Decanter (99)

Beautifully fragrant and floral, showing rose and violet characters. Super-fine, silky tannins and lovely acidity, this is an eminently classic Côte Brune, with flowers, cinnamon, black olive, rosemary and perfectly ripe, bright blackberries. It has a tapered finish - not the same concentration and power as 2019 - but with great finesse and elegance of expression. Beautifully balanced and very hard to fault.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2020 Savigny-lès-Beaune Aux Vergelesses 1er Cru has a delightful bouquet with cranberry, raspberry and briary aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy, ripe black and red fruit, fresh and well-defined, the 30% whole bunch imparting a pleasant peppery note on the finish. This is worth seeking out. Closure: Screwcap, Diam or Cork

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

Very pale colour and where is the bouquet? Here it comes now, slowly. More generous in the mouth with a slight creamy edge, backed by a few stones. It is certainly a good wine, but without the extra drive of the very best in this cellar. Tasted: October 2021

Burghound (91-94)

Outstanding - This is aromatically quite similar to the Perrières if perhaps just a bit earthier. The slightly larger scaled flavors are surprisingly supple on the mid-palate that contrasts materially with the firm tannins on the compact and youthfully austere finish. This is less powerful and forbidding than normal, though with that said, it's still sufficiently structured to reward 12 to 15 years of aging.

Wine Advocate (91)

From vines planted at elevated densities, the 2020 Marsannay Clos du Roy Blanc exhibits notes of white flowers, citrus zest, crisp orchard fruit and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and racy, with bright acids and a saline, mineral finish, it shows plenty of promise.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-92)

Rich deep purple, I do like the nose here. Laurent says it did not show so well earlier and is now only coming in to itself. He is looking at longer ageing. Huge stuffing to this yet entirely balanced. On the cusp of red and black, a little bit spicy and with excellent length. Tasted: November 2021

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-93)

5 stars. Pale to mid lemon yellow. No sign of too much wood here from Schneckenleitner barrels, much crisper with great tension behind and complex citrus fruit notes behind. Long and fine. Excellent. Marries freshness and density. Tasted: November 2021

Burghound (87-89)

(from vines in Vosne). A fresh and distinctly earthy nose speaks mostly of various dark berries. The rich, concentrated and suave middle weight flavors possess unusually good depth and persistence on the balanced and moderately firm finale. This is an excellent Bourgogne and well worth considering. (87-89)/2024+

Tim Atkin MW (94)

Showing deeply ripe fruit notes, there's even a touch of dried plums here alongside the cassis, underbrush and graphite. The oak is discreet and allows the verbose aromatics to dominate the solid finish that tingles with acidic refreshment. 2023-34

Inspired by the old world allure of Burgundy, Jean-Claude Ramonet Monthelie 1er Cru 2020 captivates the senses. From the renowned producer Ramonet, this remarkable wine reflects the essence of the premier cru vineyards in Monthelie. Regarded for their delicate balance, it is crafted with attention to traditional methods and employing meticulous cultivation standards. The result is a striking blend of elegance and complexity.

Year 2020 was particularly favourable, endowing the wine with exquisite intensity of flavour. This French beauty enchants the palate with sophisticated minerality and smooth tannins. On the nose, it bears the signature fragrance of cherries, along with compelling earthy undertones.

Whether you are an avid oenophile or an occasional wine lover, the Jean-Claude Ramonet Monthelie 1er Cru 2020 sets the benchmark for a classy drinking experience. Its alluring subtlety and characteristic intensity truly represent the high-quality commitment of Maison Ramonet. A true masterpiece that graces the world of fine wine.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94)

Pale primrose. A fine bouquet with some complexity, fruit as white as it is yellow, this has really maintained its grip though the fruit is at its fleshiest here, quite a long finish. Does it have quite the nervous intensity at the back? That is not really what Combettes is about. Fruit marries well with the oak here, a delicious and fairly accessible Combettes. Tasted: November 2021

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90)

Pale lemon and lime. The bouquet is immediately present, some fresh herbs as much as flowers, fresh apple too, this is quite austere up front, but with much more weight behind waiting to emerge. This is looking backward at the moment, but I expect it to blossom in the bottle. Tasted: November 2021

Vinous (88-90)

The 2020 Meursault Les Gruyaches just feels a little simple compared to some of the top Village Crus that I encountered from this appellation. The palate is well balanced with good weight, a fine bead of acidity here with orange zest and light mango notes lending a tropical touch. Enjoy this over the next decade.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2020 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is discreet and remarkably coolish on the dense and lemon-scented nose compared to Zeltingen and Bernkastel. White peach and nectarine aromas intertwined with coolish broken slate aromas make this a savory and irresistible Auslese, even though, or exactly because of it, this is so discreet and only subversively erotic on the nose. The palate then reveals stunning lightness and finesse based on a filigreed structure and highly refined and zesty acidity. This is almost weightless, but it has a sweet core that materializes the fruit, whereas in the transcendental Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, it's more of an idea. 7% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 19 21 in July 2022.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2020 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese offers a remarkably coolish, very bright, precise and delicate nose of very fine Riesling fruit and flinty slate aromas. Saline, perfectly round and refined on the palate, this is a filigreed but lush and oh-so-delicate and airy, virtually celestial Himmelreich with crystalline, highly delicate acidity. This is a pristine, light yet long and saline, incredibly frisky and elegant Mosel Spätlese whose clarity and finesse is mind-blowing. An incomparable beauty. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 02 22 in July 2022.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2020 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett offers a discreet and sublime, complex and very elegant and slightly flinty nose with a coolish and very delicate expression of stewed apricots but also some greenish berries, whereas the first stony character remains. This irresistible and noble bouquet leads to a round and lush yet also refined and savory palate, with coolish apricot flavors on the long and sustainably salty finish that is firmly structured but elegant and highly stimulating. This is a superb, very elegant and complex, sustainably structured Sonnenuhr. This is already a great pleasure to drink, but you can keep this Kabinett for more than three decades easily. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 05 22 in July 2022.

