Meticulously crafted in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux, France, the luxurious La Tour Blanche 1995 is an investment piece for the discerning wine aficionado. This prestigious wine is birthed from La Tour Blanche's esteemed vineyards, renowned for their dedication to embracing vital traditions while employing innovative viticultural techniques. Their wines are subjected to a measured ageing process in French oak barrels, honing an insurmountably rich, full-bodied profile.

The 1995 vintage radiates a golden hue; its radiant colour only surpassed by its aromatic complexity. A nose boasting honeyed apricot, ripe peach and candied lemon peel tantalises the senses. On the palate, the La Tour Blanche 1995 vaunts a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, clothed in flavours that mirror its aromatic spectrum.

Highly rated by respected wine publications, La Tour Blanche 1995 is an exquisite embodiment of Sauternes' unique terroir and an outstanding testament to La Tour Blanche's viticultural excellence.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Blaickish ruby with hardly any suggestion of ageing. That very refined lift of Lafite on the nose – oyster shells? Very elegant indeed – no dry tannins. Complete and with enough juice. A very fine Lafite. Lovely graphite finish – sinewy. No heaviness at all. And the tannins are SO well managed!

Jancis Robinson (19)

Blaickish ruby with hardly any suggestion of ageing. That very refined lift of Lafite on the nose – oyster shells? Very elegant indeed – no dry tannins. Complete and with enough juice. A very fine Lafite. Lovely graphite finish – sinewy. No heaviness at all. And the tannins are SO well managed!

Wine Advocate (92)

This deep-colored wine has a darker-scented nose than its sibling's, and reveals the same pepper and black fruit scents, yet does not have the herbal component. Very spicy, it is a thickly-textured, full-bodied, dense, and expansive wine redolent with a massive juniper berry, clove, cinnamon, meaty, wild game, brambleberry, mineral, stone, and cassis-liqueur-flavored core. This complex, tightly-wound, and firmly structured wine demands cellaring. Drink it between 2005 and 2015.

Decanter (97)

The nose showed warm and sunny, baked black and red fruit on the nose and a supple but dense texture. The impressive level of tannin noted in earlier tastings is softening now, and the wine is ready to drink but will hold. A lovely wine, outperforming the 1996 at this point. Picking was finished in September, taking place from the 13th to the 27th. The final blend is nearly three-quarters Cabernet Sauvignon, with just a drop of Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot and Merlot for the balance.

Decanter (97)

The nose showed warm and sunny, baked black and red fruit on the nose and a supple but dense texture. The impressive level of tannin noted in earlier tastings is softening now, and the wine is ready to drink but will hold. A lovely wine, outperforming the 1996 at this point. Picking was finished in September, taking place from the 13th to the 27th. The final blend is nearly three-quarters Cabernet Sauvignon, with just a drop of Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot and Merlot for the balance.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88)

Fresh but reticent black cherry-dominated nose. More closed than the '96 following the bottling, and a bit disjointed today. Seems drier than the '96, but has plenty of underlying sweetness, solid structure, and nicely buffered tannins.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

Tasted at the Pomerol Comparative Exploration tasting in London, the 1995 Le Pin is a vintage that has never proven its pedigree. Now with two decades under its belt, the aromatics are strangely not that far from those of the 1995 Lafleur despite the absence of any Cabernet Franc. There is a pleasant mineralité here and impressive purity. The palate is fresh and vibrant, a mixture or red and black fruit with a subtle marine influence. Classy and sophisticated, this is unquestionably the finest bottle that I have encountered. Perhaps it was just a late bloomer? Anyway, I am happy to upgrade my score from previous encounters.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

Tasted at the Pomerol Comparative Exploration tasting in London, the 1995 Le Pin is a vintage that has never proven its pedigree. Now with two decades under its belt, the aromatics are strangely not that far from those of the 1995 Lafleur despite the absence of any Cabernet Franc. There is a pleasant mineralité here and impressive purity. The palate is fresh and vibrant, a mixture or red and black fruit with a subtle marine influence. Classy and sophisticated, this is unquestionably the finest bottle that I have encountered. Perhaps it was just a late bloomer? Anyway, I am happy to upgrade my score from previous encounters.

Wine Advocate (95)

Leflaive's 1995 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru is showing well, unfurling in the glass with a complex and rich bouquet of peach, mandarin, confit lemon, honeycomb, saffron and freshly baked bread. On the palate, it's full-bodied, satiny and layered, with a deep and concentrated core, its chewy chassis of dry extract enveloped in fleshy fruit, and it's still lively and vibrant as it approaches its 24th birthday. This was a year of low yields—a cold spell disrupted flowering—and a warm summer, and that's reflected by this muscular, powerful Chevalier.

Wine Spectator (91)

A solid, well-built '95. Lovely chocolate, berry and tobacco aromas, with a hint of vanilla. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. The best second label of Pauillac? Well, it is from Château Latour. Best after 2001.

