Chateau Ausone

St. Emilion

91 Points Robert Parker 11/93

The 1988 may need 20 years to reach its peak, as it is probably the most tannic, young Ausone I have ever tasted. The tannins are extremely hard, even astringent, but unlike a number of 1988s where the balance between tannins and fruit favors the tannin (always a troubling sign), here is a case where there is plenty of juicy red and black fruit extract in a medium-bodied, superbly concentrated, very intense and powerful wine. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2040.

2003 Chateau Brillette

Moulis

90 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 

Pretty blackberry, dark chocolate and toasted oak character. Full-bodied, with chewy yet refined tannins and a fruity finish. Long. Best after 2011. 8,330 cases made.
–JS

2001 Chateau Calon Segur

St. Estephe

90 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 3/04

Elegant and spicy, with blackberry and earth character. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a medium to long finish. Not quite up to par with the barrel sample, but outstanding. Best after 2006.
–JS

2000 Chateau Cantemerle

Haut Medoc

91 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 3/03

 Opulent red. Intense aromas of currants, cigar tobacco and berries. Full-bodied, with a solid core of silky tannins and a long finish. Well-made. Best after 2008.
–JS

2000 Chateau Chasse-Spleen

Moulis

91 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 

Very muscular with currants, mineral and nutmeg character. Full-bodied and chewy, with a long and lively finish. Best after 2008.

–JS

2000 Chateau Clos L'Eglise

Cotes de Castillon

90 Points Wine Spectator Magazine

2003 Chateau Cos d'Estornel

St. Estephe

97 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 3/06

Gorgeous aromas of blackberry, spice and mineral. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. This is first-growth quality. Best after 2012.

–JS

1988 Chateau Haut Brion

Pessac-Leognan

98 Points Wine Spectator Magazine

The wine of the vintage and one of the greatest Haut-Brions ever made. Superpowerful and ripe, with masses of spice, mint and berry character. Full-bodied, with full yet polished tannins, this wine is a joy to taste and will be for decades.--1988 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2003.
–JS

2003 Chateau Gigault "Cuvee Viva"

Premieres Cotes de Blaye

91 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 3/06

Wow. Just as I remember it from barrel. This is really beautiful on the nose, with plum, blackberry and spice. Medium- to full-bodied, with a solid core of silky tannins and a medium-to-long finish. All in finesse. A real beauty. Delicious. In harmony. Best after 2007. 

–JS

2003 Chateau Lascombes

Margaux

92 Points Robert Parker

The dark plum/ruby-hued, open-knit 2003 offers a big, sweet nose of barbecue smoke, plum liqueur, creme de cassis, flowers, new saddle leather, and damp earth. Loads of black fruits, a full-bodied palate impression, low acidity, and a savory, expansive mouthfeel suggest it can be drunk in 2-3 years, or cellared for 15 .

1989 Chateau Leoville Las Cases

St. Julien

96 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 10/94

Greatest Leoville Las Cases ever produced. Superb concentration with a great velvety texture and ripe fresh flavors. Coconut and vanilla notes and a burst of fruit at the end; wonderful backbone.--The Bordeaux 50. Best after 1999.
–JS

1990 Chateau Leoville Las Cases

St. Julien

93 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 8/02

Beautifully crafted red. Gorgeous plum, berry and smoky oak character. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long, ripe fruit finish. A joy to taste.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.
–JS

2000 Chateau Malmaison

Moulis

92 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 3/03

This smells like Port. Superperfumed, with loads of plum character. Full-bodied, with loads of velvety tannins and a rich, thick finish. Fantastic. Amazing quality for this estate. Best after 2008.
–JS

2003 Chateau Marquis d'Alesme-Becker

Margaux

91 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 3/06

Loads of currant, blackberry and plum aromas. Full-bodied, thick and velvety. Lovely rich wine. Slightly one-dimensional now but thick and structured. Clean and very well made. Best after 2010.
–JS

2003 Chateau Pibran

Pauillac

92 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 3/06

Complex aromas of currants, spices and sweet tobacco with just a hint of cigar box. Full-bodied, with masses of velvety tannins and rich fruit. Very chewy and rich. Best after 2012.  made.
–JS

2001 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron

Pauillac

93 Points Robert Parker 6/04

A very successful effort for this vintage in the Medoc, this deep ruby/purple-colored Pauillac exhibits class/nobility/breed along with black currant liqueur, licorice, and incense notes. Sweet, expansive, fleshy, and medium to full-bodied, with good structure, ripe tannin, and a long, 30-35 second finish, it can be drunk now, but will be even better in 2-3 years; it will last for 12-15 years. I had this wine three separate times out of bottle, and it is performing significantly better than it did from cask.

2000 Chateau Ramafort

Medoc

90 Points Wine Spectator Magazine 3/03

Tobacco, cedar and berry character. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins and a fruity finish. Delicious red. Lovely balance. Drink now through 2006. 
–JS

1995 Chateau Sociando-Mallet

Haut Medoc

91 Points Wine Spectator Magazine

A real fruit-bomb, with expressive aromas of currants, blackberries and vanilla. Full-bodied and chunky, with masses of fruit and well-knit tannins. Best after 2002.
–JS