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A blend of 86% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Chateau Clos Fourtet comes all from the upper limestone plateau and spent 18 months in 60% new French oak. This deep ruby/purple-hued effort offers a rocking perfume of ripe black raspberries, cassis, crushed stone, chocolate, and flowery incense. Powerful, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it’s beautifully done, has ripe, present tannins, and a great finish. It ranks with the gems in this solid vintage and will benefit from just short-term cellaring and cruise for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars. 

The 2012 Sena is half Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Carmenere, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Bright and focused, with a nose mixing red fruit, it is also bright-colored, with ripe black fruit and balsamic notes in the shape of tobacco and cedar wood, with a medium-bodied palate, very good freshness and acidity, sophisticated, polished and fine-grained tannins. This is still a baby, but the silky texture makes it accessible now, while the complexity should come with more time.

Guided by intuition and backed by family heritage, Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi handcrafted a wine of distinctive quality and character. Sena is the culmination of their wonderful parternship and a passionate journey. Sena is an authentic Chilean blend made from the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot varieties. The Carmenere variety adds an evident Chilean personality to the wine. Chadwick and Mondavi searched for four long years before finding the ideal Chilean terroir in Valle de Aconcagua. There, they acquired 350 hectares of virgin hillside land, with grapes grown with a biodynamic approach. This is Chile’s finest premium wine.

Crafted from organically-grown grapes

Possibly the wine of the vintage, the 2017 Vieux Chateau Certan is a blend of 81% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from the highest point on the Pomerol plateau. Deep purple, with a heavenly bouquet of creme de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, crushed violets, tobacco, and earth, this beauty is full-bodied, has incredible depth of fruit, ripe, present tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. This estate has been on fire of late, and this is undoubtedly a worthy follow-on to the otherworldly 2015 and 2016. It has the depth of fruit and texture to offer pleasure even today, yet a solid 7-8 years of cellaring are warranted, and it should be long-lived.

Sena 2015 shines by its perfect balance and seamless structure, marked by its many layers of pure fruit and silky tannins. The wine displays wonderful complexity, along with unique tension, energy and elegance. This is a definite recognition that Chile belongs to the major leagues of wine, and is a righteous reward to the team’s hard work and dedication.

Guided by intuition and backed by family heritage, Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi handcrafted a wine of distinctive quality and character. Sena is the culmination of their wonderful parternship and a passionate journey. Sena is an authentic Chilean blend made from the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot varieties. The Carmenere variety adds an evident Chilean personality to the wine. Chadwick and Mondavi searched for four long years before finding the ideal Chilean terroir in Valle de Aconcagua. There, they acquired 350 hectares of virgin hillside land, with grapes grown with a biodynamic approach. This is Chile’s finest premium wine.

Crafted from organically-grown grapes

Dark, garnet colour with purplish reflections. On the nose, notes that are both meaty, sanguine (blood oranges) and juicy. A lightly roasted smoky touch (mocha) blends with a hint of leather. On the palate, this blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache gives a powerful, fleshy but perfectly harmonious wine. This ruby red is especially appreciated to accompany traditional cuisine: stew, blanquette and certain fish such as sea bream, sea bass as well as with cheeses.  

Wine Enthusiast: 92Pts
Certified Organic & Biodynamic

Sena 2020 is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 15% Carmenere and 7% Petit Verdot, aged for 22 months in 90% French oak barrels (78% new) and 10% Foudres.  With a deep and beautiful garnet-red colour with violet hues, it presents complexity on the nose with multiple layers of fresh red-fruit aromas such as cherries and raspberries accompanied by violets and pleasing touches of dill and rosemary, all framed by light notes of sweet spices.  The palate shows young fruits, more sweet spices, and smooth balsamic tones. It is fresh and juicy with elegant  ne-grained tannins that create to a silky and pleasing sensation.  The 2020 vintage of Seña shows elegance and balance with an ample and profound finish.

Falstaff: 97Pts; Descorchados: 97Pts; Robert Parker: 97Pts; Tim Atkin: 96Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 95Pts

Crafted from organically-grown grapes

The 2010 Lafite Rothschild, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, achieved relatively high alcohol of 13.32%, according to administrator Charles Chevalier. The wine is very impressive, not as fleshy, flamboyant and massive as the 2009, but nevertheless, a big, rich, full-throttle Lafite-Rothschild meant to age a half century or more.

Deep purple, with notes of white chocolate, mocha, cedar and charcoal as well as hints of vanillin and creme de cassis, the wine is full-bodied yet has that ethereal lightness that makes it a Lafite. Rich, with good acidity, precision and freshness, this is a slightly zestier version of the 2009 as well as more restrained and structured than that particular vintage. It will need at least 10-12 years of cellaring and keep for 50+ years.