James Suckling (96)

This Spatlese beams you up to Cloud 9, from where you have a wonderful view over the beautiful Mosel Valley. In spite of the considerable concentration, this is super-delicate and precise on the barely medium-bodied palate. Enormously long finish, where you barely feel the natural grape sweetness. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (94)

The jasmine, honeysuckle and white-thorn aromas are augmented by a touch of wild-herb character that adds special tension. Succulent, medium-bodied palate with caramelized white-peach character, then a very clean and stony finish that is impressively long. Drink or hold.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-97)

Pale lemon colour. The power is immediately apparent on the nose, but in a good way. A wine for longer elevage before bottling and then worth the wait in bottle thereafter. This has all the expected volume of white fruit while retaining impeccable balance. Adds depth with time in the glass, before reaching quite a saline finish. A very youthful but impressive Clos des Mouches. I recently enjoyed a stunning bottle of the 2017, and this could very well match it in due course. Tasted: November 2021

Tim Atkin MW (94)

Most of this fruit comes from domaine-owned parcels, but some is purchased. Six parcels in total contribute to this pretty, floral and silky-textured Chambolle. Sweet red fruits spread gently across the mid-weight palate before a light ganache note joins in and brings the wine into a gently fading finish. 2022-34

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)

5 stars. Crisp clear lemon and lime, Excellent energy om the nose. Fresh plum, sweels on the palate, this si excellent, full but not heavy, very well judged oak, and exceptionally long. Top stuff! Tasted: November 2021

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)

Full pale lemon. The bouquet is attractive with an intriguing note of liquorice. Quite full on the nose, with a little warmth as well as body, then brought back in to a beautiful finish. Good acidity. A little tension behind, needs time. A wine currently showing in two halves, but which may very well develop positively from here. A conservative score for now. Tasted: November 2021

James Suckling (93)

A classically structured wine for this appellation with the weight and round generosity that we expect from it, but with plenty of bright citrus and pear fruit, something these wines can lack a bit of. Good depth with an excellent integration of chalky minerality and healthy acidity at the long and delicate finish. With aeration a touch of vanilla bean develops on the nose. Drink or hold.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-94)

5*s Glowing purple with a beautifully lively heady intense but balanced hits the front of the palate full on and continues very well, all red fruit with a good cut of acidity, a touch of wood tannin. Promising stuff.

Greg Sherwood MW (97)

Launched in the 50th anniversary of the estate, it was an absolute pleasure to first taste the new release 2020 Paul Sauer in London with both winemaker Abrie Beeslaar and uber critical owner, Johan Krige. Together, these are two individuals who both have very high expectations for every new Paul Sauer release, but not only that, they are both people who will find a way for the new wine to express the new vintage blend in the most succinct and honest way. In 2020, the Paul Sauer is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot from Simonsberg vines grown on decomposed granite at an average of 30+ years old. The aromatics are delicate yet sophisticated, whispering a rich complexity of saline cassis, sweet violets, dried sage, crunchy black berry, iodine and salty oyster shell nuances with a hint of melted candles and incense complexity. Fabulously pure, focused, weightless and intense, there is a notable ambition and intent on the palate, that bristles with a maritime salinity, deep layers of crème de cassis, blue berry, cedar spice and a tart red berry extravagance. This is simply like no other 2020 I have tasted from Stellenbosch. The wine possesses its own class, elegance and swagger, but with an incredible refinement and precision. You would expect nothing less from one of South Africa’s first growth producers!

Vinous (97)

The Chardonnay Mate's Vineyard, appears to have gone on a yoga retreat in 2020: not only is its usual powerful self, but it's remarkably zen too, exuding a sense of calmness. It is full-bodied, round and offers fruit ripeness, but the propensity of the Mendoza clone to hen-and-chicks means that it retains a sense of nerve, with powerful citrusy acidity providing the needle that pulls a tight thread through this wine's core. The 2020 is still far too young, and it is aromatically shy, but even in its full mature glory, it won't exhibit aromatic fireworks – nor should it. This is Chardonnay. Okay, you might detect lemon and limes, white flowers and just-ripe white nectarine, with 30% new oak imbuing an additional layer of savoriness, but when it comes down to it, this wine's trump card is in its shape, texture and persistence.

James Suckling (98-99)

This is so floral and pure, showing crushed-grape character with some walnut and crunchy seeds. It’s full-bodied, juicy and fresh. Purity of fruit. Juicy and long. 88% merlot and 12% cabernet franc.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95-97)

The 2020 La Clotte was picked 14-30 September and matured in barriques for 18 months. This has a gorgeous and expressive bouquet with beautifully defined red fruit, crushed stone, wilted rose petal and a touch of sea spray. It is extremely focused with seamlessly integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied and silky smooth. Finely tuned acidity gently builds in the mouth. Very harmonious towards the finish that fans out wonderfully. This is a superb Saint-Émilion, one of the best you will find in 2020.