Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 91/100
The 2018 Certan de May is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sporting a medium to deep garnet-purple color, it features notes of black cherry compote, black raspberries and plum preserves, plus suggestions of underbrush, Sichuan pepper, dried Provence herbs and cedar chest. The elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate is filled with expressive black berry and earthy layers, supported by grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 91/100
The 2018 Certan de May has come together nicely over the last nearly two years. Some of the more angular edges has soften. Today, what comes through is an attractive Pomerol laced with hints of red, purplish fruit, lavender and spice. There is good depth to the 2018 if not quite the complexity or nuance of the best wines in the appellation. Overall, Certan de May is fruity and rather one dimensional. Drink it over the next two decades, give or take.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 92/100
The 2018 Carbonnieux turned out beautifully. Deep, ample and so expressive, the 2018 possesses quite a bit of density and pure power. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, gravel, licorice, menthol and scorched earth infuse this Pessac-Léognan with quite a bit of intensity. The 2018 is a powerhouse. Give it a few years to fully come together.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 91-93/100
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Carbonnieux leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of baked blackberries, warm cassis, preserved plum and lavender with touches of Indian spices, forest floor and dried sage. Full-bodied, firm and grainy, the generous fruit has loads of bright, vibrant sparks plus a great line of freshness, finishing mineral tinged.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 97/100
The 2018 Haut-Bailly soars out of the glass, showing magnificent poise that only grows with time. Sweet, perfumed aromatics, silky tannins and mid-weight structure add to its considerable allure. Ripe red berry fruit, spice, blood orange, licorice, cedar, tobacco and menthol are all woven together in an effortless, classy Haut-Bailly that delivers the goods. I suppose the 2018 doesn’t quite have the explosive energy of the very best years, but it more than makes up for that with its sensual, seductive personality.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 96/100
The 2018 Haut-Bailly is blended of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has 14.4% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to unlock a powerhouse of black fruit preserves, offering notes of blackberry pie, crème de cassis and black cherry compote, giving way to nuances of Chinese five spice, camphor, chocolate box and licorice with a touch of crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with plush textured, rich black fruits, supported by a lively backbone and finishing long and spicy. It is decadently tempting to drink now, but give it 5 years in bottle to begin to see its full glory, while it should continue to transform for a further 20 years or more in cellar.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 93+/100
The 2018 Giscours appears to be going through a stubborn phase, as it is quite a bit less expressive from bottle than it was from barrel. Attractive floral, spice and citrus accents lift a core of super-ripe, reddish fruit. On the palate, though, the 2018 is far less expressive. It will be interesting to see how things pan out here.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 91/100
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Giscours opens with fragrant notions of kirsch, black cherry compote and blackcurrant pastilles with suggestions of dried lavender, cinnamon stick and mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a good amount of red and black fruit flavors with compelling purity, framed by soft tannins and well-balanced freshness, finishing with a spicy lift.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 87-89/100
The 2018 Chevalier de Lascombes is bright, punchy and everything a second wine should be, most importantly, absolutely delicious. Juicy, red berry fruit and floral notes are pushed forward in this supple, inviting Margaux.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 95/100
The 2018 Brane-Cantenac opens with a super-classic bouquet of dried herbs, pencil shavings, licorice and mint. Medium in body and wonderfully nuanced, Brane-Cantenac marries the natural richness of the year with a classic structural feel. This is one of the most elegant, restrained 2018s readers will come across. I loved it.
The Wine Advocate – Robert Parker – 93+/100
The 2018 Brane-Cantenac is medium to deep garnet-purple in color, leaping from the glass with vibrant notes of kirsch, black raspberries and warm cassis, plus suggestions of roses, forest floor and cinnamon stick with a waft of cedar chest. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully elegant and refreshing, weighing in at just 13.5% alcohol, while not scrimping on the interplay of red and black fruits. It has lovely soft tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Impressive!
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 94/100
The 2018 Fonbadet is superb. Classically elegant and refined, the 2018 graces the palate with exquisite finesse right out of the gate. Red berry, floral, blood orange and minty flavors convey freshness as the 2018 opens in the glass. Bright acids perk up the nuanced, persistent finish. Readers won’t find too many 2018s that are this delicate, sensual and flat-out charming.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 91+/100
A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot and aged in 50% new oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Fonbadet rolls effortless out of the glass with evocative scents of stewed black plums, blackcurrant cordial and chocolate-covered cherries, with wafts of cedar chest, star anise and cinnamon stick. The medium to full-bodied palate coats the mouth with spicy black fruits, supported by grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing savory.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 89-92/100
The 2018 Lacoste-Borie is plump, silky and absolutely delicious. Bright red cherry, plum and mocha add lovely shades of nuance throughout. I would prefer to drink this succulent, mid-weight Pauillac over the next handful of years, while it retains its youthful juiciness. The blend is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 88-90/100
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Lacoste-Borie opens with baked plums, stewed cherries, cassis and milk chocolate with earth and herbs. Medium to full-bodied, firm and chewy, it has a good fruit core and an herbal lift on the finish.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 96/100
The 2018 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fabulous, just as it was from barrel. Strong Cabernet inflections soar out of the glass, giving the wine a compelling aromatic profile laced with the essence of graphite, dried herbs, menthol and dark fruit. One of the most classic (for lack of a better word) wines in the Left Bank in 2018, Grand-Puy-Lacoste is super-impressive right out of the gate. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is ultimately a wine of tremendous class that remains restrained and aristocratic in breeding. Don’t miss it.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 93/100
The 2018 Grand-Puy-Lacoste displays a deep garnet-purple color and slowly emerging notes of ripe blackberries, blackcurrant pastilles and redcurrant jelly plus hints of cedar, underbrush, cinnamon stick and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate has well-managed, slightly chewy tannins and a refreshing line lifting the black and red berry layers, finishing earthy.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 92/100
The 2018 Echo de Lynch Bages is an attractive, fruity wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. Sweet red berries, blood orange, mint, spice and pomegranate are nicely pushed forward in this attractive, lithe Pauillac. A few hours of air does wonders here.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 90-92+/100
Composed of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and without any new oak, the very deep purple-black colored 2018 Echo de Lynch Bages rolls seductively out of the glass with fragrant notes of candied violets, rose hip tea and fragrant soil over a core of crushed blackberries, warm blackcurrants and kirsch plus wafts of chocolate mint and crushed rocks. Full, rich, wonderfully concentrated and well structured, it has a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long.
