92-94 Jasper Morris, MW - Inside Burgundy

Pale lemon and lime, the bouquet of the Charmes offers significantly more weight than any of the village cuvees, with the faintest of positive reductions, not especially a feature at this domaine. Fine density of white pears with some yellower plum notes, lightly saline at the finish, very attractively balanced and persistent. Tasted: 10/1/2021.

93 Allen Meadows - Burghound

Restrained if elegant and very pretty aromas are comprised by notes of essence of poached pear, spice, just sliced citrus and a whiff of acacia blossom. Here too the medium-bodied flavors are both caressing and seductive before tightening up on the sappy, chalky and equally dry finale that is shaped by lemon-tinged acidity. This beauty of a Charmes is quite firm and will need the better part of a decade to realize its full potential.

92 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

Moving to the 2020s, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Les Schistes has a terrific sense of elegance and purity, with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of smoked red and black fruits, ground pepper, iron, and bacon fat. With silky tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish, it can be drunk any time over the coming decade or more.

92 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Burlotto’s 2022 Langhe Freisa is a wonderfully vivid, expressive wine. Lavender, rose petal, mint, blood orange and pomegranate give the Freisa its beguiling, nuanced personality. Firm yet well-integrated tannins wrap it all together. The aromatics alone are captivating, but it’s the wine's total sense of harmony that is most impressive of all.

92 Beverage Dynamics

On the nose, it o ers fragrant aromas of strawberry, watermelon and a hint of rose petals, complemented by subtle notes of citrus zest. Upon tasting, the palate is greeted with a refreshing burst of red berries, including ripe raspberries and juicy cherries, balanced with a crisp acidity that provides a clean and invigorating fi nish. The mouthfeel is light and refreshing, making it an ideal choice for warm weather or as a versatile pairing with a variety of dishes.

89 Allen Meadows - Burghound

A wonderfully fresh and ripe nose combines notes of red currant, plum and a whisper of earth. The sleek, delicious and vibrant middleweight flavors terminate in an inviting and refreshing if lightly rustic finish. This is very good for its level plus it offers short to mid-term aging potential.

80 Cellar Tracker

Based on 10 notes and 8 scores from 10 users as of 5/17/15.

92 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

I like the violet and cassis notes here mingling with mulberries and purple plums. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and lively, with purple fruit wrapped up in silky tannins. Lots of energy. Drink or hold.

97 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Gorgeous aromas of dried flowers, currants, bark, and forest floor. Lead pencil, too. Tobacco. Full-bodied yet racy and polished with fine and silky tannins that run the length of the wine. Crunchy and fresh at the end. Give this five or six years to come together. Supple yet structured. It builds at the finish. Try after 2028.

97 Markus Del Monego MW - Tasting Book

Intense purple colour with violet hue and black core. A great and mutli-layered with very classic character. Mature fruit, juicy blackcurrants, ripe blackberries and elderberries, dark chocolate and hints of coffee, backed by restrained gingerbread spices and fine earthy minerality. On the palate well structured and concentrated with noble tannins, refined acidity, multi-layered with excellent length. A great Issan.

96 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The 2020 Château D'Issan is a stunningly good Margaux, and this is another estate that seems to producer brilliant wines every vintage. Pulling from 51.04 hectares of vines and a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, it's a selection of just 45% of the total production and spent 18 months in 50% new and 50% once-used French oak. Beautiful, spiced-laced red and black fruits, chocolate, smoked tobacco, and incense notes define the aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied restrained, elegant 2020 with terrific mid-palate density, ripe, velvety tannins, and terrific overall balance. This is one of those beautiful, classic wines that grows on you with time in the glass, and hats off to Emmanuel Cruse for yet another incredible wine. It's going to evolve for another 25-30 years if well-stored.

96 Georgina Hindle - Decanter

Wonderfully intense on the nose, so ripe and concentrated with some toasted oak aromas. Supple and vibrant on the palate, the fruit is clean and crisp with tannins that are fine but firm, just giving the expression some tension and linearity. Cinnamon and clove edge the bright blackcurrant and black cherry fruit with lovely acidity. This is plush, and firm at the same time, clean and clear, fragrant and ripe. Lots going on here with bitter dark chocolate too. It’s all happening. Needs time to relax but this is wonderfully nuanced and really quite captivating. Grippy and refreshing, leaves a lingering impression.

96 Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

A successful wine that has lived up to En Primeur promise. The emphasis remains on texture and depth, velvety tannins, perfumed violets, rose and raspberry leaf aromatics, slate, crushed rocks, serious at first then softening to show raspberry puree and smoked blackcurrant fruits. Cocoa dusting on the finish and clear spice, a little austere right now. The terroirs of the newly-purchased Château Pontac Lynch are in this Issan vintage, meaning the blend uses five grape varieties for first time. Not easy to add these distinctive varieties while maintaining the elegant, finessed style of this estate, but it works. 50% new oak, 38hl/h yield.