Bordeaux Wine

Winemaker Description

Intense color, ruby reflections, shiny. Nose of black fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry with toasted notes. Authenticity of the terroir through the tannic structure and fruitiness of the wine. The nature of the sandy-gravelly soil acts as a flavor enhancer and is found in the minerality of this wine.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 90 Points | Mulberries, dark plums, dried herbs, burdock and cigar box on the nose. Medium body with powdery tannins. Fruity, with fresh acidity and a flavorful, earthy finish. Drink or hold. 

90 Points Wine Enthusiast: From the slopes just west of Castillon, this is a ripe Merlot-dominated wine. A core of tannins and juicy acidity have combined into a savory wine that will be ready from 2023.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling writes:  Blueberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry in the nose with some sweet tobacco and moss. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are polished and savory. Fruity yet reserved finish. Give this two or three years to open. Try after 2023.  - James Suckling 93

Jane Anson writes:  A Cru Bourgeois Superieur as of the 2018 vintage, giving a good display of understated Médoc charm with its 2019 vintage. Blackberry and black cherry fruits, firm tannins, well measured with an elegant frame. Violet edges to the colour also suggesting bright acidities, a little austere overall at this stage but great potential to develop over the next few years in bottle.  - Decanter 90

Brilliant colour of good intensity with very slight notes of development. The dominant aromas are crunchy damson, black peppercorn. Fresh fruit returns on the palate with wild plum, and a definite balance between the tannic structure, the freshness coming from the acidity and the fat and smoothness provided by the alcohol. A great classic, full of elegance and finesse. To be decanted 30 minutes before tasting.

Winemaker Notes

Expert Ratings

Georgina Hindle of Decanter 90 Points writes | Blue fruits and cola cubes on the nose. Linear and direct, this is powerful but restrained, with a core of dark, juicy fruits and a mineral undertow giving freshness and a velvety-smooth texture to the tannins. Needs more time to expand and be fully expressive, but this is nice and one I want another glass of. Can be enjoyed today with some time in carafe or hold on for a few more years. Drinking 2022 - 2029.

James Suckling 90 Points | Aromas of blackberries, sweet tobacco and some crushed stones follow through to a medium body with a pretty core of fruit and well-integrated tannins. Give it a year or two to soften. Drink after 2024.

Jeb Dunnuck writes | Black cherries, candied violets, spicy oak, and floral notes all emerge from the 2019 Château La Vaisinerie, a medium-bodied, soft, supple, nicely textured, and impeccably balanced Puisseguin. It's already drinking nicely and should have a solid 8-10 years of prime drinking.   - Jeb Dunncuk

Neal Martin writes | The 2019 La Vaisinerie has thankfully dispensed with the New World ambitions that I found on the nose before, now displaying more refinement and focus. The palate is medium-bodied and pure, with supple tannins, fine acidity and a sensual finish. I am happy to raise my score.  - Vinous

Expert Description

James Suckling writes:  Some nice, floral character to the plum and berry aromas and flavors. Some leaves. Medium-bodied with medium, polished tannins and a medium finish. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 90

Neal Martin writes:  The 2018 Greysac has a well-defined bouquet of wild strawberry and raspberry fruit laced with cigar box and smoky aromas. The finely balanced palate offers sappy red fruit laced with black pepper and tobacco. I admire the cohesion here, and there is fine weight on the finish. Definitely a cut above a lot of Cru Bourgeois Médocs, though it deserves 2–3 years in bottle.  Drinking 2023 - 2030.   - Vinous 

James Lawther MW writes:  Big and bold with plenty of dark fruit and chocolatey oak. Sweet and generous on the palate, the oak again evident but integrated and the fruit present. Perhaps more winemaking than terroir.  Drinking 2023 -2028.  - Jancis Robinson 15.5

2017 Vintage Reveiws:

Julia Harding writes:  Deep cherry red. Rocky dark fruit, smells dry even before you taste it – there’s no hint of sweetness. Compact in both flavour and tannin texture. Fine dark fruit, lightly spiced but tastes like fruit spice not oak spice. Just a little peppery. Firm, chewy but fully ripe tannins. Respectable but not notable acidity.   - Jancis Robinson 16

Expert Rating

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This cru bourgeois estate has produced a generously rich wine. Dense tannins and balanced acidity come from a texture that offers dusty tannins and ripe blackberry fruits. Drink from 2021

Winemaker Description

Deep red berry aromas underscored by black pepper, crushed herbs, and licorice. Lean and elegant on the palate with lovely red currant flavors. Very fine tannins, but pleasingly chewy and some spice on the finish.

