James Suckling (94)

This has very bright and juicy, brambly dark berries with a wealth of attractive and juicy dark-fruit presence. This has depth, detail and long, layered dark-fruit flavors. Impressively chiseled finish. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (96)

Very pretty blackberry, blackcurrant, walnut, forest-flower and dark-walnut aromas follow through to a full body with round, juicy tannins that are fine-grained and beautiful. Lovely length and generosity, but reserved at the finish to give it tension. Mostly from the Soscol vineyard. 97% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate (98+)

The 2013 Insignia (their 40th vintage) is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This wine is aged 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels, and the production can vary from just over 10,000 cases to nearly 20,000 cases in a very abundant vintage. There were 12,300 cases produced in 2013, and this vintage of Insignia is certainly going to turn out to be one of the great ones. The wine offers a stunning inky blue/purple color, a gorgeous nose of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, pen ink, graphite, new saddle leather and barrique. The wine has fabulous concentration, a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel, and tremendous finish with moderate tannin. It’s interesting to note that the Phelps winemaking staff had been gradually reducing the amount of Merlot in this wine over recent vintages. The 2013 should hit its peak in 5-7 years and last for 35-50.

Decanter (96)

This has a real sense of freshness and grip. A pure expression of Cabernet with a shot of eucalyptus and menthol, extremely concentrated but with elegance and power. The tannins just grip on to your palate and don't let go leading to a lovely chewy finish. This is great stuff, with a discernibly finessed style that shows a fine tannic balance magnified through the lens of Californian heat and laced through with cassis, espresso and chocolate block. Great structure, this will take a few decades of ageing in its stride. 100% new oak, from five vineyards around Napa Valley, mainly in Stags Leap and Oak Knoll.

James Suckling (99)

Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now.

Vinous (89-91)

The 2019 Bourgogne Pressonnier is cohesive on the nose of blackberry, boysenberry jam and light violet aromas unfurling with time. Silky-smooth on the entry (you might well mistake this for a Vosne-Romanée), building nicely in the mouth and showing good salinity on the finish.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Sweet, spicy nose. Very intense. Great polished tannins. Super-serious and bone dry. Tastes like essence of a wood-panelled room, somehow. (And I don’t mean wood panelling with TCA as in Middle Temple.) Very much for the patient.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Champs-Chenys offers mostly red berry fruit on the nose, which is maybe just a little smudged compared to Roty’s other Village Crus at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a fresh entry and a fine bead of acidity. The precise, chalky-textured finish compensates for the aromatics. I am sure the nose will gain more clarity during the remainder of élevage.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Fontenys 1er Cru has a very tight bouquet at the moment, offering a little leather and game and sufficient red fruit intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, orange peel, white pepper and clove and hints of pain d’épices toward the focused, persistent finish. Very fine.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Volnay Les Caillerets 1er Cru has a gorgeous fragrant floral bouquet with bunches of roses complementing the vibrant red fruit. Wonderful intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with gently grippy tannins, quite spicy towards the finish with a slightly confit towards the end. This is destined to age very well. Superb.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Volnay Les Champans 1er Cru offers attractive black fruit mixed with briary, crushed rock and sea cave aromas on the nose that is all quite captivating. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, good depth and grip with a saline finish that gets the saliva flowing. Classy, old school Volnay.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru les Fremiets has an elegant bouquet with scents of briary, woodland and red berry fruit. There is lovely purity of fruit here, great transparency. The palate is well balanced with fine structure, quite firm tannin, superb focus with red merging with black fruit towards the slightly saline finish. This is a great wine from Jean-Pierre Chalot.

The Jules Desjourneys Beaujolais 2021 is an exquisite masterpiece meticulously crafted by Fabien Duperray — a vintner renowned for his unyielding focus on quality. Each bottle reflects the rolling hills of Beaujolais, France, from where its hand-harvested and fully organic Gamay grapes originate. The wine undergoes rigorous old-school fermenting techniques with native yeasts and no sulphur until bottling, thus preserving its purest characteristics.

