Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)

Fragrant floral aromatics straight off the bat, peony and violet, and a vibrant juiciness that travels through the palate. Savoury dark fruit character, with flint and textural interest, full of Figeac finesse. 130th vintage of the Manoncourt family at Figeac, and the first vintage where they knew they were Premier Grand Cru Classé A from the start of the season, as it was announced in September 2022. 130mm of rain lower than average over the growing season here, allowing a long slow harvest from September 6 to October 5, 45hl/h yield.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2019 Fonplégade is elegant, refined and full of character. Sweet dark cherry, chocolate, leather, spice, menthol and licorice build effortlessly in the glass. Fonplégade is a Saint-Émilion that emphasizes elegance over sheer power.

Vinous (84-86)

From purchased grapes in the Côte de Nuits, the 2018 Bourgogne Rouge has a slightly tarry bouquet of ripe summer fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, fine acidity and a slightly compact finish. Give it a year once in bottle.

Vinous (89-91)

The 2018 Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas has a detailed, finely proportioned bouquet of red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit. The palate is fresh and almost citric on the entry, with a fine bead of acidity and an attractive peppery finish. Drink over the next 6–8 years.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2018 La Grande Rue Grand Cru is the famous 1.65-hectare monopole of the domaine that runs parallel to Romanée-Conti and La Romanée on the other side of the road. It has a well-defined bouquet of dark cherries, raspberry, wild hedgerow and traces of Chinese tea, developing tertiary notes after a couple of minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, a satin-like texture and just the right amount of acidity. The caressing, slightly gourmand finish displays hints of meat juices and a subtle savory aspect lends complexity. Very fine.

Experience the splendour of the Frederic Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014. Expertly crafted offering an intoxicating bouquet of ripe cherries, profound black fruits, and truffle undertones. Grown in the esteemed Ruchottes-Chambertin vineyard of Burgundy, France, the terroir's excellence shines through in every sip, reflecting the unique blend of limestone and clay soil imparting a velvety tannin structure and a robust concentration.

This exquisite Grand Cru is assembled by none other than Frederic Esmonin, a celebrated winemaker renowned for his meticulous attention to detail. Handpicked and matured in French oak barrels, this Pinot Noir reveals a delicate balance of fruit, acidity, and minerality, evolving beautifully with time. The alluring complexity and sensual depth of the Frederic Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014 offers a sublime journey, unmatched in the world of fine wine.

James Suckling (96-97)

This is really fantastic with so much intensity and focus. Firm, linear tannins frame the wine beautifully. Polished and fine. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and posed. Complex flavors of blackberry, black olive, mushroom and bark. Persistent finish. Best of the trilogy?

James Suckling (95-96)

Very classy, with a crushed-stone and terra-cotta highlight to the blackberry, chocolate and hazelnut character. It’s medium-bodied with a personality that grows on the finish and delivers intensity and length at the end. Very long. Very structured. We will see which is better, 2022 or 2023.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Aux Boudots 1er Cru, aged in 50% new oak, has an intense bouquet of floral and violet aromas joined by dark berry fruit and a touch of tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied and quite mineral-driven, with gentle grip and a savory, earthy, quite broody finish. This should be fascinating to watch evolve in bottle.

Crafted by the renowned Maxime Cheurlin, the inimitable Georges Noellat Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes 2015 is a stunning example of meticulous wine making. Hailing from the famed Burgundy region in France, this radiant ruby potion encapsulates the terrain's unique terroir with exceptional grace, complexity and depth. Matured meticulously in aged oak barrels for 12-15 months, the vibrant aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and delicate spice permeate from the glass with an alluring charm.