Expert Review 

Georgina Hindle writes:  Wonderfully aromatic and expressive on the nose - the aromas really just jump out the glass. So inviting. Juicy, red fruits - strawberries, raspberries and red cherries - quite bright and a nice change from the dark fruits. This is lively and fun, light with hints of spice underneath the fruit giving some structure and backbone. Hard not to like for its fruit-forwardness and easy drinking style. Though does have a spicy undertone which comes through on the finish?!   - Decanter 90

40% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon and 20% Muscadelle. This flagship white boasts floral and fruity aromas and is fresh and round on the palate with a crisp, dry finish. Among the greatest values in Bordeaux Blanc. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Ratings

Wine Spectator | Airy cherry and pomegranate notes are lined with hints of tomato leaf and savory. Quick finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now. — JMWine Enthusiast  This rich, Merlot-dominated wine is powered by black-currant fruits. Tannins are still there, with a tough edge that suggests heavy extraction during winemaking. The wine needs to soften. Wait to drink until 2021.

James Suckling 91 Points | Sweet berry and floral aromas follow through to a medium body with nicely integrated tannins and a deliciously juicy finish. Drink now. 

Winemaker Description

The estate’s Second Wine offers a different interpretation of the Calon terroir. With an average of 75% Merlot in the blends, Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is totally distinct from the First Wine. “It benefits from a true expression of its own”, underlines Vincent Millet. “The plots are separated out from the beginning.” Le Marquis de Calon Ségur provides immediate enjoyment, warmth and a velvety texture. It is carefully aged generally for 17 months in oak barrels, a third of which are new. Deliciously easy-drinking, silky and expressive, its charm comes to the fore, while at the same time bringing to our minds the elegance of the Grand Vin.

Expert Ratings

Jane Anson writes:  A perky, well-handled Marquis de Calon with savoury blue and black fruit with forest floor and raspberry leaf edging...you will find this lighter in structure than over the past few years. 30% new oak, 57% of overall production. Ready to begin drinking within a few years of bottling. Drinking 2024 - 2034  - Jane Anson

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The Merlot-heavy 2021 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is solid, with a pure, seamless, medium-bodied style as well as pretty red fruits, notes of flowers and sappy herbs, a touch of minerality on the palate, fine tannins, and a great finish. The blend is 58% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91-93

James Suckling writes:  Very fresh and fine with silky tannins for the appellation. Medium body. Slate and oyster shell to the wild-bramble and blackberry fruit. Elegant. 58% merlot and 42% cabernet sauvignon.  - James Suckling 92-93

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur shows all of the freshness of the year in its bright, vibrant personality. Black cherry, plum, lavender, licorice, spice and mint all open effortlessly. Merlot drives the blend in a striking, mid-weight Marquis that hits all the right notes. There's a generosity to the Marquis, but it is balanced by notable vivacity. En primeur samples were taken from new barrels only, but the final wine is projected to have 30% new oak.  - Vinous 91-93

Georgina Hindle writes:  Delicate rose tinted black fruits on the nose, really quite lifted and playful on the palate, the fruit jumping out the glass like an excited child. Lovely delicacy here, you get the richness and depth but the flavours are also clearly defined with layers of fruit and acidity one upon another. It's fresh and juicy, vibrant and well extracted, full of red cherry, strawberry, raspberry and grapefruit elements that have an enjoyable and crisp bitterness to them. Nothing harsh here, just pure fruit enjoyment. 3.60pH. 17 months ageing, 30% new oak barrels.  Drinking 2024 - 2039  - Decanter 90

