Vinous (90-92)

Bright purple. Mineral-laced aromas of dark berries, cola and fresh flowers, with a peppery overtone. Lively and precise on the palate, offering bitter berry skin and spicecake flavors that put on weight with air. Closes silky and long, with firm tannins and spicy snap.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

A prodigious effort, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale was yet to be bottled during my June visit. It offers up sweet floral aromas, hints of thyme and rosemary and bold cherry fruit. Full-bodied and creamy-velvety in texture, it's a hugely seductive mouthful of wine that I found difficult to spit. If it emerges from the bottling process looking like this, buyers will have huge smiles on their faces.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

Superbly concentrated, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale takes floral and tea-like complexities and layers them delicately over crisp raspberries and stone fruits. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, it's full-bodied, velvety and long, with an attractive briny note on the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Les Hautes Brusquières (60/40 Grenache and Syrah) comes from a cooler terroir near the Mount Redon plateau and was brought up in oak tronconique tanks and demi-muids. Its dense purple, almost opaque hue is followed by a brilliant perfume of mulled red and black fruits, peppery herbs, crushed stone, violets, and licorice. With full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and just about perfect tannins, it's another superstar wine from this estate that's up with the finest vintages to date.

Wine Advocate (95)

Another sensational wine is the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes. Coming all from the famed la Crau lieu-dit, its notes of cassis, licorice, mint and crushed rock lead to a full-bodied, structured, tannic, yet concentrated 2010 that still needs 2-3 years of cellaring.

Wine Advocate (96-98+)

Verging on surmaturité, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes turns the volume up to 11, yet I couldn't help but be captivated by its nuance at the same time. Immensely concentrated raspberries, cherries and a hint of dark chocolate emerge on the nose of this blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre, joined by hints of Asian five spice and salted licorice. From the lieux-dits of la Crau (sud) and Cristia, it's full-bodied and hugely powerful (16% alcohol), yet it retains a sense of freshness and elegance on the long, silky-textured finish. Wow!

Jeb Dunnuck (94-96+)

The quality of the Cuvée Vieilles Vignes has soared over the past 4-5 years, and while older vintages has a touch of austerity and rusticity, new releases show more balance, polished tannins, and finesse, while still showing classic old vine Grenache power. The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (90/10 Grenache and Mourvèdre) boasts a deep purple color to go with full-bodied richness, building tannins, lots of cassis and black raspberry fruit, and complex notes of garrigue, pepper, and violets. I’d put this up with the top wines in the vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre) comes all from the stony, pebbly soils of La Crau and was brought up in tank and demi-muids. Ripe black cherry fruits, iodine, ground pepper, and bloody, meaty nuances all emerge on the nose, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless, multi-dimensional texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a rock star of a finish. It's just a brilliant, elegant, pure, lengthy wine that does everything right. Drink this classic, traditional, structured wine over the coming two decades.

Immerse yourself in the delightful complexity of Domaine de la Commaraine Chambolle-Musigny Les Condemennes 2022, a true connoisseur's treasure. Originating from the French region of Burgundy, this exceptional Pinot Noir showcases the legendary viticultural expertise of Commaraine's illustrious winemaking tradition. Uniquely harvested and aged in handpicked oak barrels, this wine boasts a delicate balance between fruit, tannin structure, and acidity. Its bouquet offers a harmonious blend of cherry and dark berries, complemented by a subtle hint of spice from well-integrated oak.

Hailing from the prestigious Les Condemennes vineyard, noted for its minerally soils, this wine delivers a distinctive, terroir-driven flavour profile, alive with expressive red fruit and earthy undertones. The Domaine de la Commaraine Chambolle-Musigny Les Condemennes 2022 is a testament to the excellence of French winemaking, demonstrating the innate sophistication that only a Burgundian Pinot Noir can embody.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2021 Pommard Clos de la Commaraine is a monopole owned by the domaine due to be overlooked by a luxury hotel currently under construction. This is completely de-stemmed. Two bottles were opened as I was not happy with the first - and a good decision as the second is much fresher. Quite earthy in style, you might actually assume there are some stems in the mix. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a keen line of acidity, not amazingly complex yet cohesive and with an attractive pastille-like finish. There'll be better to come, but this is commendable for a challenging growing season.

