“Pale, bright yellow. Lemon and a whiff of apple on the nose. Then concentrated and densely packed, with harmonious acidity contributing to the impression of inner-mouth floral perfume. Finishes juicy and long, with a firm edge that will require five years of cellaring. This displays the power and thrust of the vintage.”

“In contrast, Jadot’s 2010 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Clos de La Chapelle, from deeper soils on the back of the Abbaye de Morgeot, possesses gorgeous depth, but it is also tightly wound and inward. Cool, saline notes dominate today, but there is more than enough fruit to allow the 2010 to develop beautifully in bottle over the coming years. The huge, textured finish leaves a lasting impression. It would be fascinating to taste both of the Jadot wines from the Abbaye de Morgeot in ten years’ time. Anticipated maturity: 2015+.”

“There is good intensity to the powerful large-scaled flavors that possess a distinct malic acid tang on the energetic finish. This seems to have the richness and mid-palate concentration to eventually stand up to the firm acid spine but for the moment, the acidity has the upper hand.”

“Very full and round, ripe and easy to love. Lots of creamy appeal. Then vitality and energy on the finish. Very nice wine, but maybe not for the very long term.”

“Brilliant violet. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark fruits, potpourri and incense are complicated by exotic spice and woodsmoke nuances. Sweet, seamless and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed blackberry, cherry-vanilla and rose pastille flavors that are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes sweet and impressively long, showing outstanding clarity and fine-grained tannins that blend smoothly with the wine's sappy fruit.”

“The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a wine of extreme complexity and precision. It offers monumental depth with profound layers of black fruit, coffee, licorice and baking chocolate. I tasted this 2016 vintage beside the less-impactful 2015 vintage (which was reviewed last year). These two editions are very different when compared side to side, and this 2016 release is clearly superior in terms of the quality, clarity and intensity of its offerings. This Ornellaia delivers glossy shine and a polished texture that segues to important richness, concentration and textural fiber. It wraps thickly over the palate, imparting waves of sweet dark fruit and dark spice that linger for many long minutes. This beautiful wine is hitting the market now, but collectors will want to put it straight into their cellars for safekeeping.”

“Tank sample. Bright crimson (darker than most of the red burgundies) with masses of obvious tannin. Slightly dry end. Very youthful. Some sweetness.”

“With pretty aromas of lavender, rosehip, strawberries, cherriers and cloves. It's medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a supple, creamy palate. Perfumed and elegant. Drink now”

“Brilliant peach skin. Red berries and pit fruits on the nose, and a floral nuance in the background. Silky and open-knit, showing good depth as well as energy to the red currant and nectarine flavors, which pick up a refreshingly bitter orange zest quality on the back half. Finishes long and juicy, with a repeating floral note and subtle grip. Don't hate on this wine just because it’s popular.”

“Pastel colours. Sweet cherry, almond milk, marzipan. Taut and juicy on the palate with good density, delicately sweet fruit, racy acidity, a rosé with a lot of traction and tension and with very good mineral underpinning, fresh, pithy finish, and above all, a very good length.”

“The 2009 Bâtard-Montrachet (from the Puligny side) is marvelously linear, textured and just plain beautiful. All of the elements come together in this striking, impeccable wine. The Bâtard blossoms on the palate with extraordinary finesse in its fruit, fabulous overall balance and terrific freshness, especially on the finish. It is breathtaking in every way. ”

“Jadot's 2009 Bâtard-Montrachet is rich, layered, sensual and totally beguiling. This is yet another 2009 Jadot white with stunning vibrancy and freshness. Slate, smoke and crushed rocks are some of the notes that develop in the glass, adding complexity to the highly expressive, nuanced fruit.”

“(from vines on the Puligny side): Quite closed on the nose, hinting at creme caramel. A step up in intensity and structure from the Bienvenue, with stone fruit and mineral flavors enlivened by bright lemony acidity. Youthfully imploded wine with terrific steely cut. Impressively taut on the long, rising finish. An excellent Bâtard that should age well.”

“The 2018 Catena Alta Malbec shows more evolution and ripeness than the 2019. It's varietal and floral with a mixture of red and black fruit, sweet spices and aromatic herbs. It has moderate ripeness—in fact, it's a little lower in alcohol than the 2019—a medium body and fine-grained tannins, with good grip. 162,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2019.”

“This is also notably cool and pure with a bit more complexity to the array of red and blue Pinot fruit suffused nose where floral and wet stone nuances add breadth. Like any number of the wines in the range the supporting tannins are quite fine and this is particularly true within the context of a more robust appellation like Les Baudes. There is excellent intensity to the muscular but sleek flavors and finish that displays fine persistence.”

“The 2012 Chambolle-Musigny Les Baudes stands out from the rest of this range of Chambolles for its rich, broad-shouldered personality. Savory herbs, licorice, new leather and black fruit inform a Chambolle laced with elements of structure and power that recall Bonnes-Mares, which lies just below. Savory herbs, licorice, new leather and black fruit linger on the firm, tannic finish.”

“Dark red. Ripe, brooding aromas of smoky soil and roasted herbs with fruit in the background reminded me of Bonnes-Mares. Quite backward and restrained in the middle palate, but with a sappy quality to the black cherry, saline and herb flavors. Best today on the serious finish, which features round, ripe, fine-grained tannins and noteworthy building length. This will need time to reveal its personality.”

“Juicy and haunting nose. Lots of fruit before the structure. Very beguiling. Complete. Long.”

“Such exciting intensity and purity. It's just lovely! Depth plus transparency and raciness. No surprise it has an 'Allocation Exhausted' sign on the bottle. Long and pure. What burgundy is all about. You really could, but should not, drink this now.”

“Bright dark red. Deep aromas of black cherry and chocolatey torrefaction show an almost candied ripeness. Broad, sweet and large-scaled, with a saline quality and impressive medicinal reserve to the floral and spice flavors. A rather powerful and ripe yet sappy Clos Saint-Jacques with a slowly mounting, seamless, horizontal finish featuring big, ripe tannins and terrific tactile length. As impressive as this is, it shows the vintage more than the cru today.”

“One of the highlights of the range this year, the 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques is utterly magnificent. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and violet notes flesh out in a voluptuous, racy Burgundy endowed with stunning depth and pure pedigree. With time in the glass the flavors flesh out beautifully. The Clos Saint-Jacques is voluptuous and supple, yet also backed up by plenty of structure. Drinking window: 2022 - 2042”

“The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques has a fragrant bouquet: floral at first with touches of violet, later revealing a stony scents, hints of chalk dust and flint surfacing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and impressive focus. It feels composed in the mouth with good matiere, yet it remains sophisticated and tense right to the finish. There is nothing flash here, just pure quality.”

