Bordeaux 2022 En Primeur
Welcome to our Bordeaux 2022 en primeur offer. This year, we have offered over one hundred wines, the majority of which you will find below. For reasons of space, we have focused on our top recommendations from the vintage. We pride ourselves on giving a wealth of information about each château.
Download a PDF version of the offer here
SEE ALL THE RELEASES & FULL INFORMATION HERE
Introduction to the 2022 Bordeaux vintage
The 2022 Bordeaux vintage is excellent in quality. With bottle age, many of the wines may turn out to be the best-ever from their estates. The red wines have full, powerful tannins and moderately high alcohol levels, but on the palate, they are bursting with energy and freshness, with fine acidity and complex minerality. Brilliant wines were made on both sides of the Gironde. Quality was high in general, but the wines are not uniformly outstanding, with terroir and human decision making both important.
Whilst many châteaux have released at a 20-30% premium on last year, we still think there are lots that offer excellent value, considering their absolute quality compared to their peers and to previous vintages. There are second wines being made today that equal the grands vins of twenty, or possibly even ten years ago. The best 2022-vintage wines are also likely to be sought-after in future years and serious collectors will want them in their cellars.
The Growing Season
The extreme heat in 2022 led to comparisons with the 2003 growing season, but stylistically, the ‘22s have almost nothing in common with that vintage. The heat was manifested in the wildfires that affected over 26,000 hectares in the Gironde in August. We were all expecting big, heavy wines with lots of ‘solar’ influence. When the first reports arrived of fresh, energetic reds with great balance, we were a little sceptical and it wasn’t until we arrived at the end of April to taste that we could quite believe how they had turned out.
2022 was an exceptionally dry year, although the groundwater levels were high at the outset, after decent winter rainfall. In the critical growing season (May-Sep), just 278mm of rain fell, 30% less than in 2019 and around 50% less than in ‘20. The dry conditions produced small, thick-skinned berries with far less juice than usual. As one winemaker put it, usually they expect 2/3rds juice to 1/3rd skins and pulp, whereas this year it was the other way round. Consequently, the harvest was smaller.
At Cheval Blanc and several other wineries, we learnt that, although there were extremes of heat in 2022, these came in a series of temperature spikes, interspersed with periods of cooler weather. Furthermore, the nighttime temperatures were lower. This diurnal variation gave the vines respite from the high heat, slowing their physiology, and allowing for complex phenolic (flavour) ripeness to develop, as well as physiological ripeness.
Although this made perfect sense, for us, it still did not explain why the wines were so fresh…not just relative to the expectation of a hot year like ’22, but to any year.
A meeting with one the winemakers at Cos d’Estournel put things into place. Several producers mentioned vine ‘memory’ and adaptation, but our host at Cos was the first to explain it in detail. The heatwave of 2003 was an extreme event, without precedent, following the largely cool, damp 2002 vintage. By contrast, following the hot years of 2018, ‘19 and ’20 (and, to a lesser extent, ’21), the vines have adapted in various ways, for instance, producing smaller leaf canopies that lose less to transpiration.
As trailing plants, vines are by nature adaptive to their environment (clambering around trees etcetera). Epigenetic changes can alter the way plant DNA expresses itself in a very short space of time, with lasting effects, even though the DNA itself remains the same.
Human behaviour has also adapted, an example being how many estates had acclimatised in previous vintages to having large teams of pickers available, to harvest early. This turned out to be the earliest Bordeaux harvest since records began. Deciding when to pick and how to handle the wine in the winery to avoid over-extraction were key.
The Market for 2022 Bordeaux
The 2022 harvest was around 15% down in volume on the 10-year average.[1] In 2022, 550 million bottles of Bordeaux were made, compared with an average of 770 million in the noughties. This is partly due to less production of bulk wines, but the top châteaux are also reducing the amount of wine made in search of quality. Another factor effecting supply is that the châteaux are releasing less and less stock en primeur each year, retaining more to sell as bottled wine.
Our experience of releases with bottle age, for example Château Palmer’s “10 years on” and new all new vintages of Château Latour, suggests that this stock will be at a significant premium when it does come to market. Our best advice would be to take advantage of the plethora of cru classé wines with very high scores and long cellaring potential at £300-£700 per dozen. You will find many of these, and wines at all price levels, in our recommendations below.
Antony Irvine
SEE ALL THE RELEASES & FULL INFORMATION HERE
| RED | 2022 | Château Angelus | 75cl | £2,148 per case of 6 | Château Angelus 2022 / / 75cl £2,148 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"This estate's shift in the direction of gentler extraction and more reductive, less overtly oaky élevage continues, and this extreme vintage only underlines that. Fermented at cool temperatures (20 to 23 degrees Celsius), and with an increasing proportion of the wine's Cabernet Franc component matured in large wooden foudres, the 2022 Angélus wafts from the glass with deep aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of iris, licorice and pencil lead. Full-bodied, deep and seamless, with a layered core of cool, vibrant fruit, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish, it's a brilliant young wine in the making. The 2022 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"So many beautiful primary fruit aromas. Al dente. Peaches. Very floral. Aromatic. Full-bodied and extremely fine tannins with length and beauty that show incredible depth. Superb brightness and reality. Exciting. Cabernet franc freshness and dynamics come through now, even though the blend is 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Angludet | 75cl | £324 per case of 12 | Château Angludet 2022 / / 75cl £324 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The Bordelais machine has already begun to alienate potential consumers with exaggerated claims to the effect that 2022 is "the best vintage ever"; yet there are some wines that do actually appear to merit such hyperbole, and the 2022 D'Angludet is one of them. Offering up deep aromas of inky cassis, plums, pencil lead and subtle spices, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a broad attack, ripe acids and a supple, seamless profile, concluding with an expansive finish. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The intensity of the violet-edged colour extraction is pretty remarkable in the Médoc, and this manages to get the balance right between intensity and appeal, alongside vibrant raspberry, brushed damson and bilberry fruit, given lift by pomegranate and and passion fruit, and a curl of smoked earth. One to look out for, should be great value. 35% amphoras, 65% barrels for ageing. 94 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Angludet | Magnum | £339 per case of 6 | Château Angludet 2022 / / Magnum £339 per case of 6 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Ausone | 75cl | £1,700 per case of 3 | Château Ausone 2022 / / 75cl £1,700 per case of 3 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Ausone unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and cherries complemented by hints of crushed mint and spices, framed by a lavish patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and rather muscular, it's deep and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by a serious chassis of rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Given its imposing levels of structuring extract, it will require patience. 94-96+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Ausone is dense, powerful and quite brooding in demeanor. Dark-toned fruit, spice, leather, licorice and dried herbs add to an impression of somber intensity. In so many vintages Ausone is immediately alluring, but the 2022 is a potent, backward wine that is going to require many years to be at its finest. The blend is equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Harvest took place between September 5 and 9 for the Merlot and September 21 and 27 for the Cabernet Franc. The 2022 is a decidedly hedonistic Ausone. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Ausone was picked from 5 to 30 September and matured for 20 months in French oak. These aromatics take a little time to open in the glass. Once they do, they are precise with wilted, iris flowers infusing the black fruit and background pencil box and incense hints. The palate is medium-bodied with silver bead acidity threaded through the blackberry and bilberry fruit. Fresh and focused, this Ausone possesses a structured finish with a pinch of black pepper on the finish. Elegant in style, this Ausone almost creeps up o n you and seduces, intellectual and persistent in the mouth. Upon departing, I couldn't help wondering if I had witnessed this Saint-Émilion demonstrates its full potential, hence the plus sign against my score. 14.4% alcohol. 95-97.5 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The Grand Vin from this hallowed terroir is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was fermented in wooden vats and will spend 20 months in new barrels. Its saturated purple hue is followed by an up-front, sexy, full-bodied Ausone offering a wealth of fruit as well as notes of black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of spring flowers. Concentrated and incredibly pure, with silky tannins on the palate, it has the texture and fruit to almost shine even now but should still evolve for 30 years or more. 96-98 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"This is really open with bright and flamboyant aromas of cassis and cherries. Blueberries. Some peaches as well. I don't remember a young Ausone like that. Full-bodied with flamboyant fruit and energy. Very fine tannins. They are there but you don't feel them. Supple but very fruity. And intensely fruity at the end. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Intense and concentrated, with fennel, aniseed and liqourice root. Where Chapelle d'Ausone celebrates a wave of opulence in the vintage, this focuses more clearly on black tea, slate, intense black chocolate. Precise and well cut, this is creamy and exuberant without sacrificing elegance and balance. Amazing depths of flavour and grip. A true En Primeur sample where you know you are a long long way from this being ready to drink. The first year, incidentally, of not Premier Grand Cru Classé A, although the ranking has not been featured on the label since 2012. No irrigation at Ausone. 100% new oak. Harvest September 5 to 27. 7.25ha. Conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Pauline Vauthier owner and winemaker. Potential 100. 98-100 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Ausone | 75cl | £3,400 per case of 6 | Château Ausone 2022 / / 75cl £3,400 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Ausone unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and cherries complemented by hints of crushed mint and spices, framed by a lavish patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and rather muscular, it's deep and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by a serious chassis of rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Given its imposing levels of structuring extract, it will require patience. 94-96+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Ausone is dense, powerful and quite brooding in demeanor. Dark-toned fruit, spice, leather, licorice and dried herbs add to an impression of somber intensity. In so many vintages Ausone is immediately alluring, but the 2022 is a potent, backward wine that is going to require many years to be at its finest. The blend is equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Harvest took place between September 5 and 9 for the Merlot and September 21 and 27 for the Cabernet Franc. The 2022 is a decidedly hedonistic Ausone. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Ausone was picked from 5 to 30 September and matured for 20 months in French oak. These aromatics take a little time to open in the glass. Once they do, they are precise with wilted, iris flowers infusing the black fruit and background pencil box and incense hints. The palate is medium-bodied with silver bead acidity threaded through the blackberry and bilberry fruit. Fresh and focused, this Ausone possesses a structured finish with a pinch of black pepper on the finish. Elegant in style, this Ausone almost creeps up o n you and seduces, intellectual and persistent in the mouth. Upon departing, I couldn't help wondering if I had witnessed this Saint-Émilion demonstrates its full potential, hence the plus sign against my score. 14.4% alcohol. 95-97.5 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The Grand Vin from this hallowed terroir is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was fermented in wooden vats and will spend 20 months in new barrels. Its saturated purple hue is followed by an up-front, sexy, full-bodied Ausone offering a wealth of fruit as well as notes of black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of spring flowers. Concentrated and incredibly pure, with silky tannins on the palate, it has the texture and fruit to almost shine even now but should still evolve for 30 years or more. 96-98 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"This is really open with bright and flamboyant aromas of cassis and cherries. Blueberries. Some peaches as well. I don't remember a young Ausone like that. Full-bodied with flamboyant fruit and energy. Very fine tannins. They are there but you don't feel them. Supple but very fruity. And intensely fruity at the end. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Intense and concentrated, with fennel, aniseed and liqourice root. Where Chapelle d'Ausone celebrates a wave of opulence in the vintage, this focuses more clearly on black tea, slate, intense black chocolate. Precise and well cut, this is creamy and exuberant without sacrificing elegance and balance. Amazing depths of flavour and grip. A true En Primeur sample where you know you are a long long way from this being ready to drink. The first year, incidentally, of not Premier Grand Cru Classé A, although the ranking has not been featured on the label since 2012. No irrigation at Ausone. 100% new oak. Harvest September 5 to 27. 