“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.”

“Ripe, open and beautifully composed with mixed nuts, butter and tropical fruits. Expressive and approachable and fairly long on the finish. Tasted in: Burgundy, France. Maturity: Young.”

“Pale green-gold. Very sumptuous nose. Ripe and tense and gorgeous. This is more like it! Just a hint of smoke but no deliberate move to reduction. The first of these Jadot 2013 whites with a touch of creaminess. Although it is not notably persistent.”

“(this fruit comes from three sources): Bright lemon-yellow. Subdued aromas and flavors of crushed stone, menthol, lemon-lime and pear, plus a whiff of metallic minerality. Penetrating and subtle, conveying a layered texture and lovely inner-mouth perfume and lift. Shows the richness of this stony high-altitude site, which has very little topsoil. This complex, very intense wine shows strong extract without any undue weight and will need a long time to unwind.”

“Cask sample. 18–20 months in French oak.
Mid crimson. Relatively dark-fruited and rocky on the nose but the fruit shows its sweetness as it opens. Firm, dry and very finely textured, more chalky than chewy. This has depth and, most noticeable of all, excellent persistence. Lingers on and on in its dark, embryonic state. Balanced now and so much more to come. (JH) ”

“Bright medium red. A bit less expressive and deep on the nose than the Pougets, dominated by medicinal dark fruits. Showing considerably less early sweetness, with the red berry and salty mineral flavors coming across as rather bit austere compared to the Pougets. Best today on the pungent, spicy, firmly tannic finish. This is from deeper soil than the Pougets.”

“The 2016 Corton Grèves Grand Cru was showing quite a bit of oak on the nose but there was more than enough fruit packed behind it. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity with a subtle marine influence surfacing toward the finish that just tapers in when I want it to fan out. But this is a pretty Corton Grèves in the making.”

“The 2015 Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes has a satisfying density and cohesion on the nose, a mixture of red and black fruit with just a slight reductive tinniness that will go before bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. This Bressandes has plenty of rondeur, a fine line of acidity with a slightly broody finish that should open up (eventually). This is a very capable Bressandes.”

“Bright light yellow. Vibrant aromas of lemon, lime, white peach, wild herbs and flowers. Juicy and nicely balanced, showing good freshness from the stony, high-altitude soil. (Jadot's Bressandes red actually comes from the lower part of the slope.) Not hugely rich but pliant and nicely balanced. Finishes with a salty element and an edge of bitter lemon. This will need a couple years in bottle to digest its oak.”

“The 2015 Meursault Blagny has an unapologetically tropical-driven bouquet with pineapple and mango to the fore, a generous dab of honey ramming home the point. The palate is balanced with good acidity, quite linear and feels just a little muted on the finish, as if it wants to leave the aromatics to do all the talking. Give it 2-3 years in bottle. Drink 2018 - 2024”

“Tank sample. Textured with a bit of a green streak. Fresher than many Jadot whites. Drink 2021 - 2027”

“With the acquisition of the Domaine Prieur-Brunet, Jadot became landholders in this premier cru, and it's from this purchase that the 2018 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes (Domaine Louis Jadot) derives. Revealing aromas of pear, peach, pastry cream and white flowers, it's medium to full-bodied and richly layered but lively, concluding with a nicely defined finish.”

“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.”

“(from 80-year-old vines; Jadot purchases juice): Bright yellow. Mirabelle and lemon aromas are accented by a minty nuance. Boasts very good juicy lift to its lemon and peach flavors but less richness and extract than the Folatieres; there was more juice in the Clos de la Garenne grapes, noted Barnier. I like the balance and the vivacity of fruit here. (There's no Pucelles in 2012 as the grower would not give up the fruit).”

“An elegantly layered and cool nose features aromas of lemon peel, white flowers and spiced pear. There is a really lovely texture to the solidly constructed and concentrated middle weight flavors that display ample minerality on the citrus-inflected and dry but not especially austere finish. The inherent class of Puligny is on display here.”

“Solid, bullseye stuff. Perhaps not as intricate as some but no one would be disappointed. A solid bet.”

“(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.”

“(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 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières, under the "Domaine Héritiers du Jadot" label, was more reserved than the Puligny Clos de la Garenne when I tasted them side by side, but it opens with attractive limestone and granitic aromas. The palate is crisp on the entry with vibrant acidity, well balanced with orange zest and a touch of tangy marmalade lending complexity on the taut and focused finish. Excellent - this is one of Jadot's best whites this vintage. Drink 2018 - 2028”

“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.”