“A beautifully complex and airy nose features ripe aromas of exuberantly spicy plum, violet, sauvage and essence of red currant. There is a very round and velvety mouth feel to the delicious medium weight flavors that somehow manage to retain a good sense of delineation and energy on the overtly mineral-inflected and wonderfully long finish. I very much like the sense of harmony where the fine-grained tannins add to that impression. This should be excellent in time though note that it will require a minimum of 10 years of cellar time before this is approachable and another 5 to 7 before it arrives at its peak.”

“The 2012 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres comes from vines on the upper reaches of the climat, just 50-meters from Chevalier-Montrachet. It has a very refined bouquet with subtle mineral scents, smoke and some pressed flowers. The palate is well-balanced with a fine line of acidity that neatly counterbalances the rounded, rich, lightly honeyed fruit, leaving the finish voluminous and satisfying. Excellent.”

“Very lifted, 'spiny' nose. Excellent palate weight without any heaviness. Sweetness and acidity seem well married. Such a charmer with some herbal notes. Really lovely wine with great energy. Long and neat. Drink 2015 to 2021”

“A dense, immense, solidly powerful wine. The ripest fruit overflows, paralleling the dark, solid tannins. As so often, Lynch-Bages is a blockbuster, dark and concentrated, with immense aging potential.”

“Performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel, this appears to be the finest Lynch Bages since the 2000, 1990 and 1989. According to the chateau, the 2009 has the highest level of polyphenols ever measured as well as high alcohol (nearly 13.5%). A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest largely Merlot with touches of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it is an expressive, voluptuously textured effort with unctuosity and powerful, juicy, succulent blackberry and black currant flavors, low acids, a layered, massive mouthfeel, but no sense of heaviness or fatigue. This exquisite Lynch Bages should drink well for 30+ years.”

“A blend of three vineyards, the 2013 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de La Garenne has a well-defined, elegant bouquet attired in dewy green apple, kiwi fruit and freshly sliced pear scents. The palate is clean and fresh, reserved on the entry, with bitter lemon and pink grapefruit, gradually building to a refined, lightly spiced finish. This has good potential.”

“Straw-yellow. Peach, apple, pear and clove on the nose; cooler than the Meursault cuvées. Juicy and intense, offering sharply delineated, mineral-driven orchard fruit flavors. This wiry high-altitude wine is a bit austere on the back end.”

“They are particularly proud of Graciano in 2011 – much riper than usual. Blackish purple. Seems a tad raw to me, but maybe it's riper than usual. Very interesting but marked acidity. It does taste like a blending grape to me.”

“(these 80+-year-old vines, which Frédéric Barnier described as "near the end of their lives," produced just over half of a normal crop in 2014 as they suffered through a hot, dry flowering): Very ripe, inviting aromas of yellow peach, butter and clove. Wonderfully rich, plush and sweet, but the ripe yellow peach fruit and creamy old-vines texture are enlivened by mineral lift. Finishes tactile and very long, with a strong impression of dry extract. A superb vintage for this consistently excellent wine bottling.”

“Bright medium red. Aromas of dark cherry, black raspberry, licorice, menthol and violet convey an impression of medicinal reserve. Then surprisingly plush and silky on the palate, display the inner-mouth floral lift that's lacking in some of Jadot's other premier crus from Nuits-Saint-Georges. Finishes firmly tannic, juicy and very long, with a repeating violet quality and no rough edges. Terrific potential here.”

“Tiers Vineyard replanted in 2003 to clones 76 and 95 at 1.5m row spacing. Close planting produces earlier ripening and fuller flavours, yielding a generous style in this warm year. Pristine white peach fruit glimpses at mandarin exotics, underscored by toasty, spicy, honeyed French oak. The signature tense acidity of this cool site defines a lively, long finish. Drink now. ”

“The 2015 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a perfumed bouquet, a mixture of black and blue fruit, perhaps just a little smudged compared to others I have tasted, but with very impressive vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with supple red berry fruit, rounded and velvety in texture, gently building to an assured finish. If it can muster a notch more precision on the nose, then it may well deserve a higher evaluation, but it remains a very delicious and enticing prospect. Drink 2020 - 2045”

“Tank sample. Bright crimson. Nose seems more evolved than some, with some meat and two veg on the nose and very smooth tannins. Rather relaxed and glamorous somehow. Just a bit astringent on the end at present. Drink 2028 - 2040”

“The 2015 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has a voluminous and extravagant bouquet with blooms of red berry fruit, although I found myself more drawn to the complex and intellectual Clos Saint-Denis. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin. This is a masculine, assertive Clos de la Roche, quite saline in the mouth with a feisty, spicy finish. This is a fine grand cru from Louis Jadot, though not one of their top releases this vintage. Drink 2019 - 2035”

“Tank sample. Pure, bright crimson. Racy ripe fruit – almost doesn’t try! Not one of the most concentrated, but impressive in a hands-off way. Lots of juice. Just the finish is a bit less distinct and long than some. Drink 2028 - 2042”

“The 2015 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has a rounded, generous bouquet with scents of red cherries, kirsch and incense. The palate is sweet and precocious on the entry with brown spices infusing the red cherry fruit, although I found the new oak a little conspicuous towards the finish. I would look for more refinement once this grand cru is in bottle.”

“Bright light yellow. Subtle scents of pineapple, peach and crushed stone. Very ripe, even a bit exotic, conveying a slightly aggressive quality and some warmth to its pineapple and lichee flavors. Broad and lively but doesn't have quite the definition or thrust of the Genevrières--or the balance. Incidentally, as of 2016 this will be an estate bottling as Jadot bought the vineyard; previously they worked with purchased juice.”

“The 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts was more austere than the Puligny La Garenne on the nose and needed more coaxing before it offered pleasant, if not riveting grass-clipping and granite aromas. The palate is smooth on the entry with spicy citrus fruit, though I discern more mineralité and tension coming through on the La Garenne at this moment. Let's see how it plays out once in bottle. Drink 2018 - 2027”

“Tank sample. This seems to have better balance than most Jadot whites (no MLF apparently) with some real freshness as well as luscious fruit. Still lots to chew on, but it has energy.”

“This is a wine that simultaneously defines elegance and power. Complex aromas of blueberry, black currant, and black licorice. Full-body yet refined and beautiful with stunning length and complexity. It has a transparency that shows such greatness and beauty. Half the normal production. Has an energy and brightness. Chile's first perfect wine and well deserved. Better in 2020.”

