James Suckling (93-94)

Rather firm and muscular tannins frame the wine. Medium-to full-bodied with a column of fruit and density. Shows potential. Earth and spice at the end.

James Suckling (93-94)

Rather firm and muscular tannins frame the wine. Medium-to full-bodied with a column of fruit and density. Shows potential. Earth and spice at the end.

Wine Spectator (94)

A blockbuster. Black in color, with extremely grapey, toasted oak and dark chocolate aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of big, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Best Clos de L'Oratoire ever. Best after 2010. 4,000 cases made.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87-90)

Ruby-red. Sappy red berries and blackberry show a candied, liqueur-like quality. Round, sweet, dense and lush but with well-integrated acids giving the wine good life in the mouth. Then quite closed, even a bit youthfully dry, on the back end. But then this wine still has a bit of malic acidity left to convert.

Wine Advocate (94)

From the Comte von Neipperg, his wines from this over-achieving estate always deliver an aromatic fireworks display of cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake, roasted herbs, black olive, cassis and sweet kirsch. The 2005 has all that as well as ripe, well-integrated, velvety tannin, and full body in a sexy, luscious, heady style to drink now and over the next 10-15 years.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88)

Bright ruby-red. Liqueur-like black cherry, blackberry and minerals on the nose, complicated by a suggestion of Indian spices. Juicy, firm and sweet, with good intensity to the moderately complex flavors of crushed dark berries, fruitcake, bitter chocolate and graphite. This pliant midweight boasts good spine but has also put on flesh since I tasted it in barrel. Finishes with serious, dusty, spreading tannins.

James Suckling (95)

Aromas of bark, blackberries, currants and basil leaf, not to mention lavender and sage. Full body, integrated tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Layered and beautiful. Drink in 2022.

Wine Spectator (94-97)

Features seamlessly layered dark currant, fig and boysenberry fruit, infused liberally with a tobacco note and backed by a long, smoldering finish. Latent energy keeps this going. An impressive young wine.

Wine Spectator (94-97)

Features seamlessly layered dark currant, fig and boysenberry fruit, infused liberally with a tobacco note and backed by a long, smoldering finish. Latent energy keeps this going. An impressive young wine.

James Suckling (94-95)

Chewy and rich with dried-mushroom, dark-fruit and burnt-orange character. It’s full-bodied with a dense, tannic palate. Smoky, toasty and coffee undertones here, too.

James Suckling (94-95)

Chewy and rich with dried-mushroom, dark-fruit and burnt-orange character. It’s full-bodied with a dense, tannic palate. Smoky, toasty and coffee undertones here, too.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-95)

This wine seems to always deliver, and I loved the 2020 Clos De L'Oratoire. Lots of black cherries, subtle cassis, notes of lead pencil and violets, medium to full-bodied richness, and a balanced, elegant texture all make for a beautiful Saint-Emilion. It picks up more minerality with time in the glass, and its purity of fruit is top-notch. It will keep for at least two decades.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-95)

This wine seems to always deliver, and I loved the 2020 Clos De L'Oratoire. Lots of black cherries, subtle cassis, notes of lead pencil and violets, medium to full-bodied richness, and a balanced, elegant texture all make for a beautiful Saint-Emilion. It picks up more minerality with time in the glass, and its purity of fruit is top-notch. It will keep for at least two decades.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Clos de l'Oratoire is terrific. It offers a striking mix of dark blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, lavender, spice, menthol and crushed rocks. Dynamic and vibrant in the glass, impresses for its finely cut, somewhat nervous personality. The 2021 represents a pretty big stylistic shift. Some of that is the vintage and some is an evolution in style. The combined effects of those two factors make for a compelling Clos de L'Oratoire.

Vinous - Neal Martin (83)

The 1982 Clos de Sarpe is clearly cut from a different cloth compared to vintages from the 1960s and 1970s. This has more fruit: mulberry, red plum and strawberry, smudged but with commendable presence. There are scents of clove and field mushrooms developing in the glass as secondary aromas take over. The palate is medium-bodied with bitter cherry and tobacco on the entry, the tannins drying a little with a mushroom-tinged, quite piecey finish that cuts away quickly. Drink soon.

Wine Advocate (95)

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Clos de Sarpe (composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc) is a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal provocative Black Forest cake, Chinese five spice and cigar box notes with nuances of sandalwood, kirsch, rose hip tea and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, the palate is oh-so-seductive with a beautiful velvety texture and tons of freshness lifting the decadent fruit to a long spicy finish.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2020 Clos du Sarpe is an exotic beauty. Blackberry jam, graphite, menthol, licorice, crushed rocks, incense and white truffle give Clos du Sarpe its exotic profile. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing, but everything about the 2020 is so alluring. The 2020 needs time to soften, but it is compelling.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2017 Clos des Jacobins is a dark, sumptuous beauty. Succulent dark cherry, red plum, mocha, spice, menthol and pine all flesh out as the 2017 shows off its alluring, inviting personality. Generous and creamy on the palate, with terrific depth, the Clos des Jacobins is a winner in 2017. All the elements are impeccably balanced throughout, and the wine finishes with good energy and depth. This has the structure to age. Tasted two times.

