French Wine

Winemaker Description

Pale gold colored, this white Sauvignon has typical aromas of white flowers, citrus and exotic fruits. It’s a fresh and fruity wine with floral aromas, and notes of white fruits such as quince and pear. The wine is gentle and supple on entry to the palate and is followed by a refreshing acidity which provides good balance to the overall softness of the wine. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Allen Meadows writes Burghound Outstanding Top Value! |  Note: from very young vines planted in the extremely rocky soil above Troëmes in Beauroy. Ripe, fresh and bright aromas are beautifully layered with notes of wet stone, shellfish and quinine. There is a lovely sense of underlying tension to the delicious and detailed middle weight flavors that display unusually good length on the bone-dry and balanced finale. This is excellent for what it is and worth considering. 

Vinous | The 2023 Petit Chablis has a bright malic bouquet, simple but with fine vigor. The palate is sharp on the entry with a slightly candied finish. This is an easy-going Chablis to drink over the next year or two. Tasted blind at the BIVB tasting in Chablis.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Allen Meadows writes:  An exuberantly spicy nose reflects notes of petrol, various citrus and white orchard fruit, in particular pear. The gorgeously textured and highly seductive medium-bodied flavors also possess fine mid-palate density before terminating in a balanced, firm and youthfully austere finale. This beauty offers the most sophisticated mouthfeel of any of the St. Aubin 1ers and should age well, indeed En Montceau is justly known for it.  Allen Meadows’ Burghound 92 Outstanding Top Value 🖤

Neal Martin writes:  The 2020 Saint-Aubin en Montceau 1er Cru is quintessentially Saint-Aubin on the nose, offering green apples, oyster shells and just a touch of petrichor, all showing wonderful delineation. The intense palate is very well balanced with fine-grained tannins and a judicious touch of spice and orange peel toward the sustained finish. Maybe it needs a little more on the aftertaste; otherwise, this is impressive... and delicious.  Drinking 2024 - 2048.  - Vinous 92-94

William Kelley writes:  The 2020 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Montceau is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of citrus zest, white flowers and pear, framed by a discreet touch of youthful reduction. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and chiseled, it's textural and concentrated, with good tension at the core and a long, precise finish.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92-94

Winemaker Description 

The Colin 2020 whites were bottled in January 2022 under the Diam brand composite cork after having been fined but not filtered. As was the case with the 2019 vintage, I was again very impressed with the quality I found and the domaine just seems to continue to go from strength to strength. 

Expert Reviews

94 Points Wine Specator | A classy rosé that glides across the palate, with flavors of raspberry coulis, yellow peach, chamomile and blanched almond that expand on the creamy mousse and linger on the lightly spiced finish, powered by mouthwatering acidity. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2026.

90 Points Robert Parker |  The latest rendition of Ruinart's NV Brut Rosé is a pretty, vibrant wine that offers up inviting aromas of tangerine, blood orange, plum and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and precise, with tangy acids and a pretty mousse, it's ca harming, comparatively vinous wine that is already showing well.

92 Points James Suckling | The appeal of this excellent rosé Champagne begins with the nose of red berries, ripe nectarine, coriander and red roses. Striking balance of delicate tannins, animating freshness and just a touch of creaminess. Long, very clean and dry finish. The cuvée is 55% pinot noir from Aÿ (some fermented as red wine) and 45% chardonnay. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

Blended from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, this is a succulently fruity, supple and aromatic Champagne with fine bubbles and a crisp, refreshing finish of extended length.

Taittinger Cuvée Prestige Rosé is intense cherry-pink in color with extremely fine, persistent pinpoint bubbles rising in delicate strands to the surface of the wine. Its classic, aromatic Pinot fragrance of red raspberries and strawberries is offset by elegant, subtle floral and earth nuances. 

On the palate, the ripe, full berry flavors are vibrant yet refined, delicately balanced by a fresh acidity which carries into a crisp, refreshing finish of persistent length.

