98 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

"The 2019 Gandona is simply magnificent. A wine of soaring intensity and structure, the 2019 marries power, richness and depth. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, black cherry, leather and torrefaction all race across the palate. There is plenty of the opulence readers have come to expect here, but with an extra kick of vibrancy that adds a feeling of energy the earlier vintages did not have. What a wine!"

96 Falstaff Magazine

Bright ruby red with a delicately brightening rim. Generous nose of wild strawberry and raspberry, with subtly sweet nuances of fruit and tea, then leather and wet stone, complex and deep. Extremely juicy on the palate, opens up in many layers, powerful and polished, seems to build up endlessly, lingers for a long time.

95 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Intense floral nose of red and dark fruit, with a slightly peppery, almost meaty character. There is a lot of stony minerality. Tight-knit structure with fruit and acidity that are crisp and zesty, ripe tannins, a velvety texture and a medium body. Good cherry fruit finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.

98+ Matthew Luczy - Robert Parkers The Wine Advocate

Retasting the 2023 Syrah The Great Places Otto Reynard Stolpman as a finished wine only solidified my impressions from last year before its bottling, and if anything, I may have been a touch conservative in my range. As I wrote last year, it originates from a west-facing section of stake-trained vines propagated from pre-clonal cuttings of Domaine Auguste Clape's parcel in Reynard, specifically a parcel dating back to 1903. The most floral and perfumed of the series, it opens with a gorgeous nose of lavender and violet aromas grounded by black and blue fruits with dusty, spice-driven flourishes. On the palate, it is seamless, dense and concentrated while exuding a palpable sense of authenticity that feels tailored and guided rather than forced into its robust frame. It finishes with a quick punch of velvety, tannic intensity before recoiling with youthful tension. Even with a relatively short time in the glass, this wine unlocks dynamically, the finish eventually displaying a classy decadence through an upright, unwavering posture. The combination of unbridled power, papal finesse and refined structure is even more harmonious and impactful than I recall, resulting in a profoundly complex and sophisticated expression of Syrah.

98 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Vivid, rich black fruit dominates this full-bodied, sleek and finely tannic wine. Black pepper, wood smoke, star anise and violet accents kick in as you sip. Great structure, a linear feel and wild, diverse flavors make it something special. Drinkable now, but best from 2029.

96 Vanessa Rason - Decanter Magazine

Stolpman wines are stylistically distinct, offering primarily full-bodied expressions of classic Rhône wines with serious ageing potential. Stolpman Estate Otto Syrah is brimming with ripe fruit and savoury spice. Flavours of blueberry bramble, baked pie crust, and black peppercorn-encrusted filet mignon give this wine a sense of rustic luxury reminiscent of Cornas, blended with the coastal simplicity of Santa Barbara. A hearty tannin backbone carries through the length of the finish and beyond.

96 Kerin O'Keefe - kerinokeefe.com

Violet, dog rose, dark spice and crushed mint are just some of the aromas you’ll find on the perfumed 2021 Barolo from Brovia. Made with Nebbiolo from the estate’s holdings in Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga, the delicious palate delivers layers of cherry, strawberry compote, orange zest and star anise. Aged for one year longer than their cru bottlings and in larger casks of 100hl, it’s elegantly structured and already accessible, with polished tannins that provide seamless support. It’s also well balanced, with fresh acidity. Drink 2027–2036.

92 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The 2016 Pinot Noir Ridgetop Vineyard is a more classic effort and has lots of forest floor and hints of herbs as well as a solid core of darker red fruits. This site is owned by Fred Schrader and Thomas Brown and is just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. Aged in 50% new French oak, it's medium-bodied, fresh and lively on the palate, with good acidity and a clean, lengthy finish. It's another high-class wine from Andrew.

97 Danielle Callegari - Wine Enthusiast

An irresistibly savory nose with hot tar, low tide and petrol, then bursts with juicy, almost spicy figs and plums. The palate turns warmer and sweeter with bright ripe red berries and citrus, bound up in sleek tannins are nonetheless powerful, polished wrought iron. The Stiléma project has always been intriguing, and this Taurasi only adds to the excitement.

97-98 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

The polish, texture, complexity and patina are very impressive and fascinating. So spicy and interesting with so much going on. Medium body with wonderfully integrated tannins that are cut and nicely chiselled already. Lemon and violet. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

95-97+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with a yield of 29 hl/ha and aging in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a lot of shaking to wake up notes of blackcurrant jelly, redcurrant preserves, boysenberries, and pencil lead, followed by suggestions of lilacs, Sichuan pepper, and cedar chest. The full-bodied palate is built like a skyscraper, delivering mouth-coating black fruits with red berry sparks supported by rock-solid, firm tannins, finishing very long and with a refreshing mineral lift. pH 3.70.

