Bordeaux , France

One of the most important wine regions of the world, Bordeaux is a powerhouse producer of wines of all colors, sweetness levels, and price points. Separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a coastal pine forest, this relatively flat region has a mild maritime climate, marked by cool wet winters and warm summers. Annual weather differences create significant vintage variations, making Bordeaux an exciting region to follow. One third of the good quality wine in France comes from Bordeaux. Bordeaux is 57 appellations, about 7,000 wine-producing châteaux, and 13,000 wine growers. The large diversity of Bordeaux suggests an equal diversity of soil.

The Gironde estuary, a defining feature of Bordeaux, separates most of the region into the Left Bank and the Right Bank. Farther inland, where the Gironde splits into the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, the bucolic, rolling hills of the area in between, called Entre-Deux-Mers, is a source of great quality, approachable reds and whites. The Left Bank, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, contains the Médoc, Graves, and Sauternes, as well as the region’s most famous chateaux. Merlot is important here as the perfect blending grape for Cabernet Sauvignon adding plush fruit and softening Cabernet’s sometimes hefty tannins. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec may also be used in the Left Bank blends.

Merlot is the principal variety of the Right Bank; Cabernet Franc adds structure and complexity to Merlot, creating wines that are concentrated, supple, and more imminently ready for drinking, compared with their Left Bank counterparts.  Key appellations of the Right Bank include St. Émilion and Pomerol. Dry and sweet white wines are produced throughout the region from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and sometimes Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris. Some of the finest dry whites can be found in the the Graves sub- appellation of Pessac-Léognan, while Sauternes is undisputedly the gold standard for sweet wines. Small amounts of rosé and sparkling wine are made in Bordeaux as well

Bordeaux Blanc “Le Nardian”, Teyssier,  Bordeaux, France, 2019

Le Nardian 2019 is a premium white Bordeaux blend from JCP Maltus/Chateau Teyssier (Lugaignac), featuring a mix of roughly 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Muscadelle, and 10% Sémillon. It is known for a rich, full-bodied profile with notes of citrus, tropical fruit (mango), white flowers, and creamy texture from oak aging. 

Château Clerc Milon, Mouton-Rothschild, Clerc Milon, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 2021

Ripe, dark and fragrant fruit on the nose – dark plums, cherries, damsons and blackberries with a dusting of black chocolate – coolness but also touches of floral sweetness. Smells softly floral and softly herbal with the fruit at the fore. Smooth and round, nice fullness to the texture – very slightly chewy and plush tannins, this has a bit of flesh to it which I like – textured and filling in the mouth. Ripe strawberries, chewy blackcurrants, it’s cool but textured, grippy, salty and stony. Really a great expression with nuance and layers of different elements. Holds the interest. A touch narrow a bitter still on the finish, though excellent high acidity gives life and vibrancy and nicely counters the plush fruit. Quite a complete wine, not with sunny exuberance but finessed and still flavourful. 94Decanter

 Château d’Armailhac Mouton-Rothschild, d’Armailhac, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 2019

Based on 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2019 Château D’Armailhac showed beautifully from barrel two years ago, and it doesn’t disappoint now from bottle. Despite the high Merlot content, it has a firmer, focused, youthful style that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring. Giving up plenty of ripe black cherry, mulberries, and cassis-like fruit as well as textbook Pauillac lead pencil, forest floor, and tobacco, it’s medium to full-bodied, has good mid-palate density, subtle background oak, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish. It shows the vintage’s more elegant, classic style yet doesn’t lack for concentration or length. It’s going to benefit from just 3-4 years of bottle age and drink fabulously well for two decades. It’s the finest d’Armailhac I’ve tasted. 94 Dunnick

Château Lynch-Bages , Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 2021

Sweet blackcurrant fruit on the nose, softly jammy and expressive. You can really feel the ripeness here, grapes got full maturity and this is plush, mouthfilling and plump with chewy tannins – more opulent and perfumed than others also with more power and body. Tannins are mouthfilling and you get the stone minerality and the Cabernet freshness that really takes over giving this a sense of tension and grip. A really characterful and expressive Pauillac where the tannins and acidity perfectly compliment each other with the muscular and concentrated fruit also giving a multi-faceted dimension. 3% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. 3.72pH. Ageing 75% new barrels. 95 Decanter

Château  Pichon-Longueville Baron, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 2019

The bouquet enchants by its expression of pure, crunchy fruit and florality without a trace of oakiness despite barrel-aging with 80% new wood. Some touches of graphite and subtle spices come into the aromatic mix. On a par with the great 2016, this stunning wine has a palate that combines fleshy, velvety texture and linearity as well as remarkable length, and provides convincing testimony of the progress achieved by the estate’s technical team. 100 Decanter  

Château Pichon Baron “Les Tourelles”, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 2019

