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Tenuta Frescobaldi di Castiglioni beautiful, bright ruby-red colour with tinges of purple. The nose reveals fruity notes of cherry, blackberry, blueberry and mulberry. Equally marvellous are the spiced notes of cinnamon and star anise and light hints of black pepper. More general tertiary and toasted notes then emerge. It is soft and enveloping on the palate. The tannins are resolved. The finish is long and persistent.

Crafted from substainably-grown grapes, certified by Agriqualita

The 2016 Ausone is a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc picked 10-14 October and 14-19 October, respectively, at 40 hectoliters per hectare. It is matured in 80% new oak with a light toasting, a move that Alain and Pauline Vauthier have made in recent years just to lessen the impact of the oak.

There is a palpable stateliness about the Ausone this year. It is extraordinarily pure and articulates its terroir as well as any vintage that I can remember over the last 20-odd years. It is not as flamboyant as other Saint Emilions, more correct and precise. The palate is very elegant and precise. I adore the exquisite balance of this Ausone, the precision and fineness of the tannin, the effortlessness that it conveys. This is classy and sophisticated, satin-like in texture with a long and sensual finish.

Not an Ausone that is going to blaze across the sky, this is a cerebral, intellectual Ausone that will entrance for many years to come.

This great wine is made for cellaring. It is slowly following its evolutionary path. It oscillates between periods of closure and openness during which one discovers a vast aromatic palette filled with a mix of black fruits, the scents of woody underbrush, and hints of minerals. The tannins have a strong presence and the acidity provokes a fresh finish in the mouth. Its anticipated maturity is without a doubt in 15 to 25 years.

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

Robert Parker: 100Pts; Falstaff: 100Pts; The Wine Cellar Insider: 100Pts; Wine Spectator: 97Pts; James Suckling: 97Pts

The 2016 Angelus is composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, aged 18 to 22 months in new barrels and foudres. Deep garnet-purple colored, it drifts effortlessly out of the glass with sensuous notes of lavender, candied violets, garrigue, Ceylon tea and iron ore with a core of warm black cherries, mulberries, ripe plums and aniseed plus wafts of cedar chest and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the perfumed fruit whispers of great intensity and depth, with the vivacious fruit well knit into the plush, seductive frame of velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. Still very tightly wound with amazing tension at this stage, it truly needs a good 6-8 more years in bottle to deliver the fully expressed layers that this soft-spoken, profound beauty promises.

Deep, dense colour with glints of violet. Very expressive nose with black fruit and subtle notes of toast. On the palate, the attack is powerful, dense and structured. The mid-palate is full-bodied, with a fine, well-balanced tannic structure. The finish has plenty of volume with superbly ripened tannins, while remaining elegant and refined, thanks to the quality of the grapes of this exceptional vintage.

Made from 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc brought up in plenty of new oak, its ruby/plum color is followed by an awesome bouquet of blackberry jam, smoked meats, licorice, truffle, and hints of chocolate. Thick, opulent, super ripe, and decadent, with a full-bodied mouthfeel that needs to be tasted to be believed, it still stays balanced and fresh on the palate and is already impossible to resist. It’s going to keep for 3+ decades.

The blend pays tribute to the Right Bank’s black grape variety, so the Carillon d’Angelus 2017 expresses all the smoothness and opulence of Merlot (90%) with the elegance of Cabernet Franc (10%) that brings finesse to distinguish the wine. With its beautiful dark color, the Carillon d’Angelus 2017 instantly charms with its bewitching aromatic bouquet. The nose discovers ample and pure fresh fruit aromas. The palate starts with a sumptuous attack that reveals the magnitude of the vintage’s personality. The generous concentration extends to a powerful finish that ends in elegance and harmony.

James Suckling: 93-94Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 91-92Pts; Vinous: 92Pts; Decanter: 91Pts; Robert Parker: 90Pts

Rocas is a blend of 38% Malbec, 25% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Grenache, 8% Petit Verdot, aged for 22 months, in French oak barrels (65% new).  The 2020 vintage of Rocas de Seña has a beautiful purple colour. Subtle aromas of coffee and Asian spices with a touch of mocha from the oak create a very deep and complex nose.  The palate is vibrant and tense with good density and shows multiple layers of fresh fruits, spices, and balsamic notes with a hint of smoke. It displays great freshness and a smooth texture with a long and juicy finish.  This is a very elegant and splendidly youthful wine.  

Descorchados: 95Pts; Wine Enthusiast: 94Pts; Falstaff: 94Pts; Tim Atkin: 93Pts; WinesCritic.com: 92Pts

Crafted from organically-grown grapes

The wine has a dark color with purple hues. Gourmand nose on red fruits and hints of spices. The palate is warm and enveloping around silky tannins with a chalky touch. Full-bodied, youthful in appearance, red berries, cassis, and plums interweave cigar, violet, sweet vanilla, clove and nutmeg. The fruit is succulent with vibrancy and intensity, enriched by fine-grained tannin extraction, and lingers with cigar and smoky fragrance, finishing with a rich yet vibrant chewy palate. Match with roasted lamb and beef short ribs over the next 8+ years.

Raymond Chan Wine RevieWine Spectator: 18.5/20Pts – Crafted from organically-grown grapes

Aged for about a year in oak, the wine has a beautiful red burgundy dress with garnets notes. Fine and supple, this wine reveal on the palate a round and smooth body. Served at 16 degrees, it will be delicious to accompany cooked meats, roasted meat and grilled fish.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Clinet opens slowly to reveal vibrant red and black fruits: red currants, black cherries, plums and cassis with touches of roses, yeast extract, wood smoke and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and a taut, muscular palate of tightly wound fruits and compelling mineral accents, it finishes long with wonderful purity and fragrant earth accents. The tannins here will need 4-5 years of bottle age, and I’d lean toward drinking bottles over the following decade. 

Medium to full-bodied, the palate has jaw-dropping elegance and depth, offering up layer upon layer of fragrant red and black fruits plus an extraordinary array of mineral sparks, supported by a rock-solid grainy texture, finishing with epic persistence and an edifying perfume. This is a very different style from the rich, opulently hedonic 2015, yet this wonderfully fragrant, beautifully poised and intellectually compelling 2016 is equally extraordinary.

Lillet is a classic French Aperitif, crafted in the Bordeaux region since 1872. It is a blend of Bordeaux wine, macerated liqueurs (mostly citrus) and quinine which bring a delicious bitterness. Lillet Rose is made with Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon and shows light aromas of berries, orange blossom and grapefruit; Fresh, lively and fruity. Great served very chilled or in cocktails.