French Wine

Winemaker Descripton 

Whispering Angel is today's worldwide reference for Provence Rosé. Made from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle (Vermentino), its pale color is pleasing to the eye and draws one in. The rewarding taste profile is full and lush while being bone dry with a smooth finish.

Highly approachable and enjoyable with a broad range of cuisine, Whispering Angel is a premium Rosé that you can drink from mid-day to midnight. 

This rose wine is delicate, clean and minerally. Pale salmon in color. Fresh peach and strawberry on the nose with plenty of red berry fruits. Full bodied and dry, with pink grapefruit and hints of peach on the palate, lively acidity and a long finish.

A beautifully made wine.

Whispering Angel Rose is made by Sacha Lichine and his team at Chateau d'Esclans, in La Motte en Provence, south France. Made from grapes grown from some of the most choice land in the surrounding region of la Motte en Provence, consisting primarily of Grenache, Rolle (Vermentino) and Cinsault.

Expert Review

James Suckling 91 Points | A silky, seductive and saline Côtes de Provence rosé with aromas of small berries, red currants and salt. It’s medium-bodied, succulent, fresh and playful, with a caressing texture and a vivid, saline finish. (2023). 

Seductive translucent pale-yellow color with delicate green reflections. This wine opens up with a very expressive nose with beautiful aromas combining floral and mineral notes. Well balanced and dense, the palate has a powerful attack and reveals superb aromas of lemon, bergamot and hawthorn before ending with a long finish. Winemaker Description. 

Prior Vintages |

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | Fragrance of pomelo, fresh Meyer lemon, yuzu, yellow peaches, white mushroom and peppercorn come together for an elegant, yet bright nose. A saline palate with yellow apples, Bosc pears, white mushrooms and fresh vanilla is carried to a round mouthfeel, with a lengthy and enjoyable finish. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

An alluringly clear pale pink colour with gleaming pastel pink reflections. Fine and elegant, the nose offers a superb aromatic bouquet with notes of red berries and cherry blossom.The mouth is full, vivacious, and distinguished with a refinement that is heightened by delicious notes of blood orange and redcurrant perfectly balanced by a lovely mineral structure and just the right hint of bitterness. These luscious aromas are prolonged on the lingering finish of this elegant, well-balanced wine.

This wine offers beautiful bright citrus framed by a backbone of clean acidity and minerality with a finish that is clean, bright and refreshing. Winemaker Description. 

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.

Winemaker Description

Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône is produced from 100% Syrah and is from the the stony Villafranchian terraces of the Gard. The vineyards are known for their limestone sand, red clay, and pebbles, which give a freshness and intensity to the Syrah grapes. The wine is partially destemmed, fermented with natural yeasts, and vinified in concrete vats.

This Syrah grows in ideal terroirs of the southern Rhône and shows the varietal’s typical spicy notes of sandalwood, violets, and black pepper.

Syrah, with its deep flavors and firm tannins, is a natural match for grilled or smoked meat and dishes featuring herbs, roasted mushrooms, and onions.  Seared venison or beef with black pepper and thyme or a Moroccan tagine of pigeon or chicken are complimented by the spicy characteristic of Syrah.

Expert Reviews 

Wine Spectator - Kristen Bieler 90+ Points | A hefty version of Côtes du Rhône, with a lot of stuffing, showing ripe black plum and black currant flavors layered with black pepper and grilled rosemary. Sturdy tannins hem in the creamy palate, with a kick of bitter mineral and graphite through the medium-length finish. Very solid. Drink now through 2028. (2022). 

Jeb Dunnuck | The 2022 Côtes Du Rhône is juicy and up-front, with lots of classic Syrah darker fruits and peppery notes. It's medium-bodied, forward, has plenty of fruit, and is impeccably made.

Expert Ratings

Stuart Pigott writes: A remarkably fragrant and elegant wine for this appellation with plenty of violet aromas alongside a wide spectrum of red berry aromas. So fresh and lively at the long, precise finish, it’s really hard to believe that this has 14% alcohol! Drink now. - James Suckling 91

Kristen Bieler writes: A tasty red, with floral and cassis notes up front underscored by graphite shavings, toasted mesquite, fresh pepper and a lick of vanilla. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now. - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description

Deep and dark red. Shiny. Aromas of fresh fruits with red berries and spices. Full, round and racy. Rounded and smooth tannins. A full-bodied, rich and intensely aromatic wine. Full with a long finish and plenty of elegance and finesse due to the well balanced tannins and fruit.

