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Inventory updated: Fri, Dec 12, 2025 04:02 PM cst
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| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
1982 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML) 
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$19,595.98 |
1 |
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JS 97 (10/2012): La Mission really does have its own character. Full body with velvety tannins with hints of berry, gravel and iodine. Some may not like the later but it tells you it’s La Mission. What a wine. Drink now.
VM 95 (7/2002): Good full medium red. Exotic yet lively aromas of roasted plum, marzipan and grilled nuts. Wonderfully dense but sappy, with grip of steel. Finishes powerfully tannic and extremely long, still with a touch of youthful austerity. A very impressive showing. Drink 2005 to 2025. (My second bottle was equally impressive but came across as even more backward and dominated by its structure.)
WA 94 (1/2013): Tasted blind at Chez Bruce in London, a bottle of impeccable provenance—the 1982 La Mission Haut Brion—has proven to be a little variable in recent years. Here, it has a gorgeous bouquet that is very well defined, with dark berry fruit, potpourri and a hint of brine. It feels a little backward at first yet soon opens up, the fruit gaining more and more intensity until peaking at around 30-40 minutes. The palate displays firm structure on the entry, quite masculine with good grip. There is a fine, earthy character to this La Mission along with class and focus. Yet I found more sophistication on the 1982 La Tour Haut-Brion served alongside. It just does not quite deliver that killer blow on the finish that would have elevated it to the realms of, say, the 1989 or 1990. It is probably at its peak now but should continue that way for many years. Tasted June 2016.
WS 94 (11/1998): Slightly rustic, but firm and youthful. Dark ruby color. Beautiful aromas of berries and stones, with a hint of black truffles. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, spicy-stony finish.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal. Best from 2000 through 2010. |
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1989 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$22,418.97 |
1 |
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| WA 100 (11/1996): I am certainly not going to argue with anyone who believes La Mission-Haut-Brion's 1989 is every bit as profound as the 1989 Haut-Brion. It is a spectacular wine, and as it ages in the bottle, it is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite La Mission-Haut-Brions, ranking alongside the 1982, 1975, 1961, 1959, and 1955. The 1989 boasts a dense, thick, purple color, followed by a sweet, roasted cassis, chocolatey-scented nose with whiffs of tobacco, tar, and minerals. The wine is extremely full-bodied, unctuously-textured, sweet, jammy, and rich. Although it is still a youthful, unformed wine, it is already delicious to drink. It should develop additional bottle bouquet by the turn of the century, after which it will drink well for 15-20 years. |
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1990 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$10,611.97 |
1 |
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WA 99 (8/2012): Reminiscing over the 1989 and 1990 vintages, which I have followed from birth, there always seemed to be a dramatic difference in quality. Not that the 1990 was not a top wine, but in its infancy, I never thought it would come close to being as riveting and magnetic as its older sibling, the 1989. However, it has proven to be nearly as prodigious. One of the hottest years in Bordeaux, 1990, a vintage of enormous yields, even dwarfing yields in 1985 and 1982, produced a fabulously open-knit, seemingly fast track La Mission that, at age 22, shows no signs of fading or losing its grip. The color is slightly more mature and evolved than the 1989’s, exhibiting a lighter rim and a less dark blue/ruby/purple hue. Classic La Mission-Haut-Brion aromatics of camphor, licorice, scorched earth, hot bricks, barbecue, cassis, blueberry and kirsch are well displayed. Broad, expansive, velvety-textured and opulent with high glycerin and perhaps slightly higher alcohol (I don’t have the statistics to verify that), the 1990 is as delicious and open-knit as the 1989, with less density and possibly less potential longevity. Most 1990s have been quick to reach full maturity, and as brilliant as they can be, they need to be monitored carefully by owners. Currently in late adolescence, but close to full maturity, the 1990 should hold in a cold cellar for another 15-20 years. However, it is a fabulous wine to inspect, taste and consume, so why wait?
NM 96 (6/2017): The 1990 La Mission Haut Brion is a wine that just gives so much pleasure that it seems almost immoral to criticize. For sure, it is not in the same league as the awe-inspiring 1989, yet it has such an engaging, quintessential La Mission bouquet full of warm gravel, chestnut, morels and bay leaf scents that you just fall instantly under its charms. It seems to just grow in the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced with great depth but is still a little grainy in texture, and I noticed how it evolved almost a Musigny-like personality with time in the glass. I suggested back in 2014 that it might improve with continued bottle age. Perhaps now I believe that it has reached the top of its plateau, yet the substance and the persistence—the energy—of this Pessac-Leognan suggests that it will give 20 years of drinking pleasure. No, it's not as good as the 1989 La Mission Haut Brion, then again, few wines are.
WS 93 (2/2005): Much more linear and firm than the 1989. Full- to medium-bodied, with firm tannins and a racy finish. A fine wine. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Drink now. |
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1998 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,281.98 |
2 |
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WA 98 (8/2012): A candidate for the wine of the vintage from this somewhat forgotten year, consumers should be seeking out wines from the Right Bank and Graves as 1998 was a great vintage in those appellations. La Mission’s 1998 exhibits a healthy, opaque blue/purple color with no lightening at the edge. Thirty minutes of aeration brings forth a sensational bouquet of chocolate, cedar, truffles, graphite, blackberries, cassis and incense. La Mission’s so-called scorched earth/charcoal/hot rocks characteristic has not yet appeared. Full-bodied with superb purity, a multilayered texture, sweet tannin, good acidity and a fabulously long finish, this great, young La Mission-Haut-Brion’s finest days are yet to come. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.
JS 98 (6/2016): The La Mission Haut-Brion was even better. It showed so much iodine, chili, and currants with a distinct warm stone character in the nose. It was full body with ultra-velvety tannins and a fabulous finish. Plenty of licorice also came out of the glass. It's a fabulous wine now.
NM 97 (11/2013): Tasted at Christies' Boardroom dinner from an ex-chateau bottle. This must constitute as one of the wines of the vintage, an all-conquering La Mission Haut Brion with a bright future ahead. The nose is utterly sublime with blackberry, black olive and emerging forest floors scents intermingling with a touch of the old Cohiba cigar. The palate is full-bodied with superb concentration and a very fine line of acidity. It is not as exotic as it was four or five years ago, but there remains wonderful tension right to the very last. This is just beginning to move into a more elegant adolescence. Drink now-2040.
WS 96 (7/2009): Very dark ruby color still. The nose is deep and dense, with intense aromas of licorice, blackberry, warm stones and a hint of sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with flavors of berries, iodine and chocolate. The tannin structure builds on the palate. Still needs to come together. A baby.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2012.
MB [***[*]] (10/2001): Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%. Youthful; fragrant, good fruit and depth, became more tarry in the glass; substantial, full of fruit, oak, good length, dry finish. Drink 2010-2025.
VM 92 (6/2001): Good red-ruby. Superripe, expressive nose of plum, redcurrant, roasted stones and spices. Big, rich, plummy and deep; boasts compelling mouthfilling sweetness. Plenty of spine beneath the flesh. Finishes very long and gripping, with sweet tannins for the year. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2000 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,403.98 |
1 |
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WA 100 (8/2012): One of the wines of the vintage, the 2000 has barely budged in its evolution since it was bottled and released in 2002. After ten years in bottle, it still reveals a dense opaque purple color along with a potentially sensational bouquet of blueberries, black currants, graphite, asphalt and background oak. Extremely powerful, full-bodied and superbly concentrated with good acidity and high but round tannins, this massive La Mission-Haut-Brion should take its place among this estate’s most hallowed vintages when it hits full maturity in another one to two decades. I was surprised by just how youthful this wine tasted at age 12. If tasted blind, I would have guessed it to be around 4 to 5 years old. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050.
VM 95 (6/2003): Saturated ruby-red. Full-blown aromas of dark berries, smoked meat, tobacco and iron. Lush, thick and ripe; really builds steadily in the mouth and explodes on the back end. Quintessential La Mission notes of tobacco, minerals, tar and hot stones. Today the 2001 seems even more sharply etched but this is denser, riper and deeper, with perfectly integrated acidity. Finishes very long, with huge, palate-coating tannins.
JS 95 (5/2012): This is tight and beautiful, with a firm tannin structure and a beautiful silky texture. Full and concentrated, with a destiny. In the glass it keeps evolving, notes of iodine, spices, cedar, and earth tempt the senses. This still needs some time to come together. Don’t touch it until 2015.
WS 93 (3/2003): Lovely aromas of dried lavender, crushed berries and minerals. Full-bodied, with firm, yet polished tannins and a medium finish of tobacco, berry and dark chocolate. A balanced and very pretty young red. Not quite as exciting as in barrel, but clearly Outstanding. Best after 2010. |
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2001 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,301.97 |
1 |
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WA 96 (6/2014): Perhaps one of the more overlooked vintages in recent years, the Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2001 is one of the finest wines of the vintage. Here, one is immediately taken aback by the precision exuded by the nose: small dark cherries and orange blossom still there, perhaps the mineralite more heightened than ever. The palate displays exquisite balance with nigh on perfect acidity, demonstrating more tension, if not the dimension of the 1990 tasted alongside. This is a serious La Mission for long-term aging. Tasted June 2014.
VM 94 (9/2021): The 2001 La Mission Haut-Brion is less complex on the nose than the preceding millennial vintage. There is more blue fruit here, and perhaps greater purity compared to the 2000, though it does not quite possess the same amplitude. The saline, medium-bodied palate delivers supple tannins and hints of tangy black olives (kalamata, maybe?), and shows wonderful substance and grip toward the pure finish. Jean-Philippe Delmas commented upon the “surprising depth” of the 2001, which is true. But at the moment, the 2000 has a little more personality. 13.2% alcohol. Tasted at the château with Jean-Philippe Delmas. Neal Martin.
WS 92 (3/2004): Very complex, with blackberries, flowers and minerals. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh, sweet fruit aftertaste. Refined La Mission. Beautiful. Best after 2008. 600 cases imported. |
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2002 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,748.97 |
3 |
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VM 91+ (6/2005): Bright ruby-red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat and warm stones. Dry, classic and deep, but quite closed today, even a bit youthfully austere. Finishes very long, with substantial dusty tannins and brisk acids. Much more backward today than the Haut-Brion, despite possessing a lower indice de polyphenols totaux (65, compared to 70). But both of these wines really call for at least six or seven years of cellaring.
WS 91 (3/2005): Bright aromas of blackberries, cherries, currants and toasted oak follow through to a full-bodied palate, with chewy tannins. Long and silky. Racy. Best after 2009.
WA 89 (4/2005): This angularly-styled La Mission possesses hard tannin that may or may not dissipate over time. It exhibits a dark ruby color in addition to a sweet perfume of dusty, loamy soil notes interwoven with notions of white flowers, blueberries, black currants, and hints of toasty oak in the background. Medium-bodied and austere, it requires 2-4 years of bottle age, and should keep for 12-15. |
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2005 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,169.97 |
1 |
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NM 99 (11/2013): Tasted at Farr Vintner's La Mission dinner. The 2005 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is a stellar wine that is not for my generation but the next (and I ain't that old). It has a very expressive bouquet, the Merlot exceptionally animated and vibrant, manifesting scents of dark plum, blackcurrant, hints of leather and warm gravel lurking just behind. Returning to my glass after a couple of hours the bouquet is even more complex with lovely mint and juniper berries joining the chorus line. The palate is structured, as is typical of the 2005s, with a fine line of acidity, layers of black fruit, mint and tobacco. It fans out wonderfully on the finish. Stunning - but it deserves another decade in the cellar. Drink 2022-2060.
JS 95 (5/2012): This shows a beautiful balance between concentration and ripeness. The wine is full-bodied, showing fine and rich tannins with tons going on. This is long and beautiful. I remember this being more muscular, but nevertheless this has taken on a wonderful finesse and richness. Pull the cork after 2020.
WA 97 (4/2008): There are slightly more than 5,000 cases of the 2005 La Mission-Haut-Brion, a blend of 69% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a touch of Cabernet Franc. While there is little difference between La Mission and Haut-Brion’s terroirs (their vineyards are only separated by a two-lane road), La Mission possesses more fat, texture, and intensity. An enormously endowed wine with huge tannin and structure, the 2005 offers a quintessential Graves bouquet of burning embers, charcoal, blackberries, truffles, black currants, and a meaty character. Reminiscent of the 1989, with more structure as well as a longer window of drinkability, the 2005 may be a modern day, improved version of a vintage such as 1955, which was well-endowed, very tannic, and took a long time to come around. While fabulously full-bodied and unctuous, the 2005 will not provide much charm in its youth. It needs 8-10 years of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for 30-40 years.
WS 97 (3/2008): The Indian spices and blackberry on the nose are so enticing and inspiring, leading to a full-bodied palate, with very polished tannins that caress. Goes on and on as this builds on the palate, with a mineral and berry aftertaste. For long-term aging. Best after 2015. 5,665 cases made.
VM 94+ (6/2008): Deep ruby-red. Black raspberry and licorice on the nose. Dense and sweet but youthfully tight; a serious young wine with terrific verve and the acid/tannin backbone to support a long and glorious evolution in bottle. Very long on the back end, with mouth-saturating fruit and tannins. Like La Chapelle-and in direct contrast to Bahans and Haut-Brion-this is quite backward today, and almost certain to merit a higher rating in the future. |
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2006 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,772.97 |
1 |
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WA 94 (8/2012): A somewhat under-the-radar La Mission, the 2006 was generally overlooked following the brilliance of the 2005. A young, dense purple-hued wine that is developing beautifully, it exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce, charcoal, barbecue smoke, roasted meats, graphite and background oak. Full-bodied with good acidity, moderate tannin and a vigorous, powerful youthfulness, the 2006 will age more quickly than the 2005, but it still requires another 5-8 years of cellaring. Anticipated Maturity: 2014-2035.
WS 95 (3/2009): Almost jammy, with vanilla bean and coffee undertones. Full-bodied and very powerful, with big, juicy tannins and a long finish. Very big and generous for the vintage, showing exceptional quality. Best after 2015. 6,000 cases made.
VM 92+ (8/2010): Bright red-ruby. Redcurrant, cherry, iron, brown spices and licorice on the nose. Begins lush, full and generous if not overly sweet, then tightens up with air, showing its rather powerful underlying structure. This sharply delineated wine will need a good seven or eight years in bottle to reveal itself. |
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2006 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,468.97 |
1 |
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WA 94 (8/2012): A somewhat under-the-radar La Mission, the 2006 was generally overlooked following the brilliance of the 2005. A young, dense purple-hued wine that is developing beautifully, it exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce, charcoal, barbecue smoke, roasted meats, graphite and background oak. Full-bodied with good acidity, moderate tannin and a vigorous, powerful youthfulness, the 2006 will age more quickly than the 2005, but it still requires another 5-8 years of cellaring. Anticipated Maturity: 2014-2035.
WS 95 (3/2009): Almost jammy, with vanilla bean and coffee undertones. Full-bodied and very powerful, with big, juicy tannins and a long finish. Very big and generous for the vintage, showing exceptional quality. Best after 2015. 6,000 cases made.
VM 92+ (8/2010): Bright red-ruby. Redcurrant, cherry, iron, brown spices and licorice on the nose. Begins lush, full and generous if not overly sweet, then tightens up with air, showing its rather powerful underlying structure. This sharply delineated wine will need a good seven or eight years in bottle to reveal itself. |
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2009 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,507.99 |
1 |
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WA 100 (8/2012): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2009 La Mission-Haut-Brion stood out as one of the most exceptional young wines I had ever tasted from barrel, and its greatness has been confirmed in the bottle. A remarkable effort from the Dillon family, this is another large-scaled La Mission that tips the scales at 15% alcohol. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (47% of each) and the rest Cabernet Franc, it exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a magnificent bouquet of truffles, scorched earth, blackberry and blueberry liqueur, subtle smoke and spring flowers. The wine’s remarkable concentration offers up an unctuous/viscous texture, a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, sweet, sumptuous, nearly over-the-top flavors and massive density. Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime La Mission-Haut-Brion, the 2009 will take its place alongside the many great wines made here since the early 1920s. The good news is that there are nearly 6,000 cases of the 2009. It should last for 50-75+ years. Given the wine’s unctuosity and sweetness of the tannin, I would have no problem drinking it in about 5-6 years. The final blend was 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc.
JS 98 (2/2012): What a gorgeous nose of ripe dark fruits such as bramble berries, blueberries and currants, with hints of orange flowers. This is so tight and focused, with laser-guided tannins. It starts very slowly and then builds and builds and builds on the palate. Currants and blackberries galore, yet a tangy, firm and creamy textured tannin structure. Racy, muscular structure. Try in 2021.
VM 97+ (7/2012): Bright, deep ruby. Brooding, complex cabernet sauvignon-dominated nose of uncommon depth, offering notes of cassis, cigar box, minerals, cedar and dry herbs. Extremely pure and fresh, with massive but still totally unevolved flavors of blackcurrant, dark plum and minerals. I love this wine's impeccable balance and smooth, tactile finish. A monumental La Mission with Outstanding persistence.
NM 96 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The La Mission Haut-Brion ‘09 has an opulent bouquet, a lot of glycerine - opulent and sensual. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins. Good concentration here with fine depth, a lot of sweet black spicy fruit with a tingling, umami like pepperiness towards the rounded, generous finish. This is voluptuous and irresistible. Tasted January 2013.
WS 96 (3/2012): This is forcefully rendered, with dark tar, espresso and chocolate up front, backed by dense layers of fig sauce, currant reduction and smoldering black tea leaves. There's dense flesh and great drive on the finish, which has serious grip. Best from 2016 through 2035. 6,000 cases made. |
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2010 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,632.97 |
2 |
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WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion has a commanding, profound nose of baked blackberries, boysenberries and warm cassis plus suggestions of candied violets, red roses, chocolate box, cedar chest and smoked meats with a waft of iron ore. Full-bodied, powerful and hedonic, the palate bursts with expressive black fruits and floral sparks, framed by exquisitely ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing with epic length. A real head-turner, this beauty is already very impressive, but for that full WOW experience I would give it another 3-5 years in bottle to blossom.
JS 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.
VM 98 (4/2020): The 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion has a very flattering bouquet with detailed red and black fruit laced with chestnut, cedar and sous-bois. This is supremely well focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. There is immense depth here, more savoury than expected with chestnut once again, white pepper and a tinge of dried blood towards the finish. Outstanding. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin.
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. |
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2011 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,630.97 |
2 |
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WA 95 (4/2014): The small production (4,150 cases) of 2011 La Mission-Haut-Brion displays the nobility and complexity of this great terroir. Burning embers, scorched earth, blueberry, black currant, licorice and spice aromas jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. With full body (atypical for a 2011), but no hard edges, this opulent, multidimensional, fleshy, rich, stunningly long, well-balanced La Mission is another great achievement in what has been nearly a century of producing remarkable wines from this hallowed vineyard. The long 2011 should be reasonably mature in another 4-6 years, and last for two decades. It will always be a revelation in a vintage that is unlikely to receive a lot of exciting press. The final blend was 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc.