“The 2014 Viñedo Chadwick is their flagship pure Cabernet Sauvignon from the appellation Puente Alto in Maipo cropped from a low yielding year as the result of some frosts in September. The vines were planted in 1992 on alluvial soils with clay with a high content of stones. It has moderate alcohol and very good freshness and acidity and nicely integrated oak after the malolactic and 22 months in 75% new barriques. They did a super selection here and ended up producing almost half of the bottles they used to produce. The result is a more elegant and finer version of this bottling. A classical Maipo Cabernet with unusual elegance. 5,642 bottles were filled in February 2016.”

“Here the attractively layered nose is slightly less ripe and composed more of fruit from the red side of the fruit spectrum. The rich, supple and generously proportioned flavors possess an opulent mouth feel while also delivering equally good depth and length on the mildly rustic finale. This isn't elegant but it is impressive.”

“(vinified with 50% whole clusters; one of the two barrels was new until the racking after the malolactic fermentation): Bright medium red. Reticent nose offers scents of medicinal dark cherry and dark chocolate, plus a suggestion of sweet oak. Dark fruit flavors are accompanied by exotic liqueur and chocolate notes. A rather serious style of Volnay, less red fruity and floral in character than most of the foregoing samples if a touch rustic in the early going. Already boasts very good palate presence but this will not be an early drinker.”

“The 2013 La Muse, like all of the 2013s, comes about one-third from Alexander Valley vineyards, 40-plus percent from Chalk Hill, and the rest Knights Valley and Bennett Valley – all high-elevation hillside vineyards. A blend of 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec at 14.3% alcohol, the wine is amazingly like a great vintage of Petrus, with mulberry, black cherry, licorice, truffle and unctuous, thick, juicy fruit all present in this full-bodied masterpiece. The tannins are still present. The wine has purity and savory presence and is remarkable. The finish goes on for well past a minute. This wine would probably benefit from 5-8 years of bottle age and last 40-50 years.

I suppose the arguments against giving perfect scores far outnumber those for giving them, but after 37 years of tasting just about everything of quality that’s been produced, I believe I’m in a position to recognize truly world-class efforts that are as complete and compelling as good wine can be. And if that’s the case, then why hold back? I realize that it creates possibly unreal expectations among readers, and there is the argument that nothing really is perfect. But if a wine is as good as you think it can be made, then I have no reservations about offering accolades to those rare wines. When one considers the winemaking effort that goes into producing these cuvées of Vérité, from Bordelais Pierre Seillan, the fastidious attention to detail and the use of only the crème de la crème of fruit from some of the finest vineyards in the Jackson family empire, the results are not that surprising. The 2013s are the pinnacle of what Vérité has produced, and probably all wines that will be better at age 25 or 35 than they are showing today, but they are simply the essence of a vineyard site, a vine and a philosophy of no compromise. All of these wines, basically, are aged in 100% new French oak, given 3-4 day cold pre-fermentation, cold macerations, treated like spoiled children during élevage, and bottled with no fining or filtration. The entire philosophy is that La Muse is the Right Bank Pomerol look-alike from Vérité, La Joie the Medoc-like clone, and Le Desir a St.-Emilion in the style of Ausone.

These are legendary wines of great extract, richness and potential of longevity and complexity. No compromises are made and the credit goes certainly to the Jackson family for supporting the efforts of winemaker Pierre Seillan”

“The 2016 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes, which comes under the Domaine Gagey label, has a vibrant and fresh, rose petal-scented bouquet with plenty of Morello cherry and crushed strawberry scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, good tension even if it is just missing some complexity toward the finish, as if running out of ideas two-thirds of the way through.”

“(90% of a normal crop): Healthy dark red. Lively, precise aromas of dark raspberry, herbs, brown spices and red licorice. A saline, sappy wine with lovely flavor depth and intensity; possesses plenty of medicinal reserve but this is already much sweeter, saltier and showier than the Sentiers. Finishing notes of fruits, flowers and spices blow past the round, dusty tannins on the resounding finish. No dilution here! This premier cru stains the palate without leaving any impression of heaviness.”

“Cask sample. Lightish crimson. Fragrant with sweet red cherry, charming and seductive. Relatively slight on the palate. The tannins are super-fine and the freshness is there but the density is less than I might have expected in the middle. (JH)
”

“The 2016 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru has a very well-defined bouquet, a melange of red and black fruit, truffle and smoke gently unfolding in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition, quite tensile and focused but very precise and fanning out with confidence on the tender finish. As good, if not better than, the 2015 Chapelle-Chambertin from Jadot.”

“The 2016 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières is the first vintage that is domaine, as Jadot now owns the vineyard instead of buying in the fruit. It has a straightforward bouquet with lime flower, smoke and walnut coming through with aeration. The palate is well balanced with good acidity, quite rich in style although I am seeking more stoniness, more mineralité to come through on the finish and define it as a Perrières. This is one where I feel it might have been better to pick a day or two earlier.”

“(2016 was the first year the Jadot team farmed this plot; the yield was full in 2016, as in Narvaux and other high sites in the village, noted Barnier; two of the five barrels were new): Bright lemon-yellow. Less fruity and floral on the nose than the Genevrières, hinting at almond and spicy oak. Then concentrated and harmonious in the mouth, showing a ripe pineapple flavor and a seductive balance of sweetness and acidity. The salty, palate-saturating finish boasts sneaky length and lift. This wine comes across as a bit riper than the Charmes, and will rely as much on its mineral underpinning as on its acidity for longevity. Barnier told me that the Jadot team will force the vines' roots deeper over the next several years in search of greater minerality.”

“(these very old vines produced just under 30 hectoliters per hectare in 2016): Pale yellow. Pure but reticent nose hints at white peach, menthol, mint and pungent fresh herbs. A step up in power and grip from the Combettes but not quite as expansive as that wine, at least in the early going. Finishes savory, dry and long, with excellent structure and grip.”

“Cask sample. Quiet and dusty on the nose. Cool and lightly cedary. Taut and zesty and utterly embryonic and with promise. Mouth-wateringly delicious. (JH)
”

“The greatest Opus ever. Terrific aromas of crushed black currants, blueberries and flowers with hints of sweet tobacco. Roses continue to exude opulence and class. Full body, superb balance of ultra-fine tannins and vibrant acidity. Complex aftertaste of black fruits and citrus fruit. Extremely persistent. So approachable now and enjoyable. But will be even better in 2019 and beyond. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, 6% merlot, 6% petit verdot, 2% malbec. This will always be beautiful to drink.”

