James Suckling (97)

A white with beautiful density and bright fruit. Full body and bright acidity. Very long, tight and strong at the end. Muscular. This ages in a combination of large and small barrels. Pure sauvignon. First white from the team at Cheval Blanc. Made across the street. Sold in three-bottle cases.

Wine Advocate (88)

The 2014 Grolleau has a pure, fresh and aromatic bouquet of red and dark fruits, along with floral and spicy underwood aromas. Light to medium-bodied, silky textured and elegant, this is a transparent and refreshing red with a very nice and honest tannin grip. It is bone dry and sour rather than sweet, but ripe, juicy and a great pleasure to drink.

Indulge your senses with the captivating Clau de Nell Cuvee Violette 2014, an exquisite Cabernet Franc made in Loire Valley, France. Expertly produced by Clau de Nell, a notable winery respected for its dedication to biodynamic practices, this wine stands out for its remarkable complexity and depth. The winemaker, Anne-Claude Leflaive, ensures the terroire shines through by hand-picking the grapes at perfect maturity to capture their natural sweetness. During fermentation, native yeasts are used to maintain the wine's inherent character.

The result of this diligently executed process is a luxurious wine boasting an elegant nose adorned with floral notes interlaced with just a hint of wild strawberries. On the palate, the Clau de Nell Cuvee Violette 2014 expresses soft, ‘crunchy’ tannins that sing harmoniously with the vibrant fruity undertones and a persistent finish. Truly a testament to the incredible quality of wines emerging from this esteemed Loire Valley estate.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The 2014 Clos de Tart Grand Cru will contain 40% whole bunch fruit in the final. It was picked from September 17 until September 22. This blend that I tasted included the young vines at the bottom of the vineyard that may or may not be deselected to make a Forge de Tart (the decision will be made next year). It is also the first vintage that does not include old vines at the northwest corner that were pulled up in spring 2014, due to be replanted in four years' time. It has a very well defined bouquet with cranberry and wild strawberry fruit, fine mineral tones and is quite harmonious with hints of wet limestone. The palate is medium-bodied and I feel this has tightened up since I tasted it in September 2015. The fruit also seems a little darker. Blackberry and wild cherry, with a hint of cola and certainly more tangible mineralité on the finish, as you can feel the mouth tingling long after it has bid adieu.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The 2014 Clos de Tart Grand Cru will contain 40% whole bunch fruit in the final. It was picked from September 17 until September 22. This blend that I tasted included the young vines at the bottom of the vineyard that may or may not be deselected to make a Forge de Tart (the decision will be made next year). It is also the first vintage that does not include old vines at the northwest corner that were pulled up in spring 2014, due to be replanted in four years' time. It has a very well defined bouquet with cranberry and wild strawberry fruit, fine mineral tones and is quite harmonious with hints of wet limestone. The palate is medium-bodied and I feel this has tightened up since I tasted it in September 2015. The fruit also seems a little darker. Blackberry and wild cherry, with a hint of cola and certainly more tangible mineralité on the finish, as you can feel the mouth tingling long after it has bid adieu.

Decanter (95)

Paul and Vincent Avril, a father and son team, established themselves as one of the finest producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Despite being predominantly Grenache, it is reminiscent of an elegant northern Rhône Syrah with the texture of a Pinot. With a medium bodied intensity, it has a beautiful red fruit expression with some savoury notes. Harmony, finesse and elegance are probably the three words that best describe this beauty. One for the cellar.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

The 2014 Clos du Clocher is a rich, intense wine that needs time to come together. There is plenty of depth in the fruit, yet the tannins remain incisive. Smoke, tobacco and grilled herbs lend aromatic nuance to the bold, dark finish. Tasted two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

Catherine Papon-Nouvel's 2014 Clos Saint Julien is a deep, richly textured wine from Saint-Émilion's plateau. Super-ripe black cherry, smoke, licorice, menthol, chocolate and torrefaction notes build as the 2014 opens up in the glass. Seamless and full-throttle to the core, the Saint Julien possesses tremendous midpalate intensity and richness. Even so, there is plenty of supporting minerality to back things up. Stylistically, the Clos Saint Julien is quite a bit riper and more overt in feel than the Cabernet Franc-dominated Petit Gravet Ainé. The blend is 60 % Merlot and 40 % Cabernet Franc.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

Catherine Papon-Nouvel's 2014 Clos Saint Julien is a deep, richly textured wine from Saint-Émilion's plateau. Super-ripe black cherry, smoke, licorice, menthol, chocolate and torrefaction notes build as the 2014 opens up in the glass. Seamless and full-throttle to the core, the Saint Julien possesses tremendous midpalate intensity and richness. Even so, there is plenty of supporting minerality to back things up. Stylistically, the Clos Saint Julien is quite a bit riper and more overt in feel than the Cabernet Franc-dominated Petit Gravet Ainé. The blend is 60 % Merlot and 40 % Cabernet Franc.