JS 93 (2/2014): A wine with pretty dark-chocolate, berry and currant character. Stones, too. Full body, chewy but polished tannins and a firm finish. Already showing the sea shell and iodine. Needs at least four or five years to soften. Reminds me of the excellent 1978. Try in 2019.
WS 93 (3/2014): This sports a pleasantly grippy edge of briar and cassis bush notes, with a densely layered core of dark fig, blackberry and black currant fruit that should move to the fore soon enough. The long, mesquite-tinged finish has solid grip. Best from 2016 through 2030.
VM 91-94 (5/2012): (55% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot and 11% cabernet franc; 3.67 pH): Bright, dark ruby-red. Enticing aromas of strawberry, blackcurrant and white pepper, with a strong mineral overlay. Dense and rich but also juicy, with pure mineral and dark berry flavors and a delicately peppery element. The finish is pure and long. This La Mission seems almost too open today, but there's plenty of structure to support its fruit and acidity. Another classic vintage for this property. |
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2011 |
Pessac Leognan (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,788.98 |
1 |
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WA 95 (4/2014): The small production (4,150 cases) of 2011 La Mission-Haut-Brion displays the nobility and complexity of this great terroir. Burning embers, scorched earth, blueberry, black currant, licorice and spice aromas jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. With full body (atypical for a 2011), but no hard edges, this opulent, multidimensional, fleshy, rich, stunningly long, well-balanced La Mission is another great achievement in what has been nearly a century of producing remarkable wines from this hallowed vineyard. The long 2011 should be reasonably mature in another 4-6 years, and last for two decades. It will always be a revelation in a vintage that is unlikely to receive a lot of exciting press. The final blend was 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc.
JS 93 (2/2014): A wine with pretty dark-chocolate, berry and currant character. Stones, too. Full body, chewy but polished tannins and a firm finish. Already showing the sea shell and iodine. Needs at least four or five years to soften. Reminds me of the excellent 1978. Try in 2019.
WS 93 (3/2014): This sports a pleasantly grippy edge of briar and cassis bush notes, with a densely layered core of dark fig, blackberry and black currant fruit that should move to the fore soon enough. The long, mesquite-tinged finish has solid grip. Best from 2016 through 2030.
VM 91-94 (5/2012): (55% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot and 11% cabernet franc; 3.67 pH): Bright, dark ruby-red. Enticing aromas of strawberry, blackcurrant and white pepper, with a strong mineral overlay. Dense and rich but also juicy, with pure mineral and dark berry flavors and a delicately peppery element. The finish is pure and long. This La Mission seems almost too open today, but there's plenty of structure to support its fruit and acidity. Another classic vintage for this property. |
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2013 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,279.99 |
2 |
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| VM 92 (8/2023): The 2013 La Mission Haut-Brion has a light tertiary bouquet with black pepper and wild mint touches. It's elegant, even if it misses some vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and fine acidity. The 2013 is cohesive with a dash of white pepper. Moderate in terms of length, this is a very decent showing in a difficult vintage. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
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2015 |
Pessac Leognan (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,247.98 |
6 |
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JS 100 (2/2018): Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024.
WA 98 (2/2018): The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+.
JD 98 (11/2017): More opulent, sexy and concentrated, the 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a tour de force that has everything you could want from Bordeaux. A huge nose of smoke tobacco, gravelly earth, graphite, cassis, and blackcurrants gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, perfectly balanced beauty that has incredible depth of flavor and intensity, yet with no weight. While the overall impression is upfront and in your face, it has incredible elegance and length on the finish (as well as ripe tannin), and will keep for three decades.
VM 98 (7/2019): The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of brilliantly focused and delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar - pure class. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate delivers fine-grained tannin and impressive depth. There is a slight savory element (just like the Haut-Brion) that infuses the middle, and brown spices and sage linger on the finish. This is a profound La Mission Haut-Brion that dares surpass Haut-Brion on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin.
WS 96 (3/2018): Alluring, with steeped plum, blackberry and açaí berry fruit imparting a distinctive edge. Slightly burly tannins roam underneath but the fruit is so fleshy and broad they are easily absorbed, while dark pudding, warm tar, licorice snap and roasted alder notes flow in on the lengthy finish. Reveals a gorgeous Turkish coffee accent at the very end. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2040. 6,800 cases made. |
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|
2016 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,981.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 99 (1/2019): The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion was stunning from barrel, and now in bottle. It has a sublime bouquet of blackberries, briar and hints of dark chocolate and rose petals that gain intensity with aeration while maintaining ethereal delineation. It never steps on the accelerator too hard. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is still a veneer of new oak that will need to be assimilated over the coming years. This is a deep La Mission that caresses the mouth. Touches of graphite lingering on a finish that fans out gloriously. Is the 2016 up there with the 1955 or 1989? Nearly. Neal Martin.
WA 98+ (11/2018): The 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is just a little muted to begin, soon unfurling to reveal slowly growing scents of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries, dark chocolate and candied violets with nuances of crushed rocks, tobacco leaf, forest floor and fragrant earth plus a hint of bergamot. Medium-bodied and exquisitely elegant, the palate offers perfectly ripe, fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness with layer upon layer of perfumed fruit and a very long, ferrous-laced finish.
JD 98 (2/2019): The 2016 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion checks in as a Merlot-heavy blend, 57.5% Merlot and 42.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. About as pure and seamless (yet sexy) as they come in the vintage, it offers awesome notes of dried flowers, sweet currants, cedarwood, forest floor, and exotic spices. With a flawless texture, medium to full body, and ultra-fine tannins, this beauty builds incrementally on the palate with terrific mid-palate depth and a stunning finish. It’s sexier and more charming compared to the more backward Haut Brion, yet I suspect it will age just as long.
WS 97 (3/2019): This is super vivid, offering cassis, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry compote flavors that bristle with energy while a mouthwatering frame of anise and apple wood adds electric energy. This is borderline rambunctious but it's bridled well enough and when the fruit and wood sides mesh fully, this will be a rock star. Best from 2025 through 2040. 7,300 cases made. |
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|
2017 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,179.99 |
5 |
|
| |
JS 97 (12/2019): A tight, solid red with crushed-berry, sandalwood, stone and cement flavors. It’s full-bodied, yet very tight and compact with excellent depth and intensity. Closed and austere, but there’s both energy and levity to it at the same time. Try after 2025.
WA 96+ (3/2020): Composed of 56% Merlot, 4.4% Cabernet Franc and 39.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion is a little reticent on the nose to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of crushed blackcurrants, Black Forest cake and Morello cherries with suggestions of cigar box, pencil shavings, charcoal and fertile loam. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity with loads of mineral layers and a rock-solid line of firm, grainy tannins, finishing very long and with great energy.
VM 96 (3/2020): A positively stunning wine, the 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion is all class. Sweet floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness, nuance and energy. Rose petal, mint, blood orange, red cherry, pomegranate and mocha are all laced together. In 2017, La Mission plays very much in the red fruit and floral end of the spectrum. Effortless, gracious and wonderfully nuanced, the 2017 simply has it all. What a wine! Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (2/2020): Checking in as a blend of 56% Merlot, 39.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc brought up in 68% new French oak, the 2017 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion sports a vivid ruby color to go with a beautifully round, textured, opulent style on the palate that's hard to find in the vintage. Classic notes of unsmoked tobacco, incense, spiced currants, and chocolate all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, has silky tannins, a fresh, classic, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish. |
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|
2019 |
Pessac Leognan ex-Negociant |
$289 |
4 |
|
| |
| JS 99-100 (6/2020): A tight and structured La Mission that takes you deep into the glass with super intensity and power. The tannins are omnipresent and envelop the palate. It’s full-bodied yet agile and complete. Iodine, sweet-tobacco and blackberry character. It seems never to finish. Another WOW wine that reminds me of some of the great classics of this estate, such as the 1955. |
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|
2019 |
Pessac Leognan (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,988.98 |
2 |
|
| |
| JS 99-100 (6/2020): A tight and structured La Mission that takes you deep into the glass with super intensity and power. The tannins are omnipresent and envelop the palate. It’s full-bodied yet agile and complete. Iodine, sweet-tobacco and blackberry character. It seems never to finish. Another WOW wine that reminds me of some of the great classics of this estate, such as the 1955. |
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|
2020 |
Pessac Leognan (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,536.97 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 99 (3/2023): Lastly, the Grand Vin 2020 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is cut from the same cloth as the La Chapelle, only it brings more of everything. Black raspberries, cassis, ripe cherries, sandalwood, smoked tobacco, and acacia flowers are just some of its nuances, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless, sexy mouthfeel, remarkable tannins, and a great, great finish. The level of purity, finesse, and elegance, paired with incredible concentration, is something to behold. Give bottles just 5-7 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following half a century. The blend is 48.6% Merlot, 43.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, hitting a natural alcohol of 14.7%.
WA 97-99 (5/2021): Composed of 48.6% Merlot, 43.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.2% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 7th to 29th September, the 2020 La Mission Haut-Brion has an alcohol of 14.7%. It needs considerable swirling and coaxing to reveal slowly emerging scents of freshly crushed blackcurrants, Morello cherries, wild blueberries and forest floor, leading to suggestions of violets, baker's chocolate and cardamom with wafts of dusty soil and oolong tea. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with impactful, fresh red, black and blue fruit layers, supported by impressive freshness and fantastically ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing very long and fragrant. A stunning expression of this vintage!
VM 97-99 (5/2021): The 2020 La Mission Haut-Brion was picked September 7–29. It has a very intense and beautifully defined bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry, wilted violet petals and hints of orange blossom. It unfolded with aeration as I examined it side-by-side against its neighbor over the course of an hour. The exquisitely balanced palate is lightly spiced on the entry and segues into a very structured midpalate that frames the weight of pixelated black fruit. That spicy theme continues and is exaggerated toward a finish that fans out wonderfully. This is a less alcoholic La Mission Haut-Brion compared to recent vintages, a bit "cooler" and streamlined, yet no less intense and satisfying. An enthralling wine in the making from Jean-Philippe Delmas and his team. Neal Martin.
JS 97-98 (4/2021): This really builds on the palate. Loads of blackberry and iodine with asphalt undertones. It’s full-bodied with tannins that steamroll at the end and keep going. Classic blend. |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2009 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,777.99 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 96 (2/2012): An exquisite blend of 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine possesses a zesty crushed rock component intermixed with lemon butter, fig, white currant, quince and melons. Its steely backbone of acidity gives precision and zestiness to what is a full-bodied, powerful, concentrated dry white that should evolve for 20 or more years.
WS 93 (3/2012): Almost lush, with shortbread and verbena notes that lead the way, but this quickly turns racy and refined, with Jonagold apple, Meyer lemon, lime chiffon and chartreuse notes all extending through the detailed finish. An underlying quinine edge adds extra length. A beauty. Best from 2014 through 2024. 540 cases made.
VM 91-94 (5/2010): (84% semillon and 16% sauvignon blanc) Pale straw-gold. Initially mute nose hints at sauvignon-like gooseberry and green fig, then changes completely with air to reveal more typical semillon notes of white flowers, white peach and beeswax. Entering very clean and fresh, this wonderfully tactile wine offers precise, pure flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes very long and smooth, with lingering waxy and flinty notes. A more linear and less showy wine than the Haut-Brion Blanc but one that should age effortlessly. This is obviously the wine that was called Laville Haut-Brion prior to 2009, although I should note that La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc was the original name. The name Laville Haut-Brion had been created by previous La Mission owner Frederic Woltner when he bought the adjoining Clos Laville in 1928 and fused it with La Mission. |
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|
2012 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,076.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96-98+ (4/2013): This blend of 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon Blanc is from the vineyard that used to be known as Laville Haut-Brion. Bursting with aromas of candle wax, honeyed tangerines, exotic melon and lychee nut-like notes, it exhibits terrific minerality along with a full-bodied mouthfeel, exceptional concentration, great acids and a long finish that lasts 40+ seconds. This killer dry white wine should drink well for 30-40+ years.
JS 96 (11/2013): Lots of mineral, oyster shell, apple pie and white pepper on the nose and palate. Full and rich yet very bright and fresh. Dried pear and apple undertones. Intense.
VM 95 (1/2016): The 2012 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is a real stunner. All the elements fall into place in an utterly spellbinding white wine endowed with class and pedigree to burn. A host of orchard fruit, lemon oil, mint and sweet floral notes flesh out, but it is the wine's overall feel and phenomenal, precise finish that elevate it into to the stratosphere. The 2012 can be enjoyed now, but it will also age for decades.
NM 95-97 (4/2013): The La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is a blend of 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon Blanc, which Jean-Philippe Delmas described as a classic blend. The nose is tightly wound with delicate Kaffir lime, orange zest and citrus lemon – great vigour here. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, lively citric fruit with a superb linearity. You can feel the persistency on the languorous finish that displays wonderful focus and minerality. Superb – but what else did you expect?
WS 93 (3/2015): A brisk herbal spine of tarragon and chive runs through the core of yellow apple, white peach and blanched almond notes. A touch nervy on the finish, with a fleur de sel detail, this needs to knit together a bit more in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2022. 555 cases made. |
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|
2014 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,125.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 99 (2/2017): So much lemon, pineapple and green-papaya aromas here. Stones and salt block, too. Full-bodied, dense and layered with a creamy and layered mouthfeel. Powerful and agile at the same time. Exceptional. Rivals the 100-point 2011 La Mission. Drink if you can find it!
VM 95 (2/2017): The 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc has really blossomed since I tasted it from barrel. A brilliant, mesmerizing wine, the 2014 exudes personality and class. Lemon confit, white flowers, slate and orchard fruit give the wine its chiseled, expressive personality. Above all else, though, the 2014 is a wine that speaks to balance. There is quite a bit of ripeness and texture, but also vibrant acidity to keep things in check. The blend is 72 % Semillon and 28 % Sauvignon. Antonio Galloni.
WS 95 (3/2017): An intriguing flash of mint gives way quickly to white peach, tangerine, dried pineapple and singed macadamia nut notes. Rich, but a bitter orange hint streaks through the finish, imparting terrific cut. Still youthfully raw, but there's more than enough energy and depth here for aging. Best from 2022 through 2032. 625 cases made.
NM 93 (3/2017): The 2014 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc has a surprisingly strict bouquet that needed coaxing from the glass, eventually offering scents of Cornice pear, jasmine and honeysuckle. This is very subtle and clearly will need a few years in bottle, just like Laville Haut Brion demanded. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, a cheeky pinch of lemongrass enlivening the senses on the entry, quite a feral La Mission Haut Brion Blanc with the Semillon fully in control on the lightly honeyed, spicy finish. It is a great La Mission Haut Brion, although I remain convinced that the 2014 Haut Brion Blanc has the class this year. |
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|
2015 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,300.97 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,840.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 98-99 (4/2017): This is dense like a Montrachet yet so minerally with crushed-stone undertones. Full-bodied, layered and powerful. A great glass of white wine. First time they used a majority of sauvignon blanc. |
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|
2019 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,801.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94-96+ (6/2020): The La Mission Haut-Brion 2019 Blanc is composed of 69.9% Semillon and 30.1% Sauvignon Blanc, harvested from the 30th of August until the 10th of September. The estimated label alcohol degree is 14%. Notions of freshly squeezed limes, grapefruit juice and white peaches come wafting out of the glass followed by suggestions of yuzu zest, coriander seed, underripe pineapple, wet pebbles and green mango with a touch of fennel. The medium to full-bodied palate offers layer upon layer of citrus fruits and mineral accents wrapped in a beautiful satiny texture and featuring seamless freshness, finishing long and chalky.
VM 96 (6/2020): The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc is a total stunner. Freshly cut flowers, mint, apple, citrus and sage are all finely cut in a chiseled, crystalline white of magnificent beauty. The Blanc is so deep and fully flavored, yet remains taut and light on its feet. It is a truly remarkable wine by any measure. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-100 (6/2020): The 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is a more Semillon-dominated release (compared to the Haut-Brion Blanc) and checks in as 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn't have quite the same exotic, mineral-laced style of the Haut-Brion Blanc yet offers brilliant notes of white peach, honeysuckle, white flowers, key lime pie, and a building sense of minerality. It's a rich, powerful, full-bodied white with a mouthfilling texture, ample mid-palate density, and a blockbuster of a finish.
JS 98-99 (6/2020): This is a juicy, savory white with dried apples and peaches and saltiness at the same time. Very classic, but even more precise. Layered and powerful. Exciting. Semillon and sauvignon blanc, as always. |
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|
2019 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,101.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94-96+ (6/2020): The La Mission Haut-Brion 2019 Blanc is composed of 69.9% Semillon and 30.1% Sauvignon Blanc, harvested from the 30th of August until the 10th of September. The estimated label alcohol degree is 14%. Notions of freshly squeezed limes, grapefruit juice and white peaches come wafting out of the glass followed by suggestions of yuzu zest, coriander seed, underripe pineapple, wet pebbles and green mango with a touch of fennel. The medium to full-bodied palate offers layer upon layer of citrus fruits and mineral accents wrapped in a beautiful satiny texture and featuring seamless freshness, finishing long and chalky.
VM 96 (6/2020): The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc is a total stunner. Freshly cut flowers, mint, apple, citrus and sage are all finely cut in a chiseled, crystalline white of magnificent beauty. The Blanc is so deep and fully flavored, yet remains taut and light on its feet. It is a truly remarkable wine by any measure. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-100 (6/2020): The 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is a more Semillon-dominated release (compared to the Haut-Brion Blanc) and checks in as 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn't have quite the same exotic, mineral-laced style of the Haut-Brion Blanc yet offers brilliant notes of white peach, honeysuckle, white flowers, key lime pie, and a building sense of minerality. It's a rich, powerful, full-bodied white with a mouthfilling texture, ample mid-palate density, and a blockbuster of a finish.
JS 98-99 (6/2020): This is a juicy, savory white with dried apples and peaches and saltiness at the same time. Very classic, but even more precise. Layered and powerful. Exciting. Semillon and sauvignon blanc, as always. |
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|
2020 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,373.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,903.98 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,793.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,853.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Le Carillon de l' Angelus |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,533.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 87-89 (5/2011): A good, possibly excellent effort, the 2010 Carillon d’Angelus is made from a selection from the larger Angelus vineyard, but it does not live up to the quality that vineyard routinely produces. Composed of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it offers lots of red and blue fruits along with medium body, but it seems somewhat monolithic and uncharacteristically straightforward for a wine from proprietor Hubert de Bouard. It should be consumed during its first 10-12 years of life. |
|
| Ch. L' Arrosee |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$831.98 |
1 |
|
| |
NM 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. |
|
| Ch. Beaumont |
2010 |
Haut-Medoc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$392.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Beychevelle |
2010 |
St. Julien (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$633.97 |
3 |
|
| |
JS 95 (11/2013): Beautiful aromas of blackberries, currants and flowers. Very aromatic. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and gorgeous fruit. It's polished and very refined. One of the best Beychevelles in years. Try in 2018.