Upon uncorking, you're immediately greeted by spirited notes of strawberries and red cherries. On the palate, the Jules Desjourneys Beaujolais 2021 charms with its ripe and forthright fruit character complemented by an undercurrent of mineral edge drawn from the region's granitic soils. The refined tannic structure and balanced acidity lead towards an elegant, lingering finish.

Indulge in the Jules Desjourneys Beaujolais 2021, a wine that truly stands as a testament to Fabien’s commitment to creating distinct, terroir-based wines.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2019 Moulin-à-Vent Les Michelons is a strikingly sensual, vibrant wine that numbers among Duperray's greatest hits to date. Wafting from the glass with notions of cherries and raspberries mingled with vine smoke, peonies, rose petals and Indian spices, it's full-bodied, fleshy and textural, with a layered core of fruit, supple tannins and lively acids, concluding with a long, resonant finish.

Discover the elegant sophistication of Jules Desjourneys Moulin-a-Vent Styx 2016. Hailing from Burgundy, France, this cherished red wine exemplifies the fine craft of winemaker Fabien Duperray, known for his meticulous old-world techniques and measures to guarantee quality. Drawing from the vineyard's rich granitic soils, Jules Desjourneys Moulin-a-Vent Styx 2016 displays an exquisite synergy of intense berry flavours and a robust mineral structure.

This wine is a sublime result of 100% hand-harvested Gamay grapes, whole-cluster fermented to elegantly preserve the unique character of each bunch. The aging process involves 20 months in well-seasoned oak barrels which contributes to the layers of complexity, adding notes of spice that meld perfectly with the velvety tannins and rich fruit backdrop. The Jules Desjourneys Moulin-a-Vent Styx 2016 promises a wine of great longevity and evolving depth, perfect for enthusiasts of a truly refined vintage.

Discover the sublime taste of Jules Desjourneys Pouilly Fuisse Vignes De La Cote 2020, an exquisite white wine produced in France's Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. As a true connoisseur's delight, this particular vintage encapsulates a vivid expression of the renowned Pouilly-Fuisse terroir, boasting a distinct mineral edge with harmonious floral undertones.

Having meticulously committed to manual harvesting and biodynamic principles, the respected producer, Jules Desjourneys, ensures a wine of superior quality and integrity. The vines are aged between 40 to 60 years old and meticulously grow on southeast-orientated slopes on limestone soil. After being harvested, the grapes undergo a rigorous sorting process before a long and slow fermentation in oak barrels, imbuing this velvety wine with subtle complexity.

Unparalleled in depth and character, the Jules Desjourneys Pouilly Fuisse Vignes De La Cote 2020 offers an exquisite sensory experience with its high acidic structure, robust palate, and elegant finish. Perfect for any wine aficionados seeking a refined imbibe.

Experience the exceptional elegance of the Jules Desjourneys Songe Pinot Noir 2021, a Burgundian masterpiece meticulously crafted by talented winegrower, Fabien Duperray. Founded in 2009, his domaine sits in the esteemed Maconnais region of Burgundy, France, known for its exemplary Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Desjourneys' low-intervention approach, and old-vine plantings, coupled with organic practices, ensures purity and expression in every bottle.

This illustrious Pinot Noir exhibits exquisite depth, sporting a vibrant ruby hue and a gorgeous tapestry of aromas – red and black fruits, with hints of spice box. Its elegant structure is beset with fine tannins, revealing a palate of profound complexity and length. The synthesis of maturation in older barrels, combined with the fruit's natural acidity, brings about a wine offering a delicate balance of freshness and depth.

Savour the profound elegance of Jules Desjourneys Songe Pinot Noir 2021, a glorious demonstration of Burgundian winemaking at its finest.