“The 2013 Opus One, a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, is a beauty. Velvety textured, without a had edge to be found, notes of crème de cassis, blueberry, subtle wood and floral notes gently rise from the wine’s dense purple color. Beautifully full-bodied and extraordinarily elegant and pure, this is certainly one of their great achievements over the last 37 years. The wine has an exquisite finish and can be drunk now or cellared for 25-30 years.”

“The 2018 Cos d’Estournel showed a lot of promise when I tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle and given a 2–3-hour decant, it has a gorgeous and disarmingly pure bouquet, slightly high-toned with iodine scents infusing the lush blackberry and boysenberry scents. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry, delivering silky-smooth tannins, perfect acidity and a sense of harmony than is very persuasive. I cannot recall a Cos d’Estournel in recent years with such fine tannins. It gently fans out toward the finish while retaining superb precision, completing what is a beautifully crafted Cos d’Estournel with a long future ahead. 2025 - 2060”

“The 2018 Cos d'Estournel is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak barriques. The alcohol weighs in at just over 14.5%. Sporting a deep purple-black color, it needs a lot of swirling to begin to unlock a powerful nose of crème de cassis, stewed plums, wild blueberries and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by nuances of Sichuan pepper, star anise, tree and clove oil, plus a waft of charcoal. The full-bodied palate is densely packed with taut, muscular black fruits and earthy layers, framed by super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully earthy. A very impressive behemoth, this is going to need a good seven to 10 years to truly show its stuff and should drink for a good 40 years and beyond. 2028 - 2068”

“The 2004 Gran Reserva 904 is Tempranillo from Brinas, Labastida and Villalba balanced with 10% Graciano from Briones and Rodezno. The grapes were fermented and macerated in inox vats for 14 days at 28º C, and malolactic fermentation lasted 28 days. The wine aged for 4 years in used American oak barrels averaging 4 years old, during which time it was manually racked 8 times. 150,000 bottles were filled. This 2004, from a superb vintage shows a beautiful light red color with a brick rim and a superb nose redolent of balsamic woods, spices, leather, well-hung meat, incense and truffles. The light to medium-bodied palate shows fully resolved tannins, great acidity and pure, pungent flavors that linger in the mouth forever and that can only be Rioja. This is a wine to smell over and over again. It might sound like an exaggeration, but this wine is still too young and you should wait a little bit and drink the superb 2001 vintage which should still be available on the market while this one matures in bottle. At this quality level the price is superb especially considering that the wine is being released 10 years after the vintage. Drink 2016-2024.”

“From an 'Excellent' vintage. 90% Tempranillo and 10% particularly successful Graciano from their own vineyards at least 40 years old in Briñas, Labastida and Villalba. Each plot is vinified separately. Aged for four years in four-year-old American casks. Manual racking 'by candlelight'(!) every six months. Barrel selection. Bottled February 2009.
Mid ruby. Intense strawberry fruit with very lively well-hung game notes. Super clean and fresh. Lovely energy and directness. Tannins receding but perceptible. Lots of life ahead of this. Very gentle finish. Real lift and briskness. Not a hint of soupiness! Like a particularly bright jewel.”

“Tasted twice, the 1995 Gran Reserva 890 is a blend of 95% Tempranillo (from Brinas, Labastida and Villaba), 3% Graciano and 1% Mazuelo, all aged in American oak for six years and delivering a headache-avoiding 12.7% alcohol. It has a heavenly bouquet that soars from the glass with soy, marmalade, a touch of Seville orange marmalade and cloves, all with superb delineation. The palate is very well-balanced with crisp, finely-tuned tannins that lend it wonderful focus. One can find vivacious flavors of strawberry, orange sorbet and citrus lemon while the finish is incredibly youthful and displays a level of tension that Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of. Outstanding traditional Rioja pulled out from the top drawer. Why? Because it whisks the drinker from wherever they are to, where the wine was born. Drink now-2030+”

“Jaboulet's 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle features scents of crushed stone, violets and cassis. It's a classic trio, backed by a wine that's full-bodied, rich and powerful yet also airy, somehow carrying intense plum and black olive flavors without any sense of heaviness or excess weight. Then the wine finishes long and softly dusty, with tannins that accentuate its savory character, picking up delicious hints of licorice at the very end. The proportion of new oak has been trimmed back to a very reasonable 20% and is hardly noticeable in the wine. 2023-2045”

“A deep, powerful, primordial wine (which is exactly what you’d expect for a great vintage of this cuvée), the inky hued 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle offers tons of crème de cassis as well as a liquid rock-like minerality, peppery herbs, burning embers, and graphite aromas and flavors. The palate mirrors the intensity of the bouquet and is full-bodied, concentrated, and tight, yet still packs a huge amount of baby fat. The 2018 is a beautifully pure, balanced, massively endowed La Chapelle that will need a decade of cellaring and keep for 3-4 decades with no problems.”

“Opaque ruby. Displays powerful, highly perfumed aromas of black/blue fruit preserves, licorice, cola, baking spices and potpourri, along with an exotic suggestion of incense. Utterly stains the palate with intense blackberry, cherry, cassis, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that deliver a suave blend of weight and energy. Youthfully solid tannins add shape and grip to an extremely long, mineral- and floral-accented finish that shows outstanding clarity and dark fruit thrust.”

“The 2016 Tignanello is flat out stunning. Dark, dense and resonant, the 2016 is a wonderfully complete wine that will provide readers with decades of pure drinking pleasure. The 2016 is especially dark and brooding, and yet the tannins are incredibly polished to the point of being perceptible. In the glass, the 2016 is complete and regal, perhaps because of the super-classic blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. The pedigree of the vintage comes through in the wine's extraordinary balance and total sense of finesse. I don't think there is another wine anywhere in the world made entirely from estate fruit that can match Tignanello for quality, consistency and value within its peer group of top-flight reds.”

“To hit the market in June, the 2016 Tignanello is a rock-solid wine and a stunning beauty. The wine offers an impeccable level of precision and laser-focus delivery of fruits, spices, tilled earth, espresso beans and Mediterranean herbs. This vintage follows the classic blending formula of 80% Sangiovese with about 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. The vines are now 15 to 20 years old. Compared to the 2015 vintage that ultimately appeared more chewy and succulent, this expression from the iconic 2016 vintage is more vibrant, nervous and jazzed. It shows more savory spice, saltiness and minerality, with a beautifully integrated quality of tannins. Some 320,000 bottles were produced. This wine is at the top of the list of some of the best Tignanello ever made, including the vintages 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2015.”