7.25ha. Conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Pauline Vauthier owner and winemaker. Potential 100. 98-100 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Beaumont | 75cl | £120 per case of 12 | Château Beaumont 2022 / / 75cl £120 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Beaumont exhibits somewhat wild aromas of rich cherries and berries mingled with smoked meats and saddle leather. Medium to full-bodied, chewy and chunky, it reflects the limitations of young vines on well-drained soils in a vintage like this. 87-89 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Slightly chewy with fresh blackcurrant and berry character. Medium body. Fresh. 90-91 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Beaumont has a classy bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow, iodine and subtle iris flower scents. The oak is neatly integrated, and it retains delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, fleshy and almost creamy in texture. With good depth and light spice, the 2022 is cohesive on the finish. This will be a thoroughly enjoyable Beaumont that should age well in bottle. Tasted thrice with consistent notes. 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Layers of sinewy tannins and eucalyptus spice. Opens to show baked earth, tobacco leaf and liquorice, cassis fruits laced with espresso, edges of campfire, a good quality wine that has concentration without strangling. Anthony Yaigre director. A value pick. 28hl/h yield. Harvest September 19 to October 5. 92 points." Jane Anson |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Beausejour Becot | 75cl | £390 per case of 6 | Château Beausejour Becot 2022 / / 75cl £390 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"This has double the amount of Cabernet Franc in the blend as of this year after vineyard restructuring, and the chalkiness of the limestone helps underline the curling peony and violet floral character on the opening beats, balancing the intensity of the vintage. Plenty of blueberry and damson fruit, with bitter cocoa bean and coffee, saffran and smoked dried herbs. Highly successful. No irrigation, instead used cover crops, and reduced the height of the canopy by 15cm to limit the transevaporation. Cold maceration for 10-15 days, 55% new oak, 30% oak casks, and amphoras. Jean de Cournuaud technical director. 33hl/h yield after frost impact, harvest September 5 to 23. The new cellar will be ready for the end of August for the 2023 vintage. 96 points" janeanson.com------"Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot aways impressed, and I think it's clearly one of the finest vintages for this château. Including more Cabernet Franc than usual and a blend of 76% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, its ruby/purple hue is followed by a pure, ultra-fine, seamless Saint-Emilion with a wonderful core of black raspberry fruits supported by beautifully complex notes of chalky minerality, flowery incense, tobacco, and graphite. Medium to full bodied, with beautiful tannins and a great finish, this is never the most massive or concentrated wine in a vintage, yet it shines for its incredible sense of elegance, finesse, and complexity. The élevage here will span 18 months in 55% new French oak, and this hit 14.5% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.55. It will drink well for 30+ years. 95-97+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"With the 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot, this estate has taken another step up the ranks in Saint-Émilion, producing a wine of breathtaking perfume and harmony that will be worth a special effort to seek out. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, violets, lilac, raw cocoa and forest floor, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, with an ample and enveloping core of weightless fruit, beautifully powdery tannins and a long, saline, resonant finish. Recently planted massale selection Cabernet Franc is now producing meaningful yields at this address, so this cépage now represents 22% of the blend, complemented by 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot. The team harvested only in the mornings, picking Merlot from 5-18 September and Cabernet from 13-23 September, sub-block by sub-block. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot has a bit more Cabernet Franc than most years, which comes through immediately in the wine's aromatic profile. Dark, rich and expressive., the 2022 is seriously impressive. Crushed flowers, herbs, mint, blood orange and red-toned fruit all build into a sumptuous, majestic finish that just explodes on the back end. The 2022 is one of the very finest editions of Beau-Séjour Bécot I can remember tasting. It is a great, great wine. 2032-2052. 98-100 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Berliquet | 75cl | £274 per case of 6 | Château Berliquet 2022 / / 75cl £274 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Berliquet is super-concentrated, dark and ripe, but also without the forbidding tannins of the past. Succulent plum fruit, mocha, licorice and dried herbs are some of the many notes that grace this gorgeous Saint-Émilion. It will be interesting to see where the 2022 ends up post élevage. Today it is full-bodied and quite opulent. Tasted four times. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Lots of dark and crushed stones with blackberries and black olives. Dark earth. Full-bodied and more concentrated with very intense fruit and chewy tannins. Velvety and slightly rough, but all there. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Dark damson colour, beautiful sense of upliflt and freshness, with mint leaf, sage, wild rosemary, cassis fruits. Slate texture to the wine here, feels carved out and crafted, with edges of austerity that constrict the cassis and raspberry fruit. 44% new oak, 8 amphoras (around 10% of overall), the rest in one year old barrel, 45hl/h yield. Great stuff. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Berliquet is brilliant, bursting with aromas of plums, wild berries and lilac, followed by a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and vibrant palate that's deep and mineral. It's likely to be another of the vintage's more attractive en primeur proportions. This estate just goes from strength to strength—and that's before its new winery has been constructed! One of the most significant changes has been opting to retain higher canopies, which means that the fruiting zone of rows planted along the slope are now shaded, preserving freshness. 94-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Candied cherries, tapenade, violets, and floral notes all emerge from the 2022 Château Berliquet, a medium to full-bodied, seamless Saint-Emilion that brings plenty of ripeness while staying nicely balanced, light on its feet, and elegant. Based on 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, from yields of 31.2 hectoliter per hectare, it will spend 16 months in 44% new French oak, with a portion of the blend aged in amphora. This isn't the most powerful or opulent wine in the vintage, but it's as seamless and graceful as they come. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Beychevelle | 75cl | £430 per case of 6 | Château Beychevelle 2022 / / 75cl £430 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Silky and supple fruit and texture, this is impressive, with carefully built architecture, and clear ageing potential. Conveys the creamy ripe fruits of the vintage but sets them in a serious tannic frame, with bitter chocolate and slate character. Heat climbs on the finish, but the St Julien fresh mint leaf signoff comes in to keep things balanced. 36hl/h yield, 60% new oak. 93 points" janeanson.com------"Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and cassis mingled with hints of violets and licorice, framed by creamy new oak, the 2022 Beychevelle is medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a fleshy core of fruit framed by rich, unusually suave and polished tannins in the context of recent vintages at this address. It's a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, with a pH of 3.85, quite typical for this address. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The tannins are very well-integrated with lovely bright fruit of currants and blackberries. Medium to full body. Vivid and pretty. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 4% petit verdot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Beychevelle is fabulous. In most recent vintages Beychevelle has been a flamboyant, extravagant Saint-Julien, but in 2022 is its surprisingly vibrant and fresh, almost shockingly so. Ripe red cherry/plum fruit, blood orange, rose petal and spice are all beautifully delineated. More than anything, I admire the wine's freshness and drive, qualities that have not often been present in recent vintages. That makes the 2022 one of my favorite recent vintages here. Tasted three times. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Beychevelle was picked between 12-29 September at 36hL/ha, matured in 70% new oak. It has an intense bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and touches of cassis and violet. Not as ostentatious as some other Saint-Julien wines at this early stage, but delineated, and it positively brims with energy. The palate is medium bodied with sappy black fruit framed by beautifully-sculpted tannins. The 2022 is very harmonious, satin-like in texture, and gently fans out toward the finish. It ends up being one of the most seductive Beychevelles I have tasted from barrel, one not to be overlooked. Chapeau, Mr. White! 14.08% alcohol. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"I was able to taste the 2022 Château Beychevelle on multiple occasions, and it never failed to impress me. Based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that will see 18 months in 70% new oak, it's one of those wines that makes you stop and say "wow" due to its purity, depth, and texture. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as lots of blueberry and black cherry fruits, it's full-bodied and has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, building yet gorgeous tannins, and subtle background notes of crushed violets, flowers, and graphite. This is a sensational effort from director Philippe Blanc. 95-97+ points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Branaire Ducru | 75cl | £474 per case of 12 | Château Branaire Ducru 2022 / / 75cl £474 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Branaire-Ducru is a powerhouse, almost unnaturally so for this Saint-Julien, which is usually a more understated wine. A blast of dark plum fruit makes a pretty strong first impression. Licorice, cloves, spice, menthol and chocolate fill out the layers. Readers should expect a concentrated, virile Saint-Julien with compelling aromatic presence. In this warm, low-yielding vintage, Branaire is quite the brooding powerhouse. It will be interesting to see if more finesse develops in time. Impressive. Tasted two times. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"An absolute gem of a Saint-Julien, the 2022 Château Branaire-Ducru clocks in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Pure cassis, black raspberries, spicy wood, and dried flower notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a silky, elegant, beautifully balanced mouthfeel, and terrific tannins. In addition, it has a sense of freshness and purity that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's clearly the finest wine I've tasted from this château, which going forward merits serious attention. 95-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A brilliant wine that's the finest young vintage I've tasted at this Saint-Julien estate, the 2022 Branaire-Ducru wafts from the glass with aromas of violets, blackberries, sweet cassis, licorice and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional palate that's succulent, sapid and perfumed, framed by supple tannins and concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. It's a blend of 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot that checks in at a healthy pH of 3.65. Why is it so good this year? In addition to the quality of the vintage, the new gravity-flow winery means fruit can be handled more gently, and picked more precisely, sub-block by sub-block, as the team now have fully 63 vats at their disposal, almost double their capacity through 2020. Given the Maroteaux family's sensible approach to pricing, this is likely to number among the must-purchase wines of the 2022 vintage, and it comes warmly recommended. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Branaire Ducru was harvested from 12-24 September at 34.5hL/ha, the blend representative of their vineyard plantings. This feels refined and focused on the nose with plush red berry fruit, dried rose petals and orange rind scents Classic Branaire. The palate is fresh on the entry with pliant tannins. It's very well structured to the degree that it conveys a sense of symmetry. Lightly spiced toward the finish with notes of graphite lingering on the aftertaste, this represents an excellent Branaire Ducru that will age over many years and will surely appeal to those seeking more classical Saint-Julien. Tasted three times and was more impressive each time. Branaire-Ducru continues its upward trajectory under proprietor François-Xavier Marateaux. 14.3% alcohol. Drinking Window 2030-2065. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The fine and intense tannins are very impressive because they fold beautifully into the wine, with blackcurrants, black cherries, hints of chocolate and hazelnuts. It's full-bodied with tight and focused fruit and a long and classy finish. Fantastic definition to this. Fresh. 60.5% cabernet sauvignon, 31.5% merlot, 5.5% cabernet franc, and 2.5% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Calon Ségur | 75cl | £610 per case of 6 | Château Calon Ségur 2022 / / 75cl £610 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"I tasted the 2022 Calon Ségur two times during my recent trip to Bordeaux. On both occasions it was forbiddingly tannic, much moreso than most wines of the year. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, cured meat, leather, spice and tobacco lend intensity, but the incisive nature of the tannins never settles down. Perhaps élevage will help. We will see. My impression is that the property really struggles in excessively hot years. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"This is powerful, underlining how much last year's more softly sculpted wine was a departure from recent vintages of Calon, and back in my mind to the complicated 2018 vintage, where it was overly marked by the heat of the vintage. This is full on concentrated fruit, with strong tannins that build through the palate. Plenty of complexity with black truffles, cassis, olive paste, sandalwood and fresh mint on the finish, along with cloves and cinnammon spice. 