Wine Advocate (94)

Deep and complete, the 2018 Morgon opens in the glass with notes of cassis, plums, smoked meats and cracked pepper. Medium to full-bodied, supple and layered, it's seamless and beautifully balanced, with powdery tannins and succulent acids. This is another terrific wine from Julien Sunier.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2018 Régnié confirms its fine showing last year, wafting from the glass with a perfumed bouquet of raspberries, peonies, orange rind and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, supple and succulent and built around powdery tannins and lively acids, it concludes with a long and sapid finish.

Wine Advocate (95+)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Alte Reben Shiraz is opening out into a bold, pure, pepper and licorice-laced nose over a core of black cherries and crushed blueberries with a touch of dried herbs. Full, rich and yet with plenty of freshness, this is a wine with great concentration, nice ripe tannins and a tantalizing finish. Yum!

Vinous (96)

Dark purple. Powerful, smoke- and spice-accented aromas of dark fruit preserves, vanilla, incense and violet. Alluringly sweet and broad on the palate, offering deeply concentrated blueberry, cassis, floral pastille and vanilla flavors plus suggestions of five-spice powder and cola. The floral quality repeats emphatically on an impressively long, velvety finish that"s framed by smooth, harmonious tannins.

Wine Advocate (94)

Sourced from vines planted in 1899 and 1965, Kaesler's 2015 The Bogan Shiraz aged 15 months in 25% new oak. It's a full-bodied but balanced Shiraz, with big blueberry and blackberry flavors but also savory hints of wood, grilled meat and dried spices. Plush and almost creamy on the palate, it moves easily into a long, velvety finish that picks up hints of plum and licorice. Flattering now, it should still be going strong in a decade or more.

Greg Sherwood MW (96)

This certainly is a deep, broody exotic expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that is more reminiscent of a cool vintage Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon than anything from Bordeaux or the Cape. Opened and tasted over 4 to 5 hours, the wine hits its stride surprisingly quickly with plenty of perfumed purple flowers, violets, bruleed black berries, baked blueberry crumble, crème de cassis and a pleasing note of mocha and vanilla pod spice. Initial notes of kelp and maritime seashore salinity quickly give way to a more weighty, sensual melange of black berry compote nuances and hints of cherry kirsch liquor. While this wine certainly shows all the deft elegance and finesse we associate with the 2017 vintage, it also displays a certain extra gravitas, power and weight of fruit concentration combined with great poise, density and a seamlessly textured mineral graphite finish. This is a dark horse that will drink well on release and age deceptively well for 20+ years.

Greg Sherwood MW (97)

The 2018 Paul Sauer is a classical blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from vines averaging 30 years of age grown on dryland vineyards of Decomposed Granite and Hutton and Clovelly soils. Vibrant and ruby / purple, the wine almost glows in the glass with inviting promise. At this youthful stage, the Cabernet Sauvignon component shines through strongly revealing a generally dark, broody, black fruited demeanour embellished with subtle notes of saline crème de cassis, star anise, lead pencil shavings, dried violets and signature nuances of freshly tilled earth, buttered brown toast and hints of breakfast espresso. In the mouth, the palate shows gorgeous elegance, purity and fruit focus with the most fine grained filigree tannins, soothingly generous black berry fruits and delicious mouth-watering acids. This wine is precision personified showing such effortless grace and harmony together with a measured power and intensity. The 2018 is certainly a very classically schooled expression that waltzes across the palate without ever putting a foot out of place. Like all truly great Bordeaux blends, this has the finesse and textural harmony to drink on release but also the intensity and gravitas to age effortlessly for 20 to 30+ years.

