MÉDOC/HAUT-MÉDOC

Château Pey Martin, Médoc, 2019 ($19.99) – This Bordeaux has belonged to the Francisco family since 1870, currently Stéphanie Francisco and her father, Jean. Their soil is a typical mixture of gravel and clayey limestone. The blend for 2019 was 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 15% Cab Franc. The grapes were harvested by hand and given a rigorous sorting. Vinification was traditional, in stainless steel vats, and the wine was aged partly in oak barrels and partly in concrete vats. The aromas and flavors feature blackcurrant and liquorice, concentrated with a slightly roasted finish.

Château Bellerive, Médoc Cru Bourgeois, 2016 ($21.99) - The Perrin family has owned and run this vineyard for four generations. It consists of 14 hectares in the north of the Médoc, opposite the Gironde estuary. The vines are planted on three plateaux made up of clay and gravel. The grapes are picked by hand, vinification is in concrete, and ageing is carried out in oak. The blend is 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cab Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot (which adds a touch of spice).

Château Peyrabon, Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois, 2016 ($21.99) - Wine Advocate (Neal Martin): 88 "The 2016 Peyrabon has a feminine and pure bouquet with red cherries and wild strawberry fruit. The oak here is present but neatly interwoven with pressed flower notes developing with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy entry. The acidity is nicely judged, although the light structure suggests that this Haut-Médoc will probably drink earlier than many. Drink 2019-28”

Château Ramafort, Haut-Médoc, 2016 ($23.99) - A very well balanced, dense Médoc with fine tannins and a beautiful aromatic expression around blackcurrant, vanilla and toasted notes. Ramafort is part of the CGR Estates, an ensemble of 125 ha and several crus in the Médoc appellation owned since 2016 by the Huang family.

Château Grand Brun, Haut-Médoc, Cru Artisan, 2016 ($25.99) - This is a small estate owned by Olivier Brun. The story of Chateau Grand Brun began in 1970 with a small 4 acres parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, the third generation is at the helm of 29 acres along the Garonne river between the famous Saint Julien and Margaux AOC. Grapes from each plot of vine are vinified separately in temperature controlled stainless steel and concrete tanks. The wine undergoes a soft extraction and is aged in French oak barrels for 10 months before bottling. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Gold Medal, Lyon Challenge

Château Le Peyre, Haut-Médoc, 2016 ($27.99) - A solid wine with roundness and delicacy. The nose is expressive of blackcurrant and red berries. Nice volume in the mouth, where the tannins have already softened. Ripe fruit, some woody notes.

Château Bel Air Gloria, Haut-Médoc, 2015 ($29.99) – Although not a classified growth, Château Gloria in St.-Julien has overdelivered in the last two decades to the point where it commands prices comparable to many 5th and 4th classified growths. Bel Air Gloria is not a second label but a separate, nearby property just outside the St.-Julien. appellation. It’s under the same ownership with the same winemaking team. Excellent value, ready to enjoy. Wine Advocate (Neal Martin): 89 “The 2015 Bel Air Gloria has a ripe, clean, and pure bouquet with attractive dark cherry and blackberry scents, neatly integrated with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy, ripe dark cherries laced with spice and black tea, nicely structured with an almost heady but attractive finish. Enjoy this lush Cru Bourgeois now through 2026.” Bronze medal, Concours de Grand Vins de France a Mâcon.

Château Potensac, Médoc, 2016 ($36.99) - TWI: 93; WA: 91+ “Is 2016 this es- tate’s finest vintage to date? Certainly its compelling bouquet of cassis and pencil shavings and its seamless, beautifully balanced palate make a strong case. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids, and a long, penetrating finish, this is built to age with style, yet it is also quite accessible at this early stage for a young Potensac. Best 2025-45”

ST.-ESTÈPHE

Château Morin, St.-Estephe, 2016 ($29.99) - This Cru Bourgeois was purchased by the Rouzaud family (who just happen to own Champagne Roederer!) in 2006. They were impressed by some old vines on good terroir, but they found that the property overall was in need of investment. The vines face the Gironde on a single plot of clay gravel at Saint-Corbian on the highest ridge in the commune. The 2016 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot. It is not a big wine, but it has plenty of flavor. The soft entry is followed by modest tannins on the finish. It’s a fine value. Wine Enthusiast (Roger Voss): 93 "Beautifully mature, this ripe wine with black-fruit and smoky flavors has soft tannins. The structure gives shape to the secondary flavors that are now developing. It is ready to drink.”

