Jeb Dunnuck (96-99)

From one of my favorite estates in Pomerol, situated between Trotanoy and Latour à Pomerol, the 2018 Château Feytit-Clinet is currently sitting at 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc being raised in 70% new French oak. Sporting a deep purple/blue color as well as a massive bouquet of blackberries, smoked herbs, liquid violets, and graphite, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a weightless, seamless texture, thrilling purity, and a great, great finish. It’s a powerful wine hitting 14.9% alcohol yet there’s not a trace of heat. Offering beautiful purity and flawless balance, it reminds me of the 2010, only better.

Jeb Dunnuck (96-98)

Another blockbuster in the making from this tiny estate in Pomerol, the 2020 Château Feytit-Clinet is based on a normal blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, hitting 14.8% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.7. The aging will span 18 months in 70% new French oak. It boasts a dense purple hue as well as a stunning nose of crème de cassis, currants, tobacco, and damp earth. About as ripe, sexy, and opulent as they come, it still shows the purity and freshness of this great vintage. It reveals more and more tannins with time in the glass, but given its mid-palate as well as its overall density, it’s going to benefit from just 3-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 20-30 years.

Vinous (91)

The 2018 Promis is a very pretty wine. Lifted, floral aromatics, silky tannins and mid-weight structure give it tons of immediacy and overall appeal. Hints of succulent red cherry, cinnamon, mint and leather linger effortlessly.

Wine Advocate (95)

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Gazin features a beautifully perfumed nose of violets, Ceylon tea, cigar box, sandalwood and fallen leaves over a core of plum preserves, kirsch and blackberry preserves plus a waft of aniseed. Medium-bodied and elegant, with compelling restraint, it has a seductively plush texture, finishing with bags of poise, perfume and persistence.

James Suckling (95-96)

This is very tight and polished with a compact and beautiful palate of blackberries, currants and black olives. Full-bodied yet structurally solid with a very long finish.

Experience the sublime elegance of the Heitz-Lochardet Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres 2020, a distinct representation of French winemaking prowess. Crafted in the renowned vineyards of Meursault, in the heart of Burgundy, this brilliant white wine tells the intimate story of its terroir. Conceived by Armand Heitz, a luminary in bio-dynamic viticulture, this transcendent Burgundy wine brings his philosophy of respecting the landscape and traditional winemaking methods to life.

The Heitz-Lochardet Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres 2020 is a superb Chardonnay that exudes nuanced brightness and profound minerality. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, allowing it to develop complex aromatic notes of citrus, white flowers and a subtle hint of oak. On the palate, it offers an exquisite balance of ripe fruit flavours, vibrant acidity, and a sophisticated mineral undertone that lingers long after the last sip. A celebrated wine, not to be missed by true connoisseurs.

Burghound (91)

Sweet spot Outstanding Top value Notes of smoked hazelnut, poached pear and pretty acacia blossom scents introduce sleek, intense and beautifully delineated medium-bodied flavors that coat the palate on the clean, focused, balanced and beautifully long finale. This could use a bit more depth but overall, this is a first-rate Meursault villages.

The Wine Independent (98)

Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2010 Hosanna storms out with earthy notes of crushed rocks, tar, and truffles, leading to a core of black cherry compote and plum preserves with hints of star anise and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate delivers loads of savory and mineral layers and ripe, rounded tannins, finishing with great length and precision.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

A final blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Hosanna is deep garnet-purple in color with a nose that simply sings of violets, chocolate-covered cherries and exotic spices with a core of crème de cassis, fragrant earth and blueberry pie plus a waft of wild thyme. The palate is medium to full-bodied, velvety, rich and seductive with tons of black and blue fruit layers, finishing with those exotic spices coming through.

Savour the exquisite quality of Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Baudot 2014, a fine vintage underpinned by a rich tradition in Burgundian wine-making. Produced from the revered vineyards of the Burgundy region, it hails from the Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres domain, bearing testament to the esteemed reputability of Hospices de Beaune, world-renowned for their exceptional commitment to viticulture mastery.

This critically acclaimed, full-bodied Chardonnay is expertly hand-harvested, preserving the purity and intensity of the fruit. The microclimate and rich soils have endowed it with exceptional terroir complexity, offering sophisticated layers of ripe apples, roasted nuts and hints of honeysuckle on the palate.

With age, Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Baudot 2014 develops bracing mineral undertones, becoming more nuanced and vibrant. This wine is a true representation of elegant French viniculture, an exquisite choice for the discerning collector.

Vinous (96)

The 2009 Il Caberlot has developed beautifully since I last tasted it. Dark red cherries, dark raspberries, rose petals, mint and licorice all explode from the glass. Rich, vibrant and beautifully alive, the 2009 impresses for its superb balance and class. This is a stunning wine that brings together the intensely savory personality of the Cabernet Franc/Merlot hybrid allied to the voluptuousness of the warm vintage. Today, the 2009 comes across as fresher and more vibrant than the 2011s. Any way you look at it, the 2009 is a stunning Caberlot.

