92 Wine Spectator

"A minerally style, with hints of smoke and gravel underscoring the crunchy pear, fresh tarragon, grapefruit zest and lentil notes. This is chiseled, with good drive and length, including a zesty feel on the white pepper–laced finish. Drink now through 2034. 24,160 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. -AN"

90 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"A smoky sauvignon blanc full of intense asparagus. Tingling on the palate with zesty acidity and a brief finish. A bit too New Zealand in style. Drink now."

94 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Very savory and subtle, with leesy aromas alongside graceful strawberries, violet candies and a lot of cinnamon. Medium-bodied but not without weight, showing velvety tannins with tingling acidity. A surprisingly good, elegant nebbiolo. Drink now.

97-100 William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2022 La Conseillante is a remarkable wine that has the potential to emerge as one of the wines of the vintage. A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc, it unfurls in the glass with deep aromas of black raspberries and mulberries mingled with notions of rose petals, violets, orange zest and mint. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's velvety and enveloping, with a textural attack that segues into a multidimensional mid-palate that's framed by sweet, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Checking in at a very healthy pH of 3.65 and 14% alcohol, it is a beautifully supple, suave wine that retains all this estate's signature elegance but in a slightly deeper-pitched and broader-shouldered format than the profound 2020. Congratulations to winemaker Marielle Cazaux, consulting enologist Thomas Duclos, the Nicolas family led by Jean-Valmy, and all the team at La Conseillante who have firmly established this estate at the very top of Pomerol's qualitative hierarchy in recent vintages.

98-100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 La Conseillante has a pH of 3.65 and is aging in 70% new oak. The yield was 33 hl/ha. It starts off with an opaque purple color, then POW! It explodes from the glass with a spectacular nose of rose oil, star anise, garrigue, and candied violets, giving way to a powerful core of blueberry preserves, juicy black plums, and Morello cherries, plus a waft of Sichuan pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is bright, vibrant, and impactful, delivering layer upon layer of intense flavors with a super-plush texture and fantastic tension, finishing epically long and wonderfully perfumed. A masterpiece—brava, Marielle!

97-99 Neal Martin - Vinous Media

The 2022 La Conseillante was picked at 33hL/ha between 5 and 20 September and raised in 70% new oak plus 30% in amphorae. There is 13.9% alcohol. This is quite discrete on the nose, just like L'Évangile, only really opening after several minutes. Blackberry, blueberry, hints of iris flower, perhaps more floral than L'Évangile and Cheval Blanc. The palate is medium-bodied with velvety tannins plus a fine bead of acidity. Fresh and focused, this is maybe less concentrated on the mid-palate than expected but that maintains an unerring sense of equilibrium. Tensile and very smooth with an underlying sense of strict like its aforementioned neighbors. A rough decant prizes this Pomerol open and reveals its inner core of mineralité. Anyone spending less than 15 minutes tasting this Pomerol is likely to have totally missed it. Saline both on the finish and aftertaste, Marielle Cazaux has crafted one of the most intellectual La Conseillante wines in recent years.

98+ Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The 2022 Château La Conseillante is pure brilliance and is up with the crème de la crème from this estate. Gorgeous blue fruits, sweet cassis, violets, spice, incense, truffle, and blood orange all define the aromatics, and it's a sensationally pure, full-bodied, voluptuous, and perfectly balanced Conseillante that has integrated tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and incredible length. A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc, aged in 70% new French oak, the 2022 hit 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.65. It's just about impossible to resist even today, but it's going to take 8-10 years to hit its prime drinking plateau and should see its 30th birthday in fine form.

97 JANE ANSON - DECANTER

Deep inky colour, crushed rose petal and peony, such a beautiful wine, with waves of blueberry and cassis fruit, along with liqourice root, lemongrass, slate and saffran, and one of the clear standout successes of Pomerol. 95% 1st wine this year, with just 5% for Duo de La Conseillante. Slow progress through the palate, this has vintage character but leans into it. 70% new oak, 3.65ph. Harvest 5 to 20.

97 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A juicy and lightly austere young red with blackberry, cherry and bark character on both the nose and palate. It’s medium- to full-bodied with chewy tannins that soften at the end, but still make your mouth pucker. Give this two or three years to soften. Best after 2027.

96 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

A deep red hue, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is more saturated with aromas of fresh leather, baked cherries, Amarena, mossy earth, balsamic herbs, and graphite. Full-bodied and well-balanced, with a seamless texture, plush tannins, and a velvety feel, it retains good freshness and a lot of length. It's more approachable now, and while it might not be the longest-lived of these wines, it's going to have a wide drinking window over the next 10 -15 years. I will say, while I prefer the freshness and the tension of the standard Brunello in this vintage, this has more polish and softer edges and is the more complete wine on paper.

96 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Altesino 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli has a rich and syrupy side that underlines the brightness of the fruit in this vintage. That core of dark fruit is framed by mineral notes of black slate and crushed river stone. There is a pretty mineral chalkiness on the palate that ties into the firm tannic structure of this full-bodied wine. The effect is elegant and sharply delineated. Aged in Slavonian oak casks, 12,000 bottles were made.

96 Wine Spectator

An intense red, delivering black cherry, blackberry, violet and orange peel flavors aligned with a dense profile. Though there's so much packed in, this red is virtually seamless, building effortlessly to the long, saturated finish. Menthol and mineral elements emerge as this plays out on the long, salty aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2045. 1,000 cases made, 350 cases imported.

