Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

José Sanfins has overseen a 2019 Cantenac Brown that will give immense pleasure in coming years. The bouquet has tightened up since I tasted the barrel sample (also at the château, in summer 2021): blackberry, raspberry and cedar are now accompanied by just a touch of peppermint. The palate is medium-bodied, taut and fresh, with sappy red fruit, fine acidity and a vibrant, harmonious finish. This Margaux brims with confidence and should give 30 to 40 years of drinking pleasure. The insiders' Margaux of choice.

James Suckling (96-97)

Fantastic depth of fruit with layers of firm, chewy tannins that are medium-grained and long in the mouth. Full and dynamic. One of the best ever.

An exceptional Bordeaux blend, Cap Saint George 2016 from France’s prestigious Saint Georges Saint Émilion appellation, impresses with sumptuous flavours and distinguished pedigree. This regal blend expertly marries Cabernet Franc and Merlot, cultivated in the esteemed vineyards of JCP Maltus, distinguished producers of world-class wines since 1994. Cap Saint George 2016 is awash with the prestige of the 'clay-limestone' soil in which its grapes have flourished, yielding a pronounced flavour profile.

This liquescent treasure unveils intoxicating aromas of ripe red fruit layered with subtle mocha nuances. On the palate, it is beautifully balanced, showing poised tannins and an elegant, lingering finish. The wine’s complexity has been honed through 18 months in new and one-year-old French oak barrels, adding layers of sophistication. Fans of Cap Saint George 2016 can expect a wine that captures the quintessence of the exceptional terroir from which it springs.

James Suckling (92-93)

Love the stone, tar and black currant in this. Full and tight with firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Spicy, too. Can’t wait to see how this evolves. Serious.

Wine Enthusiast (92)

This is a soft wine, ripe with generous tannins and black fruits. It has fine acidity and juicy fruitiness balanced by a core of tannins, it is full of fruit with a smoky finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (92-94)

From the team at Calon Ségur, the 2018 Château Capbern is another smoking good Saint-Estèphe. In 2018 it’s a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that will spend 18 months in 60% new French oak. This ripe, sexy wine (it hit 14.6% natural alcohol) sports a deep purple color as well as blockbuster notes of crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, crushed flowers, and scorched earth. Despite all the fruit and texture, it stays beautifully balanced, has classic Saint-Estèphe earthy minerality, ripe tannins, and a great finish.

James Suckling (93-94)

This is a gorgeous young sample with wonderful blue fruit and spices, as well as a nice overlay of pretty wood. Medium to full body and firm, silky tannins. Hints of minerals. Better than 2018.

Wine Advocate (92)

Tasted at the UGC in London. Ripe nose with lime, gooseberry and a touch of cut grass: good definition and lift. The palate is ripe and full of grapefruit, lime and gooseberry notes, but just lacking some tension towards the finish. This should be better considering that 2007 was a favourable vintage for Bordeaux Blanc. Drink now-2014. Tasted November 2009.

The Caronne Ste Gemme 1990 is an exceptional representation of fine Bordeaux wine, expertly crafted in the Haut-Médoc region of France. It's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 35% Merlot, one of the most esteemed compositions of the Château Caronne Ste. Gemme winery. This well-established French winery dates back to 1648 and has a widespread reputation for producing top-tier wines from the most favourable terroirs.

With the Caronne Ste Gemme 1990, you'll discover a finely balanced palate of blackcurrants, plums, and tobacco, complemented by elegant tannins and an enduring finish. This vintage carries the definitive style of the remarkable 1990 growing season. Meticulously aged for a year in French oak barrels before bottling has imparted a distinctively enticing aroma to this wine. A masterpiece of winemaking expertise, the Caronne Ste Gemme 1990 is a must-have for any serious wine connoisseur.

Vinous - Neal Martin (88)

The 2019 Caronne Ste Gemme has a more giving, less timid bouquet than in barrel, offering delightful blackberry, briary and cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, a slightly powdery texture and dark chocolate and white pepper toward the oaky finish. Give it 3–4 years.

