Vinous - Neal Martin (91-93)

The 2020 Le Pape was picked September 9–15. It is initially tight on the nose and only opens about an hour after opening (I spent the time chatting to Véronique Sanders via Zoom) to offer blackberry and wild hedgerow intermixed with light incense and pressed iris scents, all very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, beautifully balanced and very harmonious. There is a tincture of white pepper sprinkled over the finish that veers toward more red fruit in its final few bars. Excellent.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91-93)

The 2020 Le Pape was picked September 9–15. It is initially tight on the nose and only opens about an hour after opening (I spent the time chatting to Véronique Sanders via Zoom) to offer blackberry and wild hedgerow intermixed with light incense and pressed iris scents, all very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, beautifully balanced and very harmonious. There is a tincture of white pepper sprinkled over the finish that veers toward more red fruit in its final few bars. Excellent.

Decanter (93)

2018 is the first year with Cabernet Franc in the mix at Le Thil, and it gives an extra lift to the nose and an extra kick of tension on the finish. On the palate you get the silky, rich roundness of the Merlot, then a muscling in of the tannins towards the finish. There were no stems this time because they felt that there were already plenty of tannins in the skins (since 2014 they have been using a small percentage of whole-bunch fermentation, so this is an interesting departure). 21hl/ha yield.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

Atypical Pessac Léognan with a high degree of Merlot. Even on the nose you see a huge difference with its sibling estate Cantelys. This is riper, black fruits, rounder, touch of liquorice, the form in the mouth is very different, enlarges outwards, less dense. A good sign that the two wines are very different but both excellent.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

Atypical Pessac Léognan with a high degree of Merlot. Even on the nose you see a huge difference with its sibling estate Cantelys. This is riper, black fruits, rounder, touch of liquorice, the form in the mouth is very different, enlarges outwards, less dense. A good sign that the two wines are very different but both excellent.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2020 Le Thil is a gorgeous, enticing Merlot-based Pessac-Léognan from team at Smith Haut-Lafitte. Wild cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint and white pepper lend notable freshness to this very attractive, mid-weight 2020. Bright acids and lifted floral accents perk up the finish. There is a bit of nervousness in the tannin, but there always is here.

James Suckling (92-93)

Plenty of graphite and dark berries with fine, creamy tannins. It’s medium-bodied with juicy fruit and a savory finish. Tapenade. 95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. From organically grown grapes.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

Dense black cherry flavours layered with baking spices, cloves, turmeric, chocolate drops. This is enticing, seductive, touch of leafiness and aniseed on the finish plays with an impression of bitterness to deliver lift. 15% whole bunch fermentation to capture tension and salinity from this cool soils of clay and limestone, 15% new oak. Fabien Teitgen technical director, Florence and Daniel Cathiard owners.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

The 2017 Clos Marsalette is ripe, bold and juicy, with quite a bit of raciness and more overt ripeness than I remember seeing en primeur. At the same time, there is plenty of floral and savory lift from the Cabernets. Sweet red plum, mint, sage, tobacco and cedar are all laced together in this super-expressive, inviting, mid-weight Pessac-Léognan Graves from Stephan von Neipperg. This is such a pretty wine. Tasted two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)

The 2018 Clos Marsalette is quite bold and racy in this vintage and yet there is a good bit of underlying structure as well. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, licorice and spice are all given an extra kick of juiciness. I really like the wine's extroverted personality. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)

The 2018 Clos Marsalette is quite bold and racy in this vintage and yet there is a good bit of underlying structure as well. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, licorice and spice are all given an extra kick of juiciness. I really like the wine's extroverted personality. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92)

The 2020 Clos Marsalette opens with a blast of dark cherry fruit, smoke, gravel, licorice and incense. A big, broad wine Clos Marsalette offers tremendous intensity from start to finish. I imagine it will require at least a few years in bottle to fully come together as the tannins are pretty incisive at this stage. Even so, Clos Marsalette is a super-expressive Pessac Léognan with a good deal of potential.

Vinous - Neal Martin (87-89)

The 2018 Clos Marsalette Blanc, which is already bottled, shows more tension and is more mineral-driven compared to the 2017. Traces of crushed limestone come through with aeration. The palate is fresh on the entry with Granny Smith apples, pear and a touch of asparagus, moderate depth with good acidity on the finish. It will appeal to those who like a peppery element in their Sauvignon Blanc.

Jeb Dunnuck (91)

As to the red 2019 Château Couhins, it offers lots of spicy red and black currant fruit as well as notes of leather, dried herbs, chocolate, and dried flowers. This rich, medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Graves is going to benefit from just 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years in cold cellars.

Hailing from the prestige of Bordeaux's Graves region, Couhins 2020 is a magnificent testament to the winemaking prowess that continues to define France's coveted vineyards. Produced meticulously by the esteemed Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), it's a wine that demonstrates an exacting balance between innovation and tradition.

The Couhins 2020 embodies an alluring array of aromatic white peach, ripe pear, and subtly integrated oak, displaying a classic wine profile with a modern twist. The terroir's unique gravelly soils together with the exceptional 2020 vintage's notable climate conditions enticingly manifest in each bottle.

A marvellously textured palate embraces the harmonious melding of orchard fruits, vivacious acidity, and a whisper of mineral sensation. The Couhins 2020 continually leaves an indelible impression amongst seasoned oenophiles for its outstanding value and superb ageing potential, effortlessly rising as a remarkable expression of Bordeaux's beloved Pessac-Léognan appellation.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2022 Couhins is fabulous. Aromatic and vibrant, with more linear energy than size, Couhins is super-classic. In 2022, it is a bit richer than in most years, but its essential savory drive is still very much in evidence. The long finish is striking.

Exuding French elegance, Couhins Blanc 2016 is a compelling redefinition of excellence in viticulture. This White Bordeaux varietal is meticulously crafted in Pessac-Léognan, a lauded subregion of Graves. Couhins Blanc 2016 is from Château Couhins, a producer bestowed with Cru Classé status for its white wine. The exceptional terroir, with gravelly soil interspersed with clay, deftly infuses complex flavour profiles into the wine.

The vintage underwent meticulous vinification, with the savvy use of oak for ageing balancing the vivacious Sauvignon Blanc’s acidity, and eliciting a resinous, toasty charm. This bestows the Couhins Blanc 2016 with a multifaceted character, marrying ripe citrus fruits and acacia flower undertones, robed in creaminess from the judicious malolactic fermentation.

A stellar embodiment of the Château's commitment to traditional viticultural methods, every sip reaffirms the calibre of Couhins Blanc 2016, an absolute delight for the discerning palate. This is not just a wine, but a symphony of craftsmanship in a bottle.

The Wine Cellar Insider (93)

Fresh, bright, crisp, green apples, flowers, white peach and yellow citrus with a hint of underbrush come through easily on the nose and energetic, fresh, lemon-centric palate. Drink from 2022-2034.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

This estate makes a brilliant white, and their 2020 Château Couhins Blanc is pure gold, offering a bright citrus and lemon zest core as well as lots of white flowers and honeyed mineral-like nuances. Medium-bodied, bright, racy, yet also concentrated, it's going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.

Wine Advocate (89+)

This strong effort exhibits resiny pine forest notes interwoven with sweet black currant and cherry fruit, lead pencil, and smoke. A lovely texture, sweet fruit, medium to full body, and excellent purity as well as elegance suggest it will drink well for 12-15 years. It may merit an outstanding rating after 2-3 years of bottle age.