Wine Enthusiast (92)

91-93 Barrel sample. Well structured, this has dry tannins over vivid black fruits. It shows acidity but also great juicy sweetness.

Vinous - Ian D'Agata (90)

(a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc; 13.4% alcohol): Deep red. Open-knit aromas of red cherry and cassis complicated by intense notes of clove, nutmeg, incense and bay leaf. Then creamy and soft on the palate, but with lovely lift to the flavors of dark berries, minerals and cedar. The silky-sweet finish shows lovely aromatic persistence, not to mention very good intensity for a 2004. Drinking deliciously right now; at its relatively reasonable price today, this would be an excellent choice for restaurant dining.

James Suckling (99)

The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026.

Jeb Dunnuck (96-98+)

Reminding me of the 2016, the 2019 Domaine De Chevalier checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 35% new French oak. Its vivid purple color is followed by a classy bouquet of crème de cassis, damp earth, tobacco leaf, and spring flowers. With medium to full-bodied richness, stunning purity of fruit, silky tannins, and a good spice of acidity, this beautiful, classic, quintessential Chevalier will need 5-7 years of bottle age yet keep for 4-5 decades in cold cellars. Tasted twice.

Wine Advocate (93)

A forward, sexy-style Cote Rotie that shows more oomph than most in the vintage, Jamet's 2000 Cote Rotie offers the hallmark complexity of the estate with its perfumed raspberry, game, flowers, olives and peppery bouquet. This carries to a full-bodied, voluptuously textured, seamless wine that has excellent purity, low acidity and tons of charm. Probably closest in style to the 1990, drink this character-filled beauty over the coming 5-7 years.

James Suckling (99)

Fabulous aromas of crushed berries such as blackberries and blackcurrants, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied, yet agile and complete. A dense center palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022.

Wine Advocate (94)

A magnificent sleeper of the vintage, the 2008 Duhart Milon is the shrewd consumer’s wine to purchase by the case as prices do not yet reflect its qualitative resurgence. Composed of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot that came in at 13.09% alcohol, it is a surprisingly intense effort displaying a marvelous texture, plenty of black currant, licorice, unsmoked cigar tobacco and earthy characteristics, a full-bodied mouthfeel and stunning purity as well as density. Enjoy this top-notch 2008 over the next 20-25 years.

From the emblematic cellars of Domaine de la Grand'Cour, the Dutraive Chenas lieu dit en Papolet 2020 is a sublime embodiment of its terroir and artisan winemaking. This fine representation of Beaujolais is crafted by Jean-Louis Dutraive, a fervent advocate for organic viticulture and traditional vinification. Grown in the distinctive vineyard of 'En Papolet', the Gamay grapes receive superior sun, nurturing soil and controlled temperature affording remarkable consistency and quality.

On the nose, this wine reveals tantalising layers of ripe cherry, crushed berries and delicate violets. A full-bodied palate with an exquisite balance of fruit, tannins and minerality promises a sensual, lingering finish. Dutraive's technique of semi-carbonic maceration ensures the deepest extraction of the fruit's essence, beautifully preserved in the purity of this low-sulphur, unfiltered wine. A 'Dutraive Chenas lieu dit en Papolet 2020' promises to elevate your fine wine experience and is a compelling testament to Dutravie's reputation in producing world-renowned Beaujolais.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2018 Echézeaux Grand Cru is matured entirely in new oak. It soaks up that wood nicely thanks to the ample fruit concentration of black cherries and cassis, here joined by attractive pine/cedar aromas that gain intensity with every swirl of the glass. The palate is a little woody at the moment and needs more fruit on the midpalate, to the extent that I wager Rouget's Vosne-Romanée Beaumonts might ultimately show better. We will see.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Village is matured in 30% new oak, although Emmanuel Rouget took this sample from a new barrel. It has a refined, pure nose, not powerful yet finely tuned, with subtle floral aromas. The well-balanced palate has a core of red fruit laced with blood orange and citrus peel notes that carry through to the lively, effervescent finish. I am deeply impressed by this Village Cru. Chapeau!

Wine Advocate (90-92)

The 2018 Vosne-Romanée Village is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries, exotic spices, orange rind and smoked duck, deftly framed by the subtle imprint of some 30% new oak. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, textural, and enveloping, with a ripe but succulent core of fruit, supple tannins and a fragrant finish. It's a blend derived from lieux-dits Aux Ravioles, Aux Ormes, Les Jacquines, Aux Réas, Vigneux and Barraux.

Wine Advocate (96)

Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, Faiveley's 2014 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru has a ravishing, pure and sensual bouquet with red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit laced with minerals. It needs another two or three years to fully assimilate. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine tannin, very focused and tensile with shimmering, effervescent red fruit fanning out on the finish. Stunning—but it is unquestionably built for the long-term. Tasted September 2017.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2017 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru comes from two parcels. It has a charming bouquet of ebullient raspberry and wild strawberry aromas; hints of vanilla pod and rose petal lend complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, gentle grip and a saline, oyster-shell-tinged finish that lingers in the mouth. This is one of Faiveley’s most impressive offerings in 2017. Superb.

