Winemaker Notes
The Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino shows a saturated dark violet color with ruby reflections; the nose offers cassis, blueberries and violets, along with a strong suggestion of soil tones. It combines density and sweetness on the one hand, with gripping, lightly saline flavors of mocha, dark berries, spice, and minerals; a palate-staining finish dominated by sweet black and blue fruits.
About Winery
Bodega Catena Zapata is one of Argentina's high-altitude Malbec pioneers. The Catena family began making wine in Mendoza in 1902. Nicolas Catena, third generation family vintner, was one of the first to see the potential of Mendoza's mountain vineyards for producing high quality Malbec. In 1994, he became the first Argentine to export a world-class bottling of Malbec under the Catena label. Nicolas is joined by his daughter, Dr. Laura Catena, in their relentless pursuit of world-class quality from the family's high-altitude vineyards. Laura has done extensive work in introducing Malbec and other varietal plant selections, soil and climate analysis, and sustainable practices throughout Mendoza. Head winemaker, Alejandro Vigil, has been at Catena Zapata since 2002 and works with Laura and Nicolas to make wines that express the family's vineyards and palate.
Winemaker Notes
The freshness of color, a rather dense purple makes one think of a year both vigorous and full-flavoured. In the mouth the structure of the wine reveals itself at once. The ripe tannins are immediately noticeable quickly giving way to sensations of smooth full-flavour. This is a well-balanced wine within a rather rigid framework. The wood is present though not in excess. Progressively the delicate and silky richness emerges but without blotting out the bittersweet trace of the well dissolved tannins.
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion
Château La Mission Haut-Brion is a world-renowned winery located in the prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation in the Bordeaux region of France. It holds a special place in the history of Bordeaux wines due to its exceptional quality and long-standing heritage. The estate is known for producing top-tier red wines, and its wine is often regarded as one of the most sought-after in the region.
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Winemaker Notes
The 2020 Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune-Villages Rouge is a classic, fruit-driven expression of a warm, sunny vintage that brought excellent concentration and structure to Burgundy’s reds. Pouring a vibrant, intense ruby-purple hue, the wine opens with an expressive and welcoming nose defined by succulent red cherry, wild raspberry, and a delicate touch of undergrowth, violet, and soft licorice spice. On the palate, the influence of the 2020 growing season is instantly clear; it reveals a fleshy, juicy texture packed with ripe red berry fruits that carry notable depth. Balanced by a bright vein of natural acidity and framed by refined, ripe tannins, this Pinot Noir maintains a lovely lightness on its feet despite its structural core. It concludes with a medium-long, clean finish accented by a gentle touch of toasty wood and earth, offering a highly elegant and beautifully balanced introduction to the region that is drinking brilliantly now but can easily be cellared over the next three to five years.
About Winery
Maison Joseph Drouhin was founded in 1880 in Beaune, Burgundy, by Joseph Drouhin, and has since grown into one of the region’s most respected wine producers. Over the generations, the family expanded its holdings to include vineyards across Burgundy—such as Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, and Côte Chalonnaise—and later established Domaine Drouhin Oregon in the Willamette Valley. Today, the estate remains family-run by Joseph’s great-grandchildren, who continue the tradition of producing elegant wines with a focus on terroir and sustainable practices, including organic certification for their Burgundy vineyards since 2009
2018 | JS 97This is one of the best SLVs I have tasted with total balance and structure that highlights what was possible in 2018. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and poised, with layer upon layer of fine tannins that give depth and beauty to this young red. Blackcurrant, blueberry and floral flavors. Tight at the end. Needs until 2025 to really show what it has.
2019 | WE 99
From a site planted in 1970 at the famous estate, this wine has beautiful perfume on the nose, and a supple yet firm structure. Dusty plum, dried herb and clove spice are interwoven between tangy cassis and notes of crushed rock. Enjoy best from 2029–2039
About Winery
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is a legendary Napa Valley first-growth estate established in 1970. World-renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon, it made history in the 1976 "Judgment of Paris," when its 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon famously bested top-tier French Bordeaux wines, putting California on the global winemaking map.