Expert Reviews

Audrey Frick writes: The NV Champagne Prestige Brut Rosé is 30% Chardonnay, about 20% Meunier, and the rest Pinot Noir, with 12-15% still red wine added from Pinot Noir and the base vintage from 2018. It pours a deep pink color and offers aromas of ripe red cherry, fresh flowers, and blood orange. Full-bodied and juicy all the way through, it is ripe with loads of wild berry fruit and has a long and slightly warming finish. It would be suitable as a wine to end the night or as a juicy aperitif. Drink 2024-2034. 9 grams per liter dosage.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92

James Suckling writes: Blood orange color with attractive notes of cherry stones, dried flowers, strawberries and tangerines. Hints of iron and pie crust. Full of flavor, with a full body, sleek bubbles and a deep, beautiful fruit quality. Blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier with 14% red wine. Drink now.  - James Suckling 92

Yohan Castaing writes: The NV Brut Prestige Rosé from Taittinger showcases a delicate yet perfumed bouquet with aromas of plums, gooseberries, wild strawberries and pastry. On the palate, the Champagne is moderately weighted and delicately fleshy with bright acids, a lively and minty mid-palate and a finish featuring a light, graceful note of gastronomic bitterness.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2018

Wine Spectator 96 Points | This has the ripe, intense, racy feel of the vintage, with cassis, plum and blueberry compote flavors, carried by a long graphite spine. A textbook 2018 and a textbook St.-Julien.

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Beautifully textured and rich in blackcurrant flavors and tannins, this is a generous wine. The fruits and the dusty tannins partner each other well giving structure, concentration, a sense of poise and final freshness. Drink this wine from 2026.

James Suckling 94 Points | Currants, cloves, graphite and cigar box on the nose. Some pine and citrus zest, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Structured and vivid with plenty of tension. Lovely sweet fruit at the finish. Try from 2025.

Winemaker Description

An elegant golden straw yellow with amber highlights. Its aromas are radiant, revealing bright yellow-fleshed fruits (apple, pear, yellow peach), honey, floral nuances (lime blossom) and elegant blond notes (brioche and fresh nuts). The palate is seductive, richly flavorful and smooth combining generosity and subtlety, fullness and vigor, followed by a delicately fresh crispiness (fruit with seeds), to reveal the magical balance of Champagne. 

Expert Reviews 

93 Points The Somm Journal | When it comes to finesse, this classic—roughly equal parts Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with a slightly smaller amount of Chardonnay—doesn’t miss: It’s comme il faut from the unending bead onward. Joined by biscuit and almond aromas, ripe golden apple on the nose turns to green on the palate, where citrus—lime, grapefruit, mandarin orange—cycles through high-flying acidity even as luscious pear adds weight and chalk conveys elegance through the finish. 

92 Points Wine Spectator | An elegant version, fine and creamy in texture and backed by lively, orange peel acidity. A streak of smoke-tinged minerality underscores flavors of almond madeleine, poached pear, anise and preserved lemon. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Drink now.

91 Points James Suckling | This is showing aromas of apricots, grapefruit, pears and short crust. Some walnuts, too. Medium-bodied, with soft bubbles and tasty nut and pie crust notes at the end. Blend of pinot noir, meunier and chardonnay. 24 months on the lees.

90 Points Wine Spectator | A hint of smoke wafts through flavors of black currant, lemon-infused pastry cream and crystallized honey in this fresh, well-meshed Champagne, with a touch of Mandarin orange peel and a fine mousse.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 92 Points | Bright ruby. Displays ripe, spice-accented cherry and dark berries, along with hints of succulent herbs and spices. Juicy and expansive in style, offering well-concentrated red and blue fruit flavors and a touch of cracked pepper. Creamy tannins sneak in late and add a gentle grip to a long, spice- and floral-driven finish. All de-stemmed fruit and raised in concrete tanks.

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points |  Not yet bottled, the 2020 Gigondas offers more dark fruits as well as masculine notes of ground pepper, crushed stone, and sappy garrigue. Medium to full-bodied and nicely structured, it’s another rock-solid wine from this estate. The blend is 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, destemmed, and aged in concrete tank.

Jancis Robinson 16 Points, James Lawther MW writes:  Fruit bright and lifted on the nose. Supple and round on the palate. Firm, chalky tannins. Clean and fresh on the finish with some persistence.  55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. Organic.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.

Producer Description 

Intense, brilliant garnet color. On the nose, aromas of garrigue develop alongside spices and black fruits. Fleshy and dense palate, with notes of jam, ripe fruit, and spices.

The Domain: The history of Mas des Restanques began in 1995 with the union of our two family lands. After several years in a cooperative cellar, we took the plunge, created our own cellar, and released our 1st vintage in 2007.

