Vinous (93-95)

Opaque ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, candied lavender, cola and white pepper, accompanied by a hint of musky earth in the background. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black currant, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors that pick up a refreshingly bitter edge with air. The dark berry note repeats strongly on the youthfully tannic finish, which clings with superb persistence and lingering florality.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

Sophie Fourcade's 2015 Clos Saint Martin has turned out beautifully. Dense, pliant and impeccably layered, it also offers a good bit of freshness to play off the sweet red stone fruit flavors. I especially like the brightness here, especially in 2015, where it is easy for wines to be out of balance. A closing flourish of sweet red cherry and raspberry fruit leaves a lasting impression. Tasted three times.

Wine Advocate (92)

The 2015 Meursault Village is showing very well, unfurling in the glass with notes of crisp yellow orchard fruit, Anjou pear, white flowers, honeycomb and hazelnut cream. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, satiny and pure, with beautiful balance, succulent underlying acids and an elegant framing of dry extract that lends a mouthwatering quality to the long, penetrating finish. Without either the strong cooperage or reductive signatures of yesteryear's Coche-Dury, it exemplifies the new stylistic direction taken by Raphaël Coche, and it's a terrific success, surpassing both the 2014 and 2013 renditions.

Vinous (94)

At first, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is quite closed in the glass, to the point I move on to the wine next to it… However, upon returning to the glass a few minutes later, I come to realize that the 2015 simply needs time to come to life; and once it does, watch out. Here I find a gorgeous and intense display, mixing savory and sweet, as well as, earth and fruit, as dusty cedar and spice give way to ripe strawberry with a hint of citrus, with wild herbs and a hint of animal musk adding further depths. On the palate, silky textures meld into woodland red berry fruits, zesty spice, hints of cedar, savory herbs, saline minerals, and mounting tannins. The finish is long and structured, yet there remains enough primary fruit to balance it all out, as well as resonating acids, intriguing hints of citrus, and spice. This is remarkably balanced, singing already, yet it’s full of potential for the cellar.

Vinous (94)

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a remarkably pretty bouquet of rosy florals, ripe strawberry, and subtle spice, as the 2015 Col di Lamo evolves into a more savory display, with hints of rosemary and black olive. On the palate, silky textures give way to a savory blend of crushed cherry and raspberry, with hints of spicy citrus, rosy florals, and mineral tones developing over a coating of fine tannins. The finish is long, resonating on floral-laced red fruits and savory spice with a tug of youthful tannin on the cheek. This is a wonderfully pure, balanced, and enjoyable expression of the vintage.

Vinous (98+)

The highlight among these 2015s, the Cariad is a total knock-out. Dark, vibrant and powerful in the glass, the 2015 offers notable energy to balance the bold flavors of the year. In this vintage, the Cariad has quite a bit more Franc than is typically the case, a decision that has paid off beautifully. I very much like the sense of energy here.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Another perfect wine from this estate is the 2015 IX Estate which is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. This inky purple-colored beauty has everything: incredible aromatics, huge richness, insane purity, and a singular character that needs to be tasted to be believed. Crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, flowers, and lead pencil shaving-like notes all soar from the glass and it hits the palate with a youthful, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated style that builds incrementally, has fine tannin, and integrated acidity. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but will keep for 3-4 decades.

Vinous (98)

The 2015 Syrah is a total knock-out. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, rose petal and mint are some of the notes that race out of the glass, but here, too, it is the wine's stunning textural richness that stands out most. Full-throttle and intense in every dimension, the 2015 captivates all the senses with its magnificent, towering beauty. I would prefer to cellar the 2015 for at least a few years, but even today, in its primary stage, the 2015 is phenomenal.

James Suckling (94)

I love the purity of fruit to this delightful sangiovese with fresh hibiscus tea, rose petals and orange rind. Medium body, fine but serious tannins and a spicy, medium-chewy finish. Delicate and savory, but warm and hearty at the same time. As sangiovese should be. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

The Collier Saumur blanc 2015 is an exquisite product from the Loire Valley, meticulously crafted by the esteemed producer, Domaine Collier. As a testament to French winemaking heritage, this Chenin Blanc honours traditional vine growing methods. Biodynamic practices are employed without artificial treatments, ensuring minimal intervention for authentic expression of terroir. Domaine Collier hand-harvests the grapes, followed by native yeast fermentation in aged oak barrels, enhancing complexity and structure. This process results in a harmonious balance of minerality, acid tension, and fruit vibrancy.

The Collier Saumur blanc 2015 presents an array of citrus and orchard fruit notes, melded beautifully with traces of honey and wet stone. It impresses with its remarkable length, voluminous texture, and delicate finish, delivering an unforgettable tasting experience. If you're seeking to indulge in a noteworthy French white wine, look no further than the Collier Saumur blanc 2015.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

All destemmed, aged for 18 months in demi-muids. Remarkable aromatic finesse already, boding well for the future; it majors on rich, ripe fruit rather than oak. Very full and rounded, but full of life and energy, this is buzzing with vitality. It has fresh, lip-smacking acidity and tannin, and a very long finish. A fantastic balance between freshness, concentration and pure, regal Hermitage fruit. Whatever style of Hermitage you like, this shouldn’t disappoint - it has depth and power as well as finesse. Very impressive, complete wine.

Wine Advocate (90-92)

The 2015 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, which is a blend of 60% Breterins and 40% Les Bas des Duresses close to Monthélie, had received a bit of SO2 a week before my visit and was due to be transferred into tank for around two months. It contains 10% whole bunch fruit this year and sees 20% new oak. It has a sensual bouquet with black cherries, raspberry and confit fruit all with fine delineation. The tannins here are finer than the village cru as you would expect, the acidity nicely judged (3.4 pH) with a poised and tensile finish that delivers a welcome salinity on the finish. This comes highly recommended and is certainly one of the best 2015s that I have encountered from the appellation.

