Bordeaux wines in the Flickinger Fine Wines inventory http://www.flickingerwines.com/wineregions/bordeaux.asp WA 90 (4/2003): The outstanding 2000 exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a glorious nose of creosote, licorice, blackberry and cassis liqueur, medium to full body, tremendous texture, and impressive ripe fruit. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered after spending time in 80% new French oak, on its lees, with frequent batonnage as well as micro-oxygenation. This is serious stuff as well as a sleeper of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: now-2015.IWC 90 (6/2003): Saturated medium ruby. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, chocolate and game, plus an exotic whiff of apricot. Sweet, supple and open in the mouth, with seamless, exotic fruit flavors of noteworthy intensity. The big, broad, firm tannins from the chalky soil give this solid structure for development in bottle. Finishes with excellent persistence.WS 90 (3/2003): Deep and dark, with lots of crushed berries and meat on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a mineral, berry aftertaste. Serious wine. From the makers of the La Mondotte. Best after 2006. 8,330 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdAiguilhe.aspWS 91 (3/2006): Aromas of blackberry, spices, chocolate and meat follow through to a full-bodied palate, with lots of juicy fruit. Luscious finish. Gorgeous. This has a new winery, but the clay soil of the vineyards really helped. Best after 2009. 7,000 cases made. WA 90 (4/2006): This large (120+ acres) vineyard planted on limestone and clay soils is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2003 was produced from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare. It exhibits a dense purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of scorched earth, blackberries, underbrush, cherries, and smoke. Layered, opulent, powerful, and rich, with its tannin character well-hidden by abundant fruit, it should drink well for 10-12 years. It is another example of this backwater appellation producing a wine that transcends its pedigree. VM 89 (6/2006): Good dark red. Wild, meaty aromas of currant and leather. The sweetest and fattest of these three vintages, with a smooth, round texture and an exotic suggestion of truffle. But good minerally lift gives firmness to the finish. A very successful 2003 from limestone and clay soil-like owner Stephan von Neipperg's La Mondotte.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdAiguilhe.aspWS 97 (3/2003): Out of this world. Incredible aromas of crushed blackberries and cherries, with wet earth, mineral and mint. Full-bodied, with fantastically refined, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Terrific. Greatest Angelus I have ever tasted. Best after 2010. 7,080 cases made. WA 96 (4/2003): The finest effort since the 1989 and 1990, this dense purple-colored wine has an extravagantly ripe, concentrated style. The 2000 (in a new engraved bottle) offers up aromas of blackberry liqueur and vintage port. As the wine sits in the glass, graphite, wet stones, smoke, barbecue spices, and olives also make an appearance. It unfolds on the palate in layers, is full-bodied, big and rich yet incredibly poised, well-balanced, and pure. Quite backward, this is one of the greatest Angelus made to date. Yields were a modest 35 hectoliters per hectare. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030. Bravo! VM 93 (6/2003): Impressive saturated ruby. Black fruits, shoe polish, licorice, truffle, leather and a hint of game on the nose; at once superripe and fresh. Fat, sweet and deep, but retains lovely inner-mouth aromatic character and precision of flavor for such a rich wine, thanks to sound acidity. Effortlessly carries its 14% alcohol. This builds impressively on the back end, finishing with strong but lush tannins (the index of polyphenols was 92!) and powerful fruit. This wine was racked a total of three times.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChAngelus.aspWA 95 (6/2007): This 7,500-case blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc is one of the strongest wines of the vintage. A deep blue/purple hue is accompanied by classic aromas of smoky blueberries and blackberries as well as incense and floral notes in the background. A beautiful texture, opulence, flamboyance, and purity characterize this stunningly deep, full-bodied effort, another great success from proprietor Hubert de Bouard. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.WS 91 (3/2007): Dark ruby in color, with coffee bean, meat and berry aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. I love the texture. Balanced and stylish. Best after 2010. 8,330 cases made.VM 91 (6/2007): Deep ruby. Wild aromas of plum, redcurrant, game, underbrush and flowers; hints of liqueur-like superripeness. Supple and suave but also rich and large-scaled; seriously concentrated and deep for the vintage but less sweet than the 2005. This boasts lovely texture and broad, ripe tannins but I find more intensity and incipient complexity-not to mention purity and lift-in the young 2006.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChAngelus.aspWA 89 (6/2004): Medium deep ruby/purple-colored with a sweet perfume of cedar wood, chocolate, oak, and black currants, this medium-bodied, attractive, soft Pauillac is ideal for drinking now and over the next 12-13 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdArmailhac.aspWA 89 (4/2005): A firm, dark ruby/purple-colored wine with notes of compost, black currants, espresso roast, and some soy, this medium to full-bodied, relatively powerful and concentrated wine shows elevated levels of tannin which have kept me from pulling the trigger and giving it a higher score. I thought everything seemed better balanced prior to bottling, so perhaps the wine is going through a somewhat angular phase of development. It s certainly a big, bold, rather aggressively tannic style of d’Armailhac. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2019.IWC 88 (6/2005): Good ruby-red. Currant, chocolate and mocha on the nose, along with some cooler herbal notes. Juicy, minerally and bright, with a slightly weedy herbaceous character and firm acidity. Ultimately less floral and less dense than the promising 2004.WS 87 (3/2005): Aromas of blackberries and licorice follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with slightly austere tannins and a fresh finish. Hollow midpalate. Best after 2006. 15,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdArmailhac.aspWS 91 (3/2006): Loads of currant, berry and light toasted oak on the nose with hints of milk chocolate. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium-long finish. Thick texture. Nicely crafted and balanced. Best after 2011. 15,000 cases made.WA 90 (4/2006): The deep ruby/purple-hued 2003 d’Armailhac exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice, and roasted herbs. With moderately high yet sweet tannin, an earthy character, and chewy, muscular, deep fruit as well as medium to full body, it should be drunk between 2008-2019.IWC 89 (6/2006): Medium ruby-red. Roasted, liqueur-like aromas of black raspberry and chocolate. Very sweet, fat and rich for this wine, with a high-pH mouth feel and full-blown flavors of leather and game. Supple and layered for Armailhac. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins, but the IPT is actually higher in 2005. And the 2005 is more chiseled.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdArmailhac.aspWS 91 (3/2006): Loads of currant, berry and light toasted oak on the nose with hints of milk chocolate. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium-long finish. Thick texture. Nicely crafted and balanced. Best after 2011. 15,000 cases made.WA 90 (4/2006): The deep ruby/purple-hued 2003 d’Armailhac exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice, and roasted herbs. With moderately high yet sweet tannin, an earthy character, and chewy, muscular, deep fruit as well as medium to full body, it should be drunk between 2008-2019.IWC 89 (6/2006): Medium ruby-red. Roasted, liqueur-like aromas of black raspberry and chocolate. Very sweet, fat and rich for this wine, with a high-pH mouth feel and full-blown flavors of leather and game. Supple and layered for Armailhac. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins, but the IPT is actually higher in 2005. And the 2005 is more chiseled.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdArmailhac.aspWA 90+ (4/2008): This powerful, tannic, structured effort from Mouton-Rothschild’s stable is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by an earthy nose dominated by black currants and toasty, smoky oak. Medium to full-bodied with relatively high tannin, decent acidity, and a fine finish, it should be at its best between 2014-2030.NM 90 (7/2011): Tasted at BBR’s 2005/2009 tasting in London. Here, the d’Armailhac is ripe and ebullient on the nose with glossy red-berried fruit, tobacco, graphite and just a touch of soy. Full ‘o beans indeed! The palate is medium bodied with chunky tannins, a little rough round the edges with a tannic, saline finish with touches of boysenberry and Hoi Sin. Very fine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdArmailhac.aspJS 90 (12/2010): Balanced and fruity with tobacco and berry character. Full and very soft with fine tannins, and a juicy fruit character on the finish. Best in 2012.WA 89 (5/2011): A dense plum/purple color is followed by a supple, evolved, medium-bodied wine revealing an elegant bouquet of red and black currants, charcoal, toast and earth. Enjoy this impressive 2008 over the next 12-15 years.WS 89 (3/2011): Warm tobacco, mulled plum and dark fig notes move through this medium-weight offering, with rounded edges, but good bass notes of loam and iron keep it honest on the finish. Drink now through 2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdArmailhac.aspJS 95-96 (4/2017): This is really tannic and muscular for d’Armailhac. Perhaps the most powerful ever. Full and chewy yet balanced and polished. Very, very impressive. Greatest ever? WS 92-95 (4/2017): Inviting, with notes of currant preserves and cherry sauce giving way to taut charcoal and singed alder accents. The chalky finish is a bit tight, but the stuffing is there. This has really good energy.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdArmailhac.aspNM 93 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The nose on the L'Arrosee is more reticent than its peers; yet well-defined and terroir-driven, unfurling in the glass with mineral-rich black and red fruit intermingled. The palate has a structured, mineral-driven entry with very well judged acidity. There is a lovely core of black tobacco-infused fruit and a very composed, complex finish. Excellent.WA 91 (2/2013): A supple, lighter style of wine in 2010, the 2010 L’Arrosee is stylish and medium to full-bodied, with seductive notes of black cherries, cranberries and mulberries. Some oak is present, but this is a mid-weight, savory, broad and disarming wine to drink over the next 10-15 years.WS 91 (3/2013): A very toasty but integrated style, with warm espresso and mocha leading the way for a really supple palate of black currant, plum sauce and cassis flavors. The toast holds a slight lead on the finish, leaving a slightly cedary dusting, but this is lengthy and dense enough to hold on while it melds in the cellar. Best from 2014 through 2024. 3,166 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLArrosee.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LAurage.aspJS 94 (2/2013): There is an amazing depth of berries, orange blossom and minerals. Wet earth too. Full body, with a super velvety palate of super polished tannins. It deep and soulful. It goes for minutes on the palate. This is very structured and muscular. Nearly always one of my favorite second wines. Try after 2018.NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chapelle d'Ausone 2010 has a tightly coiled bouquet that is very linear and controlled, not as expressive as its peers but with fine mineralite. The palate is tight on the entry with crisp tannins, bright tart cherry fruit and plenty of energy. It builds in the mouth to quite a structured, linear finish that does not forsake breeding and class. If only all second wines were as good as this. IWC 90+ (6/2011): Good deep red-ruby. Vibrant aromas of blueberry, menthol and flowers. Juicy, concentrated and tactile, with a distinctly penetrating quality to the blueberry, licorice, fresh herb and mineral flavors. A bit lean and wound-up today in an Old World way, this nicely concentrated second wine needs time to soften in the bottle.WS 90-93 (7/2011): Focused and taut, with racy linzer torte and spice notes backed by dark licorice. There's lots of kirsch on the back end, and this is firm, but not overly so. WA 89+ (2/2013): The 2010 Chapelle Ausone is a very elegant wine with rather tart acids, this second wine of Ausone is medium-bodied, has dark raspberry and blueberry fruit notes with some hints of wet stones. Pure, nicely textured, but rather backward, this wine needs further bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChapelledAusone.aspWA 95+ (4/2014): Its bigger sibling, the 2011 Ausone increases the level of intensity, elegance, complexity, richness and length. Nearly a mirror image of the La Chapelle, just with more going on, the Ausone boasts a more saturated purple color, and the wine has everything in large, intense proportions. The finesse and delicacy of all its components are what make it such a remarkable wine. The quality of the tannins and purity of the fruit make this another legendary effort that should age for 30-40 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChAusone.aspWA 90 (2/1997): The four finest second wines (wines made from declassified first-growth cuvees) I have ever tasted are the 1982 and 1990 Forts de Latour, 1989 Bahans-Haut-Brion, and 1995 Pavillon de Chateau Margaux. I am amazed by just how delicious the 1989 Bahans-Haut-Brion continues to be. Although it is approaching full maturity, it reveals no signs of amber. The 1989 is a textbook Graves in its sweet, blackcurrant, tobacco, roasted herb-scented nose. Medium to full-bodied, with succulent texture, rich, fleshy flavors, and low acidity, it is a pure, beautifully made wine. It should continue to drink well for 5-8 years.WS 90 (3/1992): Along with very firm tannins, this wine shows fresh blackberry and stone aromas and flavors and a velvety mouth-feel. Quite dense on the palate. Try after 1997.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBahansHautBrion.aspWA 94 (2/2012): Made from tiny yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare (May hail damage resulted in this small crop), the opaque purple-colored 2009 reveals an extraordinary nose of mulberries, black cherries, charcoal, barbecue smoke and forest floor. Rich, full-bodied and opulent with silky tannins as well as a broad, unctuous texture, this beauty can be enjoyed now and over the next 15+ years. It is fashioned from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. VM 93 (7/2012): Bright ruby-red. Ripe, slightly high-toned aromas of kirsch and smoky oak. At once dense and juicy, with terrific sappy concentration to its powerful but fine-grained dark fruit and sexy oak flavors. Has the sheer grip and energy to buffer its captivating sweetness. Finishes with serious building, dusty tannins and terrific chocolatey persistence. A superb vintage for this clay-over-chalk vineyard, and a lot of wine for the price. WS 93 (3/2012): This shows a lightly roasted edge, leading to coffee and warm blackberry confiture flavors followed by slightly jammy plum and black cherry cobbler notes. The lush finish picks up definition, though, with a nice singed apple wood note and solid drive. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2013 through 2025. 3,330 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBarde-Haut.aspVM 93 (8/2013): Good red-ruby. Superripe aromas of black raspberry, singed plum and mocha, complicated by a sexy leesy quality. Plush, dense and creamy, with excellent depth and no rough edges to the black raspberry, blueberry and licorice flavors. Serious but sweet tannins coat the front teeth. This very persistent wine has the balance to give early pleasure but should hold nicely for 10 to 15 years.WS 93 (10/2013): Still a bit compact, with blueberry coulis, fig and blackberry paste notes tightly wound, backed by tangy black licorice, singed apple wood and tar on the finish, which features a very sleek structure and a buried iron note. This has good vivacity and should unwind nicely in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2030. WA 92 (2/2013): Loads of blueberry, black cherry and dusty, loamy soil notes as well as hints of herbs, licorice and incense jump from the glass of this well-endowed, supple wine. Tannins are sweet and the acidity sufficient to give delineation to the wine. Full-bodied and impressively endowed, it should drink well over the next 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBarde-Haut.aspWS 90 (3/2006): Aromas of blackberry and currant with hints of toasted oak. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. Best after 2011. 16,665 cases made.WA 88 (4/2006): Dark ruby/purple with hints of melted licorice, underbrush, black currants, and cedar, this is a surprisingly elegant, mid-weight Medoc with relatively high tannins, old-style, classic austerity, and the need for some bottle age. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15-16 years.IWC 87-90 (6/2004): Bright ruby-red. Pure aromas of cassis, blueberry, kirsch, violet, licorice, menthol and graphite. Juicy and penetrating, with dark berry, mineral and graphite flavors. Lovely ripe acidity gives this well-stuffed wine excellent clarity and grip. Finishes with sneaky length, the firm but ripe tannins spreading out to coat the palate. Offers unusually strong potential for this wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBatailley.aspWA 91 (4/2001): The 1998 exhibits flamboyant, obvious new oak, but unlike other years, there is more concentration, power, and depth behind the vanillin/pain grille notes. Full-bodied, dense, and chewy, with copious peppery, herb-tinged, red currant, black currant, and blackberry fruit, this is a lush, generously-endowed offering with a lightly tannic finish. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBeau-SejourBecot.aspJS 95 (2/2013): Wonderful nose with loads of dark chocolate, plums and some coffee. Opens up with orange peel, leather and vanilla. Full and round on palate with beautiful fruit and sweet polished tannins. Long and gorgeous with a really smooth texture. Drink from 2017.WA 93+ (2/2013): A blend of 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine from a moderately sized vineyard was cropped at only 27.5 hectoliters per hectare and came in at 14.5% natural alcohol. The wine displays plenty of toasty oak and vanillin as well as some lead pencil shavings intermixed with cedar, black currants, cherry jam, chocolate and espresso. It is a relatively big, dense, full-bodied St.-Emilion that needs 5-6 years of cellaring and that should keep well for up to two decades.VM 93 (8/2013): Bright red-ruby. Complex, inviting nose combines black raspberry, licorice, mocha and mineral notes of flint and graphite. Suave, seamless and perfumed, with lovely integrated acidity giving shape to the sweet, fleshy, concentrated flavors of currant and graphite. Very ripe, rich and chewy but not overextracted. Finishes silky and long, with sound acids and very smooth tannins. An excellent vintage for this chateau. Stephen Tanzer.WS 93 (3/2013): Delivers a deliciously vibrant core of linzer torte, blackberry confiture and melted licorice snap notes, along with toasted spice and a mouthwatering apple wood accent on the finish The grip is briary and energetic, showing a fine, buried minerality. Should stretch out wonderfully in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2028.NM 93 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Beausejour-Becot has a ripe blackcurrant, dark plum and crushed stone scented bouquet that is well defined, feisty at first but calming down in the glass, a little stemmy underneath like Figeac. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins. Surprisingly, this is very classic in style with the Cabernet component very obvious. It is distinctive from its peers, a cru that seems to have gained panache since last year.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBeau-SejourBecot.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBeau-SejourBecot.aspWS 86 (3/2006): A balanced wine with berry, tobacco and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins and a fresh finish. Best after 2008. 10,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaCroixdeBeaucaillou.aspWS 86 (3/2006): A balanced wine with berry, tobacco and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins and a fresh finish. Best after 2008. 10,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaCroixdeBeaucaillou.aspJS 98-99 (4/2016): I don’t know what to say here other than it’s better than any BDL I drank since 1989 including the 1990. There’s a transparency and beauty like a rainbow. Full body, extremely long and bright. Super fine tannins. Pure fruit.VM 95-98 (4/2016): A dark, brooding wine, the 2015 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse may need twenty years to start drinking well. Today, the 2015 is imposing, with massive concentration and fabulous persistence, all supported by a vertical spine of tannin that is impossible to miss. Hints of graphite, smoke and licorice struggle to emerge from a huge wall of fruit and tannin. This is another wine that will require considerable patience. The 2015 is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, brought in between September 25 and October 12 and aged in 60% new oak. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.WS 92-95 (7/2016): Offers lovely richness, with a very caressing feel to the layers of warm plum compote and boysenberry confiture. Underneath all the fruit is a very fine-edged chalky thread, yet the feeling overall is velvety and lush. A beauty. NM 91-93 (4/2016): The 2015 Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) is a blend of 90% Merlot picked between 25 September and 5 October, 10% Cabernet Franc picked on 5 and 12 October. It was cropped at 34 hl/ha. It has a very intense, quite opulent bouquet, just like the 2015 Pavie-Macquin from barrel, with fig-tinged red cherry fruit, hints of kirsch and glycerin. The palate likewise shows more refinement and class, the tannins fine and the acidity well judged. It has a fresh finish, though it just needs to muster a touch more tension and sense of energy right on the finish. Let's see what happens during its élevage, because it has the materials to turn into a very fine Saint Emilion.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBeausejour-Duffau.aspWA 96 (2/2013): An absolutely magnificent wine from Christian Moueix and his son Edouard, this wine is right up there with their 2009 and may eclipse it in terms of its potential longevity. Dense purple, with a near-liqueur of crushed rocks and chalk intermixed with blueberry, black raspberry and cassis, this wine is very full-bodied for a Belair, with ethereal complexity and impressive texture and length. I believe this is the first vintage of the wine to be released in an engraved bottle, which seems to be the direction of all the top estates in the Jean-Pierre Moueix stable. More evidence of concerned Bordelais attempting to stop criminals intent on producing fraudulent bottles of these limited production wines. Forget this baby for 7-8 years and then look for it to evolve over three decades-plus.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBelair-Monange.aspWA 95+ (4/2015): With some of the oldest vines in all of Bordeaux, especially one parcel from 1905, Belair Monange’s 2012 (14.5% alcohol) is a tribute to this great terroir that was poorly managed and exploited prior to the family of Jean-Pierre Moueix taking over. Now it is Christian Moueix and his son Edouard who manage the property and produce the wine. The 2012 is a beauty, with a deep ruby/purple color, complex notes of minerals, crushed rock, red and black fruits, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, great texture, long finish and true ability and character. It should age beautifully for 20 or more years and yet be drinkable another three or four. Production is small, as only 1,300 cases were produced.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBelair-Monange.aspWS 92 (3/2012): This is distinctive, with lots of showy pain d'épices and blackberry reduction offset by roasted apple wood notes and a strong graphite spine. Shows plenty of flesh through the finish, featuring extra linzer torte and boysenberry notes that course along, with nice buried grip. Best from 2014 through 2025. 3,750 cases made. WA 91 (2/2012): This is one of the finest wines I have tasted from this highly regarded terroir that has rarely been exploited to its maximum potential. Loads of chalk dust intertwined with sweet kirsch, black currants, licorice and camphor jump from the glass of this full-bodied wine, which has terrific fruit intensity, lots of glycerin, a lavish richness and a long, heady finish with light to moderate tannin. Give it 1-2 more years of bottle and drink it over the following 15.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellefontBelcier.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellevue.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaCazeBellevue.aspWA 100 (6/2015): Made up of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the opaque bluish/purple 2005 from Bellevue-Mondotte offers amazing chocolate espresso notes along with blueberry and blackberry liqueur, some incense and a hint of flowers. Full-bodied and staggeringly concentrated, this blockbuster wine (in a blockbuster vintage) is unreal. Talk about a wine that is beyond belief - this is a great achievement from Chantal and Gérard Perse. Drink it over the next 25-30 years. Sadly, there were only 340 or so cases produced. WS 97 (6/2008): The crushed blackberry and raspberry are wonderful in this wine. Full-bodied, with superpolished tannins and loads of ripe fruit, toasty oak and coffee on the palate. Goes on and on. An opulent young red. Best after 2016. 420 cases made. VM 91-94 (6/2007): Bright ruby. Aromas of cassis, black raspberry and liquid graphite. Hugely concentrated but very backward, with exotic and extremely dark flavors of black fruits, licorice and violet. This has a surprisingly silky texture (a year ago it seemed to be a bit more chunky) but the major tannins are going to require considerable patience. Better than I thought last year, but not for the faint of heart.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellevueMondotte.aspWA 100 (2/2012): The inky/blue/purple-colored 2009 Bellevue Mondotte offers aromas of creme de cassis, mulberries, licorice, white flowers, forest floor and candied cherries. Extremely thick, rich and full-bodied, it is nearly overwhelming in its textural richness, colossal concentration and mind-blowing finish that lasts nearly a minute. Undeniably massive and over-sized, but perfectly balanced, it is made for those looking for something to put away for 30-50+ years. One has to admire a proprietor who is making a wine for the history books, not for near-term gratification. JS 97 (4/2012): Loads of fruit with blueberries and blackberries. Cassis. Full and juicy with super fine tannins. Very flamboyant. Powerful structure. Goes on for minutes. 90% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Try in 2018. VM 95+ (7/2012): (90% merlot with 5% each cabernet franc and sauvignon): Deep ruby. Superripe, slightly inky aromas of blueberry liqueur and violet. Like liquid silk in the mouth, but with surprisingly firm acidity leavening the wine's sweetness and giving shape to its blue and black fruit flavors. A compellingly rich, thick wine with palate-staining length and the tannic clout to support at least a couple decades of positive evolution in bottle. WS 95 (6/2012): A very dark, almost brooding style, with loads of ganache, espresso and roasted fig aromas and flavors, backed by extra notes of black forest cake, warm currant preserves and melted black licorice. There's a gorgeous polished feel despite its heft, with a purity buried deep on the finish. Drink now through 2015. 415 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellevueMondotte.aspJS 96 (6/2013): This is incredibly intense and powerful with aromas of iron, spice and berry. Full body with a dense center palate of dark fruits and chocolate. Very long and refined. Balanced. Very closed. Try in 2018.WA 95+ (2/2013): The wine is not as powerful as one might expect, given the owners and winemaking team, coming in at 14.3%. A sensational, rather massive example for a 2010, this opaque purple wine offers up notes of subtle barbecue smoke, blackberry and cassis as well as a hints of lead pencil shavings and a confiture of red and black fruits in the mouth. Full-bodied, unctuously textured and excruciatingly tannic, this is a big, blockbuster style of wine meant for 10-50+ years of cellaring.IWC 94+ (8/2013): Saturated dark ruby. High-toned aromas of black raspberry, blueberry and smoky oak. Superripe, lush, chewy and deep, with a distinctly high-toned quality to the fine-grained flavors of wild dark berries, espresso, graphite and dark chocolate. For all its sweetness, there's no shortage of acidity here. The broad, sweet, building tannins give shape to the fruit of this massive wine, which remained impressively fresh in the recorked bottle. WS 93-96 (7/2011): This sports the ample, fleshy, powerful core of the vintage, with dark blue and black fruits, but has extra drive, with mouthwatering acidity and lots of minerality cutting through on the finish. Shows great mouthfeel and purity. NM 92-94 (3/2011): A blend of 90% Merlot and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, this has a very intense, backward bouquet that despite leaving it five minutes in the glass, stubbornly refuses to open. The palate is very structure with a touch of graphite interlacing the ripe blackberry and liquorice tinged fruit (possibly from some very ripe Cabernets.) Very dense and powerful towards the finish, this is your quintessential vin de garde that will need long-term cellaring. Drink 2025-2040+http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellevueMondotte.aspWA 96 (4/2015): The smallest of the Perse estates, this tiny property situated on pure limestone produces a wine made from a blend of 90% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the superstars of this vintage, the 2012 is opaque purple and exhibits tremendous concentration and richness, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a layered texture that builds incrementally without any heaviness or cloying characteristics. This is stunning, great, old-style, yet progressively made Bordeaux to drink over the next 25-30 years. The alcohol level is 14.3%.VM 95+ (1/2016): The Bellevue-Mondotte is arguably the most intriguing of Gérard Perse's 2012s. It is also the least accessible of the wines today. A firm spine of tannin gives the Bellevue-Mondotte much of its personality. Black cherry, smoke, licorice, tar and graphite all take on shades of virility in a wine endowed with vertical structure and pure power. Gérard Perse made just 4,000 bottles from Bellevue-Mondotte, a tiny two-hectare vineyard on Saint-Emilion's clay/limestone plateau. The 2012 is a magical wine, but it will require considerable patience. The blend is 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a stunning wine from Gérard and Chantal Perse and their long-time winemaker Michel Rolland.JS 95 (2/2015): A young red with coffee, chocolate, red chili and berry character. Chalk and salt flakes. Full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Super focused for the vintage. The 90% merlot shows itself. But truly a top wine for the vintage. Try in 2017.WS 90 (3/2015): Dark, with fig, boysenberry and raspberry fruit melded together, while smoldering charcoal and warm ganache accents fill in the background. A roasted apple wood note gives the finish spine. Very solid. Best from 2016 through 2022. 275 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellevueMondotte.aspWA 90 (4/2003): The impressive 2000 is undoubtedly a sleeper of the vintage. It offers an opaque purple color along with copious quantities of sweet creme de cassis notes intermixed with coffee, smoke, earth, and mocha. Full-bodied and intense, with low acidity, a layered texture, sweet tannin, and a 35-second finish, it will drink beautifully between 2005-2017. P.S. This vineyard is superbly located near La Mondotte and Le Tertre Roteboeuf.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellisleMondotte.aspJS 94 (3/2012): Great aromas of crushed blackberries and blueberries, follow through to a full body, with super silky tannins and a long, long finish. An absolute joy to taste. Best ever from here? Try in 2016.VM 92 (7/2012): Full red-ruby. Lively nose offers cassis, minerals, licorice and a note of cherry-almond. Broad and large-scaled for this Saint-Emilion, with sweet, concentrated cassis, black cherry and soil flavors joined on the back by a smoky quality. The classically dry, long finish features serious building tannins, noteworthy energy and excellent punch. I haven't tasted a stronger young wine from this property in recent memory. Stephen Tanzer.WS 91 (7/2012): This cuts a broad, creamy path, with lush blueberry fig and plum fruit all rolled together, backed by warm cocoa and anise notes. Toasty grip supports the finish, but there's enough exotic fruit here to soak that up, so this should give the hedonist crowd something to enjoy with moderate cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2022. 1,665 cases made.WA 91 (12/2011): The wine displays oodles of strawberry jam intermixed with kirsch, dusty, loamy soil notes, garrigue, spice box and vanillin. It is full-bodied, opulent, very flamboyant and showy, with a hint of chalky minerality to add complexity and precision. It should drink well for up to 15 or more years.NM 91 (10/2011): Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London, the Berliquet 2009 is very reticent on the nose with delicate dark cherry and raspberry fruits with a touch of cedar developing. The palate is medium-bodied with silky smooth tannins, not a show-stopper and perhaps over-powered by its peers. Yet I like the femininity and the understated nature of this wine. Tasted October 2011.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBerliquet.aspWA 92 (8/2014): Despite the extreme heat of June, July and August, this beautiful wine’s terroir shows through. A dense plum/purple color is accompanied by sweet cassis and black currant aromas, broad, round, juicy fruit flavors, medium body, and hints of figs, spice box and cedar. This complete, juicy, fully mature, impressive wine can be consumed over the next 7-8 years.NM 90 (5/2013): Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. The Beychevelle 2003 has light animally, gamey bouquet with plenty of Provencal herbs and just a touch of sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of aggression on the entry. It is very foursquare with slightly subdued black fruit, pencil shavings and cedar, whilst the earthy finish is showing just a touch of attenuation. There is good backbone here, but it is not a Saint Julien I would cellar long-term. JS 90 (3/2011): Earthy, leafy, funky, and rich, with a decadent undertone of ripe fruit and spices. Full and velvety, with soft tannins and a decadent finish. Yummy, no need to wait. Find the wineWS 89 (3/2006): Aromas of toasted oak with chocolate, berry and meat follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a medium berry and vanilla aftertaste. Pretty wine. Needs some more bottle age. Best after 2008. 20,830 cases made.VM 89 (6/2006): Dullish ruby-red. Full-blown, exotic aromas of plum jam, roasted meat and leather, with a suggestion of tropical chocolate. Big, plush and full; a seamless wine that avoids coming off as flat. Finishes with ripe tannins and a lingering flavor of chocolate. I underrated this wine in barrel. Unusually fleshy for Beychevelle, which is not a bad thing. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBeychevelle.aspVM 93 (1/2016): The 2012 Le Bon Pasteur is terrific. Dark, sensual and inviting, the 2012 is beautifully expressive today. Dark red cherry, blue stone fruit, mocha and spice blossom as this dense, succulent Pomerol opens up in the glass. A closing burst of exotic, perfumed aromatics rounds things out in style. All the elements are simply in the right place. This is a terrific showing. Michel and Dany Rolland have since sold Le Bon Pasteur to Pan Sutong (who also owns Napa Valley's Sloan Estate) but continue to make the wines.WA 93 (4/2015): From 17 acres of vineyard with an average vine age of 40 years emerges Bon Pasteur, the home property of Michel and Dany Rolland. No one has probably done more for high-quality wine in the world than Rolland. His home estate proves what a great winemaker he is, even though this is by no means one of the better terroirs in Pomerol. This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is very rich, intense and showing a lot better from bottle than it did from barrel. The wine has an inky, ruby/purple color and a beautiful nose of black fruits mixed with truffle, licorice and subtle background earth and spice. Rich, full-bodied, opulent and stunning, this has turned out to be a great success for the Rollands. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.JS 91 (2/2015): Very pretty walnut, berry and chocolate character with fine tannins and a flavorful finish. Medium to full body. Better in 2018.WS 89 (4/2015): Tasty, with plum, blackberry and boysenberry jam flavors, allied to a polished structure and backed by a coating of black licorice on the finish. Drink now through 2019. 1,665 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeBonPasteur.aspWA 92 (12/2011): The dense purple-hued 2009 exhibits a beautiful nose of blueberry liqueur, acacia flowers, licorice, graphite and wood smoke. Flowery and elegant as well as exceptionally pure, medium to full-bodied, admirably concentrated and rich, it is a big Margaux, but does not lose any of the typicity one expects of wines from this area, which tend to be slightly more elegant and less muscular than the St.-Juliens, Pauillacs and St.-Estephes made further north. Given its tannin profile, the 2009 Boyd-Cantenac requires 5-8 years of cellaring and should last for three decades.NM 91 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This is a fine Boyd-Cantenac. It shows more oak on the nose compared to its peers, although it is floral and perfumed, demonstrating Margaux typicite. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins on the entry. It is nicely balanced with fine purity and it builds in the mouth towards a solid, harmonious, earthy finish. Commendable. WS 88 (7/2012): Espresso and smoke notes frame cherry and plum flavors in this firm, focused red, which has firm tannins and fresh acidity, but turns a bit lean and herbal on the finish. Best from 2014 through 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBoyd-Cantenac.aspJS 93 (2/2013): Aromas of minerals, currants and berries follow through to a full body, with juicy fruit and a long finish. Lovely depth of fruit and mouthfeel to this. Top Boyd for a long time. Better in 2017.WA 91-93 (5/2011): An opaque blue/purple color is accompanied by impressively sweet floral notes intermixed with black currant and blackberry fruit. Medium to full-bodied with high but round tannins, the 2010 Boyd-Cantenac is exceptionally well-endowed, textured and pure. This under-the-radar estate (a classified growth in the famous 1855 rankings) never seems to catch the attention of consumers. It deserves better. Enjoy the 2010 for 25 or more years.WS 91 (3/2013): Features a solid core of steeped plum and currant fruit, with singed apple wood stitching, a tangy mineral backdrop and finely beaded acidity that carries the finish. Drink now through 2025. 500 cases made. NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Boyd-Cantenac 2010 has a very fine bouquet with blackberry and crushed violet. It shows impressive clarity. The palate is medium-bodied with a pointed entry, crisp acidity with a structured, masculine finish. The aftertaste is spicy and elegant to finish what is a commendable Boyd-Cantenac.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBoyd-Cantenac.aspJS 93 (2/2013): Aromas of minerals, currants and berries follow through to a full body, with juicy fruit and a long finish. Lovely depth of fruit and mouthfeel to this. Top Boyd for a long time. Better in 2017.WA 91-93 (5/2011): An opaque blue/purple color is accompanied by impressively sweet floral notes intermixed with black currant and blackberry fruit. Medium to full-bodied with high but round tannins, the 2010 Boyd-Cantenac is exceptionally well-endowed, textured and pure. This under-the-radar estate (a classified growth in the famous 1855 rankings) never seems to catch the attention of consumers. It deserves better. Enjoy the 2010 for 25 or more years.WS 91 (3/2013): Features a solid core of steeped plum and currant fruit, with singed apple wood stitching, a tangy mineral backdrop and finely beaded acidity that carries the finish. Drink now through 2025. 500 cases made. NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Boyd-Cantenac 2010 has a very fine bouquet with blackberry and crushed violet. It shows impressive clarity. The palate is medium-bodied with a pointed entry, crisp acidity with a structured, masculine finish. The aftertaste is spicy and elegant to finish what is a commendable Boyd-Cantenac.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBoyd-Cantenac.aspWA 94 (6/2010): A beautiful wine from Branaire, the 2000 is close to full maturity, and should offer plenty of pleasure over the next 15-20 years. Its deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by scents of boysenberries, black currants, and spring flowers. This medium to full-bodied, pure St.-Julien hits the palate with authority, displaying silky tannins as well as wonderful richness, depth, and texture.NM 92 (10/2010): Ex-chateau bottle tasted at Roberson’s Branaire-Ducru tutorial. The nose is very well defined with the Cabernet Sauvignon lending it more cedar and pencil lead tones. Tightly coiled and reticent, this is a bouquet that does not want to come out and play. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a rigid structure here with superb balance. Almost understated in style with very good clarity on the fresh, focused finish, but it needs longer to show its true potential. Excellent. Drink 2012-2030. IWC 92 (6/2003): Good medium ruby. Deep, smoky aromas of cassis, raspberry, leather, chocolate and roasted oak. Sweet, supple and thick but not at all heavy. A very concentrated wine with lovely sweetness of fruit and terrific mouth coverage. Really spreads out on the back end, which features broad, ripe tannins and terrific length.WS 92 (3/2003): This is lovely, with pretty berry, floral and currant aromas. Full-bodied, with silky and caressing tannins and a delicious, fruity finish. Harmonious and enjoyable. Best after 2009. 15,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBranaire-Ducru.aspWA 96 (2/2012): Haut couture becomes a wine! This dense purple wine has the tell-tale notes of flowers and pencil shavings, and its broad aromatics are intense and totally captivating. Powerful, rich, and full, but less tannic than the 2005 and more opulent, this is a dazzling Branaire to drink between 2017-2035.JS 95 (2/2012): Gorgeous aromas of dark berries and wet earth, with hints of graphite. Full body, with juicy, chewy tannins and a long rich, fruity, and succulent finish. Best ever from here. Try in 2019.IWC 93+ (7/2012): Bright, deep ruby. Superripe, brooding aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and licorice. Sweet, concentrated and fine-grained, with terrific depth to the plush cassis and coffee liqueur flavors. Serious dusty, fine tannins will not stand in the way of early approachability but this wine has the structure for a 20+-year life in bottle. WS 93 (3/2012): A ripe, chewy, muscular style, with good cut despite the hefty tar, blackberry, roasted fig and singed apple wood notes. The long, anise-stained finish lets the tarry edge play out, though this shows a touch more finesse than some of its colleagues. Best from 2015 through 2025. 12,000 cases made.NM 92 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Branaire Ducru ‘09 seems more forward than other wines, a touch of VA informing the sweet red fruits. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly jammy redcurrant and cranberry fruit laced with soy. The finish is missing some of the tension and purity of its peers although it appears to meliorate in the glass.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBranaire-Ducru.aspJS 94 (2/2013): A layered young red with lots of black olives and berries on the nose. Full body, with velvety and chewy tannins. It all comes together at the end with a lovely sweet fruit. Try after 2017.WA 94 (2/2013): This wine is more backward than I would have normally expected, but nevertheless, it is very impressive. The 2010 Branaire-Ducru displays an inky bluish purple color and loads of mulberry, raspberry, black currant, graphite and floral notes in its intense aromatics. Medium to full-bodied , with sensational ripeness, purity, texture and length, the tannins are slightly more prominent than I remember from barrel, but they are sweet and ripe (as opposed to astringent and bitter). This beautiful wine needs 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep 25-30 years.WS 92-95 (4/2011): This has guts, offering dark fig, plum and cocoa notes carried by velvety but substantial tannins, with a very long, smoke- and plum sauce-filled finish that has well-embedded acidity.IWC 90-93 (6/2011): (70% cabernet sauvignon, 23.5% merlot, 4.5% cabernet franc, and 2% petit verdot; 3.53 pH; 13.8% alcohol) Bright ruby-red. Floral aromas of fresh red cherry, redcurrant, violet, gunflint and minerals. Suave on entry, then pliant and sweet, with a plush texture and a smoky quality to the redcurrant, blackberry and floral flavors. The spicy, aromatic, persistent finish is marked by ripe tannins. This struck me as a less opulent Branaire-Ducru than usual, but I liked its overall balance and light touch.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBranaire-Ducru.aspJS 91 (2/2015): A clean and fresh wine with blueberry, mineral and floral character. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. This is a very refined and beautiful Branaire. Better in 2017.WA 90 (4/2015): Deep ruby/purple, with sweet cranberry, mulberry and raspberry/blueberry fruit, this is always a distinctive St.-Julien and the 2012 has managed to avoid any of the hollowness or harsh tannins that can afflict some of the Médocs. It is elegant, well-made and an outstanding effort in this vintage. Drink it over the next 15 or more years.VM 90 (1/2016): The 2012 Brainaire-Ducru is a soft, forward but very pleasing Saint-Julien that is likely to offer its best drinking sooner rather than later. Sweet tobacco, wild flowers, mint and red-fleshed fruits find support in silky tannins that add to the wine's considerable appeal. The 2012 is a bit light, but all the elements are in the right place, which is a great credit to proprietor Patrick Maroteaux and his team. Antonio Galloni.WS 90 (3/2015): Bay leaf and tobacco notes are backed by a core of damson plum, black cherry and red currant fruit. The bay leaf edge underlines the finish, with a hint of violet and a well-buried iron accent. An elegant expression of St.-Julien. Best from 2017 through 2024. 12,083 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBranaire-Ducru.aspJS 91 (2/2016): Some currant and cooked plum character, underlying dried flowers. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Balanced and pretty. Drink now.WS 90 (3/2016): This offers perfumed blackberry and black currant fruit, lined with licorice root and fruitcake notes that give way to a grippy, brambly finish. Just a touch chewy at the very end, but this should soften soon enough. Stylish overall. Best from 2017 through 2023. 12,083 cases made.WA 87 (10/2016): The 2013 Branaire-Ducru did not particularly impress when I tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle, it feels anonymous, a little dusty on the nose and there is an aromatic hole where the fruit ought to be. Enervated? The palate is medium-bodied with more weight than the nose suggests, but it is very conservative and feels light and ephemeral towards the finish that needs more substance. This Saint Julien estate has overseen better wines than the 2013 in recent years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBranaire-Ducru.aspWS 87 (12/2015): On the brisk side at first, with plum pit and savory notes lining the damson plum and pomegranate fruit, this opens steadily with air, showing more loam and dark plum elements. Stays soft and approachable overall. Drink now. 12,083 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BarondeBrane.aspWA 94 (4/2008): This is the finest Brane-Cantenac I have tasted in over thirty years. Unusually perfumed and already approachable (atypical for most 2005 Medocs), it reveals a deep plum/purple color as well as a stunningly flamboyant bouquet of smoked herbs, licorice, camphor, black cherries, currants, and notions of plums and blackberries. Elegant with silky tannin and medium body, it is clearly a classic statement on the Margaux appellation. While not a powerhouse, it is beautifully concentrated, stunningly balanced, and surprisingly forward. It could be drunk now after several hours of decanting, but it should age easily for 20+ years. WS 92 (3/2008): Shows mineral and blackberry aromas, with hints of licorice. Full-bodied, with soft, silky tannins and a long, smoky, earthy, meaty and fruity aftertaste. Long and stylish. Very refined and beautiful. Best after 2012. 15,000 cases made. VM 91+ (6/2008): Good bright red-ruby. Subdued but pure aromas of currant, dark chocolate and sexy oak. Moderately sweet, medium-bodied and vinous, with ripe acidity and a floral element providing mid-palate lift. Still a bit medicinal and unevolved, but this has the serious structure to develop slowly and well in bottle. Finishes long and firm.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBrane-Cantenac.aspWA 90 (2/2013): Another superb over-achiever from the appellation of Moulis in the Medoc, this wine, a blend of 48% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, shows lots of licorice, barbecue smoke, charcuterie, plum and black currants. It hits the palate with a medium to full-bodied opulence. The tannins are sweet and the acidity adequate to provide definition and vibrancy. This is a beauty. An outstanding effort from proprietors, the Flageul family.WS 90 (3/2013): Pure, lush and caressing, with lovely mouthfeel to the layers of dark plum, steeped fig and blackberry coulis fruit, which glide along while hints of singed sandalwood, black tea and black licorice fill in through the finish. Drink now through 2023. 11,333 cases made.JS 90 (3/2013): Perfumed and fresh with flowers and currants. Full body, with fine tannins and a hazelnut, chocolate and berry aftertaste. Drink or hold.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBrillette.aspJS 92-93 (4/2016): Blackberry, stone, blueberry and citrus rind aromas and flavors. Full body, chewy tannins and a long finish. Solid young wine. WS 92 (3/2017): Racy and well-defined, with mouthwatering thyme, verbena and chamomile notes leading the way, backed by lively lemon zest, white peach and star fruit flavors. Offers a salted butter finish. Drink now through 2022. 1,525 cases made. WA 91-93 (4/2016): The 2015 Brown Blanc has a lively, showy bouquet with lime cordial and freshly squeezed grapefruit scents that are neatly entwined with the new oak. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry, tropical tones of nectarine, Clementine and peach rending this almost drinkable now. It is well balanced and displays fine length, a white Pessac that should give great pleasure over the next 12-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBrown.aspWA 90 (6/2004): I suspect this 2001 will shut down (as most young Calon-Segurs do), although it appears more forward and evolved than the huge, backward, but totally dormant 2000. The plum/ruby-colored 2001 reveals aromas of damp earth, cranberries, cherries, herbs, and forest floor. While lighter than its older sibling, it is medium-bodied, elegant, and should emerge from its post-bottling sleep in 4-5 years, and drink well for 14-15. Think of it as a lighter-weight 1988 (one of the stars of the vintage). WS 90 (3/2004): Elegant and spicy, with blackberry and earth character. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a medium to long finish. Not quite up to par with the barrel sample, but outstanding. Best after 2006.IWC 89-92 (6/2002): Bright full ruby. Vibrant, fruit-driven aromas of blackberry, licorice, minerals and flowers. Precise, fruit-driven flavors similar to the aromas. Dense but lively, with an enticing floral quality. Finishes long and ripely tannic, with lovely sweetness and grip. A very classy wine in the making.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCalon-Segur.aspWA 94 (4/2006): Bottled in July, 2005, the saturated ruby/purple-colored 2003 exhibits a tightly-knit, but promising nose of mulberries, blackberries, cherries, and hints of new oak and truffles. This 60% Cabernet Sauvignon / 40% Merlot blend possesses a gorgeous texture as well as an expansive, exotic softness, and 13% alcohol (according to the proprietor, Madame Denise Gasqueton). Generous and rich, this high class, full-bodied wine will undoubtedly be more approachable than its closest spiritual sibling, the 1982. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCalon-Segur.aspJS 94 (11/2015): Tight and dense still but so integrated and seamless in texture. Aromas of chocolate, hazelnuts, dried spices and currants. Full body, superfine tannins and a texture that is so caressing and beautiful. Drink or hold.NM 94 (3/2015): Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London, the 2005 Calon Segur is on par with the wonderful 2000. The only real difference is that this needs more time in bottle. It has a captivating nose: blackberry and boysenberry fruit coming at you at full pelt; dried blood and bacon fat developing as secondary aromas just behind. There is fine delineation here - an underlying mineralité sure to surface with time. The palate is very intense and disarmingly youthful, almost ferrous on the entry with layers of ripe black fruit that segue into an earthy finish (with a curious light tang of Marmite on the aftertaste!). It is a fabulous Calon Ségur, though the millennial wine might ultimately possess greater precision. We will see. WA 93 (6/2015): The 2005 is a beautiful Calon Ségur, with sweet mocha, black cherry, leathery fruit, medium to full body, attractive purity, a gorgeous texture, and serious nobility, gravitas and density. Drink it over the next 20-30 years, yet it is surprisingly accessible.WS 93 (3/2008): Has a beautiful nose of crushed berry, spices and nutmeg, with a hint of coffee. Then turns to licorice. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long finish of vanilla, berry and cinnamon. Beautifully crafted. Best after 2014. 17,500 cases made. VM 92+ (6/2008): Deep, bright ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, leather, smoked meat, earth and menthol. Chewy, brooding and deep, with concentrated black cherry, menthol, mineral and leather flavors framed by a powerful spine of acids and tannins. Really saturates the palate on the tannic back end. I'd give this classic St. Estephe a decade of aging, at which time this wine may well merit an even higher score. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCalon-Segur.aspJS 94 (11/2015): Tight and dense still but so integrated and seamless in texture. Aromas of chocolate, hazelnuts, dried spices and currants. Full body, superfine tannins and a texture that is so caressing and beautiful. Drink or hold.NM 94 (3/2015): Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London, the 2005 Calon Segur is on par with the wonderful 2000. The only real difference is that this needs more time in bottle. It has a captivating nose: blackberry and boysenberry fruit coming at you at full pelt; dried blood and bacon fat developing as secondary aromas just behind. There is fine delineation here - an underlying mineralité sure to surface with time. The palate is very intense and disarmingly youthful, almost ferrous on the entry with layers of ripe black fruit that segue into an earthy finish (with a curious light tang of Marmite on the aftertaste!). It is a fabulous Calon Ségur, though the millennial wine might ultimately possess greater precision. We will see. WA 93 (6/2015): The 2005 is a beautiful Calon Ségur, with sweet mocha, black cherry, leathery fruit, medium to full body, attractive purity, a gorgeous texture, and serious nobility, gravitas and density. Drink it over the next 20-30 years, yet it is surprisingly accessible.WS 93 (3/2008): Has a beautiful nose of crushed berry, spices and nutmeg, with a hint of coffee. Then turns to licorice. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long finish of vanilla, berry and cinnamon. Beautifully crafted. Best after 2014. 17,500 cases made. VM 92+ (6/2008): Deep, bright ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, leather, smoked meat, earth and menthol. Chewy, brooding and deep, with concentrated black cherry, menthol, mineral and leather flavors framed by a powerful spine of acids and tannins. Really saturates the palate on the tannic back end. I'd give this classic St. Estephe a decade of aging, at which time this wine may well merit an even higher score. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCalon-Segur.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCalon-Segur.aspVM 90 (5/2008): Saturated medium ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice. Deep, powerful and penetrating, with a real warmth to the black fruit and spice flavors and superb breadth for this bottling. Finishes long and ripe, with lovely restrained sweetness. A big boy, with 14.3% alcohol. In fact, this is downright powerful. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RocdesCambes.aspVM 89-92 (4/2015): The 2014 Roc de Cambes is all perfume and silk in the glass. Understated and lifted in style, the 2014 is beautifully layered, with plenty of sweet red cherry, rose petal, mint and spice. All the elements are nuanced and delineated in an open-knit wine that should offer a wide window of fine drinking. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RocdesCambes.aspJS 96 (2/2012): Aromas of nuts, spices, chocolate powder, then changes to fruits and flowers. Fascinating. Full body, with silky tannins and a wonderful intensity and super polished tannins with a long, long finish. Super refined. Best Canon in years. Try in 2016.NM 95 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. Two bottles were tasted in different flights, the first seeming to be just a little more monotonous than I would have liked, however the second was far more attractive. It has a beautiful nose with lifted blackcurrant and bilberry fruit laced with minerals and cedar. The oak is quite noticeable but in synch with the fruit. The palate is silky and smooth on the entry. It is fleshy in the mouth, but belying the firm structure underneath. Perhaps it would benefit from more tension towards the finish but that is a minor quibble. Charming as ever. WA 94 (2/2012): The finest Canon since the 1982, the 2009 (75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc) reveals a dense blue/purple color along with a classic nose of chalk dust, blueberries, black raspberries, black currants and a touch of wood smoke. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and loaded with an inner framework of minerality and moderately high tannins, this backward, but stylish, concentrated Canon will benefit from 7-8 years of cellaring and last for three decades. WS 94 (3/2013): Ripe and dense, but very vibrant and energetic, as a torrent of cassis, blackberry coulis and fig paste rushes through, framed by enticing black licorice and evenly roasted alder and juniper notes. The long finish has lots of grip and acidity, but they work together and are deeply embedded. Captures the fruit and structure of the vintage superbly. Best from 2015 through 2030. 6,165 cases made.IWC 92 (7/2012): Ruby-red. Superripe, slightly roasted aromas of cherry, graphite, spices and herbs. Then thick, sweet and very ripe on the palate but a bit youthfully restrained. This full-bodied Canon could use a bit more lift but maintains very good focus. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and excellent length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCanon.aspJS 96 (2/2012): Aromas of nuts, spices, chocolate powder, then changes to fruits and flowers. Fascinating. Full body, with silky tannins and a wonderful intensity and super polished tannins with a long, long finish. Super refined. Best Canon in years. Try in 2016.NM 95 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. Two bottles were tasted in different flights, the first seeming to be just a little more monotonous than I would have liked, however the second was far more attractive. It has a beautiful nose with lifted blackcurrant and bilberry fruit laced with minerals and cedar. The oak is quite noticeable but in synch with the fruit. The palate is silky and smooth on the entry. It is fleshy in the mouth, but belying the firm structure underneath. Perhaps it would benefit from more tension towards the finish but that is a minor quibble. Charming as ever. WA 94 (2/2012): The finest Canon since the 1982, the 2009 (75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc) reveals a dense blue/purple color along with a classic nose of chalk dust, blueberries, black raspberries, black currants and a touch of wood smoke. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and loaded with an inner framework of minerality and moderately high tannins, this backward, but stylish, concentrated Canon will benefit from 7-8 years of cellaring and last for three decades. WS 94 (3/2013): Ripe and dense, but very vibrant and energetic, as a torrent of cassis, blackberry coulis and fig paste rushes through, framed by enticing black licorice and evenly roasted alder and juniper notes. The long finish has lots of grip and acidity, but they work together and are deeply embedded. Captures the fruit and structure of the vintage superbly. Best from 2015 through 2030. 6,165 cases made.IWC 92 (7/2012): Ruby-red. Superripe, slightly roasted aromas of cherry, graphite, spices and herbs. Then thick, sweet and very ripe on the palate but a bit youthfully restrained. This full-bodied Canon could use a bit more lift but maintains very good focus. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and excellent length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCanon.aspNM 94-96 (5/2013): Tasted at a negociant tasting, the Canon ’12 has a perfumed, mineral-rich bouquet with vibrant red berry fruit that blossom in the glass. As usual, it is understated and refined. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, a silver thread of acidity and a rather masculine, structured finish that comes at somewhat of a surprise. This is a cerebral Canon that will repay cellaring. Excellent. WA 92+ (4/2015): The 2012 is the first truly profound Canon under the administration of the Wertheimers, the family that owns the famous haute couture house of Chanel. Improvement has been noticeable for a number of years, but this wine is remarkable, particularly in view of a more challenging vintage. The color is a healthy dark ruby/purple, and the wine offers up great minerality along with floral, black-fruited characteristics. What’s not a surprise are the nobility, elegance and finesse of this wine (70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc) married with serious richness and intensity. Give it another 5-6 years and drink it over the following 20-25 years.JS 91 (2/2015): Lots of fresh minerals, licorice and wet soil. A decadent red with a fully body, round and silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Excellent. Real wine. Better in 2016 but delicious now. VM 89-92 (5/2013): Good bright red-ruby. Coffee and chocolate scents of new oak complement deep strawberry and dark cherry aromas on the brooding nose. On the palate, sweet cassis, black plum and mineral flavors are lifted by an element of peppery herbs. Finishes youthfully dry, with building tannins and suggestions of herbs, pepper and mint. Lovely balance and precision here: Canon has really turned the corner in the last several years. Ian d'Agata WS 88-91 (7/2013): Displays a rather firm coating of chalk dust and vanilla notes, with a core of subdued plum and blackberry fruit. Verges on an extracted feel, but comes out solid and sculpted in the end.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCanon.aspJS 91-92 (4/2014): A delicate, refined young red with a seductive, fresh character. Medium to full body with lovely subtle tangerine peel and a very fine, silky texture. Bright acidity. Elegant.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCanon.aspWA 92 (6/2004): Made in a structured, tannic, restrained style (representative of the vintage’s overall personality), this medium to full-bodied 2001 exhibits scents of espresso roast, cedar, chocolate, black currants, and cherries. With sweet but noticeable tannin, exceptional multilayered flavors, and excellent texture, elegance as well as purity, it will be at its finest between 2005-2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCanonLaGaffeliere.aspWA 93 (5/2011): A sensational sleeper of the vintage, this modern-styled St.-Emilion boasts a dark purple color along with a beautiful bouquet of black olives, cherry jam, incense, spicy oak and black currants. Full-bodied, unctuously textured, lush, seductive and gloriously perfumed, this strikingly intense claret can be drunk now and over the next 12-15 years. Bravo!VM 91 (7/2011): Bright, full red-ruby. Plum, spicecake, coffee, chocolate and lead pencil on the very ripe nose. Sweet, lush and broad, with a mouthfilling texture to the dark berry and spice flavors. Has enough acidity to maintain its shape but this is already accessible. Finishes with suave, ripe tannins and excellent length. Stephen Tanzer.JS 91 (12/2010): I really like the mineral and fruity character on the nose and palate with hints of raspberries and spices. It's full bodied, with a balance of fine tannins and a berry, mineral after taste. This needs about three to four years to soften.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCanonLaGaffeliere.aspJS 95-96 (3/2015): A solid and muscular Domaine de Chevalier with layers of fruit. Very dense, loads of flavor. Full body, bright acidity and a long, long finish. Tangy acidity. It lasts for minutes.VM 90-92 (4/2015): The 2014 Carbonnieux is endowed with notable energy and focus throughout. A spine of firm tannins support the red cherry, red currant, smoke, slate and floral notes nicely. Today, the 2014 is a bit unyielding, but there is also quite a bit of appeal to classically austere style, especially if the fruit fleshes out a bit more. Antonio Galloni.WA 90-92 (4/2015): The Château Carbonnieux Blanc 2014 has a pretty nose in the making: precise apple blossom and blackcurrant leaf aromas that gently waft from the glass. The palate is crisp on the entry, the acidity not as shrill as some of its peers, thus rendering it a more "languid" Pessac-Léognan. There is already a very elegant, gravelly finish that lingers in the mouth–a very promising Carbonnieux Blanc that may merit a higher score after bottling.WS 89-92 (4/2015): An herb-driven style, with thyme, chive and white asparagus notes racing along, flecked with lime zest through the finish. A tasty wine in the making.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCarbonnieux.aspWA 90 (4/2001): A stunning wine, as well as one of the sleepers of the vintage, this dense purple-colored 1998 offers up classic Graves aromas of tar, roasted meats, scorched earth, black currants, and barbecue spices. It is beautifully elegant, yet rich, concentrated, and deep, with medium to full body, laudable sweetness on the entry, and ripe tannin in the finish. A bottle kept open for twenty-four hours was significantly better than it was upon opening, suggesting this wine will have terrific longevity. Haut-Brion enthusiasts are advised to check out this beautifully-made offering. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. WS 88 (1/2001): Very nicely done. Wonderfully perfumed with flowers and strawberries. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Best after 2005. 1,790 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLesCarmesHautBrion.aspWA 90 (2/2017): The 2014 Charmail has a ripe, quite opulent (for the vintage) bouquet with raspberry, crushed strawberry and melted tar scents. There is great precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with plush, supple tannin, cloaked in blackberry and raspberry fruit, brown spices and a pleasant chewiness towards the finish. Maybe a little rustic compared to its peers, but I think this will age extremely well.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCharmail.aspWA 92 (4/2003): A superb wine, this opaque purple-colored effort boasts a vividly pure nose of graphite, melted licorice, creme de cassis, espresso, and wet stones backed up by subtle, high quality, spicy, new oak. Multi-layered, full-bodied, dense, concentrated, and pure, with sweet tannin and superb length, this future classic will be at its best between 2008-2019.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChChauvin.aspJS 93 (10/2016): Sexy and decadent with lots of black chocolate and spice. Full body. Grilled meat and lots of fruit. Delicious. WA 90 (6/2015): This fruit-driven, full-bodied, opulent St.-Emilion from Madame Ondet has a dense ruby/purple color, plenty of fruit and body, and rich black and red fruits. Drink it over the next decade.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChChauvin.aspWS 92 (1/2017): This has a lovely feel, with a light shortbread frame around a core of white peach, honeysuckle and quinine notes, and shows both blanched almond and thyme flavors through the finish. Has an intriguing combination of weight and zip and really stretches out nicely in the glass. Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2020. 375 cases made.WA 91 (11/2016): The 2014 Le Petit Cheval Blanc, the first release to be commercialized, has a crisp and well-defined bouquet with scents of linden, yellow flowers and citrus fruit. Certainly there are no pyrazine elements here that Pierre-Olivier Clouet told me that he wanted to avoid. The palate is taut and linear, the acidity noticeable, conveying a light marine influence towards the finish with lip-smacking salinity on the aftertaste. It is a neutral style of Bordeaux Blanc that deftly disguises the oak. It is an impressive wine, though I wager that it will be even more so once the Sémillon comes on board in 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LePetitChevalBlanc.aspWA 99 (6/2000): Revealing considerable amber in its dark plum/garnet color, this intensely fragrant 1982 is somewhat of a paradox in that the front end suggests full maturity, but the mid-palate, finish, and overall texture denote a closed wine. A gorgeously sweet entry displays flavors of caramel, roasted coffee, jammy red and black fruits, coconut, and smoke. It is fat and full-bodied, with considerable tannin, structure, and muscle in the finish. Flamboyantly rich and precocious early in life, it is going through an awkward stage where the tannin is present, but it is also sexy, juicy, and formidably-structured. When the 1982 Cheval Blanc's component parts become totally in sync, it will be capable of meriting a three-digit rating. Anticipated maturity: now (?)-2015.WS 96 (6/2001): All in harmony. Deserves its reputation. Dark ruby. Smoke, black truffle, berry and cherry. Full-bodied, velvety and fine.--Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2005.VM 95+ (8/2002): Saturated deep red, with a hint of development at the rim. Roasted nose dominated by toffee and tobacco. Wonderfully silky but without quite the exotic ripeness of the '90. Still, this offers uncanny retention of primary fruit. Expands inexorably on the finish and goes on and on. A wonderful bottle that still improving. (The bottle in the blind flight was slightly less impressive: Good full red, with a hint of amber at the rim. Slightly medicinal aromas of red fruits, cedar and tobacco leaf; comes across as distinctly cooler than the '90. Dense but penetrating and still a bit closed in on itself. Less sweet and generous today than the '90, less exotic. But finishes firm and long, with a hint of dryness. I rated this bottle 93+.) Drink now through 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCheval-Blanc.aspVM 93 (10/2011): (a blend of 56% cabernet franc and 44% merlot; 40 h/h): Bright red. Fresh floral, white pepper, raspberry and strawberry aromas on the captivating nose, lifted by minerals and Oriental spices. Very fresh, balanced and pure on the palate, with bright red berry, floral and delicately smoky plum flavors. Very cabernet franc, and very Cheval Blanc! The lively, harmonious acids keep this wine light on its feet and really extend the flavors on the back half. The long finish features a subtly spicy kick and smooth tannins. A touch more density and it would have scored even higher. The harvest took place between September 28 and October 4. Ian d'Agata WS 91 (12/2007): Medium ruby, with a garnet edge. Aromas of plum and fresh herbs, such as basil, that turn to cedar and cigar box. Full-bodied, with soft, silky tannins. Long and flavorful, with subtle chocolate, berry and light coffee aftertaste. Gorgeous.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2007. WA 90 (4/1999): The elegant, moderately weighted 1996 Cheval Blanc reveals a deep garnet/plum, evolved color. Quintessentially elegant, with a complex nose of black fruits, coconut, smoke, and pain grille, this medium-bodied wine exhibits sweet fruit on the attack, substantial complexity, and a lush, velvety-textured finish. It is very soft and evolved for a 1996. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2015. NM 88 (7/2016): Tasted at the château, the 1996 Cheval Blanc was a majority of Cabernet Franc although the exact blend is not known. Firstly, the color is a healthy garnet with a mahogany rim. The bouquet has good intensity although it is certainly not a complex set of aromas: dusky black fruit, game, clove and a faint touch of hickory. The palate is quite sharp on the entry with noticeable acidity. My main criticism is a lack of cohesion and a lack of Merlot to bind everything together and lend fleshiness. It seems to be rather monochromatic, a Cheval Blanc with a single note, the finish conservative with a touch of black pepper and cooked meat, but a little frayed around the edges. I would drink bottles now and maybe larger formats would yield more pleasure. The bottom line is this is not one of the great Cheval Blancs and that is reflected in my score.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCheval-Blanc.aspWA 100 (6/2015): The 2005 from Cheval Blanc is a quintessentially elegant, beautiful, deep bluish/ruby-colored wine from St.-Emilion, with raspberry, blueberry, and floral notes, impressive density, great precision, freshness and purity. Full-bodied, but extremely light on its feet, I don’t mean to gush, but it is super-intense, rich and just so meticulously crafted! This is another fabulous wine and a perfect expression for this vintage. It is difficult to forget the gorgeous blueberry and raspberry fruit, full body, sweet tannin, a multi-layered texture, and purity and palate presence of this stunning wine. Drink it over the next 20 years. P.S. In 2005, this was 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot.VM 100 (11/2015): The 2005 Cheval Blanc is another wine that is utterly mesmerizing from the moment it is opened. Exquisite in its aromatics, the 2005 Cheval is sublime on the palate, where the interplay of Merlot and Cabernet Franc proves to be captivating. In a night of truly spellbinding wines, the Cheval makes a deep impression because of its overall finesse and nuance. Along with the Margaux and Haut-Brion, the Cheval speaks to total refinement and polish. The Cheval is of course not one of the bigger, more imposing wines of the night, but it is among the most complete, which makes it the perfect wine to close out an incredible night. When we first opened the 2005, I thought it might very well be the wine of the night. A few hours later, it was every bit as impressive. Antonio Galloni.NM 98+ (2/2015): The Château Cheval Blanc 2005 has an intense bouquet, one that is more complex than Ausone with a slight marine influence infusing the blackberry and raspberry fruit, hints of wilted violet and cassis surfacing with time an joining the chorus line.. The palate is beautifully balanced with filigree tannin. It feels linear at first and then fans out marvellously with a bravura finish that lacquers the mouth. There is clearly quite brilliant precision here, impressive length and poise with a touch of salinity on the finish. What a spellbinding Cheval Blanc, a Saint Emilion that is just going to get better and better with each passing year.JS 98 (11/2015): Always a fabulous nose of black fruit, dark chocolate, nuts and spices. It's full-bodied with beautifully dense tannins reminiscent of cashmere. A long, long finish rounds out this beautiful wine. It would be better to leave it alone until 2020 but so hard not to revel in its splendor now.WS 97 (3/2008): This is really gorgeous on the nose, with blackberry, mineral, light vanilla bean and milk chocolate. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is racy and very beautiful. The tannins coat the palate, but leave a provoking impression. A Cheval for long-term aging. Best after 2017.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCheval-Blanc.aspWA 99 (2/2012): It will be fascinating to follow the evolution of the 2009 Cheval Blanc versus the 2010 as well as the awesome 2005, 2000, 1998 and 1990. This famous estate’s vineyard is situated at the juncture of Pomerol and the sandy, gravelly soils of St.-Emilion, facing the two noble estates of L’Evangile and La Conseillante. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2009 Cheval Blanc tips the scales at just under 14% natural alcohol. Its dense blue/purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary nose of incense, raspberries, cassis, sweet forest floor and a subtle hint of menthol. Opulent and full-bodied with low acidity but no sense of heaviness, this dense, unctuously textured, super-smooth, velvety, pure, profound Cheval Blanc is impossible to resist despite its youthfulness. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050+.JS 99 (2/2012): This is ethereal. The nose is so perfumed and beautiful, with dried flowers, fresh mint, blueberries and plums that follow through to a full body and incredible power of super fine tannins. It's almost like a Romanee-Conti in texture and length. The fresh acidity makes it bright. It's all about texture. 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Try in 2022. WS 98 (3/2012): Dense, brooding and richly coated, with a well of steeped black currant, fig paste and roasted plum fruit to draw on while the layers of charcoal, Kenya AA coffee and loam resolve themselves. This displays both breadth and depth, offering a great undercurrent of acidity to match its heft. Should be among the most long-lived wines of the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2035. 7,330 cases made. NM 97 (1/2013): Apparently the final blend of the Cheval Blanc 2009 included 64% Cabernet Franc – perhaps a moot point given just how splendid this Saint Emilion is turning out. It has an extravagant, heavenly bouquet that immediately goes out to make an impression with exuberant wild strawberry, black olive compote, black truffle and minerals. The oak is beautifully interwoven. The palate is full-bodied with super fine tensile tannins, great purity and elegant. This has more tension that its peers: shimmering with complexity and vibrancy. Long and quite profound on the finish, this is a marvellous 2009 – but having tasting it recently – could the 2010 be even better? IWC 97 (7/2012): Bright red-ruby. Flamboyant yet classy aromas and flavors of raspberry, mocha, coffee and herbs. Like liquid velvet in the mouth, but with great lift and perfume giving the wine outstanding inner-palate verve. Wonderfully rich and classically dry Cheval with noble tannins, strong mineral energy and great lingering aromatic character. Atypically full and approachable for young Cheval Blanc but I'm not complaining. One of the longest wines of the vintage, and among my handful of favorites.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCheval-Blanc.aspJS 98 (3/2011): This has a fabulous nose of black fruit, dark chocolate, nuts, and spices. It’s pretty much perfect. Full bodied, with beautiful fine tannins reminiscent of cashmere. A long, long finish rounds out this beautiful wine. Please don’t touch this until 2020. Find the wineNM 95-97 (5/2013): The Grand Vin is a blend of 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc, 26th September until the 13th October that comes from 35 different parcels. The picking is done in the vineyard for the first sorting by the pickers and then sorted by hand as they are sure delicate than using optical sorting machine. It has a dense, broody nose that has the looming presence of the Quinault L’Enclos. It veers towards a red fruit profile, with “rocky” aromas, perhaps a touch of marmalade and quince. The palate is medium-bodied but displays very good concentration for the vintages. It feels very harmonious – silky but with a citric acid edge that lends the finish the tension it needs to maintain the freshness. This will probably become a masculine Cheval Blanc that will need a decade in bottle. WS 95 (3/2015): This wine is gorgeous in all facets, offering a simultaneously loamy and creamy mouthfeel, seamless layers of red and black currant, cherry, raspberry and blackberry fruit, and a long, tobacco-fueled finish that features alluring hints of black tea and incense. The fruit and terroir shine in this broad, deep and defined style. Best from 2018 through 2030. 7,665 cases made. WA 94 (4/2015): A beautiful wine that always seems to drink well, the 2012 Cheval Blanc has a sweet, fragrant nose of black and red currants, floral nuances and spice. Supple, round and juicy, this wine can be drunk now or cellared for another 15 or more years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCheval-Blanc.aspWS 97 (3/2017): This has dreamy aromas already, with notes of Lapsang souchong tea, smoldering cigar and cold charcoal wafting up from the core of dense yet supple currant, fig and blackberry preserves. A loamy edge thumps through the finish, giving this an addictive, head-bobbing bass line. Best from 2026 through 2040. 8,335 cases made. VM 96+ (2/2017): A wine of exceptional finesse, the 2014 Cheval Blanc lifts from the glass with captivating aromatics and sculpted red-fleshed fruit, all with the extra kick of acidity and overall freshness that are such a signature of this vintage. The 2014 is bright, finessed and persistent. It will almost certainly put on weight in bottle. I have a feeling something special is developing here. Antonio Galloni. WA 96 (3/2017): The 2014 Cheval Blanc is a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc and 55% Merlot, picked from 19 September until 8 October. It has a very succinct, almost understated bouquet, here a mixture of red and black fruit, cold limestone and crushed rose petals (the latter observed when the wine was in barrel). It is not a set of aromatics that go out and grab your attention, rather the sophistication creeps up on you. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin. Unlike the Deuxième Vin, there is real structure and backbone here, a gentle but insistent grip in the mouth. It errs towards black instead of red fruit, intermingling with sage and cumin, then segueing into a precise finish with a long, lingering ferrous finish (à la Pomerol!), finally a hint of oyster shell on the aftertaste. It is one of the most subtle Cheval Blancs that I have tasted in a long time, although it will doubtlessly be deceptively long lived. This is a serious Cheval Blanc for serious oenophiles. JS 96 (2/2017): Aromas of strawberries, flowers and rose petals. Medium to full body and such beautiful polish and finesse. The texture is remarkably silky. It’s a wine all in elegance and harmony. Such length. Try in 2022 but already a joy to taste.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCheval-Blanc.aspWA 97-99 (4/2016): The 2015 Cheval Blanc represents the entire vineyard this year, since there is no Le Petit Cheval (two plots that did not meet requirements were not included in any blend). A blend of 45% Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon and 55% Merlot, matured in 100% new oak, it has a very complex bouquet, subtle and tightly wound, very precise with dark berry fruit, hints of graphite, minerals and a hint of black pepper, perhaps a little spicier than recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with extraordinarily fine tannin. Beautifully balanced, perfectly controlled, this Cheval Blanc gently builds in the mouth, but remains strict and precise. The Cabernet Franc here is very expressive (though apparently the Merlot was showier prior to malolactic). This is an intellectual Cheval Blanc, thoroughly enjoyable, but it will need 10-12 years to really show its pedigree. A profound wine in the making, it will rank with the great wines of the past. JS 96-97 (4/2016): A Cheval with a depth and finesse that reminds me of the 1998. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and amazing length and beauty. Such finesse and harmony. Super silky and classic for Cheval Blanc. VM 95-97 (4/2016): A wine of total finesse, the 2015 Cheval Blanc speaks to understatement above all else. Sweet floral notes meld into a core of bright red stone fruits and mint. Silky, nuanced and wonderfully persistent on the palate, the 2015 possesses remarkable depth, but in an understated fashion. There is plenty of tannin buried beneath the fruit. The 2015 is not an obvious Cheval Blanc, but rather a sublime wine that will only start to blossom with a decade plus in bottle. It will drink well for decades beyond that. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCheval-Blanc.aspJS 93 (6/2012): This offers a complex nose of sweet tobacco and stones, with red fruits such as plums, as well as a smoky note on the nose. Full and juicy, with a tobacco and berry character that turns almost tea-like on the finish. This has medium tannins, and is just starting to come around. Drink now or hold.WS 92 (3/2003): Subtle and already delicious. This is lovely. Loads of chocolate and berry character in this young red. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a medium-long finish. Best after 2007. 