2002 | RP 92
A restrained, classic Bordeaux with cedar, graphite, and cassis. Solid but overshadowed by stronger vintages. Best for near-term drinking.
2005 | WE 96
Universally acclaimed, with deep cassis, graphite, and licorice notes. Dense tannins, superb delineation, and long finish. A wine for decades of aging.
2012 | WE 92
Elegant, mid-weight, with cassis, pencil shavings, and fine tannins. Approachable now, not a blockbuster but enjoyable.
2017 | WE 97
Impressive balance of plush fruit and firm tannins. Black fruits, graphite, cassis, and plum. Elegant, concentrated, and age-worthy.
About Winery
In 1826, Hugh Barton, already proprietor of Chateau Langoa, purchased part of the big Leoville estate. His part then became known as Léoville Barton. Six generations of Bartons have since followed, and continued to preserve the quality of the wine, classified as a Second Growth in 1855.
In 1983, Anthony Barton, the present owner, was given the property by his uncle Ronald Barton who had himself inherited it in 1929. Anthony Barton's daughter Lilian Barton Sartorius now helps her father in managing the estate. Together, they maintain the traditional methods of winemaking, producing a typical Saint-Julien of elegance and distinction. The Château Léoville Barton is the property of the Barton’s family and Lilian Barton Sartorius manages it with her two children, Mélanie and Damien.
2012 | JS 95
A hail-affected year but still produced a structured, elegant wine with notes of dark berries, chocolate, and spice.
2019 | JS 97
20th Anniversary bottling. Praised for refinement, plush tannins, and long aging potential.
2020 | Decanter 97
Bright, floral, and ethereal style with wild strawberry and rose notes. Considered one of the most elegant Testamattas.
About Winery
From a medieval castle, Castello di Vincigliata, acquired by his parents over 60 years ago, winemaker Bibi Graetz crafts his wines on a hillside overlooking the great city of Florence. Beginning initially with only a small, 5-acre vineyard on this hillside in Fiesole, in little under two decades, Bibi has become one of Italy's most ingenious winemakers adding "cult winemaker" in addition to "talented abstract artist" to his dossier.
Since the release of his first wines in 2000 and without any formal training, Bibi Graetz has managed to stir-up the Tuscan wine scene, and with the creation of Testamatta and Colore, has made his name eponymous with great Tuscan wines. Regularly scoring in the high 90’s with wine publications like Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, and James Suckling, coupled with his unique and artisanal winemaking approach, Bibi Graetz’s wines have garnered a loyal following among wine collectors and wine trade.
Sourcing grapes from parcels of old vines around Tuscany give the Bibi reds great depth and soul; while grapes from vines on the Isola del Giglio have provided proof that Tuscany can be known for beautiful white wines as well. This affinity for old vines allows for the concentrated yet elegant wines of Bibi Graetz making this portfolio a collectible from Tuscan producers. His passion for producing his flagship wines exclusively from traditional varieties of Sangiovese, Colorino, and Canaiolo for the reds and the indigenous varieties of Ansonica and Vermentino for his whites have resulted in very distinctive wines that consistently set his wines apart from those from the rest of Tuscany, and Italy.
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About Winery
Château Ausone, a Saint-Émilion estate with a rich history, is renowned as one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. Its history is intertwined with the Roman poet Ausonius, whose villa is believed to have stood on the site. The estate, now owned by the Vauthier family, has been producing exceptional wines for centuries, maintaining a reputation for density, complexity, and longevity.
2015 | JS 99
Rich, complex, expressive; benchmark vintage.
2016 | JS 98
Stunning concentration, ripe blackcurrants, super-long finish.
2018 | JD 99
Powerful, textured, with fruit richness and freshness.
2019 | JD 98
Dense purple hue, cassis, graphite, tobacco; long aging potential.
2020 | Vinous 98
Muscular, blackberry, iodine, graphite; cellar-worthy.
2022 | JS 98
Structured, perfumed, powerful tannins; one of the most transparent Pape Cléments.
