Highly Recommended
La Dame de Montrose, Ch Montrose 2L 92 Dense, floral, cassis with a graphite base. Very good natural richness and purity. A serious, exciting second wine. 2021-2035 Ch Cos-Labory 5CC 91 Briary, spicy fruit of depth and freshness – seductive for St-Estèphe and continues the success of this château. 2020-2032 Ch Lafon-Rochet 4CC 91 More florality than usual on the lifted, gamey fruit – less robust and more elegant; a very good wine. 2021-2035 Ch Marquis de Calon, Ch Calon-Ségur 2L 91 Ripe 57% Merlot and 10% Cab Franc. Very elegant for St-Estèphe; fine freshness and purity; perfect second wine. 2019-2028 Les Pagodes de Cos d’Estournel 2L 91 Much more elegant style than before. Polished, deep, silky texture and exotic spices; very well made. 2020-2030 Blanc de Cos d’Estournel 90 Very well-expressed 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon blend with zesty grapefruit acidity. 2017-2020 Ch Capbern-Gasqueton 90 Great freshness of bountiful fruit and fine ripeness from 68% Cabernet. Lovely wine; perfectly managed vineyards 2019-2028 Ch Le Crock CB 90 Fine florality and good black fruits with 12% Cab Franc to add lift to the rich blend. Firm tannins for a good future. 2019-2028 Ch Meyney 90 Leathery cassis fruit and broad – even massive – ripeness in the Meyney style. Will be very good with age. 2020-2030 Ch Ormes de Pez 90 Good crunchy fruit that is more polished than in the past. A classic, harmonious and modern wine. 2019-2028 Ch Phélan-Ségur CBE 90 Has the smooth, slightly gamey fruit you’d expect from Phélan-Ségur. Fine vineyard expression and elegant length. 2020-2030 Ch Tronquoy-Lalande 90 All the richness, none of the toughness of the past – even some freshness and florality. Impressive. 2020-2030
Ch d’Armailhac 5CC 92 This wine has got broader and finer over the years and is now totally complete in the feminine d’Armailhac style. 2021-2035 Ch Duhart-Milon 4CC 92 Shows polish, depth and a restrained elegance – a firm, classy wine with a fine future. 2022-2040 Ch pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2CC 92 A sense of over-ripeness is out of step with the vintage – even with the Comtesse lift and freshness. Time will help. 2022-2035 Le petit Mouton de Mouton rothschild, Ch Mouton rothschild 2L 92 Exuberance typical of Mouton, but more grip thanks to the new cellar. No hint of this being a second wine. 2020-2030 Les Forts de Latour, Ch Latour 2L 92 More lively than previous vintages – more exuberant and St-Julien in style. Modern, polished wine. 2021-2035 Aile d’Argent Blanc, Ch Mouton rothschild 2L 91 Lovely florality and fine white fruits with a citrussy lift. The potential complexity will be interesting to follow. 2017-2025 Carruades de Lafite rothschild, Ch Lafite rothschild 2L 91 Discreet, fine nose with the Lafite violets. While it seems on the light side now, time in barrel will add structure. 2020-2030 Ch haut-Batailley 5CC 91 Good depth with finesse and proper grip. As always, beautifully textured that will open up very well and also last. 2021-2035 Ch Batailley 5CC 90 Broad fruit and depth of flavour from old vines. Always forward at this stage, but it gains in barrel and ages well. 2021-2035 Ch haut-Bages-Libéral 5CC 90 Lean and leafy fruit, but this wine is never on the plummy side. Already shows finesse and grip; will gain weight. 2021-2033 Ch pédesclaux 5CC 90 Broad cassis, nicely lifted. A modern wine that is on the way up, showing fine fruit, character and charm. 2020-2035 Ch pibran 90 Well-expressed, even Cabernet-Merlot blend showing crunchy black fruits. Clear and structured; will age well. 2019-2028 pauillac de Ch Latour 3L 90 Crunchy fruit that is fresh and almost succulent for this wine. Vibrant with some spice and hints of new wood. 2019-2028 Les Griffons de pichon-Baron 2L 90 Depth of spicy black fruits. Vigorous yet smooth, with the tannins already blending in. An impressive second wine. 2020-2030