Pair with cold meats, meat, game bird and cheese.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  Leading off the 2020s, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône is up-front, ripe, and textured, with pretty, medium-bodied aromas and flavors of cherries, flowers, and peppery herbs. It has a soft, elegant mouthfeel and is undeniably delicious.  - Jeb Dunnuck

Joe Czerwinski writes:  Significantly impacted by its elevated Syrah content, Guigal's 2020 Cotes du Rhone boasts expressive aromas of blackberries and blueberries, backed by ample black cherries. It's full-bodied yet supple and fluid, easy to drink and enjoy, with enough black olive and earth notes to ground it and keep it from being a simple fruit bomb.  Drinking 2024 0 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90

Stuart Pigott writes:  An impressive Cotes-du-Rhone with stacks of blackberry and black raspberry fruit wrapped around a core of moderately dry tannins on the bold palate. Long self-confidently dry finish. A cuvee of 50% syrah, 45% grenache and 5% mourvedre. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Tina Gellie, Anne Krebiehl MW, Michaela Morris write:  Modern, lifted and a bit heady, but attractive and evocative. Black cherry inkiness segues into a dense palate where all the fruit is crammed into a structured body with drying tannins. Herbs and stones hemmed in by a firm grip. A good all rounder. Nominated by Thierry Meyer.  Drinking 2024 - 2030.  - Decanter 90

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  The 2020 Côtes-du-Rhône presents bright raspberry and strawberry nuances alongside pinches of dried herbs. Low levels of soft tannin and sufficient acidity neatly frame this inviting 2020 Côtes-du-Rhône, which I slightly prefer over the 2021. It ends with a juicy finale.  - Vinous 

Kristen Bieler writes:  Medium-bodied and smoky, with wild cherry and raspberry layered with powdered graphite and charred mesquite. Reveals red tea and savory herb details through the snappy finish. Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator 

Winemaker Description

The Pommery Brut Royal shows a pale yellow color with light green accents. On the nose, it is vivacious and cheerful, fresh, easy, fine, delicate, and open. It has notes of citrus and white flowers combined with small berry notes. Elegant and vibrant in the mouth, it opens with initial notes of berries. 

The wine is round, ample, and delicate, with a nice finish. Clear end notes without any dryness. This wine is harmonious and never grows tiresome to the palate.

Enjoy it at any time of day or night.

Expert Reviews

Lettie Teague writes:  Champagne Pommery Brut Royal  - Although I’m generally not big on glossy Champagne boxes, the groovy Pommery package with its paisley design was pretty eye-catching; happily, the wine inside was good too. A lithesome, compulsively drinkable dry sparkler with notes of citrus and pear and a long minerally finish, the non-vintage wine is a blend of three main Champagne grapes—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier—in equal amounts.  Corporate-owned Pommery Champagne claims to have introduced the first successful dry “Brut” style Champagne to the world in 1874—it’s certainly a style they do well. A terrific aperitif.  - Wall St. Journal, Dec. 16-17, 2023

Yellow gold, clear and brilliant. Freshness marked by the distinctive aromas of Viognier ;white flowers, apricot, acacia and white peach. Fruity with plenty of richness and body. A well-rounded wine with elegance, strength and balance.

Pair with starters, fish, and Asian food.

Wine Spectator 89 Points | Floral and bright, with ripe cantaloupe, honeysuckle and nectarine flavors that are succulent and generous. Reveals chamomile and salted almond notes that add intrigue on the tasty finish. Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc.

Expert Reviews 

Lisa Perrotti-Brown writes:  Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Pitray features bright, expressive wild blueberries, black raspberries and warm plums scents with hints of spice cake and potpourri. Full-bodied, the palate is laden with juicy blue and black fruits, framed by plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with beautiful purity.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90-92

James Suckling writes:  A juicy, flavorful red that is delicious now, offering plum, chocolate and berry aromas and flavors. Medium body, firm tannins and a savory finish. Nice acidity, too. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 90

Jane Anson writes:  Well textured, velvety fruits sit on a firm and fresh palate. This is good quality, stretching out in the mouth with tannins that are fully supportive of the project, not getting in the way but cheerleading as the fruit takes its first steps. There is so much to enjoy in the smaller appellations this year.  Drinking 2021 - 2031  - Decanter 91

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  Coming from the eastern edge of Saint-Emilion, in the Côtes Castillon region, the 2018 Château De Pitray offers lots of ripe black fruits, asphalt, and licorice notes to go with a medium-bodied, nicely textured style on the palate. This ripe, fleshy, attractive 2018 opens up nicely with air and has lots to like. Enjoy bottles over the coming 4-6 years or so.  - Jeb Dunnuck

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

Our Professional Review

Rand Sieger 67Wine.com | Always one of the first rosés to hit the market, this traditional S. Rhone blend comes from 25-50 year old vines grown along the Gassac Riber. It boasts a pleasant, intense nose with hints of strawberries. Full and round on the palate with red fruit flavors.

