“The 2010 Bel-Air Marquis d’Aligre is even better on the nose than the 2009: beautifully defined with blackberry, raspberry preserve, a hint of tobacco and later a hint of black truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with tangy red berry fruit, raspberry and wild strawberry. This is endowed with impressive density and it offers a captivating and slightly saline finish. You could broach this now if you wish, though I would prefer to let this age for another four or five years. What a magnificent, cerebral proposition this is. Tasted at the Bel-Air Marquis d’Aligre dinner. Drink: 2021-2035. 93 points”
“The 2015 Doisy-Vedrines has quite an intense nose, perhaps less fat and honeyed than recent vintages, more finesse if not quite capturing the same level of details as the Doisy-Daëne this year. The palate is very promising with layers of honeyed fruit tinged with white chocolate and almond, a lovely swagger about this Doisy-Vedrines that reminds me of great vintages such as 1989. Always well priced, you won’t harm your cellar with a case of Olivier Castèja’s sumptuous Barsac. Drink: 2019-2040. 93-95 points”
“Ripe, polished and youthful strident, this sports a solid core of plum and cassis detail that is well-enmeshed with roasted apple wood, black licorice and sweet tobacco notes. The juicy finish has latent grip, with a great graphite edge, as it moves through with authority. For the cellar. Best from 2023 through 2036. 2,200 cases made. 93 points”
“The 2016 Lagrange (Pomerol) is an intriguing wine. Savory herb, dried rose petal, mint and earthy notes add quite a bit of character to a core of fleshy, dark red fruit. The 2016 offers good depth and plenty of persistence in a slightly rustic style that nevertheless holds considerable appeal. 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Drinking window: 2021-2036. 92 points”
“l’ve criticized many previous vintages of this Pomerol, but the 2019 Lagrange gives notice of improvements afoot. Now in bottle, it has a very pleasant and quite concentrated bouquet of black cherries, raspberry coulis and light truffle scents laced with blood orange. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a velvety entry and a ripe, slightly confit, spicy finish. A surprisingly plush and well-defined Lagrange that has lived up to its promise and is well worth checking out. A harbinger of things to come? Drinking window: 2025-2038. 92 points”
“The 2016 Latour à Pomerol is a very beautiful wine. It is also quite a bit more reticent than most Pomerols in this vintage. Savory herb, leather, rose petal, blood orange, cedar, tobacco, menthol and dried cherry lift from the glass. En primeur, the 2016 was quite sensual, whereas today is decidedly powerful and structured. It will be interesting to see where things go in the coming years. One thing is for sure. I would not dream of opening a bottle anytime soon. Drinking window: 2026-2046. 94+ points”
“The high point in the Mouieux portfolio this year is the 2019 Latour à Pomerol, a terrific wine that wafts from the glass with aromas of cherries, sweet berries, rose petals, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Full-bodied, ample and concentrated, it’s seamless and layered, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a vibrant, beautifully balanced profile. Drink: 2025-2050. 94 points”
“The 2014 Château Rocheyron, the property owned by Peter Sisseck and Silvio Denz in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, is a blend of 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc matured in 35% new oak and a modest 13.4% alcohol. It has a backward bouquet at first that gradually opens in the glass with blackberry and cranberry fruit, expressing fine mineral tension and a hint of Chinese five spice. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly furry tannin, but impressive depth and excellent balance. The acidity is finely tuned here, lending this a linearity and focus not seen in Rocheyron’s first three vintages, and then it gently fans out towards the finish with hints of cedar and smoke lingering on the aftertaste. This comes highly recommended—one of the best vintages thus far. Drink: 2020-2035. 94 points”
“The 2016 Rocheyron, from Peter Sisseck’s property in Saint-Émilion, is unquestionably the best to date. The bouquet bursts from the glass with fresh blackberry and boysenberry fruit that is seamlessly integrated with the one-third new oak. The palate is framed by fine tannins and a superb line of acidity. There is plenty of crisp black fruit here, and the smooth, energetic finish leaves a crushed stone residue. If you couldn’t locate any Pingus this year, just come here. Drinking window: 2023-2045. 94 points”
“The 2018 Rocheyron has a very detailed, pure bouquet of perfumed black cherries, crushed violet and light minerally scents. It is not powerful, yet the aromatics are very sensual. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, well-judged acidity and a subtle dash of licorice that just lifts the silky-smooth finish. This is a very accomplished, classy Saint-Emilion from Peter Sisseck and Silvio Denz that should improve with a further 3-4 years in bottle. Drink: 2023-2040. 92 points”
