Wines

93 Points! A solid, focused, juicy and poised wine, showing red berries, sweet spices and dried-flower aromas. Medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. Lovely crushed-strawberry character to the silky texture. Bright and fruit-forward, this has a seductive, succulent finish and a lift of peppercorns. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Bottled three months ago and showing beautifully, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel is based on 30% each of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre with 10% Cinsault and brought up all in foudre. It offers darker berries, pepper, sappy flowers, and some obvious stony, earth-like minerality in a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, layered style. It's balanced with terrific purity, ripe tannins, and outstanding length, offering incredible pleasure today, yet it will keep for 10-12 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

92 Points! A balanced, lively and precise white with aromas of fresh lemons, linden and exotic spices such as turmeric. It’s medium-bodied, with a bright core of aromatic herbs and spices bringing vitality on the palate. Vivid and focused, with a well-driven, persistent finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

91 Points! The 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel Blanc is terrific, with a soft, supple, forward style in its pure white peach, quince, and honeyed flower aromas and flavors. It's medium-bodied and has the vintage's purity as well as outstanding length. - Jeb Dunnuck

92 Points! A balanced, lively and precise white with aromas of fresh lemons, linden and exotic spices such as turmeric. It’s medium-bodied, with a bright core of aromatic herbs and spices bringing vitality on the palate. Vivid and focused, with a well-driven, persistent finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

91 Points! The 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet De Beaucastel Blanc is terrific, with a soft, supple, forward style in its pure white peach, quince, and honeyed flower aromas and flavors. It's medium-bodied and has the vintage's purity as well as outstanding length. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points!  The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an opulent texture, vibrant acidity, and again, an incredible sense of minerality, despite having no shortage of sweetness or richness. The 2016 is a classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon that hit 14.2% alcohol with 135 grams of residual sugar. It’s already complex and approachable yet will keep for 3-4 decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! A very classic Yquem. Breathtakingly wide spectrum of floral honey, exotic fruit (passion fruit, mango and pineapple), caramel and marzipan aromas. But none of this is a jot too much. In fact, the wine is extremely precise and finely nuanced. Wonderful freshness and textural complexity, in spite of the considerable concentration and extravagance. Very suave and sensual finish that goes on and on. - James Suckling

98 Points! Containing 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, the pale lemon-gold colored 2016 d'Yquem leaps from the glass with honeyed apricots, pineapple, green mango, crushed rocks, candied ginger, coriander seed and citrus peel with hints of orange blossom. The palate is very tightly wound, vibrant and refreshing with layer upon layer of minerals and spices, finishing with epic poise and persistence. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

98 Points! Tasting the 2019, I noticed that it has a slightly paler hue compared to recent vintages (though I never read too much into the colour of young Sauternes.) For certain, it has a highly-aromatic bouquet that is beguiling in purity, enticing aromas of honeysuckle and saffron, soon joined by camomile, white flowers and orange blossom. It has wonderful delineation and gains intensity with aeration. The palate is supremely well-balanced with fine bead of acidity. Very harmonious and armed with just the right amount of viscosity, this Yquem is surprisingly understated at first but gains presence, offering irresistible flavours of layers of honey, lemongrass, lemon thyme and orange pith. Yquem is so tempting in its youth, but I feel that this vintage will repay those with the nous to cellar for at least a decade. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

97 Points! The 2019 vintage of Château d'Yquem has the highest proportion (45%) of Sauvignon Blanc in any modern Yquem. The Sauvignon Blanc adds to the freshness, acting as a great balance to the succulent, sweet and voluptuous palate. Intense peach and apricot, combined with lemon and orange zest, make this highly appealing to drink right away - an ideal vintage with which to start Yquem’s ‘lighthouse’ project. However, it would be a shame not to give this 10+ years maturation to see how it develops. Very well, I suspect. - Decanter Magazine