Greg Sherwood MW (96+)

This classically styled Paul Sauer 2019 is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot. After noticeably more fruit forward aromatics on the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 on release, this 2019 represents somewhat of departure in style with a decidedly tight, broody aromatic profile of inky dark berry fruits, iodine, crushed gravel, Bouquet Garni, dried herbs, sweet clove and graphite before subtle hints of pithy black currant and black cherry join the party and mingle with perfumed notes of pressed violets and lilac. Despite its 24 months in 100% new French Never oak 225 litre barriques, there is only a mere suggestion of wood influence with a beautifully refined cedar spice and unsmoked cigar nuances. On the palate, the results of a cooler and smaller harvest manifest themselves through a distinctly classical Old World restraint, purity, wound spring tension and supremely refined tannins that linger on the palate with seamless precision. As with many longer, cooler Bordeaux vintages, there is more a sense of concentration and power rather than an actual overt textural display, with sinewy black fruits, cocoa powder and earthy, brambly layers concertinaed by lively acids and yet more overt minerality. An impressive creation indeed that will benefit from a good 8 to 10 years in the cellar to fully blossom despite its textural finesse, balance and accessibility.

Greg Sherwood MW (97)

Launched in the 50th anniversary of the estate, it was an absolute pleasure to first taste the new release 2020 Paul Sauer in London with both winemaker Abrie Beeslaar and uber critical owner, Johan Krige. Together, these are two individuals who both have very high expectations for every new Paul Sauer release, but not only that, they are both people who will find a way for the new wine to express the new vintage blend in the most succinct and honest way. In 2020, the Paul Sauer is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot from Simonsberg vines grown on decomposed granite at an average of 30+ years old. The aromatics are delicate yet sophisticated, whispering a rich complexity of saline cassis, sweet violets, dried sage, crunchy black berry, iodine and salty oyster shell nuances with a hint of melted candles and incense complexity. Fabulously pure, focused, weightless and intense, there is a notable ambition and intent on the palate, that bristles with a maritime salinity, deep layers of crème de cassis, blue berry, cedar spice and a tart red berry extravagance. This is simply like no other 2020 I have tasted from Stellenbosch. The wine possesses its own class, elegance and swagger, but with an incredible refinement and precision. You would expect nothing less from one of South Africa’s first growth producers!

Greg Sherwood MW (99)

A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 13% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Paul Sauer is beautifully intense and utterly seductive, the aromatics pulling you in with their perfumed notes of incense, violets, black currant, saline oyster shell, black cherry, sweet cherry tobacco and graphite with subtle blueberry notes and a subtle kiss of sweet cedar and vanilla pod spice. The palate shows sprawling breadth and depth with a gentle picante spice together with a noticeably intense salinity and maritime, nori seaweed nuance before more bold flavours of black currant, mulberry, black cherry and blueberry coat the mouth. The fine silky tannins are deceptively taut and crisp with the fresh glassy acids adding to the wine’s obvious power, focus and superb intensity. So much wine in the glass, so much to assimilate! The 2021 Paul Sauer represents a true Cape Bordeaux blend masterclass once again from Abrie Beeslaar!

Decanter (96)

Edi Kante is a pioneer when it comes to the indigenous grape Vitovska, which is grown just across the border in Slovenia. The soil here in the Carso is ferrous-rich and chalky. 2016 was a balanced vintage for these 20-year-old vines, and the wine was fermented and aged in oak for 12 months to create a delicate and silky wine with lime, lemon juice and gypsum powder on the nose and a light and super- refreshing acidity in the mouth.

Vinous (98+)

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is a real stunner. Despite an overall impression of femininity and understatement, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is simply dazzling. Sweet, floral and open-knit, the 2012 is nevertheless holding quite a bit back in potential. When I visited Kapcsándy during the 2012 harvest the enthusiasm was very high. This wine shows why. The blend is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is pure perfection and undeniably one of the greatest wines in this terrific vintage. With a Château Latour like stature and depth, full-bodied richness, and incredible notes of blue fruits, crushed violets, tobacco, forest floor, and huge minerality, this tight, backward, concentrated 2015 is for those with patience and cold cellar, but it’s a legendary wine in the making. Bravo!