CHÂTEAU MOULIN HAUT LAROQUE

The deep purple-colored 2018 Château Moulin Haut Laroque reveals a ripe, sexy bouquet of blackberry liqueur, melted licorice, incense, and violets. Medium to full-bodied, plush, and textured on the palate, it's nicely balanced and has the freshness of the vintage with its good acidity. It's certainly the ripest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted, but it stays pure, fresh, and seamless on the palate. My money is on it surpassing the 2016 and 2017. Rating: 89-91 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2019)

Intense purple to the point of being black. Intense black fruit, both charry and full of cassis. Spice and dark chocolate. Incredibly concentrated and powerful with a bit of heat. So concentrated it is hard to taste but the fruit is all there. Their 5% Malbec helped keep the pH down a little, apparently. Thick but very smooth tannins. Well rounded, but take small sips – it is almost too concentrated. Drinking range: 2023 - 2030 Rating: 16.5 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2019)

This is very tight and already integrated. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and dark-chocolate, hazelnut and blueberry character. Lovely finish. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2019)

The blend here is 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. It has a dark, brooding, concentrated character on the nose, with toasted plum and a peppered oak dressing. The palate is pure, fresh, bright and textured, with a lovely polished substance, creamed black plum and black cherry, with a pretty violet lift, underpinned by some serious tannins. These are tightly knit, rich and grippy, and intertwine nicely with the fresh acidity. This is pure and polished, and laden with tannic grip, and it has excellent potential. Rating: 93-95 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2019)