This is a remarkably serious claret at a very attractive price. It's a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc which has undergone part barrel ageing to add a hint of coffee and cocoa to the ripe autumnal fruit. It's concentrated, has a strong tannic backbone and is best served with quite a hearty plate of food.

There is potential for a little development here with time, but it's great now as a young wine when opened in advance or decanted.

This ever reliable chateau has, once again, come up with the goods. This is just what good value St Emilion should be like; it's full of vibrant fruit and has a juicy soft texture on the palate.

There were some exceptional wines made in Bordeaux in 2016 and this is certainly no exception, in fact this is an absolute triumph. It is such a beautifully balanced claret, in both flavour and texture. The fruit on the palate is clean and pure with very subtle coffee and graphite notes in the background. It has beautifully integrated tannins, making this a very enjoyable drink in its youth, but giving it the structure for a few years in the cellar if you like somethigna little more mature.

This second wine of the highly regarded Chateau Peyrabon is always one of the best value clarets available, and in exceptional vintages, such as 2010, it offers a lot of serious wine for the money.

8-10 years is about the perfect age for this wine. The emphasis is on ripe fruit and this has now been joined by some subtle spicy, earthy flavours that add great complexity. The tannins were never overpowering, but they have now beautifully integrated, giving the wine a soft texture and roundness.

This really is a super for claret and at this price should be in all Bordeaux lovers' wine racks.

This second wine of the highly regarded Chateau Peyrabon is always one of the best value clarets available, and in exceptional vintages, such as 2010, it offers a lot of serious wine for the money.

10-12 years is about the perfect age for this wine. The emphasis is on ripe fruit and this has now been joined by some subtle spicy, earthy flavours that add great complexity. The tannins were never overpowering, but they have now beautifully integrated, giving the wine a soft texture and roundness.

This really is a super for claret and at this price should be in all Bordeaux lovers' wine racks.

"An excellent effort from Domaine de Chevalier, this dark ruby/purple-colored 1998 exhibits smoky, tobacco-tinged, earthy scents intermixed with black currant and cherry fruit. There is impressive concentration, medium body, sweet tannin, and a supple, ripe finish." 87-89 points. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

The wine estate is situated in Saint-Vincent de Pertignas in the Region of Entre-deux-Mers, near Saint-Emilion. The vineyards are located on an excellent clay- limestone - gravel soil which gives a fine, delicate, elegant wine, with a lovely aromatic complexity.

The complexity is further enhanced by an period of ageing in oak barrels after the fermentation which is in temperature controlled stainless steel vats.

This is very elegant, bright with sweet red and dark fruits and a touch of caramel and vanilla, and a silky smooth mouthfeel.

Like a lot of Bordeaux wines from the excellent 2016 vintage, this delicious wine is rich and juicy, with black plum and red current fruit, gentle spice and a long finish.

It definitely benefits from an hour or two open before serving, or better still, decanted.

"A spectacular wine from this nearly 50-acre vineyard situated atop St.-Emilion’s famed limestone plateau, the final blend for the 2012 Beau-Sejour Becot was 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. It achieved 14% natural alcohol and yields were 31 hectoliters per hectare. One of the stars of the vintage, it is elegant yet powerful, rich and authoritative with abundant black raspberry, blueberry, graphite and toasty vanillin notes. Full-bodied and super rich for a 2012, it is packed with potential. The tannins are ripe as well as abundant suggesting several years of bottle age will be required. It should turn out to be a 20 year proposition." 92-95pts, Wine Advocate

'Lead pencil shavings, soy and barbecue smoke as well as red and black currants characterize this brilliant effort, which has an expansive, full-bodied mouthfeel yet a sublime elegance and lightness of being. Dense ruby/purple, gorgeous purity and a long, long finish of close to 50 seconds characterize another brilliant effort from this classified growth in Pessac-Leognan. It should drink nicely for 25-30 years yet is surprisingly accessible even today. Drink 2013-2043.' - 94pts Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (205), March 2013

'Perhaps the finest Lafon Rochet ever made, the purity, freshness, and sweet, rich, blueberry and boysenberry fruit and hint of pen ink that are found in this opaque purple-colored wine are impressive. Massive in the mouth, with freshness, delineation, and sweet tannin, it is a major sleeper of the vintage that should last for 25+ years. (Tasted two times.) Drink 2010-2035.' Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188), April 2010

Robert Parker added an asterisk to this wine score to signify that it is a wine he considers has the finest potential of all the offerings he has ever tasted from this estate in nearly 32 years of barrel tasting samples in Bordeaux.

'The 2009 is the finest Chasse Spleen since the 1989. Its deep purple color is accompanied by notes of graphite, black currants, sweet spice, and a hint of Chinese black tea. Full-bodied and opulent with well-integrated acidity, tannin, wood, and alcohol, it is a lush beauty to enjoy over the next 20+ years. (Tasted two times.)' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188), April 2010

From the exceptional 2000 vintage, and now fully mature, the Labegorce Zede is a great example of classic mature claret. It was a big-structured wine in its youth, but it has mellowed considerably. 

"The greatest Cantenac Brown I have ever tasted, the 2010 is one for the ages. Dense purple, with an extraordinary nose of sweet forest floor, blackberry jam, pen ink and graphite, this wine soars from the glass, giving it an aromatic dimension and intensity I have never seen from this estate. The tannins are present, as they are in most Cantenac Browns, but the wine's sweetness, broad, skyscraper-like mouthfeel, dense, purple color and spectacular length (close to a minute) make this a giant classic and a fabulous sleeper of the vintage that still remains under-priced, considering how great its potential may be. This is a wine for those with cold cellars and youthful DNA. It is going to need at least a decade of cellaring and should last for 20-40 years. A classic!" 94+pts, Robert Parker 2013

"This is a quintessentially elegant Margaux, with a dense ruby/purple color and notes of charcoal, cassis, a hint of smoking embers, and a subtle touch of spring flower garden. Dense on the palate with medium to full-bodied flavors, superb concentration, and moderate tannin, this wine requires patience, but is impeccably well-made as usual." 91pts, Robert Parker

Elegant, displaying cinnamon, spices and morello cherry with some toasted notes. The palate is exquisite and open with good complexity. The finish is long and delicious.