Château de Côme, Saint-Estèphe, 2016 ($41.99) - It’s good to have this estate back in the store. The newest vintage (yes, it was already aged three years in the bottle before release) is terrific. Rich in Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot fruit (a 50/50 blend), it is nicely balanced, harmonious, and serious. Founded in 1840, the vineyard is just over 17 acres of homogenous clay, sand, and limestone that is especially well suited for Merlot. Château de Côme was mentioned in the Edouard Feret book Bordeaux and its Wines (also called the “Bordeaux Bible”) in 1886 as a Cru Bourgeois Superieur. Baron Maurice Velge bought it and Château Clauzet in 1997, partnering with winemaker José Bueno, who had previously spent 23 years with the Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The vineyard and winery were transitioning to organic in 2016 and are now certified. 

Château Tronquoy Lalande, St.-Estèphe, 2016 ($41.99) - Just entering its window of drinkability. Wine Advocate (William Kelly): 94 “The 2016 Tronquoy-Lalande is a bril-liant wine. Wafting from the glass with scents of cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper and loamy soil, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, with a deep and multidi-mensional core, lively acids and beautifully ripe tannins. Suave and elegant, this young, impeccably balanced classic will delight Médoc purists, but it is far from austere today and will offer a remarkably broad drinking window. 2022-44.”

“As I wrote earlier this year, Tronquoy-Lalande deserves to be much better known. This was the second vineyard planted in Saint-Estèphe, after the Clos of Calon-Ségur, but its Royalist owner didn't participate in the 1855 classification due to his disapproval of Napoléon III. The vineyard itself consists of a single 30-hectare block on an eight-meter-deep gravel ridge directly behind châteaux Meyney & Montrose. Certified organic with the 2021 vintage, Tronquoy- Lalande has never seen herbicides. After its acquisition by Olivier & Martin Bouygues in 2006, the winery was redesigned with input from the late Jean-Philippe Delmas, equipped with two-tiered stainless steel tanks (modeled after Château Haut-Brion). Ably overseen by Yves Delsol, who has worked at the estate for 30 years and thus knows its every detail, the style is seamless, complex and concentrated, with structural elegance that reflects the quality of these gravel soils more than it does any stereotypes of Saint-Estèphe rusticity. Indeed, in any revision of the 1855 classification, this estate will clearly win classified growth status.”

Château Meyney, Saint-Estèphe, 2019 ($42.99/750ml; $22.99/375ml) - Although not a classified growth, Meyney has long been highly appreciated and is generally considered to be worthy of fifth growth classification. It occupies a prime position in St.-Estèphe with a single, 51-hectare parcel of vines on a sloping rise next to Ch. Montrose and overlooking the Gironde estuary. Meyney benefits from an array of soil types and consists of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and a generous 15% Petit Verdot (giving the wine its attractive, spicy signature). Vines were planted in 1662, making it one of the oldest vineyards in the Médoc. Originally part of a convent, it has had only three owners since then, the latest being CA Grands Crus, a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole Group. The soil is composed of gravel, sand, limestone, and a deep layer of blue clay. Being near the estuary, the vineyard is largely protected from frosts. The average age of the vines is 35-40 years with fruit from the younger vines typically used for a second wine, Prieur de Meyney. Grapes are sorted in the vineyard and again in the winery, then fermented in vats. Larger vats have been replaced with smaller ones to enable individual plots to be vinified separately. The grand vin is aged for 15 months in 30% new French oak barrels; the second wine typically sees 10–15% new oak. 

Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown): 90-92+ “Classic notes of cassis, plums, and blackberries plus hints of cedar chest, bay leaves, pencil lead, and clove oil plus a waft of underbrush. Medium to full-bodied with a generous core of ripe black fruits with a slight touch of oak poking through and a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with impressive length.” Age or decant.

La Dame de Montrose, St.-Estèphe, 2016 ($59.99) - The second label of the great Château Montrose. TWI: 93; Wine Advocate: 91 “The 2016 La Dame de Montrose is deep garnet-purple colored and gives up cassis, earth, tilled soil, truffles, and chocolate-covered cherries on the nose. Medium-bodied, the palate is firm, elegant and restrained with a mineral finish. 2019-2031”

Château Phèlan Segur, St.-Estèphe, 2016 ($63.99) - Wine Advocate (Lisa Perotti- Brown): 92 “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Phélan Ségur gives elegant red and black currants, kirsch and black berries with violets and chocolate box scents plus a waft of cigars. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, fine grained and fresh with great vibrancy and mineral notes on the finish. Drink 2019-31; Wine Spectator: 93 “This is a touch old-school, with bay and tobacco notes out front followed by alder, warm earth and steeped black currant flavors. The grippy finish lets the fruit and earth notes wrestle a bit, leaving a chewy feel. Will settle with cellaring, but this is not for fans of finesse. Best from 2022 through 2035. 15,000 cases made.” 

Cos d’Estournel, St.-Estephe, 2016 ($264.99 net) - Wine Advocate (Lisa Perotti- Brown): 100! “The 2016 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc aged in 65% new and 35% two-year-old French oak for 15 months. Bottled in July 2018, it is deep garnet-purple colored and starts off a little closed and reticent, opening out slowly and seductively to reveal beautiful lilacs, rose hip tea, crushed stones and camphor nuances over a core of crème de cassis, kirsch, wild blueberries and mocha plus wafts of incense and wood smoke. The palate is simply electric, charged with an energy and depth of flavors that seem to defy the elegance and ethereal nature of its medium-bodied weight, featuring super ripe, densely pixelated tannins that firmly frame the myriad of fruit and floral sparks, finishing with epic length. Just. Magic. Drink 2024-68”

“‘Rains on 13th September helped finish the ripening in 2016,’ winemaker Domin- ique Arangoits informed me. ‘There was a little water stress here on the young vines,’ he confessed. ‘It was very important not to overreact to the wet conditions in June, not to de-leaf too much. We have to be more careful than in the past. It was not a very early vintage, but we had to be careful with the Merlot not to harvest too late. It was very important to keep the fruit and the energy in the wines. In the end, we didn’t even need to fine the wines, only the second vintage for this. We started in 2015. In 2017 we will probably not fine either. We have our own bottling line, so we have control.’ 

“Arangoits and his team nailed it in 2016. It is also important to highlight that the transformation at Cos d’Estournel since Michel Reybier purchased the château in 2000 is simply incredible. Reybier’s considerable efforts since then in the vineyards and the winery are remarkable. What he has achieved has not only helped to bring the estate up to its true potential but also instilled a pretty impressive batting record when it comes to consistency of quality.”

PAUILLAC

Château Haut-Batailley Verso, Pauillac, 2019 ($34.99) - Verso is the 2nd label of Château Haut-Batailley, a highly regarded Fifth Growth Bordeaux that was owned by the Borie family for 85 years before being purchased by the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages in 2017. Its 54 acres are planted with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Neal Martin: 91 “Has a perfumed bouquet of mint-tinged black fruit and a touch of graphite in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with pencil lead notes on the entry. This Deuxième Vin is endowed with splendid concen-tration. Classic in style, with just a touch of black pepper toward the finish. Well worth seeking out.” Drink  now through 2032. We still have some of the terrific 2018 Verso.

