Fine Wine > Red > Still > 95-99 Pts > France

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Not surprisingly, Leoville Las Cases has produced another classic, potentially long-lived wine in 2006. Among the St.-Juliens, it, Ducru Beaucaillou, and Leoville Barton possess the potential for the greatest longevity. Interestingly, when I visited this chateau in January, proprietor Jean-Hubert..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The blend for the 2009 Pichon Lalande is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, somewhat unusual at this estate which usually has more Merlot in the blend. As stated previously, the Cabernet Sauvignon reached levels of ripeness and intensity of flavor in 2009 never seen before in Bordeaux! The final..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"... This is a gorgeous wine, a classic blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and the balance the other permitted varietals in the appellation. Deep purple, with loads of bouquet garni, beef blood, blackberry, kirsch, smoke and truffle, this wine is full-bodied, rich and..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The 2006 Pavie, a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, is cropped low as the viticultural work is impeccable, the winemaking is thoroughly Burgundian in style, and bottling is accomplished with no fining or filtration. With over 90 acres in vine, this is one of the..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A discreet lashing of wood sets off notably more refined, ripe and much spicier aromas of dark berries and cassis. The rich, mouth coating and powerful flavors possess relatively fine tannins though there is still a robust muscularity to the powerful, focused and superbly long finish... In a word,..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Thought by many tasters to be the wine of the vintage at the time of the 2004 barrel tastings. Has it retained that status? It is certainly a hugely powerful wine, monumental even. It is also finely balanced, with great dark tannins working in partnership with brooding black fruit. The question is..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"... the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes, ratchets up the level of succulence, juiciness, and opulence. It is a fabulous, compelling effort of multiple dimensions. Classic aromas and flavors of licorice, kirsch liqueur, balsam wood, and lavender are found in this enormously full-bodied..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Stephan von Neipperg's tiny jewel of a vineyard 12 acres produces the ultimate garage wine from 50-year old vines. A candidate for the wine of the vintage, this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is a big, concentrated effort of extraordinary intensity and richness. A sensational bouquet..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"This tiny, 5-acre vineyard with nearly 50-year old vines produces only 4,000 bottles from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The broodingly tannic, backward 2006 is remarkably concentrated, pure, and deep. It is an amazing tour de force in winemaking, but like nearly all the Perse..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
The 1989 La Chapelle is phenomenal. The opaque black/ruby color and the huge bouquet of coffee, hickory wood, jammy cassis, minerals, and spices are the stuff of legends. In the mouth the wine is massive, with layer upon layer of unctuous, highly extracted, and superripe fruit. The finish offers an..