Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2019 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is fabulous. Rich, powerful and vibrant, Le Petit packs a serious punch. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. Black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, mocha and dried herbs build as this effusive, generous wine shows off its racy, alluring personality. I loved it.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2019 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is fabulous. Rich, powerful and vibrant, Le Petit packs a serious punch. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. Black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, mocha and dried herbs build as this effusive, generous wine shows off its racy, alluring personality. I loved it.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

Atypical Pessac Léognan with a high degree of Merlot. Even on the nose you see a huge difference with its sibling estate Cantelys. This is riper, black fruits, rounder, touch of liquorice, the form in the mouth is very different, enlarges outwards, less dense. A good sign that the two wines are very different but both excellent.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion from barrel, but it certainly brings the goods from bottle. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a smorgasbord-like array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as violets, candied flowers, tobacco, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, flawless balance, and that rare mix of power and elegance that truly great Pessac can deliver. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it checks in behind the magical, perfect 2018 but is very much in the style of the 2016. Readers will love having this beauty in the cellar, and it will evolve for 40-50 years if stored correctly. Hats off to winemaker Guillaume Pouthier for another thrilling wine.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion from barrel, but it certainly brings the goods from bottle. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a smorgasbord-like array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as violets, candied flowers, tobacco, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, flawless balance, and that rare mix of power and elegance that truly great Pessac can deliver. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it checks in behind the magical, perfect 2018 but is very much in the style of the 2016. Readers will love having this beauty in the cellar, and it will evolve for 40-50 years if stored correctly. Hats off to winemaker Guillaume Pouthier for another thrilling wine.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion from barrel, but it certainly brings the goods from bottle. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a smorgasbord-like array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as violets, candied flowers, tobacco, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, flawless balance, and that rare mix of power and elegance that truly great Pessac can deliver. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it checks in behind the magical, perfect 2018 but is very much in the style of the 2016. Readers will love having this beauty in the cellar, and it will evolve for 40-50 years if stored correctly. Hats off to winemaker Guillaume Pouthier for another thrilling wine.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion from barrel, but it certainly brings the goods from bottle. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a smorgasbord-like array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as violets, candied flowers, tobacco, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, flawless balance, and that rare mix of power and elegance that truly great Pessac can deliver. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it checks in behind the magical, perfect 2018 but is very much in the style of the 2016. Readers will love having this beauty in the cellar, and it will evolve for 40-50 years if stored correctly. Hats off to winemaker Guillaume Pouthier for another thrilling wine.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion from barrel, but it certainly brings the goods from bottle. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a smorgasbord-like array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as violets, candied flowers, tobacco, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, flawless balance, and that rare mix of power and elegance that truly great Pessac can deliver. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it checks in behind the magical, perfect 2018 but is very much in the style of the 2016. Readers will love having this beauty in the cellar, and it will evolve for 40-50 years if stored correctly. Hats off to winemaker Guillaume Pouthier for another thrilling wine.

Vinous - Neal Martin (88)

The 2019 Les Pensées de La Tour Carnet feels a little closed and stubborn on the nose and needs more fruit expression. The palate is more expressive and easygoing, offering pliant tannins, well-judged acidity and nicely integrated oak toward the finish. Just give it 12–18 months for the aromatics to shift up a gear.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2019 Les Perrières, is driven by strong Franc inflections. Mocha, dried flowers, lavender, rose petal and spice lend gorgeous aromatic intensity throughout. Clean veins of saline minerality from these limestone-rich soils give the 2019 a real sense of energy that is absolutely compelling. This is such a gorgeous wine. I would give the 2019 a few years to come together.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2019 Les Perrières, is driven by strong Franc inflections. Mocha, dried flowers, lavender, rose petal and spice lend gorgeous aromatic intensity throughout. Clean veins of saline minerality from these limestone-rich soils give the 2019 a real sense of energy that is absolutely compelling. This is such a gorgeous wine. I would give the 2019 a few years to come together.

James Suckling (96)

Very complex aromas of dark berries, mushrooms, earth, flowers and incense. Crushed stone, too. Full-bodied with very fine, refined tannins that are caressing and beautiful. It’s very, very long and persistent in the finish with subtle and complex flavors. This will deliver beauty with age. Drink after 2025.

James Suckling (92-93)

Tangy and flavorful with lemon-rind and cooked-apple aromas and flavors. It’s tight and lively with plenty of fruit and intensity. Consistently outstanding.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

As to the Grand Vin 2019 Château Pape Clement, it reveals a dense purple hue to go with stunning aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencils shavings, scorched earth, and tobacco. Beautifully balanced, with flawless tannins, this full-bodied Pessac has that rare mix of elegance and power, a great mid-palate, and again, perfect balance. It's one of the gems of the vintage and has some accessibility today given its purity and balance, yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars. The blend is equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, brought up in two-thirds new French oak.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

As to the Grand Vin 2019 Château Pape Clement, it reveals a dense purple hue to go with stunning aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencils shavings, scorched earth, and tobacco. Beautifully balanced, with flawless tannins, this full-bodied Pessac has that rare mix of elegance and power, a great mid-palate, and again, perfect balance. It's one of the gems of the vintage and has some accessibility today given its purity and balance, yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars. The blend is equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, brought up in two-thirds new French oak.

