Médoc area

Château Branaire Ducru 2019

Saint-julien 4ème Grand Cru Classé

The nose is fruity, elegant, fine and offers a very nice finesse and delicacy in its power. There are notes of camphor, crunchy wild black berries, lily, blueberry and wild red berries combined with hints of liquorice/zan as well as hints of caramelisation and a discreet hint of mocha. The palate is nicely fresh, with finesse/ precision and offers a nice burst of fruit, purity of fruit, a nice roundness as well as a nice airiness in its richness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crunchy cherry, crunchy strawberry and, more slightly, blackcurrant combined with hints of pulpy blueberry, fresh flowers as well as hints of racy minerality / racy gravel and a subtle hint of varietal (which brings a nice dynamism, gourmandise). A subtle hint of dark chocolate/mocha in the background. Nice freshness and roundness.

Score : 17.75+/20 (96/100)

AOC PAUILLAC

Château Croizet Bages 2019

Pauillac 5ème Grand Cru Classé

The nose is aromatic, racy and offers a certain controlled power as well as a discrete tightness. The wine should be decanted. There are notes of blackcurrant, roast and, more slightly, crunchy blue berries combined with hints of morello cherry, a subtle hint of crushed strawberry, zan, as well as a discreet hint of graphite, sap and a subtle touch of pepper. The palate is fruity, balanced and offers minerality, freshness and juiciness, purity, a nice crunchiness of the fruit as well as gourmandise. On the palate this wine expresses crunchy blackberry and blue berries notes combined with hints of morello cherry, blackcurrant as well as fine violet, roasted notes and a touch of positive bitterness. A fine touch of mocha, toast and bergamot in the background/on the finish.

Score : 17.25+/20 (95/100)

Château Haut-bages Libéral 2019

Pauillac 5ème Grand Cru Classé

The nose is elegant, precise, delicate and offers a certain intensity in mastery and accuracy. We find notes of graphite, blackberry and, more slightly, morello cherry combined with fine touches of violet, cornflower, fine points of crunchy black berries as well as a discreet hint of tonka bean, black tea, vanilla and a very discreet touch of pepper (in the background). The palate is juicy, crunchy, balanced and offers a nice fatness, a nice acidity, a nice crunchy/crisp fruit, a fine unctuousness, a melodious side in finesse as well as racy/mastered power. A fine airiness in its richness. On the palate, this wine expresses crunchy redcurrant, pulpy/flavoured cherry and slightly fleshy strawberry notes combined with hints of pulpy blueberry, chocolate as well as fine toasted/caramelised notes and a subtle hint of sweet blond tobacco. Good length.

Score : 17.75/20 (95-96/100)

Château Pédesclaux 2019

Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé

The nose is elegant, racy and offers purity, deepness, a nice finesse of the grain as well as a certain concentration in finesse. It reveals notes of blackberry, pepper and small notes of liquorice associated with small hints of cassis, racy minerality as well as hints of morello cherry, chocolate and a subtle hint of star anise / almost minty. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, an acid frame, minerality, a good definition, a small tension as well as suavity. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of blackberry, morello cherry and small notes of crushed strawberry associated with small touches of salinity, crushed blueberry as well as hints of nutmeg, sap, toasted hazelnut and a subtle hint of vanilla. Salinity/ sapidity on the finish. Tannins are supple and elegant.

Score : 16.25/20 (92-93/100)

Château Grand-puy Ducasse 2019

Pauillac 5ème Grand Cru Classé

The nose is fruity and offers freshness, intensity, concentration, some depth as well as a nice racy and fine grain. The wine benefits from decanting. There are notes of fresh wild blackberry, liquorice and slightly cardamom combined with hints of fresh red berries and a touch of pepper and a subtle almost smoky edge. The palate is fruity, balanced and offers juiciness, minerality, good definition, a certain gourmandise as well as an acidic frame. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/creamy blackberry, fleshy/juicy cherry and, more slightly, blueberry, combined with hints of liquorice, toast, Bourbon vanilla, as well as a subtle hint of gravel, fine chocolate and a very discreet hint of fresh leather in the background. The tannins are structured and relatively polished.

