James Suckling (99)

So much violets, licorice, pencil, flowers and currants define this on the nose before it moves to fresh mushrooms. It’s full-bodied yet compacted with tension and a compressed center palate. Incredible, fine-grained tannins and energy. The length is truly great. Should be even more beautiful in 2024. Give it time.

The Wine Cellar Insider (99)

Truffles, mint-leaf, blue fruits, blackberries, and currants pair with nuances of spice, smoke, leather, and cedar. Full-bodied, rich, and intense, there is a wealth of perfectly, ripe, creamy, opulent, sweet fruits that hold your interest, while expanding for over 50 seconds. There is length, opulence, balance, and flamboyance, along with vibrancy and refinement. Drink from 2025-2060

The Wine Cellar Insider (99)

Truffles, mint-leaf, blue fruits, blackberries, and currants pair with nuances of spice, smoke, leather, and cedar. Full-bodied, rich, and intense, there is a wealth of perfectly, ripe, creamy, opulent, sweet fruits that hold your interest, while expanding for over 50 seconds. There is length, opulence, balance, and flamboyance, along with vibrancy and refinement. Drink from 2025-2060

The Wine Cellar Insider (99)

Truffles, mint-leaf, blue fruits, blackberries, and currants pair with nuances of spice, smoke, leather, and cedar. Full-bodied, rich, and intense, there is a wealth of perfectly, ripe, creamy, opulent, sweet fruits that hold your interest, while expanding for over 50 seconds. There is length, opulence, balance, and flamboyance, along with vibrancy and refinement. Drink from 2025-2060

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

Muscular, intense, maintains the estate signature as do its fellow Pauillac First Growths Mouton and Lafite. Less generous perhaps at Latour, you feel the walls and floor, pulsating, intense and with intent. Still a baby, but as it opens there are cutaways of fragrant roses and fennel, alongside wild blackberry, hawthorn, blackcurrant, cola, juicy pomegranate, dried cranberry, cocoa bean, cold ash and a ton of bitter black chocolate. Love it. Hélène Genin technical director, Eric Boissenot consultant, and at this point Latour was farming entirely organically and biodynamically, with organic certification coming in 2018. 100% new oak for ageing.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

Muscular, intense, maintains the estate signature as do its fellow Pauillac First Growths Mouton and Lafite. Less generous perhaps at Latour, you feel the walls and floor, pulsating, intense and with intent. Still a baby, but as it opens there are cutaways of fragrant roses and fennel, alongside wild blackberry, hawthorn, blackcurrant, cola, juicy pomegranate, dried cranberry, cocoa bean, cold ash and a ton of bitter black chocolate. Love it. Hélène Genin technical director, Eric Boissenot consultant, and at this point Latour was farming entirely organically and biodynamically, with organic certification coming in 2018. 100% new oak for ageing.

James Suckling (99)

Ripe and very powerful aromas of black licorice, currants and violets. Full-bodied, dense and flavorful with lots of very new, flashy wood. Sexy and gorgeous. Round and polished tannins. Superb wine for the vintage.

James Suckling (99)

Ripe and very powerful aromas of black licorice, currants and violets. Full-bodied, dense and flavorful with lots of very new, flashy wood. Sexy and gorgeous. Round and polished tannins. Superb wine for the vintage.

The Latour a Pomerol 1988 is a prime example of viticultural excellence. Crafted in the esteemed Pomerol appellation on the Right Bank of the Bordeaux wine region, it truly embodies the terroir's distinctive character. This Merlot-dominated blend is richly complex and mature, boasting concentrated flavours of perfectly ripened dark fruits, truffle essence, and well-integrated oak.

The producer, Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, is renowned for meticulously harnessing the potential of each vineyard parcel during fermentation. Using traditional open-top oak vats, a careful assemblage of the separate lots ensures an ultimate expression of the vine's unique characteristics in the final blend.

The Latour a Pomerol 1988 delivers a formidable ageing potential that adds depth and nuance as the years go by, offering a captivating sipping experience for the discerning wine aficionado. This bottle truly symbolises the distinguished reputation of Pomerol wines.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

Mid yellow, with a really beautiful succulent nose, picked at perfect ripeness, and not hiding the delicacy and detail of fine Genevrières. Some lime, some verbena, delicate fresh apples, back to the lime blossom, then a really fine boned framework on the palate. Tingles the tastebuds in the most delicious way. A beautifully crafted 2023 Genevrières. Drink from 2029-2037. Tasted Oct 2024.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

I loved the 2019 Château Latour-Martillac, and I under-rated it from barrel. Revealing a dense ruby/plum color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherry, smoked tobacco, gravely earth, and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, supple tannins, and one heck of a finish. It's beautifully done and will cruise for 25+ years in cold cellars. It needs plenty of air if drinking any time soon.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2020 Latour-Martillac has an impressive, quite engaging bouquet with blackberry, incense, graphite and faint touches of black olive. This is very harmonious and well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, very well balanced, quite saline with a poised and quite persistent finish. Quintessentially Pessac-Léognan, this has a bright future ahead.