“The inky colored 2017 Ermitage Le Pavillon comes from the biggest, baddest part of Hermitage and was brought up all in 20-25% new French oak barrels. Huge crème de cassis, crushed flowers, graphite, and liquid rock notes all dominate the bouquet, and this massively rich, powerful, yet pure and classic Hermitage builds incrementally on the palate, has a wealth of tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. Showing the sexy, expressive style of the vintage, it has some upfront charm, yet I suspect it will close down (as has the 2015) with a few years of bottle age and require a decade or more of cellaring. There are just 894 cases of this magical elixir.”

“Potentially perfect and quite likely a 30-year wine, Chapoutier's 2017 Ermitage le Pavillon makes a strong case for the vintage. From its compelling aromas of crushed stone, cassis, licorice and chocolate and the incredibly intense notes of salted licorice to the full-bodied, concentrated, chewy palate and tremendous length, there's absolutely nothing to find fault with. 2025 - 2045”

“Brilliant violet. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark fruits, potpourri and incense are complicated by exotic spice and woodsmoke nuances. Sweet, seamless and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed blackberry, cherry-vanilla and rose pastille flavors that are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes sweet and impressively long, showing outstanding clarity and fine-grained tannins that blend smoothly with the wine's sappy fruit.”

“The 2018 Lytton Springs is magnificent. Elegant, layered and so complete, the 2018 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to fully come together. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal open up in the glass. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the wine its vibrant energy. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2018 for at least a few years. Wow!”

“95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano, 2% Mazuelo. 40-year-old vines from Rodezno (La Rioja). Hand-harvested with bunch selection. After the alcoholic fermentation, the wines are selected for the assemblage. Ageing for 72 months in American oak barrels, 20% new. No filtration. 15,900 bottles.
A classic rioja. Endless sweet spices and very marked aromas of vanilla, coconut, nutmeg and cinnamon. Wood dominates, but that is the delicious soul of rioja. The palate is exciting: deep, long, elegant, delicate, complex, with great class. What delicacy and softness of the palate! Its scent never ends and is at a precious stage of maturity. Very impressive. (FC)”

“I tasted the 2005 Gran Reserva 890 again, and I liked it better this time than in my previous review, even if I normally like the Gran Reserva 904 better than this bottling, as I find it better balanced. I tend to feel less energy in this wine, as it spends a very long time in barrel, six years in this case. 2005 was an excellent vintage, and they implemented some improvements in the harvest, introducing 350-kilo boxes and refrigerated transport to the winery, which they think provides better grapes and potentially better quality of the wines. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins have mostly melted, and it has lively acidity that lift the wine up. This is a very classical and polished Rioja. 57,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2012.”

“(14.5% alcohol; here the layer of calcaire lies underneath a meter of soil): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of black cherry, licorice, bitter chocolate and violet are currently showing a bit more oak influence than the River Stones Malbec. Denser on the palate than that wine as well, conveying a greater impression of power leavened by superb mineral energy. This wine always begins with about 1.5 grams per liter more acidity than the River Stones, noted winemaker Alejandro Vigil, despite the fact that in 2015 one of the components was picked with potential alcohol of 15.5%. Boasts an exhilarating balance of sweetness and acidity. Although the tannins are beautifully buffered, this wine will need aging to unfold.”

“Full-bodied and very polished with fine, creamy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Shows real finesse for the vintage”

“The 2017 Tignanello is dense, exotic and flamboyant. Red berry fruit, cherries in liqueur, blood orange, wild flowers and sweet spice are front and center in this sumptuous, racy Tignanello that is likely to drink beautifully right out of the gate. The Antinori team has done a terrific job with the 2017, a year in which heat and dry weather took with them 30% of the production.”

“The Marchesi Antinori 2017 Tignanello (made with Sangiovese and smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) is a dark, exuberant and inviting wine. I tasted my sample after a double decanting and was pleased by the profound nature of the wine and the immediate openness of the aromas. There is a symphony of dark fruit with black cherry, plum, spice and sweet tobacco. I am particularly attracted by a distant hint of medicinal or menthol herb that I also discovered in other wines with fruit from the Tignanello estate in 2017. There's a drying mineral note of crushed chalk as well. The heat and dryness of the vintage has added to the aromatic intensity of the wine (yields were reduced by a third), but the mouthfeel is carefully crafted to maintain its softness and smoothness. Fruit comes from a 57-hectare section of the Tenuta Tignanello from a vineyard that is located 390 meters above sea level with Alberese limestone rock and soils of marine origin. The wine is fermented in conical oak tanks and is aged up to 16 months in a combination of mostly French and some Hungarian oak, both new and neutral. Some 300,000 bottles were released in April 2020 after one year of bottle age.”

“Sensual, racy and inviting, the Réserve de la Comtesse is one of the very finest wines readers will find in its peer group. Sweet dark plum, rose petal, spice and chocolate notes build into the silky, beautifully resonant finish. The 2016 has so much to offer. Moreover, it is flat-out delicious. Don't miss it!”

“Brooding and slightly closed on the nose, starting to unfurl with a little time in the glass. Dark fruits, Sichuan pepper and cinnamon. The palate is more revealing but still structured, with exotic spices, black cherry and pithy, layered tannins. Bright acidity keeps everything in check and adds a moreish quality to the finish. Fantastic depth.”

“What a beautiful nose of elderberries, freshly picked blackcurrants, citrus, herbs, licorice and crushed stones, amidst a backdrop of coffee beans, cedar and vanilla. Full-bodied and very subtle and refined with tightly wound tannins and an impressive balance of fruit and acidity. Long, grainy and elegant on the finish. A masterpiece. Drink in 2020.”

“A blend of Merlot and Sangiovese in equal parts, the 2016 Siepi is a luscious and soft wine that oozes forth with dark berry intensity. The fruit is compact and dense. This wine performs beautifully in terms of aromas, but the mouthfeel is especially fine-tuned and elegant in this classic vintage. Dark fruit is followed by spice, tar, rose bud and sharp mineral nuances that recall the gravel and limestone-rich soils of Chianti Classico. This is perhaps the best vintage of Siepi I have tasted thus far.”

“A beautiful red with lots of blackberries, cloves, stone, spice and purple fruit. It’s full and balanced with a creamy texture and a flavorful finish. Some graphite to the black fruit. More zin this year in the blend. 71% zinfandel, 19% carignan, 7% petite sirah and 3% alicante bouschet. Drink now.”

