Search Results

Château Canon has been taking off over the past few years, and here you see why. Just so much complexity, depth, power, interest in the whole thing. This buzzes with life, rises above the palate, full of gunsmoke, truffle, raspberry, blueberry, so delicious. Needs time but already showing it will be worth the wait. 45hl/h, 3.5ph, Harvest September 11 to October 4, 50% new oak. Thomas Duclos consults.

A blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Laroque is deep garnet-purple in color. A little subdued to begin, offering subtle notes of crushed rocks and damp soil, it opens out to a core of ripe black and red plums and fresh blackberries, plus a fragrant waft of lilacs. The full-bodied palate is bursting with taut, muscular black fruits and amazing tension, framed by ripe, rounded tannins, and finishing with great length and depth. (LPB)

Readers will find a rich, flamboyant wine in the 2016 Barde-Haut. There is not a ton of subtlety here, but I am not sure that matters all that much given how immensely pleasing the 2016 is. Crushed rocks, graphite, lavender, blackberry, plum, and violet infuse a Saint-Émilion that offers tremendous textural richness as well as vibrancy. Most importantly of all, the 2016 is flat-out delicious. This is a decidedly opulent, dark Saint-Émilion with all of the elements impeccably balanced. I loved it. (AG)

An awesome Saint Emilion, the 2015 Château Barde-Haut showed even better on this occasion than on release. A huge nose of sweet crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, violets, leather, and dried herbs gives way to a full-bodied wine that has a great mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, not a hard edge to be found, and a great, great finish.

At the core of the Discovery Series is a mission to showcase wines of impeccable quality, unmistakable regional typicité, and exceptional value. As I often say, we’re not just placing a label on someone’s latest release—we’re curating standout selections from our deep, trusted network of sources. Each wine must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup. And speaking of high bars, we just set the standard for remarkable value in the Discovery Series, with a delicious St-Emilion with over fifteen years of bottle age for under $15. Only a dollar a year, which is an incredibly high standard at any stage in the game. I adored this opportunity when we first tasted it, and through tough negotiations, and even after a round of tariffs, I'm still shocked that we're able to offer a wine this solid, with this kind of age, all for this price. It is a generous expression of St-Emilion, but the broad, delicious quality of the vintage also shines through. Approaching maturity with a long life ahead, it carries beautiful aromatics of red fruits, leather, and florals, with a palate that has a core of plum and cassis, wild berry, and a soft, easygoing finish. Everything is in place, and I'm certain there's not a better buy in today's market for a perfectly aged Bordeaux from a signature vintage.

Bid on this 3-bottle tasting lot; including 1-bottle of 2016 Bellevue, St-Emilion (97JS, 95TWI, 94JD, 93DC, 93VN, 93WS, 92WE), 1-bottle of 2016 Fonplégade, St-Émilion (96DC, 96RP, 95JS, 94JD, 94VN, 92WS), and 1-bottle of 2016 Tour St-Christophe, St-Emilion (96JS, 94JD, 94RP, 93VN, 92DC). Of the 2016 Bellevue, St-Emilion, James Suckling writes: "A dense and layered red with ripe plums and blueberries, as well as hints of wet earth and moss. Full-bodied, velvety and layered with fantastic fruit and creamy, velvety tannins. Plush and deep. Great wine. " (02/2019)

Bid on this magnum of 1982 Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion (1.5L) (100DC, 100TWI, 99RP, 98JA, 96JG, 96VN, 96WS). Decanter: "Pure class on show with Cheval's heady, perfumed and expressive 1982. Fragrant and open nose of cherries, plums, cola, vanilla, mint and perfumed floral scents. Well defined, elegant and graceful on the palate, instantly mouthwatering with something special about the vibrancy and liveliness that captivates straight away. It's sensual yet tangy, plush yet with bite and grip. Persistent with real terroir markers and such effortless enjoyment. A tasting memory that will linger." (05/2023)

Bid on this bottle of 1990 Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion (100DC, 98JD, 98RP, 98VN, 97JS, 96JG). Decanter: "The standout wine of the entire tasting. Powerful, smooth, mouthfilling sweetness, still deeply coloured. You will find it hard to track down this wine on the market today, and even more difficult to avoid paying crazy sums for it, but I can assure you that it stands out for the intense, finely picked-out, fleshy fruit notes of sweet damson and plum unrolling against smoked coffee and liquorice notes. Truffles, tobacco and exotic spices are all here – and it’s hard to imagine how it can have done better. Oh, and Le Petit Cheval in this vintage was 98% Cabernet Franc, so another one to look out for if the beauty of the Cabernet in the main wine is anything to go by. Harvest 11-25 September, 40hl/ha yield. They made 76% first wine and 12% Petit Cheval, with the rest sold off in bulk. (JA)" (10/2018)

