A brilliant Margaux; one that takes a sigh and then releases the huge floral, eucalyptus and crushed mint whoosh that comes in waves though the palate. You get the concentration of the vintage in an entirely positive light, with a suave softness to the tannins that makes it stand head and shoulders above many others. Plenty in common with the 1996 vintage - the knitted down tannins, the completeness, the juicy blackcurrant purity and acidity on the finish, and the certainty of long ageing. Real clarity of flavour. Alcohol level is lower than both the 2018 and 2019, but tannins and anthocyanins are at the same level as in 2018. 36% of overall harvest, and 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. A yield of 36hl/ha. 98-100. - Jane Anson, Decanter

$620.00 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

A special black label for 2020 celebrates the 30th harvest of the Cathiard family at the head the estate.

The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak, 50% new, within which it will age for 12 months on lees with bâtonnage before spending a further two to three months in tank. It prances out of the glass with vivacious notes of lime blossoms, Golden Delicious apples and green mango, plus hints of coriander seed, shaved ginger and wet pebbles. The medium-bodied palate possesses lovely harmony even at this nascent stage, featuring bright apple and citrus flavors with soft acidity and a chalky finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

$139.69 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

Vivid colours, and the aromatics grab hold straight away. This is intense and concentrated, elegant, balanced and classical, all about the texture which is velvety and seductive with softly-grained tannins. Moves oh so slowly through the palate with dozens of layers to get hold of. The overall feel is precise, slow and seductive, with appellation and estate signature at every turn. Sappy, hawthorn freshness, rosemary, redcurrant, tobacco, cigar box and dark chocolate shavings on the finish. 3.77pH, 78IPT, 55% of overall production, with 13% press wine. - Jane Anson, Decanter

$344.29 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

The flagship 2020 Château Léoville Las Cases checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Merlot, raised in 80% new French oak. Hitting 13.68% in alcohol with a Ph of 3.8 and an IPT of 79, it shows the dense, concentrated, focused style of the vintage and it's going to be one of the longer-lived wines of the vintage. Deep purple-hued, with an incredible sense of minerality in its blackcurrant and black cherry fruits, it's full-bodied, has a rich, layered mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's a beautiful wine and holds onto the more inward, concentrated style of the vintage while still showing serious depth of fruit. It's going to take a decade (or more) of bottle age to get anywhere close to the early stages of maturity but will keep for 30-40 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

$309.98 ea. 750ml | 5% off full cases | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

Clear gunsmoke character with slate and graphite, also a ton of white peach, white pear, some sweet mango and a scrape of salinity on the finish. This is balanced and successful, and easy to recommend, completing a strong set of wines at Margaux in the 2020 vintage. 40% of the overall production in the final blend. 3.01pH. Harvest from 24 August to September 1. 100th anniversary of the name Pavillon Blanc (even though they have made a white wine at Margaux for 300 years). - Jane Anson, Decanter

$295.00 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

Clear gunsmoke character with slate and graphite, also a ton of white peach, white pear, some sweet mango and a scrape of salinity on the finish. This is balanced and successful, and easy to recommend, completing a strong set of wines at Margaux in the 2020 vintage. 40% of the overall production in the final blend. 3.01pH. Harvest from 24 August to September 1. 100th anniversary of the name Pavillon Blanc (even though they have made a white wine at Margaux for 300 years). - Jane Anson, Decanter

$199.39 ea. 750ml | OWC of 6 or 12 | Future | BUY NOW

GVWM Over-Achiever & Value Drinker

93-94 JS / 16.5 JR