95-97 Neal Martin - Vinous Media

The 2023 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, which includes 80% whole bunch, has a beautifully defined bouquet that is more complex and terroir-expressive than the preceding Charmes-Chambertin. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening that disguises the insistent grip behind, a testament to Lignier-Michelot's more hands-off approach in extraction. It is refined, with lovely balance and a touch of allspice toward the finish. This is a worthy follow-up to his standout 2022. I would not be surprised if it ends up at the top of my banded score once in bottle.

94 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

From the Larnage region of this larger appellation, all destemmed and aged mostly in used barrels with just 10% new, the 2023 Crozes-Hermitage Alt. 330 sports a deep ruby hue as well as an impressive nose of ripe red and black berries, peppery herbs, violets, baking spices, and some cured meat-like nuances. It's a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated Crozes with ripe, integrated tannins, terrific balance, and outstanding length. I think it's the clear standout in the lineup here, and while I love it today, I wouldn't be surprised to see it gain complexity with 2-4 years of bottle age and shine over the following decade or more. It's an impressive Crozes Hermitage that I think is even better than the 2022, which is another brilliant wine from this estate. Drink 2028-2038.

92 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

At once juicy and well structured, this may be light-bodied but it has excellent substance and a wealth of slatey minerals that give it wonderful energy in the very clean but slightly off-dry finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Vegan. Drink or hold.

94 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The 2023 Pinot Noir Wester Reach boasts a bright red hue and opens with a spicy, fresh nose that carries a cool-climate edge. Ripe cranberries, lifted spices, fresh roses, and piney herbs lead the aromatics, and it’s medium-bodied and compact on the palate, with a refreshing line of acidity, fine tannins, and a weightless texture. The finish is long and laced with elegant spice. Drink 2025-2037.

94 Wine Spectator

Bursts with juicy raspberry, mulberry and bitter cherry coulis flavors that stretch out lengthily, plus savory, red tea and rose petal notes that add energy and range. Shows a snap of red licorice and a singed apple wood frame on the finish while keeping its energy up. Best from 2026 through 2036. 4,900 cases made.

93 Erin Brooks - Robert Parker's the Wine Advocate

The 2023 Pinot Noir Wester Reach is blended from several vineyards, including Dumol Estate, Flax, Occidental Road and Dutton. Grapes were harvested September 22 through October 10, and the wine was matured for 15 months in 28% new French oak. It bursts from the glass with intense aromas of cranberry sauce, pomegranate, orange peel, black tea leaves and conifer. The full-bodied palate features concentrated, nuanced flavors although its silky tannins and vibrant acidity give it a weightless feel, and it has a very long, layered finish. 4,900 cases were made.

100 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Dreamy, subtle aromas of dried fruit such as apricots and mangoes, but also fresh lemons and pears. Then there are caramel and tart tatin undertones with some bananas, pineapple, tangerines and other tropical fruit. Full-bodied, yet it remains vivid and compact, giving it a lightness even though it is really structured. The tannins are throughout the palate but blend in perfectly, giving it a solid presence, like a a diamond. It’s tight at the end, but you know that it will linger for ages, with a lightly chewy and intellectual finish. Touches of sweetness, cloves and bitterness to make it interesting. Dynamic. About 54,000 bottles made. Relatively small harvest. 148 g/L residual sugar.

97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

The 2021 d'Yquem is composed of 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. It has 148 grams per liter of residual sugar, making for a relatively rich style and the sweetest Yquem since 2017. Pale lemon-gold colored, perfumed notes of orange peel, juicy peaches, grapefruit, and honeycomb slowly emerge from the glass, followed by suggestions of jasmine tea, fresh ginger, and lime blossoms. The palate is fantastically satiny, with great tension and loads of spicy sparks complementing the citrusy flavors, finishing with epic length and a zesty lift. 54,000 bottles were made. The alcohol is 13.9%, and the pH is 3.79.

19 Jancis Robinson's Purple Pages

Beautiful primary fruit boasting tropical complexity: mango, pineapple. Saltiness, according to the winemaker – and there is definitely savoury contrast in there. The marvel of this wine is its completeness – the stitching is so fine between the sugar, acidity, rich fruit and length. Opens up in the glass, with white chocolate, caramel, clotted cream, mixed peel, five-spice. As prestigious as ever, and so gratifying to drink right now.