Bid on this bottle of 1986 Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion (94VN, 93JG). Vinous: "Finally, the 1986 Cheval Blanc, a vintage that I had not tasted for several years. This was not a renowned growing season for the Right Bank, but this Saint-Émilion bucks the trends to produce one of its most attractive wines. It has a gorgeous bouquet that you could lose yourself in with red berry fruit, quite tertiary at first, and scents of meat juices, fennel, juniper and wilted flowers. This is complex but also has the warmth I normally associate with the 1985s. The palate is medium-bodied with melted tannins, exquisite balance, light sous-bois and black truffle notes that infuse the dark berry fruit towards the persistent finish. It’s like a less extravagant version of the 1985. It’s probably at its peak now, though this bottle suggests it will drink well for many years. (NM)" (06/2023)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2021 La Gaffelière, St-Émilion ((95-97VN), (93-95JD), (94-95JS), (92-94RP), 93DC). Vinous: "The 2021 La Gaffelière is a wine of extraordinary finesse and class. Time in the glass brings out striking depth and complexity. The aromatics alone are beguiling but everything about the 2021 speaks to elegance. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petals, blood orange, mint and saline notes punctuate the finish. (AG)" (04/2022)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2021 Canon, St-Emilion (97JS, 97VN, (95-97WE), 96DC, 96TWI, 95JA, 95RP, 94JD). Vinous: "The 2021 Canon shows just how magical this site is. Vertical and explosive in feel, with tons of pure power, it impresses with its intensity, drive and super-classic profile. Bright saline notes and vibrant tannins give the 2021 a feeling of energy that only gains momentum with time in the glass. It's not an easy Canon, like the 2015 or 2018, but it is incredibly expressive. It is the sort of wine that only truly emerges with time in bottle. I would be thrilled to own it. Canon must surely be one of the great relative values in first-class wine. Wow. (AG)" (12/2023)

A pure and focussed nose full of ripe but cool black fruit with soft hints of violets and vanilla. This delighted during Primeurs and it's turned out excellently in bottle. Juicy, clean and crystalline with a perfect balance of fruit, tannins and acidity with plenty of underling power but delivered so elegantly. Great harmony and drinkability on offer. Ends salty with graphite and slate really putting the limestone terroir into the glass. Delicious. Another excellent bottle from this rising start estate under the helm of David Suire. (GH)

I loved the 2009 Château Barde-Haut. (This vintage always seems to rank in the top tier in any retrospective I do.) Still ruby/purple-hued with a huge nose of blackcurrants, black cherries, unsmoked tobacco, toasted spices, and loamy earth, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, sweet tannins, and remarkable purity of fruit.

The 2020 Beau-Sejour Becot is a dense, powerful wine. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and sweet oak builds as this towering, vertically explosive Saint-Émilion opens in the glass. This is an especially broad, expansive Saint-Émilion, much of that attributable to the clay in these soils. The 2020 is magnificent in its intensity and overall volume. Superb. (AG)

The 2022 Château La Gaffelière comes from a mix of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that's from 22 hectares of classic Saint-Emilion limestone soils. The élevage spanned 19 months in just 50% new French oak. Its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by a stunning nose of ripe red and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy wood, and crushed stone-like minerality. With flawless balance, a pure, full-bodied, seamless mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it's the finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted and will most likely warrant a perfect rating in a decade. This is pure Saint-Emilion brilliance! Give bottles 4-6 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20-30 years.

The magnificent Merlot in the blend has pushed up the alcohol, while also giving a velvet touch and power to the wine. This estate is now on top form, producing this generously ripe, black plum flavored wine. It is lifted by acidity while powering the wine’s intensity. *Cellar Selection* (RV)

Concentrated with a ton of spice, bright and powerful dark cassis and bilberry fruit, and a saline kick on the finish. One of the real value wines of the vintage, has a huge sense of character, great architecture, and silky tannins.

The 2022 Grand Corbin-Despagne offers a striking mix of finesse and textural volume. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mint and espresso build in the glass. Soft and plush, with no hard edges and stunning balance, Grand Corbin Despagne is impeccable. Bright floral notes lift the finish. (AG)

Saint-Émilion’s historic vineyard landscape earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999 as the Jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion. The 2016 Tour de Ripeau comes from this Bordeaux Right Bank appellation, where Merlot—the grape identified with this wine—plays a central role in the vineyards and winemaking tradition.