Château Pedesclaux, Pauillac, 2016 ($74.99) - Wine Advocate (Lisa Perroti- Brown): 93 “The 2016 Pedesclaux is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. It aged for 18 months in 60% new and 40% one-year- old French oak. It has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed red and black currants and blackberries with cigar box, new leather, pencil lead and crushed rocks. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and lively with loads of mineral nuances and a lovely earthy finish. Around 15,000 cases produced. Drink 2019-36”

Château Pontet Canet, Pauillac, 2016 ($189.95) - Wine Advocate (Lisa Perroti- Brown): 98+ Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Pontet-Canet hits the ground running with a hedonic nose of Black Forest cake, crème de cassis and blueberry pie plus suggestions of candied violets, hoisin, chocolate mint, charcuteries and forest floor with a waft of star anise. Full-bodied, rich, profoundly layered and powerfully fruited, the palate is built like a brick house, with very firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and harmonious freshness, finishing with incredible length and depth. Still incredibly primary and yet already strutting so many layers, I wouldn't be at all surprised if this warrants the three-digit score in a few years' time. Drink 2026-60”

ST. JULIEN

MARGAUX

Château d’Issan Blason d’Issan, Margaux, 2019 ($34.99) – One of our best Bor- deaux values! Owned by the Cruse family, Château d’Issan has upped its game in the last decade. The 2nd label wine, 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon in 2019, has been a consistent winner for many vintages. Co-owner Aymar Cruse is very proud of it, and correctly notes, “This is too good of a second wine!” And if you haven’t yet tried their “third” wine (actually from a property they own outside Margaux), Moulin d’Issan Bordeaux Supérieur at $23.99, you must! Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown): 88-90 “The 2019 Blason d'Issan has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with scents of raspberry pie, warm plums and blackcurrant pastilles plus touches of garrique, tobacco leaf and dusty soil with a hint of bay leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing with an approachable, soft texture, filling the mouth with crunchy red and black fruits, finishing with a lively herbal note.”

Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux, 2016 ($69.99) - Wine Advocate (Lisa Perotti- Brown): 92 The 2016 Prieure-Lichine has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and a bold, intensely scented nose of warm blackcurrants, black raspberries and mulber- ries with hints of cedar chest, tobacco, dried herbs and iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate has bags of class with lovely, vibrant black berries flavors and earthy sparks framed by ripe grainy tannins, finishing long and refreshing. Drink 2019-33”

Château Giscours, Margaux, 2016 ($89.99) - Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown): 93 “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Giscours gives up aromas of cassis, chocolate, earth, tar, pepper and hoisin with touches of flowers and a meaty nuance. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with a great core and a long finish. Drink 2019-35”

Château d’Issan, Margaux, 2016 ($94.99) - TWI: 95; WA: 94+ “The 2016 D'Issan is blended of 64% Cab Sauvignon and 36% Merlot, aged in 50% new and 50% one-year-old French oak for 18 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple, it has vibrant black cherry and blackcurrant notes with chocolate mint, beef drippings, black olives, and cigar box. Medium-bodied with a well-sustained, intensely flavored mid-palate, it has a rock-solid frame & a long savory finish. 2019-2037”

GRAVES/PESSAC

Château Martignac, Graves, 2019 ($19.99) - This is very impressive for a $20 Bordeaux; in fact, it would be quite acceptable at $30! The Graves district is one of the oldest parts of Bordeaux and lies directly south of the city of Bordeaux. The best and most expensive wines, given the designation Pessac-Léognon, come from vineyards that are actually within the city limits, slightly to the west, and just south. Martignac lies just south of Léognon on  soil containing gravel, clay, and limestone. It is owned by Thierry and Denis Labuzon. Every year, the growers in Graves award the 10 best wines the title of Ambassadeur de Graves. Martignac won this award for both the 2018 and 2019 vintages. The wine is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 12 months in 1/3 new French oak. It has an intense nose full of rich, ripe black fruit alongside sweet tobacco, licorice spice, and dark chocolate. The palate shows good structure and powerful layers of fruit with excellent purity. Quite the value! Ageworthy.