James Suckling (96-97)

Lots of tangy fruit and beautiful depth. It’s full-bodied, yet racy and very, very long. So much salty and sliced-apple character here. Excellent minerality and intensity.

James Suckling (98-99)

Really classy red, offering blueberries, minerals, salt, limestone and light fresh herbs. It’s full-bodied, but so refined. Fine layers of fruit and tannins. It’s like millefeuille. The 2018 is more exuberant, but I love the elegance and structure here. Subtle and complex. 78% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 2% cabernet sauvignon.

Decanter (94)

Blackberry notes on the nose, with some herbal perfume touches too that are so appealing. Smooth and softly textured, with chalky nuances and grippy black cherry, strawberry and blackcurrant leaf aspects giving structure and body. Succulent and juicy with mouthwatering freshness. Great vibrancy and drive with life. Super approachable with the same vein of refinement and charm that Figeac does so well.

Decanter (94)

Blackberry notes on the nose, with some herbal perfume touches too that are so appealing. Smooth and softly textured, with chalky nuances and grippy black cherry, strawberry and blackcurrant leaf aspects giving structure and body. Succulent and juicy with mouthwatering freshness. Great vibrancy and drive with life. Super approachable with the same vein of refinement and charm that Figeac does so well.

Indulge in the opulence of Pipeau 2019, a Bordeaux produced with exemplary precision. Grown in the distinguished vineyards of Saint-Émilion, the fruit for this wine is meticulously cultivated to allow optimum maturity before harvest. The selected grapes are macerated for prolonged periods to extract the robust tannins and reveal the inherent fruity characteristics.

Creating an exquisite blend of predominantly Merlot, the Maison Blanche winery masters a seamless mélange with portions of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ingeniously aged in French oak barrels, Pipeau 2019 delivers an aromatic complexity with noted essences of ripe dark berries underpinned by subtle oak and earthy nuances.

Pipeau 2019 seeks not to impress but to express. This wine reveals seductive depth, structure, and balance that at once embody the character of Saint-Émilion and the deft craft of Maison Blanche. Revel in Pipeau 2019, a testament to the time-honoured traditions of Bordeaux winemaking.

Emanating from the renowned vineyards of Bordeaux, France, the Plaisance 2019 offers a uniquely captivating wine experience. Conceived by the reputable Plaisance vintners, this exquisite blend mirrors the tradition and mastery inherent in each drop. The Plaisance 2019 bears the hallmarks of an exceptional Bordeaux wine, factoring in its topography, climate, and meticulous winemaking process.

The soil's rich composition, a harmonious fusion of gravel, sand and clay, bestows upon the Plaisance 2019 its distinct flavour profiles. The wine undergoes a thorough vinification process, ensuring character and depth. Aging in French oak barrels lends an additional layer of complexity, introducing a delicate balance of spice and toastiness.

A sip unveils dark fruit flavours, dancing on the palate with hints of blackberry and plum. Subtle tinges of vanilla and tobacco set against robust tannins culminate in a compelling, structured finish. The Plaisance 2019 authenticates its origins, guaranteeing a memorable encounter with the spirit of Bordeaux.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

I continue to love this wine, and I think it's undervalued in the market. Coming from a walled vineyard near Libourne and managed by the incredible team at Cheval Blanc, the 2019 Château Quinault L'Enclos reveals a deep purple/ruby hue to go with a gorgeous seamless, medium to full-bodied, perfectly balanced profile that epitomizes the style of the vintage. The tannins are flawlessly integrated, it has a great mid-palate, and it offers up a wonderful bouquet of darker cherries, currants, leafy herbs, and chocolate. It can be drunk today with incredible pleasure given its balance and purity, but it’s going to cruise in cold cellars for at least two decades.

James Suckling (96-97)

One of the firmest, most structured Quintus with lots of beautiful fruit and powerful tannins. It’s a very classically structured red with blackberry and blueberry character. Lavender and spice underneath. Extremely intense. 55% merlot and 45% cabernet.

Vinous - Neal Martin (89-91)

The 2019 du Retout is inky purple in colour. The bouquet is clean and pure with blackberry tinged with graphite and black truffle, all nicely delineated and growing in intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with quite sharp tannins, compact and maybe leaner than some of its peers, though with satisfying persistence on the pencil lead infused finish. Fine.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2019 Rocheyron has a gorgeous bouquet of red berry fruit and rose petals, hints of freshly tilled loam coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied, perfectly balanced, poised and harmonious, with seamlessly integrated oak, the Cabernet Franc lending freshness and a hint of bell pepper on the finish. Superb.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2019 Rocheyron has a gorgeous bouquet of red berry fruit and rose petals, hints of freshly tilled loam coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied, perfectly balanced, poised and harmonious, with seamlessly integrated oak, the Cabernet Franc lending freshness and a hint of bell pepper on the finish. Superb.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2019 Rocheyron has a gorgeous bouquet of red berry fruit and rose petals, hints of freshly tilled loam coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied, perfectly balanced, poised and harmonious, with seamlessly integrated oak, the Cabernet Franc lending freshness and a hint of bell pepper on the finish. Superb.