This Aligoté is forward, bright and fresh. Very easy to drink and overall satisfying. With a bit more complexity than might be expected this is one of the better values among entry-level whites this year. Worth stocking up on at this price.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Heady, perfumed, flattering nose. Very rich start and refined finish with real neatness. Reminds me of the 2005 but with possibly more precision. Long.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Heady, perfumed, flattering nose. Very rich start and refined finish with real neatness. Reminds me of the 2005 but with possibly more precision. Long.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Heady, perfumed, flattering nose. Very rich start and refined finish with real neatness. Reminds me of the 2005 but with possibly more precision. Long.

Jancis Robinson (17.5)

Perfumed, gentle texture, lots to chew on at the end but properly complex and serious. Pretty intense and chiselled. Relatively rich. Gives the impression of great care taken in vineyard and cellar. Long with a peacock's tail on the end. Some liquorice on the end too – most unusual in 2015 burgundy. Very well done.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Very deep purplish crimson. Warm, ripe, expressive nose. Juicy and lively with great pace. Such a winner! More obvious fruit than Amoureuses. Super-juicy. Winning.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Very deep purplish crimson. Warm, ripe, expressive nose. Juicy and lively with great pace. Such a winner! More obvious fruit than Amoureuses. Super-juicy. Winning.

Vinous (95)

The 2015 Echézeaux Grand Cru is slightly darker in color than its peers. There is a fug of reduction on the nose that makes the fruit profile difficult to discern. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, quite masculine and surly in style, although there is impressive substance and grip on the finish. This is in an awkward stage, but I’m convinced it will coalesce and become much more coherent with bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.

Vinous (89-91)

Bright ruby-red. The musky dark raspberry and mocha nose exudes a sexy sweetness. Less dense but more delineated than the Clos du Château, conveying a much lower pH impression. Fresh raspberry, blackberry, spice and licorice flavors linger nicely on the lively finish. Very Nuits in character.

Vinous (94)

The 2015 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru has a voluminous, intense, slightly feral bouquet featuring layers of red berry fruit and possibly just a touch of brettanomyces (which for me does not detract from the overall aromatic profile). The well-focused, medium-bodied palate offers supple tannin, a crisp line of acidity and sappy blueberry and wild strawberry scents toward the sleek, silky-smooth finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.

Vinous (88-90)

(20% of this fruit comes from the top of the slope, which Liger-Belair says brings limestone freshness): Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, roast coffee and smoke on the nose. Dense and round, offering a velvety texture and good stuffing for village wine. Very ripe but nicely leavened by smoky minerality. In a softer style, finishing with ripe tannins. This is almost ready to be racked; indeed, Liger-Belair planned to bottle it before Christmas.

Vinous (88-91)

(from clay soil at the bottom of the hill): Healthy red-ruby. Blackberry and black raspberry aromas are complicated by a gamey nuance. Plush and classically dry, with smoky and saline qualities and a touch of animal fur reduction that currently blocks the wine's fruit. This, too, will be racked soon.

Wine Advocate (93+)

Tasted blind, the 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots-du-Milieu offers up a deep bouquet of red-black cherries, spices, potpourri, espresso roast and subtle grilled meat. Full-bodied, ample and sappy on the palate, it's rich but vibrant, with fine-grained structuring tannins that are beginning to assert themselves on the finish. Having drunk several bottles of this wine since release, the extent to which it's shutting down is clearly apparent, and at this stage, patience will be required.

Vinous (90-92)

Moderately saturated ruby-red. Blackberry, cassis and menthol aromas are lifted by a mineral element. Juicy, saline and youthfully tight, even a bit clenched, but with harmonious bright acidity giving verve to the wine's dark berry flavors. Serious building tannins saturate the entire palate on the rather suave, fine-grained finish.

Our cellar is proud to present the exquisite Conterno Fantino Barolo Mosconi 2015. Nestled in the heart of Piedmont’s breathtaking Langhe hills, Conterno Fantino is celebrated for its commitment to tradition and innovation in viticulture. The Mosconi 2015 encapsulates their expert craft, created from 100% Nebbiolo grapes hand-selected from their organically farmed, south-facing vineyard in Monforte d’Alba.

This Barolo showcases deep complexity with an opulent layering of red cherries, liquorice, and bergamot nuanced by whispers of rose and cinnamon. On the palate, its superb texture and tannin structure deliver a vigour balanced by an elegant minerality. Aged for 24 months in French barrique, followed by a refining period in the bottle, its expressive nature and great longevity have been perfectly matured. Truly, the Conterno Fantino Barolo Mosconi 2015 is an absolute delight to the discerning palate, a testament to Conterno Fantino's unrivalled quality. Don’t miss this outstanding vintage.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Fragrant and all about finesse, this gorgeous wine opens with enticing aromas of blue flower, forest floor, wild berry and a whiff of eucalyptus. It's linear and elegant, delivering succulent red cherry, pomegranate, star anise and tobacco alongside polished tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it impeccably balanced.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Fragrant and all about finesse, this gorgeous wine opens with enticing aromas of blue flower, forest floor, wild berry and a whiff of eucalyptus. It's linear and elegant, delivering succulent red cherry, pomegranate, star anise and tobacco alongside polished tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it impeccably balanced.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Aromas of ripe dark-skinned fruit, forest floor, rose and wild mint shape the enticing nose. Elegantly structured and full of flavor, the linear, focused palate delivers mature Marasca cherry, blood orange, licorice and tobacco set against a backbone of refined tannins. Drink 2023 though 2035.