15.5
/20
Red
Blackish crimson. Very firm, aromatic Cabernet on the nose. Sweet and rich and juicy. Vibrant wine. A bit hard on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2025
15.5
/20
Red
Very dark ruby. Sweet and easy and round and light. Simple wine. Closes down on the finish. Rather perfumed. The sort of wine you’d expect Derenoncourt to make (I wrote!) (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2026
17.5
/20
Red
Very rich and sweet and beguiling. Sweet, pruney start. Dusty dry finish. Layers and fun and true. A bit spiky. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2028
17
/20
Red
Very dark crimson. Lively top note. Thick and sweet. Not the prettiest aspect of Pomerol but certainly not unappealing. Modern idiom. Needs lots of time. Sort of Clinet-esque. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2030
Red
Very dark indeed. Deep blackish. Intense. Interesting and concentrated with a hint of brett. Very slightly bitter on the end. Dry finish. Fades a little fast but there is lots of grunt here. Recommended only to traditionalists. Just a little bit raw on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2027
16.5 +
/20
Red
Very dark ruby. Attractively fusty nose. Very savoury as opposed to sweet. Muscular. Sort of Figeac style of Pomerol! Just a bit drying on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2028
Red
Less propitious bits sold off to Ch L'Évangile. Blackish ruby. Sweet and juicy and quite floral. Quite light. Racy and even lacy. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2024
16.5
/20
Red
Mid cherry red. Very sweet start. Some real energy here with a hint of spice. But it tails off pretty suddenly. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
15.5
/20
Red
Blackish crimson. Extremely ripe and succulent nose though it dries out a little on the palate. Seems rather simple, and certainly very embryonic. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2027
16.5
/20
Red
Bright viscous crimson. Some very sweet, almost obviously coconutty oak on the nose. Very rich and sweet. More than a hint of Iberia here! Lots of acidity and not much real grunt. Seems a bit tarty. Fades away a bit on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2026
18.5
/20
Red
Dark ruby. Very subtle and layered and unmodern on the nose. Very rich start and gorgeously layered. Succulent and lovely. Can’t fault this! Already a huge pleasure. Reverberant yet wonderfully rich. Dry, very long finish. Fabissimo. Dense. Very sweet. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2030
Red
Savoury, earthy with great rich, luscious layers of ripe red fruits. Set for a very long, beguiling life somewhere between ancient and modern. Dry finish. Wait! (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2028
17
/20
Red
Very dark. Intense, liquorice nose. Dry finish. Really quite angular. Chewy end and very ambitious. Serious intent! (JR)
Drink:
2020
–
2030
16.5
/20
Red
Dark ruby. Lots of life and warm currants on the nose. Sweet start and rather juicy. Not the densest nor the most serious but easy and transparent. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2024
18
/20
Red
Very dark crimson. Hugely intense nose. Very wild and open and gorgeous. Lovely delicacy. Dry finish but really true stuff. Hint of mushrooms. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2028
17
/20
Red
Mid cherry red. Light, quite simple cherry pastille notes on the nose. Not quite enough complexity; just sweetness and a bit of as-yet-unintegrated oak. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2028
15.5 +
/20
Red
Dark crimson. Fruitcake nose. Thick and very dry. Needs lots and lots of patience. Far from beguiling at the moment. (JR)
Drink:
2020
–
2027
Red
Very dark crimson. Rather sharp and New Worldy. Some almost raw red fruits on the nose. Hint of bitter coffee. Finishes very suddenly. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2023
16
/20
Red
Mid ruby. Animal nose. Sweet start. Bit tough on the end. Just a bit sturdy and rustic but very honest and rewarding. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2026
Red
Blackish ruby. Firm, clarety, Cabernet sort of nose. Pure and expressive. Rather cool on the finish and far from opulent but correct. Just a bit dry on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2025
18
/20
Red
Dark crimson with some development. The fruit is a little overripe. But there is an attractive savoury edge to this wine which is clearly very complex. Lots of density but it just lacks a little bit of natural freshness. Very well done. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2030
18
/20
Red
Not that dark, but a lustrous crimson. Very rich and heady. Gloriously opulent. With a refreshing skein of tea. Lovely freshness. Long. A great glass of (refreshing) hedonism. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2028