About WineryChateau Pape Clément owes its name to its most illustrious owner. A man of the cloth born in 1264, Bertrand de Goth became Bishop of Comminges, in the Pyrenees Mountains, at the age of 31; he later became Archbishop of Bordeaux in 1299.
He then received as a gift the property in Pessac, the Vineyard de La Mothe. Taken by a passion for the vine, he continually took part personally in equipping, organizing and managing the domain in accordance with the most modern and rational practices. Nevertheless, on 5 June 1305 the cardinals met in a conclave in Pérouse and appointed him to succeed Pope Benedict XI, who had passed away prematurely after only eleven months of reign. Bertrand de Goth took the name of Clement V.
Supported by Philip IV, it was he who decided in 1309 to move the papal court to Avignon, thus breaking with Rome and its battles of influence. During this same period, the weight of his responsibilities led him to relinquish his property, giving it to the Archbishop of Bordeaux. Henceforward, the vineyard was to be known to posterity under the name of this enlightened pope.
Management under the clergy brings modernity The grateful Church perpetuated Pope Clement's work. Each archbishop in turn turned to modernity and technical progress, to the point of the wine estate becoming a model vineyard. In addition to especially early harvests, which remain one of its special characteristics, Chateau Pape Clément is without a doubt the first vineyard in France to align vine stock to facilitate labour.
At the end of the 18th century, the Archbishop of Bordeaux was dispossessed of his property. The papal vineyard became part of the public domain.
8 June 1937 was a dark day in the vineyard's history, when a violent hailstorm destroyed virtually the entirety of the estate. Two years later, Paul Montagne bought it and gradually brought it back to life. Thanks to his efforts, the vineyard returned to its former rank and stood up to the surge in urbanization. His descendents, Léo Montagne and Bernard Magrez, perpetuate this secular tradition so that Chateau Pape Clément wines continue to delight the wine-lovers of today and tomorrow.
Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its rich, dark color and intense aromatic profile. It offers notes of red berries, cassis, blackberry, and hints of spice and coffee. The palate is full-bodied, powerful, and concentrated, with ripe, firm tannins and a long, elegant finish featuring black cherry and blueberry. This vintage, celebrating Caymus' 50th anniversary, is crafted to be approachable in youth while still having the potential for aging.
About Winery
In 1972, Chuck Wagner started Caymus Vineyards with his parents, Charlie and Lorna, with a humble plan and an uncharted future. The Wagner family were farmers with deep roots in the Napa Valley – in 1857, Chuck Wagner’s great-great grandfather captained a wagon train to California from Bible Grove, Missouri. Working together for decades, Chuck Wagner and his parents established the family’s work ethic, appetite for innovation, down-to-earth sensibility, and deep appreciation of the pleasures of good food and wine enjoyed with family and friends.
Winemaker Notes
Caymus has a signature style that is dark in color, with rich fruit and ripe tannins – as approachable in youth as in maturity. Since its founding in 1972, Caymus has become renowned as a consistent leader in the production of Napa Valley Cabernet. Grapes for this wine are farmed in a range of Napa’s sub-appellations – from Coombsville to Calistoga – with fruit from the valley floor creating lushness and the hillsides providing backbone. Diversification enables us to make the best possible wine in a given year, featuring layered, lush aromas and flavors, including cocoa, cassis and ripe berries.
About Winery
In 1972, Chuck Wagner started Caymus Vineyards with his parents, Charlie and Lorna, with a humble plan and an uncharted future. The Wagner family were farmers with deep roots in the Napa Valley – in 1857, Chuck Wagner’s great-great grandfather captained a wagon train to California from Bible Grove, Missouri. Working together for decades, Chuck Wagner and his parents established the family’s work ethic, appetite for innovation, down-to-earth sensibility, and deep appreciation of the pleasures of good food and wine enjoyed with family and friends.
2008 | WA 94
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is the first example of this cuvee to include Merlot (about 14%) in the blend. The Merlot component has given the wine a cocoa/chocolate nuance to its black currant, licorice-infused fruit. The tannins are velvety soft and the wine is beautifully textured and full-bodied. It is ideal for drinking now and over the next 15 years.
