Wine Advocate (96)

The 2013 Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté does a great job of portraying its vineyard characteristics. This single vineyard is located at higher altitudes with thicker clay soils. This combination helps to build the wine's intensity, structure and muscle. It undergoes 45 days of submerged cap fermentation. Dark cherry and blackberry open the bouquet. These aromas are followed by spice, smoke, iron and crushed mineral. The robust nature of those aromas makes for a beautiful contrast to the fine, silky and more delicate (relatively speaking) nature of the mouthfeel.

Burghound (95-98)

A very pungent nose displays plenty of wood and menthol influences on the quite firmly reduced aromas. There is superb richness and intensity to the seductively textured mineral-inflected flavors that are at once powerful yet refined before culminating a very backward, concentrated and stunningly long finish that just goes on and on. This is exceptionally promising and should also live for decades. In a word, brilliant.

Wine Advocate (96)

Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru was showing some quality new oak on the nose that still needs to be subsumed. It is tightly coiled but it just needs time because there is freshness, definition and beguiling complexity locked in here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very well judged acidity and clever use of new oak lending body without compromising terroir expression. The finish feels focused and satisfying and the texture leaves you totally seduced. Class, class, class. Tasted September 2016.

Vinous (94+)

Bright medium red. Knockout high-pitched aromas of red berries, peony and orange peel. Boasts compelling subtle density and sharp definition to its taut flavors of blackberry, violet, licorice, spices and minerals. In its juicy sappiness, this is like chewing on a ripe cherry. A classic Bonnes-Mares, offering superb volume without any undue weight. And an outstanding example of what phenolically ripe fruit could make in this cool vintage.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2013 Haut Brion Blanc, which is a blend of 66% Sauvignon Blanc and 34% Semillon, has a more expressive bouquet than the 2013 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc, with mineral-rich citrus fruit, grapefruit and honeysuckle - all very vivacious. The palate is very well balanced, intense and exuberant with lanolin-tinged citrus fruit, dried pineapple, almond, sweet fig and a dash of lemongrass on the long finish. This is just a superb Haut Brion Blanc that should give two or three decades of pleasure.

Wine Advocate (97+)

The 2013 Brut Grand Cru Aÿ Argonne is the latest in a series of superb releases from Giraud. Unwinding in the glass with notes of buttered toast, crisp yellow orchard fruit, honeycomb, warm spices and ripe stone fruits, it's full-bodied, deep and vinous, with a layered core of concentrated fruit, incisive acids and an elegant pearly mousse. Long and penetrating, it's finer-boned than its richer, more muscular 2012 predecessor; but like that more structured wine, it will reward bottle age.

Vinous (95)

Bright, dark red. Knockout nose combines raspberry, flowers and crushed stone. Utterly seamless on the palate, with its fruit sweetness perfectly countered by minerality. The wine's powerful stony underpinning gives it outstanding sappiness and inner-mouth tension. Offers a remarkable combination of thick, silky texture and energy. Finishes with thoroughly buffered, noble tannins and outstanding length. This should evolve slowly and gracefully for at least the next two decades.

Jancis Robinson (19.5)

Some vines planted in 1940s and others between 1958 and 1963. Extraordinary nose that is hugely intense and then on the palate there’s an array of flowers, red fruits and chestnut. Masses of juice. Strong texture and grainy tannins on the end and enormous power. Depth yet grace. Real refinement.

Wine Advocate (91-93)

The 2013 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots, matured in 50% new oak, has a similar bouquet to the les Fleurières, but here the fruit is one of Confuron’s few that nudges more toward the red side of the fruit spectrum. The palate is silky smooth on the entry with a fine line of acidity. There is ample freshness here, a buxom Vosne endowed with sensuality and purity on the finish.

Vinous (96-97)

(this wine is the final blend and was resting in holding tanks in preparation for bottling, "probably in March," according to Chave): Inky ruby. Vibrant black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by suggestions of candied flowers, incense and licorice, and a bright mineral nuance adds lift. Sweet, fleshy and focused, offering palate-staining cherry compote, black raspberry and violet pastille flavors accented by smoky Indian spices and a hint of cracked pepper. Shows impressive depth but comes off surprisingly lithe, finishing with superb focus and length and fine-grained tannins that sneak in slowly.

The Jobard Bourgogne Blanc 2013 emanates from the renowned vineyards of François Jobard, one of the most discrete producers in Meursault, France. Crafting his wines in traditional methods, Jobard has amassed a reputation for producing top-quality white Burgundy with extraordinary longevity. The Bourgogne Blanc 2013 is no exception. It displays an intricately balanced structure, with a dense fruit presence and a refreshing acidity that promises impressive ageing potential.

Combining Chardonnay grapes with the distinct minerality of Meursault soils, the Jobard Bourgogne Blanc 2013 offers a remarkably vigorous profile. Expect complex aromas of citrus, green apple, crushed rocks and a hint of honeycomb. Its medium body, refined tension, and crisp finish make it an ideal accompaniment to delicately-flavoured dishes. Made in limited quantities, this stellar vintage preserves the Jobard legacy of distinct, terroir-driven wines that hold a prestigious place in the pantheon of great white Burgundys.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Fabulously complex nose. Crisp power, intensity without breadth. Steely stony minerality. Mouthwateringly dry and electric freshness. Eyewatering finish and amazing persistence. Pure and precise.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Dark cherry red. Smells sweetly spiced and gentle. Black cherry. Dry and lithe and ineffably refined. No fat, no excess but nothing is missing. Lithe, sinewy tannins. Such great energy and back to that precision with a firmness that holds the fruit in check for now.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2013 L'Evangile is one of the more textured, layered wines of the year. Mocha, cloves, plums and black cherries meld together in a wine with considerable richness and vivid, expressive fruit. The 100% new French oak is impeccably integrated for a wine of this age. Raspberry jam, wild flowers and sweet spices linger on the close. This is a terrific showing, especially for the vintage. The 2013 is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, brought in from September 27 to early October.

