The 2019 Siepi continues a trend towards greater finesse and nuance in this wine. Crème de cassis, lavender, spice, licorice and plum meld together effortlessly in the glass. Dense and layered, with striking detail, the 2019 is so impressive. The flavors are bright, bold and punchy. An exceptionally beautiful and riveting wine, the 2019 is rich and concentrated, but not at all heavy. What a total knock-out. – A.G.

[93+pts] ...Exuberant nose of pineapple, almond cake and lime. Enters broad and delicately spicy, then juicy and vibrant. Citrusy acidity provides this fleshy, tactile wine with clarity and cut. Along with the 2016, this is the best Mandelberg ever. - Ian D'Agata

[93+ pts] ...Aromas and flavors of orange oil, apple and anise. Enters round and sweet, then turns very austere and precise, revealing a licorice note that lingers on the tactile, savory finish. Deep and refined, this will improve markedly with a couple of years in the cellar. - I.D.

Well-marked by spicy new oak flavors that gain the upper hand on the fruit for now. Polished and with a glossy feel to its cherry, plum and earth notes and is backed by lively acidity... Best from 2024 through 2038. —B.S.

Aromas suggesting pressed chamomile flower, dried botanical herbs and hazelnut waft out of the glass. Rounded and medium-bodied, the palate offers ripe golden apple skin, lemon zest, saline and bitter almond alongside tangy acidity.—K.O.

Char and smoked hazelnut skins accent plump, pristine blackcurrant and black plum flavors in this gorgeously juicy, fresh-footed Saint-Joseph. Medium bodied and spry in profile yet ripe and lip smacking in fruit, it’s an easy drinking but nuanced Syrah etched by hints of truffle and earth along with a lingering, delicately chalky finish. —A.I.

EDITOR'S CHOICE; Sourced from 80-yearold vines on a miniscule lieu-dit of mica schist, Les Grandes Places highlights pure, pulsing blueberry and blackberry flavors edged by hints of licorice, lilac and leather. Matured 24 months in new oak, it’s a deeply grounded, sumptuous wine that should gain earthen, animal perfume as it improves through 2030. —A.I.

Smoky tobacco and charred vanilla notes accent pure, lip smacking notes of cassis and blueberry pastilles here. A full bodied, supple expression of Côte-Rôtie vinified fully destemmed and matured in 100% new French oak, it’s an extravagant, toffee-kissed sip accentuated by fine, pillowy tannins... —A.I.

EDITOR'S CHOICE; This bottling of Champin Le Seigneur offers zesty blackberry and boysenberry flavors with a dramatic, almost salty, mineral backdrop. Composed of 90% Syrah cofermented with 10% Viognier, it’s a delightfully svelte, perfumed red with penetrating berry flavors accented by hints of iron, rose petal and char. It’s drinking beautifully now but should improve well through 2030 and hold much longer still. —A.I.

This is a 70/30 blend of Viognier and Roussanne that balances Viognier’s floral exuberance and richness with subtle notes of Roussanne’s chamomile and white pear characteristics. While dry and full bodied with a luscious, clinging mouthfeel, it’s balanced by zesty strikes of lemon mand green-apple acidity. Best now–2025. —A.I.

This luminous, unoaked blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre is a consistent bang-for-your-buck introduction to a Northern Rhône heavyweight producer. It highlights delightfully fresh, juicy blackberry and raspberry flavors accented by whispers of cinnamon, anise and allspice. Soft in tannins and zippy on the finish, it’s a wine best enjoyed now–2024. —A.I.

A robustly rich and densely concentrated expression of the vineyard in a warm vintage, this wine tastes of cinnamon and clove atop blackberry pie, with soft, supple tannins and well integrated oak. Good tension and texture provide energy and length. —V.B.

From the famous site, this well-integrated wine offers wide appeal and an enduring plush, supple core of black fruit dusted in black pepper and clove. The oak is toasted and present, emphasizing seasonings of clove and vanilla. —V.B.

Tones of compost, sage and baking spice accent this full-bodied wine, with a surprising freshness beneath its core of decadently soft red fruit. Showing plenty of structure and graceful length, it finishes on a crisp currant note. —V.B.

Crisp and tensely fruity, this wine has layers of acidity as well as citrus and rich yellow fruits. The texture, still young, is well etched and will propel the wine forward. Drink from 2022. —R.V.

Made for the first time in 1996 to commemorate Domaines Barons de Rothschild’s first decade in Chile, Le Dix is a Bordeaux blend with a classical, elegant character... delivering a nose of herbs, spices, dark fruit, graphite, minerals and a slightly rustic quality. This is a firm, concentrated wine with polished tannins and a lengthy finish. Drinking Window 2021 - 2028 - A.I.