Ratings: Jane Anson 93 points, Neal Martin 92-94 points, Decanter 93 points Appellation: Pomerol. Background: Enclos Tourmaline is located on the highest point of the famous plateau of the smallest appellation of Bordeaux: Pomerol. The property was acquired by Peter Kwok and his son Howard in 2012. Enclos Tourmaline is produced in small quantities only during great vintages. The first vintage produced less than 1,000 bottles, and in 2013 no wines were made at all. Tasting Notes: Decanter 93/100

Ratings: 95-97 points - Neal Martin, 93 points - Jane Anson Appellation: Saint-Julien Classification: 4e Grand Cru Classé Background: Château Beychevelle is a large and striking property set in its own beautiful park that dominates the view as one drives north to Saint-Julien on the Route des Châteaux. Its label recalls the legend that all ships sailing past the estate were required to lower their sails (baisse voile) in homage to the resident Duc d'Epernon, who inherited the property through ma

Ratings: Jane Anson - 96 points, Neal Martin - 96-98 points, William Kelley - 96-97 points Appellation: Saint-Julien Classification: 2e Grand Cru Classé Background: Château Léoville Barton is the smallest portion of the great Léoville estate and has been owned by the Barton family since 1826. There is no château and the wine is made at Langoa Barton. Léoville Barton's 48 hectares of vineyards are located in the east of the St-Julien wine appellation and lie on gravelly-clay soils. They are plant

Ratings: Neal Martin - 96-98 points, Jane Anson - 96 points, William Kelley - 95-97 points, Appellation: Pauillac, Classification: 5e Grand Cru Classé, Background: Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac estate which has for many years been consistently outperforming its classification. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is located a couple of kilometres west of the town of Pauillac and is owned and run by François-Xavier Borie. Tasting Note 93 Points - Decanter "Deep vibrant nose, aromatic and s

Ratings: William Kelley 93-95 points, Neal Martin 90-92 points, Jane Anson 95 points, Appellation: Saint-Émilion, Classification: Grand Cru Classé, Background: Château Bellefont Belcier is a Grand Cru Classé property that’s situated on Saint Émilion’s southern slopes, close to the prestigious vineyards of Châteaux Pavie, Larcis Ducasse and Tertre Roteboeuf. In this enviable position, Bellefont Belcier produces intense wines, with superb balance, depth and longevity. Tasting Notes 95 Points - Dec

Ratings: 91-93 points - William Kelly, 91-93 points - Neal Martin, 93 points - Jane Anson, Appellation: Saint-Émilion, Classification: Grand Cru, Background: Château Tour Saint Christophe is located in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes at the frontiers of Saint-Émilion. The vineyard is a unique feature in Saint-Emilion, as it is partly planted on narrow terraces where the vineyard is tended in tight rows. This cascading landscape unfolds on the hillside of Cassevert overlooking the Saint Laurent valle

Ratings: 92 points - Jane Anson, Williams Kelley 90-92 points, 94 points - Decanter, Appellation: Margaux, Classification: 3e Grand Cru Classé, Background: Château Desmirail, included among the third growths in the 1855 classification, has an outstanding terroir bordering on the Route des Châteaux. The current owner and manager, Denis Lurton, took over from his father, Lucien, in 1992. He has invested in modernising the estate on a regular basis ever since. Château Desmirail produces smooth, ele

Ratings: 94 points - Jane Anson, 91-93 points - Neal Martin, 92-94 points - William Kelley, 92 points - Decanter, Appellation: Haut-Médoc, Background: Château Sociando-Mallet produces full-bodied wines with a deep, dark colour. Their complex bouquet is usually dominated by black fruit aromas with a touch of minerality and well-integrated, elegant oak. Often somewhat "virile" when young, the wines gain in balance and complexity with age. They are fresh, straightforward, and have a wonderful lengt

Ratings: 94 points - Jane Anson, 92-94 points - William Kelley, 93 points - Decanter, Appellation: Saint-Émilion, Classification: Grand Cru Classé, Background: The Despagne family has been making wine in Saint-Emilion for seven generations. François Despagne took the reins in 1996, and his passion and intelligence have made his family property – a grand cru since the original classification in 1955 – one very much to follow. The estate is near Saint-Emilion’s border with Pomerol. There are 30 he

Appellation: Margaux, Background: Château Chantelune is a unique property. Its previous owner, Mr. Soubrane was a carpenter who believed in felling his trees by moonlight, claiming this gave the best quality wood. His practice gave the property its name, meaning “sing to the moon.” He sold his land to José Sanfins, director at third growth property, Château Cantenac Brown.

