Vinous (94-96)

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er Cru contains no stems this year. It has a very delineated and focused bouquet with superb mineralité and tension. The palate is very well balanced with the 50% new oak neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine delineation and so much freshness thank to the limestone soils. Very fine tension on the tightly-coiled finish. This has great potential. Wonderful.

Presenting the remarkably grand Tortochot Gevrey-Chambertin Les Corvees 2016, hailing from the esteemed Domaine Tortochot in the heart of Burgundy, France. This vivacious red wine is crafted with Pinot Noir grapes, exclusively cultivated within the renowned Les Corvées vineyard. This delicate process involves intricate, low intervention vinification in oak barrels; a testament to Chantal Tortochot's fourth-generation vineyard mastery.

The Tortochot Gevrey-Chambertin Les Corvees 2016 exudes a profusion of ripe red fruits, layered with smoky, earthy undertones, exemplifying the unique terroir of Gevrey-Chambertin. Embodied within its medium-bodied elegance, it reveals a noteworthy balance of acidity and tannins, with a lingering finish; a characteristic treasured amongst dedicated connoisseurs.

Crafted with passion and tradition, a bottle of Tortochot Gevrey-Chambertin Les Corvees 2016 serves not only as a refined compliment to a gourmet dinner but also a reflection of Domaine Tortochot's enduring legacy in the arts of viticulture and winemaking.

Hailing from Gevrey-Chambertin, the heart of Burgundy's red wine district, the Tortochot Gevrey-Chambertin Les Jeunes Rois 2017 stands tall. Domaine Tortochot, lauded for their commitment to organic viticulture, meticulously crafts this stunning Pinot Noir. Unfettered by artificial substances, the unique vines impart a character that is innately Burgundy.

Off the vine, Tortochot Gevrey-Chambertin Les Jeunes Rois 2017 proudly sports an intense rubellite hue, a prelude to its elegance. Each sip reveals layers of complexity, densely packed with rich aromas of dark fruits, rustic spices, and earthy undertones, underpinned by silky tannins.

Matured for 12 months in French oak barrels and rested for additional 6 months in tank, this fine wine exhibits striking depth and a remarkable finish. A testament to the masterly art of winemaking, Tortochot Gevrey-Chambertin Les Jeunes Rois 2017 certainly deserves the spotlight in a discerning connoisseur's collection.

Vinous (90-92)

(the yield here was just 15 hectoliters per hectare, according to Jean-Louis Trapet): Good bright medium red. Deeper on the nose than the preceding village wines, offering aromas of plum, currant, roast coffee and cocoa. Graceful, fine-grained wine, offering very good depth, intriguing saline minerality and noteworthy precision. More floral than herbal. The persistent finish features a subtle sweetness and suave tannins that saturate the sides of the tongue. This will be Trapet's only premier cru bottling from the 2016 vintage.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin La Petite Chapelle 1er Cru, blended with 80% whole bunch, has a tightly-wound bouquet with crushed stone infusing the blackcurrant and raspberry scents, a nuanced Earl Grey scent percolating through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, finely-chiselled tannins, very good weight with just a hint of menthol that enhances the finish.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin "Ostrea" comprises around 70% whole cluster this year and comes from parcels around the village of Brochon. This has an elegant bouquet of gorgeous wild strawberry and raspberry preserve aromas, the oak seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and well-judged acidity, and so juicy that it is nigh impossible to detect the stem addition. This might well constitute the best "Ostrea" I have tasted from Trapet.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

(5-Star wine) Still in barrel, unracked. Rich deep purple with a heady ripe raspberry fruit. But it is fresh, clean, mineral and intense on the palate with a lovely supple fruit backed by clean energy. Darker fruit, but significantly more weight. In fact, this is astonishingly concentrated at the back of the palate. There are plenty of tannins here, but easily enough fruit.

Vinous (92)

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Ostrea comes from vines that have now been rewired higher according to Jean-Louis Trapet. It has a more mineral-driven, reserved bouquet compared to the Gevrey-Village, fragrant and beautifully defined, the 40% whole bunch lending freshness. The palate is fresh and vibrant with gentle grip, good weight, taut and fresh with a saline, Morey-like finish. Classy, for Burgundy-lovers who like their Pinot a bit cerebral.

