Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Reminding me of the 2016, the 2018 Château Rauzan-Segla reveals this beautifully fresh, complex bouquet that still has serious richness and depth. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 65% new barrels, it offers a dense purple hue to go with gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, spring flowers, cigar wrapper, and sandalwood. A quintessential Margaux with its spicy, complex, floral character, it's full-bodied and has a supple, elegant texture, no hard edges, a solid spine of acidity, and a great, great finish. This is a brilliant, heavenly 2018 to enjoy over the coming 30 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Reminding me of the 2016, the 2018 Château Rauzan-Segla reveals this beautifully fresh, complex bouquet that still has serious richness and depth. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 65% new barrels, it offers a dense purple hue to go with gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, spring flowers, cigar wrapper, and sandalwood. A quintessential Margaux with its spicy, complex, floral character, it's full-bodied and has a supple, elegant texture, no hard edges, a solid spine of acidity, and a great, great finish. This is a brilliant, heavenly 2018 to enjoy over the coming 30 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Reminding me of the 2016, the 2018 Château Rauzan-Segla reveals this beautifully fresh, complex bouquet that still has serious richness and depth. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 65% new barrels, it offers a dense purple hue to go with gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, spring flowers, cigar wrapper, and sandalwood. A quintessential Margaux with its spicy, complex, floral character, it's full-bodied and has a supple, elegant texture, no hard edges, a solid spine of acidity, and a great, great finish. This is a brilliant, heavenly 2018 to enjoy over the coming 30 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Reminding me of the 2016, the 2018 Château Rauzan-Segla reveals this beautifully fresh, complex bouquet that still has serious richness and depth. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 65% new barrels, it offers a dense purple hue to go with gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, spring flowers, cigar wrapper, and sandalwood. A quintessential Margaux with its spicy, complex, floral character, it's full-bodied and has a supple, elegant texture, no hard edges, a solid spine of acidity, and a great, great finish. This is a brilliant, heavenly 2018 to enjoy over the coming 30 years or more.

James Suckling (93-94)

A rich and dense second wine of Pichon Lalande with a full body, round and juicy tannins and a fruit-driven finish. Chewy, too.

James Suckling (93-94)

A rich and dense second wine of Pichon Lalande with a full body, round and juicy tannins and a fruit-driven finish. Chewy, too.

The Respide Medeville 2018 is an admirable demonstration of the exquisite craftsmanship emanating from the vineyards of Graves, located in Bordeaux, France. This exceptional blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot is produced by Château Respide-Médeville, a world-renowned vintner distinguished for implementing traditional wine-making techniques.

Upon the first drink, senses are tantalised by an expressive and perfectly balanced arrangement of ripe blackberries, mingled with subtle touches of spice and elegant oak undertones. This full-bodied wine, renowned for its sumptuous depth and complexity, has been matured meticulously for 12 months in French oak barrels, resulting in an alcohol content of 14%.

Boasting a beautifully deep ruby hue, the Respide Medeville 2018 is a testament to the reputable French viticulture of the Respide-Médeville estate, a must-have accompaniment for steadfast connoisseurs seeking a wine of distinguished flavour and character.

As an expert connoisseur, one finds few wines as exquisite as the le Puy Retour des Iles 2018. This French beauty is a product of Château le Puy, a renowned winery in Bordeaux that has been honing its winemaking craft for over 400 years. Distinguishing itself with its biodynamic cultivation, this wine mirrors the estate's unique terroir.

Hand-harvested and aged in oak barrels, the le Puy Retour des Iles 2018 is a blend of Merlot, Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon, providing it a vibrant and complex structure. Infused with incredible notes of red and black fruits, a touch of spices, and a hint of vanilla, this wine flows onto your palate with velvety tannins and impressive length.