16
/20
Red
Very dark crimson. A bit modern and formulaic on the nose. Sweet and currant and perfectly impressive but without tantalising undercurrents. A bit dry on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2027
Red
Dark crimson. Very full and exotically ripe. Hint of mocha. Very slightly formulaic but should be very satisfying for many tasters. Just a bit of cocoa. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2024
15.5
/20
Red
Very deep colour. Super-ripe meaty nose. Glossy impact with lots of ripe fruit but a bit painful on the very end. Drying tannins and a bit exaggerated. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2024
17.5
/20
Red
Mid crimson. Subtle tea-leaf nose. Light and noticeably aromatic. Really lifted. Very focused ripe sweet black fruit. Quite gamey. Very distinctive and sinewy. Very youthful. Full marks for going its own way! (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2027
17
/20
Red
Very slightly stewed on the nose. Very firm and youthful. Pungent. Linear and chewy. One of the longest-term Pomerols I have come across. Slightly tarry finish. Really fascinating! (JR)
Drink:
2020
–
2030
14.5
/20
Red
Nose not crystal clear. But lots of luscious fruit on the palate and not excessive oak or alcohol. Refreshing even if there is a little dry tannin on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2023
ST-ÉMILION
17.5
/20
Red
Very dark crimson. Very, very rich, exotic and intense. Coconut. Quite sweet and high toned – even slightly acetic. Dramatically spicy but not aggressive. Full and dense and so thick you feel you could stand a spoon up in it. Enveloping. Lots to titillate and satisfy the palate here. Satisfying and with some real tension. Neat finish. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2030
15
/20
Red
Mid to dark crimson. Toasty oak on the nose. Sweet and racy but some green too. Not quite complete. Was the fruit fully ripe or was it tarted up with oak and extraction? (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2021
Red
Very dark crimson. Blackcurrant gums on the nose. Round and luscious on the palate. Easy and flattering even if not that ambitious. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2025
15.5
/20
Red
Blueish purple. Sweet and some macerated cereals on the nose – oat bran? Rather raw acidity – quite painful at the moment. Harsh. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2025
Red
Cabernet Franc on the nose – positively leafy, in both senses of the adverb. Polished and smooth even if far from dramatic and extracted. Very distinctive. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2021
15.5
/20
Red
Fairly high VA. Rich start and then dry. Ambitious but the tannins are a bit too dominant for the slightly frail fruit. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2024
16.5
/20
Red
Blackish crimson. Attractive juicy fruit at first and nicely managed tannins. All in balance. Good density. Though not showy. And not that long. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2026
Red
Sweet, spicy nose. A bit heavy and overripe. Could do with a bit more genuine freshness. Just a bit dull. No great persistence. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2024
16.5
/20
Red
The Pascal Delbeck property that used to be just Belair but has been rechristened by the Moueixs. Tea-leaf aromas. Quite dense and with some raciness and lots of juice. Mild and low key. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2026
14.5
/20
Red
Savoury and racy on the nose but sickly on the palate. Thick and sweet and really rather overdone. Not refreshing enough though the fruit was certainly ripe! (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
14.5
/20
Red
Some green vegetation on the nose. Then luscious, rather vivacious fruit on the palate but the finish is decidedly scrawny. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
17 +
/20
Red
Very dark ruby. Subtle, juicy nose. Round and very fruity and deep. It is certainly not over-made! Very satisfying and true. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2030
Red
Black to dark purple. Exceptionally dark colour. So ripe this is almost oxidised. Thick and a bit heavy. Chewy finish. All about mass rather than aroma or refinement. Bit brutal. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2025
14
/20
Red
Paler than some. Hint of green (the first wine, sixth tasted, to show this characteristic). Rather drying finish. Just not ripe enough. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
Red
Aromatic and quite subtle and succulent. Juicy and fluid. But not dramatic. Muscular finish. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2026
17.5
/20
Red