Halliday Wine Companion (96)

90/8/2% cabernet sauvignon/petit verdot/malbec. Wild ferment, matured in French oak (44% new) for 18 months. Not enough can be said in favour of the 2018 vintage, producing wines just like this. Powerfully ripe and dense, with epic length of flavour. This is a structural and concentrated cabernet capable of decades of graceful evolution in the cellar. Wild raspberry, salted licorice, aniseed, pomegranate, ferrous and kelp. Saline acid. It comes in at under $50, and long may that continue, for it is one of the great-value premium wines of the region.

Halliday Wine Companion (96)

Bright crimson-purple; this has provenance written large across its visage, likewise purity. Restructuring of the Vasse Felix offers to the market has lifted, not compromised, this dark, fruit-filled cabernet.

Vinous (91)

Deep ruby. Vibrant, spice-accented red and blue fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of cigar box and candied flowers. In a juicy, energetic style, showing very good clarity to the bitter cherry and cassis flavors. Turns sweeter with air and finishes long and smooth, with just a hint of fine-grained tannins.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

One of the most renowned Chardonnays in Australia, the latest release is a knockout. A cool vintage allowed for gorgeous natural acidity and bright fruit to shine. Being the most cellarworthy of the Vasse Chards, Heytesbury is always structuredand more oak driven when young. It opens with heady aromas of toasted nuts, flint, seashell, vanilla pod and a seaweed-like umami note amid melon and lemon curd. The palate is fabulously fresh with textural complexity, and lingering nut, saline and citrusnotes on the lengthy finish.

The Real Review (98)

Deep red/purple colour with a very fresh, nuanced, aromatic bouquet loaded with blue and red fruits, cedar and high-toned flowers, violets to the fore. A totally gorgeous bouquet, very fresh and primary but also complex and detailed. Very fine tannins; extremely long carry. A supremely elegant, sublime wine that finishes right out with impressive extension. Clearly, the best Tom Cullity to date. (17% malbec; 1% petit verdot)

Wine Advocate (99)

The 2018 vintage can comfortably be described as being one of the greatest, if not the greatest vintage in Margaret River's 55-year modern history (i.e., since 1967). When this 2018 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec was released, it was both satisfying and terrifying. The former, because it confirmed everything I had suspected/hoped prior to its release. The latter because it would force me to put my neck on the line and give it the score I believe it deserves. Having seen it blind a number of times in esteemed international company, I am comfortable that this wine more than stands up alongside its counterparts from Bordeaux and Napa in the 2018 vintage. It is a marvelous example of Margaret River Cabernet, in that it offers us red raspberry, pomegranate, cassis and red licorice, alongside pink peppercorns, nori, sun-dried kelp, hints of iodine and earth, and all of it framed by ferrous tannins. It is fresh, it is structured, it is incredibly long. It will live forever.

Vinous (91-93)

Apparently the berries were very aromatic when they entered the vat for the 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Bel-Air 1er Cru, which includes 40% whole bunches. It has a lovely bouquet of wild strawberry, raspberry and wild hedgerow scents, touches of iris flower emerging with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite fleshy and velvety-smooth in texture. There is more density here on the finish, which shows touches of spice and marmalade and fans out nicely. This should evolve well in bottle.

The Xanadu The Wine Society Special Selection Margaret River 2022 is a tantalisingly complex eau-de-vie, crafted meticulously in Australia's prestigious Margaret River wine region. Xanadu, a critically acclaimed winery, boasts a reputation for creating exquisite wines that reflect the purity and uniqueness of the terroir. This special selection depicts the result of a seamless union of impeccable viticulture and innovative winemaking.

The wine portrays a captivating curation of Cabernet Sauvignon, the crown jewel of this region. This indulgent wine is aged in French oak barrels, endowing it with complex layers and a layered, textured palate. Its evolving flavour profile offers a delightful journey through dark berries, mocha, and subtle traces of oak.

In essence, the Xanadu The Wine Society Special Selection Margaret River 2022 is a hallmark of fertile soils, divine climates, and artisan touch, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of perfection. This wine is a testament to Xanadu's dedication to creating world-class wines that resonate with their essence of origin.