Presenting Barons Rothschild Reserve Medoc Speciale 2016, a compelling union of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes hailing from the reputable vineyards of Medoc, synonymous with the acclaimed Rothschild wine legacy. Harvested and meticulously selected, the grapes are vinified at a controlled temperature before enduring an extended maceration. The resulting blend is then expertly matured in oak barrels for fourteen months, endowing it with a robust and news-worthy character.

This particular vintage is elegantly expressive, featuring an audacious bouquet of red fruits layered with spice. The palate reveals a profound structure with integrated tannins, yielding a complex yet harmonious wine. Though Barons Rothschild Reserve Medoc Speciale 2016 comes from the much-celebrated Rothschild lineage, it nevertheless manages to elicit its own distinct and delightful charm. Renowned for its impeccable balance and gratifying report, this Bordeaux wine is undoubtedly a testament to the art and craft of fine winemaking.

Wine Advocate (100)

This is the stuff of dreams. Tasted so young, I did a lot of coaxing to nudge the wine along, thanks to a double decant and a few extra hours in an open bottle. I tasted both samples I had over the course of a few weeks. Those efforts served well, but the wine remains packed tight and full of nervous energy regardless, indicating that its true potential won't be seen for another 10 or 20 years, or likely more. The Bartolo Mascarello 2016 Barolo is a true icon of the vintage. The approach is elongated and silky, like lifting honey from a jar. The aromas are chiseled and focused with wild berry, licorice, candied orange peel, campfire ash, rusted iron, crushed graphite and pencil shaving. The wine's personality is downplayed, elegant and demure in one tasting but exuberant and expressive in the next. The tannins show snap and crunch, indicating they will drive the wine forward over many years of cellar age. This is one of those rare wines that is poised to improve with each increment of time. Structurally, it is perfect. If we were to create a template for an aspirational Barolo, this would be it.

Wine Advocate (100)

This is the stuff of dreams. Tasted so young, I did a lot of coaxing to nudge the wine along, thanks to a double decant and a few extra hours in an open bottle. I tasted both samples I had over the course of a few weeks. Those efforts served well, but the wine remains packed tight and full of nervous energy regardless, indicating that its true potential won't be seen for another 10 or 20 years, or likely more. The Bartolo Mascarello 2016 Barolo is a true icon of the vintage. The approach is elongated and silky, like lifting honey from a jar. The aromas are chiseled and focused with wild berry, licorice, candied orange peel, campfire ash, rusted iron, crushed graphite and pencil shaving. The wine's personality is downplayed, elegant and demure in one tasting but exuberant and expressive in the next. The tannins show snap and crunch, indicating they will drive the wine forward over many years of cellar age. This is one of those rare wines that is poised to improve with each increment of time. Structurally, it is perfect. If we were to create a template for an aspirational Barolo, this would be it.

Wine Advocate (100)

This is the stuff of dreams. Tasted so young, I did a lot of coaxing to nudge the wine along, thanks to a double decant and a few extra hours in an open bottle. I tasted both samples I had over the course of a few weeks. Those efforts served well, but the wine remains packed tight and full of nervous energy regardless, indicating that its true potential won't be seen for another 10 or 20 years, or likely more. The Bartolo Mascarello 2016 Barolo is a true icon of the vintage. The approach is elongated and silky, like lifting honey from a jar. The aromas are chiseled and focused with wild berry, licorice, candied orange peel, campfire ash, rusted iron, crushed graphite and pencil shaving. The wine's personality is downplayed, elegant and demure in one tasting but exuberant and expressive in the next. The tannins show snap and crunch, indicating they will drive the wine forward over many years of cellar age. This is one of those rare wines that is poised to improve with each increment of time. Structurally, it is perfect. If we were to create a template for an aspirational Barolo, this would be it.

James Suckling (96)

Shows beautiful, ripe cabernet aromas with currants, plums, meat and smoke. Flowers, too. Full body, deep and ripe fruit and exquisite, ripe tannins. Flavorful finish. Tight right now, but shows excellent potential. Best ever. Try after 2024.

James Suckling (96)

Shows beautiful, ripe cabernet aromas with currants, plums, meat and smoke. Flowers, too. Full body, deep and ripe fruit and exquisite, ripe tannins. Flavorful finish. Tight right now, but shows excellent potential. Best ever. Try after 2024.

The Wine Cellar Insider (96)

Fleshy, sensuous, polished and packed with all the ripe black fruits, licorice, smoke, crushed rock and truffle you could ask for. Full-bodied, silky and rich, with a long, fruit-intensive finish, hold your bottles for a decade and this is going to be star!

