Wine Advocate (97)

The remarkable 2021 Montrose gets my nomination for the title of "wine of the vintage" in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of cassis and dark berries mingled with subtle hints of mint, orange, pencil shavings and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered and multidimensional core of fruit underpinned by beautifully ripe, refined tannins. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it entirely transcends the limitations of the year. This young classic, reminiscent of the estate's 1996 but far better, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

Wine Advocate (100)

From barrel, I wrote that 2022 Montrose was so compelling that assigning it a bracketed score seemed a mere formality, and so it has proven. Unwinding in the glass with a deep and brooding bouquet of cassis, wild blueberries, violets, pencil shavings and burning embers, it's full-bodied, deep and dense, somehow marrying all the tannic authority that has long been such a signature of Montrose with a suavity and purity that represents the quintessence of contemporary Bordeaux. The broad, palate-staining finish lasts for more than a minute. This is a profound young wine that readers aren't going to want to miss.

Wine Advocate (99+)

Just as it was from barrel, the 2023 Montrose is one of the most compelling wines of the vintage. Unwinding in the glass with a brooding bouquet of cassis, violets and burning embers, it's full-bodied, with prodigious mid-palate density and dimension, its concentrated core of fruit underpinned by abundant but ultra-refined tannins and lively acids. Broad, penetrating and persistent, it's a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. This is a very serious wine, carrying plenty of structure; but while it will certainly require some patience, today's more precise extraction and élevage choices mean that it will not mandate the 20-30 years of deferred gratification that were once the norm at this address, even if I'm convinced the 2023 will be just as long-lived as the classics of the past.

Wine Advocate (99+)

Just as it was from barrel, the 2023 Montrose is one of the most compelling wines of the vintage. Unwinding in the glass with a brooding bouquet of cassis, violets and burning embers, it's full-bodied, with prodigious mid-palate density and dimension, its concentrated core of fruit underpinned by abundant but ultra-refined tannins and lively acids. Broad, penetrating and persistent, it's a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. This is a very serious wine, carrying plenty of structure; but while it will certainly require some patience, today's more precise extraction and élevage choices mean that it will not mandate the 20-30 years of deferred gratification that were once the norm at this address, even if I'm convinced the 2023 will be just as long-lived as the classics of the past.

A jewel amongst French wines, Montus Madiran La Tyre 2011 is a distinguished product of the Château Montus estate, located in the heart of the Madiran Appellation in South West France. Meticulously produced by the deft hand of legendary vigneron Alain Brumont, who has championed redefining Madiran wines for over three decades, the La Tyre 2011 is a varietal enigma in Tannat - a grape indigenous to the region.

Fermented and matured in new French oak barrels, this cherished vintage boasts an opulent palate with flavours of ripe dark fruit, leather and nuances of warm spices, elegantly rounded off by a strong, lingering finish. Its impressively complex structure testifies to its impressive ageing potential. With its richly concentrated tannins and vibrancy, the Montus Madiran La Tyre 2011 is a crowning testament to Brumont's winemaking prowess and is sure to please even the most discerning of fine wine connoisseurs.

Behold the epitome of grandeur, the Montus Madiran La Tyre 2014 - a consummate embodiment of delectable elegance. This stunning single-varietal Tannat is the jewel in the crown of Domaine Montus, a leading pioneer in Madiran, South West France.

Masterfully cultivated on the steep, south-facing slopes of Pyrenean gravel, this wine exudes a compelling complexity, courtesy of its extended ageing in 100% new oak barriques.

The Montus Madiran La Tyre 2014 showcases an intense bouquet of ripe berries, intricately interwoven with hints of exotic spices, dark chocolate, and a delightfully refined touch of vanilla, culminating in a profoundly lingering finish. The majestic power of this vintage is artfully balanced by its elegant tannins and vibrant acidity, making it an exquisite testament to the producer's dedication to excellence.

As you savour each sip, allow your palate to be enlivened by the passion and finesse that underpins every drop of Montus Madiran La Tyre 2014.