Domaine de la Solitude, Pessac-Léognan, 2018 ($31.99) - From the superior part of the old Graves district in Bordeaux, Solitude is best known for its white wine, but it also makes a lovely and nicely priced red. Wine Spectator: 92 “Tight, sleek style with red currant, loganberry, and bitter cherry notes flecked with savory and red tea hints. Nice flash of iron on the well-focused finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2034. 10,000 cases made.” Solitude dates back to the 1820s when the estate was known as The Hermitage, a monastic order. Today it is both a monastic order and a vineyard. In 1993 Olivier Bernard of the esteemed Domaine de Chevalier agreed to manage the estate under a 40-year leasing agree- ment. The wine is vinified in traditional cement vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel. The wine is typically aged in 25% new, French oak barrels for 14 months before bottling.

Ch. Le Breuilleau, Pessac-Léognon, 2016 ($31.99) - We can’t remember why we purchased this wine, but we must have had a good reason!

Le Dauphin d’Olivier, Pessac-Léognan, 2015 ($33.99) - The wines of Pesssac- Léognan (the best part of the Graves district) don’t have the popularity of St.- Estèphe, Pauillac, St.-Julien, and Margaux, but they are equally wonderful (think Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion, Smith Haut Lafitte, Domaine de Chevalier, Pape Clément among others), and often represent better value. This second label of Chateau Olivier has developed beautifully and shows solidly ripe cassis and plum fruit with fragrant earth, black raspberries, black cherries, and red currants. It fills the palate and has a lovely herbal lift and a tobacco note on the finish. This unusual blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon is ready to enjoy and has purity, charm, and value!

Château Haut-Bergey, Pessac-Léognan, 2015 ($44.99) - This wine is not as far along in its evolution as the Le Dauphin d’Olivier, but it is wonderful and will reward an hour or so of airing or another year or two in the cellar. Wine Spectator: 91 “Has a sappy core of kirsch and plum preserve flavors, laced with bright, fresh bay leaf, and savory notes. A well-buried iron spine holds the finish, letting the fruit play out. Fleshes out nicely in the glass. Very solid. Best from 2019 through 2027.” The origins of Haut-Bergey go back to the 15th century. Sylviane Garcin-Cathiard is the current owner. Her son, Paul Garcin, manages the domain and instituted organic & biodynamic production in 2014. The vineyard is planted to 43% Caber- net Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec.

Château Latour-Martillac, Pessac-Léognon, 2016 ($49.99) - TWI: 93; Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown): 93 “The 2016 Latour Martillac is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with warm plums, kirsch, and redcurrant jelly on the nose with touches of bay leaves, iron ore, and black soil. Medium-bodied with a well-sustained mid-palate of muscular fruit, it has a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long. Drink 2020-2037”

Chateau Latour-Martillac, Pessac-Léognan, 2019 ($47.99) - Latour-Martillac makes a terrific modern red Bordeaux that exceeds its price point. Wine Advocate: 92-94+ (reviewed before bottling) “Composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot, harvested from the 19th of September to the 11th of October, the 2019 Latour-Martillac came in at yields of 45 hectoliters per hectare, with an alcohol of 14.2%, and pH of 3.7. It is being aged in French oak barrels, 40% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it sashays out of the glass with alluring scents of kirsch, Black Forest cake, and warm cassis plus hints of lavender, forest floor, iron ore, and tree bark. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and refreshing, giving layers of black berries and mineral notions with a finely grained frame and lifted finish. Gorgeous! Drink 2020-37”

ST.-ÉMILION/POMEROL/SATELLITE VILLAGES

Château Pont de Pierre, Lussac St.-Emilion, 2018 ($17.79) - At one of our recent Saturday tastings, this was judged to be an outstanding value! St.-Emilion is part of the right bank of Bordeaux. It sits up-river along one of the two tributaries that join to form the estuary separating the two primary Bordeaux sections. The wines of St.-Emilion are of very high quality and often high price. Northeast of St.-Emilion, there are several “satellite” villages with wines that are similar but generally not as refined; they are certainly less expensive and can represent great value. The wine estates are generally family properties, averaging about 25 acres in size. Château Font de Pierre is in Lussac, about 5.5 miles from St.-Emilion. Lussac has a diversity of soils on plateaus, the sides of the hills, and in small valleys. The wine has a lovely bouquet of dark berries, old wood, and tobacco. The palate features blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, a little pepper, integrated wood, and a hint of tobacco.