“From 20- to 50-year-old vines in a south/southwest-facing vineyard, the 2019 Sancerre Les Romains offers a pure yet intense and iodine-scented bouquet of shells and oysters along with algae aromas. Full-bodied, rich and powerful on the palate, this is an elegant, refined, balanced and refreshingly mineral Les Romains with a long, juicy, pretty aromatic, seriously structured and persistent salty finish with stimulating grip. Impressive, as always. Tasted in February 2021.”

“This is the final Riserva to benefit from the late Franco Biondi Santi`s masterful hand. It boasts enticing scents of rose, underbrush, red berry, new leather and crushed mint. The chiseled palate features succulent Morello cherry, pomegranate, orange zest, star anise and a hint of tobacco, all framed in taut, polished tannins. Firm acidity lends youthful tension and keeps it impeccably balanced.”

“You will notice the dedication printed below the label of the wine label. It reads: "Dedicato a Franco Biondi Santi." Indeed, the Biondi-Santi 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the last vintage made by the towering father figure of Brunello whom most everyone referred to as the "gentleman of Montalcino." Il Dottore, as he was also respectfully addressed, died at age 91 in April 2013, and he was very active in the winery as this magnificent wine took shape. This Riserva is a true work of beauty. It is released one year later than usual. The wine reflects the natural heft and power of the 2012 vintage, and it also shows that distinctive open-knit and accessible personality that characterizes this warm and sunny growing season. Il Dottore's magic touch is revealed in the level of fine detail and precision that transcends vintage, grape and territory. That extreme focus is an achievement of this estate alone located in the celebrated Il Greppo property. This Brunello pours from the bottle with a magnificent garnet color, and it evolves in the glass with dark fruit, candied orange peel, spice, licorice, anise seed, cola and balsam herb. The aromas are magical and ethereal, albeit slightly ripe and soft as expected of this vintage.”

“Bright ruby. Pure but tight aromas of blackberry, raspberry, bitter chocolate and flowers, with a licorice element emerging with air. Fully ripe, concentrated and sweet, and a step up in density of texture and definition from most of the foregoing Malbec examples. This utterly smooth Malbec finishes with terrific breadth, refined tannins and palate-staining persistence. Winemaker Vigil noted that he picked mostly in early October, before the rains made the end of the harvest an adventure. Yields were low in 2017 due to frost and the Zonda wind in spring, he added. No edges here!”

“The polished and developed 2017 Catena Alta Malbec has balsamic aromas and a very attractive mixture of flowers, berries and spices. It has contained ripeness for a warm vintage, with a serious profile, medium body and fine-grained tannins, with good grip. It was fermented with full clusters and matured in used French oak barrels for some 18 months. I like the austerity and grip on the palate. 150,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2018.”

“(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.”

“Sexy scents of red and black fruits, coffee and herbs. Dense, juicy and fine-grained, conveying terrific energy to its flavors of currant, chocolate and mocha. This is less thick than some of the new Malbec releases from Catena but it's still a bit youthfully imploded and in need of more time in bottle. But it has the dusty tannins and fresh supporting acidity to reward aging. In the early going, its penetrating character reminds me a bit of Cabernet. (60% from Nicasia Vineyard in Paraje Altamira and 40% from Angelica Vineyard in Lunlunta; Vigil describes this wine as "an old-vine blend--a mix of new and old _terroirs")”

“In my last sighted review of the 2016 Cos d’Estournel, I wrote: "I suspect it will close down for a period in its youth." Perhaps it is already beginning to shut down, because though this wine was deeply impressive, it fell just a notch short of ethereal previous bottles, despite its "pixelated black fruit" on the nose and "sublime balance" on the palate. I tasted the wine twice thereafter, though this time with a 4-6 hour decant, and this revealed the Cos d'Estournel that has amazed since I first tasted it out of barrel. 2030 - 2070”

“The 2016 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc aged in 65% new and 35% two-year-old French oak for 15 months. Bottled in July 2018, it is deep garnet-purple colored and starts off a little closed and reticent, opening out slowly and seductively to reveal beautiful lilacs, rose hip tea, crushed stones and camphor nuances over a core of crème de cassis, kirsch, wild blueberries and mocha plus wafts of incense and wood smoke. The palate is simply electric, charged with an energy and depth of flavors that seem to defy the elegance and ethereal nature of its medium-bodied weight, featuring super ripe, densely pixelated tannins that firmly frame the myriad of fruit and floral sparks, finishing with epic length. Just. Magic. Drink 2024-2068.”

