Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

Excellent powerful but fresh purple. There is power to the nose but of the right sort, even some nobility. Pretty rich on the palate a very dark raspberry fruit, possible a dusting of chocolate but the important things is that the structure is in the right place and very well balanced. And not the fierce tannins that you can find here. Tasted: November 2021

James Suckling (99)

Love the depth of fruit and intensity of this wine. It has dark fruit and floral undertones, as well as meat, which is very captivating. Full body, purity of fruit and nice, powerful tannins. Chewy and powerful. Focused austerity. A wine for the cellar. Try in 2022.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

The 2018 Château Corton-Grancey Grand Cru has also turned out very well, offering up a deep bouquet of cassis, dark chocolate, ripe cherries and rich forest floor. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with fine concentration, ripe tannins and succulent acids.

Wine Advocate (91-93+)

Notes of peonies, orange rind and sweet berry fruit introduce the 2019 Château Corton-Grancey Grand Cru, a medium to full-bodied wine that's chewier and more muscular than the Vigne Au Saint. It's a more serious wine, built for some bottle age.

Tim Atkin MW (94)

Showing blackberries and plums with underbrush and strong minerality, this is a Corton with a lot of personality. The tannins are nicely textured while the acidity seems to melt into the soft fruit core. Latour receives the "toleration" of keeping "Ch teau" in front of the appellation name. INAO has been cracking down elsewhere on all sorts of matters seemingly simple like this, but I do hope Latour gets to keep this name given its heritage at the property as it was the great-grandfather of Fabrice Latour who purchased the vines after the phylloxera crisis. 2023-32

Wine Spectator (91)

A layer of resinous oak shades the cherry and raspberry fruit. Spice and mineral accents show up, but for now this is austere. Should come together nicely, as the finish shows promise. Best from 2017 through 2030. 200 cases made.

Wine Advocate (94)

One of the highlights of this tasting was the 2013 Corton-Renardes Grand Cru, a beautiful wine that bursts from the glass with a surprisingly expressive bouquet of wild berries, plums and spices, complemented by savory bass notes of dark chocolate, game bird and dried ceps. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with terrific concentration, racy acids and a long, penetrating finish. The combination of ultra-refined tannins and mouthwatering cut makes for a very elegant style of Corton-Renardes this year, and it will delight Burgundy purists.

Wine Advocate (94)

One of the highlights of this tasting was the 2013 Corton-Renardes Grand Cru, a beautiful wine that bursts from the glass with a surprisingly expressive bouquet of wild berries, plums and spices, complemented by savory bass notes of dark chocolate, game bird and dried ceps. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with terrific concentration, racy acids and a long, penetrating finish. The combination of ultra-refined tannins and mouthwatering cut makes for a very elegant style of Corton-Renardes this year, and it will delight Burgundy purists.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2017 Corton-Renardes Grand Cru wafts from the glass with a complex bouquet of cherries, raspberries, forest floor, warm spices and a deft application of cedary new oak. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a deep and concentrated core of fruit, framed by racy acids and powdery tannins. The finish is long and penetrating. Unusually approachable for a Gaunoux Renardes, this is nonetheless constructed for a long and rewarding life.

Burghound (94)

Like the Bourgogne there is a mentholated element to the ripe aromas of poached plum and mix of various red and dark cherry scents that convey a whisper of the sauvage. The highly seductive, indeed suave medium weight plus flavors that envelope the palate with sappy dry extract that does a fine job of buffering the very firm tannic spine shaping the wonderfully long, dusty, austere and lengthy finish that also displays just a barely perceptible trace of warmth. Lovely stuff and in contrast to several of the preceding wines, this could be reasonably approached after 7 to 8 years though it should repay up to twenty.

Introducing the Michel Mallard Corton Grand Cru Renardes 2020, a premium creation from the prestigious vineyards of Michel Mallard. Nestled in Ladoix-Serrigny at the heart of Burgundy, Mallard's Corton Grand Cru vineyard captures the essence of its distinct terroir. The Corton Renardes benefits from the region's well-drained limestone-rich soil and slightly cooler climate, augmenting its complexity of flavours.

Maintaining the Burgundy tradition, this exceptional wine is crafted from 100% Pinot Noir grapes and ages wonderfully in French oak barrels. The Michel Mallard Corton Grand Cru Renardes 2020 is robust and full-bodied, with enchanting notes of wild berries, truffle, and savoury spices, which are complemented by an extended finish.

Mallard's dedication to sustainable farming and meticulous winemaking techniques are evident in each sip, producing wines with depth, elegance, and longevity. Experience the quintessence of Burgundy with Michel Mallard Corton Grand Cru Renardes 2020.

The Michel Mallard Corton Rognet 2020 is an exquisite showcase of Burgundy's terroir at its finest. Handcrafted in the esteemed Ladoix commune by the talented Michel Mallard, a third-generation winemaker, it stands as a testament to the vitality of the region.

Produced from the Grand Cru vineyard in Corton’s Rognet climat, this Pinot Noir oozes elegance and finesse. Immaculate harvest and fermentation techniques couple with a nuanced 18-month maturation in oak barrels to create a wine of remarkable complexity.

The 2020 vintage perfectly encapsulates the Mallard savoir-faire; it brims with luscious red-fruit and earthen notes, overlaid with a tantalising spice profile. It's robust yet silky, with formidable ageing potential. Indeed, the Michel Mallard Corton Rognet 2020 takes you on a journey through Burgundy, with every sip promising an adventure in flavour and sensation.