We began orienting the domain towards Organic agriculture in 2009 and were certified by "Ecocert" in 2012. In 2019, our son Philippe joined us on the estate to continue the tradition while bringing new perspectives to the business. As a family, we put all our efforts into vine cultivation in order to offer consumers the best grape sources. Then, the low yields on clay soils limestone, thoughtful work of the harvest, and the development of our wines bring to our cuvées character, strength, and balance.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 Points | While not yet bottled, the 2020 Gigondas is stunning, and readers shouldn't miss a chance to buy bottles. Ripe red berries, sandalwood, and garrigue all emerge from this lush, soft, seductive Gigondas, which has velvety tannins and a great finish. 

Josh Raynolds of Vinous 94-95 Points | Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and botanical herbs that are complemented by an exotic spice note building in the glass. Stains the palate with intense raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily deepen with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes impressively long and floral, with fine-grained tannins adding a discreet grip.

Winemaker Description

Full-bodied, fruity, fine and well-balanced. Aromas of red fruits – raspberries and black cherries – with notes of black pepper, lead to more complex scents of licorice and herbs de Provence. Tannins are ripe, the wine fills the mouth with warm, generous flavors yet with an underlying structure. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2016 Grand Vintage Extra Brut is the 77th vintage Champagne released by Moët & Chandon. Comprising 34% Pinot Noir, 48% Chardonnay and 18% Meunier, it was aged for six years prior to disgorgement. It will offer complex, layered aromas and flavours, including baked bread, hazelnut, orange blossoms, and fine minerality, all framed by superb structure and tension. A classic in every sense.

Each Grand Vintage is unique, expressing Moët & Chandon’s Cellar Master's personal interpretation of the year. In Champagne, 2016 was a year of turbulent weather, full of twists and turns at the whim of nature.

The serenity after the storm, Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016 expresses grace and peace, harmony born from masterful winemaking and six years resting in the cellars. The 77th vintage in the history of the House, Grand Vintage 2016 is a radiant champagne with a round and supple palate.  

The grape harvest of 2016 in Champagne reflects the region's traditional unpredictability. Winter was wet and a cool causing some mildew and grape loss, followed by a rainy spring and a summer that dried the vineyards but also led to water stress and further fruit loss. 

Despite these challenges, the remaining grapes ripened well, especially the Meuniers and Pinots Noirs. ​

PINOT NOIR 34%, CHARDONNAY 48%, MEUNIER 18%

Ageing period in cellars: 6 years

Ageing after disgorging: at least 6 months

Dosage: 5g/liter (extra brut)

Expert Review

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Made from 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, and the rest Meunier, the NV Champagne Origine Brut pours a straw hue and is based on the 2019 vintage with 30% reserve wines and partially raised in 228-liter barrels. It’s generous in its aromatics, with spicy notes of graham cracker, toasted almond, baked pear, and orange. Fluffy and rounded in its mousse, it fills the palate with ample juiciness through the mid-palate and has an attractive, clean finish. It’s a charming wine that casts a large net to drink over the next few years. 

Winemaker Description 

This cuvée represents the “origin” of the family story and blends grapes from their three historic villages. 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier. The Origine Brut is the brand's flagship wine. A blend of 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, and 10% Pinot Meunier. This wine impressively dances the delicate balance between freshness and unctuous texture. Truly delightful in the glass, this Grower Champagne has never been sold outside of France before.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

93 Points James Suckling | A well-crafted, aromatic and textural red.  It shows notes of dark berries, game, wild herbs, grilled meat and baking spices with some cloves.  Medium-bodied with fin tannings.  Layered and highly textural.  Spicy and well composed.

89 Points Wine Advocate | In a lighter year, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Maclura is a juicy, fresh, fun blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% each Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Notes of struck match and black olive lend a savory cast to the black cherry fruit, so it's not a simple, one-note wonder but a medium to full-bodied wine of reasonable complexity.

Producer Description 

Born under an Osage orange tree, the Cuvée Maclura Côtes du Rhône calls for the greediness of the fruit revealing a blend of spices with delicate tannins. Designed with respect for the traditions of the south, this cuvée is like our grandmothers’ cuisine : generous and full of life.