Château Moulin Noir, Lussac-St. Emilion, 2016 ($19.99) - Lussac-St.-Emilion is one of the satellite villages surrounding St.-Emilion. Its wines never reach the same heights, but they are often great values. This one has a lot of nice fruit and the benefit of a few years in the bottle. It’s a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The 2016 hasn’t been reviewed, but it’s a little more structured than the 2015, which received a respectable 88 points in the Wine Spectator: “Ripe, soft, and friendly, with warm plum sauce and melted licorice notes that linger on the rounded, toasted finish.”

Château Pierre 1st, St.- Emilion Grand Cru, 2016 ($27.99) -  GREAT VALUE! Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown): 92 “The 2016 Pierre 1er is medium garnet- purple colored and delivers scents of kirsch, redcurrants and black cherries with suggestions of roses, powdered cinnamon and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features a great intensity of spicy red berry flavors with a velvety texture and oodles of freshness, finishing long and perfumed. Drink 2019-32”

Château Tour Saint Christophe, St.- Emilion Grand Cru, 2016 ($42.99) - Although not well known, this property over delivers! It was purchased in 2012 by Hong Kong-based Peter Kwok. Wine Advocate: 94 “The 2016 Tour Saint- Christophe is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc aged in 40% new, 40% one-year- old and 20% two-year-old oak for 18 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it sings of roses, chocolate-covered cherries, redcurrant jelly and cinnamon stick with touches of cigar box and forest floor. Big, full-bodied and richly fruited yet with great tension, it has a compellingly perfumed palate and gorgeous velvety texture with great persistence. 5,000 cases produced. Drink 2021-44”

Château Tour Saint Christophe, St.- Emilion Grand Cru, 2020 ($42.99) - Wine Advocate: 93 “The 2020 Tour Saint Christophe opens in the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, raspberries and petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively and pure palate that's rich and fleshy, with generously extracted tannins asserting themselves on the finish. It's a modern, crowd-pleasing wine from clay-rich soils opposite Troplong Mondot in the commune Saint Christophe des Bardes. Drink 2025-40” Jeb Dunnuck: “A wine I continue to buy in every vintage, the 2020 Château Tour Saint-Christophe looks to be another no-brainer for the Saint- Emilion lovers out there.”

Château Poesia, St.- Emilion Grand Cru, 2015 ($44.99) - Wine Advocate: 91 “Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Poesia opens with gorgeous kirsch, black cherry compote and baked plums notes with hints of blueberry pie and spice box plus a touch of rose hip tea. Full-bodied, the palate delivers lovely savory layers that are well-framed by chewy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and layered. Drink 2019-33”

Château Poesia, St.- Emilion Grand Cru, 2016 ($44.99) - Wine Advocate: 94 “The 2016 Poesia is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple, the nose delivers vibrant Black Forest cake, redcurrants and Morello cherries notes with touches of cinnamon stick, rose hip tea, pencil shavings, tobacco and milk chocolate. The medium-bodied palate charges out of the gate with bright red berries layers and loads of herbal sparks, framed by rock-solid, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long. It should offer very good aging potential. Drink 2020-38”

Château Cap de Mourlin, St.- Emilion Grand Cru Classé, 2016 ($49.99) - Wine Advocate: 89 “The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cap de Mourlin gives up cigar box, earth, black plums and red and black cherries with wafts of wild blueberries and pencil shavings. The palate is medium-bodied, firm, grainy and lively with an herbal lift. Drink 2019-31”

Château Cap de Mourlin, St.-Emilion Grand Cru, 2016 ($49.99) - This young Bordeaux is very promising, even better than its rating. Wine Advocate: 89 “Medium to deep garnet-purple colored. Gives up cigar box, earth, black plums, and red and black cherries with wafts of wild blueberries and pencil shavings. The palate is medium-bodied, firm, grainy, and lively with an herbal lift.