Winemaker Description

Always one of the first rosés to hit the market, this traditional S. Rhone blend comes from 25-50 year old vines grown along the Gassac Riber. It boasts a pleasant, intense nose with hints of strawberries. Full and round on the palate with red fruit flavors.

Few winemakers have come to define their region like Mas de Daumas Gassac has with the Languedoc. What sets Mas de Daumas Gassac apart is their unflinching commitment to pushing the boundaries — of the appellation’s rules, of conventional farming techniques, of “expected” grape varieties.

Aimé and Véronique Guibert purchased the land in the early 1970s; they had planned to start a farm, but weren’t sure what type of crops they wanted to grow. It took convincing from a Bordeaux-based soil scientist, who saw great grape-growing potential in the limestone-rich land, as densely mineral-laden as Burgundy’s Côte d’Or.

Making wine in the Languedoc is nothing new — the Greeks and Romans were doing it millennia ago. In planting their estate to vines, the Guiberts chose to buck local tradition and plant a wide (very wide) assortment of international grapes; there’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, sure, but also Petite Arvine, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo and more. Prior to owning the estate, the Guiberts traveled the world as part of a family leather business, and became enamored with grapes from far-off and exotic locales. 

Expert Reviews

James Sucking 90 Points |  So much apple character to this fresh, supple and juicy blend of grenache, carignan and syrah. Red apples, warm herbs and baking spices complement the succulent forest berries on the nose, following through to a fruity and mellow finish. Drink now. 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous | The 2023 Rosé Guilhem is a fine warm-weather drink. Pale in color, the 2023 is brisk, vibrant and delightful from the first taste. Hints of grapefruit, white flowers, slate and chalk .

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

2Winemaker Description

An intense wine with blackcurrant and raspberry notes complemented by notes of white pepper. Powerful and fruity on the palate with lovely roasted notes, and silky, delicate tannins. Winemaker Description.

Expert Reviews 

90 Points James Suckling | Plenty of crunchy red berries and cherries on the nose with dark cherries, dried thyme and peppercorns. Medium body with firm tannins. Juicy fruit at the center with structure and a vibrant core of peppercorns to the finish. (2022). 

89 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Black raspberries, juicy cherries, peppery garrigue, and violet notes all emerge from Chapoutier's 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Belleruche, a medium-bodied, fleshy, balanced, straight-up delicious. (2022). 

Winemaker Description

Deep color. Very expressive and complex nose with red fruits aromas. The mouth is rich with fines tannins and well-structured with cherry, plum and chocolate aromas. The finish is lightly spicy. 

Ratings:

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Reserve checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that's mostly from the limestone soils in Lirac. Blackberries, ripe cherries, peppery herbs, and floral notes all show, and it's medium-bodied, has a balanced, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. Readers looking for an impeccably made, high-quality Côtes Du Rhône to drink over the coming 5-6 years or more should grab some.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

Joe Czerwiński writes:  The tank-aged 2022 Cotes du Rhone Reserve Mont Redon is mostly from the Gard, with other components from Valreas and Tulette. Blended just before my summer visit last year, it's 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah, with energetic aromas of black olives, black berries and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, it's round, soft and easy to drink. Enjoy it over the next few years.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

Matt Walls writes:  Good depth of colour, really quite dark in the glass. Savoury mulberry, blackberry aromas, good sense of freshness. A very classic expression of Côtes du Rhône with good concentration and structure – no hurry to drink this. The tannins are just a little gruff perhaps, but you wouldn't notice with some hearty food. The word Réserve on the label means the wine is made from bought grapes (possibly supplemented by estate fruit).  - Decanter

91 Points James Suckling | All at once, this is ripe, generous, cool and fragrant. A wide range of aromas, from lemon zest to honeysuckle. The joyful fruit and freshness make this juicy dry white so easy to enjoy, but the balance is also spot-on. Clearly the best vintage ever of this wine. (2020). 

A kaleidoscope of grapiness, produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. Gentil Hugel allies the suave, spicy flavor of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of both Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The grapes for this wine are sourced from the main four appellations, including Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, which are known for their racy, mineral-driven style. The nose is fresh and vibrant with notes of lime zest, ruby grapefruit, green pear and mandarin oranges.

There is an undercurrent of wet stones throughout. True to its terroir, it is refreshing with moderate acidity but it also has some weight in the mid-palate due to being aged on its fine lees. 