2016 | WS 95
The 2016 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, opulent Napa Valley red defined by lush aromas of blackberry jam, cassis, and cocoa. The palate bursts with ripe blackcurrant, dark cherry, and plum, layered with sweet vanilla oak, espresso, anise, and a long, velvety mocha finish.
2019 | WS 94
Flashy, with boysenberry and mulberry pâte de fruit notes that roll through, throwing off licorice snap and acai berry notes as well. Ends with a high-gloss toasty finish.
About Winery
In 1972, Chuck Wagner started Caymus Vineyards with his parents, Charlie and Lorna, with a humble plan and an uncharted future. The Wagner family were farmers with deep roots in the Napa Valley – in 1857, Chuck Wagner’s great-great grandfather captained a wagon train to California from Bible Grove, Missouri. Working together for decades, Chuck Wagner and his parents established the family’s work ethic, appetite for innovation, down-to-earth sensibility, and deep appreciation of the pleasures of good food and wine enjoyed with family and friends.
Winemaker Notes
One of the best values in the Sojourn portfolio, the 2019 Sonoma Coast Pinot noir brings together eight unique lots from sites that comprise several of our single vineyard designate bottlings. This 2019 blend showcases a higher proportion of Walala and Gap’s Crown Vineyard components, resulting in greater intensity and rich texture. The 2019 vintage offers balance and depth, with multiple layers of dark cherry, nutmeg and earth, leading to a long finish. It is drinking exceptionally well now with a fresh, complex bouquet that draws you into the glass. This wine is the real deal.
About Winery
Sojourn Cellars was founded in 2001 by two tennis friends, Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley, who shared a passion for great wine and tennis. They started with small bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from exceptional vineyard sources. Over the years, Sojourn Cellars has grown into a boutique winery producing highly acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their hands-off winemaking style allows the character of the vineyard sites to shine through in the wines.
Winemaker Notes
ARIEL oak-aged Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of black currants, cherry, blueberries and chocolate, with soft tannins and a dry finish. Try this with manchego, carne asada, Texas chili, wood-fired pizza.
THE J LOHR STORY
Fifty years ago, Jerry Lohr embarked on a career change. What followed would reshape the landscape of the California wine industry and create one of the country’s most popular wine brands.
In the late 1960s, Jerry Lohr began an extensive investigation of California grape growing regions – searching for the ideal location for his first vineyard. Jerry was raised on a South Dakota farm; his agricultural roots armed him with an innate sense for the relationship between climate, soil, and location. His research and instincts led him to the Central Coast, an area just beginning to explore its potential for winegrowing.
Four decades ago, the California Central Coast had not yet emerged as one of North America’s world-class winegrowing regions. With little history or viticultural precedent, planting on the Central Coast was a gamble. One of a handful of early pioneers, Jerry Lohr was among the first to realize the inherent potential of Monterey and Paso Robles for producing high quality grapes and superb wines.
PIONEERING MONTEREY AND PASO ROBLES -JERRY LOHR LEGACY-It’s no coincidence that the Central Coast’s emergence as a world class winegrowing region runs parallel with the establishment and growth of J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery. Founder Jerry Lohr is one of the region’s pioneers and has played a larger-than-life role in bringing the area to prominence.
Jerry’s instincts led him to two regions located about 75 miles apart. In the early 1970s, he chose Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco district for its cool, windy climate and rocky soils as ideal for Chardonnay. In the 1980s, he recognized the potential of Paso Robles for growing Bordeaux varietals, especially Cabernet Sauvignon – given the area’s rich soils and dramatic diurnal temperature swings between warm days and cool nights.
After Jerry Lohr’s nearly decade-long search for the right place to plant his first vineyard, he chose a site in Monterey County that was to become the heart of the Arroyo Seco appellation. Jerry originally planted 280 acres in 1972 and 1973 near Greenfield. Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco appellation has proved ideal for growing layered, complex Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Brisk winds and fog off Monterey Bay, stony, well-drained soils, and a lack of damaging fall rains all combine to produce grapes with trademark fruit intensity and balancing acidity. In 1974, Jerry unveiled the first J. Lohr winery in San Jose.