Falstaff: 90/92Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 90Pts; Jancis Robinson: 16.5/20Pts

The 2017 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal alluring notes of blackcurrant cordial, Black Forest cake and black raspberries with suggestions of candied violets, tilled soil, fallen leaves, licorice and espresso plus wafts of underbrush and rosehip tea. Medium-bodied, the elegance and finesse on the palate is simply bedazzling, exuding a quiet intensity of fresh black fruits layered with oh-so-subtle floral and earth nuances. It has a soft, velvety texture and seamless freshness to support the tightly wound flavors, finishing long and perfumed. Beautiful! This grand vin accounts for just 37% of the crop. Drink: 2024-2060.

A blend of 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored, 2017 Palmer gives a very serious nose of pronounced blackcurrant cordial, warm plums and blackberry preserves with hints of cedar chest, pencil shavings, violets, dark chocolate and star anise plus exotic wafts of sandalwood and cassia. Medium-bodied, the palate features fantastically vibrant, crunchy black fruits with a firm texture of ripe, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. It will need a good 5-7 years to really blossom with all those tightly wound nuances, but it should be a stunner! 

This Rosé is crafted from a classic Bordeaux blend  (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot) and reveals a very pale pink color, delicate and brilliant with bright reflections. Intense and radiant nose of red berries a little acidic where mixes some spicy and mineral aromas reminiscent of the great origin of gravelly soil. On the palate, roundness and suppleness enveloping the fruity, refreshing and spicy acidity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Its precision and sharpness accompany a long finish, complex and tart, reminiscent of the aromas of the nose. The whole is well balanced with a lot of lightness.

Modest but sure of its presence, Clinet lies at one of the highest points upon the renowned plateau at the heart of Pomerol – instantly recognisable by its red shutters and beautiful roses. It is home to one of the oldest vineyards in the appellation, with traces of the vineyard’s existence dating back to 1595. This vineyard is equally famed for offering wine with an incomparable character and quality.

The blend for 2010 is largely dominated by 85% Merlot, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Cabernet Franc also included. Inky/purple-colored, the wine has an exceptionally full-bodied, layered, moderately tannic mouthfeel and impressive power. Loads of melted chocolate/fudge and black fruits galore along with some coffee bean, mocha, as well as some background oak are all present in this big, formidably endowed, masculine style of Pomerol that will take longer to shed its tannin than the 2009. I would give this wine 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30+ years. 

James Suckling: 97Pts; Decanter: 97Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 96Pts; Guia Penin: 94Pts; Wine Advocate: 93Pts; Wine Spectator: 92Pts

This is the great wine of the Castello Nipozzano, from the vineyard Mormoreto planted in 1976. The first vintage was from the 1983 harvest, and since then has been produced only in the most favourable years. It was not produced from the harvests of 1984, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1998 or 2002. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot have, over time, formed an intimate bond with this terroir and now bring out all of its unique qualities. It is a wine of great depth, opulent and refined, that you can cellar for many years.

A deep ruby announces Mormoreto, almost opaque in its concentration. The nose is ultra-complex, delivering inebriating draughts of wild blackberry, raspberry, redcurrant, dried plum, dates, and wild red berry fruit, delicately lifted by floral impressions of sweetbriar and violets. Gradually emerging to deepen the rich bouquet even further are spicier nuances of vanilla, cocoa powder, tobacco leaf, and roast espresso bean, which act as a delicious foil to pungent notes of balsam and chlorophyll. A crisp, nervy acidity complements a suite of silky tannins, and both contribute to a palate that is notable for its warmth and roundedness. A finely-balanced, leisurely progression culminates in a lengthy, subtly-aromatic finish.

James Suckling: 94Pts; Falstaff 93Pts; Robert Parker: 91Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 90Pts

Crafted from substainably-grown grapes, certified by Agriqualita

Modest but sure of its presence, Clinet lies at one of the highest points upon the renowned plateau at the heart of Pomerol – instantly recognisable by its red shutters and beautiful roses. It is home to one of the oldest vineyards in the appellation, with traces of the vineyard’s existence dating back to 1595. This vineyard is equally famed for offering wine with an incomparable character and quality. 

Clinet has been on a hot streak lately and the 2009 appears to be the greatest wine ever made at the estate, surpassing even the late Jean-Michel Arcaute’s monumental 1989. A blend of 85% Merlot and tiny amounts of Cabernet Franc (12%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (3%), this big Pomerol boasts an opaque, moonless night inky/blue/purple color in addition to a gorgeous perfume of blueberry pie, incense, truffles, black raspberries, licorice and wood smoke. Viscous and multi-dimensional with silky, sweet tannin, massive fruit concentration and full-bodied power, there are nearly 4,000 cases of this thick, juicy, perfect Clinet. It should drink well in 3-5 years and keep for 25-30 years.

Bright garnet colour with ruby reflections. The nose is very complex. It releases notes of cherry and black pepper. We feel these southern notes of garrigue and black olive as well as a discreet touch of vanilla. It is an expressive wine dominated by ripe fruit and spices (roasted mocha, blueberry and wild blackberry). Good aging potential with a more promising development. 

The quintessence of the great terroirs of Provence. Le Lion et Dragon rouge will go perfectly with game such as hare stew à la royale or veal cheek casserole with asparagus.

Wine Enthusiast: 93Pts
Certified Organic & Biodynamic