The Clos Saint Vincent Grenache de Gio VdF 2014 is a grandeur in itself, exuding pure sophistication. This exquisite indulgence originates from the sunny southern terrains of France's Rhône Valley, a region famous for the cultivation of the resilient and versatile Grenache grape. Clos Saint Vincent, a reputable wine enterprise, meticulously ensures the amalgamation of tradition with modern vineyard techniques, ensuring each vintage is a masterpiece.

The 2014 Grenache de Gio epitomises their dedication, boasting an alluring bouquet of ripe red berries, complemented by a dash of spice notes. The consequential wine defines elegance with its velvety texture, and a lingering finish that distinctly echoes the region's terroir. Ageing potential is admirable, making it an ideal acquisition for avid collectors.

Experience the compelling persona of Clos Saint Vincent Grenache de Gio VdF 2014; a testament to the mastery of winemaking and a true embodiment of Rhone Valley's wine craftsmanship. An incomparable delight, indeed!

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.

Decanter (100)

Enjoyed over dinner in Burgundy after tasting many truly lovely wines, this wine could erase your memory of anything else. It is a riveting tour-de-force, with a medium lemon-yellow colour and heady, incredibly forward aromas of ripe orchard and stone fruit with exotic spices, butter, and a bit of oak. There is fresh acidity, plenty of body and extract, and incredible finesse and elegance as well. The combination of youthful fruit, fresh acidity, and robust density carry this wine to an interminable finish.

Decanter (100)

Enjoyed over dinner in Burgundy after tasting many truly lovely wines, this wine could erase your memory of anything else. It is a riveting tour-de-force, with a medium lemon-yellow colour and heady, incredibly forward aromas of ripe orchard and stone fruit with exotic spices, butter, and a bit of oak. There is fresh acidity, plenty of body and extract, and incredible finesse and elegance as well. The combination of youthful fruit, fresh acidity, and robust density carry this wine to an interminable finish.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2014 Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignieres has a light apple blossom and lime-scented bouquet that needed some encouragement from the glass. It comes across more backward when compared to the 2015 Meursault Rougeot or Narvaux that preceded this wine at the domaine tasting. The palate offers candied orange peel on the entry that gallivants about with mandarin and grapefruit. It is hot-wired with a killer line of acidity that imbues this Puligny with supreme energy. The finish is pleasantly saline and offers a cheeky dab of lemongrass on the aftertaste. This is just superb.

Vinous (91)

(bottled in June of 2016): Dark red. Deep fruit aromas of plum and redcurrant are complicated by leather, game and earth nuances. Surprisingly silky and broad, with its red fruit and smoke flavors joined by a note of milk chocolate. The wine's substantial dusty but ultimately refined tannins currently shorten its finish but there's enough mid-palate density here for this wine to come into balance with bottle aging. Finishes with hints of olive tapenade and milk chocolate. With aeration this wine showed a lovely combination of sweetness and acidity.

Vinous (91)

(bottled in June of 2016): Dark red. Deep fruit aromas of plum and redcurrant are complicated by leather, game and earth nuances. Surprisingly silky and broad, with its red fruit and smoke flavors joined by a note of milk chocolate. The wine's substantial dusty but ultimately refined tannins currently shorten its finish but there's enough mid-palate density here for this wine to come into balance with bottle aging. Finishes with hints of olive tapenade and milk chocolate. With aeration this wine showed a lovely combination of sweetness and acidity.

