Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I was blown away by the 2020 Ermitage Le Méal Blanc, which is certainly the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. From the pure south-facing Méal lieu-dit (which is the warmest terroir on Hermitage), it was vinified and aged 70% demi-muids (10% new) and 30% in stainless steel. Straight-up heavenly notes of white currants, powdered rock, celery seed, honeysuckle, and toasted almonds all define the bouquet, and it’s full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with that rare mix of richness and freshness. Hermitage Blanc doesn’t get any better. I love this today, yet it will certainly benefit from a year or two of bottle age, drink well for 3-5 years, at which point, it’s probably best to wait until a solid 15 years after the vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

A killer wine as always, the 2018 Saint Joseph Les Granits Blanc reveals a medium gold color as well as powerful notes of white currants, toasted spices, brioche, quince, and crushed rock. With beautiful richness, medium to full body, no hard edges and a great finish, it's consistently one of the great whites in the appellation.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

This is an iteration of a legendary Champagne. Perfectly balanced, still packed with white fruit but just touching nuttiness, the wine is at its peak. Celebrating one of the great Champagne vintages of this century, this wine is totally memorable and magnificent. Folio Fine Wine Partners.

Wine Spectator (96)

A textbook blanc de blancs in a relatively opulent style, with ample grilled nut, brioche and spice character alongside classic flavors of poached apricot, kumquat, oyster shell and lemon blossom. This rich profile is well-defined by racy acidity, sleek and well-cut, driving the long, lacy finish. A beauty. Drink now through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 4,500 cases made, 185 cases imported.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

One of the great Blanc de Blancs Champagnes, this wine only hints of its age and maturity. Up front, the wine has layers of white fruits and a steely texture. It is behind those features that the brioche and almond character begins to show. This is a wonderfully balanced wine, ready to drink now.

Andreas Larsson (96)

Bright light golden colour with fine and lively bubbles. Nice purity on the nose, chalky and flinty with ripe but fresh yellow fruit like peach, passion fruit, lemongrass, fresh butter, brioche and floral notes. The palate shows a nice bite and precision, lovely freshness, fine extract, rounded creaminess with layers of succulent stone fruit, crushed nuts and pastry notes. Very long and lingering finish, still in a youthful stage but great potential here.

As an expert connoisseur, I can confidently present the Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres Extra Brut 2018, a superb representation of Alexandre Chartogne's labour of love. This enticing wine, from the esteemed Champagne region of France, has set a new benchmark in quality. Chartogne-Taillet, an artisan domain steeped in history, cultivates the Les Couarres vineyard with meticulous care, yielding this exquisitely crafted Extra Brut.

This 2018 vintage embodies the sensation of perfect ripeness intertwined with the unmistakable terroir of Merfy. The unique, limestone-enriched soil influences the wine's distinctive minerality, while the blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay lends remarkable freshness. Throughout its creation process, the Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres Extra Brut 2018 undergoes traditional vinification in oak barrels, enhancing its complexity and longevity.

Full-bodied, with a crisp, elegant finish, this wine lends itself to a myriad of culinary pairings. Savour the Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres Extra Brut 2018; a toast to the finest form of viticulture.

Vinous (92)

The NV Brut Cuvée Ste.-Anne is one of the best Champagnes readers will find in its price range, or any price range, for that matter. Bright and beautifully focused, the Ste.-Anne has so much to offer. The purity of the flavors is just remarkable. If anything, it needs more time on the cork to soften, as it is quite reticent at this stage. This release is based on 2017, with reserve wines from 2016 and 2015. The blend is 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier, with the Chardonnay very much in evidence at this stage. Dosage is 5.15 grams/liter. Disgorged: February, 2020.

Experience the remarkable Chateau d'Avrille Coteaux de l'Aubance 1989, a manifestation of an exceptional vintage year. This distinct wine from the famed Loire Valley in France boasts the distinctive offering from Chateau d'Avrille, a testament to their meticulous approach to viniculture.

Produced in the small and specialised Coteaux de l'Aubance region, this luscious golden-hued dessert wine is steeped in tradition. The grapes are selectively hand-picked, ensuring only the ripest become part of this tasteful blend. Fermentation in traditional oak barrels develops an exquisite, complex taste.

Renowned for its balance, the Chateau d'Avrille Coteaux de l'Aubance 1989 offers myriad flavours of candied fruit, honey, and gentle spices. Artfully matured for over three decades, it sings a rich, haunting melody on the palate. A classic embodiment of a fine dessert wine, this bottle encapsulates the prestigious history of the Chateau d'Avrille estate.

Wine Advocate (89)

Raised entirely in stainless steel, the 2016 Saint-Véran was showing very well, wafting from the glass with notes of lemon oil, honeysuckle and pastry cream. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, concentrated and powerful, with succulent underlying acidity, concluding with a stony, saline finish. Cropped at a mere 12 hectoliters per hectare, it nevertheless remains quite classical in profile—there's simply somewhat more flesh and concentration than usual.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Meursault Charmes-Dessus 1er Cru has a clean and precise bouquet. Understated at first, it opens with crushed rock, white flowers and touches of citrus fruit. It appears to build in intensity. The palate is quite oaky on the entry, although that should be subsumed with time. Good substance, slightly reductive, yet judiciously spiced with ample depth on the satisfying finish. Great potential. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.