WA 94 (2/2013): Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins (although they’ve softened considerably during the wine’s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien.
NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Beychevelle 2010 has a comparatively opulent bouquet compared to its peers: more Pauillac in style with graphite tinged black fruit, boysenberry and blackcurrant, with a slight exotic note underneath - marmalade or even peach. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, ripe, succulent tannins. There is a fine line of acidity here, a gentle grip and a lovely spicy finish. One of Philippe Blanc's finest wines in recent years.
WS 93 (3/2013): Features a gutsy feel, displaying dark, roasted cedar and tobacco notes framing a core of steeped fig, blackberry paste and plum skin that rumbles through the tarry finish. Shows strong grip on the back end, with the briary edge extending nicely. Best from 2016 through 2035.
VM 91+ (5/2011): Good deep red. Lively aromas of cassis, black cherry, licorice and flowers. Gripping and energetic, with captivating flowers and spices lifting the medicinal dark berry, licorice and mineral flavors. More intense than usual for this property: the tannins are serious but suave and this very youthful wine appears to have the density of material for two or three decades of evolution in bottle. It may well ultimately merit a higher score. |
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|
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,665.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 95 (11/2013): Beautiful aromas of blackberries, currants and flowers. Very aromatic. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and gorgeous fruit. It's polished and very refined. One of the best Beychevelles in years. Try in 2018.
WA 94 (2/2013): Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins (although they’ve softened considerably during the wine’s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien.
NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Beychevelle 2010 has a comparatively opulent bouquet compared to its peers: more Pauillac in style with graphite tinged black fruit, boysenberry and blackcurrant, with a slight exotic note underneath - marmalade or even peach. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, ripe, succulent tannins. There is a fine line of acidity here, a gentle grip and a lovely spicy finish. One of Philippe Blanc's finest wines in recent years.
WS 93 (3/2013): Features a gutsy feel, displaying dark, roasted cedar and tobacco notes framing a core of steeped fig, blackberry paste and plum skin that rumbles through the tarry finish. Shows strong grip on the back end, with the briary edge extending nicely. Best from 2016 through 2035.
VM 91+ (5/2011): Good deep red. Lively aromas of cassis, black cherry, licorice and flowers. Gripping and energetic, with captivating flowers and spices lifting the medicinal dark berry, licorice and mineral flavors. More intense than usual for this property: the tannins are serious but suave and this very youthful wine appears to have the density of material for two or three decades of evolution in bottle. It may well ultimately merit a higher score. |
|
|
2010 |
St. Julien (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,660.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 95 (11/2013): Beautiful aromas of blackberries, currants and flowers. Very aromatic. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and gorgeous fruit. It's polished and very refined. One of the best Beychevelles in years. Try in 2018.
WA 94 (2/2013): Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins (although they’ve softened considerably during the wine’s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien.
NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Beychevelle 2010 has a comparatively opulent bouquet compared to its peers: more Pauillac in style with graphite tinged black fruit, boysenberry and blackcurrant, with a slight exotic note underneath - marmalade or even peach. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, ripe, succulent tannins. There is a fine line of acidity here, a gentle grip and a lovely spicy finish. One of Philippe Blanc's finest wines in recent years.
WS 93 (3/2013): Features a gutsy feel, displaying dark, roasted cedar and tobacco notes framing a core of steeped fig, blackberry paste and plum skin that rumbles through the tarry finish. Shows strong grip on the back end, with the briary edge extending nicely. Best from 2016 through 2035.
VM 91+ (5/2011): Good deep red. Lively aromas of cassis, black cherry, licorice and flowers. Gripping and energetic, with captivating flowers and spices lifting the medicinal dark berry, licorice and mineral flavors. More intense than usual for this property: the tannins are serious but suave and this very youthful wine appears to have the density of material for two or three decades of evolution in bottle. It may well ultimately merit a higher score. |
|
| Ch. Branaire-Ducru |
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,141.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 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.
VM 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. |
|
| Roc des Cambes |
2010 |
Cotes de Bourg (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$635.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Cantemerle |
2010 |
Haut Medoc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$798.97 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (2/2013): The wine needs a good 7-10 years of cellaring and should keep for 30 more years, but this is the finest Cantemerle I have encountered in my professional career of tasting young vintages (dating back 34 years now). Stunningly deep ruby/purple, with a beautiful nose of spring flowers intermixed with perfumed raspberry and blueberry notes, it exhibits a sort of cool-climate character. Broad, rich and intense on the palate, the wine has plenty of tannins, but they are sweet and well-integrated. Everything is delicately entwined into this beautiful, medium to full-bodied, dense purple wine, which shows stunning character and a prodigious potential for development. This is definitely a major sleeper of the vintage and even better than I thought from barrel.
JS 94 (4/2011): Layered and rich with lots of blueberry character and ripe velvety tannins. Lovely texture. Best wine from here in years.
WS 91 (3/2013): Offers a sappy feel, with deliciously pure notes of kirsch and blackberry preserves. Lightly toasted spice and singed anise accents lead to the long, graphite-fueled finish. Should age gracefully. Drink now through 2022. 33,333 cases made.
VM 90+ (7/2013): Good full ruby-red. Musky aromas of black cherry, blueberry, espresso, menthol and licorice, lifted by a cool floral element. Densely packed and savory, displaying sappy energy to its intense dark berry flavors. With a serious structure and no easy sweetness today, this vibrant wine will need a good five to seven years in the cellar and should last well. This may eventually merit an even higher score.
NM 90 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Cantemerle 2010 has a floral bouquet that is akin to a Margaux - crushed violets intermingling with blackberry and wild hedgerow all with fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied with tart cherry fruit on the entry, before segueing into a powdery mid-palate and structured, more masculine finish. The fruit needs to be more expressive but I think this is just entering a sulky patch and deserves several years in bottle. |
|
| Ch. Chasse Spleen |
2010 |
Moulis (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$676.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 93 (2/2013): A wine with wonderfully fresh and perfumed aromas with crushed flowers and berries. Full body, with super integrated tannins and a silky textured finish. This is refined and very pretty. Better than 2009. Drink or hold.
NM 90+ (1/2014): The Chasse-Spleen 2010 has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and mint - quite Pauillac in style and full if vigour. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grippy tannins, but there is decent fruit here and some attractive ripe Merlot counterbalancing the Cabernet on the finish. I feel it has closed down a little since one year earlier, hence my lower score, but it should come back in several years time.
WA 90 (2/2013): A beautiful effort from Chasse-Spleen, this dense purple wine exhibits plenty of black currant and black cherry fruit with some licorice, roasted herbs and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied and supple, the final blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot has produced a fleshy, succulent style of Chasse-Spleen to drink over the next 15+ years.
WS 90 (3/2013): Very supple and refined, with a crumpled velvet feel to the smoldering bay, tobacco and mulled spice hints surrounding the core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit. Flashes of cedar and sandalwood hang through the fine-grained finish. Rustic and lovely. Drink now through 2017. 25,000 cases made. |
|
| La Chenade |
2010 |
Lalande de Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$584.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
2010 |
St. Emilion |
$999 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 100 (6/2019): Showing even better than a bottle a few years ago, the 2010 Chateau Cheval Blanc is perfection in a glass and wine doesn’t get any better. As with the 2009, it’s a powerful, concentrated Cheval Blanc, yet it has a slightly dark, cooler profile in its smoky black fruits, graphite, new leather, crushed rocks and cured meat aromas and flavors. Where the 2009 hits the palate with a sunny, sexy style, this stays more inward and masculine, yet it still has incredible sweetness of fruit, flawless integration of its fruit, tannins, and acidity, a great mid-palate, and a finish that goes on for over a minute. It opens up with time in the glass and offers incredible pleasure today, with an exotic masculine yet sexy style, but feel free to enjoy this legendary wine any time over the coming 3-4 decades.
WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color and made of 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Merlot, the nose of the 2010 Cheval Blanc is a bit subdued to begin, measuredly opening out to reveal achingly provocative notions of molten chocolate, preserved Morello cherries, baked blackberries, boysenberries and blueberry compote with wafts of underbrush, cigar box, cumin seed and sandalwood. Full-bodied, the palate is a full-on atomic bomb waiting to go off, with very tightly coiled, slowly maturing black fruits eking out glimpses of a vast array of nuances. Still very youthful, it finishes with an incredibly persistent, jaw-dropping display of earth and mineral fireworks. I’d leave this one for another 5 years and drink it over the next 50.
JS 100 (11/2013): The aromas here are crazy with flowers, mushroom, forest floor, and fruit. It seems like I am walking through a row of the vines in Cheval Blanc when I have my nose in the glass. It's full-bodied, with fabulous layers of ultra-fine tannins and milk chocolate, raspberries, and a phenomenal finish. Truly one of the greatest Chevals ever. Better than 2009. Try in 2020.
WS 98 (3/2013): This is stone-cold shut down right now, but why worry? You'll want to wait at least a decade before breaching a bottle as massively endowed as this, with loads of loamy bass notes thumping along underneath a riveting track of licorice snap, pastis-steeped black currant fruit, maduro tobacco and espresso. And then there's an echo of petrichor at the very end that hints at the aromatic fireworks to come with cellaring. Should compete for wine of the vintage. Best from 2020 through 2040.
VM 95+ (7/2013): Good bright, deep red. Captivating scents of cassis, violet, minerals, bitter chocolate and wild herbs. Extremely fine-grained but also very dense and chewy for young Cheval Blanc, showing great cabernet franc lift and perfume and a downright velvety texture. This deep, multilayered wine was a bit dominated by its brooding tannins and big structure when first poured, but I found my score going steadily higher as the wine benefited from air. My rating may look too conservative a decade from now--or three or four decades hence. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,523.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (6/2019): Showing even better than a bottle a few years ago, the 2010 Chateau Cheval Blanc is perfection in a glass and wine doesn’t get any better. As with the 2009, it’s a powerful, concentrated Cheval Blanc, yet it has a slightly dark, cooler profile in its smoky black fruits, graphite, new leather, crushed rocks and cured meat aromas and flavors. Where the 2009 hits the palate with a sunny, sexy style, this stays more inward and masculine, yet it still has incredible sweetness of fruit, flawless integration of its fruit, tannins, and acidity, a great mid-palate, and a finish that goes on for over a minute. It opens up with time in the glass and offers incredible pleasure today, with an exotic masculine yet sexy style, but feel free to enjoy this legendary wine any time over the coming 3-4 decades.
WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color and made of 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Merlot, the nose of the 2010 Cheval Blanc is a bit subdued to begin, measuredly opening out to reveal achingly provocative notions of molten chocolate, preserved Morello cherries, baked blackberries, boysenberries and blueberry compote with wafts of underbrush, cigar box, cumin seed and sandalwood. Full-bodied, the palate is a full-on atomic bomb waiting to go off, with very tightly coiled, slowly maturing black fruits eking out glimpses of a vast array of nuances. Still very youthful, it finishes with an incredibly persistent, jaw-dropping display of earth and mineral fireworks. I’d leave this one for another 5 years and drink it over the next 50.
JS 100 (11/2013): The aromas here are crazy with flowers, mushroom, forest floor, and fruit. It seems like I am walking through a row of the vines in Cheval Blanc when I have my nose in the glass. It's full-bodied, with fabulous layers of ultra-fine tannins and milk chocolate, raspberries, and a phenomenal finish. Truly one of the greatest Chevals ever. Better than 2009. Try in 2020.
WS 98 (3/2013): This is stone-cold shut down right now, but why worry? You'll want to wait at least a decade before breaching a bottle as massively endowed as this, with loads of loamy bass notes thumping along underneath a riveting track of licorice snap, pastis-steeped black currant fruit, maduro tobacco and espresso. And then there's an echo of petrichor at the very end that hints at the aromatic fireworks to come with cellaring. Should compete for wine of the vintage. Best from 2020 through 2040.
VM 95+ (7/2013): Good bright, deep red. Captivating scents of cassis, violet, minerals, bitter chocolate and wild herbs. Extremely fine-grained but also very dense and chewy for young Cheval Blanc, showing great cabernet franc lift and perfume and a downright velvety texture. This deep, multilayered wine was a bit dominated by its brooding tannins and big structure when first poured, but I found my score going steadily higher as the wine benefited from air. My rating may look too conservative a decade from now--or three or four decades hence. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Domaine de Chevalier |
2010 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$685.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 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. |
|
| Le Clarence de Haut Brion |
2010 |
Pessac Leognan Ex-Negociant |
$189 |
7 |
|
| |
JS 94 (2/2013): Quite jammy on the nose with lots of fruit. Plums, berries and jam. Full body, with a fluid center palate and chewy tannins. Round and rich. Seems more upfront and friendly than the second wine of La Mission. 52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Better in 2018.
WA 93 (2/2013): The second wine of Haut-Brion is now called Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, and the 2010 is among the finest I have tasted there. It is a broad, powerful and more muscular wine than its cross-street rival, La Chapelle de la Mission, but all the same, it is wonderfully fresh and precise, with notes of blueberry and boysenberry as well as hints of smoke and wet stones. Endowed with gorgeous fruit, texture, purity and elegance, this relatively dense second wine demonstrates how draconian the selection process has become for the top estates in Bordeaux in recent years. The blend of this wine is 52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc with just a touch of Petit Verdot. I would expect it to last at least 20 years, which is remarkable.
WS 93 (4/2013): Intense, with a bold, roasted apple wood note out front and anise-infused plum and blackberry fruit surrounding the core. Lots of bramble, tar and warm stone accents course through the finish. Displays impressive range and grip. Best from 2015 through 2030. 7,200 cases made. |
|
| Clarendelle |
2010 |
Bordeaux (5.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$300.97 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Clinet |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,023.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 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.
VM 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. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. La Confession |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$725.97 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 92-95 (5/2011): Proprietor Jean-Philippe Janoueix has hit a bull’s-eye with both vintages of La Confession. The 2010, which is a larger production wine given his acquisition of a large vineyard near both Lucia and Fonroque, has turned out to be a blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc that tips the scales at a boisterous 14.7% natural alcohol. Production is now up to approximately 2,600 cases. This is a sensational wine that I had on three separate occasions with identical results. Opaque purple, with an exquisite nose of blueberry liqueur, black raspberries, licorice, graphite, and forest floor, the wine has fabulous fruit, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, full-bodied opulence, and a stunning finish. There is plenty of tannin, but I suspect the extravagant fruit and glycerin this wine possesses will make it approachable in its exuberant youth, yet carry it nicely for 15 or more years.
JS 92-93 (4/2011): Solid and structure with mineral and blueberry character. Long and silky. Intense and balanced. Confession of high quality here.
WS 90-93 (7/2011): Very ripe and flattering, with loads of linzer torte, cassis and crushed cherry fruit, but well-supported by notes of cocoa, graphite and toasty spice. The finish is long and grippy. Very solid. |
|
|
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$798.97 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 92-95 (5/2011): Proprietor Jean-Philippe Janoueix has hit a bull’s-eye with both vintages of La Confession. The 2010, which is a larger production wine given his acquisition of a large vineyard near both Lucia and Fonroque, has turned out to be a blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc that tips the scales at a boisterous 14.7% natural alcohol. Production is now up to approximately 2,600 cases. This is a sensational wine that I had on three separate occasions with identical results. Opaque purple, with an exquisite nose of blueberry liqueur, black raspberries, licorice, graphite, and forest floor, the wine has fabulous fruit, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, full-bodied opulence, and a stunning finish. There is plenty of tannin, but I suspect the extravagant fruit and glycerin this wine possesses will make it approachable in its exuberant youth, yet carry it nicely for 15 or more years.
JS 92-93 (4/2011): Solid and structure with mineral and blueberry character. Long and silky. Intense and balanced. Confession of high quality here.
WS 90-93 (7/2011): Very ripe and flattering, with loads of linzer torte, cassis and crushed cherry fruit, but well-supported by notes of cocoa, graphite and toasty spice. The finish is long and grippy. Very solid. |
|
| Ch. Cos d'Estournel |
2010 |
St. Estephe (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,767.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Cos d'Estournel unfurls slowly, measuredly, releasing delicate notes of dried mulberries, stewed plums and blackcurrant pastilles before giving way to notions of potpourri, black cherry compote and chocolate box plus touches of dried sage, tobacco and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid foundation of very firm, grainy tannins and very lively acidity supporting the remarkable intensity of tightly wound fruit layers, finishing very long and fragrant. Give it another 4-5 years in bottle and this will be stunning!
JS 98 (10/2016): There’s clarity and beauty to this wine as always with pure dark berry, stones and spices. Some clove too. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long finish. Pure and precise wine with so much class. Try in 2020.
VM 97 (4/2020): The 2010 Cos d’Estournel is initially backward on the nose, yet it eventually unfurls to reveal pixelated black fruit, crushed stone, cedar and pine cones, wonderful precision and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins that frame the multi-layered black fruit laced with cedar and black pepper. Great body, superb length and outstanding precision on the finish - what more would you want? Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
WS 97 (12/2015): A great contrast to the '09, this feels even denser, with dark plum, black currant and fig sauce flavors that pump along. The spine is all graphite and chalk, giving this a riveting feel through the finish. The cut is terrific, no easy feat considering how dense the fruit is. A stunning wine.—Non-blind Cos-d'Estournel vertical (December 2015). Best from 2025 through 2045. |
|
| Ch. le Crock |
2010 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$609.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Les Cruzelles |
2010 |
Lalande de Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$749.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2010 |
St. Julien (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,909.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (11/2013): The nose is phenomenal with perfect aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon with currant bush, blackberries and minerals. A pure expression of Cab. The palate is perfect with a full body, but has perfectly integrated tannins with a texture like the finest cashmere. It's strong but noble with perfect form and beauty. All in harmony. A fabulous wine that everyone who loves Bordeaux should have a bottle or case of. Better in 2020.
WA 98+ (3/2029): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Ducru-Beaucaillou bursts from the glass with bold, expressive blackcurrant cordial, baked plums and mulberries scents plus wafts of menthol, Marmite toast, black olives and dried lavender. Full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, with solid walls of super firm, super ripe tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing with great length.
JD 98+ (11/2017): A monumental wine that’s going to be just about immortal is the 2010 Ducru-Beaucaillou. Coming from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot brought up in new barrels, it sports a saturated purple color to go with dense, yet incredibly pure, classic notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil, crushed rocks and liquid violets. With full-bodied richness, a massive, unctuous texture, and again, incredible purity, it needs to be forgotten for 7-8 years and will keep for just about as long as you’ll like to hang onto bottles.