William Kelley writes:  Offering up notions of blackcurrants, spices and cigar box, the 2021 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur is medium to full-bodied, layered and lively, with powdery tannins and an impressively penetrating finish. It's a blend of 58% Merlot with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter mainly from young vines. Director Vincent Millet explains that he doesn't want the gap in quality between his second wine and the grand vin to be too flagrant and that he'll take lots from the Calon-Ségur blend to improve the Marquis if necessary—as it was in 2021.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

Neal Martin writes:  The 2021 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur was picked at 36hL/ha and matured in 30% new oak for a planned 17 months. Made from 58% Merlot and the remainder young Cabernet Sauvignon, it nods to the Right Bank in style, offering ample dark cherry, cedar and damp earthy scents. The palate is medium-boded with lithe tannins and modest weight and concentration, tapering in a little toward the finish, which has an attractive marine tincture. This is fine Marquis that should drink well over 12–15 years. 13.2% alcohol.  - Vinous 88-90

James Lawther MW writes:  Red- and dark-fruit notes but discreet. Round and full with substance on the mid palate. Freshness and length as well. Tannins present but fine. Well constructed and with a serious edge. Successful for a second wine this year.  Drinking 2026 - 2036  - Jancis Robinson 16.5

Expert Ratings

Expert Ratings 

Lisa Perrotti-Brown writes:  This year's blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 de Pez comes tumbling out of the glass with an astonishingly beautiful perfume of lilacs, black cherries and black raspberries over a core of stewed plums, clove oil, dark chocolate and Sichuan pepper. The medium-bodied palate is jam-packed with energetic black fruits, supported by a firm foundation of ripe, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and perfumed. I love where this once-malingering château is headed—bravo to winemaker Nicolas Glumineau from Pichon Lalande!  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92-94

James Suckling writes:  Sweet berries with cedar and sandalwood, as well as flowers, such as lavender. Perfumed. Full-to medium-bodied with very polished and refined tannins that run the length of the wine. Very attractive and balanced. Drink after 2025.  - James Suckling 93

Jane Anson writes:  Owned by Pichon Comtesse, this is a lovely St Estèphe with polish and poise. Good depth to the berry fruits, with an appealing unfussy confidence. New cellars this year that allows for more precise reflection of the plots in 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.  Drink 2024 - 2040.  -Decanter 93

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  Currants, plums, new leather, and cedar pencil notes all emerge from the 2019 Château De Pez, a nicely balanced, medium to full-bodied Saint-Estèphe that has plenty of classic character as well as class. With ripe, polished tannins and terrific purity, it can be drunk any time over the coming 20-25 years.  Drinking 2022 -2047.  - Jeb Dunnuck 93

James Molesworth writes:  Bright and fresh, featuring an upfront display of red and black currant preserve flavors, laced with black tea and backed by a nice iron twinge through the finish. Sneaky long, too. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2035.  - Wine Spectator 93

95  Wine Enthusiast: Spicy and structured, this is a classic Saint-Estèphe. Big tannins are boldly paired with the potential of the ripe black currant fruits that are juicy and fresh. The two sides of this wine are not yet together but do promise considerable aging.  Barrel Sample: 93-95

Expert Reviews

Winemaker Description

The nose of this Chateau Prieure de Beyzac red is complex with aromas of black fruits and woody and spicy notes. On the palate, the expression is harmonious and balanced with ripe fruit and a toasted side. Its silky tannins make it the perfect expression of the spirit of the Crus Bourgeois! 

Expert Ratings

Neal Martin of Vinous 92 Points writes:  The 2018 Prieuré de Beyzac has a really lovely bouquet of perfumed red cherries and wild strawberry and well integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, pinpoint acidity and great precision toward the finish. This is one of the outstanding Cru Bourgeois of the vintage. Absolutely superb.  Drinking 2023 - 2035.

