James Suckling (98-99)

Wow. This is really excellent, with superb finesse and focus. It has tight density that is almost diamond-like in its brilliance. Medium to full body, with a quality of tannin that is incredibly seamless. Like silk in texture. A top Pichon Lalande. From organic and biodynamically grown grapes. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 3% cabernet franc. May be better than 2022.

Revered universally for its superior quality, the Pierre Girardin Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2019 is a contemporary classic symbolising true French finesse. Nestled amidst the legendary Burgundy region, Pierre Girardin, a 13th generation winemaker, crafts this exquisite wine using meticulous methods. Beauteous blue clay and limestone-intensive soil replace additives, providing a distinct terroir.

The vinification process uses 100% destemmed grapes and indigenous yeasts, aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels. This careful crafting provides a full-bodied, richly layered spectrum of flavours from luscious blackberries to dark cherries, popping with undertones of well-integrated oak and earthy undertones. A surprising note of minerality and soft, rounded tannins leave a sumptuous, lasting finish.

The Pierre Girardin Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2019, boasting an alluring deep ruby hue, is a testament to the Burgundian tradition of winemaking and a superb reflection of its revered vintage.

In the fine world of Burgundy wines, Pierre Girardin Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots 2019 reigns supreme. This prestigious wine is crafted with great acumen by Pierre Girardin, a 13th generation winemaker. Born and raised in the heart of French winemaking, Girardin employs traditional Cistercian monk techniques that date back to the 11th century. It's a unique wine born in the famous vineyards of Pommard, France.

The Pierre Girardin Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots 2019 is a true masterpiece. A distinct concentration of red and dark fruit flavours, beautifully complemented by notes of spice and a touch of earthiness, encapsulates the terroir marvelously. This wine, rich with well-structured tannins and perfectly balanced acidity, is a testament to the stunning 2019 vintage of the Burgundy region.

Every bottle embodies the meticulous attention to detail and dedication inherent in Girardin's wine-making, and as such, the Pierre Girardin Pommard 1er Cru Les Charmots 2019 is an undeniable nectar of the gods.

Halliday Wine Companion (98)

Named after the family matriarch. Selection of the best parcels of fruit from the Polish Hill River estate. pH 2.93, TA 8.23 g/L, RS 3.1 g/L. Pikes' flagship, but also a Clare Valley flagship. It's not often a 6-month-old riesling can be described as luscious, but that's the impact of this wine. It's citrus focused, of course, and it also has keynote acidity, but it's the honeyed mouthfeel and flavour that hits the jackpot.

Wine Advocate (94)

That site and cépage were well-adapted to this vintage is proven by the 2019 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos des Monts Luisants Blanc, a striking wine evocative of citrus zest, crisp Anjou pear, freshly baked bread and almond paste. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, with a deep core of fruit and chalky structuring extract, it concludes with a long, saline finish.

A ying yang combination of power and aggression with body and drinkability. Spicy dark fruit – lots of volume and power on the palate, quite ferrous. A masculine virile style of wine. Dark fruit and stones. A 35-40 year old plot. At the top of the vineyard the soils are volcanic and stony. Extending down towards the bottom the soils are more clay-influenced.

James Suckling (95)

Enticing aromas of orange peel, mushrooms and plums with hints of stone and dark chocolate. This is a very tight wine with chewy, focused tannins that hit you just at the end. It’s tight and reserved now. Give it two or three years to start to open up. Try after 2023 and onwards.

James Suckling (100)

The aromas of blackberry leaves and iodine are wild and exotic here with mussel shells and earth underneath. Full-bodied, tight and chewy with powerful tannins that show muscle. It’s structured and powerful. Dense and very, very deep. Don’t touch this until 2025.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Even better (as well as a perfect wine), the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud checks in as a nominal blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre that was brought up in demi-muids. It reveals a deep purple color as well as heavenly notes of blackberry and currant fruits intermixed with loads of cured meats, spice box, Asian spices, and a distinct loamy soil and minerality. Always more structured and powerful than the Reserve Auguste Favier release (no doubt due to the Mourvèdre component), it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building yet polished tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. Pure perfection in a glass, it’s as good as wine gets. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades. Hats off to winemaker Isabelle Ferrando for yet another thrilling wine!

Vinous (97)

The 2021 Swanesang includes 85% stem addition, higher than the 2019, with 11 months on the lees. It was the first vintage where Bredell had to do some suckering. I had to wait two or three minutes because of the reduction, but wow, it is worth the wait. It unfurls with exquisite red fruit, a hint of blueberry, pressed violet and light garrigues scents. There is something sensual about the aromatics here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, pure black and red fruit, an insistent grip with a complex white pepper and thyme infused finish. You will find it difficult to find a more soulful and importantly delicious Syrah from the Cape.

James Suckling (100)

This is a very thoughtful Seña that shows unique aromas of warm earth, mushrooms and conifer, turning to dark berries and black olives. The palate is more glamorous with ultra-fine tannins that envelop your palate. Shows power and vibrancy at the end. Toned muscles. It’s a very intellectual wine that harkens back to the 2015. Blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 18% malbec, 15% carmenere, 7% cabernet franc and 5% merlot.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Absolutely pure gold and reminding me of the 2009 (or is it the 2010?), the 2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte sports a dense purple hue to go with incredible aromatics of blackberries, blueberries, scorched earth, wood smoke, and acacia flowers. One of the most concentrated, rich, and sexy wines in the vintage, this massive and extraordinarily opulent 2020 shows the vintage's pure, elegant profile yet backs it up with sensational levels of fruit and texture. Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it already offers pleasure given its wealth of fruit, but it deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 40-50 years. Not enough can be said about the quality of these wines. Bravo to Florence and Daniel Cathiard, as well as to director Fabien Teitgen, for another incredible achievement.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Bel Air 1er Cru is attractive and fresh on the nose, melted tar and pencil box scents percolating through the red and black fruit, a hint of orange rind with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, finely tuned with such pretty red cherry and wild strawberry notes on the tart finish. Taupenot referred to this as his "baby Bèze" - a perfectly apt description.

Decanter World Wine Awards 2022 (97)

Powerful aromas of cassis, graphite and coffee framed by creamy oak and leathery undertones. Dense, mouth filling and very serious wine, with grand fruit intensity and well-layered firm tannins with a solid structure.