“This is muscular yet so well defined and toned. Full-bodied with deep and dense fruit on the palate, yet powerful and rich at the same time. So much sandalwood and blackberry character. Chewy and rich at the finish. This is a warm and generous wine, but the alcohol is just over 13 degrees. Not that high. Love the finish. Extravagant. Magical. Try from 2025.”

““There’s a freshness in the wine and I’m not exactly sure where it came from,” admits Dominique Arangoits. And very tasty it is too. Graphite and orange zest aromas segue into a fine, elegant, leafy palate with stylish oak and filigree tannins. 2024-36”

“The 2013 Echo de Lynch-Bages is an absolutely delicious, entry-level wine bursting with sweet red fruit. Sweet floral notes add silkiness on the supple finish. This tasty, bistro-style red will be at its most expressive in its youth. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.”

“The 2010 Lynch-Bages has a stunning bouquet with pixelated black fruit, crushed stone and graphite aromas that soar from the glass. This is just amazingly focused. The palate is medium-bodied with concentrated black fruit curiously tinged with cough candy, which here I find just a bit out of place. The acidity is extremely well judged and there is immense persistence on the finish. Bold, brassy and ambitious, this is an extremely impressive wine, although I suspect that there are better bottles out there. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.”

“Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins (although they’ve softened considerably during the wine’s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien.”

“Bright ruby-red. Classic Pauillac aromas and flavors of cassis, black cherry, menthol, minerals and licorice lifted by a violet topnote. Intensely flavored and sharply delineated, with terrific fruit intensity to support its very bright acidity. This firmly structured, gripping wine is a bit dominated by its serious tannic spine today, but the dark berry fruit gained dramatically in creaminess with some time in the glass. Potentially one of the best vintages for this large property in many years.”

“Potent blackcurrant and nettle scent. Loads of fruit power, but a savoury structure and high acidity that suggests Bordeaux. Long, firm tannins on the finish too – this is a serious, stately wine made generous by a ripe vintage. ”

“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.”

“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.”

“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 1994 Gran Reserva 890, from an excellent vintage, exhibits a dark ruby/brick color. Its complex perfume is composed of nuances of scorched earth, cedar, mineral, red currants and cherry. On the palate, additional notes of toast, fungi, and floral scents emerge. This elegant wine has sufficient depth, concentration and weight to drink well for another 6-8 years.
”

“2001 is a great vintage for all the wines from La Rioja Alta but the long-awaited 2001 Gran Reserva 890 is otherworldly. 2001 was a slow maturing vintage which produced smaller grapes especially in the old vineyards on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria in the villages of Brinas, Labastida and Villalba where the vineyards that make it into this wine are located. The final blend contains a majority of Tempranillo with 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo. The wine ferments with the natural yeasts attached to the grapes in stainless steel vats and is aged for six years in used American oak barrels with 12 manual rackings. A selection of the best barrels were blended together and bottled unfiltered in March 2008. Only 15,000 bottles were produced. It shows (even) younger and more concentrated than the 2004 904, a darker shade of red and a somehow backward and reticent nose (relatively speaking) of forest floor, cold bonfire, antique shop, truffles, game, sandalwood, nutmeg and clove. The fruit is also a little darker and the palate more austere, but still showing vibrant and supple, with clean flavors and a great finish. This is my favorite modern time 890. Bravo! Drink 2016-2026.


”

“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)”

“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.”

“The 2019 Le Volte dell’Ornellaia is terrific. Bold, juicy and wonderfully expressive, the 2019 will drink well right out of the gate. Juicy black cherry, lavender, spice, menthol and chocolate are all kicked up a few notches. In 2019 Le Volte is especially dark and sumptuous, both of which add to its considerable immediacy and overall appeal. This is an especially fine vintage for the Ornellaia's entry-level bottling.”

“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.”

“The 2010 Chapelle-Chambertin is dark and brooding. Cool, mineral notes lead to slate, black cherries, tar and licorice. This is a decidedly muscular, intense Burgundy with tons of density and power enshrouded by statuesque tannins. The sheer power and intensity suggest the Chapelle will require considerable patience. This big, dramatic wine is built for the cellar, but it is without question a showstopper, even today.”

“Good full, medium red. Expressive, nuanced aromas of strawberry, raspberry, crushed stone, smoke and flowers. Glyceral yet light on its feet, with a suave, silky texture to its vibrant, savory red fruit, floral and mineral flavors. Not at all a superripe style: really perks up the palate and leaves the mouth refreshed on the very long, sweet/savory finish. This classy grand cru finishes with captivating perfumed lift.”