7,500 cases made.NM 92 (3/2010): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. This is much more backwards on the nose, more reductive in style, rather flatter and less vivacious. Leathery black fruits and a touch of wild mushroom. A clean entry on the palate, rounded red-berried fruit, a touch of earth and tobacco, linear and straight-laced, lacking a touch of complexity towards the finish. Returning to my glass, it coalesces and exudes elegance rather than power. Poised and feminine. Drink 2012-2025. IWC 92 (4/2013): (a blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% cabernet franc; pH 3.78; 12.9% alcohol): Medium-deep ruby-red. Enticing aromas of redcurrant, plum, violet, minerals and graphite complemented by sexy oak spices. Broad, lush and sweet, with a pristine quality to the perfumed flavors of red berries, black cherry and spices. Harmonious acidity gives the wine shape and balance and a very clean, fresh mouthfeel. Finishes impressively broad and horizontal, with smooth, ripe tannins and lingering spicy perfume. This sophisticated, glossy wine is still remarkably young and lively.WA 91 (6/2010): Abundant notes of sandy, loamy soil, forest floor, black currants, cherries, and unsmoked high-class cigar tobacco jump from the glass of this complex, perfumed Pessac-Leognan. Medium-bodied and lighter than many 2000s, it has resolved all of its tannin, and appears to have reached full maturity. This wine has such superb balance that I suspect it will last another 8-10 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedeChevalier.aspWA 95 (6/2015): A glorious wine from Domaine de Chevalier, this 2005 reveals notes of graphite, subtle charcoal, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a long, multi-dimensional finish. This is a killer effort from the Bernard family, who own this famous terroir in Pessac-Léognan. Drink it over the next 20-30 years. NM 95 (2/2015): The Domaine de Chevalier 2005 has a powerful and quite burly bouquet with sumptous black fruit laced with truffle, cedar and a touch of juniper berry. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins. This is an effortless Graves, beautifully proportioned with the oak seamlessly integrated. It builds in the mouth and fans out wonderfully with a kiss of black pepper on the structured, masculine finish. Clearly, this is one of Olivier Bernard's finest achievements under his reign. VM 94+ (4/2013): (a blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 6% petit verdot and 4% cabernet franc; 13.3% alcohol): Saturated medium-deep ruby. Rather backward but extremely complex nose hints at cassis, blackberry, graphite, minerals and spices. Sweet, broad and rich, with enticing fresh minerality giving energy to the rather ripe, full-bodied cassis and spice flavors. Finishes perfumed and very long, with wonderfully lush, supple, fine-grained tannins and an almost decadent floral element. This is still a baby and one of the greatest young Domaine de Chevalier rouge wines I have ever tasted. It will outlive most of us: don't touch a bottle before 2018. Ian d'Agata. JS 94 (5/2012): This is really pure and fruity with flowers and stones. Full and dense, but still a bit tight. Not really giving much at the moment, but beautifully balanced and silky, and opening up to a long, long finish. This is excellent. Pull the cork after 2015. WS 93 (3/2008): Displays floral, blackberry and mineral aromas, with a hint of fresh tobacco. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Has a fine, polished texture. This is a class act--the best since 1998 for the red. Best after 2012. 10,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedeChevalier.aspJS 96 (2/2013): Dark fruits such as raspberries and blueberries with subtle perfume on the nose. Full body, with super well-integrated tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Racy young wine. Shows classy structure and richness. Try in 2018. WA 95 (2/2013): This is one of my all-time favorite wines from Domaine de Chevalier, a silky, rather classic Pessac-Leognan with notes of scorched earth, tobacco leaf and black and red currants, but no hard edges. Fragrant, complex aromatics are followed by a savory, expansively flavored wine made from a final blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine hit 13.5% natural alcohol, which must certainly be among the highest they have ever achieved, even eclipsing the 2009. An opulent, precocious style of wine that seems much more developed, complex and delicious than I thought from barrel, this beauty can be drunk in 5-6 years or cellared for 20 or more. VM 93+ (8/2013): Saturated, bright ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of cassis, plum and minerals, plus a hint of hot stones. Then juicy but tight and imploded in the mouth, showing terrific concentration and grip to its flavors of black fruits, minerals and licorice. Very cabernet in its precision and cut. Finishes with a solid spine for two or three decades of positive evolution in bottle. I would not want to touch this until at least 2020. WS 93 (11/2013): This has drive and intensity, displaying lots of steeped currant, anise and blackberry coulis notes pushed by tar and briar flavors. The ample finish sports roasted juniper and iron accents, with nicely inlaid acidity to drive it all home. Should unwind nicely in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedeChevalier.aspJS 93 (2/2016): This is excellent. Blueberry, black currant and stone aromas and flavors. Medium body, lovely density, fine tannins and a bright finish. A triumph for the vintage. Drink or hold.VM 91-94 (4/2014): Graphite, smoke, plums and violets meld together in the 2013 Domaine de Chevalier. One of the most impressive wines of the year, the 2013 stands out for its energy, delineation and brilliant textural balance. With a little time in the glass, the 2013 opens up beautifully, showing off its multi-faceted personality. What a gorgeous wine this is. Violets, sage and new leather add the final layers of complexity to what is easily one of the wines of the vintage. The 2013 has been striking the three times I have tasted it. In 2013, the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni.WA 90 (10/2016): The 2013 Domaine de Chevalier has a refined bouquet, laid back and languorous with blackberry, briary notes, a touch of bay leaf developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, quite edgy tannin, nicely balanced and fresh with a simple but harmonious finish. It's the kind of 2013 that you'll just enjoy as a fine Claret, leaving you with a smile on your face. This constitutes a very commendable effort in such a challenging vintage, the bottom line being that it is one of the most pleasurable releases in 2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedeChevalier.aspJS 95 (11/2013): This is very tender and pretty with very fine elements. Dried lemons, minerals and lilac as well as character of oyster shell and iodine. Full body, yet refined and long. You normally see this sort complex character in reds from Pessac-Leognan. Fascinating young white.NM 94-96 (4/2013): Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The Domaine de Chevalier Blanc has a reserved, stony nose that you have to be patient with – give it a few minutes and there are some subtle undergrowth scents that begin to emerge, hints of orange blossom and dried apricot. The palate is well balanced with a delicate touch of spice on the entry. This is very focused with good weight and it displays wonderful tension on the finish that offers a Burgundy-like texture. Wonderful. WA 93+ (4/2015): A beautifully elegant and complex wine, with subtle notions of citrus, honeysuckle and tropical fruits, this medium-bodied, fresh, super-pure 2012 from Domaine de Chevalier should drink well for 30 or more years. The color is light straw with a greenish hue to it.WS 93 (4/2014): There's serious depth to the shortbread, lemon curd, creamed yellow apple and melon notes, all inlaid with mouthwatering savory and thyme flavors. The long, powerful finish has plenty of buried mouth-watering acidity. This should age well. Best from 2015 through 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedeChevalier.aspJS 98 (2/2016): This is a phenomenal white with big density and energy. Full bodied, yet incredibly agile and intense. Fabulous character of salt, minerals, and shells. Just a hint of tannins. Dried white peaches. Pears and apples. Super subtle character. 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon. Great wine. A wine for the future but so great now.WA 94 (10/2016): The 2013 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is very refined on the nose. There is a sense of effortlessness here that is very persuasive, unfolding with lemon thyme and lime, just a touch of lychee in the background, everything in its right place. The palate is fresh and vibrant with nectarine and lime zest, a "cool" white Bordeaux, quite restrained and almost Chablis-like on the finish. This is a complex and intellectual offering from Olivier Bernard, dare I say, a thrilling wine in the making.VM 92-95 (5/2014): Bright straw-yellow. The captivating nose hints at a considerable semillon component, with its white stone fruit and beeswax notes accented by fresh citrus and white flowers. Bright and juicy but dense, with lively acidity providing clarity and cut to the white stone fruit and citrus fruit flavors. The finish is vibrant and long, with pronounced minerality and a nice floral touch. Outstanding white Bordeaux in the making. Ian d'Agata.WS 92-95 (7/2014): This marries high-pitched thyme, chamomile and quinine notes with richer white peach, shortbread and meringue flavors. The long finish pulls everything together. Should be a beauty when finished.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedeChevalier.aspJS 95-96 (3/2015): A solid and muscular Domaine de Chevalier with layers of fruit. Very dense, loads of flavor. Full body, bright acidity and a long, long finish. Tangy acidity. It lasts for minutes.WA 93-95 (4/2015): The Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is a blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon matured in around 40% new oak, with a low pH, Olivier Bernard remarking that it was close to 3.0. It has an almost clinical nose, extremely well defined, Zen-like at first with scents of flint and cold granite, stone rather than fruit. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, though it is not shrill. It is very focused, "minimalist" Domaine de Chevalier that Olivier remarked is perhaps the best he has ever made. Perhaps he is right. There is a Burgundy like sense of terroir coming through here, a wine that perhaps does not wish to conform to the Bordeaux stereotype of what a white Pessac-Léognan should be. So it's a bit of a sui generis, a one-off, and you'll love it.WS 92-95 (7/2015): Very pure, with a long makrut lime note holding the upper hand, while white peach, Chartreuse and tar fruit accents fill in behind. Offers a kiss of brioche on the finish. There's lots to like here. VM 91-94 (4/2015): Powerful and intense, the 2014 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is very tightly wound today. Lemon peel, white flowers, slate and crushed rocks are all beautifully delineated. Blocked malolactic fermentations keep the flavors bright and the textures focused. The intensely mineral, salivating finish is a thing of pure beauty. There is little doubt the Chevalier Blanc is one of the wines of the vintage. Readers can look forward to several decades of exceptional drinking. In 2014, the blend is 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Sémillon. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomainedeChevalier.aspWA 91 (5/2011): Le Clarence de Haut-Brion: The super 2008 (45% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc) exhibits soft, ripe tannins as well as copious black cherry and loamy soil notes intermixed with notions of smoke and roasted herbs. It is a beautifully pure, deep, already delicious and complex wine that should drink nicely for 10-12 years.JS 90 (7/2013): The second wine of Haut-Brion. Very pretty, subtle tannins, with hints of dried fruits and tobacco. Medium-to-full body with integrated tannins.WS 88 (12/2011): Open-knit, with a briary edge to the currant, tobacco, tar and roasted sage notes, followed by a lightly edgy feel on the finish. The renamed second wine of Haut-Brion (used to be Bahans). Drink now through 2014. 9,400 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LeClarencedeHautBrion.aspNM 92 (4/2013): A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, the 1996 Clerc Milon has a difficult job juxtaposed to the outstanding 1990. However it has a superb bouquet of blackberry, cedar, a touch of nail varnish and singed leather that remains very vigorous. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft opening that betrays the firm structure that follows. There is a masculinity to this Pauillac with rigid tannins, but there is plenty of spicy fruit layered at the backend to support it. It is well defined, very well focused and is maturing gracefully and with style. Drink now-2020. WA 90 (4/1999): This is among the finest wines I have ever tasted from this estate. Lavishly oaked, with gobs of pain grille and rich fruit, it is massive and concentrated. The color is dense ruby/purple. The bouquet offers notes of roasted coffee, tobacco, and jammy cassis. Although surprisingly soft and opulent on the attack, the mid-section and finish reveal the wine's full body, high flavor extraction, and moderate tannin. This complete, large-scaled Clerc-Milon will be at its finest between 2005-2018.IWC 90 (6/1999): Deep ruby. Pungent spices, black fruits, minerals, roasted nuts and coffee on the nose. Smooth and thick but solidly structured; faint animal notes in the mouth. Nicely integrated acids and tannins. A vin de garde yet the tannins seem less tough than normal, spreading out nicely on the aftertaste.WS 88 (12/2007): Fresh currant and hints of sweet tobacco on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a vanilla, cigar box and fruit aftertaste. Just beginning to drink well.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClercMilon.aspWA 92 (4/2003): This flamboyant, dense, opaque purple-colored wine, made from a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot, is muscular, with an unctuous texture and high levels of tannin as well as extract. Compared to its other sibling in the Mouton-Rothschild stable, d'Armailhac, it is far more closed and tannic but still somewhat ostentatious, with smoky, leathery notes intermixed with oodles of black fruits and spice box. The wine may, however, have trouble eclipsing the brilliant 2001. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClercMilon.aspJS 93 (3/2011): Slightly cooked fruit on the nose, with a toasted oak and meaty character. Full bodied, with round and chewy tannins and loads of fruit. Big and burly, I like it. Pull the cork after 2015. Find the wineWS 93 (3/2006): Loads of licorice and currants follow through to a full-bodied palate, with lots of refined tannins and a long, long finish. This is very structured and layered. Beauty. Better than the 2000. Best after 2010. 8,330 cases made. WA 91+ (4/2006): The dense ruby/purple-colored 2003 is surprisingly fresh and crisp, displaying no signs of the vintage’s extreme heat. This full-bodied, powerful, rich, backward, dense, tannic effort reveals notes of Chinese black tea, creme de cassis, licorice, and melted chocolate. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring, and drink it over the next two decades.NM 91 (4/2013): A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Carmenere and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2003 has a typical ’03 bouquet where there is a sense of some dead fruit. It is there, but it is not animated. The palate is sweet and sensual on the liquorice-tinged entry. There is more cohesion and freshness than many of its peers with a delightful balsamic tinged finish. This is very fine for the vintage, even if the bottle in London a couple of weeks before showed even better. Drink now-2020. IWC 90 (5/2006): Medium ruby-red. Liqueur-like dark berries complicated by truffle, leather and cooler herbal notes. Fat, sweet and rich in a rather full-blown style. This was quite closed a year ago in barrel but now offers considerable early appeal. Finishes with suave tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClercMilon.aspIWC 96 (8/1998): Green-tinged straw color. Initially less expressive nose opened to show floral, herbal and vanillin notes as well as a pungent minerally quality. Very sweet but very suave, with fresh but perfectly integrated acidity serving to frame and intensify the superb, mineral-and-citric fruit. Can't match the '90 for pure size and power but the harmoniousness of this wine is truly striking. Very, very long and subtle on the aftertaste. A great Climens. I underrated this wine in its early days, as it was overshadowed by the more powerful, more phenolic '90.WS 93 (4/1995): High-wired, super-focused, seductively creamy and beautifully balanced. The beam of lemon, honey, spice, pear and melon flavor shines through to a fresh, long finish. Tempting now. Best after 1997.WA 90 (1/1998): For whatever reason, the 1989 is merely outstanding rather than dazzling. Although it lacks the complexity of the 1988, it is a plump, muscular, rich, intense, full-bodied, and sweeter-than-usual Climens. For a 1989, it possesses good acidity. If more complexity and grip develop, my rating may look stingy. Anticipated maturity: now-2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspIWC 92 (8/1999): Good pale color. Spicy, perfumed, slightly high-toned aromas of ripe citrus fruits and mint. Concentrated and bracing in the mouth, with penetrating acidity and a distinct lemony flavor. Sharply focused, graceful and extremely youthful. Very long, subtle aftertaste features terrific grip. Finishes with notes of spicy oak and butterscotch. Today the above sample seems more dominated by the wood. WS 90 (12/2000): A very young and very fine sticky wine, with intense botrytis spice aromas and hints of lemon rind and mineral. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with lively acidity and a long, sweet fruit and almond cake finish. Best after 2003. WA 88-90 (4/1999): The 1996 is a light wine, offering a lemony, citrusy, and white fruit-scented nose with notes of minerals and spice. Medium-bodied, with good acidity, lively fruit, some sweetness, and a youthful finish, this wine should be at its finest between 2003-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspWA 100 (6/2004): A prodigious offering, the 2001 Climens’ light medium bold color with a greenish hue is followed by ethereal aromas of tropical fruits (primarily pineapple), honeysuckle, and flowers. It is a medium-bodied wine of monumental richness, extraordinary precision/delineation, great purity, and moderate sweetness. The finish seemingly lasts forever. This monumental effort is the stuff of legends. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+.WS 97 (9/2004): Loads of orange peel and dried apricots on the nose here. Full-bodied, with a wild and exciting palate. Sweet yet racy. Electrifying. Great class and elegance. One of the best Climens I have tasted. Best after 2010. 1,955 cases made.VM 94+ (8/2004): Medium yellow. Reticent, liqueur-like aromas of yellow plum, vineyard peach, spices, white flowers and menthol. Impeccably balanced and impressively structured, with its new oak component to the fore. But this extremely bright, intense, focused wine possesses a strong core of spicy, botrytized fruit. Finishes with terrific fruit and an almost tannic firmness. Like so many of these 2001s, give this long aeration if you plan to taste a bottle any time soon. http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspWA 92-94 (10/2003): I suspect most readers will find it hard to get excited about the 2002 vintage for the sweet wines of Barsac and Sauternes after what appears to be a prodigious 2001. However, 2002 is a very fine year for this region, possibly superior to any of the vintages between 2000 and 1991. The wines possess plenty of botrytis, but neither the impressive definition nor supreme elegance of the 2001s. This is a sweet, full-bodied, fat, concentrated, intense effort that was showing well in September, 2003.IWC 91+ (8/2005): Palish yellow. High-toned but quite closed on the nose today, hinting at honey and nuts. Then quite pure and aromatic in the mouth, offeringflavors of citrus fruits and honey. Perfumed and nicely delineated, if a bit sweeter and softer than I would have expected for this chateau in this vintage. Finishes long and lively.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspWA 97 (4/2008): No tasting note given. WS 95 (3/2008): Toffee, dried lemon rind and tropical fruit on the nose. Full-bodied and very sweet, with a dense palate of candied fruit and a long, sweet finish. Very concentrated. The botrytis spice creeps up on the finish. Best after 2013. 2,300 cases made. VM 94+ (8/2008): Good full golden-yellow. Musky, very fresh aromas of crystallized citrus peel, minerals and toasted bread. The palate offers incredible sappy concentration and a saline aspect, not to mention a penetrating quality rare for this fruit-driven year. In fact, this begins almost light, then builds inexorably toward the back, finishing with a tactile impression of extract and an extraordinary sweetness that almost reminded me of the Suduiraut that I tasted just before it. Should go on for decades.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspWA 97 (4/2008): No tasting note given. WS 95 (3/2008): Toffee, dried lemon rind and tropical fruit on the nose. Full-bodied and very sweet, with a dense palate of candied fruit and a long, sweet finish. Very concentrated. The botrytis spice creeps up on the finish. Best after 2013. 2,300 cases made. IWC 94+ (8/2008): Good full golden-yellow. Musky, very fresh aromas of crystallized citrus peel, minerals and toasted bread. The palate offers incredible sappy concentration and a saline aspect, not to mention a penetrating quality rare for this fruit-driven year. In fact, this begins almost light, then builds inexorably toward the back, finishing with a tactile impression of extract and an extraordinary sweetness that almost reminded me of the Suduiraut that I tasted just before it. Should go on for decades.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspWA 97 (6/2016): The 2009 Climens is certainly more expressive on the nose compared to the 2010 Climens with potent honeysuckle, fresh pear and orange blossom that gently unfurl from the glass. Compared to the 2009 Rieussec for example, this is powerful but not quite as flamboyant. The palate is just fantastic, so energetic and tensile with layers of minerally, honeyed fruit laced with spice, sea salt, a touch of licorice and quince. It will be a multi-dimensional Climens that has a very long future ahead, a killer Sauternes that is going to give a great deal of pleasure over many years. WS 95 (3/2012): Rounded and broad in feel for now, with richly layered toasted almond, ginger cream, brioche and glazed apple notes that all glide through the viscous finish, where a flash of green tea can be found. This has the buried zip for the long haul, which it will need to assimilate fully. There's lots in reserve. Best from 2015 through 2034. 4,165 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspWA 93-95 (4/2013): There was a common theme of spicy, honeyed fruit coming through on both the nose and the palate, one particular lot relatively high in alcohol that should provide the foundation for the more nuances pickings. In many ways, this is a quintessential Climens with subtle orange peel and mandarin notes allied with finely tuned acidity.WS 93 (3/2015): This pulls together lush pineapple, ginger, creamed apricot and peach notes, along with singed almond and bitter orange hints. Stays broad and rich overall, but there's good cut underneath and some power that will need a bit of time to mellow. An excellent effort for the vintage. All Sémillon. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,415 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspWA 93-95 (4/2013): There was a common theme of spicy, honeyed fruit coming through on both the nose and the palate, one particular lot relatively high in alcohol that should provide the foundation for the more nuances pickings. In many ways, this is a quintessential Climens with subtle orange peel and mandarin notes allied with finely tuned acidity.WS 93 (3/2015): This pulls together lush pineapple, ginger, creamed apricot and peach notes, along with singed almond and bitter orange hints. Stays broad and rich overall, but there's good cut underneath and some power that will need a bit of time to mellow. An excellent effort for the vintage. All Sémillon. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,415 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspJS 97 (2/2013): Gorgeous nose with lots of dark fruit like plum and blueberries. Crushed pepper and chalk with wild strawberries and vanilla. Dense and velvety on the palate with superbly polished tannins and great depth. It's absolutely gorgeous now but needs at least five to six years of bottle age to really shows its great quality.WA 96+ (2/2013): The blend is largely dominated by 85% Merlot, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Cabernet Franc also included. Inky/purple-colored, the wine has an exceptionally full-bodied, layered, moderately tannic mouthfeel and impressive power. Loads of melted chocolate/fudge and black fruits galore along with some coffee bean, mocha, as well as some background oak are all present in this big, formidably endowed, masculine style of Pomerol that will take longer to shed its tannin than the 2009. I would give this wine 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30+ years.WS 95 (3/2013): This showy, packed and well-endowed Pomerol pumps out notes of warm linzer torte, plum preserves and blackberry reduction, all supported by a broad, charcoal- and ganache-coated structure and deeply embedded acidity. Very muscular on the back end, this boasts a still-chewy feel. Among the most backward of the 2010 Pomerols, this requires significant cellaring. For those who enjoy more power than subtlety. Best from 2017 through 2035. 3,333 cases made.NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clinet 2010 has a tempting truffle-scented bouquet with fine delineation - crushed violets developing beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp red berry fruit on the entry, fine angular tannins with a tart but focused, tense finish. This is a fabulous Clinet from Ronan Laborde and his team, although I suspect that the 2009 Clinet may eventually turn out to be the superior wine. IWC 93 (7/2013): Good deep ruby-red. Brooding, superripe aromas of blackberry, plum and coffee. Seriously concentrated and dense, but with juicy acidity giving energy and definition to the thick flavors of dark plum, flowers and potpourri spices. This very suave, plush wine finishes with substantial but noble tannins that dust the front teeth. This big boy has the stuffing and structure for a slow and graceful evolution in bottle.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClinet.aspJS 97 (2/2013): Gorgeous nose with lots of dark fruit like plum and blueberries. Crushed pepper and chalk with wild strawberries and vanilla. Dense and velvety on the palate with superbly polished tannins and great depth. It's absolutely gorgeous now but needs at least five to six years of bottle age to really shows its great quality.WA 96+ (2/2013): The blend is largely dominated by 85% Merlot, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Cabernet Franc also included. Inky/purple-colored, the wine has an exceptionally full-bodied, layered, moderately tannic mouthfeel and impressive power. Loads of melted chocolate/fudge and black fruits galore along with some coffee bean, mocha, as well as some background oak are all present in this big, formidably endowed, masculine style of Pomerol that will take longer to shed its tannin than the 2009. I would give this wine 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30+ years.WS 95 (3/2013): This showy, packed and well-endowed Pomerol pumps out notes of warm linzer torte, plum preserves and blackberry reduction, all supported by a broad, charcoal- and ganache-coated structure and deeply embedded acidity. Very muscular on the back end, this boasts a still-chewy feel. Among the most backward of the 2010 Pomerols, this requires significant cellaring. For those who enjoy more power than subtlety. Best from 2017 through 2035. 3,333 cases made.NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clinet 2010 has a tempting truffle-scented bouquet with fine delineation - crushed violets developing beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp red berry fruit on the entry, fine angular tannins with a tart but focused, tense finish. This is a fabulous Clinet from Ronan Laborde and his team, although I suspect that the 2009 Clinet may eventually turn out to be the superior wine. IWC 93 (7/2013): Good deep ruby-red. Brooding, superripe aromas of blackberry, plum and coffee. Seriously concentrated and dense, but with juicy acidity giving energy and definition to the thick flavors of dark plum, flowers and potpourri spices. This very suave, plush wine finishes with substantial but noble tannins that dust the front teeth. This big boy has the stuffing and structure for a slow and graceful evolution in bottle.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClinet.aspWA 95 (4/2015): With a dense purple color and gorgeous levels of fruit, especially black raspberry and blackcurrant, this full-bodied, opulent style of wine is another great success for Clinet, a château that has been on top of its game for the last decade. This is stunning stuff, and whatever new oak has been used - and there is plenty - it is totally disguised by the luxurious and extravagant fruit level. This full-bodied, opulent Pomerol should drink well for 15 or more years. VM 95 (1/2016): A wine of total precision, the 2012 Clinet possesses striking aromatic nuance and delineation. Crushed flowers, sweet raspberries, herbs and mint flesh out effortlessly, with silky, polished tannins that add to the wine's feel of graciousness. The spherical, beautifully textured finish suggests the 2012 will offer a wide drinking window of pure pleasure over the next 15-20 years. This is impressive. The 2012 is 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc. WS 93 (3/2015): Gorgeous plum cake, melted licorice and steeped currant and blackberry fruit is inlaid with notes of fruitcake and singed vanilla bean. Long and plush through the finish, with a buried charcoal spine that adds needed cut. Best from 2017 through 2027. 3,800 cases made. JS 93 (2/2015): Fabulous nose of orange peel, blueberries and blackberries. Full body, firm tannins and a cocoa, cedar and berry finish. Little austere now but so fine. Truly outstanding for the vintage. Better after 2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClinet.aspWA 91-93 (8/2014): A terrific success and star in this vintage, this blend of 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc came from a mere 25 acres of vineyard and averaged 33 hectoliters per hectare, with close to 13% natural alcohol. The entire harvest took place September 30-October 12. The wine is impressive in this vintage, its beautiful, dense, blue/black color is followed by a striking nose of creme de cassis, blackberry fruit, charcoal and a hint of camphor. The wine is rich and medium to full-bodied, displaying surprising texture, depth and breadth. This is a rich wine with good acidity and ripe tannin. It is a relatively big boy for the vintage and should drink well in 2-3 years and last up to 15 or more. It is so good, it is clearly a sleeper of the vintage, even though Clinet has been doing fabulous work for a number of years.WS 91 (3/2016): This is sneakily deep and long, with bramble, licorice root and warm fruitcake notes enhancing a core of sappy kirsch, blackberry coulis and plum compote flavors. Everything pulls together nicely on the finish, though this needs time to stretch out fully. This has really beefed up since the barrel tasting. Best from 2018 through 2027. 3,750 cases made.JS 91 (2/2016): Aromas of black berry, blue berry, and wet earth. Full body, firm and silky tannins. A little hollow in the mid-palate but give it time to come together. Better in 2018.NM 90-92 (4/2014): A blend of 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc (the highest percentage of Merlot ever) the Clinet 2013 was picked between 30 September until 12 October, finishing with the two Cabernets. Ronan Laborde told me that it was the most compact harvest he had undertaken: 4½ days within 13 days, the fruit selected through an optical sorting machine. The level of new oak is 60%, up from 2012, because Jean-Michel thought the fruit was good enough, with an IPT of 85 compared to 75. The nose takes some time to unfurl, broody and reticent at first, revealing redcurrant and cranberry scents mixed with dried flowers with time. The palate is well balanced with quite linear tannins, the oak nicely integrated and lending this Clinet good depth. It is a more masculine Clinet without the length of a great Chateau Clinet, but clean and pure. It will need 5 or 6 years to unwind after bottling.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClinet.aspWA 93 (6/2010): This sexy, opulent 2000 St.-Emilion has reached full maturity. It possesses a dense purple color to the rim along with loads of mulberry, creme de cassis, kirsch, espresso, and smoky, toasty oak characteristics, a full-bodied, sumptuous/opulent texture, silky tannins, and abundant flavor complexity. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClosDubreuil.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClosDubreuil.aspWS 97 (9/2004): Smells like pure caramel with just a hint of dried apricot. Full-bodied, ultrasweet and fabulously concentrated. This goes on for minutes. Coats your palate but shows fab acidity. Big, juicy young sticky. Best after 2010. 2,275 cases made. WA 92 (6/2004): A big time sleeper of the vintage, Clos Haut Peyraguey’s 2001 exhibits abundant amounts of Grand Marnier-like orange flavors intermixed with creme brulee, melted caramels, and hints of pineapples and apricots. Full-bodied, sweet, long, and well-defined, it should drink well for 15+ years. VM 91 (8/2004): Pale orange-gold color. High-toned aromas of apricot, creamed corn, honey and white raisin; gives a slightly roasted impression. Fat, full, superripe and sweet, with an unctuous, toffee-like richness buffered by sound acids and lifted by a metallic minerally nuance. A very large-scaled '01 that finishes with an impressive wave of sweet fruit. A superb performance for this property.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClosHaut-Peyraguey.aspJS 93 (2/2016): Very beautiful aromas of dried pineapple, light caramel and honey. Medium to full body, medium sweet, bright acidity and a long and bright finish. Delicious finish. Drink or hold.WA 91-93 (4/2014): The Clos Haut-Peyraguey, now within the stable of Bernard Magrez, is slightly deeper in color than its peers. It has a gentle, slightly nutty and smoky bouquet that unfolds nicely in the glass. The palate is viscous on the entry with mellifluous honeyed fruit. There is plenty of botrytis here, good acidity with a concentrated, almost Climens-like finish. This is very fine and could merit a higher score after bottling.VM 90-93 (4/2014): Orange marmalade, apricot jam, pineapple, wild flowers, coconut and honey meld together in the 2013 Haut-Peyraguey. One of the richer, more textured wines of the year, the 2013 finishes with notable breadth, volume and pure creaminess.WS 89 (3/2016): A solid, juicy version, with a good jolt of pecan and ginger running through the core of glazed peach and dried apricot flavors before assuming control on the open-knit finish. Perhaps not where it should be vis-à-vis the vintage, but new owner Bernard Magrez will probably move things along here. Drink now through 2019. 1,158 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClosHaut-Peyraguey.aspWA 91 (4/2003): This is the finest La Clotte I have ever tasted. The 2000 reveals an opaque ruby/purple color along with sweet aromas of liquid minerals, anise, plum, cassis, and smoke. Deep, rich, full-bodied, opulent, and moderately tannic, it will be at its peak between 2005-2016. Sexy stuff! A sleeper of the vintage. WS 91 (3/2003): Vivid crushed raspberries and minerals. Full-bodied, with compact fruit and super silky tannins. Very long on the palate. An excellent wine. Best after 2007. 1,165 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChlaClotte.aspWA 91 (4/2015): This name hardly appeals to most English-speaking people, but the wine itself is consistently well-made and a perennial sleeper of the vintage. The 2012, from this tiny 10-acre jewel of a vineyard on clay and limestone soils with a full southern exposure, is a blend of 80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Excellent minerality, crème de cassis and blueberry and raspberry fruit jump from the glass of this opaque ruby/purple wine. Medium to full-bodied, nicely textured and impressive, the finish is long, and the wine, sexy and delicious. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.JS 88 (2/2015): A firm and lean style here with blueberry, spice and cedar character. Full to medium body and silky tannins. Better in 2016.VM 88 (1/2016): The 2012 La Clotte is quite powerful for the vintage, but it is marked by very ripe, cooked fruit and heavy extraction, neither of which seem to suit the personality of this site. La Clotte has since been purchased by the Vauthier family, so there is good reason to think quality will move up from here. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChlaClotte.aspWA 91 (6/2007): Performing much better than it did from barrel, the 2004 La Confession has added significant weight and opulence over the last year. Young proprietor Jean-Philippe Janoueix has produced a fabulous effort for the vintage. Its dense plum/purple color is accompanied by a big, sweet perfume of creosote, blackberries, blueberries, truffles, licorice, and espresso roast. Opulent, rich, and full-bodied, this stunning St.-Emilion will drink well for 12-15 years.IWC 87-89 (6/2005): Ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of blueberry and violet. Suave and fine-grained but not overly sweet. Finishes with smooth tannins and a smoky quality.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaConfession.aspNM 93-[94 (12/1999): Backward and broody when first tasted in April 1998, yet lacking some charm. Tasted again in November 2003 at La Tupina in Bordeaux. This wine has really come out of its shell. A lovely earthy nose with rustic red fruits. Seamless tannins on the palate, which displays a divine balance. Still youthful but you could drink this now. Delicious and understated. A great success considering this is a weak Right Bank vintage.WA 91 (10/2016): Tasted at the château, the 1996 La Conseillante has always been a good performer in what is a Left Bank vintage. Although there is noticeable bricking on the rim, there is plenty of freshness on the nose, quite floral with crushed strawberry, cranberry leaf and a touch of tomato vine, which after ten minutes turns into black truffle (typical trait in Pomerol). There is good vigor here for a 20-year-old Pomerol. The palate is medium-bodied and here you could argue that it is more advanced than the aromatics. Yes, there is good weight and balance, perhaps a little rustic compared to recent vintages, but there is plenty of enjoyable ferrous fruit, white pepper, sage, black truffle and spice notes liberally sprinkled over vestiges of red fruit. Clearly this is a La Conseillante that is à point and I would probably broach bottles over the next decade. WS 88 (12/2007): Aromas of plum and sweet basil. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Caressing and delicious. Ready to go now.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChConseillante.aspWS 94 (3/2009): Intense aromas of truffle and berries lead to a full body, with ultrarefined tannins and a very long finish. Balanced and wonderfully crafted. Gorgeous. Extremely well done. Best after 2014. 4,165 cases made. WA 93 (2/2009): The 2006 is relatively forward and seductive, as one expects La Conseillante to be, with a dark ruby/purple-tinged color and a beautifully sweet nose of black raspberries, plums, kirsch, cedar, and licorice. A broad, savory, seductive, full-bodied mouthfeel with superb ripeness, silky tannins, and terrific complexity make this an ethereal style of Pomerol. A must taste. Drink it over the next 15+ years. NM 92 (12/2012): Tasted at the Pomerol tasting at the Antique Wine Company. The Chateau La Conseillante has a sweet mulberry, dark plum and blueberry-scented bouquet that is less ostentatious than my previous example a couple of years ago. With aeration it offers subtle scents of candied orange peel. The palate is succulent on the entry with just a touch of balsamic lending it the edge it needs to offset that ravishing pure tart red fruit. It is still very smooth in the mouth and that belies the structure on the finish. Lovely cedar and blackberry notes come forth on the aftertaste. This remains quite primal, but it is a very classy Pomerol for the vintages. VM 92 (5/2009): Bright ruby-red. Sexy nose combines dark berries, violet, cedar, mocha, truffle and smoky oak. Plush, succulent and sweet, but with lovely delineation to the pliant black cherry and raspberry flavors. At once opulent and vibrant, finishing with a fine dusting of tannins and compelling sweetness. This has an almost Burgundian texture reminiscent of some of this chateau's great vintages of the past. It's hard to imagine this silky wine shutting down in the bottle. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChConseillante.aspJS 94-95 (3/2015): Wow. This really kick in here with lots of subtle yet fresh fruit and a chewy and long finish. Muscular and long with a wonderful elegance. The winemaker says the cabernet franc gives the style and structure here. And he’s right.WA 92-94 (4/2015): The Château La Conseillante 2014 is a blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, picked from 23 September to 2 October and 29 September until 6 October respectively at 35 hectoliters per hectare. There was just 2.5% vin de presse and the Grand Vin represents 88% of the total production this year. As you would expect, there is far more fruit intensity on the nose compared to the Duo, with dry tobacco-infused red and black fruit, hints of Provençal herb and black truffle - very Pomerol in style. The palate delivers the class. Supple in the mouth, very well judged acidity, poised and long, the Cabernet Franc drives this along and elevates the finish in terms of complexity. There are light spices entering the fray towards the finish that is feminine and nuanced with lovely salinity on the aftertaste that will urge you to take another sip. I was admittedly a little underwhelmed by the deuxième vin this year, but the grand vin makes up for it. It is another great Pomerol from ever-congenial winemaker Jean-Michel Laporte and his team.VM 90-93 (4/2015): The 2014 La Conseillante is nicely supple and layered in the glass, with distinct cherry pit, plum, rose petal, wild flowers and subtle hints of spice are woven together in an open-knit, expressive Conseillante that is likely to start drinking well relatively early. The finish is decidedly silky and open-knit. The 2014 is quite pretty, but at this stage it is also lacking a bit in body. The blend is 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, with the Franc a bit higher than the 15-18% that is more typical.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChConseillante.aspWA 95 (10/1994): The 1986 is a highly extracted wine, with a black/ruby color and plenty of toasty, smoky notes in its bouquet that suggest ripe plums and licorice. Evolving at a glacial pace, it exhibits massive, huge, ripe, extremely concentrated flavors with impressive depth and richness. It possesses more power, weight, and tannin than the more opulent and currently more charming 1985. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010. NM 92 (3/2009): Tasted at the Cos d’Estournel dinner at St. John. This bottle is similar to the one last year: dense, masculine, wet sand, austere on the nose, as if the wine is slamming a door in your face, but after a time there is a lovely touch of cardamom that develops. The palate suggests that it is worth cellaring, superb concentration, a rather robust, foursquare structure and a stoic facade, leading to a tannic, quite leathery finish. Great focus and length…but not for your Bordeaux neophyte. Drink 2013-2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspWA 94 (6/2009): Not as concentrated as the 1982, or as most of the vintages made since 2001, the 1990 Cos has reached full maturity. It exhibits sweet berry fruit intermixed with spice box, herbs, and spring flowers. Expansive, round, and sensual, with wonderful purity as well as lushness, this irresistible wine can be enjoyed over the next 6-10 years. VM 92+ (8/2002): Good full medium ruby. Perfumed aromas of cassis, redcurrant, plum, minerals, coconut and violet. Lush, dense and gentle; rich and chocolatey. With so much baby fat, this wine appears to miss out on ultimate clarity and grip. But finishes tight, with a touch of austerity and nicely restrained sweetness. Still quite young. Drink 2005 through 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspWA 94 (6/2009): Not as concentrated as the 1982, or as most of the vintages made since 2001, the 1990 Cos has reached full maturity. It exhibits sweet berry fruit intermixed with spice box, herbs, and spring flowers. Expansive, round, and sensual, with wonderful purity as well as lushness, this irresistible wine can be enjoyed over the next 6-10 years. VM 92+ (8/2002): Good full medium ruby. Perfumed aromas of cassis, redcurrant, plum, minerals, coconut and violet. Lush, dense and gentle; rich and chocolatey. With so much baby fat, this wine appears to miss out on ultimate clarity and grip. But finishes tight, with a touch of austerity and nicely restrained sweetness. Still quite young. Drink 2005 through 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspWA 95 (2/1998): A wine of extraordinary intensity and accessibility, the 1995 Cos d'Estournel is a sexier, more hedonistic offering than the muscular, backward 1996. Opulent, with forward aromatics (gobs of black fruits intermixed with toasty pain grille scents and a boatload of spice), this terrific Cos possesses remarkable intensity, full body, and layers of jammy fruit nicely framed by the wine's new oak. Because of low acidity and sweet tannin, the 1995 will be difficult to resist young, although it will age for 2-3 decades. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2025.WS 94 (7/2007): Gorgeous blackberry, toasted oak, Indian spice and light sweet tobacco on the nose. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a caressing texture. Pretty and refined. Holding back. Give it time. --'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. VM 92+ (6/1998): Red-ruby color, not quite as saturated as the '96. More roasted and less minerally than the '96: notes of black fruit, game, and toasty oak. Tightly wrapped and rather taut today, but offers terrific concentration and length. Today the wine tannins are very visible, and perhaps not quite as sweet as those of the '96, and firm acids are not yet in complete harmony with the wine. But this will be superb with six to eight years of bottle aging. Stephen Tanzer. NM 89-91 (9/2005): Tasted from a double-magnum at dinner at the chateau in 1999, it was another immensely backward, masculine wine. Then at the Farr horizontal, it had failed to develop as I would like. The nose is more subdued than last time, very oakey and broody. The palate still has excessive new oak (100% in fact) and is very fleshy with super-ripe raspberry and strawberry. It is enjoyable but lacks typicity. I actually prefer the 1994 to the 1995.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspWA 100 (2/2012): One of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted, the monumental 2009 Cos d’Estournel has lived up to its pre-bottling potential. A remarkable effort from winemaking guru Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot (33%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (2%) was cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts an inky/black/purple color along with an extraordinary bouquet of white flowers interwoven with blackberry and blueberry liqueur, incense, charcoal and graphite. The wine hits the palate with extraordinary purity, balance and intensity as well as perfect equilibrium, and a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, wood and alcohol. An iconic wine as well as a remarkable achievement, it is the greatest Cos d’Estournel ever produced. It is approachable enough at present that one could appreciate it with several hours of decanting, but it will not hit its prime for a decade, and should age effortlessly for a half century. JS 100 (11/2011): Classic Cos with so much spice and fruit, yet refined and sexy. Powerful with super silky tannins. Full bodied, yet incredibly compacted. This is so tight and rich with layers of fruit and tannins and a finish that last for minutes on the palate. I asked the head of Cos, Jean-Guillaume Prats, what the alcohol on the wine was, and he said 14.8% alcohol and 3.58 pH. Fab. Try after 2021. WS 97 (3/2012): This is a stunner, with gloriously ripe, succulent cassis, blackberry and fig fruit flavors backed by extra notes of plum cake, blueberry confiture and roasted wood spice. On the back half, the iron spine takes over on the hard-driving and extremely long, anise- and incense-tinged finish. An awesome expression of the modern style. Best from 2020 through 2040. 20,830 cases made. VM 93-96 (6/2011): (a blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, cabernet franc 2% and 1% petit verdot; 3.51 pH; IPT 91; alcohol 14.5% alcohol; a 55% selection for the grand vin Saturated bright ruby. Captivating, intense aromas of dark berries, red cherry, mint and tobacco. Dense, sweet and fruity in the mouth if still a bit youthfully tight, with great purity to the flavors of red and dark berries, exotic herbs and licorice. Finishes smooth and extremely long, with wonderfully silky tannins. This very big wine will need plenty of time, but I have no doubt this will be remembered as a great Cos. Jean-Guillaume Prats pointed out that though the analytical numbers (IPT, alcohol, acidity) are very similar to those of the '09 Cos, the two wines could not be more different. When it comes to wine, he emphasized, the numbers do not tell the whole story. I should point out that the 2010 Cos contains only 19% merlot, down from the 33% of 2009—and merlot that had overripened at that.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspWA 100 (2/2012): One of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted, the monumental 2009 Cos d’Estournel has lived up to its pre-bottling potential. A remarkable effort from winemaking guru Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot (33%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (2%) was cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts an inky/black/purple color along with an extraordinary bouquet of white flowers interwoven with blackberry and blueberry liqueur, incense, charcoal and graphite. The wine hits the palate with extraordinary purity, balance and intensity as well as perfect equilibrium, and a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, wood and alcohol. An iconic wine as well as a remarkable achievement, it is the greatest Cos d’Estournel ever produced. It is approachable enough at present that one could appreciate it with several hours of decanting, but it will not hit its prime for a decade, and should age effortlessly for a half century. JS 100 (11/2011): Classic Cos with so much spice and fruit, yet refined and sexy. Powerful with super silky tannins. Full bodied, yet incredibly compacted. This is so tight and rich with layers of fruit and tannins and a finish that last for minutes on the palate. I asked the head of Cos, Jean-Guillaume Prats, what the alcohol on the wine was, and he said 14.8% alcohol and 3.58 pH. Fab. Try after 2021. WS 97 (3/2012): This is a stunner, with gloriously ripe, succulent cassis, blackberry and fig fruit flavors backed by extra notes of plum cake, blueberry confiture and roasted wood spice. On the back half, the iron spine takes over on the hard-driving and extremely long, anise- and incense-tinged finish. An awesome expression of the modern style. Best from 2020 through 2040. 20,830 cases made. VM 93-96 (6/2011): (a blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, cabernet franc 2% and 1% petit verdot; 3.51 pH; IPT 91; alcohol 14.5% alcohol; a 55% selection for the grand vin Saturated bright ruby. Captivating, intense aromas of dark berries, red cherry, mint and tobacco. Dense, sweet and fruity in the mouth if still a bit youthfully tight, with great purity to the flavors of red and dark berries, exotic herbs and licorice. Finishes smooth and extremely long, with wonderfully silky tannins. This very big wine will need plenty of time, but I have no doubt this will be remembered as a great Cos. Jean-Guillaume Prats pointed out that though the analytical numbers (IPT, alcohol, acidity) are very similar to those of the '09 Cos, the two wines could not be more different. When it comes to wine, he emphasized, the numbers do not tell the whole story. I should point out that the 2010 Cos contains only 19% merlot, down from the 33% of 2009—and merlot that had overripened at that.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspJS 95 (2/2015): Wow. What a nose with currants, blackberries, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stones and wet earth. Full-bodied, refined yet muscular and trim. Fabulously polished tannins. Try drinking in 2020.WA 93+ (4/2015): The 2012 Cos d’Estournel is a classic expression of St.-Estèphe, with notes of graphite, crushed rock, blackberry, blackcurrant fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, structured, but well-integrated tannins and a long finish of 35 seconds or more. This is a beauty and an undeniable top success in the Médoc for 2012. Give it 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades or more. The final blend, which achieved 13.8% alcohol, is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.WS 92 (3/2015): Juicy raspberry, blackberry and plum confiture notes roll along, while the bramble-edged structure and accents of roasted apple wood and spice fill in. The finish has a lightly firm plum skin edge, but overall there's drive, intensity and depth to the pure fruit. A solid effort. Best from 2017 through 2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspJS 93 (3/2012): Wonderful aromas of blueberries, flowers and blackberries follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a delicious finish. So attractive already. The quality of the tannins are wonderful. Best in 2015. NM 88 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Cote de Baleau has a candied bouquet with wild strawberry, orange blossom and violets. The palate is grippy on the entry, a little brutish at the moment with a dense, rather oppressive finish. It seems more intent on impressing rather than giving pleasure. WA 87 (12/2011): Less impressive than I remember from barrel (and one of the few 2009s that moved in a negative direction), this wine, a blend of 70% Merlot and the rest split between the two Cabernets, has Michel Rolland as a consultant. The wine is straightforward, with pleasant but somewhat superficial red currant and cherry notes intermixed with some herbs and underbrush. Medium-bodied, round and easy to drink, it should be consumed in the first decade of its life.WS 87 (5/2012): A hint of incense weaves through lightly mulled red currant and black cherry fruit. A nice whiff of mocha lingers through the toasty finish. Drink now through 2013. 3,084 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCotedeBaleau.aspJS 92 (2/2013): Wonderful aromas of blackberries, blueberries and vanilla follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and an intense finish. Lots of fruit with vanilla and light coffee undertones. Better after 2016.WA 91 (2/2013): The wine displays lots of rich berry fruit, some licorice, cedar, underbrush, and incense. It is medium to full-bodied, up-front and forward, and quite drinkable despite the fact that it is less than three years of age. It should drink well for 12-15 years. WS 89 (7/2013): Ripe and rather direct, with plum sauce, blackberry preserves and black licorice notes, turning slightly stolid on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2020. NM 86 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. There is plenty of fruit on the nose of the Cote de Baleau 2010: blackcurrant, raspberry, pencil lead and a touch of brine. This is certainly well defined though it does not quite have the breeding of Les Grands Murailles. The palate has a rather hard entry with firm, grippy tannins and decent acidity but there is some dryness seeping in towards the finish. This feels a little too serious and introspective.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCotedeBaleau.aspVM 90 (1/2016): Iron, smoke, savory herb, dried rose petal, mint and fennel are some of the notes that emerge from the 2012 Côte de Baleau. There is good depth in the glass, even if some slightly angular contours remain. The perfumed, aromatic finish adds to the wine's near-term appeal. This is the last wine made by Sophie Fourcade before she sold her three estates (including Clos St. Martin and Les Grandes Murailles) to the Cuvelier family, who also own Clos Fourtet, which lies adjacent to Les Grandes Murailles.WS 90 (3/2015): Enticing, with loganberry and blackberry fruit leading the way, showing liberal hints of anise and clove, balanced by a mouthwatering singed mesquite edge. Everything pulls together on the pleasantly woodsy finish. Best from 2016 through 2022. 5,830 cases made.JS 90 (2/2015): A wine with a solid core of fruit and polished tannins. Medium to full body, fresh acidity and berry, citrus and mineral undertones. Some nuttiness too. Better in 2018.WA 89+ (4/2015): Under the ownership of Clos Fourtet’s Philippe Cuvelier, this wine exhibits dense ruby/purple color, beautiful purity, medium to full body and terrific depth and richness. It should drink well for another 15 or more years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCotedeBaleau.aspIWC 92 (8/2001): Pale yellow. Subtle aromas of peach, pineapple, orange peel and honey. Very rich, concentrated and fleshy; bright acidity gives the fruit salad flavors lovely inner-mouth lift and perfume. Quite suave but also powerful. Finishes rich, sweetly oaky and long. I underrated this wine a year ago from barrel.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspNM 92 (1/2009): Tasted single blind at Southwold. Much lighter on the nose. Passion fruit, white peach and nectarine, then a hint of white flowers. The palate has a good level of botrytis, quite minerally, nice tension with dried apricot and spicy, quince flavours coming through on the linear finish. Time should mellow this out. Excellent. Drink 2012-2025. IWC 91+ (8/2008): Bright golden yellow. Cool, pungent nose offers hints of orange, marzipan, sexy brown spices, parsley, grass and eucalpytus. Sweet, thick and powerful but with its fat fruit flavors cut by strong acidity. At once densely packed and vibrant, finishing with superb lingering sweetness and a mineral element. This needs patience and should evolve slowly. WS 91 (3/2008): Spice, dried pineapple, honey and light apricot aromas, like freshly crushed grapes. Full-bodied and very sweet, with masses of crushed fruit character and a long finish. Best after 2010. 4,165 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspWS 94 (3/2009): Almost as excellent as the 2003. There's intense botrytis spice on the nose, with lemon peel and dried pineapple. Full-bodied, superspicy and intense. Extremely racy. A beautiful wine. Best after 2014.WA 92 (2/2009): Light to medium gold with a greenish hue, this wine exhibits wonderfully pure notes of wood spice such as vanillin, honeyed citrus, a hint of under-ripe peach, and touches of creme brulee and marmalade. With great acidity and finesse, this is a medium-bodied, impressively endowed, but generally very racy, restrained style of wine that should age beautifully for 25 or more years. It is not the sweetest, and by no means the biggest wine of 2006, but it has nobility tattooed all over it.NM 90 (1/2010): Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. This is a little flatter on the nose than other ’06 Sauternes: marmalade, orange peel and tangerine, with less delineation that I would hope for, with petrol aromas developing with time. The palate is rounded on the entry, more sugary than botrytized fruit, viscous honeyed notes and a touch of barley sugar with a linear, quintessential Barsac finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspWS 95 (3/2010): Offers fascinating aromas of cooked apple, clove and honey that follow through to a full body, with superlively acidity and spicy blanched almond and honey character on the palate. Long and powerful, showing amazing botrytis character, with so much spice and richness, yet also freshness. Even better than the superb 2006. Best after 2015. WA 94 (2/2012): Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau Coutet 2007 has a very intense bouquet with lemon curd and orange blossom mixed with clear honey. There is impressive precision here, almost crystalline. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine viscous entry, great weight and intensity with racy acidity. There is also much tension cutting through the layers of viscous fruit on the sorbet-like finish. This is a typical Coutet through and through and it should age effortlessly over 20-30 years. Tasted January 2011.IWC 92 (8/2010): Full medium gold. Pineapple, orange, toffee, nutty oak and a whiff of spun sugar on the enticing nose. Sweet but youthful and tangy, with lively acidity and underlying minerality giving an incisive quality to the bright core of pineapple and apricot fruit. At once rich and sharply focused, finishing with excellent length and verve. This should evolve slowly.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspWA 95 (2/2013): The 2009 Coutet has a very intense nose of apricot, papaya, honeysuckle and orange cordial that is very well defined. Interestingly I write the same comment as my appraisal out of barrel in that I would prefer just a little more vigor. However that is a minor quibble. The palate is very well- balanced with a rounded, caressing entry. There is certainly tremendous weight in the mouth and abundant botrytis, especially upon the unctuous finish. This has great potential - a fantastic wine from one of the finest Barsac estates. Drink now-2035+ WS 95 (3/2012): Very lightly toasty, this is more floral for now, with lively honeysuckle and pineapple notes up front, giving way to richer hints of warm brioche, fig, glazed pear and lemon shortbread that should emerge more with time. The long, lacy finish has the poise and balance for long-term cellaring. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Best from 2014 through 2034. 5,000 cases made.JS 94 (2/2013): A sweet wine with honey and sliced apple character with lemon. Full body, medium sweet and a bright finish. It's layered and fascinating. So much spicy, botrytis and dried mushroom powder. Turns creamy. Drink or hold.IWC 92-94 (5/2010): (a blend of 75% semillon, 23% sauvignon and 2% muscadelle; 14+% alcohol; 146 g/l residual sugar) Bright, deep golden yellow. Delicate smoky nuances complicate aromas of ripe citrus fruits, brown sugar and vanilla on the floral, perfumed nose. Enters very rich and creamy, showing very good balance to its pineapple jam, star fruit, white peach and citrus flavors. Finishes long, creamy-rich and smooth, with strong botrytis character and a lingering flinty note. One of the top '09 Sauternes I tasted, and one of the best young Coutets ever. This should age exceptionally well.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspWS 95 (3/2013): Offers a bright inner core of honeysuckle, pineapple, star fruit and white peach flavors, coated for now with heather honey, marzipan and mango notes. Fresh and racy through the finish, this is an elegant beauty, showing terrific cut and precision. Best from 2015 through 2030.JS 94 (2/2013): A sweet wine with honey and sliced apple character with lemon. Full body, medium sweet and a bright finish. It's layered and fascinating. So much spicy, botrytis and dried mushroom powder. Turns creamy. Drink or hold.WA 93-95 (5/2011): The 2010 Chateau Coutet has 154-gms/litre residual sugar, one of the highest in Sauternes/Barsac. It is endowed with a delightful bouquet of freshly sliced mango, Tropicana and a touch of honey, with good definition and minerality. The palate is medium-bodied with very impressive balance and poise, and is slightly viscous in the mouth, with almond, lemon curd and a touch of orange peel. The finish is composed and long. The 2010 Coutet is very impressive for the vintage, although I suggest not quite reaching the stellar heights of the magnificent 2009.IWC 91-94 (8/2011): Bright medium golden-yellow. Knockout nose offers pure, intense aromas of crystallized ginger, honey, vanilla and lemon custard, with a delicate spicy botrytis character tying all the elements altogether. Then deep, rich and dense, but with lively acidity framing and lifting the rich tropical fruit flavors. Finishes with a lovely touch of sexy botrytis and a lingering peppery nuance. A superb wine that should make a great follow-up to the outstanding 2009.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspWS 92 (3/2015): Broad and honeyed, with lots of warm piecrust, orange zest, glazed apple, peach and almond cream notes. The finish lingers with orange and date accents, while a hint of citrus oil imparts good spine. Rather flattering today, but has the energy to develop with time. Best from 2017 through 2027. 2,500 cases made.WA 90-92 (4/2013): The 2012 has a lifted bouquet of quince, marmalade and yellow flowers that is precise and focused. The palate is viscous and convincing on the opening, offering good depth and cohesion with satisfactory botrytis, though it tails away ever so slightly on the finish. Still, this is a commendable effort and is another fine 2012 Barsac.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspWS 92 (3/2015): Broad and honeyed, with lots of warm piecrust, orange zest, glazed apple, peach and almond cream notes. The finish lingers with orange and date accents, while a hint of citrus oil imparts good spine. Rather flattering today, but has the energy to develop with time. Best from 2017 through 2027. 2,500 cases made.WA 90-92 (4/2013): The 2012 has a lifted bouquet of quince, marmalade and yellow flowers that is precise and focused. The palate is viscous and convincing on the opening, offering good depth and cohesion with satisfactory botrytis, though it tails away ever so slightly on the finish. Still, this is a commendable effort and is another fine 2012 Barsac.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspWA 95 (8/2015): The Château Coutet 2003 Cuvée Madame was picked on September 30 at between 22 and 26 degrees potential alcohol and is laden with a whopping 230 grams per liter of residual sugar, one of the highest ever. Aged in 100% new oak for 36 months, it has a powerful nose that perhaps does not quite have the finesse of the 2001 Cuvée Madame. Pineapple, quince and marmalade are to the fore with touches of beeswax developing, through I find more delineation on the 2001. The palate is rounded, soft textured, plump in the mouth, a boatload of botrytis here with notes of marmalade, quince, almond and honeycomb. It is a delicious Cuvée Madame that I suspect will be enjoyed best from release in September 2015 (on Aline's birthday incidentally.)http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCoutet.aspWA 94 (2/2009): Atypically opulent, flamboyant, and extravagantly rich for a 2006, this tiny garagiste operation has fashioned a gorgeously sexy 2006 boasting sweet creme de cassis notes intermixed with kirsch, coffee, and subtle smoked herb and toast characteristics in the background. Full-bodied, round, and delicious, it is impossible to resist, so enjoy it over the next 8-10 years. Great value.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCroixdeLabrie.aspWA 94 (2/2009): Atypically opulent, flamboyant, and extravagantly rich for a 2006, this tiny garagiste operation has fashioned a gorgeously sexy 2006 boasting sweet creme de cassis notes intermixed with kirsch, coffee, and subtle smoked herb and toast characteristics in the background. Full-bodied, round, and delicious, it is impossible to resist, so enjoy it over the next 8-10 years. Great value.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCroixdeLabrie.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCruzeau.aspWA 91 (3/2017): The 2014 Les Cruzelles is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked between 24-29 September. It has a little more ripeness on the nose compared to the La Chenade, very perfumed with subtle violet and iris aromas, later a hint of orange blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin with ample blackberry and bilberry; grainy in texture with a pleasurable marine/oyster shell element lending personality on the finish. This is very fine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLesCruzelles.aspWA 92 (2/2012): Has Dauzac ever made a wine this good? Deep ruby/purple, with notes of graphite and black currants followed by some spicy oak and licorice in a creamy, plump succulent texture that almost reminds me of a Right Bank wine, this 2009 is full-throttle, dense and super-concentrated. It is an amazing Dauzac. Drink it over the next 25 years.WS 91 (3/2012): Perfumy and sleek, with nicely stitched anise, violet, juniper, blackberry and cassis notes all gliding through the polished finish. A lingering iron twang adds a little length. Drink now through 2019. 8,300 cases made.VM 89 (7/2012): Deep ruby-red. Musky aromas of black raspberry and leather reminded me a bit of syrah. Deep, rich and energetic, in a rather extractive style, with sweet black fruit flavors joined by chewy, slightly drying (oak-driven) tannins on the back end. This fairly large-scaled Margaux should provide early pleasure. Stephen Tanzer.NM 88 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This has a fragrant bouquet with dark plum and mulberry on the nose that demonstrates good vigour and delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. It is soft in the mouth and need more backbone, whilst the earthy finish is a little smudged. I must confess ... I was expecting more from a wine that showed so much potential out of barrel, but perhaps is it enduring a difficult phase.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDauzac.aspWA 95 (2/2013): The 2009 Doisy-Vedrines exceeded my expectations under blind conditions. It is usually seen as a less refined Barsac predisposed to richness and viscosity, but the 2009 exudes far more tension and elegance than I anticipated. It has a perfumed, floral bouquet with scents of dried honey, melted wax, lemon curd and a touch of lemon thyme. It is beautifully defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with beautiful balance and precision. There is real grace and tension in this Sauternes: very focused and precise though with patently a lot of botrytis towards the mellifluous finish. This is a wonderful Doisy-Vedrines. Drink now-2035+WS 94 (3/2012): Richly layered and detailed, but thoroughly mouthwatering, this lets lacy citrus, floral and white peach flavors meld into a core of quince, fig and persimmon fruit, while warm piecrust and honey roasted almond notes drive through the finish. Very long, with superb cut despite its power. Best from 2015 through 2032. 6,000 cases made.WS 92 (5/2013): Thick and fruity with creme brulee and honey, with dried fruit character. Full body, very sweet and round with a long finish. Better in 2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDoisyVedrines.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaDominique.aspWA 90 (5/2011): An unqualified sleeper of the vintage, the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2008 La Dominique reveals black olive, licorice, tobacco leaf, raspberry and kirsch liqueur characteristics. Deep and medium to full-bodied with supple tannins, an endearing texture and a lush, long, seamlessly constructed finish, this wine can be enjoyed now and over the next 10-12 years.WS 88 (3/2011): This is tangy up front, with a streak of damson plum offsetting darker mulled currant and fig flavors that move in midpalate, all followed by spice and licorice notes that fill in on the finish. Drink now through 2014. 7,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaDominique.aspNM 94 (7/2010): Served at the Ducru offline in London, this is a wonderful 1998 Saint Julien. Like the 1999, it begins quite taciturn on the nose but opens up with a little patience. Darker fruit than the 1999, briary, cedar, cigar box, stronger sous-bois aromas with a hint of iodine, swelling with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent red-berried fruit that actually remind me of the 1995. There is a citrus thread running through this wine, very focused and demonstrating supreme elegance on the finish, those supple tannins ‘tickling’ the palate with their charms. Probably one of the most elegant Ducru Beaucaillou wines in recent years. Drink now-2025. WA 91 (4/2001): A supremely elegant, dense purple-colored effort, the 1998 reveals aromas of cassis, black raspberries, minerals, and currants. Precise, well-delineated, and medium to full-bodied, with magnificent purity and understated elegance, this noble, restrained wine reveals a tannic finish, suggesting 4-5 more years of cellaring is warranted. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.VM 89 (3/2014): (56% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 4% petit verdot; 13% alcohol): Bright ruby-red with an amber rim. Captivating aromas of red cherry, minerals and flowers. Very refined flavors of red- and blackcurrant, minerals and violet. Finishes long and clean, with a zingy minerality, polished tannins and building sweetness. Unfortunately, I have also had a poor bottle of this wine recently (showing animal notes and astringent drying tannins), so it may well be that this wine should be consumed fairly soon. I remember Philippe Dhalluin telling me many years ago that this wine reminded him of the 1988 made at Branaire-Ducru (which he always liked), but that he found that the '98 had a suaver character; I'm not so sure. Only 50% of the crop went into the grand vin, as in 1999 and 1997; prior to these vintages, almost two-thirds of the wine made at Branaire-Ducru went into the estate's flagship bottling. Ian d'Agata.WS 88 (7/2009): Mineral, floral and blackberry aromas. Medium-bodied, with a good core of fruit and light mint and blackberry character. Elegant and friendly.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDucru-Beaucaillou.aspNM 94 (7/2010): Served at the Ducru offline in London, this is a wonderful 1998 Saint Julien. Like the 1999, it begins quite taciturn on the nose but opens up with a little patience. Darker fruit than the 1999, briary, cedar, cigar box, stronger sous-bois aromas with a hint of iodine, swelling with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent red-berried fruit that actually remind me of the 1995. There is a citrus thread running through this wine, very focused and demonstrating supreme elegance on the finish, those supple tannins ‘tickling’ the palate with their charms. Probably one of the most elegant Ducru Beaucaillou wines in recent years. Drink now-2025. WA 91 (4/2001): A supremely elegant, dense purple-colored effort, the 1998 reveals aromas of cassis, black raspberries, minerals, and currants. Precise, well-delineated, and medium to full-bodied, with magnificent purity and understated elegance, this noble, restrained wine reveals a tannic finish, suggesting 4-5 more years of cellaring is warranted. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.VM 89 (3/2014): (56% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 4% petit verdot; 13% alcohol): Bright ruby-red with an amber rim. Captivating aromas of red cherry, minerals and flowers. Very refined flavors of red- and blackcurrant, minerals and violet. Finishes long and clean, with a zingy minerality, polished tannins and building sweetness. Unfortunately, I have also had a poor bottle of this wine recently (showing animal notes and astringent drying tannins), so it may well be that this wine should be consumed fairly soon. I remember Philippe Dhalluin telling me many years ago that this wine reminded him of the 1988 made at Branaire-Ducru (which he always liked), but that he found that the '98 had a suaver character; I'm not so sure. Only 50% of the crop went into the grand vin, as in 1999 and 1997; prior to these vintages, almost two-thirds of the wine made at Branaire-Ducru went into the estate's flagship bottling. Ian d'Agata.WS 88 (7/2009): Mineral, floral and blackberry aromas. Medium-bodied, with a good core of fruit and light mint and blackberry character. Elegant and friendly.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDucru-Beaucaillou.aspNM 94 (7/2010): Served at the Ducru offline in London, this is a wonderful 1998 Saint Julien. Like the 1999, it begins quite taciturn on the nose but opens up with a little patience. Darker fruit than the 1999, briary, cedar, cigar box, stronger sous-bois aromas with a hint of iodine, swelling with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent red-berried fruit that actually remind me of the 1995. There is a citrus thread running through this wine, very focused and demonstrating supreme elegance on the finish, those supple tannins ‘tickling’ the palate with their charms. Probably one of the most elegant Ducru Beaucaillou wines in recent years. Drink now-2025. WA 91 (4/2001): A supremely elegant, dense purple-colored effort, the 1998 reveals aromas of cassis, black raspberries, minerals, and currants. Precise, well-delineated, and medium to full-bodied, with magnificent purity and understated elegance, this noble, restrained wine reveals a tannic finish, suggesting 4-5 more years of cellaring is warranted. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.VM 89 (3/2014): (56% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 4% petit verdot; 13% alcohol): Bright ruby-red with an amber rim. Captivating aromas of red cherry, minerals and flowers. Very refined flavors of red- and blackcurrant, minerals and violet. Finishes long and clean, with a zingy minerality, polished tannins and building sweetness. Unfortunately, I have also had a poor bottle of this wine recently (showing animal notes and astringent drying tannins), so it may well be that this wine should be consumed fairly soon. I remember Philippe Dhalluin telling me many years ago that this wine reminded him of the 1988 made at Branaire-Ducru (which he always liked), but that he found that the '98 had a suaver character; I'm not so sure. Only 50% of the crop went into the grand vin, as in 1999 and 1997; prior to these vintages, almost two-thirds of the wine made at Branaire-Ducru went into the estate's flagship bottling. Ian d'Agata.WS 88 (7/2009): Mineral, floral and blackberry aromas. Medium-bodied, with a good core of fruit and light mint and blackberry character. Elegant and friendly.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDucru-Beaucaillou.aspNM 94 (7/2010): Served at the Ducru offline in London, this is a wonderful 1998 Saint Julien. Like the 1999, it begins quite taciturn on the nose but opens up with a little patience. Darker fruit than the 1999, briary, cedar, cigar box, stronger sous-bois aromas with a hint of iodine, swelling with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent red-berried fruit that actually remind me of the 1995. There is a citrus thread running through this wine, very focused and demonstrating supreme elegance on the finish, those supple tannins ‘tickling’ the palate with their charms. Probably one of the most elegant Ducru Beaucaillou wines in recent years. Drink now-2025. WA 91 (4/2001): A supremely elegant, dense purple-colored effort, the 1998 reveals aromas of cassis, black raspberries, minerals, and currants. Precise, well-delineated, and medium to full-bodied, with magnificent purity and understated elegance, this noble, restrained wine reveals a tannic finish, suggesting 4-5 more years of cellaring is warranted. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.VM 89 (3/2014): (56% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 4% petit verdot; 13% alcohol): Bright ruby-red with an amber rim. Captivating aromas of red cherry, minerals and flowers. Very refined flavors of red- and blackcurrant, minerals and violet. Finishes long and clean, with a zingy minerality, polished tannins and building sweetness. Unfortunately, I have also had a poor bottle of this wine recently (showing animal notes and astringent drying tannins), so it may well be that this wine should be consumed fairly soon. I remember Philippe Dhalluin telling me many years ago that this wine reminded him of the 1988 made at Branaire-Ducru (which he always liked), but that he found that the '98 had a suaver character; I'm not so sure. Only 50% of the crop went into the grand vin, as in 1999 and 1997; prior to these vintages, almost two-thirds of the wine made at Branaire-Ducru went into the estate's flagship bottling. Ian d'Agata.WS 88 (7/2009): Mineral, floral and blackberry aromas. Medium-bodied, with a good core of fruit and light mint and blackberry character. Elegant and friendly.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDucru-Beaucaillou.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDuhartMilon.aspWA 96 (2/2013): Dense purple, with classic notes of cedar and lead pencil shavings as well as gobs of back currants and licorice, the wine has a full-bodied mouthfeel with fabulous precision and density. It also possesses a long, silky finish with moderately high tannins, but they are ripe and well-integrated. The wood is clearly pushed to the background in this dense, full-bodied Pauillac, which should drink beautifully for 30+ years.NM 95 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The nose attired by the Duhart Milon 2010 is slightly more decadent than its peers, with hints of fresh prune and fruitcake infusing the black cedar fruit. The oak is nicely integrated but it needs another 3-4 years for the oak to fully integrate. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins on the entry. There is a lovely saline note here, a dash of white pepper and a long, satisfying, quite dense finish. Excellent.JS 93 (2/2013): A wine with an intense sous bois, fresh tobacco and dried flower character on the nose and palate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and an attractive finish. It's structured yet polished with a beauty and stature. Try in 2015.WS 91 (3/2013): Well-polished, with sleek edges to the fleshy plum, cassis and blackberry fruit, while the finish is embedded with black licorice and violet notes. Approachable now, but the stuffing is there to cellar this for a bit. Drink now through 2025http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDuhartMilon.aspJS 92 (2/2015): Lots of currants, dried strawberries, sweet tobacco and cedar on the nose. Full to medium body and a solid structure. Reminds me of some outstanding Lafites of the 1980s such as 1985. A little tight and closed. Try in 2020.VM 90 (1/2016): A deep, generous wine, the 2012 Duhart-Milon offers lovely depth and resonance throughout. Black fruit, graphite, smoke and licorice are some of the signatures. The 2012 is a bit rustic and rough around the edges, but it has enough depth to drink well for another decade plus. Antonio Galloni.WS 90 (3/2015): Red currant, cherry and pomegranate notes form the core and flesh out steadily through the finish, picking up apple wood and anise accents along the way. Features polished grip through the finish, with a light echo of loam lending some contrast. Best from 2017 through 2025. 25,000 cases made.WA 89 (4/2015): This property has enjoyed the considerable investments from the Rothschild family and the quality of the wines over the last generation has been increasingly impressive. I’ve always written that if you can’t afford Lafite Rothschild, why not try Duhart Milon, which is not far off the quality of its much more famous neighbor. Spicy, deep ruby/purple with notes of cassis, cedar wood and spice box, the wine is soft, round, juicy, medium-bodied and ideal for drinking now and over the next 15 or so years. It is not one of their finest efforts, but it is certainly well-made, supple-textured and seductive.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChDuhartMilon.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLEgliseClinet.aspWA 98 (6/2009): A blockbuster, dark plum/garnet-colored wine, the 1982 L’Evangile reveals a decadent, extravagantly rich nose of caramelized fruit, plum, licorice, smoked meats, and toffee. This opulent, full-bodied Pomerol caresses the palate with layers and layers of glycerin and fruit. The tannin is barely noticeable in this massive, rich, gorgeous effort. The complexity of the nose alone is worth a special admission price. It is close to full maturity, and is capable of lasting another 20-25 years. VM 95 (8/2002): The bottle in the blind flight was corked. Second bottle: Impressively saturated dark red. Exotic, slightly candied aromas of raspberry liqueur, roasted meat, coffee and chocolate. Wonderfully sweet and mouthfilling, but the wine underlying minerality adds to the impression of lift and grip. Spreads out impressively to saturate the palate. A compelling example of this wine, finishing with strong but fine tannins and terrific verve. But the '61 is even richer. Drink now through 2020. 7/2002NM 91 (12/2013): The L'Evangile has been rather inconsistent since I first encountered it. Here, the nose is overawed by the Trotanoy 1982 served alongside. There is sense of conservatism here, a lack of exuberance and ambition that many of its peers exploited, whereas L'Evangile does not know quite what to do. It is certainly well balanced on the palate, structured and more linear than Trotanoy but somehow missing the animation and tension one would have liked on the finish. It is not a bad L'Evangile by a long shot, but the bottom line is that it seems rather charmless.WS 86 (11/1998): I have never had a great bottle of this wine. Ink-colored, with an amber edge. Has gorgeous floral, berry and raspberry aromas, but turns slightly papery. Full-bodied and rich despite its dry finish. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLEvangile.aspJS 94 (2/2013): What a nose with green olives, olive oil and dark fruit aromas. Full body, with fabulous soft tannins and a glorious texture. It's long and so pretty. Delicious already. Second wine of L'Evangile. Better in 2015. WS 92 (7/2013): Features the vintage's dark graphite spine running through juicy linzer torte and boysenberry fruit flavors, framed by ganache and red licorice notes. Picks up more grip on the briar-tinged finish, while mouthwatering acidity drives underneath. Best from 2014 through 2024. 