Château Fleur Cardinale, St.-Emilion Grand Cru, 2020 ($55.99) - We’ve been carrying this property for many vintages, simply because the wines are wonderful and very reasonably priced for their high quality. It clearly deserves to be a Grand Cru Classé. Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown): 93-95+ “Composed of 77% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, with an alcohol of 14.5% and a pH of 3.57, the deep purple-black colored 2020 Fleur Cardinale bursts from the glass with powerful notes of crushed blackberries, stewed black plums, and Morello cherries plus suggestions of star anise, pencil shavings, and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of softly textured, juicy black fruits, countered by fantastic tension, finishing with great length and loads of earthy layers. Drink 2025-45.”

Château Fleur Cardinale, St.- Emilion Grand Cru Classé, 2016 ($59.99) - Wine Spectator: 92; Wine Advocate: 93 “The 2016 Fleur Cardinale is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and bursts from the glass with crushed blackberries, mulberries and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of spice cake, dried herbs and fragrant soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied and wonderfully elegant with soft, rounded tannins and a great backbone of freshness, finishing perfumed. 2019-34

Château Barde Haut, St.- Emilion Grand Cru Classé, 2016 ($59.99) – Wine Advocate: 93+ “The 2016 Barde Haut is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Caber- net Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it gives up expressive wild blueberries, kirsch, baked plums and spice box notes with hints of cracked pepper, lavender, garrigue and Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, the palate bursts with blue fruits, framed by firm, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long. 2020-34”

Château Grange-Neuve La Fleur des Ormes, Pomerol, 2016 ($63.99) - Rare and unique? Here is a Pomerol that’s 100% Merlot! This still-young, but substantial Bordeaux is rich, bold, and concentrated with aromas of black fruit, tobacco, flint, and dark spices. It’s a classic, stately, well-balanced, and assertive wine aged 12-18 months in 33% new barrique. Grange-Neuve was once part of Château Bourgneuf, near Château Trotanoy. The Gros family purchased the first plot at the end of the 19th century. They built up vineyard land over the years through a succession of small purchases, and it now stretches over 18 acres of vines replanted in 1956. Harvest is done by hand and fully destemmed. Wine Enthusiast: 93

Château La Pointe, Pomerol, 2016 ($79.99) – Pomerols are always expensive, pri- marily because there is less of it. It’s a smaller Bordeaux region, and the properties tend to be small. Still on its upside, this fine example has an impressive bouquet and bright, delicious fruit to go with its still-resolving but ripe tannins. Neal Martin: 92-94 “The 2016 La Pointe is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc this year. It has a charming, perfumed bouquet with dark cherries, red plum and quite intense incense aromas that are well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and well-judged acidity. This is a well-focused, classically styled Pomerol with seams of tobacco towards the persistent finish. This is a very fine Pomerol from Eric Monnoret, in fact, it is the best La Pointe produced so far. 2020-40”

Château Beauregard, Pomerol, 2016 ($99.99) - A youthful but very pretty wine. Pomerols are never cheap, but they do deliver. Wine Advocate (Lisa Perotti-Brown): 94 “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Beauregard is a little closed on the nose, opening to warm black plums, blackberries, and mulberries with touches of chocolate box and dried herbs plus violet hints. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy, and packed with muscular fruit, finishing long and earthy. 2020-43”