Vinous - Neal Martin (89-91)

The 2020 Caronne Ste Gemme has a well-defined nose of earthy black fruit mixed with bay leaf and tea leaf scents, gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is smooth and harmonious, displaying well-judged acidity and firm grip. There is a bit of new oak that needs to be fully assimilated toward the finish; otherwise this is a very fine Caronne Ste Gemme that will surely represent great value.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)

Good bright red-ruby. Dark aromas of cassis, blueberry, licorice, violet, mint and bitter chocolate, along with a faint note of candied berries. Tightly wound and quite juicy, with a strong mineral spine giving it a rather linear, lean impression. But classy and not at all hard, with lovely underlying fruit. Finishes firmly tannic and fresh. Not fat, but subtle and stylish.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (89)

Bright medium ruby. Aromas of currant, blueberry, violet and licorice. Bright and focused, with modest flesh but lovely dark fruit flavors and grip. Lively acids extend the finish.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87)

Dark ruby-red. Withdrawn aromas of currant and herbs. Dry and quite closed, with limited sweetness. Flavors of plum, leather and currant leaf show only modest ripeness. Firm acids give this wine a slight sour edge.

Wine Advocate (91)

There are 20,000 cases of the gorgeous 2003 Carruades de Lafite. Despite record heat in June, July and August, this wine only hit 12.8% alcohol, which seems modest compared to the higher alcohol levels of 2009 and 2010. A final blend of 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a second wine with a Lafite Rothschild-like character, plenty of creme de cassis, cedarwood and graphite notes as well as a supple, lush texture. It has reached full maturity where it should remain for another 5-10 years.

James Suckling (95)

Currants and blackberries on the nose. Spicy and intense undertones. Full body, with juicy fruit and a soft, very silky texture and a long, long finish. Polished and very pretty. Best Carruades ever. Try in 2018.

James Suckling (95)

This smells like a bouquet of flowers with blueberries and currants and spices. Full body, yet agile and refined. So fine and pretty. It's balanced and in harmony. Savory. A smoky, decadent and meat undertone.

Wine Advocate (87-89)

The 2011 Carruades de Lafite is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Soft berry fruit, underbrush, fresh herb and bay leaf characteristics as well as soft tannins, a velvety texture, and a medium-bodied, slightly superficial, but satisfying style suggest this 2011 should be consumed over the next 10-15 years.

James Suckling (92)

Pretty density and flavor for Carruades in this less than perfect year. Shows tobacco, cream and chocolate aromas and flavors with black currants. Full to medium body, fresh finish. Drink now or hold.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)

Darker red, but not especially saturated. Deeper, riper aromas of plum and framboise, with smoky oak and mint notes adding complexity; showed a note of surmaturite that reminded me of a Bonneau Chateauneuf du Pape. Fairly strong on the attack, then the richest and sweetest of these three vintages by a wide margin. Concentrated and firmly structured. Finishes with dusty, tactile tannins and assertive flavors of kirsch, coffee and olive.

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Pure crushed grapes. Incredible nose. Full-bodied, with super concentration and ultraripe tannins. It lasts for minutes. Classy, but muscular. Certan de May is back with force. Score range: 95-100

Wine Enthusiast (93)

92—94 Barrel sample. Impressive, the tannins here, maybe too overwhelming. Look instead for the black plums, the spice and the structure. Needs to come into balance.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94+)

The 2014 Certan de May offers terrific depth and intensity, although it is very much closed in on itself. Dark cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint, licorice and dried flowers gain volume over time. Deceptively medium in body, the 2014 has plenty of underlying tannin as well as enough acidity to drink well for a number of years.

James Suckling (95-96)

This is really intense and powerful with fantastic energy and character. So much dark berry and walnut character. Full and chewy. Yet polished. Second wine of Ausone.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

The 2016 Chapelle d’Ausone offers intense black cherries, raspberry coulis and marmalade aromas on the nose, manifesting more delineation in the glass over the course of 10–15 minutes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, very pure black fruit and tangible mineralité and tension on the finish. This is pure class, a wine of nobility and deliciousness. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Vinous - Ian D'Agata (86-89)

Good deep red-ruby. Raspberry, licorice and an enticing floral quality on the nose. Lush, smooth and sweet, with lovely violet lift giving energy to the dark berry, sweet pipe tobacco and milk chocolate flavors. This broad, rather generous wine finishes with ripe tannins and very good length. (A second bottle was gamey and earthy; my projected range reflects the first sample I tried.)

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2019 Chasse-Spleen is very perfumed on the nose, offering vivid brambly red fruit, leather, undergrowth and cedar aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and cohesive, with a sappy opening and fine acidity. Lightly spiced, showing plenty of substance on the finish. While not the most consistent estate, Chasse-Spleen has it in its grasp to make great wines, and the 2019 is one of them.