Bid on this 3 liter of 2015 Figeac, St-Émilion (3L) (100JA, 100JD, 99JS, 98WE, 97TWI, 97VN, 96DC, 96WS). Jeb Dunnuck: "A hold onto your hat wine, the 2015 Château Figeac is pure perfection and one of the wines of this terrific vintage. A blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, its deep purple color is followed by a huge nose of crème de cassis, black raspberries, smoked earth, and graphite. This is followed by a full-bodied, opulent and incredibly concentrated Saint-Emilion that has everything in the right places, no hard edges, thrilling purity of fruit, and a great, great finish. This is one of those rare gems that carries huge intensity and richness, yet still glides across the palate with no sense of weight or heaviness. Winemaker Frédéric Faye thinks the 2016 is even better but that certainly isn’t stopping me from giving this crazy good wine a triple digit score. Everyone owes it to themselves to try and taste this wine at least once!" (11/2017)

Bid on this magnum of 2003 Rol Valentin, St-Émilion (1.5L).

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2005 Pavie, St-Émilion (100JD, 100JS, 100RP, 100TWP, 97VN, 96ST, 95DC, 93JA), a quadruple 100-point wine from Gérard Perse’s celebrated estate, which he believes is the greatest Pavie he has made. Wine Advocate writes: “Dense, opaque purple to the rim, with a gorgeously promising nose of blackberries, cassis, graphite and cedar wood just beginning to emerge... This beauty is intense and full-bodied, with magnificent concentration, a majestic mouthfeel and a total seamless integration of tannin, wood, alcohol, etc... This is a tour de force in winemaking and certainly one of the top dozen or so 2005 Bordeaux. (RP)” (08/2015)

A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Château Poesia is more open and showy compared to the Barde Haut, offering fabulous limestone-like character in its kirsch and currant fruits and notes of dried herbs, white truffle, and dried flowers. Possessing medium to full body, ripe, present tannins, terrific concentration, and a great finish, it's another incredibly classy Saint Emilion from the Garcin-Lévêque family.

A fresh and bright red with sliced cherries and currants with orange blossom aromas that follow through to a medium body with citrus and fruit. Energetic finish. Needs three or four years to open. Try after 2025.

The 2023 Laroque has an outstanding bouquet that shades many of its peers. It conveys transparency and mineralité at a higher level and leaves you wanting more. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins that frame the pure black cherry and raspberry fruit. There is structure here, and the finish is notably longer than other wines of its class. This is very impressive, and I can imagine it aging with style. (NM)

The 2016 Canon is deep garnet-black in color. Wow - it rockets out of the glass with a powerful nose of blackberry preserves, chocolate-covered cherries, and blueberry compote followed by fragrant wafts of rose oil, dark chocolate, licorice, and tar. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, the palate delivers a firm grainy texture and jaw-dropping tension to counter the profound, muti-layered black fruits, finishing with great length and depth. (LPB)

Coming from dismal yields of 12.5 hectoliters per hectare, the 2020 Château Haut-Brisson is shockingly good and another brilliant Right Bank that's going to represent a tremendous value. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in just 35% new French oak, it has a sensational perfume of red and black cherries, leafy tobacco, chocolate, lead pencil shavings, and liquid violet-like nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced, it has ultra-fine tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish.

The magnificent Merlot in the blend has pushed up the alcohol, while also giving a velvet touch and power to the wine. This estate is now on top form, producing this generously ripe, black plum flavored wine. It is lifted by acidity while powering the wine’s intensity. *Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2022* (RV)

So much character on the nose and palate, with sliced apples, dried mangoes and a hint of bananas. Full-bodied with layers of fruit and superb intensity and character. It goes on for minutes. A unique wine. From 80-year-old vines. 60% semillion, 20% sauvginon blanc and 20% savuignon gris.

Creamy depths of colour and flavour, powerful damson and black cherry fruits, this is utterly compelling and beautifully concentrated. No question that the tannins are crowding in through the front of the palate, eager to make an impression, but they quickly soften and widen, and in between is air, spice, flowers, just nuanced and beautiful. The power of limestone in hot vintages on display. 3.4ph, great stuff from this 14.5ha estate, Nicolas Thienpont director.