James Suckling 91 Points writes:  Aromas of stewed blackberries, dried violets, walnuts and dark chocolate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, chalky tannins. Chewy and structured. Try from 2023.

Georgina Hindle of Decanter 92 Points writes:  Sweet red cherry and vanilla nose. It's forward and has energy, tannic weight, freshness and very glossy fruit and oak on the palate. Drinking 2023 - 2030. 

Expert Reviews

Georgina Hindle writes:  Wow, dark berries and violets on the nose, so sensuous, smells rich and round. Beautifully fresh on the palate, there is a real zing and burst of red fruit juiciness but also a lovely cooling freshness straight from the start. Almost has a blue fruit touch but there's strawberries, raspberries and red cherries too. Smooth tannins with a gently chalky grip that coat the mouth giving structure and body. So linear and straight yet also layered, nothing is too overt or in your face - precise and really elegant. I love this - gentle and well presented. Excellent. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Drinking 2024 - 2039  - Decanter 94

Jane Anson writes:  Chewy depth to the tannins, buoyed up by juice rippling through the red berry fruits. Gourmet and silky, a creamy texture through the mid palate with hints of subtle caramel and baked earth. Excellent.  - Vinous 92

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The second wine of Château Haut-Bailly and based largely on Merlot, the 2019 Haut-Bailly II is a soft, seductive Graves with beautiful blue and black fruit as well as notes of chocolate, tobacco, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied, with delicious fruit and silky tannins, drink it on release and over the following 10-15 years.  Drinking 2020 - 2035  - Jeb Dunnuck 90-91

James Lawther MW writes:  Ripe and pure on the nose. Dark-fruit notes, the cassis more obvious as it opens. Medium bodied with a touch of sweetness on attack then crunchy fruit on the mid palate. Slight savoury edge then minerally and dry on the finish, the Graves imprint present.  Drinking 2025 - 2034  - Jancis Robinson 16.5

Neal Martin writes:  The 2019 Haut-Bailly II, the second wine of Haut-Bailly, has accentuated the sous-bois elements on the nose since bottling, now feeling quintessentially Pessac-Léognan and quite marine-influenced in style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, taut and fresh, still a little piquant on the finish but with more precision than I recall. This is very impressive. Excellent.  - Vinous 93

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2019 Haut-Bailly II is much more elegant and nuanced than it was from barrel, always a great thing to see. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright red berry, spice, tobacco, cedar and mint in this gracious, mid-weight second wine from the estate. The 2019 will surely improve in bottle, but it is pretty enticing today.  Drinking 2024 - 2039  - Vinous 93

William Kelley writes:  The 2019 Haut-Bailly II exhibits aromas of rich berry fruit, cassis, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and polished, with a ripe core of fruit and plenty of rich, powdery tannin, it's a Merlot-dominated blend that was composed at the moment of assemblage (as opposed to a selection of dedicated plots).  Drinking 2023 -2045  - Robert Parker 90

Expert Ratings 

Wine Enthusiast Points 93-95 Points | The combination of powerful tannins and equally generous black fruits is a fine harbinger for this wine's development. Big, bold and juicy with a dense structure, the wine is for longterm aging. (2020). 

Decanter 93 Points | Juicy, well balanced, plenty of personality, with enough juice through the mid palate to balance out the big tannins that are pretty inescapable in any wines of ambition in 2020. The finish closes in sharply, but this is an enjoyable wine from the Lorenzetti-owned Lilian Ladouys (and for me one of the clear leaders of the new Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel category). (2020). 

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Seemingly always terrific, the 2020 Chateau Lilian Ladouys shows the class of the vintage and has a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet silky, perfectly balanced style with tons to love. Darker fruits, damp earth, truffle, and beautiful spice-driven aromatics define this beauty, and while it's already accessible, I'm sure will evolve gracefully for 10-15 years. Best After 2023.

James Suckling 92 Points  | This is a young 2020 that is back ended with a serious finish of solid and polished tannins and plenty of juicy fruit. Medium body. Racy structured. Excellent length at the end. Try after 2025. (2020). 