NM 97 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Ducru Beaucaillou 2010 has a very classic bouquet with intense blackberry, briary and tobacco aromas - very expressive Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Pauillac mint developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, very linear but with lovely focus and class. This is a beautifully crafted Saint Julien with style and panache.
WS 97 (3/2013): Not shy at all, with a flamboyant, aromatic profile of roasted apple wood and warm ganache, featuring more than enough stuffing in the form of thickly layered blackberry paste, steeped fig and pastis-soaked plum flavors. The structure is massive but incredibly polished, and the fruit displays terrific purity through the graphite-supported finish. Large-scale and extremely well-rendered. Best from 2020 through 2040. 8,416 cases made.
VM 95+ (7/2013): Medium red-ruby. Sexy, ripe aromas of black- and redcurrant, cedar and minerals, lifted by a subtle minty note; an essence of perfumed Saint-Julien cabernet sauvignon. Then rich, deep and incredibly vibrant, displaying major dimensions for Ducru as well as a dense kernel of complex, delineated blackcurrant, red cherry, milk chocolate, cedar and fresh herb flavor. Finishes wonderfully long and subtle, with suave tannins that eventually dust the front teeth and a quintessentially silky texture. If the 2010 vintage is a modern classic, this wine could be Exhibit A. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,945.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (11/2013): The nose is phenomenal with perfect aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon with currant bush, blackberries and minerals. A pure expression of Cab. The palate is perfect with a full body, but has perfectly integrated tannins with a texture like the finest cashmere. It's strong but noble with perfect form and beauty. All in harmony. A fabulous wine that everyone who loves Bordeaux should have a bottle or case of. Better in 2020.
WA 98+ (3/2029): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Ducru-Beaucaillou bursts from the glass with bold, expressive blackcurrant cordial, baked plums and mulberries scents plus wafts of menthol, Marmite toast, black olives and dried lavender. Full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, with solid walls of super firm, super ripe tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing with great length.
JD 98+ (11/2017): A monumental wine that’s going to be just about immortal is the 2010 Ducru-Beaucaillou. Coming from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot brought up in new barrels, it sports a saturated purple color to go with dense, yet incredibly pure, classic notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil, crushed rocks and liquid violets. With full-bodied richness, a massive, unctuous texture, and again, incredible purity, it needs to be forgotten for 7-8 years and will keep for just about as long as you’ll like to hang onto bottles.
NM 97 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Ducru Beaucaillou 2010 has a very classic bouquet with intense blackberry, briary and tobacco aromas - very expressive Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Pauillac mint developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, very linear but with lovely focus and class. This is a beautifully crafted Saint Julien with style and panache.
WS 97 (3/2013): Not shy at all, with a flamboyant, aromatic profile of roasted apple wood and warm ganache, featuring more than enough stuffing in the form of thickly layered blackberry paste, steeped fig and pastis-soaked plum flavors. The structure is massive but incredibly polished, and the fruit displays terrific purity through the graphite-supported finish. Large-scale and extremely well-rendered. Best from 2020 through 2040. 8,416 cases made.
VM 95+ (7/2013): Medium red-ruby. Sexy, ripe aromas of black- and redcurrant, cedar and minerals, lifted by a subtle minty note; an essence of perfumed Saint-Julien cabernet sauvignon. Then rich, deep and incredibly vibrant, displaying major dimensions for Ducru as well as a dense kernel of complex, delineated blackcurrant, red cherry, milk chocolate, cedar and fresh herb flavor. Finishes wonderfully long and subtle, with suave tannins that eventually dust the front teeth and a quintessentially silky texture. If the 2010 vintage is a modern classic, this wine could be Exhibit A. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Le Petite Eglise |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,158.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Clos l' Eglise |
2010 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$959.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2013): Another brilliant wine from Helene Garcin-Leveque, the 2010 Clos L'Eglise comes from a 15-acre vineyard near the well-known church just to the west of the high plateau of Pomerol. It is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Loads of roasted espresso notes intermixed with white chocolate, plum, Asian soy, blackberry and black cherry fruit make for an intensely perfumed set of aromatics. Plump, fleshy and full-bodied, with beautiful fruit as well as undeniable purity and an enticing texture, this is a succulent, lush Pomerol to drink over the next 12-15+ years.
NM 94 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clos l'Eglise 2010 has an intense bouquet with dense black fruit mixed with autumn leaves and crushed rock - well defined with good lift. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a little chewy on the fruit palate but plenty of substance and grip towards the liquorice-tinged finish. There is a fine sense of energy here: no frills but everything in its right place. Tasted January 2014.
VM 94 (6/2011): Good bright, deep red. Crystallized black raspberry, cherry, bitter chocolate and graphite minerality on the expressive nose. Dense, sweet and very deep, with hugely rich flavors of red and darker berries, espresso and bitter chocolate. As creamy as this is, there's no shortage of energy or underlying tannic support. Very long and lush on the finish. A great vintage for this property, but this will probably be best over the next 15 years.
WS 94 (3/2013): Offers gorgeous mouthfeel, range of fruit and length. A velvety feel belies the dense structure buried here, while thoroughly enticing linzer torte, plum sauce and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors pump along, supported by singed spice, apple wood and ganache. Displays flesh, structure, definition and drive. One for the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2030. 1,250 cases made. |
|
| Ch. L' Eglise Clinet |
2010 |
Pomerol
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$428.97 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 98 (11/2013): Sweet berries with hints of incense and spices on the nose with black truffles. Very ripe but not over-the-top. This is full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a smoky wood and mushroom undertone. It's dense and impressive yet very balanced. I like it, slightly better quality than the 2009. Give the wine five or six years of bottle age to soften before opening.
NM 97 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau L'Eglise-Clinet 2010 has a broody, marine-influenced bouquet that is sulky at first, but opens nicely with seaweed and iodine-tinged black fruit unfolding with every swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry. Rounded and velvety smooth, gentle grip but very powerful towards the showy and generous Merlot-driven finish. I guessed it to be Clinet before its identity was revealed!
WA 96+ (2/2013): This wine will likely be a major superstar with about 10-15 years of cellaring. It was one of the more closed and difficult wines to penetrate and one of probably only a dozen or so 2010s that I only had one chance to taste from bottle, but it is loaded with fabulous raw materials. The 2010 is a profound effort, but it needs to be forgotten for at least a decade. This opaque purple wine offers up notes of caramelized black currant and black cherry candies intermixed with some very high class, subtle vanillin and toast. Hints of licorice, mocha and perhaps even a touch of chocolate are also present in this full-bodied, super-duper, concentrated, classic wine, which has everything in perfect proportions. But in the finish, its whoppingly big tannins kick in and basically announce that drinking this wine now would be infanticide. Look for this wine to last for at least 50+ years.
WS 96 (3/2013): Rich but delightfully pure, with a stunningly gorgeous, pure beam of unadulterated raspberry preserves driving through the middle, showing hints of plum, anise and blueberry hanging in the background. The long finish drips with fruit, but maintains the racy acidity needed for balance and elegance, while a fine minerality slides in underneath. Drink now through 2030. 1,333 cases made.
VM 95+ (7/2013): Good deep red. Wild, superripe nose combines dark raspberry, black olive, smoked meat, mocha and sexy oak. Hugely rich and sweet but structured too, offering Outstanding depth to its flavors of berries, dark chocolate, espresso, graphite and underbrush. Finishes with huge but noble tannins and Outstanding persistence. As rich and concentrated as this is, it somehow maintains a light touch. A great expression of merlot with the sheer strength of material and structure for a long life in bottle. |
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|
2010 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,112.98 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 98 (11/2013): Sweet berries with hints of incense and spices on the nose with black truffles. Very ripe but not over-the-top. This is full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a smoky wood and mushroom undertone. It's dense and impressive yet very balanced. I like it, slightly better quality than the 2009. Give the wine five or six years of bottle age to soften before opening.
NM 97 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau L'Eglise-Clinet 2010 has a broody, marine-influenced bouquet that is sulky at first, but opens nicely with seaweed and iodine-tinged black fruit unfolding with every swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry. Rounded and velvety smooth, gentle grip but very powerful towards the showy and generous Merlot-driven finish. I guessed it to be Clinet before its identity was revealed!
WA 96+ (2/2013): This wine will likely be a major superstar with about 10-15 years of cellaring. It was one of the more closed and difficult wines to penetrate and one of probably only a dozen or so 2010s that I only had one chance to taste from bottle, but it is loaded with fabulous raw materials. The 2010 is a profound effort, but it needs to be forgotten for at least a decade. This opaque purple wine offers up notes of caramelized black currant and black cherry candies intermixed with some very high class, subtle vanillin and toast. Hints of licorice, mocha and perhaps even a touch of chocolate are also present in this full-bodied, super-duper, concentrated, classic wine, which has everything in perfect proportions. But in the finish, its whoppingly big tannins kick in and basically announce that drinking this wine now would be infanticide. Look for this wine to last for at least 50+ years.
WS 96 (3/2013): Rich but delightfully pure, with a stunningly gorgeous, pure beam of unadulterated raspberry preserves driving through the middle, showing hints of plum, anise and blueberry hanging in the background. The long finish drips with fruit, but maintains the racy acidity needed for balance and elegance, while a fine minerality slides in underneath. Drink now through 2030. 1,333 cases made.
VM 95+ (7/2013): Good deep red. Wild, superripe nose combines dark raspberry, black olive, smoked meat, mocha and sexy oak. Hugely rich and sweet but structured too, offering Outstanding depth to its flavors of berries, dark chocolate, espresso, graphite and underbrush. Finishes with huge but noble tannins and Outstanding persistence. As rich and concentrated as this is, it somehow maintains a light touch. A great expression of merlot with the sheer strength of material and structure for a long life in bottle. |
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| Ch. L' Evangile |
2010 |
Pomerol (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,871.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96-98 (5/2011): As I have been predicting, the Rothschilds are pushing l’Evangile to the highest level of the Pomerol hierarchy. Composed of 88.8% Merlot and 11.2% Cabernet Franc, the 2010 achieved 14.7% alcohol naturally, making it one of the few 2010s with lower alcohol than its 2009 counterpart (the 2009 had 15% alcohol and the 2008 had 14.5%). Most of that is due to the superb ripeness and the high concentration of Merlot in 2010. The berries were extremely tiny and the drought and cool nights in August and September gave the 2010 a lower pH and higher acidity than the 2009. For example, the 2010's pH is 3.7, the 2009's is higher and in 2000 it was 4.0. The dense purple-colored 2010 exhibits massive levels of black raspberries, Asian plum sauce, truffles and cassis. The wine is unctuously textured and remarkably fresh with a weighty richness (much like the 2009) but greater delineation. A marvelous effort, it, along with the 2009, may turn out to be one of the two greatest wines made by l’Evangile. The 2010 should drink well young yet last for three decades or more.
WS 94-97 (7/2011): Gorgeous raspberry ganache, fig and boysenberry fruit is liberally laced with fruitcake and graphite. Superracy, with linzer torte and red licorice taking over the finish. Very long, with lots going on here already. Tasted non-blind.
JS 94-95 (4/2011): What a nose, with orange peel, dark berries and blueberries. Full and bright , with super velvety tannins. Acidity is juicy too. Very sumptuous. Creamy tannin texture. 88 percent Merlot and 22 percent Cabernet Franc.
VM 92-95 (6/2011): (89% merlot and 11% cabernet franc; 3.75 pH; 14.7% alcohol) Opaque purple-ruby. Deep, rich aromas of black plum, violet, licorice and chocolate. Extremely broad and impressively large-scaled, with almost shocking sweetness to the jammy red and black fruit flavors. This huge, extract-rich Pomerol comes across as dense and luscious, but may prove almost too much for some wine lovers. The long finish features refined, smooth tannins. I did not get to taste the estate's second wine this year, Blason d'Evangile, as only 6,000 bottles were made and it won't be offered en primeur. |
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| Ch. de Ferrand |
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$562.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Ch. de Fieuzal |
2010 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$896.97 |
1 |
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| |
NM 92 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. This is a strong showing from de Fieuzal. It has a pretty bouquet with perfumed floral red berry fruit and nicely integrated oak - natural but not short-changing you in flavour. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, pointed acidity, dusky black fruit with a linear, but quite classy finish. This is a very competent de Fieuzal that should age with style.
WS 92 (3/2013): A sleek, ripe, driven wine, with raspberry, black currant and pastis-soaked plum notes at the core, lined with well-embedded toast, ganache and tobacco hints. The finely beaded acidity stitches this up nicely on the lengthy finish. Best from 2015 through 2030.
VM 91 (8/2013): Good deep ruby-red. Dark berries and spicy, cedary oak dominate the nose. Supple and broad but a bit less creamy in the early going than is normal for this wine. Sexy, soil-driven flavors of plum, tobacco, cigar box and spices show good energy. Firm tannins clamp down on the finish without introducing any dryness. A rather classically styled Fieuzal with good mid-term aging potential.
WA 90 (2/2013): A more tannic, backward style of Pessac-Leognan, this wine has attractive, elegant notes of sweet plum, fig, tobacco leaf and red and black currants. It is medium-bodied, elegant, rich and persistent on the palate. The tannins are still relatively elevated and the wine in need of 4-6 years of cellaring. It should keep for at least two decades or more. |
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| Ch. La Fleur Cardinale |
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$553.98 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95 (2/2013): Dense ruby/purple, it tips the scales at 15% natural alcohol and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Full-bodied in texture, it offers up loads of blueberry, blackberry and raspberry fruit intermixed with some cedar, vanilla and a touch of spring flowers. Impressively built, with good acidity and light tannin, this is a superb example of wine that reaches its prime in 3 or 4 years and lasts two decades. It’s right up there with their brilliant 2005.
VM 94 (7/2013): Black ruby. Superripe, sexy aromas of blackberry pastille and blueberry. Creamy-sweet-verging-on-confectionery, but with harmonious acidity giving shape and energy to the wine's superconcentrated dark fruit and floral flavors. Best today on the broad, energetic finish, which features substantial ripe, fine-grained tannins and slowly mounting floral persistence. A knockout. Stephen Tanzer.
JS 93 (2/2013): Wow. This shows an impressive richness on the nose of cappuccino, ripe berries and dried flowers. Full body with velvety tannins and a fine finish. Rich and delicious. Harmonious and luscious. So delicious now but better in 2017.
WS 93 (3/2013): This is rich and very plush, but really pure as well, with gorgeous macerated cherry, cassis and blackberry preserves flavors gliding along, carried by remarkably polished tannins. Flecks of bergamot, blood orange and apple wood fill in on the finish, with a fine minerality buried as well. This should be lovely after some cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2030. 6,083 cases made. |
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| Ch. La Fleur Morange |
2010 |
St. Emilion Mathilde |
$45 |
1 |
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| |
VM 91 (7/2013): Good bright medium ruby. Aromas of blackberry, dark raspberry, licorice, minerals and dark chocolate show liqueur-like ripeness. Sweet, lush, velvety and deep, but with good ripe acidity and violet lift to the flavors of black raspberry, menthol and chocolatey oak. A bit less high-toned and sweet than the "regular" La Fleur Morange, but finishes with noble fine-grained tannins and serious length. Very impressive merlot. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (2/2013): The 2010 Mathilde is 100% Merlot in 2010, and the alcohol is at 15%. The wine is a blockbuster, a delicious, hedonistic St.-Emilion fruit bomb with loads of blackberry, raspberry, black currant and cherry notes intermixed with some cedar wood, forest floor and a touch of toast. The interesting thing about Mathilde is that it is bottled and put on the market much earlier than most of the serious wines of Bordeaux. The Mathilde is probably best consumed in its first decade of life. |
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| Ch. Fontenil |
2010 |
Fronsac (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$478.98 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 92 (2/2013): This is rich and round with a juicy, savory palate of crushed berries. Minerals too. Full body, with velvety tannins and a delicious finish. So delicious now but better in 2016.
WA 91 (2/2013): The 2010 Fontenil displays loads of crushed rock and floral notes intermixed with raspberries, red currants and some darker fruits such as blueberries. It is medium to full-bodied, with relatively soft tannins but good acidity, ripeness and focus. It should drink nicely for at least a decade.
WS 91 (3/2013): Fresh and racy, with a very direct beam of black cherry and red currant fruit, gently laced with tobacco and sage hints that glide through the inviting finish. Not as grippy as the best, but shows lovely purity and balance, with deceptive length. Best from 2015 through 2023.
VM 90 (8/2013): Bright, full red-ruby. Sexy nose combines raspberry, flowers, menthol and crushed rock accented by licorice and mint. Juicy, spicy and firm, with sound acidity enlivening the flavors of blueberry and licorice. Not at all overdone; in fact, a bit youthfully disjointed today owing to its acidity. Finishes fresh and persistent, with serious, dusty tannins spreading out to coat the incisors. I'd wait four or five years before pulling the cork.
NM 90 (3/2013): The Fontenil 2010 has a deep ruby colour. The nose is clean and rounded with small dark cherries, a touch of smoke and dark plum. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. There is an insistent grip to the Fontenil whilst the finish is fresh with Asian spices and tobacco. Would be perfect with a meat dish. Tasted November 2012. |
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| Les Forts de Latour |
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,693.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (2/2019): 2010 was a very dry vintage of exceptional quality, producing incredibly structured and complex wines that are a little formidable when young but should age incredibly. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose of the 2010 Les Forts de Latour is broody with subtle notes of licorice, tar, crushed black berries and plums with hints of spice cake and hoisin. Full-bodied, firm and grainy with an impenetrable core of muscular fruit, it finishes with fantastic persistence. Give it 5-7 years at least, and then it may well outlive the 1970 Les Forts that I recently tasted with Latour's CEO, Frederic Engerer!
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.
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. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2010 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,279.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97 (2/2019): 2010 was a very dry vintage of exceptional quality, producing incredibly structured and complex wines that are a little formidable when young but should age incredibly. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose of the 2010 Les Forts de Latour is broody with subtle notes of licorice, tar, crushed black berries and plums with hints of spice cake and hoisin. Full-bodied, firm and grainy with an impenetrable core of muscular fruit, it finishes with fantastic persistence. Give it 5-7 years at least, and then it may well outlive the 1970 Les Forts that I recently tasted with Latour's CEO, Frederic Engerer!
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.
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. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Clos Fourtet |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,076.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 98 (2/2013): The wine has an opaque blue/black color and abundant notes of forest floor, spring flowers, black raspberry and blueberry liqueur in the aromatics along with hints of espresso and white chocolate. The wine is dense, full, rich, unctuously textured and very full-bodied, with its extravagant glycerin, fruit and extract covering the wine’s somewhat tannic structure. This is a bigger, more restrained and structured wine than the outrageously flamboyant and prodigious 2009. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30-40 years.