98 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"Aromas of blackcurrants and black cherries with hints of crushed walnuts, grilled thyme, cocoa powder and graphite. It’s full-bodied with layers of ultra-fine, silky tannins that elegantly coat your palate, allowing the juicy and vibrant fruit to shine. Delicate and pristine, yet compact with lots of energy and power to uncover in the coming years. It lasts for minutes and is delicious now. The purity of fruit is really impressive. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 50% new oak 15% old oak and 35% concrete amphorae. Try after 2027."

97+ Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The flagship from this estate, the 2020 Château Pontet-Canet is a beauty based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 50% new oak, with 35% in amphora. Deep purple-hued with a great nose of dark currants, plums, tobacco leaf, and truffly earth, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel and a great finish. The higher Merlot content here really shows in its overall sexy, supple, seamless style, and while this already offers pleasure, it's going to be one for the ages as well.

97 Georgina Hindle - Decanter

Dark chocolate, bramble tones, not overly floral or fruity with some cedar and cinnamon notes. Lovely high acidity straight away, forward, bright and energetic with lovely crunchy blue fruit on the palate but creamy textured tannins giving a round and complete mouthful. Nothing feels overdone, this is quietly seductive and confident but not at all showing off. I love the minerality and the graphite grip with plum and black cherry and tons of slate, liquorice and menthol freshness. Long finish, slowly expansive, building and growing from start to finish showing an impressive structure overall. Nicely constructed, charming still with the Pauillac touch. A great Pontet - immediately seductive and enjoyable with a long ageing potential.

97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Pontet-Canet is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs a lot of swirling and aeration to coax out notes of crushed blackcurrants, blueberry compote, and candied violets, leading to suggestions of allspice, fertile loam, kirsch, and dark chocolate with a touch of Indian spices. The medium-bodied palate delivers a firm backbone of grainy tannins with loads of bright, perfumed red and black fruits and seamless acidity, finishing long and fragrant. This is stunning.

97 Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

A powerful character to this wine, touch of oyster shell, soy, salinity, but also creamy with energy, lift and precision, and a violet character that you find increasingly in Pontet Canet. Plenty of Pauillac signature in its tannic grip and heft, with cocoa bean and slate. Deft and exceptionally successful. Harvest September 14 to September 30. No second wine, as has been true for the past half-decade at Pontet Canet. First full vintage for Mathieu Bessonnet who replaced the previous long-term director Jean-Michel Comme in 2020. 45% new oak barrels, 15% one year, 40% in amphoras.

97 Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

With a nose that displays truffle, tobacco leaf, cedar, licorice, and black currants, the wine is soft, fresh, refined, and focuses you on its cassis, blackberry, earth, spice, and peppery herb character. There are no hard edges in the finish, just soft, vibrant currants, herbs, and spice. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, pH 3.8. The wine is aged in 45% new, French oak barrels and amphora. The harvest took place September 14, to September 30. Drink from 2026-2055

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"Supervibrant and energetic for an entry-level blaufrankisch, this knocks you back in your chair in the nicest possible way. With a little aeration in the glass, Amarena-cherry, forest-berry, clove and licorice aromas unfurl. Lovely velvety tannins on the refined, medium-bodied palate. Very clean, polished finish. Drink or hold."

96 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mt. Veeder) is superb. It captures tons of Veeder character in its savory/mineral intensity and dark fruit. Purplish fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, dried herbs, mint and wild flowers all build as this potent, driving, vivid Cabernet builds in the glass. This is lights out.

94+ Erin Brooks - Robert Parker's the Wine Advocate

The 2021 Pinot Noir La Rinconada Vineyard, vinified entirely with whole clusters, features scents of raspberry, pomegranate, black tea leaves, blood orange and Angostura bitters, revealing earthy accents as it spends time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and tense, with a concentrated core of alluringly herbal fruit and a long, ethereal finish. It will benefit from 3-5 years in bottle.

92+ Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2023 Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Spätlese is already highly stimulating in its very first seconds! This is a savory classic that offers saline and stony aromas intertwined with perfectly ripe and fleshy but not all too lush mango and more yellow stone fruit aromas. Crystalline and savory on the palate, this is a linear and elegant, acidity-driven rather than textured dry Riesling with a long, savory and still-reduced finish. This Riesling is popular in Norway, yet it is probably too sharp and too Nordic for many other export markets. It's age-worthy in any case, with this intense and saline, firmly structured and persistent finish. Screw cap." -Stephan Reinhardt

91 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Fruity, round and refreshing, with notes of guavas, bergamot and warm spices. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Linear and consistent, with a well-rounded finish. Drink now. Screw cap.

94 Erin Brooks - Robert Parker's the Wine Advocate

The 2022 Chardonnay Westside Farms Vineyard comes from grapes planted in 1989 on silty loam soils on Westside Road. The grapes were harvested on August 19, before the Labor Day heat wave, and the wine was barrel-fermented. Matured for 20 months in 20% new French oak barrels, it has slowly unfurling aromas of peach, ginger, cashew, honey and matchstick. The palate balances lush, honeyed flavors with fresh acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish.

97+ Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 120 Botas NO is the most recent bottling of this mythical wine, in this case the result of combining the “Bota Punta” with two outstanding casks of the 1/15 solera. This is an extraordinary Manzanilla of character, complexity and depth, with 14 years of average age, matured under flor for 10 years (and in a more oxidative way the last four to five years) in topped-up barrels. So, it's a little in the way of turning into an Amontillado but keeping the biological and saline character of the Manzanilla. I tasted from an opened bottle, and the wine had closed down and took some time to open up. The nose is impressive, for the first time with some Amontillado hints, mainly hazelnuts and a little varnish. It has concentration and depth, persistence and pungency. It's approachable and has the stuffing and balance to age nicely. 3,000 half-liter bottles produced. It was bottled in 2023.