Neal Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker

The 2016 Poujeaux has an impressive bouquet with plenty of blackberry, briary and cigar box aromas that are very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin on the entry. This is a "smoky" Poujeaux with commendable depth and structure, a little more "solid" than recent vintages with good depth on the black pepper-tinged finish. The 2015 Poujeaux was very good, but this may well surpass that and achieve the level of some of the legendary wines from yesteryear.

The 2016 Grand Puy-Lacoste has a clean, precise bouquet with nicely detailed blackberry, briar and tobacco aromas, touches of mint emerging with time, all utterly charming. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, conveying a sense of symmetry throughout and leading into a deft, quite persistent finish. This is very classy, and it should age with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

-- Neal Martin

The 2019 Giscours is ripe and extrovert on the nose with exuberant black cherries, blueberry and crushed violets bursting from the glass. This is very seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with a tang of seaweed infusing the black fruit on the entry, segueing into more tarry notes toward the well structured finish. This articulates a sense of completeness that I appreciate. The persistency is impressive. This is a superb, potentially long-term Giscours that may well end up at the top of my banded score. Neal Martin, Vinous

The 2019 Grand Puy Lacoste is deep purple in colour. Initially the bouquet is tight and so I left my sample for 15-20 minutes to open. It rewards patience with a beguiling mélange of pure blackberry, raspberry, crushed violet and pencil shavings, very focused and mineral-driven. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins. Compared to the robust, tannic GPL's of old, this is much more lithe and approachable, yet it still bears the DNA of this Pauillac estate. It might not possess the flair of other 2019 Left Banks, but that it is not what I seek from this estate.

The 2019 Grand Puy Lacoste is deep purple in colour. Initially the bouquet is tight and so I left my sample for 15-20 minutes to open. It rewards patience with a beguiling mélange of pure blackberry, raspberry, crushed violet and pencil shavings, very focused and mineral-driven. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins. Compared to the robust, tannic GPL's of old, this is much more lithe and approachable, yet it still bears the DNA of this Pauillac estate. It might not possess the flair of other 2019 Left Banks, but that it is not what I seek from this estate.

The 2016 Figeac was bottled at the end of July 2018, since Frédéric Faye wanted to give the wine more time in barrel to develop more harmony. The stunning 24-carat bouquet rivets you to the spot with brilliant delineation and mineral-rich red fruit that articulates its terroir as well as any Right Bank you will find. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannin, perfect acidity, wonderfully integrated new oak and enormous depth toward the fresh, pencil-box- and cedar-infused finish.

“The 2017 Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 1er Cru is 50% whole bunches (mainly from the older vines), matured in 25% new oak. It has a gorgeous bouquet of black cherries, crushed violets, oyster shell and light sous-bois aromas. Over several minutes, it seems to gain more and more amplitude. The palate is medium-bodied with a sorbet-fresh opening, layers of shimmering black cherries and raspberry, and a touch of graphite.

“The 2017 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru was bottled just before Christmas 2018. It has an engaging, almost beguiling bouquet of brambly red berry fruit, sous-bois, light tobacco aromas and a discreet marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and slightly ferrous red berry fruit. More broody and introspective than the nascent 2018, with a subtly spicy pinch of cracked black pepper on the fresh finish. Excellent.” – Neal Martin, Vinous

The 2016 Meursault Genevrières 1er Cru has a really tensile, focused and complex bouquet with flint and smoke aromas. Traces of Granny Smith and orange pith emerge with time. The palate is very well balanced with just a touch of reduction, fresh and crisp with superb weight and persistence towards the finish. Superb. Tasted at the Domaine Direct Tasting in London. Neal Martin Vinous Media

The 2016 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has a glorious and extremely complex bouquet: cranberry, raspberry, crushed stone and rose petal aromas bursting from the glass all with exquisite delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, gentle grip, and a slight confit note (perhaps from a batch of over-ripe berries?) It retains ample freshness and tension on the finish. This could have been a profound wine, but it just falls short of that. Still deeply impressive. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting. Neal Martin Vinous