Winemaker Description 

The Côtes du Vivarais is an AOC situated on the western side of the Rhône in Ardèche.  This region is renowned for producing wines with high mineral content due to the limestone and clay-rich soils.  Alain Gallety, a pioneering winemaker, founded this domaine with the goal of finding the perfect soil for his wines. He is now a respected figure in the expansive Côtes du Vivarais. The entire range of wines, from the entry-level to the single vineyard cuvées, is exceptional.  Alain Gallety embarked on his viticultural journey with his father in 1974 in an area that was later designated as the Côtes du Vivarais appellation in 1999. Today, Alain and his son David-Alexandre manage the 15-hectare organic domaine.

"We love this Rhône white for its distinct weight with enhanced mineral notes, keeping the wine from being flabby. Citrus and orchard fruit are prominent flavors that make this wine versatile with many dishes."

Pairings: White fish, Roast turkey, Veal piccata, and the hen & potato stew
Grapes: 50% Grenache Blanc 40% Marsanne 10% Roussanne
Soil: Clay
Viticulture: Organic (Practicing)

• All grapes harvested by hand

• All grapes are fermented together in stainless steel tank

• Wine ages in stainless steel until bottling, 4 to 8 months after harvest

• Bottled unfined and unfiltered

Winemaker Description 

14 different herbs and spices are sourced all around the world to make Noilly Prat Extra Dry. Among them Chamomile, Coriander from Morocco, Bitter Oranges from Tunisia or Orris Root from Italy.

Noilly Prat Extra Dry is ideal for preparing a 50:50 Martini Cocktail.

 Winemaker Description

With the Classic, it is a fresh and fruity wine that expresses itself. 

The combination of freshness and delicate fragrances allows it to be served with grilled white fish and meats, shellfish, vegetable tians and Japanese dishes. Also, ideal for an aperitif. 

Winemaker Description

Bright yellow color, bouquet of white and yellow fruits mixed with citrus fruits. Well-balanced on the palate, undertones of mature fruitiness; juicy sauvignon grape finish.

Best as an aperitif, or with fish, shellfish, Asian or Lebanese cuisines and, more traditionally, crottin de Chavignol goats cheese.

Winemaker Description

Gamay grown across four hectares of fifty-year-old estate vines mid-slope in Chiroubles. The vineyards face east and are in prime position to soak up the warmth of the morning sun lending ripeness to the vines. Combine this with the cool freshness of altitude and the minerality of poor soils and you have an irresistible combination. Bright red fruits, velvety tannins, and light on the palate. A dream to drink. 

Winemaker Description

Perfect for Picnic, Central Park, Beach, Pool!

50% Syrah, 50% Carignan. This delightful salmon-pink wine is produced via direct press, imparting a delicate, pale but vivid pink color. Fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Aromatics of strawberries and crushed red fruit leap from the glass. In the mouth, it is fresh with excellent acidity, some mineral components and good length. Very food friendly, it is a great companion to just about anything you want to throw at it.

Winemaker Description 

Domaine Octavie Touraine is an authentic and expressive Loire Valley Sauvignon. Citrus fruits combine with white flowers, while aromas of gunstone give it relief. On the palate, it is a soft and fresh wine. The attack is frank and chiselled, well balanced. Notes of white peach. 

Winemaker Description 

Pale yellow color with hints of gold and green. Powerful notes of minerality and yellow fruits. Rounded and rich with a good structure and lengthy finish.

 Enjoy as an aperitif or with seafood, veal, goat cheese, or gruyère.

Winemaker Description 

Olivier Foucher followed a classic career path: studies in viticulture and oenology, a few years of collaboration with his parents and taking over the family estate after his father's retirement in 2011. Today, he and his wife cultivate 10.5 hectares of vines.

Light lemon in color, the wine has a delicate floral scent, with a touch of lime zest and tangerine on the nose. The palate is full of white-fleshed fruits — particularly peach and pear — that blend with more exotic, softer notes of grapefruit and papaya.

Wave after wave of mouth-puckering acidity and a mineral-packed finish will keep you coming back for more! Perhaps the most impressive feature of the wine is its impeccable balance of flavor intensity, structural tension, and length: everything is where it should be, making this Sauvignon Blanc almost too easy to drink.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

91 Points Decanter | This is open overall in terms of its tannic structure, and there are lovely plum and blackberry fruits, with a slate texture through the finish. Enjoyable, with St Estèphe character. 40% new oak. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038

91 Points James Suckling | Blackcurrants, brambleberries, walnut husks, dried leaves and dark spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Fresh and structured. Crushed stone comes through in the aftertaste. Better from 2024.

