Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month - July 2023

Caillou Blanc 2020 - "This is an confident and attractive Caillou Blanc, showing soft apricot and white pear flesh through the mid palate. Not hugely varietal, it is more about the texture of the wine, with bitter almonds on the finish that give both pep and focus." Jane Anson, Decanter, Bordeaux Primeur Week (04/30/2021) Rating: 92

Virginie de Valandraud Blanc 2019 - "Notes of sweet orchard fruit, lemongrass, confit citrus and new oak introduce the 2019 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, richly layered wine that remains bright and precise, concluding with a chalky finish." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (4/7/2022), Rating: 91, Drink: 2021-2025

Château Moulin Saint-Georges 2018 - "Composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Moulin Saint-Georges has a medium to deep garnet-purple color, rolling effortlessly out of the glass with notes of black cherry compote, blueberry preserves and ripe plum, plus touches of pencil shavings and fallen leaves. The medium-bodied palate is coated with crunchy black fruits, supported by a racy line and just enough textural friction, finishing long and savory. It's delicious right now, but I suspect 5-7 years of cellaring is going to reveal a whole other pleasure level." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (3/31/2021), Rating: 93+, Drink: 2023-2040

"The 2018 Moulin Saint-Georges has a broody, introspective bouquet, so I allowed it 90–120 minutes to open. It reveals enticing blackberry, seaweed and light graphite notes with aeration, perhaps a little more sophisticated than recent vintages of the Vauthier family’s estate. The immediate impression on the palate is the texture, which is satin-like and very harmonious. Veins of blue fruit infuse the black, and blood orange surfaces toward the finish, which is almost Burgundy in style. A wonderful Moulin Saint-Georges that will be difficult to resist."- Neal Martin, Vinous (3/2021) Rating: 93, Drink: 2023-2040

Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2017 - "Offering an Haut-Brion-like level of purity and precision, the 2017 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion (41% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon) sports a vivid purple color as well as perfumed notes of blueberries, blackberries, unsmoked tobacco, crushed violets, and spring flowers. It’s not a blockbuster in the mold of the 2015 or 2016 (or 2018), but it has medium to full body, a beautiful elegance and purity, notable minerality, and an exceptional finish. It opens up with time in the glass, and I was able to follow a bottle for 3 days without it ever showing a hint of oxidation. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 30 years or more. Guillaume Pouthier and consultant Stephane Derenoncourt have unquestionably raised the quality from this estate, and this 2017 ranks with the gems of Pessac as well as all of Bordeaux." -Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, Rating: 94, Maturity: 2024-2055