Decanter (93)

Now certified organic, and converting to biodynamics from this year. It displays a confident weight to the damson fruits that are hugely elegant and well placed. A little closed when tasted on two occasions, and the high Petit Verdot content of this wine is no doubt contributing to its slight austerity at this stage, but it also brings that beautifully welcome whoosh of black fruit spicing. Very good quality, elegant and long-ageing, just a dash below the exceptional 2015.

Decanter (93)

Now certified organic, and converting to biodynamics from this year. It displays a confident weight to the damson fruits that are hugely elegant and well placed. A little closed when tasted on two occasions, and the high Petit Verdot content of this wine is no doubt contributing to its slight austerity at this stage, but it also brings that beautifully welcome whoosh of black fruit spicing. Very good quality, elegant and long-ageing, just a dash below the exceptional 2015.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2017 La Lagune is powerful and dense, but also a bit rough around the edges. Tobacco, game, licorice, smoke and dried flowers along with big, coarse tannins give the 2017 its decidedly hearty feel. Even so, there is quite a bit of complexity and plenty of personality. The 2017 is not exactly finessed, but it has a lot going on. The 2017 needs time to come together, but it is promising, that is for sure.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

The 2019 La Lagune offers exquisite transparency on the nose - one of the most terroir-expressive Pessac-Léognan wines this vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, taut and fresh, quite saline with a very integrated and poised finish that lingers in the mouth. Wonderful - could this be the best La Lagune in years? Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

James Suckling (93-94)

A firm, polished red with tight, focused tannins that flow across the palate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with good length and a gorgeous finish. From organically grown grapes.

James Suckling (93-94)

A firm, polished red with tight, focused tannins that flow across the palate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with good length and a gorgeous finish. From organically grown grapes.

James Suckling (93-94)

Fresh and fine with tight-grained, lightly stemmy tannins. Violets, raspberries, currants and orange zest. Medium-bodied, tight and fine. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 10% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes.

James Suckling (93-94)

Fresh and fine with tight-grained, lightly stemmy tannins. Violets, raspberries, currants and orange zest. Medium-bodied, tight and fine. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 10% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes.

James Suckling (95-96)

This is long and fresh with a linear feeling to the rich fruit, showing plums, redcurrants and spices, with chocolate and walnuts. Medium to full body. Fine tannins. This is the first year being certified biodynamic from Demeter and furthermore, La Lagune is always excellent in hot years.

James Suckling (94-95)

A subtle yet plush La Lagune with black olives, blackberries and hints of chocolate and hazelnut. Medium body with fine, polished tannins and a savory finish. There's a crunchy feel to it and it’s layered and deep at the end. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot. No petit verdot.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2019 La Louvière has an impressive bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and sandalwood scents, full of gusto and fine definition. The oak here is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied, crisp and taut, with fine tannins and a focused, fresh, classically styled finish that shows finesse and persistence. Superb.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2020 La Louvière is a gorgeous, complex wine. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, incense, dried herbs and gravel meld into a core of dark red berry fruit. Brambly and savory, the 2020 has a ton to offer. This mid-weight Pessac-Léognan is an absolute delight. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2015 La Marzelle is a sultry, sensual wine. Open, radiant and alluring, it captures all the natural radiance of the year in its exotic, flamboyant personality. Succulent red cherry, plum, new leather, spice and floral overtones gain resonance as this super-expressive Saint-Émilion gains volume with time in the glass. Tasted three times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2019 La Marzelle is lush, forward and absolutely beautiful. Succulent red cherry, plum, spice, leather, tobacco, blood orange and espresso infuse the 2019 with notable complexity to play off its exuberant personality. This exotic, full-throttle Saint-Émilion is a real head-turner. Tasted three times.

