95 Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2021 A Merced is surprisingly a little higher in alcohol than the 2020 I tasted next to it, despite the much cooler year. It fermented with 50% foot-trodden whole clusters in 1,000-liter oak casks with indigenous yeasts and a long maceration. It matured in used 225-liter French oak barrels for one year. It's a little earthy but also floral and elegant, combining that wild side that seems to be inherent to this place, as I've noticed it in the last few vintages. It's quite expressive and showy, very complete and balanced. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2022.

93-95 Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A new era starts in 2021, when they got a new winemaker for PSI. The 2021 PSI—still unbottled, as it should have an élevage of 20 months—comes from a cooler year than 2020, but it was also a drier vintage and the wine has more finesse than in 2020. It develops a note of honey, beeswax and pollen—Peter thinks this comes from the wine from Gumiel de Izán (and it also happens in Quintana del Pidio), as the 2021 has a significant percentage from Gumiel de Izán. 2021 is an approachable vintage, and the wine feels very elegant. It has 14.1% alcohol, slightly higher than 2020, but even if they do not harvest looking at the alcohol, they try to avoid going over 14%. I tasted a sample from 80% oak vat and 20% in barrel, with some new barrels. This is going in the right direction. They expect to bottle some 360,000 bottles. As they harvest early, they start the élevage almost one month earlier than others, so they think the wine might be bottled in May 2023.

94-95 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A juicy and solid young St Emilion with crushed stone, hints of large grains of sea salt and a black berry character throughout. Full and chewy, but polished. New Grand Cru. Made from biodynamically grown grapes.

93-95 William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A wine that gets my nod as this dynamic estate's finest to date is the 2022 Mangot, a medium to full-bodied, ample and layered wine evocative of cherries, dark berries, licorice and rose petals. Deep, concentrated and fleshy, with a vibrant core of fruit and a long, mouthwatering finish, this seamless, complete Saint-Émilion is sure to be one of the best purchases of the en primeur campaign.

91-93 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2022 Mangot is another impressive wine from this château. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, sage, mint and blood orange. Mangot is no longer the brooding powerhouse it once was, but it is still a pretty heady Saint-Émilion. In 2022, it’s the balance of fruit intensity and energy that impresses most. Tasted three times.

91 Eric Guido - Vinous Media

The 2022 Kerner Lahn is gorgeous, with tropical citrus and florals offsetting green melon aromas. It’s silky smooth, with medium-bodied weight and a juicy, acidic core that maintains marvelous energy. Kiwi and young mango hints linger through the cool-toned finale as the 2022 tapers off wickedly fresh.

85 Cellar Tracker

Based on 6 notes and 5 scores from 6 users on Cellartracker.com as of 6/05/15.

96 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard is fabulous. It emerges from a terraced vineyard at 1,800 feet in elevation in Napa Valley, just above the Coombsville AVA. Rich, dark and beautifully structured, the 2021 possesses notable pedigree and character. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice, bay leaf and espresso all race across the palate. Readers who enjoy old-school Napa Cabernets will adore this. This wine, if sold in Napa Valley, would cost four to five times as much. Don't miss it!

92 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2022 Le Difese is plump, juicy and expressive, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Crushed flowers, succulent red cherry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange all race across the palate. This exuberant yet mid-weight coastal Tuscan red is a total pleasure bomb. The 2022 is an especially fine edition. It benefits from a warm year - which can be a positive for entry-level wines - earlier bottling and selection. Le Difese is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (both estate and non-estate sites) and Sangiovese, all purchased.

90 Wine Spectator

"Clean and precise aromas of strawberry and blackberry follow through to a full body. Builds on the palate, with cool berry fruit character and chewy tannins. Best after 2011. 750 cases made." -90 Points - Wine Spectator

WINE:
"The vineyards are located in the communities of Neive and Treiso. This gem is vinified in stainless steel and raised in new French oak for 24 months. In the third year the wine is blended and bottled. There is one year of refinement in the bottle before it is ready for export."

"This full-bodied red is visually dark and concentrated. In the mouth, it is round with excellent persistence. Principal notes of spice with blueberry and blackberry jam and an undertone of rose. A structured wine with tame velvety tannins and a long and pleasurable finish. This elegant Barbaresco is a great accompaniment to many cheeses, pastas and meats and even tartufo-accented specialties typical of this Piemonte area." -Importer

REGION:
"DOCG regulations stipulate that Barbaresco wines must be aged for a minimum of 2 years (at least 1 year in oak) prior to release and aged for at least 4 years to be considered a riserva. The wines must have a minimum 12.5% alcohol level though most wines are closer to 13.5%."

"The typical style of a Barbaresco has bouquets of roses or violets with flavor notes of cherry, truffles, fennel and licorice. As the wine ages, it can develop smoky notes and more earthy and animal flavors like leather and tar." -Jancis Robinson - The Oxford Companion to Wine - on the Barbaresco DOCG

95 Wine Enthusiast

"A big and powerful wine, with tannins that are compact and dense. The dryness of the tannins go right to the core, surrounded by chocolate, sweet fruit and dark berry flavors. The wine is well structured, big and bold, with plenty of firmness promising aging."

95 Charles Curtis MW - Decanter

Shows more red fruit than black with a hint of smoke, leather and game. The texture is lively and fresh. It is somewhat shorter than Latour can be, but not overly so. This is one to drink while waiting for other recent vintages to open up. The overcast, lukewarm weather in 2007 delivered a wine with less intensity and power than other recent vintages, but one that drinks agreeably well at this earlier stage. Merlot was picked beginning 21st September and the Cabernets from 4th October.