The 2022 Château La Gaffelière comes from a mix of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that's from 22 hectares of classic Saint-Emilion limestone soils. The élevage spanned 19 months in just 50% new French oak. Its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by a stunning nose of ripe red and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy wood, and crushed stone-like minerality. With flawless balance, a pure, full-bodied, seamless mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it's the finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted and will most likely warrant a perfect rating in a decade. This is pure Saint-Emilion brilliance! Give bottles 4-6 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20-30 years.

Attractive black-fruit and berry character with some chocolate and toasted-hazelnut undertones. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Lots of flavor. Lots of polish. Drink after 2024.

The wines of Sansonnet are these days as pretty and as well presented as the château itself, which occupies a prominent position next to one of the roads heading east away from the town. The fruit of this 7-hectare vineyard sees a cold maceration before fermentation, and élevage was in 80% new French oak, with a portion remaining in vat, and a small volume of Merlot aged in two 7.5-hectolitre amphoras. Aromatically this opens with a salvo of dark and perfumed fruit, dark black cherry in particular, laced with dark chocolate, toast and smoked liquorice. The fruit on the palate is equally convincing, with a broad, dark and savoury character. It has great energy, as well as a textured and ripe core of tannins which sit comfortably buried within the fruit. This is a wine of great energy and persistence, and it has excellent potential for the cellar.

Tasted from barrel in 2005, this was among the best wines of the vintage, with limestone-soil character coming through the fresh brightness of fruit. Ausone was all potential energy then, and it has only improved in the two years since. The wine shares the resonant depths of the ancient limestone caves at Ausone, as the flavors echo through the finish. It starts off from a small place, a sweet confection that brings roasted blueberries to mind, the caramelized oak tasting like the edge of charred fat on extremely fine grilled beef. Over the course of several days, the wine becomes increasingly more subtle and serious in tone, with delicate red fruit, gracious mineral-inflected tannins and detailed flavors that last effortlessly. This Ausone will live for decades.

One of the most profound wines of the vintage is the 2023 Cheval Blanc, a striking wine that stands out for its strong sense of identity and seamless integration at such an early stage in its life. Wafting from the glass with notes of mulberries, lilac, dark fruits, iris root and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, with a gourmand core of cool, vibrant fruit that entirely conceals its sweet structuring tannins, concluding with a long, perfumed finish. It's a blend of 52% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, drawing on fully 46 of the blocks that make up Cheval Blanc, and it attained 13.8% alcohol. (WK)

The 2022 La Gaffelière is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Refined, sculpted and wonderfully precise, La Gaffelière simply has it all. Hints of lavender, mint, blood orange, spice and black cherry fruit all race across the glass. Clean mineral notes and fine tannins support the finish. The delineation here is simply breathtaking. La Gaffelière is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Élevage is expected to be 19 months in 50% new oak and 50% neutral barrels. The 2022 is another exceptional wine from the Malet Roquefort family. (AG)

This is a rich, perfumed wine, with dense tannins and intense layers of black plum and spice. The palate is firmly built yet broadened out by plump dark-fruit tones and honed by a solid, dry core. *Top Cellar Selections of 2019* (RV)

One of the unquestioned Sleeper jewels of the year, the 2016 Le Prieuré is off the charts beautiful. Silky and impossibly refined, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total precision. Today, the 2016 is a bit more restrained than it was from barrel, when it was a more overt wine. That is not a bad thing, though, as I suspect the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its finest. Dark, beautifully perfumed and gracious, Le Prieuré represents the height of finesse in Saint-Émilion. Jean-Claude Berrouet consults for the Artemis Group, which is now the sole owner of Le Prieuré. The 2016 is a fabulous wine by any measure. Don't miss it. (AG)

Bid on this 3-magnum lot of 2003 Angélus, St-Emilion (1.5L) (94WS, 93RP, 92ST). Wine Spectator: Beautiful aromas of ripe blackberry and raspberry aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a long, long finish. Layered and delicious. Gorgeous. (03/2006)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2003 Angélus, St-Émilion (98RP, 94WS, 93JS, 92VN). Wine Advocate: "Angelus really nailed the vintage, and has produced a fully mature wine that’s truly strutting its stuff. Dense, bluish/purple, it offers gorgeous notes of espresso roast, blackberry and blueberry liqueur, acacia flowers and a touch of chocolate. It is full-bodied, opulent and seems close to full maturity, as it is evolving quickly. The wine is full-bodied, rich and should be drunk over the next decade. (RP)" (08/2015)