NM 96 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clos Fourtet seems to be getting better and better in bottle. Here, it has a more restrained bouquet compared to its peers, blackcurrant, boysenberry and raspberry and plenty of minerals. It is very focused and poised with marine influences developing in the glass. The palate is well defined with fine tannins and acidity. Neatly composed, precise and almost showing immense freshness and clarity, this Clos Fourtet with one of Mathieu Cuvelier's finest vintages in recent years.
WS 95 (3/2013): Very winey, with a saturated, sappy feel as kirsch, blackberry preserves and blueberry coulis notes tumble around, while the frame of charcoal, smoldering tobacco and licorice root keeps them penned together. The tannin structure is significant, but very refined, and that should carry this through extended cellaring while the aromatics and midpalate develop harmony. Best from 2016 through 2030. 3,750 cases made.
VM 94+ (7/2013): Full medium ruby. Initially a bit stunted on the nose, hinting at blackberry, blueberry, leather and mocha, this opened spectacularly with air to reveal scents of strawberry, flowers and forest floor. Sweet, highly concentrated and deep, with very dark blackberry and bitter chocolate flavors complicated by cabernet franc hints of fresh herbs and licorice. Impressively dense, broad and full, but still a bit youthfully chunky. Finishes with serious but ripe tannins and Outstanding length. This extremely impressive wine will need patience. |
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| Ch. La Gaffeliere |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,889.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 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.
VM 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. |
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|
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,749.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 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.
VM 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. |
|
| Ch. Le Gay |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,472.98 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 99 (2/2013): The 2010 Le Gay is performing sensationally, even better than my wildly enthusiastic tasting notes from barrel might have predicted. Inky opaque purple, and presenting a formidable and foreboding nose of camphor, black truffles, graphite, blueberries and blackberries as well as hints of smoked meats and floral nuances. Just about everything seems to be present in this smorgasbord of aromatics delights. The wine hits the palate with power, richness and purity, full-bodied texture, and enormous intensity. The final blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine needs at least 8-10 years of cellaring, based on its masculinity and structure, and should easily eclipse 20-40 years in a good cellar.
NM 97 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Le Gay is one of the best wines of 2010, a testament to the late Catherine Pere-Verge. It is very elegant with beautifully interwoven oak furnishing the seamless aromatic profile: pure blackberry and raspberry fruit mixed with a little truffle and tobacco developing later. The palate is medium-bodied with an understated entry. It feels devastatingly silky and smooth in the mouth with well-judged acidity and a pure, sensual lilting finish that knows that it does not have to try that hard. Tasted January 2014.
WS 95 (3/2013): Features a gorgeous, velvety mouthfeel, offering layer upon layer of crushed plum, warm linzer torte, steeped blackberry and anise notes, lined with black tea and well-singed wood spice notes. A beautiful combination of weight and grace, boasting a long, mineral-tinged finish that lets the fruit drip luxuriously. A real showstopper. Best from 2015 through 2030.
VM 94 (7/2013): Saturated bright ruby-purple. Black cherry and licorice on the enticing nose, plus hints of cocoa and vanilla. Sweet and creamy in the mouth, with harmonious acidity framing and lifting the concentrated, ripe cassis, black cherry and chocolate flavors. Finishes firm, but with fine-grained tannins providing support to the creamy, soft flavors. Plenty of fresh acidity also helps to extend the flavors on the long finish. A very impressive wine--much better and less aggressively tannic than it appeared to be when I tasted it last spring. Stephen Tanzer.
JS 94 (2/2013): Feminine violet nose with beautiful polished purple fruit, vanilla and some Seville orange. Dense and full-bodied on the palate with dancing acidity and soft fine tannins. Very pleasant already now. So delicious. Give it time. Try after 2016. |
|
| Manoir de Gay |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$642.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 91 (3/2013): Still a bit tight, with a strong graphite layer holding the core of plum, fig and blackberry at bay for now. Dark licorice root, espresso and ganache flavors drive the finish, which has a muscular and still-chewy edge. Cellar short-term. Best from 2014 through 2022.
NM 90 (3/2013): The Manoir de Gay has a crisp, well defined, rather bashful bouquet that demands coaxing from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with quite “strict" tannins, ample freshness and a precise but short finish. You’ll finish a bottle and want another.
WA 88 (2/2013): This second wine of Le Gay is a rarity in the marketplace. The 2010 Manoir de Gay is round and plump, with muscular black fruits intermixed with hints of damp earth and forest floor. The tannins are silky and the acid low, so this is best drunk over the next 5-8 years.
JS 88 (3/2013): Blackberries and ripe lemon with licorice and some sweet spice. Soft fruit on the palate with nice smooth tannins and fine texture. A a bit short. Drink now. |
|
| Ch. Gazin |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,607.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (2/2013): Wow! This wine exceeded my enthusiastic barrel tasting notes. A big, back-strapping blockbuster from Gazin, in which the oak seems to be pushed into the background (thankfully), the wine offers up notes of caramelized black cherry and black currant fruit interwoven with mocha, white chocolate, subtle toast and hints of coffee beans and tobacco leaf. The exceptional aromatics are easily followed up by a full-bodied, powerful, broodingly backward, rich, intense wine with multiple dimensions, layers of fruit, and a sensational finish of close to a minute. This is one of the all-time great efforts from Gazin. It should be forgotten for 6-10 years and drunk over the following 30 to 40.
JS 95 (11/2013): A subtle red with ultra-fine tannins that accentuate a palate of chocolate, berries and nuts. Full and very round. It's refined and beautiful. Hard not to drink now but wait at least five years. Top wine from Gazin.
NM 94 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Gazin 2010 has a broody, tobacco-infused nose with precise black fruit, fine mineralite and vigour, almost citric in style. The palate is medium-bodied with a conservative opening. At the moment it is sulky and introspective, yet well balanced but patently a long-term wine that is shutting down. Firm and structured on the masculine finish, this needs at least to come round.
WS 93 (3/2013): Dense, with a dark, smoldering feel as charcoal and coffee weave around a core of mulled fig, blackberry and boysenberry fruit. The long, muscular finish features singed iron and black tea notes for added range. Needs a little time, but should unfurl nicely. Best from 2015 through 2030. |
|
| Ch. Giscours |
2010 |
Margaux Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 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. |
|
| Ch. Gloria |
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$929.98 |
7 |
|
| |
VM 94 (4/2020): The 2010 Gloria has a very attractive and quite intense bouquet with a surfeit of blackberry and wild strawberry scents, cedar and light seaweed coming through with aeration. The palate is very well balanced with supple but firm tannins framing the pure blackberry and bilberry fruit, laced with black pepper and clove. Very complex, very focused and very precise on the finish, this is an outstanding 2010 Saint-Julien. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin
WA 93 (5/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Gloria features notions of cedar, sandalwood and dusty earth with a core of black cherry compote and black berry pie plus wafts of tapenade, truffles and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and lively acid with emboldened flavors and an earth-laced finish. |
|
| Clos des Jacobins |
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$316.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 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. |
|
| Ch. Kirwan |
2010 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$594.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 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. |
|
| Ch. Labegorce |
2010 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$873.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 93 (2/2013): Very aromatic with blueberry, mineral and dried mint. Full body, with super velvety texture with wonderful fruit and a balanced finish. Beautiful tannins. So wonderful to taste now but another three or four years will be better. Try in 2016.
NM 90 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Labegorce 2010 has a very concentrated bouquet with lush blackberries, loganberry and well-integrated oak that lends this a high quality modern sheen. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky smooth entry, well judged acidity and a fleshy, slightly savoury finish with better complexity than its peers. Tasted January 2014.
WS 89 (7/2013): Slightly chunky in style, displaying a firm, singed apple wood frame to the core of plum and anise notes. Medium-weight, with a flash of briar on the finish. A bit shy on stuffing in the end, as the firm toast wins out. Drink now through 2020. 10,000 cases made.
VM 89 (8/2013): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of blueberry, violet pastille, licorice, tobacco and camphor. High-pitched, pure and fresh, with the black fruit and violet notes carrying through in the mouth. Finishes firmly tannic but not hard. This has good balance for aging. (An earlier sample, which I rated 87 points, showed aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate, mocha and nutty oak and a chewy, saline quality to its soil-driven dark fruit flavors. It seemed both more extractive and less vibrant, finishing with building, toothcoating tannins that turned a bit dry with air.)
WA 87 (2/2013): A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this wine exhibits sweet tannin, medium body and blue and black fruits intermixed with underbrush, licorice, cedar and spice box in a medium-bodied, elegant style with moderate tannin. Forget it for several years and Drink it over the following decade. |
|
| Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
2010 |
Pauillac |
$899 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Lafite Rothschild is a little mute on the nose at this stage, opening to reveal warm blackcurrants, baked plums and boysenberry scents with hints of chocolate mint, violets, cedar chest and pencil lead. Full-bodied, rich and densely packed with perfumed black fruit layers, it has a rock-solid backbone of fantastically ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing very long and minerally. Still very youthful!
JS 99 (2/2013): This is shy and not giving its all at the moment. Yet it is full and intense with a tightly intertwined tannic and fruit structure. Ethereal blackberry, currant, cedar, and nutty flavors. Dried flowers too. Cedar jewel box smell comes out with time. Great finish. So, so long and harmonious. Try in 2018.
WS 97 (3/2013): Rather tight, with an alluring whiff of cocoa that lures you in before disappearing into the core of steeped plum, roasted fig and blackberry coulis notes. Sandalwood, black tea and loam elements fill in on the long and expansive finish. This seems to be lying in wait for what could be a very long time in the cellar before unfurling fully. Best from 2018 through 2045. 15,833 cases made.
VM 96 (4/2020): The 2010 Lafite-Rothschild has more vivacious bouquet than expected with veins of blue fruit and iodine tincturing the black fruit. It is well defined if just missing the audacity of the Latour. The palate is approachable on the entry with fine grain tannins. It feels a touch more mature than the other First Growths, though the pliant and poised finish has a sensuality uncommon in Lafite. Superb. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin. |
|
|
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$9,879.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Lafite Rothschild is a little mute on the nose at this stage, opening to reveal warm blackcurrants, baked plums and boysenberry scents with hints of chocolate mint, violets, cedar chest and pencil lead. Full-bodied, rich and densely packed with perfumed black fruit layers, it has a rock-solid backbone of fantastically ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing very long and minerally. Still very youthful!
JS 99 (2/2013): This is shy and not giving its all at the moment. Yet it is full and intense with a tightly intertwined tannic and fruit structure. Ethereal blackberry, currant, cedar, and nutty flavors. Dried flowers too. Cedar jewel box smell comes out with time. Great finish. So, so long and harmonious. Try in 2018.
WS 97 (3/2013): Rather tight, with an alluring whiff of cocoa that lures you in before disappearing into the core of steeped plum, roasted fig and blackberry coulis notes. Sandalwood, black tea and loam elements fill in on the long and expansive finish. This seems to be lying in wait for what could be a very long time in the cellar before unfurling fully. Best from 2018 through 2045. 15,833 cases made.
VM 96 (4/2020): The 2010 Lafite-Rothschild has more vivacious bouquet than expected with veins of blue fruit and iodine tincturing the black fruit. It is well defined if just missing the audacity of the Latour. The palate is approachable on the entry with fine grain tannins. It feels a touch more mature than the other First Growths, though the pliant and poised finish has a sensuality uncommon in Lafite. Superb. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin. |
|
|
2010 |
Pauillac (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,453.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Lafite Rothschild is a little mute on the nose at this stage, opening to reveal warm blackcurrants, baked plums and boysenberry scents with hints of chocolate mint, violets, cedar chest and pencil lead. Full-bodied, rich and densely packed with perfumed black fruit layers, it has a rock-solid backbone of fantastically ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing very long and minerally. Still very youthful!
JS 99 (2/2013): This is shy and not giving its all at the moment. Yet it is full and intense with a tightly intertwined tannic and fruit structure. Ethereal blackberry, currant, cedar, and nutty flavors. Dried flowers too. Cedar jewel box smell comes out with time. Great finish. So, so long and harmonious. Try in 2018.
WS 97 (3/2013): Rather tight, with an alluring whiff of cocoa that lures you in before disappearing into the core of steeped plum, roasted fig and blackberry coulis notes. Sandalwood, black tea and loam elements fill in on the long and expansive finish. This seems to be lying in wait for what could be a very long time in the cellar before unfurling fully. Best from 2018 through 2045. 15,833 cases made.
VM 96 (4/2020): The 2010 Lafite-Rothschild has more vivacious bouquet than expected with veins of blue fruit and iodine tincturing the black fruit. It is well defined if just missing the audacity of the Latour. The palate is approachable on the entry with fine grain tannins. It feels a touch more mature than the other First Growths, though the pliant and poised finish has a sensuality uncommon in Lafite. Superb. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Lafleur |
2010 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$10,711.98 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 100 (2/2013): This red shows such beautiful and ripe aromas of blackberries, orange peel, hazelnuts, and tropical fruits. It's full-bodied, with superb texture of polished tannins that are velvety. The length last for minutes. It's muscular yet elegant. It flexes it muscle yet pulls them back. What gorgeous tone to this young red. Try in 2020.
VM 98 (4/2020): The 2010 Lafleur is showing a lot of Cabernet Franc on the nose. It is supremely well defined with incredibly clarity and terroir expression. You could almost mistake it for a Left Bank. Figeac? The palate is precise and detailed, touches of burnt toast and white pepper sprinkled over the persistent and structured finish that does not miss a step. Brilliant. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
WA 98 (3/2020): Made of 62% Cabernet Franc and 38% Merlot, the deep garnet colored 2010 Lafleur features cedar chest and kirsch notes to begin, unfurling to offer baked plums, boysenberries, sandalwood and licorice scents plus a waft of pencil lead. Full-bodied, the palate is very taut and muscular, with slowly maturing red and black fruits and a solid frame of firm, ripe, grainy tannins, finishing long and mineral laced.
WS 97 (3/2013): Packed, with a charcoal frame and hints of alder and mesquite offering an impressive, aromatic profile, while flavors of crushed plum, warm linzer torte and blackberry preserves form the massive core. Dense, chewy and velvety, this features a riveting iron note and enticing tobacco accents that help to expand and lengthen the finish. Best from 2020 through 2040. |
|
| Ch. Laforge |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$798.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Les Fiefs de Lagrange |
2010 |
St. Julien (375 ML) |
$32 |
60 |
|
| |
WS 90 (3/2013): Features roasted alder and juniper out front, with a core of pastis-soaked plum, blackberry and black currant fruit underneath. The vivid finish features a mouthwatering edge. Best from 2014 through 2024.
WA 89-91 (5/2011): A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot, this has a very fine nose of blackberry, briary and a touch of black tea. Good definition and purity. The Petit Verdot add a little edginess to this wine that has fine tension if lacking a little length on the saturated, slightly chewy finish. Very good purity and precision though. |
|
| Ch. Langoa Barton |
2010 |
St. Julien (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$534.98 |
2 |
|
| |
NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Langoa-Barton 2010 has a more feminine and floral bouquet: well defined with perfumed dark cherry, blackcurrant pastille and dry tobacco notes. It opens extremely well in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with an elegant opening, well-judged acidity and fine tannins. This is a classy number, very harmonious with a hint of black pepper on the engaging finish. You cannot really go wrong with this Saint Julien.
WS 94 (3/2013): Tightly focused, with a beam of cassis and blackberry fruit framed by integrated espresso and charcoal notes. The ample structure drives the polished finish, allowing extra notes of plum sauce, pastis and blueberry coulis to stride through. Shows serious grip at the very end. Best from 2016 through 2035.
WA 93+ (2/2013): Another wine showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, the 2010 Langoa Barton has the typical structured, dense style, but just as I thought earlier on, it is a much softer and more developed wine than one ordinarily expects from proprietor Anthony Barton. It is full-bodied and impressively endowed with subtle oak, rich cassis fruit and notes of new saddle leather, forest floor, cedar wood and spice box. Full, authoritative and dense, this wine should be at its best between 2018 and 2035.
JS 93 (2/2013): Blueberry and blackberry aromas with hints of mint. Full body, with fine tannins and a chocolate, vanilla and berry aftertaste. This builds on the palate with fruit and tannins. Extremely polished. Better in 2017.
VM 91 (8/2013): Bright ruby. Sweet, high-pitched aromas of cassis and leather lifted by flowers. Ripe, chewy flavors of red fruits, spices, flowers and leather struck me as a bit Burgundian. Lovely depth and sweetness for this bottling. A big success in 2010, tactile and inviting from the start but with the stuffing and energy for mid-term aging. |
|
|
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,092.98 |
30 |
|
| |
NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Langoa-Barton 2010 has a more feminine and floral bouquet: well defined with perfumed dark cherry, blackcurrant pastille and dry tobacco notes. It opens extremely well in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with an elegant opening, well-judged acidity and fine tannins. This is a classy number, very harmonious with a hint of black pepper on the engaging finish. You cannot really go wrong with this Saint Julien.
WS 94 (3/2013): Tightly focused, with a beam of cassis and blackberry fruit framed by integrated espresso and charcoal notes. The ample structure drives the polished finish, allowing extra notes of plum sauce, pastis and blueberry coulis to stride through. Shows serious grip at the very end. Best from 2016 through 2035.
WA 93+ (2/2013): Another wine showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, the 2010 Langoa Barton has the typical structured, dense style, but just as I thought earlier on, it is a much softer and more developed wine than one ordinarily expects from proprietor Anthony Barton. It is full-bodied and impressively endowed with subtle oak, rich cassis fruit and notes of new saddle leather, forest floor, cedar wood and spice box. Full, authoritative and dense, this wine should be at its best between 2018 and 2035.
JS 93 (2/2013): Blueberry and blackberry aromas with hints of mint. Full body, with fine tannins and a chocolate, vanilla and berry aftertaste. This builds on the palate with fruit and tannins. Extremely polished. Better in 2017.
VM 91 (8/2013): Bright ruby. Sweet, high-pitched aromas of cassis and leather lifted by flowers. Ripe, chewy flavors of red fruits, spices, flowers and leather struck me as a bit Burgundian. Lovely depth and sweetness for this bottling. A big success in 2010, tactile and inviting from the start but with the stuffing and energy for mid-term aging. |
|
| Ch. Larmande |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$517.97 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Lascombes |
2010 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,327.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 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. |
|
| Ch. Latour |
2010 |
Pauillac (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$24,433.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (3/2020): The 2010 Latour is deep garnet in color, and—WOW—it erupts from the glass with powerful crème de cassis, Black Forest cake and blackberry pie scents plus intense sparks of dried roses, cigar boxes, fragrant earth and smoked meats with aniseed and crushed rocks wafts. Full-bodied, concentrated and oh-so-decadent in the mouth, it has a firm, grainy texture and lovely freshness carrying the rich, opulent fruit to an epically long finish. It is incredibly tempting to drink now, but I suspect this hedonic experience isn't a scratch on the mind-blowing, otherworldly secrets this time capsule will have to reveal given another 7-10 years in bottle and continuing over the following fifty years++.