Mid crimson. Some real interest on the nose. Luscious fruit with real savour and interest. Dense and layered. Very intriguing and serious long-term wine. No ersatz sweetness nor oak though it’s a bit painful to drink at the moment. Just a bit inexpressive at the moment. Hugely uncommunicative – classic teenager? Very youthful. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2030
15.5 +
/20
Red
Very dark crimson. Light nose. Fresh palate attack. Very introvert and pretty tarry but it may well get there in the end. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2027
Red
Quite evolved and malty on the nose. Some sweet oak and definite juice. Easy to like but certainly not very challenging. Reminds me of Giscours! (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2022
16.5
/20
Red
Not that deep crimson. Toasty and rich on the nose. Very sweet and dramatic. Quite long. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2029
Red
Relatively pale. Some interesting terroir taste on the nose. Different from the rest – less forced, more natural. Juicy and appetising, as though it had been more exposed to oxygen. More relaxed. Even if quite forward. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2024
15.5
/20
Red
Not very dark. Attractive, lightly toasty nose. Racy and succulent. Not heavy – in fact on the distinctly light side for a St-Émilion but not overdone. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2023
14.5
/20
Red
Rather dull crimson. Already some evolution. A bit tight and green on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2020
16.5
/20
Red
Some rather odd aromas on this. Then polished fruit but there is something a bit odd about it. And it turns in on itself on the finish. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2027
14.5
/20
Red
Quite lively nose. A bit tart and definitely drying on the end. Hollow. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2023
Red
Blackish crimson. Rather raw edge to this; it is definitely in the modern idiom, setting its cap across the Atlantic. But very vital and broad on the palate. There is lots here: ripe fruit and real structure. Set for the long term. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2026
13
/20
Red
Lustrous blackish crimson. Oxidised nose. Picked too late? Unappetisingly sweet palate then drying tannins. A second bottle was initially fresher but still very unconvincing. (JR)
Drink:
2014
–
2018
16
/20
Red
Dark crimson. Lightly peppery. Just a little chewy and murky. Pretty raw on the finish. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2026
15
/20
Red
Very ripe fruit plus some char on the nose. Then well-managed tannins and no excess greenness but pretty embryonic. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2024
Red
Dark crimson. Dark chocolate on the nose. Racy. Nervy. Quite luscious fruit but a bit uncomfortably sweet. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
14.5
/20
Red
Savoury, mild nose. Very low key. Nothing out of place but nothing to get excited about either. At least it’s not too tart... Stolid. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2022
14.5
/20
Red
Distinctly gassy on the palate and then a bit drying on the end. Really falls away on the finish. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2023
Red
Dark purple. Quite intense, harmonious nose. Sweet start and then rather marked tannins. Chunky. Charred note on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2026
Red
Very rich and sweet with some terroir influence. But very exotic and opulent. A little drying on the finish. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2026
15
/20
Red
Very intense. Smells like New World Cabernet! Sweet and luscious with a dry, so far unintegrated, finish. Hint of green on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2022
Red
First bottle TCA. Second bottle not clean either. Stinky nose and a hard finish. (JR)
Drink:
0
Red
Lots of ripeness and energy on the nose – an appealing combo. Round and supple on the palate. Not for the long term but very appealing short-term wine. Not that long. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2021
15
/20
Red
Distinctly floral nose. Fairly lightweight and a teensy bit tarty. Fresh and floral. Clean, lightish finish. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2021
15.5
/20
Red
Dark and lustrous. Streak of green on the top of the aroma. Then very carefully worked luscious sweet fruit. Drying finish. Low key. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2025
16
/20
Red
A bit of development, and real lift, on the nose. Just the right amount of freshness. Light bite of tannin on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2025
14
/20
Red
Very deep crimson. Hint of wood shavings. Tight and taut – needs lots of aeration. Uncharming. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