This particular vintage saw exceptional weather conditions, therefore the le Puy Retour des Iles 2018 stood out for its superb aromatics and refreshing acidity. Bring sophistication and depth to your collection with this masterfully crafted red.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90)

The 2018 Reynon is an absolute delight. Plump, juicy and so inviting, the 2018 checks all the right boxes. Succulent red cherry fruit, cedar, spice, new leather and tobacco wrap around the palate. Fleshy and harmonious, Reynon is superb. It is also one of the very finest values readers will find anywhere in the world.

Emanating from the pristine vineyards of Haut-Médoc in the left bank of the Bordeaux region of France, the Reysson Reserve 2018 is a true embodiment of finesse and complexity. This exceptional vintage is produced by the world renowned Château Reysson, an estate with a history steeped in vinous excellence.

The Reysson Reserve 2018 is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in French Oak barrels for a duration of 12 months. This elaborative process imparts a nuanced aromatic profile to the wine, blending fragrant notes of ripe red fruits with delicate hints of toasted oak and spices.

On the palate, this wine offers a harmonious balance of structure and elegance, a testament to the meticulous viticulture and relentless pursuit of quality that characterises the Reysson name. The Reysson Reserve 2018 is a vinous masterpiece destined to charm the palates of discerning fine wine connoisseurs.

Jeb Dunnuck (94-96)

An estate that’s on an upward trajectory, having just completed work on a new cellar, the 2018 Château Ripeau comes from just over 12 hectares of vines situated near the likes of Cheval Blanc, Figeac, and La Dominique, and is a rough blend of 67% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon that will spend 16-18 months in new French oak. It offers a deep purple color as well as terrific purity and precision in its vibrant cassis and black raspberry fruits and notes of spring flowers, spice box, and earth. Medium to full-bodied, silky, and seamless on the palate, it has building tannins, ample mid-palate depth, and good concentration, and stays light on its feet and incredibly elegant. This estate is managed by Julien Salles and gets consulting advice from Claude Gros. My money is on this 2018 being the best to date, and I suspect the best is still to come!

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2018 Rocheyron is a tasty Saint-Émilion that will be easy to drink with minimal cellaring. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice all open with a bit of coaxing. Rocheyron is a perfectly fine Saint-Émilion, but it is also not especially distinguished. Rocheyron is the joint project of Peter Sisseck and Silvio Denz.

The Rollan de By 2018, embodies the quintessential elegance of Médoc wines. This exquisite vintage, hailing from the vineyards nestled along the Left Bank of the Bordeaux region in France, is produced by Jean Guyon, an acclaimed name in French winemaking. The Rollan de By 2018, predominantly Merlot, graced with a harmonious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, undergoes traditional vinification in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats, followed by extended maturation in French oak barrels to enhance its richness and complexity.

This fine wine is notable for its inviting ruby red hue, potent blackcurrant, cherry and vanilla aromas and full-bodied palate bursting with layered tannins, ensuring a long, velvety finish. Renowned wine critics have lavished praise on its balanced structure and depth. On the whole, the virtues manifested in the Rollan de By 2018 prove it a supreme testament of Médoc's terroir and passionately meticulous craftsmanship.

Jeb Dunnuck (94-97)

Checking in as a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot from very old vines and still aging in 50% new French oak, the 2018 Château Saint-Pierre reveals a saturated purple color to go with rich, full-bodied aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, graphite, and spicy oak. Rich, powerful, and concentrated, yet also with gorgeous purity and freshness, it’s a serious, age-worthy wine that’s going to need 7-8 years of bottle age but will be very long-lived.

Jeb Dunnuck (94-97)

Checking in as a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot from very old vines and still aging in 50% new French oak, the 2018 Château Saint-Pierre reveals a saturated purple color to go with rich, full-bodied aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, graphite, and spicy oak. Rich, powerful, and concentrated, yet also with gorgeous purity and freshness, it’s a serious, age-worthy wine that’s going to need 7-8 years of bottle age but will be very long-lived.

James Suckling (92-93)

This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time.

James Suckling (92-93)

This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time.