Decanter (96)

Les Ouvrées Rodin is a small cuvée of Clos de Bèze, selected from vines that are more than 60 years old. It's worth trading up from the regular release, assuming you have the funds, because this is altogether richer, more complex and more concentrated. The 40% new oak is very well done, adding some cinnamon spice to the dense black cherry and blueberry fruit.

Vinous (92-94)

(Faiveley vinified the old vines separately but then assembled them with the rest): Bright ruby-red. Alluring floral nose combines blackberry, black raspberry, violet and licorice. A savory and rather refined young Clos Vougeot, offering subtle notes of dark berries, flowers and earth rather than this grand cru's more typical black cherry and herb qualities. Nothing rustic about this highly promising Clos Vougeot!

Decanter (96)

You're almost always assured of a great Corton from this 2.7ha monopole, which has performed especially well in the warmer conditions of 2017, retaining acidity and freshness. Fine tannins, chalky minerality and beautifully judged oak all support savoury raspberry, red cherry and pomegranate fruit flavours.

Vinous (86-88)

The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes has an earthy, undergrowth-scented bouquet of dark berry fruit, touches of tar coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a little chewy on the midpalate, with candied red fruit toward the slightly monotone and bitter finish. It's a bit "Faiveley of old" for my liking, big-boned and missing some finesse.

James Suckling (94-95)

A ripe, rich red that delivers loads of crushed-berry, chocolate and walnut character, as well as fine tannins through the center palate. Layered texture.

Wine Spectator (91)

This offers blackberry, currant and hints of meat on the nose. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a meat, berry and light vanilla character. Has a velvety texture, with pretty fruit. Best after 2011. 4,165 cases made. -JS

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

Sweet ripe berry fruits on the nose, depth of flavour, precision and clarity that last from the first to the last moment of this wine. Clear cocoa bean, espresso, chocolate, but also concentrated bilberry, blackberry and raspberry. The tannins are slate-strewn, textured, adding persistency and mouthwatering salinity to the palate. This is a brilliant Figeac, and ones that lovers of this wine should absolutely not miss. Harvest September 21 to October 15, 100% new oak for ageing.

Vinous - Neal Martin (98+)

The 2016 Figeac has a nose of real pedigree, featuring very well-defined, ferrous black fruit with hints of truffle and tobacco and conveying exceptional mineralité and tension. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, a fine bead of acidity and wonderful structure and density toward the finish. This is a seriously fine proposition, although it is a surly Saint-Émilion that may well close down for a while before blazing brightly in 15–20 years’ time. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

The Wine Independent (100)

Composed of 36% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot, the 2019 Figeac is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs considerable swirling to coax out its alluring perfume of redcurrant jelly, juicy blackcurrants, and blackberries, with underlying suggestions of candied violets, chocolate box, fragrant earth, and lavender plus a touch of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a mind-blowing array of layers with exceptionally ripe, fine-grained tannins and jaw-dropping tension, leading to a fantastically persistent mineral and floral-tinged finish that makes your heart stop. With its energy, structure, and incredible depth, truly, this is a towering triumph.

Vinous (89-91)

Bright lemon-yellow color. Restrained aromas of mirabelle, yellow flowers and clove. Brisk but not hard, offering a lovely sugar/acid balance to its intense lemon zest and spice flavors. Finishes with good cut but a touch of youthful rigidity. These vines were originally planted in the 1950s but a lot of them have been replaced through the years.

Vinous (90)

The 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet Maltroye 1er Cru has a fragrant, chalk dust scented bouquet that opens nicely with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a lightly spiced opening, touches of orange rind and marmalade lending a welcome tanginess. It might not be a long-term Chassagne, though it is thoroughly enjoyable. 14.10% alcohol.

Vinous (92)

The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Maltroye 1er Cru has a finely tuned nose, the 30% new oak neatly integrated. The palate is well balanced with good depth, honeycomb and orange rind, slightly waxy in texture towards the finish. Good extract here and fine length, this should drink well for 15-20 years.

Vinous (94)

The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeots 1er Cru, over towards the Santenay side, usually takes longer to ripen. The nose is well balanced with fine delineation, touches of honeysuckle and pressed white flowers. The palate is well balanced with a lovely white peach and white chocolate opening, fine salinity, very poised and tensile towards the finish. Superb.

Presenting the Fougeray Beauclair Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2017, an epitome of French viticulture. Originating from the prestigious vineyards of Burgundy, this remarkable wine captures the essence of its prestigious terroir. Crafted by Patrice and Cathy Beauclair, known for their traditional approach to winemaking, this revered couple meticulously handpick their grapes. They then adopt a gentle extraction process, ageing the wine in oak barrels for a time-honoured flavour profile.

This particular vintage exhibits a complex, robust palate, with hints of ripe berries, alluring spice notes and velvety tannins. Its ruby hue is as inviting as its rich aroma, forming an alluring marriage of sight, smell and taste. The Fougeray Beauclair Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2017 surpasses expectations of even the most discerning wine enthusiasts, promising a sublime tasting experience. A quintessential addition to any fine wine collection, it stands as a testament to the Beauclair's commitment to excellence.