Red
High toned and lightly reminiscent of port in aroma even though very dry and refreshingly clarety on the palate. Drying finish. (JR)
Drink:
2014
–
2019
Red
Some development at the rim. Smells a bit of pickled beetroot. Not heavy or stewed. But very sweet at first. Macerated raisins. Then light tannins. Not very long. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2025
Red
Quite focused Cabernet-like aromas. Very sweet start – purple berries. Drying tannins on the end. Very cool and a little lacking richness on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2025
Red
Very ripe and full and sweet. Solid and dramatic and almost more like a 2009 than a 2008! Some tannin on the finish but lots of fruit beforehand. Ambitious. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2026
Red
Blackish purple. Lightly charry note. Very sweet start. Pretty exaggerated with simple mulberry fruit. Not very refreshing. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2024
16.5
/20
Red
Blackish ruby. Rather raw, porty nose. Silky and polished and racy. Some real vitality on the finish though. Drying finish with more than a hint of green. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2030
Red
Rather inky nose. A bit tart on the finish. Bitter and extreme. Lots of green on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2025
15.5
/20
Red
Very impressive depth of colour – glamorously polished dark purple. Obvious oak on the nose. Very sickly and exaggerated. Too ripe. Not enough natural freshness. Green on the finish. Painful to taste now. (JR)
Drink:
2018
–
2025
Red
Blackish purple. Meaty/savoury Marmite kind of nose. Very thick. It almost reminds me of the structure of a Ribera del Duero. Thick and dusty on the end. Very tough finish. Lots of sucky-stony quality. Bitter finish. (JR)
Drink:
2022
–
2035
Red
Blackish purple. Raw slightly greenish fruit at first and then just a tad raw and sudden on the finish. A rather uncomfortable embryonic drink. Very drying finish. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2030
Red
From 2010, much improved apparently. High toned and high VA. Then ripe, sweet fruit. No greenness but not that refreshing either. Short. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2025
Red
Bright, dark crimson. Exotic aromas – leather and old ladies’ handbags? Quite interesting! Lots of energetic fruit. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2026
13.5
/20
Red
Notably dark crimson. Sweet, porty nose with a streak of green. I don’t find the balance here convincing at all. Sweet and sour. Green tannins on the end. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2023
Red
Just bought by Haut-Brion. Deep crimson. Some interesting evolution on the nose. Relatively light and tart but with some integrity. A bit skinny overall though. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2021
Red
Interesting nose with hints of curry spices. Very sweet start and then very opulent. But good tannin management. No excessive dryness. Really quite flashy and appealing. Long and fleshy. Massively alcoholic but reasonably well balanced. Some freshness on the finish. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2030
14.5
/20
Red
Warm and spicy nose. Round and sweet but not very subtle. Rather metallic finish. (JR)
Drink:
2014
–
2018
17.5
/20
Red
Massively deep purple. Complex nose draws you in. Very rich and sweet and seductive with excellent oak management. This is pure right-bank seduction with some hint of cordite on the finish. Finishes dry. Good stuff. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2032
15.5
/20
Red
Very dark crimson. Lift, scented, thick and polished. A little sour on the finish but some quite luscious fruit before then. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2023
Red
Dark crimson. Very Cabernet nose. Bit dry on the end but convincingly claret-like. A bit simple but well balanced. Lively finish. (JR)
Drink:
2016
–
2025
17.5
/20
Red
Blackish purple. Lightly toasty nose. Very dramatic and certainly tastes fully ripe. Rather beguilingly fruity, which is a rare tasting note for a 2008 St-Émilion. Not an attention-grabber but very respectable. Dense and rich with a confident savoury note on the finish. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2030
Red
Very dark crimson. Showily so. Really quite luscious and ripe and exotic on the nose. Luscious and very well balanced. Sweeter than most but with some transparency. Long, refreshing and well balanced. (JR)
Drink:
2014
–
2021
CÔTES
Red
Very dark crimson. Zesty and vital nose. Just a tad raisiny and pretty severe on the finish. Needs lots of time to mellow. (JR)
Drink:
2017
–
2025
Red
Aromatic and quite fine boned. Refreshing and succulent. (JR)
Drink:
2015
–
2022
