2018 Château Marquis d'Alesme Margaux 3e Grand Cru classé

94-96 Lisa Perotti-Brown: "The 2018 Marquis d'Alesme Becker is from the lieu-dit Les Terrasses de Margaux. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has 14.5% alcohol. It is to be aged 18 months in 65% new and 35% two-year-old barrels. Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with bold, expressive black cherries, warm plums, crème de cassis and red roses scents with touches of baking spices, potpourri and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and opulent, it completely fills the palate with hedonic black fruit preserves and spices, framed by firm, velvety tannins and finishing with fantastic length." (in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)

Jeb Dunnuck: "A rock star Margaux that should be snatched up by readers, the 2018 Château Marquis D'Alesme reveals a dense purple hue as well as ripe, sexy notes of blackcurrants, spicy oak, tobacco leaf, earth, and cedar. Deep, full-bodied, and gorgeously concentrated, it has velvety tannins, a layered, mouthcoating texture, and a great finish. It's a baby, but wow, what a wine. Hide bottle for 5-7 years if you can (you'll be forgiven for opening a bottle early) and it's going to evolve for 30-40 years." (www.jebdunnuck.com)

94-95 James Suckling: "This is a wonderful wine with dark berries, wet earth and dark tea. Full body, firm and striking tannins and a long, flavorful finish." (www.jamessuckling.com)

93-96 WineSpectator: "Plush and enticing, with a caressing feel to the layers of blueberry, raspberry and blackberry puree flavors. Light black tea and mesquite accents add cut and range on the finish. Long and gorgeous."

"Gorgeous mouthfeel right from the first sip, with a velvety, fine-grained texture that lets the range of dark plum, black currant and blackberry fruit flavors splay out without losing focus, while mouthwatering black tea, alder and mineral notes wait gracefully in reserve, showing just a hint, for now, of what they can do on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038." (www.winespectator.com)