“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 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 2018 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru (Domaine Gagey) is fulfilling all the promise it showed in barrel, unwinding in the glass with aromas of pomegranate, red berries, rose petals, sweet soil tones and warm spices. Full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a vibrant core of fruit framed by fine, youthfully chalky tannins, this will repay extended cellaring.”

“The 2018 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru has a cohesive, focused bouquet of intense red currant, wild strawberry and crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and slightly angular tannins that will be softened with time. I appreciate the energy and backbone of this Grand Cru. Excellent.”

“The 2010 Beaune Boucherottes, from a parcel on the lower part of the hill, emerges from the glass with sweet roses, red cherries, raspberries and white flowers. This is a relatively bright, focused style that shows the more feminine side of Beaune. Clean mineral notes give the finish an attractive element of pure energy. The Boucherottes should drink well upon release.”

“Medium red. Pure but subdued aromas of medicinal cherry and smoky, spicy oak. The richest and broadest of these Beaune wines but reticent today and in need of more élevage to gain in precision. This very backward wine finishes with ripe, building tannins. Barnier noted that he probably won't bottle the "serious" 2015s until May.”

“Medium red. The nose suggests a more angular wine than the Baudes, offering scents of black cherry, cola and fresh flowers. Then wonderfully sweet and broad but firmly built, conveying superb density of texture and inner-mouth lift without any rough edges. The serious but refined tannins saturate the palate and leave the taste buds refreshed. Really captivating sweetness here.”

“(this 45-year-old massalle selection yielded just half of a normal crop in 2015, as was the case with most of Jadot's other Beaune holdings): Bright dark red. Pure, vibrant aromas of black raspberry, minerals, licorice and crushed stone. In a distinctly juicy, stony style with brisk hints of mint and licorice. Tight and firmly tannic on the finish, but with good lingering fruit and surprising breadth. This will need time in bottle.”

“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.”

“Dark red cherry, plum, menthol, licorice and new leather explode from the glass in the 2012 Echézeaux. A rich, layered wine, the 2012 boasts superb depth and pure power, with tons of richness, breadth and volume. Today, the Echézeaux is simply magnificent. However, it will require bottle age to show at its best. Jadot's Echézeaux emerges from parcels in Les Rouges du Bas.”

“The 2012 Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru is more mild-mannered and serious on the nose when compared to the Echezeaux - poker-faced black fruit hand in hand with tertiary aromas. The palate is very refined with silky smooth tannins. This is very harmonious with impressive weight and sensuality towards the finish that fans out with more precision and grace than the Echezeaux, retaining tight control at every moment. Excellent.”

“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.”

“Tank sample. Dark crimson. Much more appetising than the Clos de Rochegrès. Great freshness and energy on the end. But still lots of chew – and personality.”

“Tank sample. Dark crimson. Much more appetising than the Clos de Rochegrès. Great freshness and energy on the end. But still lots of chew – and personality.”

“The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Boudots 1er Cru has a fragrant bouquet of perfumed red berry fruit mixed with rose petals. The medium-bodied palate delivers supple tannin and a fine bead of acidity. Well balanced, with a judicious dash of white pepper and clove toward the finish. A lovely Boudots.”

“Dark fruits on the nose, with white pepper and a lick of smoke. Silky, refined tannins and generous forest fruits at the core. Depth and breadth of fruit. The oak is currently sweet and smoky on the finish and will need time to integrate.”

“The 2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots (Domaine Gagey) is showing nicely in bottle, bursting with aromas of cherries, sweet berries, orange rind, plums and sweet soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming, with an enveloping core of fruit, melting tannins and succulent acids, it's forward and giving out of the gates; indeed, this is unusually demonstrative for a young Boudots.”

“This is aromatically similar to the Clos des Chênes but with a touch of menthol. The suave, round and utterly delicious flavors are shaped by relatively fine tannins and plenty of sappy dry extract yet the finish is exceptionally firm, intense and highly persistent finish, that is at present overtly austere. Somewhat curiously, this is not quite as refined as the Clos des Chênes and is actually on the robust side at present. Note further that this will require a very long cellar snooze before it is completely ready for prime time."”

“The 2010 Volnay Clos de la Barre is a huge, implosive wine loaded with fruit. This explosive Volnay bursts onto the palate with black cherries, tar, licorice, smoke and incense. The aromas and flavors take on a decidedly exotic quality as the wine sits in the glass. This is another wine with a bright future. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028.”

“Mid ruby. Scented and subtle on the nose. Very firm and fine with great precision. Great line of fruit, most impressive. Real delineation.”

“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”

“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.”

“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.”

