Wine Advocate (95-96)

The tank sample of the 2018 San Lázaro, which was the final blend after some eight months in barrique, showed really well and confirmed my idea that this could be the third single-vineyard wine in quality after El Pisón and El Carretil. It's a wine of finesse and perfume, of subtleness and length but without lacking power or concentration. It has a beautiful combination of violets and cassis with very fine tannins. It has inner strength and tension, a recurring note when it comes to these 2018s. Very promising, in line with the superb 2016. They expected to fill some 2,000 bottles in the summer of 2020.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2004 El Pison stands out from its peers. It has a deeper color than the 2007 with a splendid nose that jumps from the glass. Notes of espresso, balsamic, Asian spices, pain grille, mineral, and black cherry lead to a velvety, mouth-filling, deep wine that effortlessly combines elegance with power. It should easily drink well for another 30-40 years. It simply does not get any better.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2008 Vina el Pison comes from a single vineyard planted in 1945 on pure limestone. It is the epitome of elegance with a sensual bouquet, a silky texture, already complex flavors, and a lengthy, pure finish. It will offer at least a 20 year lifespan, just long enough for the 2009 to be hitting its stride.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2009 Vina El Pison is born from 67-year-old vines within a real clos rather than the fictitious ones that abound. I could be pedantic and separate it from Juan Carlos- wines under the Artadi umbrella, but like my predecessor, I will include it here. The 2009 has a fresh, floral, Margaux-like bouquet with fine delineation and intensity. The palate is full-bodied with an almost impenetrable carapace of licorice-tinged black fruits, minerals, citrus peel and a powerful, sensual finish. Perhaps impressive more than pleasurable (at the moment), this behemoth will need a decade in the cellar before it will shine. Drink 2022-2040.

Wine Advocate (99)

The flagship single-vineyard 2018 Viña El Pisón has to be one of the finest vintages for this bottling. It's named after a plot of 2.4 hectares planted in 1945 in the village of Laguardia. The vineyard is an amphitheater with changing soils of limestone, clay and sandstone with a deep combination of limestone and silt. The grapes underwent a 24- to 48-hour cold soak and fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats for 10-12 days, during which time the grapes were foot trodden twice per day. It matured in French oak barrels for nine months. There's something mysterious about this Pisón; it's subtle and elegant, a little austere and reticent at first. The palate is seamless, silky with very refined tannins, with gobsmacking balance and a very long, clean and precise finish. This is superb. 6,600 bottles were filled in June 2020.

Guía Peñín (99)

Style: complex, with personality. Colour: bright cherry. Aroma: expressive, characterful, red berry notes, ripe fruit, spicy, balanced, chalk, new oak. Flavour: flavourful, long, chalky, spicy, ripe fruit, round tannins, complex.

Decanter (97)

The bouquet is full of fragrant black fruits, cinnamon, cumin and Frankincense, the palate beautifully fleshy and textured, carrying cigar box, vanilla, blueberry and silky tannins through to a lingering, richly-fruited, finish. Such refined elegance! Outstanding.

The Real Review (96)

Line-priced with the Home Block Pinot Noir, this is a slightly more robust style thanks, perhaps, to more clay-rich soils. It's an elegant pinot noir with cherry, spice, anise, floral, violet, cigar box and fine, stemmy tannins. A little closed at this stage but with the potential to develop well with bottle age.

James Suckling (98)

This has all the cherry and spice and perfume that defines this consistently stunning pinot noir, as well as a sense of immense freshness. The palate has deceptive lightness and tannins that are supple and caressing and that kick fresh and expansive out through the finish. Succulent and elegant.

Wine Orbit (98)

Offering graceful power and immense complexity, the wine shows dark cherry, dark mushroom, floral, fragrant spice and toasted almond characters on the nose with nuances of charcuterie and floral. It’s elegant and sophisticated on the palate with exceptional depth and concentration, seamlessly structured by silky tannins, finishing impressively long and engaging.

The Real Review (98)

Elegant, seamless pinot noir with fragrant, floral, red rose, dark cherry, anise, spice and restrained savoury and fresh herb characters. It's a complex medley of appealing flavours supported by an ethereal texture and a lingering finish. A surprisingly accessible wine from an excellent vintage. Should develop well with bottle age.

The Real Review (98)

Concentrated, complex pinot noir with cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, violet, wood smoke and savoury/dried herb flavours. Accessible now but with a proven history of ageing gracefully. Elegant wine with impressive power.

Tim Atkin MW (95)

You know class when you taste it, and this is certainly that. Deservedly established as one of South Africa's most consistently outstanding Chardonnays, this has the structure and concentration to age, with no malolactic at all, 22% new wood and complex, nuanced, stony flavours of lemon zest, oatmeal and stone fruit – Drinking to 2028

Tim Atkin MW (94)

Fermented in 22% new wood without malolactic, this is consistently one of the Cape's best Chardonnays, a wine that can rival a very good Côte de Beaune white Burgundy. Leesy, waxy and stylishly wooded with racy acidity and the concentration to age further in bottle.