Vinous (94)

The 2018 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru is very harmonious on the nose. Yellow flowers, Japanese yuzu, quince and orange zest open with aeration whilst maintaining superb focus. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh with a welcome bitter lemon note that upholds tension and salinity on the finish. I like where this Perrières is going - one to watch. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2018 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru, blended from six parcels, is pure, focused and taut, all while expressing the natural richness of the year. Lemon confit, white flowers, white pepper, mint and a kiss of French oak add striking aromatic top notes to match the wine's linear, energetic feel. The Vaillons has a surprising amount of freshness and lift, with bright saline notes that extend the finish. I suspect the opulence of the year will emerge more fully over time, but this is nevertheless a fine showing.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (88-90)

This is from the excellent Pargues vineyard, vinified and aged in stainless steel. Pale colour. The bouquet has a Chablisian crispness but also the juiciness of this 2022 vintage. Crisply concentrated on the palate, this still needs quite a bit more elevage. Which always needs time as shown by the reductive tang. Drink from 2024-2027. Tasted: June 2023.

Vinous (94)

The 2018 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru has a concentrated bouquet with yellow fruit, orange rind and light crushed stone. It coalesces nicely in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, lightly spiced with fine grip, tensile, even a little mean on the finish. Wonderful salinity. Superb. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting.

Vinous (94)

The 2019 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru has a clean, precise, more floral bouquet than the Valmur; white flower petal scents infuse the citrus fruit, along with a hint of egg whites. The palate is well balanced, taut and linear, with great poise and nervosité, leading to an intense and very persistent finish. This will vie with the Valmur as best Grand Cru.

Tim Atkin MW (95)

Christian and Fabien own an enviable three hectares that extend two-thirds of the way up the slope. This 2020 is almost cozy with concentrated extract at the core. This generous body is smartly lifted by vivid acidity. The flavors range from citrus and star fruit to roasted hazelnuts and a hint of smoke. 2024-40

Vinous (94)

The 2020 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru has a well-defined nose, citrus fruit mixed with pear, wet limestone and green apples, tight at first but responds to aeration. The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity, taut and fresh with a lovely, lip-smacking salinity that fires up the finish. Excellent.

Vinous (92+)

The 2020 Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru has a backward bouquet that demands coaxing from the glass: wet pavement, pressed yellow flowers and a touch of flint. Very focused. Fresh and saline, the palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity; however, it remains quite strict and oddly like a 2021 towards the close. Give this three or four years in bottle.

Immerse yourself in the exquisite experience offered by the Clandestin Les Semblables Austral Brut Nature 2019. Expertly crafted in southern Chile, this effervescent joy has a natural purity that reverberates with the pristine terroir. Its unique blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bewitches with an entire symphony of vibrant citrus and subtle stone fruit flavours, heightened by the distinct toast and yeast accents.

This boutique winery employs state-of-the-art traditional techniques synergised with biodynamic practices for a meticulous, sustainable winescape. The grapes are handpicked under the experienced eye of winemaker Louis Antoine Luyt, who ensures only the finest fruit go into each bottle. The Clandestin Les Semblables Austral Brut Nature 2019 benefits from bottle fermentation, bestowing upon it its finely tuned balance of acidity and richness.

Rated highly by several global wine critics, this vintage promises an illuminating exploration of Chile's vinous prowess. Elevate your wine collection today with the Clandestin Les Semblables Austral Brut Nature 2019. A celebration of craft, depth, and finesse exquisitely encapsulated in a bottle.

Indulge in the exquisite charm of Clandestin Les Semblables Boreal Brut Nature 2020, a captivating offering from the renowned vineyards of Boreal. Crafted with supreme quality grape varietals of the 2020 vintage, this sparkling wine exudes unparalleled lure and sophistication. Its meticulously fermented in steel barrels before being aged on lees, a unique process bringing forth an impressive complexity in flavour and effervescence.

Expertly produced by Clandestin, a credited formulator of finest French wines, the Les Semblables Boreal Brut Nature 2020 is an epitome of intricate winemaking. This Brut nature style wine, known for its no added sugars, is opulent with refreshing aromas and a crisp, dry palate. Its subtle minerality and exquisite nuances of citrus and apple make it a sublime companion for fine dining experiences.

Every sip of Clandestin Les Semblables Boreal Brut Nature 2020 promises a luxurious journey, lavishly satisfying the palates of discerning wine connoisseurs across the globe.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89)

The 2020 Bordeaux Blanc from Clarendelle is an attractive, aperitif-style dry white to drink now and over the next few years. Green apple, lemon peel, sage and mint linger on the bright, zesty finish. The blend is 43% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon and 27% Muscadelle.

James Suckling (97)

Smelling this is like looking into a deep abyss, and someone unfamiliar with intensely mineral dry riesling might feel a bit of vertigo. However, these grapefruit, white-tea and wild-herb aromas really excite us. On the sleek palate this is super-focused with a terrific tannin structure that beautifully matches the crystalline quality on the pristine finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (98)

Here comes the boss! The dense grapefruit, rosemary and thyme nose pulls you inexorably into the orbit of this rich and concentrated dry riesling that has enveloping,salty minerality. And, in spite of all this, it is laser-beam bright and has white-flower delicacy at the very deep finish. From 110-year-old vines. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.

James Suckling (98)

If you thought you knew what peaches smell and taste like, then think again. At first there's a touch of bready character form long sur-lie maturation, but then the most ravishing peach aroma develops, plus notes of wild rose, orange and jasmine. Super-elegant on the ripe yet extremely precise palate. The peachy beauty only expands and expands at the breathtaking finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.