Cheurlin, a sixth-generation vintner, meticulously tends his vines to ensure utmost quality. The Feusselottes plot is a mere 0.45 hectares, adding exclusivity to this already prestigious cuvée. A sorcerer of balance, Cheurlin marries vibrant acidity with subtle tannins to produce a harmonious symphony of flavours that dances across the palate. True to form, the Georges Noellat Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes 2015 captivates with its finesse, culminating in a lingering finish that entices sip after heavenly sip.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Echézeaux Grand Cru, which comes from vines with an average age of 80 years in the Les Creots lieu-dit, has a wonderfully detailed bouquet of precise black cherries, raspberry and wild strawberry fruit laced with minerals. The palate brims over with energy. Very focused and structured, with a black-pepper-tinged, slightly savory finish that lingers in the mouth. The 100% new oak is neatly assimilated here, although it will need 4–5 years in bottle.

Wine Advocate (95)

Cropped at a mere ten hectoliters per hectare thanks to devastating spring frosts, the 2016 Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru is one of the finest wines Maxim Cheurlin has produced to date. Unfurling in the glass with complex aromas of cherries, cassis, dark chocolate, grilled venison, loamy soil and black truffle, it's full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with searing levels of concentration, rich structuring tannins and bright acids, concluding with a long and expansive finish.

Vinous (96-98)

For the first time, Maxime Chuerlin decided to use stems in his crown jewel, the 2019 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru, settling on 25% whole bunch for this year. This was an astute decision, because it lends freshness and more complexity to the bouquet of blackberry, undergrowth, tobacco and crushed limestone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, hints of peppermint behind the black fruit and touches of white pepper and sage toward a finish that fans out wonderfully. A slam-dunk for Maxime Churlin. Five barrels produced, matured entirely in new oak.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 1er Cru, matured in 80% new oak, has a very detailed, focused bouquet of blackberry, briar, raspberry jam and light orange peel aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly tarry opening, a smear of dark chocolate combining nicely with the dark berry fruit, but it is unapologetically backward and surly on the finish compared with the Echézeaux or the Vosne Les Chaumes, so give it some serious cellaring.

Vinous (93)

The 2015 Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes 1er Cru has a cohesive, focused bouquet of pure red cherries, bergamot and undergrowth scents and nicely integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannin and well-judged acidity. Touches of spice and blood orange toward the sustained finish complete a really quite joyful 2015 Burgundy. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.

Vinous (92-94)

Matured in 50% new oak, the 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes 1er Cru has a complex bouquet of red currant, crushed strawberry, licorice and light floral aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, and lightly spiced with touches of cracked black pepper toward the grainy finish. More masculine than other Vosne cuvées, it will require 4–5 years to show its best.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (96)

5 Star Wine. One of the deeper purple colours. There is a significant weight of fruit, and it is clean enough. This is in the very opulent super-ripe fruit whole bunch style. Still needs time for the future path to become clear. A little dryness at the back and some pepper with blood orange notes in the mix. Very long, with some dark pepper notes. Drink from 2033.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Petit Monts 1er Cru has a wonderful, pure, elegant bouquet of vivid red berry fruit infused with perfumed rose petals; hints of orange blossom emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, very harmonious and superbly structured, with seamlessly integrated oak. Who made the best Les Petit Monts this vintage? Hands up... Yes, it's you, Maxime Chuerlin.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-92)

Good red-ruby. Complex, wild aromas of blackberry, violet, minerals, smoke and underbrush. Very dense and sappy, with impressively intense flavors of blackberry and crushed stone. The strongest but also the most austere of these young 2003s, with the explosive finish featuring a whiplash of black fruits and crushed stone.

James Suckling (96-97)

Aromas of crushed berries, dried flowers and spices with undertones of ink and iron. Full-bodied with wonderful, fine tannins that are totally embedded in the structure. Endless length and such refinement. Rather ethereal. Another winner from Giscours.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96-98)

The 2023 Giscours is the very best wine I have ever tasted here. Giscours has been knocking on the door of Bordeaux's elite for a few years now. Two thousand twenty-three is the year in which Giscours joins the region's big boys and girls. A towering, majestic Margaux, the 2023 dazzles from start to finish. What a wine!

