Wine Advocate (90)

With a medium dark ruby color, and a complex, kirsch, pain grille, smoky, deliciously complex and fruity nose, this fragrant wine offers a wealth of raspberry, currant, and cherry-like fruit. It is not a blockbuster, but rather, an elegant, multi-dimensional, round, velvety-textured wine with a lushness and sweetness of fruit that makes it irresistible. This is one of the more seductive wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: Now-2012.

James Suckling (92)

Intense aromas of sliced meat, with tobacco and flowers as well as ripe fruit. Full body, with soft and silky tannins and a juicy finish. A little short hollow in mid-palate. But outstanding all the same. Try in 2018.

Wine Spectator (92)

A structured, weighty style, with dark blueberry, fig and blackberry fruit. There's ample toast, but it's well-embedded. Big but polished. Score range: 89-92

Emanating from the esteemed cellars of Château Lescalle, we present the bewitching pleasure of Aurage 2019. This exalted representation of Bordeaux Supérieur manifests the viticultural mastery of Propriétaire-Récoltant Max de Pourtalès, delivering a wine that boasts elegance and balance in equal measure. With its blend predominantly of Merlot and an accent of Cabernet Franc, Aurage 2019 imparts a complex profile of dark berries, plum, and subtle spice.

Precisely harvested at peak ripeness then matured in French oak barrels for eighteen months, the Aurage 2019 delivers a voluptuously silky texture, superb depth of flavour and refined maturity befitting its lineage. This wine's terroir is distinctively displayed through its graphite minerality and well-delineated structure indicative of the splendid gravelly clay soils and meticulous vine cultivation.

Aurage 2019 is a testimonial to the prowess of its producer and the rich heritage of the Bordeaux region, fulfilling the promise of a captivating and indulgent journey in every sip for discerning oenophiles.

Savour the exquisite delicacy of Aurage 2020, an extraordinary vintage hailing from the prestigious terroirs of Bordeaux's Côte de Castillon. Master winegrower, Aurélien Perdriau, meticulously oversees every aspect of the creation of this merlot-based blend, reflecting both the passion and commitment of a stellar artisan.

Born from sustainable farming practices and manual harvests, Aurage 2020 stands as a testament to French winemaking brilliance. Its ageing in French oak barrels augments the elegant minerality and dark fruit flavours with delicate woody nuances. This masterpiece encapsulates the unique soil composition of its vineyard and the nuances of its sun-kissed growth season, which awards the wine its beautifully balanced characteristics.

With its magnificent garnet hue, ripe blackcurrant and cherry notes leading to a full, velvety palate, and remarkably long finish, the Aurage 2020 promises an unparalleled wine indulgence. Log our website and delve into the world of premium wines with this truly captivating Bordeaux blend.

Jancis Robinson (16)

Less obviously seductive but rich and sweet with chalky, dry tannins. Plenty of matière. Follows the house style.

Wine Advocate (98)

A massive, gorgeously rich and decadent version of this cuvee, the 2014 Estate Cuvee (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot) is reminiscent of a 2005 Pomerol with its huge bouquet of cassis, toasted spice, graphite, damp earth and leafy herb aromas and flavors. Thick, full-bodied, unctuous and palate-saturating, yet still with purity and grace, it's an insanely good Bordeaux blend (or close) from Paso Robles that will have two decades of overall longevity.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

A wine that flirts with perfection is the 2016 Estate Cuvée, which is 52% Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot, all of which spent 15 months in new French oak. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a masculine bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, liquid rock-like minerality, and lead pencil shavings, it reminds me of a top 2010 Pomerol with its opulence, power, and purity. Hitting the palate with full body, a layered, seamless, multi-dimensional texture, and present yet polished tannins, this beauty is one of the finest examples of this cuvée yet produced. Give bottles 2-3 years and it will keep for 15+.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

The flagship 2017 Estate Cuvée (49% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 21% Petit Verdot) spent 15 months in 90% new French oak, and I certainly blew the barrel review on this wine. It offers a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, crushed violets, lead pencil, chocolate, and a rocking sense of minerality. Deep, full-bodied, concentrated, and seamless on the palate, it's about as polished and sexy as they come in the vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2018 Estate Cuvee checks 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot brought up in 90% new French oak. Tasting like the straight Cab, yet with more sex appeal, it offers a huge nose of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed stone, graphite, and crushed flowers. This carries to a full-bodied, gorgeously textured red with incredible balance, no hard edges, a thrilling mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It's going to benefit from 5-6 years of bottle age and keep for upwards of two decades or more. Hats off to winemaker Stephan Asseo on another incredible wine, as well as, I suspect the wine of the vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Pure perfection from Paso Robles, the 2019 Estate Cuvee checks in as 50% Syrah, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot that was raised in 81% new French oak. Incredible cassis and black berry fruits as well as violets, chocolate, graphite, and who knows what else emerges from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a concentrated yet weightless mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It’s more seamless and approachable than the more backward, structured 2018 and will have two decades of prime drinking.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Pure perfection from this talented team, the 2021 Estate Cuvee checks in as 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Petit Verdot that was raised in 80% new French oak. Absolutely incredible aromatics of crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, ground pepper, and graphite give way to a full-bodied red with a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and that rare mix of power and elegance that's so hard to come by. It shows the pure, layered, elegant style of the vintage, and this beauty offers pleasure today yet will ideally be given 3-4 years in the cellar, and it will evolve for two decades at a minimum.

Decanter (93)

Tobacco, tar, dark chocolate, floral touches, bitter blood orange, scrubland herbs - so much going on the nose, really aromatic and expressive in a dark, sticky way. Gorgeously lifted and lively, full of bright and crunchy red fruits that you're just not expecting after the nose, this is direct but it has a pristine quality to it. Tannis are fine and the whole taste is just so clean. Juicy, mouthwatering and joyful, really bright and playful, I love the whole lifted tone, almost verging on tangy and sour but just keeps the depth. You get a bit of saltiness too on the finish. I like this a lot, especially the touch of metallic, iron-filing, blood on the finish. Characterful. The first vintage to use an optical sorted at harvest. Ageing 14 months in French oak (65% new and 35% in one year old).

Wine Advocate (93)

The 1989 Château L'Eglise-Clinet continues to shine at 27 years of age and this was certainly a better example than several that I have tasted in the last two or three years. It has a very complex nose, this bottle one of the most backward that I have encountered: red berry fruit, black truffle, crushed violets and sage aromas, a hint of warm tar emerging with time. The palate is extremely well balanced, still quite youthful and structured—a Pomerol that you have to learn to love (although trust me, it is worth the effort). This example suggests that it still has many years ahead, such is its substance and length. This was always a brilliant wine from Denis Durantou, a Pomerol that wears its heart on its sleeve. Long may it shine. Tasted January 2016.