“The 2019 Geyserville marks a pretty huge step up in this range. What a wine! Black cherry, plum, chocolate, cloves, menthol and licorice blast across the palate. Deep and saturated, with tremendous concentration, the 2019 Geyserville is a wine to cellar for at least a few years. Today, it is positively stunning. ”

“Deeply structured, yet nimble on its feet. Blackberry, fresh fennel and brown baking spices build richness and layers toward medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2030.”

“This wine brought to mind precise imagery of tailcoats, striped dress pants, wingtip collar shirts and other gentlemen's fashion choices from the Roaring Twenties. Sporting a retro but classic personality, the Marchesi Antinori 2018 Tignanello is quite the dapper and jovial wine that hits the market just as much of the world is emerging from a dark chapter of lockdowns and coronavirus curfews. I love the optimism that springs bright with such clarity and detail from within this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The 2016 vintage was a benchmark for sure, but I prefer the 2018, thanks to that tinge of nostalgia or emotion that is so deftly rendered in this cool, long growing season.

The 2018 vintage offers a deconstructed Tignanello upon first inspection because you can clearly make out the varietal typicity of the grapes, especially the green spice and white pepper of the two Cabernets, along with aromas of crushed limestone that recall the white rocks carefully placed in the vineyards to protect the rows. The wine's fruit weight is contained and polished, and there are no exaggerations, excesses or loose ends. The results are calculated and exacting, especially if you consider the tannic management (with aging in both new and used Hungarian and French oak for up to 16 months) and the quality of the elegant mouthfeel. With time in the glass, those deconstructed elements converge to create unity and balance. The Tignanello vineyard is 57 hectares and sits at a breezy 390 meters above sea level with alberese and galestro soils. Those elevations proved important for shedding excess humidity at the end of this 2018 growing season. Production for this excellent wine is an impressive 345,000 bottles.”

“The 2018 Tignanello is a wine of breathtaking purity. Impossibly silky and persistent, the 2018 is all class, all the way. In many ways, the 2018 reminds me of the 2004 because of its finesse, but it has an extra degree of nuance that reflects important strides that have been made at the estate in the intervening years. Winemaking today is more gentle, while new oak is also less intrusive. The result is a Tignanello that bristles with class.

The purity of the flavors alone is mesmerizing. Bright red-toned berries, mocha, spice, cedar, new leather and liquorice are some of the many notes that linger on a finish framed by silky, perfectly ripe tannins.”

“Cask sample. Tantalising aroma – so young but you can sense the potential. Deep, pure citrus, barely inflected by the creamy oak but given breadth and texture by it. Deep with richness that borders on just-ripe pear even though the lemon purity drives to the finish. It may well age longer but these days I am more cautious with white burgundy. (JH)”

“Aromas of yellow orchard fruit, waxy lemon rind, iodine and smoky new oak introduce the 2016 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (Domaine des Héritiers Jadot), a full-bodied, satiny and nicely layered wine that's deep, concentrated and persistent. It's a youthfully reserved but decidedly impressive Corton-Charlemagne that will reward bottle age.”

“Charlemagne Grand Cru
(Jadot bottled 35 barrels, representing a normal yield; the harvest lasted into the beginning of October): Very pale, bright yellow. Knockout nose combines lemon, ginger, botanical herbs, shiso leaf and crushed-rock minerality. Seriously concentrated wine, showing the juicy side of the 2016 vintage and the impeccable balance that was possible when yields were normal. The sharply delineated citrus, spice and mineral flavors are framed and intensified by harmonious acidity ("which was easy to control because we had so many barrels," according to Barnier). Conveys an impression of outstanding density without weight and finishes with great palate-staining length, herbal lift and salty grip.”

“The 2018 Ornellaia is an introvert at this stage. Medium in body, with terrific persistence and impeccable balance, the 2018 is not in any mood to show all its cards today. Hints of red berry fruit, mocha, spice, licorice and dried flowers emerge with a bit of coaxing. I won’t be surprised to see it put on weight with more time in bottle. There is certainly plenty to look forward to. Readers should expect a silky, aromatic Ornellaia in line with vintages such as 2004 that are more about finesse than raw power. This is the first time in which Merlot drives the blend in Ornellaia.”

“The 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is complete and seamlessly stitched together with extreme care and precision. This is an almost technical blend of Merlot (at 50% of the blend for the first time), 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot that offers a true sense of wholeness and consistency that speaks to the blending expertise and experience of the winemaking team. Finding harmony among the various vinous components of the wine was especially important in this vintage that prized early-ripening grapes like Merlot over the others. Blackberry and dried cherry segue to spice, tar, campfire ash and more sweet fruit. We're off to a great start, and this vintage of Ornellaia is surely destined to flesh out and grow more complex with age.”

“The 2012 Monte Bello is one of the most harmonious young Monte Bellos I can remember tasting. Seamless and voluptuous through to the finish, the 2012 is showing beautifully today. Raspberry jam, pomegranate, white flowers, mint and spices are some of the many notes that flesh out in the glass. A wine with a distinctly red-hued profile, silky tannins, no hard edges and exceptional overall balance, the 2012 Monte Bello is simply magnificent. The 2012 is racy but also impeccably balanced throughout, with shades of the 2001 that come through from time to time. I won't be surprised if the 2013 and 2014 both eventually surpass it, but there is no denying that the 2012 is simply stunning today. This is one of the best showings yet for the 2012.”

“The 2012 Monte Bello is a beauty, wafting from the glass with complex aromas of plums, blackberries, bitter chocolate, black truffles, cigar tobacco and hints of crème de cassis. Its new oak is already well integrated. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, richly tannic and very deep, with a layered, concentrated core of fruit framed by chalky, fine-grained tannins. The 2012 is still quite youthfully chewy at this early stage, but there's a certain lavishness to its ripe blackberry fruit that suggests this will be a dramatic, even decadent Monte Bello in the style of the 2002 when it reaches maturity. Late September heat made for a record-setting harvest in only 16 days. The 2012 is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, and it saw a small water addition to finish at 13.8% alcohol.”