95 Points! The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape is some serious Provençal goodness, with just about overflowing aromas and flavors of sweet raspberries, blackberries, peppery garrigue, and Provençal spices. It has the sunny, expressive, complex style of the vintage, medium to full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a great finish. As with most 2022s, it has plenty of upfront charm yet solid underlying tannins as well. It reminds me slightly of the 2009 and will have two decades of longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! Dense licorice and forest berry aromas mask the deep tannin structure of this Chateauneuf-du-Pape masterpiece. Full-bodied but with a lightness of touch. Then the power and stony intensity pour over you in a giant wave. The freshness is extraordinary for this hot and dry vintage. Serious tannins in the very long, compact and refined finish. From organically grown grapes. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! The estate lost some Grenache due to shatter, so the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape is based on 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Counoise, 10% Syrah, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties. It was all destemmed except for the Syrah and brought up in foudre. The higher Mourvèdre component gives it a more serious, focused style than most in the vintage, and it has darker blackberry fruits intermixed with roasted herbs, spring flowers, violets, and some meaty nuances on the nose. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a deep, pure, layered mouthfeel, it has ripe, velvety, yet building tannins and a great finish. Another beautiful vintage for this cuvée, it has the approachable style of the vintage yet brings more than enough density and concentration to evolve for 30 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

Composed of Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, delightful stuff and one of our 'house' pinks!

91 Points! A very restrained, indeed grudging, nose faintly reveals its combination of mineral reduction and citrus scents. The super-sleek and borderline painfully intense middleweight flavors are like rolling tiny pebbles around the mouth while the cuts-like-a-knife bone-dry finish is markedly austere. The mid-palate density is most impressive as the single digit yields are noticeable. I would point out that this is sufficiently austere as to not make for especially interesting drinking young. - Allen Meadows, Burghound

92 Points! The 2021 La Grande Pièce is derived from Chenin Blanc planted on sandstone and pouddingue soils within the Quarts-de-Chaume appellation but vinified as a dry wine. It reveals a flinty, reduced bouquet with aromas of vanilla pod, grapefruit, ripe orchard fruits and spring flowers, followed by a fleshy and incisive palate, enveloping and charming, a tense and perfectly balanced mid-palate and a mineral, saline, long finish. Matured for 12 months in barrels and terracotta containers. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

92 Points! The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Chateau La Grande Roche is fresh, vibrant and super-expressive. There's a bit more Franc here than in the straight Cabernet, which lends notable aromatic presence and energy throughout. This classy, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon is impeccably done. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

92 Points! At $45 a bottle, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon La Grande Roche from Ric Forman and Cheryl Emmolo's Rossi Wallace label might very well be the single best value in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Freshly cut flowers, red cherry fruit, mint, blood orange and spice are all very nicely lifted. This is an especially elegant, refined Cabernet Sauvignon done in a supremely understated, mid-weight style. The 2023 is a total delight. All of this fruit is from the Forman estate. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

98–99 Points – James Suckling
“A cool and perfectly integrated wine with a vivid and poised nature, superb focus and precision. It’s so perfumed and dense yet weightless and polished. Endless finish. 51% Cabernet Franc and 49% Merlot.”

97–99+ Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A powerful, inward, yet incredibly discrete and classy wine, the 2025 Château Lafleur reveals black raspberries, framboise, graphite, crushed stone, and floral notes on the nose. Based on 49% Merlot and 51% Bouchet, it's full-bodied on the palate, with a deep, rich, layered mouthfeel, remarkable length, and tons of polished tannins. It's an absolute dream of a wine, and I have no doubt this will check in with the top handful of wines in the vintage.”

97–99 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Truffles, flowers, cocoa, black cherries, smoke, and chocolate mint begin to define the nose. The wine coats your palate, covering your mouth, teeth, and gums with layers of pure, sweet, energetic fruit, marine influences, dark cocoa, and a touch of herbs. Long, intense, rich, and polished, this is one of the more sensuous offerings from Lafleur.” 

98–100 Points – Wine Advocate
“A wine of remarkable precision and intensity, the 2025 Lafleur delivers layered dark fruits, flowers, graphite, and mineral complexity with stunning persistence and structure.”

97–99 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Lafleur is captivating. Aromatic, layered, and incredibly nuanced, with remarkable persistence, energy, and finesse.”