Ratings: 93 points - Jane Anson, 93 points - Decanter, Appellation: Saint-Julien, Background: Situated in an enviable small enclave among the classified growths of Saint-Julien with just 5 hectares of vines surrounded by the grands crus classés of Leoville Barton, Gruaud Larose, Beychevelle and Talbot. The estate is part of the Guy Delon family, and the consultant oenologist is Eric Boissenot, responsible for 4 of the 5 first growths. Tasting Note 93 Points - Decanter "Shiny and sleek, a lovely

Ratings: 92 points - Jane Anson, 89-91 Points - Neal Martin, Appellation: Haut-Médoc / Classification: 4e Grand Cru Classé / Background: Château La Tour Carnet, a 4emé Cru Classé property has a long and illustrious history and its wines enjoyed a considerable reputation during the 19th century. La Tour Carnet had a chequered history in the first half of the last century and the wines were mediocre until 1972 when it was bought by Louis Lipschitz. He replanted much of the vineyards and made many

Ratings: 90 points - Jane Anson, 90-92 points - William Kelley, 91 points - Decanter, Appellation: Saint-Émilion, Classification: Grand Cru, Background: Château Haut-Brisson is located south of the appellation on the 3 villages of Saint-Émilion, Saint-Sulpice de Faleyrens and Vignonet. The diversity of terroirs, combined with vines of an average age of 30 years, allows us to produce wines at optimum maturity that expresses the terroir. Tasting Note 91 Points - Decanter "Vivid purple colour, rich

Ratings: 92 points - Jane Anson, 90 points - Decanter, Appellation: Margaux, Classification: Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, Background: The history of this very old vineyard begins in the 13th century. Château la Tour de Mons, formerly Tour de Marsac, took in 1623 the name of its owner Pierre de Mons. Château La Tour de Mons was later sold to the Clauzel Crunchet family and then bought back in 1995 by a group of institutional investors, Crédit Agricole and Caisse des Dépôts and Placements du Québec. S

Ratings: 90 points - Decanter, Appellation: Saint-Estèphe, Background: Château Ségur de Cabanac takes its name from the illustrious and powerful family of the same name whose history was entwined with that of the Médoc going back to the 16th century. This aristocratic Bordeaux family owned great vineyards such as Lafite and Latour in Pauillac. Tasting Note 90 Points - Decanter "Taut and streamlined, this has a gentle power with concentrated black fruits and lovely grippy, softly grainy tannins t

Ratings: 92 points - Decanter, 90 points - Jane Anson, Appellation: Médoc, Background: This wine ranks naturally alongside the Grand Cru Classé wines of Bernard Magrez: Château Pape Clément, Château La Tour Carnet, Château Fombrauge and Clos Haut Peyraguey. Situated in exceptional terroir and for too many years overlooked, this estate was given a new lease of life by Bernard Magrez. It was a project that he had mulled over for 10 years. During that time, he had searched for that special gem, tha

Ratings: 91 points - Decanter, Appellation: Bordeaux, Background: The Château Mont Pérat estate covers over a hundred hectares high up on the hillsides of Capian, in the heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers, with a lovely terroir of gravelly-clay on a limestone base. Full of fruit, intense, and supple with very round tannins, it is a well-matured wine that ages well. Indeed, we recommend giving it a little time in the cellar to reach its full potential. Produced mainly from Merlot grapes blended with Ca

Ratings: 91 points - Decanter, 88-90 points - William Kelley, Appellation: Pessac-Léognan, Background: Situated a stone's throw from the prestigious Château Latour Martillac, this impressive Pessac Léognan is a full bodied wine offering fantastic value for money and is one not to be missed. The wine is overseen by Pierre Hubert Gory, following his stints at Chateaux Latour and Beychevelle. Tasting Note 91 Points - Decanter "Bright and gently vibrant, this has good density and succulence, both a

Ratings: 91 points - Jane Anson, 89-91 points - William Kelley, 90 points - Decanter, Appellation: Lalande de Pomerol, Background: Enclos de Viaud is located on the Lalande bank of the Barbanne river in the lieu-dit Viaudet Maréchaude. Enclos de Viaud consists of 2,48 hectares split into two parcels where Merlot is the dominant variety. One of the best performing properties in the appellation on some of the finest terroir in the region. Tasting Note 90 Points - Decanter "A sense of delicacy to t