JS 100 (2/2013): The aromas of flowers such as roses, violets and lilacs jump from the glass then turn to dark berries such as blueberries and blackberries. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and dense and intense with a chocolate, berry and currant character. This is juicy and rich with wood still showing a bit, but it's all coming together wonderfully. Muscular yet toned. Another perfect wine like the 2010. Try in 2022.
VM 100 (4/2020): The 2010 Latour can be summed up in two words: “The King.” It convincingly asserts its superiority over other 2010s, including First Growths, in terms of its aromatic complexity, precision, balance, intensity, complexity and persistence. Simply a faultless Latour that ranks among its greatest achievements. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin.
WS 99 (3/2013): Unbelievably pure, with distilled cassis and plum fruit that cuts a very precise path, while embers of anise, violet and black cherry confiture form a gorgeous backdrop. A bedrock of graphite structure should help this outlive other 2010s. Powerful, sleek and incredibly long. Not perfect, but very close. Best from 2020 through 2050. |
|
| Ch. Latour Martillac |
2010 |
Pessac-Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$765.97 |
1 |
|
| |
NM 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. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Barton |
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,665.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 97 (3/2013): Aromas of pure blackberries and violets follow through to a full body, with super velvety tannins and a delicious balance of sweet fruit, light vanilla and nuts. Really savory and beautiful. Superb wine. I like this better than 2009. Try in 2018.
WA 96+ (2/2013): A splendid showing, much stronger from bottle than it was from barrel, the Leoville Barton is one of the spectacular wines of the vintage. Inky purple to the rim, its huge tannin gives this wine real potential for 30-50 years of longevity. It is a classic, powerful Bordeaux made with no compromise. A superstar of the vintage, the wine has notes of pen ink and creme de cassis, good acidity, sweet, subtle oak, and massive extraction and concentration. I thought it was one of the most backward wines of the vintage two years ago, and nothing has changed in the ensuing upbringing of the wine in cask except that the wine now seems even richer, denser and fuller than I previously thought. The beautiful purity, symmetry, and huge finish of nearly a minute make this one of the all-time great classics from Leoville Barton. Anticipated maturity: 2028-2065+.
WS 96 (3/2013): Takes a modern approach, with dark mocha- and espresso-infused toast leading the way, featuring an extra ganache kicker before dark currant preserves and roasted plum fruit strides in. Dense and extracted through the polished finish, this features a charcoal spine that gives rise to extra blueberry and pastis notes. Should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2038.
VM 94+ (8/2013): Deep ruby. Very ripe, powerful aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate. Sweet, dense, ripe and deep, with Outstanding purity and intensity to its plush black fruit and spice flavors. This has the sweetness of a great Napa Valley cabernet along with buns of steel. Finishes with penetrating fruit and Outstanding verve and persistence. For all its creamy richness, this should be extremely long-lived. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Las Cases |
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,121.99 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 99 (11/2013): The aromas to this wine have a beautiful purity of raspberries, blueberries, currants, and flowers that follow to a a full body, with super integrated tannins that are like the finest silk in texture. It shows elegant and pretty fruit character and a reserve and finesse of such great years as 1989 and 1995. The bright strong acidity gives a crunchy and creamy texture. This has a tiny bit more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than 2009. Give it at least six to eight years of bottle age.
WS 99 (3/2013): Stunning and pure from the get-go, with intense cassis and blackberry fruit. Ultimately takes a slightly austere approach, with a wrought-iron structure driving along while pastis, black tea, licorice snap and asphalt notes course underneath. Long and loaded with grip, this remains remarkably fine-grained. A very chiseled Cabernet that is wonderfully precise and incredibly long. Best from 2020 through 2040. 12,000 cases made.
WA 98 (12/2022): The most powerful wine in this vertical is the 2010 Léoville Las Cases, a full-bodied, deep and multidimensional behemoth redolent of rich berries, cassis, burning embers, pencil shavings and loamy soil. Broad-shouldered, layered and muscular, with huge reserves of concentration and sweet, powdery tannin, it concludes with a broad, resonant finish. This is a prodigious, somewhat imposing Las Cases that is still an infant a decade after bottling.
VM 96 (4/2020): The 2010 Léoville Las Cases has a clean and precise bouquet, beautifully focused with blackberry, melted tar, cigar humidor and crushed stone aromas. It gains intensity with aeration without ever losing its precision. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a sense of abiding symmetry and detail as it fans out on the mineral-driven finish. This is an absolutely awesome Saint-Julien with a long life ahead. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
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|
2010 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,556.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 99 (11/2013): The aromas to this wine have a beautiful purity of raspberries, blueberries, currants, and flowers that follow to a a full body, with super integrated tannins that are like the finest silk in texture. It shows elegant and pretty fruit character and a reserve and finesse of such great years as 1989 and 1995. The bright strong acidity gives a crunchy and creamy texture. This has a tiny bit more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than 2009. Give it at least six to eight years of bottle age.
WS 99 (3/2013): Stunning and pure from the get-go, with intense cassis and blackberry fruit. Ultimately takes a slightly austere approach, with a wrought-iron structure driving along while pastis, black tea, licorice snap and asphalt notes course underneath. Long and loaded with grip, this remains remarkably fine-grained. A very chiseled Cabernet that is wonderfully precise and incredibly long. Best from 2020 through 2040. 12,000 cases made.
WA 98 (12/2022): The most powerful wine in this vertical is the 2010 Léoville Las Cases, a full-bodied, deep and multidimensional behemoth redolent of rich berries, cassis, burning embers, pencil shavings and loamy soil. Broad-shouldered, layered and muscular, with huge reserves of concentration and sweet, powdery tannin, it concludes with a broad, resonant finish. This is a prodigious, somewhat imposing Las Cases that is still an infant a decade after bottling.
VM 96 (4/2020): The 2010 Léoville Las Cases has a clean and precise bouquet, beautifully focused with blackberry, melted tar, cigar humidor and crushed stone aromas. It gains intensity with aeration without ever losing its precision. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a sense of abiding symmetry and detail as it fans out on the mineral-driven finish. This is an absolutely awesome Saint-Julien with a long life ahead. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
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|
2010 |
St. Julien (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,215.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 99 (11/2013): The aromas to this wine have a beautiful purity of raspberries, blueberries, currants, and flowers that follow to a a full body, with super integrated tannins that are like the finest silk in texture. It shows elegant and pretty fruit character and a reserve and finesse of such great years as 1989 and 1995. The bright strong acidity gives a crunchy and creamy texture. This has a tiny bit more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than 2009. Give it at least six to eight years of bottle age.
WS 99 (3/2013): Stunning and pure from the get-go, with intense cassis and blackberry fruit. Ultimately takes a slightly austere approach, with a wrought-iron structure driving along while pastis, black tea, licorice snap and asphalt notes course underneath. Long and loaded with grip, this remains remarkably fine-grained. A very chiseled Cabernet that is wonderfully precise and incredibly long. Best from 2020 through 2040. 12,000 cases made.
WA 98 (12/2022): The most powerful wine in this vertical is the 2010 Léoville Las Cases, a full-bodied, deep and multidimensional behemoth redolent of rich berries, cassis, burning embers, pencil shavings and loamy soil. Broad-shouldered, layered and muscular, with huge reserves of concentration and sweet, powdery tannin, it concludes with a broad, resonant finish. This is a prodigious, somewhat imposing Las Cases that is still an infant a decade after bottling.
VM 96 (4/2020): The 2010 Léoville Las Cases has a clean and precise bouquet, beautifully focused with blackberry, melted tar, cigar humidor and crushed stone aromas. It gains intensity with aeration without ever losing its precision. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a sense of abiding symmetry and detail as it fans out on the mineral-driven finish. This is an absolutely awesome Saint-Julien with a long life ahead. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2010 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,851.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (2/2018): Another massive, incredible release from this estate is the 2010 Leoville Poyferre. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot, its inky purple color is followed by a massive, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated 2010 that has awesome notes of pure crème de cassis, licorice, graphite, and spring flowers. As with the 2009, it has incredible depth of fruit, yet a slightly more focused, classic style, which is very much in the style of the 2010 vintage. With its new oak completely absorbed by its wealth of fruit, perfect balance, and sweet tannin, it’s a sensational, monumental effort to drink over the coming 3-4 decades.
WA 98+ (2/2013): The wine out distances both Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, but all three of them are compelling efforts. Full-bodied, dense purple in color, with floral notes intermixed with blackberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers, this full-bodied, legendary effort is long and opulent, with wonderfully abundant yet sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and a thrilling, nearly one-minute finish. This spectacular effort from Poyferre that should drink well for 30+ years.
VM 97 (4/2020): The 2010 Leoville-Poyferre has a very intense bouquet with blackberry, briary cedar and light estuarine/seaweed aromas that are very well defined. Pure class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, layers of pure black fruit laced with pencil lead and a pinch of white pepper. It fans out wonderfully towards the finish, a Saint-Julien demonstrating wonderful density and precision. What an outstanding wine, perhaps less flamboyant than other vintages, one that will last decades. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
JS 95 (2/2013): Wow. Very intense and aromatic nose with crushed currants and blueberries with hints of nuts and dried flowers. Full body, with very refined tannins and a lovely undercurrent of fruit. Balanced and juicy. Better in 2018.. Best from 2015 through 2030. 17,833 cases made. |
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|
2010 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$959.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (2/2018): Another massive, incredible release from this estate is the 2010 Leoville Poyferre. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot, its inky purple color is followed by a massive, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated 2010 that has awesome notes of pure crème de cassis, licorice, graphite, and spring flowers. As with the 2009, it has incredible depth of fruit, yet a slightly more focused, classic style, which is very much in the style of the 2010 vintage. With its new oak completely absorbed by its wealth of fruit, perfect balance, and sweet tannin, it’s a sensational, monumental effort to drink over the coming 3-4 decades.
WA 98+ (2/2013): The wine out distances both Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, but all three of them are compelling efforts. Full-bodied, dense purple in color, with floral notes intermixed with blackberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers, this full-bodied, legendary effort is long and opulent, with wonderfully abundant yet sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and a thrilling, nearly one-minute finish. This spectacular effort from Poyferre that should drink well for 30+ years.
VM 97 (4/2020): The 2010 Leoville-Poyferre has a very intense bouquet with blackberry, briary cedar and light estuarine/seaweed aromas that are very well defined. Pure class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, layers of pure black fruit laced with pencil lead and a pinch of white pepper. It fans out wonderfully towards the finish, a Saint-Julien demonstrating wonderful density and precision. What an outstanding wine, perhaps less flamboyant than other vintages, one that will last decades. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
JS 95 (2/2013): Wow. Very intense and aromatic nose with crushed currants and blueberries with hints of nuts and dried flowers. Full body, with very refined tannins and a lovely undercurrent of fruit. Balanced and juicy. Better in 2018.. Best from 2015 through 2030. 17,833 cases made. |
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| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,287.98 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97 (2/2022): Still a saturated ruby-black in hue, the 2010 Lynch-Bages offers up aromas of rich cassis fruit mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by firm, powdery tannins and lively acids. The most brooding, backward Lynch-Bages of the decade and one of the real successes of the vintage, this is a vibrant, tightly wound wine that is still an infant at age 10. Readers with bottles in their cellars might try one now out of curiosity, but this 2010 won't begin to hit its stride until age 20.
VM 95 (4/2020): The 2010 Lynch-Bages has a stunning bouquet with pixelated black fruit, crushed stone and graphite aromas that soar from the glass. This is just amazingly focused. The palate is medium-bodied with concentrated black fruit curiously tinged with cough candy, which here I find just a bit out of place. The acidity is extremely well judged and there is immense persistence on the finish. Bold, brassy and ambitious, this is an extremely impressive wine, although I suspect that there are better bottles out there. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
WS 96 (3/2013): Roasted cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes start off this structured but lively bottling, with intense currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors at the core. The iron-laced grip and pleasantly austere plum pit and licorice snap accents fill in on the tar-tinged finish. Great range, character and typicity. If you ever need to explain Pauillac to someone, give them this. Best from 2018 through 2037. 25,000 cases made.
JS 98 (11/2013): A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I love the precision here. Try in 2018. |
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| Echo de Lynch Bages |
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$960.99 |
4 |
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| |
JS 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. |
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| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2010 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,167.97 |
10 |
|
| |
WA 97 (2/2022): Still a saturated ruby-black in hue, the 2010 Lynch-Bages offers up aromas of rich cassis fruit mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by firm, powdery tannins and lively acids. The most brooding, backward Lynch-Bages of the decade and one of the real successes of the vintage, this is a vibrant, tightly wound wine that is still an infant at age 10. Readers with bottles in their cellars might try one now out of curiosity, but this 2010 won't begin to hit its stride until age 20.
VM 95 (4/2020): The 2010 Lynch-Bages has a stunning bouquet with pixelated black fruit, crushed stone and graphite aromas that soar from the glass. This is just amazingly focused. The palate is medium-bodied with concentrated black fruit curiously tinged with cough candy, which here I find just a bit out of place. The acidity is extremely well judged and there is immense persistence on the finish. Bold, brassy and ambitious, this is an extremely impressive wine, although I suspect that there are better bottles out there. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
WS 96 (3/2013): Roasted cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes start off this structured but lively bottling, with intense currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors at the core. The iron-laced grip and pleasantly austere plum pit and licorice snap accents fill in on the tar-tinged finish. Great range, character and typicity. If you ever need to explain Pauillac to someone, give them this. Best from 2018 through 2037. 25,000 cases made.
JS 98 (11/2013): A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I love the precision here. Try in 2018. |
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| Ch. Magdelaine |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,644.98 |
5 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Magrez Fombrauge |
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,036.97 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Malartic Lagraviere |
2010 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$921.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 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. |
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| Ch. Margaux |
2010 |
Margaux |
$799 |
1 |
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| |
JS 100 (2/2013): This was phenomenal from barrel and remains so. The aromas are spellbinding. It smells like a bouquet of pink roses and then goes to currants, berries and citrus. Full body, with wonderfully refined tannins. It starts discretely and then grows to different levels and dimensions like a slow but big high tide. The texture is so beautiful. Try it in 2020 or beyond.
WA 99 (2/2013): The 2010 is a brilliant Chateau Margaux, as one might expect in this vintage. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend hit 90%, the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and only 38% of the crop made it into the Chateau Margaux. Paul Pontallier, the administrator, told me that this wine has even higher levels of tannin than some other extraordinary vintages such as 2005, 2000, 1996, etc. Deep purple, pure and intense, with floral notes, tremendous opulence and palate presence, this is a wine of considerable nobility. With loads of blueberry, black currant and violet-infused fruit and a heady alcohol level above 13.5% (although that looks modest compared to several other first growths, particularly Chateau Latour and Chateau Haut-Brion), its beautifully sweet texture, ripe tannin, abundant depth and profound finish all make for another near-perfect wine that should age effortlessly for 30-40 years.
WS 98 (3/2013): A mouthwatering tobacco leaf note leads the way, quickly followed by steeped black currant and fig fruit, with dark tar and ganache on the back end. Roasted alder and juniper hints hang in the background. Extremely backward, with a firm, tannic structure, this is girded for the long haul. Judging from the finely beaded acidity and lilting echo of lilac that peeks in now, this should acquire sensational aromatics and incredible grace with age. Best from 2018 through 2040.
VM 95+ (8/2013): Saturated ruby-red. Deep aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate, complicated by nuances of loam and coffee extract. Dense, thick and sweet, but with harmonious acidity giving shape and lift to the pungent cassis, spice and tobacco flavors. Youthfully chewy wine with terrific underlying structure and a very long, sappy finish featuring broad tannins and a hint of licorice. This has improved considerably since the Primeurs, but I still think the 2009 Margaux is the superior wine. |
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|
2010 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,288.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (2/2013): This was phenomenal from barrel and remains so. The aromas are spellbinding. It smells like a bouquet of pink roses and then goes to currants, berries and citrus. Full body, with wonderfully refined tannins. It starts discretely and then grows to different levels and dimensions like a slow but big high tide. The texture is so beautiful. Try it in 2020 or beyond.
WA 99 (2/2013): The 2010 is a brilliant Chateau Margaux, as one might expect in this vintage. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend hit 90%, the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and only 38% of the crop made it into the Chateau Margaux. Paul Pontallier, the administrator, told me that this wine has even higher levels of tannin than some other extraordinary vintages such as 2005, 2000, 1996, etc. Deep purple, pure and intense, with floral notes, tremendous opulence and palate presence, this is a wine of considerable nobility. With loads of blueberry, black currant and violet-infused fruit and a heady alcohol level above 13.5% (although that looks modest compared to several other first growths, particularly Chateau Latour and Chateau Haut-Brion), its beautifully sweet texture, ripe tannin, abundant depth and profound finish all make for another near-perfect wine that should age effortlessly for 30-40 years.
WS 98 (3/2013): A mouthwatering tobacco leaf note leads the way, quickly followed by steeped black currant and fig fruit, with dark tar and ganache on the back end. Roasted alder and juniper hints hang in the background. Extremely backward, with a firm, tannic structure, this is girded for the long haul. Judging from the finely beaded acidity and lilting echo of lilac that peeks in now, this should acquire sensational aromatics and incredible grace with age. Best from 2018 through 2040.
VM 95+ (8/2013): Saturated ruby-red. Deep aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate, complicated by nuances of loam and coffee extract. Dense, thick and sweet, but with harmonious acidity giving shape and lift to the pungent cassis, spice and tobacco flavors. Youthfully chewy wine with terrific underlying structure and a very long, sappy finish featuring broad tannins and a hint of licorice. This has improved considerably since the Primeurs, but I still think the 2009 Margaux is the superior wine. |
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| Ch. Marsau |
2010 |
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$227.97 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Maucaillou |
2010 |
Moulis (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$413.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2010 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,632.97 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (3/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion has a commanding, profound nose of baked blackberries, boysenberries and warm cassis plus suggestions of candied violets, red roses, chocolate box, cedar chest and smoked meats with a waft of iron ore. Full-bodied, powerful and hedonic, the palate bursts with expressive black fruits and floral sparks, framed by exquisitely ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing with epic length. A real head-turner, this beauty is already very impressive, but for that full WOW experience I would give it another 3-5 years in bottle to blossom.
JS 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.
VM 98 (4/2020): The 2010 La Mission Haut-Brion has a very flattering bouquet with detailed red and black fruit laced with chestnut, cedar and sous-bois. This is supremely well focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. There is immense depth here, more savoury than expected with chestnut once again, white pepper and a tinge of dried blood towards the finish. Outstanding. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin.