96 International Wine & Spirit Competition - International Wine & Spirit Competition

Layered and complex with pronounced notes of candied tropical fruit, dried stone fruit and hazelnut. Touches of bright orange peel lift the palate. A refined and powerful example. 2022 Rating

99 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

Including more Cabernet Sauvignon than Cabernet Franc (it swings back and forth), the 2021 Avoyelles Oakville reveals a dense purple hue as well as sensational aromatics of red, blue, and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy oak, graphite, dark chocolate, and a beautiful earth, forest floor-like character. Full-bodied, concentrated, and ultra-pure, it's borderline perfection and a heavenly bottle of wine that needs 3-5 years of bottle age and will blow you away over the following two decades. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, aged 22 months all in new French oak.

97 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

"The 2021 Avoyelles is a bruiser, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Strong, savory and floral notes open first. There's plenty of weight and intensity, but it appears gradually. All the elements are so well balanced in this young, potent Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend."

98 Luca Gardini - GardiniNotes.com

Long oak wood refinement for the label-symbol of the house project. Dogwood, yellowcurrant and tangerine in olfaction, puffs of chamomile and dehydrated thyme, then juniper. To the juicy and savoury sip, with memories of flowers and red fruits.

95 Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

The 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino comes from a warm but not extreme growing season, helped by timely rain and a normal harvest window. It pours a deep ruby red hue and opens with black raspberries, violets, fresh earth, licorice, and rosemary. Medium to full-bodied, it feels more vertical and energetic than the 2020, with a bright spine of acidity, well-defined tannins, and a long, focused finish that stays light on its feet. Drink 2026-2040.

95 Eric Guido - Vinous Media

The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is an understated beauty, mixing dusty rose and lavender with shavings of blood orange and black cherries. It is surprisingly juicy yet elegant and refined, as ripe wild berry fruits slowly drench the palate in primary concentration. Structured and dramatically long, the 2021 finishes spicy and intense with nuances of citrus, clove and licorice. The complexity here is off the charts and the energy is incredible.

93 Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Sourced from the fruit of 36 family-owned plots in Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger, the NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is very fine and intense on the clear, precise and perfectly ripe nose, with lovely brioche and aromatic fruit notes. Beautifully intense but refined and highly elegant on the palate, this is one of the finest Blanc de Blancs I have had from Bruno Paillard in the past five years. This is so gentle, pure and chalky, with a long and intense but clear, crisp and salty finish. This is absolutely fabulous in its terroir reflection and great delicacy with beautiful length. Disgorged as Extra-Brut in January 2017. Tasted October 2018.

96 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

This shows aromas of citrus, poached orchard fruit and stones. The palate is intense and concentrated, with great energy and fruit, yet linear and focused. Medium- to full- bodied. Long and persistent. This has no sulfur added until after malolactic. Really love the oxidative character of this alvarinho.

98-100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

After a little shaking, notes of orange blossoms, fresh grapefruit, and just-ripe pineapple slowly emerge from the glass, followed by hints of fennel seed, wet pebbles, and blanched almonds. The medium-bodied palate is so silky and seamless, melting in your mouth with saline-laced citrus and tropical fruit layers, finishing with epic length and depth. Incredible.

98-99 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Minerally and understated nose, but it’s so pure and bright, showing lots of purity and precision this year. Subtle aromas of seashells, green kiwis, wet stones and meringue follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate. Lots of texture and energy, yet it remains dry and really long. 56.1% semillon and 43.9% sauvignon blanc.

95-97 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2024 Haut-Brion Blanc is seamless and textured in the glass. Silky and creamy in feel, with fabulous balance, Haut-Brion Blanc is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Marzipan, chamomile, spice, lemon confit and a kiss of French oak are all beautifully woven together. The long, sustained finish is a thing of beauty.

95-97 Neal Martin - Vinous Media

The 2024 Haut-Brion Blanc also has a reserved bouquet like the La Mission Blanc and demands more encouragement than usual. Eventually, there are lime, gooseberry, crushed stone and mirabelle scents that start to gain intensity after ten minutes. The palate is very well balanced with a slightly more pithy texture. It is quite peppery, with fine grip and hints of green olive toward the persistent finish. This is excellent.

97 Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

Honeysuckle, green apples, orange rind, white peach and flower aromatics are easy to spot. Elegant, refined, and fresh, the wine is filled with sweet fruits that gently caress your palate, lingering in the zesty finish. The wine is made from a blend of 56.1% Semillon with 43.9% Sauvignon Blanc. 13.75% ABV., 3.2 pH. Drink from 2027-2042