Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2010 | This reserva is made of 90% Sangiovese, 10% mix Canaiola and Colorino. Ripened on foudres from Slavonian and French oak. The wine has a velvety taste, vanilla and spices. I drank this Chianti several times, at this age I am really enthusiastic! Paired with spaghetti and meatballs in Napolitanen tomatosauce. — a month ago

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9.4

Saturated ruby-red. The highly expressive bouquet conveys vibrant, mineral- and spice-accented red and blue fruits, candied flowers and succulent herbs aromas. Gently chewy and incisive boysenberry, bitter cherry and fresh bay flavors deepen and become sweeter with air. The floral note recurs on a very long, mineral finish that's framed by subtly gripping, fine-grained tannins. Made with 39% whole clusters and raised in a 65/35 mix of neutral oak foudres and concrete tanks. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, January 2023) — a year ago

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9.4

The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion was aged in 75% new oak with a touch more matured in foudres. It includes 55% whole bunches. This has a slight confit-like aroma on the nose, plush cranberry and wild strawberry intermingling with cassis and violet; aromatically, this is the more precocious recent vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, fine tannins, clean and pure with excellent acidity keeping everything on an even keel towards the finish. The 2018 has a caressing texture and is very persistent. I might quibble and say that I just find the nose a little trop, but the palate is superb. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2022)
— 2 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.3

Bright golden yellow.
Salty smoky minerals, caramelized citrus, dry honey, old foudres, wet wool and an attractive mossy rainwater vibe that I like very much.
Although this regular Auslese trocken does not have the depth and complexity of the Reserve bottlings, it shows the trademark KR funk in spades.
Recommended! — a month ago

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9.1

The 2021 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru, aged in foudres, takes time to unfurl on the nose with touches of asparagus and nettle, well-defined if rather austere at the moment. The palate is well-defined with a slightly peachy entry. Lightly spiced and harmonious with those foudres allowing the terroir to drive the finish. I can see this having broad appeal, and it should drink without too much bottle age. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2023)
— 8 months ago

Martinez

9.2

Excellent Priorat. Blend of Garnacha (60%) and Cariñena (40%) from the Les Planetes vineyard, a northeast-facing plot on slate/llicorella soils in Porrera. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 17 months in oak foudres and clay amphorae. Dark fruit, minerals (graphite) and smoke on the nose. Some floral notes. Full-bodied, round, structured. Good freshness — a year ago

Mario Martínez Colino

9.0

Todavía conserva la acidez, para mi sorpresa, crianza en foudres, supongo que será por esto. Interesante aroma a melocotón, en boca suave y muy equilibrado. Un 2013 que ha aguantado bien hasta el 2022, me impresiona, la verdad. — 2 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.3

I’m a sucker for Raffault’s wines and this rarity is no exception. Made from a single old vine parcel in the Picasses vineyard, this wine is aged in 500 litre (1-5 year old) barrels instead of the large foudres used for Picasses.

Dynamite wine with more (but still restrained) oak use. Would love to get my hands on more of this and lay it down as it’s still super true to the house style. Wild and ageworthy! — 7 months ago

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9.4

The 1994 Malbec Estrella, from Luján de Cuyo, was aged for 16 years in old foudres and bottled in 2010. Garnet in color with a brick-dust sheen. The bouquet offers aromas of licorice, camphor, black olives, dried flowers and dates. Complex and silky in the mouth, it has developed well. The tannins are rounded and polished, resulting in a gentle texture. Delivers mild flavors but plenty of nuance. (Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous, January 2023) — a year ago

Shengli Hu

9.1

Yellow apple and green apple. Cream soda, vanilla pod, basil, medium acidity. no malo, aged in 80 years' old foudres <300L with thick tartrates. 15-16 inches of rain that year (2017). — 2 years ago