James Suckling (99)

This is a stunning Beaucastel. A classic! Has a superb array of fruit, ranging from red, through to blue, darker purple and black. Nuances of dark, stony minerals, spices, wild flowers and herbs. So fleshy. This has impeccable balance, super-silky tannins and an extraordinarily long finish. This has decades ahead of it. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Also bottled two weeks ago, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is utterly killer and is as good as it gets. Huge notes of orange blossom, peach, tangerine, honeysuckle, and caramelized citrus flow from this insanely good, unctuous, heavenly textured white that possesses full-bodied richness and power, yet stays light, graceful and perfectly balanced on the palate. Drink bottles anytime over the coming 4-6 years, or cellar for a decade or more. Robert Parker once famously called this the Montrachet of the Rhône, and I wholeheartedly agree with him. Don’t miss this wine!

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The flagship is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin, 75% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and the rest Counoise, brought up all in foudre. Blueberries, Peking duck, new saddle leather, black cherries, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of minerality all flow to a massive, concentrated, pure, perfectly balanced 2016 that is a prime example of the old saying, “an iron fist in a velvet glove.” It's a heavenly, perfect wine that's going to live for 30-50 years.

James Suckling (91-92)

A juicy and pretty wine with berry and chocolate character, a medium body and a clean finish. Clearly better than the 2015.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Beauséjour, one of the magical wines in this great, great vintage. Possessing full-bodied richness, building tannin, world-class purity of fruit, and an incredible finish, it’s one of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines that carries awesome richness and depth, yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This legendary Saint-Emilion needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss this wine!

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Beauséjour, one of the magical wines in this great, great vintage. Possessing full-bodied richness, building tannin, world-class purity of fruit, and an incredible finish, it’s one of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines that carries awesome richness and depth, yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This legendary Saint-Emilion needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss this wine!

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Beauséjour, one of the magical wines in this great, great vintage. Possessing full-bodied richness, building tannin, world-class purity of fruit, and an incredible finish, it’s one of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines that carries awesome richness and depth, yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This legendary Saint-Emilion needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss this wine!

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2000 Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarrosse was tasted from two bottles directly from the cellar. The first was oddly vegetal, but the second chimed with previous encounters. Sensual red cherries, raspberry preserve, rose petal and hints of black truffle feature on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with mint-tinged red berry fruit, displaying fine depth and focus and fanning out gently on the white pepper and orange peel finish. This is worth seeking out.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Beauséjour, one of the magical wines in this great, great vintage. Possessing full-bodied richness, building tannin, world-class purity of fruit, and an incredible finish, it’s one of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines that carries awesome richness and depth, yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This legendary Saint-Emilion needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss this wine!

The Beausite 2016 is a truly distinguished offering from the esteemed vineyards of Château de Beaucastel. This iconic French winery, located in the heart of the Rhone region, is renowned worldwide for their commitment to quality, utilising traditional grape varieties and a blend of 13 grape varieties to produce this vintage.

Highly applauded in wine publications, Beausite 2016 presents a distinct depth of flavour, leading with robust notes of blackcurrant, laced with subtle hints of sage and spice. Aged in French oak barrels, it is meticulously crafted with Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah bearing fruit harvested at premium maturity. This exemplifies the vineyard's mastery in preserving the integrity of their terroir through their organic and biodynamic practices.

Enjoy the Beausite 2016 for its perfect balance of intense flavour, alcohol and tannic structure. An investment that any serious wine aficionado would truly appreciate. Savour the embodiment of exceptional Rhone viticulture tradition in each glass of Beausite 2016.

From the sun-soaked region of Bandol in the South of France comes the Begude Bandol Rouge 2016, a product of meticulous vinification epitomising the mastery of Château de Bégude. Imbued with varietals of Mourvèdre (80%), Grenache, and Cinsault hailing from the estate's prime limestone-clay soils, this fine vintage is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, yielding a beautiful structure.

The result is an intensely expressive wine, boasting a robust crimson hue and elegant aromas of dark fruit, spice and vanilla. Seductive blackberry, blackcurrant, earthy tones, and sophisticated tannic richness dance on the palate, leading to a long and graceful finish. Warm and full-bodied, the Begude Bandol Rouge 2016 perfectly encapsulates the Provençal terroir while reflecting the esteemed winemaking savoir-faire of the Tari family — one of Bandol's most respected wine producers.

