James Suckling (94)

Loads of dark berries and chocolate follow through to a full body. Velvety and tangy with a long finish. Lots of orange peel. Dusty texture. Better in 2017.

James Suckling (92-93)

Intense blackberry and mineral character, with flowers. Full and very chewy, with beautiful fine tannins. Long depth and balanced.

James Suckling (93)

There's licorice here along with mint, some lead pencil and flowers. It's full and round displaying wonderful vanilla and plum flavors. Very silky and refined yet dense and caressing. A beauty, though it does turn a little dry, always revealing its wood.

Wine Advocate (88)

The 1992 Mouton has fashioned a flattering, soft, opulently-styled wine with medium body, a healthy dark ruby/purple color, and a big, fragrant nose of jammy cassis, smoky oak, and roasted herbs and nuts. The wine offers a sweet, expansive mid-palate and a lush, velvety-textured finish. It is an ostentatious, flashy Mouton for drinking over the next 10-12 years.

Wine Advocate (97)

Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 1998 Mouton Rothschild is deep garnet-brick in color with lovely crème de cassis, dried roses, hoisin and baking spice notes with underlying notions of dried cherries and mulberries plus touches of wood smoke, incense and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied and packed with rich fruit framed by firm, chewy tannins, it is stacked with complex, evolving flavors and finishes with incredibly long-lasting perfumed notes. According to winemaker Philippe Dhalluin, this needs about three hours of decanting at this stage. I simply love the place this wine is in right now, possessing plenty of mature, tertiary characters yet still sporting bags of fruit. It won’t be fading anytime soon either and should cellar nicely for 20-25+ more years.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Deep garnet colored with a touch of brick, the 2000 Mouton Rothschild (composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot) boldly bursts from the glass with tantalizing Black Forest cake, dried mulberries, kirsch and blackcurrant pastilles notes plus wafts of iodine, incense, potpourri and cinnamon stick with a hint of cigar boxes. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs in the muscular fruit, framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with phenomenal length. This is an incredibly complex and multifaceted wine, and it's drinking deliciously now. This said, I can’t help but feel that it is holding something back, that it still has another layer of opulence and seduction to reveal in its tight-knit fruit and solid structure. I personally can’t wait to see how this beauty will continue to unfold over the years to come.

Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Deep crimson. Firm, strongly cassis nose. Very voluptuous texture. Appetising and beautifully balanced. Obviously Médoc. Dried out a little on the end but the contrast between the flesh of this wine and skinniness of the Margaux tasted immediately beforehand could not have been more marked. It was still fresh and clean 24 hours afterwards but had lost a little density.

Indulge in the world-class elegance of Olivier 1990, a majestic Bordeaux from France's esteemed Château Olivier. As a trusted steward of tradition, Château Olivier is famed for creating nuanced, multi-dimensional wines that exhibit the rich character of Bordeaux's terroir. The 1990 vintage celebrates the pinnacle of their craftsmanship - a legendary year for winemaking in the region, yielding wines of extraordinary concentration and longevity.

The Olivier 1990 is typified by its depth and complexity - layers of ripe black fruits, truffles, and tobacco harmonising in a symphony of flavours. Remarkable tannic structure and a vibrant acidity offer an impeccably balanced palate. Matured for 18 months in oak barrels, this wine reveals intricate undertones of cocoa and spices that enrich the textural richness. Framed by the ethereal elegance of its Pessac-Léognan appellation, the Olivier 1990 remains an unparalleled example of long-lived Bordeaux, testament to its superior vintage. Immerse in the pure sophistication of this revered quaff, each sip promising a journey to the heart of Château Olivier's legacy.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2011 Pape Clement, a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, was aged 18 months in new French oak before being bottled unfiltered. Absolutely profound, with a complex bouquet of mulberries, black cherries, black currants, graphite and subtle smoke and burning ember-like aromas, this is a true super-star of the vintage. It represents a remarkable achievement by the winemaking team of Bernard Magrez. Full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, this wine clearly transcends the entire vintage. It should age effortlessly for 25 years.