Wine Advocate (93-95+)

Opaque purple-black in color, the 2020 Grand Mayne slowly unfurls in the glass to reveal gorgeous notions of ripe black plums, dark chocolate-covered cherries and blackberry pie, plus hints of licorice, cracked black pepper and unsmoked cigars with a touch of tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of rich black fruits, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and beautifully perfumed.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-95+)

The 2023 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is concentrated and inward, with a dense bouquet of smoky black fruit, iron, leafy tobacco, and lead pencil. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Pauillac that has beautiful overall balance, ripe yet certainly building tannins, ample background oak, and a great finish. I love its overall balance, as well as its purity, but this brilliant Pauillac is going to be for those with a touch of patience. I suspect a solid 7-8 years should put it in the early stages of its drinking window, and it should have at least three decades of overall longevity.

James Suckling (96-97)

This full-bodied red builds on the palate in a fantastic way with tight, compact tannins that grow and grow on the finish. Plenty of blackcurrant and graphite character and a flavorful finish. Same level as the excellent 2016.

James Suckling (95-96)

I am thinking about the purity of fruit here, with blackcurrants, cassis and lead pencil. There's an underlying character of mineral and flint. The palate is dense, focused and precise, with very fine tannins that are ultra-fine and layered and go vertically down the palate. Everything is in the right place. So much polish and a svelte nature. Then hints of hazelnut and walnut to the refined texture. Sophisticated. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.

Decanter (97)

A complete knockout of a wine in 2023. Deep, vibrant purple in colour. Lots of milk chocolate, some exotic spices and black fruit touches on the nose, along with floral scents of roses and violets - smells gorgeous. Supple and filling, an immediate weight and texture on the palate, thick silk and ripe fruit, massy but then almost straight away quite clean and crisp. Forward and focussed, tannins RE supportive but so well integrated into the wine - almost a seamless expression - with plenty of underlying power. It’s delicious. Very drinkable, finessed and restrained, nothing overdone, no harshness. Everything feels in its place. Juicy and succulent cherry, blackcurrant and blueberry with high mouthwatering acidity. A great wine, I love it because it’s layered and lifted, you can feel the sculpting with muscles on show and it feels very ‘put together’. There’s lots of strict Cabernet, but this has a touch of plushness which you can't help but smile at. A top buy in 2023. 40% grand production, taken from 60% of the estate. 15% press wine.

Immerse yourself in the experience of Guiberteau Saumur Les Arboises 2016, a quintessential Loire gem from renowned organic viticulturist, Romain Guiberteau. An expert in Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, Guiberteau continues to dazzle with his 2016 vintage confirming his status as a prominent producer in Saumur. Crafted from centuries-old vines in pure tuffeau soil, the wine was matured using traditional methods, resulting in an opulent and profound representation of the terroir.

Guiberteau Saumur Les Arboises 2016 reveals deep concentrations of black and red fruit alongside delicate herbal notes. Its velvety texture is invigorated by a fine crystal line of acidity, concluding with a seamlessly extended finish. This bottle's elegant complexity reflects Guiberteau's dedication to organic farming and respect for nature which results in expressive, terroir-driven wines of phenomenal quality and personality. Behold an outstanding wine that has been highly acclaimed by critics globally.

Marvel at the magic of Guiberteau Saumur Les Arboises 2017. A rarity from the renowned Loire Valley region, this gem is the fruit of organic vineyards nurtured by Romain Guiberteau. Employing a minimalist approach, the grapes are hand-harvested, after which they undergo a gentle pressing, followed by natural fermentation in neutral oak barrels. The result? A wine that shines in its complexity and balance.

Guiberteau Saumur Les Arboises 2017 features a vibrant hue and distinctive mineral-rich aroma, a nod to the limestone-rich, south-facing vineyards of Les Arboises. On the palate unfolds a fine play of ripe cherries, dark berries, and earthy undertones — an encapsulation of the vineyard's terroir. Endowed with refined tannins and a prolonged aftertaste, it's a wine that expresses its character with grace and quiet confidence.

An unfiltered and unfined marvel, Guiberteau's star is justly rising in the global wine world. Experience the illustrious Guiberteau Saumur Les Arboises 2017 — a symphony of quality craftsmanship and authentic Loire Valley imprint.