Robert Parker 91+ Points | The 2020 Lilian Ladouys offers up aromas of cassis, licorice and a deft touch of creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rather rich and broad palate framed by powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. It's a touch more structured than the demonstrative 2019 and will require a little patience. Best after 2027. Rating: 91+

Expert Reviews

Jane Anson writes:  Intense, smoky, plenty of black fruit, who doesn't love this 2nd wine of Château Montrose? It's a vintage that is often overlooked, particularly after the run of great years Bordeaux has had recently, but it's at a great moment to open right now, and delivers a ton of St Estèphe and Left Bank typicity, with crayon and graphite. Harvest September 22 to October 16.  - Jane Anson 94

Antonio Galloni writes:  A gorgeous second wine, the 2014 La Dame de Montrose is soft, open-knit and very pretty. Bright floral notes add lift and a measure of elegance to the dark-fleshed fruit. Medium in body, with good depth and fine overall balance, the 2014 is just about as good as it gets for a second wine. I won't be surprised if it is still delicious at age 20, although I think its best drinking will take place earlier than that.  Drinking 2018 - 2029  - Vinous 92+

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  As to the 2014s, these are beautiful wines and certainly a match for the 2015s. The 2014 La Dame de Montrose offers a deep purple color and classic Cabernet Sauvignon notes as well as a touch of violets, spring flowers and leafy herbs. This medium-bodied, elegant, spicy, complex 2014 has loads of charm yet should keep nicely for 15+ years.  Drinking 2018 - 2038  - Jeb Dunnuck 90

Steven Spurrier writes:  An even Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend: lots of spice, deep cassis fruit and incredible freshness. Will show soon and last well.  - Decanter 90

James Molesworth writes:  Offers a brisk, racy feel, with red currant, damson plum and Campari notes coursing through, carried by a bright iron spine through the savory-flecked finish. Very pure and firmly grounded in terroir. Best from 2018 through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.  - Wine Spectator 90

Neal Martin writes:  The 2014 La Dame de Montrose lagged a long way behind the superlative Grand Vin at primeur, but has since made up some ground. Now in bottle, it has a nicely poised bouquet with red cherries, bilberry and crushed violets. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, tightly wound and linear, a conservative La Dame de Montrose that I suspect will age better than I originally thought.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

Winemaker Description

Château Blaignan’s vineyard is planted of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The wine matures for 18 months in vats and in oak barrels. The wine is of an intense colour. The nose is fruity with pronounced notes of blackcurrant, black cherries and a hint of spice. Full bodied, Château Blaignan shows structure and velvet tannins on the palate, that make it a wine to drink young or to keep a few years in cellar (to be kept between 3 to 12 years). 

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 90 Points | Ripe cherries, stewed strawberries and berry jam on the nose with some chocolate. It’s medium-bodied with soft, sleek tannins. Fruity. Drink after 2022. (2018).

Expert Reviews

Georgina Hindle writes:  A nuanced nose, lots going on, sweet spice, perfume and bramble fruits. Chewy, this is round and plump - opulent but then so precise on the palate with real tension. Cooling blue fruits and liquorice, it's the cool freshness that really gives this life. Yes, the tannins are abundant and mouth coating but they're soft and fine and this has great execution. You can feel the intensity but it's carried very well. A blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.  Drinking 2023 - 2035  - Decanter 93

Jane Anson writes:  Firm berry fruits, clear austerity on the tannins, set against highly charged smoked oak notes. An enjoyable wine from Lussac, well made and carefully handled.  Drinking 2022 - 2032  - Decanter

Winemaker Description

Medium bodied right bank Bordeaux with heavy tannins and a dry finish. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry, black cherry and raspberry are balanced with oak, earth, bramble and graphite notes. 

Expert Ratings

Wine Enthusiast 96 Points |  Barrel Sample. This wine is poised between great ripeness and a mineral, textured character, while also showing a robust tannic structure. Its richness is tempered by the freshness of the vintage. There is plenty of long-term aging potential in this wine that continues the great improvements at the estate. (2019).