In the early 1980s, Jerry Lohr saw the potential for great Cabernet Sauvignon further south. Borrowing a lesson from the French—that great Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon excel in very different growing conditions—Jerry began planting Cabernet Sauvignon and other red varieties in San Luis Obispo County’s little-known Paso Robles region in 1986. With the hands-on devotion of an artisan farmer, Jerry tended to the vines while diligently working toward the creation and development of an adjacent winery and barreling cellars; J. Lohr’s Paso Robles production facility was opened in 1988.
Winemaker Notes
Deep and inky purple red robe with dark blue edges. The nose is intense, spicy overlapping with layers of red and black fruit, and cedar notes. Elegant tannins open towards a mid-palate that combines finesse and concentration, round and fresh. Exceptionally long finish.
Blend: 64% Carmenère, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot
About Winery
Everything starts in 1994 when Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet first arrived in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. They quickly realized its potential for producing world-class wines. This ideal setting, which was revitalized in 1995, was home to vines originating from pre-phylloxera rootstock brought from Bordeaux in the middle of XIX century. Member of a renowned family that has been dedicated for several generations to the production of high-quality spirits and wines, Alexandra with legendary wine expertise, brought exceptional French winemaking practices to Chile and pioneered the development of fine quality wines from the region. Today it is Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle, seventh generation of the family, who holds the reins of the Winery. Together with him is Jacques Begarie, Technical Director & Winemaker, under the advice of the famous winemaker Michel Rolland, who is personally involved in the whole production of Clos Apalta. In its short history, Clos Apalta wines have consistently ranked highly (90+ points) among reputable wine trade publications, a testament of the rigorous standards implemented at the winery to produce outstanding wines. Clos Apalta's philosophy is as simple as it is ambitious: to express terroir in the wines, looking for excellence, elegance and character in a handcrafted wine that can talk about the amazing place that is the Apalta Valley.
Winemaker Notes
The wine is a deep, dazzling purple. Initially rather closed, the nose opens with airing to reveal elegant fresh fruit, blackcurrant bud and eucalyptus aromas. A fresh, clean attack leads into a full, powerful and silky mid-palate, building to an incredibly long finish on notes of brioche and liquorice. An intense and stylish vintage to come back to in a few years’ time.
About Winery
Second growth classified in 1855. With its terroir of big gravels located by the river Gironde, its classic and powerful style, Montrose is often called the Latour of Saint Estephe. Montrose needs time to express its incomparable delicacy. In the first decade, its fantastic potential is hidden behind a certain austerity. In the second decade, the wines open themselves. In the third decade, they explode, and the terroir expresses itself. In the hands of the family Charmolle from 1896 to 2006, it is now run by Martin and Olivier Bouygues.
Winemaker Notes
The Opus One 2018 offers profuse aromas of blackberry, cassis and black cherry. Elegant notes of violets, white pepper and rose petals follow and together they deliver a very seductive bouquet. The seamlessly layered flavors build to a crescendo of fresh and juicy black-fruit, accented with hints of orange zest, licorice and dark chocolate. Beautifully balanced, the smooth round tannins and fresh acidity combine to create a soft, creamy mouthfeel and extend the flavors into a long persistent finish.
About Winery
Rising gracefully from the vineyards, Opus One winery stands in subtle celebration of the land and the open space that surrounds the estate. It remains an ongoing testament to the founders’ vision of a singular wine that transcends generations.
The estate vineyards of Opus One, comprised of four parcels, sit in the western portion of the famed Oakville AVA in Napa Valley. Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, are within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard. These are complemented by the combined 70 acres of the Ballestra and River parcels, which envelop the winery. In the vineyards, hand-harvesting and other traditional approaches are taken wherever they work best. When modern techniques benefit the winegrowing process, they are researched, evaluated and integrated into practice.
