Wines

PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

97 Points! Exquisite aromas of lavender, cigar ash and Spanish cedar with dried citrus follow through to a medium body and a solid palate with powerful, ultrafine and linear tannins. The muscle and long finish are so beautiful. Give it two or three years but already a solid wine. Drink after 2028. - James Suckling

95 Points! The 2019 Forts de Latour is a tannic, backward wine, as it has always been. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, graphite, sage and mocha open with a bit of coaxing. Even so, the 2019 is incredibly tight at this stage. Despite its imminent release, I would not dream of touching a bottle any time soon. Rain just before harvest in this warm vintage helped keep things in check and resulted in fairly generous yields of 45 hectoliters per hectare. At the same time, the mid-palate is a bit compact, while the tannins are imposing. (Drink between 2029-2049) - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

95 Points! Composed of 65.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.9% Merlot, and 2.3% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Les Forts de Latour is deep garnet-purple in color. It opens with classic scents of cedar, cassis, and plum preserves, followed by suggestions of bay leaves, lavender, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is tight-knit, bright, and refreshing, with fine-grained tannins and a mineral-laced finish. - Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

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ETA: Early Winter 2026

Jeb Dunnuck, 96 Points A blockbuster of a Les Forts. Deep ruby/plum hue followed by textbook Latour notes of currants, melted crayon, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, dense, and concentrated on the palate, with a powerful structured mouthfeel, remarkable purity, perfectly ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. It might be the finest Les Forts I've tasted. Hitting 13.1% alcohol, it's approachable today yet has another 30 years of longevity. Drink 2026-2056.

James Suckling, 96 Points Blue fruits and lead pencil come through here. Medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins and a crisp and citrusy finish. Nice zest. Floral and fruity. Al dente fruit. Needs four or five years to show its excellence. Try after 2028.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 95 Points The 2020 Les Forts de Latour is superb. Hints of gravel, dried herbs, game and licorice weave through a core of dark red/purplish fruit. Spice, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco follow. The purity of the flavors is just striking. Initially a touch reticent, the 2020 fleshes out beautifully with a bit of air. I would give this at least another year or two in bottle. A magnificent Forts de Latour.

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92 Points! The 2022 Les Grands Chênes is plump, juicy and wonderfully expressive right out of the gate. Succulent red cherry, plum, leather, rose petal and sweet spice are beautifully amplified in this racy, engaging red from Bernard Magrez. Sweet floral and spice notes reappear on the finish. The 2022 is an absolute delight. Tasted two times. Drinking window : 2025-2034 - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

92 Points! Fine baking spices, ripe but fresh plums and berries on the nose. Juicy and medium-bodied, with soft-grained tannins and a nicely fluid and juicy finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

91 Points! Darker currants, leafy tobacco, chocolate, and spring flower notes all emerge from the 2022 Château Les Grands Chênes, a charming, medium-bodied, elegant 2022 that has beautiful purity of fruit, supple yet present tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. It's not massive, yet it shines for its balance and elegance. - Jeb Dunnuck

 

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92 Points! From a single parcel of 65-year-old vines, the 2017 Cairanne Col du Debat features subtle cinnamon and clove notes on the nose. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety, with plenty of raspberry and cherry fruit, plus attractive resiny notes of rosemary and pine on the long finish. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

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94-95 Points! A tangy and bright white with sliced lemon and light mango, as well as crushed stone and vivid energy. Medium body with a solid core of fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Purity and energy. 100% sauvignon blanc. - JamesSuckling.com

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95 Points! The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva tempts the imagination as a mix of geranium and rose petals complement citrus-laced blackberries and hints of violet pastille. This is lifted and finessed with vibrant acidity and masses of mineral infused red and black fruit aromas offset by a tinge of orange zest toward the close. The finish reveals its tannic and poised structure, yet it's blended with a primary concentration that adds tremendous balance as nuances of tobacco and licorice fade. Bury this deep in the cellar. - Eric Guido, Vinous Media

95 Points! Packed with cherry and blackberry fruit, this red is dense and a bit chunky at this stage. Mineral, earth and floral notes add depth, and this finishes with echoes of fruit and earth, plus the emergence of Tuscan scrub accents. A solid base of tannins lends support; this is balanced and built for the long haul. - Wine Spectator

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95 Points! Bloody black and blue fruits, iron, leafy herbs, toasted spices, and dried tobacco all shine in the 2019 Heliotrope, a rocking blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Mourvèdre, and a little Cabernet Franc. It's beautifully balanced, has a ripe, lush mouthfeel, beautiful, velvety tannins, and a great finish. - Jeb Dunnuck

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93 Points! The super bargain of the portfolio has to be the red 2017 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza, which this year shows more development and faster aging, with more tertiary notes than the other reds from 2013 and 2014 that I tasted next to it. The frost of April 2017 killed 100% of the vegetal mass at Cubillo, and the grapes they picked were exclusively from the second generation, therefore fruit that ripened in a much shorter cycle, as the harvest was also earlier. It has notes of damp earth, mushrooms, truffles and forest floor, dry leaves and decayed flowers and herbs. It has a polished palate and is medium-bodied, with mostly resolved tannins, and it feels a little lighter. But it's still worth it. It was produced with a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo from vines averaging 53 years of age. It fermented in their old oak vats and matured in used American oak barrels for three+ years. It has 13.5% alcohol, a 3.0 pH and 6.5 grams of acidity. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

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96 Points! Savory berries, plums, iron, minerals, tobacco, ink and blood oranges. Very bright, juicy and structured, with sensational balance, aged savoriness and brightness that are typical of Tondonia reds. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! The 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva comes from a very dry year, with 25% less rain than the average (at the time), resulting in lower yields of very healthy grapes that delivered wines with nice balance between alcohol and polyphenols, making it very apt for the aging in barrel. It had a slightly longer élevage in barrel, six years. The wine is aromatic with a developed profile, spicy and tertiary (forest floor, a touch of brick dust and iodine), complex and nuanced. The palate is full and round, with polished tannins and a long, dry finish. It has a textbook Tondonia nose and profile. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