Château Beau-sejour Becot, St.- Emilion Grand Cru Classé, 2016 ($116.95) - Wine Spectator: 94; Wine Advocate: 95 “Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Beau-Sejour Becot (80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) is just a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal beautiful chocolate-covered cherries, preserved plums and black raspberries scents with touches of stewed tea, tobacco, red roses and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied and jam-packed with perfumed fruit layers, it has a rock-solid frame of ripe, finely grained tannins and layer upon layer of provocative black fruit and savory layers on the finish. 2020-37”

OTHER

Chateau Marjosse Bordeaux, 2018 ($16.88) – Château Marjosse is an historic property less than 9 miles south of Saint-Émilion in the Entre-deux-Mers. Its 40 acres of vineyards sit on exceptional clay and limestone soil. In 1782 wine merchant Bernard Chénier moved into the imposing 18th century château (chartreuse) with his wife, Catherine Clémentine Fiton, and planted the first vines. Several owners later, elderly General Georges Deleuze rented out some of the parcels in 1990 to a young and ambitious winemaker named Pierre Lurton, who started his career at Clos Fourtet before moving on to Cheval Blanc! Lurton had been born and raised at a neighboring château and bought the Marjosse property in pieces, starting in 1991. His first year was a disaster; the entire crop was destroyed by hail! Lurton almost went under but was able obtain bank loans to get him through. By 2005 he had purchased all the vineyard land as well as the magnificent stone chartreuse.

Lurton calls Marjosse his “secret garden” and treats its vines and wine with the same “Grand Cru” principles that he uses at Cheval Blanc, where he has been manager since 1998. The red grapes are vinified separately by type of grape (cépage) and parcel. Each batch ferments in temperature-controlled cement vats with regular pumpover (remontage). After 20-25 days of maceration, Pierre and technical director Jean-Marc Domme select the best vats and agree on the final blend. Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown): 90-92+ “The 2018 Marjosse is made up of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc with a splash of old Malbec [dating to the 1940s]. Big old barrels were used for 25% of the crop. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with a compelling nose of baking spices, raspberry pie, red and black currants, rose hip tea, and fragrant earth with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate is filled with fragrant red and black fruit framed by great freshness and soft, supple tannins, finishing on a floral note.”

Château La Rose Belair, Bordeaux Supérieur Vieilles Vignes, 2019 ($18.99) - From a property of nearly 100 acres of vines in Mouliets-et-Villemartin, near Saint-Émilion. The diverse soil ranges from limestone clay to marl, gravel, and flint. This is perfect for Merlot. Not surprisingly, this wine is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The use of the property’s oldest vines ensures great depth of fruit. The wine may not have quite the elegance of a Saint-Émilion, but it has a lot of nice Merlot flavor with some Cab notes for complexity and structure. Winemaking is traditional with fermentation in stainless steel and maturation in oak barrels, mostly used. The wine shows intense color and delicious aromas of ripe red & black raspberries & currants with a touch of spice. Enjoyable now, it will continue to mellow with another year or two in the bottle. A great value!

Château d’Issan Moulin d’Issan, Bordeaux Supérieur, 2018 ($23.99) - D’Issan is a third classified growth in Margaux. It produces its flagship wine, a second label called Blasson d’Isssan (which we also carry), and this Bordeaux Supérieur from an adjacent property. The soil here is closer to the Gironde Estuary and is mainly clayey limestone, so it is particularly suited to Merlot, and this wine is uniquely 90% Merlot (and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon). Made by the D’Issan winemaking team, it is aged for 14 months in 25% new barrels. The 2018 vintage featured very ripe fruit, and the wine came in at 14.32% alcohol and shows lavish red fruit, soft tannins, and prominent oak at this young stage. It is quite showy and modern.

Château Fontenil (Michel Rolland’s home estate), Fronsac, 2016 ($29.99) - Wine Advocate: 91+ “The 2016 Fontenil is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and gives up exuberant red cherries, black raspberries, wild blueberries and cinnamon stick scents with hints of wild sage and forest floor. Medium-bodied, refreshing and wonderfully elegant, it has beautiful vibrancy and a perfumed finish. 2019-33”