Named after the turrets that embellish the château, our wine Les Tourelles de Longueville, embodies the charm of the estate.The grapes that are used to blend the wine come essentially from the Sainte Anne plot, planted mainly to Merlot, giving to it a distinctive personality. Les Tourelles de Longueville is an invitation to enter a world of flavour, charm, roundness and sensual delight.This wine provides an introduction to the spirit of Pichon Baron and can be enjoyed young or aged in the cellar for 15 years or more. Blend: 68% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot 93 Points Wine Advocate 

Château Pichon Baron “Les Griffons”, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 2020

Dark and heady on the nose, richly fruited and perfumed, smells serious and deep and totally inviting with dark chocolate, coffee and mocha notes with blackcurrant and black cherry and spiced vanilla, tobacco and cedar. Energetic, lively, vivid and bright on the palate but deep too, such a lovely vibrancy laced with liquorice, tobacco and bitter chocolate. Definitely serious but I love the energy, potency and florality. Structured and intense, totally seductive in a heady way yet still lively with a juicy core of strawberry, red cherry and blackcurrant. Feels nicely constructed and considered.  95 Points Decanter 

Château Branaire Ducru, St. Julien, Bordeaux, France, 2019

Tempting nose, full of aromatic black fruits, perfume, liquorice and salty stones. Juicy, ripe, and controlled, I love the upfront nature of this, bright, lively energy, you can feel the concentration in the chalky, dry just-spiced edges on the tongue, giving a piquance, but the acidity, soft sweetness and roundness is there. Such a beautiful expression, refined and finessed, charming and precise. The detail and nuance is there covered slightly by the ripe cherry and strawberry fruit but there is such joy to this. 96 Points Decanter 

Château Angludet, Marguax, Bordeaux, France, 2021

“Fragranced and spiced nose full of nuance and detail – roses, cinnamon, cherries and strawberries. Smooth and succulent, a drive of bright and clear red fruits begin this wine with such purity to the expression. It’s lightly framed, more lean and juicy than plush, which is to be expected, but this carries the weight well with energy and focus. Needs a bit of time to put on a little weight around the edges but this has finesse and plenty of juicy appeal. Still has the Margaux elegance, but a bit light on the finish. 93 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter)

Château Les Ormes de Pez , St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France, 2021

Medium-bodied with a firm tannin frame and pretty notes of pencil lead, blackberries and some walnuts. Hints of chocolate orange, too. Structured and a little chewy, with perfumed character. Juicy. 49% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. 93 points JS 

Château Laroque, Saint-Èmilion Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020

From an estate that has been on an incredible run of late, largely due to the talents of director David Suire, the 2020 Chateau Laroque shows the cooler, limestone-driven style of the terroir beautifully and has a clean, focused style in its darker (almost blue) berry fruits as well as chalky minerality, violets, spice, and floral nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, this focused, straight, remarkably pure Saint-Emilion has terrific mid-palate depth and a great finish. It needs to be hidden in the cellar for a solid 4-5 years if possible and is going to have 30 years of longevity. If drinking any time soon, give it an hour in a decanter. Best After 2027. Rating: +95Jeb Dunnuck 

Château Prieure, Saint-Èmilion Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020

The 2020 Le Prieuré is fabulous. Inky and deep, with tremendous vibrancy, it dazzles from start to finish. Blueberry jam, graphite, menthol and lavender build as the 2020 gradually shows off its pedigree. Bright saline and mineral notes punctuate the mouthwatering finish. Technical Director Pénélope Godefroy has taken the farming and winemaking principles she learned at Latour and the other Artemis Group properties and applied them at Siaurac, Vray Croix de Gay, and the crown jewel Le Prieuré, all of which are now owned by French insurance company Suravenir. The results have been nothing short of remarkable. Le Prieuré is quite simply one of the most beautiful, striking wines being made in Saint-Émilion today. -Antonio Galloni 97Vinous 

St. Georges “Côte Pavie”, Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2020

I continue to absolutely love what this estate puts in the bottle, and it remains an incredible value given its quality. The 2020 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) reveals a deeper ruby/purple hue to go with gorgeous aromatics of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, gravelly earth, and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shows the more elegant, pure, precision style of the vintage, has perfectly integrated background oak, ripe tannins, and a great finish. 96Jeb Dunnuck 

Sauternes, Château Rieussec, Sauternes, Bordeaux, 2020

The 2020 Rieussec emerges from a very challenging year marked by an early harvest and just one small window in September with the requisite amount of botrytis in the field. Lemon confit, marzipan, tangerine oil and white flowers are all beautifully woven together in a mid-weight, gracious Rieussec that is all class. Residual sugar is 120 grams per liter, but is not especially evident. Production will be around 10,000 bottles, in other words, a fraction of what is typical her.  95pts Vinous