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. |
|
| La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion |
2010 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,625.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Montrose |
2010 |
St. Estephe (5.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,661.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (8/2014): This is considered to be among the greatest vintages ever made in Montrose, right up with the 1929, 1945, 1947, 1959, 1961, 1989, 1990 and 2009. Harvest was October 15 to 17. The wine has really come on since I last tasted it, and it needs at least another 10 years of cellaring. The blend was 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine is opaque black/blue, with an incredible nose of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, with hints of incense, licorice, and acacia flowers. Tannins are incredibly sweet and very present. The wine is full-bodied, even massive, with great purity, depth and a finish that goes on close to a minute. This is a 50- to 75-year-old wine that will repay handsomely those with good aging genes. (Note: The Chateau Montrose website gives an aging potential of 2020-2100.)
WS 97 (3/2013): Rock solid, displaying a dense core of plum, steeped currant and braised fig fruit, with racy charcoal and ganache notes. Intensely chalky, offering flesh and refinement to match the bracing minerality, this shows hints of grilled savory, iron, warm paving stone and bitter orange on the riveting finish. Should age very slowly. Best from 2019 through 2038.
JS 97 (3/2013): A perfumed and pure Montrose, with lots of currants, berries and spices that evolve to chocolate and light coffee. Full body, with super racy tannins and bright and clean finish. Very fine and structured. A balance and freshness to it all as well as beautiful form and tension. Try in 2018.
NM 95+ (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. Chateau Montrose can be so curmudgeonly in its youth that in blind tastings, it can seem like appraising an ogre in a beauty contest. That's what happened here, when it really threw me with its introspective pencil-box inspired nose that simply tells you to bugger off and not come back for at least a decade. The palate here is a mixture of red and black fruit with saturated tannins. This is a classic Montrose with a persistent tarry aftertaste. Re-tasting the wine after a few minutes it begins to unwind and merits a more lenient score.
VM 94+ (8/2013): Bright, deep ruby-red. Superripe, deep aromas of black raspberry, cassis, plum, minerals, licorice and bitter chocolate. Densely packed, elegant and classically dry, with creamy depth of dark fruit and mineral flavors given definition and cut by terrific vinosity. This compellingly pure, extract-rich wine showed increasing energy as it opened in the glass. Finishes with big, dusty tannins and Outstanding length and perfume. A great vintage for Montrose, in a modern style. Following the first couple vintages made under the direction of Jean Delmas, the '09 and '10 have shown considerably more stuffing. I would not be at all surprised if my score proved to be overly conservative. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,816.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (11/2015): Clearly a perfect wine that shows incredible depth of fruit with currants, dark chocolate, minerals and licorice. Full-bodied, tight and wound up with ripe tannins that let go and seduce you. Makes me want to drink it now. But this is a wine for the long term. Extraordinary. 94% cabernet sauvignon. Better in 2020.
WS 99 (3/2017): This remains the stunner, a battleship of a wine, brimming with cassis, blackberry and fig fruit that has melded together now, with the backdrop of alder, bay leaf and menthol starting to emerge a bit more. The long finish is loaded with grip, pulling the fruit and other components together. And then there's that flash of iron at the very end. Awesome wine.--Non-blind Mouton-Rothschild vertical (March 2017). Best from 2025 through 2060.
WA 98 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Mouton Rothschild is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of baked black cherries, crème de cassis, blackberry compote and bouquet garni with suggestions of sweaty leather, pencil lead, cedar chest and black truffles plus a hint of crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is solidly constructed of super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and lively acidity, framing the densely packed black fruit, finishing on a persistent mineral note.
VM 98 (4/2020): The 2010 Mouton-Rothschild is very deep in colour. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow, sous-bois and touches of peppermint. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. There is incredible focus to this First Growth with fabulous mineralite and tension on the finish. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
|
| Pauillac de Latour |
2010 |
Pauillac |
$135 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 87 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Le Pauillac de Château Latour opens with notions of sweaty leather, cast-iron pan and garrigue over a core of prunes, baked blackcurrants and dried bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid structure of chewy tannins and lively acid, which somewhat swamp the delicate flavors, finishing a little firm. |
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| l'Esprit de Pavie |
2010 |
Bordeaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$286.97 |
1 |
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| |
JS 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, Gerard 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. |
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| Ch. Pavie Decesse |
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,118.97 |
5 |
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JD 98+ (6/2020): From a great, great vintage for all of Bordeaux, the 2010 Pavie Decesse is based on 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that emerges from a vineyard sitting just above Chateau Pavie and was raised in new French oak. This inky beauty is still a baby yet offers incredible opulence in its huge nose of blackcurrants, blueberries, scorched earth, woodsmoke, chocolate, and graphite. With a distinct sense of minerality, full-bodied richness, building tannins, good acidity, and a monster of a finish, it is accessible today in a youthful sense yet needs another decade at a minimum to approach maturity. It will be a 50-60+ year wine.
JS 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. |
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| Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux |
2010 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,342.97 |
3 |
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| |
WS 94 (3/2013): This is lovely, with a powerful backdrop of graphite and tar, harnessed by flavors of velvety plum, steeped fig and black currant preserves. The long incense- and black tea-filled finish completes the seduction. Refined, defined and poised. Best from 2014 through 2025. 10,833 cases made.
VM 92 (4/2020): The 2010 Pavillon Rouge has a delightful, elegant bouquet with wild strawberry, blackberry and cedar aromas, very well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, veins of blue fruit emerging with time in the glass and with just a touch of salted liquorice towards the finish. This could be à point. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin.
WA 91+ (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux offers up scents of blackcurrant cordial, wild thyme and fertile loam with hints of cedar chest, pencil lead and tar. Medium-bodied, the palate is just a tad lean with chewy tannins and bold freshness, finishing on an herbal note. |
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|
2010 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,200.97 |
1 |
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WS 94 (3/2013): This is lovely, with a powerful backdrop of graphite and tar, harnessed by flavors of velvety plum, steeped fig and black currant preserves. The long incense- and black tea-filled finish completes the seduction. Refined, defined and poised. Best from 2014 through 2025. 10,833 cases made.
VM 92 (4/2020): The 2010 Pavillon Rouge has a delightful, elegant bouquet with wild strawberry, blackberry and cedar aromas, very well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, veins of blue fruit emerging with time in the glass and with just a touch of salted liquorice towards the finish. This could be à point. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin.
WA 91+ (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux offers up scents of blackcurrant cordial, wild thyme and fertile loam with hints of cedar chest, pencil lead and tar. Medium-bodied, the palate is just a tad lean with chewy tannins and bold freshness, finishing on an herbal note. |
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| Ch. Peby Faugeres |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,472.97 |
1 |
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| WA 97 (2/2013): A very limited production cuvee, the 2010 Peby Faugeres is sold in a specially designed bottle from Silvio Denz, who also owns Lalique Crystal. It comes from the oldest portion of the Faugeres vineyard, which is actually more of a completely separate entity under Denz than it was under the previous owners. The 2010 is 100% Merlot and again 15% natural alcohol. The vines were cropped at 20 hectoliters per hectare, but harvested about a week before the harvest finished for the main Faugeres vineyard. Most observers would tend to look at this wine as a modern-style, massive, intense St.-Emilion, with an opaque purple color, a floral nose shaded by notes of blueberry liqueur intermixed with black raspberries, vanillin, subtle smoke and barrique smells. It is full-bodied and built for two decades of longevity, but should be reasonably drinkable in 5-6 years because of the 100% Merlot content. This is a thrilling wine, as it has been in nearly every vintage where it has been produced. |
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| Ch. Pichon-Longueville Lalande |
2010 |
Pauillac (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,386.97 |
1 |
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VM 98+ (10/2017): An eternal wine, the 2010 Pichon Lalande is a total showstopper. The first impression is one of explosive power, but time in the glass brings out the wine’s more delicate, floral side. Violet, graphite, crème de cassis, licorice and menthol overtones recall the 1996, but the tannins here are much softer, sweeter and more polished. In two recent tastings, the 2010 has been positively stellar. The alternation of hot days and cool nights led to a late harvest. The Cabernet Sauvignon harvest did not start until October 7; by that date in 2009 all the fruit was in. Readers who can still find the 2010 should not hesitate, as it is a modern-day classic. That’s all there is to it. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94+ (11/2021): The 2010 is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot that was raised in (I'm assuming) a good bit of new oak, although you wouldn't know this by tasting it. Revealing a still youthful ruby/plum hue with just a touch of lightening at the edge, it has a Saint-Julien-like perfume of darker currants, tobacco, earth, sous bois, and flowers, without that classic cedar and lead pencil character of most Pauillacs. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a wonderfully focused, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It's still relatively closed and reticent, so give bottles another 4-5 years if possible |
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| Ch. Les Hauts de Pontet Canet |
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$978.97 |
1 |
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| |
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| Ch. Potensac |
2010 |
Medoc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$642.98 |
5 |
|
| |
JS 93 (2/2013): Wonderful aromas of blueberries, currants and flowers follow through to a full body, with ultra fine tannins and a gorgeous finish. Best Potensac in years. Even better than the 2009.
NM 90 (11/2012): The Potensac has a well-defined, classic Medoc nose with copious sous-bois notes intertwined into the red fruit profile. The palate is much better than the deuxieme vin with fresh red berries, crisp acidity and an elegant, slightly austere but utterly pleasurable finish. Just a wine you want to drink rather than intellectualise over.
WS 90 (3/2013): Solid, if a bit chunky, with cocoa and ganache coating a core of black currant and blackberry fruit that hangs through the muscular finish, where a warm paving stone note rings out. A touch austere, but the stuffing is there for cellaring. Best from 2014 through 2020.
WA 88 (2/2013): The 2010 is a winner again and a sleeper of the vintage. A blend of 52% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest a whopping 21% Cabernet Franc (which is unusual in this part of Bordeaux) has loads of cedar, wood, sweet cherries, some damp earth and a hint of strawberry liqueur in a medium-bodied, elegant style meant for consuming over the next decade or more. |
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| Ch. Rauzan-Segla |
2010 |
Margaux (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$854.98 |
3 |
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JD 98 (5/2019): A wine that could easily be mistaken for a First Growth, the 2010 Rauzan-Segla is an incredibly powerful, full-bodied wine by this estate’s standards, yet it nevertheless holds onto a terrific sense of elegance as well as perfect balance. A huge nose of blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco, lead pencil, and spice give way to a concentrated, blockbuster styled Margaux that has thrilling depth of fruit, masses of ripe tannins, and great length and finesse on the finish. This brilliant wine is just now seemingly on the edge of its drink window and offers immense pleasure, yet it has another 30-40 years of life ahead of it. Along with the 2015 and 2016, it’s the greatest wine made at this estate in the past two decades.
WA 96 (4/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Rauzan-Segla is youthfully reticent and closed to begin, slowly unfurling to offer notions of underbrush, black truffles, smoked meats and tar over a core of baked black cherries, prunes and crème de cassis plus touches of iron ore and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, concentrated and jam-packed with savory/earthy fruit, it has a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing with great length and expression.
VM 95 (4/2019): The 2010 Rauzan-Segla is extraordinary deep, almost opaque in colour compared to the other vintages at this vertical. It was picked from September 23 to October 7. The bouquet is incredibly intense: potent blackberry and boysenberry fruit, a little richer than I recall, perhaps borrowing some of the luxuriance of the 2009 Rauzan-Segla. With time, there are touches of pencil lead that become more conspicuous. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin and a fine line of acidity. This is the most masculine Rauzan-Segla in recent years, a little drier and more serious. The palate is very closed at the moment, a Margaux with a large sign declaring that it is unwise to approach for another few years. Brooding and introspective, you can admire its balance and breeding, though it does not go out of its way to give pleasure at the moment, so I would recommend the previous vintage for that. Outstanding, but don’t touch for now. Tasted at the Rauzan-Segla vertical at the château. Neal Martin.
JS 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.
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. 9,666 cases made. |
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| Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte |
2010 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,063.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 98 (3/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte delivers notes of baked plums, boysenberries and dried mulberries with an undercurrent of cigar box, new leather and bouquet garni. Full-bodied, the palate has firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the maturing fruit, finishing on a stewed tea note.
WS 96 (3/2013): Gorgeous, with alluring black tea and warm ganache notes that unfurl slowly, while the core of intense steeped plum, anise, blackberry compote and black currant confiture sits patiently in reserve. The beautiful loam-, tobacco- and tar-filled finish displays major heft, but also remarkable polish and grace. Should age very slowly. Best from 2018 through 2035.
JS 95 (2/2013): Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and plums follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Lots of mushroom and fruit undertones. Very polished. Such finesse yet structure to this young wine. Better in 2007.
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. |
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2010 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,334.97 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (3/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte delivers notes of baked plums, boysenberries and dried mulberries with an undercurrent of cigar box, new leather and bouquet garni. Full-bodied, the palate has firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the maturing fruit, finishing on a stewed tea note.
WS 96 (3/2013): Gorgeous, with alluring black tea and warm ganache notes that unfurl slowly, while the core of intense steeped plum, anise, blackberry compote and black currant confiture sits patiently in reserve. The beautiful loam-, tobacco- and tar-filled finish displays major heft, but also remarkable polish and grace. Should age very slowly. Best from 2018 through 2035.
JS 95 (2/2013): Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and plums follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Lots of mushroom and fruit undertones. Very polished. Such finesse yet structure to this young wine. Better in 2007.
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. |
|
| Ch. St. Pierre |
2010 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$553.98 |
4 |
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WA 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.
VM 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. |
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| Connetable Talbot |
2010 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$351.98 |
27 |
|
| |
JS 90-91 (4/2011): Lovely ripe Cabernet with currant and chocolate character. Full and silky with fine tannins. Impressive for a second wine.
WS 89-92 (7/2011): This sleek red shows nice intensity to its damson plum, black cherry, toasted vanilla and tobacco flavors, with a bright, floral-tinged finish.
NM 86-88 (3/2011): A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, this has a crisp blackberry, slightly tarry bouquet that takes a minute or two to open. The palate is dominated by the cedar and tobacco-tinged Cabernet rending this a rather austere, conservative Connetable Talbot, but with good weight and length. Classic in style. Drink 2012-2018. |
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| Ch. Troplong Mondot |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,939.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 98 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Troplong Mondot explodes with beautiful floral notes of red roses and candied violets over a core of plum preserves, kirsch and blueberry pie with a waft of bouquet garni. Full-bodied, rich and decadently fruited, it has bags of plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing very long and sinfully hedonic.
VM 94 (4/2020): The 2010 Troplong Mondot, which clocks in at 15.8% alcohol no less, actually has developed an elegant bouquet with perfumed red berry fruit laced with rose petal, sous-bois and pencil box aromas, focused and quite delineated. The palate is silky smooth on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. There is a fair whack of new oak and alcohol evident here, but that velvety finish and its persistence will be irresistible to those that like almost "brash" Saint-emilions. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
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. |
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| La Violette |
2010 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,527.99 |
1 |
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| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Next of Kyn |
2016 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 10 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$519 |
3 |
|
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JD 99 (10/2019): Just about pure perfection in a glass, the 2016 No 10 Cumulus Vineyard is an incredible mix of 46% Syrah, 19% Grenache, 18.3% Petite Sirah, and the rest Mourvèdre and Petit Manseng that was mostly destemmed and brought up in 75% new French oak. Awesome notes of blackberries, ground herbs, violets, loamy earth, and chocolate notes give way to a full-bodied, powerful red that has moderate acidity, flawless balance, sweet tannins, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It’s another off-the-charts, singular wine from an incredible winemaker.
VM 95+ (9/2019): The 2016 No.10 Cumulus Vineyard is rich, sumptuous and racy to the core. Surprisingly open for a wine that has just been bottled, the 2016 is curvy and inviting, with tons of breadth and fleshiness that fully emerge with a bit of air. Hints of mocha, spice and new leather are laced into a core of dark cherry and plum fruit. The 2016 boasts superb concentration, but it also appears to have a bit less energy than some prior vintages, the 2015 in particular. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 10 Proprietary Blend |
$289 |
5 |
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| |
JD 99 (10/2019): Just about pure perfection in a glass, the 2016 No 10 Cumulus Vineyard is an incredible mix of 46% Syrah, 19% Grenache, 18.3% Petite Sirah, and the rest Mourvèdre and Petit Manseng that was mostly destemmed and brought up in 75% new French oak. Awesome notes of blackberries, ground herbs, violets, loamy earth, and chocolate notes give way to a full-bodied, powerful red that has moderate acidity, flawless balance, sweet tannins, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It’s another off-the-charts, singular wine from an incredible winemaker.
VM 95+ (9/2019): The 2016 No.10 Cumulus Vineyard is rich, sumptuous and racy to the core. Surprisingly open for a wine that has just been bottled, the 2016 is curvy and inviting, with tons of breadth and fleshiness that fully emerge with a bit of air. Hints of mocha, spice and new leather are laced into a core of dark cherry and plum fruit. The 2016 boasts superb concentration, but it also appears to have a bit less energy than some prior vintages, the 2015 in particular. Antonio Galloni. |
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2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
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| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
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2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend |
$275 |
5 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
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|
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend |
$449 |
8 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
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2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$585 |
1 |
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JD 100 (8/2021): As with the 2017, the 2018 No 12 Cumulus Vineyard is as good as wine gets. Based on 47.7% Syrah, 23.4% Grenache, 21.3% Petite Sirah, 5.6% Mourvèdre, and the remaining 2% a mix of white varieties, aged 32 months in 34% new barrels, its vivid purple hue gives way to a full-bodied blockbuster of a wine that’s loaded with cassis and blue fruits as well as notes of gravelly earth, graphite, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Flawlessly balanced, deep, super-rich, and unctuous, yet with incredible purity, give bottles a year of two and enjoy over the following 15 years or more.
WA 99 (8/2021): This cuvee comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard in Oak View, just south and inland from Santa Barbara, on the road to Ojai. There are now just over 12.5 acres planted at Cumulus. The first plantings of Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne took place in 2004. A little more Grenache was planted in 2005. Then in 2008, small blocks of Petite Manseng, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah were added, including 3.5 acres on its own roots.
VM 95 (10/2021): The 2018 No. 12 Cumulus Vineyard is a big wine. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. The tannins remain a bit coarse, which makes the wine feel not totally put together. Perhaps the brutal heat spikes in July caused a slight stoppage in ripening, or it could be the stems aren't totally integrated just yet. To be sure, the 2018 doesn't quite have the same textural lushness of most vintages. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming years. The 2018 was done with 41% whole clusters and spent 32 months in French oak, 34% new. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend |
$275 |
1 |
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| |
JD 100 (8/2021): As with the 2017, the 2018 No 12 Cumulus Vineyard is as good as wine gets. Based on 47.7% Syrah, 23.4% Grenache, 21.3% Petite Sirah, 5.6% Mourvèdre, and the remaining 2% a mix of white varieties, aged 32 months in 34% new barrels, its vivid purple hue gives way to a full-bodied blockbuster of a wine that’s loaded with cassis and blue fruits as well as notes of gravelly earth, graphite, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Flawlessly balanced, deep, super-rich, and unctuous, yet with incredible purity, give bottles a year of two and enjoy over the following 15 years or more.