A compelling addition to any collection, the Begude Bandol Rouge 2016 is a testament to the noble virtues of Bandol winemaking.

The Bel Colle Barbaresco 2016, a paragon from Piedmont, hails from a region renowned for offering high-quality Nebbiolo. Produced with manually harvested grapes, this premier red wine showcases the expert craft of Bel Colle's winemakers, delighting discerning connoisseurs since 1976.

The wine undergoes fermentation for two weeks, aged in French oak barrels for 2 years, before sawing in bottles over 6 months. Showcasing a striking garnet colour, it enchants with a delicate bouquet that leads with expressive red fruits and unveils notes of vanilla and spice. Rich on the palate, this full-bodied, fine wine exhibits remarkable complexity, robust tannins, and a long, lyrical finish— a testament to its quality growing conditions and meticulous production methods.

Perfect for special occasions or ageing in your cellar, the Bel Colle Barbaresco 2016 testifies to an internationally successful winery's dedication to excellence, embodying the true spirit of Italian viticulture.

Experience an exquisite offering with Bel Colle Barolo Monvigliero 2016, a celebrated example of the iconic Piedmontese Nebbiolo variety. Virtuoso winemakers at the respected Bel Colle estate in Verduno meticulously craft this exceptional wine. Bel Colle, possessing a sterling reputation since 1976, honours timeless winemaking techniques, embracing traditional fermentations in concrete vats to retain the uniquely evocative traits of 'terroir'.

This 2016 vintage exudes captivating notes of luscious cherries, leather, and roses, intensifying its captivating aromatic complexity. Slow ripening results in a wine of remarkable balance, intertwining vigorous acidity with subtle tannins. An impressively long-ageing wine, it adds further intensity to its deep garnet hue and nuanced bouquet over time.

Paired perfectly with robust, hearty meals, the Bel Colle Barolo Monvigliero 2016 stands as a testament to Piedmont’s rich winemaking heritage, encapsulating elegance, depth, and fascinating complexity in every glass.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87)

Good full red. Redcurrant, raspberry and a whiff of mushroom on the nose. Supple on entry, then perfumed in the middle, with clean, fresh, slightly clenched black cherry and redcurrant flavors. Turns a bit dry toward the back, finishing with floral red fruit flavors and a faint minty quality.

James Suckling (99)

Incredibly perfumed aromas of roses and violets, as well as blue fruit and lavender. Full-bodied and powerful, yet so full of finesse and vibrance. The height of elegance! Such depth of chalk and dark berries. It goes on for minutes. Drink after 2025.

Belcier 2000 represents the height of French winemaking tradition. This exceptional Bordeaux hails from Saint-Émilion, nestled in the heart of the prestigious Bordeaux wine region. The vineyard, owned by the historic Château Belcier, is esteemed for its centuries-old commitment to cultivating the finest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. This stunning 2000 vintage exemplifies their unyielding dedication to craftsmanship.

The winemaking process is dedicated to honouring the terroir. A careful selection of grapes, handpicked for their maturity, undergo extensive maceration to intensify the aroma and colour. Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, the Belcier 2000 embodies a full-bodied strength, with a balanced tannic structure that promises exceptional aging potential.

The resulting wine presents a complex bouquet of harmoniously blended scents - notes of blackcurrant mingle with hints of liquorice, accentuated by delicate wood undertones. Its charm lies in its elegant, intense taste profile, making Belcier 2000 a true connoisseur's delight.

The Real Wine Review (96)

Relatively light in colour but with impressive purity and power with floral, violet, red rose, red cherry and a chalk-mineral character. Graceful wine with an ethereal texture and very lengthy finish. A seriously good pinot noir with a promising future.

Wine Advocate (88-90)

The 2016 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots, taken from cask and due for racking in February, offers ripe red cherries, bilberry and hints of marmalade on the forward and expressive nose. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, quite firm in the mouth, masculine with a slightly stolid finish that needs to find more grace and opulence. Hopefully racking will address those issues.

Wine Advocate (94+)

Even in a vintage such as 2003 there are wines that are youthful, unevolved and still in need of bottle age. The 2003 Bellevue Mondotte is one of those wines. From a tiny (5 acres) estate owned by Gerard Perse, this blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits youthful aromas of blue and black fruits, chalk dust, lead pencil shavings and Christmas fruitcake. Full, ripe and moderately tannic, it requires another 3-5 years of bottle age and could turn out to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage, lasting another 25-30 years.