Winemaker Description 

Château Laffitte Carcasset benefits from the mild climate typical of the great terroirs on the left river bank of the estuary.

The average age of the vineyard is 30 years old, composed of 60% of Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% of Merlot and 5% of Cabernet Franc.

Faithful to Saint-Estèphe’s style, Château Laffitte Carcasset produces complex and fruity red wines with a beautiful tannic structure giving a very good aging potential. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | Second wine of Chateau Montrose is a major star in its own right. With dense tannins and concentrated black fruits, it has power and richness. The wine’s potential, impressive for a second wine, is very evident in the structure. Drink from 2026. 94 Points James Suckling| Very pretty blackcurrants and blueberries with floral undertones, following through to a full body with layers of ripe, polished tannins and a rich, flavorful finish. Needs time to come around and show itself. Try after 2025.

92 Points Robert Parker | The 2018 La Dame de Montrose is a blend of 52% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it springs from the glass with vivacious notions of redcurrant jelly, mulberries, juicy blackberries and stewed plums, giving way to suggestions of underbrush, wild sage and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with bright, expressive black and red berry layers, supported by plush tannin's and tons of freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick.

92+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | Looking first at the second wine of this incredible Saint-Estèphe Château, the 2018 La Dame De Montrose is a blend of 52% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all brought up in 30% new French oak. Lots of blue fruits, sappy herbs, tobacco, violets, and graphite notes all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, concentrated, textured mouthfeel, and enough tannin's to warrant 3-4 years of bottle. A beautiful second wine with lots of Saint-Estèphe character, it will have 15-20 years of longevity. 

Winemaker Description

2018 marks an important step in the conversion of our vineyard to organic viticulture. The weather conditions resulted in strong pressure from parasites, requiring extreme vigilance. Vineyard management was complex, therefore, but the direction of our environmental approach was firmly maintained. The fine weather and heat at the end of summer, comparable to 2009, made the vintage, which expressed incredible potential in the cellar.The first tastings show the signs of a very great vintage, a subtle combination of the fruity aromatic profile of the 2009 and the precision of the 2016. 

Winemaker Description

The Marsannay is sturdy and robust due to the rich iron-based soil. The wine has an intense bouquet of red fruit and a silky palate with a distinct gamey character and great tannic appeal. 

Critic Notes

James Suckling writes:  Such an enticing sour-cherry nose with subtle leafy and earthy notes. Such a joyful expression of this very underrated terroir. Such a zesty pinot noir with a long, crisp finish, in which the gentle tannins and lively acidity are beautifully integrated. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 91

Jancis Robinson writes:  Transparent ruby. Quite an evolved, earthy nose. Sweet and rich with no rough edges. The ripeness of the vintage is evident but not intrusive.There'st a little dustiness on the finish that's far from unpleasant. A red burgundy that is attractively broad in the beam. A comfortable, comforting wine. Persistent.  Drinking 2022 to 2026.  Great Value.  Jancis Robinson 16.5

Allen Meadows writes:  Notably ripe aromas include those of cassis, dark raspberry and humus nuances. The rich, delicious and vibrant middle weight flavors conclude in a rustic and somewhat raspy finish. While this could be enjoyed shortly after release, it has the stuffing and structure to reward short to mid-term cellaring.  - Burghound

Winemaker Description 

A powerful and well built wine, a deep ruby colour with violet tints. Complex nose of vanilla, fruits and griotte-cherries.

The attack is rich and firm; the mouth expresses long lasting nuances of vanilla and pepper. This is a smooth and rich wine with a very good length. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2019 

James Suckling writes 97 Points | Fresh currants and raspberries pop out of the glass, together with oranges and cedar. Such purity of fruit in the nose. Full-bodied, yet so refined and vertical. It goes deep and long with tight, compressed tannins that are pure and exciting. Really tight and focused. Precise. Try after 2026.  - James Suckling 97

Georgina Hindle writes Decanter 96 Points | Stylish nose, feels polished and poised. A svelte style with satiny tannins and such depth of flavour - intense but nuanced with perfumed edges and red and black cherry flavours. You feel the sculpting of the fruit, there are layers of flavour and with good support round the edges and softly chewy tannins. Such a long finish too, really goes on and on. I love it, you get the power without doubt but it's very neatly packaged right now with a smoothness and clarity that's impressive.  Drinking 2025 - 2045.  - Decanter 96