WA 99 (8/2021): This cuvee comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard in Oak View, just south and inland from Santa Barbara, on the road to Ojai. There are now just over 12.5 acres planted at Cumulus. The first plantings of Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne took place in 2004. A little more Grenache was planted in 2005. Then in 2008, small blocks of Petite Manseng, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah were added, including 3.5 acres on its own roots.
VM 95 (10/2021): The 2018 No. 12 Cumulus Vineyard is a big wine. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. The tannins remain a bit coarse, which makes the wine feel not totally put together. Perhaps the brutal heat spikes in July caused a slight stoppage in ripening, or it could be the stems aren't totally integrated just yet. To be sure, the 2018 doesn't quite have the same textural lushness of most vintages. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming years. The 2018 was done with 41% whole clusters and spent 32 months in French oak, 34% new. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (8/2021): As with the 2017, the 2018 No 12 Cumulus Vineyard is as good as wine gets. Based on 47.7% Syrah, 23.4% Grenache, 21.3% Petite Sirah, 5.6% Mourvèdre, and the remaining 2% a mix of white varieties, aged 32 months in 34% new barrels, its vivid purple hue gives way to a full-bodied blockbuster of a wine that’s loaded with cassis and blue fruits as well as notes of gravelly earth, graphite, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Flawlessly balanced, deep, super-rich, and unctuous, yet with incredible purity, give bottles a year of two and enjoy over the following 15 years or more.
WA 99 (8/2021): This cuvee comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard in Oak View, just south and inland from Santa Barbara, on the road to Ojai. There are now just over 12.5 acres planted at Cumulus. The first plantings of Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne took place in 2004. A little more Grenache was planted in 2005. Then in 2008, small blocks of Petite Manseng, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah were added, including 3.5 acres on its own roots.
VM 95 (10/2021): The 2018 No. 12 Cumulus Vineyard is a big wine. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. The tannins remain a bit coarse, which makes the wine feel not totally put together. Perhaps the brutal heat spikes in July caused a slight stoppage in ripening, or it could be the stems aren't totally integrated just yet. To be sure, the 2018 doesn't quite have the same textural lushness of most vintages. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming years. The 2018 was done with 41% whole clusters and spent 32 months in French oak, 34% new. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend |
$395 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (8/2021): As with the 2017, the 2018 No 12 Cumulus Vineyard is as good as wine gets. Based on 47.7% Syrah, 23.4% Grenache, 21.3% Petite Sirah, 5.6% Mourvèdre, and the remaining 2% a mix of white varieties, aged 32 months in 34% new barrels, its vivid purple hue gives way to a full-bodied blockbuster of a wine that’s loaded with cassis and blue fruits as well as notes of gravelly earth, graphite, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Flawlessly balanced, deep, super-rich, and unctuous, yet with incredible purity, give bottles a year of two and enjoy over the following 15 years or more.
WA 99 (8/2021): This cuvee comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard in Oak View, just south and inland from Santa Barbara, on the road to Ojai. There are now just over 12.5 acres planted at Cumulus. The first plantings of Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne took place in 2004. A little more Grenache was planted in 2005. Then in 2008, small blocks of Petite Manseng, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah were added, including 3.5 acres on its own roots.
VM 95 (10/2021): The 2018 No. 12 Cumulus Vineyard is a big wine. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. The tannins remain a bit coarse, which makes the wine feel not totally put together. Perhaps the brutal heat spikes in July caused a slight stoppage in ripening, or it could be the stems aren't totally integrated just yet. To be sure, the 2018 doesn't quite have the same textural lushness of most vintages. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming years. The 2018 was done with 41% whole clusters and spent 32 months in French oak, 34% new. Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 13 Proprietary Blend |
$260 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2022): Another straight-up awesome wine is the 2019 No 13 Cumulus Vineyard, a blend 29% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, 24.5% Syrah, 8% Touriga Nacional, 7.5% Petite Sirah, and 2% Petit Manseng. Kirsch, toasted spices, new leather, graphite, and peppery notes all emerge from this ripe, sexy, seamless, and incredibly compelling red. Full-bodied and concentrated, it stays light on its feet, has beautiful tannins, and a great finish. If this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. It's brilliant today yet should easily evolve for 15 years or more. (I expect it will evolve like a great Châteauneuf du Pape.)
VM 98 (8/2022): The 2019 No. 13 Cumulus Vineyard is fabulous. Inky and savory, the 2019 offers up a compelling mélange of black fruit, gravel, incense and spice that all come together. The combination of a warm site and a coolish vintage yields a superb, wonderfully complete red. Grippy tannins and a touch of whole cluster savoriness extend the finish. The blend is 29% Grenache, 29% Mourvèdre, 24.5% Syrah, 8% Touriga Nacional, 7.5% Petite Sirah and 2% Petit Manseng. Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 13 Proprietary Blend |
$350 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2022): Another straight-up awesome wine is the 2019 No 13 Cumulus Vineyard, a blend 29% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, 24.5% Syrah, 8% Touriga Nacional, 7.5% Petite Sirah, and 2% Petit Manseng. Kirsch, toasted spices, new leather, graphite, and peppery notes all emerge from this ripe, sexy, seamless, and incredibly compelling red. Full-bodied and concentrated, it stays light on its feet, has beautiful tannins, and a great finish. If this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. It's brilliant today yet should easily evolve for 15 years or more. (I expect it will evolve like a great Châteauneuf du Pape.)
VM 98 (8/2022): The 2019 No. 13 Cumulus Vineyard is fabulous. Inky and savory, the 2019 offers up a compelling mélange of black fruit, gravel, incense and spice that all come together. The combination of a warm site and a coolish vintage yields a superb, wonderfully complete red. Grippy tannins and a touch of whole cluster savoriness extend the finish. The blend is 29% Grenache, 29% Mourvèdre, 24.5% Syrah, 8% Touriga Nacional, 7.5% Petite Sirah and 2% Petit Manseng. Antonio Galloni. |
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2021 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 15 Proprietary Blend |
$325 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 99 (8/2024): The 2021 No. 15 Cumulus Vineyard is a total stunner. It's also a pretty radical departure from most years in that Grenache drives the blend. That comes through in the wine's captivating aromatics and gorgeous, layered fruit. Crushed rose petal, red cherry, plum, mint, mocha and dried herbs infuse the palate with notable depth. The 2021 is flat-out stunning—that’s all there is to it. The blend is 40% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah and 4% Petit Manseng. There's a touch of stem inclusion (7%), but not much. Drink between 2027-2041. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (8/2024): Aged for 30 months in 53% new French oak, the 2021 Cumulus Vineyard No. 15 combines 40% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah and 4% Petit Manseng. The nose combines towering red and black fruit aromas supplemented with herbal, citrus and tobacco accents that assemble around a perceptible core of ethanol. The palate is polished and seamless, with a bit more grace than found elsewhere in the lineup, but ultimately defined by similar luxurious, voluptuous textures and sweet-fruited concentration. The finish displays vibrant acidity and rich, swelling, fine-grained tannins but concludes with an alcohol-induced burn. The textures and overall vision on display here are to be admired, but the ultimate complexity, age-worthiness and balance are on their back foot due to the spirituous nature of much of the lineup. Drink between 2024-2030. |
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|
2021 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 15 Proprietary Blend |
$349 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 99 (8/2024): The 2021 No. 15 Cumulus Vineyard is a total stunner. It's also a pretty radical departure from most years in that Grenache drives the blend. That comes through in the wine's captivating aromatics and gorgeous, layered fruit. Crushed rose petal, red cherry, plum, mint, mocha and dried herbs infuse the palate with notable depth. The 2021 is flat-out stunning—that’s all there is to it. The blend is 40% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah and 4% Petit Manseng. There's a touch of stem inclusion (7%), but not much. Drink between 2027-2041. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (8/2024): Aged for 30 months in 53% new French oak, the 2021 Cumulus Vineyard No. 15 combines 40% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah and 4% Petit Manseng. The nose combines towering red and black fruit aromas supplemented with herbal, citrus and tobacco accents that assemble around a perceptible core of ethanol. The palate is polished and seamless, with a bit more grace than found elsewhere in the lineup, but ultimately defined by similar luxurious, voluptuous textures and sweet-fruited concentration. The finish displays vibrant acidity and rich, swelling, fine-grained tannins but concludes with an alcohol-induced burn. The textures and overall vision on display here are to be admired, but the ultimate complexity, age-worthiness and balance are on their back foot due to the spirituous nature of much of the lineup. Drink between 2024-2030. |
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|
2022 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 16 Syrah |
$295 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 6 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$745 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (8/2016): A wine that flirts with perfection, the 2012 Cumulus Vineyard #6 is an interesting blend of 38% Syrah, 37% Grenache, 17.4% Petite Sirah and the rest Mourvedre that saw 33 months in 54% new French oak. There’s a tiny 191 cases made, and it’s one of the most singular, exotic wines I’ve tasted. Spice, cedar, chocolate, exotic flowers and an assortment of dark fruits all emerge from this full-bodied, layered blend that hits the palate with serious richness and depth. Yet, like all truly great wines, it’s light, ethereal and never, ever heavy. There’s big structure here as well, so forget bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+ years.
VM 98 (9/2016): The 2012 No. 6 - Cumulus Vineyard might very well be my favorite of Manfred and Elaine Krankl's 2012s, including naturally the wines of Sine Qua Non. This is the warmest site the Krankls work with and the need to harvest on the earlier side seems to also preserve a bit more verve than is often found in some of the other Sine Qua Non wines. A host of cherry jam, pomegranate, sweet spice, rose petal and mint open up effortlessly, all with striking energy that keeps the wine vibrant and wonderfully alive. The blend is 38% Syrah, 37 % Grenache, 17.4% Petite Sirah and 7.6% Mourvèdre, done with 36% whole clusters and aged in 54% new oak. Sold in cases of 3 bottles and 1 magnum at the price of $1,200.00 per case. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 8 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$635 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2017): Bottled in May of this year, the 2014 Cumulus Vineyard No 8 is a match for the sensational 2013. Made from 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional and the balance Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah, fermented with 43% whole clusters and aged in close to equal parts new and used French oak. There’s only 400 cases of this elixir and it offers killer notes of black raspberries, blueberries, violets, licorice, exotic spices and flowers. Perfumed, complex and nuanced, and dare I say, singular, this full-bodied red has a thick, opulent texture, beautiful freshness and sweet tannin on the finish. While it shows the 2014 vintage’s forward fruit characteristic, this puppy has backbone and length. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.
WA 98+ (9/2017): Composed of 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional, 7% Mourvèdre and 6% Petite Sirah, using 43% whole clusters, the 2014 Cumulus Vineyard #8 has a deep garnet-purple color and slightly reticent nose to begin of black cherries, mulberries and black soil with suggestions of menthol, tobacco, incense, sandalwood and chocolate box, plus a fragrant undercurrent of violets. Firm, grainy tannins frame the full-bodied, muscular palate with stacks of flavor layers, finishing with great delineation and finesse. Forget this beauty for three to four years and enjoy drinking it over the next 20+.
VM 95 (9/2017): The 2014 Next of Kyn - No. 8 Cumulus Vineyard is a dense, powerful wine. Next to the 2013, the 2014 comes across as quite supple and downright accessible. A blast of dark red cherry, plum, spice, menthol, lavender and licorice infuse the beautifully layered finish. I imagine the 2014 will drink nicely with just a few years in bottle, although if past vintages are an indication, the wine will need longer than that to be at its very best. The blend is 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional, 7% Mourvèdre and 6% Petite Sirah, done with 43% whole clusters. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 8 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$725 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2017): Bottled in May of this year, the 2014 Cumulus Vineyard No 8 is a match for the sensational 2013. Made from 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional and the balance Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah, fermented with 43% whole clusters and aged in close to equal parts new and used French oak. There’s only 400 cases of this elixir and it offers killer notes of black raspberries, blueberries, violets, licorice, exotic spices and flowers. Perfumed, complex and nuanced, and dare I say, singular, this full-bodied red has a thick, opulent texture, beautiful freshness and sweet tannin on the finish. While it shows the 2014 vintage’s forward fruit characteristic, this puppy has backbone and length. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.
WA 98+ (9/2017): Composed of 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional, 7% Mourvèdre and 6% Petite Sirah, using 43% whole clusters, the 2014 Cumulus Vineyard #8 has a deep garnet-purple color and slightly reticent nose to begin of black cherries, mulberries and black soil with suggestions of menthol, tobacco, incense, sandalwood and chocolate box, plus a fragrant undercurrent of violets. Firm, grainy tannins frame the full-bodied, muscular palate with stacks of flavor layers, finishing with great delineation and finesse. Forget this beauty for three to four years and enjoy drinking it over the next 20+.
VM 95 (9/2017): The 2014 Next of Kyn - No. 8 Cumulus Vineyard is a dense, powerful wine. Next to the 2013, the 2014 comes across as quite supple and downright accessible. A blast of dark red cherry, plum, spice, menthol, lavender and licorice infuse the beautifully layered finish. I imagine the 2014 will drink nicely with just a few years in bottle, although if past vintages are an indication, the wine will need longer than that to be at its very best. The blend is 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional, 7% Mourvèdre and 6% Petite Sirah, done with 43% whole clusters. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$507.50 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
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2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$525 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
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2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$595 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
|
|
2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$745 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
|
|
2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) No Capsule |
$625 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
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|
2022 |
Numero Otio Touriga Nacional |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Numero Quatro Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$470 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2021): I was able to taste two new releases from the Krankls’ Next of Kyn release. Starting with the 2018 Touriga Nacional Numero Quatro, which also includes 9.1% Syrah, 7.2% Grenache, 6.2% Petite Sirah, and 1.5% Roussanne, it’s a full-bodied, deep, rich monster of a wine that still stays balance and elegant, with a terrific perfume of blue fruits, violets, gravelly earth, and peppery spice. It has building tannins, but the balance is as good as it gets, and it has a finish that won’t quit. Fermented with 35% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 60% new French oak, it’s going to keep for a solid 15 years or more.
VM 98 (10/2021): The 2018 Touriga Nacional – Número Quatro is sourced from Elain and Manfred Krankl's estate vineyard in Oak View. It is a wine of tremendous character and personality. Sadly, production remains tiny, at just over 130 cases. Copious black cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, new leather, licorice and spice build in an deep, powerful wine that is loaded with personality. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2018 |
Numero Quatro Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$575 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2021): I was able to taste two new releases from the Krankls’ Next of Kyn release. Starting with the 2018 Touriga Nacional Numero Quatro, which also includes 9.1% Syrah, 7.2% Grenache, 6.2% Petite Sirah, and 1.5% Roussanne, it’s a full-bodied, deep, rich monster of a wine that still stays balance and elegant, with a terrific perfume of blue fruits, violets, gravelly earth, and peppery spice. It has building tannins, but the balance is as good as it gets, and it has a finish that won’t quit. Fermented with 35% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 60% new French oak, it’s going to keep for a solid 15 years or more.
VM 98 (10/2021): The 2018 Touriga Nacional – Número Quatro is sourced from Elain and Manfred Krankl's estate vineyard in Oak View. It is a wine of tremendous character and personality. Sadly, production remains tiny, at just over 130 cases. Copious black cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, new leather, licorice and spice build in an deep, powerful wine that is loaded with personality. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
Numero Siete Touriga Nacional |
$315 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98+ (8/2024): The 2021 Touriga Nacional - Número Sete is terrific, but it is also a very young wine that will need time in bottle to blossom. All of the pedigree of this great vintage comes through loud and clear. Readers should plan on cellaring this for at least a few years. Dried herbs, lavender, licorice and cool, blue-toned fruit are all beautifully delineated throughout. Dollops of Syrah and Petit Manseng round out the blend, with an added kick of floral nuance from the 11% stems. Drink between 2027-2041. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (8/2024): Sourced from the Krankl's Cumulus Vineyard and containing 14% Syrah and 4% Petit Manseng, the 2021 Touriga Nacional Número Sete spent 30 months in 42% new French oak. Nearly completely opaque in color, the nose opens with deep, dense aromas of dried clove, tobacco leaf, graphite, black plums and chocolate-covered dark fruit aromas, with increasingly savory and woody notes appearing after time in the glass. The palate is an absolute behemoth, with a blocky, gargantuan density that reaches its logical conclusion in a staining, saturated, concentrated finish framed with chewy tannins. This is equally clear testimony to the sheer mass achievable with Touriga Nacional and the lavish decadence that can be applied to it if one desires. Drink between 2024-2030. |
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|
2021 |
Numero Siete Touriga Nacional |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98+ (8/2024): The 2021 Touriga Nacional - Número Sete is terrific, but it is also a very young wine that will need time in bottle to blossom. All of the pedigree of this great vintage comes through loud and clear. Readers should plan on cellaring this for at least a few years. Dried herbs, lavender, licorice and cool, blue-toned fruit are all beautifully delineated throughout. Dollops of Syrah and Petit Manseng round out the blend, with an added kick of floral nuance from the 11% stems. Drink between 2027-2041. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (8/2024): Sourced from the Krankl's Cumulus Vineyard and containing 14% Syrah and 4% Petit Manseng, the 2021 Touriga Nacional Número Sete spent 30 months in 42% new French oak. Nearly completely opaque in color, the nose opens with deep, dense aromas of dried clove, tobacco leaf, graphite, black plums and chocolate-covered dark fruit aromas, with increasingly savory and woody notes appearing after time in the glass. The palate is an absolute behemoth, with a blocky, gargantuan density that reaches its logical conclusion in a staining, saturated, concentrated finish framed with chewy tannins. This is equally clear testimony to the sheer mass achievable with Touriga Nacional and the lavish decadence that can be applied to it if one desires. Drink between 2024-2030. |
|
|
2015 |
Numero Um Touriga Nacional |
$395 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (10/2018): The first Touriga Nacional from California I’ve ever tasted, the 2015 Touriga Nacional comes all from the Cumulus vineyard in Oak View and is 80% Touriga Nacional, 8% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah, and the rest Viognier that was mostly destemmed, and spent 34 months in 62% new French oak. This beauty gives up a voluptuous, sexy yet also incredibly elegant profile to go with notes of blueberries, violets, white chocolate, and cherry pie. Full-bodied, deep, and layered, it has fine tannins as well as remarkable purity and freshness. In short, it’s an incredible expression of the variety that I suspect will keep for 10-15 years. |
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|
2017 |
Numero Um Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|