Vinous (90-92)

The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Aux Thorey 1er Cru has a detailed bouquet of tertiary red berry fruit that just needs a little more intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins. Quite a masculine NSG, leading to a slightly hard finish. Racking will soften this up and my score is based on that being carried out. 

Vinous (92-94)

The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges les Boudots 1er Cru, picked on September 8, has a superb bouquet of dark cherries mixed with raspberry preserve and damp earth and moss aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, very fine tannins and a precise, elegant finish that expresses its terroir beautifully. Superb.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

5 Star Wine. Benjamin loves Nuits-St-Georges in 2023 which is just as well because there is virtually nothing in 2024. Mostly destemmed. This has beautiful floral qualities, superb poise on the first half of the palate then develops a greater plummy richness behind. Archetypal Nuits in a very good way! Drink from 2031-2037. Tasted Oct 2024.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (88-90)

There was enough fruit to make use of a good mix of barrel shapes and sizes, as St-Romain was not much frosted. Pale colour with a light green tint. Fresh bouquet, some lime blossom, good tension here with a mineral backbone, and an attractive finish. Drink from 2024-2027.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2018 Volnay Les Caillerets 1er Cru was the first red to be picked by Leroux, on August 29. It has a slightly smudged bouquet of brambly red fruit, sous-bois and a pepperiness imparted by the two-thirds whole-bunch addition. The palate is medium-bodied with a grainy texture and quite structured, like a Pommard, with its limestone soils very expressive and lending vivacity on the finish. Good potential.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90)

The 2021 Volnay Les Caillerets 1er Cru has a clean, lifted bouquet with red cherries, raspberry and bergamot scents that unfold in the glass. The palate has a little more flesh than its peers, well-judged acidity and a slightly meaty finish with a hint of pain d'épices. Moderate length. Give this a year in bottle to see what it can do. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.

Crafted by Spain's trailblazing oenologist, Benjamin Romeo, the 'Benjamin Romeo Coleccion No. 3 Parcela el Bombon 2018' is a masterclass in winemaking. Produced in an old stone winery situated in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, amidst the terraced foothills of Sierra Cantabria, the bold viticulture shines through in each bottle. The grapes are manually harvested from the vineyard 'el Bombon', which is renowned for its high-altitude exposure and limestone-rich soils, allowing for peak ripening.

The 2018 vintage is marked by its complex intensity and age-worthy structure. After 14 months of French oak barrique maturation, this Tempranillo showcases ripe blackberry, tobacco and spice notes, layered with a captivating minerality. Sitting at 14.5% alcohol, the 'Benjamin Romeo Coleccion No. 3 Parcela el Bombon 2018' exhibits a beautiful balance between power and elegance. Ideal for serious collectors and Spanish wine enthusiasts.

The Benjamin Romeo Coleccion No. 4 Parcela La Dehesa 2018 is the epitome of meticulous viticulture and stylish winemaking. Nestled in the heart of Spain's Rioja DOC, this single vineyard, hand-harvested Tempranillo, reflects the noble terroir it arises from. Benjamin Romeo, a maestro winemaker celebrates the elegance and complexity of this high-altitude parcel with an exquisite bottle that radiates the vibrancy of the region.

In the traditional winemaking process, harsh chemicals are scrupulously avoided. Following alcoholic fermentation, the wine is left to age in French oak for 18 months, contributing to its dark ruby hue, complex yet balanced palette of black fruits, spices and a whisper of minerality on the finish.

Romeo's passion for precision, along with innovative wine techniques, results in the Benjamin Romeo Coleccion No. 4 Parcela La Dehesa 2018’s charismatic, full-bodied yet velvety texture, securing its place amongst the world's best full-bodied red wines.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2010 Contador was cropped later than the 2009, on October 7, 8 and 14. It is 99% Tempranillo with 1% Garnacha raised in new French oak for 19 months. Comparing it directly against the 2009, it has slightly more delineation and lift on the nose, which is taut and demonstrates great focus. After two hours, the nose has blossomed in similar fashion to the 2009, with an undertow of blood orange and crushed violets. The lower pH level and equivalent alcohol level shows through on the palate, which is beautifully balanced, with layers of ripe blackberry, creme de cassis and blueberry jam. The texture is satin-like with a generous finish. This will be a potent, sophisticated Contador destined to seduce wine-lovers in approximately 15 to 20 years. Drink 2018-2035.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2010 Contador was cropped later than the 2009, on October 7, 8 and 14. It is 99% Tempranillo with 1% Garnacha raised in new French oak for 19 months. Comparing it directly against the 2009, it has slightly more delineation and lift on the nose, which is taut and demonstrates great focus. After two hours, the nose has blossomed in similar fashion to the 2009, with an undertow of blood orange and crushed violets. The lower pH level and equivalent alcohol level shows through on the palate, which is beautifully balanced, with layers of ripe blackberry, creme de cassis and blueberry jam. The texture is satin-like with a generous finish. This will be a potent, sophisticated Contador destined to seduce wine-lovers in approximately 15 to 20 years. Drink 2018-2035.

Decanter (97)

‘You can’t spit this,’ Benjamín Romeo told me when I tasted it from barrel. It wasn’t the finished blend, but after a gap in production in 2013, Contador is back with a swagger. Rosemary, violets and dense plum and blackberry fruit, ripe tannins and a fresh flourish. This is a big wine, but it doesn’t lack subtlety.

Wine Advocate (98)

I like the austerity and seriousness of the 2018 Contador, which has very similar parameters as the 2019 but comes through as fresher and more balanced, with very fine tannins and pungent flavors and a long, dry and chalky finish. It's approachable now but should improve with time in bottle. Fermentation and élevage were the same as in 2019—oak vat and 20 months in new barriques, which are being absorbed without problems. It's rich and powerful but with elegance and lots of balance. It should be a classical and long-lived vintage of Contador. 4,500 bottles produced.