Bid on this magnum of 2016 Tour St-Christophe, St-Emilion (1.5L) (96JS, 94JD, 94RP, 93VN, 92DC, 91WS). James Suckling: "This has a rich and ripe dark-fruit nose with a wealth of stony attraction and a lighter, floral edge. The palate has a very rich core of deeply ripe, fleshy fruit, framed in cedary oak. Really impressive clarity and web-like tannins. Superb finish. Try from 2023." (02/2019)

Bid on this 3-bottle tasting lot; including 1-bottle of 2016 Giscours, Margaux (96JS, 96WE, 95JA, 95VN, 94DC, 93JD, 93RP), 1-bottle of 2016 La Lagune, Haut-Médoc (95DC, (94-95JS), 94CK, 93WE, 92JD, 92RP), and 1-bottle of 2016 Larcis Ducasse, St-Emilion (99JS, 97JD, 97TWI, 97VN, 95DC, 95JA, 95WS, 93WE). Of the 2016 Larcis Ducasse, St-Emilion, James Suckling writes: "The aromas here are so spellbinding with shitake mushrooms, wet earth and moss, as well as tree bark and, finally, dark fruit. The palate is incredible as it builds and grows with full body, but always tight and reserved. It shows so much depth and complexity. " (01/2019)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2015 Canon, St-Emilion (100JS, 99CK, 98JA, 98JD, 98VN, 97DC, 97WE, 97WS). James Suckling: "Seductive. The nose draws you in deep: It’s like staring into a well of pristine dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries and mulberries. All the oak is perfectly subsumed. The palate’s flawless with immense depth and power and it’s so balanced as to appear to float. Immaculate fresh dark-berry and plum flavors. Silky and deep, ribbon-like finish. Perfect." (02/2018)

Bid on this magnum of 2010 Fonplégade, St-Emilion (1.5L) (96JD, 94JS, 94RP, 93JA, 91WS). Jeb Dunnuck: "A true “Wow!” wine from the American Adam’s family, who acquired this estate a little over a decade ago, the 2010 Château Fonplegade is the normal blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc brought up in plenty of new barrels. Cassis, smoked earth, graphite, lots of damp earth and smoke all emerge from the full-bodied, concentrated, unctuous 2010 that has serious depth and richness, bright acidity, and building tannin. It's still an infant at this point but just packed with potential. Bravo!" (11/2017)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2009 Laforge, St-Emilion (96RP, 92JS, 92ST). Wine Advocate: "From proprietor Jonathan Maltus, this blend of three terroirs, two on sand and one on gravel, is a blend of 92% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. About 2, 000 cases are produced, and the prodigious 2009 is the finest vintage to date. Inky blue/purple, with notes of licorice, camphor, black truffle, blackberry and blueberry, this full-bodied wine has massive concentration yet at the same time displays elegance and harmony. The equilibrium and 60+-second length make for a huge, massive, but incredibly well-balanced wine, like a shadow of the proprietor himself. (RP)" (12/2011)

Bid on this 3-bottle Bordeaux tasting lot, including 1 bottle of 2005 Léoville-Poyferré, St-Julien (97DC, 97JA, 96JS, 95VN, 94WE, 93RP, 92WS), 1 bottle of 2005 Monbousquet, St-Émilion (94JD, 94RP, 93ST, 93TWI, 91WS) and 1 bottle of 2008 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac (96JD, 96RP, 95DC, 95WE, 94JA, 94JS, 94ST, 92VN, 92WS). Showcasing two of Bordeaux’s greatest modern vintages, the lot pairs the Cuvelier family’s opulent, cassis-rich Second Growth St-Julien and Gérard Perse’s plush, polished St-Émilion from the legendary 2005 vintage with Pontet-Canet’s biodynamic, mineral-driven 2008, a standout of its year. A collectible trio of mature, cellar-aged Bordeaux, ready to enjoy now.

Beautiful, intense fruit, dark-earth and chocolate character on the nose. Full-bodied with great density and plush, fine tannins that give a fine-velvet texture. It’s extremely long, polished and sophisticated. Needs time to come together, but expressive and glorious. Fantastic relative value.

A blend of 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2025 Château Cheval Blanc stands out once again as among the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of blood orange and iris, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific mid-palate density, sweet tannins and a long, vibrant, violet-inflected finish. With its striking aromas, intensity of flavor and resolutely classical proportions (checking in at 12.7% alcohol and pH of 3.76), the 2025 gives every indication of being one of the great Cheval Blancs of the decade. (WK)