James Suckling 95 Points | Wonderful aromas of dried orange, blackcurrant and crushed stone follow through to a full body with beautifully polished tannins that are composed and fine. Lots of subtle and complex character on the finish. Extremely well done here. Drink after 2025. (2019) 

Vinous 95 Points | The 2019 Prieuré-Lichine is impeccable. Creamy, layered and resonant in the glass, the 2019 hits all the right notes. Sweet red cherry/plum, lavender, rose petal, spice, mint and blood orange all build effortlessly. Over the last handful of years Prieuré-Lichine has been the single most under the radar wine in Margaux. The 2019 is another fine edition. Class, polish and sensuality make Prieuré-Lichine absolutely irresistible. (2019). 

Decanter 93 Points | Minerality on the nose, wet stone, graphite and liquorice. This is tasty, with a creaminess to the fruit that some of the others don't have. It feels round with fine but grippy tannins that see the wine through. It's clearly powerful and concentrated but wrapped up well delivering freshness and intensity. Cool blue fruit flavours and menthol notes dominate. Will be absolutely delicious in time. (2019). 

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Readers looking for a complex, nuanced Margaux should check out the 2019 Château Prieuré-Lichine. Giving up a beautiful floral bouquet that includes red and blue fruits, sappy herbs, and flowery incense, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of mid-palate depth and sweet tannins, and a great finish. This complex, layered Margaux needs just 2-4 years of bottle age and should see its 20th birthday in fine form. (2019). 

Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2019 Prieuré-Lichine is supple and generous, bursting with aromas of blackberries, currants, licorice, spices and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, it's round and enveloping, with ripe acids and a rich, seamless profile. This is showing well out of the gates. This heavily morcellated estate (amounting to some 125 different parcels) is clearly benefitting from a more rigorous selection and better attention to detail regarding harvest dates. (2019). 

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Presents lush plum and blackberry preserve flavors that gush through, flanked by a twinge of singed sandalwood to give it form. The finish is dotted by dark licorice, ganache and earth accents. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 18,000 cases made. (2019). 

Expert Ratings

Wine Spectator 93 points | A solid, slightly burly version, featuring streaks of tar and bay leaf mixed with dark plum and black currant preserve flavors. The finish is underscored by a warm paving stone note, which adds cut, drive and a hint of old school. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024. (2019). 

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points |  From a reliable estate, this wine is firm in feel. It also has open black fruits that pair alongside the generous tannins. It is good long-term aging. Barrel Sample: 93-95Wine Advocate 92 points Deep purple-black in color, the 2019 Meyney strides confidently out of the glass with classic notes of cassis, warm plums and baked blackberries plus hints of cedar chest, bay leaves, pencil lead and clove oil plus a waft of underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate has a generous core of ripe black fruits with a slight touch of oak poking through and a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with impressive length. (2019).

Decanter 93 points | One of the wines I use as a marker of how good the vintage is in St Estèphe, because it isn't classified but is in a brilliant location right next door to Montrose. And this is good, extremely concentrated, pure cassis and bilberry flavours, tons of tannins, clear austerity and fairly high acidity as I am getting in a lot of these 2019s. Not the same luscious character as 2018, but in many ways that makes it more typical of the appellation, and the alcohol seems less over the top than in 2018. Lots to enjoy here, not quite up to 2016 standard but not far. Tasted two weeks apart, and if anything its expression had deepened second time around.  Barrel Sample: 93Jeb Dunnuck 94 points This estate has been on a roll of late, and the 2019 Château Meyney is a terrific wine. Beautiful notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, dried flowers, and dried tobacco all emerge from the glass, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, with a seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Count me impressed. Not a powerhouse, it should drink nicely right out of the gate yet also evolve for 20 years or more. Range: 92-94 Points. (2019).