750 cases made. NM 89 (11/2012): The Blason de L’Evangile has copious small red cherries and hints of blueberry jam on the well-defined bouquet. The oak is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple, spice-tinged opening. There is a lovely peppery note to the Blason, the small percentage (11.6%) of Cabernet Franc lending a slight savoury edge on the finish. WA 88 (2/2013): The second wine, the 2010 Blason de l’Evangile, is attractive and straightforward, but richly fruity and showing some of L’Evangile’s tell-tale black raspberry, black currant and licorice notes intermixed with good body and sweet tannins in a forward style. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BlasondelEvangile.aspJS 99-100 (4/2016): What a wine here. It is so traditional and powerful with super depth of fruit and chewy tannins. Full body, incredible concentration and length. It’s so muscular and powerful. So minerally and nutty (walnuts). Marvelous. WA 96-98 (4/2016): The 2015 L'Evangile is a blend of 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc picked between September 15 and October 5, and September 29 to October 5 respectively. Matured almost in 100% new oak, it has a very pure and charming bouquet, the Merlot dominant and slightly shrouding the Cabernet Franc at the moment. It is worth staying with this Pomerol, because it does change after four to five minutes in the glass, revealing touches of truffle and iodine. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, well-judged acidity, understated on the entry but gaining momentum in the glass, retaining a wonderful sense of symmetry and finishing with precision and class. This could well be the pick of the wines from the Domaines Barons Rothschild stable in 2015 and kudos to winemaker Jean-Pascal Vazart. VM 94-97 (4/2016): One of the highlights of the year, the 2015 L'Évangile is deep, powerful and intense, with remarkable concentration and plenty of power. Dark fruit, exotic spice and new leather are all pushed forward. A dramatic, towering wine, the 2015 is endowed with real density, big, but creamy tannins and exceptional balance, especially for a wine of its size. The blend is 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc, brought in between September 15 and October 5, and September 29 and October 6 respectively. Seventy percent of the production went into the Grand Vin, which is aging in 100% new oak. The 2015 is a powerhouse that will need considerable bottle age to be at its best. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLEvangile.aspWA 91 (3/1990): This wine has improved significantly and actually tastes better than the 1981 d’Yquem -- as hard as that may be to believe. Spectacularly rich, very sweet, and alcoholic, it has taken on a medium gold color. There is plenty of evidence of botrytis, but the low acidity and unctuous, thick, viscous feel on the palate suggest this is a wine that is probably best drunk over the next decade. Anticipated maturity: Now-2000.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdeFargues.aspWA 91 (3/1990): This wine has improved significantly and actually tastes better than the 1981 d’Yquem -- as hard as that may be to believe. Spectacularly rich, very sweet, and alcoholic, it has taken on a medium gold color. There is plenty of evidence of botrytis, but the low acidity and unctuous, thick, viscous feel on the palate suggest this is a wine that is probably best drunk over the next decade. Anticipated maturity: Now-2000.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdeFargues.aspWS 96 (7/2012): This is so creamy, almost milky in feel, with toasted coconut and cashew notes giving way to sweet peach, apricot and glazed pear flavors that glide along, while ginger, green tea, lychee and kumquat flavors extend through the finish. Shows terrific range and definition. Feels like it's just starting to open, and is in no rush. Drink now through 2035. 2,665 cases made. WA 95 (6/2015): Tasted blind at the 10-Year On Tasting in Sauternes. The 2005 Château de Fargues has a rich and intense bouquet with layers of honey, dried peach, beeswax and acacia that soar from the glass. The palate is powerful and authoritative: intense botrytis-rich honeyed fruit with compelling mineralité underneath. It fans out in glorious fashion - a stunning de Fargues that is now beginning to show its talents. As I remarked a couple of years ago, just afford it a couple more years so that it can fully absorb the vestiges of oak. VM 92 (8/2008): Medium yellow. Exotic, high-toned apricot, spices and flowers on the nose, complemented by coconutty, toasty oak. Very sweet and unctuous, with exotic, nobly rotten flavors of pineapple, apricot and coconut and an impression of elevated alcohol. Not quite as racy, fruity or structured as the 2007; conveys an impression of softer acidity, and yet this maintains a light touch. Finishes with suggestions of vanilla and marzipan. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdeFargues.aspJS 93 (2/2012): Perfumed, with raspberries and flowers and hints of lemon. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a chewy finish. Austere now, but stylish. Best after 2018. NM 92 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Ferriere '09 is a little disjointed on the nose at the moment and lifted floral notes and an agreeable sense of space and airiness. The palate is medium-bodied with a sappy, iodine tinged entry. It is sweet and rounded in the mouth, although it does not show great weight, but the finish is long and graceful, underpinned by fine tannins. Lovely. WS 90 (3/2012): Smoky and silky, with enticing black tea, mulled spice and fleshy plum and black currant fruit that melds nicely together through the tobacco-filled finish. Drink now through 2019. 6,000 cases made. VM 87 (7/2012): Moderately saturated bright red-ruby. Aromas of redcurrant, tobacco and musky game, with a strong leafy, herbal component. Offers moderate fruit intensity and density but comes across as a bit lean and green, even pinched for the year. Finishes slightly green and dry, with decent length. Lacks the dimension for a higher score. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChFerriere.aspJS 94 (7/2012): Wonderful aromas of flowers and berries. Subtle. Full and rich with silky tannins and a rich finish. This is compacted and gorgeous. Impressed. Try in 2016.WA 92+ (2/2012): A terrific, classic Graves with notes of subtle smoke, black raspberries, black currants, graphite and unsmoked cigar tobacco, this full-bodied, deep, concentrated de Fieuzal is far more generous and deep than most vintages of the past. There is also a wonderful freshness and length to this somewhat oversized de Fieuzal while it still maintains its elegance and class. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.VM 92 (7/2012): Good bright ruby-red. Ripe, enticing aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, black raspberry, tobacco and graphite sexed up by an exotic suggestion of honeysuckle. Lush and silky on entry, then deeply fruity and spicy in the middle, with harmonious acidity giving shape to the fruit. Impressively dense for Fieuzal: this seriously rich yet vibrant 2009 finishes with serious but fully ripe tannins, excellent length and the structure to age. A big success for the property. Stephen Tanzer.NM 92 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The de Fieuzal ‘09 has a very perfumed bouquet that is showing quite a bit of creamy new oak at the moment, but it is in synch with the layers of ripe black fruit lying underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, crisp acidity and a luscious, svelte finish of tart red cherries, raspberry jam and just a touch of balsamic. This is a delicious Pessac-Leognan. WS 92 (3/2012): Dark and winey, with gorgeous flavors of mulled plum, black currant preserves and roasted fig laced with maduro tobacco, graphite and charcoal notes. The long finish features muscle and cut. Best from 2013 through 2021. 9,800 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdeFieuzal.aspWS 90 (3/2015): Rather dark in profile, with pastis-soaked black currant and blackberry fruit at the core, studded with warm fruitcake and ganache notes. The bramble-edged finish lets the slightly exotic display of fruit maintain the upper hand. Best from 2016 through 2022. 6,500 cases made.JS 89 (2/2015): A fine and fresh wine with bright fruit and flowers, a medium body and an earthy, spicy finish. Minerally and crisp. Slightly lacks a mid-palate. Drink or hold.VM 87-90 (5/2013): Medium-deep ruby. Musky aromas of raspberry, blackcurrant and earth lifted by floral and vanilla elements. Sweet, supple and very ripe, this big, strapping wine offers rich, saline flavors of creamy dark fruits and smoky minerals. Finishes suave and stylish, with noteworthy length; harmonious acids really extend the flavors at the back. A superb Fieuzal made from obviously ripe fruit. Ian d'Agata.WA 89+ (4/2015): Loads of ripe fruit are present in this wine, but I was surprised by what appeared to be a lack of complexity and nuance. It is certainly chunky, has a dense ruby/purple color and the concentration is adequate. The wine showed blue, red and black fruits, spice, and earth, but is not showing the nuances and complexity I would have expected. Drink it over the next 15 years.NM 88-90 (4/2013): Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The de Fieuzal Rouge has a succulent bouquet of blackberry, cassis and vanilla that is modern, well defined and showy. The palate is medium-bodied with a black coffee infused entry. The acidity is crisp and there is decent fruit concentration, but the finish is a little too oaky at the moment. Let us see how it melds during elevage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdeFieuzal.aspNM 92-94 (4/2013): Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The de Fieuzal Blanc has a lifted, perfumed bouquet with touches of dried orange peel and apricot blossom that are well defined and vigorous, perhaps leaning slightly to the New World (though there is nothing wrong with that.) The palate is well balanced with crisp green fruit, lemongrass and orange zest that builds to a vibrant, satisfying finish. This is a superb white from the estate. JS 92-93 (4/2013): This white really shows Fieuzal as it used to be with a lemon, mineral and apple character. Full body, with fresh acidity and a clean finish. Bright and beautiful. Delicious already.WA 90 (4/2015): One of the top estates for dry white wines, now owned by the Quinn family, De Fieuzal’s 2012 has a light greenish/gold color and a beautiful nose of caramelized tropical fruits, fig, grapefruit and orange oil. It is crisp, lush, and best drunk over the next 10 years.WS 90 (3/2014): Layered, with savory and thyme notes melding into the core of lemon curd, white peach, straw and shortbread. The savory and plump flavors create a compelling contrast from start to finish. Drink now through 2015. 1,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdeFieuzal.aspWS 95 (1/1998): Best Figeac in years. Loads of blackberry, chocolate and stones. Full-bodied and concentrated with masses of tannins and fruit. Long, long finish. Needs time. Best after 2002. 9,500 cases made. VM 91 (6/1998): Very good full color. Lively, thoroughly ripe aromas of redcurrant, sweet butter, minerals and spices. A step up in concentration from the last two wines; full and sweet, with a mineral pungency brightening the fruit. Offers lovely finishing sweetness and dusty, ripe tannins that reach more of the mouth. Very rich but graceful wine. WA 89 (2/1998): The 50th anniversary release of the proprietors, the Manoncourt family, the 1995 Figeac is a gorgeously complex, dark ruby-colored wine that is all delicacy and complexity. The multidimensional, alluring, smoky, toasty, Asian spice, menthol, and cherry-scented nose is followed by soft, round, rich, kirsch-like flavors intermixed with black currants, herbs, and weedy tobacco. While it is less impressive in the mouth, the nose is outstanding. This is a soft, forward style of Figeac that can be drunk young or cellared. Anticipated maturity: Now-2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChFigeac.aspJS 98 (2/2012): The aromas in this are amazing, with blueberries, blackberries and fresh mushrooms. Black olives. So aromatic. Full-bodied, with super velvety tannins and lovely depth of ripe fruit. Balanced. Wild flavors on the finish of, meat, berries and forest fruits. Hints of decadence. 33% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot and 33% Cabernet Sauvignon. Best Figeac ever. Try after 2020.WS 96 (3/2012): Distinctive, with atypical (for St.-Emilion) force and drive to the black currant, roasted cedar and maduro tobacco flavors, which are supported by a dense, loam-tinged structure. Terrific roasted espresso, ganache and fig paste notes wait in reserve. Very muscular, but with the cut for balance. Best from 2017 through 2035. WA 94 (8/2016): Tasted at the Château Figeac vertical at the property and two or three times over the subsequent 12 months. The 2009 Figeac has shown very variably in the past, although my last encounter in 2013 was very positive. How about now? The 2009 seems to have closed down a little since I last tasted it: gravelly and smoky, what you might describe as austere for the vintage. Stylistically it is actually similar to the 2008 Figeac with an appealing savory entry, grainy tannin, a pinch of black pepper and a slightly clipped, but focused finish. This is one of the few Right Bank wines whereby the terroir is more expressive than the growing season, so it will appeal to those that appreciate the style of Figeac, though not necessarily to those that prefer the voluptuousness of the 2009s. Additionally, comparing it directly to the 2010, I suspect that it might not have quite as much longevity as the succeeding vintage. That said, this is still a knockout Saint Emilion that is going to bestow a lot of drinking pleasure over the years. Tasted July 2016. VM 93 (7/2012): (a very moderate 13.5% alcohol for the vintage): Red-ruby. Aromas of redcurrant and plum are complicated by gravel, tobacco, wild herbs and cedar. Lush, suave and seamless, with noteworthy energy and a restrained sweetness to the fine-grained flavors of red fruits, tobacco and herbs. Insinuating tobacco and cedar notes perfume the mouth as the wine opens in the glass. Very firm wine, finishing with noble, edge-free tannins, lingering spiciness and sneaky length. Quite ripe for Figeac but without any excesses. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChFigeac.aspJS 98 (2/2013): This is phenomenal on the nose with blackberries, fresh cep mushrooms, forest fruit, and earth. Turns to hazelnuts and dark berries. Subtle. Breathtaking. It's full-bodied on the palate, with superb tannins that last for minutes. The flavor is subtle yet incredible. Love the texture. It is the same wonderful quality level as 2009. This is so fabulous to taste now, but so much better in 2018. WS 96 (3/2013): This is very tight, showing a prominent roasted apple wood and bittersweet cocoa frame more today, though the core of dense currant paste, blackberry pâte de fruit and plum sauce waits in reserve. Gorgeous singed spice, anise and toasted fig bread notes flitter through the finish, though this needs some time in the cellar to resolve itself fully. A very distinctive, structured expression of St.-Emilion. Best from 2016 through 2035. VM 91+ (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blueberry, flowers and clove on the precise, vibrant nose. Then tight and imploded on the palate, with an almost minty, peppery austerity to the black and blue fruit flavors; hardly your typical 2010! This very pure, spicy Saint-Emilion has the structure of a cabernet, and its youthfully forbidding tannins call for at least eight years of patience. It will merit an even higher score if it blossoms in the bottle. NM 90 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Figeac 2010 has a superb, more classically lined bouquet with tense blackcurrant, raspberry and crushed violets that almost explode from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy ripe black fruit on the entry with a dash of white pepper that leaves the tongue tingling. This is very linear and composed, but there is clearly potential for those prepared to wait.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChFigeac.aspWA 96 (2/2012): Take that quality and add additional layers of concentration, power, extract and wood, and you have the 2009 La Plus de La Fleur de Bouard. Only about 500 cases of this 100% Merlot are made. With notes of blueberry and blackberry liqueur intermixed with graphite and spring flowers, this wine is absolutely massive and not for everybody, but it is an example of what a conscientious and driven producer pushing the envelope can do in a satellite appellation such as Lalande de Pomerol. Moreover, I suspect it will last for at least two decades.JS 93+ (10/2012): This has a great nose of dark chocolate, blueberries, and blackberries. Full and chewy, with powerful tannins and a long finish. The palate has flavors of fresh herbs, blackberries, and mulberries galore. Stay tuned. WS 93 (3/2012): This full-throttle red bets on power, with a thick, syrupy texture and muscular, body armor tannins. The flavor range is dominated by sanguine, mineral and espresso notes, but there's a core of blackberry and currant flavors. Thanks to fresh acidity, this remains balanced and alluring. Best from 2014 through 2028. 250 cases made.IWC 92-93 (7/2012): (I tasted a barrel sample in June; the wine was scheduled to be bottled in July): Deep, saturated ruby. Aromas of blackberry, licorice and minerals, with an exotic note of charred oak. Superconcentrated, plush and sweet but not heavy, with graphite minerality lifting the black raspberry and blackberry flavors. The very long, rising black fruit finish features chewy tannins and plenty of exotic oak tones. Truly amazing for its appellation.NM 87-89 (5/2010): Tasted at Chateau Angelus. There is a lot of new oak dominating the bouquet at the moment, but it seems to show good purity with notes of macerated black cherries, cassis and creme de menthe. The palate is full-bodied, very dense and sinewy, but far too oaky towards the finish at the expense of finesse and subtlety.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaFleurdeBouard.aspWA 94+ (2/2013): Made from 100% Merlot cropped at minuscule yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, the 2010 La Plus de La Fleur de Bouard was bottled unfined and unfiltered and came in at 14.5% natural alcohol. This wine ratchets up the level of extract, power, density and richness as well as tannin, so it needs 3-4 years of cellaring and can keep, I would assume, for up to two decades, given the performance of the 2000 in recent tastings I have done. This is a beauty, a full-throttle, pedal-to-the-metal Lalande de Pomerol that is impossible to believe comes from a less heralded appellation.IWC 93 (7/2013): Deep, bright, saturated ruby. Aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate and caraway seed are sexed up by nutty oak. Densely packed, juicy and super-concentrated, with an exhilarating sugar/acid balance and lovely violet lift to the black fruit and toffee flavors. Finishes with terrific subtle length and smooth, building tannins that coat the front teeth. An outstanding vintage for this special cuvee from one of the top properties in Lalande de Pomerol, owned by Hubert de Bouard.WS 93 (3/2013): Rich and heady now, with mocha and espresso notes holding sway, featuring a backdrop of baker's chocolate, all melded into the dense core of crushed plum, steeped fig and pastis-soaked currant fruit. Shows ample structure and remains very polished. An ambitious and successful style. Best from 2015 through 2025.JS 92-93 (4/2011): This is wonderful with fabulous blackberries and hints of minerals. Full and intense. Plenty of wood but already integrated.NM 89-91 (3/2011): This is very ripe but rather “static” on the nose with dark cherries, Dorset plum and blackberry wrapped up in a lot of new oak. The palate is full-bodied with grippy dry tannins, a lot of dry extract here with a severe tannic finish. This is rather hard-going to be honest but hopefully it will become more approachable after bottling.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaFleurdeBouard.aspWA 93 (2/2013): A pretty, elegant wine that is 100% Merlot but a very limited production (around 700-800 cases in most years), the 2010 displays good integration of oak and mulberry, plum and black raspberry fruit intermixed with some licorice, underbrush, vanillin and spice box. This is a voluptuously textured, round, seductive style of Pomerol to drink over the next 12-15 years. JS 93 (2/2013): Coffee, cranberries, crushed juniper and plums. Full and with chewy tannins on the palate. It's juicy and intense with a lovely depth of fruit and intense finish. So good already. Try from 2017.WS 93 (3/2013): This is on a different pitch, with intensely aromatic blueberry, loganberry and blackberry fruit flavors laced with mouthwatering charcoal and graphite notes. Gorgeous ganache and black tea accents fill in the finish, while allspice and singed alder take over on the aftertaste. Shows serious cut and drive. Best from 2016 through 2026. 750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaFleurdeGay.aspWA 93 (2/2013): A pretty, elegant wine that is 100% Merlot but a very limited production (around 700-800 cases in most years), the 2010 displays good integration of oak and mulberry, plum and black raspberry fruit intermixed with some licorice, underbrush, vanillin and spice box. This is a voluptuously textured, round, seductive style of Pomerol to drink over the next 12-15 years. JS 93 (2/2013): Coffee, cranberries, crushed juniper and plums. Full and with chewy tannins on the palate. It's juicy and intense with a lovely depth of fruit and intense finish. So good already. Try from 2017.WS 93 (3/2013): This is on a different pitch, with intensely aromatic blueberry, loganberry and blackberry fruit flavors laced with mouthwatering charcoal and graphite notes. Gorgeous ganache and black tea accents fill in the finish, while allspice and singed alder take over on the aftertaste. Shows serious cut and drive. Best from 2016 through 2026. 750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaFleurdeGay.aspWA 92 (4/2015): A real strong effort from La Fleur de Gay, this wine (100% Merlot) has a dense purple color, sweet black cherry fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, excellent purity, depth and length. Again, the oak is well-hidden behind a luxurious level of fruit. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.WS 92 (3/2015): This has a range of dark plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavors, along with alluring charcoal, black tea and roasted juniper notes. The solid, fleshy finish pulls everything together, while dark chocolate details linger. Best from 2017 through 2024. 375 cases made.JS 91 (2/2015): A full-bodied Pomerol with lots of ripe and rich fruit that gives a coffee and smoke undertone. Soft and velvety tannins. Better in 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaFleurdeGay.aspJS 98 (2/2013): Fresh and clean with hazelnut, chocolate and berry character. Truffles too. Full body, with silky tannins and a tangy finish. I like the balance and finesse to this young Lafleur Petrus. So refined and beautiful. Better in 2017.WA 97 (2/2013): This wine has a character similar to its cross-street neighbor, Petrus, displaying sweet mulberry and intense black fruit characteristics, with a hint of vanillin and loads of black cherry jam. Full-bodied, extravagantly luscious, with a skyscraper-like mid-palate and phenomenal length of close to 50 seconds, the wine has plenty of tannin, but the voluptuous fruit, power and overall glycerin and intensity tend to conceal much of it. Elegant but compellingly rich and authoritative, the 2010 is a truly magnificent wine for this estate, which has one of the finest terroirs in all of Pomerol. Forget it for 5-7 years and drink it over the following 30-35. NM 97 (1/2014): The La Fleur-Petrus 2010 is the dark horse of Pomerol, the one Right Bank cru that surpassed not only my expectations, but indeed those of everybody else that participated in the tasting. It has a slightly muffled bouquet at first, although it gains clarity with aeration, with marine-influenced black fruit that is neatly folded into the oak. The palate is medium-bodied and the acidity well judged. Structured and quite masculine with fine focus and tension, this is fans out beautifully towards the long, sophisticated finish. This is a supremely well-crafted wine, one to go out and grab now before it's too late.WS 97 (3/2013): This has a dense, almost loamy feel at the core, with smoldering bay and ganache notes leading to layers of fig preserves, blackberry coulis and steeped black currant fruit. The terrific, charcoal-coated grip drives the finish with authority. This seems poised to expand significantly in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2035. 3,700 cases made.IWC 95+ (8/2013): Good bright red-ruby. Very fresh, highly scented nose combines cherry, raspberry, flowers, crushed stone, tobacco and underbrush; this could only be Pomerol. Fat, ripe and extremely deep but with uncanny precision and peppery lift to its vibrant flavors of cherry, raspberry, black tea and stony minerality. A Pomerol of great energy and refinement, finishing with firm tannic spine, terrific peppery lift and outstanding mineral reserve. Based on this wine's tightly coiled quality and uncanny depth, I would expect it to merit an even higher score a decade from now, when it will probably also reveal more flesh and sweetness.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaFleurPetrus.aspWS 90 (12/2007): Intense aromas of crushed blackberries and cassis. Full-bodied, with ripe fruit and velvety tannins. Long. Slightly one-dimensional. Needs to develop.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. IWC 89+ (6/1998): Very unforthcoming on the nose; opened to show a whiff of shoe polish. Also quite closed in on itself in the mouth; hints of black cherry and dark chocolate. Rather powerfully structured and tough to taste today, but conveys an impression of of excellent concentration. As I noted last year, the substantial tannins coat the insides of the cheeks. May ultimately merit a 90+ rating.WA 89 (2/1998): Latour's second wine, Forts de Latour, is now one of the two or three finest second wines of Bordeaux (Bahans-Haut-Brion and the Clos du Marquis of Leoville Las-Cases are two other personal favorites). The terrific, dark ruby/purple-colored 1995 possesses a sweet, jammy black fruit-scented nose intertwined with smoky minerals, earth, and spicy oak. The wine is surprisingly thick and rich in the mouth, with its glycerin and concentration of fruit largely concealing the moderate tannin. This excellent, sweet wine is less powerful, but more accessible than the 1996. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LesFortsdeLatour.aspWS 90 (12/2007): Intense aromas of crushed blackberries and cassis. Full-bodied, with ripe fruit and velvety tannins. Long. Slightly one-dimensional. Needs to develop.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. VM 89+ (6/1998): Very unforthcoming on the nose; opened to show a whiff of shoe polish. Also quite closed in on itself in the mouth; hints of black cherry and dark chocolate. Rather powerfully structured and tough to taste today, but conveys an impression of of excellent concentration. As I noted last year, the substantial tannins coat the insides of the cheeks. May ultimately merit a 90+ rating. WA 89 (2/1998): Latour's second wine, Forts de Latour, is now one of the two or three finest second wines of Bordeaux (Bahans-Haut-Brion and the Clos du Marquis of Leoville Las-Cases are two other personal favorites). The terrific, dark ruby/purple-colored 1995 possesses a sweet, jammy black fruit-scented nose intertwined with smoky minerals, earth, and spicy oak. The wine is surprisingly thick and rich in the mouth, with its glycerin and concentration of fruit largely concealing the moderate tannin. This excellent, sweet wine is less powerful, but more accessible than the 1996. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LesFortsdeLatour.aspWA 91 (4/2003): A brilliant Forts de Latour, the 2000 boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with a vibrant nose of black currants intermixed with minerals, tobacco, and spice box. Medium to full-bodied, with loads of glycerin and fat (that nearly obscure some serious tannin), it will be drinkable between 2007-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LesFortsdeLatour.aspWA 92 (2/2009): The brilliant second wine, the 2006 Les Forts de Latour, a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, possesses a dense ruby/purple color, a beautiful bouquet of asphalt, cassis, cedar, truffles, and earth, and a full-bodied, dense, beautiful style that is similar to a 1996 Pauillac. It will age effortlessly for 15 years.IWC 91 (6/2009): Deep ruby-red. Black fruits, licorice, minerals, tobacco and iron on the complex nose. The wine's sweetness almost comes as a shock, but the creamy blueberry and blackberry fruit flavors are given lift and clarity by firm acidity and solid underlying minerality. Finishes with sweet tannins and subtle persistence. An unusually accessible young Forts de Latour, and riper than it appeared to be in the early going: as I recall, its supple character is partly attributable to the fact that it includes a good bit of declassified Latour merlot but less Latour press wine than usual.WS 89 (3/2009): Blackberry and violet aromas, with a hint of black licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, with slightly chewy tannins and a medium finish. A little hollow midpalate. The second wine of Latour. Best from 2013 through 2017.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LesFortsdeLatour.aspWA 97 (2/2013): Bizarre as it may sound, the 2010 Les Forts de Latour is also the finest I have ever tasted from this selection, which comes from specific vineyards, not really so much a second wine as just another wine from estate holdings. A blend of 72.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27.5% Merlot that represents 40% of the production, this astonishing wine hit 14.3% natural alcohol. Extremely ripe and rich, it reminds me of the 1982 on steroids (and that wine is still drinking great 30 years after the vintage). Sensational notes of graphite, crushed rocks, black fruits, camphor and damp forest notes are present in this expansive, savory, full-throttle wine, which is better than many vintages of the great Latour itself from the past. (That may be a heretical statement, but it’s the truth as I see it.) This wine needs a good 5-6 years of cellaring and should age for three decades at minimum, given the fact that the 1982 is in terrific form and wasn’t this concentrated or prodigious. JS 96 (11/2013): Aromas of currants, blueberries and blackberries with a dark chocolate undertone. Perfumes and beautiful. Full body, with velvety tannins that are fine-tuned and tentative. It lasts for minutes. Gorgeous fruit and richness. Perhaps the greatest Les Fort ever? Try in 2018.NM 95 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. This is a very strong performance from Les Forts de Latour. It has a vivacious bouquet with ripe blackcurrant, raspberry, cedar and mint scents, very ripe and opulent with layers of discretely embroidered vanillary new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, well judged acidity and a sophisticated, graphite finish with a long cedar and sous-bois influenced tail. Excellent. WS 95 (3/2013): A solid, briary, grippy, tarry Pauillac, with a sappy edge to the kirsch, blackberry, plum skin and steeped fig notes, liberally laced with anise and tar. Shows good energy through the finish, with a cassis bush note echoing. Best from 2017 through 2035.VM 90 (7/2013): Deep red. Sweet red cherry, cassis, cedar and graphite on the showy nose. Sweet and chewy in the mouth, with red fruit liqueur and Oriental spice elements carrying through on the tactile, long finish. Much better than the Pauillac, which is the estate's third wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LesFortsdeLatour.aspWA 89 (4/2003): This wine is the product of a vinification supervised by St.-Emilion's Jean-Luc Thunevin. Dense ruby/purple, with notes of charcoal, new oak, plums, black cherries, and licorice, this medium to full-bodied wine shows plenty of density as well as moderate tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChFrancMaillet.aspWA 95+ (2/2013): The 2010's final blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc offers up impressive levels of red, blue and black fruits as well as some toasty oak and crushed rock, giving it minerality. Of course, the acidity in this vintage, with its lower pHs than 2009, provide a freshness and precision that is rare for wines so rich. This wine has plenty of tannin, so give it 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years. IWC 93+ (8/2013): (an 85/15 blend of merlot and cabernet franc): Good deep ruby-red. Sexy aromas reminded me a bit of Burgundy: black raspberry, spices, graphite minerality, flowers and chocolate. Then penetrating and very firmly built, with a distinctly medicinal cast to its smoky black fruit and tobacco flavors and a strong spine of acidity. Very intense and fine-grained Saint-Emilion, but lush and seamless too. This chateau has produced consistently excellent wines in recent vintages and this should be the best of the bunch with six to eight years in the cellar. JS 92-93 (4/2011): Tasty and juicy, with a lovely blackberry and chocolate character. Round and velvety. Shows a lovely richness.NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The La Gaffeliere feels just a little jammy on the nose compared to the Valandraud: maraschino cherries, juniper and liquorice - quite decadent and showy, some VA creeping in with time. The palate has a sweet chewy entry with firm and solid tannins. There are layers of dense red fruit and a tight, assertive finish that will need several years to soften. A little unruly at the moment, this should eventually mellow and perhaps merit a higher score. WS 89 (12/2013): Forward, with plum, blueberry and raspberry fruit gently studded with spice shadings and a flash of anise. A friendly wine, though just a touch loosely knit in the end. Drink now through 2019.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaGaffeliere.aspWA 94+ (5/2011): One of the top successes of the vintage, the 2008 Le Gay, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc (13.5% alcohol) was produced from tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it exhibits a dense purple color as well as a sweet nose of spring flowers intermixed with blueberries, blackberries, dark raspberries, crushed rocks and white chocolate. Full-bodied, super intense and extremely promising (although it is unusually backward for a 2008), it will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring and may merit an even higher score in a decade or so. It should last for 30+ years, making it one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage.VM 92 (8/2011): Full, deep red-ruby. Inviting aromas of blackberry, licorice, violet and mint. Superconcentrated, lush and generous, but with excellent energy to the black fruit and crushed stone flavors. Boasts superb sweetness paired with excellent grip. Really spreads out on the broad, long finish, which features serious but plush tannins. This very suave and deep Le Gay should be held for at least five or six years.WS 92 (4/2011): Racy blackberry and graphite notes are framed by light toast and mineral in this vibrant, expressive red. The ripe tannins are well-integrated and give backbone to the plush texture. There's beautiful balance, with depth and drive. Drink now through 2020. 1,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeGay.aspNM 97 (6/2013): This is a monumental Le Gay, perhaps one of the finest ever produced at the estate and, similar to other vintages, it just seems to get better and better with each passing year. Here, it has an utterly seductive bouquet that remains very youthful with ripe dark cherries and boysenberry jam that explode from the glass. There is a floral note to this perfumed nose that gains intensity with aeration. The palate is very intense, quite backward and structured, supporting layers of pure ripe black and red succulent fruit that will need several years to soften. It is the sheer dimension of this wine that is so captivating. Stunning. Have you got your bottle yet? WA 96+ (2/2012): Tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare and a final blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc have produced an enormously concentrated, black/purple-colored wine exhibiting notes of roasted meats, smoked game, blackberries, coffee, incense and forest floor. This distinctive, large-scaled, viscous, thick Pomerol may be as concentrated as some of this estate’s all-time classics (1947 and 1950). I am puzzled by why I could not see this a few years ago. In any event, this is one of the most profound Le Gay’s ever produced. Forget it for at least a decade and drink it over the following half century. WS 94 (3/2012): Very fresh and pure, this displays a lovely tobacco streak cutting through the enticing core of crushed plum, mulled raspberry and dark fig fruit. Long and racy on the finish, with singed cedar nicely embedded. Has opulence but stays focused. Best from 2013 through 2029. 1,500 cases made. JS 94 (3/2012): Aromas of blackberries, with a milky chocolate and berry character. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. So delicious now, but better in a few years. A wine with balance and finesse. Best in 2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeGay.aspNM 97 (6/2013): This is a monumental Le Gay, perhaps one of the finest ever produced at the estate and, similar to other vintages, it just seems to get better and better with each passing year. Here, it has an utterly seductive bouquet that remains very youthful with ripe dark cherries and boysenberry jam that explode from the glass. There is a floral note to this perfumed nose that gains intensity with aeration. The palate is very intense, quite backward and structured, supporting layers of pure ripe black and red succulent fruit that will need several years to soften. It is the sheer dimension of this wine that is so captivating. Stunning. Have you got your bottle yet? WA 96+ (2/2012): Tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare and a final blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc have produced an enormously concentrated, black/purple-colored wine exhibiting notes of roasted meats, smoked game, blackberries, coffee, incense and forest floor. This distinctive, large-scaled, viscous, thick Pomerol may be as concentrated as some of this estate’s all-time classics (1947 and 1950). I am puzzled by why I could not see this a few years ago. In any event, this is one of the most profound Le Gay’s ever produced. Forget it for at least a decade and drink it over the following half century. WS 94 (3/2012): Very fresh and pure, this displays a lovely tobacco streak cutting through the enticing core of crushed plum, mulled raspberry and dark fig fruit. Long and racy on the finish, with singed cedar nicely embedded. Has opulence but stays focused. Best from 2013 through 2029. 1,500 cases made. JS 94 (3/2012): Aromas of blackberries, with a milky chocolate and berry character. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. So delicious now, but better in a few years. A wine with balance and finesse. Best in 2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeGay.aspWS 91 (3/2015): This shows a good spine from the start, with a roasted apple wood note providing cut, while plum, raspberry and blackberry paste flavors fill in. Shows a graphite edge on the finish, accompanied by a prevalent but well-embedded woodsy hint. Best from 2017 through 2025. 1,758 cases made. VM 90 (1/2016): The 2012 La Croix de Gay is endowed with real depth as well as tannins that are going to need time to settle down. Iron, smoke, leather, tobacco and white pepper are some of the many aromas that add nuance as the wine continues to open up in the glass. Full-bodied and powerful for the year, the 2012 should drink well for another decade or so once the tannins become a bit more friendly. Antonio Galloni. NM 90-92 (5/2013): The La Croix de Gay has an unpretentious, straightforward bouquet with dark berries, cranberry and a touch of cassis fruit that is airy and well defined. The palate is well defined with good balance, well-integrated oak and fine weight. The finish is focused and defined, building towards the refined finish of tobacco-laced black fruit. JS 90-91 (4/2013): This is very well done with a mineral, chalk, and dark fruit character with tangy acidity. Full and structured with a solid core of fruit. Polished tannins. WA 88+ (4/2015): Normally a relatively lighter style of Pomerol, even though the terroir is situated strategically on the plateau of this appellation, the 2012 has a slightly denser color than one normally sees, along with more structure, richness and intensity. The complexity has yet to emerge, and the wine is somewhat monolithic and chunky, but there is potential underlying the levels of fruit and body. This medium to full-bodied, bigger-than-usual La Croix de Gay needs another several years of bottle age and should drink well for 15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaCroixdeGay.aspWS 93 (3/2008): Displays blackberry, cherry and hints of sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins and a long, caressing finish. Very pretty and solid. This is structured and chewy. Needs time. Best after 2013. 20,830 cases made.WA 91 (4/2008): This forward-styled 2005 possesses a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet bouquet of roasted herbs, fudge, espresso, figs, and cherry jam. Opulent, even decadent, with low acidity, but high glycerin and fruit extract as well as a flamboyant fleshiness, this is a stunningly impressive, hedonistic, savory Margaux to enjoy between 2010-2025.IWC 91 (6/2008): Good ruby-red. Lovely lift to the aromas of black fruits, licorice and minerals. Pure, intense and sweet, offering an enticing combination of black fruit, mineral and dark chocolate flavors. Finishes long and sweet, with plenty of tannic structure and a lingering note of bitter chocolate. A juicy, serious wine with some power. This has turned out very well.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGiscours.aspJS 95 (11/2013): Aromas of mint and currants with hints of fresh herbs. Then turns to plum jam. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and pretty fruit. Long and caressing. This is really outstanding. Better in 2017. WS 94 (3/2013): Features a lightly firm, singed alder frame around a core of dark plum, cherry and cassis bush notes. Taut tar and warm paving stone notes fill in on the finish. Shows serious, well-embedded grip, and the core of fruit is spot on. This has the range, length and cut for the cellar. Best from 2014 through 2030. NM 93 (6/2015): Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical, the 2010 Château Giscours is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot picked between September 27 and October 14. I contrasted this directly against the superb 2009, but I still maintain that this has the upper hand, albeit in a different style. The aromatics are very focused with black fruit, violets, fig and mineral scents that are very well defined. But you need patience - this is not as immediate as the previous vintage. The palate delivers, delivers and delivers brilliant delineation and poise, more freshness than it knows what to do with, an intensity that is supremely well focused and length in the mouth. There is even a dab of mint chocolate making a surprise appearance on the aftertaste. This is a very impressive Giscours. VM 90+ (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry and licorice pastille on the nose. Then sweet, juicy and energetic in the mouth, with complex flavors of plum, currant, cedar, tobacco and spices along with a gamey nuance. Firmly built but not hard. Finishes with serious but fine-grained tannins and a note of licorice. Still a bit strict today, this wine has the structure to repay aging. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGiscours.aspJS 95 (11/2013): Aromas of mint and currants with hints of fresh herbs. Then turns to plum jam. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and pretty fruit. Long and caressing. This is really outstanding. Better in 2017. WS 94 (3/2013): Features a lightly firm, singed alder frame around a core of dark plum, cherry and cassis bush notes. Taut tar and warm paving stone notes fill in on the finish. Shows serious, well-embedded grip, and the core of fruit is spot on. This has the range, length and cut for the cellar. Best from 2014 through 2030. NM 93 (6/2015): Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical, the 2010 Château Giscours is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot picked between September 27 and October 14. I contrasted this directly against the superb 2009, but I still maintain that this has the upper hand, albeit in a different style. The aromatics are very focused with black fruit, violets, fig and mineral scents that are very well defined. But you need patience - this is not as immediate as the previous vintage. The palate delivers, delivers and delivers brilliant delineation and poise, more freshness than it knows what to do with, an intensity that is supremely well focused and length in the mouth. There is even a dab of mint chocolate making a surprise appearance on the aftertaste. This is a very impressive Giscours. VM 90+ (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry and licorice pastille on the nose. Then sweet, juicy and energetic in the mouth, with complex flavors of plum, currant, cedar, tobacco and spices along with a gamey nuance. Firmly built but not hard. Finishes with serious but fine-grained tannins and a note of licorice. Still a bit strict today, this wine has the structure to repay aging. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGiscours.aspJS 95 (11/2013): Aromas of mint and currants with hints of fresh herbs. Then turns to plum jam. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and pretty fruit. Long and caressing. This is really outstanding. Better in 2017. WS 94 (3/2013): Features a lightly firm, singed alder frame around a core of dark plum, cherry and cassis bush notes. Taut tar and warm paving stone notes fill in on the finish. Shows serious, well-embedded grip, and the core of fruit is spot on. This has the range, length and cut for the cellar. Best from 2014 through 2030. NM 93 (6/2015): Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical, the 2010 Château Giscours is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot picked between September 27 and October 14. I contrasted this directly against the superb 2009, but I still maintain that this has the upper hand, albeit in a different style. The aromatics are very focused with black fruit, violets, fig and mineral scents that are very well defined. But you need patience - this is not as immediate as the previous vintage. The palate delivers, delivers and delivers brilliant delineation and poise, more freshness than it knows what to do with, an intensity that is supremely well focused and length in the mouth. There is even a dab of mint chocolate making a surprise appearance on the aftertaste. This is a very impressive Giscours. VM 90+ (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry and licorice pastille on the nose. Then sweet, juicy and energetic in the mouth, with complex flavors of plum, currant, cedar, tobacco and spices along with a gamey nuance. Firmly built but not hard. Finishes with serious but fine-grained tannins and a note of licorice. Still a bit strict today, this wine has the structure to repay aging. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGiscours.aspJS 92 (2/2015): Some red cherries and plums with cedar and clove notes on the nose. This is a full-bodied red with soft tannins, lovely acidity and a long, floral finish. Structured Giscours. Drink from 2018.WS 90 (3/2015): This has a noticeable pepper and charcoal backdrop, but the core of black tea, crushed plum and warm currant confiture holds sway overall, while refined tannins carry the finish. Should fill out a bit more with cellaring. Best from 2017 through 2022. 23,330 cases made.WA 90 (4/2015): The plump, rich and densely purple-colored 2012 Giscours, has turned out very well in this vintage, offering loads of fruit. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it has a moderate finish, and is medium to full-bodied, with excellent licorice and crème de cassis notes, and a broad, round, juicy mouthfeel. This is a wine that can be drunk young or cellared for 12-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGiscours.aspWS 89 (3/2015): Juicy plum and blackberry fruit is spiked with an overt savory edge that runs through the finish, picking up pepper, bay leaf and juniper notes. This has energy, but finishes with more chewy austerity than flesh. Might soften somewhat with cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2021. 15,000 cases made. NM 89-91 (4/2013): The Gloria 2012 is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot raised in 40% new oak and cropped just a little higher than the Saint Pierre. It has a strong graphite-infused, earthy bouquet that does not possess the same fruit concentration as the Saint Pierre. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, slightly dry tannins. There is decent fruit concentration here although the finish does not quite have the complexity of great successes in recent vintages. This will be an earlier-drinking, serviceable Gloria, although this year I prefer the Saint Pierre. WA 88 (4/2015): The 2012 is a successful effort once again from Château Gloria, a property that has been on a major qualitative roll for decades. Dense ruby/purple in color, it has sweet, juicy, blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, no real evidence of any oak, but a fleshy, open-knit, meaty mouthfeel. Excellent purity, low acidity and ripe tannin all characterize this beautiful wine, which should drink well for 12-15 years. Another major sleeper of the vintage. JS 88 (2/2015): This red shows black cherries with cacao and spicess on the nose, following through to a full body, silky tannins, bright acidity and a mouth-watering finish. A little hollow on the mid-palate. Better in 2017.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGloria.aspNM 95 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The La Gomerie ‘09 is turning out to be a little beauty. It has a very elegant, fleshy bouquet of ripe red cherries, wild strawberry and a hint of marmalade. It is very well defined and pure. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, succulent tannins. It is powerful but refined with a very classy, caressing finish. Delicious – what a great Saint Emilion La Gomerie is becoming.VM 93 (7/2012): Bright red-ruby. Inviting aromas of blackcurrant, mocha, cocoa powder, licorice, mint and flowers. Concentrated, fine-grained and vibrant, with highly perfumed flavors of dark berries, cocoa powder, mocha and potpourri spices. Finishes smooth and very long, with nicely integrated tannins. A lovely vintage for this all-merlot bottling. Stephen Tanzer.WA 91 (2/2012): This wine now exhibits the evolved, full-bodied, opulent style for which this 100% Merlot cuvee is renowned. Abundant mocha, cranberry liqueur, kirsch, licorice and subtle espresso roast and smoke (from new barriques) characteristics are found in this attractive St.-Emilion. Some of the concerns I had early on were not evident in the bottle, although I do not believe the 2009 is as flashy and concentrated as La Gomerie’s greatest efforts can be. Drink the 2009 over the next 15+ years.WS 89 (7/2012): Polished and supple, this red offers cocoa, black cherry, toast and tobacco flavors. A bit loose on the palate, but generous and fresh. Drink now through 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaGomerie.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGracia.aspNM 92-94 (4/2013): The 2012 is a blend 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked from 9th October until 20th October. There is much more restraint on the nose compared to recent vintages with superb delineation and focus. A more classic Grand Mayne in the offing? The palate is very well balanced with silky smooth tannins, very fine acidity and a sophisticated, elegant finish with beautifully integrated oak. Superb wine Jean-Antoine! JS 92 (2/2015): This is very intense for the vintage with blueberry, light coffee and wet earth character. Full body, silky and polished tannins and a long, long finish. Excellent. Better in 2018.WS 91 (3/2015): Very polished, with a flattering feel up front and lots of ripe plum, blackberry paste and blueberry reduction notes at the core. Shows some serious grip on the back end, with ganache and graphite accents joining a brambly hint on the finish. This should stretch out in the cellar as both sides come together. Best from 2017 through 2026. 3,125 cases made.VM 90 (1/2015): The 2012 Grand Mayne is dark and brooding in the glass. Ripe black cherries, blueberry jam, mocha, licorice and new leather are some of the many notes that fill out the wine's big, broad shouldered frame. A voluptuous yet also heavily extracted wine, the 2012 is long on power and overall intensity. It should drink well for another 15-20 years, maybe more.WA 89+ (4/2015): This wine, which has given me great pleasure over many years, comes from the Nony family and is a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Black raspberry and blueberry fruit, a dense ruby/purple color, excellent purity, medium to full body and a moderately long finish characterize this young, relatively big-scale, extroverted St.-Emilion. It still needs some bottle age, given the tannin, but everything should come together with another 2-3 years in bottle. This is set for at least 12-15 years of longevity.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGrandMayne.aspWA 93 (3/2017): The 2014 Grand-Mayne has a fragrant bouquet, perhaps more refined than in recent years with dried rose petals and incense fusing with the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity and a gentle build towards a vivid, lightly spiced finish that maintains impressive delineation, perhaps less extracted and more precise than wines of the past. This is a superb Grand-Mayne that represents a subtle change in tack for the estate—one that this writer approves of. Tasted on three occasions and consistent every time.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGrandMayne.aspWA 92 (2/2009): While not at the level of the phenomenal 2005, Grand-Puy-Lacoste has produced another classic wine with the creme de cassis fruit that I often find in both Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet, yet both of those vineyards are closer to the Gironde River. This wine has a pure personality, with the aforementioned classic creme de cassis notes, medium to full body, beautiful density, purity, texture, and length. If anything, this recalls a hypothetical blend of their brilliant 1995 and 1996. Tannins are elevated, so patience will be required. This was Xavier Borie’s first vintage in his new state-of-the-art winemaking facility. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027. VM 91 (6/2009): Good dark red. Perfumed, ineffable aromas of currant, cherry skin, floral oils and incense. Then juicy and penetrating on the palate, with excellent concentration and thrust to the soil-inflected flavors of currant, minerals and iron. Very suave, pure wine with the structure to age. WS 91 (3/2009): Displays blueberry on the nose, with a hint of fresh tobacco and some licorice. Full-bodied, with chocolate, berry and toasty oak. Long and very silky. Very pretty and balanced. Best after 2013. 13,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGrandPuyLacoste.aspWA 92 (2/2009): While not at the level of the phenomenal 2005, Grand-Puy-Lacoste has produced another classic wine with the creme de cassis fruit that I often find in both Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet, yet both of those vineyards are closer to the Gironde River. This wine has a pure personality, with the aforementioned classic creme de cassis notes, medium to full body, beautiful density, purity, texture, and length. If anything, this recalls a hypothetical blend of their brilliant 1995 and 1996. Tannins are elevated, so patience will be required. This was Xavier Borie’s first vintage in his new state-of-the-art winemaking facility. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027. IWC 91 (6/2009): Good dark red. Perfumed, ineffable aromas of currant, cherry skin, floral oils and incense. Then juicy and penetrating on the palate, with excellent concentration and thrust to the soil-inflected flavors of currant, minerals and iron. Very suave, pure wine with the structure to age. WS 91 (3/2009): Displays blueberry on the nose, with a hint of fresh tobacco and some licorice. Full-bodied, with chocolate, berry and toasty oak. Long and very silky. Very pretty and balanced. Best after 2013. 13,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGrandPuyLacoste.aspWA 95 (2/2012): Performing better from bottle than it did from cask (and comparable to their wines 2005, 2000, 1990 and 1982), this is a great classic from Xavier Borie’s estate situated on the back roads west of the town of Pauillac. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by hints of spring flowers, crushed rocks, black currants, cedar and earth/underbrush. Precise and elegant as well as backward and foreboding, it should put on weight in the bottle and evolve for two decades. Very concentrated as well as velvety-textured, it is a beauty of finesse, balance, purity and nobility. It will benefit from 5-7 more years of bottle age.JS 95 (2/2012): Complex and decadent. Blackberries and black currants, with fresh herbs on the nose. Tea too. Full body, with soft tannins and an earthy finish. Juicy wine. Turns to pure black currants. Best in 2018.NM 94+ (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Grand Puy Lacoste '09 has a slightly more reticent nose against its peers, but no less intriguing with aromas of blackberry, pencil shavings, a touch of undergrowth and mint. The palate is medium-bodied with a dash of spice on the entry. The build is more immediate here, a wave of intense black fruits crashing across the palate that tingles with glee long after the wine is ejected. This is a long-term wine that will repay a decade at least in the cellar. IWC 94 (7/2012): Good medium ruby. Ripe, slightly high-toned aromas and flavors of cassis and chocolate, lifted by cedar and minerals. Then more dark berries and minerals in the mouth, complicated by a candied violet nuance. Not particularly large-scaled in what is a generally exotic, very ripe vintage, but intensely flavored and very well delineated, offering an enticing combination of ripeness and energy for the year. The long finish features a suave tannic backbone and repeating notes of dark berries and violet.WS 93 (3/2012): This is a step up, with ample black currant confiture and roasted fig notes allied to a racy graphite and iron spine. Very sleek through the finish, despite its heft, with a long finish filled with cassis bush and tobacco. Best from 2013 through 2025. 15,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGrandPuyLacoste.aspWA 95 (2/2013): An absolutely magnificent wine from this very popular estate, which sits well off the Route du Vin, just to the southwest of the town of Pauillac, its classic creme de cassis and floral notes are well-displayed. The wine possesses supple tannin, a full body, voluptuous character and a layered, impressively textured mouthfeel. This is a brilliant effort from Grand Puy Lacoste that can be drunk in 4-5 years or cellared for three decades or more. JS 95 (2/2013): Intense hazelnuts and blackberries on the nose follow through to a full to medium body, with chocolate and berry flavors and firm tannins. Not giving away a lot at the finish at the moment. Reserved and sophisticated. But structured and chewy. Try in 2017. WS 93 (3/2013): This is dense but silky around the edges, with crushed plum and black currant fruit lined with roasted vanilla bean, tobacco and loam notes. Everything hangs solidly through the finish, lined with finely beaded acidity and leaving an echo of singed anise. Best from 2015 through 2028. VM 93+ (7/2013): Bright red-ruby. Vibrant aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, licorice and mocha, with mineral and sexy oak notes adding complexity. Intensely flavored and sharply focused, with a restrained sweetness and lovely purity to its dark fruit flavors. Very rich and deep but not jammy, this superb Pauillac's depth of fruit is partly hidden today by its serious tannic structure. Hardly austere but this will be much better for several years of aging and should go on for two or three decades.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGrandPuyLacoste.aspJS 96-97 (4/2017): This is all about the finish with a sweet-tobacco, berry and light milk-chocolate character. Full body, very fine tannins and a juicy finish. Love the intensity and finesse at the end. Lots of energy. Could better the exquisite 2014. WS 94-97 (4/2017): Ripe, but sleek and very focused, featuring racy iron and savory notes coursing alongside the core of black currant and black cherry fruit. The fresh finish keeps everything in lockstep. Well-built.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGrandPuyLacoste.aspWA 91 (4/2008): The Reiffers family has turned out a seductive 2005 offering notes of blueberries and raspberries interwoven with notions of crushed rocks and spring flowers. With medium body, sweet tannin, and outstanding purity, density, and ripeness, ihttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGrandesMurailles.aspWS 94 (12/2010): Delivers fabulous aromas of crushed red fruits, with leather, tar, tobacco and mint. Full-bodied, offering supersoft and silky tannins, as well as a beautiful polish. Open and luscious, with amazing richness of fruit and decadence at the same time.Drink now. 44,000 cases made.VM 92 (1/2012): Tasted at The Ledbury Gruaud Larose lunch, the 1989 was one of the standout wines of the tasting. It displays wonderful definition on the nose, more clarity than the 1990 alongside, with hints of sandalwood, Provencal herbs, white fennel and a touch of mint. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, demonstrating a tad more composure than the 1990 with good weight on the linear finish. I like the control here, the sense of finesse. Drinking perfectly now.MB ***[*] (10/2001): A vintage tailor-made for Gruaud. FIve notes, from opaque, packed with fruit in November 1990 to a softer, more mature, ripe-nosed, fleshyu mouthful eight years later and, most recently, though with a rich, now mature appearance and ripe, spicy bouquet, it had a surprising grip and tannin. Drink 2002-2020.WA 89 (2/1997): In this blind tasting, the 1989 Gruaud-Larose was corked, but a bottle secured through a friend and tasted under non-blind circumstances was excellent, nearly outstanding. The herbal side of Gruaud-Larose was more noticeable in the 1989. The wine revealed a deep ruby/purple color (but not the opaqueness of the 1990), more obvious tannin, without the mid-palate and sweet inner-core of fruit exhibited by the 1990. It is a big, tannic, spicy wine, with plenty of potential, but not the sweetness and chewy texture of the 1990. The 1989 needs more time to shed its cloak of tannin; give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20+ years.VM 89 (4/2013): Good medium red with a pale amber rim. Spice and floral notes lift delicate red cherry and redcurrant aromas. Bright and juicy on entry, then sweeter and richer in the middle, with chunky red berry and cherry flavors complicated by spices, underbrush and lemon zest. Lively acidity and a saline touch extend the gentle flavors on the moderately tannic finish, but this wine ultimately comes across as a bit lean. I wonder if the grapes weren't harvested too early. This lighter-style Gruaud is drinking well now, and there appears to be little to be gained by holding onto it much longer. Ian d'Agata.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGruaudLarose.aspWS 92 (3/2004): This shows a rich and dense nose of blackberry, coffee and smoke. Full-bodied, with soft and round tannins and a long, smoky finish. Very fresh and velvety. GL is really doing excellent things these days, even in less-than-easy vintages. Best after 2008. 2,455 cases made. VM 91 (4/2013): (a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 7% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot): Ruby with a pale rim. Rich, ripe nose offers red cherry, plum, spice, mineral and violet aromas. Dense, chewy and fresh, with precise, intense red and black fruit flavors complicated by a hint of licorice. Features a persistent saline note on the rich, long, slightly chunky finish. A very successful Gruaud. WA 90 (6/2004): Surprisingly accessible as well as supple, this 2001 St.-Julien reveals a deep plum/purple color along with a rich bouquet of smoke, roasted vegetables, black currants, plums, licorice, and Asian spices. Velvety-textured and medium-bodied, with loads of fruit, and a plump, expansive, plush texture, this is an atypically forward Gruaud Larose to drink now and over the next 12-14 years. NM 90 (4/2011): Tasted at the chateau at their “-1”vertical, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The 2001 Gruaud Larose has a very attractive, quite fleshy bouquet with ebullient crushed raspberries, mulberry, allspice and a touch of cumin. Good definition and vigour. The palate is medium-bodied with quite thick, chewy tannins that perhaps lack the finesse that more recent vintages have demonstrated. Very good weight, a little grittiness coming towards the finish with notes of tar and cedar beginning to usurp the primary fruit. This 2001 (like many in its alumni) is in its transitional stage. Very fine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGruaudLarose.aspJS 90 (3/2013): Pretty and silky young Bordeaux with currants and minerals on the nose and palate. Full body, with integrated tannins and a clean, fresh finish. Very fine. Try in 2016. WS 89 (3/2012): This has a nice beefy edge, offering roasted fig, plum and warm tobacco leaf notes, with bittersweet cocoa inlaid on the slightly gutsy finish. On the rustic side, but solid and winey. This second wine is also released under the Larose de Gruaud label. Best from 2013 through 2020. NM 88-90 (5/2010): Tasted at the chateau. A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. This is just a little lean on the nose considering the vintage. Touches of iodine and black olive tapenade inflecting the black fruits with a hint of boysenberry developing with time in the glass. Gaining some weight and intensity with each swirl. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced with firm, ripe tannins, good weight towards the Cabernet dominated finish that has an insistent grip, touches of spice towards the finish. This is a very promising Sarget.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SargetdeGruaudLarose.aspJS 90 (3/2013): Pretty and silky young Bordeaux with currants and minerals on the nose and palate. Full body, with integrated tannins and a clean, fresh finish. Very fine. Try in 2016. WS 89 (3/2012): This has a nice beefy edge, offering roasted fig, plum and warm tobacco leaf notes, with bittersweet cocoa inlaid on the slightly gutsy finish. On the rustic side, but solid and winey. This second wine is also released under the Larose de Gruaud label. Best from 2013 through 2020. NM 88-90 (5/2010): Tasted at the chateau. A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. This is just a little lean on the nose considering the vintage. Touches of iodine and black olive tapenade inflecting the black fruits with a hint of boysenberry developing with time in the glass. Gaining some weight and intensity with each swirl. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced with firm, ripe tannins, good weight towards the Cabernet dominated finish that has an insistent grip, touches of spice towards the finish. This is a very promising Sarget.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SargetdeGruaudLarose.aspVM 90 (7/2001): Medium yellow. Complex nose melds pear, peach, spicy oak, licorice, and some intriguing herbal and vegetal nuances. Very intensely flavored and bright, with fruit flavors enlivened by a note of peppermint. Finishes brisk and spicy, with strong honey and licorice botrytis character. An excellent vintage for Guiraud. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGuiraud.aspWS 96 (9/2004): (WS #23 Wine of 2004): Golden yellow. Butterscotch and vanilla, with hints of ripe apples. Full-bodied, with lots of sweetness and a spicy apricot and honey aftertaste. Excellent concentration and balance. Loads of botrytis character on the finish. Intense. Hard not to drink now because it's so luscious and rich. Best after 2008. 11,665 cases made.WA 94 (6/2004): A medium gold color is accompanied by notes of caramelized oranges, citrus, honeysuckle, creme brulee, and smoke. Full-bodied and opulent, with tremendous intensity, good acidity, and a persistent finish that lasts nearly a minute, this large-scaled, thick, heady Guiraud is one of the finest examples from this estate that I have ever tasted. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.VM 93 (8/2004): Medium golden yellow color. Knockout nose combines pineapple, yellow plum, marzipan, roasted herbs and resiny oak. Superconcentrated, chewy and stylish, with flavors of honey, pineapple, marzipan, vanilla, toffee and spicy oak framed and intensified by bright acidity. Impressively dense, saline wine with a very firm spine and considerable aging potential.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGuiraud.aspJS 96 (11/2013): Ripe lemon peel and orange. Some honey and vanilla with loads of new wood. Dense and very sweet on the palate with nice pure fruit and firm tannins from the oak that still needs time to soften. This Sauternes shows a wonderful fruit and excellent potential, but needs time. Try in 2018.WS 94 (3/2013): A thick, unctuous style, with marzipan, dried pineapple, mango and dried guava notes leading to a good bolt of toasted almond and pie crust on the finish. A muscular, well-stuffed version that will need some time to settle in. Best from 2015 through 2030. 6,000 cases made.WA 93 (4/2014): The Guiraud 2010 seems a little more loose-knit on the nose compared to others, with lanolin and dried honey aromas gently unfurling in the glass, before revealing its mineral core – as if this wine is teasing you. The palate is well-balanced with a fine line of acidity. There is abundant clean and pure botrytized fruit and a crisp, linear finish that is very appealing. The oak appears to have been absorbed in recent months, leaving a very accomplished Guiraud. Drink now-2035.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGuiraud.aspJS 99 (10/2014): This wine has exceptional clarity, balance and freshness, with lots of spicy botrytis character. Full body, medium-sweet and a crisp finish. It’s racy and refined. What’s impressive is the intensity of noble rot that makes the wine feel almost dry. This is the greatest wine ever made here. Made from organic grapes. Try in 2017, but already delicious to drink.WS 97 (3/2014): (WS #12 wine of 2014) A large-scale version, with seamlessly layered notes of almond cream, apricot, ginger, mango, piecrust, papaya and toasted hazelnut. The long, spice-infused finish shows ample depth, echoing with an enticing tarte Tatin note. Best from 2016 through 2035. 7,000 cases made.VM 93+ (7/2014): Bright yellow-gold. Deep aromas of lime, peach, quince, minerals, menthol and saffron are complicated by tangy botrytis tones. Ripe, creamy flavors of peach, lime and lemon verbena show noteworthy sweetness and power, with harmonious acidity providing lift. This very rich, textured wine coats the palate with tropical fruit and mineral flavors that linger impressively on the back end, enlivened by a brisk citrus element. This stellar Guiraud, which strikes me as being richer and deeper than the 2010, is still very young and will improve further in a good cold cellar.WA 92 (2/2015): Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. After Yquem and Doisy-Védrines, the Château Guiraud 2011 seems a little muted on the nose, but that is not fair because it is well defined and very focused, gradually unfurling to reveal scents of honey, orange blossom and quince. The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity. This is a more understated Sauternes, harmonious and nonchalant in style, but don’t be fooled because there is great tension, delineation and poise on the finish, the fruit seamlessly bound with the new oak. This appears to have gained elegance and complexity in bottle, ergo my higher score.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChGuiraud.aspJS 94 (2/2012): Pretty nose of blueberries, currants and blackberries, follows through to a full body, with ultra-refined tannins and polished, caressing texture. Very refined and long. Perhaps the best ever from here. Try after 2018.WA 92 (2/2012): Probably the finest Haut-Bages Liberal since the 1982, this beautifully rich wine has an inky purple color, a big, sweet kiss of creme de cassis, incense, some background spicy oak and forest floor. Its gorgeous fruit, full-bodied opulence, impressive purity, expansive texture and broad, savory finish make for a terrific wine to drink over the next 25+ years.WS 91 (3/2012): Singed bay leaf and briar notes run along the edges, with ripe, almost sappy blackberry, black cherry and currant fruit leading to a finish of tobacco and olive. Latent grip hangs through the finish. Drink now through 2020. 10,000 cases made.NM 90 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Haut Bages Liberal '09 has an earthier, undergrowth-scented bouquet with dusky, broody black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, slightly abrasive tannins. Good weight in the mouth. This is a bit of a rough diamond but time should polish the edges. IWC 90 (7/2012): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, licorice, bitter chocolate and spicy oak. Sweet, rich and vinous, with harmonious acidity giving shape and grip to the fine-grained flavors of dark berries, cedar, smoke and leather. Good structure and energy here. This firmly built wine spreads out nicely on the lingering aftertaste. A big success for this property.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBagesLiberal.aspJS 94 (6/2013): Still very youthful but starting to show its wonderful depth, structure and complexity. It’s full-bodied with silky tannins and a pretty fruit character that goes from currants to sweet earth. A wine to enjoy now and in the future.WS 92 (3/2003): Wonderful finesse and length to this wine. Loads of plum and berry, with hints of raspberry. Full-bodied, with a solid, velvety core of ripe fruit and tannins. Long finish. One of the few Pessacs better in 2000 than 1998. American-owned. Best after 2010. 6,665 cases made.WS 92 (3/2003): Wonderful finesse and length to this wine. Loads of plum and berry, with hints of raspberry. Full-bodied, with a solid, velvety core of ripe fruit and tannins. Long finish. One of the few Pessacs better in 2000 than 1998. American-owned. Best after 2010. 6,665 cases made.WA 91 (6/2010): A classic effort, the 2000 Haut-Bailly exhibits notes of lead pencil shavings, raspberries, black currants, and loamy soil. Subtle hints of earth and smoke are also present in this medium-bodied, stylish, well-balanced, pure wine that emphasizes restraint and graciousness over power and blockbuster intensity. It has entered its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for another fifteen years.NM 91 (10/2011): Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd’s vertical. The millennial Haut-Bailly is a little bashful on the nose at first with light brambly red fruits, hints of cranberry and pomegranate mixed with dried herbs such as sage and thyme. It is well defined, although it does not possess the vigour one might have expected. The palate is medium-bodied with a powdery texture on the entry, very agreeable weight in the mouth with the tannins, perhaps just a little astringent, defining the masculine finish with a touch of sour cherry on the aftertaste.VM 91 (5/2003): (roughly a 50/50 blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon) Good bright ruby-red. Deep, smoky aromas of plum syrup, raspberry, tobacco, iron and roasted nuts. Lush, silky and sweet, with insidious vinosity keeping the lush plum and tobacco flavors fresh and delineated. The suave merlot tannins spread out to cover the entire palate. Much more a merlot-dominated wine than the 2001, which is 65% cabernet sauvignon. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBailly.aspJS 94 (6/2013): Still very youthful but starting to show its wonderful depth, structure and complexity. It’s full-bodied with silky tannins and a pretty fruit character that goes from currants to sweet earth. A wine to enjoy now and in the future.WS 92 (3/2003): Wonderful finesse and length to this wine. Loads of plum and berry, with hints of raspberry. Full-bodied, with a solid, velvety core of ripe fruit and tannins. Long finish. One of the few Pessacs better in 2000 than 1998. American-owned. Best after 2010. 6,665 cases made.WS 92 (3/2003): Wonderful finesse and length to this wine. Loads of plum and berry, with hints of raspberry. Full-bodied, with a solid, velvety core of ripe fruit and tannins. Long finish. One of the few Pessacs better in 2000 than 1998. American-owned. Best after 2010. 6,665 cases made.WA 91 (6/2010): A classic effort, the 2000 Haut-Bailly exhibits notes of lead pencil shavings, raspberries, black currants, and loamy soil. Subtle hints of earth and smoke are also present in this medium-bodied, stylish, well-balanced, pure wine that emphasizes restraint and graciousness over power and blockbuster intensity. It has entered its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for another fifteen years.NM 91 (10/2011): Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd’s vertical. The millennial Haut-Bailly is a little bashful on the nose at first with light brambly red fruits, hints of cranberry and pomegranate mixed with dried herbs such as sage and thyme. It is well defined, although it does not possess the vigour one might have expected. The palate is medium-bodied with a powdery texture on the entry, very agreeable weight in the mouth with the tannins, perhaps just a little astringent, defining the masculine finish with a touch of sour cherry on the aftertaste.VM 91 (5/2003): (roughly a 50/50 blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon) Good bright ruby-red. Deep, smoky aromas of plum syrup, raspberry, tobacco, iron and roasted nuts. Lush, silky and sweet, with insidious vinosity keeping the lush plum and tobacco flavors fresh and delineated. The suave merlot tannins spread out to cover the entire palate. Much more a merlot-dominated wine than the 2001, which is 65% cabernet sauvignon. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBailly.aspJS 94 (6/2013): Still very youthful but starting to show its wonderful depth, structure and complexity. It’s full-bodied with silky tannins and a pretty fruit character that goes from currants to sweet earth. A wine to enjoy now and in the future.WS 92 (3/2003): Wonderful finesse and length to this wine. Loads of plum and berry, with hints of raspberry. Full-bodied, with a solid, velvety core of ripe fruit and tannins. Long finish. One of the few Pessacs better in 2000 than 1998. American-owned. Best after 2010. 6,665 cases made.WS 92 (3/2003): Wonderful finesse and length to this wine. Loads of plum and berry, with hints of raspberry. Full-bodied, with a solid, velvety core of ripe fruit and tannins. Long finish. One of the few Pessacs better in 2000 than 1998. American-owned. Best after 2010. 6,665 cases made.WA 91 (6/2010): A classic effort, the 2000 Haut-Bailly exhibits notes of lead pencil shavings, raspberries, black currants, and loamy soil. Subtle hints of earth and smoke are also present in this medium-bodied, stylish, well-balanced, pure wine that emphasizes restraint and graciousness over power and blockbuster intensity. It has entered its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for another fifteen years.NM 91 (10/2011): Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd’s vertical. The millennial Haut-Bailly is a little bashful on the nose at first with light brambly red fruits, hints of cranberry and pomegranate mixed with dried herbs such as sage and thyme. It is well defined, although it does not possess the vigour one might have expected. The palate is medium-bodied with a powdery texture on the entry, very agreeable weight in the mouth with the tannins, perhaps just a little astringent, defining the masculine finish with a touch of sour cherry on the aftertaste.VM 91 (5/2003): (roughly a 50/50 blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon) Good bright ruby-red. Deep, smoky aromas of plum syrup, raspberry, tobacco, iron and roasted nuts. Lush, silky and sweet, with insidious vinosity keeping the lush plum and tobacco flavors fresh and delineated. The suave merlot tannins spread out to cover the entire palate. Much more a merlot-dominated wine than the 2001, which is 65% cabernet sauvignon. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBailly.aspWA 90 (6/2004): The deep ruby/purple-tinged 2001 Haut-Bailly reveals sweet, pure, elegant aromas of currants, toast, and cigar smoke. With wonderful sweetness, fine tannins, a delicate, nuanced personality, and a long, persistent finish, this well-made, impressive Pessac-Leognan will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 12-14 years.IWC 89 (6/2004): Red-ruby. Nose dominated by nutty oak. Supple, sexy and rather full-blown for a young Haut-Bailly, with expressive flavors of currant, tobacco, licorice and spicy, nutty oak. A fairly dense, lush wine whose tannins are rather pronounced today. Ultimately less long than the 2002, though. Sanders describes this wine as "denser than the '99 and more classic than our 2000."WS 88 (3/2004): Shows enticing aromas of blackberries and cherries that follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Subtle and refined. Best after 2007. 5,830 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBailly.aspWA 90 (4/2005): An elegant, dark ruby/purple-tinged effort displaying notes of tobacco smoke intermixed with sweet currant, cherry, and some toast, this medium-bodied wine has the hallmark purity married graciously with nicely concentrated fruit. The tannins are sweet but present and give definition to this well-made Pessac-Leognan. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016.IWC 89+ (6/2005): Moderately saturated ruby-red. Plum , leather, pepper and oak on the fresh, aromatic nose. Suave, vibrant and penetrating, with sound acids contributing to the impression of inner-mouth energy. In fact, today the wine's acids clash with the tannins, giving the finish a slight dryness. This will need considerable bottle aging to harmonize. In comparison, the 2004 has better balance, as well as more power.NM 89 (10/2011): Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd’s vertical. After rather conservative displays, this 2002 seems to be coming into its own. There is an estuarine quality on the nose: subtle notes of cockleshell and perhaps marshland that lend the rather austere nose character and personality. Very natural and well defined, this is a lovely bouquet. The palate is not quite as compelling as the nose, the tannins a little abrasive with age and the acidity sharp. The overall effect is of a slightly angular Haut Bailly approaching ten years of age, the archetypal gentleman’s claret you could say. Showing some dryness towards the cedar finish, nevertheless, this is fine, if rather foursquare Haut Bailly. WS 88 (3/2005): Plenty of blackberries and currants on the nose with hints of oak. Medium- to full-bodied, with good fruit, fine tannins and a slightly hollow midpalate. Best after 2008. 5,830 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBailly.aspWA 95 (4/2008): Haut-Bailly’s American proprietor, Robert Wilmers, backed up by the brilliant Veronique Sanders, continues to go from strength to strength. A fabulous example of this estate, the 2005 is an ethereal, delicate, finesse-styled offering with intensity as well as richness. It has all the concentration one could want, but it comes across as gorgeously elegant and sublime because of its combination of delicacy, power, and depth. Beautiful raspberry, black cherry, currant, graphite, and scorched earth notes are subtle, but provocative. In the mouth, there is good acidity, medium body, ripe tannin, and terrific length. This is a beauty of haute couture from Pessac-Leognan. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035.NM 95 (11/2011): Tasted at Berry Brother & Rudd’s vertical. Like its peers, the 2005 has closed down on the nose and demands rigorous coaxing from the glass. There is a beguiling purity here: raspberry and wild strawberry, touches of fresh apricot and orange blossom but these aromas are all tightly contained. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a slight graininess to the texture. Blackberry, graphite and a touch of tobacco that lead to a refined finish this is intense rather than powerful with a long tail of flavour lingering in the mouth. Class...pure class. Drink 2016-2030+ JS 95 (7/2012): This shows a great purity of fruit; firm and direct notes of raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries that open to intense notes of fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins. This wine is tight and long -- you know this is good immediately. Pull the cork after 2016.WS 95 (3/2008): Dark purple in color. Offers pure fruit, with crushed raspberry, blackberry and dried flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins that touch every inch of the palate. Long and racy, with elegance and beauty harking back to bygone days. Best after 2015. 6,665 cases made. IWC 92+ (6/2008): Good bright medium ruby. Deep aromas of plum, currant, tobacco, mocha and menthol. Superripe and rich but with superb ripe acidity and firm tannins currently keeping the fruit and mineral elements under wraps. Just this side of severe today: here's a 2005 that appears already to have shut down in the bottle. Best today on the back end, where the wine really spreads out horizontally to saturate the palate. I'd give it a good 12 years of aging; it should be very long-lived. Classy, sharply chiseled Haut-Bailly with noteworthy elegance.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBailly.aspWA 95 (2/2009): A superb success for the vintage, the 2006 exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a poised, classic bouquet of sweet black cherries, graphite, camphor, truffles, and a subtle hint of oak. Medium-bodied with a stunningly layered texture, impressive purity, and beautiful balance, this cuvee is haute couture in a glass. Although surprisingly approachable, it won’t hit its adolescent stage for 8-10 years, and will last for 25-30 years thereafter. Bravo! NM 93 (1/2016): Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Haut-Bailly has a refined and pure bouquet with hints of dark chocolate infusing the precise red berry fruit. I love the way this seductively unfurls in the glass, as if a finger is beckoning you. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a keen line of acidity, quite grippy and backward towards the finish, suggesting that this will benefit from another year or two in bottle. Elegance and power here, a Haut-Bailly cruising at a high level. WS 92 (3/2009): Berries, mineral and violet on the nose follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a beautiful floral finish. Starts out earthy, but turns rich and beautiful. Evolves beautifully in the glass. Best after 2013. 6,665 cases made. VM 91+ (5/2009): Full ruby-red. Sappy aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice pastille and menthol lifted by a floral topnote. Then tight, dry and classic on the palate, with terrific energy and an impression of weightlessness to the youthfully imploded flavors of black fruits, minerals, camphor, cedar and tobacco. As smooth as it is, it's also quite serious and uncompromising. Showing better than a sample I tasted last year right after the bottling, but still an infant. Offers impressive cellaring potential. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBailly.aspWS 91 (3/2013): Shows good structure, with a graphite edge running from start to finish. This is accessible now, featuring pure cassis, boysenberry and blackberry fruit, displaying lovely flickers of spice and ember on the finish. Drink now through 2022. JS 91 (3/2013): Attractive spicy nose with coffee and chocolate. Some juniper and black pepper. Blueberries and dark cherries. Vibrant and smooth on the palate with good fruit and fine soft tannins. Smooth, long finish. Second wine of Haut-Bailly. Drink after 2015. WA 87 (2/2013): As for their second wine, the 2010 La Parde de Haut-Bailly is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Attractive, soft and round with notes of berry fruit and some underlying smoke, forest floor and underbrush, it is generously endowed but at the same time elegant and silky smooth. It is best drunk in its first 10-15 years of life.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaPardedeHautBailly.aspWA 89 (2/1998): Silky, sexy, supple, and altogether a gorgeous effort from Haut-Batailley, the 1995 is a medium-bodied, seamless, beautifully pure Pauillac with gobs of black currant fruit intermixed with smoke, vanilla, and lead pencil. Already approachable, it promises to become even better over the next 10-12 years. A very hedonistic wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBatailley.aspWS 92 (3/2003): Attractive chocolate, berry and currant aromas follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with medium fine tannins and a pretty berry, chocolate aftertaste. Seriously good value. Best wine from this estate in decades. Best after 2009. 9,580 cases made.WA 90 (4/2003): One of the finest Haut-Batailleys ever made (it certainly rivals the 1996), this deep ruby/purple-colored wine is a beauty. Notes of raspberries, liquified minerals, cassis, and tobacco jump from the glass of this attractive, velvety-textured wine. Some tannin is there, but it is abundantly fruity, low in acidity, and is a quintessentially elegant style of Bordeaux. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015.IWC 89 (6/2001): Medium-deep color. Aromas of blackcurrant, licorice and exotic spices. Dense, sweet and creamy, with notes of dark chocolate and jammy berries. Lively acids give this lovely vinosity. Finishes with lush tannins, sweet oak notes and very good length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBatailley.aspWA 92 (4/2015): Long owned by Xavier Borie, this Pauillac estate sits next to Batailley and is just south of Borie’s other famous château, Grand-Puy-Lacoste. The 2012, dramatically better from bottle than barrel, is bigger boned, richer and more flamboyant than this wine normally tends to be. The color is a healthy purple, and the wine offers plenty of cassis and licorice as well as a touch of incense. The oak from barrel-aging 18 months is largely obscured. Medium to full-bodied and impressively endowed, it comes off like a hypothetic blend of a St.-Julien and Pauillac, but this is a classic 2012 that is full, rich and impressive, with beautifully sweet tannins. Drink it over the next 20 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBatailley.aspVM 88-91 (4/2014): The 2013 Haut Batailley wraps around the palate with lovely depth and nuance. A layered, resonant wine, the 2013 impresses for its depth and overall balance. Black cherry, plum, dark spices and menthol add the final layers of complexity on the nuanced finish. This is a gorgeous wine with tons of near and medium-term appeal. Antonio Galloni.JS 89 (2/2016): Delicate and subtle with currant and dried strawberry aromas and flavors. Medium to light body. Clear and linear. Crisp finish. Drink now.NM 88-90 (4/2014): The Chateau Haut-Batailley 2013 is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot picked from 2 to 10 October at 31hl/ha. It has a light and slightly leafy bouquet with touches of bay leaf and undergrowth. It is missing a little vigour at this stage. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline character on the entry (like Lynch Bages). It gains cohesion towards the finish, remaining resolutely 'classic' in style with a nice touch of austerity lingering on the aftertaste.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBatailley.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBergey.aspWA 94 (2/2012): A blend of just over 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot (last year I mistakenly wrote that the balance was Cabernet Franc), the opaque ruby/purple-colored 2009 reveals notes of scorched earth/burning embers/charcoal, black currants, ripe cherries and lead pencil shavings. Full-bodied and pure with sweet tannin, this is an under-the-radar, high quality claret to drink over the next 20-25 years. VM 92 (7/2012): Good full, bright ruby-red. Inviting aromas of black raspberry, graphite, charcoal, tobacco and crushed stone. Lush and thick on entry, then densely packed and fine-grained, with excellent energy and definition to its concentrated, lightly medicinal flavors of black cherry, licorice and minerals. Boasts terrific volume for this bottling, and a long finish that features building, ripe tannins. There's excellent sweetness here but the wine's youthfully medicinal character argues for at least four or five years of patience. WS 90 (3/2012): Bright cherry and berry fruit flavors nestle in a broad, soft texture in this juicy red, which has bright acidity, modest tannins and an herbal, floral finish that's fresh and focused. Not a blockbuster, but balanced and harmonious. Drink now through 2017. 7,500 cases made. NM 90 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Haut Bergey ‘09 is very conservative on the nose with mulberry and blackberry leaf, earthy notes developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins and low acidity. It is easy drinking and pleasurable and might just age better than you think. We will see.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBergey.aspWA 94 (2/2012): A blend of just over 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot (last year I mistakenly wrote that the balance was Cabernet Franc), the opaque ruby/purple-colored 2009 reveals notes of scorched earth/burning embers/charcoal, black currants, ripe cherries and lead pencil shavings. Full-bodied and pure with sweet tannin, this is an under-the-radar, high quality claret to drink over the next 20-25 years. VM 92 (7/2012): Good full, bright ruby-red. Inviting aromas of black raspberry, graphite, charcoal, tobacco and crushed stone. Lush and thick on entry, then densely packed and fine-grained, with excellent energy and definition to its concentrated, lightly medicinal flavors of black cherry, licorice and minerals. Boasts terrific volume for this bottling, and a long finish that features building, ripe tannins. There's excellent sweetness here but the wine's youthfully medicinal character argues for at least four or five years of patience. WS 90 (3/2012): Bright cherry and berry fruit flavors nestle in a broad, soft texture in this juicy red, which has bright acidity, modest tannins and an herbal, floral finish that's fresh and focused. Not a blockbuster, but balanced and harmonious. Drink now through 2017. 7,500 cases made. NM 90 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Haut Bergey ‘09 is very conservative on the nose with mulberry and blackberry leaf, earthy notes developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins and low acidity. It is easy drinking and pleasurable and might just age better than you think. We will see.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHautBergey.aspWA 90 (11/2002): Quite a surprise in a difficult vintage, a strict selection and the superb terroir of Haut Brion triumphed over a very challenging year that produced many hard, relatively herbaceous wines. The color is a surprisingly saturated deep plum/ruby. Some sweet berry fruit intermixed with menthol, graphite, damp earth, and a hint of mushroom emerges in this medium-bodied, very elegant Haut Brion that is still firmly structured but has sweet tannin and surprising length and ripeness. The wine will always represent a sleeper style. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2015. WS 91 (4/1997): Firm and bright, with nicely realized berry and red plum flavors, suggesting richness and suppleness under fine tannins.--Haut-Brion vertical. 14,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspNM 98 (3/2008): A deep garnet core with deep brick rim. The nose is just fantastic, just soars from the glass with brilliant delineation and freshness; black olives, blackberry leaf, blueberry and a touch of iodine. At this stage it has slightly more breeding than the La Mission, although that wine has more immediacy. The palate is awesome: full-bodied, more structure than La Mission, nigh on perfect balance and tension. There is a natural quality to this wine, a beguiling sense of harmony that will ensure that this will become the best Haut Brion since the 1989 (on par with the criminally overlooked 1990.) The finish has a gorgeous suppleness to it: notes of blackberry, cherry liqueur, black olives and a touch of oyster shell. Very long in length. Awesome. WS 97 (12/2008): Dark color, with decadent aromas of truffles, meat, ripe berries and tobacco. Turns to sweet, crushed berries. Full-bodied, with very polished tannins and a berry and mineral aftertaste. The serious tannin structure is still hiding behind the fruit of the wine. Tightly wound and beautiful. Solid as a rock. A classic wine. Best after 2011. WA 96 (4/2001): As reported over the last two years, this is a prodigious Haut-Brion. It exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a tight, but incredibly promising nose of smoke, earth, minerals, lead pencil, black currants, cherries, and spice. This full-bodied wine unfolds slowly, but convincingly on the palate, revealing a rich, multi-tiered, stunningly pure, symmetrical style with wonderful sweetness, ripe tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly 45 seconds. It tastes like liquid nobility. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035. JS 96 (6/2016): The Haut-Brion showed super decadent character with foie gras, plums and tobacco. It was full body, round and beautifully textured. It lasted for minutes after tasting. VM 94+ (6/2001): Good medium ruby. Aristocratic, highly complex nose hints at plum, roast coffee, leather, grilled nuts, tobacco and earth. A bit reticent today but already offers an uncanny amalgamation of density and vinosity. A very suave, subtle wine that finishes with creamy, sweet tannins and terrific grip and length. Was there a more consistently outstanding first growth through the decade of the '90s? Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspWA 93 (4/2002): Deep plum, currant, and mineral notes emerge from the concentrated, beautifully balanced, pure 1999 Haut Brion. It seems to be cut from the same mold as years such as 1979 and 1985. There is a hint of graphite in the abundant fruit. The wine is medium to full-bodied, nuanced, subtle, deep, and provocatively elegant. It is made in a style that only Haut Brion appears capable of achieving. The finish is extremely long, the tannins sweet, and the overall impression one of delicacy interwoven with power and ripeness. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspWA 93 (4/2002): Deep plum, currant, and mineral notes emerge from the concentrated, beautifully balanced, pure 1999 Haut Brion. It seems to be cut from the same mold as years such as 1979 and 1985. There is a hint of graphite in the abundant fruit. The wine is medium to full-bodied, nuanced, subtle, deep, and provocatively elegant. It is made in a style that only Haut Brion appears capable of achieving. The finish is extremely long, the tannins sweet, and the overall impression one of delicacy interwoven with power and ripeness. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025. VM 92 (5/2002): Ruby-red. Knockout nose combines black raspberry, plum syrup, hot stones, Cuban tobacco and sexy oak tones. Large-scaled, lush and seamless; pure silk in the mouth. More layered and longer than La Mission '99. Finishes with broad, lush tannins and excellent persistence. Stephen Tanzer. WS 92 (7/2009): Delivers cooked berries, with light cream aromas that turn to tobacco and cedar. Full-bodied, featuring big, yet well-integrated tannins and a chewy finish. Needs time still to mellow. Serious. Best after 2011. 12,500 cases made. JS 92 (1/2017): Aromas of tobacco, hints of forest floor. Full-bodied, open and flavorful. Herbs and spice. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspWA 100 (2/2012): What a blockbuster effort! Atypically powerful, one day, the 2009 Haut-Brion may be considered to be the 21st century version of the 1959. It is an extraordinarily complex, concentrated effort made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc with the highest alcohol ever achieved at this estate, 14.3%. Even richer than the perfect 1989, with similar technical numbers although slightly higher extract and alcohol, it offers up a sensational perfume of subtle burning embers, unsmoked cigar tobacco, charcoal, black raspberries, wet gravel, plums, figs and blueberries. There is so much going on in the aromatics that one almost hesitates to stop smelling it. However, when it hits the palate, it is hardly a letdown. This unctuously textured, full-bodied 2009 possesses low acidity along with stunning extract and remarkable clarity for a wine with a pH close to 4.0. The good news is that there are 10,500 cases of the 2009, one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made. It requires a decade of cellaring and should last a half century or more. Readers who have loved the complexity of Haut-Brion should be prepared for a bigger, richer, more massive wine, but one that does not lose any of its prodigious aromatic attractions. JS 100 (2/2012): Aromas of forest floor, currants and blueberries, with hints of fresh tobacco and sliced mushrooms. Turns to orange peel and blueberries. Full-bodied, with incredible structure. This is so powerful in tannins, yet so polished. This is the most structured Haut-Brion that I have ever tasted. This has 15% Cabernet Franc, which is more than normal and perhaps giving the wine a little more tannic structure. A monumental Haut-Brion made to age for centuries. I have never tasted a young Haut-Brion, with such spellbinding power and depth. A modern 1945 or 1961 HB? Better than the legendary 1989? Try in 2021. WS 98 (5/2012): This enormous young wine is among the most backward of the vintage at this early stage, with iron-clad grip holding the broad, deep core of blackberry, cassis and roasted fig notes in check for now. The finish is a torrent of dense, almost compressed layers of tobacco leaf, hot paving stone, singed bay leaf and tar that will take at least a decade to massage together fully. This one is for the kids born in 2009. Best from 2020 through 2040. 10,500 cases made. VM 97+ (7/2012): Vivid deep ruby. Knockout fruity nose offers blackcurrant, strawberry, rosemary, truffle and a stony note. Then very closed in the middle, with cabernet sauvignon-dominated flavors of cassis, cigar box, cedar and minerals. Finishes long and deep, with massive but smooth tannins and a lingering note of violet. This will need plenty of time in the cellar but should be an outstanding, memorable Haut Brion. Offhand, I do not recall a better pair of wines from any estate in 2009: millionaires will have a lot of fun trying to choose between La Mission and Haut Brion in 20 years' time.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspWA 100 (2/2012): What a blockbuster effort! Atypically powerful, one day, the 2009 Haut-Brion may be considered to be the 21st century version of the 1959. It is an extraordinarily complex, concentrated effort made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc with the highest alcohol ever achieved at this estate, 14.3%. Even richer than the perfect 1989, with similar technical numbers although slightly higher extract and alcohol, it offers up a sensational perfume of subtle burning embers, unsmoked cigar tobacco, charcoal, black raspberries, wet gravel, plums, figs and blueberries. There is so much going on in the aromatics that one almost hesitates to stop smelling it. However, when it hits the palate, it is hardly a letdown. This unctuously textured, full-bodied 2009 possesses low acidity along with stunning extract and remarkable clarity for a wine with a pH close to 4.0. The good news is that there are 10,500 cases of the 2009, one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made. It requires a decade of cellaring and should last a half century or more. Readers who have loved the complexity of Haut-Brion should be prepared for a bigger, richer, more massive wine, but one that does not lose any of its prodigious aromatic attractions. JS 100 (2/2012): Aromas of forest floor, currants and blueberries, with hints of fresh tobacco and sliced mushrooms. Turns to orange peel and blueberries. Full-bodied, with incredible structure. This is so powerful in tannins, yet so polished. This is the most structured Haut-Brion that I have ever tasted. This has 15% Cabernet Franc, which is more than normal and perhaps giving the wine a little more tannic structure. A monumental Haut-Brion made to age for centuries. I have never tasted a young Haut-Brion, with such spellbinding power and depth. A modern 1945 or 1961 HB? Better than the legendary 1989? Try in 2021. WS 98 (5/2012): This enormous young wine is among the most backward of the vintage at this early stage, with iron-clad grip holding the broad, deep core of blackberry, cassis and roasted fig notes in check for now. The finish is a torrent of dense, almost compressed layers of tobacco leaf, hot paving stone, singed bay leaf and tar that will take at least a decade to massage together fully. This one is for the kids born in 2009. Best from 2020 through 2040. 10,500 cases made. VM 97+ (7/2012): Vivid deep ruby. Knockout fruity nose offers blackcurrant, strawberry, rosemary, truffle and a stony note. Then very closed in the middle, with cabernet sauvignon-dominated flavors of cassis, cigar box, cedar and minerals. Finishes long and deep, with massive but smooth tannins and a lingering note of violet. This will need plenty of time in the cellar but should be an outstanding, memorable Haut Brion. Offhand, I do not recall a better pair of wines from any estate in 2009: millionaires will have a lot of fun trying to choose between La Mission and Haut Brion in 20 years' time.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspWA 92 (2/2012): A blend of 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine displays oodles of figs, melon, crushed rock, white flowers and grapefruit. Its excellent texture, medium to full body make for a beautiful example of dry white Graves. Anticipated maturity: now-2025.WS 90 (2/2012): Juicy and fleshy, with inviting meringue, lemon pâte de fruit and shortbread notes coursing along, enlivened with notes of chamomile and heather through the finish. Drink now through 2016. 1,050 cases made.NM 88 (9/2011): The second wine of Haut Brion Blanc has a lovely nose of grapefruit, melon and leesy aromas that are fresh and well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied and quite primal, a touch of honey on the entry, a little lower acidity than I was expecting and perhaps just a little simplistic?http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaClartedeHaut-Brion.aspJS 93 (2/2013): Aromas of lemons, limes and green apple follow through to a full body, with a dry palate and fruity finish. Plenty of dry pineapple and mangos. Drink or hold.WA 92 (2/2013): A beautiful 1,000-case blend of 83% Semillon and the rest Sauvignon Blanc from the owners of La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, this beauty exhibits oodles of marmalade, honeysuckle, caramelized melons and candle wax in a medium-bodied, authoritative style. Drink it over the next decade or more.WS 92 (12/2013): Features layered Jonagold apple, fennel, citrus oil, macadamia nut and salted butter notes, backed by a long, paraffin-filled finish. Inlaid with toast, this harnesses the power of the vintage well, with the purity shining through. Best from 2014 through 2020. 1,100 cases made.NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. There is a touch of sulphur lingering on the nose of the La Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc, but it seems to dissipate with time with candle wax and honeysuckle aromas. The palate is nicely balanced on the entry with crisp acidity, quite malic in the mouth with nectarine and bitter lemon informing the composed finish. It is just missing some personality.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaClartedeHaut-Brion.aspJS 100 (9/2013): A white of incredible energy and depth of fruit with a grapefruit, stone and peach character. Some hints of minerals and tropical fruit too. It's full and agile with a great backbone of acidity. A blend of 60% sauvignon blanc and 40% sémillon. Usually inverted at 60% semillon and 40% sauvignon. This underwent malolactic fermentation and was aged 14 months in new wood. A truly phenomenal white. 100 points.WA 98+ (2/2012): This blockbuster blend of 62% Sauvignon Blanc and 38% Semillon has absolutely amazing texture, with superb lemon butter, crushed rock, quince and marmalade notes buttressed by hints of orange zest and citrus oil. Rich and full-bodied, with a sensational fragrance, this is an exquisite, full-throttle white to drink over the next 30+ years. Utterly profound!WS 95 (3/2012): Very young, with a plume of chalk leading the way for a huge core of macadamia nut, blanched almond, jasmine, white peach, salted butter, quinine and shortbread notes, which are seamlessly woven and very focused through the finish. Paraffin and brioche hang in the background and should emerge more after cellaring. This is built to go the distance. Best from 2014 through 2034. 580 cases made.IWC 92-95 (5/2010): (a 62/38 blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon; 14.2% alcohol) Straw-gold. Intensely sauvignon-dominated aromas of pink grapefruit, cut grass and green fig are joined by subtle hints of wax and white peach from the semillon. The semillon element is much more evident on the rich, creamy palate, which features pure flavors of ripe citrus fruits, vanilla and white pepper. This outstanding wine makes exceptionally suave use of high-quality oak and finishes with superb length and a delicately smoky, buttery character.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspJS 100 (9/2013): A white of incredible energy and depth of fruit with a grapefruit, stone and peach character. Some hints of minerals and tropical fruit too. It's full and agile with a great backbone of acidity. A blend of 60% sauvignon blanc and 40% sémillon. Usually inverted at 60% semillon and 40% sauvignon. This underwent malolactic fermentation and was aged 14 months in new wood. A truly phenomenal white. 100 points.WA 98+ (2/2012): This blockbuster blend of 62% Sauvignon Blanc and 38% Semillon has absolutely amazing texture, with superb lemon butter, crushed rock, quince and marmalade notes buttressed by hints of orange zest and citrus oil. Rich and full-bodied, with a sensational fragrance, this is an exquisite, full-throttle white to drink over the next 30+ years. Utterly profound!WS 95 (3/2012): Very young, with a plume of chalk leading the way for a huge core of macadamia nut, blanched almond, jasmine, white peach, salted butter, quinine and shortbread notes, which are seamlessly woven and very focused through the finish. Paraffin and brioche hang in the background and should emerge more after cellaring. This is built to go the distance. Best from 2014 through 2034. 580 cases made.IWC 92-95 (5/2010): (a 62/38 blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon; 14.2% alcohol) Straw-gold. Intensely sauvignon-dominated aromas of pink grapefruit, cut grass and green fig are joined by subtle hints of wax and white peach from the semillon. The semillon element is much more evident on the rich, creamy palate, which features pure flavors of ripe citrus fruits, vanilla and white pepper. This outstanding wine makes exceptionally suave use of high-quality oak and finishes with superb length and a delicately smoky, buttery character.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspJS 94 (1/2014): A white with fascinating aromas and flavors of dried mangoes, limes and papayas. Full body but super-fresh and lively with electrifying acidity and a long, intense finish. The second wine of Haut-Brion and La Mission. Better in 2017.WS 91 (7/2014): Starts lean but opens quickly, turning the quinine, herb and lemon pulp notes into fuller flavors of white peach, shortbread and lightly toasted macadamia nut through the finish. Fills out with a hint of heather at the very end. Drink now through 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaClartedeHaut-Brion.aspWA 92-94 (4/2013): The second wine from the owners of Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion, the 2012 La Clarte is a blend of 58% Semillon and 42% Sauvignon Blanc. This strong effort boasts beautiful notes of apricots, honey, candle wax and melons in a rich, full-bodied, concentrated format. A stunner, it should age effortlessly for a decade or more.JS 91 (2/2015): Wonderful aromas of lemons, minerals and papaya follow through to a full body, crisp acidity and mineral, chalk, stone and dried-apple undertones. Delicious now but better in 2017.WS 91 (3/2015): Features a flattering edge of singed macadamia nut that melds wonderfully with the racier white peach, yellow apple and green almond flavors. The long salted butter finish has a touch of toast. Approachable now, but there's no rush. Drink now through 2020. 1,500 cases made.VM 89 (1/2016): The 2012 La Clarte de Haut Brion is an attractive white to drink now and over the next few years, while the flavors remain bright and focused. Lemon peel, white flowers, lime and crushed rocks are all nicely delineated in the glass. The Clarte is Haut-Brion's second white wine and is made from the estate's younger vines and from fruit that doesn't make the cut for the top labels.IWC 88-91 (8/2012): (a blend of 78% semillon and 22% sauvignon blanc): Bright straw-green. Enticing aromas of green fig, lemon and rosemary. Bright and juicy in the mouth, showing an intriguingly succulent texture to its guava, gooseberry and white peach flavors. Finishes with very bright acidity and noteworthy length for an entry-level wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaClartedeHaut-Brion.aspWA 99 (2/2012): This is the finest Hosanna that proprietor Christian Moueix has yet made, produced from a 15-acre parcel that usually yields about 1,500 cases. The 2009, a prodigious blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, offers up an exquisite aromatic concoction of blackberries, plums, Asian soy, forest floor, truffles and graphite. Along with its stunning concentration, remarkably thick, juicy mid-palate and unbelievable complexity, its viscosity and opulence take this wine to new heights. This extraordinary wine is one of the superstars of 2009 and one to enjoy over the next three decades.JS 98 (2/2012): Stunning aromas of blackberries, dark chocolate, hazelnut and black olive skin. Full- bodied, with ultra-fine tannins that feel fine silky on my palate. Long finish of coffee bean, chocolate and dark fruits. Best Hosanna ever. Try in 2020.IWC 94 (7/2012): Deep ruby. Brooding nose hints at blackcurrant, violet, minerals and white pepper. Then similarly rather closed and austere on the palate, with a steely quality to the intense dark fruit and white pepper flavors. Finishes long and clean, with a return of the violet note and a repeating white pepper nuance. WS 93 (3/2012): There is a lovely plush feel here, with roasted tobacco and fig notes carried by velvety tannins. Deceptively dense, with darker currant and anise notes blossoming through the finish, which still manages to stay supple and rounded. This steadily opens in the glass. Best from 2013 through 2028. 1,100 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHosanna.aspJS 93 (2/2013): Sweet licorice, chocolate and tobacco at first. Opens up with blueberries, dark plums and a steely mineral core. Full and really smooth texture. Velvety tannins and a wonderful long finish with a very attractive fruit. Enjoyable already but tannins will integrate further with time. Try in 2016.WS 92 (7/2013): Fleshy, with lots of intense blackberry, plum and boysenberry notes blended together and wound with licorice strips and singed alder wood. Solid grip through the finish has a slightly chewy feel now, but should soften soon enough. Best from 2015 through 2025. 3,333 cases made.WA 90 (2/2013): This wine has turned out well and is one of the strongest efforts from this estate in many a year. Three-fourths Merlot and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc, the wine offers up oodles of sweet black raspberry, camphor and black currant along with some forest floor and roasted herbs. Super-fruity, opaque ruby/purple, medium to full-bodied, hedonistic and lush, it should drink nicely for at least 10-12+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosdesJacobins.aspNM 90 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Joanin Becot has a simple bouquet with raspberry and balsamic scents that open and muster more vigour with time, the oak nicely integrated and revealing floral tones. The palate is medium-bodied with a tannic, masculine entry. This is very structured with a dry finish, but it is balanced and poised and will benefit from several years in the cellar.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChJoaninBecot.aspNM 93-95 (6/2001): Rich liquorice, cassis and kirsch nose. Rich and opulent on the palate with lush blackberry. More structured than Giscours, very expressive with superb depth. Best Kirwan ever? Then at the UGC in November 2002: this continues to impress. Plummy raisin nose. Very elegant and classy. Concentrated, silky palate with well-knit tannins. Feminine, lithe with cassis fruit dominating the rich and velvety wine. Best Kirwan to date. On song in November 2004. Like Giscours, this Margaux excelled itself in 2000. An attractive, minerally nose. Blackberry with a little iodine and black truffle. Excellent definition. Good concentration on the palate and good acidity that cuts through layers of pure black fruit. Feminine and graceful. Has the structure and balance to merit long-term cellaring. Drink from 2010 to 2020.WS 92 (3/2003): A very reserved wine at this stage, but still shows attractive plum and berry character, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and very refined tannins. Lasts a long time on the finish. Very, very silky. Best after 2009. 9,580 cases made.WA 90 (6/2010): Still somewhat tannic but very much in the style that Kirwan has favored over recent vintages, this is a full-bodied, muscular, powerhouse effort. The wine still has a dense ruby/purple color, with loads of blackberries, cassis, and some noticeable new oak still lingering in the background. Powerful, rich, and full, this wine needs another 2-3 years of cellaring and should age nicely for another 20 years. IWC 89-92 (6/2001): Full ruby color. Vibrant, deep aromas of cassis, blackberry, minerals, licorice and smoky oak. Large-scaled and impressively rich in the mouth; chewy and very concentrated. A rather powerfully structured, nicely delineated wine that should be long-lived. Another Margaux chateau that has improved dramatically over the last few years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChKirwan.aspJS 93 (2/2013): Dried berry and plum character on the nose and palate. Full body, with chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Lots of beautiful and ripe fruit here. Better after 2017.WA 92+ (2/2013): As always, this estate has produced a blockbuster style of Margaux in 2010, with the more masculine side of the appellation providing density, power, big body, loads of fruit, extract and richness. This wine is powerful and concentrated, but by no means excessively extracted. Dense purple, muscular, deep and impressive, it is a wine that allows for no compromise among wine lovers. Forget it for 6-10 years and drink it over the following 20-40 years. VM 91+ (8/2013): Bright ruby-red. Brooding aromas of boysenberry, licorice and shoe polish. Dense, sweet and creamy but serious too, with excellent definition and underlying minerality to the blueberry, cassis and spice flavors. For all its richness, this rather powerful wine is currently dominated by its structure, but the tannins are supported by mid-palate concentration of material. WS 91 (3/2013): Tangy and elegant, with lilac, iron, red currant and cherry notes all mingling together and carrying through the focused finish. Not big, but pure, lengthy and showing fine minerality. Drink now through 2025. 9,166 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChKirwan.aspJS 91 (2/2015): Bright and fruity with a subtle currant, strawberry and raspberry character. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink in 2018.WA 90+ (4/2015): From the Schroder and Schyler family, the 2012 Kirwan is dense ruby/purple and exhibits notes of cassis, licorice and a touch of toasty oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, tightly knit, but very promising Margaux. Concentrated, long and rich, this wine is still playing it close to the vest. It should be at its best in another 5-7 years and last at least two decades.WS 88 (3/2015): Light menthol and bay hints line the core of supple plum and blackberry coulis flavors, while touches of warm cocoa and roasted vanilla line the rounded finish. A little less dynamic than when tasted from barrel. Drink now through 2019. 9,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChKirwan.aspWS 91 (3/2008): There's such intensity on the nose, with Indian spices, roasted meat and berry. Full-bodied, with a supervelvety texture and vanilla, berry and coffee character. Very, very long. Chewy. Best after 2012. 20,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LilianLadouys.aspJS 96 (2/2014): Wow. This has a seamless texture and wonderful depth of fruit with dried pineapple, pear and hints of honey. Full body, very sweet and dense. Superb. Sliced white truffles. Fantastic. Drink or hold.WS 95 (11/2004): Exotic and ripe with loads of tropical fruit and sweet fruit. Full-bodied, spicy and very long. Sweet and loaded with botrytis. This is a young Sauternes built for aging. Best after 2010. 7,500 cases made.VM 93 (7/2004): Pale yellow-gold. Orange peel, quince, honey and sexy oak tones of vanilla and spice. Chewy and powerful in the mouth, with highly concentrated flavors of creme caramel, honey and exotic spices. Finishes very long, honeyed and powerful, not to mention flamboyantly aromatic. Stephen Tanzer.WA 92 (12/2014): The 2001 Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a very refined, elegant bouquet that demonstates more mineralite than the previous vintages: great tension here with marmalade, quince and dried honey scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous opening. The acidity is nicely judged with touches of spice and nutmeg, although the finish is quite linear and does not quite deliver the panache of its peers. Still, this is drinking extremely well now and should continue to give pleasure over the next decade or so.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafauriePeyraguey.aspJS 96 (2/2014): Wow. This has a seamless texture and wonderful depth of fruit with dried pineapple, pear and hints of honey. Full body, very sweet and dense. Superb. Sliced white truffles. Fantastic. Drink or hold.WS 95 (11/2004): Exotic and ripe with loads of tropical fruit and sweet fruit. Full-bodied, spicy and very long. Sweet and loaded with botrytis. This is a young Sauternes built for aging. Best after 2010. 7,500 cases made.VM 93 (7/2004): Pale yellow-gold. Orange peel, quince, honey and sexy oak tones of vanilla and spice. Chewy and powerful in the mouth, with highly concentrated flavors of creme caramel, honey and exotic spices. Finishes very long, honeyed and powerful, not to mention flamboyantly aromatic. Stephen Tanzer.WA 92 (12/2014): The 2001 Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a very refined, elegant bouquet that demonstates more mineralite than the previous vintages: great tension here with marmalade, quince and dried honey scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous opening. The acidity is nicely judged with touches of spice and nutmeg, although the finish is quite linear and does not quite deliver the panache of its peers. Still, this is drinking extremely well now and should continue to give pleasure over the next decade or so.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafauriePeyraguey.aspJS 95 (2/2014): This is powerful and racy with lots of class. Full body, very sweet with lots of spicy botrytis character. Intense. Drink or hold.WS 92 (3/2008): There's beautiful ripe fruit in this, with pineapple, mango and papaya and hints of vanilla and honey. Full-bodied and medium sweet. Rich and round, with loads of cooked apple, citrus peel and spices. Long and flavorful. Dense and rich. Best after 2012. 6,250 cases made.NM 90 (4/2009): Tasted at the Chateau. The Lafaurie ’05 retains its attractive, perfumed nose of honeycomb and beeswax with a touch of apricot although it would benefit from greater intensity and definition. As I expected, viscous, almost unctuous on the palate; tight middle and rather conservative finish that ends with lemon curd, orange peel and wild honey. Good potential. Drink 2011-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafauriePeyraguey.aspMB ***** (12/2000): One of the best ever Lafites, quite different from the more delicately fragrant '53s, and keeping well. I did not have the opportunity to taste it in its youth; indeed, I see with some surprise that my first note was made at a Heublein pre-auction tasting in May 1975 when it was already well developed yet, clearly, with many years of life. I have since been fortunate to catch up, with just short of three dozen neatly spread notes. Ignoring an occasional poorly kept bottle, admirable. It has always had an impressively deep colour, thoughnow, of course, showing some mahogany-edged maturity; always a magnificent mouthful too. One of the most interesting and salutary tastings was organised in 1994 by the Weinart at Aschau, South of Munich, to compare the top 1959s and 1961s (blind). Though the '61 Lafite was very fragrant, I observed that the '59 had a deeper, mulberry colour, a rich, harmonious nose and was sweeter, fuller, more complete. Though I say it myself, I managed to produce a perfect bottle at my Bordeaux Club dinner in 1996, drawing the cork (having stood the bottle up for 24 hours) at 5:45pm, decanting an hour later, and pouring at 8:20pm to give it plenty of time to open in the glass - which did it. Then, in 1998, an excellent magnum, among other magnificent wines, from N K Yong;s cellar, dining at his home in Singapore. It had everything in abundance except, perhaps, charm. Well, what has it got? The extraordinary ability to exude not only an immediate cedary perfume but, very much a Lafite specialty, the way it opens up further avenues of fragrance and subtle by-paths, lingering in the mouth. Each time you pick up your glass you notice another facet of scent and taste. It also happens to be a good drink, still a perfect beverage. WA 99 (10/1994): The 1959 is unquestionably the greatest Lafite-Rothschild that has approached full maturity. It remains to be seen whether vintages such as 1982, 1986, and 1990 will reach a similar height. The super-aromatic bouquet of flowers, black truffles, cedar, lead pencil, and red fruits is followed by one of the most powerful and concentrated Lafites I have tasted. Medium to full-bodied, velvety-textured, rich, and pure, it is a testament to what this great estate can achieve when it hits the mark. This youthful wine will last for another 30 or more years. Tasted 9 Times With Consistent Notes Except For One Corked Magnum. WS 94 (11/1991): Pure pleasure to drink, combining the still lively, youthful fruit flavors with the spicy cedar acents of maturity. Impeccably balanced and elegant, with a long finish. Drink now through 2000.--Lafite Rothschild vertical.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafiteRothschild.aspWS 87 (11/1991): Full of lively cranberry, raspberry and herb flavors, with smoky accents and very firm acidity. Very good wine from an unheralded vintage. Drink now through 2000.--Lafite Rothschild vertical.MB * (9/1989): Could be a dashed sight worse. An effort at fragrance and flavour but dry, lean and tart. Not worth pursuing even out of curiosity.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafiteRothschild.aspWA 94 (10/1994): Broodingly backward and in need of considerable bottle age, the 1988 is a classic expression of Lafite. This deeply-colored wine exhibits the tell-tale Lafite bouquet of cedar, subtle herbs, dried pit fruits, minerals, and cassis. Extremely concentrated, with brilliantly focused flavors and huge tannins, this backward, yet impressively endowed Lafite-Rothschild may well turn out to be the wine of the vintage! Anticipated maturity: 2000-2035.WS 94 (12/2008): Beautiful and subtle on the nose, with mineral, berry, licorice and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a pretty balance of fruit and mint. Long and caressing. Real claret here. Everyone talks about 1989, but this is very close in quality. '88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now.MB **[**] (6/2000): It is not only unpleasant but self-defeating to taste young wine from the cask in cold glasses in a cold cellar; and with relatively tough wines like the '88s, even more difficult. My more useful notes therefore stem from the mid-1990s, the first detailed note being made at a tasting I organised and conducted in March 1995 at the millionaires' retreat in the Bahamas, Lyford Cay. The Lafite, in magnums, crsip, blackcurrant aroma. On the palate surprisingly agreeable (for a tough vintage), and less severly tannic than expected. Fleshy but unready of course. Next an austere bottle in 1997, then, at Penning-Rowsell's '10-year' tasting of first gorwths, fairly deep; a fragrant, mild tea, well-developed nose; sweet, 'rather strange flavour.' and soft tannins. Most recently, at a Bordeaux Club dinner (decanted at 5.45pm, severed around 8.30pm): very deep, opaque core; attractive, very vanillin nose; surprisingly sweet, lean, with good flavour and masked tannin. At it's best, say, 2010-2025.NM 88 (2/2012): Tasted at the IMW Lafite seminar in London. It is several years since I last tasted the 1988 and at 23-years of age it has a very classic, autumnal, leafy, dusty bouquet with dried herbs dominating the aromatics. It is well defined with fine lift and offering a subtle note of orange blossom and mint with continued aeration. The palate is well balanced with dusty black fruit; a tertiary Lafite-Rothschild that is fully mature with a dry, rather masculine finish that is persistent but missing some joie-de-vivre. The 1988 appears to be in decline, perhaps with the exception of larger formats.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafiteRothschild.aspWA 96 (6/2009): Interestingly, a bottle of 1990 Lafite Rothschild I pulled from my cellar for a video blog on my web site was still buttoned down, tight, and even with extended decanting was not showing as much as I would have hoped. However, a bottle tasted, of all places, in Seoul, Korea in February, was only a few points short of perfection. That amazing performance motivated me to pull another bottle out of my cellar and follow it over the course of two days. Sure enough, by the second day the wine was roaring from the glass. The 1990 Lafite has turned out far better than my early assessment. While it still possesses some firmness, and performs like a late adolescent in terms of its evolution, it boasts gorgeous aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, and lead pencil shavings. The explosive aromas are followed by a fleshy, full-bodied wine that should hit its peak in 5-8 years, and last for 25-30 more. MB ***[**] (11/2000): Despite its deceptively purple hue, surprisingly soft and easy though I much preferred the '89 alongside (at the chateau, April 1991). This attractive, easy, fragrant style noted again at the MW tasting of '90s in November 1994. A huge vote for elegance but low for power at Eigensatz's amazing blind tasting of 144 of the very best 1990 reds from around the world. Lafite's fragrance seemed to be self-generating, its fleshy ripeness exemplified by a magnum produced, not for the first time, at one of Rodenstock's annual wine weekends (1998). The Penning-Roswell '10-year' first growth tasting was much looked forward to by Jancis Robinson and me. We were not disappointed. All the wines were within a point or so, Lafite level pegging with Margaux and Latour. The Lafite was still farily deep, plummy coloured but maturing; bouquet evolving well; soft, fleshy, good length; complete- all that was needed was time, more bottle age. Its unreadiness for drinking was demonstrated at a Lafite dinner with Eric de Rothschild at Brooks's in London. The roast grey partridge was unable to compete. Nevertheless, the penetratingly lovely bouquet and flavour were appreciated. Strange though how a wine so beguiling and easy int its youth can close up. Its second wind eagerly awaited. 2015-2040? WS 95 (2/2005): Very serious fruit, with juicy berry, tobacco and cedar character. Slightly more body than the 1989, but they are very close in character. I would give this a little more time. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Best after 2007. 25,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafiteRothschild.aspJS 90 (3/2012): A little maderized with raised volatile acidity, but some tobacco and berry underneath. Turns fruity and even jammy.WA 86 (2/1994): Lafite's light-bodied 1991 possesses moderate ruby color, a solid innercore of fruit, as well as potentially excessive tannin for its size and constitution. The wine exhibits Lafite's subtle personality with a leafy, tobacco, lead pencil nose intertwined with sweet aromas of cassis. Dry, austere, and lacking length, it should turn out to be a good representation of Lafite-Rothschild in this so-so year.WS 85 (3/1994): A balanced, supple wine, with lovely blackberry, complex vanilla and ripe sweetness.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafiteRothschild.aspWA 95 (4/2002): The 1999 Lafite Rothschild sports an engraved "1999" on the bottle along with an eclipse to mark that significant historical event of August, 1999. It is a quintessential offering from Lafite Rothschild. This prodigious wine is both elegant and intensely flavored, and almost diaphanous in its layers that unfold with no heaviness. An opaque ruby/purple color is accompanied by a complex bouquet of lead pencil, graphite, cedar, creme de cassis, toast, and vanilla. It is medium-bodied, with extravagant layers of richness yet little weight, and a finish that is all sweetness, ripeness, and harmony. This extraordinary Lafite increasingly appears to be a modern day clone of the majestic 1953. A mere one-third of the crop made it into the grand vin! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030.NM 94 (5/2012): Tasted at the IMW Lafite seminar in London. The 1999 Lafite Rothschild has a slightly more autumnal, leafy nose when compared to the 2000, but it has extremely good delineation and clarity with scents of brambly blackberry fruit, boysenberry, melted tar and a touch of allspice. The Merlot lends the aromatics more roundness. The palate is medium-bodied with a harmonious, smooth, spicy entry imparted by the dash of Petit Verdot. It is not powerful or even tannic, but it has a vibrancy and tension that makes it a very fine Lafite. Very elegant towards the blackberry and graphite finish with a long tail of citrus fresh blackberry and cedar on the finish.WS 94 (12/2009): Delivers wonderful dark chocolate, with raspberry and currant undertones. Full-bodied, featuring soft, silky tannins and a long finish. Very tight still. Needs time. Very layered and holding back. Best after 2012. 22,500 cases made.VM 92 (6/2002): Bright, deep ruby-red. Ripe, deep aromas of currant, flowers, coconut and mint. Firm and tight, with excellent cut and precision; brisk flavors of bitter cherry, berry skin and minerals. A slightly dry-edged midweight that's best today on the long, slow-building finish. Shows an intriguing late note of faded rose. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafiteRothschild.aspWS 100 (3/2003): Subtle aromas of currants, leather, tobacco and cedar. Classic cigar box nose, with fruit. Full-bodied, with an amazing texture of silky, ripe tannins. This wine completely coats your palate, but caresses it at the same time. This is the best young Lafite ever made. A triumph. Best after 2012. 18,000 cases made. WA 98+ (6/2010): Since I gave this wine a perfect score, I suppose some could see this as a downgrade. I found everything still there for a perfect rating, but I was just struck by how tight and backward the wine was. A blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, the wine still has a dark ruby/purple color and an extraordinarily youthful nose of graphite, black currants, sweet, unsmoked cigar tobacco, and flowers. The wine is rich, medium to full-bodied, but has that ethereal elegance and purity that is always Lafite. I originally predicted that it would first reach maturity in 2011, but I would push that back by 5-7 years now, although it has 50-60 years of life in front of it. Owners of this beauty are probably best advised to forget it for 5 years. Tasted next to a 1996 several days after the 2000 tasting, the 1996, which is a perfect wine, was far closer to full maturity than the 2000. VM 96 (6/2003): Full medium ruby. Flamboyantly perfumed aromas of cassis, graphite and tobacco, lifted by a floral nuance and stony minerality. Very young and precise but not austere or forbidding. A remarkably rich, silky, seamless Lafite with superb vibrancy for the vintage. Tannins are noble and the aristocratic finishing flavors go on and on. I tasted this from a 375 ml. bottle, but from all reports this wine is equally approachable right now from a standard bottle. Has more sheer density than the beautiful 2001 and may well soon shut down in the bottle.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafiteRothschild.aspWA 94 (4/2005): A brilliant offering and a candidate for wine of the vintage, this is classic Lafite that reminded me somewhat of the 1976, although the vintage conditions were completely different. This is a medium-weight, quintessentially elegant style of Lafite with notes of lead pencil shavings/graphite along with black currants, plums, and crushed rocks/mineral. Wonderfully pure, dense, with a deep ruby/purple color and loads of fruit, definition, and a long finish, this is a brilliant, elegant Lafite Rothschild that builds incrementally in the mouth and has more power and density than it initially seems. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. WS 95 (3/2005): Bubbling over with crushed berries, currants and spices, with tobacco notes. Beautiful. Full-bodied, with gorgeously velvety tannins and a long finish of pretty fruit. This is a racy yet elegant Lafite. Classy. Best after 2010. 16,000 cases made. VM 92+ (5/2005): Bright, dark ruby-red. Subdued but pure aromas of currant, plum, minerals, graphite, and sexy, coconutty oak; showed a floral note with aeration. Extremely suave, fine-grained and concentrated, with a strong spine of acidity. Finishes firmly tannic, subtle and very long. This should develop slowly. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafiteRothschild.aspJS 97-98 (3/2015): This is very tight and chewy with polished and intense tannins. Full-bodied with blueberries, blackberries, minerals and fine tannins. This is more Pauillac than many top Pauillac estates. Cabernet franc always makes the quality here and it’s 56% this year. Rest is merlot. Superb.VM 94-97 (4/2015): The 2014 Lafleur-Pétrus is one of the most captivating wines of the vintage for the way it marries power and finesse. Soaring aromatics open up in the glass, with scents of sweet herbs, rose petals, juniper berries, mint and raspberries. Huge and resonant on the palate yet with remarkable nuance, the 2014 is all about harmony. The magnificent, layered finish proves to be utterly irresistible. In 2014 the blend is 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, taken from the three sites that now constitute the entirety of the property. The combination of mostly gravelly soils with some clay and iron yields a Pomerol of pure pedigree.NM 94-96 (4/2015): The Château Lafleur 2014 is a blend of 44% Merlot picked on 25 September and 56% Cabernet Franc picked on 5 and 6 October, the yields coming in at 28 hectoliters per hectare. Bright purple in color, the bouquet is pixelated. It is decidedly neither powerful or voluminous but instead very subtle and reflects its terroir, hints of sous-bois and truffle filtering through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine, very precise tannin and nigh on perfect acidity. There is the trademark Lafleur structure and sense of "authority" here, perhaps a little more salinity emerging towards the finish compared to other vintages with a touch of spice right on the finish. It will require the patience of a saint, at least a decade in the cellar, but it will reward you with something heavenly.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafleur.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafonRochet.aspNM 93 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This is a strong performance from Lafon-Rochet. There is a lot of high class new oak on the nose here, but there is plenty of ripe black fruit to support it: dark plum, blackcurrant and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with a dense, grippy entry and a rather saturnine mid-palate. Closed, broody, obdurate and yet there is certainly decent weight of fruit here. At the moment it is unapologetically charmless but its time will come. Kudos Basile Tesseron.JS 92 (7/2012): Pretty aromas of menthol and other spices and red fruits. Full to medium body with fine tannins and a refined finish. Very lovely now but obviously better in 2015.WS 91 (3/2012): Juicy and very lively, with lots of briar, currant, cherry, toasty spice and anise notes all framed by bright floral and iron hints. The long finish has excellent cut and drive. Best from 2013 through 2021. 11,250 cases made.VM 91 (7/2012): Good ruby-red. Superripe aromas of plum, dark chocolate and menthol. Dense and fine-grained, with good energy to its dark fruit, cinder and woodsmoke flavors. Very glossy in a 2009 way. Finishes rich and ripe, with substantial dusty tannins. WA 90 (2/2012): This wine seems to be one of the few that has not yet recovered from bottling. In a somewhat monolithic, latched-down style, it has plenty of stuffing, lots of structure and an impressive dark ruby/purple color, but it is very hard to coax from the glass. It is a rather classic St.-Estephe made by the Tesseron family, with its distinctive blood orange label, but this wine seems to beg for another 5-7 years of bottle age. The final blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc has some impressive fruit, but the wine just seems slightly more clipped and narrow than I remember it from barrel. Hopefully, time will mellow out this impression. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2035.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafonRochet.aspNM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. Wow - this Saint Estephe appears to be just getting into its stride. This seems reticent on the nose at first, but modest coaxing reveals scents of blackberry mixed with gravel and incense. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, firm tannins and a pleasant salty tang on the finish. Masculine and structured, with good persistency and a lovely austere personality, Basile Tesseron and his team have overseen an aloof but engaging Lafon-Rochet that could be the dark horse of the appellation. WS 91 (3/2013): Features a dark currant and blackberry coulis core, surrounded by charcoal, singed savory and light coffee notes. The solid, firm, taut finish should let this linger in the cellar for a decade. Best from 2014 through 2024. WA 90+ (2/2013): I had some bottle variation with this blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The 2010 from Lafon Rochet seemed slightly restrained and closed down on the three occasions I tasted it in Bordeaux. Dense black/ruby, it displays sweet tannin, excellent purity, fresh fruit and a very primary, almost grapy style with lots of fruit, but at the same time, a somewhat monolithic character. It should turn out fine, but it certainly needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should drink well for up to two decades.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLafonRochet.aspJS 94 (7/2014): This is very reserved right now but shows impressive blueberry and blackberry character. It’s full- bodied, with a super density of fruit and ripe tannins. Wait until 2017.NM 93 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Lagrange ‘09 has a more rounded, fruit-driven bouquet with macerated dark cherries, blackberry and boysenberry. It coalesces nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet core of saline black fruit. Expressive Merlot here, smooth in the mouth with a pleasing, caressing finish. This is a Lagrange that is biding its time. VM 92 (7/2012): Saturated medium ruby. Sexy aromas of cassis, licorice, menthol and cedar. Tightly wound, classic and intense, with sharply delineated flavors of dark berries, violet and minerals complemented by well-integrated oak. Dense, suave Saint-Julien wine with a very fresh, slightly austere finish. With its solid structure and excellent length, this will require at least five or six years of cellaring. A superb vintage for this property. Stephen Tanzer.WS 91 (3/2012): This has a solid core of juicy plum, red currant and blackberry fruit that sits in reserve, while mouthwatering briar and toasty spice notes move along the edges. Grippy and focused through the finish, with well-embedded acidity. Best from 2013 through 2024. 22,500 cases made. WA 90+ (2/2012): Tightly knit, oaky and rich, with formidable concentration, but broodingly backward and not showing the charm and concentration of the top wines of St.-Julien, this 2009 from Lagrange is still an outstanding effort that has length, richness and character. It should be cellared for a good 5-6 years and then consumed over the following 25 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLagrange.aspJS 96 (7/2014): Loads of tension and form. It can be cellared for decades, but it’s balanced and beautiful already. Lots of blueberry, licorice and blackberry character. Try in 2018.WS 92 (3/2013): Notes of singed alder, graphite and charcoal wrap around the core of intense blackberry paste, warm plum sauce and currant preserves. Turns sleek and racy on the well-knit finish despite the notable grip. Best from 2015 through 2030.VM 90+ (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Brooding aromas of blackberry, cassis and licorice. Backward and youthfully medicinal but already shows lovely floral lift--to to mention ripe framing acidity--to its dark berry, menthol and licorice flavors. A bit strict today and in need of several years of bottle aging, but the firm tannins are ultimately rather velvety.NM 90 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Lagrange 2010 has an attractive gravel-scented bouquet with fine definition and sense of earthiness, cedar and sous-bois aromas quite prominent amongst the black fruit. The palate has a ripe entry with plenty of blackberry and cassis fruit, although it does not quite possess the weight and structure of its peers. The length is satisfactory rather than exemplary. This has shown much better elsewhere. WA 89+ (2/2013): Somewhat of a beast, this monolithic, oaky wine is full-bodied, highly extracted and difficult to evaluate. Some hints of roasted herbs, chocolate, black currant and coffee are present, but the oak dominates, as do the tannins. This wine seems much woodier, and more closed and foreboding than any other St. Julien I tasted. Forget it for 7-8 years and hope for the best.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLagrange.aspIWC 88-91 (6/1998): More saturated red-ruby color. Slightly reduced aromas of mulberry, redcurrant, toffee, and sweet oak; has an almost liqueur-like sweetness and a hint of spiced apple. Expansive, rich and sweet in the mouth, with complicating leather and game notes. Harmonious acidity. The tannins are substantial but hit the palate quite late. Quite full for La Lagune, and built to age. A very strong showing, and even more impressive than a year ago.WA 86 (4/1999): This is a tannic, austere 1996, but it is well-endowed. Copious aromas of spicy new oak are present in the moderately intense bouquet, as well as cherry notes intertwined with dried herbs. The wine is medium-bodied and well-made, with good spice, a slight austerity, and moderate tannin in the long finish. In many vintages La Lagune can be drunk at an early age, but this effort will require 5-6 years of patience. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018.WS 85 (1/1999): Pretty aromas of berry and vanilla, with a hint of mineral. Medium-bodied, with chewy tannins but a slight herbal edge to the aftertaste. A bit one-dimensional for La Lagune, but still a good bottle. Best after 2000. 25,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaLagune.aspWA 95 (2/2012): It is not unusual that the 2009 La Lagune is a spectacular effort given the fact that this estate has been making terrific wines over the last decade or more. It boasts a dense purple color as well as a beautiful perfume of blueberries, muhttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaLagune.aspWA 94 (2/2013): Another great success from proprietress Caroline Frey, the 2010 La Lagune provides an essential drinking experience, with notes of Asian plum sauce, mulberries, kirsch liqueur and black currants. The wine also exhibits a savory, rich smokihttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaLagune.aspWS 91 (3/2009): Shows violet and blackberry, with hints of raisin. Full and velvety, with lovely-textured tannins and plenty of ripe fruit on the finish. Balanced and rich. Best after 2013. 4,710 cases made.WA 89+ (2/2009): This tastes more like a Pauillac than a St.-Julien with its big, beefy, tannic overlay and aromas and flavors of black currants, asphalt, leather, and damp earth. Tannic, full-bodied but almost impenetrably closed and broodingly backward, this is a long-term prospect for those with patience. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030+.IWC 88+ (6/2009): Bright red-ruby. Currant, black cherry, licorice, tar and minerals on the nose. Juicy, tightly wound and penetrating, with very good intensity but a distinct austerity to the medicinal dark fruit and mineral flavors. Brisk and delineated wine, finishing with firm, building tannins that call for five or six years of patience.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLangoaBarton.aspNM 94 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This is a superb performance from Langoa Barton. Here, the 2009 has a lifted, perfumed, Burgundy-inspired bouquet that is nicely defined but showing a little more unresolved oak than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit on the entry: strawberry, cedar and blackcurrant. This is strict and very linear, conservative but compelling. The class is here from start to finish and presently stands shoulder to shoulder with its “big bro’”. WS 93 (3/2012): Very dense and still rather reserved, with dark blueberry, blackberry and fig notes rolled together, framed by freshly brewed espresso and Black Forest cake notes. Long and tarry through the finish, with a melted licorice snap note hanging on at the very end. Best from 2014 through 2030. 10,000 cases made. VM 92 (7/2012): Full, deep ruby. Deep, explosive aromas of cassis, plum, blackberry, dark chocolate, violet and sexy oak. Dense, pliant and deep, with a distinctly chewy texture to its sweet flavors of cassis and dark chocolate. Very fine-grained wine with a long, rising, sweet finish featuring smooth, thoroughly ripe tannins. Stephen Tanzer. JS 92 (2/2012): Blueberry and currant aromas follow through to a full body, with dark chocolate and bright acidity. Long and delicious. Attractive already. Try after 2017. WA 90+ (2/2012): Backward, tannic and beefy, this youthful but formidable 2009 Langoa Barton exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as lots of damp earth, underbrush and black currant aromas and flavors, medium to full body, lively acids and, not surprisingly, massive tannins (a characteristic of all the Barton wines). The overall impression is somewhat incongruous, having a certain precociousness in the aromatics, but then clamping down on the taster in the mouth. I recommend waiting 5-7 years before opening a bottle. It should drink well over the following 20-25 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLangoaBarton.aspWA 90 (4/2015): Plenty of juicy blackcurrant fruit and background oak are present in this plump, medium to full-bodied, ripe, well-made wine. Not nearly as tannic as I feared, this wine shows a forward plumpness, excellent purity, texture and length. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. NM 90-92 (4/2013): The Langoa Barton is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc picked between 3 and 15 October at 32hl/ha. It has a surprisingly high-toned, quite glossy, exotic bouquet at first, although it appears to “calm down” in the glass to leave plenty of ripe red cherry and strawberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, supple tannins. This is a generous, confident Langoa Barton, quite feminine (living up to its name) with a lovely ripe, quite sensual finish that exhibits deftly integrated oak. Tasted twice with consistent notes, there is great potential here. VM 89 (1/2016): The 2012 Langoa-Barton is fleshy and supple, with lovely aromatic top notes that give the wine much of its inviting personality. Sweet red cherries, herbs, mint and white pepper are laced together in a delicate, nuanced wine that is ready to drink now. Antonio Galloni. JS 89 (2/2015): Pretty dried cherry, vanilla and berry character on the nose and palate. Full to medium body, fine tannins and a flavorful finish. A little fluid. Needs two or three years to come together. WS 88 (7/2015): This has a juicy energy weaving amid the core of anise, blackberry coulis and warm plum notes. Shows a brambly edge on the relatively open-knit finish, with a hint of licorice snap. This has pulled together nicely since the barrel tasting. Drink now through 2020. 6,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLangoaBarton.aspWS 92 (12/2012): This has nice stuffing, with red licorice, briar, blackberry pâte de fruit and crushed plum notes laced with hints of plum skin and chalk. The solid, juicy finish has nice length, revealing an elegant, fine-grained structure hanging through to the very end. This could gain a bit more in the cellar. Drink now through 2025. 4,165 cases made.WA 86 (4/2001): The 1998 exhibits a dark ruby color, a herbaceous, sweet, black cherry, mineral, olive, cedar, and spice box-scented bouquet, medium body, light tannin, and a short finish. It is a wine to consume over the next 7-10 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLarcis-Ducasse.aspWS 92 (12/2012): This has nice stuffing, with red licorice, briar, blackberry pâte de fruit and crushed plum notes laced with hints of plum skin and chalk. The solid, juicy finish has nice length, revealing an elegant, fine-grained structure hanging through to the very end. This could gain a bit more in the cellar. Drink now through 2025. 4,165 cases made.WA 86 (4/2001): The 1998 exhibits a dark ruby color, a herbaceous, sweet, black cherry, mineral, olive, cedar, and spice box-scented bouquet, medium body, light tannin, and a short finish. It is a wine to consume over the next 7-10 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLarcis-Ducasse.aspWS 92 (12/2012): Shows the ripeness of this very warm year but stays well-defined and fresh, with lush plum, raspberry and black cherry fruit lined with notes of violet, bergamot and red licorice. This is starting to show some secondary tobacco and spice notes on the finish, which has a nice briary edge as well. Not at all blown out by the heat of '03, this has balance and freshness, with the ability to develop further with time.—Larcis Ducasse non-blind vertical. Drink now through 2022.WA 91 (8/2014): In 2003, the terrific duo of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt along with David Suire and Julien Lavenu managed to exploit this property’s limestone hillside vineyards, which were less affected by the heat and drought than vineyards on St.-Emilion’s other terroirs – the gravelly/sandy soils. Sweet fig, plum, black currant and black cherry fruit intermixed with balsam wood, underbrush and baking spice aromas jump from the glass of this opulent, rich, fully mature, luscious, seductive wine. This is Bordeaux at its sexiest. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.VM 89 (5/2006): Medium red. Somewhat sauvage aromas of wild strawberry, redcurrant, smoked meat, tobacco, leather and roasted nuts. Supple and sweet but also nicely delineated for the year, with the fine-grained texture shown by this chateau's wines under the Thienpont/Derenoncourt regime. Finishes with sweet tannins and very good length. There's plenty of chalky energy and personality here, even if the flavors are a bit wild. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLarcis-Ducasse.aspJS 93 (2/2014): A wine with a beautiful concentration of fruit and depth. Full body with fully integrated tannins and a long, long finish. A touch of decadence. Superb for the vintage. Better in 2017.WS 91 (3/2014): This is rather broad-shouldered, with a cloak of roasted vanilla and bittersweet cocoa out front, followed by a solid core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. A streak of licorice runs through the finish, revealing a buried chalky spine. Rather closed today, with the structure winning out in the end. Best from 2016 through 2026. 2,166 cases made.VM 91+ (7/2014): Good deep red-ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of black cherry, white pepper, violet and minerals. Concentrated, elegant and deep; really spreads out to coat the palate with redcurrant and sweet spice flavors. The bright, harmonious acidity provides noteworthy lift, giving this wine an attractive light touch. It's also nicely pliant for the vintage, showing no hard edges and finishing extremely long, with sophisticated tannins. A knockout wine. Ian d'AgataWA 90 (4/2014): This dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 exhibits a stunning bouquet of black fruits, spring flowers and confiture of cherries, raspberries, spice and earth. Complete from beginning to end, this medium-bodied 2011 does not possesses as much power as the 2005, 2009 or 2010, but it is a highly successful effort for the vintage. Moreover, it can be drunk early on as it is a delicious, complex St.-Emilion that should last 10-15 years. This is a final blend of 78% Merlot, and 22% Cabernet Franc cropped at 21 hectoliters per hectare.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLarcis-Ducasse.aspWS 90 (1/2017): A pretty talc whiff gives way quickly to a richer feel, with yellow apple, tangerine and warmed mirabelle plum notes melding together and carrying through a shortbread-accented finish. Drink now through 2019. 1,250 cases made.VM 89-92 (4/2015): The 2014 Larrivet-Haut-Brion Blanc is built on texture and richness, with considerable new French oak influence. White pear, peach, spice and mint meld together nicely. The style is quite open and pliant within the context of the year. Antonio Galloni.WA 89-91 (4/2015): The Château Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc 2014 already offers good intensity on the nose with scents of orange blossom and apple peelings, the oak here nicely integrated and defined. The palate is quite sharp on the entry with very crisp acidity, plenty of peach, ginger and elderflower notes with a slightly disjointed finish that I am sure will coalesce by the time of bottling. It does not quite have the sophistication of its neighbors, but the power and length are both impressive.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLarrivetHautBrion.aspWA 94 (8/2014): This sumptuous, rich, complex Margaux reveals a fragrant nose of cedarwood, spring flowers, spice box, black currants and earth. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins and a dense, plum/ruby/purple color, this fully mature 2003 can be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years. VM 91 (6/2006): Excellent deep red. Very sexy, expressive aromas of plum and milk chocolate. Sweet, lush and ripe, with considerable power and thrust for the vintage. Very 2003 in its slightly roasted character but this boasts very good concentration and finishes with sweet, broad tannins and excellent length. Fleshy and evolved enough to give pleasure now, but should hold up well for the next 10 to 15 years. A Margaux standout in 2003. WS 91 (3/2006): Aromas of blackberry and chocolate follow through to a full-bodied palate, with big velvety tannins and a long, caressing finish. Best after 2010. 17,500 cases made. JS 90 (3/2011): Starts off a little earthy, but then turns bright and fruity with a wonderful intensity on the nose. Full bodied, with lovely juicy fruit, tobacco, and chocolate. Pull the cork on this. NM 90 (3/2013): Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. This is the one real surprise on the Left Bank, although perusing my older notes, it seems to have remembered how well it showed out of barrel! The Lascombes 03 displays a much better nose than I expected and is certainly fresher than the Brane-Cantenac tasted alongside. Light boysenberry and bilberry fruit mingling with cloves and cedar-wood. The palate is medium-bodied with palpable New World persona. That is not necessarily a bad thing because at least there is more freshness to be found here and the finish displays more weight and fruitiness. This appears to be ageing better than many of its neighbours.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLascombes.aspWA 94 (2/2012): The 2009, which is inky blue/purple to the rim, is a final blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot at 14% natural alcohol. The wine has a beautiful blueberry-scented nose with hints of acacia flowers, licorice, graphite and some subtle charcoal and background oak. Clearly a modern style of Margaux, it is pure, seamless, full-bodied and opulent, and the high glycerin and silky texture of 2009 are brilliantly displayed in this wine. Drink it over the next 15+ years, although it is certainly capable of lasting well past two decades. JS 94 (2/2012): Aromas of black tea, blackberries, blueberries and coffee bean, follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Lovely mouth feel. Very well done. Try in 2019. VM 92 (7/2012): (48% each merlot and cabernet sauvignon, with 4% petit verdot): Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of coffee, nuts and charry oak. Supple, sweet and chocolately. Nicely concentrated, broad and round, showing a lush texture and a good chewy texture. Finishes with sweet tannins and a lingering element of smoky oak. Lovely claret. NM 91 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Lascombes '09 appears to be meliorating in bottle even though it is comparatively reticent on the nose: blackberry, briary with attractive granitic aromas emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. There is a slight grittiness to this Margaux, but there is impressive structure on the saline finish and a crunchy, bitter note on the aftertaste. WS 89 (3/2012): Alluring, with coffee and mocha notes leading the way for fleshy plum, blackberry sauce and spice hints. The toasty finish hangs on nicely. A bit dressed up, but will certainly have some fans. Drink now through 2019. 25,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLascombes.aspWA 96 (2/2013): The wine hits all cylinders in 2010. The average alcohol for the bottled wine is 14%. It has a gorgeously sweet nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers, subtle barbecue smoke and charcoal followed by full body, beautiful intensity, great purity, stature and length. The influence of any oak is minimal, despite the fact that 90% new French oak was used. Needless to say, this is an example of modern-styled winemaking at it’s finest, and arguments that such wines will not age well, do not represent their terroir , and are soul-less, are totally groundless. Give it 5 or so years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years. This is one of the great Margaux wines of the vintage.JS 94 (2/2013): What a wonderful nose of ripe strawberries and hints of vanilla. Full body with soft and velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is luscious and sexy. Try in 2017.WS 91 (3/2013): Dark and nicely toasty, with ample espresso and ganache up front, followed by steeped fig, blackberry and black currant fruit that rumbles through the finish. Features ample tarry grip, but eschews minerality and finesse for a direct and toast-driven approach. Best from 2014 through 2026.VM 91 (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Superripe but fresh aromas of cassis, plum and chocolate. Broad, sweet, rich and generous, offering considerable early appeal to its dark berry and chocolate flavors. Pliant and utterly seductive today, finishing with lush, sweet tannins. This is delicious today in a rather full-blown way, and should offer pleasure for at least the next 15 years. Stephen Tanzer.NM 90 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. After a couple of hit and miss samples, finally I encounter what appears to be a representative Lascombes 2010. It is lacking a little vigour on the nose with pretty blackcurrant and briary scents, though it needs more vigour and presence. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a succulent entry. Sweet and rounded, nicely structured with a persistent finish, this is a decent Margaux for mid- rather than long-term ageing.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLascombes.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLassegue.aspWA 94 (4/2002): Readers looking for a modern day version of Latour's magnificent 1962 or 1971 should check out the sensational 1999 Latour. It is a big, concentrated offering, exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color, and a classic nose of minerals, black currants, leather, and vanilla. The wine is long, ripe, and medium-bodied, with high levels of sweet tannin. This surprisingly full, concentrated 1999 should be drinkable in 5-6 years; it will last for three decades. WS 93 (3/2002): Big, yet racy '99. Shows blackberry aromas, with a hint of spice, and is full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit, firm tannins and a dark chocolate and coffee aftertaste. Wonderful texture. Goes on and on. Best after 2006. 13,330 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLatour.aspNM 95 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. This is a great La Tour Martillac that must be one the finest releases from the estate in recent years. It has quite an elegant understated bouquet with autumn leaves infusing the black fruit profile, later tobacco and cigar box. Good vigour and class. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity on the entry. It is underpinned by good structure, with plenty of red and black fruit and an engaging delineated finish brimming with energy. There is some high quality terroir and fruit here. Tasted January 2014. WS 92 (3/2013): Dense, but supple along the edges, offering a packed core of cassis, blackberry and black cherry fruit. The lovely licorice, dark tobacco and violet notes glide to the finish, which shows solid, latent grip. Best from 2015 through 2025. JS 92-93 (4/2011): I love the mid-palate to this young and attractive red, with silky tannins and alluring mineral, berry and stone character. Enchanting. WA 90+ (2/2013): Abundant notes of spicy oak, elegant black currants and rich fruitiness along with hints of forest floor and damp earth are followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with sweet tannin and the classic Pessac-Leognan/Graves characteristics of tobacco leaf and smoke. Deep fruit, moderate tannin and a long finish give this wine enough potential to last for up to two decades or more. VM 88 (8/2013): Bright medium red. Slightly medicinal aromas of black cherry, licorice, tobacco leaf and earth. Spicy and firmly built, with fresh acidity giving the flavors of tobacco leaf, herbs and spices a rather stern mien today. Finishes a tad green, with drying tannins. I'm not sure where this can go in bottle. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLatourMartillac.aspJS 90 (2/2015): There’s some fine mineral, chalk and dark berry character to this wine. Medium body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Tight and reserved now but delicious. Better in 2017.WA 90 (4/2015): From the Jean Kressmann family, Latour-Martillac has made major strides in quality in both white and red wines for well over 10-15 years. The 2012 has a dense ruby/purple color, and better integration of oak is apparent in this medium to full-bodied wine that shows lots of plum, blackcurrant, licorice and subtle earth. It is medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannin and a long finish. It is another successful 2012 from Pessac-Léognan, one of the top appellations in this vintage. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. NM 90 (4/2013): Tasted twice with consistent notes, the Grand Vin is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot picked from 1 to 16 October at 45hl/ha. If offers plenty of ripe black plum and mulberry fruit on the nose that evolves a marine-like influence. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft entry that belies that tannins that become more evident towards the finish. There is good weight here, a real class act and the finish is one of the finest that I have encountered on the Grand Vin at this primal stage. Certainly one to look out for once released.WS 89 (3/2015): Engaging, with a singed alder frame that melds with the bramble, licorice root and crushed plum core. Shows a lightly woodsy hint through the finish, but there's good flesh and energy for balance. Drink now through 2019. 11,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLatourMartillac.aspJS 95 (2/2016): So much licorice and fennel seed on the nose with lemon and dried pear undertones. Full body, bright acidity and lots of stone, apple skin and citrus undertones. A solid and serious dry white that will deliver pleasure now but will improve for many years ahead.WA 91 (10/2016): The 2013 LaTour Martillac Blanc has a grassy, lime and gooseberry-scented bouquet, the Sauvignon Blanc in charge and driving the aromatics. The palate is crisp and fresh on the entry with a pleasant saline entry, a touch of bitter lemon and a vibrant, quite sustained finish that just attenuates slightly, though I suspect that will be addressed with bottle age. Bunker this in your cellar for 3 or 4 years before reaching for the waiter's friend.WS 90 (7/2016): Stylish, with an alluring brioche edge underscoring the white peach, verbena and straw flavors. Stays racy through the finish, presenting a lingering whiff of toast. Drink now through 2017. 2,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLatourMartillac.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLatourMartillac.aspWS 82 (5/1994): Cloudy, simple, supple and still showing some plum and spice flavors in modest proportions. Drinkable now.--Latour à Pomerol vertical.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLatour-a-Pomerol.aspWA 93+ (4/2015): A very strong effort from this estate in the Jean-Pierre Moueix stable, this 2012 (14.5% natural alcohol) has a dense ruby/purple color, a big, sweet kiss of mocha, blackcurrants, and black cherries, and notes of truffle and earth. Full-bodied, ripe and one of the great successes from this estate over recent decades, the 2012 is a must-purchase for Pomerol enthusiasts. Silky tannins, superb concentration and a long, long finish suggest a good 20+ years of evolution at minimum. Bravo! VM 93 (1/2016): The 2012 Latour a Pomerol is intensely aromatic and beautifully layered in the glass. Sweet herbs, tobacco, raspberry jam, mint and roasted coffee beans are all laced together. Sensual and inviting, the 2012 is all about subtlety and nuance. Super-ripe black cherries, iron, smoke and tobacco add further complexity. The 2012 deftly balances unctuous richness with terrific aromatic presence and delineation. The Cabernet Franc is particularly expressive today. Antonio Galloni. WS 93 (3/2015): Bay, tobacco and mesquite notes lead the way, with a lush core of fig, boysenberry and plum fruit filling in quickly behind. Serious tobacco, charcoal and loam notes give the finish a hefty feel, but there's purity and polish here, too. Cellar for maximum effect. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,333 cases made. JS 92 (2/2015): A dense and layered red with dried strawberries, cocoa powder, chocolate and shelled walnuts. Full body, round and chewy tannins. Dense and deep. Needs three or four years to soften and come together. Excellent texture. Better after 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLatour-a-Pomerol.aspWS 95 (3/2008): Shows mineral, flint, green apple skin and citrus fruit on the nose. Very intense and focused. Racy. Has a powerful, full-bodied palate, with a thick, layered structure, fabulous acidity and subtle ripe fruit. Very long and present, yet tight and reserved. Needs time. Best after 2014. 