3.8ph, 100% new oak, 26hl/h yields. 53% Grand Vin, higher than usual. Vincent Millet technical director. Harvest September 6 to 27. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Calon-Ségur was cropped at 26hL/ha compared to 36hL/ha last year. Matured for 20 months in new oak, it has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and subtle tobacco scents. The 2022 is tight at first but opens with aeration (winemaker Vincent Millet remarked how the wine was much more expressive the week I tasted it in mid-April compared to the previous week). The palate is classically styled with impressive mid-palate depth. With strict tannins and multi-layered graphite-infused black fruit, this is reminiscent of some postwar Calon-Ségur's I have tasted. I wonder if slightly less vin de presse would have been better? Uncompromising, perhaps that might be its virtue, but it means that patience will be required. 2027-2055 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A very juicy red with redcurrant and creme de cassis as well as hints of nutmeg and cloves. It's full and polished with very pretty tannins that show length and focus. Traditional and typical for Calon with the tannin structure. A little closed today. But serious structure. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Calon-Ségur is another superb wine from this historic Saint-Estèphe third growth that began a comprehensive renaissance the better part of a decade ago. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with hints of fresh mint, burning embers, licorice and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific depth at the core, supple tannins and a long, saline finish. The blend consists of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Vincent Millet observed that "when you tasted the Merlot, you were under the impression that you were tasting Cabernet. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A wine that's going to flirt with perfection, the 2022 Château Calon Ségur is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, harvested between September 12 and 26, from yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare. Its deep purple hue is followed by a heavenly bouquet of cassis, smoke tobacco, flowery incense, and toasted spices. This ripe, sexy, full-bodied beauty has ultra-fine tannins, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a great finish. Its tannins, as well as its overall balance and purity, are just about off the charts, and this remarkable effort shows how successful the northern part of the Médoc was in 2022. Bravo! 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Canon | 75cl | £720 per case of 6 | Château Canon 2022 / / 75cl £720 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Canon was picked from 30 August to 22 September and is matured in 50% new oak for a planned 18 months. It has a beautifully-defined bouquet with plumes of blackberry, raspberry and subtle violet flower scents. The palate is very fresh on the entry, announcing a relatively linear Canon. The limestone terroir seeps into every pore of this Saint-Émilion. This is one of the more intellectual and saline Canon wines in recent years. A triumph in such a hot growing season, elevated by its limestone soils. 2032-2075. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The inky intensity of the colour might make you worry that the limestone signature will be swamped, but it is very much guiding proceedings on the palate here. Expect waves of red roses, rhubarb, pink grapefruit, salinity, but also real intensity, there is a depth and complexity that quite stunning as the wine expands through the palate, with creamy blue and black fruits, and a mouthwatering oyster shell finish. 45hl/h, 3.5ph, 50% new oak, with four larger-sized oak casks. A standout in the vintage, more proof of the exceptional level that Canon is playing at right now. 50% new oak. 98 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Canon is elegant and sensual, with virtually no sensation of tannin. A wine with no beginning and end, Canon is totally seamless. All the Canon signatures are there, but woven together in an effortless, gracious expression of this site. It's the sort of wine that is about subtlety and nuance more than power. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and spice caress the palate, but ultimately, Canon is above all else a wine of exquisite detail. Haute couture. Tasted three times. 96-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Endless on the palate with plenty of umami character. So Canon in its nature with plenty of fruit and fine tannins, yet almost weightless. The structure is all there. Electric. Long, long, long. 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com------"Tasted on three separate occasions (and I thought it had the potential to be a perfect wine on one of those), the 2022 Château Canon is an incredible wine in the making, and it might be the finest in the series starting in 2015. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc harvested between August 30 and September 22, it comes from yields of 45 hectoliters per hectare and hit 14.5% alcohol. The élevage will run 16-18 months in just 30% new French oak. As classy as they come, it has a beautiful perfume of red and blue fruits as well as notes of white flowers, truffly earth, woodsmoke, and forest floor. With incredible density, a multi-layered texture, ultra-fine tannins, and integrated acidity, this incredible Canon will evolve for 30-40 years. I finished my rough note on this with "Pure class." 97-99+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"From an estate that is delivering its greatest run of vintages since the superb Post War series that preceded the frosts of 1956, the 2022 Canon is a magical wine that will be worth every effort to track down. Wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, wild plums and cherries mingled with hints of bay leaf, spices and violets, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with huge levels of concentration, vibrant acids and beautifully refined tannins. Concluding with a long, saline finish, this pure, perfumed and ineffably complete Canon is built for the ages, even if its structural polish is such that it will be approachable at a surprisingly early age. 99-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Canon La Gaffeliere | 75cl | £390 per case of 6 | Château Canon La Gaffeliere 2022 / / 75cl £390 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Intense blackberry, raspberry, loganberry fruit chracter, love that this is ripe but not overly sweet, has confident sinewy and muscular tannins, well balanced by a ton of fresh fruit with juice and character. Great stuff, with waves of fragrant floral aromatics, and plenty of nuanced personality. Ludovic Neipperg technical director and owner. 47hl/h yield, certified organic since 2014. 40% new oak. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Canon La Gaffelière was picked from 6 to 22 September of 47hL/ha, with more Merlot this year and matured in 40% new oak. This lovely bouquet shows red cherry, wild strawberry, blood orange and light cedary scents. Utterly charming, as this Saint-Emilion so often is. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, slightly chalky in texture, and fresh with a vibrant limestone-driven finish. Excellence from a Saint-Emilion on that just never lets you down. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Canon La Gaffelière is bright, punchy and full of character. Blood orange, rose petal and spice overtones brighten a core of red/purplish fruit in Saint-Emilion that impresses with its saline intensity, energy and focus. If tasting this blind, would never say it is a wine from a warm, draught year. It will be interesting to see if the 2022 retains its youthful vibrancy through élevage. This is super promising. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Canon la Gaffelière exhibits aromas of raspberries and plums, complemented by notions of iris, rose petals, incense and burning embers. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's supple, suave and sophisticated, with a lively core of fruit, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière is brilliant stuff and should be snatched up by readers. Black cherries, iron, tapenade, and exotic floral notes all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a layered, opulent mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and no shortage of mid-palate depth or length on the finish. A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that will see 40% new oak, it's a flawlessly balanced, incredibly impressive Saint-Emilion that will have no problems competing with the 2019 and 2020. 95-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com-----"Redcurrants with dark chocolate and hints of fresh herbs like basil and thyme on the nose. Full-bodied with a beautiful center palate and a lovely fine tannin texture. Extremely long. Classy. 35% cabernet franc, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 50% merlot, From organically grown grapes. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cantemerle | 75cl | £266 per case of 12 | Château Cantemerle 2022 / / 75cl £266 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Intense in both colour and structure, a wine that knows how to make an impact, and it is carrying itself with confidence. Impressive, full of nuanced cassis and bilberry fruit, with liqourice and smoked earth, hints of richly spiced vanilla patisserie cream showing the ripeness of the vintage. This is good, a little abrupt on the finish with a bitter almond kick. Tight tannins at this point. 40% new oak for ageing. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The finest wine this estate has produced in some time is the 2022 Cantemerle, a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc that bursts from the glass with aromas of sweet blackberries, violets, rose petals and spices. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with an enveloping core of sweet, perfumed fruit framed by supple tannin, it concludes with a long, mouthwatering finish. The pH is a very healthy 3.6 this year, and yields were low at 29 hectoliters per hectare. 92-94 points William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"Currants, blackberries and hints of bark and forest floor. Medium-bodied with creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. Pretty balance to this. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Capbern | 75cl | £230 per case of 12 | Château Capbern 2022 / / 75cl £230 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Capbern is a wild, exotic wine. Super-ripe, red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and sweet spice are front and center. The tannins are a bit untamed at this stage; hopefully élevage will take care of that. Tasted two times. 89-91 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Attractive inky ruby colour, sculpted slightly heady iris flowers on the aromatics, opens to damson fruits, cocoa bean, liquorice root, slate, clear concentration and a flash of heat. Harvest began on September 6, earliest ever seen here, through to September 27. 26hl/h yields. 60% new oak. 91 points" janeanson.com------"Notes of dark berries and cherries mingled with licorice and loamy soil introduce the 2022 Capbern, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine framed by ripe, powdery tannins and concluding with a long, somewhat heady finish. It's a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, picked between the 6th and 27th of September. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Capbern was cropped at 26hL/ha between 6 and 27 September, a 20-day cuvaison and matured in 60% new oak for a planned 18 months. The Cabernet Sauvignon berries were tiny this year, which underlies why the Merlot comprises a higher percentage of the blend. It has an airy, floral bouquet with blackberries, wild strawberries and a touch of raspberry confit. There's an almost Pinot-like purity. The palate is medium-bodied with a grippy, peppery entry, full-bodied and muscular at the moment. I'm seeking a bit more grace here - perhaps this Saint-Estèphe is slightly over-revving on the finish? 2027-2047. 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A firm and tight red with blackberry and currant character. Medium body. Bright and savory. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com------"One of the more opulent, sexy wines in the vintage, the 2022 Château Capbern just about jumps out of the glass with its sweet red, blue, and black fruits as well as notions of chocolate, graphite, and leafy herbs. Full-bodied, concentrated, and textured on the palate, with ripe tannins, this stunning Saint-Estèphe is up there with the finest vintages I've tasted from this château. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Carlmagnus | 75cl | £120 per case of 12 | Château Carlmagnus 2022 / / 75cl £120 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Carlmagnus, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, derives from a 20-hectare vineyard on clay-limestone soils. Exhibiting aromas of violet, lilac, smoke and dark berries, it’s medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with a flinty, slightly reduced finish. 88-89+ points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com ------"Firm and structured with medium body. Notes of bay leaf, nut shell and chalk. The tannins are tight and lightly chewy. 91-92 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Chasse Spleen | 75cl | £292 per case of 12 | Château Chasse Spleen 2022 / / 75cl £292 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Chasse-Spleen was showing especially well, bursting with aromas of cassis and plums mingled with licorice and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with levels of texture and mid-palate amplitude unusual at this address in recent years, this supple, charming Moulis should offer a broad drinking window. 90-92+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Beautifully poised and well delivered black fruits here, and this is excellent quality, unusual spices of sweet cinnamon, vanilla bean, turmeric, gourmet edging, with depth and tannic grip. Great stuff, flashes of heat, but a ton of personality, and serious architecture that promises to age well. 40% new oak barrels for ageing. Now contains part of the vines from newly-purchased Château Brillette, with good quality Cabernet Sauvignon from gravel terroir, in place as of this 2022 blend vitage. 93 points" janeanson.com------"Firm and linear with medium to full body and chalky, slightly tight tannins. Hints of walnuts and dark berries at the end. