Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2019 Château Lynch-Bages is stunningly good, and it's going to be interesting to compare this to the 2018 over the coming decades. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 75% new French oak, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, freshly sharpened cedar pencil, spring flowers, smoke, and graphite, with an almost liqueur of rocks-like minerality. A massive, incredibly concentrated Lynch-Bages, Jean-Charles has hit a home run in the vintage, and this sensational wine has building, perfect tannins, insane purity, and a finish that won't quit. It has the purity, finesse, balance, and depth to offer pleasure not only today but to evolve for 40 to 50 years. Smart money will hide these for a good 7-8 years, but wow, what a wine. Bravo.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2019 Château Lynch-Bages is stunningly good, and it's going to be interesting to compare this to the 2018 over the coming decades. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 75% new French oak, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, freshly sharpened cedar pencil, spring flowers, smoke, and graphite, with an almost liqueur of rocks-like minerality. A massive, incredibly concentrated Lynch-Bages, Jean-Charles has hit a home run in the vintage, and this sensational wine has building, perfect tannins, insane purity, and a finish that won't quit. It has the purity, finesse, balance, and depth to offer pleasure not only today but to evolve for 40 to 50 years. Smart money will hide these for a good 7-8 years, but wow, what a wine. Bravo.

James Suckling (99)

A beautifully layered red with blackcurrant, hazelnut and lead-pencil character and fine, velvety tannins. Full-bodied and reserved. It’s like a tightly knit ball of polished tannins that are cashmere in texture. So very long and impressive. Give this time. A terrific Lynch. Better after 2027.

James Suckling (95)

Lovely depth to the nose of this young Bordeaux with black currant, ink and walnut aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with a solid core of polished and integrated tannins. This will drink beautifully in 2026 and onwards.

James Suckling (95)

Lovely depth to the nose of this young Bordeaux with black currant, ink and walnut aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with a solid core of polished and integrated tannins. This will drink beautifully in 2026 and onwards.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

The 2022 Château Lynch-Bages is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its inky purple hue is followed by a sensational Pauillac that has a blockbuster (and classic Lynch-Bages) style in its darker currants, smoke tobacco, lead pencil, and crushed stone-driven aromatics. These carry to a full-bodied, powerful, massively concentrated 2022 that has a dense, layered mid-palate, velvety tannins, flawless balance, and a rare mix of power and elegance. This is a château that’s clearly firing on all cylinders, and this magical beauty will need a decade (or more) to hit the early stages of its prime drinking window. Don't miss it!

James Suckling (97-98)

Blackberry, black cherry, crushed stone and graphite. Lead pencil, too. It’s full-bodied with juicy, chewy tannins. Vertical and layered with lovely length. Quite plush. Chewy tannins at the end. Cabernet sauvignon driven. Showing excellent potential.

James Suckling (93-94)

This is very dense and intense with lovely intensity and energy. Dense, round and savory tannins. Another winner from here.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Cask sample. Rich soils and expression. Solid, rich and hugely friendly. Exuberant. But denser than the Greffieux.

The Machard Gramont Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2017 exudes the exceptional expertise inherent to the Burgundy region's fine winemaking tradition. Meticulously cultivated in the sublime vineyards of Vosne-Romanee, this Premier Cru red wine from Machard de Gramont is produced using 100% Pinot Noir grapes. This cherished cuvee is characterised by its rich texture, complex structure, and profound intensity, a testament to the unique, prestigious Les Gaudichots vineyard.

Impeccably matured in French oak barrels before bottling, the 2017 vintage distinctly balances the natural wild berry and earthy tones with slight undertones of spice. Every bottle articulates the rich legacy of Machard de Gramont, a family passionately devoted to perpetuating Burgundy's celebrated wine heritage since five generations. Savour the refined elegance, characteristic of Machard Gramont Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2017, a timeless ambassador of a quintessential, classic Pinot Noir.

From the hallowed soils of Burgundy, the Machard Gramont Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2019 connotes the epitome of masterly vinification. Crafted in the esteemed Machard de Gramont estate, this exquisite wine mirrors the passion of its creators, adapting generations-old winemaking practices to capture the essence of its prestigious terroir. The vineyard, situated on a south-easterly slope, benefits from an optimal exposure to sunlight, imbuing the grapes with a unique intensity.

A hallmark of this exceptional 2019 vintage is the elegant balance of ripe, dark fruit and striking minerality, courtesy of the vineyard's iron-rich brown limestone soils. Aged in well-seasoned French oak, it develops layers of alluring complexity. The nose exudes rich raspberry, mingling with exotic spices, while the palate reveals rounded tannins and a lingering finish. As the precision of the terroir shines through, the Machard Gramont Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 2019 truly epitomises the grandeur of Burgundian wine.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-96)

One of the original garage wines, the 2017 Magrez Fombrauge is a blockbuster made from 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that will see 18 months in new barrels. It offers a huge nose of chocolaty dark fruits, crushed rocks, and sweet oak as well as full-bodied richness, impressive mid-palate depth, and sweet tannin. Deep, rich, gorgeously textured, and lengthy, it could be a true superstar and up with the crème de la crème in the vintage.

Winery note: The Premier Cru vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges are divided into sections.
Damodes is positioned on the north side of the village immediately above Boudots (which sits adjacent to possibly Burgundies greatest premier Cru Vosne-Romanée Malconsorts) and on the border with Vosne-Romanée
The vineyard is on the upper slope with well-draining soil. The wines, whilst clearly made in the style of Nuits-Saint-Georges, show an influence from Vosne-Romanée next door. Notable floral notes and black fruit flavours.

Consisit of 1 bottle each:

 

Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Rouges

This Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru originates from wines that grow on a slope in the commune of Flagey-Echezeaux overlooking the Echezeaux Grand Cru vineyards.

 

Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts

One of the most prestigious 1er Crus, often held in the same regard as many Grand Crus, Malconsorts is located right next to La Tâche and borders Nuits Saint Georges. It produces some of the most powerful, structured, and majestic expressions of Pinot Noir in the Vosne Romanée region.

 

Vosne Romanée 1er Cru En Orveau

Well located climat at the heart of the wine hillside, facing Musigny Grands Crus and alongside to Grands Echezeaux

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94+)

The 2014 Malartic-Lagravière is a gorgeous wine, but it is also flamboyant and exotic, especially in its flavor profile. Super-ripe red cherry and plum make a strong first impression. Sweet floral and spice notes, along with ripe, silky tannins, add to the wine's sensuality. A rich, powerful wine with soft contours and striking depth, the 2014 is a real beauty. It will be even more compelling once the new oak tannins soften a bit further. The blend is 52 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc and 3 % Petit Verdot. Tasted two times.

James Suckling (96)

I love the deep and complex nose, in which the cassis and mint of cabernet sauvignon are beautifully married to the more generous blackberry of ripe merlot and the vanilla and toasty notes from the oak are marvelously integrated. On the palate it creeps up on you slowly; the first impression is ripe yet delicate, then the fine-grained tannins charge through and light up the sky. Very long finish. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (96)

I love the deep and complex nose, in which the cassis and mint of cabernet sauvignon are beautifully married to the more generous blackberry of ripe merlot and the vanilla and toasty notes from the oak are marvelously integrated. On the palate it creeps up on you slowly; the first impression is ripe yet delicate, then the fine-grained tannins charge through and light up the sky. Very long finish. Drink or hold.