96–98 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Lafleur combines purity, energy, and precision with extraordinary finesse. Intensely mineral and beautifully proportioned.”

99-100 Points! The fantastic quality of the cabernet sauvignon really comes through here with black currant, blueberry and raspberry character. It’s full-bodied with such tightness. It’s so beautiful in the center palate. The tannins are wonderfully blended into the wine and flow across the palate. Rather leaner and racy. Ethereal. 37% of the production and 90% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

97-100 Points!The 2019 Château Margaux is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, accounting for 37% of the crop. The alcohol came in at 13.9%, the IPT was 75, and the pH was 3.66. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose begins with intense scents of crushed blackberries, warm cassis and plum preserves before fanning out into a whole array of floral, exotic spice and earth scents: iris, red roses, star anise, cassis, tilled soil, moss-covered bark and black truffles, with an emerging waft of crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate quivers with energy, emitting loads of mineral sparks, featuring bold freshness and fantastically ripe, finely grained tannins to support the delicate, perfumed layers, finishing very long and wonderfully poised. The juxtaposition between the acidity and the richness in this Château Margaux is just extraordinary! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

98 Points! This expands sideways, vertically and downwards, with a creamy mid palate and a rose petal, peony, raspberry and cassis collision on the nose. This is chewy in its tannic structure, full on and yet delicate and sappy. Fresh, elegant, perfumed and concentrated - clearly will age for decades. This is close in character to the 2009 or 2015, two exceptional vintages at Margaux and classic to the graceful yet concentrated signature of the property. 1% Petit Verdot to complete the blend, 100% new oak although barely discernible already. 37% of overall production in the 1st wine this year. - Jane Anson, Decanter

Expected ABV: Under 14%

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

97-98 Points! Really impressive depth, concentration and perfume this year, with fine tannins. Lots of violets, red flowers, black cherries and currants. Full-bodied and seriously structured, with impeccable freshness and a very long finish. Dense and powerful for the vintage, with tension, vibrations, good concentration and a tannin framework. 93% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. - Zekun Shuai, James Suckling

94-96 Points! Representing 46% of the total crop (a little higher than recent yearsdue to higher yields in the best Cabernet blocks), the 2024 Château Margaux contains slightly less Merlot (5%). It has a sophisticated bouquet in the context of the growing season, with black fruit, pressed violet and hints of pencil box that almost lend a Pauillac-like allure. Very fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and modest depth. This is clearly a leaner Château Margaux compared to, say, the 2020 or 2022, but it is razor-sharp with superb tension and mineralite. Unapologetically classic in style with modest length, this noble First Growth will benefit from four to five years in bottle. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

94-96 Points! Based on 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2024 Château Margaux is similarly deep purple-hued, with a more inward, closed, yet impressive style. Crème de cassis, graphite, spring flowers, and subtle spicy nuances all define the aromatics. It's medium-bodied with a concentrated, ripe, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and nicely integrated background oak. It's going to need time, but this is unquestionably a beautiful, elegant Margaux. The 2024 is 12.8% alcohol with a pH of 3.62. - Jeb Dunnuck

93-95 Points! The 2024 Château Margaux has turned out beautifully, unfurling in the glass with notes of cassis, violets, cigar box and iris. Medium to full-bodied, deep and vibrant, with excellent density and concentration for the vintage, it's lively and layered, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. This is a serious, youthfully tightly wound blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc that attained 12.8% alcohol. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Planted in 1973, Cold Creek Vineyard stands as one of the oldest and most acclaimed vineyards in Washington State. Character builds season after season in the growth rings of the old woody vines. Sun-drenched growing conditions with low rainfall result in small berries with full-bodied flavors. This Cabernet has broad-shouldered structure, concentrated fruit characters and deep color.

