2022, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, PAUILLAC, Grand Cru ClasséBordeaux Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Gorgeous vibrant purple colour in the glass, deep and darkly scented, black bramble fruits, flowers, cinnamon, dark chocolate and liquorice. Firm and forward, this is generous but sleek, so you get power and concentration but also juicy liveliness, great tension and energy. I really do like the ease of this, it's not trying too hard but delivered with poise, punch and purity. An excellent wine that really

matured in 80% new oak and bottled in July

at 12% Alc - so perfect for a midday splash and lighter foods

93-94 William Kelley

92-94+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Here the somewhat grumpy nose requires aggressive swirling to coax the earth and sauvage-inflected dark berry fruit aromas to reveal themselves

The 2021 Aloxe-Corton La Coutiere 1er Cru is tertiary on the nose

8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot

The nose unfurls with air to reveal graphite-infused black fruit

Elegant and long

The 2019 Domaine de Chevalier is a magical wine in the making

Firm but silky tannins

This is very well-defined and perhaps the purest I have encountered from barrel