Vinous - Neal Martin (94)

The 2020 Latour-Martillac Blanc has shut down since tasting from barrel, yet it opens with yellow plum, jasmine and light frangipane scents. I admire the precision here. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, quite taut and well defined. Real precision on the finish that drags you back for one more sip. This is a classy dry white Bordeaux that will give immense pleasure over a number of years.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92-94)

The 2021 Latour-Martillac Blanc has a knockout nose with apple blossom, nettle, wet pavement and citrus peel aromas. Real energy here. The palate is well balanced with fine concentration, taut and fresh with plenty of extract, touches of spice emerge towards the finish. Excellent.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

Raised in 30% new wood and 70% 1 year old. Solid purple with medium depth. The nose starts on the oak and soon moves to the fruit. Very succulent again, smoothly balanced with a firm grip to the tannins. Yet it is suavely put together. High class, and it certainly has the length. Tasted: October 2019

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-93)

A fine mid ruby colour. The bouquet has both charm and density in a very happy balance. A lovely aftertaste of soft strawberry and fresh raspberry, the graceful side of Pommard with the tannins nicely covered. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted: November 2023.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-93)

An even deep purple. The bouquet is a little less exuberant than the Perrières, but still builds in intensity. The fruit profile is similar but with more refinement and some dark cherries. Useful acidity, refined tannins, fine persistence. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted Nov 2024.

Wine Advocate (86-88)

The 2015 Pommard Les Perrières has quite a rich bouquet with touches of fig infusing the kirsch and cassis aromas. The palate is sweet on the entry with bold tannin, moderate complexity with a firm, slightly confit-like finish that needs to muster a little more precision. Not bad, although maybe just picked a day or two too late? Let's see.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (91-93)

(5 Star Wine) Not too deep in colour, with rather a stylish perfumed raspberry fruit. Light fresh acidity, behind the beautifully balanced fruit, a few tannins too, but the fruit stretches out wonderfully behind them. The benefit of ancient vines is clear to see. Drink from 2030-2036. Tasted: November 2023.

The Laurent Habrard Saint-Joseph 2021 is a rare gem in the world of fine wines. Produced in the esteemed vineyards of Rhône Valley in France, this exquisite varietal embodies the rich terroir and meticulous vinification process. Laurent Habrard, a fourth-generation winemaker, ensures its traditional family techniques such as organic farming are safeguarded whilst innovating to consistently produce unprecedented quality.

The Laurent Habrard Saint-Joseph 2021 showcases the Syrah grape, presenting a wine laced with complex aromas of black fruits, pepper and licorice backed by a balanced, meaty palate. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels, it acquires a subtle vanilla touch, coupled with a long-lasting, profound finish.

This wine is a quintessentially multidimensional, reflecting the passion, dedication, and craftsmanship of Laurent Habrard. Connoisseurs will find the Laurent Habrard Saint-Joseph 2021 a delightful addition to their collection, a testament to the sublime finesse and elegance of Laurent Habrard's winemaking philosophy.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)

The 2004 Rosé Cuvée Alexandra (magnum) is another utterly breathtaking wine from Laurent Perrier. A Champagne of total finesse and understatement, the 2004 is totally mind-blowing. Crushed rose petal, sweet red-toned fruit, mint, chalk, white pepper and slate are some of the many notes that are woven together. The 2004 is aging so well. It's a timeless beauty, an outstanding choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2024.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)

The 2004 Rosé Cuvée Alexandra (magnum) is another utterly breathtaking wine from Laurent Perrier. A Champagne of total finesse and understatement, the 2004 is totally mind-blowing. Crushed rose petal, sweet red-toned fruit, mint, chalk, white pepper and slate are some of the many notes that are woven together. The 2004 is aging so well. It's a timeless beauty, an outstanding choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2024.

James Suckling (97)

Full body. Lightly chewy. Phenolic tension gives it form and beauty. This is the first year to use numbers. 55% chardonnay and 45% pinot noir. 2007, 2006 and 2004. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (99)

Incredible aromas of apple skin, pie crust, praline and flowers. So young in the nose. Full-bodied with super-fine tannins. It’s tight and refined, yet structured and intense. Really long and beautiful. Still shy. Wonderful finish. 12 years on its lees before disgorging. Three vintages in the blend – 2008 (65%), 2007 (25%) and 2006 (10%). 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. It’s the highest percentage of chardonnay ever.

James Suckling (99)

Dried lemons, salted almonds, oyster shells, croissants, iodine, baked apples, spices and some ginger notes. White pepper, too. Vibrant and fresh, with a distinct saline edge. I like the subtle spice character. So much subtle power and tension. 58% chardonnay and 42% pinot noir, from 2006, 2004 and 2002. 14 years on the lees, three or four more than the normal bottle release. Only available in magnum. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (100)

This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees. 7g/L dosage. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (100)

This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees. 7g/L dosage. Drink or hold.

The Laurent Ponsot Chambertin Grand Cru Cuvee du Chene 2018 is a profound expression of the world-renowned terroir of Burgundy, France. This exquisite wine, lovingly crafted by the esteemed Laurent Ponsot, emanates from one of the most original vineyards within the Côte de Nuits region. Each bottle encapsulates Ponsot's commitment to traditional, non-interventionist vinification, a method greatly respected within the industry.

The carefully selected Pinot Noir grapes, hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, results in a wine of extraordinary complexity and depth of flavour. A striking amalgamation of plum, wild berries, earthy undertones and a subtle touch of oak notably distinguish the Laurent Ponsot Chambertin Grand Cru Cuvee du Chene 2018 from other wines. Its balance, depth, and structure, coupled with a bold yet well-integrated tannic backbone, promise a long reign in your cellar. With this phenomenal Grand Cru, you are investing not merely in a bottle of wine, but a piece of history from the heart of Burgundy.