Ascend to the zenith of viticultural excellence with the tantalising Giraud Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition 2020. This stellar vintage emerges from the esteemed house of Giraud, a family-run estate headquartered in the historic, sun-drenched vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France. Remarkably, the Giraud siblings’ dedication to organic viticulture yields grapes of supreme quality from their old Grenache vines. Superior manual harvest and rigorous berry selection culminate in a wine that exudes impeccable purity.

Fortuitously, the 2020 vintage marks a feat in the winemaking world with its profound concentration and balance. Burgeoning with dark berry flavours and sprinkles of spice, the Giraud Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition 2020 tastefully acknowledges its terroir's earthy and stony streaks. Veering towards full-bodied, its palate-coating, silky tannins and vibrant acidity add to the harmony. Aged predominantly in old oak foudres, this French red encapsulates the beauty and finesse of the Southern Rhône valley, offering a wine experience par excellence in every sip.

James Suckling (96-97)

Lots of deep blue fruit with blackberries and grape skins, as well as tar and asphalt. Lead, too. It’s full-bodied, yet very tight with powerful, defined tannins, surrounded by attractive ripe fruit. Serious. Reminds me of the excellent 1975. A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot.

Wine Advocate (97)

I've looked at this wine many times over the years, almost exclusively as an older/cellared wine. The impact it has made is strong, and so it is through this lens that I now view this 2020 Amon Ra Shiraz. This year's Amon-Ra is concentrated, dense and absolutely, utterly saturated with flavor. The fruit that spirals within the bounds of the firm tannins is fleshy and pure, and with the knowledge that the wine sails through the decade with noiseless grace, it is all the more impressive in its infancy now. A brilliant wine—all ductile and proud. Yes.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is based on 45% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, with the balance Syrah, all destemmed and raised in 55% new French oak. Gorgeous cassis, violet, graphite, fruitcake, and peppery herbs define this brilliant effort, and it's full-bodied, with a pure, seamless texture, wonderful tannins, and one heck of a great finish. This magical 2019 is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age (it's brilliant even today) yet keep for 20 years or more. Châteauneuf du Pape lovers need to have this in their cellar!

Jeb Dunnuck (93-96)

The deep, inky-hued 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has a seriously impressive, balanced, full-bodied, structured style that's going to reward patience. Pure crème de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, lead pencil, and spring flower notes all define the bouquet, and it has plenty of background oak, a dense, chewy mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need to be forgotten for 7-8 years but will evolve for 30 years or more.

Decanter (98)

The clean, fresh aromas of just-picked citrus fruits belie the enormous power of lime juice and rich lemon pith that immediately fills the front palate on this latest vintage. There’s poise in addition to the power though, with multiple layers of rounded citrus and mineral flavours enjoying a luxurious textural roll through the mid-palate. Perfect integration of fresh citric acid carries the pure fruit qualities through extraordinary length to a crisp, lip-smacking finish.

Dive into the elegant world of French wines with the Guiberteau Saumur Les Moulins Blanc 2020. A masterpiece from the Loire Valley, this white wine is a true testament to Romain Guiberteau's exceptional viticulture savoir-faire, hailing from his biodynamic vineyard renowned for its limestone-rich soils. Steadfast attention to traditional wine-making methods, low-intervention approach and strict yield control results in wines of phenomenal depth and exquisite purity.

Guiberteau Saumur Les Moulins Blanc 2020, a Chenin Blanc varietal, exudes a vibrant array of aromas from orchard fruits to minerality, perfectly encompassing the characteristics of Saumur's unique terroir. On the palate, this wine dances with balanced acidity and profound complexity. A pristine expression of Loire Valley Chenin Blanc, this wine is noted for its age-worthiness, and rewards patience with developing finesse over the years.

Relish in the refined pedigree of Guiberteau Saumur Les Moulins Blanc 2020, a wine that radiates charm, luxury and an authentic taste of France.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Just about pure perfection and one of the finest Condrieu to pass my lips, the 2020 Condrieu La Doriane offers an insane bouquet of grilled pineapple, charcoal, crushed stone, acacia flowers, and white peach. It picks up an incredibly sense of salinity on the palate and is full-bodied, has blockbuster concentration, remarkable purity and focus, and a great finish. I like this beast/beauty today, but it will keep for a decade.

