2016 Château Rieussec: 97 Punkte
A step up over the Carmes de Rieussec, the beautiful 2016 Château Rieussec has remarkable purity and freshness while still packing beautiful depth of fruit. Honeyed peach, apricot, flower oil, and even a hint of wet stone all emerge from this full-bodied, thick, opulent effort. I love it. It has a rounded, sexy style ideal for drinking any time over the coming 15-20 years. The 2016 is a final blend of 83% Sémillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle. (2019)
2019 Les Champs Libres: 94 Punkte
From the Guinaudeau family of Château Lafleur in Pomerol, the 2019 Guinaudeau Vignerons Les Champs Libres Blanc is all Sauvignon raised in new barrels. It's another remarkable white from this team that brings richness and depth as well as freshness, balance, and elegance. Caramelized grapefruits, orange blossom, chalky mineral, and white flowers, as well as hints of green almond, all emerge from this beauty and it's medium-bodied, has good concentration, and racy acidity. It's going to benefit from a year or three of bottle age and evolve gracefully for over a decade. (2022)
2021 Château Pontet-Canet: 93 Punkte
Ripe blue fruits, spring flowers, violets, tobacco, and some graphite notes all emerge from the 2021 Château Pontet-Canet, a richer, medium to full-bodied Pauillac that has polished, building tannins, terrific overall balance, and outstanding length. It picks up more classic Pauillac lead pencil notes with time in the glass (I was able to taste this on multiple occasions) and is a fleshy, beautifully textured 2021 that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and evolve for two decades. The 2021 is based on 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot that was raised 50% in new oak barrels, 35% amphora, and the balance in once-used oak. (04/2024)
2020 Château Langoa-Barton: 95 Punkte
Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2020 Château Langoa Barton comes from a mix of different sites in Saint-Julien, which makes it a great representation of the vintage and appellation. The blend is 53.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue to go with a beautiful bouquet of red and black cherries, currants, leafy tobacco, and cedar pencil, with a touch of damp earth that emerges with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of mid-palate depth and richness, velvety tannins, and a great finish. This plush, up-front, expansive, wonderfully textured Saint-Julien will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and cruise for two decades. It's the finest example from this château I've tasted. Bravo! (03/2023)
2018 Château Plince: 90-92 Punkte
Spicy oak, crème de cassis, and graphite notes all emerge from the 2018 Château Plince, a medium-bodied, elegant, nicely textured Pomerol that has fine tannins and considerable charm. It should drink well for 10-12 years. The blend is 79% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Franc, all from a 21-acre parcel of darker, compact, iron-laced soils. (05/2019)