Winemaker Notes
Deep garnet colored, the 2013 Opus One needs a little swirling before exploding with preserved black and blue fruits—blueberry compote, blackberry pie and blackcurrant cordial—giving way to notes of unsmoked cigars, new leather, beef drippings and menthol with wafts of roasted rosemary and rose oil.
About Winery
Rising gracefully from the vineyards, Opus One winery stands in subtle celebration of the land and the open space that surrounds the estate. It remains an ongoing testament to the founders’ vision of a singular wine that transcends generations.
The estate vineyards of Opus One, comprised of four parcels, sit in the western portion of the famed Oakville AVA in Napa Valley. Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, are within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard. These are complemented by the combined 70 acres of the Ballestra and River parcels, which envelop the winery. In the vineyards, hand-harvesting and other traditional approaches are taken wherever they work best. When modern techniques benefit the winegrowing process, they are researched, evaluated and integrated into practice.
Winemaker Notes
The wine displays a very attractive, intensely dark colour with purple glints. The nose adds to the appeal, offering a magical array of aromatics ranging from graphite and cedar-wood notes to aromas of wild fruit. The depth of flavour on the palate is underpinned by soft tannins and lovely acidity. The finish, which reveals subtle smoky notes, is amazingly long. In this vintage, Pontet-Canet shows once again that natural refinement is its finest jewel. 2019, without doubt, is a promise of voluptuousness for all wine lovers.
About Winery
Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac 5th Grand Cru Classé, has enjoyed an irresistible rise to become one of the Médoc's most emblematic names. Managed by Justine and Alfred Tesseron, Château Pontet-Canet has established itself as one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in the Pauillac appellation, with results that exceed all expectations. Vintage after vintage, the estate has established itself as one of the finest references on Bordeaux's Left Bank.
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Winemaker Notes
Echo de Lynch-Bages 2017 has a brilliant robe with pretty purplish-blue garnet hues. On the nose, its fruit is gourmet and expressive. On tasting, there are notes of fresh red fruit (redcurrant and raspberry). It is a well-rounded, elegant wine with a hint of acidity in the finish.
About Winery
Echo de Château Lynch-Bages is a second wine, or second cru, from the iconic Pauillac estate, Château Lynch-Bages. It's a relatively recent addition to the estate's lineup, renamed from Haut-Bages Averous in 2008 to reflect its connection to the Grand Cru Classé. The name "Echo" is inspired by the Greek myth of the nymph Echo, who was deprived of speech.
Winemaker Notes
The 2005 Chateau Figeac is known for its elegant, restrained style with notes of dark fruit, tobacco, and leather. It is a medium-bodied wine with racy tannins, built on finesse and delicacy rather than power and concentration. The blend typically includes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
About Winery
Figeac is a very ancient property. In the 2nd century, the Figeacus family gave its name to the estate. Traces of this Gallo-Roman villa still exist today. In the 15th century, FIGEAC was one of five noble houses in Saint-Emilion and passed from the Lescours family, who at that time also owned Ausone, into the hands of the Cazes family, who transmitted it through marriage to the Carles in the 17th century. After the Manoncourt family acquired the property in 1892, FIGEAC was mainly managed by agricultural engineers.
However, in 1943, the year in which Thierry Manoncourt made his first vintage, a period of resurgencebegan for Figeac. Thierry Manoncourt realised in that year the huge potential of FIGEAC’s terroir and urged his mother, a Parisian, to hold on to the estate. In 1955 CHATEAU-FIGEAC became a First Great Classified Growth.
Today, Madame Manoncourt and her daughters are ably supported by highly skilled wine-growing teams and are as eager as ever to guarantee the long-term continuity of FIGEAC.
Winemaker Notes
This delightful red wine hails from Bordeaux, France, where centuries of winemaking tradition have shaped some truly remarkable blends. you’ll encounter rich, dark fruit notes—perhaps blackberries and plums—alongside a touch of spice. The tannins provide structure, making it a well-rounded choice.
