2018
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Keermont “Pondokrug” Cabernet Franc 2018
"I love Cabernet Franc", says Alex Starey, and you can see why when he produces wines that are as good as this single vineyard expression from Stellenbosch Mountain. Perfumed, stylish and well crafted, it has the elegance and precision of its cooler site, good underlying structure and classic black cherry, bay leaf and pencil shaving notes." Tim Atkin MW
Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macán 2018
"Their second wine in the Bordeaux sense is the 2018 Macán Clásico, which in the cooler and late year (they picked between October 2nd and 14th) fermented in stainless steel and matured in 50% new French oak barrels, 10% American oak barrels and 40% used ones for 12 months. The wine has moderate ripeness and alcohol (14%) in a fresher, subtler and more elegant year with good freshness (a pH of 3.75) and balance. It's young and creamy, a baby that will improve as it burns down that fat. Separating the press wine by quality and aging it separately seems to have increased the precision. It has to be one of the finest vintages for this wine; it is round and nicely textured. It could be an improved version of the 2016. 151,411 bottles, 1,053 magnums and some larger formats were filled during August 2020. - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Valenciso Rioja Reserva Red 2018 Magnum
"The 2018 Reserva reveals developed aromas and a polished palate, tasty, almost salty flavors and a long, dry finish. It has notes of leather and meat and felt surprisingly ripe despite the cooler year, but the longer and slow growing season ripened the grapes thoroughly to 14.5% alcohol. It matured in French oak barrels, one-third of them new, for 18 months. It was bottled in December 2021. 67,000 bottles produced." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Lafarge-Vial Fleurie 2018
Domaine Lafarge-Vial Fleurie 2018 "A slightly more elegant is otherwise similar aromatic profile introduces punchy, well-detailed and lightly mineral-inflected flavors that also deliver excellent length and depth on the slightly more firmly structured finale. This too is worth your interest." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine du Pelican Arbois Poulsard 2018
"I like the purity and profile of the 2018 Arbois Poulsard, which, like the sample I tasted before, is quite expressive and agreeable, bright and lively, aromatic and open, quite elegant, with some tannins. It's not as funky as many examples of the grape can be. They picked a little early, and the wine is somewhat herbaceous (in a positive way) and only 11.5% alcohol." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Domaine de Montille Pommard Premier Cru “Les Rugiens-Bas” 2018
"Once again, the wood influence is subtle though not imperceptible on the slightly cooler aromas of lavender, violet, rose petal, red and dark cherry and a whiff of plum liqueur. There is excellent volume to the solidly concentrated and intensely mineral-driven flavors that possess evident muscle and power on the firm, serious and complex finale that is also clearly built-to-age. In a word, impressive." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine de Montille Volnay Premier Cru “Les Taillepieds” 2018
"A notably ripe yet attractively fresh nose is comprised by notes of exuberantly floral, spice, plum liqueur and relatively prominent menthol influences. The wonderfully sleek, concentrated and intensely mineral-laden flavors possess the hallmark refinement of a fine Taillepieds, all wrapped in a very firmly structured but not really austere finale. With that said, this is a 'buy and forget you own it' wine for at least 10 years and it should ultimately need 20 to 25 years to fully mature." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine de Montille Volnay Premier Cru “En Champans” 2018
Volnay Premier Cru “En Champans” 2018, "Once again there is liqueur-like character to the aromas of red cherry, passion fruit, spice and pretty floral elements. There is excellent volume to the caressing and palate coating flavors that are refined yet powerful on the very serious, structured and built-to-age finale. This is excellent but patience strongly recommended." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Trapet Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin “Ostrea” 2018
"The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Ostrea is showing beautifully, unwinding in the glass with a deeper-pitched bouquet of cassis, dark berry fruit, baking chocolate, rich soil tones and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and mineral, this has a more structured, tensile profile than the Domaine's regular Gevrey, as well as greater reserves of tightly wound fruit. As readers will remember, this cuvée derives from old vines in the commune of Brochon."- William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Domaine Trapet Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Capita 2018
"Aromas of dark berry fruit, rich soil tones, spices and raw cocoa introduce Trapet's 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Capita, a blend of fruit from the premiers crus En Ergot, Corbeaux and Combottes, supplemented by a visual selection of small-berried clusters from Petite Chapelle and Clos Prieur that are not destemmed. Deep and layered on the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a lovely sense of energy, powdery structuring tannins and a long, precise finish." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Grand Cru “Chambertin-Clos de Bèze” 2018
"This too is notably ripe though the spicier and more floral-inflected dark berry fruit aromas are not jammy. While there isn't quite the same concentration there is markedly better vibrancy to the broad-shouldered flavors that possess a highly succulent mid-palate, all wrapped in a discreetly stony and sneaky long finish. The compact and built-to-age finish makes clear that plenty of patience will be beneficial." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru “Les Pruliers” 2018
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges “Clos Fontaine Jacquinot” 2018
This is a special cuvée introduced last year. It comes from the bottom of the village sector of Les Crots which always has miniature yields and a different style. To reinforce this, the wine is vinified with 50% whole bunches, contrary to the usual Gouges technique. And it shows they can do it if they want to. Lighter color and a more lifted nose with some crushed strawberry. It is very pretty if you like the style, which I do, with a lush ripe finish -Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay Premier Cru 2018
"As usual, the 2018 Volnay 1er Cru is blend of Les Pitures and Mitans. More reserved than the Pommard that preceded it, the wine unwinds slowly in the glass, revealing enticing aromas of rose petals, red berries, blood orange, raw cocoa and deep soil tones. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, charming and elegant, with lively acids and fine, chalky tannins." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Angles 2018
"Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Angles 2018, Once again there an elevated level of ripeness to the still fresh nose of cassis, black cherry and poached plum. The slightly more elegant and more concentrated medium-bodied flavors possess fine richness; indeed the texture is quite seductive, all wrapped in a complex, long and balanced finale where a hint of bitter pit fruit arises."
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay “Frémiets” Premier Cru 2018
"An overtly ripe yet still reasonably fresh nose combines notes of liqueur-like black berry fruit with those of exuberantly spicy plum and floral scents. The super-sleek, intense and elegant medium weight flavors exude evident minerality on the lacy and refreshing finale that is both sappy and impressively long. This is ripe yet it remains very Volnay in character." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay “Caillerets” Premier Cru 2018
"This is the first wine to exhibit any appreciable wood influence and even here it is a background element on the markedly ripe aromas of cassis plum liqueur and exotic tea-scented nose. The strikingly refined middle-weight flavors brim with minerality on the rich but lilting finale where the only reproach is a subtle touch of warmth. Lovely stuff though make no mistake, it should amply reward extended cellaring." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds 2018
"Perfumed, airy and more high-toned aromas derive more from the red side of the fruit spectrum while displaying pretty touch of spice and exotic tea. The cool and gorgeously textured medium-bodied flavors also brim with minerality on the focused, powerful and particularly firm finale that goes on and on. This is wonderful and I very much like the style and sheer class of this built-to-age Taillepieds.." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay “Champans” Premier Cru 2018
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay “Champans” Premier Cru 2018, " This too is beautifully elegant with its ripe and pure aromas of essence of red cherry liqueur, violet and rose petal scents. The equally refined if a bit less mineral-inflected flavors possess excellent verve on the long and slightly less structured finish that also evidences a touch of warmth. This needs to develop more depth but the underlying material appears to be present for that to occur.." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges “Les Vaucrains” Premier Cru 2018
"This is at once very fresh and very ripe with its liqueur-like aromas of plum, dark currant and plenty of gamy nuances. This a huge wine with incredible density and power where the abundant dry extract coats the palate and, like the Les St. Georges, partially buffers the extremely firm tannic spine shaping the quite chewy, short and mildly warm bitter pit fruit-inflected finale. I very much like the impressive complexity but the balance, particularly on the finish, isn't at its usual level. This may well age out successfully but make no mistake, it will require the better part of 20 years before we will know for sure.- Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges “Les Cailles” Premier Cru 2018
Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges “Les Cailles” Premier Cru 2018 "The natural refinement of Les Cailles is very much on display with its cool, pure and airy aromas of red and dark pinot fruit along with a lovely range of spice, tea and discreet earth nuances. As is usually the case, this is notably more refinement to the strikingly well-delineated medium-bodied flavors that possess an almost pungent minerality though the finish, while impressively long, is a bit grippy and a touch warm as well. This is still quite good but I fear the hail damage will prevent this from achieving its usual level." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges “Les Perrières” Premier Cru 2018
Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges “Les Perrières” Premier Cru 2018, "This is aromatically quite similar to the Bousselots but where the kirsch character is even more prominent. There is even better volume and richness to the larger-scaled and intense mineral-driven flavors that exude an almost pungent salinity on the very firmly structured and youthfully austere finale. This is excellent but I wouldn't suggest buying it without an express intent to cellar it for at least the mid-term as it will require 15+ years to realize its full potential." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