Pale gold in color, clear and limpid.  A typical Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc nose, grassy and herbal combining with floral and citrus notes.   Crisp and clean in the mouth  with notes of orange, passion fruit and lots of herbal flavors.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck writes: Moving to the reds, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône Le Temps Est Venu has a round, seamless, incredibly pretty style as well as assorted red and black cherry fruits, notes of peppery spice and flowers, soft tannins, and a great finish. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah brought up in tank and concrete, it’s a delicious Côtes Du Rhône to enjoy over the coming 5-6 years or so.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92

Joe Czerwiński writes:  A blend of fruit from the Southern Rhône, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone le Temps Est Venu features a hint of garrigeu set against a backdrop of ripe cherries and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied, it's a supple, silky wine to enjoy over the next 4-5 years.  Drinking 2021 - 2026.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90

Andy Howard MW writes:  Precise, elegant Côtes du Rhône. Definitely a cut above what one might expect for this appellation. Spicy fruit, some dark-olive notes. Sweetness here. Lovely purity and focus. Peppery finish. A fine Côtes du Rhone.  Probably.  Drinking 2022 - 2026.  - Jancis Robinson 16

Winemaker Notes

Expert Review

Lettie Teague writes:  Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Brut,  Produced in very large quantities (over 10 million bottles yearly), this non-vintage bottling is produced by a sizable group of Champagne growers, too. Founded by Nicolas Feuillatte in 1976, the company now sources grapes from a staggering 6,000 growers—one out of every three growers in Champagne, according to the company’s press materials. The wine is an equal-parts blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (40% each), with 20% Chardonnay blended in. It’s fresh and clean and easy to drink—a real crowd-pleaser—with a crisp acidity and pleasant citric note. According to a 2023 Nielsen report, in France it is the most popular Champagne brand of all.  - Wall St. Journal, Dec. 16-17, 2023

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 

Winemaker Description

Cherry mixed with raspberries put together in a medium to full-bodied well made Cotes-du-Rhone. A sweet touch of licorice enhance the beautiful palate. A mouth-filling wine in a pure Rhône style.

Louis Latour Ardèche has a pale yellow color. Its nose, intense of candied lemon, develops itself on notes of citrus marmalade, acacia and thyme. The mouthfeel, very fresh, offers a nice tension where aromas of candied lemon and white flowers are revealed.

It is a long wine which finishes in roundness and light salinity. Winemaker Description.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins writes:  One of our favorite recommendations for the past three years, Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rose is made of 100% Pinot Noir and is certain to make your mouth water!  The wine is balanced between juicyness and acidity, with obvious red berry notes.  Boulay’s Sibylle Rose is made from mature 35 to 40+ year old vines, in the village of Chavignol, where many believe the best Sancerre is made.  - 67Wine Buyer

Winemaker Description

Unlike many Sancerre Roses, Gerard harvests his Pinot specifically to make rose by direct press, then into tank. It is not a selection of young vines as he has no young Pinot vines. What makes the rosé one year could make red another, and vice versa, depending on what the vintage gives. 

Varietals: Pinot Noir. Organic: Practicing. Vineyard: From 35-40 year old Pinot Noir vines on the steep hillsides in front of the Boulay home in Chavignol. Orientation: Multiple parcels, varied exposure. Soil: Steep clay hillside. Viticulture: Gerard works the soil manually and lets nature make the wine. Vinification: Tank fermented. Boulay adds no yeast and minimal amounts of SO2. Aging: Tank aged. Production: 200 cases annually.

Expert Review

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2023 Rosé Sibylle is redolent with crushed berry fruit, rosewater, spice, mint and orange peel. Sensual and layered in the glass, the 2023 possesses lovely textural resonance to play off its effusive aromatics. It’s a gorgeous wine from Gerard Boulay.  Drinking 2024 - 2026.  - Vinous 90

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | A bright, energetic Sancerre that drinks beautifully. Excellent aromatic purity and precision with a lovely melange of cries and white orchard fruits that mingle with perfectly balanced mineral notes and refreshing acidity. Well rounded and long on the finish. Perfect with all types of seafood, salads and vegetarian fare.

Expert Review

Rebecca Gibb MW of Vinous writes | The 2023 Sancerre is filled with elderflower, lime and green aromas. It is a medium-bodied style that's tender and supple from three types of chalky soil in the appellation. The clay-chalk portion of the soil brings volume and body, while the chalkiest soils provide some gentle tension. A spritz hint brings much-needed tension in this gentle acidity year. This is a step up from most 2023s in this high-yielding year.  Drinking 2024 to 2028.  

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

Winemaker Description 

This crisp, fruit-forward, juicy wine has expressive aromas and flavors of ripe red berries, with nice weight in the mouth. 

If you like Beaujolais, this is one you'll want to come back to again and again. It features strawberry, raspberry, and black fruits. Chill for 20 minutes and enjoy with grilled salmon, roast chicken, lighter meats and of course most vegetarian dishes.

Expert Review

Reggie Solomon writes:  This is a good, hearty and muscular Beaujolais that would pair with grilled vegetables and meats. This wine has a nose of black plum, rosehip, strawberry and blossom. On the palate the wine is firm with red and black fruit predominating.  - Wine Enthusiast