James Suckling (94)

Made next to the great Haut-Brion. Aromas of cocoa and milk chocolate with dark fruits. Full body, with silky tannins and a polished finish. Very refined tannins. So long and pretty. Class. Try in 2017.

Indulge in the rich experience offered by Baret Blanc 2021, a magnificent testament to the art of winemaking. Crafted delicately in the renowned vineyards of Bordeaux, France, this fine wine oozes exceptional character and timeless sophistication. The producer, highly esteemed as one of the oldest in Pessac-Leognan, is celebrated for maintaining traditional winemaking practices, conferring a poignant sense of history with each bottle.

The Baret Blanc 2021 is a veritable symphony of flavours, attributed to the seamless blend of exceptional grape varietals – adopting Sauvignon Blanc for its refreshing crispness and Semillon for a fuller body. This 2021 Blanc carries a transcendent balance of acidity and ripe fruit notes, leading to an alluringly complex, enduring finish.

Stored in French oak barrels, the fruit aromas marry harmoniously with subtle hints of vanilla and spice, offering a multi-dimensional drinking experience. The meticulous precision and unparalleled passion for preserving quality truly shines in Baret Blanc 2021.

James Suckling (92-93)

A fresh and fruity red with blackberry, walnut and mushroom aromas and flavors. Iodine undertones. Full body, silky tannins and a clean finish.

Wine Advocate (98)

This magnificent, dense plum/purple-colored Pessac-Leognan reveals notes of scorched earth, burning embers, blackberries and truffles. Composed of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from a vineyard gorgeously situated between Malartic Lagraviere and Haut-Bailly, it possesses full-bodied power, a stunningly intense, voluptuous, layered mouthfeel and abundant levels of fruit, glycerin and tannin. The 2009 ranks alongside the magnificent 2000, which is aging at a glacial pace. Unfortunately, proprietress Helene Garcin only produces around 500 cases of this somewhat cult-ish Pessac-Leognan. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.

Wine Advocate (94)

A luxury cuvée from this tiny, 15-acre vineyard in the heart of Léognan owned by the Garcin family, the final blend on the 2012 Garcin is 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot. A big, full-throttle, full-bodied, impressive Pessac-Leognan, with notes of charcoal fires, burning embers, blueberry and blackberry fruit, this full-bodied, rich, supple wine is very impressive, beautifully textured and quite pure and long. This is a star of the vintage and certainly one of the best Pessac-Léognans. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

Introducing Brown 2016, a remarkable vintage capturing the essence of the finest vineyards nestled in Napa Valley, California. As an expert wine connoisseur, I can confidently affirm that the Brown 2016 is an exemplar of premium and complex winemaking.

Characterised by an enticing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, Brown 2016 is hand-harvested and aged for 18 months in French oak barriques, lending it a lush, full-bodied profile. Its striking bouquet of ripe blackberries, toasted spices, and a hint of mocha deliver palate-pleasing complexity. The exhilaratingly long finish leaves a lasting impression on the taste buds.

Produced by Brown Estate, a family-owned entity with a rich winemaking heritage, Brown 2016 embodies their commitment to sustainable viticulture and meticulous craftsmanship, transcending ordinary oenological boundaries. This wine exemplifies what can be achieved when tradition meets innovation, a symphony of flavours in a bottle. Savour the Brown 2016 experience, an unmissable addition for discerning collectors and wine enthusiasts alike.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90)

The 2018 Château Brown is well defined on the nose, offering plenty of black fruit laced with hints of espresso and dark chocolate, and just a faint star anise note hovering on the background. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly gritty tannins on the entry, fine acidity and nice focus. Though it misses some depth and flesh toward the finish, it does have a spring in its step and it should drink nicely for 12–15 years.

Vinous - Neal Martin (86-88)

The 2020 Château Brown was picked from September 15 to October 1, cropped at 35hl/ha and matured in one-third new oak. It offers dark berry fruit on the nose mixed with espresso and light tobacco scents, perhaps lacking a little focus. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. The oak needs to be more in sync with the fruit and there is just a patina of dryness toward the finish. I would aver that the previous two vintages have the upper hand.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (88-90)

The 2021 Brown offers good depth and textural intensity. The aromatics in this barrel sample aren't perfect, but there is plenty of fruit and structure to make me think the 2021 will turn out well.