The divine Guy Amiot et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Vv Rouge 2019 is elaborated through the authentic French savoir-faire. This cherished wine originates from the celebrated vineyards of Chassagne-Montrachet in the heart of Burgundy, France. Possessing four generations of wine mastery, Guy Amiot, along with his son, Thierry Amiot, craft wines that are emblematic of their terroir with a precise balance of tradition and innovation. This remarkable wine, cultivated with diligence in 2019, exhibits an exquisite harmony of ripe, dark fruits and rich, spicy undertones, whilst maintaining an enticing, vibrant acidity.

Burgundy’s limestone-rich soils contribute to the unmistakable minerality in this sophisticated wine. The grapes are meticulously harvested by hand to ensure only peak quality. True to Burgundian style, this wine matures in oak barrels, a detail that imparts a complex aroma and lush palate. Favourably reviewed in trusted wine publications, the Guy Amiot et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Vv Rouge 2019 is a testament to artisanal winemaking.

Wine Advocate (88-90)

Aromas of wild berries, rose petals, orange peel, spices and plums introduce Guyon's 2019 Bourgogne Pinot Noir, a medium-bodied, bright and velvety wine that's lively, charming and perfumed. This is a fine cuvée in the making and will be worth consideration.

Wine Advocate (90-92)

The 2019 Chorey-lès-Beaune Les Bons Ores is shaping up very nicely, unfurling with aromas of raspberries, sweet berries and plums complemented by hints of rose petals and spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's fleshy and charming, with fine depth at the core and a seamless, elegant profile. I can't think of many wines from this appellation operating at this level.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The 2019 Echézeaux Grand Cru is brilliant, soaring from the glass with scents of exotic spices, wild berries, plums, rose petals, raw cocoa, peonies and blood orange. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, it's deep and complete, with supple tannins and a gourmand, enveloping core of fruit, concluding with a long and mouthwatering finish. This is the finest Echézeaux I've tasted from Guyon.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (97-100)

First picked, 100% decorticated. “This is the best wine I have made in my life”. Rich noble imperial purple. All right, team, this really is it! “Tu le bois avec le nez, you drink it with your nose”. No question here. This completely works as there is not the slightest sensation of cooked fruit. No spitting. I don’t know what to say. Actually I was just formulating the words that this is the finest Echezeaux I have tasted in my life when Jean-Pierre interrupted to say that Michel Bettane thought the same! An intensely seductive lush red velvet fruit covering an entirely perfect bone structure. One of the wines of the vintage. Could be THE wine of the vintage. Tasted: November 2021

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2020 Harlan Estate is deep purple-black in color. It needs a lot of swirling to bring out notions of chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries, and crème de cassis, followed by hints of tar, violets, redcurrant jelly, and tilled soil, with a waft of black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is very tightly wound, with lots of mineral, red berry, and black fruit layers intertwined to offer an incredibly complex, yet beautifully poised, experience. The tannins are super fine-grained and the tension gives an incredible finish with a minerally swing. Wow: it's a pure, effortless, truthful wine.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2020 Haut-Bages Libéral is exceptionally beautiful and vivid. Hard candy, kirsch, rose petal, cinnamon and blood orange are some of the many notes that race across the palate. A wine of magnificent purity and silkiness, the Haut-Bages Libéral is simply captivating in its intensity. Bright acids punctuate the articulate, persistent finish. Magnificent.

James Suckling (100)

The black cassis comes out of the glass, together with iodine, sandalwood and subtle moss and wet-bark undertones, then turning to violets. The palate is mind-blowing, with a cashmere texture that unravels on the palate and continues on for minutes. It’s full of superbly complex, ethereal character and mouth-feel, One of the wines of the vintage. As glorious as it may be to taste now, this is one for your deep cellar. Try in 2029.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets-Saint-Georges 1er Cru has a tightly wound bouquet, iris and incense notes dominating at the moment, slightly at the expense of terroir expression. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied with fleshy red berry fruit and a touch of white pepper and clove, dovetailing into a piquant, lively finish. All it lacks is a bit of persistence on the aftertaste.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

The 2019 Hosanna is fabulous, just as it was from barrel. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2019 possesses off the charts fruit intensity. As always Hosanna leans towards the dark side of black/blue fruit. An exotic mélange of tar, gravel, licorice, incense and spice builds in the glass, filling out the layers effortlessly. Soft contours give Hosanna its allure, but I would not be in any rush here. The balance of opulent fruit and structure makes for a super-compelling Pomerol.

