France
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme Rouge 2021
"The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme shows the characteristics of the vintage well. Mingling aromas of crushed flowers, fresh raspberry and strawberry as well as dried herbs. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied, layered, framed by a smooth tannin structure and balanced by lively acids." - Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
Château Séraphine Pomerol 2021 Magnum
Château Séraphine Pomerol 2021, "A strong effort in a challenging year, the 2021 Séraphine offers up pure and fruit-driven aromas of raspberries, plums and cherries, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that's quite rich and layered by the standards of the vintage, exhibiting powdery tannins and good persistence on the finish." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
Château Séraphine Pomerol 2021
Château Séraphine Pomerol 2021, "A strong effort in a challenging year, the 2021 Séraphine offers up pure and fruit-driven aromas of raspberries, plums and cherries, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that's quite rich and layered by the standards of the vintage, exhibiting powdery tannins and good persistence on the finish." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
Champagne Lanson Le Blanc de Blancs
Champagne Lanson Le Blanc de Blancs NV, "Based on the 2014 vintage (supplemented by fully 40% reserve wines) and disgorged in February 2020 with seven grams per liter dosage, Lanson's NV Brut Le Blanc de Blancs offers up attractive aromas of citrus oil, flowers, white peach and brioche. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and fleshy, with racy acids and a pinpoint mousse, it concludes with a mouthwatering, delicately chalky finish." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
J.L. Chave Sélection Hermitage Blanc Blanche 2019
"Another incredible white from this family is the 2019 Hermitage Blanc, a powerful, concentrated, and remarkably pure Hermitage that has laser-like focus as well as textbook Marsanne notes of quince, green almond, powdered rock, licorice, and spice. It’s still tight, focused, and inward at present, yet it reminds me of the 2018 with its purity and rare mix of power and elegance. It’s worth trying a bottle any time over the coming 3-5 years, but after that, I’d recommend waiting until after 2031. 98+" - Jeb Dunnuck
Domaine Trapet Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin “Ostrea” 2019
Domaine Trapet Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin “Ostrea” 2019, "More deeply pitched and slightly less elegant aromas are comprised by notes of plum, dark currant, forest floor and whiffs of game and herbal tea. There is excellent density and power to the broad-shouldered yet still reasonably refined flavors that flash a bracing salinity on the refreshing and impressively long if slightly warm finale. This is always a solid Gevrey villages and 2019 is no exception." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru “Les Pruliers” 2020
Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru “Les Pruliers” 2020, "Slightly riper aromas of black cherry, raspberry and earth are fresh if brooding. There is both excellent delineation and vibrancy suffusing the delicious medium-bodied flavors that culminate in a chalky, palate drenching and youthfully austere finish. Lovely and very Pruliers in character." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Lionnet Cornas Terre Brûlée 2021 Magnum
Domaine Lionnet 2021 Cornas Terre Brulée 2021 Magnum, "Youthful purple. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh black and blue fruits, star anise, olive, violet and tobacco. A smoky mineral accent builds steadily in the glass and energizes the spice-laced, dark berry liqueur, smoky bacon and floral pastille flavors that are underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Clings with strong tenacity on the youthfully tannic finish, leaving behind sappy blue fruit, cracked pepper and mineral notes. " - Josh Raynolds
Domaine Lionnet Cornas Pur Granit 2021
Domaine Lionnet Cornas Pur Granit 2021, "Saturated magenta. Vibrant, mineral- and smoke-accented scents of blackberry, cherry liqueur, pipe tobacco and exotic spices, along with a sexy floral component. Fresh and sharply focused on the palate, displaying sappy, finely etched dark berry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors, plus a touch of botanical herbs. Finishes long and gently sweet, with a hint of star anise and firming tannins." - Josh Raynolds,
Domaine Moreux-Corty Pouilly-Fumé Artisan La Loge aux Moines 2019
This is the flagship wine from a domaine whose history stretches back to the 17th century and which is being revitalised by the current (14th) generation of owners, brothers Arnaud and Julien. These are serious wines, an incredible expression of Pouilly-Fumé. The 4.5ha south-facing parcel of vines that make La Loge aux Moines (The Monks' Lodge) is planted on Kimmeridgian marl with a very high proportion of active limestone. Wines from this plot are characterised by great precision, minerality and structure. It's an austere style, with faintly smoky, herby aromas that hint at great concentration beneath. A delicious expression of Pouilly-Fumé, made with great finesse.- Amy Wislocki, Decanter