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cheval Blanc | 75cl | £3,000 per case of 6 | Château Cheval Blanc 2022 / / 75cl £3,000 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"One of the stars of the vintage is the striking 2022 Cheval Blanc, a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon that bursts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, cherries and wild berries mingled with mint, orange zest, pencil lead, vine smoke and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's rich and gourmand, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and a long, saline, pungently perfumed finish. Harvest began on 29 August, with all the Merlot picked before the month was out, and the result is a wine that is as vibrant as it is lavish. 97-99+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"This is a wine that soars to new heights with its brightness and weightlessness. The balance of serene fruit that’s perfectly ripe. Full-bodied yet tight and polished where it seems delicate and compressed, with berry, chocolate and walnut character. The finish is endless and poised. Wine of the vintage? 53% merlot, 46% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Cheval Blanc is a lucid, deep purple color. With profound intensity on the nose, this Cheval offers blackcurrant, blue fruit, iris petals, crushed stone and incense aromas. It is blessed with breathtaking delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with seamless tannins. There is palpable verticality in this Cheval, almost "correct" and "strict", yet endowed with stunning depth and complexity. The Cabernets are clearly in the driving seat here and lend it Left Bank allure. Consequently, while it is not the most flamboyant Cheval Blanc I have tasted at this stage, it constitutes a wine for those serious about their Bordeaux. It will give the same satisfaction as when you finish reading a literary masterpiece. 98-100 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Clerc Milon | 75cl | £396 per case of 6 | Château Clerc Milon 2022 / / 75cl £396 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Clerc Milon is plump, juicy and vibrant, with terrific energy and tons of class. Sumptuous black cherry, gravel, licorice, menthol and spice are beautifully dialed up in this decidedly flamboyant edition of Clerc Milon. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Clerc Milon, matured in 55% new ook with 14.6% alcohol, has a very tightly-wound nose at the moment. There's good fruit concentration, but it is missing a bit of personality, unlike its stablemate d'Armailhac. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins and good grip. It's pretty dense and grainy in texture. With graphite on the aftertaste, this Pauillac conveys fine tension but will require several years of aging in bottle. I feel this is hiding its virtues at the moment. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Clerc Milon is beautiful, offering up aromas of cherries, raspberries and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's taut and lively, with a vibrant core of fruit framed by fine, chalky tannins. Its clay-limestone terroir lends it a distinctive signature that sets it apart from the rest of the portfolio. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The depths are evident in the velvety texture and colour, and it stretches out through the palate with slow confidence. Plenty of grip and supple tannins that cradle the cassis and bilberry fruit, studded with olive, cocoa bean, white pepper, slate, clear spice, intense phenolics and this is excellent quality. Caroline Artaud technical director. Old vine Carmanère no doubt helps add the spice and eucalyptus edge. 63% of production in this wine, 55% new oak, 3.83ph. 37hl/h yield. 95 points" janeanson.com------"As to the Grand Vin 2022 Château Clerc Milon, it reminds me of the 2018 with its full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant style. Cassis, graphite, espresso roast, and lead pencil notes define the aromatics, and it has a beautiful spine of acidity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It shows the ripe, exuberant yet structured style of the vintage beautifully. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenère, harvested between the 9th and 26th of September, with an alcohol content of 14.5%, a pH of 3.83, and an IPT of 74. The élevage here is 55% new French oak. Tasted multiple times with consistent notes. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Focused and bright with plenty of fruit but oranges and minerals in the mid-palate. Really fresh with a fresh bitterness. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Clerc Milon - Pastourelle de Clerc Milon | 75cl | £266 per case of 12 | Château Clerc Milon Pastourelle de Clerc Milon 2022 / / 75cl £266 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Pastorelle de Clerc Milon is deep in hue. It is bold and concentrated on the nose and unleashes copious black cherry and cassis aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and good grip. This is pretty tannic for a Pastorelle, with a saline, cracked black pepper-tinged finish and slight dryness. 87-89 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Deep colour, as you find across the region, inky purple, clearly high phenolics, this has intense cocoa bean and damson plum flavours, with lift and character, plenty of depth and intensity. It's a little short on the finish, with things closing down, and touch of fresh mushroom, 25.5% Pastrourelle, Caroline Artaud technical director. No new oak. Harvest September 9 to September 26. 91 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Pastourelle de Clerc Milon is a heady, exuberant wine that captures all of the richness of the year in its flamboyant personality. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice and sweet spice are all amplified nicely. The 2022 is an easygoing wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Pastourelle De Clerc Milon is a full-bodied, ripe, straight-up sexy second wine offering red and black fruits, an expansive, layered, seamless mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's going to shine right out of the gate. This second wine is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, and Petit Verdot, brought up all in used barrels. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Plenty of juicy fruit with blackcurrants, cherries and chocolate. Medium to full body. Juicy finish. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Climens | 75cl | £670 per case of 6 | Château Climens 2022 / / 75cl £670 per case of 6 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Clinet | 75cl | £490 per case of 6 | Château Clinet 2022 / / 75cl £490 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A very fine and polished red with silky tannins, medium body and a savory finish. Hints of hazelnut to the currant and berry fruit. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Clinet is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon picked from 6-21 September at around 34hL/ha. There were apparently many bunches, but the berries were small. Aged in 80% new oak and 20% 2nd fill barrels, the 2022 offers black fruit on the nose with traces of Japanese nori probably emanating from the Cabernet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well-judged acidity and a fine backbone that gently grips the mouth. This is a linear Pomerol with impressive delineation on the almost pastille-like finish. I appreciate this Clinet's persistence and discrete spiciness on the aftertaste. Excellent. But it is a vintage that requires time in bottle. 2030-2065. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Sleek, concentrated, red roses, violets, creamy smoked caramel, bilberry, cassis, blackberry pastilles, biscuit, mint leaf, great estate signature, maintains its sleek intense concentated and supremely classy character. Strong tannic build up, muscular and full of intent, with a fennel and oyster shell signoff. Ronan Laborde owner. 96 points" janeanson.com------"A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that represents the earliest harvest in this estate's history (beginning on September 6), the 2022 Clinet is a success, offering up aromas of cherries and dark berries mingled with hints of spices and a discreet patina of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, it's impressively vibrant, with a rich core of fruit framed by powdery tannins from judicious extraction. This has more in common with the more refined 2018 and 2019 vintages at this address than with the powerhouse 2020, and that is no mean feat in an even more extreme vintage. Bravo to Ronan Laborde and his team. 94-96+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Clos Fourtet | 75cl | £564 per case of 6 | Château Clos Fourtet 2022 / / 75cl £564 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Now incorporating the vineyards of the former Grand Murailles, the 2022 Clos Fourtet is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, rose petals, orange zest and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's deep and complete, with a layered core of vibrant fruit and a long, saline finish. This is another terrific wine from this 19-hectare vineyard situated on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, just outside the village. It's a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Clos Fourtet was picked from 9 to 27 September at 36hL/ha and vinified to a maximum of 24-26° Celsius. It has a gorgeous bouquet you could lose yourself in, with crushed strawberry, orange blossom and bunches of violet. The 40% new oak is extremely well integrated. The palate is refined with filigree tannins, one of the most mineral-driven Clos Fourtets I recall at this stage, with a sophisticated and harmonious finish. The prudent approach to the new oak pays rich dividends here. Mathieu Cuvelier and his team have overseen a sublime Saint-Émilion. 2030-2070. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"This is broad and opulent with a full body and fine-grained, velvety tannins. Deep dark fruit, crushed violets and spices. Structured, layered and really long. Wow. So long and refined with great clarity. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Mathieu Cuvelier marks 20 years of the Cuvelier family at Clos Fourtet with this vintage, and it's a wonderful attestation to the potential of limestone plateau location for coping with a changing climate in Bordeaux. Visually arresting in its deep plum and violet colour, with a luscious texture, and plenty of subtle red roses and peony floral aromatics. Creamy black and blue fruits, and sublimely well measured tannic extraction, with crunchy salinity on the finish, oyster shell and salt-flecked chocolate notes. Super smooth finish. First year with the addition of Les Grandes Murailles vineyard. Stéphane Derenoncourt and Jean-Claude Berrouet consultants (working together since 2009). Not too interventionist, no cold soaks here, natural yeasts, with whole bunch ferments for the young vines. Harvest September 9 to 27. 3.54ph. 40% new oak, 58% second-fill barrels, 2% amphoras. 98 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cos d'Estournel | 75cl | £1,116 per case of 6 | Château Cos d'Estournel 2022 / / 75cl £1,116 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Cos d'Estournel unwinds in the glass with aromas of sweet berries, plum liqueur and rich spices, followed by a full-bodied, broad-shouldered and muscular palate that's rich and structured, with a ripe core of fruit and chewy tannins. Harvest dates were relatively early this year, and maturation is occurring in only 50% new oak; yet the 2022's chunky, glass-staining style makes it Ducru Beaucaillou's only rival for the title of most extracted second growth of the Médoc. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Cos d'Estournel is stunning. Rich and statuesque in bearing, the 2022 captures all the best this vintage had to offer. A wine of precision and power, the 2022 balances the intensity of the year but without veering into the realm of the exotic, as was the case in vintages such as 2005 and 2009. It marries ripeness and classical rigor in a style that is quite appealing. I imagine the 2022 will need a good 15-20 years to be at its finest. Harvest took place between September 7 and 23, exceptionally early. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Cos d'Estournel was picked from 7 to 23 September at 33hL/ha and is aged in 50% new oak (one cannot imagine that being countenanced 15-20 years ago). It has an overtly floral nose with wilted violets infusing the precocious yet controlled black fruit. There's fine delineation, impressive focus and energy. The palate is smooth and silky on the entry with pliant, sculpted tannins. The acidity is well judged (3.79pH) with white pepper and a graphite element toward the persistent finish. Quintessential Cos d'Estournel, this wine will mature for many years, although the jury's out on whether it will surpass triumphs like the 2016 or 2019/20. 2030-2065. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Inky colour with violet edging, this is full of intense damson, incense, baked plum and black chocolate. A huge quantity of tannins but the texture is velvety, giving a creamy edge to the fruits, with contrast and freshness provided by orange zest and slate. Some of the old Merlot vines on gravel were picked early to tame them but generally the vineyard took the vintage in its stride, and almost 75% of production is in the 1st wine. Harvest September 7 to 23, 33hl/h yield, 90IPT, 50% new oak. Potential upscore in bottle. 97 points" janeanson.com------"Unique structure to this wine and very Cos with all the spices and dark fruits. Tobacco and cedar. It's starts off full-bodied and flavorful, but continues to unfold in an energetic and weightless way. Savory and primary. Al dente grapes here. Exciting and thought-provoking. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com------"One of the finest wines to ever pass my lips, the 2022 Château Cos D'Estournel is a monument in the making. Based on 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 1% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this saturated ruby/purple-hued Saint-Estèphe offers a full-bodied, massive, opulent style as well as perfumed red, blue, and black fruits, ample spice, chocolate, graphite, and lead pencil-like aromatics, a stacked mid-palate, flawless balance, and a monster of a finish. An improved version of the 2009 (if that's possible), this is a legendary wine in the making. Hats off to Michel Reybier and technical director Dominique Arangoïts. 98-100 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Coutet | 75cl | £348 per case of 12 | Château Coutet 2022 / / 75cl £348 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Luscious and sweet, sticky dates and crème caramel flavours, balanced by orange zest and lime. There is interest and contrast here, but even at this exceptional Barsac estate, owned by the Baly family, it is hard not to crave a little more lift. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Coutet is a wild, exotic Barsac. Passionfruit, lime, dried flowers, mint, candied orange peel and apricot all run through this unabashedly exuberant sweet wine. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com ------"Tempting dried fruit here with spice and floral character. Full and creamy with attractive acidity and a textural finish. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Coutet has a beautifully-defined nose with pure botrytised fruit tangerine, saffron, honeysuckle and orange rind hints. This has impressive focus. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous opening, fine acidity, pure and harmonious. A tensile and persistent finish drags you back for another sip. Superb. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château d'Armailhac | 75cl | £242 per case of 6 | Château d'Armailhac 2022 / / 75cl £242 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Armailhac is effusive and aromatic, with an extra kick of fruit intensity and richness from the warm, dry growing season, there's no austerity at all in this young Armailhac. Hints of white pepper, blood orange and mint lend further brilliance. This is very nicely done...89-91 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Deep aromas of raspberries, cherries, crushed mint and spices preface the 2022 d'Armailhac, a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated wine that's deep, lively and seamless, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a penetrating finish. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The difference from a typical vintage colour is more marked in Armailhac than Clerc Milon, where we are more used to deep colours. This in contrast is an extremely intense Armailhac, really stepping into its Pauillac boots, a ton of deep plum, cassis and damson. Great expansion through the palate, beautiful depth of flavour, this is extremely impressive, with an edge of eucalyptus and graphite on the finish, and more grip than usual. Yields down to 26hl/h (there are more new plantings here so young vines). Second vintage with the new winery, and new technical director Lucille Lauilhé. Harvest September 8 to 27, 50% new oak, 3.83ph. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Château d'Armailhac was picked from 8 to 27 September and matured in 50% new oak. This has a very pure and sensual bouquet with precocious black plum, cassis violet and espresso scents. The palate is medium-bodied with muscular tannins on the entry, though I find just a little more complexity compared to the Clerc Milon this year. There's a gentle and discrete crescendo toward its delineated and minerally finish. Excellent. This is more like the d'Armailhac that I was familiar with, say, ten years ago. It will surely be irresistible once it reaches its peak. You've been warned. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Another wine that showed beautifully on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château D'Armailhac checks in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. This deep purple-hued beauty offers up a full-bodied, ripe, sexy profile that carries lots of blueberry, cherry, and cassis fruit, notes of spice, leafy herbs, and chocolate, velvety tannins, good acidity, and a great finish. It should have a broad, lengthy drink window. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"This is like a baby Mouton this year with blackcurrant, flower, and orange aromas. Medium- to full-bodied with a tight and racy palate that shows persistence and verve. One to watch. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château de Pez | 75cl | £295 per case of 12 | Château de Pez 2022 / / 75cl £295 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"From an estate that has now been fully restructured and which serves as something of a research and development laboratory for its sibling, Pichon Lalande, the 2022 de Pez exhibits aromas of sweet blackberries and cherries mingled with spices and violets. Medium to full-bodied, rich and lively, with powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully chewy finish, some 40% of the production was lost to hail. For the first time, it will be sold en primeur via the place de Bordeaux. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 de Pez is a potent, brooding wine. Black cherry, gravel, incense, tobacco, menthol and scorched earth all run through this virile, imposing Saint-Estèphe. All the elements are impeccably balanced. The burly Pez tannins are present, of course, but there is also more than enough fruit. The 2022 could very well be the best Pez yet under the ownership of Roederer. Yields are down a whopping 50 % because of hail. The blend is 59% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, which is more Merlot than the normal. There is no second wine this year. Tasted four times. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Firm and linear red with a vivid and juicy dark-fruited core and fine, polished tannins. Medium-bodied. Mellow finish with some creaminess to it. Hints of crushed stones and walnut at the end. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Château de Pez (limited to 18,000 bottles due to hail damage in June) has a very pure nose with something of a Burgundian allure: a mélange of blue and black fruit, wilted violet and graphite borrowed from down in Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins. Exquisite balance and poise, very harmonious with an intense yet paradoxically tender finish. Bon vin. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Austerity is your friend in an En Primeur sample as long as there is juice and fruit, and here you have both things in abundance. Brilliant wine, absolutely one to look out for, has steely minerality that offsets the plump fruit character and intense tannic structure, this is concentrated but understated, everthing in proportion. First time on the Place this year, as before it was sold via an exclusivity. First vintage with new cellar also. Tasted twice, this is a buy. 26hl/h yield, half of usual, 50% new oak for ageing. 94 points" janeanson.com------"From a château that consistently makes it into my personal cellar, the 2022 Château De Pez is terrific, with a floral, perfumed, complex style delivering ample cassis and riper black fruits, notes of chocolate, graphite, and licorice, full-bodied richness, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish. Tasted on multiple occasions, it's a powerful wine from this team that stays beautifully balanced and elegant. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château d'Issan | 75cl | £306 per case of 6 | Château d'Issan 2022 / / 75cl £306 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 D'Issan is a lovely wine that will delight Médoc purists, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, burning embers, violets and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with velvety tannins and a deep core of vibrant fruit, it's a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The estate is now equipped with a battery of 20-hectoliter tanks, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting this year. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Château d'Issan was picked between 15 and 28 September and represents the first vintage vinified in the new vat room equipped with smaller 20-hectolitre vats. It has a fragrant bouquet with blackberry and blueberry fruit, crushed violet and a hint of dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. This is one of the more saline wines on the Left Bank, cohesive with a touch of Japanese nori on the moderate-length finish. This will need a decade in bottle. 2032-2052. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Fragrant dried cumin and turmeric spices on the opening, along with floral waves of rose petals, this maintains the finesse of Issan, delivering estate signature alongside fleshy blackberry and baked damson fruits, with waves of liquorice, graphite and crushed rocks. The oldest vines are kept for the 1st wine, and almost 80% of the new plots of Pontac Lynch are included here in Issan, giving a darker spiced character than you find in other hot vintages at this estate such as 2009. They almost pulled up the Malbec when they bought Pontac Lynch but it has once again proved its worth. 30hl/h yield (compared to 38hl/h last year). 3.67ph. 72IPT. Eric Boissenot consultant. 50% new oak. 95 points" janeanson.com------"This is one hell of an Issan with blackberry, blackcurrant, and hazelnut aromas and flavors. Cherries. Cedar. Full and intense with tannins that are long and bright. Goes tight at the end, indicating greatness. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 2% cabernet franc, 2% malbec and 1% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Château D'Issan ratchets up the quality, offering more purity, precision, and length. Revealing notes of darker currants and blue fruits, graphite, and chalky minerality, this medium to full-bodied red has beautiful freshness, and is focused, straight, and elegant. Just a beautiful barrel sample, it’s very impressive. 95-97+ points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Ducru Beaucaillou | 75cl | £1,122 per case of 6 | Château Ducru Beaucaillou 2022 / / 75cl £1,122 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"One of the Médoc's most powerful wines this year is the 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot that opens in the glass with aromas of dark cherries and berries mingled with pencils shavings, vanilla pod and spices. Full-bodied, broad-shouldered and muscular, with a core of ripe but lively fruit underpinned by a chassis of powdery, liberally extracted tannin that asserts itself on the finish, it's a punchy, modern Saint-Julien reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of the 2018 and 2020. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou contains less Cabernet than last year and is closer to the normal blend of the Grand Vin , picked between 7 September and 4 October - the longest harvest in their history. The IPT is 95. Matured in 100% new oak, the bouquet bides its time in the glass, almost reluctantly unfurling with scents of blackberry, briary, cigar humidor and sous-bois. At this nascent stage, it is more backward than its peers. The palate is undoubtedly one of the most dense and muscular that I have encountered over many years tasting at the estate, full-bodied with vice-like tannins. Continuing the theme of the estate's other cuvées, there is a lovely Pauillac-like presence throughout, with graphite/pencil lead infusing the black fruit. The finish exerts a considerable grip and feels saline, almost briny on the aftertaste. This Leviathan Ducru-Beaucaillou threatens to overwhelm the senses, uncompromising in many ways, and it will patently take many years for the tannins to soften. I feel that it is only once in bottle that one will be able to gauge its trajectory. 2040-2075. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Some much creme de cassis and blackcurrant aromas and flavors here. Full-bodied with powerful tannins, yet fine and layered. Chewy. You can really feel the thick grape skins here. Excellent length. Tannins spread across the palate. Minerally and crushed stone. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Deep damson colour, poised and intense, a serious wine with crushed mint, graphite and bitter black chocolate on the opening beats, setting the tone for a slow reveal of confident St Julien character. Powerful tannins convey purity and precision, set against creamy cassis and bilberry fruits, with softer smoked earth and baked spice, and a slate finish. The construction is careful and measured, extremely impressive, this is has decades ahead. 3.8ph, 95IPT. 100% new oak. 30hl/h yield. 98 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Duhart Milon | 75cl | £378 per case of 6 | Château Duhart Milon 2022 / / 75cl £378 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Duhart-Milon unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cedar box, loamy soil, herbs and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety palate with a broad attack that segues into a lively, nicely concentrated core of fruit, concluding with a youthfully firm finish. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Duhart Milon is racy and explosive right out of the gate. Ripe dark cherry, plum, cloves, licorice, mentro and mocha fill out the layers in a deep, wonderfully expressive Duhart. Firm tannins extend the finish nicely imagine the 2022 will require at least a few years in bottle to be at its best, but it is pretty showy today. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Duhart Milon underwent a short 15 to 18-day maceration and is raised in 50% new oak and the rest one-year-old barrels. It has a very graphite/mint-scented nose that is Pauillac through and through. The palate is fresh and vibrant with fine tannins. This is beautifully sculpted with a vibrant pencil lead-tinged finish reminiscent of Grand Puy Lacoste. The 2022 is a fabulous Duhart Milon that should give 30 to 40 years of drinking pleasure. It's a Pauillac a bit like the late Steven Spurrier insofar that it's a Pauillac always conservatively dressed in a pin-striped suit, but that's the essence of Duhart. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Very Pauillac in its blackcurrant, dark chocolate and walnut husk character. Full-bodied yet compacted. Wet earth, mushroom, earth, black tobacco. Fine and intense tannins. Fresh and complex. 78% cabernet sauvignon and 22% merlot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The Grand Vin 2022 Château Duhart-Milon is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. It brings more richness as well as classic Pauillac character in its lead pencil, graphite, tobacco, and red and black fruit-driven aromatics. With gorgeous richness, a medium to full bodied mouthfeel, and a great finish, this utterly classic, seamless, balanced Pauillac should be snatched up by readers. It's going to give the 2009 a run for its money. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Duhart Milon - Moulin de Duhart | 75cl | £336 per case of 12 | Château Duhart Milon Moulin de Duhart 2022 / / 75cl £336 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Offering up aromas of plum preserve, hoisin sauce, sweet soil tones and spices, the 2022 Moulin de Duhart is medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with powdery tannins and ripe acids, but this sample lacks a touch of precision. It's a blend dominated by 87% Merlot. 