James Suckling 92 Points |  Aromas of ripe berries, licorice and chocolate with a touch of mushroom and some dustiness. Silky, polished texture with medium body and firm tannins. Holds long and even, with a lingering sensation of crushed stones. Hold for a couple of years. Second wine of Meyney. Best after 2023.Vinous 95 points The 2019 Meyney has a divine bouquet, so pure and winsome with floral red berry scents, beautifully integrated new oak and superb precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy to the point where you can almost overlook the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It could have been blowsy, yet it retains superb balance and feels luxuriant and long on the finish. This is a stellar showing easily eclipsing its performances either in barrel or just after bottling. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.  —  Neal Martin. (2019).

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 88 Points | Juicy and direct, with plum and blackberry fruit leading the way, while light anise and applewood notes add energy through the finish. Accessible now. Drink now through 2025. 4,200 cases made, 400 cases imported. 

Winemaker Description

Dark red in color with aromas of cherry, cocoa, black olive and toasted hazelnut on the nose. On the palate, mellow tannins with a spicy vanilla and chocolate finish.

An approachable and tasty Bordeaux. Merlot is the dominant grape and Cabernet Sauvignon plays a supporting role, adding complexity. There are aromas and flavors of blackberry, blueberry, dark plum, black cherry, licorice, and cedar all with a beautifully persistent finish. Made with organically grown grapes.

- Rand Sieger, 67 Wine Buyer

James Suckling writes:  Aromas of sweet berries and flowers follow through to a medium body, with firm, fine tannins and a linear finish. Tight and polished. Better in 2022.  - James Suckling 91

Lisa Perrotti-Brown writes:  Blended of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Moncets is deep garnet-purple colored and sings of baked cherries, mulberries and stewed plums with hints of menthol, spice cake and cloves. Medium-bodied and elegant, with great freshness, it has plenty of juicy fruit and a soft texture, finishing bright and clean.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  Cedary herbs, spice, and attractive red and black fruits emerge from the 2018 Château Moncets, another delicious, well-made, flavorful 2018 with plenty to love. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 7-8 years.  Drinking 2021 - 2029.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

This is a simple, refreshing white Bordeaux from importer Guillaume Touton, who works with several hundred producers around the world. This white Bordeaux is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, smoky, herbal, and zesty, with just the right amount of acidity; it is perfect as an aperitif or with seafood. Importer Description. 

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 91 Points | A firm, lightly chewy Bdx with currant and wet-earth character. Some walnuts, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with juicy fruit and tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink or hold. (2016). 

Attractive dark ruby-red and brilliant this classic Bordeaux is explosive, intense and complex at the same time. The palate entices due by its ampleness, richness, fullness as well as by the aromatic finish on the palate. Harmonious and long, the ideal accompaniment to a game such as leg of lamb with herbs or goat’s cheeses. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Ratings

Winemaker Description

Chocolate profile with cherries and plum hints.  The wine is large to medium bodied but yet soft at the back end.  

A grand cru with great concentration and keeping freshness. Matter and elegance. 

Our Professional Review

July 27, 2024 -  Dinner tonight was at a friend's house out of the City.  We had Salad, great dressing (Salt, Pepper, Sugar, Olive Oil, lemon, Sherry Vinegar), which amazed us because everyone was tempted to drink it 😀, sirloin steak, and creamy roasted small potatoes.  The first sips of the Malartic were just wonderful.  Fresh fruit flavors enveloped our mouths, pure and delicious.  This is a wine so well made it felt uncomplicated because of the impact of pure fruit, of course that is the art, complicated made to taste uncomplicated.  Over dinner the Malartic developed into a richly complex and layered wine; flavors began to appear: herbs, spices, and background oak and tobacco, yet always fruit driven.  If you want to have something really special we recommend this with 10 glasses! 

-Dorothy & Bernie, Follow the Drinker®

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2019 Château Malartic-Lagravière showed brilliantly, with an elegant, pure, flawlessly balanced style. Giving up ripe black cherry, currants, tobacco leaf, and spicy oak, with textbook Graves scorched earth, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a beautiful layered, seamless mouthfeel, great tannins, and one heck of a great finish. It's not a blockbuster, but it excels on its elegance, balance, and complexity. Readers will love to have this in the cellar, and it will keep for 20+ years.  Drinking 2022 - 2044.