Wine Advocate (96+)

The Blaufränkisch Burgenland 2020 Lutzmannsburg Alte Reben comes from the oldest vines in Lutzmannsburg, which includes not only the three crus that had been singled out in 2019 but also other crus here that are too small to market them separately. This wine delivers all the ripeness, fruit intensity and concentration that Moric has been known for for almost 20 years. The wine is less precise or transparent compared to the crus, but it's dense and complex on the nose (and palate), which is ethereal and spicy and immediately begs for a decanter. Here, the wine is rich, textured and elegant, unfolding its greatness only on the finish that leaves the concentration and power of the first palate for purity, mineral freshness and endless salinity. Tannins, acidity and phenolics as well as body and concentration are in great balance here, yet at this early stage, the wine needs a lot of space and time to breathe and reveal its secrets step by step. This is definitely a wine to cellar for years, just like Clos Nouveau Bourgueil from Gauthier. That means this old-vines Lutzmannsburger may reach an even greater drinking experience in 10 years. I wouldn't miss it. 13.5% stated alcohol. Tasted in Lech in December 2022.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnément comes from Oakville. This is pure Oakville bench Cabernet, with notes of Christmas fruitcake, unsmoked cigar tobacco, cedar wood and crème de cassis. There is a seamless integration of acidity, alcohol, wood and tannin, and the wine is opulent, majestic in the mouth, and very pure and rich. There are only 280 cases of this magnificent, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon which should drink well for 30+ years.

Vinous (95)

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Cœur de Vallée has aged exceptionally well. In 2011, Cœur de Vallée was made entirely from To Kalon fruit and was a blend of nearly equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. That choice paid off big time, as the wine is absolutely exquisite. Bright floral, spice and tobacco accents lend freshness. Readers can look forward to another decade of fine drinking.

The Moron-Garcia Corton Baie Par Baie 2022 is a splendid dedication to the French winemaking tradition, originating from the prized vineyards of Burgundy. Its creator, Moron-Garcia, utilises strict selection, baie par baie (berry by berry), a meticulous approach which contributes to its remarkable quality. The wine is soaked and fermented at controlled temperatures to maximize the expression of its fruit. Then aged in oak adds depth and complexity, highlighting its intricate flavours.

Boasting a brilliant ruby hue, it offers a delightful bouquet of red fruits, intense spices, and subtle hints of oak. On the palate, it exudes a harmonious balance of acidity, tannins, and alcohol, culminating in a spectacular long finish disclosing layers of taste. The Moron-Garcia Corton Baie Par Baie 2022 is a testament to the vibrant expression of the Corton terroir. This outstanding wine embodies the meticulous craftsmanship of Moron-Garcia, making it an exquisite choice for discerning wine enthusiasts.

The West Australian (97)

The 2017 vintage was one of the milder vintages in WA. The latest Moss Wood captures this vintage perfectly and is without doubt one of the more restrained and tightly framed Moss Woods of recent years. Not the opulence of 2014 or the firm power of the 2016. Yet it retains the elegance, perfume and soft approachability that is Moss Wood. And hidden within is a wine that I suspect will still be drinking beautifully in 30 years. Make sure you decant it even now before drinking.

The Western Australian (98)

High expectations accompany iconic labels such as Moss Wood, especially following on from the powerful 2020. This elegantly styled 21 vintage steps up and delivers, even in its youth. This is a wine built for cellaring and, as such, it was day two when the full gamut of flavours and textures opened up, in all their magisterial glory. Think boysenberry, blueberry essence and blackberries with nuances of nori, black olive, cedar and oak toast. There’s boundless flavour intensity and a nervy freshness and silkiness to the mouthfeel. Quite the feat of engineering to craft something so substantial yet with such lightness of touch. Stunning.

Wine Advocate (94+)

This property is owned and managed by the Vauthier family of Château Ausone. The 2015 Moulin Saint-Georges is blended of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 85% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it reveals a gorgeous plum preserves, licorice and blackberry pie-laced nose with touches of cedar chest, cigar box, black olives and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and very firmly textured with grainy tannins, it has a lively backbone supporting the generous black fruit, finishing with lingering savory notes. Give it a good 5 years or more in bottle and drink it over the next 20+ years.

Decanter (94)

So full of deeply-drawn berry fruit, fresh and juicy with touches of liquorice bud and rosemary, thirst quenching and yet thirst inducing in that amazing way that limestone can both refresh and make you thirst for more at the same time. An excellent Moulin St Georges, and such a step up from the more sandy soils that you find at Fonbel and the two Simard estates in this year's range of Vauthier-owned wines that this alone can help you understand how to navigate 2020.