Vinous (88)

(12.5% alcohol; 16-1/2 days of skin contact): Dark medium red. Musky aromas of plum and leather. Boasts good energy and vinosity but only moderate flavor development, with the currant and leather flavors showing a strong green pepper element that suggests the vines were picked too early. Interestingly, Geneviève Janssens noted that through the '80s, the vineyard manager at Mondavi selected the date of the harvest and typically picked early. Since then, however, the winemakers have spent much more time in the vineyards and have been responsible for harvesting decisions.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Napanook is forward, lush and quite giving - in other words, very much in keeping with the style of the year. Silky and radiant, with plenty of bright, red-toned fruit, the 2017 Napanook is one of the very finest Napa Valley Cabernets readers will find in this price range. Savory, earthy and licorice undertones add striking shades of nuance, with silky tannins that extend the finish effortlessly. This is such a gorgeous and inviting wine. When just opened, the 2017 mostly offers density and opulence, but a few hours of air brings out layers of subtlety and aromatic nuance.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Napanook is forward, lush and quite giving - in other words, very much in keeping with the style of the year. Silky and radiant, with plenty of bright, red-toned fruit, the 2017 Napanook is one of the very finest Napa Valley Cabernets readers will find in this price range. Savory, earthy and licorice undertones add striking shades of nuance, with silky tannins that extend the finish effortlessly. This is such a gorgeous and inviting wine. When just opened, the 2017 mostly offers density and opulence, but a few hours of air brings out layers of subtlety and aromatic nuance.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Napanook is every bit the charmer it was last year. Succulent and racy out of the glass, the 2018 is such a gorgeous wine. Silky tannins and generous fruit give the 2018 so much immediacy and appeal. Black cherry, plum, menthol, spice and licorice are pushed forward.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

The 2010 Opus One is on another level and is a deep, concentrated, full-bodied, flawlessly balanced beauty. From a cooler vintage that saw significant heat spikes later in the year, it has incredible purity in its cassis and darker fruits as well as leafy tobacco, flowers, and background oak. With a great mid-palate, ripe, building tannins, and full-bodied richness on the palate, it’s a brilliant wine that has another two decades or more of prime drinking.

Decanter (100)

I love the 2012, but honestly the 2013 just has the edge, because it is just as concentrated and full of fruit but acidity and floral nuance balances out the richness. Dark deep rosemary spice and black olive paste deepens the flavours through the mid-palate and you just have to hang on as this goes spiralling through, drawing the flavours out to a lengthy finish. 2% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 18 days skin contact.

James Suckling (97)

Mesmerizing aromas of flowers, bark, currants and blackberries. So perfumed. You just want to smell it. Exquisite tension and finesse with an almost Burgundian texture, yet it’s Napa in its soul with ripe fruit, stones, spices and Chinese tea leaf flavors. Savory and delicious. Drinkable but better in 2020.

James Suckling (98)

Purity and brilliance on the nose with so much currant and flower character. Roses, currant bush and fresh leaves, too. Brightness is the word that comes to mind. Full-bodied and broad-shouldered. Juicy and so gorgeous now. Balance is so wonderful here. All about harmonious fruit and tannin balance. I like it slightly better than the excellent 2014. 81% cabernet sauvignon, 4% petit verdot, 7% cabernet franc, 6% merlot and 2% malbec. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (99)

Fantastic aromas that are complex and complete with blackcurrants, blueberries and herbs, such as basil and bay leaf. But always subtle. Full-bodied yet linear and very refined with a very persistent finish. It shows drive and brightness. So refined at the end. Needs at least three to five years to come together.

James Suckling (99)

Extremely perfumed and floral with lavender, lilacs and violets to the sweet, ripe berries, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Some slate and graphite, too. It’s full-bodied, yet ever so balanced and refined, with super fine tannins that last for minutes. Fresh herbs, such as bay leaf and lemon grass highlight the dark fruit. The quality of tannin is exquisite with wonderful polish and refinement. Lasts for minutes. So wonderful to taste now, but better after 2026.

James Suckling (99)

The purity of fruit is really something else here, with currants and fresh flowers, such as violets and roses. Flower stems as well. Fantastic length and structure to the wine, with tightness and focus. Wonderful fruit. Graceful. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% malbec. Try after 2028.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (93)

Gorgeous plum colour, sumptuous and ready to dive into. The aromatics are deliciously open, with crunchy raspberry and blueberry fruits, balanced and well put together. Feels cohesive, juicy, with plenty of 2019 character (although this is multi vintage, with exact percentages not stated), with nuanced fresh mint leaf and crayon. High Cabernet Sauvignon in this blend, 60% new oak, 40% one year oak, bottled August 2021.

Wine Advocate (99)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard slides seductively out of the glass with the most gorgeous notions of Chinese five spice, plum preserves, crème de cassis and potpourri plus hints of oolong tea, spearmint and cedar chest. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and oh-so-decadent in the mouth, the generously spiced black fruit preserves, the firm, plush frame and the finish are simply epic. 469 cases were made.

Wine Advocate (98+)

Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose of the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard starts off with soft-spoken scents of ripe red and black plums, cassis, black raspberries and mulberries, followed by gentle wafts of cedar and pencil lead and finally bursting out with Sichuan pepper and hoisin notes. The medium to full-bodied palate is opulent, plushly textured and brimming with spicy red and blackberry layers, going beautifully perfumed on the long finish. Paul Hobbs mentioned that he backed off on the new oak this year, aging the wine in 85% new French oak (as opposed to 100%). I love this more elegant, nuanced expression a lot. 688 cases were made.