James Suckling (94-95)

Pape made a very finely crafted and elegant wine this vintage, with plenty of berry, spice and earth character. Medium-bodied. Savory and lightly spicy on the finish. Creamy tannins.

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Superripe and almost jammy. Very New World on the nose but impressive; Bordeaux-like on the palate. Berries, raspberries and strawberries. Hint of wood. Full-bodied, with ripe and round tannins and a long finish. Chewy. Got to like this. Score range: 95-100

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92)

Opaque black-ruby. More brooding aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice and smoky oak, plus stony and mineral nuances; slight hint of exotic fruits. Lower-pitched than the '97, but with penetrating flavor and terrific vivacity. A floral note and a suggestion of chalky terroir contribute to the wine complexity. Finishes with firm but even tannins. Showing considerably more fruit complexity and personality than last year, when I tasted this wine in its several components. Thienpont expected to lightly fine this wine but not to filter it. Should age slowly and gracefully.

Wine Spectator (93)

What you'd expect from such a legendary estate. Wonderful palate impression with silky, rich fruit. Plenty of blackberry and chocolate character, has a full body and medium finish.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2001 Pichon Baron has less fruit intensity on the nose compared to the 2000, and more red fruit, laced with smoke and blood orange – traits that I have noted on previous bottles. Hints of dried blood emerge with time. The focused palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fresh and quite minty. Graphite and a sprinkling of white pepper appear toward the finish. This is one occasion on the Left Bank where I find that the 2000 has more authority, although the 2001 has plenty of charm.

Wine & Spirit Magazine (96)

Baron was trapped in its oak en primeur, seeming flashy, luscious and soft. Now bottled and shipped, it has the unremitting tannic power of the vintage, balanced by unrelenting purity of fruit that somehow manages to anesthetize the monstrous tannin, to soften the extremely dry, mineral-bound finish into a caress. The wine may be bombastic, but it's also succulent and as sweet as a ripe black raspberry. It's easy to imagine this wine 50 years from now, in impeccable condition.

Jeb Dunnuck (99+)

Borderline perfection in a bottle, the 2010 Pichon-Longueville Baron (79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot) boasts a saturated purple color as well as truly extraordinary aromatics of crème de cassis, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality, graphite, and spring flowers. Possessing full-bodied richness, a huge, unctuous mid-palate, and building tannin, it shows the purity, grandeur, and precision that makes this vintage so remarkable. Hide bottles for another 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 2-3 decades.

Wine Enthusiast (100)

As always, it is the Cabernet Sauvignon that sings. It brings an impressive structure to the wine, rich tannins and powerful black fruits. The wine is set for aging. It shows all the power and the open quality of the vintage. Drink from 2027.

James Suckling (96-97)

The freshness and brightness of the blackcurrant and orange-peel fruit give a real al-dente feel. Some stone and spice underneath. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a refined finish. A PB with tight, linear tannins. 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot.

Wine Spectator (92-95)

This has good intensity, with a very lively core of kirsch, steeped blackberry and dark currant flavors supported by lots of pain d'épices and licorice snap on the finish. Shows drive and length. Score range: 92-95 -JM

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98+)

The 2015 Pichon Comtesse is a towering wine, as it has always been. Rich, sumptuous and totally hedonistic, the 2015 melds together intense fruit with structure. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2015 is going to need a number of years and will then drink well for several decades. Grilled herbs, smoke, new leather and licorice are some of the many notes that are layered into the dark-fleshed fruit for complexity. As good as the 2015 is today, it also has room to grow. Technical Director Nicolas Glumineau has done a tremendous job with the 2015s at Pichon Comtesse. The blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in oak, 55% new.