Château L’If Saint-Émilion 2019
"The 2019 L'If is the sort of wine I would like to spend hours with. There is just too much to it. At times the 2019 is opulent and quite racy, and yet in other moments its the underlying minerality and tension in the wine that are most evident. Black cherry, herb, incense, licorice and mocha gradually open over time. The 25% Cabernet Franc comes through nicely, both in the wine's aromatic profile and overall structure. L'If is a wine to buy and cellar for a decade or more. I loved it." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Domaine Moreux-Corty Pouilly-Fumé Artisan La Loge aux Moines 2020
"From a, or even the, top site of the appellation, which was planted on Kimmeridgian marl soils a thousand years ago by Benedictines, the 2020 Pouilly-Fumé La Loge aux Moines Monopole opens with a deep, clear, refined and fresh bouquet of ripe white fruits intermingled with iodine notes that represent exceptional mineral complexity and depth. Dense and seriously structured, this is a full-bodied, complex and sustainable Pouilly with lots of expression, finesse, iodine flavors and mineral tension. This is doubtlessly a great Pouilly whose dimensions are already palatable, though the wine is still very young but oh so promising. I preferred a Burgundy glass to taste and appreciate this full-bodied, dense, persistently salty and tensioned Pouilly that is on the quality level of the Mont Damnés Sancerre from the domaine. Arnaud Moreux says, "The Loge aux Moines always shows the minerality of a grand cru from Burgundy but with the freshness of Sauvignon Blanc. It is a unique cuvée that is hard to classify. It's not really a Pouilly-Fumé but always a Loge aux Moines." 14% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in January 2022." - Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate
Champagne Henriot Blanc de Blancs Non-Vintage
"Pale yellow. Powerfully scented bouquet of smoky pear, orange, toasted nuts and floral honey. Concentrated orchard and pit fruit flavors are complemented by suggestions of iodine and toasted nuts, with a citrus zest nuance adding back-end bite. The incisive finish shows a toasty, buttery quality and clings with excellent tenacity." - Vinous, Josh Raynolds
Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges “Les Pruliers” Premier Cru 2019
Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges "Les Pruliers" 2019, "Interestingly, this possess a similar fruit profile though with decidedly more earth and sauvage characters suffusing it. There is excellent mid-palate density to the powerful and muscular big-bodied flavors that culminate in a powerful, austere and even more serious finale." - Allen Meadows', Burghound
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Grand Cru “Clos de Vougeot” 2019
"This is the first wine to display prominent oak and it's not subtle with plenty of menthol character sitting atop the aromas of dark currant, plum and warm earth. There is fine cut and punch to the moderately concentrated flavors that possess solid size and weight, all wrapped in a lingering finish that is perhaps a bit less youthfully austere than it typically is. While not super-dense, I like the balance and in any event, it has the more than sufficient stuffing to reward extended cellaring." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Lafarge-Vial Côte de Brouilly 2020
Domaine Lafarge-Vial Côte de Brouilly 2020, "An overtly peppery nose of various dark berries and earth nuances lead to supple, round and relatively refined middle weight flavors that possess an appealing texture thanks main to the fine-grained tannins shaping the moderately firm finale. Note that this could be enjoyed soon after release or held for 5 to 7 years first." - Allen Meadows', Burghound
Domaine Lafarge-Vial Chiroubles 2020
"An overtly peppery nose of various dark berries and earth nuances lead to supple, round and relatively refined middle weight flavors that possess an appealing texture thanks main to the fine-grained tannins shaping the moderately firm finale. Note that this could be enjoyed soon after release or held for 5 to 7 years first."- Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine de Montille Volnay Premier Cru “En Champans” 2019
Volnay Premier Cru “En Champans” 2019, "Slightly riper aromas exhibit nots of plum, black raspberry, spice and violet. There is excellent density to the more voluminous if slightly less refined medium weight flavors that brim with sappy dry extract that helps to buffer the slightly firmer tannic spine on the lingering and more complex finale. Lovely.." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges “Clos des Porrets St-Georges” Premier Cru 2019
"The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets-Saint-Georges 1er Cru has a tightly wound bouquet, iris and incense notes dominating at the moment, slightly at the expense of terroir expression. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied with fleshy red berry fruit and a touch of white pepper and clove, dovetailing into a piquant, lively finish. All it lacks is a bit of persistence on the aftertaste." - Neal Martin, Vinous
