Fine Wine > Still > France > 95-99 Pts > $100-200

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Very dense, with espresso, maduro tobacco and a strong tarry edge leading the way for now, while a core of plum cake, hoisin sauce and steeped black currant broods in the background. The dense, ganache-filled finish demands cellaring. This is just a half step behind the La La bottlings now. Very..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
Tiny yields, malolactic in barrel, aging on its lees and no fining or filtration produced an exotic, full-throttle St.-Emilion boasting an explosive nose of blueberry pie, lead pencil shavings, black truffles, camphor, incense and toasty oak. Made in a borderline extreme style, the wine is..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The 2010 Clos des Lambrays is striking. Dark cherries, plums, wild berries, spices and licorice are woven together beautifully in this highly expressive, singular wine. A cool vein of minerality is a common thread as the wine continues to take shape in the glass. There is a beguiling, mysterious..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2009 Pape Clement is not as dense or provocative as the 2005, but it is a worthy competitor. Tighter and more muscular than the 2005, the 2009 reveals an opaque purple color along with notes of graphite, blueberries, and..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Enticing aromas of toffee, cream, dried apricot and caramel, Full-bodied, very sweet and thick, with honey and caramel flavors. Long and rich, oozing with sweet ripe fruit, this s like liquid candy."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
WS: "A brilliant effort from Alexandre Thienpont, the 2006 Vieux Chateau Certan is atypically high in Merlot (85%), with the rest Cabernet Franc. A huge bouquet of cedar, coffee, black currants, cherries, and pain grille soars from the glass of this full-bodied, opulent, fleshy, lavishly endowed..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
... the 2009 Les Pensees de Lafleur has terrific purity, a serious level of concentration, impressive notes of melted licorice and kirsch liqueur, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. While its tannins are soft, the wine boasts plenty of glycerin and leaves an impressive tactile impression.