Vinous – Neil Martin – 89+/100
The 2018 Citran has retained its well-defined, marine-influenced nose of black fruit infused with seaweed and oyster shells but is less diffuse than it was out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a little foursquare, perhaps, but fresh and showing more cohesion and complexity on the finish compared to some of its peers. Good show. And maybe it will improve further.
The Wine Advocate – Robert Parker – 88-90/100
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Citran is a touch mute to begin, unfurling to offer very pretty notes of warm raspberries, fresh blackcurrants and kirsch over nuances of potpourri, chocolate box and crushed stones. Full-bodied with fantastic freshness lifting the intense red and black fruit layers, it has a firm, grainy frame and a long, perfumed finish. Nice!
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 92/100
The 2018 La Tour Carnet has calmed down a bit since I tasted it in barrel, but it still delivers plenty of punch. Inky dark red fruit, cedar, mint, dried herbs, mocha and pipe tobacco give the 2018 notable complexity. Somber and a bit brooding, the 2018 is going to need a few years to be at its best, which is always the case here. Bernard Magrez makes a wide range of compelling wines. La Tour Carnet is one of his finest.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 88-90/100
The 2018 Beaumont is dark, racy and voluptuous from the very first taste. Dark chocolate, plum, cedar, cloves and leather all infuse an attractive, succulent Haut-Médoc. The blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, and it is the Merlot that really seems to give the wine its mid-palate texture and overall depth.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 88-90/100
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Beaumont leaps from the glass with vibrant black and red cherries and warm cassis notes plus an undercurrent of bay leaves, lavender and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, firm and grainy, the mid-palate is taut and muscular with plenty of energy and an herbal lift on the finish.
‘Ce clos, c’est notre fierté! Un vignoble mythique, situé face à la forteresse médiévale de Chinon et certainement l’un des tous premiers vignobles du Château et sans doute de Chinon.’ Arnaud & Jacques Couly-Dutheil
100% Cabernet Franc. Dit is ongetwijfeld de meest gerenommeerde Chinon! Hij dankt zijn naam aan de echo die reëel weerklinkt tussen de muren van Château de Chinon. Deze robijnrode wijn heeft een krachtige en complexe neus. Een betoverend aroma met rijke parfums van zwart fruit en specerijen. Deze Clos de l’Echo, het paradepaardje van Couly Dutheil, heeft een bijzonder mooie concentratie. De smaken zijn genereus en zacht. Een charmerende en evenwichtige rode wijn, met goed versmolten tannines en heerlijk fruit. Beschikt over een gigantisch potentieel en weerspiegelt de prachtige rijkdom van zijn terroir. Past perfect bij gegrild lamsvlees, maar is ook een zeer goede begeleider bij allerlei wildgerechten.
Vinous – 92/100
The 2018 Chinon Clos de L’Echo is weighty, warming and mouth-filling. This is one of the appellation’s finest sites, but the vintage has yielded a very ripe example; the alcohol is touch heady and the flavors are inching away from fresh fruit toward baked. As always, there’s excellent concentration and huge but well-resolved tannins, with fresh acidity despite the warmth of the season. If you like big wines, this Clos de l’Echo will hit the spot.
Begin 2016 verkocht Jean Baptiste Cordonnier zijn eigendom Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux, na 23 jaar vinificatie, aan zijn broer François Cordonnier. De wijngaard van 30ha bevindt zich op het fameuze plateau van Moulis en heet ‘Grand-Poujeaux’. Hier worden de beste Moulis wijnen gemaakt. Het terroir van steentjes leent zich zeer goed voor het maken van stevige bewaarwijnen met toch een mooie rondeur.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot. Aroma’s van zwarte peper, laurier en intens rood fruit. Heel mooie afdronk met smaken van kruiden, zwarte bes en verfijnde tannines. Mooi bewaarpotentieel. Een echte topper in prijs en in kwaliteit. Past uitstekend bij grillades, rood vlees en stoofpotjes. Ook bij gekruide gerechten en gerechten uit de Aziatische keuken.
Vinous – Antonio Galloni – 92/100
The 2018 Carbonnieux turned out beautifully. Deep, ample and so expressive, the 2018 possesses quite a bit of density and pure power. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, gravel, licorice, menthol and scorched earth infuse this Pessac-Léognan with quite a bit of intensity. The 2018 is a powerhouse. Give it a few years to fully come together.
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – 91-93/100
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Carbonnieux leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of baked blackberries, warm cassis, preserved plum and lavender with touches of Indian spices, forest floor and dried sage. Full-bodied, firm and grainy, the generous fruit has loads of bright, vibrant sparks plus a great line of freshness, finishing mineral tinged.