Jane Anson of Decanter writes 96 Points | A concentrated but graceful feel to this Issan, showcasing why it is one of the powerhouses of Margaux without necessarily flexing its muscles the most obviously. Takes a few moments to unroll on the palate but as it does it expands both forward and outwards, beautifully filling the mid palate with creamy brambly fruits and firm but flexible tannins. This inches open, suggesting it has an extremely long life ahead of it, and is close to the 2016 in expression, although not quite with the depth of expression of that exemplary vintage. 50% new oak, 3.7pH. 45% of overall production went into the 1st wine. Harvest from 25th September to 11th October.  Drinking 2029 - 2045.  - Decanter 96

Jeb Dunnuck writes 95 Points | Pure cassis, graphite, violets, damp earth, and chocolate notes all emerge from the 2019 Château D'Issan, a richer, medium to full-bodied, powerful Margaux. It develops a gorgeous sense of minerality with time in the glass, has plenty of mid-palate oomph, integrated oak, and just terrific overall balance. It's a stunning success in the vintage in Margaux, which was one of the more challenging in the vintage. This will round into form with just 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades or more. Bravo.  Drinking 2026 - 2047. - Jeb Dunnuck 95

James Lawther MW of Jancis Robinon writes 17.5 Points |  A touch restrained but pure, bright, juicy and intense. Palate silky and substantial with the backing of plentiful tannins. Perception of old-vine intensity. Builds to an impressively long finish. Similar to 2016 but more aromatic freshness.  70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot.   Drinking 2027 - 2045.  Jancis Robinson 17.5

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 94 Points | The 2019 Château d'Issan has a glorious Margaux bouquet with pressed violets fusing with the black fruit and crushed stone scents. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine delineation, taut and fresh, a pinch of black pepper towards the structured and detailed finish that lingers in the mouth. Superb. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.  - Drinking 2025 - 2045.  William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 94 Points | The 2019 D'Issan is showing well from bottle, offering up aromas of sweet berries and plums mingled with violets, orange rind and raw cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, lively and nicely concentrated, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a seamless, elegant profile, it's a charming, perfumed wine that will offer a broad drinking window. The blend is dominated by an atypically high proportion (70%) of Cabernet Sauvignon. The heart of Issan is its walled "Clos" to the rear of the picturesque moated château, which is complemented by more recently acquired holdings situated on the same gravel terrace.  Drinking 2025 - 2055.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Review - Vintage 2019 

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

Jane Anson writes:  Touches of dried mushrooms on the nose, this has savoury tannins, soft blueberry and raspberry fruits, soft on the finish.  - Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

James Suckling 96 Points | Enticing, fragrant aromas of toast, lemon zest and an earthy-smoky nuance lead to a palate of subtle Bosc-pear, mango, papaya, even pineapple flavors. Lifted by fresh acidity on the medium-bodied palate, the wine keeps unfolding in toasted walnuts, honey and a dash of bitter marmalade. It’s mouth-filling, alive with acidity and full of finesse.

Wine Spectator 96 Points | This expressive Champagne features a rich, well-spiced range of flavors chiseled by well-honed, integrated acidity, which lends a racy feel to the ripe black cherry and mulberry fruit and notes of salted almond, pink grapefruit granita, crystallized honey and pickled ginger that ride the raw silk–like mousse. Hints of chalk and spring blossoms play on the clean-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Vinous 96 Points | Bollinger's 2015 Brut Grand Année is an intriguing wine in that is clearly reflects the decision to pick on the later side in order to avoid vegetal notes derived from the mismatch of alcoholic and phenolic ripeness. "Balance was hard to achieve in 2015," Chef de Cave Denis Bunner notes. "At 10% in sugar, the fruit was simply not ripe. We had to wait to reach the optimal window of ripeness." Bunner also opted to increase the Chardonnay, so the blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, as opposed to the more typical 70/30 blend, with more Verzenay than Aÿ in the Pinots. Dried citrus peel, sage, menthol, sage, tangerine peel and spice build with some coaxing. Light tropical overtones develop with aeration. There's real density and textural richness here. This will be a fascinating vintage to follow. Stylistically, it is the complete opposite from the much more linear 2014 that precedes it. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged: May 2023.

