Jeb Dunnuck (94)

The first wine made at the new cellar, the 2014 Château Pédesclaux checks in as 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot aged in 65% new French oak. It's a beautiful wine in the vintage that has awesome purity and precision in its black raspberries, cassis, crushed flowers, and hints of river rock-like minerality. Medium-bodied, silky, pure, incredibly elegant and seamless, with gorgeous purity and elegance, it's a knockout wine in the vintage.

James Suckling (95)

So aromatic with crushed currants, raspberries and blackberries with hints of graphite and lead pencil. Full-bodied and very tight with beautiful tannins and a long, flavorful finish. The tannins really build at the end of the palate. Try from 2024.

James Suckling (95)

So aromatic with crushed currants, raspberries and blackberries with hints of graphite and lead pencil. Full-bodied and very tight with beautiful tannins and a long, flavorful finish. The tannins really build at the end of the palate. Try from 2024.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2017 Pédesclaux has really come together nicely since I tasted it from barrel. Supple and engaging, 2017 shows all of the radiance and soft contours of Merlot, which makes up nearly half the blend. Hints of leather, smoke and tobacco are laced throughout a core of black cherry/plum fruit. The 2017 is engaging, wonderfully inviting and simply delicious.

James Suckling (94-95)

Very long and straight with a beautiful, fine line of ripe and compressed tannins. Medium-to full-bodied and tight and fresh on the finish. Beautiful cabernet sauvignon is driving this one.

Jeb Dunnuck (94+)

A gorgeous wine, the 2019 Château Pédesclaux shines for its pure, elegant, yet concentrated style, and it's certainly one of the finest vintages from this address. Cassis, black cherries, lead pencil, and violet notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. The purity and finesse are truly something here, and while it already offers pleasure, it deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for 20+ years.

James Suckling (95-96)

This is very chewy with dusty tannins and blackberry and blueberry character. Some chocolate, too. Full and layered. Such beautiful violet and black-cherry quality at the end with some raspberries, 56% cabernet sauvignon. 34% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. First year with organic farming. A nice step-up in quality.

James Suckling (95-96)

There is a really pretty, powdery-tannin texture to this, with dark-berry and currant character. Some orange peel, too. It’s full and layered with a sense of precision and focus. Framed and open-grained in the texture. Velvety. Real Pauillac personality here. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. May be better than 2022.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I was also able to taste the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Da Capo, which comes mostly from older vines in the La Crau lieu-dit and spends an additional year in a large foudre. The 2016 vintage was truly magical for the region, and this Cuvée Da Capo is unquestionably one of the finest vintages for this cuvée ever made, in the same league as, if not surpassing, the 1998, 2003, 2007, and 2010. Sensational notes of cured meats, crème de cassis, crushed violets, ground pepper, tapenade, truffle, and sweet herbes de Provence all soar from the glass and it hits the palate with a massive, full-bodied style that stays seamless, weightless, and as pure as they come. Traditional, classic Châteauneuf Du Pape doesn’t get better. I hate to be the guy who throws out the “best to date” line very often, but this is truly magical stuff.

James Suckling (97)

Enveloping, warm and spicy nose with an extremely wide spectrum of aromas, ranging from dried rose to graphite via thyme and smoked bacon. Very powerful, concentrated and earthy, yet there’s brightness in there that makes it shine, Stunningly fine tannins power the super-long finish. Drink or hold.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

Savory notes of bramble, smoke and leather juxtapose forward plum, cherry and strawberry in this full-bodied wine. It's a penetrating, mouthfilling sip that lingers on the palate, finishing on soft, furry tannins. Approachable already, this concentrated wine should improve through 2025 and hold further.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Reminding me of a fresher version of the 2003, the 2016 Chateauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Reservée is another magical wine from Laurence Feraud that could come from nowhere else. I still remember tasting (and loving) this beauty from barrel. It doesn’t quite have the sheer over-the-top decadence of the 2003, but it does have more elegance, while not giving up an inch with regard to texture and opulence. Dark ruby/plum-hued with a monster display of Provençal goodness in its garrigue, lavender, violets, kirsch, plums, and Asian spices, this full-throttle, ripe, sexy Châteauneuf du Pape has silky tannins, flawless balance, and a heavenly texture. It’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and drink well for at least 20-25 years.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Reminding me of a fresher version of the 2003, the 2016 Chateauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Reservée is another magical wine from Laurence Feraud that could come from nowhere else. I still remember tasting (and loving) this beauty from barrel. It doesn’t quite have the sheer over-the-top decadence of the 2003, but it does have more elegance, while not giving up an inch with regard to texture and opulence. Dark ruby/plum-hued with a monster display of Provençal goodness in its garrigue, lavender, violets, kirsch, plums, and Asian spices, this full-throttle, ripe, sexy Châteauneuf du Pape has silky tannins, flawless balance, and a heavenly texture. It’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and drink well for at least 20-25 years.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