Experience the opulent indulgence of the Domaine de la Commaraine Pommard 1er Cru Clos de la Commaraine 2022. This superb wine is produced in the heart of Burgundy's Pommard region, heralded for its timeless tradition of wine-making excellence. This distinguished vineyard, home to 140-year-old vines, yields unusually deep and concentrated pinot noir grapes. The winemakers employ sustainable viticulture and refined maturation techniques, resulting in a wine that is multifaceted and remarkably elegant.

The gleaming ruby hue of Domaine de la Commaraine Pommard 1er Cru Clos de la Commaraine 2022 gives way to a complex bouquet of dark cherry, black currant and spiced undertones. On the palate, the full-bodied richness unravels into an impressive longevity of flavours. This world-class vintage eloquently articulates the luxurious subtleties of its origin, solidifying its celebrated standing as a fine Burgundy wine.

Experience the opulent indulgence of the Domaine de la Commaraine Pommard 1er Cru Clos de la Commaraine 2022. This superb wine is produced in the heart of Burgundy's Pommard region, heralded for its timeless tradition of wine-making excellence. This distinguished vineyard, home to 140-year-old vines, yields unusually deep and concentrated pinot noir grapes. The winemakers employ sustainable viticulture and refined maturation techniques, resulting in a wine that is multifaceted and remarkably elegant.

The gleaming ruby hue of Domaine de la Commaraine Pommard 1er Cru Clos de la Commaraine 2022 gives way to a complex bouquet of dark cherry, black currant and spiced undertones. On the palate, the full-bodied richness unravels into an impressive longevity of flavours. This world-class vintage eloquently articulates the luxurious subtleties of its origin, solidifying its celebrated standing as a fine Burgundy wine.

Decanter (95)

The 2023 Clos de la Commaraine aromas are deep and rich, with notes of plum and blackberry, hints of earth and leather and a light floral note at the end. The texture is firm, tannic and dense, but not unyielding. The grapes are from a 3.63ha monopole clos. Farming and vinification are done parcel by parcel; the new owners, Denise Dupré and Mark Nunnelly, have hired Paul Krug as régisseur, who has undertaken the work of budding over inferior clonal selections with massal selection from vines planted in 1957.

Decanter (95)

The 2023 Clos de la Commaraine aromas are deep and rich, with notes of plum and blackberry, hints of earth and leather and a light floral note at the end. The texture is firm, tannic and dense, but not unyielding. The grapes are from a 3.63ha monopole clos. Farming and vinification are done parcel by parcel; the new owners, Denise Dupré and Mark Nunnelly, have hired Paul Krug as régisseur, who has undertaken the work of budding over inferior clonal selections with massal selection from vines planted in 1957.

Vinous (90)

Dark ruby-red. Sauvage aromas of raspberry, garrigue, roasted coffee, maple syrup and mint; distinctly cooked suggestions of surmaturite Very rich, sweet and thick; a big, spicy, superripe fruit bomb with a velvety texture and just enough balancing acidity. Finishes with fine tannins and port-like notes of raisin and damp earth.

Vinous (93)

Prominent forest floor, dried strawberry and a gently raisined nuance give the 2007 Vin de Pays de l'Hérault Rouge an immediately seductive, fully evolved aromatic profile. Medium- to full-bodied and concentrated, the dense 2007 is showing extremely well today, with resolved tannins offering just enough grip, beautifully preserved freshness, a hedonistic intensity across the mid-palate and a juicy, elegant finale. The overall balance is striking, and well-stored bottles like this one should hold for another five years without difficulty.