Wine Advocate (97)

Disgorged in 2019, Bollinger’s 2009 Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Françaises offers a deep bouquet of ripe pear, peach and beeswax, mingling with notes of candied orange zest and pastries. On the palate, it is full-bodied, layered and vinous, revealing a core of concentrated fruit that gives way to a long, enveloping finish with Pinot Noir phenolics emerging gracefully. Enjoyed on its own, the 2009 leaves little to be desired—but when compared directly with the more expressive and harmonious 2004, the choice of which glass to refill first becomes instantly apparent. Given the small production volumes of Vieilles Vignes Françaises, revisiting this rendition in the future may prove challenging. However, for those fortunate enough to possess a bottle, my advice is to wait until 2030 before opening it, in order to experience it at its fullest expression.

Wine Advocate (97)

Disgorged in 2019, Bollinger’s 2009 Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Françaises offers a deep bouquet of ripe pear, peach and beeswax, mingling with notes of candied orange zest and pastries. On the palate, it is full-bodied, layered and vinous, revealing a core of concentrated fruit that gives way to a long, enveloping finish with Pinot Noir phenolics emerging gracefully. Enjoyed on its own, the 2009 leaves little to be desired—but when compared directly with the more expressive and harmonious 2004, the choice of which glass to refill first becomes instantly apparent. Given the small production volumes of Vieilles Vignes Françaises, revisiting this rendition in the future may prove challenging. However, for those fortunate enough to possess a bottle, my advice is to wait until 2030 before opening it, in order to experience it at its fullest expression.

Vinous (97)

The 2010 Vieilles Vignes Françaises dazzles from the very first impression with striking aromatic presence and utterly captivating balance. Mirabelle, sweet red cherry, jasmine and passion fruit are some of the many notes that give the 2010 its decidedly racy, exotic personality. The 2010 exudes rare energy for this vintage, which was hardly easy in the field, not to mention real pedigree. It is absolutely unforgettable. I only hope to have a chance to taste it again someday.

Vinous (97)

The 2010 Vieilles Vignes Françaises dazzles from the very first impression with striking aromatic presence and utterly captivating balance. Mirabelle, sweet red cherry, jasmine and passion fruit are some of the many notes that give the 2010 its decidedly racy, exotic personality. The 2010 exudes rare energy for this vintage, which was hardly easy in the field, not to mention real pedigree. It is absolutely unforgettable. I only hope to have a chance to taste it again someday.

Richard Juhlin (98-99)

Tasted prerelease with Denis Bunner when he just decided to add 6 grams of sugar. I have never tasted such a freshly disgorged VVF before and was really surprised by its bright color and lively character. Even more, I was surprised by its aromatic spectrum which in many parts reminded me of Coche-Dury's most beautiful creations from Meursault. This VVF shared its high-intensity petroleum bouquet and a really ultra-strong grilled, nutty and powdery aroma. Imagine that a pure Pinot Noir can remind you so much of Chardonnay. Added to this enormous bouquet is a fabulous freshness and pure fresh fruit where floral, yes almost citrus notes dance together with the grilled notes. A different and absolutely fantastic VVF that may become more classic from a purely stylistic perspective over time, but today it stands out as both fantastic and personally unique.

Wine Advocate (97)

A brilliant wine, Bollinger's 2013 Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Françaises is finer boned and more elegant than the powerhouse 2008, but it is still one of the most powerful, intensely flavored wines produced in the region. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of golden orchard fruit, honeycomb, baking spices, orange oil and ripe stone fruits, it's full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a layered core of fruit girdled by racy acids. Concentrated and vinous, it concludes with a long, saline finish.

Immerse yourself in the prestige and elegance of Bonalgue 2010, an extraordinary Pomerol hailing from a small village in Bordeaux, France. This exquisite, finely-structured vintage conveys the dedication and mastery of Château Bonalgue, renowned for its authentic, traditionally crafted wines. The high percentage of Merlot brings forward a delicately fruit-forward profile, while Cabernet Franc provides structured tannins and a supple, persistent finish.

The grapes, grown in the vineyard's unique gravelly clay-laden soils, undergo traditional vinification in thermoregulated stainless-steel vats, facilitating a slow and balanced fermentation that fully expresses the terroir. The Bonalgue 2010 also basks in 18 months in French oak barrels; a subtlety adding depth, complexity and gentle cigar box notes to its profile. Reputable sources like Decanter beautifully describe this '2010 as an alluring blend of finesse and power with remarkable ageing potential, thus a great option for collectors and enthusiasts venturing into Pomerol. A true embodiment of the famous ‘Bonalgue’ signature style.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2014 Bonalgue is ripe, racy and voluptuous, all of which make it pretty hard to resist. Dark red cherry, espresso, grilled herbs, French oak and menthol caress the palate. All the elements have come together beautifully in this overt, flamboyant yet midweight Pomerol. Silky tannins add to the wine’s early and medium-term appeal. Another year or two in bottle should help the oak integrate a bit further, but this will always be in a forward, giving style. Tasted two times.

