95 Decanter

From a single plot in Rocche dell'Annunziata, this Barolo ages for 18 months in big oak vessels. On the nose there's a smoky-graphite character with intoxicating mint and violet scents, some milkiness in depth and a lot of delicacy. Refined, polished tannins dominate the palate, with integrated oak, red currants, brilliant acidity and a bright fruit finish. A slightly modern Barolo, but classic Annunziata. One for the long haul due to the freshness and the elegance of the tannins.

96-98 Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale—tasted as a tank sample—boasts knockout aromas of rose petals, garrigue, ripe cherries and red raspberries. It's full-bodied and tannic, concentrated yet somehow light, airy and refreshing at the same time, with a long, lingering finish. Great stuff from vines more than 100 years old.

96 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

This astonishing 2022 Chateauneuf has giant depth and concentration of black fruit aromas with notes of spices and dry earth, beneath which is a deep foundation of super-fine tannins. Very long, imposing finish with stacks of licorice and black olive character. Great aging potential. 92% grenache from vines planted in 1901 and 1902, with a small amount of white grape varieties inter-planted. Matured exclusively in concrete tanks. Bottled unfiltered. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

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.

97 Neal Martin - Vinous Media

The 2020 Cos d'Estournel, which was bottled in July, has lost some of the exoticism that it showed out of barrel. Within five minutes of aeration it develops a complex bouquet: black fruit laced with graphite and subtle cedar aromas, a charcoal back-note and later pressed iris flowers. I foresee this gaining more nuance with bottle age. The palate is taut, lean and precise. Lightly spiced on the entry, with finely-chiseled tannins, again, not quite as precocious as it showed in barrel, allowing the terroir to come through more. There is something almost understated about this vintage vis-à-vis others, razor-sharp precision with just the right amount of salinity on the finish. This is a classy offering that will mature beautifully in bottle. A keeper.

93 Wine Enthusiast

"Buoyant aromas of raspberry, white pepper, rose, dried sage, loamy soil and roasted meat make for a layered and dynamic entry to this hearty wine. There is plenty of depth on the palate as well, from black raspberry and plum flavors to salumi and Turkish delight. -MK"

92 Josh Raynolds - Vinous Media

"Lurid ruby. Fresh black raspberry, cherry and floral qualities on the nose, along with an exotic touch of incense. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering oak-tinged cherry-vanilla, red berry preserve and spicecake flavors that show vibrant back-end lift. Rounded, even tannins frame the long, smooth finish, which emphatically repeats the red fruit and floral notes."

95 Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Located on the eastern side, Les Rouères is one of the three plots listed in the original decree creating the Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru appellation, says Ivan Massonnat. The shallow and warm soils rest on pudding sandstone (sand concretions and rolled gravel), which accumulate the heat of the day and restore it at night. This solar terroir gives birth to fruit-intense, complex and ample wines, and the Belarus 2018 Anjou Les Rouères is a great example. The intensely straw-yellow wine offers an intensely aromatic bouquet of ripe, stewed and concentrated fruits intertwined with delicate schistous notes. The Les Rouères is much more fruit intense than all the other Anjous from this exciting domaine. On the palate, this is a silky-textured, rich and elegant, dense yet well balanced, finessed and aromatic Chenin with an exceptionally long and, due to firm tannins, sustainably structured finish that fits easily into Markus Molitor's infamous "physical drinking" category. It is a dense, rich and powerful, firmly structured and enormously fruity Rochefort (or better: dry Quarts-de-Chaume) from late-harvested Chenin Blanc grapes. You shouldn't look for the purity and crushed stones and fresh fruits here. Although the wine has tension, finesse and purity, it is a rather baroque style made to enjoy in a decade and possibly for decades. 14% alcohol (according to the back label, possibly more). Tasted in June 2021.

100 James Suckling - Wine Spectator

"This is one of my favorite wines ever. Full-bodied, with layers of silky fruit and masses of currant, mineral and berry character. Amazing. It's a wine with perfect structure, perfect strength. It's 1961 Latour in modern clothes. It's hard not to drink it now. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal."

98 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Tasting the 1990 Latour is like running into a long-lost friend. Still dark, deep and spectacularly flamboyant, the 1990 possesses remarkable textural richness from the very first taste. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of pencil shaving, dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and spice flavors, but more than anything else, the 1990 is a wine of pure and total voluptuousness. While I never think of wine as a competition, the 1990 is quite a bit more complex, layered and intriguing than the 1982 served alongside it at the same charity dinner. Its longevity will ultimately be determined by the quality of the cork and storage conditions, as the wine has several decades of truly exceptional drinking still to offer. In a word: magnificent!

98 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

A classic, powerful, regal Latour, the 1990 is solidly in its drink window and has a still-ruby hue as well as a gorgeous perfume of darker currants, tobacco leaf, new saddle leather, and graphite. It opens up beautifully with air and has the perfect mix of great fruit and purity with mature and complex, cedary nuances. Full-bodied on the palate, perfectly balanced, and with sweet yet still present tannins, it can safely be enjoyed any time over the coming 40-50 years.

98 Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

As this ages, it continues improving, filling out, softening and gaining in nuances. Now you find oceanic nuances interspersed with creme de cassis, cigar box, lead pencil, wet soil and leafy complexities. The wine is full- deep, long and regal, with a present tannic backbone and the structure for at least 2-3 more decades of aging.

98 Neal Martin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The nose is quite perplexing at first, perhaps because one notices how decayed the fruit is. But the secondary characteristics that gradually show their faces more than compensate: leather, dried herbs, pencil box and hot roof tiles. Opens beautifully with time, developing a scent of wild mint after 30 minutes. The palate is full-bodied, firm tannins, powerful but decaying black fruits with leather, graphite and tobacco. A “burly” but affable Latour that embraces some Pomerol characteristics, but suffuses them subtly rather than allowing them to dominate. Gorgeous. Drink now-2025+ Tasted June 2009.

91 Wine Spectator

Shows terrific precision and complexity, with fresh, ripe apple, citrus and pear flavors that have details of nutmeg, salted butter and lemon thyme. Reveals toast and spices on the long finish. Drink now. 380 cases made.

91 Wine Spectator

"A rustic yet smooth and harmonious style, with dusty berry, mineral, sage and herb scents that form a complex core of flavors. There's good intensity, and the tannins are in check. Ends with a minerally aftertaste, making this a wine that's very true to its appellation. Best from 2008 through 2016. 2,500 cases made." 91 Points - Wine Spectator

"Deep ruby-red. Cassis, black cherry and menthol on the pure, slightly medicinal nose. Dense, sweet and pure, with lovely delineation and depth to the flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate and mint. Chewy but pliant. Finishes with firm but ripe tannins and very good length. Classic Howell Mountain cabernet from a ripe year." 91 Points - Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar

91 Antonio Galloni - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2007 Barbera d-Alba Campass emerges from the glass with layers of silky, perfumed fruit. The 2007 is a gorgeous Campass endowed with superb depth in a style that avoids excess heaviness. This beautifully balanced, refined Barbera should drink well to age ten, perhaps beyond. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017."

94 Wine Spectator

"Delivers fabulous aromas of crushed red fruits, with leather, tar, tobacco and mint. Full-bodied, offering supersoft and silky tannins, as well as a beautiful polish. Open and luscious, with amazing richness of fruit and decadence at the same time. -- '89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. 44,000 cases made."

93 Wine Spectator

"Exceedingly well-made and classy, with very focused blackberry and cedar flavors and a compact fruit and tannin structure. Best after 1997. (JS)"

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.