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Staff Favorites - Andrew Shaheen
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Reviews
2025 Margaux, Margaux
Review Date: 06-08-2026
A wine of unanimous praise. I don't recall encountering a single taster during en primeur week who did not place Château Margaux among their top wines of the vintage. I can't disagree. The 2025 Margaux is incredibly pure and expressive on the nose, with violet, lavender, and graphite framing a silky, elegant palate of cassis, plum, subtle cocoa, and baking spice. The 2025 will likely take its place among the great releases from this estate. A must-have for the cellar.
2025 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac-Léognan
Review Date: 06-08-2026
One of the whites of the vintage. Exceptionally textural, rich and silky with layers of lemon, apple, honey, honeysuckle, and orange blossom. Remarkable balance and depth, with more subtle yet beautifully integrated oak allowing the fruit and minerality to shine. This should age very well, but it is already so delicious I found it difficult to spit. For me, this was an absolute standout.
2025 Cheval Blanc, St-Emilion
Review Date: 05-10-2026
Record low yields and high expected demand will almost certainly make this one of the most limited releases of the 2025 campaign. A perfumed, floral nose of cassis, dark cherry, and plum opens with subtle hints of cacao and delicate herbal notes. The tannins are soft and fine, the texture silky and remarkably fresh, the wine stays light on its feet throughout. The finish carries the seamless elegance that defines this estate at its best, and all signs point to a bright future in the cellar. Those interested should act quickly to secure an allocation.
2025 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux
Review Date: 05-06-2026
The 2025 Malescot-St-Exupéry is a very compelling wine. Violet and cassis open on the nose with red berry undertones adding lift and freshness, leading to a richly layered palate of dark fruit, cocoa, licorice, and sweet cigar box. The tannins are fine yet firm, carrying the wine with an ease that is distinctly Margaux, while the finish is long and composed. This is a beautiful, complete wine with genuine depth and a clear sense of place. A solid buy.
2025 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Review Date: 04-27-2026
Pontet-Canet has produced yet another standout wine in 2025. A classic Pontet-Canet, built for the cellar. Deep black cherry, cassis, and subtle floral notes open on the nose, lead to a richly textured palate of black fruit, cocoa, and cigar box. The wine's polished tannins carry genuine weight without sacrificing balance, while high acidity and a modest alcohol keep the wine composed and precise throughout. There is real depth and length here. With releases like this, it is little wonder the estate has earned such an unwavering following over the past two decades.