Château de Musset, located on the old town of Parsac, is of ancient origin as evidenced by a very beautiful vault topped with an elegant 18th century colonnade overlooking the vineyards and 'pond.

The domain was purchased in 1887 by Pierre and Musset and passed from generation to generation. Belonging to the family for over 150 years, this beautiful area is now owned by Mrs. Jean-Marie Gadenne. A family civil society operates the vineyard covers 7 hectares of sunny slopes ground clay and limestone.

The cultivation and vinification are traditional there. The majority is planted with Merlot (70%) with the remainder planted with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Today, the Château de Musset remains a gathering place for the family. Many events offer the opportunity to receive and also to know the area.

Bright red cherry aromas in a soft style. Rich berries, a little green stalk and a hint of black pepper on the palate.

A rich, deep colour that immediately announces the tone of the vintage. It appears as a highly concentrated wine. The rich, complex nose confirms this impression, with a blend of black fruit and spices such as black pepper, cinnamon and vanilla.

In the mouth, the attack is at once fresh and profuse. The sense of volume continues mid-palate while velvety tannins gradually develop, giving the wine its body without ever becoming overbearing. Everything is in perfect balance. A few notes of cocoa and coffee complement he broad aromatic palette right up to the prolonged finale, supported by extremely mature tannins.

While the pleasure it procures may tempt some to drink it young, I suggest waiting a few years. Indeed, everything indicates long and propitious ageing.

"The 2014 La Lagune is a wine that showed extremely well when I tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle, it has a very well defined, quite intense bouquet with blackberry, cedar and pencil box aromas—classic in style, demonstrating impressive breeding. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannin, bright and vivacious black fruit laced with graphite, fine mineralité and it fans out wonderfully on the Pauillac-like finish. You know, I suspect this might even surpass the 2015 La Lagune... let's see. This is excellent." Drink 2019 - 2035. 92 pts, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate

"A noble, complex nose of flowers, beef blood, black currants, licorice, and truffles reveals surprising evolution. The full-bodied, powerful wine exhibits stunning concentration, beautiful richness, sweet tannin, and a long finish. A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (all from a bio-dynamically farmed vineyard), the 2004 Pavie-Macquin is another dazzling success from the brilliant winemaking team of Stephane Derenoncourt and Nicolas Thienpont."  93pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"Extremely young with an unbelievable deep purple color, the 2000 Troplong Mondot has hardly budged since I tasted it in 2003. Two recent tastings confirmed that this is the greatest Troplong Mondot between their profound 1990 and more recent vintages such as 2005, 2008, and 2009. Copious chocolate, graphite, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, and ink characteristics are present in this full-bodied, powerful, massive St.-Emilion. While the tannins are noticeable, they are better integrated than they were seven years ago, and the fruit, extract, and richness clearly outweigh the wine's structure. This 2000 will benefit from another 4-5 years of cellaring (longer than I originally predicted), and has at least two decades of drinkability ahead of it." 96pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 2010

"Another relatively obscure Pauillac, although a classified growth in the 1855 classification, Lynch-Moussas has long been owned by the Castéja family. With soft, juicy tannins and attractive blackcurrant and plum fruit, this dark ruby/purple-colored wine is well-made, elegant, ripe, luscious and fruit-forward. It can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years. This is an excellent Lynch-Moussas." Wine Advocate

Chateau La Patache is a 2.5-hectare vineyard owned by Peter Kwok close to Château Clinet. It's traditionally made in wooden vats, followed by 18 months in ued French barrels.

An elegant wine with ripe dark fruit scents, spice notes, tobacco and vanilla aromas. On the palate it has a powerful boldness, it's well-balanced with a good structure and subtle tannins.

“The 2016 Lamarque has a very refined bouquet with gorgeous aromas of blackberry, cedar and pressed flowers that unfurls beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with quite robust and firm tannin, but the fruit is so pure that you barely notice its arching structure. It delivers a wonderful, persistent pencil box tinged finish and a long, graphite aftertaste. This is a superb contribution to the vintage, just classic, damn delicious Left Bank Bordeaux.” 91-93pts Wine Advocate

"Their finest effort since 1982, Petit Village has turned out a beautifully generous, succulent, fleshy 2009 with loads of ripe plum, black currant, black cherry, mocha and subtle earthy undertones. Round, flamboyant, dense and rich, with low acidity, outstanding concentration and purity, and a long finish, this outstanding wine should drink well for up to 15 or more years." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 

The 2016 Chateau Saint-Pierre is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc picked between 29 September and 3 October for the Merlot and 5-17 October for the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is matured is 50% new oak. The Cabernet comes through strongly on the nose as you would expect: quite intense black fruit, graphite and just a touch of dried herbs. There is lovely definition and focus on display. The palate is well balanced with grainy tannin, a crisp line of acidity, classic in style in keeping with the style of the vintage with very fine mineralité and tension towards the sprightly finish. It is one of the most Pauillac-like Château Saint-Pierres that I have tasted, a very well crafted, almost understated but sophisticated wine that will age for 20 to 30 years. This is a fantastic Saint Julien that may well rest at the top of my banded score. Drink 2022 - 2050. - 94/96pts Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017