87-89 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Moulin de Duhart is a gorgeous second wine. Plump, cicy one expressive, the 2022 will drink well right out of the gate. Succulent red cherry fruit, rose petal, cinnamon and lavender are nicely pushed forward. Pretty savoury and floral top notes add lovely aromatic complexity. The blend is 87% Meriet and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A blend of 87% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Moulin De Duhart has a gorgeous nose of ripe black cherries, tobacco, and earth. It's medium-bodied, with plenty of richness, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's going to offer pleasure right out of the gate yet still have 10-15 years of overall longevity. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Such beautiful blackberry, chocolate and hazelnut character here. It's medium-bodied with juicy fruit and a succulent finish. All here for the second wine. 87% merlot and 13% cabernet sauvignon. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Figeac | 75cl | £1,518 per case of 6 | Château Figeac 2022 / / 75cl £1,518 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"This is the earliest ever harvest for Figeac and the fruit is something else. Flowers such as violets. Blackberries. Currants. Cherry blossom. Full-bodied with lovely freshness and depth. Crunchy and juicy. Perfect al dente fruit. 35% merlot , 34% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Vibrant damson in colour, edges of gunsmoke and red rose petals on the aromatics, as you so often find in Figeac, with dense cassis, black cherry, incense, graphite, slate, mint leaf, cocoa bean, cappucino and liquorice on the palate. This is creamy but airy, and full of joy. Close to the 2016 vintage in its construction and effortless confidence, no question of the ageing ability of this wine, and a fine vintage to mark the first year as Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Breaking down how they got here, you find inevitably careful winemaking with no pumping over, cool 26C for fermentation, making use of techniques learnt in the hot, dry summer of 2018, from cover crops to minimum green harvesting. Blend finished including 8% press in March, 3.7ph, harvest began September 1, earliest on record, until 26, second vintage in new winery. Frederic Faye director. 98 points" janeanson.com------"A beautiful wine that, shockingly, reminds me of the 2016, the 2022 Château Figeac checks in as 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon that was harvested from the 1st of September to the 25th. Director Frédéric Faye commented that verasion took longer than usual, and they had to do a slight green harvest to get uniform ripeness. The results are stunning. The wine has a vivid purple hue as well as remarkable freshness and purity in its black and blue fruits, which are followed by notes of wild herbs, chocolate, graphite, spring flowers, and a touch of classic Cabernet Sauvignon graphite. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a silky, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This classic, ultra-precise Figeac is going to warrant a solid decade of bottle age and be very long-lived given its purity and balance. 96-98+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Figeac was picked between 1-26 September with the pH of 3.7 and 14% alcohol. This wine combines both Left Bank and Right Bank traits due to its blend (as usual), but this year leans more to the Right Bank despite a slightly lower contribution of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is very well defined, fresh and shows lively black fruit, incense and nuanced Chinese tea aromas. The palate is beautifully balanced with a lightly spiced entry, fine depth and with plenty of concentration counterbalanced by finesse toward the graphite-infused finish. Its saline aftertaste beckons you back for another sip. An appropriate way to start your tenure as a Grand Cru Classé "A". 2032-2070. 97-99 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Figeac is a brilliant wine with which to celebrate this property's elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" status. Wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cassis mingled with notions of iris, forest floor, cigar wrapper and pencil lead, it's medium to full-bodied, pure and perfumed, with a deep and multidimensional core of fruit, bright acids and beautifully refined tannins. Serious yet civilized, it's the quintessential Figeac, testament to the late Thierry Manoncourt's vision to plant such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. Such is the inherent complexity of Figeac's terroirs that harvest took place sub-block by sub-block between September 1st and 25th. Congratulations are in order for the Manoncourt family, director Frédéric Faye, consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos and all their team. 98-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Giscours | 75cl | £300 per case of 6 | Château Giscours 2022 / / 75cl £300 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Well judged and executed, with the vintage character coming through with the rich plum, cassis and fresh fig fruits, alongside black pepper and clove spices, but overall the feel is savoury, with austere tannins that are clearly revving up and have plenty of character. Impressive lift also, with juice running right through the palate, giving breath to the concentrated muscular tannic frame. Austerity also at this point, relatively rare and welcome in 2022, and emphasising a floral and smoky curl on the finish. 50% new oak. Entire harvest in the Grand Vin for the first time ever at Giscours (although I assume there must have been some of the production that was not bottled under the label). Axel Marchal consultant, Alexander Van Beek director. 95 points" janeanson.com------"Clearly one of the finest vintages from this château, the 2022 Château Giscours reveals a dense purple hue to go with beautiful Cabernet-driven aromatics of smoky blue fruits, iron, lead pencil, and spring flowers, as well as an almost marine-like character developing with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has silky, perfectly integrated tannins, a great mid-palate, and outstanding length. It's a serious, age-worthy, incredibly impressive wine in the making. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"With the 2022 Giscours, this estate takes another step up, delivering a deep and characterful wine redolent of cherries, dark berries, violets, peony and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, broad shouldered and layered, it's deep and elegantly muscular, with impressive concentration, abundant but refined tannins and a structural authority reminiscent of the great Giscours vintages of the 1970s. Why is it so good? There are many reasons, but one is the high proportion of old vines—almost 60% of the blend deriving from vines that are over 50 years old—in a vintage that favored vines with deep, well-established root systems. Another is the increasing precision of harvesting at this address: Giscours's old vines are frequently co-planted with younger replacements that have filled any gaps in the ranks over the years; so, blocks are now picked in two or three passages instead of all at once, with the younger vines picked first. 94-96+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Giscours is a regal, sophisticated wine. Succulent red cherry, blood orange, spice, menthol and rose petal lend notable vibrancy and freshness throughout. Most surprisingly, the 2022 remains light on its feet, especially for a wine made from such low yields in a warm, dry year. Over the last few years Giscours has been one of the most improved properties in the Médoc. The 2022 is another step in that direction. Sublime. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Giscours was picked between 1 and 29 September, one of the earliest ever, with no SO2 added until blending and using bio-protection (yeasts) to protect the must. It has a delightful and sensual bouquet with lifted, violet and peony-scented blueberry and black cherry fruit. This is very well-defined and perhaps the purest I have encountered from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with a disarming silky texture, harmonious and focused. It's mineral-driven with a poised and pixelated finish. Certainly, this represents one of the best wines from this Margaux estate in recent years, echoing their golden period of the 60s and early 70s. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 2030-2070. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"This is a big move forward for Giscours. Full-bodied yet agile and fresh with tannins that are precise and integrated, with great beauty and length. Well-structured and vivid. Extremely fine yet defined tannins, and then it opens like a butterfly. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Gloria | 75cl | £377 per case of 12 | Château Gloria 2022 / / 75cl £377 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Intense with a bright plum colour, spicy, dark fruits, coffee bean and cocoa, this is almost heading towards overdone but it pulls back, leans into the vintatge and is very much on point with estate signature. It has texture and depth, a little overly concentrated through the mid palate but shows the restraint that comes with the pummic stone texture of St Julien tannins. One to watch over ageing. In biodynamic conversion. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Gloria is terrific. Bold and punchy, Gloria offers all of its typical charms but with an extra kick of fruit richness. Sumptuous red/purplish fruit, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petals are nicely dialed up in this super-expressive, delicious Saint-Julien. Tasted two times. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Gloria bursts with aromas of cherries, sweet berries, petals and spices, framed by a deft touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a succulent, enveloping core of fruit and supple tannins, it's a gourmand but nicely balanced Saint-Julien that will offer a broad drinking window. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A linear and very fine wine with blackberry, blueberry and currant character. Hints of cedar and stone. Medium to full body. Linear and fine finish. Very well done. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"A gem in the vintage is going to be the 2022 Château Gloria, which comes from 50 hectares of vines and is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. Harvested between September 14 and 26, with yields of 34 hectoliters per hectare, it offers an inky purple hue to go with medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, spicy oak, and graphite. Hitting 13.8% alcohol and aging in 60% new French oak, it's a pure, layered, elegant yet concentrated Saint-Julien that readers will love. Tasted twice. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com-----"The 2022 Gloria was picked from 12-26 September and matured in 40% new oak, slightly less than the Saint-Pierre. It has a perfumed, floral nose with crushed violet infusing the black cherry and blueberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with sumptuous tannins that belie the structure underneath. With pure fruit and well-judged acidity, this 2022 is sensual with a persistent and lightly spiced finish. Superb. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Grand Puy Ducasse | 75cl | £378 per case of 12 | Château Grand Puy Ducasse 2022 / / 75cl £378 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Grand-Puy-Ducasse exhibits notes of sweet plums and cherries mingled with licorice and spices. Medium to full-boded, taut and chalky, with a sweet, concentrated core of fruit and a penetrating finish, it's a youthfully structured effort that concludes with a somewhat drying finish. 89-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Inky colour, this is impressively structured right from the start, has a ton of dark chocolate, cassis, mint leaf, slate, has structure and character with a fresh cushion of acidity under the fruit. One of the more impressive vintages of this wine, worth looking out for, and should be good value. Hubert de Boüard consultant. 93 points." Jane Anson------"The 2022 Grand Puy Ducasse has an airy nose, well-defined with potpourri, even lavender infusing the black fruit. Pencil box hints emerge with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. Tightly-coiled black fruit laced with cracked black pepper and tobacco. The finish is tannic, but one can appreciate the focus and length on the aftertaste. Very fine. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"I loved the 2022 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, another Pauillac that shines for its purity and length. Offering lots of red and black fruits, graphite, tobacco, and spicy oak, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, nicely integrated, ripe, fine-grained tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It shows the richer style of the vintage yet has a solid spine of freshness that keeps it light on its feet. 93-95+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Beautiful texture here. Tannins are dense and compact but finely polished and silky. Seamless and even with length and succulence. Medium- to full-bodied. Power with elegance. Endless for this. Finally the best ever. 96-97 points." James Suckling |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Grand Puy Lacoste | 75cl | £357 per case of 6 | Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2022 / / 75cl £357 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a very pretty wine. Forward and quite showy, the 2022 cornes across as a wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Succulent dark cherry, plum, leather, incense and dried herbs are nicely delineated. There's good complexity and depth, but it is the radiance of the year that is front and center. Hints of blood orange, pomegranate, spice and a pretty rose petal/violet note linger. 92-94+ points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A very structured and rich red with black berry and chocolate. Full-bodied with a solid core of fine tannins and a fresh and muscular finish. Dusty texture. Yet it remains bright and vivid. 3.55 pH. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"Inky depths to the colour. Violet edging, bitter black chocolate and graphite, can feel the grain of the tannins, and the beautiful balance and juice to damson, cassis and plum puree fruits. Captures just the right amount of drama without sacrificing Pauillac character, this is a wine that is clearly going to age extremely well, with depth of flavour and rich tannic frame that shows how 2022 can succeed in the right hands. 75% new oak, 3.57ph. Harvest earliest ever, beginning on September 7 (2003 was September 15), 60% of production in the 1st wine, Eric Boissenot consultant. 38hl/h yield, a little over the Pauillac average. 