Immerse yourself in the elegance of Mauriane 2016, a magnetically compelling and sophisticated vin de table enriched with an exquisite blend of robust Merlot and floral Cabernet Franc. The innovative winemaker, Château Mauriane, cultivated this enchanting gem in the resplendent soils of Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion, heart of Bordeaux's iconic wine country. Mauriane 2016 symbolises an exemplary show of magnificent viticulture and intensive craftsmanship - handpicked and matured for 15 months in French oak, painstakingly protecting its integrity.

With unrivalled consistency, the Mauriane 2016 imparts a peerless symphony of ripe black fruits, taut tannins, and a lingering finish echoing of sweet spices. Conceived from a vintage year renowned for its exceptional quality and climatic conditions, this wine delivers a palate teeming with focused intensity and impeccable balance. To taste Mauriane 2016 is to embrace the essence of Bordeaux itself – complex, inviting and with a vibrance that lingers long after the last sip.

The Mauriane 2017 captures the epitome of luxury, embodying the richness of France's Bordeaux region. This opulent blend from the illustrious Château Moulin Saint-Georges vineyard, under the watchful eyes of the Vauthier family for generations, is a testament to fine winemaking traditions. Mauriane 2017 is crafted using the pristine Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, hand-harvested at optimal maturity and aged expertly in oak barrels.

The resulting confluence is a harmonious gesture towards excellence, offering a voluptuously textured palate and a bouquet brimming with dark fruit, cocoa and spice. The wine's formidable tannic structure is beautifully balanced by a burst of acidity, rendering a long, elegant finish. Mauriane 2017 is an ode to dedicated craftsmanship, honed over centennials, yielding a wine resonant with depth and character, a definitive choice for discerning enthusiasts. Immerse in the unique experience of sipping Mauriane 2017, a true depiction of Bordeaux's wine artistry.

Wine Advocate (88-90)

.

Elevate your viticultural palate with the exquisite Mauriane 2019. This prestigious vintage hails from the renowned vineyards of Bordeaux, France, meticulously crafted by world-class viticulturists devoted to creating supreme quality wines. Mauriane 2019 is produced from hand-harvested Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, embodying the unique terroir of its origin.

Offering an indulgent complexity, the Mauriane 2019 flaunts aromas of ripe cherries, plums, with subtle hints of spices and dark chocolate. Its opulent fruit character is beautifully intertwined with firm tannins, leading to a lingering finish. The wine undergoes meticulous vinification and maturation processes, aged in the finest French oak barrels for two years. This artisanal approach imparts an added layer of elegance and sophistication to it.

Indulge in the superior Bordeaux experience with Mauriane 2019, a testament to French winemaking excellence.

Wine Advocate (90)

The 1981 exhibits a more youthful purple hue to its dark plum color than any vintage back to 1970. Somewhat narrowly constructed for a La Mission-Haut-Brion, it reveals plenty of incense, blueberry, black currant and crushed rock notes intertwined with a restrained, smoky character. The wine is medium-bodied, fresh and crisp with good concentration as well as a surprising youthfulness. However, the vintage’s deficiencies – a lack of heat and maturity – show up in the wine’s modest power and concentration. The 1981 does not possess the great richness, depth and intensity of the finest vintages, but it is still an outstanding effort that has aged extremely well. It could hold up for another two decades, but there is no point in deferring gratification.

Wine Advocate (100)

One of the great wines of the vintage, and the last produced under the ownership of the Woltner family, the 1982 La Mission Haut-Brion remains remarkably youthful, exhibiting a saturated ruby-black hue. Unfurling in the glass with rich aromas of black fruits, cigar smoke, loamy soil, black truffle, peat and pencil shavings, it’s full-bodied, broad and concentrated, with a deep core of fruit, ripe tannins and a long, expansive finish. Over the last decade, the wine has become increasingly seamless and elegant, without losing any of its vitality, and it is now clear, if it were ever in doubt, that this wine can stand alongside vintages such as 1961 and 1955 as one of the great La Mission Haut-Brions of the 20th century.