About Winery
Owned by the Cardarelli family since 1949. The Cardarelli brothers, 3rd generation, have never stopped, like their parents and grandparents, developing and modernizing, in order to improve the quality of the wines. Today they still continue in this approach, but we place as much importance on the ecological and respectful aspect of production to achieve the High Environmental Value (HVE) standard. The Cardarelli vineyards' motto: "Produce well, good, and in respect with nature".
Winemaker Notes
The Cuvelier family's flagship estate has been on fine form in recent years. Their style is sumptuous, velvety, quite modern St Julien, but with the underlying structure to age for many many years. There is a beautiful bouquet of decadent dark berries, gravelly minerality, humidor, cedar and flowers. It is quite heady and perfumed with a lovely seductive core of opulent fruit and large scale tannic structure.
About Winery
With origins dating back to 1638, Léoville was the largest vineyard in the Médoc region at the time of the French Revolution. Léoville Poyferré springs from various divisions and successions in 1840. Its outstanding quality wines gained early recognition when it was ranked 2nd Growth in the 1855 classification. Château Léoville Poyferré was acquired in 1920 by the Cuvelier family. Château Léoville Poyferré was the Léoville that got left in the starting blocks in terms of reputation and in the quality of its wines. Léoville Poyferré has been owned by the Cuvelier family (who also own Château Le Crock) since 1921, yet it was not until the 1970s, when Didier Cuvelier took control at the château, that quality began to improve. In the last 20 years, Didier, with the assistance of Michel Rolland since 1995, has turned Léoville-Poyferré into one of StJulien's finest estates. Now up with the best of the St-Juliens but still selling at nonscary prices. Léoville Poyferré is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé
2021 | WS 95
This wine reveals a deep ruby-red hue and intense notes of oak, spice, and red fruits on the nose. The palate offers the same aromas and the nose with a harmonious combination of fruity and oaky notes. With its smooth tannins and long, lingering finish, this well-balanced wine is the epitome of elegance.
2022 | JS 99
The enormously deep and dark nose of wet earth and spicy complexity barely prepares you for the combination of gigantic concentration, precision and originality on the stunningly graceful palate, which is only medium-bodied. The finish just keeps echoing down the valleys of your mind thanks to the extraordinarily fine tannins.
About Winery
Domaine Faiveley, founded in 1825 by Pierre Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-Georges, is one of Burgundy’s most historic family-owned estates, now led by the seventh generation, Erwan Faiveley. Over nearly two centuries, the domaine has expanded its holdings across prestigious appellations, acquiring iconic vineyards such as Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley—a rare grand cru monopole—and parcels in Clos Vougeot and other renowned crus. Each generation has contributed to its growth, with François Faiveley extending the estate’s reach in the late 20th century, and Erwan modernizing winemaking practices while preserving tradition. Today, Domaine Faiveley is celebrated for producing terroir-driven wines that balance authenticity with contemporary refinement, making it a cornerstone of Burgundy’s legacy.
2020 | WS 97
Silky, exuding exotic spices around a core of ripe cherry, pomegranate, raspberry and rose aromas and flavors. Offers a complex and youthful profile that delivers balance and harmony, yet this will require several years to fully express its potential. The aftertaste is seemingly endless and remarkably spicy.
2021 | JS 96
Charmes-Chambertin reveals an attractive deep ruby red hue and rich nose disclosing a variety of small red fruits, spices, and flowers. This indulgent yet very elegant wine offers silky smooth tannins although it requires a few years in the bottle before it reaches its full potential.
About Winery
Domaine Faiveley, founded in 1825 by Pierre Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-Georges, is one of Burgundy’s most historic family-owned estates, now led by the seventh generation, Erwan Faiveley. Over nearly two centuries, the domaine has expanded its holdings across prestigious appellations, acquiring iconic vineyards such as Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley—a rare grand cru monopole—and parcels in Clos Vougeot and other renowned crus. Each generation has contributed to its growth, with François Faiveley extending the estate’s reach in the late 20th century, and Erwan modernizing winemaking practices while preserving tradition. Today, Domaine Faiveley is celebrated for producing terroir-driven wines that balance authenticity with contemporary refinement, making it a cornerstone of Burgundy’s legacy.