Savour the grandeur of the Bordeaux region with the exceptional Clos La Madeleine 2007. This striking red wine originates from the iconic Saint-Émilion sub-region, famed for its rich, diverse wine heritage. Produced in only small quantities, Clos La Madeleine 2007 truly is the epitome of substance over volume. Aged in French oak barrels and comprised of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, this stunning vintage preens with depth, layered with a tantalising bouquet of ripe red fruits and subtle spice.

The historic vineyard, overlooking the Dordogne, boasts an optimal terroir, bestowing a notable elegance upon the final product. Each bottle is a testament to the meticulous cultivation techniques implemented at the vineyard, ensuring a unique wine expression with each harvest. Succumbing to its profound allure, experts laud the Clos La Madeleine 2007 for its full-bodied richness, refined tannins, and long, seductive finish. For the discerning palate desiring a classical Bordeaux experience, this vintage is quite simply, incomparable.

Discover the Clos La Madeleine 2020, a masterpiece originating from Saint Emilion, perfect for the discerning wine connoisseur. Clos La Madeleine is a distinguished producer, renowned for the remarkable quality achieved from its small vineyard plots. With 2019 marking a shift towards entirely organic practices, they consistently achieve excellence in every bottle. Clos La Madeleine 2020, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, exhibits exquisite structure and enticing bouquet. Its nuanced layers unfold with tantalising hints of ripe fruit, specifically black plum and blackberry, interlaced with subtle hints of cocoa and fine tobacco undertones grounded with classic forest floor notes.

This vintage offers a remarkable level of finesse that is undeniably spellbinding. The Clos La Madeleine 2020, with its expertly crafted balance and nuanced varietal expression, is a shining testament to the exceptional terroir of Saint Emilion. An absolute must for any connoisseur in search of an illustrious Bordeaux experience.

Experience the decadence of a prized vintage with the Clos Saint-Martin 2000, an exquisite Bordeaux wine that exudes sophistication to its very core. Crafted in the prestigious vineyards of Saint-Émilion, France, this merlot-centred blend is known for its intricate flavour profile and superb ageing potential, adding to its desirability amongst wine enthusiasts.

The Clos Saint-Martin 2000 is a flagship offering from Clos Saint-Martin, a historic vineyard whose roots date back to the early 19th century. The intricate wine making process includes meticulous grape selection and barrel ageing in 100% new French oak casks, infusing the wine with unparalleled elegance and depth.

This coveted wine boasts complex notes of rich dark fruits complemented by underlying tones of earthy truffle and fine-grained tannins, rendering it a truly luxurious indulgence. The Clos Saint-Martin 2000 is a testimony to the winemaker's commitment to excellence, typically enjoyed by the discerning connoisseur.

Wine Advocate (95)

A blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that hit 14% natural alcohol, the wine has an extraordinary purity and vivaciousness in 2009. Dense ruby/purple, with beautiful black currant and black cherry notes as well as hints of raspberry and spring flowers, despite the fact that 100% new French oak is used, it is completely buried beneath a cascade of glorious fruit. The wine is extremely aromatic, with great intensity and beautiful balance. Unlike most vintages, it is somewhat accessible because of the vintage’s low acidity and higher alcohols and should drink well for up to 20 years.

Vinous - Neal Martin (89)

The 2011 Clos Saint-Martin was inevitably going to be a comedown from the previous pair of vintages. This is more conservative and more tertiary in style, with less forward fruit; a touch of cinnamon in the background lends some intrigue. The palate is medium-bodied and clearly more approachable and pliant than the 2010. Commendable in terms of the weight and grip on the entry, though it does taper quickly and leaves you desiring more length on the finish. As such, I would open bottles in the near future and not cellar for too long. Tasted at a vertical of recent vintages at the château.

Vinous - Neal Martin (86)

The 2013 Clos Saint-Martin cannot disguise the shortcomings of that challenging growing season on the nose, where it is short on fruit concentration and intensity, though fresh and without greenness. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite supple tannins that frame the slightly dry black fruit. However, it feels somewhat hollow and short on the finish, and therefore bottles should be consumed in the near future. Tasted at a vertical of recent vintages at the château.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90+)

The 2014 Clos Saint Martin has a reduced nose that is difficult to shake from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, a light touch of spice, harmonious if just missing a little complexity towards the finish. It actually improves with aeration and I will give this the benefit of the doubt. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

Sophie Fourcade's 2015 Clos Saint Martin has turned out beautifully. Dense, pliant and impeccably layered, it also offers a good bit of freshness to play off the sweet red stone fruit flavors. I especially like the brightness here, especially in 2015, where it is easy for wines to be out of balance. A closing flourish of sweet red cherry and raspberry fruit leaves a lasting impression. Tasted three times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2016 Clos Saint-Martin is absolutely gorgeous. Rich and sumptuous, the 2016 possesses exquisite balance and a sense of poise that is impossible to miss. Silky tannins and layered, ripe fruit give the 2016 tons of raciness. Dark red cherry fruit, blood orange, flowers and a hint of spice are some of the strands that come together in this alluring Saint-Émilion. The 2016 will be virtually impossible to resist in its youth. Today, it is flat-out gorgeous. Tasted two times.