Spice, anis, rosemary, blackcurrant leaf, redcurrants, mint and peonies - the full array of aromatics are on display here, and there is an enveloping aspect to the fruit once you get to the body of the wine. The tannins are compact and powerful but they are wrapped in plump raspberry and blackberry brambled fruits. The wine feels full of life, with acidity that pulls the palate forward from the first moment, before austerity kicks in on the finish and closes things in, suggesting an extremely long life ahead. Hard to argue with this. 71% of overall production. The driest year at Cheval Blanc for 50 years (since 1959). Could go up after tasting in bottle, a potential 100 points. 98-100. Drinking Window 2028 - 2048 - Jane Anson, Decanter

$579.00 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection is the 2020 Château Larcis Ducasse. It’s a Saint-Emilion with an almost Pomerol-like depth and power paired with classic Saint-Emilion aromatics and minerality. Incredibly pure notes of black cherries, blackberries, white flowers, truffle, and leafy herb notes all emerge on the nose and it’s full-bodied, with a layered, multi-dimensional texture, thrilling tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. If you get a chance, buy it. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, aging in 55% new French oak. - Jeb Dunnuck

$83.48 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

$67.88 ea. 750ml | 5% off full cases | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

The 2020 Durfort-Vivens is an exotic, full-throttle wine. Heat and lack of rain between May and August yielded small berries with naturally concentrated juice. That comes through in the wine's ripe, luscious personality. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare, lower than normal. Small berries yielded a Durfort of tremendous richness. I imagine the 2020 will need quite a bit of time in bottle to be at its best. Today, it is quite the powerhouse. The 2020 is aging 67% new oak and 33% terracotta vats. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

$65.98 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

This is an excellent Giscours, extremely precise, well drawn and seductive. There is both concentration and spice, and a vivid sappy feel to the raspberry and bilberry fruits, all drawn out through the palate as the slate texture kicks in. Plenty of things to keep track on here, not least that this is now the only estate in Margaux owned by the Albada family, as they have sold du Tertre. The focus is now entirely on Giscours, and I would expect to see a concerted effort to raise the visibility of the property. Changes include Thomas Duclos as consultant since 2019, and vineyard choices such as intra-plot harvesting, meaning going in waves through the plots picking individual vines when they are at full ripeness. Plus, Jerome Poisson is the new technical director (a French Canadian, who worked in Napa, Italy, Chile, Cognac and Alsace), replacing Lorenzo Pasquini. 50% new oak for ageing. A yield of 35hl/ha. Drinking Window 2028 - 2044 - Jane Anson, Decanter

$61.29 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW