Vinous (91-93)

The 2018 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, which comes from Mazoyères, has a fragrant, peppermint-tinged bouquet that is more discreet than others I have tasted. You have to coax the aromas from their shell, touches of violet emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and finely tuned acidity. Quite dense and perhaps requiring a little more delineation and complexity to manifest on the conservative finish. It just needs to turn on the Charmes.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2018 Proprietary Red Blend Amuse Bouche is composed of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bombastic scents of ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of Morello cherries, star anise, cardamom and red roses, plus a touch of garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate is an exercise in poise, delivering loads of vibrant black fruit and exotic spice flavors with bold freshness plus exquisitely ripe, rounded tannins, finishing with fantastic length and perfume. Absolutely stunning Merlot!

Wine Advocate (99)

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard was aged for 12 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has a profound yet slightly broody nose to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal wonderfully fragrant notes of wild blueberries, black cherries, dark chocolate and warm cassis, followed by nuances of garrigue, violets, tar and licorice plus a touch of wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gorgeous velvety tannins and finely knit freshness supporting generous black and blue fruits, finishing very long and achingly fragrant. Wow. 1,000 cases were made.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard spent 12 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bold scents of fresh blackberries, black currants and mulberries plus suggestions of cedar chest, pencil lead, iron ore and truffles, with emerging wafts of crushed rocks and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers firm, grainy, exquisitely ripe tannins and seamless freshness supporting layer upon layer of black fruits, finishing on a long-lingering fragrant earth note. 800 cases were made.

Vinous (95)

Translucent yellow. Seductively perfumed aromas of passion fruit, pear nectar, white peach and orange zest, along with suggestions of jasmine and tarragon. At once concentrated and lively, offering vibrant, mineral-laced orchard and pit fruit flavors that are complicated by a suave, steadily building floral nuance. Finishes with a strong jolt of minerality, repeating florality and noteworthy persistence. This wine's blend of power and finesse is quite something.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The 2018 Eaba is another wine from Jim that puts its foot firmly on the ripeness pedal and offers a blockbuster-like style of ripe black fruits, wood smoke, cured meats, and peppery goodness. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it’s flawlessly balanced, has gorgeous tannins, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 10-12 years or so. The 2018 is 59% Syrah, 23% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache, and the rest Viognier, aged 22 months in 50% new French oak.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Another wine that flirts with perfection is the 2018 Mourvedre, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better Mourvèdre out there. Offering a beautiful freshness as well as powerful notes of black and blue fruits, violets, ground pepper, iron, and a touch of bloody meat, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, silky tannins, no hard edges, and one heck of a great finish. This powerful, stacked Mourvèdre should have 15 years of longevity. The 2018 checks in as 85% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah, and the balance Viognier that was 25% destemmed and spent 21 months in 50% new French oak barriques and 600-liter demi-muids.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Only the second release of this cuvée (it was first produced in 2016 and will be produced in 2019 as well), the 2018 Château Angelus Hommage A Elisabeth Bouchet is 100% Cabernet Franc coming from a single parcel of vines averaging between 60-80 years in age. It was vinified in stainless steel and the aging spanned 18 months in new French oak. It's another magical wine from this château that somehow manages to marry serious power and richness with a sense of purity and elegance, as well as complexity, that's something to behold. Deep purple-hued, it offers a sensational array of blackcurrant and cassis fruits intermixed with truffle, spring flowers, and a subtle meaty, baking spice character that develops with time in the glass. Full-bodied on the palate, it's flawlessly balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, and an expansive, seamless, heavenly mouthfeel. Everything is in the right place, and it has perfectly integrated oak along with a gorgeous finish. There are just 849 bottles produced, with a few larger formats, so I expect this to be just about impossible to find in the marketplace (nor will it be cheap), but it's as fine a Saint-Emilion as has ever been made. It needs a decade of cellaring, and I suspect it will have 40-50 years of overall longevity.

Indulge your senses with the richness of Anglore Lirac 2018. This distinguished red wine emanates from the prestigious Anglore Estate, nestled in the famed terroirs of Southern Rhône valley, France. It's an organic, biodynamic wine meticulously produced by the expert winemaker, Eric Pfifferling. Known for his finesse, Eric has skilfully blended Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes, aged in old barrels for a year, resulting in this exceptional Lirac vintage.

The Anglore Lirac 2018 boasts an engaging nose of dark fruit and wild herbs, leading into a palate of intense richness. This lush wine demonstrates harmonious tannins and exhibits the perfect balance of acidity and opulence. Its natural, non-interventionist style makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a pure, unadulterated taste experience. The Anglore Lirac 2018 truly embodies the elegance and intensity of wines from the renowned Rhône valley, making it a deserving addition to any connoisseur's collection.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2018 Chambolle-Musigny la Combe d'Orveaux offers pretty, well-defined scents of dark cherry, bergamot and bay leaf aromas, not intense but elegant or "transparent," as they say. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy red berry fruit. I like the balance and oak integration. Very poised and fresh toward the elegant but persistent finish. Excellent.

Indulge in the splendour of Anne Gros Echezeaux Grand Cru Les Loachausses 2018, a sublime classic from Burgundy, crafted by one of the region's highly-respected female winemakers. From the fortified 'Les Loachausses' enclave of Echezeaux, this grand cru exhibits exceptional quality and expert production.

