovely inner-mouth aromatic character and a strong impression of soil to the flavors of candied redcurrant, tobacco and spices. Finishes broad and long, with a fine dusting of sweet tannins. Very strong for the year.

Wine Advocate (95)

One of the top successes of the vintage, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot was harvested between October 8 and 24. The late harvest ensured perfect ripeness as evidenced by the sweet bouquet of black cherries, lead pencil shavings, cassis and subtle barbecue smoke. Well-balanced with good acidity, ripe tannins, medium to full body and a layered mouthfeel, this excellent 2008 can be drunk now and over the next 15+ years.

Wine Advocate (95)

One of the top successes of the vintage, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot was harvested between October 8 and 24. The late harvest ensured perfect ripeness as evidenced by the sweet bouquet of black cherries, lead pencil shavings, cassis and subtle barbecue smoke. Well-balanced with good acidity, ripe tannins, medium to full body and a layered mouthfeel, this excellent 2008 can be drunk now and over the next 15+ years.

Wine Advocate (100)

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pape Clement comes wafting sensuously from the glass with fragrant notions of dried roses, Chinese five spice and sandalwood over a core of kirsch, warm cassis and plum preserves plus a touch of cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is finely crafted with a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the perfumed fruit through the incredibly long finish.

Wine Advocate (100)

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pape Clement comes wafting sensuously from the glass with fragrant notions of dried roses, Chinese five spice and sandalwood over a core of kirsch, warm cassis and plum preserves plus a touch of cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is finely crafted with a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the perfumed fruit through the incredibly long finish.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2011 Pape Clement, a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, was aged 18 months in new French oak before being bottled unfiltered. Absolutely profound, with a complex bouquet of mulberries, black cherries, black currants, graphite and subtle smoke and burning ember-like aromas, this is a true super-star of the vintage. It represents a remarkable achievement by the winemaking team of Bernard Magrez. Full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, this wine clearly transcends the entire vintage. It should age effortlessly for 25 years.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2011 Pape Clement, a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, was aged 18 months in new French oak before being bottled unfiltered. Absolutely profound, with a complex bouquet of mulberries, black cherries, black currants, graphite and subtle smoke and burning ember-like aromas, this is a true super-star of the vintage. It represents a remarkable achievement by the winemaking team of Bernard Magrez. Full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, this wine clearly transcends the entire vintage. It should age effortlessly for 25 years.

Wine Advocate (97)

The iconic 2012 Pape Clement is a candidate for near-perfection as well as one of the wines of the vintage. From proprietor Bernard Magrez, this is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. This extraordinary vineyard (a few miles to the west of Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion) has hit all the highlights of this vintage. Interestingly, the quality of the Pomerols and Graves wines in 2012 is closer to what one would consider a great vintage than the general image of 2012. This is truly great wine and not far off their magnificent 2005 and 2010. Full-bodied, with rich cassis, subtle burning embers and spice followed by velvety, well-integrated tannins, the wine is lush, expansive, savory and profound. This is a remarkable wine that could be drunk at a reasonably young age, but should cellar brilliantly for a quarter-century. Yields were modest at 37 hectoliters per hectare from this 132-acre estate. The alcohol level came in at 13.5%.

Wine Advocate (97)

The iconic 2012 Pape Clement is a candidate for near-perfection as well as one of the wines of the vintage. From proprietor Bernard Magrez, this is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. This extraordinary vineyard (a few miles to the west of Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion) has hit all the highlights of this vintage. Interestingly, the quality of the Pomerols and Graves wines in 2012 is closer to what one would consider a great vintage than the general image of 2012. This is truly great wine and not far off their magnificent 2005 and 2010. Full-bodied, with rich cassis, subtle burning embers and spice followed by velvety, well-integrated tannins, the wine is lush, expansive, savory and profound. This is a remarkable wine that could be drunk at a reasonably young age, but should cellar brilliantly for a quarter-century. Yields were modest at 37 hectoliters per hectare from this 132-acre estate. The alcohol level came in at 13.5%.

Wine Enthusiast (94)

This wine has considerable potential, with rich tannins and firm fruits. It is solid, very dry at this stage although this is balanced by dark plum skin and blackberry flavors. The wine will develop slowly, so don't drink before 2022. The first harvest at this estate was in 1252. The property is now owned by Bernard Magrez, a wine, art, culture and gastronomy patron.

James Suckling (99)

The clarity to this wine is impressive. Wealth of dark-plum and black-fruit essence not to mention orange citrus. Everything is dialed up to the limit here but then dialed in on the palate. Such impressive depth and suave, ripe, fluid tannins that deliver impressive length. Great wine. Such polish. Superb. Try from 2022.

James Suckling (99)

The clarity to this wine is impressive. Wealth of dark-plum and black-fruit essence not to mention orange citrus. Everything is dialed up to the limit here but then dialed in on the palate. Such impressive depth and suave, ripe, fluid tannins that deliver impressive length. Great wine. Such polish. Superb. Try from 2022.