Robert Parker William Kelley 92+ Points | Aromas of raspberries, blackcurrants, charcoal and forest floor preface the 2019 Malartic Lagravière, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming wine that's lively and elegant, built around bright acids and fine, powdery tannins. This has turned out nicely in bottle and shows good potential for improvement in the cellar.  Drinking 2025 - 2045 .

Decanter Georgina Hindle 94 Points | Lovely vivid bright red pink in the glass. Pronounced nose, rich and vibrant. On the palate, this is crunchy with density and chew, a nice combination of texture and bright fruit. Lively with blackcurrant, strawberry and red cherry flavours alongside soft hints of dark chocolate and perfume. Delicate but also layered with flavour. I like this a lot. Bright energy with a density that is bold yet refined and sculpted. The texture and overall balance is excellent and this will provide great drinking for the long term. Such a long length. Purity and power. Elegant with finesse, purity and power.  Classic and well made.  Drinking 2024 - 2039 

James Suckling 96 Points | Very complex aromas of dark berries, mushrooms, earth, flowers and incense. Crushed stone, too. Full-bodied with very fine, refined tannins that are caressing and beautiful. It’s very, very long and persistent in the finish with subtle and complex flavors. This will deliver beauty with age. Drink after 2025. 

Jane Anson writes:  A successful and accomplished vintage at Malartic Lagravière, this is concentrated and upfront in its dark berry fruits, great control from the tannins, and tons of Pessac character and finesse. An estate that has become a serious heavyweight in the appellation, showing here gourmet, saline, precise character.  Drinking 2026 - 2042  - Decanter 95

James Lawther MW writes:  Darkest crimson. Inviting, somehow warm aroma of ripe cassis and black plum with a light stone-dust mineral quality to lift it above just fruit. Richly fruited, the tannins slightly thick, but generous and full in the mouth and then fresh on the finish.  - Jancis Robinson 16

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 94 Points | This is a solid Margaux with blackberries, blackcurrants and undertones of fresh tobacco and a wet earth. It’s full and layered with beautiful energy and structure. Tight at the end, as it should be. Try after 2025. (2019).

Decanter 94 Points | Great depth, starting to really achieve class and depth with generous dashes of chocolate, coffee, mocha. Combines tannic hold with great freshness, an excellent wine; black fruits, bilberry, blackberry, finished off with the fine tannins of smoked oak. A brilliant Marquis de Terme. (2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The 2019 Château Marquis De Terme showed better now than from a bottle tasted earlier this year. Giving up plenty of darker, almost black fruits as well as tobacco, gravelly earth, and spice, it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, fleshy, sexy mouthfeel, quality tannins, and a great finish. (2019).

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Features cherry and black currant puree notes with some inner freshness, while black tea, alder and violet hints form a pretty backdrop. Nice steady finish, too. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now. (2019).

Robert Parker 90+ Points | Aromas of rich black fruits, cherry preserve and pencil shavings introduce the 2019 Marquis de Terme, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine with a broad attack that segues into an ample mid-palate framed by ripe but youthfully assertive tannins. This is a muscular, rather chunky Margaux that will reward a bit of bottle age and which, with time, may make my score seem conservative. This is an evolving estate, as fully 25% of its vineyards have been replanted since 2009. Cabernet on rich soils between Labégorce and Château Margaux represents the core of the blend. Best After 2025. (2019).

Winemaker Description

The wines produced at the estate are fruity with aromas of red fruits, good tannic structure, elegant and round in the mouth. 

Expert Review

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | This is a smooth, spicy wine that has ripe tannins and a juicy core of blackberry flavors. It has structure underneath the fruit, with a fresh line of acidity at the end. Drink from 2024. (2020).

Expert Rating

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | This selection from parcels of young vines is now mature, open and ripe. Tannins give shape to the secondary flavors of the fruits, with a fine edge of juiciness at the end. Drink now. (2014).