The exquisite Pied d'Argent Cuvee Prestige 2018 is an epitome of fine winemaking. Cultivated in the verdant vineyards of France's eminent wine region, this premium selection is meticulously produced by the master vintners at the renowned Pied d'Argent estate. The 2018 vintage attests to a year of extraordinary climatic conditions, creating a wine that presents unparalleled taste and character. This vintage is a splendid expression of the unique terroir, encapsulating the essence of the rich, loamy soils where the vines take root.

Founded on tradition, the Pied d'Argent Cuvee Prestige 2018 is blended predominantly from classic grape varieties, expertly aged under strict cellar conditions. The result is a robust, full-bodied wine with a splendid bouquet of aromas and a complexity of flavours on the palate. True connoisseurs will appreciate the seductive notes of ripe summer fruits, coupled with the subtly lingering finish, making the Pied d'Argent Cuvee Prestige 2018 a truly remarkable wine.

Experience the exquisite charm of Plaisance 2016, a world-class vintage that enthrals connoisseurs with its complex bouquet and balanced finesse. Born from the revered vineyards of Bordeaux, France, this meritorious cuvée is expertly orchestrated by the esteemed house of Château de Plaisance.

Meticulously crafted by the gifted winemakers, Plaisance 2016 marries Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, maturing them in hand-selected oak barrels for a minimum of twelve months. This process elegantly enhances the wine's innate aromatics, imparting notes of ripe plum, cassis, and subtle hints of sweet vanilla with a pleasing touch of minerality.

At the palate, Plaisance 2016 cascades long-lasting fruity notes juxtaposed with gentle tannins, a testament to its viticultural pedigree. Garnering high regard from various wine publications, this vintage stands its ground as one of the most lauded wines from its region, offering an unforgettable oenophilic journey.

Indulge in Plaisance 2016, a divine expression of winemaking excellence.

Wine Advocate (94)

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Pontet-Canet has an extremely pure, vivacious, perfumed bouquet with crushed violets infusing the blueberry and blackberry fruit. But it is all about the detail and precision in this wine. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth: lightly toasted black fruit, dried orange peel, cedar and a pinch of white pepper. This feels very cohesive and poised with just a touch of mint entering right on the finish. What a great wine from Alfred Tesseron and Jean-Michel Comme. Go grab the corkscrew now, but don't feel that this wine has to be opened for another 5-6 years. Tasted January 2016.

James Suckling (99)

The aromas to this are really amazing, with a potpourri of spices and dried flowers, as well as redcurrants, sweet plums and even some peaches. Full-bodied with layers of ripe fruit and ultra-fine tannins that spread across the palate in an encompassing yet always elegant and pure way. It’s succulent and unadulterated. Like crushed, perfectly ripened grapes. The length is rather endless. The tannins build. Fabulous young red. 35% in amphora and the rest in 50% new oak and 15% one-year oak. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try after 2028, but an absolute joy to taste now.

James Suckling (98-99)

This is integrated, with superb density and beauty, offering blackcurrant, mineral and some bark. Full-bodied, yet so polished and refined. Crushed stone. Lots of expression and texture to this wine. Creamy. Pure and precise. Elegant, yet layered. Slightly plusher than the 2019. Dense, yet agile. Fresh as always. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 50% new oak 15% old oak and 35% concrete amphorae.

James Suckling (91-92)

This is one of the fruitiest Potensacs that I remember, with loads of blueberry and currants. Full and velvety. Plenty going on underneath.

Wine Enthusiast (94)

All fruit tannins, a structured, tight wine, its acidity offering great waves of black plum juice flavors. There is great power as well as the freshness and elegance.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97+)

The 2016 Rauzan-Ségla is simply stunning. Ample and generous in the glass, the 2016 is a positively stellar wine that will leave readers weak at the knees. The flavors and textures are generous as this sublime Margaux shows off its alluring personality. Sweet red cherry, plum, pomegranate, blood orange, spice and rose petal are some of the many notes that run through this absolutely exquisite wine. The 2016 is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel, maybe even more! Tasted three times.

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.