95 Points! Viña Tondonia can seem austere in its (comparative) youth, especially when compared with sweeter Bosconia, but this is a wine that will reward patience. Picked earlier to assuage the effect of a warmer site, this blend of Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo is structured and focused, with redcurrant, forest floor and green herb notes. Give it time. 2025-32. - Tim Atkins, MW

95 Points! The 2012 Viña Tondonia is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, cultivated on the meander of the Ebro River in Rioja Alta. This garnet wine reveals aromas of ash and plum marmalade, with a faintly herbal core and hints of oaky cedar. Dry and lean, the fairly chalky texture lingers long, concluding with a compact, flavorful and lasting finish. The 2012 is a beautiful old-school Rioja. - Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous

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95 Points! Delivers cherry, redcurrant, and blueberry aromas, with delicate spice from the oak. The palate is harmonious, with a pleasant texture and the accomplished freshness of a cool vintage. The firm, fine-grained tannins will come to the fore as this ages. A great wine in an exquisite Bordeaux style. Cabernet Sauvignon with the classic touch of 3% Syrah and for the first time, also 3% Cabernet Franc, enhancing its Bordeaux character with finesse. - Deacnter Magazine

95 Points! A ripe and fruit-expressive nose showing good generosity and complexity. Quince, ripe cherries and currants with subtle tobacco, dark spices and chili chocolate. Full-bodied and pretty expansive on the palate with fine, dusty tannins melting into the persistent finish. Really impressive length. It goes on and on. Juicy, firm yet really polished. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

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92 Points! Aromas of cherries, blackberries, rose petals, orange and spices introduce the 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Les Angles, a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine that's supple and lively, with fine tannins and bright acids. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

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92+ Points! Opening in the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries and plums framed by a deft application of toasty new oak, the 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Célébration (Maison Louis Jadot) is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a fleshy core of fruit structured around rich tannins and succulent acids. It's a hearty, generous wine that should evolve nicely in the cellar. As usual, it's a blend of more than a dozen Beaune premiers crus. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

92 Points! The 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Célébration offers crunchy red berry fruit on the nose, crushed strawberry mingling with raspberry preserve and cranberry. A light vanilla scent emerges from the background. It is all disarmingly seductive (even more so the following day). The palate is medium-bodied with a very smooth and silky texture. Tart red cherries and crushed strawberry on the entry, modest depth, cashmere in texture and more sumptuous than previous iterations, unsurprising given the style of the 2018 vintage. Even if the 2018 Célébration does not quite 'kick on' towards the finish, it is still utterly delicious. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

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92 Points! This has aromas of plums, blueberries, violets and rosemary, with a touch of hazelnuts. Medium- to full-bodied, focused and firm, with chalky tannins and a satisfyingly textured finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

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92 Points! Hailing from vineyards in Dogliani, the 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo from Poderi Einaudi boasts enticing scents of dog rose, violet, red berry and rhubarb. Vinified in steel and cement, the fresh, polished palate features red forest berry, baking spice, graphite and a Mediterranean note recalling myrtle before closing on a hint of rosemary. Thanks to lithe tannins, it’s drinking beautifully right now. - Kerin O'Keefe

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92 Points! The 2023 Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands) is notable for its juxtaposition of inner sweetness, lemon-like sourness and tongue-tingling minerality. It's all Wente clone from 40-year-old vines, so there's a mass of complexity and expressiveness afoot. Native-fermented in neutral barrel, the 2023 is cool-toned, with toasted almond, peppermint and apricot nuances coursing through its veins. A dusting of sweet spice seasons the finish. Nicely proportioned through and through, the 2023 delivers quite a lot for wine the price. - Billy Norris, Vinous Media

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92 Points! An excellent introduction to this extreme category. Intense caramelized-grapefruit character with plenty of toffee aroma. However, for a pedro ximénez, this has a certain lightness of touch and the sweetness is restrained. Long, raisiny but clean finish. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com Learn More

PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

99 Points, James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of the Year! A beautifully layered red with blackcurrant, hazelnut and lead-pencil character and fine, velvety tannins. Full-bodied and reserved. It’s like a tightly knit ball of polished tannins that are cashmere in texture. So very long and impressive. Give this time. A terrific Lynch. Better after 2027. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

96 Points, Wine Spectator's #3 Wine of the Year 2023! Gorgeous from the start, with cassis and violet notes leading off, followed by additional waves of black cherry and blackberry fruit as well as sweet tobacco and iron. Shows subtle savory and cedar hints that stay in the background, as the iron note pierces through the fruit on the finish. Almost approachable for the fruit, but wait if you can. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2040. - Wine Spectator

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96 Points! A high percentage (75%) of new wood has given this wine a very fine polished character. Along with the structure, it has brought out impressive aromas of black fruits, cinnamon spice and power. The wine is has a fresh black-fruit aftertaste. - Wine Enthusiast

95 Points! Lovely depth to the nose of this young Bordeaux with black currant, ink and walnut aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with a solid core of polished and integrated tannins. This will drink beautifully in 2026 and onwards. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The 2021 Lynch-Bages has a wonderful bouquet with intense blackberry and bilberry fruit, retaining the estuarine element I remarked upon from barrel. The oak here is seamlessly integrated and gains complexity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, very supple and focused, a little more peppery toward the finish with impressive grip and depth in context of the vintage. This is a superb achievement in a tricky season. Chapeau, Jean-Charles Cazes. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

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