665 cases made. WA 94+ (4/2008): A sensational example of Laville, the light green/gold-hued 2005 offers up a superb bouquet of spring flower blossoms, melted wax, honeysuckle, caramel, ripe citrus, and a subtle hint of smoke. This superb, full-bodied, fabulously concentrated white should have 40 years of longevity.NM 94 (1/2009): Tasted single blind at Southwold. The Laville ’05 displays a delicate nose: neutral with subtle white flower scents complemented by citrus fruits. Nice definition. The palate is medium-bodied, nicely balanced, nice finesse here with some honeysuckle, apricot and spicy tones. A case of less is more, but you know it will age with grace. Drink 2012-2030. IWC 91-93 (6/2007): (78% semillon and 22% sauvignon blanc) Very bright pale yellow-straw. Less fruity and more reticent than the 2006, offering aromas of lanolin, honey and resin. Dense with extract and chewy in texture but in a closed stage and showing less of the exhilarating high-toned character of the 2006-or the citrus lift it displayed from barrel a year ago. Deep flavors of honeycomb and dried pineapple. But this full wine boasts very strong material.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLavilleHautBrion.aspWA 98 (2/2009): An absolutely staggering vintage for this historic and tiny estate, this 2006 has a huge nose of tropical fruit, including pineapple, as well as a liqueur of minerality, with quince, white citrus, and a hint of subtle toast. Full-bodied, with huge concentration, an almost flinty mouthfeel, zesty acidity, and a monster finish, this is a prodigious Laville Haut-Brion that needs about 10 years of cellaring and should last 30 or more years. WS 93 (3/2009): Very lemony, with hints of vanilla and cream on the nose. Reminds me of a baby grand cru Burgundy. Full-bodied, showing lots of coconut and toasty oak character, with lemon curd on the finish. A bit ponderous and thick now, but flavorful and structured. Powerful and layered. Best after 2011. 500 cases made. IWC 93 (5/2008): Brilliant yellow. Wonderfully complex nose melds lime, stone fruits, mint, licorice, resin and saline oyster shell; still a touch of reduction. Sweet and ripe but with excellent energy and purity to its flavors of yellow fruits, minerals, flint and baked bread (Masclet did a lot of batonnage with this vintage). Beautifully integrated acidity extends the finish of this very ripe and sexy wine. This is outstanding, and perhaps more classically semillon in character than the young 2007, but the newer wine offers even greater potential.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLavilleHautBrion.aspNM 94 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. A masterful showing from the oft-overlooked second wine, which outclassed many a Grand Vin under blind conditions. The 2009 has a classy, sophisticated bouquet with blackberry, cherry and a cheeky touch of espresso. The palate is medium-bodied with a pleasurable tealeaf and bay leaf element that complements the ripe spicy black fruit. This has a lot of character with a very composed finish. Just a shame it is as expensive as it is. WS 92 (3/2012): This has density and heft, but stays pure and almost accessible now, thanks to its lovely, rounded feel, which allows the plum, fig, steeped black currant, melted licorice snap and loam notes to hang gracefully through the finish, with well-buried acidity. Best from 2013 through 2023. 1,665 cases made.WA 91 (12/2011): Possibly the finest second wine Cheval Blanc has yet produced, the 2009 Le Petit Cheval is a blend of 35% Merlot and 65% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits more caramelized notes than the grand vin along with a luscious, open-knit, subtle herbaceous component. This fleshy, sexy 2009 is ideal for drinking over the next decade.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LePetitCheval.aspWS 90 (7/2014): Polished, offering good mouthfeel to the layers of fig sauce, crushed plum and licorice. Judicious toast frames the finish, with a hint of charcoal adding length. A little lighter than when tasted from barrel, but still balanced and refined without trying too hard. Drink now through 2020.JS 90 (2/2014): A wine with pretty balance of fruit and spices, with berry, hazelnut and cocoa. Full to medium body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Second wine of Cheval. Better in 2015.WA 89 (4/2014): The quality of Cheval Blanc’s second wine continues to go from strength to strength. For example, the 2011 Le Petit Cheval reveals savory, high-brow nuances along with black currant, black cherry, spice box and mineral notes. Round, generous and medium-bodied, this sleeper of the vintage is ideal for drinking over the next decade or more.VM 88 (7/2014): Bright medium red. Strawberry, redcurrant and violet on the nose. Juicy and vinous, with redcurrant and delicate coffee flavors showing good sweetness and plenty of early appeal. Finishes moderately long and a bit simple, with a hint of dusty minerals, repeating floral nuances and smooth tannins. A lovely wine expressing pristine aromas and flavors. Pierre Lurton and technical director Pierre-Olivier Clouet told me that the final blend is 72% merlot and 28% cabernet franc (it was 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc during the Primeurs).http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LePetitCheval.aspWS 96 (12/2015): Hello. Take textbook St.-Julien warmed fig, blueberry compote and blackberry reduction notes along with ample graphite, bramble and tobacco flavors, then dial it up a notch. This has terrific energy to offset the admirable depth and length, and hasn't even started a second phase yet. One of the stars of the vintage. Best from 2018 through 2033. 20,000 cases made.JS 96 (4/2014): This wine has always been soft and delicious, with an almost decadent character of strawberry tart, earth, meat and spices. It’s full and very soft, with refined tannins and a very long finish.WA 95+ (6/2010): I found this to be one of the more backward wines of the 2000 vintage and gave it a window of maturity of 2015-2040 when I reviewed it in 2003. In my two recent tastings of it, I changed that window to 2018-2050, which probably says more than the following tasting note could say. This is a behemoth - dense, highly extracted, very tannic, broodingly backward, with a dense purple color and very little evolution since it was bottled 8 years ago. Wonderfully sweet cedar and fruitcake notes are intermixed with hints of creme de cassis, licorice, and earthy forest floor. It is full-bodied and tannic, with everything in place, but like so many wines that come from Leoville Barton, it makes a mockery of many modern-day consumers wanting a wine for immediate gratification. Those who bought it should continue to exercise patience and be proud to own a wonderful classic with five decades of longevity ahead of it.VM 94 (6/2003): Full medium ruby. Knockout superripe nose combines black cherry, licorice and exotic spices. Compellingly sweet, lush and complete, with harmonious acids giving the wine lovely vinosity and extending the flavors. Finishes with lush, dusty tannins and superb persistence. A great vintage for Leoville-Barton. Stephen Tanzer.NM 92 (3/2010): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. Ripe blackberry, raspberry, fruitcake and mulberry on the nose, more primal than others 2000s, developing touches of leather and Provencal herbs (white fennel) with time. The palate has a chewy entry, spicy and peppery, very attacking but perhaps a little ostentatious? Spiky, spicy black fruits, touches of marjoram and cardamom. Dry and tobacco dominated towards the finish, moderate length. It lacks some focus for the first ten minutes but coalesces and tidies itself up. Drink 2012-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleBarton.aspNM 94 (10/2007): A very ripe blackberry and blueberry nose that is lacking some definition. Just a little muffled. The palate is full-bodied, sinewy, good grip with toasty tannins. Blackberry, cedar, mint, tobacco with a very fine tannic off-dry finish. Very correct, good breeding, surfeit finesse on the finish. WA 92 (6/2004): Consistent from bottle (I tasted it three times), this is an outstanding offering, although not quite at the prodigious level of the 2000. Civilized and approachable for a young Leoville-Barton, it exhibits a saturated plum/purple color along with classic Bordelais aromas of damp earth, creme de cassis, smoke, vanillin, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied and rich, with high but well-integrated tannin, and a long, 40+ second finish, it should turn out to be a brilliant effort, and one of the stars of the Medoc. However, patience is essential. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020.WS 92 (3/2004): Gorgeous aromas of crushed blackberries and flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-knit tannins and a silky, caressing palate. Long. This is a wonderful wine. Lots of finesse. Best after 2008. 22,500 cases made.IWC 90 (6/2004): Good medium ruby-red. Sweet, pure nose dominated by black cherry and spices. Juicy and fine-grained, with a lovely restrained sweetness and nicely integrated acidity. A hint of pepper lifts the wine's fruit without introducing intrusive greenness. Stylish, firm claret with good extract and a firm, lingering finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleBarton.aspWS 96 (3/2008): Delivers breathtaking aromas of blackberry, currant, licorice and flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and supersilky tannins. Dark chocolate, currant, berry and licorice follow through. This is racy and beautiful. Best after 2015. 20,375 cases made. JS 96 (12/2010): This offers aromas of spices, dried dark fruits, meat and berries. Full and muscular on the palate, with strong tannins and a long, long finish. This is very powerful and chewy, but a little bit tight. This is a wine for the cellar. Don't touch this until 2018. NM 95 (7/2009): Tasted single blind at Southwold. Again, this is showing a lot of extraction and unresolved new oak on the nose with cassis, blackcurrant, liquorice and a touch of fig. Very ripe supple black fruits, lush and generous, exotic almost with a lithe, toasty finish. Very seductive, but they a wall of tannins hits the back palate, then honeyed tones lingering on the aftertaste. Magnificent - I would love to contrast this against the 2003. Drink 2015-2035. Tasted January 2009. VM 94 (6/2008): Deep ruby. Wonderfully perfumed nose offers cassis, minerals, tobacco, flowers, mocha and truffle. Bright, mineral-driven and concentrated, with terrific underlying backbone giving energy and definition to the dark berry, mineral and chocolate flavors. There's a floral lift here that's exhilarating to find in the very ripe 2005 vintage. Finishes very long and classy, with a firm tannic spine. An outstanding vintage for this wine. Stephen Tanzer. WA 92 (6/2015): Léoville Barton’s 2005 has an inky ruby/purple color and shows fairly high tannin levels, but the balance is slightly better that the Langoa Barton, which is very hard. This is probably a 30-year wine and needs at least another 20 years of cellaring, and while the tannins are high, they are balanced more thoroughly and competently. With deep cassis and red currant fruit, the wine is earthy, spicy, medium to full-bodied, and needs at least another decade. Drink it between 2025 and 2050.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleBarton.aspNM 85 (1/2012): Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. There is a slight fungal aroma on the animally nose that is not quite as clean as I would like. The palate is medium-bodied and succulent, firm grip but missing a little acidity and freshness on the finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ReservedeLeovilleBarton.aspNM 93-95 (4/2013): The Grand Vin is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc picked between 3 and 15 October at 32hl/ha. It is more introspective than the Langoa at this early stage, but perhaps more complex with subtle tertiary and pencil lead scents infusing the black fruit profile. The palate is superbly balanced with fine tannins, delineated black and red fruit infused with graphite borrowed north from Pauillac. It exudes focus and precision and should be one of the finest Saint Julien 2012s.WA 92 (4/2015): Dense ruby/purple, with cassis licorice and forest floors notes in the aromatics, Léoville-Barton’s 2012 is a relatively big, rich, masculine style of wine. This full-bodied wine needs 5-8 years of cellaring and should evolve easily for 25-30 years. VM 91+ (1/2016): The 2012 Leoville-Barton is laced with dark red and blue-fleshed stone fruits, spices, sweet spice, mint and licorice. This is a decidedly understated, forward Leoville-Barton that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The classic Leoville-Barton signatures aren't fully developed. Perhaps I caught the 2012 in an awkward stage, but today the wine is quite introspective and gives the impression of not being fully formed.JS 91 (2/2015): Floral and fruity red with hints of vanilla. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. Loosely knit. This needs three or four years to come together. Better after 2018.WS 89 (3/2015): Features a chewy edge, with anise, blackberry and black currant fruit notes held together by an ample dose of roasted apple wood. A chewy feel holds the finish, with plum skin and singed wood details lingering. This feels like it may have dried out just a bit since the barrel tasting. Best from 2016 through 2022. 12,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleBarton.aspWS 96 (12/2009): Very ripe, with raisin and dried fruits on the nose. You can smell the sun-dried grapes. Full-bodied, delivering firm tannins and a very fresh palate. Long and flavorful, offering currant, berries and all sorts of dark fruits, but turns lightly earthy and floral. This is a thoroughly complex wine. Just starting to really open into the mature 20-year-old wine it is, but such a great life ahead of it. Muscular.—'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective. Drink now. MB ***[*] (1/2000): One if not often able to taste Las Cases in its extreme youth. Monsieur Delon was always unwilling to put his wine in with others or to provide cask samples. The first of half a dozen notes made in 1995: immenjsely impressive, already perfectly harmonious, a 5-star wine in the making. Jumping five years, showing well at Farr Vintners: sweet, fully aroused. Rich yet tannic. Drink 2005-2030. WA 90 (12/2001): Dark ruby (a far less saturated color than the 1990, for example), this wine offers up a somewhat internationally styled nose of new oak and ripe black currant fruit, with a hint of mineral and graphite. The wine is a medium weight, relatively elegant style of wine without nearly the power, density, and layers of concentration that the 1990 possesses. Like so many 1989s, there is a feeling that the selection was not as strict as it could have been, or that the harvest occurred perhaps a few days earlier than it should have to achieve full phenolic ripeness. This wine will continue to improve for at least another 15 or more years, and while it is an outstanding wine , it is hardly a profound example of Leoville Las Cases. Anticipated maturity: Now-2016. NM 90 (2/2011): Tasted at Roberson’s Las-Cases vertical. This is a little disappointing on the nose, rather muffled compared to other vintages and certainly lacking the vigour and vivacity of the 1990. There are subtle touches of mulberry, sloe, graphite and saddle leather. The palate is medium-bodied with good balance, certainly at its plateau with leather, graphite and smoke. The finish has a touch of spice and again, a slight saline element at the back of the mouth. It is certainly well crafted but just lacking the joie-de-vivre or the profundity of its peers.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspWA 96 (6/2009): As one might expect, this is a brilliant wine, but it remains shockingly young, even for the fast evolving 1990s. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a classic, nearly restrained set of aromatics that includes notions of sweet black cherries, black currants, lead pencil, and wet stones. In the mouth, it is full-bodied, and while technically low in acidity, there is a freshness, delineation, and classicism in this full-throttle, rich, concentrated, impeccable 1990. While still youthful, it is easy to appreciate despite its substantial tannins. It is not quite as backward as the 1990 Lafite Rothschild or 1990 Latour. Anticipated maturity: now-2035. NM 95 (4/2012): The Chateau Leoville Las-Cases 1990 continues to be a monumental wine, one of the finest of that era. Tasted blind at a private dinner, it retains that misleading, Pauillac bouquet with great intensity, the secondary aromas swarming…rolled tobacco, undergrowth, graphite and Provencal herbs. The palate is beautifully balanced with melted, autumnal, tertiary fruit and great weight towards the persistent finish. It has a dimension and a breeding that puts the 1989 in the shade. Wonderful. VM 94+ (11/1993): Saturated ruby-red to the rim. Bound-up but intense nose of licorice, blackcurrant, and chocolate, with lovely oak treatment. Brooding and unevolved on the palate, but the great extract and depth of flavor are easy to appreciate. Brilliantly delineated, thanks to sound acidity. Proprietor Delon declassified more than 60% of his crop to make this sensational wine. Endless, firm aftertaste. WS 93 (8/2000): Beautifully crafted red. Gorgeous plum, berry and smoky oak character. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long, ripe fruit finish. A joy to taste.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspWA 98 (10/2016): The 1996 Leoville-Las Cases is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc picked between 25 September and 10 October (for fascinating insight, read Robert Parker's remarks about the blend with Michel Delon in the original tasting note). Now at 20 years, it has evolved into an absolutely stunning Saint Julien, clearly one of the best wines from the estate this decade. The bouquet is beautifully defined with intense black cherries, cedar, mint and a touch of oyster shell that seems to gain intensity in the glass. The palate is seamless from start to finish, extraordinarily pure, the 70% new oak totally assimilated of course, impressive weight and power allied with genuine finesse and tension towards the silky smooth finish. It stands as one of the best wines of the vintage without one iota of doubt and it will last 30-40 years without problem. You might call it "proper Claret." You might call it "delicious." VM 96+ (7/2002): Saturated bright, dark ruby. Perfumed, vibrant, very youthful aromas of cassis, violet and bitter chocolate. Dense and powerful, with great clarity of flavor thanks to a terrific spine of acidity. Almost painfully structured wine but not at all hard. Finishes very long and gripping, with a note of bitter chocolate. Drink 2012 through 2040. Stephen Tanzer. NM 95 (2/2011): Tasted at Roberson’s Las-Cases vertical. The 1996 is more masculine on the nose with graphite and tobacco, a touch of sea salt developing with time, an estuarine tincture that is refreshing and speaks of its place. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, a saline touch on the entry, much more closed than the nose, obdurate as usual, quite austere towards the cedar and tobacco and mint dominated finish. WS 92 (12/2007): Incredible nose of blackberry, mineral, cedar and currant. Full-bodied, with silky and refined tannins and a medium caressing finish. It's a beautiful wine that begs to be drunk now but will age and improve for a long time. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspJS 100 (5/2012): This is a classic Las Cases, with masses of mineral, floral, and blueberry character. Full and chewy, with so much power. Please don’t touch this for another seven to nine years. Otherwise decant this for two hours. WS 100 (3/2003): (Wine Spectator #5 wine of 2003) Absolutely fantastic. This is one of the most exciting young reds I have tasted in a long, long time. It shows intense aromas of berries, currants and minerals, with hints of mint. Full-bodied and packed with fruit and tannins, its long finish is refined and silky. A benchmark for the vintage. Las Cases has always wanted to make first-growth quality in a top-notch vintage, and it certainly did in 2000. Best after 2012. 15,000 cases made. WA 98+ (6/2010): Along with the Medoc first growths, Leoville Barton, Chateau Montrose, Sociando Mallet, and a handful of other producers, Leoville Las Cases continues to make a wine meant for very long-term cellaring. When I did my earlier tastings of the 2000, my projected maturity dates were 2012-2040, but it is looking more like 2020-2050. This full-bodied blend of nearly 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.4% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc still has a youthful ruby/purple color, notes of graphite, kirsch liqueur, black currants, and lead pencil shavings, with good acidity, the tell-tale purity, layered ripeness and intensity, and a profound finish. However, with its high level of tannin and brooding backwardness, this superb effort needs to be forgotten for up to a decade. NM 97 (2/2011): Tasted at Roberson’s Las-Cases vertical. The millennial Las-Cases is very well defined on the nose, although there is still a lot of oak to be resolved. Ripe blackberry and a touch of sloe, tobacco and graphite, a puff of smoke with time. Very controlled and assured, perhaps a little more generous than I expected. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, typically obdurate tannins, very masculine with tobacco and a touch of white pepper towards the finish. VM 95+ (6/2003): Full, bright ruby. Superripe aromas of roasted currant, violet and black licorice. Powerful and highly aromatic in the mouth, with brooding black fruit, violet and chocolate flavors. A step up in acidity from the Clos du Marquis, giving the wine great vinosity and cut. Extremely long and aromatic on the finish, with big, chewy, thoroughly ripe tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspWS 97 (3/2006): Incredible nose of crushed berry, licorice, violets and lightly toasted oak. Pure crème de cassis. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Solid. Best after 2011. 10,000 cases made. JS 97 (5/2012): This is more exotic and monstrous than the 2000. It is like a muscle builder, with lots of round and rich tannins and a core of dark fruits like black cherries and blueberries. Still very young, but structured and in need of five more years. Don’t touch this until 2015.WA 96 (8/2014): An incredibly fresh, lively 2003 (the pH is only 3.6 and the alcohol is 13.1%), this wine offers a dense ruby/purple color along with full body and a remarkable nose of black currants, kirsch, lead pencil shavings and vanilla. Opulent, full-bodied and close to full maturity, it is a seamless classic that will age for 15-20 more years. Kudos to the Delon family for such a brilliant achievement in a tricky vintage.NM 94 (3/2013): Tasted at Bordeaux Index's "10-Year On" tasting in London. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Las-Cases has the most complex nose of the three Leovilles with beautifully defined blackberry, wild hedgerow, leather and black truffle scents that waft seductively from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with plenty of pure dark cherry and boysenberry fruit stuck through by a keen thread of acidity. This is very composed, very animated with a long, sensual finish. Superb. VM 93+ (5/2006): Full ruby-red. Plum, tar, cedar and nutty oak on the nose; less exotic than most '03s. Then massive and full on the palate; almost too big for the mouth. As silky as this is, it also possesses very good acidity for the vintage. Finishes with huge but lush tannins and superb length. The IPT here is 74, compared to 70 in 2005, and the alcohol is a tad higher, at 13.2%. A perfect vintage of Las Cases for tasters who normally find this wine too rigorous, but this still promises to be long-lived. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspWS 100 (3/2008): This is breathtaking. Black in color, with incredible aromas of crushed blackberry, mineral, licorice and lead pencil. Full-bodied, with a mind-blowing texture of seamless tannins that coat every millimeter of the palate. Goes on and on, with licorice, currant and flowers. Time will tell if it's better than the 2000. Best after 2017. 20,000 cases made. WA 97+ (6/2015): This is a prodigious effort. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc (only 37% of the crop qualified for Las Cases), this dense ruby/purple wine has a stunningly pure bouquet of dark fruit, wet rocks, graphite, and subtle background toast/vanillin. Full-bodied, masculine, and very deep and concentrated, this titanic effort is at least 8-10 years away from its plateau of maturity. The Delon family have produced another legend. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2050+. VM 95+ (6/2008): Saturated ruby-red. A confiture of dark berries on the nose, with a complicating torrefaction note of coffee. Fat, sweet, plump and full, with a silky, enveloping texture rare for this wine in its youth. The highly concentrated cassis, violet and bitter chocolate flavors really take over the mouth and stay awhile. The huge, chocolatey finish features big, ripe, building tannins. One can easily taste this massive wine today, but there are great reserves here to ensure a long and slow evolution in bottle-and I would not be at all surprised if it shut down soon for a very long time. Our cabernet sauvignon was perfectly ripe in both '05 and '06, noted cellarmaster Rolland. NM 95+ (2/2015): The Château Léoville Las-Cases 2005 has a surprisingly backward bouquet that has clearly decided to let Poyferré have all the fun at the moment. This is very well defined but extremely tight, reluctantly offering blackberry, wet tobacco and iris scents to eke from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and acidity. It is not as deep or as concentrated as I was anticipating, brutally shy in the glass with a linear finish that says: "Come back another day." Say in 2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspWS 100 (3/2008): This is breathtaking. Black in color, with incredible aromas of crushed blackberry, mineral, licorice and lead pencil. Full-bodied, with a mind-blowing texture of seamless tannins that coat every millimeter of the palate. Goes on and on, with licorice, currant and flowers. Time will tell if it's better than the 2000. Best after 2017. 20,000 cases made. WA 97+ (6/2015): This is a prodigious effort. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc (only 37% of the crop qualified for Las Cases), this dense ruby/purple wine has a stunningly pure bouquet of dark fruit, wet rocks, graphite, and subtle background toast/vanillin. Full-bodied, masculine, and very deep and concentrated, this titanic effort is at least 8-10 years away from its plateau of maturity. The Delon family have produced another legend. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2050+. VM 95+ (6/2008): Saturated ruby-red. A confiture of dark berries on the nose, with a complicating torrefaction note of coffee. Fat, sweet, plump and full, with a silky, enveloping texture rare for this wine in its youth. The highly concentrated cassis, violet and bitter chocolate flavors really take over the mouth and stay awhile. The huge, chocolatey finish features big, ripe, building tannins. One can easily taste this massive wine today, but there are great reserves here to ensure a long and slow evolution in bottle-and I would not be at all surprised if it shut down soon for a very long time. Our cabernet sauvignon was perfectly ripe in both '05 and '06, noted cellarmaster Rolland. NM 95+ (2/2015): The Château Léoville Las-Cases 2005 has a surprisingly backward bouquet that has clearly decided to let Poyferré have all the fun at the moment. This is very well defined but extremely tight, reluctantly offering blackberry, wet tobacco and iris scents to eke from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and acidity. It is not as deep or as concentrated as I was anticipating, brutally shy in the glass with a linear finish that says: "Come back another day." Say in 2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspWS 100 (3/2008): This is breathtaking. Black in color, with incredible aromas of crushed blackberry, mineral, licorice and lead pencil. Full-bodied, with a mind-blowing texture of seamless tannins that coat every millimeter of the palate. Goes on and on, with licorice, currant and flowers. Time will tell if it's better than the 2000. Best after 2017. 20,000 cases made. WA 97+ (6/2015): This is a prodigious effort. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc (only 37% of the crop qualified for Las Cases), this dense ruby/purple wine has a stunningly pure bouquet of dark fruit, wet rocks, graphite, and subtle background toast/vanillin. Full-bodied, masculine, and very deep and concentrated, this titanic effort is at least 8-10 years away from its plateau of maturity. The Delon family have produced another legend. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2050+. VM 95+ (6/2008): Saturated ruby-red. A confiture of dark berries on the nose, with a complicating torrefaction note of coffee. Fat, sweet, plump and full, with a silky, enveloping texture rare for this wine in its youth. The highly concentrated cassis, violet and bitter chocolate flavors really take over the mouth and stay awhile. The huge, chocolatey finish features big, ripe, building tannins. One can easily taste this massive wine today, but there are great reserves here to ensure a long and slow evolution in bottle-and I would not be at all surprised if it shut down soon for a very long time. Our cabernet sauvignon was perfectly ripe in both '05 and '06, noted cellarmaster Rolland. NM 95+ (2/2015): The Château Léoville Las-Cases 2005 has a surprisingly backward bouquet that has clearly decided to let Poyferré have all the fun at the moment. This is very well defined but extremely tight, reluctantly offering blackberry, wet tobacco and iris scents to eke from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and acidity. It is not as deep or as concentrated as I was anticipating, brutally shy in the glass with a linear finish that says: "Come back another day." Say in 2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspWS 100 (3/2008): This is breathtaking. Black in color, with incredible aromas of crushed blackberry, mineral, licorice and lead pencil. Full-bodied, with a mind-blowing texture of seamless tannins that coat every millimeter of the palate. Goes on and on, with licorice, currant and flowers. Time will tell if it's better than the 2000. Best after 2017. 20,000 cases made. WA 97+ (6/2015): This is a prodigious effort. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc (only 37% of the crop qualified for Las Cases), this dense ruby/purple wine has a stunningly pure bouquet of dark fruit, wet rocks, graphite, and subtle background toast/vanillin. Full-bodied, masculine, and very deep and concentrated, this titanic effort is at least 8-10 years away from its plateau of maturity. The Delon family have produced another legend. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2050+. VM 95+ (6/2008): Saturated ruby-red. A confiture of dark berries on the nose, with a complicating torrefaction note of coffee. Fat, sweet, plump and full, with a silky, enveloping texture rare for this wine in its youth. The highly concentrated cassis, violet and bitter chocolate flavors really take over the mouth and stay awhile. The huge, chocolatey finish features big, ripe, building tannins. One can easily taste this massive wine today, but there are great reserves here to ensure a long and slow evolution in bottle-and I would not be at all surprised if it shut down soon for a very long time. Our cabernet sauvignon was perfectly ripe in both '05 and '06, noted cellarmaster Rolland. NM 95+ (2/2015): The Château Léoville Las-Cases 2005 has a surprisingly backward bouquet that has clearly decided to let Poyferré have all the fun at the moment. This is very well defined but extremely tight, reluctantly offering blackberry, wet tobacco and iris scents to eke from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and acidity. It is not as deep or as concentrated as I was anticipating, brutally shy in the glass with a linear finish that says: "Come back another day." Say in 2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovilleLasCases.aspWA 97 (6/2009): Absolutely spectacular, the1990 Leoville Poyferre is much more evolved than either of its two Leoville neighbors. Its opaque plum/garnet color is accompanied by a gorgeous bouquet of smoke, charcoal, creme de cassis, and flowers. Fleshy and opulent, it comes across like a St.-Julien with a Pomerol texture and allure. This beauty has reached full maturity where it should remain for another two decades. NM 94 (5/2008): A deeper, more limpid colour compared to the 1989 with a very different nose - much more precocious with succulent black fruits, rose petals, iodine, macerated cherries and a touch of blood orange. Superb delineation and vivacity. The palate is full-bodied, succulent black fruits, mocha, iodine and fresh figs, with a hint of prune developing in the glass. Rich and very expressive although I prefer the delineation on the 1989. Could be a Pomerol on the finish! Excellent. Drink now-2025 WS 92 (3/1993): A chewy wine, with impressively rich aromas and flavors of ripe plum, tobacco, cedar and earth aromas and flavors and attractive, velvety tannins. Drink after 1998. 18,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWS 92 (12/2007): Black licorice and currants on the nose. Very fragrant. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long finish. Still needs time to come together.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. VM 90 (6/1998): Deep ruby-red. Bright, enticing aromas of redcurrant, minerals and tobacco; not quite as ripe as the '96. Lovely sweetness and clarity of flavor in the mouth. More supple than the '96, and likely to be approachable much earlier. Finishes with substantial, tongue-coating tannins. Stephen Tanzer. WA 90 (2/1998): While not as backward as the 1996, the opaque purple-colored 1995 is a tannic, unevolved, dense, concentrated wine that will require 8-10 years of cellaring. The 1995 exhibits pain grille, blackcurrant, mineral, and subtle tobacco in its complex yet youthful aromatics. Powerful, dense, concentrated cassis and blueberry flavors might be marginally softer than in the 1996, but there is still plenty of grip and structure to this big wine. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWS 92 (12/2007): Black licorice and currants on the nose. Very fragrant. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long finish. Still needs time to come together.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008.VM 90 (6/1998): Deep ruby-red. Bright, enticing aromas of redcurrant, minerals and tobacco; not quite as ripe as the '96. Lovely sweetness and clarity of flavor in the mouth. More supple than the '96, and likely to be approachable much earlier. Finishes with substantial, tongue-coating tannins. Stephen Tanzer.WA 90 (2/1998): While not as backward as the 1996, the opaque purple-colored 1995 is a tannic, unevolved, dense, concentrated wine that will require 8-10 years of cellaring. The 1995 exhibits pain grille, blackcurrant, mineral, and subtle tobacco in its complex yet youthful aromatics. Powerful, dense, concentrated cassis and blueberry flavors might be marginally softer than in the 1996, but there is still plenty of grip and structure to this big wine. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWA 93 (4/1999): This fabulous 1996 was tasted three times from bottle, and it is unquestionably the finest wine produced by this estate since their blockbuster 1990. Medium to full-bodied, with a saturated black/purple color, the nose offers notes of cedar, jammy black fruits, smoke, truffles, and subtle new oak. In the mouth, there is impressive fruit extraction, a tannic, full-bodied structure, and a classic display of power and finesse. The longer it sat in the glass, the more impressive the wine became. Backward, and massive in terms of its extract and richness, this should prove to be a sensational Leoville-Poyferre for drinking over the next three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2028.NM 92 (3/2008): A much deeper colour compared to the 1995. The nose is typical for the vintage: masculine with tobacco, cedar and a touch of tar. Give it time because it has better delineation and focus than the preceding 95. The palate is medium-bodied, firm tannins, drier than the 1995 but better harmony and focus with a lovely sense of natural balance. Masculine, still a little tight but there is good breeding in this wine, the tannins never obtrude on the finish. Drink 2012-2030 VM 91 (6/1999): Deep ruby-red. Expressive aromas of plum, currant, game, woodsmoke and tobacco. Denser and sweeter than the '97 or '98; structured but pliant. Finishes quite long, with dusty, very fine tannins nicely buffered by fruit.WS 90 (7/2007): Blackberry, mineral and citrus fruit aromas. Full-bodied, with slightly angular tannins, but fruity, with a pleasant tobacco undertone on the finish. Just coming around.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2007.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWA 89 (4/2002): A perfumed bouquet of flowers, jammy cassis, sweet oak, and truffles jumps from the glass of this ripe, classic, mid-weight claret. The wine is elegant rather than powerful. It possesses intense fruit, admirable ripeness as well as balance, and a long finish. Enjoy this beautiful, sexy Poyferre over the next 12-14 years. VM 88 (6/2002): Medium-deep red. Redcurrant, cedar and minerals on the nose, along with a cool minty aspect. Then sweet and supple in the mouth, with good flavor intensity and thrust but moderate nuance. Can't match the 2000 or 2001 for volume but finishes with ripe tannins and good length. WS 87 (3/2002): Delicious red. Plenty of plum and blackberry character on the nose. Medium-bodied, with light silky tannins and a delicate, fruity finish. Best after 2003. 20,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWA 90 (4/2005): This wine has completely shut down since it’s been bottled but exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color, high levels of tannin, and sweet, noble black currant fruit intermixed with some licorice, espresso roast, and pain grille. In the vernacular, it is closed for business, with medium to full body, high levels of tannin, and good acidity in a more structured, classic style than the 2003. This is a big, traditionally made wine to forget for a good 5-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020.VM 90 (6/2005): Ruby-red. Complex aromas of cherry, currant, cedar, tobacco, mocha, minerals, menthol and licorice. Bright and penetrating, with juicy acids giving definition to the wine's flavors. Flavors run more to black fruits than the nose would suggest. A nicely aromatic wine with ripe tannins and solid structure.WS 89 (12/2006): Dark color with beautiful blackberry, currant and smoky earth character. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate finish. Excellent attack, but falls a little short. Best after 2010. 20,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWA 96 (8/2014): The spectacular 2003 Leoville Poyferre exhibits a dense purple color with a touch of lightening at the edge as well as notes of creosote, barbecue smoke, jammy black currants, licorice and spice box. This intense, voluptuously textured, full-bodied St.-Julien possesses low acidity and ripe tannin. Still fresh and exuberant, it is just entering its plateau of full maturity where it should remain for 10-15+ years. WS 95 (3/2006): Pure cassis on the nose. Impressive. Full-bodied, thick and powerful, with loads of fruit and big, velvety tannins. Goes on for minutes on the palate. Huge wine. Very, very impressive. This is one of the big surprises of the vintage. Best after 2012. 19,165 cases made. NM 94 (3/2013): Tasted at Bordeaux Index's "10-Year On" tasting in London. The Poyferre -03 offers an exuberant bouquet that is clearly more ostentatious and perhaps vigorous than the Barton - black cherries, cassis, a hint of Bovril and bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe and grippy but succulent tannins. There are layers of black toasty fruit infused with white pepper, cedar and graphite. The finish is nicely composed and is becoming more -classic- in style compared to previous encounters. This is promising - watch out for this in five years time. VM 92 (6/2006): Medium ruby-red. Extravagant aromas of currant, loam, leather and graphite; like the 1990 in its roasted character. Then sweet and dense but with surprising aromatic lift in the mouth, not to mention considerable power. Liqueur-like black fruit, licorice and mineral flavors really stain the palate. Cuvelier maintained that this vintage was not acidified. The cabernet acidity, he said, was healthy and the grape skins gave up their acidity slowly during the vinification. A very impressive showing, and built to last. JS 92 (3/2011): Ripe currants, almost cassis aromas with hints of dried flowers and tar. Full bodied, with chewy tannins and an elegant and lean structure. Long and stylish, this still needs some time. Pull the cork after 2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWA 96 (8/2014): The spectacular 2003 Leoville Poyferre exhibits a dense purple color with a touch of lightening at the edge as well as notes of creosote, barbecue smoke, jammy black currants, licorice and spice box. This intense, voluptuously textured, full-bodied St.-Julien possesses low acidity and ripe tannin. Still fresh and exuberant, it is just entering its plateau of full maturity where it should remain for 10-15+ years. WS 95 (3/2006): Pure cassis on the nose. Impressive. Full-bodied, thick and powerful, with loads of fruit and big, velvety tannins. Goes on for minutes on the palate. Huge wine. Very, very impressive. This is one of the big surprises of the vintage. Best after 2012. 19,165 cases made. NM 94 (3/2013): Tasted at Bordeaux Index's "10-Year On" tasting in London. The Poyferre -03 offers an exuberant bouquet that is clearly more ostentatious and perhaps vigorous than the Barton - black cherries, cassis, a hint of Bovril and bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe and grippy but succulent tannins. There are layers of black toasty fruit infused with white pepper, cedar and graphite. The finish is nicely composed and is becoming more -classic- in style compared to previous encounters. This is promising - watch out for this in five years time. VM 92 (6/2006): Medium ruby-red. Extravagant aromas of currant, loam, leather and graphite; like the 1990 in its roasted character. Then sweet and dense but with surprising aromatic lift in the mouth, not to mention considerable power. Liqueur-like black fruit, licorice and mineral flavors really stain the palate. Cuvelier maintained that this vintage was not acidified. The cabernet acidity, he said, was healthy and the grape skins gave up their acidity slowly during the vinification. A very impressive showing, and built to last. JS 92 (3/2011): Ripe currants, almost cassis aromas with hints of dried flowers and tar. Full bodied, with chewy tannins and an elegant and lean structure. Long and stylish, this still needs some time. Pull the cork after 2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWA 94 (5/2011): One of the finest over-achieving efforts in this vintage as well as a “best buy" for a top-flight St.-Julien, this 2008 is an irresistible success. It reveals an opaque ruby/purple color, lots of unctuosity and a boatload of sweet cassis and black cherry fruit intertwined with notions of licorice, smoke and oak. Full-bodied, remarkably concentrated and stunningly pure and textured, this sensational wine is already drinking well, and will be even better with 2-3 years of cellaring. It should last for 20-25 years. Bravo! NM 93 (1/2012): Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. Didier Cuvelier’s wine seems to be on an upward curve in bottles. It has a very attractive bouquet with cedar and tobacco aromas. A lovely “classic" Saint Julien nose. The palate is ripe and well-defined with firm tannins, extremely well balanced towards the elegant finish. This is beautifully made and quite feminine, surpassing my expectations. VM 91 (8/2011): Red-ruby. Aromas of mulberry, redcurrant, mocha, sassafras and spicy oak, with an attractive floral topnote. Juicy, suave and fine-grained, with a repeating floral quality giving the wine lovely inner-mouth perfume. Very sexy oak here. Finishes with firm but suave tannins and excellent dusty persistence. WS 91 (4/2011): Very direct, with black currant and fig paste jumping out and driving all the way through the lightly muscular finish, where extra iron, espresso and charcoal notes fill in. An iron edge lingers. This needs a little time. Best from 2013 through 2019. 18,330 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWA 94 (4/2014): This property, which has been on a qualitative tear over the last generation, has produced one of the most successful wines of 2011. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it is broad, rich, medium to full-bodied and dense. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as lots of concentration, silky tannins, and a bigger, richer mouthfeel than any of its St.-Julien peers. The result is one of the stars of the vintage.JS 93 (2/2014): Blackberry and currant aromas with hints of minerals. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Chewy and reserved. Just the right amount of fruit covering the tannins. Harmony for the vintage. Better in 2017.NM 92-94 (4/2012): The Chateau Leoville Poyferre is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc picked between 19th September and 1st October, sorted by optical machine. Astonishingly, it has a higher IPT than in 2010 at 94 compared to 82 last year. It has an attractive bouquet with fine delineation and freshness, fine tension and poise with exuberant blackberry and wild strawberry fruit infused with cedar and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins, a sharp thread of citric acidity and very good weight. It lacks a little harmony towards the finish that shows a little hardness, but I think this will soften to turn out to be one of the finest Saint Julien wines in a difficult vintage. IWC 92+ (7/2014): Inky ruby. Exotic, inviting scents of black cherry, cassis, orange zest, coffee and smoky underbrush. Fat, sweet and rich, with lively acidity giving noteworthy lift to its rich dark fruit, pepper and cocoa flavors. Wonderfully delineated Saint-Julien wine with plenty of fleshy substance but more than enough energy to keep it from being weighed down; in fact, this seems almost delicate for such a big wine. Finishes with soft tannins and lingering notes of pepper and violet. This is already fun to drink but ought to evolve gracefully for another decade or so. Should turn out to be one of the stars of the vintage.WS 92 (3/2014): Shows a warm charcoal note from the start, backed by melted fig, crushed blackberry and steeped black currant fruit. A strong graphite edge pins down the finish. Dark in profile, but defined and well-suited to mid-term cellaring. A very solid effort. Best from 2016 through 2026.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspVM 94 (1/2016): A dark, fleshy wine, the Léoville Poyferré 2012 is round, succulent and deeply expressive. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, graphite and lavender are fused together in an effortless, silky Saint-Julien built on texture. Striking and totally beautiful, the 2012 will be ready to deliver its charms early. All the elements are in the right place. This is a gorgeous showing from Léoville-Poyferré. The 2012 is perhaps not an epic wine, but is gorgeous today and should provide considerable pleasure over the next 15-20 years. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. WA 92+ (4/2015): Owned by the Cuvelier family since 1920, this property over the last 20 years has made some great wines in the Médoc. The 2012, a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, is opaque purple, thick-looking, and from bottle much more impressive than it was from barrel. This very extracted, rich, full-bodied, masculine Léoville Poyferré needs a good 5-8 years of bottle age and should evolve well for at least 20-25 years. Loads of blackberry and cassis, crushed rock and graphite notes are present in this medium to full-bodied, impressively concentrated and pure wine. Forget it for a while, as this is one of the bigger, richer Médocs.JS 92 (2/2015): On the nose and palate this red suggests red and black plums with cedar notes and hints of cloves. Full body, firm tannins, fresh acidity and an intense finish. Minerally, too. Polished tannins. Drink in 2020.NM 91-93 (4/2013): Tasted twice with consistent notes, the Grand Vin is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot (there is no Cabernet Franc unlike in 2011.) It was picked between 8th October and 19th October at 36hl/ha, when there was a torrential downpour and two plots were spoiled. The grapes were sorted on an Italian optical sorting machine. There is certainly impressive purity and intensity on the nose with ripe blackberry dark plum and touches of vanilla, a little more exotic than the 2011 this time last year. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe sweet tannins. It is typically relatively modern in style, quite opulent for a 2012 with a rounded, velvety finish with plush new oak (85%). Very fine.WS 91 (3/2015): A solid, muscular version, with a slightly chewy feel along the edges, while the core of steeped plum, anise and blackberry paste waits in reserve. Reveals ample graphite details on the finish, with a warm fruitcake note chiming in. Just needs some cellaring to lose the burly edge. Best from 2017 through 2024. 15,405 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLeovillePoyferre.aspWA 92 (4/2014): This tiny jewel of a property, situated close to La Mission-Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, has turned out one of the stars of the 2011 vintage. A deep dark ruby/purple color is followed by hints of graphite, charcoal, creme de cassis and Christmas fruitcake. This medium-bodied Pessac-Leognan is gorgeously concentrated with impeccably well-integrated acidity, tannin, alcohol and oak. An authoritatively long finish adds to the class and nobility of this wine. Drink it over the next 15 years.JS 92 (2/2014): An outstanding wine from the 2011 vintage, with blueberry and chocolate character. It’s full-bodied, with velvety tannins and an intense finish. Shows powerful structure. Extremely well done from here for the vintage; shows the hand of the new owner. Better in 2016.WS 90 (3/2014): This delivers a very pure, focused beam of cherry preserves, red currant and loganberry, harnessed through the finish by a twinge of mesquite. Bright and fresh, revealing the cut and depth for mid-term cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2022.VM 89+ (7/2014): Deep ruby. Smoky, spice-accented aromas of candied dark cherry and redcurrant, with vanilla and violet nuances emerging with air. Enters velvety and open-knit, with appealing sweetness to its spicy red fruit, cola and floral flavors, but turns more austere on the back end. Finishes long, with repeating floral notes and assertive but noble tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLesCarmesHaut-Brion.aspWS 90 (1/2017): This has a lovely richness, as lemon curd and shortbread notes form the core. A racy edge and light star fruit, white peach and verbena accents stream through as well. Offers length and depth. Drink now through 2020. 417 cases made.JS 91-92 (3/2015): This is dense and layered with dried apples, pears and minerals. Full body with lemon rind. Very intense and powerful.VM 90-93 (4/2015): A young, powerful wine, the 2014 Lespault-Martillac Blanc is intense and tightly wound at this stage. The Blanc is distinctly phenolic in this vintage, with a real sense of palate weight and intensity. White flowers, slate, lime, pear, sage and lemon peel are some of the nuances that develop in the glass, but the key signature in the 2014 is its textural weight and overall feel. The blend is 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon, done entirely in barrel. Tasted three times.WA 90-92 (4/2015): The Château Lespault-Martillac 2014 is a blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon. It has a very attractive bouquet with scents of lime flower, granite and dewy green apples, expanding all the time in the glass. The palate is fresh on the entry with fine tension and acidity, good mineralité and tension coming through with touches of fresh gooseberry mixed with lemongrass on the finish. Excellent.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLespaultMartillac.aspWS 92 (12/2013): Solidly built, with thickly layered fig, blueberry and açaí berry flavors pumping along, supported by still-chewy ganache and tobacco notes. An accent of roasted apple wood drives the finish. The pieces are in place, but this needs to be tamed in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2023. 1,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CloslesLunelles.aspWA 90 (4/2015): From the Castillon outpost of Gérard and Chantal Perse, this blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon is usually the leading wine of Castillon. Rich, concentrated, full-bodied and very much in the progressive style of Perse wines, the 2012 Clos les Lunelles is inky ruby/purple and offers crushed rock minerality, blackcurrants and blackberry fruit, full-bodied opulence and remarkable density and richness. The tannins are present, but sweet and well-integrated. This is a beauty that should drink well for at least a decade or more. A major sleeper of the vintage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CloslesLunelles.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLusseau.aspWA 99+ (8/2011): The 1989 has taken forever to shed its formidable tannins, but what a great vintage of Lynch Bages! I would rank it at the top of the pyramid although the 1990, 2000, and down the road, some of the more recent vintages such as 2005, 2009 and 2010 should come close to matching the 1989's extraordinary concentration and undeniable aging potential. Its dense purple color reveals a slight lightening at the edge and the stunning bouquet offers classic notes of creme de cassis, subtle smoke, oak and graphite. Powerful and rich with some tannins still to shed at age 22, it is still a young adolescent in terms of its evolution and will benefit from another 4-5 years of cellaring. It should prove to be a 50 year wine. WS 96 (12/2010): Delivers so much blackberry, leather and dried fruits on the nose. Full-bodied, with ultrapolished tannins and a silky mouthfeel. The palate turns to leaves, cedar and dried berries on the finish, which goes on and on. This is still reserved for the vintage, suggesting a long life ahead. Just coming around now, but will improve many years ahead. I have always loved this Lynch. VM 95 (1/2012): (4.7 g/l total acidity; 13.4% alcohol): Deep ruby-red. Still youthfully closed but highly complex nose hints at cassis, minerals, gunflint and Oriental spices. Quite clean and juicy, boasting lovely precision and size to its flavors of small dark berries, smoky plum, coffee and minerals. This pure, long wine finishes with enticingly soft flavors of red cherry and marzipan. Though rich and opulent, this graceful, seamless wine can still age effortlessly. Maybe the best Lynch-Bages of the last 30 years. Stephen Tanzer. JS 94 (1/2011): I have always been a big fan of this rich wine, with its currant and tropical fruit character on the nose and palate, and just a hint of toasted oak. It’s full-bodied, with wild fruit and tobacco character, and a roasted coffee bean aftertaste. This is a fabulous wine. Served from imperial bottle. NM 92 (6/2010): Tasted at Robersons’ 1989 Bordeaux horizontal. The Lynch-Bages ’89 has a similar hue to the Pichon Baron. The nose is very well defined with classic Pauillac aromas of blackberry, cedar, pencil box, autumn leaves and a touch of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with good fruit concentration, fine acidity, a savoury note developing with game and a touch of chestnut, leading to a harmonious, lightly peppered finish. Excellent. Drink now-2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLynchBages.aspWA 97 (8/2011): Beginning to open magnificently, the still dense purple-colored 2000 reveals a blossoming bouquet of blackberries, cassis, graphite and pen ink. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that have resolved themselves beautifully over the last eleven years, this wine is still an adolescent, but it exhibits admirable purity, texture, mouthfeel and power combined with elegance. One of the all-time great examples of Lynch Bages, the 2000 is just beginning to drink well yet promises to last for another 20-25+ years. WS 96 (7/2016): This has a dense but well-defined core of currant and fig paste flavors supported by a gorgeous graphite spine. Long and authoritative, with notes of bay, pepper, leather and juniper slowly emerging on the finish. Terrific structure and integration give this a chiseled feel. No rush here.—2000 Bordeaux blind retrospective (December 2015). Drink now through 2033. JS 95 (4/2014): Another wonderful 2000 coming out of its long sleep. Beautiful aromas of berry, tobacco, herb and spice that follow through to a full palate with round, textured tannins and lots of fruit. VM 94+ (1/2012): (71% cabernet sauvignon, 16% merlot, 11% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 5.5 g/l total acidity; 13.3% alcohol): Deep ruby-red. Knockout aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, mocha and cedar complicated by scorched earth and tobacco. Big, ripe and dense, with flavors similar to the aromas and a seamless, rich texture. Though powerful and rich, with a sensual mouthfeel, it maintains a graceful, light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with ripe, fine-grained tannins and excellent length. Still an infant, but clearly a great vintage for this property. Ian d'Agata. NM 94 (3/2010): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. This is more taciturn on the nose than Pontet-Canet ‘00, but is well defined with some lovely savoury, chestnut and black truffle aromas developing in the glass. Touches of damp moss/lichen. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, gentle grip, foursquare but good weight, blackberry, graphite, leather and cedar, chewy towards the dry, structured finish. Very fine, perhaps a little broody and introverted at the moment. But great potential. Drink 2016-2040.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLynchBages.aspWS 92 (12/2007): Loads of rich, plummy fruit with vanilla undertones follows through to a full-bodied palate, with soft tannins and a long, long finish. Gorgeous.--Lynch-Bages non-blind vertical. Best after 2010. 35,000 cases made. VM 90 (6/2006): Good red-ruby. Full-blown aromas of currant, black cherry, roasted meat, lead pencil and leather. Fat, rich and compellingly sweet, with suggestions of tobacco and meat. Finishes with very fine tannins that coat the teeth. Seems quite accessible already, but certainly has enough freshness to evolve in bottle over the next decade or more. WA 89 (4/2006): One of the most popular wines of Bordeaux seems to be going through a period where the style seems lighter, and there is less muscle and mass, but perhaps it’s just a temporary transition. Certainly there has been no truly profound Lynch Bages since the 2000, preceded by the 1996, 1990, and 1989. Showing better than it did from cask with some toasty oak, moderate quantities of creme de cassis fruit, lower acidity, and a hint of cedar in an evolved style, the medium to full-bodied 2003 Lynch Bages does not lack for tannin and structure but finishes surprisingly short for a top vintage in the northern Medoc. It is very good, but falls short of outstanding. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLynchBages.aspWS 92 (12/2007): Loads of rich, plummy fruit with vanilla undertones follows through to a full-bodied palate, with soft tannins and a long, long finish. Gorgeous.--Lynch-Bages non-blind vertical. Best after 2010. 35,000 cases made. VM 90 (6/2006): Good red-ruby. Full-blown aromas of currant, black cherry, roasted meat, lead pencil and leather. Fat, rich and compellingly sweet, with suggestions of tobacco and meat. Finishes with very fine tannins that coat the teeth. Seems quite accessible already, but certainly has enough freshness to evolve in bottle over the next decade or more. WA 89 (4/2006): One of the most popular wines of Bordeaux seems to be going through a period where the style seems lighter, and there is less muscle and mass, but perhaps it’s just a temporary transition. Certainly there has been no truly profound Lynch Bages since the 2000, preceded by the 1996, 1990, and 1989. Showing better than it did from cask with some toasty oak, moderate quantities of creme de cassis fruit, lower acidity, and a hint of cedar in an evolved style, the medium to full-bodied 2003 Lynch Bages does not lack for tannin and structure but finishes surprisingly short for a top vintage in the northern Medoc. It is very good, but falls short of outstanding. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLynchBages.aspJS 96 (5/2013): This is very dense and tight right now with firm tannins. Currants with cassis, plums and peach. Full and dense, not giving that much. Powerful and intense and structured. It needs at least another five years. WA 92 (6/2016): As for the 2005 Lynch-Bages, it is a sexy, surprisingly soft and accessible style of wine, with a deep ruby/purple color, loads of crème de cassis, cedar wood and forest floor notes, medium to full body, ripe tannin and a long, fleshy finish. Drink it over the next 15+ years. NM 94 (2/2015): The Château Lynch Bages 2005 has an enthralling graphite and cedar scented bouquet, like a young cousin of the Grand Puy Lacoste. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, one of the most feminine and elegant Lynch Bages in recent years with a lightness of touch on the finish. That is not to say it lacks fruit intensity, but the balance is so assured that is just seems to glide over the mouth. Stylish, assured and meticulous winemaking here. VM 93+ (1/2012): (72% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot; 3.67 pH; 70 IPT; 13.4% alcohol): Deep ruby. Delicate aromas of blackcurrant, mocha and graphite are lifted by minerals and violet. Enters pure, dense and round, then shows lively, precise flavors of black fruits, dried nuts, ink and minerals. This has greater volume and flesh than the 2006, along with a brooding, sneaky concentration and a very long, supple finish. The best Lynch-Bages in years, this should prove to be a great wine in time, and a huge success for this estate. Ian d'Agata. WS 93 (3/2008): Displays very beautiful aromas of crushed blackberry and dark chocolate, with a hint of coffee. Full-bodied, with a tightly wound palate of ripe tannins. Long and caressing. Best after 2015. 35,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLynchBages.aspJS 92 (2/2013): A juicy wine with strawberry and blueberry character. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fresh finish. Lots of ripe fruit. Excellent second wine of Lynch-Bages. Better in 2015. WS 91 (3/2013): This displays a solid core of cassis, raspberry and blackberry coulis notes, framed by a rather polished structure and lined with lightly toasted apple wood and anise notes. Offers good definition, with a violet note chiming in on the finish. A sleek, elegant Pauillac that relies more on purity than muscle. Best from 2014 through 2023.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/EchodeLynchBages.aspJS 95 (2/2013): Impressive nose with leather, dark polished fruit and flowers. Wonderful mouthfeel with soft silky tannins and beautiful texture. Really well put together. Powerful and rich with loads of fruit and ripe tannins. Very ripe. Try in 2016.WA 94 (2/2013): Lead pencil shavings, soy and barbecue smoke as well as red and black currants characterize this brilliant effort, which has an expansive, full-bodied mouthfeel yet a sublime elegance and lightness of being. Dense ruby/purple, gorgeous purity and a long, long finish of close to 50 seconds characterize another brilliant effort from this classified growth in Pessac-Leognan. It should drink nicely for 25-30 years yet is surprisingly accessible even today. WS 93 (3/2013): Shows a hefty dose of toast, but remains polished and well-embedded in a core of crushed plum, steeped blackberry and cherry compote flavors. The long finish picks up briary energy, with anise and violet notes checking in. Best from 2016 through 2028. 10,000 cases made. VM 91 (7/2013): Good bright, dark red. Scented nose offers currant, licorice, dried flowers, cardamom and smoky oak notes. Then sweet, lush and easygoing, with excellent flesh to the flavors of dark berries, graphite and spices. With its velvety, plump texture, this wine may not have ultimate grip but it has more than enough energy and should offer great early appeal. My sample finished with sweet tannins and very good length. -NM 91 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Malartic-Lagraviere 2010 has a very modern nose with plenty of cassis and boysenberry notes, rendering it almost Margaux-like in character (something I picked up just over a year ago.) The palate is medium-bodied with sweet ravishing ripe fruit. In the intervening period, this has become quite glossy and decadent, perhaps at the expense of some finesse that it showed after bottling. Hopefully it will regain that composure and sophistication. Tasted January 2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalarticLagraviere.aspWA 92 (3/2017): The 2014 Malartic-Lagraviere had quite a high-toned, upfront bouquet with kirsch, crushed strawberry, iodine and iris scents that do not hold back. The palate is rounded on the entry with supple tannin, possesses slightly lower acidity than its peers yet remains balanced. There is impressive depth to this Malartic-Lagravière with a subtle white pepper/sage note towards the finish. Though it will be overshadowed by the 2015, this is a well-crafted Pessac-Léognan with the chutzpah that it showed in barrel.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalarticLagraviere.aspWA 93 (2/2013): This full-bodied blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon hit 14.5% natural alcohol. It is deep and rich, with loads of caramelized grapefruit, tropical fruit, subtle oak, wet stones and plenty of melons. Drink now-2035.IWC 90-93 (8/2011): Bright straw-gold. Apple , pear and yellow plum aromas are complemented by mint and sage. Crisp apple and pear flavors display sweet spice and mineral nuances, with mineral and truffle hints adding complexity. Finishes moderately long and quite oaky, but I like this wine's multilayered, zesty personality. Give it five or six years in the cellar and drink it through 2025.WS 90 (3/2013): Ripe and lush, with lots of creamed yellow apple, melon and white peach flavors carried by an alluring, lightly toasted brioche note. This has the vintage's punch in the end, kept honest by a lively citrus accent. Drink now through 2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalarticLagraviere.aspJS 95 (2/2016): Fresh and aromatic with green papaya and lime character. Mango too. Full body, lazer guided palate with beautifully integrated fruit and wood. A great dry white Bordeaux. Drink now.WS 91 (4/2015): Pure, with chamomile and melon rind notes framing a core of lemon curd, white peach and mirabelle plum flavors. The long, stony finish ripples on and on. Fresh and delightful, with the balance to age. Drink now through 2017. 916 cases made.WA 92-94 (8/2014): A fabulous white wine from Malartic’s 17.5 acres of white grapes, this blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon hit 13.5% natural alcohol. It offers plenty of fresh fig, honeysuckle and orange blossom notes in a dense, concentrated, rich style. The wine’s beautiful acidity and fragrance confirm that this was one of the finest white wines produced in Bordeaux in 2013. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.NM 90-92 (5/2014): The Malartic-Lagraviere Blanc is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon cropped at 25hl/ha from 26 September until 4 October. It has a taut, linear, citric bouquet with fresh green apples and lemon peel that springs from the glass, something of a marine influence in the background. The palate is crisp and fresh, tight in the mouth with dewy green apple and sliced lime, although it needs more persistency on the finish. This is a commendable white Pessac-Leognan, even if I think the estate has produced more exemplary wines in recent years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalarticLagraviere.aspJS 95-96 (4/2016): A fresh white with sliced green apple, lemon rind and cream. Full body, bright acidity and a long and flavorful finish. Layered and very dense. Wonderful backbone. WA 94-96 (4/2016): The 2015 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc is a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon that was picked from 8-15 September and matured in 65% new oak. It has a crisp, vibrant, quite minerally bouquet, cold limestone and subtle patisserie/almost whipped cream-like scents. The palate is very well defined with a crisp line of acidity, citrus lemon and lime fanning out with confidence on the finish that completes one of the best Malartic-Lagravière whites that I have encountered at this stage. VM 91-94 (4/2016): The Sauvignon Blanc-based 2015 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc is fresh, energetic and vibrant, with plenty of green apple, mint and white pepper overtones. Varietal Sauvignon character is front and center in this gorgeous dry white. The 2015 was fermented in barrel (65% new), and yet the oak is judiciously balanced. This is a striking wine from Malartic-Lagravière. The blend is 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon. Antonio Galloni. WS 91-94 (4/2016): Rich but energetic, with gooseberry, fennel and yellow apple notes forming the core, offset by bracing salted butter and thyme accents.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalarticLagraviere.aspWA 90 (2/1998): This wine may merit an outstanding rating. It offers a classic Margaux combination of elegance and richness. Medium-bodied, with delicate, beautifully ripe, black currant and floral aromas that compete with subtle new oak, the 1995 Malescot hits the palate with a lovely concoction of fruit, nicely integrated tannin and acidity, and a stylish, graceful feel. This quintessentially elegant Bordeaux should continue to improve in the bottle. A beauty! Anticipated maturity: 2002-2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalescotStExupery.aspWA 92 (4/2006): The noteworthy, classic Margauxs from this estate remain under most consumers’ radar. Displaying low acidity and a forward style, the exotic 2003 is undeniably fragrant, complex, and sexy. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by sumptuous aromas of truffles, underbrush, plums, cassis, and a hint of figs. The tannin is sweet, and the texture is multilayered. This full-bodied, chewy, round, sensual Margaux should evolve gracefully for 15+ years. Bravo!WS 92 (3/2006): Plenty of blackberry and floral aromas with hints of new wood. Full-bodied, chewy and rich with round tannins and a long finish. Very tight. Lovely silky texture. Best after 2009. 6,300 cases made.IWC 90 (6/2006): Good medium ruby, dark for the vintage. Explosive aromas of roasted currant, coffee, game and leather. Fat and full in the mouth, with an exotic chocolate flavor; chewy and rich but not a sweet style, despite its very low acidity and high pH. The tannins are broad but not dry, and the roasted fruit flavors build impressively on the back. I might have scored this very full-bodied wine even higher except for its slightly rustic character.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalescotStExupery.aspWA 90 (6/2007): Although one of the appellation’s more tannic 2004s, the tannin is beautifully balanced by sweet black currant fruit, spring flower, camphor, and licorice notes. This impeccably well-made, medium-bodied Margaux reveals a lovely integration of acidity, tannin, and wood. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following two decades. This estate appears to be performing at a high quality level over recent vintages.WS 90 (3/2007): Interesting aromas of dried flowers and currant on the nose. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a round, caressing finish. Very balanced and stylish. Best after 2011. 9,625 cases made.IWC 90 (6/2007): Bright ruby-red. Expressive nose offers espresso, mocha and smoked meat. Silky, suave and seamless, with a rare opulence for the year. There's a distinct sweetness to the flavors of currant and tobacco. Finishes with very fine, ripe, building tannins and a note of chocolate.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalescotStExupery.aspJS 97+ (11/2011): Lots of blueberries and blackberries with hints of dark chocolate. Full bodied, with gorgeous fruit. Loads of dried strawberries with dark chocolate. I love the texture of the velvety tannins. What length and beauty here. Superb. Best ever from this estate. Try after 2019. WA 96 (2/2012): An inky/purple color is followed by notes of Asian plum sauce, forest floor, creme de cassis, black raspberries and a floral component that is unusual for a Margaux. A wine of exceptional intensity and purity with a full-bodied, sumptuous texture, lots of fresh vibrancy and excellent definition, this beautiful 2009 exhibits high but sweet tannin. It is more sexy than the 2005 was at a similar age, although their level of extract and concentration is relatively equal. Something about the 2009 reminds me of a Margaux version of St.-Julien's Leoville Poyferre ... if that makes any sense. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040. WS 94 (6/2012): This is beautiful, with smoldering tar, espresso and tobacco leaf notes fully melded together, while the core of crushed plum, steeped black currant and blackberry fruit sits in reserve. A twinge of iron adds extra length and definition on the finish. Very suave. Approachable now, but with plenty of stuffing and balance for the cellar as well. Best from 2013 through 2030. 9,580 cases made. VM 91+ (7/2012): Inky ruby. Ripe aromas of plum, blackberry jam and sweet balsamic vinegar. Rich and ripe in the mouth, with lively acidity lifting the creamy black fruit flavors and extending the wine's lightly peppery, very suave finish. Not the most refined or subtle Margaux you'll ever taste but immensely drinkable, and with plenty of depth and concentration to its aromas and flavors.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalescotStExupery.aspWA 93 (4/2015): Another great wine in this vintage, the 2012 Malescot offers up tremendous level of black fruits, charcoal and intense, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, sensational purity, low acidity and ripe tannins. It is full-bodied, stunning, multidimensional, and a compelling example of this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2030+.WS 93 (3/2015): This is distinctive, with a roasted alder streak running through an enticing core of crushed plum, blackberry and black currant confiture flavors. Long and velvety on the finish, with bay, tobacco and black tea accents checking in. This is suave, with fruit and terroir in spades, particularly for the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2025. 7,500 cases made.JS 93 (2/2015): Beautiful aromas and flavors of cassis, ripe black cherries and raspberries. Some earth, too. This is a full-bodied red with silky tannins and a long, fruity finish. Juicy. Better in 2018.IWC 88-91 (5/2013): Good bright medium red. Lively, very pure aromas of blueberry, raspberry, mocha and violet. Dense and juicy, with bright acidity nicely framing the sweet dark cherry and floral flavors. Finishes long, with tannins that are firm but not dry. A major success in this vintage.NM 87-89 (4/2013): I tasted the Malescot St. Exupery on two occasions. It is a blend 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot that was picked between 9 and 20 October. There is a lot of ambition evident on the “gourmand” like nose: blackberry, cooked meat and tertiary aromas emerging after a few swirls of the glass. The palate is fleshy and forward on the entry. There is plenty of sweet fruit, perhaps the oak imparting a few “seasoned” flavours, although there is decent definition on the austere, masculine finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMalescotStExupery.aspWA 86 (2/1993): The rich, soft, oaky, forward, open-knit yet concentrated flavors of the 1990 offer immediate appeal. This excellent second wine will provide delicious drinking over the next 4-6 years.WS 86 (8/2000): Surprisingly mature. Medium-garnet color. Aromas of leather, berries and raisins. Medium-bodied, soft, with a clean finish.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now. 18,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMarbuzet.aspNM 96 (12/2009): Tasted at the Claret Club -85 Dinner at -The Square-. Chateau Margaux remains one of the most compelling, indeed most delicious First Growths. Deeper in colour than its peers, there bouquet is vibrant and vivacious with succulent red fruits, date, a touch of iodine and violets and as before, further aeration reveals those classic pencil lead aromas. The palate is exquisitely balanced, focused and powerful and yet brilliant defined with a sublime talcum finish, a hint of exotic fruit on the finish. Divine. Drink now-2025+ WA 95 (10/2001): Approaching full maturity, this beautifully sweet Chateau Margaux has a dense plum/purple color and a huge, sweet nose of black currants intermixed with licorice, toast, underbrush, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied with supple tannin and a fleshy, juicy, very succulent and multi-layered mid-palate, this expansive, velvety wine has entered its plateau of maturity, where it should remain (assuming good storage) for at least another 10-15 years. A very delicious, seductive, and opulent Chateau Margaux to drink over the next two decades. Anticipated maturity: Now-2015. WS 93 (7/2014): Shows mint and savory notes out front, with a very elegant structure weaving gently around the core of dried cherry, red currant and pomegranate fruit. The long sandalwood and singed cedar finish is very stylish. A bit outpaced by '88 and '86 in this flight, but as a standalone wine this is very confident in its old age.—Non-blind Château Margaux vertical (December 2013). Drink now through 2024.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMargaux.aspWS 84 (9/1989): Appealing cherry and currant fruit almost makes up for unfortunate overtones of horsiness and mossiness that get in the way. Try now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosduMarquis.aspWA 88 (2/1993): The 1989's complex bouquet of toasty new oak and cassis is followed by a surprisingly rich, deep, well-built wine that resembles the great Leoville Las-Cases. This beauty will support considerable cellaring. If you can neither afford Leoville Las-Cases nor wait for it to lose all its tannins, consider this offering from Clos du Marquis. Anticipated maturity: Now-2005.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosduMarquis.aspWA 91 (10/2016): The 1996 Clos du Marquis is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon (lower than recent vintages), 33% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot (that usually goes into Leoville-Las Cases). Much like the 1996 Potensac that I tasted alongside at the château, the nose is youthful and backward with blackberry, freshly tilled soil, cedar and tobacco scents that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth entry, plenty of crisp and pure black fruit laced with cedar, harmonious and long. This is a great Saint Julien at 20 years of age, firing on all cylinders and, to be honest, surpassing some of the Grand Vins in this vintage. Probably still available at a decent price, this comes thoroughly recommended. WS 91 (7/2007): Beautiful aromas of currant, lightly toasted oak and perfume. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a tight finish. Still holding back. Best after 2008.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosduMarquis.aspWS 93 (3/2008): Fabulous aromas of crushed raspberry, blackberry, mineral and licorice follow through to a full-bodied palate. This is chewy yet silky, with a long, long finish. Balanced and powerful. Best after 2012. 20,000 cases made.WA 91 (4/2008): The superb second wine, the 2005 Clos du Marquis, reflects the utter brilliance of the 2005 grand vin. It boasts an inky/ruby/purple color along with a sweet perfume of lead pencil, ripe cherries and black currants, and hints of earth and vanillin. Dense, chewy, fleshy, and full-bodied, this beauty will be drinkable in 3-4 years, and should keep for 15-20.IWC 90 (6/2008): Good full red-ruby. Superripe aromas of plum, mocha, coffee and spicy oak. Big, dry, broad and rich, with a chewy quality and noteworthy sweetness to the plummy flavor. This has more baby fat than the young 2006 but not quite as much detail or verve. Finishes quite broad, with major ripe tannins and lingering sweet fruit.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosduMarquis.aspJS 96 (2/2013): This shows beautiful aromas of flowers, raspberries and blackberries that follow through to a full body with ultra silky tannins and a long, long finish. It lasts for minutes. Best in 2018 or later.WS 93 (3/2013): This has a lush edge, with seamlessly layered blueberry, blackberry and boysenberry fruit, along with a racy graphite edge and a back end of coffee and bittersweet ganache notes. A solid tug of iron is buried on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2030. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. WA 90 (2/2013): With the alcohol hitting 13.6% in a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, this wine displays plenty of sweet kirsch, licorice and black currant fruit in a classy, seductive style, with medium to full body, soft but abundant tannins and a long finish. It does indeed possess the elegance and finesse of its bigger sibling, Leoville Las Cases. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. IWC 90 (8/2013): Deep, bright red. Inviting aromas of black cherry and sweet spices lifted by a floral nuance. Supple and fine-grained; remarkably smooth and plush for a young Clos du Marquis, with black cherry and dark berry flavors conveying a restrained sweetness and an impression of elegance. Plenty of stuffing here for mid-term aging but seamless enough to give immediate pleasure.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosduMarquis.aspWS 83 (6/1992): An earthy character influences the fig, honey and walnut flavors in this medium-weight wine. Good if you don't mind a little funkiness. The finish is modest and slightly bitter.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMaynedesCarmes.aspWA 95+ (2/2013): This is one of the tightest, most backward wines in the Jonathan Malthus portfolio. The grapes come from an old-vine parcel near Angelus and Beausejour-Duffau, and the final product is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Again displaying plenty of minerality, which seems to be a prevailing theme throughout the 2010s from Malthus, the 2010 Vieux Chateau Mazerat is full-bodied, with an abundance of floral notes as well as black currant and blackberry fruit. Impressively endowed and built like a skyscraper, this full-bodied wine needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years. Interestingly, the vines were planted in 1947.WS 93 (3/2013): A very racy style, with bright raspberry, kirsch and mulled strawberry notes lined with lots of intense, chalky structure. Floral, bergamot and cherry pit notes enter on the finish, with the fruit slowly filling in at the end. When this pulls itself together, it will be a very minerally, stylish expression of St.-Emilion. Best from 2015 through 2030. 450 cases made.JS 92 (2/2013): Charming nose with loads of blueberry and violets. Chalky mineral notes and some orange zest. Sweet almost candied fruit on the palate with a tangy acidity in the finish. Full-bodied and enjoyable with fine tannins, but a bit linear now. Give it time. Drink from 2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VieuxChateauMazerat.aspNM 92-94 (4/2013): Tasted twice with consistent notes, Alain Moueix has fashioned just a beautiful, floral, almost Margaux-like bouquet that I think will be special once in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe tannins, wonderful acidity and a satin-textured finish that boasts superb fruit concentration and elegance at this early stage. This is a great wine from an under-rated estate. WA 87 (4/2015): A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (a traditional blend for the Right Bank appellations of Pomerol and, to a lesser extent, St.-Emilion), this wine offers attractive notes of sweet and sour black cherries, licorice and a touch of mulberry. It is medium-bodied, soft, round and best drunk over the next 8-10 years. A little more complexity would have resulted in a higher score.WS 87 (7/2015): Soft and forward, with cherry, rhubarb and plum notes laced with modest toast and a hint of mulled spice. Drink now. 4,100 cases made.VM 84 (1/2016): The 2012 Mazeyres is a big, powerful wine with serious intensity of fruit. Green tannins attenuate the mid-palate and finish, detracting from the wine's overall balance.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMazeyres.aspJS 92 (2/2013): A wine with a pretty balance of spices, blackberry, mint, and ripe fruit follow through to a full body, fine tannins and a spicy, chocolate and walnut character. Pretty balance of fruit and tannins. Better in 2016. WA 90 (2/2013): It is good to see this well-situated estate in St.-Estephe get back on track. The 2010 has loads of beef blood, charcuterie and smoked game along with black currant fruit. Some underlying graphite notes are also present in this full-bodied, meaty, fleshy wine, which has outstanding concentration and the potential to last for 15 or more years. It is a major sleeper of the vintage. WS 90 (3/2013): Solid, if a bit chunky in feel, with a slightly squared-off charcoal and ganache frame surrounding a core of dark plum, black currant and licorice root. Shows more austerity than flesh, but displays outstanding length and cut. This has added lots of grip in élevage. For fans of the taut style. Best from 2016 through 2026. 11,250 cases made. NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Meyney 2010 is showing just a little over-ripeness on the nose, with fig-tinged black fruit, fruitcake and leather. Moderated definition. The palate has a succulent entry with plenty of extract: tarry black fruit and cedar all with a firm grip and leading to a dense if rather aloof finish and a leafy, mocha-tinged aftertaste. VM 89 (8/2013): Bright ruby-red. Medicinal black fruits, menthol and bitter chocolate on the nose. Dense and rich if a bit chunky, offering very good intensity to the flavors of blackberry, black cherry and fresh herbs. The medicinal aspect repeats on the finish, which features broad, dusty tannins and a slightly green character. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMeyney.aspWA 92 (8/2012): This vintage again demonstrates what an extraordinary terroir La Mission-Haut-Brion possesses. It was not an easy year, with rain, flowering issues and uncooperative weather in the critical months of August and September, but the vineyard’s superb drainage and La Mission’s ability to produce fascinating aromatics even in difficult vintages triumphs again. Classic Graves aromas of charcoal, scorched earth, red and black fruits, truffles, graphite and melted tar emerge from this dark garnet/plum-colored 1994. In the mouth, there is some angularity and rustic tannins remaining, but they are not out of balance. With medium to full body as well as more depth than many of its peers, the wine appears to be close to full maturity. However, with this level of acidity and tannin, it is not likely to fall apart any time soon. Anticipated maturity: now-2025.VM 91-93 (5/1996): Very good full color. More discreet, brooding aromas of black cherry, leather and smoke, plus a faint burnt quality that characterizes this wine in the riper years. Lovely intensity and purity of fruit in the mouth; sound acids give the wine excellent definition and backbone. Very ripe aftertaste, with dusty, even tannins. Certainly among the top ten of the vintage. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaMissionHautBrion.aspWA 92 (8/2012): This vintage again demonstrates what an extraordinary terroir La Mission-Haut-Brion possesses. It was not an easy year, with rain, flowering issues and uncooperative weather in the critical months of August and September, but the vineyard’s superb drainage and La Mission’s ability to produce fascinating aromatics even in difficult vintages triumphs again. Classic Graves aromas of charcoal, scorched earth, red and black fruits, truffles, graphite and melted tar emerge from this dark garnet/plum-colored 1994. In the mouth, there is some angularity and rustic tannins remaining, but they are not out of balance. With medium to full body as well as more depth than many of its peers, the wine appears to be close to full maturity. However, with this level of acidity and tannin, it is not likely to fall apart any time soon. Anticipated maturity: now-2025.VM 91-93 (5/1996): Very good full color. More discreet, brooding aromas of black cherry, leather and smoke, plus a faint burnt quality that characterizes this wine in the riper years. Lovely intensity and purity of fruit in the mouth; sound acids give the wine excellent definition and backbone. Very ripe aftertaste, with dusty, even tannins. Certainly among the top ten of the vintage. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaMissionHautBrion.aspNM 94 (5/2014): Tasted at Christies' Boardroom dinner from an ex-chateau bottle. Now with three of four years in bottle, the 2009 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc serves up a delightful white Pessac-Leognan. It has a slightly paler colour compared to the Haut-Brion Blanc served alongside. The bouquet is complex with attractive lime flower, lemon curd and heightened marine influences (cockle shell and seaweed.) The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, spicier than I recollect with a twist of ginger towards the sensual finish. This is a superb, long-term white Pessac-Leognan.JS 94 (5/2012): Sweet berry and sweet tobacco with chocolate and orange peel on the nose. Full and velvety tannins and long finish. Gorgeous. Creamy texture. Try in 2016.WS 92 (3/2012): A plush, modern style version, with a rounded feel to the spice-tinged structure that supports the fleshy blackberry and raspberry confiture flavors. Fruitcake and dark anise chime in the background and echo through the suave, well-coated finish. Best from 2014 through 2025. 5,800 cases made.WA 91 (2/2012): The second wine, the 2009 La Chapelle de la Mission, is essentially an equal part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with slightly more Cabernet Franc that came in at 14.2% natural alcohol. It reveals an extraordinary meaty nose displaying hints of volcanic soils, burning embers, sweet black currants, blueberries, plums, tobacco leaf and wet stones. This tasty, full-bodied, supple-textured beauty should drink well for 15-20 years.VM 91 (7/2012): Deep ruby. Deep, complex nose of blackcurrant, coffee and fresh herbs. Similarly complex on the palate, offering rich yet fresh flavors of black fruits, aromatic herbs and cocoa along with a hint of violet. This long, youthfully chewy wine is much bigger than the very good 2008. Like La Mission, this has improved greatly since the Primeurs, when I probably underrated it by a point or two. Don't think I'm crazy when I tell you that this wine is very close in quality to some La Missions from lesser vintages of the past. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaChapelledeLaMissionHautBrion.aspNM 94 (5/2014): Tasted at Christies' Boardroom dinner from an ex-chateau bottle. Now with three of four years in bottle, the 2009 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc serves up a delightful white Pessac-Leognan. It has a slightly paler colour compared to the Haut-Brion Blanc served alongside. The bouquet is complex with attractive lime flower, lemon curd and heightened marine influences (cockle shell and seaweed.) The palate is very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, spicier than I recollect with a twist of ginger towards the sensual finish. This is a superb, long-term white Pessac-Leognan.JS 94 (5/2012): Sweet berry and sweet tobacco with chocolate and orange peel on the nose. Full and velvety tannins and long finish. Gorgeous. Creamy texture. Try in 2016.WS 92 (3/2012): A plush, modern style version, with a rounded feel to the spice-tinged structure that supports the fleshy blackberry and raspberry confiture flavors. Fruitcake and dark anise chime in the background and echo through the suave, well-coated finish. Best from 2014 through 2025. 5,800 cases made.WA 91 (2/2012): The second wine, the 2009 La Chapelle de la Mission, is essentially an equal part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with slightly more Cabernet Franc that came in at 14.2% natural alcohol. It reveals an extraordinary meaty nose displaying hints of volcanic soils, burning embers, sweet black currants, blueberries, plums, tobacco leaf and wet stones. This tasty, full-bodied, supple-textured beauty should drink well for 15-20 years.VM 91 (7/2012): Deep ruby. Deep, complex nose of blackcurrant, coffee and fresh herbs. Similarly complex on the palate, offering rich yet fresh flavors of black fruits, aromatic herbs and cocoa along with a hint of violet. This long, youthfully chewy wine is much bigger than the very good 2008. Like La Mission, this has improved greatly since the Primeurs, when I probably underrated it by a point or two. Don't think I'm crazy when I tell you that this wine is very close in quality to some La Missions from lesser vintages of the past. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaChapelledeLaMissionHautBrion.aspJS 100 (2/2013): This is crazy. The nose is so unique with the iodine, stones and currant aromas with wet earth and mushroom. Aromas like this don't usually come out until 10 years or so in the bottle. Classic nose for this estate. Full-bodied, with an amazing palate of firm yet polished tannins and a solid palate. So dense and gorgeous. It is really stunning. Try in 2020. WA 98+ (2/2013): A strong candidate for a perfect score in about 15 years, the 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion could well turn out to be a modern-day version of their 1955. Sadly (or maybe fortunately) for me, I'm not old enough to have tasted the 1955 in 1958 from bottle, but this wine could also be an update on the more modern 2000 which, of course, I know well and actually own. This full-bodied, colossal giant of a wine is one of the goliaths of the vintage. It may well have the highest level of natural alcohol for any wine from the Left Bank of Bordeaux (15.1%) and has the definite potential to be a 50- to 75-year wine. Dense purple, it offers up notes of lead pencil shavings, charcoal embers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur along with massive concentration, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel and a monumental finish that goes well past a minute, which I think might be a record for a young Bordeaux. Keep in mind that the 2009, which I gave three digits, came in at 14.7%, but the pH of the 2010 is lower, giving the wine a freshness and precision that is remarkable. The final blend was 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and - unlike the Chapelle de la Mission, which has 26% Cabernet Franc - there's only 1% Cabernet Franc in the 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion. This is a wine for those of you with youth on your side as well as patience. It will need a good decade of cellaring. An amazing wine. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2075+. WS 97 (3/2013): Intense and engaging. Despite showing lots of heft and tarry grip, the singed apple wood and alder notes are well-defined in this red, accentuating a core of roasted fig, blackberry coulis and macerated red and black currant fruit. The long, bramble-edged finish sports showy ganache and Lapsang souchong tea notes, while the structure refuses to yield until everything has finally played out. Muscular and vivacious. Best from 2019 through 2040. VM 94-97 (6/2011): (62% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot and 1% cabernet franc; 15.1% alcohol) Deep ruby-purple. D eep, refined aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, minerals and wet stone on the reticent, cabernet sauvignon-dominated nose. Then very dense and powerful on the palate, with pristine blackberry, mineral and forest floor flavors and a supple touch that Haut-Brion doesn't yet show. The tannins are amazingly fine and polished, indeed among the noblest of the year, but this otherwise great wine lacks the sheer massive concentration of Haut-Brion. At 10,000 vines per hectare, La Mission almost always has 0.2% or 0.3% more alcohol than Haut-Brion, according to Jean-Philippe Delmas. But the exact measure of La Mission's success in 2010 is that its 15.1% alcohol is not at all obvious.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaMissionHautBrion.aspJS 92 (2/2015): Pure and precise aromas of dark fruits and currants with hints of stones follow through to a full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Harmonious and very elegant. Better in 2017.WS 90 (3/2015): This is taut, with a sappy edge to the red currant and plum fruit flavors, while singed alder, bay and tar notes line the finish. Shows ample depth and length, but needs to uncoil a bit. Best from 2016 through 2022. 4,215 cases made.WA 90 (4/2015): The beautiful second wine, the 2012 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion, has a dense ruby/purple color, sweet raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, subtle earth and spice, supple tannins and an opulent fleshy mouthfeel. It is a terrific second wine and outstanding in its own right. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaChapelledeLaMissionHautBrion.aspJS 92 (2/2015): Pure and precise aromas of dark fruits and currants with hints of stones follow through to a full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Harmonious and very elegant. Better in 2017.WS 90 (3/2015): This is taut, with a sappy edge to the red currant and plum fruit flavors, while singed alder, bay and tar notes line the finish. Shows ample depth and length, but needs to uncoil a bit. Best from 2016 through 2022. 4,215 cases made.WA 90 (4/2015): The beautiful second wine, the 2012 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion, has a dense ruby/purple color, sweet raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, subtle earth and spice, supple tannins and an opulent fleshy mouthfeel. It is a terrific second wine and outstanding in its own right. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaChapelledeLaMissionHautBrion.aspJS 92 (2/2015): Pure and precise aromas of dark fruits and currants with hints of stones follow through to a full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Harmonious and very elegant. Better in 2017.WS 90 (3/2015): This is taut, with a sappy edge to the red currant and plum fruit flavors, while singed alder, bay and tar notes line the finish. Shows ample depth and length, but needs to uncoil a bit. Best from 2016 through 2022. 4,215 cases made.WA 90 (4/2015): The beautiful second wine, the 2012 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion, has a dense ruby/purple color, sweet raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, subtle earth and spice, supple tannins and an opulent fleshy mouthfeel. It is a terrific second wine and outstanding in its own right. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaChapelledeLaMissionHautBrion.aspWA 94 (4/2001): Yields of 28-30 hectoliters per hectare are among the lowest in St.-Emilion, which no doubt accounts for the wine's explosive richness. The final blend, 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc, was bottled unfined and unfiltered after 18 months in 100% new oak, with aging on the lees. It boasts a saturated plum/purple color in addition to an exotic bouquet of Asian spices, plum liqueur, prunes, and blackberries. Extremely full-bodied, unctuously-textured, structured, and well-defined, this spectacular achievement will drink well young, yet last for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMonbousquet.aspWA 93 (4/2006): From a mixture of sand, gravel, and clay soils, this unheralded terroir produces wines well-above its pedigree thanks to the extraordinary efforts of proprietors Chantal and Gerard Perse. The wines are given a 4- to 5-week maceration in both stainless steel and oak, and are aged sur-lie in new oak. The dark ruby/purple-colored 2003 offers up notes of smoky meats, melted licorice, jammy black cherries, spice box, earth, and cedar. This plump, fleshy, sexy, unfined, unfiltered wine represents a classic blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare, and the alcohol is 13.5%. Anticipated maturity: now-2016. WS 90 (3/2006): Essence of blackberry here on the nose with a hint of cream. Full-bodied yet silky and refined, with lovely texture and length. Delicious and long. Gorgeous. Best after 2010. 7,000 cases made. VM 90 (6/2006): Full red-ruby. Expressive, vinous aromas of redcurrant, tobacco, leather and smoke. Sweet, supple and fat with fruit; dark and red berries are complemented but not overshadowed by hints of leather and smoked meat. This plump and satisfying wine has just enough acidity to maintain its shape. Finishes with sweet, surprisingly supple tannins and noteworthy persistence. Very easy to drink already but has the stuffing to give pleasure for another decade or so.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMonbousquet.aspWA 93+ (6/2007): Another brilliant effort from a small, 45-year-old vineyard on the clay and limestone plateau above Pavie and Pavie Decesse, this blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc was cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare. A classically structured St.-Emilion, it boasts an opaque purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of black raspberries, creme de cassis, blueberries, espresso roast, and pen ink. Huge tannin, massive body, and tremendous richness as well as depth suggest it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring, and should drink well for 20-25.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaMondotte.aspJS 99-100 (4/2016): A phenomenal La Mondotte. The purity and intensity is so amazing. Full body, super fine and creamy tannins. The clarity is great. You can see that they have pulled back on the new wood and went for transparency. Wow.WS 95-98 (5/2016): Gorgeous, with dark blackberry and boysenberry fruit rippling along from start to finish, carried by mouthwatering anise notes. The long finish unfurls slowly, dripping with fruit while maintaining poise. Stunning. VM 95-97 (4/2016): The 2015 La Mondotte emerges from Stephan von Neipperg's tiny 4.5 hectare vineyard on Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau. A huge, unctuous wine, the 2015 is simply stunning. All the elements meld together in an effortless, concentrated wine endowed with magnificent intensity and power. Totally seamless in the glass, the 2015 possesses magnificent richness and the pedigree to age well for many years. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.WA 94-96 (4/2016): The 2015 La Mondotte is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc picked on 18 September and 7 October respectively, then aged in 80% new oak after a 33-day vatting. It has a dense, opulent and very concentrated bouquet that is driven by the super-intense Merlot, though as I mention in my accompanying introduction, the alcohol is contained and not at all apparent. The palate is very well balanced with rounded, supple tannin. There is a lot of weight in the mouth here, very focused and intense with blackberry and raspberry fruit, fine mineralité and tension, leading to an almost pixelated finish. This is an impressive La Mondotte for sure, though the 2015 Canon la Gaffeliere might offer more intellect.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaMondotte.aspJS 91 (3/2016): Lots of fruit here with plum and blueberry character. Full and round with velvety tannins and a clean finish. Better in 2016.VM 88 (7/2013): (made by Denis Durantou): Bright, dark red. Expressive nose melds black cherry, licorice, menthol, graphite, mocha and chocolate. Pliant and smooth in the mouth, with a saline nuance to the dark fruit flavors. Finishes with substantial dusty, building tannins and a slight warmth. Could use a bit more definition and lift. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontlandrie.aspWA 90 (4/2003): The impressive 2000 qualifies as a sleeper of the vintage. This dense plum/purple-colored offering displays excellent sweet mocha-infused blackberry and cherry liqueur notes with hints of truffles and caramel. Full-bodied, with sumptuous sweetness, low acidity, and ripe tannin, it will be drinkable between 2005-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontlisse.aspWA 90 (4/2003): The impressive 2000 qualifies as a sleeper of the vintage. This dense plum/purple-colored offering displays excellent sweet mocha-infused blackberry and cherry liqueur notes with hints of truffles and caramel. Full-bodied, with sumptuous sweetness, low acidity, and ripe tannin, it will be drinkable between 2005-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontlisse.aspVM 90+ (5/2001): Red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, licorice and tangy bitter chocolate on the nose. Intensely flavored, bright and penetrating; as dense as the '99 but firmer, more obviously structured, and in need of a good decade of bottle aging. Firm tannins suffuse the palate. Montrose has been making consistently excellent wine in recent years. Stephen Tanzer.WA 90 (4/2001): A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontrose.aspVM 90+ (5/2001): Red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, licorice and tangy bitter chocolate on the nose. Intensely flavored, bright and penetrating; as dense as the '99 but firmer, more obviously structured, and in need of a good decade of bottle aging. Firm tannins suffuse the palate. Montrose has been making consistently excellent wine in recent years. Stephen Tanzer.WA 90 (4/2001): A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontrose.aspVM 90+ (5/2001): Red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, licorice and tangy bitter chocolate on the nose. Intensely flavored, bright and penetrating; as dense as the '99 but firmer, more obviously structured, and in need of a good decade of bottle aging. Firm tannins suffuse the palate. Montrose has been making consistently excellent wine in recent years. Stephen Tanzer.WA 90 (4/2001): A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontrose.aspVM 90+ (5/2001): Red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, licorice and tangy bitter chocolate on the nose. Intensely flavored, bright and penetrating; as dense as the '99 but firmer, more obviously structured, and in need of a good decade of bottle aging. Firm tannins suffuse the palate. Montrose has been making consistently excellent wine in recent years. Stephen Tanzer.WA 90 (4/2001): A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontrose.aspVM 90+ (5/2001): Red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, licorice and tangy bitter chocolate on the nose. Intensely flavored, bright and penetrating; as dense as the '99 but firmer, more obviously structured, and in need of a good decade of bottle aging. Firm tannins suffuse the palate. Montrose has been making consistently excellent wine in recent years. Stephen Tanzer.WA 90 (4/2001): A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontrose.aspVM 90+ (5/2001): Red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry, tobacco leaf, licorice and tangy bitter chocolate on the nose. Intensely flavored, bright and penetrating; as dense as the '99 but firmer, more obviously structured, and in need of a good decade of bottle aging. Firm tannins suffuse the palate. Montrose has been making consistently excellent wine in recent years. Stephen Tanzer.WA 90 (4/2001): A classic effort, the 1998 Montrose exhibits a dense purple color in addition to a sweet nose of jammy cassis, licorice, earth, and smoke. It is a powerful and full-bodied wine with well-integrated tannin. Given Montrose's tendency to shut down, it is performing better out of bottle than I expected. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontrose.aspWA 94 (2/2013): One of the best second wines, and possibly the best since the 1990 is the 2010 La Dame de Montrose. This represents 36% of the production and is a blend of two grapes - 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot. A superb second wine, opulent and substantively textured, it shares more in common with a flamboyant, exuberant year such as 2009 than most 2010s. Dense purple, its oodles of fruit, luxurious mouthfeel and terrific finish make it a sleeper of the vintage. It’s a wine to buy in abundant quantities and drink over the next 10-15+ years. JS 93 (2/2013): Wonderful aromas of blueberries, spices and chocolate with a hazelnut undertone. Creamy texture. Full and very fine with lovely texture and spices and berries. Currants too. Long and gorgeous. Second wine of Montrose. Try in 2016. NM 93 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The La Dame de Montrose 2010 has a very well defined bouquet with beautifully assimilated oak: perfumed scents of blackcurrant, blueberry and pastilles. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp entry: firm and quite rigid tannins, fine acidity and a bullish structure on the finish to suggest that this needs long-term cellaring. This surpasses all my expectations. WS 91 (3/2013): A textbook example of the vintage and appellation, showing a bright savory edge, a chalky spine and mouthwatering damson plum, red currant and cherry pit notes. Displays enough grip to warrant short-term cellaring, and should stretch out well over the mid-term. Best from 2015 through 2024.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaDamedeMontrose.aspJS 94 (2/2015): Fascinating aromas of blackberries with cacao and buttery notes. This is a full-bodied red combining well-rounded tannins, lovely acidity and a mouth-watering finish. Yet turns firm and powerful. Drink in 2020. VM 93 (1/2016): The 2012 Montrose is one of the bigger, richer wines of the vintage. Super-ripe black cherry, tar, smoke and leather find support in intense tannins that lurk beneath. Today, the tannins are incredibly imposing. The 2012 doesn't have the sheer heft of the epic vintages, but it does have the potential to be one of the real surprises of the year. This is an impressive 2012. WA 92+ (4/2015): The 2012 Montrose (57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot), is rich, broad, and dense ruby/purple, with substantial tannins still to shed. It is a rather masculine, medium to full-bodied Montrose, with cassis, crushed rock and spice. This wine will need bottle age because of the tannin profile, should hit its prime in another 7-8 years, and last for another 20-25. This is another wine with the alcohol pushing an impressive 14% and a finished pH of 3.7 - two characteristics of a very ripe, high-quality vintage. WS 92 (3/2015): Features lively and pure blackberry, fig and plum fruit, lined with enticing singed mesquite, bramble and tar accents. The muscular, tarry finish shows a twinge of austere chalkiness, but there's ample flesh for balance. Best from 2017 through 2025. 18,333 cases made.NM 90-92 (4/2013): Tasted as a barrel sample at the chateau. The Grand Vin, representing 53% of production, is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It is being matured in 60% new oak. The nose offers plenty of fruit, perhaps even more than Cos d’Estournel with ebullient dark cherries, dark chocolate and black plum scents, although at this stage it does not have the complexity of a top Montrose. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe tannins that are obviously fully ripe. It is not a complex Montrose, perhaps just a little one-dimensional compared to others. But there is certainly good volume, soft in the mouth (some prudent pumping over here in the winery) with plenty of primal black fruit to enjoy on the finish. It will probably constitute a more approachable Montrose, but it is well made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMontrose.aspJS 90 (2/2015): A solid second wine from Montrose. Full-bodied, layered and structured with good, firm tannins and attractive spice, berry and coffee character. Give this muscular red time to soften. Better in 2017. VM 89 (1/2016): The 2012 La Dame de Montrose makes for a lovely introduction to the wines of Montrose. There is plenty of the estate's typical heft and richness in the glass, but the mid-weight pliancy lends an element of suppleness. Smoke, tar, licorice, black cherries and plum flow through to the powerful finish. Far from an easygoing 2012, La Dame is going to require at least a few years in the cellar. Hints of game, smoke, licorice and iron add the closing shades of nuance. Antonio Galloni. WA 88 (4/2015): Earthy and tannic, but concentrated with firm structure, the 2012 La Dame de Montrose has a distinct spicy, earthy character and some tannins to shed, which is unusual for a second wine. It is nicely concentrated with a dense ruby/purple color, and overall it is well-made. Give it several years of bottle age and drink it over the following 15 or more years, as this will be an uncommonly long-lived second wine from this famous Médoc château. NM 88-90 (4/2013): Tasted as a barrel sample at the chateau. Representing 29% of the production, the Dame de Montrose is a blend of 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a light blackberry bouquet with just a hint of liquorice. The palate is nicely rounded on the entry. There is good acidity here, a firm grip with a conservative but weighted finish, leaving a briny/salty tang on the aftertaste. Fine. WS 87 (7/2015): Features a high-pitched lilac note, with damson plum and cherry fruit, backed by a sleek iron edge. Fresh, but lacks range and is pinched by a light chalky twinge at the very end. Drink now through 2017. 10,166 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaDamedeMontrose.aspWS 90 (12/2008): Very attractive aromas of crushed blackberries and black cherries follow through to a full body, with soft tannins and a lightly jammy finish.—'88/'98 Bordeaux retrospective (2008). Drink now. 2,915 cases made.WA 89 (4/2001): Elegant blackberry, licorice, and mineral notes jump from the glass of this medium-weight, stylish, exceptionally pure offering. It reveals impressive levels of black fruits as well as nicely-integrated acidity, tannin, and wood. With decanting, this 1998 can be drunk now, but it promises to age well for 12-15 years.IWC 89 (6/2001): Ruby-red. Vibrant, complex nose combines black raspberry, mocha, flowers, espresso and mint. Juicy, fresh and penetrating; less fleshy than the '99 but bright, pure and suave. Dark fruit flavors are nicely framed by vibrant acidity. Finishes with firm, chewy tannins and very good length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMoulinSaintGeorges.aspJS 93 (2/2012): This wine shows interesting aromas of black truffles, berries and earth. Full body, with tangy acidity and a citrus undertone. Lovely fruit and firmness. Structured. Best after 2016. NM 92+ (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This has a very modern, plush, ripe blueberry, cassis and citrus fresh nose with fine definition and lift. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe opening. The tannins and soft and rounded, although there is good structure underneath and a long, composed finish of generous black cherries, star anis and blueberry. Very fine. WA 90 (2/2012): Copious aromas of licorice, charcoal, damp earth, black raspberries, black currants and a hint of espresso jump from the glass of this deep purple-colored 2009. Medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin, plenty of baby fat and a seductive personality, it should drink well for 10-15+ years. VM 90 (7/2012): Bright red-ruby. Pure, lively aromas of blackberry and licorice lifted by violet and minerals. Chewy, nicely delineated and ripe but not at all overly sweet, with dark berry flavors firmed by saline minerality. Plenty of tannic support gives this wine good staying power. Stephen Tanzer. WS 90-93 (7/2010): Offers blueberry and mineral on the nose. Full-bodied, with a tight tannin structure and juicy fruit. Bright acidity. Very lively.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMoulinSaintGeorges.aspWA 93 (2/2012): One of the stronger efforts I have tasted from Mouton-Rothschild, this wine, which is 70% Sauvignon Blanc and the rest Semillon coming from the clay and gravelly soils of the Mouton-Rothschild vineyard, exhibits more fat and opulence than normal. An abundance of marmalade notes intermixed with waxy lemon butter are all present in this honeyed, crisp, refreshing wine, which has loads of personality. Anticipated maturity: now-2022.WS 90 (3/2012): A showy style, with tangerine, white peach and heather aromas and flavors backed by a waxy, but long and stylish finish. Stretches out nicely with air in the glass. Drink now. 833 cases made.IWC 88-91 (5/2010): Pale, gold-tinged straw-yellow. Starts off a bit closed and reticent, but opens with air to reveal bright sauvignon aromas of white flowers, green fig, cantaloupe and lemon drop. Enters creamy-smooth and very pleasant, then veers toward semillon flavors of candied pear, white peach and apricot. The rather dainty finish is light and lively.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspWS 90 (2/2014): Clementine, white ginger, straw, verbena and white peach notes race along here, buttressed by lightly toasted brioche and salted butter hints. Rounded and flattering on the finish. Drink now.IWC 90-93 (8/2012): Pale straw-green with golden highlights. Captivating nose combines green papaya, lemon, coconut, vanilla, green fig, gooseberry and white pepper. Densely packed and youthful but already showing a silky texture and considerable early appeal owing to its sexy sweetness of fruit. Vibrant citrussy zip provides considerable lift. The rising, palate-dusting finish showcases subtle notes of smoke, herbs and and flowers. A superb white wine from this estate. General manager Philippe Dhalluin told me that 20% of the wine underwent malolactic, but it still has plenty of verve. WA 90-92 (4/2012): No tasting note given.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspJS 94 (3/2015): This shows fantastic mineral, grapefruit and lime character with a full body, tangy fruit and a crisp, intense finish. It’s like a top Loire sauvignon blanc in freshness but layered and intense. Drink now and enjoy.VM 92 (1/2016): The 2012 Aile d'Argent, Mouton's Sauvignon/Semillon blend, is laced with the essence of orange peel, butter, mint, honey and chamomile. Rich, layered and totally voluptuous in the glass, the 2012 boasts serious intensity and voluptuousness. I would prefer to drink this exotic, flamboyant white over the next few years. Antonio Galloni.WA 92 (8/2015): The 2012 Aile d'Argent Blanc has much more intensity on the nose compared to the 2013, bridled with apricot blossom and fresh grapefruit bursting from the glass. The palate is crisp and fresh, slightly waxy in texture with a fine bead of acidity and a detailed, quite pithy finish that lingers pleasantly in the mouth. One of the best Aile d'Argent from the estate in recent years, this is going to give a dozen years of pleasure, if you can resist temptation.WS 90 (3/2015): This is vivacious, with yellow apple, white ginger, white peach and chamomile notes all bouncing along. Mouthwatering acidity holds the melon-accented finish. Drink now through 2017.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspJS 97 (2/2016): This is vibrant and gorgeous with dried pineapple, honey and cream. Full body, plenty of energetic structure and a long, long finish. Goes on for minutes. Fantastic Aile. Sauvignon blanc with semillon. Structured! VM 90-93 (5/2014): (67% sauvignon blanc and 33% semillon): Dark gold-tinged straw-yellow. Smoky herbs, grapefruit pith and honeydew melon aromas are complicated by white peach and spicy pear. Dense and brisk on entry, then a bit diffuse in the middle, but with vibrant flavors of passion fruit, grapefruit and herbs. Firm and bright but quite ripe too, showing nothing green or hard on the long, bracing finish. Seems less focused than recent vintages of Aile d'Argent, but perhaps another year in the bottle will help it gain precision. Ian d'Agata WS 90 (4/2015): Quite bold, with a singed brioche frame adding some heft to the core of lemon curd, tangerine and lemon chiffon notes. Features a long salted butter finish. An extroverted style, but has enough zip to stay honest. Drink now through 2016. WA 89 (8/2015): The 2013 Aile d'Argent Blanc has an attractive nose of lime leaf, grapefruit and a touch of yellow plum, still a little new oak to be assimilated, but otherwise very appealing. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of almond and lemongrass on the entry, crisp acidity ,but just missing a little length on the finish to merit a higher evaluation. Enjoy this white from Philippe Dhalluin and the team over the next 7-10 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspJS 95-96 (3/2015): Incredible intensity of sea salt, sliced apple and dried pineapple character. Full and racy with beautiful acidity and a long, long finish. Lots of papaya, pears and pineapple. Racy.VM 90-93 (4/2015): The 2014 Aile d'Argent shows a move to a slightly more reductive style that emphasizes a bit more freshness than has been the norm in the recent past for Mouton's Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend. Smoke, slate, lemon oil and sage are all very nicely focused in the glass. Saline notes are woven throughout, adding textural nuance to this impeccably balanced white. Antonio Galloni.WA 89-90 (4/2015): The Aile d’Argent 2014 Blanc is a blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Sémillon. It does not quite possess the complexity of the previous two vintages, but there are fine pear skin and nectarine scents to enjoy. The palate is fresh and citric on the entry: green apple, Conference pear and a dash of lemongrass, leading to a punchy, spicy finish. Fine-but not a top-tier Aile d'Argent.WS 89-92 (7/2015): Fresh, with lemon granita, white peach and chamomile notes backed by a light twinge of tarragon. Bright, pure and refreshing, this wine has quietly improved under Dhalluin's watch.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspJS 96 (11/2013): This is clearly the best second wine that Mouton has ever made. Truly superb with blackberries and currants on the nose. Full body, with super velvety tannins. The length is so wonderful and delicious. Dense yet super balanced. Hard not to drink now. Better in 2018.NM 93 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. Is this best Le Petit Mouton ever? The 2010 has a very ripe powerful bouquet with blackberry, apricot, cedar and peppermint that shows a lot of vigour and what you might call passion. This well balanced with fine tannins, a superb line of acidity and cohesion. This is not the most concentrated 2010 Pauillac but it is very focused and full of energy. To answer the question posed at the beginning of the tasting notes...yes. WA 91 (2/2013): It is a fabulous wine, but if you want to drink something reminiscent of Mouton Rothschild before 2025, it is probably worth taking a look at the 2010 Le Petit Mouton, which seems to be going from strength to strength at this estate. This wine has 14% natural alcohol because there is more Merlot in it. (Merlot is riper and ferments into slightly higher alcohol than Cabernet Sauvignon.) This wine represents 26% of the crop. The creme de cassis character is also present, along with tobacco leaf, cedar, and a more evolved, chocolaty, spicy note. Opulent, fleshy and round, it should drink well for two decades.WS 91 (3/2013): Solid, with forward black currant, plum skin and crushed blackberry fruit lined with charcoal, showing a dusting of loam on the finish. Features some cedar-tinged grip, but remains more accessible than most of the 2010 Pauillacs. Drink now through 2022.VM 89 (7/2013): Good deep ruby-red. Showy aromas of currant, cedar, herbs and spices. Sweet on entry, then tangy and a bit lean in the middle, with cassis and blackberry flavors complicated by minerals and herbs. Finishes with surprisingly sweet tannins and noteworthy persistence for a second wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspJS 97 (3/2016): This is the Mouton-Rothschild of Australia - with a screw cap! Incredibly complex aromas of blackcurrants, spices, cigar box, and berries. Full body, a fantastic palate and polished tannins. Goes for minutes. Better in 2017. WA 96 (4/2016): Tasted at the Mouton-Rothschild vertical in London, the 2012 Mouton-Rothschild clearly has the upper hand over the 2011, if not quite at the level of the 2009, 2010 and what I envisage will be the 2015. There is obviously greater fruit intensity here, as if the contrast has been dialed up a couple of notches. It is quite showy on the nose, preening in its infancy with pure black cherries, graphite and hints of cold slate-like scents, later that hint of seaweed I observed when tasted blind a few months earlier. The palate is beautifully balanced with great vim and vigor. This is a Mouton that will not be put down - vivacious, vivid and delineated with wonderful focus and crucially, impressive persistence on the finish. Do not underestimate this Mouton-Rothschild, because I can see an upswing as it matures in bottle. VM 94 (5/2016): The 2012 Mouton Rothschild continues to open up nicely. Forward, open and quite expressive, the 2012 looks like a wine that will drink well sooner rather than later. Dark cherry, plum, graphite, smoke and mocha meld into the inviting finish. The 2012 is not a huge wine, but it will open up sooner than some of the surrounding vintages. Time has only been a help for this open-knit, distinctly fruit-driven Mouton. The 2012 is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc harvested during the first fifteen days of October. Antonio Galloni. WS 94 (3/2017): This is starting to mellow already, featuring dark fig and blackberry notes infused liberally with black tea and smoldering tobacco accents. Shows a light loamy echo through the finish, with a flash of menthol. Offers ample flesh throughout, with a slightly grainy edge to the tannins. Best from 2020 through 2040.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspJS 100-100 (4/2017): This is a phenomenal, muscular red that shows incredible power and depth. Full-bodied and with great concentration of tannins but this remains agile and polished. The form to this is stupendous. Such precision and clarity. The new 1986 but better.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspWS 92 (3/2003): It shows a serious amount of subtle aromas and flavors of tobacco, cherry and chocolate character. Full-bodied, with velvety, ripe tannins and a long and caressing finish. Yummy already. Hard to hold back. This is one of the best Nenins I have tasted in decades. Best after 2010. 2,500 cases made.JS 91 (4/2016): Ripe and rich wine with lots of dried fruits, dried mushrooms and cedar character. Bitter chocolate. Full and very chewy. Little short. IWC 89+ (5/2003): Good ruby-red color. Spicy aromas of currant, raspberry, licorice, coffee and tobacco leaf. Sweet, thick and layered, with slightly raw flavors of leather, licorice, tobacco leaf, bitter chocolate and fresh herbs. Finishes with very firm, slightly dry tannins and more obvious ripeness than the 2001.WA 90 (6/2010): Full-bodied and powerful, but still tannic, structured, and backward, the 2000 Nenin possesses a dark ruby/plum color as well as a sweet nose of boysenberries, earth, flowers, and truffles. It requires another 4-5 years of bottle age, and should keep for 20 years thereafter.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChNenin.aspWA 89 (6/2007): This structured Pomerol reveals classic sweet cherry and kirsch liqueur-like notes intermixed with hints of minerals and flowers. Lovely ripeness, medium body, and a restrained but noble style suggest it will drink well for 10-15 years. WS 88 (3/2007): Delicate and reserved, with tobacco, blackberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Best after 2009.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChNenin.aspJS 91 (2/2012): Lots of blackberries, with dark chocolate on the nose. Full body with soft and velvety tannins and a delicious finish. The second wine of Nenin. Better in 2014.WS 89 (12/2012): This straddles the line nicely between ripe raspberry and steeped cherry fruit versus savory herb and tobacco flavors, with fine-beaded acidity holding the gentle finish together. Drink now through 2020. 5,415 cases made.NM 88 (9/2011): Tasted at Chateau Leoville Las-Cases. The Fugue de Nenin 2009 has a very lifted bouquet with cassis, violets, a touch of orange sorbet and Morello. Very lifted and floral. The palate is tannic on the entry with chalky tannins, lifted acidity compared to its primeur showing with a sharp, almost biting, citric finish. It needs time to settle down but it is a vivacious and lively. WA 87 (2/2012): The Fugue de Nenin is a delicious, soft, finesse-styled Pomerol with elegant mulberry, plum, cherry fruit. Dark ruby, with a hint of spring flowers, it is best drunk over the next decade.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FuguedeNenin.aspWS 94 (1/2001): A blockbuster. Black in color, with extremely grapey, toasted oak and dark chocolate aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of big, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Best Clos de L'Oratoire ever. Best after 2010. 4,000 cases made. -JS WA 92 (4/2001): An opaque blue/purple color is accompanied by a sensational bouquet of melted fudge, plums, Asian spices, blackberries, and prunes. Smoky, barbeque-like spices also emerge with airing. Full-bodied, super-extracted, rich, pure, and mouth-saturating, this large-scaled effort can be consumed with pleasure, but it will age for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020. VM 89+ (6/2001): Red-ruby. Aromas of red berries, sweet butter, toffee, leather, smoked meat and nutty oak. Round and sappy in the mouth, with bright, intense flavors of currant, cherry and game. Finishes firmly tannic, with a slightly medicinal inky quality.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosduOratoire.aspWS 94 (1/2001): A blockbuster. Black in color, with extremely grapey, toasted oak and dark chocolate aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of big, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Best Clos de L'Oratoire ever. Best after 2010. 4,000 cases made. -JS WA 92 (4/2001): An opaque blue/purple color is accompanied by a sensational bouquet of melted fudge, plums, Asian spices, blackberries, and prunes. Smoky, barbeque-like spices also emerge with airing. Full-bodied, super-extracted, rich, pure, and mouth-saturating, this large-scaled effort can be consumed with pleasure, but it will age for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020. VM 89+ (6/2001): Red-ruby. Aromas of red berries, sweet butter, toffee, leather, smoked meat and nutty oak. Round and sappy in the mouth, with bright, intense flavors of currant, cherry and game. Finishes firmly tannic, with a slightly medicinal inky quality.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosduOratoire.aspWS 94 (3/2012): This is very suave, with mocha and smoldering tobacco flavors laced with fig, plum and blackberry notes. A flash of sweet tapenade and iron helps extend the finish, which has lovely latent minerality. This shows great restraint, considering its power of fruit. Best from 2015 through 2027. 2,250 cases made.WA 93 (12/2011): A flamboyant St.-Emilion, this largely-Merlot blend displays notes of Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, tobacco leaf, and loads of black currant and blackberry fruit. A showy, extravagantly concentrated, hedonistic style of St.-Emilion, with some wood smoke and roasted herbs adding nuance to the full-throttle aromatics and long, lush, silky flavors, this wine can be drunk now or cellared for up to 15+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosduOratoire.aspJS 94 (2/2012): Spices, nutmeg, dark fruits on the nose, follow through to a full body, with very precise tannins and a long finish. A beautiful and racy wine. Second wine of Cos d'Estournel. Better in 2017.WA 94 (2/2012): The brilliant 2009 Les Pagodes de Cos actually has more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than the grand vin (69% versus 65%) in addition to mostly Merlot and a small quantity of Petit Verdot. As powerful as the Cos in terms of alcoholic clout (14.5%), the full-bodied, round, generous Les Pagodes de Cos exhibits lots of creme de cassis and floral notes intermixed with hints of wood/barrique and spice. Juicy, succulent and remarkably fresh and well-delineated, it merits considerable attention from consumers. It should drink well for 15-20 years. Oddly enough, the second wine is superior to many vintages of Cos in the 1960s 1970s and 1980s!WS 91 (3/2012): Remarkably lush and supple for the appellation, yet not lacking in density, with rich plum, cassis and blackberry confiture notes leading the way and flickers of charcoal, tobacco and singed iron keeping the almost-flattering finish honest. Approachable, but this should knit nicely with mid-term cellaring. Drink now through 2023. 10,000 cases made.IWC 89 (7/2012): Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of currant, chocolate and flowers, plus hints of cedar, smoky oak. Plump, lush and fine-grained, showing a remarkably seamless texture for a second wine. Very ripe flavors of currant, mocha, beefsteak tomato and chocolate turn a bit roasted in the glass. Finishes with a smooth dusting of tannins and ripe, chocolatey persistence. I'd drink this wine over the next decade. (This chateau's flagship wine is clearly more delineated, more tannic and longer than this wine but it's still a bit too ripe for my taste.)http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LesPagodesdesCos.aspWS 90 (3/2006): Blackberry, licorice and tar follow through to a full-bodied palate, with firm, silky tannins and a medium berry and vanilla aftertaste. Juicy wine. Best after 2008. 6,000 cases made.WA 89 (4/2006): This estate’s grand vin and second wine have both benefited immensely from stricter selections. The 2003 vintage’s heat and drought stressed this vineyard’s light soils, resulting in an atypical Palmer. The 2003 Palmer possesses a dark ruby/purple color, high, austere tannins, less flesh and mid-palate than usual, medium body, and a flowery black currant-scented bouquet. It lacks the extra dimension required aromatically, texturally, and flavor-wise to achieve their normal quality level. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.VM 89 (6/2006): Good full deep red. Expressive aromas of roasted red raspberry, tobacco, chocolate and sandalwood; hints of dehydrated fruit. Sweet, fat and smoky, with good depth but only moderate complexity; shows an obvious warm-vintage character. Finishes with fairly sizable tannins and a lingering roasted character.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPalmer.aspWS 92-95 (12/2011): Velvety and inviting, with lovely dark plum and blackberry fruit, followed by a long, caressing finish. This has some grip too, but it's nicely integrated. Should have some staying power. Tasted non-blind.JS 91-92 (4/2011): Floral and blackberry and currant. Full to medium body. Round and velvety with chocolate and nuts. A firm and structured Alter Ego.WA 90-92 (5/2011): For many of the classified growths in the Medoc, the quality of the second wines has soared over the last 5-6 years, and Alter Ego is no exception. The 2010 Alter Ego is the richest ever made. Relatively high in alcohol, this is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Merlot. Thick and juicy, its black fruits intermixed with acacia flowers, camphor, and subtle smoky notes are followed by a plump, corpulent style of wine with loads of fruit, glycerin and texture. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.IWC 88-91 (6/2011): (a 51/49 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot; 82 IPT; 13.9% alcohol) Deep ruby-red. Musky aromas of blackberry, gunflint and black pepper, plus a whiff of dried herbs. Bright and linear on the palate, with lively acidity framing the flavors of dark fruits, black pepper and minerals. Finishes with smooth tannins and good length. This rather firm-edged Alter Ego is a different wine than usual, more rigorous and less fruity than the softer, suppler versions of recent years. In fact, in this vintage it resembles Palmer more than Alter Ego.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AlterEgodePalmer.aspWA 98+ (2/2013): The 2010 Palmer is one of the superstars of the vintage, a blend of 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, which is just slightly different than what I indicated two years ago. The alcohol level hit 14.5%, and the wine comes across like a more stacked-and-packed version of their 2000. It is tannic and backward, but has a sensational black/purple color and a gorgeous nose of camphor, barbecue smoke, blackberry and cassis. Full-bodied, with oodles of glycerin but a relatively healthy pH, this wine has a precision and freshness that belie its lofty alcohol and extravagant concentration. This is a sensationally rich, full-throttle Palmer that could well end up being one of the all-time great wines made at this estate. It needs a good 7-10 years of cellaring and should keep for 50 or more years. JS 98 (2/2013): A purity of fruit here with plum and dark chocolate undertones. Spices and treacle tart as well. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a long, long finish. Very fine indeed. Fit, fruity and reserved. Superb. Try in 2020.VM 96+ (7/2013): Bright, deep medium ruby. Exotic, expressive nose offers blueberry, black cherry, violet, bitter chocolate, licorice, smoke and spices, with a subtle leather nuance in the deep background. The tightly coiled, penetrating palate offers uncanny density without weight, with dark berry and floral flavors enlivened by deep minerality. A wine of outstanding clarity, energy and class. The extremely long, mounting finish displays serious, ripe tannins that reach the incisors, and great clinging minerality and verve. This extraordinary young Palmer should go on for decades.WS 96 (3/2013): This is riveting, with terrific tarry grip coursing underneath layers of smoldering bay leaf, warm plum confiture, freshly brewed espresso, dark cassis and well-steeped black tea. The charcoal and tobacco backdrop is gorgeous and should move forward through the core of fruit over time. Be patient though, as the structure is ironclad. This will really be electric once mature. Best from 2017 through 2040.NM 95 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Palmer 2010 has a more extrovert bouquet than its peers, with blackberry and raspberry fruit interlaced with camphor - exuberant and showy. The palate is medium-bodied with silky smooth tannins. There is a lot of extraction here, plenty of volume with a thickly layered, almost mellifluous finish that belies that structure underneath. There is a touch of Szechuan pepper lingering on the aftertaste. This is a very assured and sumptuous Palmer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPalmer.aspJS 94 (2/2015): This is amazing for the second wine with incredible white truffle, stone and currant character. Purity of fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, silky and refined. Fantastic length. Better in 2018 but almost impossible to resist now. Incredible.WA 93 (4/2015): Another brilliant example from administrator Thomas Duroux and his team, the intense second wine, Palmer’s 2012 Alter Ego (51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot), offers up plenty of blackberry and crème de cassis notes along with some spring flowers, licorice and subtle background oak. Opulently textured, full-bodied and stunning, this is an outrageously successful second wine to drink over the next 12-15 years.VM 92 (1/2016): The 2012 Alter Ego is unusually dark in this vintage, the result of abnormally low yields and very ripe Merlot. An exuberant, voluptuous wine, the 2012 hits the palate with a mélange of black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice, tobacco and grilled herbs. There is more than enough tannin and acidity to support a good decade-plus of very fine drinking. This is a superb second wine that should be on consumers' radar screens, as it over delivers, big time. The 2012s at Palmer are made from unusually low yields of around 28 hectoliters per hectare. One of the effects of the 2011 hailstorm that hit the estate was a lowering of the following year's crop, which has resulted in rich, tannic wines. Estate Manager Thomas Duroux opted to give the 2012s more time in barrel than is customary and the wines were bottled in September 2014.WS 90 (3/2015): Shows good energy, with a lively savory note, a bright iron streak and enticing damson plum, black cherry and red currant fruit. Everything knits through the finish, suggesting this should be able to handle modest cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2020. 7,083 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AlterEgodePalmer.aspWA 93 (4/2001): A prodigious effort from Pape Clement, this wine is smokin'! It boasts a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a terrific nose of charcoal, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, minerals, and spice. This brilliantly-focused, medium to full-bodied 1998 already reveals a boatload of complexity as well as a remarkably long finish. A large-sized effort for this estate, it exhibits a sweet mid-palate and ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. Bravo!VM 90-91 (6/2000): Bright medium red. Explosive aromas of black raspberry, Cuban tobacco, espresso, leather, game and fresh blood; distinct suggestions of surmaturite from the superripe merlot. Lush and suave, with a penetrating sweetness and excellent delineation of flavor. The gamey note repeats in the mouth. Juicy and bright. Finishes with sweet tannins and excellent persistence. The '99 has a higher pH because the cabernet was so ripe, notes Larramona, adding that the '98 may be bottled without fining. One to buy.WS 90 (1/2001): A pretty, well-balanced wine with berry and dark chocolate character. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Best from 2004 through 2012. 7,080 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspWA 93 (4/2001): A prodigious effort from Pape Clement, this wine is smokin'! It boasts a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a terrific nose of charcoal, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, minerals, and spice. This brilliantly-focused, medium to full-bodied 1998 already reveals a boatload of complexity as well as a remarkably long finish. A large-sized effort for this estate, it exhibits a sweet mid-palate and ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. Bravo!VM 90-91 (6/2000): Bright medium red. Explosive aromas of black raspberry, Cuban tobacco, espresso, leather, game and fresh blood; distinct suggestions of surmaturite from the superripe merlot. Lush and suave, with a penetrating sweetness and excellent delineation of flavor. The gamey note repeats in the mouth. Juicy and bright. Finishes with sweet tannins and excellent persistence. The '99 has a higher pH because the cabernet was so ripe, notes Larramona, adding that the '98 may be bottled without fining. One to buy.WS 90 (1/2001): A pretty, well-balanced wine with berry and dark chocolate character. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Best from 2004 through 2012. 7,080 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspWA 99 (6/2015): Owned by Bernard Magrez, this great terroir a few miles from Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion has produced one of the superstars of the vintage. A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, Pape Clement’s 2005 has an opaque purple color and smoky barbecue and chocolaty notes intermixed with cassis and blackberries. There is also some underlying minerality in this full-bodied, super-concentrated wine, which has wonderfully sweet, well-integrated tannins. This majestic, multidimensional wines is one of the great, great wines of the vintage. It should drink well for at least another 25 years. VM 97 (11/2015): The 2005 Pape Clément is a fabulous contrast to the Haut-Brion. The former represents modernism at its best, while the latter is one of the archetypes of classicism. Both are striking. Compelling and seductive from the outset, the 2005 Pape Clément races out of the glass with notable opulence and ripeness. Soft contours and heady aromatics make the 2005 a real joy to taste today. Just beginning to show the first signs of aromatic complexity, the 2005 Pape Clément looks like it won't be as long-lived as some of the other wines in this tasting, but it is extraordinarily beautiful today. The style is unapologetically flamboyant, yet all the elements are in the right place. When it comes to pure hedonistic pleasure, it's hard to match the 2005 Pape Clément. Antonio Galloni. NM 96 (7/2010): The Pape-Clement 2005 has a surprisingly reticent nose at first but then blossoms in the glass to reveal a wine with impressive lift and delineation, very fine minerality developing in the glass with scents of blackberry, wild hedgerow, liquorice and black olive. The palate is medium-bodied but seems to develop more sinew in the glass. It has a firm structure: masculine with dark black fruits, tobacco, cedar and a touch of plum. Very good focus and poise, long and persistent on the tightly wound finish with a saline tang on the finish. It will require a few more years to reach its plateau. Drink 2015-2030. WS 96 (3/2008): Dark in color, offering wonderful aromas of licorice, berry, fresh tobacco and currant, with Indian spices. Complex and full-bodied, with supersilky tannins that caress every inch of the palate. Long and satisfying. A joy to taste this young wine. Best after 2015. 7,500 c made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspWA 96 (4/2014): The 2011 Pape Clement, a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, was aged 18 months in new French oak before being bottled unfiltered. Absolutely profound, with a complex bouquet of mulberries, black cherries, black currants, graphite and subtle smoke and burning ember-like aromas, this is a true super-star of the vintage. It represents a remarkable achievement by the winemaking team of Bernard Magrez. Full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, this wine clearly transcends the entire vintage. It should age effortlessly for 25 years.WS 93 (3/2014): Offers a grippy feel, with tar and warm fruitcake notes framing a core of plum sauce, blackberry coulis and pastis. Sappy and energetic through the finish. The tarry grip hangs on. Best from 2016 through 2028.NM 92-94 (4/2012): The 2011 is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot cropped between 16th September and 7th October. It has a very refined bouquet with ripe blackberry, briary, crushed stone and graphite, almost Pauillac in style with impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, good acidity and much more substance than I was expecting. It is a Pape Clement whose byword is: panache. It is supremely well put together, very harmonious with a seamless finish that slips down the throat. Unashamedly modern in style as one would expect, but it is very well crafted. JS 91 (4/2012): The nose of violets, warm stone and blueberries is very impressive. Full body, with chewy tannins and a firm finish. Outstanding but like to see a little more fruit in the mid-palate. Chewy.VM 90+ (7/2014): Dark ruby-red. Fresh, floral aromas of blackcurrant, herbs, talc and chocolate. Currently dominated by oak on the palate, with minerally blackberry and blueberry flavors emerging only slowly with aeration. Finishes with lively acidity and substantial but smooth tannins. I don't find the rich creamy fruit this wine showed during the Primeurs; I wonder if it didn't see too much oak given the vintage's characteristics. I wouldn't touch a bottle for another three or four years. Ian d'Agata.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspWA 96 (4/2008): An outstanding combination of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Semillon, this full-bodied, dry white boasts copious quantities of lemon grass, honeysuckle, and apple notes backed up by hints of wood, quince, and nectarines. Concentrated, with admirable acidity, richness, and a more forward style than its neighbors, Laville Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion, this beauty can be enjoyed now and over the next 10-15 years.WS 95 (3/2008): Offers lemon peel, with hints of lime and cut wood. Fennel even. Full-bodied, with wonderful fruit and vanilla, cream, apple tart and honey flavors. Unfolds on the palate. Needs lots of age, but who can wait? Best after 2010. 750 cases made.NM 95 (1/2009): Tasted single blind at Southwold. The “2005 Pape Blanc” has a very open, expressive nose with plumes of white peach, brioche and vanillary new oak. Moderate definition – just a little obvious. The palate is more succinct with the oak more enmeshed into the wine, nice acidity, subtle brioche and white peach tones leading to an elegant finish. Once the nose calms down and subsumes the new oak, this will be very fine wine and the creamy finish is just irresistible. Drink 2010-2025.IWC 92 (6/2007): Bright, pale yellow. Complex nose offers lemon drop, fresh herbs, flowers and resiny oak. Very rich and full in the mouth, and more complex than the young 2006 despite the recent bottling. Fresh flavors of candied ginger, flowers and lemon drop showcase the richness and depth-as well as the sappy character-of this vintage. Impressively long on the aftertaste. A great showing.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspWA 98 (2/2009): Arguably the dry white wine of the vintage along with Laville, this is an extraordinary wine with the texture of a grand cru white Burgundy, the so-called gout de petrol that one finds in Coche-Dury Meursault-Perrieres, or one of the top Montrachets from the likes of Domaine Leflaive or Romanee-Conti. Honeyed orange, sweet melons, subtle smoke, stunning concentration, and a full-bodied mouthfeel make for an extraordinary expression of white Graves that should age beautifully for 15-20 years. The final blend from the tiny 7.5-acre parcel of this historic vineyard was 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon, 5% each of Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle.WS 94 (3/2009): Shows lemon pie, with cream and meringue. Full-bodied, with a very concentrated palate and loads of fruit. Yet reserved and structured, with a long finish. Layered and creamy-textured. Built for aging. Best after 2012.NM 93 (1/2010): Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. Fresh and vibrant on the alcoholic nose, with notes of pineapple, dried mango, lemon curd and a touch of almond. Good definition and much greater sense of purpose than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied, good acidity with vibrant ripe citrus fruits, good depth, still backward butwith good length and definition. Excellent. VM 91 (6/2008): Bright yellow. Restrained but rich nose is currently showing its semillon side, with notes of soft citrus fruits and honey. Very sweet, ripe and broad; a bit lower-toned than the young 2007, with honey and earth dominating today and the fruit in the background. But this is fat, serious and long.Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspWS 95 (3/2010): Subtle, yet very rich, with lemon peel, cooked apple, sliced fennel and tropical fruit aromas. Full-bodied, offering ultraintense flavors of cream, toasted coconut and honey. A complex, lively wine that goes on and on. An opulent style, almost New World. This will age, but why wait? Drink now. 835 cases made.NM 94 (11/2011): Tasted blind at the 2007 Bordeaux horizontal in Southwold. There is a lot of SO2 on the nose that takes a lot of aeration to get rid of, but it is worth the effort as it develops some attractive dried flower, pear and jasmine aromas with fine definition. The palate is well defined with very good weight, harmonious and fresh with white peach, honeydew melon and a hint of lemongrass towards the long finish. Very fine. VM 94 (7/2010): Captivating nose combines green papaya, mango, coconut, vanilla, minerals, dried rose, tangerine oil and white pepper. Densely packed and youthful but already shows a silky texture and considerable early appeal owing to its sexy sweetness of fruit. Subtle notes of smoke, herbs, spices and flowers carry through onto the rising, palate-dusting finish. A superb white wine from this estate. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspWA 95 (2/2013): A blend of 51% Sauvignon Blanc, 33% Semillon and the rest Sauvignon Gris, this wine has staggering aromatics of orange blossom, lemon custard, pineapple and mango. Exotic, rich and full-bodied, it should drink nicely for at least 10 -15 years or more. WS 93 (3/2013): A ripe white, offering a good bolt of lemon curd and heather running through the middle, with brioche, paraffin, passion fruit and green almond notes filling in the background. The lush, creamy finish sports the punch of the vintage, displaying length and definition. Drink now through 2016. VM 91-94 (8/2011): Deep straw yellow. Knockout aromas of wax, pear and white peach reminded me more of semillon than sauvignon blanc. Enters the mouth chewy, big and fleshy, with very rich apple, pear, hazelnut and banana cream pie flavors, then turns increasingly tannic on the long, oaky finish. Really great stuff here: all it needs is a little time to digest its oak. This will be especially appreciated by those who enjoy a richer, creamier style of white Bordeaux with ripe tropical fruit and buttery notes. Ian d'Agata.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspWA 95-98 (4/2013): The 2012 Pape Clement, a profound blend of 45% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Semillon, 5% Sauvignon Gris and the rest Muscadelle, is once again a fabulous effort. Gorgeous notes of honeysuckle, pineapple, orange blossoms and mangoes soar from the glass of this full-bodied, unctuously textured, zesty, well-delineated white Pessac-Leognan from a suburb of Bordeaux. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.NM 92-94 (5/2013): Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The 2012 white is a blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc 30% Semillon and 15% Sauvignon Gris cropped at 23-hl/ha between 9th September and 4th October. It has a finely tuned bouquet with expressive Semillon defined the aromatics – melted candle wax and just a hint of ginger. The palate is quite spicy and phenolic on the entry with a suggestion towards the Southern Rhone, with an Oriental, almost Viognier like finish that is very appealing. This will be fascinating in bottle.WS 92-95 (7/2013): Well-toasted, creamy style, with brioche, shortbread and macadamia nut aromas and flavors along with lemon curd and wet straw, creamed yellow apple and melon fruit. Big and bold, but with superb range and definition.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspJS 93 (2/2016): Pretty aromas of dried mango and lemon peel with hints of cooked apple follow through to a full body, lots of tangerine character and a long, flavorful finish. Fantastic white. A blend of 50% semillon, 33% sauvignon blanc, 16% muscadelle and 1% sauvignon gris.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LeClementinduPape-Clement.aspJS 93 (2/2016): Pretty aromas of dried mango and lemon peel with hints of cooked apple follow through to a full body, lots of tangerine character and a long, flavorful finish. Fantastic white. A blend of 50% semillon, 33% sauvignon blanc, 16% muscadelle and 1% sauvignon gris.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LeClementinduPape-Clement.aspJS 97 (2/2016): Fantastic aromas of papaya, lemons, and pears with hints of cream. Full body, very layered and intense. Superb flavors and intensity. Vibrant acidity and freshness. Lasts so long on the palate. One of the wines of the vintage. A blend of 54% semillon, 36% sauvignon blanc, 8% sauvignon gris and 2% muscadelle. Drink or hold.WS 95 (3/2016): This is on the showy side, with toasted macadamia nut, butter and creamed white peach aromas and flavors leading the way, followed by warm shortbread, mirabelle plum and lemon curd notes that stretch through the lengthy finish. Almost languid, but a fine thread of verbena maintains the tension while allowing the hedonistic side to strut its stuff. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle. Drink now through 2020. 1,583 cases made.WA 94-96 (8/2014): Strikingly concentrated, a la a grand cru white Burgundy, the 2013 Pape Clement exhibits notes of orange zest, white currants, flowers, exotic mango and melony fruit. This medium to full-bodied, compellingly deep, fresh white wine should drink well for 10-20 years. It is a candidate for the white wine of the vintage in Bordeaux.VM 90-93 (5/2014): Bright straw. Lively aromas and flavors of fresh citrus fruit and white flowers are complicated by nuances of custard cream, vanilla bean and fresh herbs. Builds nicely in concentration and complexity in the mouth, finishing with lingering bright acidity that does not hide the wine's underlying opulent mouthfeel. Ian d'Agata.NM 90 (10/2016): The 2013 Pape Clement Blanc does not quite deliver the precision of the Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc 2013 this year, the oak is still quite pronounced and eroding some of the detail. The palate is well balanced with lime and citrus peel on the entry, hints of toffee apple emerging towards the finish that, again, feels a little oaky. I was hoping for more after the commendable 2013 Pape Clement Rouge, though it still might appeal to those who like their white Bordeaux with a hedonistic bent.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspJS 93-94 (3/2015): This is layered and substantial as it should be with dried honey and apple character. Full and intense with layers of fruit. This is a serious white.VM 92-95+ (4/2015): One of the more overt, exotic whites readers will find in 2014, the Pape Clément Blanc is built on texture and voluptuousness, with all the elements in the right place. Orange peel, mint and white flowers lead to more tropical-leaning fruits, along with a host of honey, melon and quince overtones. The Blanc retains gorgeous nuance for such a big, oily, viscous white. This is another superb showing from Bernard Magrez and his team led by Consulting Winemaker Michel Rolland. Antonio Galloni.WS 92-95 (7/2015): Distinctive, with lemon sherbet and yellow apple flavors, matched to white ginger, brioche and singed macadamia nut notes. Quite creamy in feel, with a paraffin hint at the very end. An overt style, but hard to deny. WA 92-94 (4/2015): The Château Pape-Clement Blanc 2014 is a blend of 50% Sémillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sauvignon Gris picked between 8 and 23 September. There is a tangible richness, almost decadence on the nose that actually shades the Magrez-Fombrauge Blanc. Lemon curd and dried honey soar from the glass. The palate is very well balanced, powerful in the mouth, a slight viscosity coming through towards the finish that fans out with a sense of confidence and brio. This will be utterly irresistible.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPape-Clement.aspJS 90 (3/2015): Lots of dark-chocolate and berry character. Currants, too. Full body with silky tannins and a clean finish. A stylish blend from the owner of Chateau Pavie, Gérard Perse. Second year made. 65% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 15% cabernet sauvignon. Needs a year or two to soften.WS 87 (12/2013): Offers chocolate-coated plum and blackberry fruit, with an honest dose of charcoal on the finish. Direct and solid. Drink now through 2014. 15,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/lEspritdePavie.aspWS 95 (3/2017): This is a beauty, with the singed apple wood and juniper notes fully melded with the core of lush raspberry and blackberry confiture flavors. The edges are rounded off but the spine still drives through. Ends with graphite and ganache accents and a mouthwatering hint. Best from 2020 through 2035. 7,500 cases made. WA 94 (8/2015): A real sleeper effort from the Perse family, the 2004 Pavie has a dense, bluish purple color and a wonderful, sweet kiss of blackberry, licorice, spice box and roasted herbs. The wine is rich, deep, full-bodied and absolutely remarkable for the vintage. This is certainly a candidate for one of the wines of the year and seems still relatively youthful and promising. Drink it over the next 20 years. VM 93 (6/2007): Good deep fresh ruby. Vibrant, complex aromas of blackberry, violet, licorice, espresso and minerals. Concentrated, spicy and fresh, with lovely clarity and lift to its penetrating dark fruit and mineral flavors. Densely packed and downright palate-staining for 2004 without any impression of heaviness. This has plenty of fat for the year and finishes impressively dense, with ripe, building tannins. Owner Gerard Perse notes that Pavie has the benefit of three different soil types, while Pavie-Decesse is a single block of old vines on calcaire Thus Pavie is always more complex, he adds, and the portion of younger vines at Pavie brings a fruity quality that's sometimes missing in Pavie-Decesse. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavie.aspWS 95 (3/2017): This is a beauty, with the singed apple wood and juniper notes fully melded with the core of lush raspberry and blackberry confiture flavors. The edges are rounded off but the spine still drives through. Ends with graphite and ganache accents and a mouthwatering hint. Best from 2020 through 2035. 7,500 cases made. WA 94 (8/2015): A real sleeper effort from the Perse family, the 2004 Pavie has a dense, bluish purple color and a wonderful, sweet kiss of blackberry, licorice, spice box and roasted herbs. The wine is rich, deep, full-bodied and absolutely remarkable for the vintage. This is certainly a candidate for one of the wines of the year and seems still relatively youthful and promising. Drink it over the next 20 years. VM 93 (6/2007): Good deep fresh ruby. Vibrant, complex aromas of blackberry, violet, licorice, espresso and minerals. Concentrated, spicy and fresh, with lovely clarity and lift to its penetrating dark fruit and mineral flavors. Densely packed and downright palate-staining for 2004 without any impression of heaviness. This has plenty of fat for the year and finishes impressively dense, with ripe, building tannins. Owner Gerard Perse notes that Pavie has the benefit of three different soil types, while Pavie-Decesse is a single block of old vines on calcaire Thus Pavie is always more complex, he adds, and the portion of younger vines at Pavie brings a fruity quality that's sometimes missing in Pavie-Decesse. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavie.aspWA 94+ (8/2015): A slightly more compact style of Pavie in this vintage, but still full-bodied, the 2008 has a youthful, dense purple color and is seriously endowed with concentrated, rich fruit, licorice, graphite, forest floor, and loads of dark plum and black and red currant fruit. This wine still has some tannins to resolve, and should be cellared for another 4-5 years. Drink over the following two decades. JS 95 (12/2010): Lots of fruit and fruity and long with amazing truffles and earth and fruity with full and velvety tannins. Long, long finish. Balanced for the vintage, but very rich. Better in 2013. VM 95 (8/2011): (70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon): Saturated deep ruby. Sexy, nuanced nose combines black raspberry, graphite, mocha and flowers. Thick, sweet and powerfully concentrated; wonderfully rich, broad, seamless wine with fruit of steel. Flavors of kirsch, licorice and minerals saturate every square millimeter of the mouth. Huge, broad tannins will carry this outsized wine through at least a couple decades of life in bottle. WS 93 (4/2011): This is lavishly oaked, with dark espresso, mocha and bittersweet cocoa notes proudly leading the way, while the core of fig sauce, melted licorice snap and blackberry confiture waits in the wings. Dense and grippy through the finish, with powerfully rendered fruit matching the dense toast. A huge wine that will need some time. Best from 2013 through 2022. 6,665 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavie.aspWA 100 (8/2015): What fun, excitement and joy it will be to compare the four perfect wines Perse has made in 2005, 2009, 2010 and, of course, the 2000, in 25 or so years. This wine is truly profound Bordeaux. Everything is in place - remarkable concentration and a beautiful nose of cedar and ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with some kirsch and spice box in the background. Lavishly rich, with slightly more structure and delineation than the more Rabelaisian 2009, this wine does show some serious tannins in the finish, and comes across as incredibly youthful. Of course, it's five years old, but it tastes more like a just-bottled barrel sample than a 2010. In any event, this wine is set for a long, long life and should be forgotten for at least another decade. Consume it over the following 75 or more years.JS 98 (6/2013): Amazing aromas of blackberries and chocolate. Then dried herbs and sweet tobacco. Wonderful. Full body, with a wonderful density and richness. It goes on for minutes. Tannic and structure but incredible. Very savory. This needs at least 10 years. Superb. This is not quite as complex as 2005 or as harmonious, but it is super quality. Yes.WS 97 (3/2015): An immense wine, with tiers of roasted fig, boysenberry confiture, warm plum sauce, Black Forest cake and raspberry ganache that flow authoritatively, while a terrific graphite underpinning provides support. The explosive finish is framed by roasted apple wood and licorice snap notes. Shows terrific muscle, but the purity and minerality is there as well. Needs time. Best from 2020 through 2040. 7,083 cases made. VM 95+ (7/2013): (14.5% alcohol; 70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon): Saturated, deep ruby-red. High-toned, superripe aromas of black raspberry, cassis and caramel. Then dense, velvety and huge in the mouth, with great power and chew to the thick flavors of cassis, raspberry and crushed chalk. This improbably thick wine boasts terrific sweetness but its huge, building tannins will need a good decade of cellaring to harmonize. Interestingly, Gerard Perse picked this fruit in mid-October, yet the wine has been even higher in alcohol in some recent vintages. Stephen Tanzer.NM 95 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Pavie 2010 has a powerful but elegant bouquet with scents of black currant, iodine and seaweed. It is tightly coiled at first, but unwinds with aeration and there is just a touch of volatility creeping in - though nothing to furrow your brow. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, chewy in the mouth with slightly lower acidity than its peers. Sulky towards the finish - this just feels a little ostentatious compared to its peers, but it is very focused and possesses the substance to age with style. This is a long-term Pavie from Gerard Perse.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavie.aspJS 96 (2/2015): This shows incredible depth and density for the vintage with dark berry, dark chocolate, spice and chalk character. Full body, firm and velvety tannins and a long and powerful finish. Needs five or six years to soften. Try in 2020.WS 95 (3/2015): This pulls out all the stops, with lush boysenberry confiture, warm plum sauce and blueberry reduction notes seamlessly intertwined with licorice snap, roasted apple wood and fruitcake flavors. A terrific bolt of graphite courses through the finish, producing impressive length and cut. A lot of spinning plates here, but the elements stay balanced. Best from 2018 through 2030. 5,830 cases made.WA 94-96+ (4/2013): The full-bodied, opaque purple-hued 2012 exhibits a beautiful nose of mulberries, black cherries, cedar wood, high quality toasty oak, lead pencil shavings, crushed chalk and floral notes. This complex, authoritative, full-throttle Pavie possesses much more accessibility and precociousness than most vintages. It is another brilliant effort from proprietors Chantal and Gerard Perse. It should be drinkable in 8-10 years and last for three decades. NM 91-93 (5/2013): The Grand Vin is a blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 28hl/ha and harvested by hand. It is being matured in 80% new oak, 20% one year old. It has a more refined, focused, expressive bouquet compared directly with the Bellevue-Mondotte. It is a little broody compared to the 2011 but it is nicely composed. The palate is full-bodied with linear, supple tannins. It is a compact Pavie, not as generous and precocious as top vintages for sure, but showing impressive precision on the finish. My only complaint is that the persistency needs to be longer in the mouth.IWC 90-92 (5/2013): Good full purple-ruby. Sexy aromas of blackberry, black cherry and vanilla are complicated by hints of violet and graphite. Seamless, fine-grained and lightly saline, with tactile flavors of blueberry, cocoa and pepper. Very impressive balance and depth here. Finishes with supple tannins and outstanding length. A huge success for what is a less extracted style than usual for Pavie. Very well done.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavie.aspIWC 91-92 (6/2000): Bright ruby. Explosive, vibrant aromas of crystallized black raspberry, redcurrant and pungent minerals, plus a floral nuance. Thick, deep and powerfully fruity; given precision and verve by its strong mineral backbone and firm acidity. Very dense and suave. The limestone soil shows on the somewhat austere but very long finish. Tannins are firm but ripe, and the finish offers excellent grip. Not an easy style of wine considering that it's 80% merlot, but superb—and a far cry from the ungiving wines made under the previous ownership. WA 91 (4/2001): Wet stones, minerals, vanilla, black cherries, and smoke aromas as well as flavors are present in this powerful, muscular, medium to full-bodied 1998. Crammed with fruit, and built for the long haul, it is not as accessible as many of this vintage's offerings. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.WS 89 (6/2001): Bubbling over with ripe berry, violet and cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with polished, velvety tannins and a long, ripe finish. Falls slightly short of outstanding. Best after 2005. 2,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavieDecesse.aspWA 96 (4/2006): Composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc (13.5% alcohol), the inky/purple-tinged 2003 exhibits an extraordinary bouquet of crushed rocks, white flowers, and red as well as black fruits. The most port-like of the 2003 Perse offerings, it is a sexy, opulent, viscous St.-Emilion with extraordinary density as well as an exotic, nearly over-the-top richness. It will be drinkable in 2-3 years, and last for 25 or more. This flamboyant, ostentatious wine is a brilliant tour de force in 2003 Bordeaux. WS 93 (7/2006): Intense aromas of blackberry and raspberry. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and lots of fruit. Big and juicy. Impressive. This is 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc. Very flamboyant. Best after 2010. 2,000 cases made. VM 91+ (6/2006): Good full, healthy ruby-red. Superripe aromas of raspberry, currant and cocoa powder; more liqueur-like and less minerally than the 2004 or 2005. Then fat, sweet and exotic, but with superb concentration and retention of fruit. A rather powerful and very broad version of this wine. Finishes with huge but ripe tannins that call for at least a few years of patience. Gerard Perse bottled this, the Bellevue-Mondotte and the Pavie very late, in February of this year, due to the sheer magnitude of the tannins, and these three wines will all need more time to recover from the mise.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavieDecesse.aspJS 97 (11/2013): This is fascinating with a nutty, dried herb, spices, berry and hints of toasted character. Full body, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. This has a wonderful density of fruit and length. Amazing. Try in 2020. WA 96 (2/2013): A Blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with 14.5% natural alcohol, the higher percentage of Merlot in this wine than in the Pavie gives it a stunning opulence, thickness and luxuriousness. Opaque purple, with notes of mulberry and kirsch liqueur leaning toward blacker fruits, subtle smoked meats and some lead pencil and vanillin, this is another brawny, full-bodied, yet remarkably precise and fresh style of wine despite its sensational extract and power. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30-40 years. VM 94 (7/2013): (15% alcohol): Saturated dark ruby. High-toned aromas of cassis, black raspberry, bitter chocolate and crushed-rock minerality. Layered and powerful on the palate, but with highly concentrated cassis, black raspberry and dark chocolate flavors energized by pungent chalky minerality and strong acidity. One feels the 15% alcohol in the wine's sheer size and chewy texture but the impressively long finish shows more tangy energy than heat. Needs five or six years of patience, but this comes across as considerably less tanninc and forbidding than the Pavie. Stephen Tanzer. WS 93-96 (12/2011): Hedonist alert-dense, fleshy layers of fig sauce, warm cocoa, dark currant confiture and exotic spice fill this red, which also shows plenty of grip, with a smoldering wood note on the back end. NM 93-95 (5/2011): A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, compared to the Monbousquet, there is just a slight jamminess on the nose that is denuding the Pavie-Decesse of a little freshness. The palate is full-bodied and dense, extraordinarily powerful with masculine, structure tannins and layers of black fruit. Good focus towards the finish, this will need 15 years to reach its drinking plateau. Drink 2022+http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavieDecesse.aspJS 97 (11/2013): This is fascinating with a nutty, dried herb, spices, berry and hints of toasted character. Full body, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. This has a wonderful density of fruit and length. Amazing. Try in 2020. WA 96 (2/2013): A Blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with 14.5% natural alcohol, the higher percentage of Merlot in this wine than in the Pavie gives it a stunning opulence, thickness and luxuriousness. Opaque purple, with notes of mulberry and kirsch liqueur leaning toward blacker fruits, subtle smoked meats and some lead pencil and vanillin, this is another brawny, full-bodied, yet remarkably precise and fresh style of wine despite its sensational extract and power. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30-40 years. VM 94 (7/2013): (15% alcohol): Saturated dark ruby. High-toned aromas of cassis, black raspberry, bitter chocolate and crushed-rock minerality. Layered and powerful on the palate, but with highly concentrated cassis, black raspberry and dark chocolate flavors energized by pungent chalky minerality and strong acidity. One feels the 15% alcohol in the wine's sheer size and chewy texture but the impressively long finish shows more tangy energy than heat. Needs five or six years of patience, but this comes across as considerably less tanninc and forbidding than the Pavie. Stephen Tanzer. WS 93-96 (12/2011): Hedonist alert-dense, fleshy layers of fig sauce, warm cocoa, dark currant confiture and exotic spice fill this red, which also shows plenty of grip, with a smoldering wood note on the back end. NM 93-95 (5/2011): A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, compared to the Monbousquet, there is just a slight jamminess on the nose that is denuding the Pavie-Decesse of a little freshness. The palate is full-bodied and dense, extraordinarily powerful with masculine, structure tannins and layers of black fruit. Good focus towards the finish, this will need 15 years to reach its drinking plateau. Drink 2022+http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavieDecesse.aspJS 97-98 (4/2016): This shows a power and finesse at the same time with silky and refined tannins and a pretty finish. Such precision and length. Gorgeous, racy. VM 93-96 (4/2016): The 2015 Pavie Decesse is aromatically lifted, precise and nuanced, and yet there is plenty of underlying richness. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and exotic flowers are front and center. Silky tannins and expressive, floral notes make the Pavie-Decesse the most feminine among Gerard Perse's three top Saint-Émilions, yet there is no shortage of intensity as well. The Pavie Decesse is unquestionably one of the most sexy, sensual wines of the vintage. This is pure class. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from 50+ year-old vines. Yields were just 18 hectoliters per hectare, the lowest of any of the Perse properties. Antonio Galloni. WS 93-96 (4/2016): Beautiful, with remarkably lush raspberry, plum and cassis flavors that glide over a substantial yet creamy structure. The finish has beautiful flow. Dressed for the ball, but stays refined thanks to minimal accessorizing. WA 93-95 (4/2016): The 2015 Pavie-Decesse is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc matured entirely in new oak. The nose is backward at first and needed much encouragement in the glass, eventually revealing black cherries, crème de cassis, blood orange and almost honeyed aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannin, a modest level of acidity, fine grained with a spicy finish that lingers with a peppery aftertaste. It is an assertive Pavie-Decesse, particularly at the end where it cannot compete with the 2015 Pavie in terms of clarity, but the components will come together with 4-5 years in bottle.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavieDecesse.aspWS 97 (7/2015): This takes the fruit of 2009 but harnesses it even more quickly, with rivets of graphite and apple wood studding the core of plum sauce, blackberry reduction and raspberry pâte de fruit. Ample singed apple wood lines the finish, melded wonderfully with the fruit, while the minerality lingers on and on in the background, waiting in reserve. Around it all, a beguiling violet note dances. The combination of power and purity is a wonderful thing.—Non-blind Pavie Macquin vertical (December 2014). Best from 2020 through 2035. 3,750 cases made.WA 95+ (2/2013): This is always an extremely masculine, dense, burly wine, and the 2010, which tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol (just slightly under that of the 2009), has a final blend of 80% Merlot and the rest virtually all Cabernet Franc, with just 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Loads of crushed rock and chalkiness, along with licorice, black truffle, smoked game and black fruits dominate the aromatics and flavor. Backward, formidably endowed, full-bodied and almost atypically massive and huge, with gargantuan extraction, this is a wine for patient connoisseurs to forget about for close to a decade. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2040+.JS 95 (11/2013): Gorgeous nose with great complexity. Blackberry, licorice and a steely mineral note. Lots of chalk, nutmeg and violets too. Dense and full-bodied on the palate with a beautiful fruit and a sumptuous fruity finish that just goes on and on. Velvety tannins and layered texture with lots of raw licorice. Drink from 2018.VM 94+ (3/2014): (14.7% alcohol; 3.24 pH): Fully saturated deep red. Ripe aromas of spicy red cherry jam, plum, dried herbs, sweet spices and clove. Rich, ripe and dense on entry, then austere and precise in the middle, showing deep flavors of cassis, cinnamon, minerals and savory herbs. Finishes lush, floral and long, with a chocolatey note. This bright, seamless wine strikes me as a very ripe but not over-the-top style of Pavie Macquin. It improves noticeably with aeration, becoming more minerally and less obviously ripe, and I really didn't notice the high alcohol. Great wine. Ian d'Agata.NM 93 (11/2012): Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The Pavie-Macquin has wonderful delineation and poise on the nose: raspberry, wild strawberry, crushed stone and a hint of apricot. It is quite modern in style – but wonderfully controlled and generous, almost to the point of Burgundian purity. The palate is medium-bodied with super-fine tannins. There are hints of sage and quince infusing the red fruit profile, whilst the finish is silky smooth. It is perhaps just a little sweeter than I envisaged out of barrel? Hopefully it will calm down in bottle.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavieMacquin.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonBlancduChateauMargaux.aspWS 94 (3/2012): This really sneaks up on you, with laserlike focus to the blanched macadamia nut, honeysuckle, white peach and creamed yellow apple fruit flavors. Very sleek and restrained, with a long, stone-framed finish that's as pure as freshly fallen snow. Best from 2013 through 2023.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonBlancduChateauMargaux.aspJS 93 (2/2013): I love the density and lemon rind character with hints of pear, melons and chalk. Full body, with layers of fruit with flavors of lemon meringue, honey and pears. Long, long finish. Beautiful fruit. Drink or hold.WS 93 (3/2013): Ripe but focused, with heather, salted butter, macadamia nut, white peach and Jonagold apple notes. This has weight and definition, kept honest by a hint of tarragon on the finish. Very long and pure, showing a youthful vibrancy and a precision that should carry this in the cellar longer than you might expect. Drink now through 2020. 1,250 cases made.WA 92 (2/2013): Subtle hints of pineapple, Thai lemongrass, orange blossoms and crushed rock jump from the glass of this medium bodied wine made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Very rich and loaded with intensity, this is a beauty from the owners of Chateau Margaux. Drink it over the next 15+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonBlancduChateauMargaux.aspWS 87 (12/2007): Lovely aromas of berries, light vanilla and cedar follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a slightly austere finish.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonRougeduChateauMargaux.aspWS 86 (7/2009): Berry and fresh mushroom with a hint of flowers follow through to a medium body, with light fruit and a slightly short finish. Bit hard.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonRougeduChateauMargaux.aspWS 86 (7/2009): Berry and fresh mushroom with a hint of flowers follow through to a medium body, with light fruit and a slightly short finish. Bit hard.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonRougeduChateauMargaux.aspWS 86 (7/2009): Berry and fresh mushroom with a hint of flowers follow through to a medium body, with light fruit and a slightly short finish. Bit hard.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonRougeduChateauMargaux.aspJS 95-96 (4/2016): Shows incredible depth and power with near perfect Margaux character of black fruits and power. Full body, very tannic yet polished and refined. It’s like the gran vin but in a year like 2006 or 2007. Best ever. WA 92-94 (4/2016): The 2015 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, which represents just 23% of the total production this year, has a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than other years, 74%, with 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It has a very refined bouquet, focused and extraordinarily pure with blackcurrant, blueberry and minerals. The 50% new oak is beautifully integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a little more masculine than I was expecting, a Pavillon with firm structure imparted by that higher proportion of Cabernet. But the freshness is ample and there is a long, satisfying graphite note that seems to last forever on the finish. What a great deuxième vin, a stunning Pavillon Rouge. VM 90-93 (4/2016): The 2015 Pavillon Rouge is lovely. Open-knit, gracious and seductive, the 2015 offers striking palate presence and nuance. Exotic flower and a dash of white pepper add aromatic lift in a silky wine that shows the pure class of Margaux and Château Margaux. The 2015 is a striking, precise wine endowed with real class through and through. Approximately 26% of the crop went into the Pavillon Rouge. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonRougeduChateauMargaux.aspNM 80-82 (4/2010): Tasted at the Pomerol Syndicate tasting. This has quite an intense blackberry nose, a touch of greenness that seems to dissipate with time. The palate has a chocolaty entry, firm toasty tannins, a little manufactured let’s say and lacking a sense of natural being.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosPayrol.aspWA 96 (4/2003): There are 500 or so cases of this thrilling 2000 that emerges from a south-facing slope of the Faugeres vineyard. In less than three years, the price has caught up with the quality. A prodigious wine as well as one of the superstars of the vintage, the spectacular 2000 represents the essence of Bordeaux with an inky black/purple color, profound richness, and massive concentration. The provocative bouquet of smoke, liquified minerals, cocoa, blackberries, blueberries, and vanilla is accompanied by a multiple-tiered wine with sweet tannin and dry vintage port-like richness. It is full-bodied, yet remarkably well-delineated as well as light on its feet. With high tannin and extract as well as a whoppingly long finish, it will easily rival, possibly surpass the other-worldly 1998. I kept a bottle open eight days without any evidence of oxidation. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020. WS 92 (3/2003): This jumps out of the glass, with berry, Indian spices and raspberry character on the nose. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a caressing texture. Slightly short on the finish. A bit too much wood, but impressive. Best after 2008. 1,665 cases made. VM 90-91 (6/2002): Impressive saturated ruby. Roasted black cherry, dark chocolate, mocha and espresso on the nose. Lush and silky on the palate, with intense, nicely delineated dark berry and torrefaction flavors. Impressively concentrated and rich. Dense, vinous and solidly structured wine, with plenty of extract to support the firm tannins. Finishes with excellent length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPebyFaugeres.aspWA 93 (4/2006): A luxury cuvee culled from the large Faugeres vineyard, Peby-Faugeres is a nearly 100% Merlot made from 45-year-old vines planted in limestone soils. The wine’s upbringing is similar to that of a well-crafted Burgundy, with malolactic in barrel, aging on its lees, and no clarification at bottling. It has been a huge success since it debuted in 1998. Even better from bottle than it was from cask, the intense, deep purple-hued 2003 offers a big, sweet nose of blackberries, creme de cassis, creosote, coffee, and flowers. Full-bodied and opulent with low acidity, huge glycerin and flavor density, and a spectacularly long, flamboyant finish, this exotic, intense St.-Emilion reflects this interesting vintage. Anticipated maturity: now-2020+.WS 93 (3/2006): Crushed plum, berry and cherry on the nose. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit and velvety tannins. Goes on for minutes. Very 2003. Very Port-like, but I love it. Best after 2009. 1,330 cases made.IWC 87-90 (6/2004): Full medium ruby. Aromas of roasted currant, espresso and nutty oak, along with an exotic floral note. Lush, full and quite sweet in the mouth, with notes of chocolate and mint. My sample was a bit low in SO2, so it's hard to know just how much backbone this has beneath its flesh. The tannins are substantial, though.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPebyFaugeres.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPebyFaugeres.aspVM 90-92 (5/2007): Ruby-red. Exotic aromas of dark cherry and coffee liqueur. Fat, sweet and densely packed, with very rich coffee liqueur and chocolate flavors complemented by burnished oak and lifted by spice. A large-scaled, sweet wine whose building tannins reach the front teeth. A second sample of equally high quality showed more fruit expression in the middle palate and finished with a firm acid spine. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPebyFaugeres.aspJS 95 (11/2013): Spicy nose with nutmeg, cedar and sweet tobacco. Blueberries and some milk chocolate. Pure dark fruit on the palate with a wonderful texture and quite deep structure. Ripe polished tannins and a wonderfully focused long finish. Best ever from here. Drink from 2018.WS 92 (3/2013): Fleshy and enticing, offering creamy layers of crushed fig and plum laced with singed mesquite and incense notes. Delivers a flattering feel through the finish, with a linzer torte edge holding sway and embedded acidity providing propulsion. Drink now through 2025.WA 91 (2/2013): A very strong effort from Petit Village, the 2010 is the finest effort in years. Dark plum with hints of mocha, caramel, sweet currants and cherries, this opulent, savory, and explosive full-bodied wine already is accessible and evolved. Anticipated maturity: now- 2025.VM 90 (7/2013): Good dark red. Warm, inviting aromas of raspberry, plum, smoked meat, mocha and tobacco, plus a suggestion of woodsmoke. Lush, seamless and rather full-blown, with just enough vinosity to give shape to the flavors of strawberry liqueur, tobacco and truffle. An herbal edge on the finish adds an element of complexity. This rather showy, silky wine can be enjoyed early but should evolve positively in bottle for a decade or more. NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. This is a perplexing showing of this Pomerol grand cru that is striving so hard to improve its wines. Yet there is a nagging greenness on the nose on the Petit-Village: dense earthy black fruit with autumn leaves and tertiary scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, crisp acidity and the finish is actually quite attractive, by which time the nose is more harmonious and refined. However, this does not quite convince as a top tier Petit Village.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPetitVillage.aspWA 88 (6/2015): A seductive style of wine in 2005, this Peyrabon has a deep ruby/purple color and round, juicy blackcurrant and black cherry fruit along with some licorice and floral notes. It is medium-bodied, surprisingly silky and concentrated. Drink this sleeper of the vintage over the next 5-7 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPeyrabon.aspJS 90 (2/2015): Mineral and blackcurrant character to the nose and palate. Medium body, firm tannins and a silky, fresh finish. Needs time to come around. Extremely well done and muscular for the vintage. Better in 2017. VM 89 (1/2016): The 2012 Pibran is soft, supple and very nicely balanced. Sweet plum, cinnamon, rose petal and tobacco notes open up in a plush, fruit-driven Pauillac to drink young, while the fruit retains its vibrancy. Silky tannins add elegance to the creamy, generous finish. The blend is 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a lovely effort from Pibran. Antonio Galloni. WS 89 (3/2015): This has good energy, with anise and briar hints buried amid the core of dark plum and black currant fruit. The singed alder character melds nicely on the finish, along with a lingering bitter plum hint. Best from 2016 through 2020. 3,330 cases made. WA 88 (4/2015): This is a somewhat of a sleeper, under-the-radar property that is not terribly well-known, but seems to consistently make wines well above its pedigree. This wine, which is vinified by the same team that makes the famous Château Pichon Baron, has an inky purple color. The wine reveals loads of blueberry and black raspberry fruit, sweet tannin and medium body, not much complexity, but is a big, juicy, succulent mouthful of fruit. This wine will develop more complexity over the next 5-8 years and last for 15 or more. This is a sleeper of the vintage. NM 88-90 (4/2013): A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon representing 45% of the total production. It has a light fragrant, quite stony bouquet with fine definition and very subtle hints of vanilla pod and iodine. The palate is medium-bodied with some unresolved new oak on the entry which will integrated during elevage. It has a simple, nicely rounded, caressing finish that is quite atypical for the vintage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPibran.aspMB ***** (10/2000): After a shaky start, a poor cask sample, eight subsequent notes, all good, from a really lovely mouthful, luscious and elegant (Christie's masterclass, March 1995). Later the same month at a comoparative tasting in Brussels, softer, richer, more mouthwatering than Palmer. Most recently, still deep but mature looking; marvellous, rich, ripe fruit on the nose and palate. Fleshy, even plump, soft tannins. WS 95 (12/2014): This has entered its secondary phase, with alluring notes of black tea, steeped plum, mulled spice and warm pain d'épices emerging from the core of supple plum, cassis and black cherry fruit. The long, fine-grained finish lets a perfumy singed cedar accent linger. A beauty. VM 93 (7/2002): Full, deep red. Flamboyant aromas of cassis, currant leaf, tobacco, herbs and animal fur. Sweet, lush and lively; already showing lovely inner-mouth aromatic character. Finishes long, strong and lively, with firm tannins and slow-mounting persistence. Earlier bottles of this wine appeared to be a bit more exotic, even slightly animal, but this offers a lovely combination of purity and sheer ripeness. Drink over the next 15 years. WA 93 (5/2002): Approaching full maturity, Pichon-Lalande’s1989 has a deep ruby/plum color with some lightening at the edge. The nose offers sweet plums and creme de cassis intermixed with vanilla and graphite. The wine is lush, medium to full-bodied, and layered with texture, low acidity, sweet tannin, and the hallmark purity and elegance this estate routinely produces. Some tannins remain, but this wine has reached its plateau of maturity, where it should remain for another 10-15 years. Anticipated maturity: Now-2017. NM 92 (3/2012): Tasted at the Chapon Fin restaurant in Bordeaux. This is a far better bottle than the one encountered last year and bore semblances to my more positive encounters several years ago. Here, the 1989 has that lovely bouquet of black fruits, black tea and loam, that blossoms from the glass with continued aeration. The palate has very well balanced, the tannins having mellowed in recent years with tobacco and mushroom towards the finish. This just has much more vigour than I anticipated, much more cohesion. Very fine indeed. A point.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspVM 97+ (2/2016): What a treat it is to taste these two Pichon Lalandes straight from the chateau’s cellar. The 1996 Pichon Lalande is stratospheric from the very first taste. The deep, layered bouquet alone is deeply transfixing. Smoke, mocha, dark spices, lavender, crème de cassis, a host of dark-fleshed fruits and a touch of warm, resonant sweetness from the French oak draw me in. All of those sensations follow through to the palate, where the wine is massive, intense and totally enveloping. Time has softened the tannins to the point the 1996 is ready to drink, but there is enough sheer concentration here to support another 20-30 years of exceptional drinking. I am not sure I possess the vocabulary to describe just how captivating the 1996 is, but I do know this: If I had an opportunity to pick up a few well-stored bottles I would take it in a nanosecond. Readers holding the 1996 should be thrilled. The 1996 Pichon Lalande is a magnificent wine with plenty of upside. In word: fabulous. Antonio Galloni. NM 96 (9/2011): Tasted at the Chapon Fin restaurant in Bordeaux. This remains my benchmark Pichon Lalande in recent years. It is that essence of untrammelled Cabernet Sauvignon that governs the bouquet: blackberry, cigar box, cedar and a touch of mint – pure Pauillac heaven. The palate is a little foursquare on the entry, but there is also an unerring symmetry that is utterly captivating. What is more, one feels that it has barely started to flex its “muscles”. WA 96 (4/1999): The 1996 Pichon-Lalande is just as awesome from bottle as it was from multiple cask tastings. For Pichon-Lalande, the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon is atypically high. This wine normally contains 35-50% Merlot in the blend, but the 1996 is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Only 50% of the estate's production made it into the grand vin. The color is a saturated ruby/purple. The nose suggests sweet, nearly overripe Cabernet Sauvignon, with its blueberry/blackberry/cassis scents intermixed with high quality, subtle, toasty new oak. Deep and full-bodied, with fabulous concentration and a sweet, opulent texture, this wine was singing in full harmony when I tasted it in January. Given the wine's abnormally high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, I would suspect it will close down. It possesses plenty of tannin, but the wine's overwhelming fruit richness dominates its personality. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025. WS 92 (12/2014): Presents a taut, brisk feeling, with savory, cedar, singed vanilla and pencil shaving notes weaving around a core of bramble, cassis and blackberry fruit. The cedary spine holds the finish, offering an old-school feel. Should last a while, though it won't flesh out any more. For fans of the more austere style.—Non-blind Pichon Lalande vertical (July 2014). Drink now through 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspWA 87 (4/2002): The 1999 Pichon Lalande performed inconsistently. This wine is a blend of 47% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. It offers a complex, evolved bouquet of cedar, underbrush, red currants, and spice box. The dark ruby color is not as saturated as many 1999s, and the wine possesses the weight and style of the 1979 and 1981 (both of which are superior to 1999). There is medium body, excellent ripeness, and an angular finish, without the persistence typically found at this chateau. Anticipated maturity: now-2012.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspWA 97 (4/2003): The 2000 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is spectacular, and certainly a noteworthy rival to the 1996, 1995, and even the extraordinary 1982. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, this effort has a dense saturated purple color, a singular/distinctive yet possibly controversial aromatic smorgasbord existing of creme de cassis, vanilla, and violets, but also tapenade and tree bark. No doubt the Petit Verdot has imparted a certain almost olive-like component to the wine's aromatic profile. In the mouth, it is a wine of extraordinary density, opulence, great presence, and richness. As the 2000 sits in the glass, notes of lavender and melted licorice emerge along with the distinctive tapenade aromas interwoven with creme de cassis, espresso roast, and cedar. The wine is full-bodied, with extraordinary purity and a tremendous texture. I suspect this wine will be relatively approachable young but evolve effortlessly. This is a dramatic, almost flamboyant style that is not classic Pauillac in one sense, but a classic wine. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspWA 95 (2/2009): The 2006 Pichon Lalande, which blows away the 2005, represents a return to the velvety-textured, rich, sexy style most readers would associate with Pichon Lalande. This blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot no Petit Verdot was included in the final blend exhibits a dense purple color as well as abundant aromas of chocolate, coffee, cedar, black currants, and a subtle touch of smoke, a rich, savory, full-bodied mouthfeel, plump, fleshy fruit, and a superb finish. This is a 21st century version of the brilliant 1996. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030. VM 93 (6/2009): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, dark chocolate, cedar, licorice and mint. Rich, lush and sweet, with noteworthy depth to the flavors of dark fruits, smoke and chocolate. Wonderfully broad and tactile in the middle palate. Finishes with sweet, dusty tannins and sneaky persistence. This fine-grained, stylish and downright sexy wine is clearly more successful than the 2005. WS 92 (3/2009): Displays currant and blackberry, with hints of licorice. Full-bodied, with round, chewy tannins and lots of fruit under the structure. A rich wine for the vintage, needing plenty of bottle age. Best after 2014. 16,665 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspNM 94 (1/2012): Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. The Pichon Lalande 2008 is backward on the nose: tightly coiled blackberry, raspberry, cedar and mint: classic Pauillac fruit profile. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very well knit, a little softer and more forward but very composed with a pure, velvety finish. This is a beautiful, filigree Pauillac that should repay extended cellaring. JS 93 (6/2016): A tight and tangy red with currant, spice and dried mushroom character. Full body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. This needs time to open. Decant two hours or wait until 2020. WA 92 (5/2011): The 2008 is a beauty in the style of the 1988. Although not performing as well as I predicted last year, it is unquestionably an outstanding effort as well as one of the better values from Pichon Lalande in many years. Its dense plum/purple hue is accompanied by sweet aromas of red and black currants, charcoal, herbs, underbrush and a hint of truffles. This medium-bodied, rich, concentrated blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc is an elegant, supple Pichon Lalande that can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years. VM 92 (7/2011): Deep red. Lively aromas of cherry, redcurrant, flowers, chocolate and tobacco. Intensely flavored, suave and sweet, with ripe acidity framing the flavors of bitter cherry, licorice and loam. Finishes with broad, building tannins and lingering smoky oak. This vibrant Pichon Lalande is built to age. Stephen Tanzer.WS 91 (4/2011): Builds slowly, as the mesquite and roasted plum aromas slowly give way to more layers of tobacco, hot stone, cassis, chestnut and graphite. The long finish really stretches out with mineral and tobacco notes. Best from 2013 through 2020. 15,571 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspJS 96 (2/2012): What a great nose of blackberries, currants and spices. Hints of fresh herbs. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and lovely fruit. Such finesse and beauty. Wonderful to taste. Reminds me of the legendary 1982. Try in 2018.WA 95 (2/2012): A beautiful effort, the 2009 Pichon Lalande, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, possesses copious mocha, lead pencil, unsmoked, high class tobacco, black currant, forest floor and herbaceous characteristics. It is a deep purple-hued, charming, surprisingly open-knit Pauillac with wonderful freshness, a plump, fleshy mouthfeel, opulence and unctuosity, medium to full body and a well-delineated, luscious style. More elegant than its nearby neighbor, Pichon Longueville Baron, and not as massive in concentration and extract, it is one of the great Pichon Lalandes of the last twenty years. IWC 94 (7/2012): Dark red. Sexy aromas of redcurrant, smoke, mocha, espresso and tobacco, with darker berry notes emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Rich, lush and seamless but not yet filled in, with its berry flavors complicated by earth and herb elements. Not the last word in concentration, but this sexy Pauillac is sweet, shapely and remarkably accessible today. Finishes long, suave and palate-coating, with perfumed red berry flavor and an obvious chocolatey quality from the merlot component. WS 94 (3/2012): Offers a dark roasted core of plum sauce, warm fig paste, melted licorice and singed cedar, while a mouthwatering iron edge and a lovely smoldering tobacco note add lift and length through the finish. A touch restrained now, but should blossom with cellaring. Best from 2017 through 2033. 15,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspJS 93 (2/2014): A 2011 with blackberry, dark-chocolate and smoked-meat character. Full body, silky tannins and a long, intense finish. All about balance and polish. Very fine. Needs three to four years to soften. Try in 2017. NM 91-93 (4/2012): The headline is that this vintage of Pichon Lalande has the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever: 78% accompanied by 8% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. It is aged in 60% new oak and has an IPT of 75. It has a very strict bouquet, obviously dominated by the Cabernet with notes of blackcurrant, tobacco, graphite, a hint of Christmas cake and that tincture of blood orange evident in the second wine. The palate is medium-bodied with a linear, conservative entry that expands nicely in the mouth. It has fine acidity, good tension, fine weight but it is very tightly wound, more so than usual at this nascent stage. Leaving it aside, there is a hint of Lapsong Souchang and graphite towards the finish that shows a little hardness, but that should soften by the time of bottling. A very Pauillac-like Pichon, perhaps the little brother of the 1996? Tasted twice with consistent notes. WS 91 (3/2014): Warm savory and tobacco leaf notes lead the way, with a cedary frame surrounding the lightly mulled plum and cherry fruit. Cassis bush and tobacco accents are embedded on the finish. Very solid, but lacks extra drive. Best from 2015 through 2027. 20,833 cases made. WA 89 (4/2014): The dark ruby/plum-colored 2011 Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande is an elegant, suave, medium-bodied effort with abundant black cherry and red and black currant fruit. Nearly St.-Julien-like in its texture and personality, this is a well-made, finesse-styled Pauillac to drink over the next 10-15 years. VM 88+ (7/2014): Deep ruby. Musky, smoke-accented aromas and flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, violet and underbrush. Plush and full-bodied, with suave flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate, herbs and scorched earth. Shows good depth and density but doesn't have quite the length for outstanding. Ian d'Agata.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspJS 96-97 (4/2017): Linear and racy with ultra-fine tannins and a gorgeous center palate. Full-bodied, tight and so polished. The classicism and beauty are exceptional. Love the texture. Better than 2015? WS 95-98 (4/2017): Light savory and tobacco notes peek out from the core, but a ball of cassis and blackberry fruit is still coiled up with the strong iron spine. This is to be expected. Very pure, with a long finish. Risk-free cellaring.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspVM 94 (1/2016): The 2012 Pichon-Longueville Baron is wonderfully aromatic and textured in the glass. Scents of smoke, pipe tobacco and cedar meld into a core of intense dark fruit. Pliant and supple, but with considerable underlying structure, the 2012 is likely to drink well for the next two to three decades, perhaps longer, but it is also going to need at least a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften.JS 94 (2/2015): A pretty core of ripe-berry, currant and mineral character to this red with a full body, silky tannins and a fresh finish to add. Creamy texture. Better in 2017.WA 93 (4/2015): As for the big sibling, the 2012 Pichon Baron (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot) probably has the most saturated purple color of the Pauillacs. Its structure is apparent, and the wine offers a wealth of blackcurrant fruit interwoven with licorice, graphite, and background toasty oak. Full-bodied, opulent and moderately tannic, this wine is approachable now because of its low acidity, but promises to age beautifully for 20+ years. This is another great classic from Pichon Baron.NM 92-94 (4/2013): Tasted en primeur at the chateau. A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot picked between 1st and 17th October, the old vines picked form 8th October. It has a strict, quite conservative bouquet that is very focused: sous-bois, graphite and just a touch of mint. The palate is medium-bodied with a grainy entry. There is a good edginess here lent by the citric acidity with a very composed, harmonious finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. Very fine – but much more classic in style than recent vintages – in fact, more like Latour!WS 92 (3/2015): This has a lively spine of briar that pumps through the core of cassis and plum fruit, while anise and sweet tobacco notes fill in on the finish. Shows a twinge of plum skin at the end, but delivers more than enough flesh and drive overall. A solid effort. Best from 2017 through 2027. 14,165 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-Longueville,Baron.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-Longueville,Baron.aspNM 88 (10/2011): Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. I much prefer the red to the white. The nose is intense with blackberry, a touch of damson and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with chunky tannins but good weight on the allspice and tar-tinged finish. Fine early to medium-term drinking.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPicque-Caillou.aspWA 92 (4/1999): I was shocked by how backward the 1996 Pontet-Canet was on the three occasions I tasted it in January. This wine possesses superb potential, but it appears a decade's worth of patience will be necessary. The color is a saturated dark purple. With coaxing, the wine offers aromas of black currant jam intertwined with minerals, sweet oak, and spice. A full-bodied wine, it possesses layered, concentrated, sweet fruit, with an elevated level of ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035.VM 91 (6/1999): Deep ruby-red. Blackcurrant, plum, tobacco and black olive nose is more complex and serious than that of either of the foregoing vintages. Thick, grapey and concentrated; still quite primary. This shows the fat and depth of the '96 vintage in the northern Medoc. Finishes long, with substantial tannins. Impressive. Stephen Tanzer.WS 91 (7/2007): Aromas of black licorice, currant and toasted oak. Full-bodied, with silky, refined tannins and a medium finish. Holding back still.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPontetCanet.aspWA 92 (4/1999): I was shocked by how backward the 1996 Pontet-Canet was on the three occasions I tasted it in January. This wine possesses superb potential, but it appears a decade's worth of patience will be necessary. The color is a saturated dark purple. With coaxing, the wine offers aromas of black currant jam intertwined with minerals, sweet oak, and spice. A full-bodied wine, it possesses layered, concentrated, sweet fruit, with an elevated level of ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035.VM 91 (6/1999): Deep ruby-red. Blackcurrant, plum, tobacco and black olive nose is more complex and serious than that of either of the foregoing vintages. Thick, grapey and concentrated; still quite primary. This shows the fat and depth of the '96 vintage in the northern Medoc. Finishes long, with substantial tannins. Impressive. Stephen Tanzer.WS 91 (7/2007): Aromas of black licorice, currant and toasted oak. Full-bodied, with silky, refined tannins and a medium finish. Holding back still.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPontetCanet.aspJS 98-99 (4/2017): Vivid and full of energy with blackberry, currant and salt. Full body, intense and long. Harmony. Purpose. Classicism. The mineral and currant character is all year. A seamless tannin texture. Great wine. You want to drink it now!http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPontetCanet.aspWA 90 (8/2008): A superb value for Jean-Hubert Delon, the 2005 Potensac has a deep ruby/purple color, a classic bouquet of sweet red and black fruits, as well as gorgeous texture and purity. Medium-bodied and concentrated, this wine behaves like a Medoc cru classe. Moreover, it will age very well for 10-15 years. Very impressive!IWC 90 (6/2008): Medium red. Very ripe, sweet aromas of plum, mocha and bitter chocolate. Unusually sweet and supple for this wine, with lovely depth and volume to its cassis and chocolate flavors. Very St. Estephe in style. Finishes powerful, sweet and long, with the unusually fine tannins arriving late. An outstanding performance for this chateau. WS 88 (3/2008): Balanced and very pretty, with blackberry, licorice and currant aromas and flavors. Full body, firm tannins and a medium finish. Best after 2008.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPotensac.aspJS 94 (2/2012): Blueberries, minerals, flowers and sandalwood on the nose. Full body, with chewy tannins and fresh fruit and citrus aftertaste. Beautiful polish to the wine. Best in 2018.WA 93 (2/2012): The soft, sexy 2009 exhibits a dense plum/purple color along with a big, sweet bouquet of raspberries, black cherries, black currants, smoke and forest floor. Opulent and round with an attractive viscosity as well as outstanding purity, depth and length, it should drink well for two decades. While not one of the longest lived wines of the vintage, it is among the most precocious, flattering and charming at present.WS 91 (3/2012): Offers a core of blackberry and roasted plum in reserve, while slightly taut singed cedar, vanilla bean and espresso notes lead the way for now. Yet this leans on the toast rather than purity, with a cocoa note framing the finish. Should hang well enough in the cellar. Best from 2013 through 2021. 11,250 cases made. IWC 89+ (7/2012): Good fresh red-ruby. Very ripe nose currently dominated by truffle and musky oak, with the fruit in the background. Fat and silky in the mouth, with good depth to its plum and sweet oak flavors. Finishes with building tannins and sneaky length. NM 89 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Prieure-Lichine '09 has a fragrant bouquet of wild cherry, cedar and dried flowers that shows good vigour and delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins. It is masculine, a little dry in the mouth, with a foursquare and slightly dour, tobacco-tinged finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPrieureLichine.aspJS 94 (2/2013): Aromas of blueberries and blackberries with hints of sliced mushroom. Full and round with chewy tannins. Give this four or five years to soften. Tight and structured. Better in 2017.WA 92 (2/2013): Dense purple, with loads of blueberry and blackberry fruit as well as hints of smoke and subtle charred wood, this wine is expansive, round, generous, lush and multi-dimensional. This beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years. A beautiful example of wine from this estate, which is using well-known consultant Stephane Derenoncourt, finished 2010 at 14.5% natural alcohol, and seems to be one of the sexier, more developed and evolved styles of the vintage.WS 91 (3/2013): Takes a dense, slightly chunky approach, with bittersweet cocoa and espresso up front followed by a core of dark currant, plum sauce and anise. Features charcoal-laden grip on the finish, showing ample stuffing and polished fruit. Should settle in once the modern toast treatment gets soaked up. Best from 2014 through 2024.VM 90+ (8/2013): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, spices and licorice. Pure and nicely delineated, with excellent intensity to its flavors of black fruits and candied rose. Nicely sweet in the mouth but also firmly structured and youthful, with the structure to support mid-term aging. Stephen Tanzer.NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Prieure-Lichine has a classy bouquet with blackberry, mulberry and tobacco - quite Saint Julien in style with good definition. The palate is medium-bodied with a light supple entry: tart cherry fruit, bitter lemon and a very structured finish that is needs a couple more years to fully integrate.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPrieureLichine.aspWE 90 (11/2015): This 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon blend has hints of toastiness and spice along with ripe yellow fruits. It is still young, the texture coming together with acidity and spice mixing with the fruitiness. Drink this fragrant wine from the Arbo family’s tiny 3.7-acre vineyard from 2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPuyanche.aspWS 88 (1/2017): Ripe, with rounded mirabelle plum, yellow apple and heather notes underscored by a hint of buttered brioche, this has the zip to pull it off on the finish. Drink now. 660 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPuyanche.aspWA 94 (4/2008): The well-known winemaking consultant, Dr. Alain Raynaud, is the proprietor of this estate. The 2005 Quinault l’Enclos is a pure, elegant, stylish wine from a blend of 70% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and an unusual 6% Malbec. This highly-focused wine exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue in addition to a beautiful bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, camphor, spring flowers, and spice box. With superb concentration, a hint of minerals, and a lovely textured mouthfeel, it should be approachable in 5-6 years, and age easily for two decades or more.VM 93 (6/2008): Medium ruby-red. Sexy aromas of cherry, minerals, iron and smoked meat. Juicy and sappy for the year, with lovely energy to the concentrated flavors of cherry, minerals, smoke, flowers and earth. Very sophisticated, shapely wine with a long, ripely tannic finish throwing off notes of smoke, minerals and iron.WS 92 (6/2008): Beautiful chocolate and blackberry aromas and flavors follow through to a full body, with soft, round tannins and a very long finish. Best after 2011.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChQuinaultlEnclos.aspJS 91 (2/2015): Very subtle and refined with blueberries, chocolate and hints of spices. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Very, very fine. Very, very delicious, too! Better in 2017.VM 90 (1/2016): Deep, pliant and resonant, the 2012 Quintus offers lovely depth and fine overall balance. The flavors are dark and nicely layered. Menthol, leather and spice flesh out as the wine shows off its ample, broad personality. The 2012 should drink well for the next 15-20 years. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see what the Dillon family can achieve here in the coming years and decades.WA 89 (4/2015): The 2012 Quintus (89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc) is made in a firm, structured style with a hint of minerality, dark plum and black currant fruit, touches of cherries and spice, along with some background oak. It is medium-bodied, well-made, and pure. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChQuintus.aspWA 89 (4/2006): Rauzan-Despagne, made by the firm of Despagne (Michel Rolland is the consultant), is a shining success story for this humble appellation. The 2003 offers a sexy concoction of black currants, smoke, charcoal, and meaty notes. This medium-bodied, silky-textured offering is ideal for drinking over the next 4-5 years. WS 84 (3/2006): Meaty and ripe wine with medium body, round tannins and a light finish. Slightly herbal undertone but well done. Drink now. 1,205 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Despagne.aspMB **[**] (9/2000): Just three notes. First, at aa Rauzan Segla (the chateau changed its name from Rausan to Rauzan in 1994) Dinner at Brooks's Club in London in 1995: opaque, good fruit but immature. Five years later, within five months of each other. Crisp 'good with cheese'! (Lunching at CH. Talbot). A complete contrast to the Ch. Pichon-Lalande alongside: deeper, more ruby; lovley, crisp, refreshing bouquet; an elegant, lean Margaux managing to equate soft fruit and fairly obtrusive tanning. Drink 2008-2020.WA 91 (3/2002): A very strong, powerful wine with an opaque ruby/purple color and a tight but promising bouquet of black currants intermixed with iron, smoke, licorice, and dried herbs, this muscular, very masculine, brawny wine seems built for the long haul. Will it ever shed all of its tannin? Anticipated maturity: 2004-2018. WS 90 (12/2009): Raspberry and dark chocolate on the nose. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and mint, berry and raspberry flavors. A little tight right now. Decant an hour or two before serving. Improving with age still.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now. 16,000 cases made.NM 87 (7/2010): I have always expected more from this estate in 1988. At 22-years of age it retains that peppery, undergrowth, rather lean nose with a minty scent developing with time along with vegetal aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with dusty black fruit: austere with graphite and sous-bois dominating the cedar-infused finish. Go for the 1989 or 1990 over this. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Segla.aspWA 90 (2/1998): This wine was consistently outstanding from cask, and I suspect it may eventually merit an even higher score, but it was totally closed when I saw it in November. Unfortunately, it was one of the few wines that I was only able to taste once after bottling. Nevertheless, it is a classic vin de garde, with a saturated ruby/purple color, and a tight but promising nose of sweet plum and cassis fruit intertwined with underbrush, vanillin, and licorice scents. The wine is ripe, medium to full-bodied, and rich, as well as unyielding, ferociously tannic, pure, and layered. The finish is extremely dry (sec, as the French would say), with a brooding angularity and toughness. In spite of this, my instincts suggest the requisite depth is present to balance out the structure. This effort will also require a decade of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Segla.aspWA 92 (7/2012): Deep garnet-brick in color, the 1996 Chateau Rauzan-Segla is scented of dried flowers and creme de cassis with hints of game, black olives and pencil lead. Medium bodied and still quite tight in the mouth, it has a great concentration of layered savory and warm cassis flavors with lively acid and a medium level of grainy tannins, finishing long.NM 90 (9/2007): A moderate garnet hue. The Merlot element is surprisingly intense on the nose at first, with cherry, cassis, a touch of blueberry overlaid with noticeable new oak which I think is better integrated on the 1995. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of sour cherry, tobacco wild strawberry and a chewy tannic finish. It just comes across as a little forced, yet it is well balanced and should improve with more ageing. Drink 2010-2025.VM 91 (6/1999): Full red-ruby. Explosive aromas of boysenberry juice, espresso and smoky oak. Thick and lush, with terrific volume in the mouth; harmonious acidity gives the flavors clarity and brightness. Very long, sweet finish. WS 90 (12/2007): Intense aromas of blackberry, chocolate and currant follow through to a full-bodied palate, with soft tannins and a long decadent aftertaste. Ready to enjoy.--'95/96 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now. 8,750 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Segla.aspNM 93 (3/2011): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. This has a very tight bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar and cigar box all nicely defined but unfurling slowly in the glass. I like the purity and clarity to this wine. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a slight meatiness on the entry, building nicely across towards the back palate with good backbone and a subtle savoury note towards the finish. Superb. WS 91 (3/2004): Beautiful aromas of spices, berries and plums follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with very fine tannins and a pretty, delicious finish. All in finesse. Best after 2008. 9,165 cases made. VM 89 (6/2004): Medium-deep red. Sexy aromas of raspberry, boysenberry, cedar and spicy oak. Intensely flavored, supple and suave; not especially fleshy or sweet but fresh and surprisingly open today. Offers excellent palate coverage and length. Has plenty of underlying structure but has not yet closed down after the bottling.StephenTanzer.WA 89 (6/2004): Notes of new saddle leather, dried Provencal herbs, and a hint of lavender jump from the glass of this deep ruby/purple-tinged Margaux. The complex aromatics are followed by a sweet attack, but some narrowing on the mid-palate and finish is apparent. Pure and elegant, it is ideal for near term drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Segla.aspJS 98 (2/2013): Beautiful clarity of fruit with raspberries and currants on the nose. Roses and other flowers too. It's almost hard to describe, but there's a real purity. Full body, with fabulous balance and depth. It has everything in the right place. Best ever? Try it in 2018.WA 95+ (2/2013): To reiterate, the 2010 Rauzan Segla is like a super-duper version of the 1986. Displaying fabulous density, an inky purple color and a superb nose of forest floor with a hint of menthol as well as loads of creme de cassis, mocha and touches of chocolate and subtle oak, this full-bodied, deep, concentrated wine represents only 45% of the estate’s production. It is certainly not for those who can’t wait a few years for it to round into shape, as I suspect it needs at least 5-8 years of bottle-age, but it should last for half a century or more. WS 94 (3/2013): Flashy style of Margaux, with alluring warm cocoa and black tea aromatics followed by cashmere-textured plum sauce, steeped fig and blackberry confiture notes. The well-integrated structure makes this seem almost accessible now, but the ample length and a smoldering tobacco note make a case for cellaring. Best from 2014 through 2030.VM 93+ (8/2013): Bright ruby-red. Boysenberry, bitter chocolate, menthol and sweet oak on the nose. Spicy, fat and layered, with compelling sweetness to the concentrated flavors of boysenberry, cherry and dark chocolate. Finishes spicy, broad and very long, with serious but suave tannins and echoing dark fruits. This very dense and full-bodied wine refuses to let up. I'd lay it down for at least seven or eight years and then drink it over the next two or three decades. Looks to be a great vintage for this estate. NM 93 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. I have encountered better bottles of Rauzan-Segla 2010 that this one. It has a classy, sophisticated bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar and graphite - almost Pauillac in style. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet ripe tannins. This is fleshy in the mouth, quite succulent with spicy red fruit and a lascivious and very approachable finish. Delicious.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Segla.aspJS 98 (2/2013): Beautiful clarity of fruit with raspberries and currants on the nose. Roses and other flowers too. It's almost hard to describe, but there's a real purity. Full body, with fabulous balance and depth. It has everything in the right place. Best ever? Try it in 2018.WA 95+ (2/2013): To reiterate, the 2010 Rauzan Segla is like a super-duper version of the 1986. Displaying fabulous density, an inky purple color and a superb nose of forest floor with a hint of menthol as well as loads of creme de cassis, mocha and touches of chocolate and subtle oak, this full-bodied, deep, concentrated wine represents only 45% of the estate’s production. It is certainly not for those who can’t wait a few years for it to round into shape, as I suspect it needs at least 5-8 years of bottle-age, but it should last for half a century or more. WS 94 (3/2013): Flashy style of Margaux, with alluring warm cocoa and black tea aromatics followed by cashmere-textured plum sauce, steeped fig and blackberry confiture notes. The well-integrated structure makes this seem almost accessible now, but the ample length and a smoldering tobacco note make a case for cellaring. Best from 2014 through 2030.VM 93+ (8/2013): Bright ruby-red. Boysenberry, bitter chocolate, menthol and sweet oak on the nose. Spicy, fat and layered, with compelling sweetness to the concentrated flavors of boysenberry, cherry and dark chocolate. Finishes spicy, broad and very long, with serious but suave tannins and echoing dark fruits. This very dense and full-bodied wine refuses to let up. I'd lay it down for at least seven or eight years and then drink it over the next two or three decades. Looks to be a great vintage for this estate. NM 93 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. I have encountered better bottles of Rauzan-Segla 2010 that this one. It has a classy, sophisticated bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar and graphite - almost Pauillac in style. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet ripe tannins. This is fleshy in the mouth, quite succulent with spicy red fruit and a lascivious and very approachable finish. Delicious.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Segla.aspWA 93 (4/2014): The grand vin, the 2011 Rauzan Segla, is a beauty. Aromas of spring flowers, graphite, creme de cassis and kirsch jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2011. Lots of nobility, complexity and richness characterize a wine that could be mistaken for a first-growth in 2011. This medium to full-bodied, concentrated, gorgeously pure, well-balanced beauty should be forgotten for 2-4 years and drunk over the following 15-20. Kudos to administrator John Kolasa and his team.JS 93 (2/2014): A wine with a beautiful aromas and flavors of dark fruits, minerals and dried flowers. Full body, integrated tannins and a fresh finish. A little chewy but will soften with age. Better in 2017.WS 92 (3/2014): Lush and frankly ripe, with alluring plum sauce, fig paste and currant confiture flavors, layered with dark cocoa and black tea notes. The long, velvety finish has some serious latent grip. An impressive effort for the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2028. 6,665 cases made.NM 91-93 (4/2012): A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot with 13% vin de presse, the Rauzan Segla was cropped between 8th and 28th September at just 28hl/ha caused by hail damage in early June. The nose is nicely defined with crisp blackberry with fine minerality, with hints of orange blossom emerging with aeration. The palate is very well balanced with silky smooth tannins, very cohesive with a pleasing sense of tension. This shows very satisfying purity and femininity with excellent persistency towards the finish. Excellent. IWC 88 (7/2014): Saturated medium red. Bright aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, plum, herbs and minerals offer good intensity and lift. The moderately long finish is distinctly aromatic and spicy, showing lovely texture and smooth tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Segla.aspWA 94+ (4/2015): The 2012 Rauzan-Ségla (54.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 1.5% Petit Verdot) is a classic Rauzan-Ségla, still relatively backward and tannic, but concentrated and extremely promising. Dense blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit along with some licorice, vanilla, foresty notes and spice are all present in this full-bodied yet structured and big, beefy style of Rauzan-Ségla . It may turn out to be somewhat atypical for this château in its size and masculine structure, but this is impressive wine, and one of the great successes of the vintage. Give it 5-7 years of bottle age and drink it over the following three decades.JS 93 (2/2015): A full and silky wine with a slightly hollow center-palate now but it’s very pretty and chewy. Needs two or three years to soften. Very persistent and structured.NM 92-94 (4/2013): The Grand Vin was cropped between 27th September with respect to the young merlot vines and finished on 20th October with the Cabernet Sauvignon, so it was raining the last two days. The blend is 54.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 1.5% Petit Verdot that is being raised in 75% new oak. It has a very perfumed, very harmonious bouquet that is fresh and vibrant. The palate is medium-bodied with good structure. It is quite compact at the beginning with plenty of mineral-rich, Cabernet driven black fruit that lend it a Pauillac-like finish. The finish has an air of confidence about it, a second sample showing a little more compactness. This will be one of the top Margaux wines.WS 91 (3/2015): A toasty, fleshy style, with a cocoa note pulling and pushing the core of blackberry, black currant and plum fruit. Picks up more range through the finish, with black tea, alder and loam accents, boding well for cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2024. 8,750 cases made. IWC 87-90 (5/2013): Moderately saturated medium red. Blackcurrant, herbs and a hint of spicy chocolatey oak on the nose. Supple and vinous on the palate, with moderate flesh and depth to the flavors of blackcurrant, dried herbs and tobacco complemented by a wet earth nuance. Shows a slightly green tang on the moderately long finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRauzan-Segla.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRaymond-Lafon.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRaymond-Lafon.aspJS 93 (2/2013): Beautiful nose with red apple, fresh strawberries and vanilla. Some orange, mandarin and honey. This Sauternes is intensely sweet on the palate with good acidity and a long spicy finish. Tangy. Drink or hold.WS 94 (3/2013): Cuts a bold profile, with a strikingly bright pineapple note coursing throughout, while tangerine chiffon, toasted coconut, green plum and heather honey notes quickly fill in behind. Long and racy through the finish, with ample power. Best from 2015 through 2030. WA 93 (4/2014): The Rayne-Vigneau 2010 appears to come on leaps and bounds since its showing in barrel, displaying the chutzpah that I hoped would develop. It has an endearing bouquet with delicate scents of lemon curd, orange peel and a touch of coconut, exhibiting good levels of botrytis. The palate is very smooth on the entry with good acidity, honeyed and lightly spiced fruit and an elegant finish. This is a straight, down-the-line, delicious Sauternes that should elicit pleasure over the next two or three decades. Drink now-2035.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdeRayne-Vigneau.aspWS 90 (12/2003): Rather decadent, with berry, plum and tobacco character and a hint of meat. Medium-bodied, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Solid second wine. Second wine of Château Pichon-Longueville-Lalande. Best after 2007.WA 89 (4/2003): An excellent second wine (a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc), with medium to full body, opulent, delicious fruit, and copious quantities of black fruits intermixed with spice box, the 2000 Comtesse de Lalande should drink well for 10-15 years. It is one of the finest second wines this estate has produced.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ReservedelaComtesse.aspWA 91 (2/2012): Made from a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, the second wine, the 2009 Reserve de la Comtesse, exhibits notes of forest floor, white chocolate, licorice, black currants and vanillin-infused black cherries. It possesses a sweet, round, generous style given its high glycerin. Both the Reserve de la Comtesse and Pichon Lalande have about 13% alcohol, slightly lower than most Pauillacs achieved in 2009. Drink it over the next 10 years.WS 91 (3/2012): Bright and sappy, with kirsch and damson plum notes streaking along, followed by tangy iron and floral notes alongside. There's good zip and cut along the finish, with a lingering mineral edge. Best from 2013 through 2023. 21,665 cases made.VM 89 (7/2012): Bright, medium ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat, licorice and herbs. Ripe and serious for a second wine, offering nicely concentrated, lively flavors of currant, dark raspberry, spices, herbs and licorice. Finishes with plenty of dusty tannins and very good grip and verve. Stephen Tanzer.NM 89 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Reserve de la Comtesse '09 is very rich and quite heady on the nose: mulberry and dark plum. The palate is medium-bodied with slushy tannins. It is smudged but generous with a rounded plumy finish. This is more approachable and easy-drinking than I expected.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ReservedelaComtesse.aspWS 95 (12/2006): Big, rich and juicy. Voluptuous, with aromas of caramel, apple and light tropical fruit. Full-bodied, round and very sweet, with loads of ripe fruit and a long butterscotch and piecrust aftertaste. Viscous texture. Hard not to drink it now. A wonderful sticky. Best after 2010. 6,250 cases made. WA 93-96 (4/2004): The 2003s appear to be somewhat in the style of the 1990s, with high levels of residual sugar (higher than 2001 for the most part) as well as botrytis, low acidity, and fat, full-bodied personalities. This region’s harvest began extremely early (early September), and was completely finished within three weeks. It does not appear that the nobleness and racy richness of the 2001 vintage will be found in the 2003s, but readers who like the big, flamboyant, over the top style of the 1990s will enjoy the 2003s even more than I did. VM 92-95 (8/2005): Medium yellow-gold. Reticent but pure aromas of fruit salad, spices and vanilla, lifted by floral and mineral nuances. Wonderfully honeyed, fat fruit flavors are complemented by cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The sexy oak treatment gives lift to the wine. A bit youthfully aggressive but very long on the back end, showing vanillin oak and a bit of warmth. But this one offers superb potential.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRieussec.aspWA 97 (4/2016): The 2005 Rieussec is a blend of 90% Semillon, 8% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle picked between 23 September and 27 October. It has a fabulous bouquet that is mineral-rich and tensile. The palate repeats its performance from last year: focused, tense, laden with botrytis-rich fruit with a crystalline and sorbet-fresh finish that seals the deal. One of the best releases from the estate in recent years. NM 96 (6/2015): Tasted blind against the Rieussec 2001 as a comparison, the Château Rieussec 2005 has a more airy bouquet at first and here I find more mineralité on the nose, more precision and focus that the Rieussec 2001. The palate is clean and fresh with vibrant acidity, real tension here with marmalade, lemon curd, apricot and cold stone. Wonderful acidity is interwoven throughout this Sauternes that demonstrates real race and sophistication. It is not as rich or as hedonistic as the Rieussec 2001, but I think the slightly better wine. More breeding and energy. Do not overlook this gem. WS 96 (6/2008): Shows enticing aromas of toffee, cream, dried apricot and caramel. Full-bodied, very sweet and thick, with honey and caramel flavors. Long and rich, oozing with sweet, ripe fruit, this is like liquid candy. Best after 2016. VM 93 (8/2008): Full yellow-gold. Expressive aromas of pineapple, coconut, sweet vanillin oak and spices. Then wonderfully thick, fat and sweet, with the exotic coconut character carrying through in the mouth. Finishes saline and powerful, with palate-staining flavors of pineapple, coconut and spicy oak. Conveys a strong impression of solidity. Stephen Tanzer. JS 93 (4/2012): What a balance in this wine, notes of apple pie, honey, and spiced lemons. Full-bodied and sweet, with a bright acidity and dried citrus with honey and orange marmalade. 140 grams of residual sugar, but very fresh still. Beautiful now, but wait to pull the cork in 2012.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRieussec.aspWA 93 (12/2011): Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau Rieussec 2008 should become an excellent Sauternes for the vintage. It has a floral bouquet with peach, tinned apricot and a touch of marmalade, all with fine delineation, and touches of lemon curd developing with aeration. The palate is mellifluous on the entry, with great depth and a luscious, vanillary note with hints of orange peel, marmalade and quince towards the long finish. Excellent.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRieussec.aspWA 95-97 (4/2010): The minerality and stoniness really comes through on the nose of this Rieussec, more than the 2007. The palate is very well balanced with superb acidity, real tension, steely with great precision with notes of apricot, white peach and honey on the beautifully defined finish. Probably the best Rieussec since the astounding 2001. VM 93-95 (5/2010): (a blend of 84.5% semillon, 11.5% sauvignon blanc and 4% muscadelle; 160 g/l residual sugar; 13.8% alcohol) Bright yellow-gold. An initial whiff of alcohol is quickly followed by subtle aromas of flowers, fresh citrus, ginger and vanilla. Racy and delineated, with excellent intensity to the pristine flavors of fresh pineapple, tangerine, lemon and spices. Comes across as quite sleek and precise thanks to laser-like acidity, which frames and lifts the wine's superb tight core of fruit. Not at all an unctuous style, this compellingly vibrant wine finishes very long and very smooth, with a hint of vanillin oak. This outstanding vintage of Rieussec should be forgotten in the cellar for at least 6 or 8 years and then enjoyed for at least another 30 years after that. The grapes were harvested from September 17 through October 15 in four tries. WS 92-95 (7/2010): Lemon peel and pear tart on the nose. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with good acidity, lemon meringue flavors and a spicy finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRieussec.aspJS 92 (2/2013): This is so delicious and fruity with loads of intense dried pineapple and apples. Full body, lightly sweet. It shows bright acidity and a wonderful finish. Hints of cream and vanilla. Drink or hold.WS 89 (12/2013): A ripe, flashy style, with a big core of pineapple chiffon, creamed peach, apricot and tangerine notes matched to a creamy mouthfeel. Shows a blip of heat on the finish, but should settle in shortly. An approachable version. Drink now through 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CarmesdeRieussec.aspWA 94 (6/2010): Performing even better than I remember, former proprietor Eric Prissette’s 2000 may be the finest wine he ever made at this modestly sized St.-Emilion estate. A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color with little evolution, abundant notes of melted licorice, black currants, blackberries, coffee, and chocolate, and a hint of toasty oak in the background. It is a full-bodied, layered, rich wine to enjoy over the next decade.VM 92 (5/2003): Medium ruby-red. Sexy, smoky aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, musky espresso, chocolate and smoke. Lush, fat and expressive, with very sweet flavors of black raspberry, kirsch, game and chocolate; already rather open-knit. With its compelling volume, glyceral texture and uncanny mouth coverage, this could easily be mistaken for a top California wine. Finishes with a very fine dusting of tannins and lingering sweetness. Will offer great early appeal. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRolValentin.aspVM 92 (1/2016): The 2012 Rol Valentin is powerful, rich and inviting, with its characteristic richness and seamless texture on full display. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and tobacco shape the voluptuous, creamy finish. The 2012 is quite expressive today, but it will be even better in another year or two, once the elements have had a bit more time to fuse together. The creamy, open-knit finish only adds to the wine's considerable appeal. This striking, modern Saint Emilion from Rol Valentin and consulting winemaker Julien Lavenu is one of the sleepers of the vintage. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni.JS 92 (2/2015): Lots of meaty, blueberry and wet earth character here. Full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Chewy tannins but this is soft and satisfying. Better in 2017.WA 91 (4/2015): Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with a saturated ruby/purple color and dense black cherry and plum-like fruit pushing ripeness to the limit, on the palate the wine is medium to full-bodied, pure, ripe and nicely textured, with soft, round tannins. This is a very successful effort from Rol Valentin that can be approached early on or drunk over the following 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRolValentin.aspWA 89 (6/2007): This sleeper of the vintage offers a dark ruby/purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of loamy soil, black cherry jam, truffles, and resiny characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy, soft, and irresistible, it can be consumed now and over the next decade.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChRouget.aspWA 90 (3/2017): The 2014 Saintayme has a delightful, fresh and lively bouquet with blackberry and that subtle tincture of cold stone. If anything, this has gained vigor since I tasted it from barrel. The palate is fresh on the entry with grainy tannin, slightly savory in style with commendable structure on the finish. Classic Saint Emilion from Denis Durantou that will drink well for longer than most people will allow!http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Saintayme.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSanctus.aspWA 96+ (2/2013): This is a quintessential blockbuster, no-compromise, massive, pedal-to-the-metal, balls-to-the-walls sort of wine with incredibly dense creme de cassis, kirsch, licorice, truffle and some background oak. Always one of the most concentrated and backward wines of the vintage, the 2010 is a prime example. I was interested to learn that the final blend and selection only produced about 625 cases of grand vin. Forget it for 10-15 years and drink it over the following century. (Oh, that's right - most of us won't be alive to challenge that estimate!) WS 90 (2/10/2013): Dark and velvety, with mocha-coated blackberry and boysenberry fruit and a long, plush finish that lets roasted vanilla bean and cocoa notes linger. Frankly toasty, but with the depth of fruit to match. Drink now through 2020. 633 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosSarpe.aspWA 91 (4/2015): This is a beautifully complex wine with a dense almost blackish/purple color, offering up notes of charcoal fires, graphite, sweet black fruits, followed by a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel with silky tannins and a lush, very concentrated and layered texture. This is impressive wine and a big-time sleeper of the vintage. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.VM 91 (1/2016): The 2012 Seguin is racy, perfumed and super-expressive, with layers of exuberant fruit to match its bold personality. Sweet red cherry, raspberry jam, spices and French oak meld together, all with silky tannins that give the wine much of its suave feel. All the elements fall into place in an effortless, gracious wine that will drink well upon release and for several years thereafter. The 2012 tastes like the fruit was picked on the later side, yet all the elements are nicely balanced throughout.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSeguin.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSenejac.aspWA 100 (2/2012): The finest wine ever made by proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte exhibits an opaque blue/purple color in addition to a glorious nose of acacia flowers, licorice, charcoal, blueberries, black raspberries, lead pencil shavings and incense. This massive, extraordinarily rich, unctuously textured wine may be the most concentrated effort produced to date, although the 2000, 2005 and 2010 are nearly as prodigious. A gorgeous expression of Pessac-Leognan with sweet tannin, emerging charm and delicacy, and considerable power, depth, richness and authority, it should age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. Bravo! JS 96 (2/2012): Aromas of flowers, dried citrus fruit and blueberries follow through to a full body, with firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Gorgeous fruit and structure. Polished and powerful. Best red ever from Smith. Best in 2018. WS 96 (3/2012): This is really loaded, with crushed plum, blueberry, cassis, fig and blackberry paste flavors all melded together, along with notes of tar, pastis and violet. Very long and dark, but polished and pure, with terrific fruit offset by a great tug of earth on the finish. Should cruise easily in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2035. 10,000 cases made. VM 94+ (7/2012): Good bright red-ruby. Enticing aromas of blueberry, flowers, graphite and charred, nutty oak, plus a sexy suggestion of floral white fruit. Like liquid silk on entry, then concentrated and lush in the middle, with red plum, tobacco and mineral flavors given definition by lovely harmonious acidity. Utterly seamless wine with suave tannins. Voluminous and intense but not a powerhouse. Finishing flavors mount slowly and stain the palate without leaving any impression of weight. Conveys a beautiful impression of site and vintage. The most complete young Smith Haut Laffite I've yet tasted at this early stage; perhaps my score will ultimately prove to be conservative.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSmithHautLafitte.aspVM 95 (1/2016): A dark, sensual wine, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte boasts marvelous depth and textural richness. Dark red stone fruits, leather, smoke, tobacco, gravel and herbs are laced together in an expansive wine endowed with terrific purity. The tannins are going to need at least a few years to soften, but there is clearly quite a bit to look forward to. JS 95 (2/2015): Aromas of cream, cooked apples and pears follow through to a full body with toasted-oak, cream and vanilla character buttressed by plenty of fruit. So much peach and apricot character. This a bright and flamboyant wine for the vintage. One of the best dry whites. Drink or hold. WS 94 (3/2015): Layered fig, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit notes are buttressed by ample, yet polished and integrated, ganache-coated tannins, while accents of black tea, ganache and tar course underneath. A really gorgeous display of fruit, showing terroir and cut on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2027. 10,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSmithHautLafitte.aspNM 92 (7/2010): Tasted at The Ledbury, the Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc continues to be a lovely Pessac Blanc, the nose perfumed with white peach, brioche and almond, the grapefruit scent less pronounced than before. There is still a lot of oak to be subsumed on the palate, hints of clear honey and pineapple, very creamy and seductive towards the finish but it would still benefit from another year in bottle. Drink 2011-2018. WS 92 (7/2008): Aromas of honey, pineapple, cream and piecrust follow through to a full body, with lots of caramel and tropical fruit character. Long and layered. Rich and delicious. Drink now. 2,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSmithHautLafitte.aspJS 97 (11/2013): Wonderfully complex nose in this white with ripe lemon, green papaya, lime peel and lots of ripe yellow peach. Full and focused, it offers a beautiful ripe acidity and silky texture on the palate. Long and precise finish with lots of flowers and mineral. What a wonderful white wine! Drink or hold.WA 95 (2/2013): A stunning wine with hints of pineapple, caramelized citrus, mandarin oranges, smoky figs and hazelnuts, this is a full-bodied, rich, superb white Graves from the Cathiard family. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035.NM 95 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Smith Haut-Lafitte Blanc has a comparatively subtle bouquet with peach skin and nectarine scents, nicely defined but perhaps needing a little more vigour. The palate is a little simple compared to its peers, more backward and reticent, with green apple and shaved ginger towards the somewhat conservative finish. This is ageing beautifully in bottle - one of the finest Bordeaux whites of the vintage. Tasted January 2014.VM 94+ (7/2013): Full ruby-red. Very ripe yet precise nose offers blueberry, black raspberry, violet, spices and sexy dried herbs; still a bit youthfully medicinal but already showing a lot of personality. Rich, pliant and hugely deep, with near-chocolatey ripeness to the highly concentrated dark berry, tobacco and spice flavors. This wonderfully broad, seamless, layered wine dusts the palate with ripe tannins and leaves the mouth perfumed. Built for a long life in bottle but balanced from day one: it's more bound-up today than the silkier and more voluptuous 2009 but I would not be surprised if this one eventually surpassed its younger sibling. Stephen Tanzer.WS 93 (3/2013): This crackles with thyme and savory notes, offsetting the powerful core of lemon curd, white peach and fennel. The long, pure finish has a stony thread and extra waves of fruit and herb. Drink now through 2019.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSmithHautLafitte.aspJS 96 (11/2013): This is fabulous. It's a white that is so vertical with wonderful depth of fruit and structure. It goes on for minutes. Dense and complex. It's so structured and amazing. Peaches and mineral with a salty and savory character. It is captivating to taste now. WA 95 (4/2015): The grand vin, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte, offers up lovely honeysuckle, orange marmalade, white peach, fig, and caramelized citrus notes. Medium to full-bodied, with great concentration and length, and a stunningly long finish, it should last for 20-25 years. WS 94 (3/2015): Packed, with dense straw, tarragon, white peach, chamomile and tangerine notes, this is still a touch tight but should unfurl fully soon enough. Shows lovely cut despite the weight, ending with a long echo of yellow chartreuse and salted butter. Drink now through 2020. 2,500 cases made. VM 93 (4/2014): The 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a supple, immediate wine. Pear, quince, white flowers, slate and mint all meld together in an effortless, gracious wine to enjoy now and over the next few years. Today the 2012 comes across as a bit one dimensional and not as complex nor complete as the very best years, and yet it is absolutely gorgeous, a testament to just how privileged this site is. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSmithHautLafitte.aspJS 95-96 (3/2015): This is a phenomenal young white with wonderful depth and finesse. Amazing aromas and flavors of lavender, lemon peels, sliced apples, lilacs and minerals. Full body, intense fruit and a long, long finish. Superb depth and intensity.WS 94-97 (7/2015): This crackles with energy, while a mix of white peach, yellow apple, Chartreuse, chamomile and green plum notes all mix together. The finish is still coiled up, but there's range and length here to spare. VM 93-96 (4/2015): A real head-turner, the 2014 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is all about texture, silkiness and polish. All the elements come together in a gracious, supple wine that captures the personality of the year in its interplay of seamless, richly-layered fruit and explosive energy. Hints of pear, white stone fruits, jasmine and mint meld into a finish of incomparable finesse. Antonio Galloni.WA 90-92+ (4/2015): The Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2014 is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% each of Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris matured in 50% new oak. Curiously, it seems less expressive than the Le Petit Haut Lafitte and Les Haut de Smith at the moment. This is very taciturn in comparison but leaving it aside for 10-15 minutes it finally reveals chalk and oyster shell scents. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity and sharp citric fruit, but it feels quite linear on the finish, does not really deliver the knock-out punch that other vintages deliver. Hopefully it will muster something more to say throughout the remainder of its barrel maturation.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSmithHautLafitte.aspWA 90 (4/1999): A classic Sociando-Mallet, this wine boasts a saturated purple color, as well as an intense nose of cassis liqueur, chocolate, and minerals. Dense and medium-bodied, with outstanding purity, and high tannin, this beautifully made wine is better than many classified growths. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. VM 90 (5/1999): Dark purple-ruby. Roasted nose combines blackberry, espresso and licorice. Large-scaled, mouthfilling and impressively deep; boasts terrific intensity and sweetness. Very long, ripely tannic finish. The estate has high hopes for its '98, but it hard to believe it will surpass this wine. WS 90 (1/1999): Dark-colored, with vanilla, spice and smoky fruit flavor. Medium-bodied, with firm tannins and a silky texture. A stylish wine, showing spicy character. Sociando did the business this year. Best after 2001. 22,400 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSociandoMallet.aspWA 93+ (6/2015): It’s hard not to admire the brilliant Jean Gautreau, who has run this great terroir and estate (just to the north of St-Estèphe’s Château Montrose) with meticulous perfection for decades. The 2005 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Offering beautifully sweet crème de cassis and blueberries, this is concentrated essence of blue and black fruits, with some underlying minerality, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning texture, length and purity. This is superb Sociando Mallet, with surprisingly sweet tannin, which is even more remarkable in this vintage of high and occasionally hard tannins. Give it another 4-5 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 30 years. NM 93 (1/2009): Tasted single blind at Southwold. This has a very fresh, vibrant nose with good definition: blackberry, tar, scorched earth and a touch of leather. Has a certain lightness of touch on the bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine earthy tannins, backward, nice focus, a slight bitterness and greenness but it only adds freshness and poise. Backward and surly on the finish but good breeding. Superb. Drink 2012-2030. VM 92 (6/2008): Good full medium red-ruby. Complex nose offers black raspberry, licorice, minerals and a whiff of leather. Brooding, ripe and deep, with terrific volume for Sociando. The black raspberry, licorice and dark chocolate flavors are full and rich but remain this side of exotic. In fact, this boasts superb balance even if it's youthfully backward today. Expands impressively on the back half, finishing with big, broad tannins and an impression of real power. Cellarmaster Faure notes that he's enjoying the '98 and '99 today, but that the 2000 and 2001 are currently quite closed. This 2005 is likely to require at least seven or eight years of patience. WS 92 (12/2014): Dark bramble, currant paste and warm fig notes pump along here, with espresso and ganache hints that stay well-integrated through the finish. A solid, muscular style. Best from 2016 through 2022. 100 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSociandoMallet.aspJS 92 (7/2014): Lots of currants, berries and chocolate on the nose and palate. Full and chewy. Solid tannin structure. Better in 2015.NM 92 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Sociando ‘09 has a fragrant floral bouquet with lifted fresh strawberry, cassis and raspberry preserve that is well defined and generous. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. This is very cohesive and focused with a backward but compelling finish that is fresh and vivacious. This is a wonderful northern Medoc. Tasted January 2013.WA 90 (2/2012): This uncompromising property has turned out a backward, forbiddingly tannic wine that, even in this very opulent and flamboyant vintage, will need a minimum of 10-15 years of cellaring yet keep for 40 or more years. Opaque black/purple, with notes of crushed rock, white flowers, graphite, blueberry and cassis, the wine is tight and needs to be coaxed from the glass. It is medium to full-bodied, with an excruciatingly tough-textured finish. Everything is here, and the wine is set for a long life, but it is not the least bit charming and certainly won’t be for at least another decade.VM 89-91 (6/2010): Deep ruby. Blackcurrant, licorice, underbrush and smoky oak on the inviting nose, with hints of tobacco and minerals. Dense and chewy in the mouth, with brooding, ripe flavors of blackberry, dark plum and smoky, chocolatey oak given lift by firm acidity. Finishes with subtle length but its assertive tannins will require at least several years of patience once this wine is released. I'm a big fan of this overachieving property, which for my money usually produces one of the top five or six values in all of Bordeaux That said, I wonder if this chunky wine has the concentration to surpass top recent releases. (By the way, the '99 Sociando is delicious right now.) Ian d'Agata.WS 88 (7/2012): This is trying hard, with obvious toasty spice joining sweet vanilla, blueberry and raspberry notes, all carried by more exuberant toast through the finish. Ambitious, but not quite polished and integrated. Drink now through 2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSociandoMallet.aspWS 90 (3/2003): Silky and decadent, with berry, tobacco, chocolate and meat character. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a caressing finish. First bottle was slightly papery. Best after 2008. 