Roederer no longer owns Beausejour, so this is now their only estate in St-Estèphe, at which they are currently building a new winery. The 2018 is highly appealing, with rich plum fruits and firm but flexible tannins. You get the slightest trace of heat but the evident concentration is well handled and has a gourmet edge. This is an excellent choice for drinking a little earlier than others in the appellation. 1% Cabernet Franc finishes the blend. 3.65pH. 92 points

49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. The last two varieties are either very old or very young. Owners Champagne Louis Roederer are investing in a new cellar here, says Pichon Lalande`s technical director Nicolas Glumineau. Black core. Perfumed, lightly floral black fruit. Black tea leaves. Charry and dark on the palate but the tannins, while dry and firm, are not monolithic and allow the wine to flow across the palate. Lovely savoury, cool black fruit, fine, smooth texture. Darkly aromatic, cedary scent on the palate. Mouth-watering and satisfying even in embryo. Just a little heat on the very end. So not ready for tasting… 17 points

Composed of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 de Pez rocks up with bold notes of crushed black and red currants, warm plums and mulberries with hints of unsmoked cigars, bay leaves and black pepper plus a touch of black olives. Medium to full-bodied with an approachable, fine-grained frame, it has just enough freshness and a lively lift on the finish. 91-93 points

This barrel sample presents a fresh nose, full of perfumed summer hedgerow fruits reminiscent of damson and blackcurrant, all wrapped up in a little tobacco-tinged note of oak. The palate shows a corresponding confidence of substance, with a firm grip of tannins supporting a layer of rich, peppery and grilled dark-berry fruits. An impre ssive style, simply laden with structure and potential, and a sure sign of the character of the vintage in this appellation. Well done. 92-94 points

The 2018 de Pez is especially rich in 2018, with a surprising level of textural richness and overall intensity. Black cherry, plum, licorice, chocolate, violet, spice and leather give the 2018 myriad layers of nuance. Super-ripe, dense and exotically beautiful, the 2018 will drink well right out of the gate. In this vintage, the tannins are especially ripe and silky. The en primeur sample is 100% new oak, but the final blend will be one-third each new, one year-old and two year-old barrels. The blend is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. This is an especially racy expression of Saint-Estèphe, but there is plenty of savoriness and structure as well. 89-92 points