James Suckling (97)

From the family collection, disgorged ten years after harvest, slightly lower than original dosage. Shows some malolactic honeyed character (rare in Cristal at 20-25%), a cool late September harvest with a poor set and high millerandage in the vineyard. This shows more dominant chardonnay on the nose with sweet honey and nougat, some dried lime citrus too, it also has an earthy side and some deep spice. The palate has almost cognac-like fruits, toasted brioche and raisin bread flavours, very assertive, concentrated, a liqueur-like Champagne that has a lot of potential and great length. -NS

Wine Spectator (94)

A wine that continues to improve with age. Shows loads of ripe plum, almost prune, with hints of vanilla and mineral. Full, chewy and tight. Still needs time.--Lynch-Bages non-blind vertical. Best after 2008.

Crafted with an expert hand, the Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga 1995 hails from the prestigeous Martinenga estate, a jewel in the heart of the Barbaresco appellation. The Marchesi di Gresy, a revered producer with a rich heritage, utilises 100% Nebbiolo grapes, all sourced from low yielding, old vines within the Martinenga vineyard. These grapes undergo meticulous fermentation and maceration processes before ageing in French oak barrels, resulting in a unique expression of Nebbiolo.

The Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga 1995 delivers an enchanting bouquet of dried roses, ripe raspberries, and subtle hints of spice. Elegantly structured with harmonious balance, it glides on the palate revealing complex layers of mature fruit, leather, and earthy nuances. An extended finish with poised tannins elevates the tasting experience into a sublime pleasure. Renowned for its longevity, the Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga 1995 is a precious addition to any discerning wine collection.

Wine Spectator (100)

Dark color. Black licorice, coffee, currants and black olives. Complex nose. A full-bodied, chewy blockbuster of a wine that is not giving anything at all away. It is like buried treasure still; you have to search for the gold. And it's there. Fabulous. Please give this time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2014. 18,000 cases made. -JS

Wine Spectator (100)

Dark color. Black licorice, coffee, currants and black olives. Complex nose. A full-bodied, chewy blockbuster of a wine that is not giving anything at all away. It is like buried treasure still; you have to search for the gold. And it's there. Fabulous. Please give this time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2014. 18,000 cases made. -JS

Vinous (88-90)

Medium color. Fruit driven aromas of plum, raspberry, licorice, pepper, mint and earth. Tight and high pitched; primary and backward, with moderate ripeness. Seems rather high in acidity.

Vinous (92)

(13.5% alcohol): Full medium red. Sexy aromas of plum, spices, mocha and cedary cigar box, plus a whiff of meat. Plush, rich and sweet, with lovely currant and plum fruit lifted by bright herbs and spices and hint of caraway seed. Finishes with a firm dusting of tannins and noteworthy flavor authority and grip. One of the healthiest and most youthful 1995s in the tasting, offering very good concentration, palate coverage and energy. Finishes impressively ripe and long.

Wine Advocate (92)

Tasted at the vertical in London, I had never really warmed to the 1995 Montrose despite tasting its many times. However, this bottle seemed closed to Robert Parker's remarks from 2014. It is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that was harvested from 13 to 26 September. The bouquet is less vigorous and more approachable than the 1996 Montrose, initially quite taciturn, but gaining vigor with time and offering blackberry, briary and undergrowth scents, later just a touch of bay leaf and sandalwood. The palate is driven by the higher Merlot content, rendering this a relatively plush and comely Saint Estèphe, well balanced with very good depth, perhaps a Montrose for those with a penchant for headier and opulent styles of wine. Whilst the 1996 has the class and sophistication, the greatest virtue of the 1995 is the most fundamental: enjoyment. Tasted June 2016.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Harvested 12–27 September. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. Cabernet was rather compromised by rain during the harvest, while the Merlot was very successful. Even darker than the 1996, this Mouton is still remarkably youthful in appearance. More flamboyant on the nose, with cigar-box, spices and leafy blackcurrant notes all evident. There is plenty of concentration and weight for further ageing, although the tannins are a little dry – perhaps a reflection of the harvest conditions. Still a very impressive Mouton.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Very dark healthy shaded crimson. Intense, ripe but subtle – very interesting! Rather like ashes on the palate – a big bruiser with something in common with the 1985 but made much more gently. Definitely sweet. 13.5% CS:M:CF 76:18:6 218,000 bottles

Wine Spectator (93)

Greatest wine ever made at this estate. A breathtaking wine to drink now, but please wait. Lots of fruit, spice and tomato character. Full-bodied and very velvety, with a long, flavorful finish. Now or later, it's hard to resist.

Wine Spectator (97)

This is like a genie in the bottle. Fascinating yet subtle aromas of blackberry, minerals, fresh flowers and Spanish cedar. Full-bodied, with wonderful layers of ultrafine tannins. It coats your mouth and tantalizes your palate. A gorgeous thing all around.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. 3,200 cases made. -JS

Wine Spectator (97)

This is like a genie in the bottle. Fascinating yet subtle aromas of blackberry, minerals, fresh flowers and Spanish cedar. Full-bodied, with wonderful layers of ultrafine tannins. It coats your mouth and tantalizes your palate. A gorgeous thing all around.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. 3,200 cases made. -JS