“(14% alcohol; vinified in stainless steel and aged for eight months in new and used Taransaud barriques): Bright medium ruby. Black cherry, black raspberry, licorice and minerals on the vibrant nose. Densely packed but wonderfully delineated and light on its feet. A very pure, clean, penetrating blend with terrific floral lift from the Cab Franc. This very classy, precise drink has the structure and power to age, and its firm tannins still need a year or two to harmonize with the fruit. I give this a slight edge for vibrancy over the 2014 bottling, which I rated 92 points last year but 91 next to the '15 in April, as this very complex, firm wine was going through an oaky phase. 80% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc”

“The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, essentially a selection of the best barrels of Cepparello, is a gorgeous wine. More than anything, the 2015 is remarkable considering the challenges of a growing season in which rain during harvest created significant challenges. Nevertheless, Paolo De Marchi coaxed all of the potential out of his vines in 2015, adding a good dollop of Petit Verdot to the Sangiovese in crafting the Gran Selezione. Dense, powerful and beautifully textured, with intense underpinnings of saline minerality. The 2015 has a brilliant future, but it won't see the light until fall 2020 at the very earliest.”

“Already golden in colour. Already extraordinary on the nose, despite being so, so young. Mango and yuzu, tendrils of honeysuckle cling to the nose; the scent of lemon blossom and silky yellow roses bruised in the mist-fine patter of early-morning rain. Already, the smells curl out the glass, slow wide ribbons that shimmer from flowers to earth to the limpid pearl glow of harvest moonrise. Such a golden wine. Like tasting a metallograph of golden crystals in microscopic detail by honey-hazed candle light. Candied citrus peel, saffron, bergamot. Ice-pick stilettoes of acidity deliver spine-piercing precision. And a stony chew, clad in almost-transparent jasmine skin, brushing fingertip slips of gentleness over a structure so defiant it clangs with the mountain-valley echo of a Tibetan gong. This has only just begun. The kind of wine you need to buy 12 bottles of and taste one a year. Exquisite, already. But oh, such a long way to go.”

“The 2019 Soave Classico blends savory and sweet with a spicy flair that completes the expression nicely. Ripe pear and nectarine mix with hints of ginger and sour green melon. It’s soft and pliant upon entry yet enlivened by salty minerals and brisk acids, making for a wonderfully balanced expression. The palate sizzles with residual tension, as hints of sour citrus resonate throughout the finale.”

“A toasty note on the nose underscores the palate's golden apple and pear, honeysuckle and lime blossom, pickled ginger and pineapple fruit flavours in this bright and buoyant white. Lightly chalky in texture, with smoke and spice notes playing on the well-cut finish. Alison Napjus”

“I always look forward to tasting the wines of Bruno Rocca and his family because they are always so expressive of vintage and territory. The 2018 Barbaresco gives us quite a few blanket descriptors that can be applied to the 2018 growing season. The wine is ethereal and delicate with cool-climate freshness, wild berry, fragolino di bosco and rose hip. There is a transparent and honest quality to the fruit that leaves plenty of room for those background tones of crushed limestone or white rock. To the palate, this Barbaresco is extremely fine and polished. About 14,000 bottles were released.”

“Pale brick. Intense but lifted nose of leaf mould. Big impact on the nose and really muscular tannins on the palate. A baby! But with great potential.”

“This light-bodied red is highlighted by cherry, strawberry, rose and mint aromas and flavours. Firm and linear, with a spicy, earth-tinged finish.”

“The 2016 Chablis Fourchaume 1er Cru has a well executed bouquet with fresh green apple and wet limestone scents, strict and linear, very Chablis. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, one of the more graceful and elegant Fourchaumes in this vintage with a precise, slightly nutty finish that lingers in the mouth. Enjoy this over the next 6 to 10 years. Tasted blind at the BIVB Chablis tasting.”

“The 2008 Monte Bello is in a gorgeous spot right now, as the aromatics are just starting to show the complex nuances that only develop in bottle. Worn-in leather, licorice, scorched earth, savory herbs and chocolate meld into a core of intense dark fruit. Slightly angular contours hint at a bit of rusticity. My impression is that the 2008 won’t be especially long-lived by Ridge standards, but it is a fine bottle to drink now, especially with a bit of time in the decanter.”

“The 2008 Monte Bello is marked by the drought vintage, which not only made a more concentrated crop but also deprived the blend of all supporting varieties, as only Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot handled the dry conditions sufficiently gracefully to make the final cut. At age ten, this muscular Monte Bello is finally beginning to unwind, offering up rich aromas of black cherry, cassis, dried mountain laurel, loamy soil and burning embers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, expansive and powerful, its generous, sweetly fruited attack giving way to a taut, firm mid-palate that doesn't show as much finesse as the 2010 or 2012, concluding with a long, stony finish. Baugher observes that in its youth, the 2008 was "monolithic and more angular—a mouthful of tannin." A decade later, it's beginning to soften, but it still requires another 5 or 6 years of bottle age.”

“We tasted two cask samples, A having the addition of just 9/10 of a 1% first-press wine. Eventually they decided the wine could take this addition and indeed it did make it firmer without in any way overwhelming the tannic portion. This was the first vintage with only Cabernet and Merlot in the final blend. 'We think press wines can really make all the difference.' Very firm and savoury with a trace of lively, savoury US oak on the nose at the moment. Beautiful texture, rich and round.”

“The 2018 Alión follows the path of the 2016: it is fresh and elegant and from a cooler (more Atlantic) vintage with more rain than the average and a relatively late harvest between September 28th and October 12th. They used 80% new barrels, with up to 10% made of American oak looking to (in their own words) give more sucrosity and sweetness to the wine, as it's a more vertical, tense and elegant expression of Alión. Part of the wine matured in concrete (something they started in 2016), and in 2021 they are experimenting with a 4,000-liter Rousseau foudre, as they want to keep working the texture and freshness. The wine is ripe at 15% alcohol and has a pH of 3.8 and a mellow 4.6 grams of acidity, round and soft. The wine matured until it was bottled in June 2020. The truth is that the wine comes through as subtle, elegant and balanced, with very integrated oak and a nice texture. It's one of the finest vintages for Alión. 257,257 bottles, 7,005 magnums and some larger formats produced.”

“The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is an absolutely stunning wine. The archetype of Rancia in the past has been of a big, potent Chianti Classico but in 2018, Rancia is a wine of mind-blowing elegance and finesse. Silky, perfumed and indescribably finessed, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. It's a magical wine in every way.”

“The 2018 is an unusual vintage that shows an especially austere character. Off the bat, it must be said that the Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia would certainly benefit from more cellar time and a long drinking window. The Rancia is elegant and streamlined with a medium-bodied style that breaks from some of the more concentrated vintages we've seen in the past. The bouquet reveals a lot of dark or black character with blackcurrant, tar, resin, iron ore and a dusty hint of dry graham cracker (which reminds us of the vintage heat). Structurally, the wine offers a solid and firm footing, but it would benefit from further evolution.”