James Suckling (95)

The aromas of Lafite in 2013 are complex and fascinating with cigar box, Spanish cedar, and dark fruit. Hints of hot stone. Full body, chewy tannins yet very polished and refined. Solid density on the palate. Very long and impressive. This needs three to five years to open. Very impressive for the vintage.

James Suckling (95)

The aromas of Lafite in 2013 are complex and fascinating with cigar box, Spanish cedar, and dark fruit. Hints of hot stone. Full body, chewy tannins yet very polished and refined. Solid density on the palate. Very long and impressive. This needs three to five years to open. Very impressive for the vintage.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2013 Lafleur was one of my favorite wines from barrel because, as Baptiste Guinaudeau remarked when I visited the property, he did not try to make a Pomerol beyond what it could be. The nose might not possess the complexity of the best vintages of Lafleur, but it is clearly delineated and fresh, with blackberry and raspberry fruit, a subtle granitic scent tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, as is often the case for Lafleur, with crunchy red berry fruit and a stony, almost reserved but fresh finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is an excellent wine considering the growing season.

Vinous (97)

The 2013 Extra Brut Les Chemins d'Avize Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is floral and gracious, much more so than is common in Avize Champagnes, which tend to have more body. The 2013 is beautifully perfumed and ethereal from start to finish, with striking beams of salinity that confer tension. Candied lemon peel, white flowers, spice, hazelnut, dried flowers and chamomile are some of the many notes that are laced together. This subtle, wonderfully nuanced Champagne has so much to offer. It is the most restrained wine in this range. The Chemins d'Avize is a blend of fruit from Chemin de Plivot and Chemin de Flavigny, done in neutral oak. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: October, 2019.

Wine Advocate (93-95)

After the outstanding Latricieres-Chambertin ’13, the 2013 Chambertin appeared sultrier and introspective, difficult to read at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, perhaps more backbone than the Latricieres but at the same time, its seriousness is quite arresting after the flamboyance of its “sister” Grand Cru. It is a Chambertin that does not quite want to get to know you at this absurdly premature juncture and it will require 8-10 years in bottle.

Wine Advocate (90-92)

There is something slightly more confit on the nose of the 2013 Nuits Saint Georges Les Lavieres compared to the Aux Allot. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine minerality and precision, structured and aloof on the end but extremely well focused. Give this 2 or 3 years after bottling.

James Suckling (94)

A firm and tight Margaux with structure and elegance. Full bodied and tight. Lovely silky tannins and layers of texture and flavor. Currant and chocolate undertones. 94% cabernet sauvignon, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot. Drink in 2018.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

The 2013 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux has a really quite alluring, complex bouquet with broody dark cherry, blackberry leaf and cold wet stone aromas that are both detailed and intense. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, razor-sharp tannins that form a lattice around a core of red fruit. There is a pastille-like purity and an electrifying finish, whose current feels long in the mouth. This is very classy: a great Cros Parantoux, terroir shrugging off what the season threw in its way.

Wine Spectator (90)

Fresh and inviting, with a meaty character to the red berry and spice flavors, finishing with a pleasant fleshiness. Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2018.

As connoisseurs of fine wines, we celebrate the Morgassi Superiore Tuffo Gavi del Comune di Gavi 2013, a stellar example of exquisite Italian winemaking. Produced by the renowned Morgassi Superiore establishment, this wine emerges from vineyards in Piedmont - an Italian heartland recognised for its superior viticulture. This 2013 vintage boasts 100% Cortese grapes, handpicked and meticulously fermented for a month under controlled temperatures in steel vats for pure expression of its distinction.

Revered for its complex flavour profile and elegant minerality, the Morgassi Superiore Tuffo Gavi is abundant in luscious notes of fresh pear, almond, and citric undertones. Its full-bodied composition is balanced by a crisp acidity that carries its harmonious flavours towards a lingering finish. Aged for six months on lees and a month in the bottle, this white wine radiates brilliance. A fervent testament to the skilful prowess of Morgassi Superiore winemakers, the Tuffo Gavi del Comune di Gavi 2013 is truly a joy to savour.

Vinous (95)

Bright medium red. Lovely ineffable perfume of red cherry, raspberry, minerals and flowers, plus a darker suggestion of blackberry. Boasts great intensity to its flavors of red and black fruits and flowers, with captivating minerality and perfectly integrated acidity giving the wine outstanding inner-mouth tension without any hardness. Firm, even, late-arriving tannins frame the fruit on the rising finish of this very classy grand cru.

Vinous (94)

Good bright, deep red. Complex, subtle aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and graphite minerality, plus some sexy oak tones. Ripe and silky, even plump for the year, but classically dry and light on its feet. Saturates the mouth and cheeks without leaving any impression of heaviness. At this point in my tasting, Marie-Christine Mugneret noted that these 2013s had been uncorked the previous evening. They are showing spectacularly now and I suspect they benefited dramatically from aeration. Finishes with very suave, even tannins and a suggestion of minty lift. Very classy juice.

Vinous (94)

Good bright, deep red. Complex, subtle aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and graphite minerality, plus some sexy oak tones. Ripe and silky, even plump for the year, but classically dry and light on its feet. Saturates the mouth and cheeks without leaving any impression of heaviness. At this point in my tasting, Marie-Christine Mugneret noted that these 2013s had been uncorked the previous evening. They are showing spectacularly now and I suspect they benefited dramatically from aeration. Finishes with very suave, even tannins and a suggestion of minty lift. Very classy juice.