Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Sauternes
WS 95
WA 99
ST 94
1990: An extraordinary effort, Yquem's 1990 is a rich and fabulously superb, sweet wine. This wine also possesses lots of elegance and finesse. The wine's medium gold color is accompanied by an exceptionally sweet nose of honeyed tropical fruits, peaches, coconut, and apricots. High quality, subtle toasty oak is well-integrated. The wine is massive on the palate, with layers of intensely ripe botrytis-tinged, exceptionally sweet fruit. Surprisingly well-integrated acidity, and a seamless, full-bodied power and richness have created a wine of remarkable harmony and purity. Certainly it is one of the richest Yquems I have ever tasted, with 50-100 years of potential longevity. An awesome Yquem! Anticipated maturity: 2003-2050+.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Sauternes
Beautiful golden-yellow colour. Concentrated, very attractive bouquet of ripe fruit, stewed fruit, and vanilla biscuits. Round, very sweet, and well-balanced on the palate. Plenty of volume and a suave quality marvellously underpinned by acidity. The fruity, spicy, mentholated nuances are accompanied by a really beautiful smooth, elegant texture. While this vintage had low yields, the quality perfectly reflects the drastic selection made during picking and blending.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 92-94
WA 94
ST 92
Sweet and refined, with a full yet racy structure. Medium- to full-bodied, with tobacco, berry and cherry character. Long, silky finish. Very pretty. Score range: 92-94
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 89-91
WA 91
ST 91
Lots of smoky, ripe fruit in this young red. Full-bodied, with a soft and fine tannin structure and good fruit. Slightly hollow center-palate, but well-done. Score range: 89-91
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
Now 10 years old, the 2002 Château Canon has reached an exquisite maturity. Silky smooth and vibrant in the mouth, the graceful fruit quite literally glides over the palate, displaying notes of plums, raspberries berries, crème de cassis, with notes of freshplowed new earth and vanilla rising towards the finish. Drinking beautifully now, this wine has reached the plateau of maturity, where it will easily hold for an additional 7 to 10 years. --Ben Giliberti, CW (June 2012)
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Pomerol
WS 88
WA 90
ST 90
Lovely aromas of toasted oak, coffee and berry, with hints of raspberries. Full- to medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, luscious aftertaste. Slightly hollow center palate. Very fresh. Score range: 89-91
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Sauternes - Barsac
WS 96
ST 92
Loads of honey, maple syrup, dried apricot and spice. Full-bodied, medium-sweet, with a refined, spicy character. Pretty wine. Masses of botrytis. This is refined and long, a racy wine compared with the power and muscle of so many others. Beauty among the beasts. Best after 2012. 2,300 cases made.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Pessac-Léognan
WS 95
WA 94
Lots of lemon, lime and honey aromas with hints of other citrus fruits. Full-bodied, with exotic fruit character. Fresh and long. Papaya, mango and banana. A tropical drink. 88 percent S?millon this year, the rest Sauvignon Blanc. Score range: 95-100
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Julien
WS 97
WE 94
WA 93
ST 93
The solidly made 2003 Leoville Las-Cases (13.2% alcohol) is a blend of 70.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.2% Merlot, and 12.6% Cabernet Franc. In this incredibly hot vintage, the alcohol is slightly lower than achieved in 2002, a cool-climate year. While not a profound example of Las-Cases, the 2003 is muscular, deep, and full-bodied with an impressive ruby/purple color, a tight but juicy bouquet of vanilla, black cherries, crushed rocks, and flowers, a sweet attack, and moderately high tannin. Backward and fresh, displaying impeccable delineation and purity, it can be enjoyed between 2012-2023. 93+
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 89-91
WA 91
Wonderful length for the vintage. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a berry, toasty oak and chocolate aftertaste. Serious. Better than La Gomerie. Score range: 89-91
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Pessac-Léognan
WS 92-94
WA 91
ST 92
Lemon rind and mineral character. Full-bodied, with a strong acidity and a thick, rich palate. So structured it's almost tannic. Outstanding. Score range: 92-94
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WA 91
While no one will confuse the 2005 with this estate's prodigious 1990, it is an outstanding effort from one of St.-Emilion's finest terroirs. In terms of potential, the vineyard is exceeded only by Ausone, Pavie and Belair for micro-climate and exposition. A beautiful dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by an ethereal nose of blueberry liqueur, spring flowers, melted licorice, raspberries, and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied with good acidity, sweet but high tannin, a broad mouthfeel, and admirable elegance as well as freshness, this beauty should age easily for 25+ years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035.While no one will confuse the 2005 with this estate's prodigious 1990, it is an outstanding effort from one of St.-Emilion's finest terroirs. In terms of potential, the vineyard is exceeded only by Ausone, Pavie and Belair for micro-climate and exposition. A beautiful dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by an ethereal nose of blueberry liqueur, spring flowers, melted licorice, raspberries, and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied with good acidity, sweet but high tannin, a broad mouthfeel, and admirable elegance as well as freshness, this beauty should age easily for 25+ years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035. -- Robert Parker Read More