Vinous (100)

The 2018 Il Caberlot is a stunning wine. It's not the most immediate nor explosive Caberlot, but it is such a tremendous example of this wine. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. Crushed herbs, rose petal, mint, blood orange, incense and sweet pipe tobacco all build in the glass. Imagine Cheval Blanc, but with a good dose of Tuscan sun. Readers who can find the 2018 should not hesitate, as it is magical. I imagine it will be even better in the commercial magnums than this 750ml tasting sample.

James Suckling (96)

Shows lots of black cherries, cranberry tea, caramelized orange peel, roasted herbs and citrus peel. Full-bodied with ripe and quite round tannins that frame layers of cherries. Bright and fresh, yet rich and long at the same time. The sangiovese character really springs out of the glass. Drink in 2020.

Vinous (97+)

The 2016 Cepparello is dense, dark and also very closed in on itself. Those qualities bode well for the future, but readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 is going to need at least a few years to come into its own. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and new leather gradually open up in the glass, but the 2016 is not ready to show all of its cards. This fruit was brought in during the second week of October, which is pretty much optimal at Isole e Olena. The 2016 spent 20 months in French oak, with a bit less than 30% new oak, and a few months in cask prior to bottling. An explosion of floral and spice notes punctuates the super-refined finish. The 2016 is shaping up to be epic. Don't miss it!

Vinous (97)

The 2017 Cepparello is another in a series of stunningly beautiful Cepparellos from Paolo de Marchi. Bright and beautifully focused in the glass, with tremendous depth, the 2017 is positively stellar from the very first taste. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and coffee all open up with a bit of air. Here, too, Paolo De Marchi has done a tremendous job in preserving freshness in the wine. Readers who can muster the patience will be rewarded with a spectacular wine.

Wine Advocate (96)

A pure expression of Sangiovese, the 2018 Cepparello is a beautiful expression that speaks to the classic and most exemplary side of this versatile and deeply expressive grape. This vintage is especially bright and ethereal with a true sense of luminosity and clarity that radiates from both the wine's appearance and its fragrant bouquet. Tart cherry and cassis segue to balsam herb and wild violets. To the palate, the wine shows muscle and determination with sweet tannins and impressive depth of favor. Cepparello remains true to its unique identity in this vintage. Production is 42,000 bottles.

The Wine Independent (100)

Paolo di Marchi’s leaving present to Tuscany is this delightful 2019 Isole e Olena Cepparello. Cepparello is a blend of Sangiovese from different vineyards, selected by Di Marchi on the basis of "the best exposure, elevation, soil, genetics and age. I feel this adds complexity.” The first vintage was in 1980 when 100% Sangiovese was not permitted under the Chianti Classico rules. Those rules have since changed but the wine remains an IGT Toscana. It has a supremely enticing nose with cream and exotic spice, reminding me of Arabian spice markets. With the 2019 there is an added precision to the aromas, less heavy oak, and no greenness on the palate. It is concentrated with a rich velvety texture but without any heaviness and with a gentle unforced quality. The tannins are fine and very well integrated, in fact finer and better integrated than even the excellent 2016 vintage. It is of course very young now but it’s almost too delicious not to drink! Supremely graceful, it just gets better and better.

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.

Vinous (90+)

(Jobard lost 40% of the crop here as both his lowest and highest vines were affected by frost; he described this as the worst frost year in this cru since 1981): Ripe yellow fruits and spices on the nose; a bit less floral than the Blagny. Sappier than the Blagny, showing good citrussy energy and a savory quality. Nicely concentrated but less refined and elegant than the Blagny. Finishes a tad spiky and phenolic, in need of time to find its ultimate harmony.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2018 Meursault Poruzots 1er Cru comes courtesy of 0.79 hectares of vine planted between 1972 and 1994. It is well defined on the nose, offering scents of hazelnut and grilled walnut, hints of orange blossom and a very faint menthol notes. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a judicious tang of ginger that lends tension, and impressive depth toward the finish, which lingers in the mouth. Superb.

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

Jancis Robinson (16)

Fermented in oak, 18–20% new, as for most village whites. Cask sample. Intense fruit aroma with notes of clementine and ripe lemons and a light touch of spice. Ripe and spicy. Super-creamy, with some almond and quite obvious oak on the palate – obvious at the moment but there’s freshness underneath. Not very subtle but lots of pleasure. Plenty of volume in the mouth, quite a powerful wine.

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.

Wine Advocate (100)

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 L'Eglise Clinet begins unassumingly with gentle notions of fragrant dried flowers and wild sage leading to savory nut and meat characters over an expanding core of preserved plums, blueberry compote and black cherry coulis plus a waft of menthol. Full-bodied, concentrated and wonderfully decadent, the palate is absolutely packed with rich, ripe black fruit preserves and loads of spicy sparks, framed by super ripe, super plush tannins, finishing very long and decadent. I love the interplay of subtly and power here - this is truly a WOW wine!