Fine Wine > France > 92-95 Pts > $50-100

Cellar/Tasting Notes
What a perfumed, elegant, structured wine, with all the elements of fruit, wood, tannins just in the right place. It shows great tannins, powerful black and red berry fruits, denseness, and a classic, fresh aftertaste.

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"In contrast to a number of the preceding wines, this is almost devoid of wood influence which allows the ripe and very earthy cassis and black raspberry aromas to enjoy center stage. The rich, full-bodied and enveloping middle weight plus flavors possess a suave, even silky mouth feel though the..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A strong whiff of graphite turns quickly to vanilla and coffee flavors on the palate, with a candied citrus accent. Delicate and detailed, with a

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Taking advantage of the delicious fruit of 2006, this Branaire-Ducru shows a charming side. It brings out ripe, spicy black plums and black cherry spice to go with the lively, fresh tannins. That’s not to say that there isn't structure, but today it is the fruit that dominates."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A candidate for wine of the vintage, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (a tank-aged blend of 90% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault from 80+ year old vines) is a naked expression of Chateauneuf du Pape that is pure fruit and complexity. Its dense purple color is followed by aromas of..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"I can’t say enough about how beautifully classic, racy, and gracious the wines of Brane Cantenac have become over the last decade. The stunningly elegant 2006 exhibits a sweet, subtle smoke note intermixed with creme de cassis in its medium-bodied style with superb nobility, concentration, and..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
[This] sensational Chateauneuf du Pape has fabulous fruit concentration. Full-bodied, pure and certainly a star of the vintage [it] is a brilliant achievement in 2009, and I kept going back to the glass for another whiff of the kirsch and black raspberry notes.

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Firmly structured, dark-fruited wine, very solid and dense. It has weight along with black currant fruits and acidity. It’s a wine that is rich but seriously structured for aging. "

Cellar/Tasting Notes
“Focused and fresh, with violet and blackberry aromas and vanilla undertones. Full-bodied, with very pretty berry fruit character, fine tannins and a long, caressing finish. Refined ...”

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Clos Saint-Martin is a consistently brilliant wine from one of St.-Emilion’s smallest vineyards (adjacent to the cemetery of all places). It always reeks of crushed rocks/powdered chalk, sweet black cherries, cassis, and beautifully integrated wood as well as tannin. Its kirsch liqueur-like..