Introducing the exemplary Brown Blanc 2020, the epitome of fine craftsmanship from the prestigious Brown Blanc Vineyards. This splendid vintage hails from the renowned wine region of Bordeaux, France, and exhibits the mastery of traditional French viniculture. Brown Blanc 2020 is a masterfully created blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, hand-harvested at their prime.

The vinification process follows time-honoured methodologies, with fermentation in stainless steel vats and maturation in French oak barrels for 12 months. This endows Brown Blanc 2020 with an exceptional complexity and unparalleled depth of flavours. The result: a multi-layered palette of plush blackcurrants fused with subtle whispers of vanilla and spice.

Created by the esteemed wine producer, Maurice Brown, his meticulous focus on quality lends a remarkable exquisiteness to the Brown Blanc 2020. Undoubtedly, this exquisite Bordeaux blend stands as a testament to the producer's unwavering commitment to excellence in winemaking.

Wine Advocate (92)

Tasted at the UGC in London. Ripe nose with lime, gooseberry and a touch of cut grass: good definition and lift. The palate is ripe and full of grapefruit, lime and gooseberry notes, but just lacking some tension towards the finish. This should be better considering that 2007 was a favourable vintage for Bordeaux Blanc. Drink now-2014. Tasted November 2009.

Wine Advocate (92)

Tasted at the UGC in London. Ripe nose with lime, gooseberry and a touch of cut grass: good definition and lift. The palate is ripe and full of grapefruit, lime and gooseberry notes, but just lacking some tension towards the finish. This should be better considering that 2007 was a favourable vintage for Bordeaux Blanc. Drink now-2014. Tasted November 2009.

James Suckling (93-94)

An excellent white Carbonnieux with sliced-lemon, lime and mineral character, as well as hints of citrus seeds. It’s medium-to full-bodied with lots of bright acidity and a flavorful finish. Minerally at the end.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2017 Carbonnieux is dark and intense in the glass. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of dark fruit in this decidedly potent, Pessac-Léognan. Orange peel, incense, spice, sweet tobacco and cedar add a super appealing exotic flair as the 2017 builds with time in the glass. Another few years in bottle should help things come together even more fully.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

The 2017 Carbonnieux is dark and intense in the glass. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of dark fruit in this decidedly potent, Pessac-Léognan. Orange peel, incense, spice, sweet tobacco and cedar add a super appealing exotic flair as the 2017 builds with time in the glass. Another few years in bottle should help things come together even more fully.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

I am so pleased that the 2019 Carbonnieux has retained the engaging aromatics that I found from the barrel sample: copious blackberry, raspberry, incense and light violet aromas soar from the glass. The palate is very well balanced with fine-grained tannins, and much more precise than recent vintages, leading to a harmonious, silky-smooth, almost tender finish. More polished than recent vintages, this Carbonnieux comes highly recommended.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2020 Carbonnieux is a dark, brooding beauty. Black cherry, gravel, incense, tobacco, smoke, mocha and cured meats build as this deep, layered Pessac-Léognan shows off its considerable personality. I would give the tannins a few years to soften. The mix of fruit richness and energy is compelling.

Jancis Robinson (16+)

Very dark crimson. Light nose with some suggestion of ripe fruit. But despite the rich mix of varieties the overall effect is currently a little simple. Well-managed tannins and acidity kept in check. One to watch to see whether it blossoms?

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

The 2016 Le Pape is a gorgeous wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. Ripe and luscious in the glass, with terrific depth and character, the 2016 offers tremendous near and medium-term appeal. Black cherry, plum, licorice, leather, spice and smoke add to an impression of darkness in this supple Pessac-Léognan.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2017 Le Pape is soft, refined and super expressive. Dried flowers, mint, cedar, tobacco and mocha add pretty aromatic top notes to this precise, understated Pessac-Léognan. Medium in body and wonderfully nuanced, the 2017 is absolutely gorgeous. Bright floral and red fruit notes add brilliance with a bit of time in the glass. This is such a compelling, understated wine, not to mention an overachiever and a terrific value.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (88)

The 2016 Clémentin de Pape Clément is a gracious red, but also a bit light and ethereal. I would prefer to drink it over the next few years, while the wine retains its attractive, perfumed personality.