James Suckling (99-100)

This shows very intense, old-vine character with bark, black mushroom and dark fruit. Full-bodied and creamy with unique flavors of earth and fruit. Layered and soulful. The best Hosanna ever? Merlot and cabernet franc. 45% from old vines, dating from the late 1950s.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Village has a vivid bouquet with red cherries, cranberry and violet scents, actually, quite Vosne-like in personality. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, quite poised and tense with a dash of spice on the finish. This is a delicious Chambolle that should give 12-15 years' drinking pleasure.

James Suckling (96)

The nose is quite reserved, showing some melon, pear and lavender. Then, on the palate, the expansion starts on a base of silky almond cream and builds up slowly and steadily through the long, long finish. Aftertaste of lemon cream. Never ebullient, but medium-bodied, layered and silky, this is quiet refinement flexing its muscles. Total balance. Beautifully done. All in place. Best ever. Enjoy now or hold.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

A storrming, stonking Napa wine, playing at the top of its game in 2019. Somehow takes the power and concentration of Napa but makes it full of texture, life, light and shade. Espresso, liqourice root, cocoa bean, cassis, cranberry, black cherry, cold ash and crayon. Hard not to fall in love with, nothing overdone, everything in its place. Winemaker Todd DeVincezi, consultant winemaker Philippe Bascaules. All aged in French oak barrels, 75% new.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)

Excellent fresh lemon and lime colour. Relatively stern on the nose. This is backward, and very striking but not quite in place yet, very backward, all the intensity for sure. Stony white fruit as you would expect. How far does it stretch out. Youthful tension Tasted: October 2021.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

An agreeable colour with a pale green tint. This has energy on the nose, not one of the riper examples (and I mean that as a stylistic rather than a qualitative comment). The fruit is more complete on the palate, predominantly white, perhaps some greengage, good grip at the back, and all the length it should have. Tasted: October 2021

James Suckling (95)

Racy wild strawberries and raspberries with white pepper, agave and dried herbs. Fresh, medium-bodied palate with silky, refined tannins spreading evenly across the palate. Juicy and bright finish with lovely, herbal allure. Extremely drinkable now, but will hold, too.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2019 Marsannay Es Chezots is one of the most impressive on the nose among Laurent Fournier’s cuvées with black cherries, cassis and briary aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins. There is a discrete marine influence, touches of oyster shell and sea salt on the finish of this splendid and sophisticated Marsannay.

Decanter (93)

This half-hectare holding in Aux Roncières, to the south of the village, is gently handled to produce a dark, cassis-scented fruit, with savoury, earthy notes of a slightly rustic nature which is very typically of Nuits. The tannins are firm and rugged, plus there is a rewarding mineral depth that comes out on the finish.

Burghound (89-92)

(from 8 different vineyards the most important of which is Aux Ormes). Here the nose is firmly reduced today though there is good freshness and verve to the intense, sleek and beautifully defined medium weight flavors that possess very fine concentration that helps to buffer the moderately firm but fine tannic spine supporting the balanced and impressively persistent finish. This too is a very good wine in the context of its level. (89-92)/2027+

Burghound (91-93)

(Sweet spot Outstanding) Here the wood is no longer subtle though neither is it invasive on the ripe and layered aromas of violet, plum, earth and discreet sauvage nuances. The middle weight flavors are not as concentrated but they're finer still thanks to the relatively fine-grained tannins supporting the markedly firm and youthfully austere finale. This is clearly built-to-age and will need at least a decade to fully resolve the structure. Worth checking out.

Tim Atkin MW (94)

Most of this fruit comes from domaine-owned parcels, but some is purchased. Six parcels in total contribute to this pretty, floral and silky-textured Chambolle. Sweet red fruits spread gently across the mid-weight palate before a light ganache note joins in and brings the wine into a gently fading finish. 2022-34