Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2014 Faurie de Souchard has turned out beautifully. Sweet red cherry preserve, rose petal, mint and spice give striking aromatic lift to balance the supple, red-toned fruit. There is gorgeous purity and sensuality to the flavors, but also good aromatic intensity. The 2014 needs a few years in bottle to soften, but it is super-impressive and appealing today. Tasted two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90)

The 2016 Faurie de Souchard is plump, racy and forward, all of which make it easy to taste and enjoy, even on the young side. Raspberry jam, mocha and sweet spice are all pushed forward in a creamy, voluptuous Saint-Émilion that is quite expressive today. The 2016 could benefit from a bit more time to help the oak integrate, but that is a relatively small critique. Tasted two times.

Intricacies of viniculture are magnificently portrayed through the Fayat 2011. Cultivated in its namesake Chateau Fayat vineyard in Pomerol on Bordeaux's Right Bank, this blend exemplifies exceptional viticulture and craftsmanship. The fortuitous 2011 vintage delivered condition perfect for Bordeaux’s typical Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

Fayat 2011 matured under meticulously controlled conditions, aged in French oak barrels for eighteen months to infuse it with quintessential flairs. Characterised by an exquisite bouquet of dark fruits and spices, followed by silky tannins and a lingering finish, this wine is emblematic of Pomerol's renowned elegance and depth.

Representing the inheritance of three generations, the Fayat family stays faithful to tradition while embracing innovative winemaking techniques. Their commitment to perfection is reflected in each bottle of Fayat 2011. Guided by their philosophy, the family augments the reputation of the historic Pomerol region with bottles that enchant aficionados worldwide.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (86)

The 2012 Fayat offers good immediacy, but lacks complexity and depth. I would prefer to drink the 2012 over the next few years, while the flavors remain bold and juicy, as there isn't much material here to allow for aging.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89-91)

The 2019 Fayat is a friendly, easygoing Pomerol. I would prefer to drink it on the young side, while the fruit retains its youthful juiciness. Inky blue fruit and sweet spice meld into the supple finish. The 2019 is not especially complex, but it is quite tasty. Best of all, it should drink well upon release.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2020 Fayat was the most promising vintage that I had encountered from barrel. Now in bottle, it certainly possesses an appealing nose: black cherries, boysenberry, black truffle all vying for attention. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and fine structure. It eases the brakes on towards the finish in order to retain refinement and freshness, completing yes, the best Fayat in many years.

Steeped in refinement, Ferran 2010 is a perfect addition for any wine enthusiast's cellar. This magnificently structured Bordeaux blend hails from Pessac-Léognan, a prestigious appellation renowned for exquisite reds. The blend is cultivated from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc grapes, a harmonious fusion embodying immense depth and character.

Ferran 2010 undergoes conventional vinification, with exemplary precision and rigour at the heart of the process. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months, this maturation imparts rich, velvety undertones that tantalisingly intertwine with vibrant red fruit and subtle spice.

Under the judicious custodianship of revered winemaker Guillaume Pouthier, Ferran 2010 captures the quintessence of balanced French winemaking. It masterfully encapsulates the characteristic harmony between time-honoured traditional techniques and innovative modern approaches. This fine vintage delights the palate with profound layers of complex flavours, a true testament to Pouthier's deft artistry and the fertile terroir of Pessac-Léognan.

Wine Advocate (85-87)

Notes of tobacco leaf, roasted herbs, red and black currants are found in this medium-bodied, straightforward 2012. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.

Wine Advocate (87-89)

This straw-colored 2012 exhibits notes of figs, citrus oil, grapefruit and wet grass. Drink this intriguing, Sauvignon-dominated, dry white over the next 7-10 years.

Wine Enthusiast (94)

From a vineyard that is now biodynamic, the wine has gained an extra dimension of fruit. At the same time, the tannins give the wine density that will stand it in good stead as it ages. This is for the long term.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2018 Ferrière is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Inky dark fruit, gravel, cured meats, graphite, smoke and lavender all run through the 2018. Readers will have to be especially patient, as the 2018 needs time to unwind. Yields are down from an average of 45 hectoliters per hectare to just 26, which no doubt contributes to the wine's natural intensity. The blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, in other words, the Cabernet Sauvignon is especially high, a recent trend here because of climate change. This is the first year in which a portion of the wine was aged in cement and amphora (20%), which according to Claire Lurton allows for lower SO2 in aging.

James Suckling (95-96)

Full-bodied with layers of bark, black tea and intense blackberry and earth. Iodine, too. It’s powerful, chewy and focused. 68% cabernet, 27% merlot, 3% petite verdot and 2% cabernet franc. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certification.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Ferrière is marked by a historically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. That yields a Ferrière with notable strictness and energy. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Pretty floral top notes reappear on the finish, adding lift. I especially admire the vibrancy here.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Ferrière is marked by a historically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. That yields a Ferrière with notable strictness and energy. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Pretty floral top notes reappear on the finish, adding lift. I especially admire the vibrancy here.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Ferrière is marked by a historically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. That yields a Ferrière with notable strictness and energy. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Pretty floral top notes reappear on the finish, adding lift. I especially admire the vibrancy here.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Ferrière is marked by a historically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. That yields a Ferrière with notable strictness and energy. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Pretty floral top notes reappear on the finish, adding lift. I especially admire the vibrancy here.

James Suckling (95-96)

A wine that shows wonderful fruit with a ripeness and freshness at the same time. Medium to full body. Velvety and open. Blackcurrant, orange peel, and lovely fruit. Energy. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.

James Suckling (95-96)

A wine that shows wonderful fruit with a ripeness and freshness at the same time. Medium to full body. Velvety and open. Blackcurrant, orange peel, and lovely fruit. Energy. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

One of the true blockbusters in the vintage is the 2015 Château Feytit-Clinet and readers should beg, borrow, or steal to get ahold of this beauty. Made from 96% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, it offers an incredible perfume of black cherries, blackcurrants, spring flowers, violets and damp earth. With a huge, full-bodied profile, an opulent, seductive texture, big tannin, and perfect balance, it’s a true superstar that’s going to cruise in the cellar for two to three decades.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

One of the true blockbusters in the vintage is the 2015 Château Feytit-Clinet and readers should beg, borrow, or steal to get ahold of this beauty. Made from 96% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, it offers an incredible perfume of black cherries, blackcurrants, spring flowers, violets and damp earth. With a huge, full-bodied profile, an opulent, seductive texture, big tannin, and perfect balance, it’s a true superstar that’s going to cruise in the cellar for two to three decades.