James Suckling (93-94)

The tannins provide a powdery and layered sense to this, spreading across the palate. It's full and layered with firm depth and length. Blueberries and crush stones. Four-square. Some limestone with the clay. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc.

Vinous (94)

Hailing from a warm vintage that was one of the best in what would otherwise have been a fairly ordinary decade, the 1985 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon is starting to take on a deep golden appearance, commencing to amber. It offers a gorgeous, suave texture and a very complex nose that's a touch oxidative but that adds a layer of additional intrigue: it's all nuts, raisins, walnuts, olives, warm pastry, cinnamon, cooked orange peel. It's round and sweet (95g/L) but not unctuous with richness on the mid-palate while retaining enough acidity to refresh the mouth on the long finish. A wine that is very comfortable in its own skin, providing a very relaxing experience.

Vinous (95)

Starting to take on a deep golden hue, the 1997 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon is a sensuous sweet wine (92g/L of residual sugar) that offers ripe and concentrated flavors of apricot jam, cooked oranges botrytis-derived spices (60% of the fruit was affected by botrytis, a high proportion for this wine). It is intense, rich and honeyed, coating the palate with its sucrosity. There's just enough acidity here to keep things going but it does not have the vivacious refreshment of cooler years, providing a weightier, fully charged expression. The finish is lengthy and fragrant.

Vinous (96)

A gorgeous wine, the 2012 Pinot Noir is just starting to show the first signs of softening. Sweet tobacco, mint, crushed flowers, leather, pine and cedar all grace this mid-weight, exquisite Pinot Noir. Beautifully perfumed and light on its feet, the 2012 is all class. It is one of the early highlights in this vertical. Best of all, the 2012 has enough freshness and pedigree to drink well for many years to come. The growing season was marked by cool, late-ripening harvest and a naturally generous crop. In 2012, the weather was cooperative, cool and moderate during harvest, which was quite a contrast to the 2013-2017, all of which were more frenzied, winemaker Jeffrey Patterson adds.

Halliday Wine Companion (94)

Good colour; considerable depth and power to the array of cassis, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit; very good texture and structure; abundant fine tannins and controlled oak. Cork.

Wine Advocate (97+)

I saw this wine blind recently (in a largely international tasting) and could not place the variety or region. I can see why here today: the fruit in the 2017 Quintet is almost unbelievably red fruited. It is buoyant and supple and speaks eloquently of raspberry seed, black cherry, red apple skins, blond tobacco, hints of sweet roasted meats (distant wafts only), enoki mushroom and red miso; the experience is inchoate and thrilling in equal measure. In isolation, perhaps, it may be easy to assume that the wine, given its age versus purity quotient, is simple. But given what we know about the capacity for aging carried by this vineyard/cuvée, I'd say you were grievously mistaken to judge it in that manner. This is a sleeper wine and one that hasn't even started to show us what it is capable of. It's a superstar. 13% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

Halliday Wine Companion (99)

Stands proudly at the head of the Mount Mary portfolio. A blend of 44% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 16% cabernet franc and 5% each of malbec and petit verdot, each variety handled according to its structure. Open/static fermenters, wood/stainless steel, 10-14 days on skins, 35% new oak from a range of coopers and forests, 16-20 months in barrel. Mesmerisingly silky, with a kaleidoscope of fruit and secondary flavours.

Halliday Wine Companion (99)

'Arguably, one of the greatest red vintages in living memory', says Mount Pleasant. The flagship wine. Destemmed and crushed, short cold soak, open-fermented, matured in large format French oak (30% new) for 18 months. Has the gently throbbing power of a Rolls Royce; superb, deep crimson-purple hue, itself rare in the Hunter Valley. Countless layers of black fruits have absorbed the oak and put the undoubted tannins into limbo land. O'Shea would have died a happy man had this been his last wine. Dissecting it now is an academic exercise at best, so great is its future. This is as close to a 100-year potential as you are ever likely to find.

Vinous (92)

(made from two-thirds grenache and one-third syrah): Opaque ruby. Heady scents of red berry preserves, lavender, anise and sandalwood, lifted by a peppery topnote. Offers intense, palate-staining raspberry and cherry-cola flavors that gain weight with air. Impressively lively and pure on the persistent finish, which features gentle tannins and a late note of bitter chocolate.