Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98-100)

This is an exceptional Haut-Brion, offering juice and elegant balance alongside classically structured layers, generous but restrained, sense of architecture and building blocks of a truly great Left Bank wine. Rippling with sinewy muscles, juicy and controlled, packed with cocoa bean, espresso, liouqorice root, but none of these flavours dominate, knitted together, with a vertical lift. 100% new oak, Jean-Philippe Delmas director, Jean-Philippe Masclef technical director, no outside consultant.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98-100)

This is an exceptional Haut-Brion, offering juice and elegant balance alongside classically structured layers, generous but restrained, sense of architecture and building blocks of a truly great Left Bank wine. Rippling with sinewy muscles, juicy and controlled, packed with cocoa bean, espresso, liouqorice root, but none of these flavours dominate, knitted together, with a vertical lift. 100% new oak, Jean-Philippe Delmas director, Jean-Philippe Masclef technical director, no outside consultant.

Experience the essence of Sauternes with 'La Tour Blanche 1994', a wine known for its sublime elegance. Produced with an expert blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes from the famed vineyards of Bordeaux, this rich yet balanced sweet wine reveals an impressive concentration of fruit and a velvety texture. Hand-harvested and subjected to a traditional vinification process, every bottle encapsulates the spirit of the renowned Château La Tour Blanche.

The expressive 'La Tour Blanche 1994' imparts notes of tropical fruit, honey, and spice on the nose, underpinned by an alluring mineral character. On the palate, it offers the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. The producer, since 1855 a 1st Classified Growth of Sauternes in Bordeaux, continues their dedication to crafting exceptional wines. Indulge in 'La Tour Blanche 1994', a Sauternes wine embodying the rich tradition of Bordeaux winemaking. An exceptional choice for the discerning fine wine collector or aficionado.

Meticulously crafted in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux, France, the luxurious La Tour Blanche 1995 is an investment piece for the discerning wine aficionado. This prestigious wine is birthed from La Tour Blanche's esteemed vineyards, renowned for their dedication to embracing vital traditions while employing innovative viticultural techniques. Their wines are subjected to a measured ageing process in French oak barrels, honing an insurmountably rich, full-bodied profile.

The 1995 vintage radiates a golden hue; its radiant colour only surpassed by its aromatic complexity. A nose boasting honeyed apricot, ripe peach and candied lemon peel tantalises the senses. On the palate, the La Tour Blanche 1995 vaunts a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, clothed in flavours that mirror its aromatic spectrum.

Highly rated by respected wine publications, La Tour Blanche 1995 is an exquisite embodiment of Sauternes' unique terroir and an outstanding testament to La Tour Blanche's viticultural excellence.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 1998 la Tour Blanche is medium gold in color with quite an earthy, savory nose giving up perfumed notions of orange blossoms and honeysuckle over preserved apricots, apple pie and allspice hints. It's wonderfully elegant, sophisticated and beautifully balanced in the mouth, with oodles of layers and epic length.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90+)

Subdued but pure aromas of peach, orange marmalade and white plum, complicated and lifted by a floral topnote. Concentrated, fresh and spicy, with a flavor of peach and a repeating floral element. Youthful and persistent on the back end, which features sweet butter, vanilla and spicy oak.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-93)

Pale yellow. Pure aromas of apricot, orange and spices, with a tangy hint of marmalade. Generous and moderately thick, with lively, fruit-driven flavors of orange, lemon and apricot nicely framed by bright acids. Very silky and suave, in the style of the vintage's best examples. Slowly mounting, very fine finish.

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Loads of botrytis and honey character and hints of lemon rind and citrus fruits. Full-bodied, very sweet ,with loads of peach tart, spice and a long, honeyed finish. This has all on the back palate. Fantastic. Best La Tour Blanche I have tasted in many, many years. Score range: 95-100

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2010 La Tour Blanche is well endowed on the nose with scents of acacia honey, yellow plum and orange rind, just a touch of saffron emerging with time (a leitmotif of this vintage.) The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. This feels spicier than its peers, finely tuned towards the finish with a touch of ginger on the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91-94)

Yellow-gold color. Aromas of mirabelle, creme brulee, honey and spices, along with a faint fusel nuance. Dense, unctuous, powerful and complex; superripe and concentrated but with excellent acidity contributing structure and shape. Very long and sweetly oaky on the back end. This struck me as like a more powerful, gripping version of the '98.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