The Wine Advocate 95+ Points | The 2015 Brut La Grande Année was disgorged last year with eight grams per liter dosage. The wine has turned out beautifully, exhibiting a more muscular, old-school Bollinger profile in contrast to the unusually racy, fine-boned 2014 that preceded it. Wafting from the glass with notes of pear, orange oil and white flowers mingled with notions of mocha, toasted hazelnuts and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with a dense core of fruit framed by chalky structuring extract, concluding with a long, sapid finish. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 92 Points | Very pretty blackberry and orange-peel aromas with floral hints. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Chewy and linear. Needs two or three years to soften the extraction.

Winemaker Description

Plush, big, plummy fruit and dark cherry. Very elegant and well-integrated oak. Surprisingly fresh and cool on the palate with medium grippy tannins. Very classy and delicious. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The result of a long history, Burgundy and its wines are known worldwide. Pinot Noir is a native grape variety of the area. Bourgogne Pinot Noir is the regional appellation whose wines can come from any part of Burgundy. This wine exhibits the characteristics of the great red Burgundies.

Our Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2021 has a ruby color. Its nose reveals notes of blackcurrant buds. Its round and fresh palate offers notes of cherry for a soft finish.
Food Pairing: Grilled meat - mature cheeses. Winemaker Description.

Expert Review - Vintage 2016 

Neal Martin writes: This delightful 2016 Rully Les Margotes 1er Cru will provide ample drinking pleasure over the next decade. Bright scents of Conference pear and Granny Smith apple on the nose seem to gain intensity with aeration; then, the palate is well balanced with nicely judged acidity. I admire the harmony and precision of this Rully, with just a kiss of lemongrass on the finish. Recommended. Tasted over lunch at Corney & Barrow in London. - Drinking 2022 -2028 - Vinous 90

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Neal Martin writes: The 2019 has a beguiling bouquet with red berry fruit, truffle and light Provençal herb scents that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. This is exquisite in terms of balance, silky smooth, building gradually with a harmonious and quite effortless finish. Divine - this is a stellar showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. - Vinous 97

Georgina Hindle writes: A rich, full and heady nose. On the palate there's ripe blackcurrant, red cherries, raspberries and strawberries but also some mint, black pepper and truffle. Excellent precision and density with a seductive dark chocolate edge. Feels well handled with a sense of classicism. A powerful, muscular and confident wine, but with suppleness - this has density but also grace with a cooling finish comprising liquorice, mint and soft salinity. A great wine. Drinking - Decanter 97

James Suckling writes: A perfumed nose of mulberries, plums, chocolate orange and cloves. Hints of toffee, too. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Caressing, velvety and rich core of dark fruit. So supple and polished. 88.5% merlot, 7% cabernet sauvignon and 4.5% cabernet franc. Drink after 2024. - James Suckling 95

William Kelley writes: The 2019 Gazin is a fleshy, dramatic wine that wafts from the glass with aromas of ripe berry fruit mingled with subtle hints of truffle and violets, its new oak already entirely integrated. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's broad and textural, with lively acids, powdery tannins and fine length on the finish. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94

Jeb Dunnuck writes: While the 2019 Château Gazin isn't going to match the 2018, it's an elegant, solid Pomerol delivering spicy red and black cherry fruits, notes of cedary herbs and flowers, medium-bodied richness, silky yet building tannins, and a great finish. This elegant, nicely structured, balanced beauty will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years. - Jeb Dunnuck 94

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer, writes: For savvy Burgundy lovers, the Hautes-Cotes de Beaune is a source of great value and a breeding ground for exceptional winemaking talent. Fourth generation Luc Bourgogne is one such grower and winemaker, and Domaine Bourgogne-Devaux is reliably one of the best estates in the Hautes-Cotes. His 2022 Le Clou shows the flesh and friendliness of the vintage with its dark color in the glass and inviting aromas of berries, plums and violets with an earthy bramble complexity. The beauty of the 2022 vintage is the accessibility of the lovely fruit that shines from the glass, with no hard tannins or jagged edges. An elegantly balanced, deliciously flavored red to indulge your love of Burgundy without breaking the bank.

Producer Notes

Aromas of blackberry, black cherry and violet. Like liquid silk on the palate, conveying terrific depth to its flavors of raspberry, warm spices and smoked meat.

Winemaker Description

Provence, France. Organic. Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsualt, Syrah, Carignan. Gives up classic leather, garrigue, underbrush and sweet black raspberry notes on the nose. Medium-bodied, supple, sexy and with fine tannin, it’s a forward, ready to go beauty to drink over the coming 5-7 years.