96 points" janeanson.com------"A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, the 2022 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a brilliant classic in the making, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, violets and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate that exhibits beautiful structural refinement and purity of fruit. Classy and integrated, it is somewhat reminiscent of a modern-day and less forbiddingly structured version of this estate's brilliant 1982. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Grand Puy Lacoste was picked from 7 to 23 September and contains more Merlot due to the high quality of the fruit, matured in 75% new oak. There is 14.2% alcohol. Therefore, this lends this GPL a little more precocity and sensuality compared to other vintages, not cut from the same "classical" cloth as, say, the 2019 or 2020. Underlying this velvety veneer are enticing traits of freshly-rolled tobacco and undergrowth. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-sculpted tannins. Silky smooth in texture, so much so that it belies that backbone underneath. There is a peacock's tail of mineral-rich, quite peppery black fruit on the finish, completing a Pauillac endowed with huge potential. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Gruaud Larose | 75cl | £420 per case of 6 | Château Gruaud Larose 2022 / / 75cl £420 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Gruaud-Larose is 83% Cabernet, the most Cabernet ever for the Grand Vin here. A huge, opulent wine, Gruaud-Larose offers up an exotic mélange of blackberry fruit, cloves, espresso, licorice, bittersweet chocolate and incense. This full-throttle Saint Julien is not exactly subtle, but its balance is impeccable. Readers should expect an unctuous, dense wine with tons of concentration, a good deal of new oak and all the pedigree to hold it all together. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The progress at this estate continues with the terrific 2022 Gruaud Larose, a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc that unfurls in the glass with deep aromas of minty blackberries, violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's elegantly muscular, with a broad attack that segues into a concentrated mid-palate framed by supple, powdery tannins. Richer and more brooding than its 2020 and 2019 counterparts, it confirms Gruaud's return to the Saint-Julien élite. Around one-third of the production made it into the grand vin this year, the château's first with organic certification. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Spicy, intense and concentrated, and yet delivers juicy drinkability from beginning to end, not an easy balance to achieve in 2022. The vintage trace comes through in notes of tobacco, dried herbs, cloves and sandalwood, with tannic build up through the palate, but it is balanced by fresh mint leaf, cassis, bilberry, cocoa bean, and salinity. Firm tannic architecture, excellent quality. 33% of production in the 1st wine, 95% new oak. mint. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Gruaud Larose was picked from 7 to 24 September and includes a little more pressed wine this year: 13.5% exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon due to the quality. This latest vintage matured for a planned 18 months in 95% new oak. Significantly, this is the first year under organic certification (notice two storks on the label signifying this. Maybe they are carrying a little Gruaud baby?) At 13.64% alcohol, this is less than many other properties for those seeking slower intoxication. It has an impressive bouquet with pure blackberry and raspberry fruit, black truffle and sous-bois scents. I am impressed by its delineation and focus; frankly, these are the nicest aromatics I've encountered for a while at this address. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins. I cannot remember a Gruaud at this nascent stage that exhibits this level of energy and tension deriving from the Cabernet Sauvignon extracted at the beginning of vinification. There's much more precision here. Mineral-driven toward the finish, this easily surpasses vintages made at the estate over the last decade and more. Perhaps like the legendary Gruauds of old (1982, 1961, 1928, even 1870)? Gruaud reborn. 2028-2070. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Haut Bages Liberal | 75cl | £402 per case of 12 | Château Haut Bages Liberal 2022 / / 75cl £402 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"This is a refreshing Pauillac with concentration and character, plenty of appellation signature, slate, liquorice, mint, crushed rocks, has that intense, knitted down vintage signature but softens to show classic balance - sometjing that is unusual in this vintage that is anything but classic. Small concrete eggs for ageing and vinification along with barrels, 45hl/h yield (the highest in all of Pauillac reportedly; impressive for a biodynamic estate). 3.54ph. Impressive, one to look out for. Owner Claire Villars-Lurton has pulled up 1,500 Melrot vines to plant 400 trees over the past few years as part of her extensive agroforestry project. 40% new oak, 40% barrels of one wine, 20% in concrete eggs and amphora. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Haut-Bages-Libéral is lovely, bursting with aromas of blackberries and cherries mingled with notions of orange zest, rose petals and violets. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and gourmand, with lively acids and a bright, chalky finish, its low pH of 3.54 reflects a decade of organic farming and the limestone subsoils that characterize this sector of Pauillac. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Haut-Bages Libéral is shaping up to be a jewel. Bright and aromatic, with notable structure, the 2022 is beautifully put together. Red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint and blood orange all race across the palate. A wine of dynamic energy and drive, Haut-Bages Liberal is super impressive in this tasting. I can't wait to taste this from bottle. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. 93-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Haut-Bages-Libéral was picked from 6 to 26 September and is being raised in 40% new oak, plus 20% in concrete tanks and amphorae. Yields were 45hL/ha, higher than many other estates, which Clare Villars-Lurton cites as a result of their long term application of biodynamic viticulture and use of cover crops. It has an entrancing bouquet with blackberry, briary, crushed stone and light estuarine scents, understated initially but rapidly gaining intensity. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and saline with sculpted tannins, stunning balance and a mineral finish. This is an outstanding, vivacious 2022 from proprietor Claire Villars-Lurton. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Lots of redcurrants and blackcurrants with some cassis as well as iron, tile, stone and hints of dried herbs. Full-bodied with lots of pretty structure and very juicy tannins. Lively and energetic. Exciting to taste. pH 3.54 and with 13.9% alcohol. From biodynamically grown grapes. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Haut Batailley | 75cl | £520 per case of 12 | Château Haut Batailley 2022 / / 75cl £520 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Sculpted plum and raspbery puree fruits, fresh lift through the palte, this is a lovely wine that has intense liquorice and bilberry fruit, a little austere in its tannic structure on the finish, more so than in recent vintages at this sculpted fruit-forward Pauillac, but there is great spice here, and has the phenolic richness and density of the year. 3.73ph, 65% new oak. 93 points." Jane Anson------"A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the 2022 Haut-Batailley offers up aromas of sweet berries and plums mingled with licorice and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, firm and structured, it's a serious, rather muscular and extracted wine that begins to nod toward its stablemate Lynch Bages in style. 91-93+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Haut-Batailley is a potent, brooding wine. Black cherry, gravel, cured meat, spice and leather infuse the 2022 with tons of mineral and savory intensity, backed by a formidable spine of tannin that gives the wine shape and vertical thrust. I imagine the 2022 will need the better part of a decade to come into its own. Tasted two times. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Haut-Batailley is matured in 65% new oak for a planned 16 months. It has a very intense and almost untamed bouquet that explodes from the glass, and only after five or ten minutes does it begin to show some restraint. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy, fresh and multi-layered tannins, not dissimilar to the Mouton-Rothschild that I tasted a couple of hours earlier. With a satin-textured finish, this will need a decade in the cellar and some taming during élevage. Like a young tiger at the moment. It has 14.2% alcohol. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Classy and very focused with blackberry and blackcurrant character. The tannins nicely melt into the wine with finesse and weightlessness. Elegant. 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Château Haut-Batailley is much more structured and darker than the Verso, offering classic Pauillac cassis, currant, tobacco leaf, melted chocolate, and espresso nuances, with an almost iron-like hint that emerges with time in the glass. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it's nevertheless balanced and textured. It's a brilliant wine, if not the finest vintage I've tasted from this château. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Haut Brion | 75cl | £3,090 per case of 6 | Château Haut Brion 2022 / / 75cl £3,090 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Stately, inky colour, this is impressively vivid and energetic despite the intensity of the construction. Fresh fig character, black chocoate, cinnammon, turmeric, creamy bilberry and blackberry fruits, with clove and sandalwood spice, and a slow build of texture and contrast from the slate tannins as they draw out the flavours. Harvest August 29-19 September. 3.9ph. Less Cabernet Sauvignon than usual due to tiny yields, 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Haut-Brion shows considerable promise, revealing aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with notions of pencil lead, licorice, tobacco leaf, spices and incense. Full-bodied, broad and seamless, it's rich and muscular, with a deep, layered core of fruit framed by an ample endowment of tannin. This blend of 53.6% Merlot, 35.4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc, the result is a lip-smacking exemplification of controlled power. Analytically, the 2022 possesses a similar level of tannins to the 2010, and a similar pH to the 2009, yet it is more suave and polished than the 2010 at the same stage, and seemingly more dynamic than the 2009. 95-97 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"Slightly better than its sibling La Mission Haut-Brion, the 2022 Château Haut-Brion has a full-bodied, concentrated, structured style that's going to demand bottle age. Cassis, graphite, scorched earth, and tobacco are just some of its nuances aromatically, and it shows the ripe, powerful style of the vintage. There are lots of tannins here, especially on the finish, and it's going to need 7-8 years in the cellar. 96-98 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Haut-Brion, matured in 70% new oak, represents the 99th vintage under three generations of the Delmas family (see my recently published book for a remarkable photo of the first). It has slightly darker fruit than the La Mission at the moment. Incense and potpourri infuse the black plum and bilberry. There's a touch of brine in the background. It manifests more and more complexity as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied and is blessed with unerring symmetry. It has a bewitching granular texture, complex and more focused than recent vintages, and comes across as almost pixelated on the finish. Quintessential Haut-Brion. Magnificent, but not necessarily the best wine that Delmas oversaw in this vintage. 2030-2065. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Haut-Brion comes across as a bit restrained, given the natural opulence of the year and the other wines in the Clarence Dillon portfolio. Deep and wonderfully layered, the 2022 possesses remarkable depth but also a bit less of the explosive energy that is such a Haut-Brion signature. I suspect that will come in time, as the 2022 starts to show quite a bit better with a little aeration. Violet, gravel, incense, leather, tobacco and scorched earth linger. Superb. 97-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Currants and cedar with sandalwood and peaches. Fascinating aromas. Violets. Full-bodied with a crunchy and electric palate of primary fruit, with hints of tangerines and citrus. Great finish with structure and polish. 53.6% merlot, 35.4% cabernet sauvignon and 11% cabernet franc. Interesting to have such high merlot in the blend. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Haut Brion - Le Clarence de Haut Brion | 75cl | £792 per case of 6 | Château Haut Brion Le Clarence de Haut Brion 2022 / / 75cl £792 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion has a slightly higher-toned bouquet than the La Chapelle with blueberry, blackberry, iris petal and strawberry pastille aromas. Playful. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline entry and fine-boned tannins. The 2022 is poised and focused with a sophisticated finish. Superb. 2027-2047. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion, the second wine of Château Haut-Brion, is elaborated from a blend of 61.2% Merlot, 21.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot. It reveals a bright, fruity bouquet with aromas of dark berries, plums, tobacco, graphite and spices. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, textural and fleshy with structuring tannins and a fresh, tense finish. It is a very nice way to introduce the great wine of Haut-Brion. 91-93+ points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Le Clarence De Haut-Brion is mostly Merlot but includes 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and a little less than 2% Petit Verdot. It's a darker fruited, more structured second wine offering medium to full-bodied richness, a ripe, layered, textured profile, beautiful tannins, and classic notes of darker currants, cherries, smoked tobacco, and scorched earth. It's clearly an outstanding wine and has more than a hint of classic Haut-Brion style. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Le Clarence de Haut-Brian is fabulous. Rich, deep and explosive, La Clarence is everything a second wine should be. In other words, a smaller-scaled version of the original. Sumptuous dark fruit makes a strong opening statement. Complicated notes of gravel, dried herbs, crushed rose petals and blood orange lend gorgeous savory nuance. Impressive 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A medium- to full-bodied red with fine and lightly chewy tannins. Lots of dark chocolate, crushed stone and graphite flavors at the end. Subtle. 