Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , bright with a wide ruby rim . Restrained and focused at first , red cherry , pine , iris and wet slate , with fresh sage and rosemary . On the palate very elegant and again restrained , the spicy red cherry , raspberry , rosemary , sage and thyme notes , with good backbone from fresh acidity , saline hints . Tannins are quite elegant and though present are very fine . Medium , sour cherry stained length. Overall perhaps doesn’t have the complexity or structure of the 2019 but this is a very refined , elegant wine , as one would expect. This is actually enjoyable now due to the sweet fine tannins but will no doubt age well and improve over the next 10-15 years — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium deep ruby . Quite a lot of deep dark spicy blackberry , red plum, blueberry. Touch of orange rind , iris , spiced raspberry jam . On the palate quite round and rich , lots of dark spicy blackberry , blackcurrant fruit , notes of clove . Pretty present but ripe and very fine tannins . Good acidity , balanced . Round and exuberante fruits on the palate , intense and powerful . Long , just a touch of warmth , but mostly very well balanced. After a while more mineral on the finish . Needs lots of time , but very well balanced , 20 years to reach its peak . — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

A racy Chiroubles. Charming purple dress, medium concentration and beautiful brilliance. Superb peppery nose, airy between bright floral bouquet (Rose, Iris) and vibrant fruits (cherry and raspberry). Concentration, as expected on solar vintages. The mouth is fresh, tense, with few tannins but beautiful chew. Great drinkability, served refreshed (12/14 degrees) and airy, it's a dangerous drink!

Un Chiroubles racé. Charmante robe violine- pourpre, concentration moyenne et bel éclat. Superbe nez poivré, aérien entre bouquet floral éclatant (Rose, Iris) et fruité vibrant (cerise et framboise). De la concentration, comme attendu sur les millésimes solaires. La bouche est fraîche, tendue, avec peu de tanins mais de la belle matière. Belle buvabilité, servi rafraîchi (12/14 degrés) et aéré, c’est une boisson dangereuse! — 3 years ago

Beth Hamilton

9.5

Apples, honey, and Iris on the nose. Rich and smooth and luxurious on the palate.  — 8 months ago

Michael Chelus

9.1

Black currant, raspberry preserves, blackberry, licorice, cherry and oak. Full-bodied and soft tannins. — 2 years ago

Holly Gamblin

10

Well well well, balanced she said. Bright and earthy after uncorking but slow the horses! This beautiful wine opened up to reveal balance, elegance, light fruit, and smooth depth. This is the perfect age to drink it. Enjoying ourselves at Lupi & Iris in Milwaukee. — 2 years ago

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9.7

The 2019 Angélus was bottled in September 2021, later than many other wines of this vintage. This is very precise on the nose, offering blackberry, dried iris petals, a little graphite and a touch of oyster shell, and the marine influence is more noticeable than before. The palate is beautifully balanced, the 40% Cabernet Franc very expressive and squarely in the driving seat. It lends this wine ample freshness and, as mentioned before, makes it stylistically quite akin to Château Figeac. Displaying fine structure toward the finish, this Angélus is full of tension thanks to a pH of 3.60 (previously, it was around pH 3.85, according to Hubert de Boüard) and comes with a very sustained finish. Seriously impressive, though it will require patience. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2022)
— 3 years ago

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9.6

The 2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is consistent with previous bottles. It soars from the glass with those (to use a word I used last time) disarming array of blackberry, iris and fig aromas, but displaying a little more blue fruit than I recall. The palate is very well balanced with a velvety texture, pure with just a hint of black pepper. Interestingly, the 65% whole bunches are barely noticeable, just a guiding hand that shapes the finish. Sapid yet tender, this is an outstanding Pessac-Léognan. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2024)
— 10 months ago

Michael Chelus

8.9

Apple, lemon, peach, pear and nectarine. Great acidity and minerality. — 2 years ago

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9.5

The 2019 Barde-Haut is beautifully defined on the nose, very pure with precise blackberry, briary, violets and iris flower, harmonious. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins, cohesive and mineral-driven; the terroir is very expressive towards the finish that lingers in the mouth. Wonderful, assured and with great potential. Tasted at the Barde-Haut vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2022)
— 3 years ago