The 2017 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée hits the standard assemblage: 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and 10% "others." Still in cask at the time of my visit, it has expressive floral and garrigue notes, plus hints of star anise layered over a base of black cherries. Full-bodied, deep and rich, this looks like a vintage to set aside for a while, with at least 15 years of longevity ahead of it.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

The 2017 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée hits the standard assemblage: 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and 10% "others." Still in cask at the time of my visit, it has expressive floral and garrigue notes, plus hints of star anise layered over a base of black cherries. Full-bodied, deep and rich, this looks like a vintage to set aside for a while, with at least 15 years of longevity ahead of it.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée looks set to rival the best examples of this bottling. Made up of approximately 80% Grenache, with 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and smaller amounts of other permitted varieties, it's impressively complex on the nose, with scents of black cherries, blackberries and black olives, plus mysterious wafts of violets and garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it finishes long and velvety, a sure-fire bet for cellaring.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée looks set to rival the best examples of this bottling. Made up of approximately 80% Grenache, with 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and smaller amounts of other permitted varieties, it's impressively complex on the nose, with scents of black cherries, blackberries and black olives, plus mysterious wafts of violets and garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it finishes long and velvety, a sure-fire bet for cellaring.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

I was even more impressed by the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée than the 2019. Boasting crazily complex floral scents, garrigue, raspberries and cherries, this is one incredibly perfumed example of Pegau. Medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant and long, this is quintessential Pegau.

James Suckling (92-93)

This is very minerally with a peach stone and brambleberry character. Full body, with delicately chewy tannins and a long length. Very refined. Very well done for the second wine of Lafleur that made a top 2011. 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90)

The 2012 Pensées de Lafleur comes across a little bretty on the nose, and this obscures some of the terroir expression. I would have liked more complexity here. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, solid with good grip, yet it lacks a bit of charm (not that this Pomerol seems overly concerned). Is it holding something back or just a bit too serious? Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)

A touch of gunsmoke reduction on opening, clearing to show superb dark fruit character, fragrant floral aromatics and a ton of luscious juicy tannins. This is right up there, vying for its place alongside many 1st wine 2016s in Pomerol that I have tasted today. Absolutely delicious, so creamy and yet so taut, hawthorn, cassis, black cherry and grilled vanilla bean. In a sweet spot but will age. Baptiste and Julie Guinaudeau owners.

Emanating from the revered terroirs of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits, the Perdrix Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 is a profound and impressive expression of Pinot Noir. Crafted by the meticulous hands of Domaine Perdrix, a producer celebrated for their unwavering commitment to both tradition and innovation, this grand cru seduces the palate with its amalgamation of ripe red fruits and subtly earthy undertones.

The production of the Perdrix Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 marries patience and precision. Grapes undergo whole cluster fermentation, enhancing the wine's complexity and tannic structure. Following fermentation, the wine is matured in oak barrels, bestowing even more depth and roundness. The resulting nectar showcases a lavish balance of opulence and restraint, earning it the Grand Cru status.

Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or a discerning newcomer, the Perdrix Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 guarantees a sublime engagement between the senses and France's winemaking heritage.

Wine Spectator (93)

A vibrant version, with lovely harmony to the spice and smoke accents and flavors of poached pear, pastry, apricot and honey. The refined, creamy mousse carries the flavor range on the lasting finish.

Wine Spectator (94)

This finely knit and lithe Champagne is smoky up front, opening into a lovely range of pastry, glazed apricot, lemon curd and candied ginger notes in the glass. Vibrant acidity drives the satinlike finish.

Wine Spectator (94)

This finely knit and lithe Champagne is smoky up front, opening into a lovely range of pastry, glazed apricot, lemon curd and candied ginger notes in the glass. Vibrant acidity drives the satinlike finish.

Wine Enthusiast (94)

This pale-colored wine with its crushed raspberry perfume, is now reaching its peak. It is rich with a dosage that gives it a soft character without losing any of the crisp fruit. The wine is balanced, hinting at toast while still tangy and tight. Drink this delicious wine now.

Wine Spectator (92)

Mature notes suggest more reserve wine in this complex, elegant version. Dried fruit, spice and woodsy flavors are backed by a firm structure. The fine texture and long finish combine for a terrific overall impression.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The 2014 Chambertin Grand Cru seems to offer more fruit intensity on the nose compared to the 2014 Clos-de-Bèze, with cranberry and fresh strawberry, and a touch of damp woodland in the background. It gains intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied but with great substance and depth than the Clos de Bèze; there is a keen line of acidity cutting through the intense red berry fruit, and wonderful mineralité and tension on the finish. It just gradually gains in intensity before it fans out with a sense of confidence and entitlement, as befitting a Chambertin. This is a superb wine.