5,415 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChStPierre.aspWA 97 (2/2013): The final blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot has resulted in a wine of great power, stature, gravitas and density. The wine has a black purple color and a brilliant nose of scorched earth, creme de cassis, espresso roast, blackberries, truffles and licorice. Full-bodied, extremely powerful, yet with abundant sweet tannin, this stunning effort should prove sensational if given 7-10 years of cellaring. It should also last for 30-40 years. IWC 94 (7/2013): Good bright ruby. Knockout nose combines blackberry, cassis, minerals, espresso and nutty oak. Dense, sweet, plush and deep, with a texture of liquid velvet and subtle floral lift. This impeccably balanced and seamless wine actually shut down in the glass and showed a serious underlying structure. A great and eminently ageworthy vintage for this Saint-Julien estate, whose wines have been on fire in recent years. NM 93 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. This is a strong showing from Saint Pierre. For sure, the 2010 feels more introverted on the bouquet with dusky black fruit, truffle, tobacco and graphite scents that unfold in the glass. There is fine definition here, with a slight meaty character emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth, ripe opening: spice-tinged black fruit and a saline element accentuated towards the finish. It exerts a gentle grip with very good persistency on the finish. JS 91 (3/2013): Wonderful aromas of blackberries and chocolate follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a structured finish. Dense and rich. Try in 2016.WS 91 (3/2013): A toasty, modern style, with mocha and blueberry coulis notes leading the way for plush-textured blackberry and black currant confiture flavors. Espresso and mocha accents extend the finish. This has stuffing, but the polish makes the wine approachable now. Best from 2014 through 2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChStPierre.aspWA 93 (2/2009): This wine is medium gold in color, with a flamboyant, buttery, intensely intoxicating nose of smoked tropical fruits, especially pineapple, melted caramel, and honeyed orange. Unctuously textured, with superb, full-bodied richness, good underlying acidity, and a stunning finish, it should have 30+ years of longevity.IWC 92 (6/2009): Bright medium gold. Sexy, perfumed nose offers pineapple, honey, caramel, marzipan and spicy oak. Big, rich and voluminous; one of the most unctuous wines of the vintage, with enticing, sweet flavors of exotic fruits, spices and honey. As chewy as this is, the texture maintains a distinctly refined quality. Finishes long and sweet.WS 92 (3/2009): Dried citrus fruit and apple crumble aromas follow through to a full, thick and intense palate, with loads of lemon curd and apple skin character. Medium sweet. Feels almost chalky. Viscous. Best after 2012. 3,450 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspWS 93 (3/2006): Intense aromas of pecan pie, dried apricot, apples and syrup. Full-bodied, medium-sweet, with a dense mouthfeel of very ripe fruit and a long, powerful and spicy aftertaste. Very, very impressive. Not quite the 2001, but who's arguing? Best after 2010. 6,500 cases made. IWC 92 (8/2006): Bright, full yellow. Honey, pineapple and a whiff of menthol on the nose. Then impressively powerful in the mouth but with lovely acidity leavening its concentrated fruit. Very juicy and fine for Suduiraut, and not at all outsized or overly sweet. Comes across as very young, and finishes with noteworthy spine. Quite suave.WA 90 (6/2013): Ex-chateau bottle tasted blind in Sauternes. To be honest, this vintage of Suduiraut has never been thrilling and is certainly not in the same class as the 2001 or 2009, to give two examples. The nose is powerful and rich with scents of Clementine, beeswax and quince that certainly pack a punch. The palate is spicy on the viscous entry with bitter orange, marmalade and stem ginger, although the glycerine-rich finish is missing some freshness and tension. This remains an unashamedly hedonistic Suduiraut.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspWS 93 (3/2006): Intense aromas of pecan pie, dried apricot, apples and syrup. Full-bodied, medium-sweet, with a dense mouthfeel of very ripe fruit and a long, powerful and spicy aftertaste. Very, very impressive. Not quite the 2001, but who's arguing? Best after 2010. 6,500 cases made. IWC 92 (8/2006): Bright, full yellow. Honey, pineapple and a whiff of menthol on the nose. Then impressively powerful in the mouth but with lovely acidity leavening its concentrated fruit. Very juicy and fine for Suduiraut, and not at all outsized or overly sweet. Comes across as very young, and finishes with noteworthy spine. Quite suave.WA 90 (6/2013): Ex-chateau bottle tasted blind in Sauternes. To be honest, this vintage of Suduiraut has never been thrilling and is certainly not in the same class as the 2001 or 2009, to give two examples. The nose is powerful and rich with scents of Clementine, beeswax and quince that certainly pack a punch. The palate is spicy on the viscous entry with bitter orange, marmalade and stem ginger, although the glycerine-rich finish is missing some freshness and tension. This remains an unashamedly hedonistic Suduiraut.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspWS 93 (3/2008): Shows dried pineapple, honey, pear, caramel and piecrust aromas. Full-bodied and very sweet, with spice, coconut, tropical fruit and apple tart flavors. Long and dense, yet lively. Best after 2013. 6,500 cases made. VM 92 (8/2008): Medium yellow-gold. Incredibly sweet aromas of apricot, acacia honey and marzipan. Supersweet, round and fat, but with enough ripe acidity to leaven the wine's huge impression of volume. A powerfully fruit-driven Sauternes with superb depth, but it's almost too rich today. Finishes with palate-staining sweetness and length and surprisingly fresh acidity (I suspect the actual acid number is low). I'd give this 15 years in the cellar. This is carrying a high 165 grams per liter of residual sugar, and the percentage of new oak was raised from a normal 35% to 65% for this vintage, and yet the wine does not come across as woody.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspWS 93 (3/2008): Shows dried pineapple, honey, pear, caramel and piecrust aromas. Full-bodied and very sweet, with spice, coconut, tropical fruit and apple tart flavors. Long and dense, yet lively. Best after 2013. 6,500 cases made. VM 92 (8/2008): Medium yellow-gold. Incredibly sweet aromas of apricot, acacia honey and marzipan. Supersweet, round and fat, but with enough ripe acidity to leaven the wine's huge impression of volume. A powerfully fruit-driven Sauternes with superb depth, but it's almost too rich today. Finishes with palate-staining sweetness and length and surprisingly fresh acidity (I suspect the actual acid number is low). I'd give this 15 years in the cellar. This is carrying a high 165 grams per liter of residual sugar, and the percentage of new oak was raised from a normal 35% to 65% for this vintage, and yet the wine does not come across as woody.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspWA 94 (1/2012): Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau de Suduiraut 2008 has a beautiful, dare I say effortless bouquet that blossoms from the glass with scents of lemon curd, white peach, citrus lemon and limestone. It is very precise, armed with a laser-like focus. The palate is viscous and compelling on the entry and it fans out beautifully across the palate with pure botrytized, honeyed fruit. The acidity slices through this Sauternes like a razorblade and the finish is natural and vibrant. This is a sublime sweet wine that deserves a home in every cellar.IWC 93 (5/2010): Bright yellow-gold. Sexy, vibrant, perfumed aromas of orange marmalade, orange oil, minerals and spices, complicated by hints of coconut and golden raisin. A superrich, sweet, moderately glyceral fruit bomb in the mouth, with generous, nobly rotten flavors of apricot, minerals and honey nicely framed by ripe acidity. Very rich and sweet on the plush finish, showing superb intensity but little in the way of phenolic roughness. A beauty in the context of the year. -WS 92 (3/2011): Packs power and purity into an unctuous yet sleek frame, with mouthwatering acacia honey, creamed melon, honeysuckle, white peach and green almond notes that drive through the lengthy finish. A serious Sauternes. Drink now through 2024. 2,072 cases made. JS 92 (12/2010): A dense and racy young Sauternes with apple tart, honey, and mineral aromas and flavors. Medium to full-body, medium sweet, with bright acidity and a spicy, lively finish. Clean and focused. Very precise. Try in two or three years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspWA 96 (4/2014): Along with Chateau Rieussec, the Suduiraut 2010 is a candidate for best Sauternes of the vintage. It has a wonderful bouquet with an instantaneous sense of completeness and harmony, with layers of botrytized fruit intermingling with apricot blossom, peach skin and marmalade. This is powerful, but not in your face. There is no need to be. The palate is well-balanced with a viscous opening. There is plenty of botrytis here, good acidity and enormous weight on the finish. Perhaps it needs a little more tension, but otherwise this is a very impressive wine for the Sauternes vintage. JS 95 (2/2013): Expressive fruity nose in this top Sauternes with ripe orange, apricot and pineapple. Candied orange peel, white peach and orange blossom. This Sauternes is elegant and with wonderfully balanced sweetness on the palate. Good structure and length. Vibrant acidity and lots of spice in the excellent finish. Excellent. Drink or hold. WS 93 (3/2013): A powerfully rendered Sauternes, with apricot, ginger cream, marzipan, creamed peach and melon fruit, featuring a long, heather honey-filled finish. Shows polished edges already, but will need some time to unwind. Best from 2018 through 2030. IWC 92-95 (8/2011): Bright, pale yellow-gold. Captivating aromas of tropical fruits, vanilla and creme br u lee are complicated by honeyed botrytis. Enters the mouth smooth, balanced and fresh, showing building sweetness and complexity to its pure, rich mango, papaya, ginger and citrus flavors. This large-scaled Sauternes admirably combines power and grace, finishing pure and long. Jean-Rene Martignon, technical director of the AXA-Millesime properties, told me that the grapes were harvested in five successive tries: the first yielded four barrels of wine with very pure botrytis and high acidity, while seven days later a second trie gave more concentrated juice, but both of these passes through the vines went into the estate's second wine, Castelnau de Suduiraut. Ian D'Agata.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspWA 96 (4/2014): Along with Chateau Rieussec, the Suduiraut 2010 is a candidate for best Sauternes of the vintage. It has a wonderful bouquet with an instantaneous sense of completeness and harmony, with layers of botrytized fruit intermingling with apricot blossom, peach skin and marmalade. This is powerful, but not in your face. There is no need to be. The palate is well-balanced with a viscous opening. There is plenty of botrytis here, good acidity and enormous weight on the finish. Perhaps it needs a little more tension, but otherwise this is a very impressive wine for the Sauternes vintage. JS 95 (2/2013): Expressive fruity nose in this top Sauternes with ripe orange, apricot and pineapple. Candied orange peel, white peach and orange blossom. This Sauternes is elegant and with wonderfully balanced sweetness on the palate. Good structure and length. Vibrant acidity and lots of spice in the excellent finish. Excellent. Drink or hold. WS 93 (3/2013): A powerfully rendered Sauternes, with apricot, ginger cream, marzipan, creamed peach and melon fruit, featuring a long, heather honey-filled finish. Shows polished edges already, but will need some time to unwind. Best from 2018 through 2030. IWC 92-95 (8/2011): Bright, pale yellow-gold. Captivating aromas of tropical fruits, vanilla and creme br u lee are complicated by honeyed botrytis. Enters the mouth smooth, balanced and fresh, showing building sweetness and complexity to its pure, rich mango, papaya, ginger and citrus flavors. This large-scaled Sauternes admirably combines power and grace, finishing pure and long. Jean-Rene Martignon, technical director of the AXA-Millesime properties, told me that the grapes were harvested in five successive tries: the first yielded four barrels of wine with very pure botrytis and high acidity, while seven days later a second trie gave more concentrated juice, but both of these passes through the vines went into the estate's second wine, Castelnau de Suduiraut. Ian D'Agata.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspWA 96 (4/2014): Along with Chateau Rieussec, the Suduiraut 2010 is a candidate for best Sauternes of the vintage. It has a wonderful bouquet with an instantaneous sense of completeness and harmony, with layers of botrytized fruit intermingling with apricot blossom, peach skin and marmalade. This is powerful, but not in your face. There is no need to be. The palate is well-balanced with a viscous opening. There is plenty of botrytis here, good acidity and enormous weight on the finish. Perhaps it needs a little more tension, but otherwise this is a very impressive wine for the Sauternes vintage. JS 95 (2/2013): Expressive fruity nose in this top Sauternes with ripe orange, apricot and pineapple. Candied orange peel, white peach and orange blossom. This Sauternes is elegant and with wonderfully balanced sweetness on the palate. Good structure and length. Vibrant acidity and lots of spice in the excellent finish. Excellent. Drink or hold. WS 93 (3/2013): A powerfully rendered Sauternes, with apricot, ginger cream, marzipan, creamed peach and melon fruit, featuring a long, heather honey-filled finish. Shows polished edges already, but will need some time to unwind. Best from 2018 through 2030. IWC 92-95 (8/2011): Bright, pale yellow-gold. Captivating aromas of tropical fruits, vanilla and creme br u lee are complicated by honeyed botrytis. Enters the mouth smooth, balanced and fresh, showing building sweetness and complexity to its pure, rich mango, papaya, ginger and citrus flavors. This large-scaled Sauternes admirably combines power and grace, finishing pure and long. Jean-Rene Martignon, technical director of the AXA-Millesime properties, told me that the grapes were harvested in five successive tries: the first yielded four barrels of wine with very pure botrytis and high acidity, while seven days later a second trie gave more concentrated juice, but both of these passes through the vines went into the estate's second wine, Castelnau de Suduiraut. Ian D'Agata.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSuduiraut.aspJS 94 (2/2012): Aromas of cocoa powder and currants, follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, berry and chocolate aftertaste. Lovely polish to this. Try in 2018.WA 91 (2/2012): Extremely sexy, soft, supple and opulent, with notes of cedar, herbs, incense and black currant fruit, this is a full-bodied, generously endowed but silky Talbot to drink now and over the next 20+ years. By any standard of measurement, this is irresistible.WS 91 (3/2012): Dark plum and blueberry compote notes lead the way, followed by dark cocoa and tobacco. A fleshy feel runs throughout, with a stony edge adding length and balance on the finish. Best from 2013 through 2021. VM 91 (7/2012): Bright ruby-red. Slightly rustic aromas of musky black raspberry, black cherry, dark chocolate, leather and game. Sweet, glossy and pliant, with lovely intensity and lift to the flavors of dark cherry, cherry pit and spices. Hints at the horsey quality typical of this chateau but boasts terrific enveloping fruit and noteworthy sweetness. Finishes with broad, plush tannins and excellent length. One of the top few Talbot vintages of the last 25 years. Stephen Tanzer.NM 88 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Talbot ‘09 displays a touch of gaminess on the nose of this wine that is well defined: blackberry, graphite and undergrowth. It is feral at first but calms down in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a delicate, understated graphite entry. I would have liked more weight, more density in the context of the growing season, although it retains fine length. Tasted January 2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTalbot.aspJS 92 (2/2013): Lots of blackberries and blueberries on the nose. Full body, with chewy tannins that are polished and ripe. Tar and mushroom undertones on the finish. Excellent Tertre. Try in 2018.WS 92 (3/2013): A plush and flattering style, with beguiling toast wound around a smoldering core of warm plum confiture, dark cherry and currant fruit, and buried hints of charcoal and espresso. Displays a polished finish overall. A hint of warm paving stone lurks in the background. Best from 2014 through 2026.IWC 91-93 (1/2012): (a blend of 70% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 10% petit verdot; 3.24 pH; 13.5% alcohol): Deep, fully saturated purple-ruby. Enticing nose of cassis, minerals, ink and aromatic herbs. Bright, clean and pure, with fresh, inky flavors of blackcurrant, cocoa, violet and minerals. Finishes long, with youthfully chewy but noble tannins and a repeating blackcurrant note. One of the best du Tertres in memory, but although I like this wine's very pure cassis and mineral aromas and flavors, I much prefer the exotic and flamboyant 2009 du Tertre because of its old-vine cabernet franc-derived floral perfume.WA 90 (2/2013): Showing better from bottle than from barrel (which makes sense, given that I seemed to be in a minority when judging it from barrel), the 2010 du Tertre has a nice dark plum/garnet color, a slightly more evolved style than most Margaux, hints of cedar, licorice, black olive and black currant fruit with some flowers and subtle smoky wood in the background. Medium to full-bodied, round, generous and ripe, the words “sexy" and “opulent" come to mind when smelling and tasting this beautiful Margaux. Drink it over the next 15 or more years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChduTertre.aspVM 94 (7/2011): Saturated medium ruby. Exotic aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat, roast coffee and minerals; this has to be the sexiest nose of the vintage. Lush, sweet and silky, like a wave of dark berries, smoke and minerals washing over the palate. Finishes with sweet tannins and palate-staining persistence. This may not last forever (Tertre-Roteboeuf has a record for mid-term aging), but for tickling your G-spot over the next 10 or 12 years, this is pretty much of a sure thing.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTertreRoteboeuf.aspVM 95 (7/2012): Dark ruby-red. Ripe red cherry, raspberry liqueur, coffee and underbrush on the concentrated nose. Then rich, dense and suave on the palate, with a chocolatey ripeness to the red and dark fruit flavors. Finishes very long, with enticing juiciness and smooth tannins. This very rich, sweet Tertre-Roteboeuf is in the process of shutting down and actually offers less of the exuberantly rich sweet fruit it showed during the Primeurs, but it has the stuffing and backbone for a glorious mid-term life in bottle. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTertreRoteboeuf.aspVM 95 (7/2012): Dark ruby-red. Ripe red cherry, raspberry liqueur, coffee and underbrush on the concentrated nose. Then rich, dense and suave on the palate, with a chocolatey ripeness to the red and dark fruit flavors. Finishes very long, with enticing juiciness and smooth tannins. This very rich, sweet Tertre-Roteboeuf is in the process of shutting down and actually offers less of the exuberantly rich sweet fruit it showed during the Primeurs, but it has the stuffing and backbone for a glorious mid-term life in bottle. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTertreRoteboeuf.aspVM 96+ (7/2013): Saturated ruby. Deep aromas of red and black fruits, violet, gunflint, licorice and bitter chocolate, complemented by a sexy oak-derived note of hickory smoke. Large-scaled and sweet, but with terrific precision and refinement to the flavors of dark berries, chocolate, licorice and minerals. Finishes polished and long. Not as opulent or exotic as the 2009, but offers exceptional sweetness and size while managing to maintain impressive verve and thrust. A great 2010. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTertreRoteboeuf.aspVM 95+ (1/2016): The 2012 Tertre-Roteboeuf is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Remarkably vivid for such a big, super-ripe wine, the 2012 boasts superb nuance and delineation from start to finish. Dense, powerful and explosive, the 2012 is a real head-turner, but it is also going to need at least a few years to shed some baby fat. Still, the 2012 is impressive, even today. With time in the glass the aromas open up and tannins soften a touch, both indications of what is in store for those who can wait. The October 10 harvest was very much in line with the norm here. Tertre-Rôteboeuf is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The 2012 spent 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Antonio Galloni.NM 92-94 (5/2013): Picked on 9th October and a blend of 20% Cabernet Franc and 80% Merlot, Francois Mitjavile’s 2012 has a wonderfully pixelated bouquet with pellucid dark cherries, fresh raspberry and minerals. It is not as intense as either the 2009 or 2010, but then again, why should it be. It has the kind of bouquet that creeps up on you. The texture of the tannins scream "Burgundy!" on the entry, but there is a seam of graphite threaded through the dark berry fruit that brings you back to Bordeaux. It is not a powerful, extravagant or even a "gourmand" Tertre-Roteboeuf, but it exudes poise, harmony and that oft-forgotten word...drinkability.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTertreRoteboeuf.aspWA 94 (6/2017): The 2014 Le Tertre Roteboeuf, now in bottle, has a very refined and pure bouquet, with red cherries, wild strawberry and a touch of orange blossom-all very Burgundy-like in style. The palate is very well balanced, with crisp tannin, hints of fig and date infusions that complement the red berry fruit, and a touch of white pepper toward the long finish. This is turning out to be a delicious (as banal as that reads) Le Tertre-Roteboeuf with the tannic structure to suggest that it will give pleasure over the next 20-30 years. VM 91-94 (4/2015): The 2014 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is compelling. Sweet, perfumed aromatics meld into a core of exotic blue and black-fleshed fruit supported by veins of saline minerality in a wine that stands out for its translucent texture. A closing flourish of highly expressive floral and spiced notes adds the last shades of nuance. Once again, this is one of the most deeply personal, intriguing wines in St.-Emilion. The 2014 is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, brought in starting on October 15, very late, even by the standard of the year. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTertreRoteboeuf.aspWA 94 (6/2017): The 2014 Le Tertre Roteboeuf, now in bottle, has a very refined and pure bouquet, with red cherries, wild strawberry and a touch of orange blossom-all very Burgundy-like in style. The palate is very well balanced, with crisp tannin, hints of fig and date infusions that complement the red berry fruit, and a touch of white pepper toward the long finish. This is turning out to be a delicious (as banal as that reads) Le Tertre-Roteboeuf with the tannic structure to suggest that it will give pleasure over the next 20-30 years. VM 91-94 (4/2015): The 2014 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is compelling. Sweet, perfumed aromatics meld into a core of exotic blue and black-fleshed fruit supported by veins of saline minerality in a wine that stands out for its translucent texture. A closing flourish of highly expressive floral and spiced notes adds the last shades of nuance. Once again, this is one of the most deeply personal, intriguing wines in St.-Emilion. The 2014 is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, brought in starting on October 15, very late, even by the standard of the year. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTertreRoteboeuf.aspVM 91+ (7/2001): Medium yellow. Tangy aromas of orange peel, exotic fruits and spicy, vanillin oak; strong suggestions of noble rot. Highly concentrated though not yet especially unctuous, thanks to unusually vibrant acidity for this wine. Very sweet but not at all sugary. Botrytis notes of citrus skin and honey. Finishes long and subtle. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaTourBlanche.aspWA 97 (6/2004): La Tour Blanche’s spectacular 2001 boasts a light to medium gold color as well as a big, exotic nose of tropical fruits, honeysuckle, orange marmalade, and creme brulee. In the mouth, notions of peaches, lychees, and caramelized citrus give way to a weighty, full-bodied, concentrated yet incredibly precise and well-delineated sweet white. It is a tour de force in Sauternes! Anticipated maturity: 2009-2035.NM 96 (10/2014): The La Tour Blanche 2001 has long been the “insiders’ Sauternes” for the vintage. Leave the Yquem ’01 for the millionaires: load up on one of the finest recent vintages from the estate. It has a potent honeyed, frangipane and white flower-scented bouquet with subtle nougat scents in the background lending it an exotic edge. The palate is extremely well balanced with fine acidity effortlessly slicing a swathe through that unctuous, honeyed fruit. There are also understated marmalade notes with a suggestion of crème brûlée furnishing the weighty finish that goes on and on. Just don’t tell anyone how good this La Tour Blanche is...promise?WS 93 (9/2004): Very intense aromas of candied lemons, fresh flowers and vanilla. Full-bodied, very sweet and spicy. Long, long finish. Excellent. Best after 2009. 4,630 cases made. VM 92+ (7/2004): Pale yellow-gold. Reticent nose hints at caramel and vanilla. Fat and high-toned, with superripe, unctuous flavors of candied yellow fruits and honey. At once chewy and lively, and hiding more than it's showing today. Very strong finish features subtle spicy persistence. Offers terrific potential, but is it as well balanced as the young 2002?http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaTourBlanche.aspWA 97 (6/2004): La Tour Blanche’s spectacular 2001 boasts a light to medium gold color as well as a big, exotic nose of tropical fruits, honeysuckle, orange marmalade, and creme brulee. In the mouth, notions of peaches, lychees, and caramelized citrus give way to a weighty, full-bodied, concentrated yet incredibly precise and well-delineated sweet white. It is a tour de force in Sauternes! Anticipated maturity: 2009-2035. NM 96 (10/2014): The La Tour Blanche 2001 has long been the “insiders’ Sauternes” for the vintage. Leave the Yquem ’01 for the millionaires: load up on one of the finest recent vintages from the estate. It has a potent honeyed, frangipane and white flower-scented bouquet with subtle nougat scents in the background lending it an exotic edge. The palate is extremely well balanced with fine acidity effortlessly slicing a swathe through that unctuous, honeyed fruit. There are also understated marmalade notes with a suggestion of crème brûlée furnishing the weighty finish that goes on and on. Just don’t tell anyone how good this La Tour Blanche is...promise? WS 93 (9/2004): Very intense aromas of candied lemons, fresh flowers and vanilla. Full-bodied, very sweet and spicy. Long, long finish. Excellent. Best after 2009. 4,630 cases made. VM 92+ (7/2004): Pale yellow-gold. Reticent nose hints at caramel and vanilla. Fat and high-toned, with superripe, unctuous flavors of candied yellow fruits and honey. At once chewy and lively, and hiding more than it's showing today. Very strong finish features subtle spicy persistence. Offers terrific potential, but is it as well balanced as the young 2002?http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaTourBlanche.aspWS 97 (3/2006): Dark gold in color already, with intense aromas of dried apricots, citrus, honey and maple syrup with lots of spice. Full-bodied, with lovely sweetness and a long, creamy peach tart, tobacco, honey aftertaste. This is pure botrytis. Best ever from here. Has an incredible finish. Best after 2010. 2,915 cases made. WA 96 (4/2006): (no note) VM 93 (8/2006): Enticing bright yellow-gold color. Subdued but very pure aromas of orange peel, apricot, honey and spices. Supersweet, fat and spicy; wonderfully round, chewy and unctuous. As thick and '03-like as this is, it remains fresh and lively. Not the last word in complexity but this fine-grained wine is delicious already, and finishes with superb, palate-staining persistence.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaTourBlanche.aspJS 96 (5/2013): Impressive density of fruity here with caramel, dried lemons, apricots and honey. Full yet reserved and beautiful. Wonderful length. One of the Sauternes of the vintage. Better in 2016.WA 93 (2/2013): The 2009 La Tour Blanche has a gorgeous, botrytis-rich bouquet with lemon thyme, honey and spice, with just a touch of alcoholic warmth denying it the clarity it deserves. The palate is crisp and taut on the entry with notes of apricot and white peach emerging with a few swirls of the glass. It offers a pleasing viscosity and volume in the mouth, although compared to its barrel showing, it appears to have tightened up more than I expected, possibly a sign that it is a wine in for the long haul. Drink 2017-2035. WS 92 (3/2012): Ripe and broad, with lush buttered pecan and almond notes followed by rich apricot, orange and date flavors that glide through the finish, where a glazed pear note sits in reserve. This should cruise nicely through mid-term cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2024. 6,665 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaTourBlanche.aspWA 93 (2/2013): Probably La Tour Carnet’s best since their 2001, the 2010 La Tour Carnet exhibits wonderful ripeness, a dense ruby/purple color, notes of licorice, camphor and some toast as well as lots of black currant and blueberry fruit. It is medium to full-bodied, with attractive sweetness of tannin, good acidity, excellent delineation to its component parts, and a full-bodied, impressively long finish. This wine may close down somewhat, given the moderate tannins, but it seems relatively accessible despite being a 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2035. JS 92 (2/2013): Impressive concentration for this appellation with aromas of prunes, plums and black pepper. Full body, with round and velvety tannins and a long finish. Tight. Better after 2015. VM 91+ (7/2013): Bright, dark red. Sexy aromas of black cherry, blueberry, licorice, menthol and flowers seemed to shut down with aeration. Densely packed and fresh, with sound acidity intensifying the pretty, well-delineated black fruit flavors. The wine's firm spine of tannins and acids is nicely supported by its mid-palate concentration. A very impressive vintage for this bottling, and in need of patience. NM 90 (11/2012): The 2010 is a blend of 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It has a light, slightly leafy bouquet with a touch of mint and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied with soft opening. There are light ripe red berry fruit but it is missing a little structure towards the finish. Still, there is plenty of brambly red fruit to be enjoyed here and I suspect it will improve in bottle. WS 89 (12/2013): Bright and engaging, with open-knit raspberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit backed by notes of anise and violet. The lightly firm, plum pit-tinged finish keeps this honest, showing some latent grip. Drink now through 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaTourCarnet.aspWA 93 (2/2013): Probably La Tour Carnet’s best since their 2001, the 2010 La Tour Carnet exhibits wonderful ripeness, a dense ruby/purple color, notes of licorice, camphor and some toast as well as lots of black currant and blueberry fruit. It is medium to full-bodied, with attractive sweetness of tannin, good acidity, excellent delineation to its component parts, and a full-bodied, impressively long finish. This wine may close down somewhat, given the moderate tannins, but it seems relatively accessible despite being a 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2035. JS 92 (2/2013): Impressive concentration for this appellation with aromas of prunes, plums and black pepper. Full body, with round and velvety tannins and a long finish. Tight. Better after 2015. VM 91+ (7/2013): Bright, dark red. Sexy aromas of black cherry, blueberry, licorice, menthol and flowers seemed to shut down with aeration. Densely packed and fresh, with sound acidity intensifying the pretty, well-delineated black fruit flavors. The wine's firm spine of tannins and acids is nicely supported by its mid-palate concentration. A very impressive vintage for this bottling, and in need of patience. NM 90 (11/2012): The 2010 is a blend of 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It has a light, slightly leafy bouquet with a touch of mint and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied with soft opening. There are light ripe red berry fruit but it is missing a little structure towards the finish. Still, there is plenty of brambly red fruit to be enjoyed here and I suspect it will improve in bottle. WS 89 (12/2013): Bright and engaging, with open-knit raspberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit backed by notes of anise and violet. The lightly firm, plum pit-tinged finish keeps this honest, showing some latent grip. Drink now through 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaTourCarnet.aspJS 92-93 (4/2017): A linear and pretty wine with plenty of blackberry aromas and flavors to complement a tight and chewy tannin structure. Medium to full body and a bright finish. More structured than the 2015. VM 89-92 (4/2017): Bernard Magrez's 2016 La Tour Carnet is ripe, open-knit and seductive. Super-ripe black cherry, plum, licorice, woodsmoke and tobacco are all beautifully delineated in the glass. A wine of striking inner perfume, sweetness and nuance, the 2016 Tour Carnet has all the elements to develop into a superb overachiever. Sweet, silky tannins add to the wine's considerable sexiness. This is the first vintage made in the new winery, where smaller tanks allowed for the separate vinification of multiple lots. The reduction in new oak is another big positive here. Bernard Magrez makes a number of terrific wines. La Tour Carnet is one of my favorites because of its budget friendly price and the way it ages in bottle. Tasted two times. WA 91-93 (4/2017): The 2016 La Tour Carnet is a blend of 60% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc that was picked between 4 and 21 October. Matured in 30% new oak, it has more freshness and delineation than the Château des Grands Chênes that I tasted alongside, touches of blue fruit and floral scents lending it a Margaux-like personality. The palate is smooth and velvety on the entry with fine tannin, lush and precocious yet maintaining fine freshness and precision on the finish. Its texture is nigh irresistible. It is excellent, though will it surpass the 2015? WS 87-90 (4/2017): Direct, with good typicity to the mix of plum pit, black cherry and cedar notes, showing a flash of iron on the slightly austere finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChLaTourCarnet.aspWA 90+ (12/2011): This wine has closed down somewhat since I had it from barrel and exhibits a firm, earthy, mineral-laced style. Made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the ripe black raspberry and blueberry fruit are present, along with some sandy, loamy soil notes. The tannins are sweet, but very elevated, and the wine rich and long but currently somewhat austere and needing bottle age. Give it 2 or 3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15+ years.WS 88 (7/2012): Coffee and smoke notes frame pomegranate and cranberry flavors in this firm, rather tart red. Lively, if a bit lean. Chewy tannins give this a slightly rustic character. Drink now through 2019. 2,455 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LaTourduPin.aspWA 92 (11/2002): Totally shut down and enclosed, with an impressively saturated purple/black color and a promising but tightly strung nose of mineral, vanilla, espresso, black cherry and currant, this wine has beautiful purity, medium to full body, relatively high but sweet tannin, and a long 30-35 second finish. The wine is very firm but impressive as well as promising. Patience please! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.NM 91 (11/2006): Very deep purple, garnet core. The nose is a sulky, little sod: utterly closed and yielding nothing at the moment despite vigorous swirling. A slight bretty aroma develops with time (eventually.) The full-bodied palate is tannic with broody, black fruits and rather low acidity but with aeration turns more decadent, though harmonious with just a little astringency on the finish. Needs time but it has great potential. Drink 2010-2020.VM 91 (5/1998): Very good saturated ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry, chocolate and licorice; more crystallized than cooked fruit-as the heat in '95 was not quite like that of 1990, according to Valette. Velvety and chocolatey in the mouth, with very sweet, port-like flavors verging on raisiny. Has the chewy extract to buffer its 13.9% alcohol. Quite perfumed in the mouth, though still a bit tired by the bottling. A huge wine that finishes with substantial but harmonious tannins. Stephen Tanzer.WS 90 (12/2007): Aromas of violet, berries and cedar follow through to a full-bodied palate, with firm tannins and a medium finish. The fruit is still tied up in knots. Give it time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTroplongMondot.aspWA 93 (4/2001): A fabulous effort, this sleeper of the vintage may turn out to be the finest Troplong-Mondot since the 1990. The black/purple-colored 1998 exhibits floral, blueberry, blackberry, licorice, vanillin, and truffle-like aromas (or is it charcoal/graphite?). Dense, full-bodied, and pure, yet extremely fresh and elegant, this beautifully focused wine needs 3-5 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.WS 93 (1/2001): Intense aromas of ripe berries, tobacco and toasted oak with mineral. Full-bodied, with well-integrated, superfine tannins and a long, long finish. Extremely sexy, yet elegant. Best after 2008. 6,665 cases made. NM 91 (12/2012): The ‘98 Troplong has a deep colour with little signs of ageing. The nose is rich and opulent with glossy ripe dark cherries, creme de cassis and a hint of mushroom - still a little New World like in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with touches of date and prune on the entry. There is still an intensity to this Troplong, a Saint Emilion you are impressed with more than pleasured by. VM 90+ (6/2001): Bright medium ruby. Spicy aromas of raspberry, currant, red licorice, smoke, leather and melting toffee. Bright and tight but with good density. Flavors of dark berries and lead pencil. Nicely delineated but currently dominated by its firm acids and tannins. This has excellent intensity and grip, but the firm tannic spine will require at least six or seven years of patience.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTroplongMondot.aspWA 93 (4/2001): A fabulous effort, this sleeper of the vintage may turn out to be the finest Troplong-Mondot since the 1990. The black/purple-colored 1998 exhibits floral, blueberry, blackberry, licorice, vanillin, and truffle-like aromas (or is it charcoal/graphite?). Dense, full-bodied, and pure, yet extremely fresh and elegant, this beautifully focused wine needs 3-5 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.WS 93 (1/2001): Intense aromas of ripe berries, tobacco and toasted oak with mineral. Full-bodied, with well-integrated, superfine tannins and a long, long finish. Extremely sexy, yet elegant. Best after 2008. 6,665 cases made. NM 91 (12/2012): The ‘98 Troplong has a deep colour with little signs of ageing. The nose is rich and opulent with glossy ripe dark cherries, creme de cassis and a hint of mushroom - still a little New World like in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with touches of date and prune on the entry. There is still an intensity to this Troplong, a Saint Emilion you are impressed with more than pleasured by. VM 90+ (6/2001): Bright medium ruby. Spicy aromas of raspberry, currant, red licorice, smoke, leather and melting toffee. Bright and tight but with good density. Flavors of dark berries and lead pencil. Nicely delineated but currently dominated by its firm acids and tannins. This has excellent intensity and grip, but the firm tannic spine will require at least six or seven years of patience.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTroplongMondot.aspWA 93 (4/2001): A fabulous effort, this sleeper of the vintage may turn out to be the finest Troplong-Mondot since the 1990. The black/purple-colored 1998 exhibits floral, blueberry, blackberry, licorice, vanillin, and truffle-like aromas (or is it charcoal/graphite?). Dense, full-bodied, and pure, yet extremely fresh and elegant, this beautifully focused wine needs 3-5 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.WS 93 (1/2001): Intense aromas of ripe berries, tobacco and toasted oak with mineral. Full-bodied, with well-integrated, superfine tannins and a long, long finish. Extremely sexy, yet elegant. Best after 2008. 6,665 cases made. NM 91 (12/2012): The ‘98 Troplong has a deep colour with little signs of ageing. The nose is rich and opulent with glossy ripe dark cherries, creme de cassis and a hint of mushroom - still a little New World like in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with touches of date and prune on the entry. There is still an intensity to this Troplong, a Saint Emilion you are impressed with more than pleasured by. VM 90+ (6/2001): Bright medium ruby. Spicy aromas of raspberry, currant, red licorice, smoke, leather and melting toffee. Bright and tight but with good density. Flavors of dark berries and lead pencil. Nicely delineated but currently dominated by its firm acids and tannins. This has excellent intensity and grip, but the firm tannic spine will require at least six or seven years of patience.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTroplongMondot.aspWA 93 (4/2001): A fabulous effort, this sleeper of the vintage may turn out to be the finest Troplong-Mondot since the 1990. The black/purple-colored 1998 exhibits floral, blueberry, blackberry, licorice, vanillin, and truffle-like aromas (or is it charcoal/graphite?). Dense, full-bodied, and pure, yet extremely fresh and elegant, this beautifully focused wine needs 3-5 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.WS 93 (1/2001): Intense aromas of ripe berries, tobacco and toasted oak with mineral. Full-bodied, with well-integrated, superfine tannins and a long, long finish. Extremely sexy, yet elegant. Best after 2008. 6,665 cases made. NM 91 (12/2012): The ‘98 Troplong has a deep colour with little signs of ageing. The nose is rich and opulent with glossy ripe dark cherries, creme de cassis and a hint of mushroom - still a little New World like in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with touches of date and prune on the entry. There is still an intensity to this Troplong, a Saint Emilion you are impressed with more than pleasured by. VM 90+ (6/2001): Bright medium ruby. Spicy aromas of raspberry, currant, red licorice, smoke, leather and melting toffee. Bright and tight but with good density. Flavors of dark berries and lead pencil. Nicely delineated but currently dominated by its firm acids and tannins. This has excellent intensity and grip, but the firm tannic spine will require at least six or seven years of patience.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTroplongMondot.aspWA 93 (4/2001): A fabulous effort, this sleeper of the vintage may turn out to be the finest Troplong-Mondot since the 1990. The black/purple-colored 1998 exhibits floral, blueberry, blackberry, licorice, vanillin, and truffle-like aromas (or is it charcoal/graphite?). Dense, full-bodied, and pure, yet extremely fresh and elegant, this beautifully focused wine needs 3-5 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.WS 93 (1/2001): Intense aromas of ripe berries, tobacco and toasted oak with mineral. Full-bodied, with well-integrated, superfine tannins and a long, long finish. Extremely sexy, yet elegant. Best after 2008. 6,665 cases made. NM 91 (12/2012): The ‘98 Troplong has a deep colour with little signs of ageing. The nose is rich and opulent with glossy ripe dark cherries, creme de cassis and a hint of mushroom - still a little New World like in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with touches of date and prune on the entry. There is still an intensity to this Troplong, a Saint Emilion you are impressed with more than pleasured by. VM 90+ (6/2001): Bright medium ruby. Spicy aromas of raspberry, currant, red licorice, smoke, leather and melting toffee. Bright and tight but with good density. Flavors of dark berries and lead pencil. Nicely delineated but currently dominated by its firm acids and tannins. This has excellent intensity and grip, but the firm tannic spine will require at least six or seven years of patience. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTroplongMondot.aspWA 93 (6/2004): This estate continues to merit substantial praise. Let’s hope in the upcoming revised Classification of the Wines of St.-Emilion, Troplong Mondot merits elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classe, which it has deserved for some time. Not far off the pace of the spectacular 2000, the 2001 is performing even better from bottle than it was from cask. A gorgeous perfume of plum jam, creme de cassis, flowers, licorice, black fruits, a hint of graphite, and well-integrated wood notes is followed by a medium to full-bodied St.-Emilion with superb texture, great flavor purity, and tremendous harmony as well as elegance. Remarkably approachable despite its impressive concentration and well-concealed tannin, this is a beauty. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2017.WS 91 (3/2004): This is a dark and rich red with lovely spice, berry and dark chocolate character. Slightly overextracted, but there is a good core of fruit and silky tannins. Give it time in the bottle. I like it as much as the 2000, though it's slightly sleeker in style. Best after 2007. 5,415 cases made.IWC 89 (6/2004): Deep red. Very ripe nose features dark berries, cocoa powder and brown spices. Rich, fat, sweet and densely packed; really spreads out to cover the palate. Lush flavors of plum and smoke. Ultimately less sweet than the 2003, but wonderfully thick and creamy for the vintage. Finishes with strong but ripe tannins and a slight dryness.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTroplongMondot.aspWA 99 (2/2013): Inky, bluish/black/purple, with notes of spring flowers, licorice, camphor, graphite, and a boatload of blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry fruit, this is a powerful, full-bodied Troplong Mondot. All the building components of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol are judiciously and impressively integrated. It is a blend of 90% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc made by Christine Valette and her husband Xavier Pariente with the consultancy help of Michel Rolland. I-m not sure what the heady alcohol level is in Troplong Mondot in 2010 (it certainly must be in the 15%+ range), but it is well-concealed behind the extravagant, richness, full-bodied power, and pure nobility of this majestic wine. Forget this for 5-7 years and drink it over the following three decades. IWC 95 (7/2013): Deep ruby. Knockout nose combines sexy black raspberry, smoky earth tones, dark chocolate and spices. Lush, dense, sweet and complete, with black fruit, cocoa powder and mineral flavors offering both full ripeness and a cool restraint. Really insinuating depth of flavor here. Finishes with powerful echoing black fruits and great focus and length, with substantial but ripe and perfectly integrated tannins. A great example of a late-ripening terroir in a long growing season without extreme heat. JS 94 (2/2013): Very intense blackberry and blueberry character on the nose. Full body with super refined tannins and beautiful fruit. So delicious and pretty. Very rich and a little high-octane. Yet luscious and flamboyant. Try in 2018.WS 94 (3/2013): Ripe and dense, but very vibrant and energetic, as a torrent of cassis, blackberry coulis and fig paste rushes through, framed by enticing black licorice and evenly roasted alder and juniper notes. The long finish has lots of grip and acidity, but they work together and are deeply embedded. Captures the fruit and structure of the vintage superbly. Best from 2015 through 2030.NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Troplong-Mondot 2010 has a lighter, more airy bouquet than its peers, graceful with macerated black cherries, blackcurrant and violets that expand with aeration. The palate is very smooth and harmonious with well judged acidity, bright blackberry and boysenberry laced with sea salt and spices, leading to a slight alcoholic, muffled finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTroplongMondot.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChTrotanoy.aspJS 97 (2/2012): Stunning aromas of black truffles and blueberries, with Valrona milk chocolate undertones. Full body, with a wonderful core of fruit. This just dances on your palate. A wine that makes you smile. Superb. Best Valandraud ever? Try in 2002. WA 96 (2/2012): An inky/purple wine with an extraordinary nose of black raspberries, blueberries, acacia flowers, licorice and camphor, it is full-bodied, multi-dimensional and layered, with silky tannins, stunning purity, and a finish of 50+ seconds. This is an opulent, sexy, sumptuous style of wine to drink over the next 15 or more years. Kudos to Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle! NM 95 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Valandraud ‘09 has a charming, pure Merlot bouquet with luscious scents of kirsch, balsamic, touches of sage and glycerine. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins. It is utterly composed with seamless integrated oak and a harmonious finish that exudes finesse and charm. Stunning – although the Virginie runs its big brother damn close.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChValandraud.aspWA 97+ (2/2013): A real classic from Thunevin's 20 acres of vineyards is the 2010 Valandraud, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. A powerful wine showing even better from bottle than it did from barrel. The classic graphite nose intermixed with some licorice, sweet black cherries and black currants, forest floor and incense is on display in this powerful, super-concentrated, well-delineated wine, which is full-bodied, dense and moderately tannic. Unlike most Valandrauds, this wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 20-25 years.WS 96 (3/2013): This is gorgeous, with ample mocha and licorice notes that are well-embedded into the core of lushly ripe and beguiling boysenberry, blackberry and loganberry fruit. The long finish is filled with black tea, singed spice and fruitcake, with captivating mouthfeel and superb length, as a singed apple wood note echoes at the very end. Displays the fruit and power of the vintage, but harnesses it at the same time. Best from 2015 through 2030. 1,458 cases made.JS 95 (2/2013): Complex aromas of licorice, plums, incense, and tar follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a ultra-fine tannic finish. Hints of toasted oak and cedar with chocolate. Not quite the 2009 but very close. Try in 2017.IWC 95 (8/2013): Good deep medium ruby. Slightly high-toned, kaleidoscopic nose combines crushed blueberry, black raspberry, graphite, violet and sexy oak notes of mocha and espresso. Superripe and wonderfully sweet but with harmonious acidity leavening the wine's almost viscous ripeness. Plush, silky and utterly seamless wine with an impressively broad, slowly building finish featuring suave tannins, lingering notes of minerals and smoke and outstanding palate-saturating persistence. A great vintage for Jean-Luc Thunevin's flagship wine. Drink now or over the next 20 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChValandraud.aspWS 94-97 (4/2015): Delivers a mouthwatering core of boysenberry and blackberry fruit, with ample anise, fruitcake and plum sauce notes emerging through the flashy finish. Not just flamboyant, as there's a serious graphite spine to keep this honest. A beauty in the making. VM 93-96 (4/2015): The 2014 Valandraud is one of the most alluring wines of the year. Deep, dense and explosive to the core, the 2014 possesses an extra level of textural finesse and pure refinement that elevates it. Crème de cassis, mint, licorice, cloves and new leather blossom in an effortless glass, beautifully marrying ripeness with freshness. The vibrant, pulsating finish alone is incredibly inviting. Readers who want to understand the captivating interplay of fruit and freshness that defines the 2014s will want to check out Valandraud. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.WA 93-95 (4/2015): The Château Valandraud 2014 does not mess about on the aromatics. There is no holding back here with its plush blackcurrant pastille and vivacious crème de cassis and violet-scents, but as usual, Jean-Luc Thunévin has retained superb delineation and exquisite purity. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated ripe tannin and a keen line of acidity; a sense of symmetry and precision on the finish. It is modern in style for sure, but there is quality and craftsmanship interwoven into this Saint Emilion. This is as sophisticated as anything you will find on the Right Bank.JS 92-93 (3/2015): A rich wine with fine tannins and fruits. Full body, very polished texture and a wonderful length. There’s an attractive mineral and a fresh tobacco character to the wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChValandraud.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChValrose.aspJS 100 (2/2012): This is a wine that had extreme intensity of electrifying tannins and acidity, with supercharged fruit. Full-bodied, yet agile and lively. It touches every taste bud on your palate. Chocolate mousse and fruit. I am lost for words. Legendary 1950 all over again. Try it in 2020. WA 99 (2/2012): The 2009's nearly 14% natural alcohol, exquisite ripeness, and incredible complex bouquet of Asian spices, fruitcake, licorice, smoke, blackberries and black currants are to die for. A blend of 84% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses a viscous texture as well as a freshness and vibrancy that are remarkable given the wine’s weight, richness and potential massiveness. This extraordinary effort is one of the finest Vieux Chateau Certans made over the last sixty years. It will undoubtedly shut down in bottle, requiring a decade or more of cellaring. It should keep for 50 years thereafter. Proprietor Thienpont thinks it is a modern day version of the 1948. WS 97 (3/2012): This shows gorgeous silk and polish, brimming with beguiling plum, cherry eau de vie and red currant fruit flavors laced with supple toasty vanilla and cedar hints. But in the background brews a darker side, with loam, maduro tobacco and iron notes, which take over on the finish authoritatively. This feels like it will get a lot bigger before it fully melds—and that will be a while. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2018 through 2035. 4,300 cases made. VM 95 (7/2012): Bright medium-deep ruby. Musky aromas of red plum, blackcurrant, cocoa and tobacco leaf. Juicy, sappy and rather stylish on the palate, combining pepper and herb qualities with a subtle touch of sweetness. Not a hugely concentrated wine but amazingly well balanced and silky, and with insidious depth of flavor. Finishes with suave, spreading tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VieuxChateauCertan.aspJS 100 (2/2012): This is a wine that had extreme intensity of electrifying tannins and acidity, with supercharged fruit. Full-bodied, yet agile and lively. It touches every taste bud on your palate. Chocolate mousse and fruit. I am lost for words. Legendary 1950 all over again. Try it in 2020. WA 99 (2/2012): The 2009's nearly 14% natural alcohol, exquisite ripeness, and incredible complex bouquet of Asian spices, fruitcake, licorice, smoke, blackberries and black currants are to die for. A blend of 84% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses a viscous texture as well as a freshness and vibrancy that are remarkable given the wine’s weight, richness and potential massiveness. This extraordinary effort is one of the finest Vieux Chateau Certans made over the last sixty years. It will undoubtedly shut down in bottle, requiring a decade or more of cellaring. It should keep for 50 years thereafter. Proprietor Thienpont thinks it is a modern day version of the 1948. WS 97 (3/2012): This shows gorgeous silk and polish, brimming with beguiling plum, cherry eau de vie and red currant fruit flavors laced with supple toasty vanilla and cedar hints. But in the background brews a darker side, with loam, maduro tobacco and iron notes, which take over on the finish authoritatively. This feels like it will get a lot bigger before it fully melds—and that will be a while. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2018 through 2035. 4,300 cases made. VM 95 (7/2012): Bright medium-deep ruby. Musky aromas of red plum, blackcurrant, cocoa and tobacco leaf. Juicy, sappy and rather stylish on the palate, combining pepper and herb qualities with a subtle touch of sweetness. Not a hugely concentrated wine but amazingly well balanced and silky, and with insidious depth of flavor. Finishes with suave, spreading tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VieuxChateauCertan.aspJS 100 (2/2012): This is a wine that had extreme intensity of electrifying tannins and acidity, with supercharged fruit. Full-bodied, yet agile and lively. It touches every taste bud on your palate. Chocolate mousse and fruit. I am lost for words. Legendary 1950 all over again. Try it in 2020. WA 99 (2/2012): The 2009's nearly 14% natural alcohol, exquisite ripeness, and incredible complex bouquet of Asian spices, fruitcake, licorice, smoke, blackberries and black currants are to die for. A blend of 84% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses a viscous texture as well as a freshness and vibrancy that are remarkable given the wine’s weight, richness and potential massiveness. This extraordinary effort is one of the finest Vieux Chateau Certans made over the last sixty years. It will undoubtedly shut down in bottle, requiring a decade or more of cellaring. It should keep for 50 years thereafter. Proprietor Thienpont thinks it is a modern day version of the 1948. WS 97 (3/2012): This shows gorgeous silk and polish, brimming with beguiling plum, cherry eau de vie and red currant fruit flavors laced with supple toasty vanilla and cedar hints. But in the background brews a darker side, with loam, maduro tobacco and iron notes, which take over on the finish authoritatively. This feels like it will get a lot bigger before it fully melds—and that will be a while. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2018 through 2035. 4,300 cases made. VM 95 (7/2012): Bright medium-deep ruby. Musky aromas of red plum, blackcurrant, cocoa and tobacco leaf. Juicy, sappy and rather stylish on the palate, combining pepper and herb qualities with a subtle touch of sweetness. Not a hugely concentrated wine but amazingly well balanced and silky, and with insidious depth of flavor. Finishes with suave, spreading tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VieuxChateauCertan.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VieuxChateauCertan.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VieuxChateauCertan.aspVM 93 (1/2016): One of the under the radar gems of the vintage, the 2012 Villemaurine is striking from the outset. A dark, sumptuous Saint-Emilion, the 2012 possesses gorgeous richness to match its sensual personality. Black cherry, smoke, plum and spices are some of the many notes that emerge from this beautifully layered, inviting wine. The 2012 is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Hubert de Bouard is the consulting winemaker. Antonio Galloni.WA 92 (4/2015): Twenty years ago, this used to be one of my candidates for the worst wine from a top terroir in St.-Emilion. Things have changed incredibly since the acquisition of this property by Justin Onclin. The terroir is fabulously situated just adjacent to the walls of this medieval village, and the wine has gone from strength-to-strength. The 2012 has a dense purple color, a rocky and chalky minerality, medium to full body, and is long, rich and intense, elegant yet noble. Consumers have to be pleased that this long-time underachiever has finally raised its game under the new ownership. This is a property to seek out in St.-Emilion. Drink this 2012 over the next 15-20 years.JS 91 (2/2015): A red with a tight structure and intensity for 2012. Plenty of wet earth, walnut and berry character. Long and flavorful. Better in 2017.WS 88 (7/2015): Polished, with toasted vanilla, anise and red licorice notes wrapped around a core of plum pâte de fruit flavors. Light spice hints show on the finish. Fresh and open-knit. Drink now through 2018. 1,583 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChVillemaurine.aspWA 99 (8/1993): Millionaires will have considerable fun comparing the evolution of the 1988 d'Yquem with the 1986. Both are super-rich, honeyed, botrytised wines. The 1988 exhibits a deeper color, as well as a more evolved, richer, and more complex bouquet. Aromas of melted butter, honeyed fruits, spicy nuts, and toasty new oak explode upward from the glass. The 1988 d'Yquem displays more richness and unctuosity than any young d'Yquem I have tasted. It should have 40-60 years of positive evolution, although one suspects that much of the production will be consumed within the next 4-5 years. If my instincts are correct, this is the most profound d'Yquem since the legendary 1959. It may not prove as timeless as the 1975, but I believe it to be even more concentrated. Anticipated maturity: 1998-2050. Last tasted, 7/93.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWA 99 (8/1993): Millionaires will have considerable fun comparing the evolution of the 1988 d'Yquem with the 1986. Both are super-rich, honeyed, botrytised wines. The 1988 exhibits a deeper color, as well as a more evolved, richer, and more complex bouquet. Aromas of melted butter, honeyed fruits, spicy nuts, and toasty new oak explode upward from the glass. The 1988 d'Yquem displays more richness and unctuosity than any young d'Yquem I have tasted. It should have 40-60 years of positive evolution, although one suspects that much of the production will be consumed within the next 4-5 years. If my instincts are correct, this is the most profound d'Yquem since the legendary 1959. It may not prove as timeless as the 1975, but I believe it to be even more concentrated. Anticipated maturity: 1998-2050. Last tasted, 7/93.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWA 99 (4/1999): 1990: An extraordinary effort, Yquem's 1990 is a rich and fabulously superb, sweet wine. This wine also possesses lots of elegance and finesse. The wine's medium gold color is accompanied by an exceptionally sweet nose of honeyed tropical fruits, peaches, coconut, and apricots. High quality, subtle toasty oak is well-integrated. The wine is massive on the palate, with layers of intensely ripe botrytis-tinged, exceptionally sweet fruit. Surprisingly well-integrated acidity, and a seamless, full-bodied power and richness have created a wine of remarkable harmony and purity. Certainly it is one of the richest Yquems I have ever tasted, with 50-100 years of potential longevity. An awesome Yquem! Anticipated maturity: 2003-2050+. WS 95 (8/2000): Truly superb. Yellow with a gold hue. Intense spice, honey and dried orange peel aromas.Full-bodied, very sweet and very alive. Vibrant Sauternes that goes on and on on the palate. Doesn't get much better than this. Beautiful now,but wait.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. 18,750 cases made. VM 94+ (8/1998): Full-blown aromas of caramel, toffee, honey, white chocolate and damp earth; slightly Tokaj-like. Hugely concentrated and layered in the mouth; extraordinary sweetness cut by harmonious acidity. As with the best vintages of Yquem, the finish goes on for a minute or more. Stains, and stuns, the palate. A huge wine, surprisingly extravagant on the nose (earlier bottles have been far more restrained) but completely unevolved and a bit musclebound on the palate. May ultimately merit a higher score. MB ***** (12/1998): Picking 28 September- 10 October. Bottles in 1994. The biggest crop since 1893. The first opportunity that I, and a group of international wine writers, had to taste the wine was just prior to its release in April 1997. It already had a rich golden colour. The next thing I noticed was a surprising touch of caramel on the nose, then on the finish, with a hint of what I now just refer to as noisette. Overall impressive, powerful, yet only 13% alcohol. Later that autumn,m at a Decanter tasting (blind) of 16 1990s, I confess I did not rate it as highly as some of the others. Nothing like a glimpse of the label! But a year later, the 122nd http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWS 96 (7/2014): This leans toward the tropical side, with mango and guava notes out front, while maple, date, blood orange and citrus oil flavors fill in behind. The finish kicks into another gear, taking off with honeysuckle, orange blossom and frangipane accents. Has almost unbridled power today, while maintaining serious cut. A very impressive showing in a rather overlooked vintage.—Non-blind Yquem vertical (July 2014). Drink now through 2035. WA 95 (4/2003): Compared with the flamboyant aromatics of the 1997, Yquem's 1996 plays it closer to the vest, although there is a lot going on. Light gold with a tight but promising nose of roasted hazelnuts intermixed with creme brulee, vanilla beans, honey, orange marmalade, and peaches, this medium to full-bodied offering reveals loads of power in its restrained, measured personality. There is admirable acidity, weight, texture, and purity in this impeccably made Yquem. However, patience will be a virtue. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2060. NM 95 (11/2011): Tasted single blind at Farr’s 2005 dinner in Hong Kong. It is a while since I last tasted this vintage. Like before, the nose is tightly coiled and demands coaxing from the glass, but eventually it yields and offers a lovely bouquet of wild honey, honeysuckle, lemon curd and barley sugar. The palate is more tensile then I remember on the entry, with a keen thread of acidity and notes of mandarin, Seville orange, tinned apricot and honey, hints of almond sprinkled over the finish. It does not quite have the complexity of a top flight Yquem, but it is still a great Sauternes for long-term consideration. JR 18 (6/2010): Mid-deep copper. Middle-aged Yquem served, presumably, because Pierre Lurton was at the other end of the table. Fresh, long finish. Mid sweetness and body but not yet much subtlety. I'm sure it will get there eventually. Barley sugar and lime.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWS 97 (7/2014): Squarely on the tropical side of the spectrum, with mango, papaya and pineapple fruit laced with a marmalade note. Long and very caressing through the finish, but never heady or overpowering, as orange pâte de fruit, ginger and singed almond accents lend cut and precision. Shows the heat of the vintage while retaining energy and drive. Impressive.Drink now through 2040. JS 98 (5/2012): A massive Yquem, this has a dense palate that is almost chewy like a red. Full and very sweet, with notes of dried apricot, pineapple, and papaya on the palate. Long, with a vanilla-coconut tart finish. What a wine, voluptuous, sexy, and luscious. 147 grams of RS. Pull the cork after 2015. JR 19 (3/2008): More complexity on the nose than the Rieussec. Marzipan. Richness. Citrus. Nerve. Really deep flavours with good acidity. Tense. Yes! WA 94 (4/2013): Ex-chateau bottle tasted at the property. The 2003 Yquem was picked from 17th September after an explosion of botrytis until 26th September in one trie. It has a textbook, limpid silvery/golden hue. The nose is very seductive with lifted scents of dried honey, almond, hazelnut and just a faint hint of creme caramel all with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a refined opening. That trait of creme caramel is there loitering like a truant schoolboy in the background, but then it moves into the mid-palate and really shows its class: wonderful delineation and poise, perfect acidity and an almost pixilated finish. There is just a touch of alcohol on the aftertaste although you have to have a very sensitive palate to feel it. This is a lovely Yquem, though I would not place it within the first tier. Drink now-2030+ Tasted April 2013.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWS 94 (7/2012): Tropically ripe, with dense yet creamy layers of guava, mango, lychee and papaya, all stitched with racy lemon cream and candied grapefruit peel notes. Frangipane-framed finish pumps out wave after wave of unctuous fruit. Starting to hits its second gear, and with old-school Yquem power and muscle. Drink now through 2032. 5,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWS 94 (7/2012): Tropically ripe, with dense yet creamy layers of guava, mango, lychee and papaya, all stitched with racy lemon cream and candied grapefruit peel notes. Frangipane-framed finish pumps out wave after wave of unctuous fruit. Starting to hits its second gear, and with old-school Yquem power and muscle. Drink now through 2032. 5,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWA 96-98+ (2/2009): While no surprise here, this wine, which will be bottled in 2009, is certainly this estate’s greatest effort since their 2001. It completely outclasses everything from the appellation, but even when you’re number one, that’s often hard to do. This light gold wine offers up a sensational smorgasbord of aromas including huge honeyed pineapple and other caramelized tropical fruit flavors, massive richness, and a viscous, unctuous texture with the oak beautifully integrated. The wine has enough acidity to buttress its full-bodied mouthfeel, but this is not by any means the sweetest or most alcoholic of the d’Yquems I have tasted. In fact, in the range of d’Yquems, this is a powerful wine, but it is one built more on finesse and elegance, a la the 1988. Nevertheless, this wine will prove to have 50+ years of longevity. The finish, the mid-palate, the sensation of looking at a skyscraper of Semillon with a small dosage of Sauvignon, is impressive. Like all of the sweet wines of Barsac and Sauternes, one can drink this young, but the nuances and complexities really don’t emerge for at least a decade, especially in the case of a wine such as this. Bravo!WS 96 (7/2012): This has lovely flavors of apricot, dried tangerine, pineapple and papaya rushing along, supported by hazelnut, frangipane and coconut notes. Despite the depth, it's very, very pure, with filigreed acidity carrying the long, long finish. Drink now through 2037. 7,500 cases made.IWC 95 (6/2009): Medium bright yellow, quite pale for 2006. Wonderfully fresh aromas of pineapple, coconut, caramel, vanilla and spices lifted by a floral element. Silky on entry, then dense but almost magically light on its feet, thanks to penetrating acidity that gives sharp definition to the tight, impressively concentrated lemon, pineapple and coconut flavors. Racy rather than thick, and almost painfully young today. Finishes with a captivating note of beurre sale A wonderfully pure and refined wine for 2006, but this really needs time in bottle to knit.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWA 100 (6/2014): Served from an ex-chateau bottle. The 2009 Chateau d’Yquem is one showstopper of a wine and perhaps it is only in a vertical that you realize this is up there among the legendary wines of the past - the 2001 included. It has a wonderful nose that expresses the Semillon component majestically: heady aromas of lemon curd, nectarine, jasmine and honeysuckle that all gain momentum in the glass. The oak is supremely well-integrated. The palate is extremely well-balanced with an unctuous entry. You are immediately knocked sideways by the palpable weight and volume in the mouth, which is almost “bulbous," with layer upon layer of heavily botrytized fruit. It builds to a spicy finish with hints of marzipan and pralines in the background that lend it an untrammeled sense of exoticism. The 2009 is utterly fabulous and decadent, a star that will blaze brightly and undimmed for many years. Drink now-2060+. WS 98 (7/2012): Dense and unctuous, but with lacy detail already showing along the edges, as light toasty hazelnut and piecrust notes lead the way for creamed melon, mango and pineapple flavors, with hints of green plum and honeysuckle. There's mouthwatering drive on the finish, which drips with a rosehip honey note that keeps pulling you back. Stunning. Best from 2020 through 2055. 10,000 cases made. JS 98 (4/2012): The length to this is exceptional with an intensity yet subtlety. Full and medium sweet with bright and exciting acidity. It's all in balance here. Creme brulee, pineapple, and papaya. Lasts so long on finish. It's so fabulous now. It will age forever but it's already a joy to taste, even drink. Better in 2020.IWC 97-100 (5/2010): (a blend of 80% semillon and 20% sauvignon; 13.8% alcohol) 155 g/l residual sugar): Bright gold-tinged lemon-yellow. Enticingly fresh aromas of white flowers, honey, orange and fresh apricot, with suggestions of coconut and candied orange peel. Enters the mouth suave and wonderfully pure, with nectar-like flavors of peach, orange and pineapple complicated by a hint of smoky botrytis. Though extremely rich and concentrated, laser-like acidity gives this remarkable Sauternes a seamless, penetrating, mineral quality on the extremely long, silky finish. Its superb inner-palate energy and near-perfect balance suggest that it will evolve very slowly and go on for decades. A very sleek and refined yet impressively concentrated Yquem that remains amazingly light on its feet. A great example not just of the vintage but of the Pierre Lurton style, and quite different from the more showy and opulent wines made under the direction of Alexandre de Lur Saluceshttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspJS 97 (2/2013): The purity of Botrytis in this wine is so impressive with dried fruits such apple and mango. And then spicy character. Full body and very sweet but it is incredibly fresh and lively. Such class and elegance. Perfectly manicured wine. Everything in the right place. This shows a delicacy and intensity that are spellbinding. Drink in 2018.WA 96-98 (5/2011): Picked predominantly over 10 days from October 14, the 2010 d’Yquem has 141gms/L residual sugar and pH 3.80. It is a slow-burner, the nose understated at first but unfurling with each passing moment with subtle scents of freshly sliced apricots, Clementine, clear honey and white flowers. There is an underlying minerality that really defines this bouquet. The palate is similar to the nose, revealing hidden facets with almost each swirl of the glass – orange blossom, limestone, white peach and honeysuckle. This is such a precise d’Yquem; it is after you have swallowed the wine that one comprehends just how brilliant it is.IWC 95-98 (8/2011): Deep yellow with a golden tinge. Intense aromas of very ripe tropical fruit, beeswax, honey and raisin are lifted by a strong mineral edge. Very fresh, rich and sweet on entry, then extremely light on its feet, with refined flavors of ripe citrus, mango, papaya, honey and saffron complicated by tangy botrytis. A very bright and focused Yquem, with lively acidity and a long, smooth, floral finish. Boasts impeccable balance and lovely precision. This terrific Yquem is very stylish but less massively opulent than vintages like 1989 and 1983.WS 94-97 (4/2011): Dark and winey, with a terrific core of plum and macerated black currant fruit woven with a note of black cherry reduction. Tarry but polished. Grippy but velvety. And plenty long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspJS 97 (2/2013): The purity of Botrytis in this wine is so impressive with dried fruits such apple and mango. And then spicy character. Full body and very sweet but it is incredibly fresh and lively. Such class and elegance. Perfectly manicured wine. Everything in the right place. This shows a delicacy and intensity that are spellbinding. Drink in 2018.WA 96-98 (5/2011): Picked predominantly over 10 days from October 14, the 2010 d’Yquem has 141gms/L residual sugar and pH 3.80. It is a slow-burner, the nose understated at first but unfurling with each passing moment with subtle scents of freshly sliced apricots, Clementine, clear honey and white flowers. There is an underlying minerality that really defines this bouquet. The palate is similar to the nose, revealing hidden facets with almost each swirl of the glass - orange blossom, limestone, white peach and honeysuckle. This is such a precise d’Yquem; it is after you have swallowed the wine that one comprehends just how brilliant it is.IWC 95-98 (8/2011): Deep yellow with a golden tinge. Intense aromas of very ripe tropical fruit, beeswax, honey and raisin are lifted by a strong mineral edge. Very fresh, rich and sweet on entry, then extremely light on its feet, with refined flavors of ripe citrus, mango, papaya, honey and saffron complicated by tangy botrytis. A very bright and focused Yquem, with lively acidity and a long, smooth, floral finish. Boasts impeccable balance and lovely precision. This terrific Yquem is very stylish but less massively opulent than vintages like 1989 and 1983.WS 94-97 (4/2011): Dark and winey, with a terrific core of plum and macerated black currant fruit woven with a note of black cherry reduction. Tarry but polished. Grippy but velvety. And plenty long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspJS 97 (2/2013): The purity of Botrytis in this wine is so impressive with dried fruits such apple and mango. And then spicy character. Full body and very sweet but it is incredibly fresh and lively. Such class and elegance. Perfectly manicured wine. Everything in the right place. This shows a delicacy and intensity that are spellbinding. Drink in 2018.WA 96-98 (5/2011): Picked predominantly over 10 days from October 14, the 2010 d’Yquem has 141gms/L residual sugar and pH 3.80. It is a slow-burner, the nose understated at first but unfurling with each passing moment with subtle scents of freshly sliced apricots, Clementine, clear honey and white flowers. There is an underlying minerality that really defines this bouquet. The palate is similar to the nose, revealing hidden facets with almost each swirl of the glass - orange blossom, limestone, white peach and honeysuckle. This is such a precise d’Yquem; it is after you have swallowed the wine that one comprehends just how brilliant it is.VM 95-98 (8/2011): Deep yellow with a golden tinge. Intense aromas of very ripe tropical fruit, beeswax, honey and raisin are lifted by a strong mineral edge. Very fresh, rich and sweet on entry, then extremely light on its feet, with refined flavors of ripe citrus, mango, papaya, honey and saffron complicated by tangy botrytis. A very bright and focused Yquem, with lively acidity and a long, smooth, floral finish. Boasts impeccable balance and lovely precision. This terrific Yquem is very stylish but less massively opulent than vintages like 1989 and 1983.WS 94-97 (4/2011): Dark and winey, with a terrific core of plum and macerated black currant fruit woven with a note of black cherry reduction. Tarry but polished. Grippy but velvety. And plenty long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWS 99 (1/2014): WS 99 (1/2014): A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that’s all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long. Best from 2020 through 2060.JS 98 (1/2014): Crazy minerality to this, with lots of dried mango, pineapple and papaya on the nose. Botrytis-spice and nutmeg undertones. Full body, very sweet, with superb depth of fruit and richness. It goes on for minutes. Turns dense and concentrated on the palate. Speechless. Better in 2019.IWC 98 (7/2014): Luminous golden yellow. Cool, pure aromas of white peach, honeyed mango, guava nectar, white flowers and saffron are complicated by elements of crushed stone and spicy lemony botrytis. Suave and intensely flavored, with mineral-spiced apple, mango, passion fruit and grapefruit flavors offering outstanding purity, precision, and depth. The brisk but harmonious acidity gives this great Sauternes a penetrating quality and provides a powerful spine to the very deep flavors, making it seem less opulent than it really is. This Yquem has the depth of the 2007 but boasts even greater purity and focus. Finishes bright and extremely long, with repeating suggestions of white flowers and lemony botrytis. Though it lacks the depth of the 2001 or the opulence of the 2009 at a similar stage of development, this is one of my favorite young Yquems ever: it will age spectacularly well. WA 96 (3/2014): Served from an ex-chateau bottle. Bottled in October 2013, the 2011 Chateau d’Yquem is reticent at first, a little stage fright perhaps. It soon recovers and offers gorgeous scents with fresh white peach, nectarine and fresh apricot that are beautifully defined, although there is a veneer of new oak that will need to be subsumed. The palate is well-balanced with superb structure. There is a light spiciness here with great symmetry, and although there is not the persistency of a top flight Yquem, it has a penetration that is compelling.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWS 99 (1/2014): WS 99 (1/2014): A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that’s all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long. Best from 2020 through 2060.JS 98 (1/2014): Crazy minerality to this, with lots of dried mango, pineapple and papaya on the nose. Botrytis-spice and nutmeg undertones. Full body, very sweet, with superb depth of fruit and richness. It goes on for minutes. Turns dense and concentrated on the palate. Speechless. Better in 2019.IWC 98 (7/2014): Luminous golden yellow. Cool, pure aromas of white peach, honeyed mango, guava nectar, white flowers and saffron are complicated by elements of crushed stone and spicy lemony botrytis. Suave and intensely flavored, with mineral-spiced apple, mango, passion fruit and grapefruit flavors offering outstanding purity, precision, and depth. The brisk but harmonious acidity gives this great Sauternes a penetrating quality and provides a powerful spine to the very deep flavors, making it seem less opulent than it really is. This Yquem has the depth of the 2007 but boasts even greater purity and focus. Finishes bright and extremely long, with repeating suggestions of white flowers and lemony botrytis. Though it lacks the depth of the 2001 or the opulence of the 2009 at a similar stage of development, this is one of my favorite young Yquems ever: it will age spectacularly well. WA 96 (3/2014): Served from an ex-chateau bottle. Bottled in October 2013, the 2011 Chateau d’Yquem is reticent at first, a little stage fright perhaps. It soon recovers and offers gorgeous scents with fresh white peach, nectarine and fresh apricot that are beautifully defined, although there is a veneer of new oak that will need to be subsumed. The palate is well-balanced with superb structure. There is a light spiciness here with great symmetry, and although there is not the persistency of a top flight Yquem, it has a penetration that is compelling.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWS 98 (1/2016): Lightly toasted marshmallow and macadamia nut aromas lead the way, followed by incredibly juicy mirabelle plum, green fig, and glazed pear and peach flavors. As big as this is, there are still plenty of honeysuckle, quinine and chamomile notes kicking the finish into yet another gear. This has purity and length to burn, which it will for a couple of generations. Best from 2020 through 2050. 6,665 cases made.JS 98 (2/2016): Bright aromas of sliced mango, papaya, botrytis, and lemon follow through to a full body, medium sweet and phenolic palate that gives the wine structure and beauty. Electric acidity and freshness yet an impressive energy and length. A severe selection was made. 40% of the production was destined to the grand vin. About 80,000 bottles made. This is 70% semillion and 30% sauvignon. Better in 2018. WA 95-97 (4/2014): Firstly, you notice the color, which is a touch deeper than recent vintages at this stage. The bouquet is quite honeyed and rich for Yquem at this early juncture, with subtle scents of peach skin, white flowers, and a puff of chalk and frangipane. The palate is viscous on the entry, all about the texture at first, coating the mouth with luscious botrytized fruit. There are touches of Seville orange marmalade, fresh apricot, a hint of spice and passion fruit. This is imbued with impressive depth and weight, perhaps an Yquem that is determined to make an impression after last year-s absence. It might not possess the finesse of a top flight Yquem, but it has immense power and persistency.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWS 92-94 (12/2007): Has lovely vanilla and tropical fruit character. Full, rich and long, yet elegant and racy, with dried pineapple and white peach. Gorgeous. This is two-thirds Sauvignon and one-third Semillon.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWA 92 (4/2017): No, not a 2016, but since it is the vintage currently for sale, then I will publish my review of the 2015 Ygrec here. The Sauvignon Blanc (75% of the blend) was picked quickly from 25-27 August this year, the Sémillon on 3 and 4 September. It has six grams per liter of residual sugar and the pH, a sizzling 3.20. It has an intriguing bouquet of melted wax, white flowers and hints of sea spray, that marine influence becoming quite strong with aeration. The palate is fresh on the entry with fresh ginger and lemongrass, lively in the mouth with shades of orange rind and sour lemon towards the persistent finish. I would afford this several years in bottle and I suspect you will end up with a very distinctive dry Bordeaux from the most famous Sauternes estate.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.aspWA 92 (4/2017): No, not a 2016, but since it is the vintage currently for sale, then I will publish my review of the 2015 Ygrec here. The Sauvignon Blanc (75% of the blend) was picked quickly from 25-27 August this year, the Sémillon on 3 and 4 September. It has six grams per liter of residual sugar and the pH, a sizzling 3.20. It has an intriguing bouquet of melted wax, white flowers and hints of sea spray, that marine influence becoming quite strong with aeration. The palate is fresh on the entry with fresh ginger and lemongrass, lively in the mouth with shades of orange rind and sour lemon towards the persistent finish. I would afford this several years in bottle and I suspect you will end up with a very distinctive dry Bordeaux from the most famous Sauternes estate.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.asp