Delicately hand-picked and sorted, Pinot Noir grapes are carefully de-stemmed prior to meticulous fermentation. The resultant wine is then matured in oak barrels for a period, lending signature complexity and depth.

A charming blend of sophistication and nuance, this ruby elixir captivates your palate with red and dark fruits, exuding spiciness, and ending with a lengthy finish. Awarded 93 points by respected Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Anne Gros Echezeaux Grand Cru Les Loachausses 2018 is a harmonious tribute to Anne Gros' winemaking prowess and the region's illustrious terroir. A must-add to the discerning oenophile's collection.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2018 Richebourg Grand Cru has a gorgeous bouquet of ebullient blackberry, raspberry and cranberry fruit entwined with crushed stone and wild hedgerow aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, firm tannins and well-integrated new oak. Fresh and lightly spiced with black pepper and savory notes toward a finish that is tremendously persistent. Bon vin!

Vinous (86-88)

The 2018 Vosne-Romanée Les Barreaux felt quite closed on the nose, maybe a little disjointed compared to the other crus from Anne Gros. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and fine acidity, but it does not quite fan out or achieve a higher level toward the finish. So-so.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2018 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a broody bouquet with dark berry fruit laced with black tea and touches of leather. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, almost "chunky" tannins. This is not a graceful Echézeaux but there is plenty of substance with a judicious touch of spice on the finish. Fine, but give it time.

Vinous (89-91)

The 2018 Pommard Les Chanlins 1er Cru offers brambly black fruit on the nose, a little more tertiary in style compared to Gros’s other cuvées. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins on the entry. Good grip here, quite sappy in style even if it just misses some finesse and detail on the finish. Not bad, but I would give this 3-4 years in bottle.

Vinous (93)

Rich dark fruits, spiced cookie, smoky plums and black cherries define the 2018 Syrah Bramasole. This is cool-toned, pliant and pleasantly sweet, with a fresh display of inner violets, minerals and bright acids that keep the mouth watering. Nuanced tannins and sweet spice linger as this high-energy Cortona Syrah tapers off with blue and purple-toned florals. The 2018 Bramasole is stunning and so easy to like.

Vinous (91)

The 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wafts up with a rich display of sweet cherries, blueberries tinged with violet, lavender and a hint of vanilla bean. This is so soft and pliant with elegant waves of ripe red and hints of blue fruits, as fine tannins slowly saturate. Hard red candies and licorice last incredibly long. The 2018 tapers off lightly structured and tinged with sweet purple florals. Simply lovely.

James Suckling (95)

This is a really beautiful red with cherry, blackberry, violet and chocolate character. Full and layered, yet it remains linear and bright, with an energetic finish. So drinkable now, but better in 2024.

Vinous (92+)

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and balsamic in the glass, grumbling up with rich notes of mocha, plum sauce, grilled herbs and crushed ashen stone. This is silky, almost creamy in feel, flooding the palate with mocha-tinged red fruits and rum-soaked raisins complemented by hints of tobacco toward the close. The 2018 tapers off with a mentholated freshness and grippy tannins that, at first, take hold of the senses, but then slowly release them, allowing hints of balsam and exotic spice to linger. This unique vintage of Pian delle Vigne has a lot of upfront appeal, yet also a structure that will carry it through medium-term cellaring.

James Suckling (96)

Focused and complex on the nose with stone, sliced cooked apple and hints of toffee. Full-bodied, with a density and freshness and liveliness. Vivid and energetic. All about class here. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator (93)

Cherry, black currant and raspberry flavors are at the heart of this red, flanked by vanilla, toasty oak, mineral and tobacco elements. There is a beam of ripe fruit and dusty tannins right through the long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2028. 5,000 cases imported.

Wine Advocate (96)

Renzo Cotarella, managing director of Marchesi Antinori tells me that the 2018 vintage showed very different results in the inland and hilly Chianti Classico appellation compared to the flat, sea-facing Bolgheri appellation. This season saw some rain right before harvest. That extra humidity rolled right off the Chianti Classico hills and disappeared without effect, but it stuck around longer in the thicker, flatter soils of Guado al Tasso. For this reason, one of the estate's top wines, the Cabernet Franc-based Matarocchio, was not produced in 2018 for fear that the fruit would not offer the concentration required of a wine of that important stature. The best of that fruit was used in this wine instead. For that reason, the 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees a little more Cabernet Franc (clocking in at about 22% of the blend) and less Merlot, with the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon, of course, (at about 60%). To be honest, the percentage of Cabernet Franc has been deliberately creeping up over the years to render a more focused and sharper bouquet. Aromas of dark fruit and freshly milled white pepper replace the more banal cherry-based flavors delivered by the Merlot, and the wine appears more lifted and precise as a result. The Cabernet Sauvignon delivers spice and licorice, and these pretty aromas are likewise given more breathing room, thanks to the counterparts found in the Cabernet Franc. Linearity, sharpness, pencil shavings and dark currant or blackberry—this is the direction Guado al Tasso is taking, and this 2018 vintage opens the door to a new chapter for the wine. Some 115,000 bottles were made.