Decanter (94)

Ripe and concentrated on the nose, darkly perfumed with red cherries and blackcurrants at the fore. Smooth and satisfying on the palate, this has a lovely bright expression to the summery red berry fruits and a velvety-textured tannic grip that is edged with sweet liquorice and dark chocolate. Powerful but poised with a sense of Pomerol class.

The assortment case contains:

1x75cl Bond Vecina 2018 – 100 JD
1x75cl Bond Pluribus 2018 – 100 JD
1x75cl Bond Quella 2018 – 98 JD
1x75cl Bond St. Eden 2018 – 98 JD
1x75cl Bond Melbury 2018 – 97JD

The assortment case contains:

1x75cl Bond Vecina 2019 – 100 JD
1x75cl Bond Pluribus 2019 – 100 JD
1x75cl Bond Quella 2019 – 98 JD
1x75cl Bond St. Eden 2019 – 98 JD
1x75cl Bond Melbury 2019 – 97 JD

Vinous (93)

The 2010 Matriarch is quite beautiful in this vintage. Supple and juicy at first, the 2010 has plenty of underlying structure. Rose petals, violets, new leather and a hint of orange peel appear on an exotic, perfumed finish laced with veins if dark red and blue fruits.

Vinous (92)

The 2014 Matriarch is pliant and seductive, all of which make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next few years. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, mocha and licorice all meld together in an open-knit, succulent Cabernet Sauvignon that reflects the mid-weight structure of the vintage. Stylistically, the Maiden is a bit more overt and succulent next to The Maiden, the second wine of Harlan Estate.

Vinous (93)

The 2015 Matriarch is an absolutely gorgeous second wine from BOND that benefits from the diversity of fruit sources that go into the blend. That is quite obvious when comparing Matriarch to The Maiden, the second wine of Harlan Estate, which draws from a more narrow set of parcels. Ripe red and purplish berry fruit, blood orange, mint and floral notes all grace this exquisitely silky, captivating wine from BOND. The 2015 Matriarch is just gorgeous.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Moving to the single vineyard releases, the 2016 Melbury is pure perfection in a glass and is the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. Awesome notes of cassis, blackcurrants, toasted bread, white flowers, and spice give way to an ethereal, seamless, yet opulent wine that has that rare mix of power and elegance possessed by all truly great wines. Full-bodied, concentrated, and with building yet perfectly ripe tannins, do your best to give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age. It will evolve effortlessly for 30 years or more.

Vinous (96)

The 2017 Melbury is a rich, sumptuous wine with a bit more volume and intensity than is often the case. All the typical Melbury signatures are present - the red berry fruit and the floral top notes in particular. The 2017 is a decidedly potent, heady Melbury that has really gained in both fruit depth and structural intensity since I last saw it as a barrel sample. The 2017 clearly needs time to soften though, as the tannins are imposing. In 2017, the Melbury is made only from the top blocks, which means production is down around 40%.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97-100)

The 2018 Melbury is fabulous. Bright, punchy and full of character, the Melbury is so alluring in this tasting. Sweet floral notes, crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange explode from the glass. Medium in body, silky and arresting in its beauty, the 2018 is spectacularly beautiful. In 2018, Melbury stands out for its understatement and total class. What a wine!

Wine Advocate (99)

Pluribus vineyard is situated on Spring Mountain, producing a sometimes broody wine in its youth with tons of latent power and energy waiting to erupt. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Pluribus is a little closed and youthfully mute to begin, slowly unfurling to offer glimpses at baked plums, crushed blackcurrants, boysenberries and redcurrant jelly plus suggestions of charcoal, black olives, Sichuan pepper and bay leaves with a waft of pain grille. Full-bodied, it has a rock-solid frame of very firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruit and savory accents, finishing with phenomenal length and loads of earthy layers.

Vinous (99)

The 2018 Pluribus captures all of the savory, mineral intensity of this site on Spring Mountain. Searing tannins, once such a challenge here, are much more finessed than in the past. Crushed rocks, mint, blood orange, gravel, exotic spice and rose petal lend tremendous complexity as the Pluribus shows off its considerable allure. This taut, mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has so much to offer. Today, it is wonderfully complete and thrilling. Even so, the best is yet to come.

Wine Advocate (96)

The darker, more virile side of the vintage comes through in the 2009 Proprietary Blend Quella. A dark brooding wine, the 2009 saturates the palate with black cherries, plums, smoke and incense, all in a firm, brooding style that is highly appealing. Vivid and constantly changing in the glass, the Quella impresses for its multi-dimensional personality and potential. Hints of smoke, ash and scorched earth are layered into the powerful, structured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2012 Quella (from a steep 9-acre vineyard in the eastern Vaca hillsides) has an opaque purple color, a gorgeous nose of white flowers, sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, and a touch of vanilla and graphite. Full-bodied, like its siblings, with great fruit extract, terrific purity and richness, and high but velvety tannins, this wine should also benefit from another 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for 30+ years.