97 Points! The 2012 Cheval Blanc boasts stunning power and a verticl, imposing scene of structure that is quite rare in this vintage. Dark and almost brooding in style, the Cheval is a rare 2012 that absolutely demands cellaring. Smoke, tobacco, incense and dark spices open up with time, but the 2012 is a reticent, tannic wine that is only showing the barest hints of its ultimate potential. This is a magnificent showing and one of the clear highlights of the year. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

96+ Points! A step up over the 2011, the 2012 Chateau Cheval Blanc offers a similar medium to full-bodied, elegant style yet has slightly more freshness and purity. Smoked black fruits, cassis, tobacco leaf, and sappy flower notes all emerge from this thrillingly textured, balanced, focused 2012. It opens up with time in the glass, has ripe, sweet tannins, and it’s another one of those wines that offers pleasure today yet will cruise for decades. The final blend is the usual 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc. Readers should be happy to have bottles in their cellars. - Jeb Dunnuck

95+ Points! Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Château Cheval Blanc reveals lovely cassis, warm black cherries and redcurrant jelly notions with underlying hints of cedar chest, garrigue, Indian spices and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it possesses wonderful energy and freshness on the palate with a beautifully poised ethereal nature and long mineral-tinged finish. This elegantly crafted beauty should enter its drinking window in a couple of years and cellar gracefully for another 20+ years. - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

94 Points! A Cheval Blanc with an impressive center palate of blueberries, chocolate, almonds and spices. Full body, a solid core of fruit and a long, long finish. Goes on for minutes. Beautiful wine. Seamless tannins. Needs a few years of bottle age. Better in 2017. - James Suckling

98 Points! The aromas of currants and flowers with hints of stones and sandalwood are enticing. Medium- to full-bodied, with an impressive structure of polished yet intense and focused tannins that run the length of the wine. Both the acidity and tannins play off each other, giving a punchy character. A classic Cheval. Only 13.3% alcohol. 52% cabernet franc, 43% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon. For a decade or so, this wine never had so much cabernet franc. Needs four or five years to soften. Drink after 2029. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! The 2021 Cheval Blanc has turned out beautifully in bottle, and director Pierre-Olivier Clouet even considers it to be superior to the 2020, a preference that I share. Wafting from the glass with aromas of mulberries and cherries mingled with incense, iris and rose petals, framed by a deft touch of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a velvety attack that segues into a rich, concentrated mid-palate framed by sweet, powdery tannins and concluding with a long, penetrating, rose-inflected finish. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

98–100 Points – Wine Advocate (William Kelley)
“A blend of 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2025 Château Cheval Blanc stands out once again as among the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific mid-palate density, sweet tannins and a long, vibrant, violet-inflected finish.”

98–100 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Purple in hue, the wine explodes with an array of flowers, smoky truffles, black plums, black cherries, blue fruits, orange rind, tobacco leaf, licorice, and chocolate in the perfume. The palate perfectly balances hedonistic tendencies with a touch of restraint. There is length, intensity, opulence, and lift with seamless silk and velvet tannins throughout the extensive finish.”

97-99 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Cheval Blanc is seamless and textured. A wine of mystery and seduction, the 2025 dazzles. Sage, mint, lavender, cloves and cool blue-toned fruit all build in the glass. More intellectual than exuberant, this is a Cheval Blanc that will require years in bottle to fully reveal itself.”

96 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“Of all the wines I tasted in the 2025 En Primeur season, this is the one that I have thought about the most. Deep plum colour, intense, slate, graphite, carved tannins, campfire, chamomile, bitter chocolate, cassis, mint leaf and crushed rocks. Stunning and impressive with extraordinary ageing potential.”

96 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“One of the lowest yields of Cheval Blanc ever at just 15hl/ha with no Petit Cheval made this year. Supple and fleshy, round and enveloping yet softly chalky. Generous yet reined in, glossy, bright with lovely acidity. Complex, charming, soft, pretty and delicious without trying too hard.”

95–97 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Cheval Blanc includes all 47 plots on the estate except one that was sold off. Blackcurrant, raspberry, strawberry and blueberry fruit mingle with tobacco and graphite. Medium-bodied with sapid red berry fruit and a structured, vertical finish driven by Cabernet Franc. An uncompromising Cheval Blanc that will require patience.”