Score : 16.5+/20 (93-94/100)

Château Pichon Baron 2019

Pauillac 2ème Grand Cru Classé

The nose is aromatic and offers power/force in delicacy, mastery, depth as well as a certain intensity in finesse/ripeness. There are notes of liquorice, fresh violet and, more slightly, graphite combined with delicate mineral touches, fine points of black tea, sap as well as a subtle hint of spice, Sichuan pepper, a discreet touch of saffron, cardamom and an imperceptible hint of clove/incense. The palate is fruity and offers accuracy, minerality, good definition, a mineral backbone, some well-managed richness, a very discreetly tight material, precision, neatness and a fine airy side in the approach. Richness/power with delicacy and control. On the palate this wine expresses notes of creamy raspberry, fleshy strawberry and, more slightly, blueberry combined with touches of liquorice, crushed blackcurrant, fine hints of cocoa bean, sweet blond tobacco, a subtle hint of vanilla cream as well as a very discreet hint of saffron (in the background) and sweet spices. A nice and fine salinity at the end of the mouth. Some mellowness at on the finish. Nice persistence.

Score : 17.75/20 (95-96/100)

Château Clerc Milon 2019

Pauillac 5ème Grand Cru Classé

The nose is fruity, fresh, racy and offers concentration and depth. There are notes of wild blackcurrant, wild berries and, more slightly, pepper, combined with hints of violet, green cardamom, wild red berries, as well as fine spices and a discreet hint of blond tobacco. A discreet, almost smoky hint in the background. The palate is fresh, mineral, balanced and offers an acidic backbone, tension, a nice tannic structure and a little crunch. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crisp/ juicy Morello cherry, blackcurrant and, more slightly, mocha combined with hints of violet, camphor, gravelly minerality, hints of violet, violet plum, crunchy red berry fruit as well as fine hints of blond tobacco, toasted almond and a discreet hint of clove. Nice acidity and fruitiness.

Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)

Château Mouton Rothschild 2019

Pauillac 1er Grand Cru Classé

The nose is elegant, fruity, complex and offers elegance, intensity and finesse, a fine grain and a nice aromatic intensity. There are notes of graphite, Bigarreau cherry and, more slightly, camphor, combined with delicate touches of crunchy black fruit, fine raspberry, discrete hints of lily, lilac and a subtle hint of clove, nutmeg and a subtle touch of sweet spices. The palate is fresh, mineral, balanced, elegant and offers delicacy, precision, juiciness, a nice acidity of the fruit, roundness, a nice definition, fleshiness, acidity, tension and a certain straightness in elegance. On the palate this wine expresses crunchy blackcurrant, crunchy blueberry and slightly raspberry notes combined with hints of fleshy/pulpy currants as well as hints of violet, lily, nutmeg, racy/gravelly almost saline minerality, crunchy blueberry and a fine touch of vanilla. Good length. Nice fleshiness and aromatic purity. Superb persistence (+17 caudalies). Some chewiness on the finish. Harmony!

Score : 20/20 (100/100)

AOC SAINT-ESTÈPHE

Château Montrose 2019

Saint-estèphe 2ème Grand Cru Classé

The wine benefits from being decanted. The nose offers finesse, elegance, concentration and precision. There are notes of crunchy blackcurrant, pepper and, more slightly, wild berry fruits combined with hints of black tea, racy minerality, iodine, hints of cola, crunchy morello cherry, strawberry and fine hints of sweet blond tobacco, Bourbon vanilla and a subtle almost cinnamon edge. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, acidity, fleshiness, minerality, power, a racy (and elegant) texture, roundness, harmony and a nice finesse/elegance in its straightness. Nice freshness and dynamism. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of tart/pulpy cherry, fleshy currant and, more slightly, blackberry, combined with a touch of tart/crunchy blackcurrant, as well as hints of pulpy plum, tonka bean, toasted almond, and a discreet hint of coffee and cardamom. Tannins are elegant and racy.

Score : 18.5/20 (97/100)

Château Cos Labory 2019

Saint-estèphe 5ème Grand Cru Classé

The nose is racy and tightly wound. The wine benefits from being decanted. There are notes of ripe wild blackberry, redcurrant and, more slightly, racy minerality combined with fine hints of fresh/ripe wild berries as well as fine pepper, a delicate hint of liquorice and an imperceptible hint of bourbon vanilla. The palate of