Vinous (91)

(bottled in June of 2016): Dark red. Deep fruit aromas of plum and redcurrant are complicated by leather, game and earth nuances. Surprisingly silky and broad, with its red fruit and smoke flavors joined by a note of milk chocolate. The wine's substantial dusty but ultimately refined tannins currently shorten its finish but there's enough mid-palate density here for this wine to come into balance with bottle aging. Finishes with hints of olive tapenade and milk chocolate. With aeration this wine showed a lovely combination of sweetness and acidity.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2015 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru is really blossoming now that the wine is safely in bottle. It has a gorgeous, floral bouquet with scents of blueberry, blackberry and briary, wonderful mineral expression here with a palpable sense of energy and precision. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, what you might call a cool Bonnes Mares, sleek and sensual with very fine tension towards the red cherry and kirsch tinged finish. What a gorgeous Bonnes-Mares, though I would be inclined to afford it several years in bottle. Tasted November 2016.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2015 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru is really blossoming now that the wine is safely in bottle. It has a gorgeous, floral bouquet with scents of blueberry, blackberry and briary, wonderful mineral expression here with a palpable sense of energy and precision. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, what you might call a cool Bonnes Mares, sleek and sensual with very fine tension towards the red cherry and kirsch tinged finish. What a gorgeous Bonnes-Mares, though I would be inclined to afford it several years in bottle. Tasted November 2016.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2014 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has a very intense, cold stone and blackberry scented bouquet, moving towards subtle marine like aromas (oyster shells, Crustacea) with time. There is just wonderful precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth, firm backbone, a slightly more masculine Musigny with just a hint of savoriness towards the long finish. This is showing great personality even at this early juncture, although of course, it will not even consider reaching its drinking plateau without 8-10 years in bottle. I suspect this Musigny will only gradually open. Tasted November 2016.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2014 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has a very intense, cold stone and blackberry scented bouquet, moving towards subtle marine like aromas (oyster shells, Crustacea) with time. There is just wonderful precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth, firm backbone, a slightly more masculine Musigny with just a hint of savoriness towards the long finish. This is showing great personality even at this early juncture, although of course, it will not even consider reaching its drinking plateau without 8-10 years in bottle. I suspect this Musigny will only gradually open. Tasted November 2016.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2014 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has a very intense, cold stone and blackberry scented bouquet, moving towards subtle marine like aromas (oyster shells, Crustacea) with time. There is just wonderful precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth, firm backbone, a slightly more masculine Musigny with just a hint of savoriness towards the long finish. This is showing great personality even at this early juncture, although of course, it will not even consider reaching its drinking plateau without 8-10 years in bottle. I suspect this Musigny will only gradually open. Tasted November 2016.

Vinous (91+)

Good ruby-red. Wilder on the nose than the Reignots, offering very ripe scents of plum, dark chocolate, brown spices and game. Then big, rich and chocolatey in the mouth, a bit in the style of its 2015 sibling but quite backward and hard to judge today. I get the feeling that this wine is painfully young but I'd be more confident about its ability to reward long cellaring if it showed more of the berry intensity of the other 2014 crus I tasted at this address.

Vinous (91)

Dark red-ruby. Musky, very ripe, soil-driven scents of black raspberry, black cherry and menthol. Silky and fine-grained yet backward today owing to its medicinal reserve. This wine is hiding its sweetness in the early going but it displays lovely phenolic ripeness, not to mention good energy. I'd give it at least three or four years in the cellar.

Wine Advocate (88-90)

The 2014 Vosne-Romanée Villages has impressive volume on the nose with wild strawberry and a slight confit note that is nicely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, elegant and pure, and there is a fine line of acidity with quite a dense finish. This is very fine.

Wine Advocate (98)

Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting, the 2014 Montrachet Grand Cru from Domaine des Comtes Lafon has a clean and fresh bouquet, perhaps just a bit too much lime for my liking, although there is mineralité tucked in just behind. The palate is fresh and saline on the entry with a superb line of acidity. There is weight and presence to this Montrachet, and it gains weight and delivers a knockout, extremely persistent finish tinged with lemon thyme and sherbet. Though a little disjointed at present, I suspect this will turn into a wonderful Montrachet with style and class. But be warned that it will require several years in bottle.

James Suckling (98)

If you want to know what St.-Estèphe smells like, this is it. Aromas of spices, black truffles, forest floor, dried strawberries and tar. It’s full-bodied yet pinpointed on the palate with fabulous density and richness. It’s opulent but in a reserved and checked way. This needs at least five or six years to come around, but it’s already fantastic. What harmony and structure. Try in 2022 if you can keep your hands off it!