92-95 Jasper Morris, MW - Inside Burgundy

A bright vigorous purple. The nose starts very well, dark cherry and blackberry, while the fruit on the palate is in more luxurious mode, possibly the sample needs freshening. This is in morello cherry territory with quite a coating of oak. More sumptuous all round than Boudots, so depends which style you prefer. Higher alcohol, just under 14%. Drink from 2031-2037. Tasted Nov 2024.

96 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Potpourri and bitter oranges dominate this complex wine. It’s bright ruby in the glass, with sweet spices and graceful depth. Firm on the palate with dusty yet ripe tannins, integrated delicate acidity and an amazing finish. Grace and power are well managed here. Long finish with rhubarb notes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

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

96+ Robert Parker - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"It should be fascinating to compare the potentially legendary 2010 Hermitage La Chapelle with the prodigious 2009 La Chapelle over the next 30-40 years. About 20% new oak was used, and, as were previous vintages, the 2010 was aged 15 months prior to bottling. This black/purple-colored beauty is revealing more weight and richness than it did last year from barrel, along with great precision, stunning minerality and enormous quantities of blackberry, cassis, beef blood and smoked game intertwined with hints of graphite and acacia flowers. With good acidity and richness as well as abundant, but ripe, well-integrated tannin, this great wine equals the titan produced in 2009. Forget it for 7-10 years and drink it over the following 30-50 years."

96 Josh Raynolds - Vinous Media

"Inky, glass-staining ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes dark fruit liqueur, smoky Indian spices, potpourri and cracked pepper. Deep but lively, offering palate-coating blueberry and cherry-cola flavors and a sexy note of candied violet. This wine opens up dramatically with a little air and shows a very suave blend of power and finesse. An energizing mineral note comes on strong on the endless finish, which features sexy floral and spicecake nuances."

96 Decanter

Noticeably more evolved than the 2016, taking on some air-dried meat aromas. The characteristic smokiness of Hermitage is starting to make itself more apparent now, with cigar wrapper, bonfire ash and fireworks swirling from the glass. Dense and intense on the palate, with driving, powerful, mouthcoating tannins. This still needs time to temper the tannic force, and will take on more complexity, so hands off until 2030 - if you can wait that long! From 45 to 90-year-old vines across lieux-dits Les Roucoules, Le Méal, Les Greffieux, Les Bessards and Varogne. Aged in French oak barrels, 20% new. (MW)

92 Jim Gordon - JamesSuckling.com

"If you’re looking for a leaner, lighter Napa white, this is a good choice. A light body, rather low alcohol and lots of bright, appetizing herb and citrus flavors distinguish this wine. So refreshing and savory with sweet peas, parsley and shallots. Drink now."

92 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

"The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Aveta is a wild, exuberant wine. Pear, lemon oil, white pepper and sweet perfumed notes are front and center. There's lovely textural depth, along with strong tropical inflections that add an exotic flair."

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Bright purple fruit with lifted notes of bramble berries, violets and bergamot. The palate is full-bodied with chewy tannins, a lush mouthfeel, fine acidity and notes of dark plums, cocoa, sage and red peppercorns. A blend of multiple blocks made up of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaill amounts of petit verdot, merlot and malbec. Drink or hold.

91 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A fruity, juicy, velvety and charming red with notes of cherries, raspberries, cassis and olives. Medium body, fine tannins and a straightforward development on the palate. Fruity and agreeable. Drink now.

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."