En Primeur Bordeaux 2011

This large estate of 125 acres was cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare by proprietor Stephan von Neipperg and his consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt. The final blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc hit 14% natural alcohol. The wine possesses a dense ruby/purple color, notes of licorice, crushed rock, spring flowers, blue and black fruits, nice flesh, medium body and good acidity. It should drink well for a decade.

Score: 87 - 88 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2022

52 ha now, producing about 170,000 bottles. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Incredible colour - dark, dark with purple rim. Bright dark fruit, tension and freshness and a dry firm grip but fully ripe and a roundness in the mouth. Lots of structure and depth.

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2025

This has overt spiced toast, anise and mocha notes to soak up, but there's a good core of black cherry and blueberry fruit that should be up to the task. Slightly rustic cedary note checks in on the finish, but there's flesh here to harmonize that too.

Score: 88 - 91 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Tasted twice. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc this has a pretty rounded, floral bouquet with touches of violet. It should develop nicely in barrel. The palate is sweet and crisp on the entry with a fine citric thread. It is well balanced, very harmonious and pretty rather than powerful towards the finish. This is well made when it might have been overdone. Fine. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 88 - 90 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Bright purple hue. Lifted fruit, the chalky terroir nuance enhanced by the acidity. Ripe tannins but firm finish.

Score: 16 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2016-2022

This is very savory with a meat and berry character. Medium body, with fine tannins. Juicy and delicious. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 89 - 90 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

A sleeper of the vintage, this excellent blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from proprietor Silvio Denz exhibits good ripeness as well as plenty of dark black cherry and chocolaty espresso notes, 14% natural alcohol, and a medium-bodied, savory mouthfeel. It should drink well for 5-7 years.

Score: 87 - 89 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2019

On the exotic side, with rather ripe blueberry, açaí berry and chocolate notes allied to a rich, creamy frame. Ample toast on the finish, but it's integrated in texture. Seems to have pulled off an ambitious style for this vintage.

Score: 88 - 91 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

This appears over-extracted on the nose with prune and raisin notes. The palate is sweet and extracted but astringent towards the finish.

Score: 80 - 82 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Deep colour. Jammy fruit then firm acidity and a hard finish.

Score: 15 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2014-2018

This is tannic and fresh with a pretty depth of fruit and firm yet polished tannins. Intense. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Old vines with about 40 years of age. First year was 2009.

Score: 89 - 90 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

This blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc from proprietors Gerard and Chantal Perse (the illustrious Michel Rolland is the consultant) is one of the reference points for what can be achieved in the Cotes de Castillon. A sleeper of the vintage, this outstanding effort hit 14.2% natural alcohol. It possesses a dense purple color as well as notes of lead pencil shavings, ink, camphor, crème de cassis and sweet mulberry fruit. Medium to full-bodied and dense, it completely over-delivers for its modest pedigree. Enjoy it over the next decade.

Score: 90 - 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2022

8 ha in Ste-Colombe with similar soil to Pavie Decesse (clay over limestone). Very dark, a little figgy on the nose. Same dark ripeness on the palate with chalky dense tannins. Dense, very firm and dry. Unyielding but plenty to come. Just fresh enough. Very thick texture says leave me alone.

Score: 16 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2026

This has an exotic, dark, sappy feel to its plum sauce, melted licorice snap and blueberry paste notes. Ample spice through the well-toasted finish. Ambitious style that still needs to knit a little bit.

Score: 87 - 90 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Tasted at Château Pavie, the Clos Lunelles has a very ripe, quite exotic bouquet with dark plum and Christmas cake aromas. The palate is full-bodied with firm, grippy dry tannins and a lot of new oak (60%) that is tending to smother the fruit profile on the finish. Hopefully this will soften by the time of bottling. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 87 - 89 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Slightly oxidized sample so tired, pruney fruit. Plenty of substance but a bit disjointed. Oak on the finish.

Score: 15 - 16 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2017-2022

A gorgeous wine with blueberry and cassis. Full-bodied, with chewy yet polished tannins. Beautiful. This is really impressive. Almost as good as 2009.

Score: 91 - 92 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

From Chateau l’Eglise Clinet’s proprietor, Denis Durantou, this big time sleeper of the vintage may be even better than the 2009 Montlandrie. The dark ruby/purple-colored 2011 appears to have hit every sweet spot on the palate, offering lots of plum, black currant, incense and floral notes. With a velvety palate, attractive opulence and terrific fruit intensity (but no hard edges), this is a hedonistic as well as intellectually pleasing wine that sells for a song. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.

Score: 88 - 90 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2018

75% Merlot (harvested 20-23 September), 25% Cabernet Franc (24-26 September), 50% new oak. Deep inky black cherry. Purple rim. Again that red fruit on the nose but also a light graphite edge. Cool and juicy and less dry than the Amélisse though the tannins are there and there's some oak in evidence.

Score: 15 - 16 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2021

Lots of bouncy acidity here, with a nice range of blue and black fruits and and mouthwatering pain d'Épices note on the toasted finish.

Score: 88 - 91 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot picked from 20th until 23rd September and 25% Cabernet Franc picked between 24th and 26th September aged in 50% new oak. It has a very lifted bouquet with mulberry fruit, a touch of oyster shell and orange blossom. It unfurls nicely over five minutes, for this is certainly a sample that needs time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip on the entry. It is a bold Cotes de Castillon wine, quite sinewy with firm grip, but it keeps it freshness from start to finish. Very fine. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

From the Denis Durantou (l'Eglise-Clinet) stable. Firm, forceful and structured in style. Hint of Saint-Emilion from St-Christophe-des-Bardes. Good value.

Score: 15 - 16 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2015-2022