Experience Burgundy as never before with the Au Pied du Mont Chauve Assortment Case 2016. This exceptional collection celebrates the artistry of this renowned Chardonnay Estate located in Chassagne-Montrachet. The assortment offers a feast of flavours from some of Burgundy's finest terroirs. Each wine is a study in traditional Viticulture, aged gracefully in French oak barrels, emerging with unparalleled depth and complexity.

The domaine, headed by Françoise and Nicolas Melin, respects time-honoured methods, creating a Salomone between modernity and tradition. This exquisite case delivers the exceptional craft of Au Pied du Mont Chauve, capturing the diverse nuances of the 2016 vintage. A testament to Burgundian precision and elegance, each bottle reveals distinct regional characteristics.

The Au Pied du Mont Chauve Assortment Case 2016 resonates with wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts who appreciate the nuance and diversity of fine Burgundian wine. Immerse yourself in the rich, sublime flavours of this extraordinary collection.

Vinous (94)

Dark magenta. Intense dark fruit and floral scents, along with hints of olive paste, smoked meat and exotic spices. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that are underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Rich and broad but energetic as well, showing bright clarity and a lingering floral nuance on the long, youthfully tannic finish.

The Aurelien Verdet Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes 2017 presents a luscious fusion of refined freshness and delicious maturity. As an esteemed product from the Beaux Villages, this exquisite bottle encapsulates the grandeur of Burgundy's Le Chambolle-Musigny. The steward behind this masterpiece, Aurelien Verdet, is an audacious vigneron from an acclaimed family of winemakers. Honouring the traditional biodynamic winemaking practices, Verdet diligently hand-harvests the ripest grapes whilst respecting the unique terroir.

Unveiling sophisticated layers of sultry berries, vibrant red cherries, and subtle hints of spice, this 2017 vintage reveals the spectacular plot of Les Feusselottes. The wine's mesmerising depth and intensity of flavour bear testimony to the 18-month ageing process in French oak barrels, giving it a chic yet enduring finish. Experience the jubilant symphony of Aurelien Verdet Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes 2017, a true Burgundy classic in every sip.

Presenting the exquisite Aurelien Verdet Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2018. Crafted elegantly in the treasured terroirs of Vosne-Romanee in Burgundy, France, this bijou vino reflects Aurelien Verdet's commitment to organic and biodynamic farming principles. Fruit for this sublime Pinot Noir is meticulously hand-picked from vineyards that yield rich, perfectly ripened berries, reflecting the quintessence of the renowned Les Beaux Monts cru.

In the winery, Verdet conducts a painstaking vinification process, resulting in a harmonious balance between power and elegance. The wine spends 18 months maturing in French oak, infusing it with a delightful smoky, vanilla charm that enhances the vibrant, red fruit flavours. Impeccably balanced with finely grained tannins, the Aurelien Verdet Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2018 provides an opulent Burgundian experience, an exquisite treat for any discerning oenophile.

Wine Advocate (95)

The perfumed and elegant 2019 Interpretación is powerful and ripe at 15% alcohol, reflecting the warm and dry vintage. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured for 15 months in barrels, half of them 500-liter ones and 30% of them new. It's a serious and structured red with a classical profile and terrific balance, very fine tannins and a silky mouthfeel through very fine chalky tannins. It's tasty, balanced and long, with stuffing and balance between the components to develop nicely in bottle. This shows the warm year and the hand of a very god winemaker; it is creamy and has good integrated of the oak. 34,563 bottles, 495 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2021.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2016 Ausone is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot and it has a deep garnet-purple color. It is incredibly closed to begin, offering glimpses of juicy blackberries, plum preserves, and cedar chest, before unfurling to offer a whole array of exotic spices, sandalwood, violets, and notes of crushed rocks, plus a touch of smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is so closed and tightly knit to start off, delivering peeks at mineral, floral, and opulent spice accents, with a rock-solid structure of grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length. It needs a good 8 years+, but should cellar for at least 40 more!

Wine Advocate (98)

The deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Ausone is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. It sashays out of the glass with gregarious scents of baked red and black plums, wild blueberries and boysenberries plus touches of violets, espresso, licorice and melted chocolate with wafts of iron ore and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is an exercise in poise, featuring beautifully ripe, silken tannins and bold freshness to support the fragrant multi-layers, finishing very long and very minerally.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2018 Ausone is deep garnet purple in color. There is oak to begin, giving way to a great core of baked black plums, chocolate-covered cherries, licorice, and incense, plus Indian spices and violets. Full-bodied, it is rich, concentrated, and decadent in the mouth, with a fantastic backbone of freshness and velvety tannins, finishing very long and layered.