95-97 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte is a regal, elegant wine. Succulent inky fruit, licorice, spice, lavender and mocha open in a gracious, sublime Grand Vin. Here, too, the wine’s persistence and energy are notable. The Cabernet is especially evident this year, in both the wine’s flavor profile and overall structural feel. In many vintages, the Grand Vin is more immediate and alluring. The 2022 is quite reticent.

97 Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

Inky colour, with vivid vibrant edging, curling and fragrant floral aromatics, plenty of energy from the first kick of peony and mandarin peel. The rich density of the blue and black fruits are set against slate and grippy tannins, giving textural contrast which makes it engaging, together with a saline scrape on the finish. Blueberry, cassis, ink, liquorice root, graphite, pink grapefruit, intensely expressed with a vertical rise through the palate, very much true to estate signature. 29hl/h, 3.65ph, 10% whole bunches fermentation, using a mix of full bunches and stalks that they select after destemming. 33% 1st wine, 4% press used in the blend, harvest September 5 to 30. Fabien Teitgen technical director.

94-95 William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte opens in the glass with attractive aromas of cassis, spices, tobacco, graphite and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that is deep and layered, with good depth and powdery structuring tannins that assert themselves on the finish. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot will require some patience, given its somewhat extracted style.

92 Robert Parker

92 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Fission is packed with scents of blackberry, coffee, dried savory herbs, lavender, mocha and spice. This potent, strapping Moon Mountain Cabernet packs a pretty big punch. I would give the firm Moon Mountain tannins a year or two to soften. Overall, the 2020 is a fine showing in this challenging vintage.

94 Wine Advocate - Wine Advocate

"Barbadillo is somehow a specialist in Palo Cortado, and they now offer a younger, gentler and more straightforward NV Palo Cortado Criadera Selection from the Tío Río solera. It's an elegant oxidative wine, with an average age of 14 years, with a peachy nose, gentle and tender, but with a more saline and sharper palate with a bitter twist in the finish. It has an Oloroso nose and an Amontillado palate. 906 bottles were filled in March 2024."

94 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Brancaia 2021 Ilatraia is an organic blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. I like the restyled front label design presented with this vintage. This is a bold and generous wine with sweet fruit, blackberry preserves, baking spice and hints of pipe tobacco. The Ilatraia hits the palate with power, but the tannins are softly integrated for a full-bodied but velvety close.

94 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 Ilatraia, Brancaia's flagship Maremma red, is a fine example of the appellation. Black cherry, plum, espresso, licorice and bittersweet chocolate saturate the palate. This young, vibrant, exotic red needs time to be at its best. Today, it is almost shockingly primary.

94 Wine Spectator

Jammy and generous, with bold aromatics, this red is a pleasure to drink, offering polished cherry and blackberry tart flavors accented by briar patch and licorice as this zips along the lively finish. Drink now through 2034. 6,000 cases made.

98 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

One of my favorite cuvées from this estate, the 2021 El Alma De Jonata checks in as 80% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Reminding me of a great vintage of Château Figeac, it has a gorgeous perfume of red and black fruits, spring flowers, lead pencil, and smoked tobacco. With medium to full body, gorgeously polished, integrated tannins, and an incredible finish, it already offers pleasure yet will ideally be hidden in the cellar for 4-5 years. It will have 20-25+ years of overall longevity.

96 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 El Alma de Jonata is dense and powerful, but also very young. There is some youthful austerity that needs time to soften, and yet all the elements are so well balanced. Dark red/purplish fruit, blood orange, cedar, mint and spice all race throughout this sumptuous, super-expressive Cabernet Franc-based blend. Franc aromatics are especially prominent on the finish. Give this time.

92 Wine Spectator

"A lovely hint of honeysuckle accents the flavors of mirabelle plum, white cherry, anise and grated ginger in this vibrant Champagne, which is finely knit and detailed in texture, with a mouthwatering finish of ripe fruit, spice and chalk accents. Disgorged November 2019. Drink now through 2025. 40,000 cases made, 6,930 cases imported."

90 William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The latest release of Ployez-Jacquemart's emblematic NV Extra Quality Brut was disgorged with around five grams per liter dosage after three years on the lees. Mingling aromas of orange oil and fresh peach with hints of brioche and smoke, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a tightly wound core, racy acids and a dry, chalky finish. It will show even better after an additional year or two on cork."