“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 2018 Geyserville is an infant. That much is obvious, especially in this lineup of otherwise more settled 2018s. Ripe Zinfandel flavors drive the overall profile. A blast of wild cherry, leather, tobacco, smoke, licorice, menthol and spice hit the palate first, followed by swaths of tannin and a touch of new oak that suggest the wine still needs time to come together. Readers should be in no rush. I am not sure the 2018 will ever be truly refined, as it is quite burly today. Aeration helps to some degree. The fermentations at Geyserville were slow to start and slow to finish. That longer time of extraction comes through in potent tannins that will likely always mark the wine.”

“The 2014 Lytton Springs is another absolutely gorgeous wine. Perhaps because of its relatively recent bottling, the 2004 feels a bit compressed, but there appears to be plenty of complexity and depth hiding behind the acidity and tannin. Far from an easygoing Zinfandel, the 2014 Lytton is a wine to buy and cellar for at least a handful of years. The wine's richness, persistence and vertical intensity all lead me to believe it will be special in time. Black cherry, pomegranate, mint and sweet spices meld into the resonant finish. A kick of tannin from the Petite adds personality, something the 2014 has in spades.”

“More fresh and elegant than the Geyserville, with a touch more focus, the 2014 Lytton Springs is another beautiful wine from this estate. Made from 69% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah and the rest Carignan and Mourvèdre, aged in 20% new American oak, it boasts fabulous notes of plums, blackberry jam, toasted spice and licorice as well as medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful mid-palate depth and notable tannin. The Geyserville is a touch sexier, but this will be longer lived. Give bottles 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following decade or more.”

“The 2019 Lytton Springs checks in as 73% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, and the rest Carignan and Mataro. Revealing a translucent ruby/plum hue as well as beautiful cassis and red plum fruits supported by lots of savory herbs, orange blossom, cigar, and spice-driven aromas and flavors, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, moderate yet present tannins, and a great finish. While the Geyserville Cuvee has eclipsed the Lytton Spring in most vintages in the past decade, that’s not the case in 2019”

“The 2013 Monte Bello is a very special vintage for this great wine. Amazingly, it has yet to shut down, unfurling in the glass to reveal a bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, rich espresso roast, cigar wrapper, subtle black truffle and burning embers that has already integrated its 100% new oak remarkably completely. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, powerful and multidimensional, with a lavishly textural attack that segues into a stunningly layered, richly structured mid-palate endowed with incredible depth and concentration underpinned by succulent acids. The finish is long, vibrant and beautifully delineated. The 2013 is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot, and it attained 13.6% natural alcohol. Analytically, this ranks as one of the most tannic vintages of Monte Bello ever produced, but the tannins are of such high quality and cloaked in such a wealth of fruit that Ridge forwent their habitual egg white fining this year—beginning a trend that has continued since. This profound Monte Bello will begin to blossom as it reaches age ten and should prove practically immortal.”

“The 2013 Monte Bello is utterly spellbinding in its beauty. Finely sculpted and chiseled, with super-expressive aromatics and searing tannins, the 2013 is shaping up to be a modern-day classic. The 2013 is remarkably pure and vibrant for such a big wine. It will be years before the 2013 is close to being ready to drink. Even so, it is magnificent today. Where will the 2013 end up? The future seems limitless for now. Quite simply, the 2013 is a must-have wine. In 2013, Monte Bello is very heavy in Cabernet Sauvignon, partly because Merlot suffered in the drought-like conditions. The 2013 has already begun to shut down in bottle. Readers need to be in for the long haul.”

“Cask sample. Very Cabernet nose, again with spice – great polish and depth. Firm acidity and much more obvious tannins than the 2014.”

“Complex aromas of blueberry, rose petal, licorice, and currant. Full body, ultra fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Balanced and very refined. A wonderful purity and beauty. Give it three to four years to come together but already a beauty. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 16% carmenere, 11% malbec, 8% merlot and 5% petit verdot.”

“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.”

“This wine is made exclusively with fruit from the gorgeous Tenuta Tignanello in San Casciano Val di Pesa (home to its namesake wine Tignanello, and Solaia) and sees mostly Sangiovese blended with a smaller part Cabernet Sauvignon and other complementary grapes. The Marchesi Antinori 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori vaunts a smooth and silky personality with ample berry definition and brightness. The previous 2017 vintage revealed more black and purple fruits because of the scorching hot and dry summer that year, but this wine from the cooler 2018 growing season focuses on red raspberry and cherry instead. That fruit is framed by light spice (from Hungarian and French oak) and licorice. Some 273,000 bottles were produced.”

“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.”