A wine of stunning beauty, the 2017 Lafaurie-Peyraguey is so remarkably vivid from the very first taste. All the elements simply fall into place effortlessly. Orchard fruit, tangerine, passion fruit mint and exotic floral overtones all grace this precise, wonderfully inviting Sauternes from Silvio Denz. Lafaurie-Peyraguey is pure and total finesse.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

A wine of stunning beauty, the 2017 Lafaurie-Peyraguey is so remarkably vivid from the very first taste. All the elements simply fall into place effortlessly. Orchard fruit, tangerine, passion fruit mint and exotic floral overtones all grace this precise, wonderfully inviting Sauternes from Silvio Denz. Lafaurie-Peyraguey is pure and total finesse.

James Suckling (99-100)

Incredible, young Sauternes with so much spicy, dried-mushroom, dust and powdered-earth character on the nose and palate, Full-bodied with a medium-sweet palate and a finish that is endless. Apricots, dried lemons and peaches. Caramel. Great balance. Greatest modern vintage? 6,000 bottles made.

Wine Spectator (97)

The great first-growth estate produced a wine with amazing length in this new vintage. Goes on and on, with mint, plum and cassis aromas and flavors and ultrafine tannins. A superb Bordeaux. Best after 1999. 25,000 cases made.

Wine Advocate (86-88)

The 1957, while not great, is nevertheless surprisingly good (twice I have rated it in the 86-88 range).

Wine Advocate (70)

(Magnum)

Wine Advocate (80)

Given the overblown praise for the 1961, 1966, and 1970 Lafites, it seems as though the 1964, a wine obviously made after the rains, is a wine that has taken more criticism than it deserves. Not that it is sublime or profound, but it has consistently shown a chunky, fruity character, and a whiff of some of Lafite's fabulous bouquet. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 7/82.

Wine Advocate (80)

Given the overblown praise for the 1961, 1966, and 1970 Lafites, it seems as though the 1964, a wine obviously made after the rains, is a wine that has taken more criticism than it deserves. Not that it is sublime or profound, but it has consistently shown a chunky, fruity character, and a whiff of some of Lafite's fabulous bouquet. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 7/82.

Wine Advocate (80)

Given the overblown praise for the 1961, 1966, and 1970 Lafites, it seems as though the 1964, a wine obviously made after the rains, is a wine that has taken more criticism than it deserves. Not that it is sublime or profound, but it has consistently shown a chunky, fruity character, and a whiff of some of Lafite's fabulous bouquet. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 7/82.

Wine Advocate (84)

Except for the 1966 and 1870 vintages of Lafite-Rothschild, these wines were poured on virgin territory on my palate. Isn't it ironic that the most disappointing wine (forgetting the spoiled 1875 Lafite-Rothschild, which had frightful levels of volatile acidity) was the youngest wine, the 1966 Lafite. With a light to medium ruby/garnet color, this wine exhibited a classy, weedy, herbal, Cabernet-dominated nose, soft, washed-out flavors, and little body and length. It is also beginning to dry out. I suppose if one were to taste a 30-year old Cabernet from Monterey County, California, it might reveal similar characteristics. The 1966 Lafite-Rothschild has consistently been a major disappointment from what is an irregular, but very good vintage.

Wine Advocate (72)

This is a vintage in which Lafite could certainly have done better. Light ruby with browning very much in evidence, this wine in the mid-1970s had a fragrant, spicy, charming bouquet, easygoing, simple fruity flavors, and light tannins. Now it is quite tired with old, faded, fruit flavors. Drink up! Anticipated maturity: Now-probably in serious decline. Last tasted, 12/80.

Vintage Tastings (93)

The Lafite had a bit of volatile acidity to it, but some nice pencil, cedar and roasted fruit behind it. It was tender and slightly rich in the mouth, with a leathery finish.

Vintage Tastings (93)

The Lafite had a bit of volatile acidity to it, but some nice pencil, cedar and roasted fruit behind it. It was tender and slightly rich in the mouth, with a leathery finish.

Wine Advocate (72)

One of the charming 1973s, this light, somewhat watery, thin wine has Lafite's classic perfumed bouquet, short, compact, agreeable flavors, and little tannin. That was in 1980, the last time I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: Now-probably in serious decline. Last tasted, 12/80.