The Wine Independent (99)

The 2019 Ausone is a blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts with uber-fragrant notes of liquid violets, licorice, exotic spices, and roses with a core of black cherries, plum preserves, black soil, and sassafras. Full-bodied, it is super concentrated with a razor backbone of refreshing acidity and very pixilated tannins, finishing with incredible depth and minerality. This wine dances!

A product of elegant sophistication, the Auvenay Auxey Duresses La Macabre 2009 emanates from the revered wine region of Burgundy, France. Crafted by none other than the acclaimed domaine, Auvenay, under the expert guidance of winemaker Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy, this exceptional red wine boasts a highly limited production. The La Macabre sub-label showcases Bize-Leroy’s virtuosity in biodynamic viticulture, this specific vintage brims with character and depth.

An epitome of high-quality Pinot Noir, the Auvenay Auxey Duresses La Macabre 2009 vaunts an exquisite harmony of red fruit flavours and subtle hints of spices on the nose. Its seamless structure and polished tannins, coupled with nuances of forest floor, embody the meticulous attention to detail involved in its creation. This wine promises not just a captivating journey through its layers of complexity, but also a testament to the unparalleled dedication of Auvenay, ultimately making it a prized addition to any fine wine collection.

The Auvenay Bourgogne Aligote Sous Chatelet 2015 is an expression of exceptional winemaking from the venerable house of Domaine d'Auvenay, owned by Lalou Bize-Leroy. Nestled in the prestigious wine region of Burgundy, this Aligote is an exquisite sample of the producer's skill and dedication to precision and organic farming. The wine is made with the Aligote grape variety, providing it with unparalleled freshness and minerality.

Elevated in oak barrels for 18 months, Auvenay Bourgogne Aligote Sous Chatelet 2015 exhibits not only a vivid, pale gold colour but also a sensational aromatic profile brimming with white flowers, apple, citrus, and a touch of buttery notes. On the palate, it is characterized by its stocky structure, bright acidity and vivid minerality, culminating in a lengthy, rewarding finish. Savour the brilliance of the Auvenay Bourgogne Aligote Sous Chatelet 2015, a quintessential French white wine for the discerning wine aficionado.

The Auvenay Meursault 1er Cru Les Narvaux 2013, hailing from the esteemed Burgundy region, is a remarkable and highly sought-after white wine. Crafted by the reputable producer Domaine d'Auvenay under the direction of the legendary connoisseur Lalou Bize-Leroy, its excellence reflects the strict, biodynamic principles adhered to during its creation.

The grapes are fermented in new oak barrels and aged for a period of up to 24 months, resulting in a wine of outstanding depth and complexity. Boasting a luscious golden hue, Auvenay Meursault 1er Cru Les Narvaux 2013 delights the palate with notes of ripe stone fruit underscored by crisp minerality and a long, elegant finish. This wine's extraordinary resilience allows for impressive aging potential, making it a true collector's gem.

Elevate your wine collection with the Auvenay Meursault 1er Cru Les Narvaux 2013 - a testament to the exceptional calibre of Burgundy's terroir and vinicultural richness.

Experience the allure of Italian winemaking mastery with Azienda Agricola Bricco Ernesto Vino Rosso 2018. Created by the esteemed Bricco Ernesto vineyard, nestled in Piedmont, a region synonymous with producing high-quality, complex Italian red wines. In the hands of these expert vintners, the indigenous Nebbiolo grapes undergo meticulous vinification. Using traditional techniques, the wine is aged for an extended period in French oak barrels, blending hints of toast and vanilla into the rich, fruity profile.

The resulting wine is a symphony of flavour, offering a full-bodied palate with robust, yet smooth tannins and a long finish. Its expressive bouquet features captivating notes of red cherries, plum, leather, and a subtle whiff of white pepper. An exquisite embodiment of Italian pedigree, the Azienda Agricola Bricco Ernesto Vino Rosso 2018 is truly a statement wine for discerning collectors and gourmets alike. A fine testament to the time-honoured crafts of viticulture and oenology.

Boasting extraordinary craftsmanship, Azienda Agricola Bricco Ernesto Vino Rosso 2020 is a masterful representation of Italian winemaking tradition. Hailing from the prestigious regions of Barbera and Dolcetto, this exceptional red wine embodies a meticulous blend of elegance and character. The reputable producer, Bricco Ernesto, employs traditional methods, maintaining low yields, and manual harvests to ensure optimal fruit quality.

Using carefully selected grapes grown on steep marly-calcareous soils, the Vino Rosso 2020 breathes life into the glass, capturing the essence of its striking Piedmontese terroir. This splendid wine is aged for a year in French oak barrels to acquire its full-bodied complexity and smooth, velvety finish.

Each sip offers a harmonious motley of dark berry fruits, hints of spice, and subtle undertones of earthy chocolate, creating a prolonged aromatic persistence that invites slow savouring of the Azienda Agricola Bricco Ernesto Vino Rosso 2020. A significant contender in the world of fine wine, leaving an indelible impression on the palate.