Jeb Dunnuck (94-96)

I was blown away by the quality of the 2021 Château Lynch-Bages Blanc, which ranks with the top whites in the vintage. Offering awesome white grapefruit, floral, mint, and chalky notes, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a vivid, pure, chiseled mouthfeel, and a great finish. I'd be a buyer.

Experience the delicacy of the Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires La Collection Crayeres 1996, a truly exceptional wine representing the epitome of sophistication and refinement. This vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne, produced by the revered Champagne house Charles Heidsieck, is exclusively crafted from Chardonnay grapes sourced from the grand crisp climats of Côte des Blancs. The masterful touch of winemakers integrate time-honoured traditional methods with state-of-the-art techniques to amplify the character of each grape, resulting in an enchanting medley of flavour.

This captivating wine boasts an exquisite interplay of ripe fruits, brioche and honeysuckle notes, and the ageing process in chalk cellars lends depth, complexity, and a remarkably long finish. The Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires La Collection Crayeres 1996 not only encapsulates the quintessence of its terroir, but also represents the unwavering dedication of the Heidsieck house to elevate champagne to exemplary heights.

Indulge in the exquisite craftsmanship of the Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2018. This famed Riesling hails from the prestigious vineyards of Saarburger Rausch, nestled in the heart of Germany's renowned Mosel wine region. Produced by Hanno Zilliken, a winemaking virtuoso with a wine estate pedigree dating back to 1742, the expertise invested in its creation is palpable.

Benefitting from the steep, south-facing slopes which ensure excellent sunlight exposure, the Auslese Goldkapsel carries a higher degree of ripeness, attributed to meticulous hand-picking of only fully ripened grapes. This leads to an intensified fruity palate, opulent with tropical notes, yet gracefully balanced by a crisp, lively acidity.

Exquisitely packaged with its distinguished gold capsule, the Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2018 is a testament to extraordinary German winemaking, marrying tradition and innovation with seamless ease. Its luxurious bouquet and lavish finish are a compelling sensory journey for any fine wine aficionado.

Burghound (91)

Outstanding A subtle but not invisible application of wood sets off cool aromas of various flowers, pear, apple and orange peel. There is very good volume to the succulent, intense and agreeably textured flavors that culminate in a bone-dry, palate coating and lingering finale where a hint of youthful austere slowly emerges. This is a very impressive and age worthy Puligny villages.

Matthew Jukes (19)

Made from 100% Grand Cru Aÿ fruit – 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay – with 66% coming from the 2017 vintage. The balance is taken from a perpetual reserve that dates back to 1990. It sees a huge amount of oak, and this forest of staves forms the backdrop to this extraordinary performance. Deep gold in colour, there is a staggeringly full nose of brioche and panettone over an orange zest palate, and toasted almond notes come at you from all angles. The finish is thrillingly long with amazingly bold oak-smoke details. There is an air of luxury here that verges on the gastronomic as opposed to the vinous, and I swear I can detect notes of foie gras and roast chicken jus! I left a small amount of wine in the bottle with a stopper and tasted it a week later – it was incredible. Still sparkling, densely perfumed, hugely impactful and massively rich. If you love the wines of Salon, Selosse, Krug, Egly and other mighty Houses, then you will adore the intense fanfare of flavours that accompanies a bottle of Henri Giraud Champagne.

Decanter (99)

The first aromatic impression is surprisingly floral in the context of such a hot vintage, and then evolves to reveal elements of menthol, liquorice and yellow fruit. With aeration, the bouquet blossoms to reveal increasing complexity, including spicy notes. On the palate, this is a fleshy and densely textured Clos du Mesnil with a salty tang on the finish, one that stands out for its singularity, albeit in the context of a classic crystalline, tense purity. Bravo – a work of art! 100% Chardonnay, disgorged at the end of 2019. Dosage: 4g/l.

Decanter (97)

Softly shimmering straw gold, green tints, with a delicate filigree dancing at will around the glass. The nose is gently authoritative; spring flowers garlanding stone fruit, a hint of hawthorn maybe, then lemongrass. The palate has encyclopaedic depth, the intricacies of the Perpetual Reserve weaving their early magic; almond, sloe, gingerbread and apples; the finish has a pleasing twist of bitterness, courtesy the small percentage of oak-aged reserve wine. Maybe the dosage can come down even further, such is the engaging and subtle complexity harnessed elsewhere?

James Suckling (100)

The perfect blanc de blancs. Full-bodied with a lovely framework of acidity and dry fruit, such as apples, pears and peaches. Opulent. Dense and muscular. Yet, it’s balanced and harmonious. Line of acidity at the end. Totally in tune. Superb. Deep and complete. Has everything. One for the cellar. It is the greatest Comte ever. It has everything. A perfect upgrade from two years ago. Drink or hold.