“From a hot vintage & one of Spain’s greatest reds. 95% Tempranillo, the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon (which makes its presence subtly felt with an appealing graphite note), the nose is elegant, surprisingly dainty and floral, the fruit is ripe, yet not overly so, and this just exudes elegance from start to finish.”

“The 2012 Único is released 10 years after the harvest. They produced it with the grapes from 40 of the 210 hectares of vineyards they have, with a total of 55 separate plots and 19 different soils. It's mostly 95% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that are cooled down for 24 hours and then fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation was in stainless steel and the aging in 225-liter oak barrels and 20,000-liter oak vats for a long time as this was bottled in June 2018. 2012 is a concentrated year, warm and dry with some rain at the end of September that helped the end of the ripening process of healthy grapes with lots of color and ripe tannins. The wine has a ripe nose, with intoxicating notes of black fruit, fresh meat and blood, a spicy touch from the American oak and an earthy twist. It's a voluptuous and decadent vintage for Vega Sicilia, for those that favor years like 2006, a bit atypical, or 1999. The wine finished with 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.88 and 5.1 grams of acidity (tartaric). 88,188 bottles, 3,537 magnums, 328 double magnums, 55 imperials and five Salmanazar produced.”

“Berry, smoke, violet and sandalwood aromas follow through to a full, layered palate that shows super polished tannins that are caressing and long. It’s tight and very long. Give it two or three years to soften. Drink after 2023.”

“Bursting with aromas of sweet red berries, rose hips, peonies, raw coca and spices, the 2019 Beaune 1er Cru Les Theurons (Domaine Gagey) is medium to full-bodied, bright and lively, its fleshy core of fruit framed by powdery tannins. This has turned out nicely.”

“The 2019 Beaune Les Theurons 1er Cru (spelled or misspelled with an "h" instead of "Les Teurons”!) has a generous nose of morello cherries and orange blossom, a little airier than the Les Grèves. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins; not a deep or grippy Les Theurons. Lightly spiced with a pleasant bitter note that gets the saliva flowing on the finish. Not long-term but attractive. ”

“The 2019 Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Barre Monopole (Maison Louis Jadot) is more structured than the Mitans, bursting with aromas of plums, candied peel, spices and toasty new oak. Medium-bodied, chalky and a little reserved on this showing, I expect it to round out nicely.”

“Cask sample. Bright red! Much less expressive nose than the Estournelles and much less concentrated. Almost as though they are not trying that hard with this exalted appellation. Nothing terribly wrong with it but it really suffers in comparison with the Estournelles at practically half the price. Just a bit ho-hum – as though the yield was a bit high?”

“Mingling aromas of sweet berry fruit and plums with hints of raw cocoa, warm spices and orange rind, the 2019 Corton Grèves Grand Cru (Domaine Louis Jadot) is medium to full-bodied, rich and chalky, with fine concentration and a youthfully tightly wound profile. This is promising, but it will require a bit of patience.”

“The 2019 Corton-Grèves Grand Cru was showing some reduction on the nose, although there appears to be fine compact red fruit here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, and lightly spiced with white pepper and sage toward the finish, which shows a little more elegance compared to the Clos du Roi this year. Fine.”

“Cask sample. Sweetly aromatic. Very lively and racy. Transparent and rather ethereal. Quite chiselled in structure, almost like a really good white wine. Pleasing balance and persistence. Nice minerally undertow. Cool and refreshing rather than sweet and flattering – tant mieux! ”

“One of the highlights of the range, the 2019 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru (Domaine Louis Jadot) mingles aromas of sweet red berries with hints of raw cocoa, spices, licorice, loamy soil and truffles. Medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's velvety and concentrated, with considerable depth and mid-palate amplitude despite its elegant, seamless profile.”

“The 2019 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru has a perfumed bouquet of raspberry coulis, wild strawberry and crushed limestone aromas and a little singed leather in the background; there is fine complexity and focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, soy-tinged red fruit and a slightly conservative, restrained finish. More cohesive than the Charmes-Chambertin, it doesn’t quite convey the complexity of the Clos-de-Bèze, yet it should still age with style. ”

“Cask sample. Transparent garnet. Briary, demanding nose. Marked acidity. Not very happy in itself at the moment. Acid dominates fruit and there is a medium charge of well-handled tannins. Not the sweet charm of most Jadot 2019s but without the real gravitas of their best grands crus. ”

“Cask sample. Nervy and lively with great appeal and a green-fruit juicy note that makes the wine much more refreshing than the Blagny. Really racy.”

“The 2019 Meursault Les Charmes 1er Cru was missing the degree of energy conveyed by the preceding Meursault Blagny, coming across a little static by comparison. The palate is rounded and honeyed on the entry, offering notes of dried honey, peach skin, nectarine and a dab of spice. What it needs is more tension to balance the richness; it just falls a bit short in that respect. ”

“Offering up notes of pear, honeycomb, white flowers and struck match, the 2019 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes (Domaine Louis Jadot) is medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, its ripe core of fruit girdled by lively acids, concluding with a saline finish. As readers may remember, this derives from vineyards acquired with Jadot's Prieur-Brunet purchase.”

“Notes of orange oil, fresh pastry, pear and warm bread preface the 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Abbaye de Morgeot (Domaine Louis Jadot), a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping wine that's lively and charming, with a generous core of fruit girdled by lively acids.”

“The 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet Abbaye de Morgeot 1er Cru has a lovely bouquet of orange blossom, freshly sliced pear and light nectarine aromas, plus a hint of praline in the background. The palate is well balanced with a honeyed opening, quite rich in style, and yet there is wonderful tension. Appealing tropical notes of passion fruit and guava on the finish. This will be irresistible once bottled. ”

“The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.”

“Generally speaking, I have reservations concerning the 2018 vintage that saw intermittent periods of hot and cold with some rain thrown in at the end of the growing cycle. The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve blasted straight through any lingering doubt and is the result of a deft winemaking hand. This is a phenomenal and proudly confident vintage of the estate's top Sangiovese, which represents a blend of organic fruit from the best parcels. The wine's personality reveals brooding darkness and austerity, and these impressions are reinforced by savory tones of cigar smoke and earthy leather. The core of the wine is tight and richly concentrated with generous blackberry and plum. The velvety tannins are integrated but still youthful and grippy. You'll definitely need to give this elegant wine more time in the bottle. Production is an ample 60,000 bottles.

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