62.1% merlot, 21.9% cabernet sauvignon, 14.5% cabernet franc and 1.5% petit verdot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Conseillante | 75cl | £1,326 per case of 6 | Château La Conseillante 2022 / / 75cl £1,326 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Deep inky colour, crushed rose petal and peony, such a beautiful wine, with waves of blueberry and cassis fruit, along with liqourice root, lemongrass, slate and saffran, and one of the clear standout successes of Pomerol. 95% 1st wine this year, with just 5% for Duo de La Conseillante. Slow progress through the palate, this has vintage character but leans into it. 70% new oak, 3.65ph. Harvest 5 to 20. 97 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 La Conseillante was picked at 33hL/ha between 5 and 20 September and raised in 70% new oak plus 30% in amphorae. There is 13.9% alcohol. This is quite discrete on the nose, just like L'Évangile, only really opening after several minutes. Blackberry, blueberry, hints of iris flower, perhaps more floral than L'Évangile and Cheval Blanc. The palate is medium-bodied with velvety tannins plus a fine bead of acidity. Fresh and focused, this is maybe less concentrated on the mid-palate than expected but that maintains an unerring sense of equilibrium. Tensile and very smooth with an underlying sense of strict like its aforementioned neighbors. A rough decant prizes this Pomerol open and reveals its inner core of mineralité. Anyone spending less than 15 minutes tasting this Pomerol is likely to have totally missed it. Saline both on the finish and aftertaste, Marielle Cazaux has crafted one of the most intellectual La Conseillante wines in recent years. 2032-2065. 97-99 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"This is sensational with extra fine tannins that run the length of the wine. It’s medium-bodied with excellent length and so Conseillante in nature. Silky, silky, silky. Creamy texture. Flowers such as violets at the end. Love this. 87% merlot and 13% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 La Conseillante is a remarkable wine that has the potential to emerge as one of the wines of the vintage. A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc, it unfurls in the glass with deep aromas of black raspberries and mulberries mingled with notions of rose petals, violets, orange zest and mint. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's velvety and enveloping, with a textural attack that segues into a multidimensional mid-palate that's framed by sweet, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Checking in at a very healthy pH of 3.65 and 14% alcohol, it is a beautifully supple, suave wine that retains all this estate's signature elegance but in a slightly deeper-pitched and broader-shouldered format than the profound 2020. Congratulations to winemaker Marielle Cazaux, consulting enologist Thomas Duclos, the Nicolas family led by Jean-Valmy, and all the team at La Conseillante who have firmly established this estate at the very top of Pomerol's qualitative hierarchy in recent vintages. 97-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A wine that has perfection written all over it is the 2022 Chateau La Conseillante, which is 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc that’s still resting in 70% new French oak, with a tiny amount in amphora as well. Revealing a vivid purple hue, it offers a perfumed yet incredibly classy, almost discreet bouquet of crème de cassis, spring flowers, red plums, incense, and spice. This terroir never seems to yield the biggest, richest wine in a vintage, yet it's almost unrivaled in its ability to deliver complexity and elegance. Full-bodied on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and again, a purity of fruit that's just about off the charts, it's going to offer pleasure with just 4-6 years of bottle age (these usually enter their prime drinking window a decade after a vintage) and have 30-40 years of prime drinking. The 2022 hit 13.9% alcohol with a pH of 3.65. 98-100 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Gaffeliere | 75cl | £342 per case of 6 | Château La Gaffeliere 2022 / / 75cl £342 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 La Gaffelière derives exclusively from the prime hillside vineyards below Ausone that made this estate so compelling in the early and mid-twentieth century, and the 2022 is the finest wine produced at this address in many a year, surpassing the 2019 and 2020 in quality. Wafting from the glass with incipiently complex aromas of wild berries, violets, lilac, licorice, vine smoke and raw cocoa, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, with a deep, multidimensional and beautifully vibrant core of fruit and polished tannins, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. 95-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Such a delicious wine in 2022, with mouthwateringly sappy tannins, juicy and approachable while being muscular and stacked, and here the concentrated blackcurrant and loganberry fruit is studded through with oyster shell salinity. La Gaffelière is not the most high profile of the estates to have resigned from the St Emilion classification, but it's a real loss, because it is finding these type of wines that makes the ranking so worthwhile. Look out also for a 100% Cabernet Franc cuvee (not tasted, so I'll be looking out too) from this vintage to be released in a few years. Stéphane Derenoncourt consultant. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Château La Gaffelière showed beautifully, with a medium to full-bodied, forward, sexy style carrying ample ripe black cherries, spring flowers, camphor, and graphite aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion with nicely integrated tannins, remarkable purity, and a great, great finish. This is clearly a gorgeous Saint-Emilion in the making and is well worth seeking out. The blend is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, and this is certainly in the same ballpark, if not better than, the 2018, 2019, and 2020. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 La Gaffelière continues this Saint-Émilion's strong run of form in recent years. The nose is extremely pure and shimmers with nascent excitement, beautifully defined with blackberry, raspberry and touches of cassis. If aromatics could "glide" then this would be a prime example. The palate is exquisite in terms of balance, just a little granular in texture. The 60% new oak is seamlessly integrated. There are hints of bay and tea leaf toward the silky-smooth finish, completing a potentially marvelous wine. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"This is serious. Bold and structured with beautiful fruit, which is crunchy and vibrant. Full body. Lots of complexity and depth with a wide and velvety tannin structure. Excellent length. Lots of blue fruits. Touch of whole cluster. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 La Gaffelière is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Refined, sculpted and wonderfully precise, La Gaffelière simply has it all. Hints of lavender, mint, blood orange, spice and black cherry fruit all race across the glass. Clean mineral notes and fine tannins support the finish. The delineation here is simply breathtaking. La Gaffelière is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Élevage is expected to be 19 months in 50% new oak and 50% neutral barrels. The 2022 is another exceptional wine from the Malet Roquefort family. 98-100 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Lagune | 75cl | £432 per case of 12 | Château La Lagune 2022 / / 75cl £432 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 La Lagune is a very pretty, understated wine with lovely aromatics and mid-weight structure. In this tasting, La Lagune is a bit disjointed, showing only modest depth and complexity relative to the norm. All that said, the 2022 is a very fine effort for a year with hail issues. Yields were just 25 hectoliters per hectare. Tasted two times. 89-91 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"One of the best Haut-Médoc out there, the 2022 Château La Lagune reveals a dense purple hue as well as a classic Médoc bouquet of blackcurrants, leafy herbs, fresh earth, and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a layered, concentrated mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. A stunning wine, it will have 30 years of longevity if properly stored. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 La Lagune really takes a while to settle in the glass. It eventually sheds its veneer of oak to reveal attractive blackberry, sous-bois and pencil box aromas, and an exotic element loitering just off-stage. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins that lacquer the mouth. Quite dense and muscular, yet definition and plenty of freshness on the finish. It will require bottle age, but it should evolve into a fine La Lagune. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Impressive La Lagune, with depth and reach, manages to deliver intense tannic architecture, with Left Bank power and concentrated cassis and bilberry fruits, with fresher pomegranate, citrus zest, mandarin oil, tobacco, cigar box all adding complexity. Supple tannins also, and plenty of them, with bitter almond notes adding focus on the finish. Ageing potential here, and an impressive vintage for the property. Harvest September 9 to 26. Owner Caroline Frey. 94 points" janeanson.com------"Reminding me, like the 2019, of a modern-day version of the lovely 1990, the 2022 La Lagune bursts with aromas of dark berries, cassis, licorice and violets. Medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, it's a broad, sensual wine with velvety tannins and a suave, charming profile. With 13.8% alcohol, it remains classically proportioned, with a rather high pH of over 3.8 likely contributing to its open, giving style this year. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"This is long and fresh with a linear feeling to the rich fruit, showing plums, redcurrants and spices, with chocolate and walnuts. Medium to full body. Fine tannins. This is the first year being certified biodynamic by Biodyvin and furthermore, La Lagune is always excellent in hot years. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Mission Haut Brion | 75cl | £1,590 per case of 6 | Château La Mission Haut Brion 2022 / / 75cl £1,590 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A rich and muscular wine that reflects the warmth of the vintage, the 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion reveals aromas of dark berries, cherries and crème de cassis mingled with licorice, spices, incense and spring flowers. Full-bodied, broad and concentrated, it's surprisingly lively despite an elevated pH of 4.0, exhibiting a seamless, broad-shouldered profile with an ample core of fruit framed by rich, powdery tannin. It's a blend of 51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot and 5.1% Cabernet Franc. 94-96 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"While I don't see the 2022 Château La Mission Haut-Brion matching the legendary wines from this address at this early stage, it's nevertheless a gorgeous wine in the making. Based on 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, it has a pure, elegant, lengthy style as well as classic cassis and darker cherry fruits, some smoky, tobacco, scorched earth nuances, medium to full body, perfectly ripe tannins, and a great finish. I love its tannins, and it's a forward, seamless, balanced beauty that will shine with just short-term cellaring. 95-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"One of the most intense Missions that I can remember in terms of colour, but the density in the phenolics is beautifully balanced on the palate by red roses and peony aromatics, edges of violet, incense, cigar box, black pepper spice, with clear grip and fierce concentration. Delivers an exceptional feeling of walking the line between excess and restraint, hard to resist. Yields a little higher on Cabernet Sauvignon than in Haut-Brion, so higher percentage here. 97 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Dark, powerful and imposing, with compelling inner sweetness, La Mission is positively striking. The purity of the flavors is striking, but the wine's statuesque personality might be even more impressive. Time in the glass brings out all sorts of savory and mineral notes that add complexity. The balance here is just mind-blowing. What a wine! 97-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion is matured in 70% new oak. It has a very refined bouquet with mineral-driven dark berry fruit, hints of Earl Grey and freshly-rolled tobacco, focused with exquisite delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins that still provide the backbone to what is the most elegant La Missions that I have tasted at this stage. It is harmonious and silky toward its extremely persistent finish. At the moment, it has got its nose just in front of its First Growth sibling...at least at the moment. For sure, it's going to be one of the standouts of the 2022 vintage. 2029-2065. 97-99 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"This has real al dente fruit character on the palate with lemon rind and blackcurrants with blueberries. Lead pencil and stone, too. Full-bodied with chewy and juicy tannins that are primary and growing quickly on the palate as you taste it. Reminds me of the 1978, but brighter and more precise. 51.7% cabernet sauvignon, 43.2% merlot and 5.1% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Petite Eglise | 75cl | £243 per case of 6 | Château La Petite Eglise 2022 / / 75cl £243 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Chocolate and walnut with hazelnut and berries. It’s full and chewy with velvety tannins and spices. Juicy and salty finish. Savory. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Lafite | 75cl | £3,570 per case of 6 | Château Lafite 2022 / / 75cl £3,570 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Saturated inky colour, with intense ruby reflections. This is a classically constructed Lafite, with clear power to the tannins and intense spice, a little more upfront and concentrated than you find in many En Primeur vintages at this property but it exemplifies balance and confidence. Fully in control, delivering estate signature with finesse and understatement, with pulses of graphite, slate, bitter almond and cocoa bean. Takes its time to uncurl in the glass, leaving you plenty of time to admire its architecture. Give it a good decade at least. 17.5% of press wine, 3.85ph, 41% Lafite of overall production. Harvest August 31 to September 24, earliest since 1893. 100% new oak, Eric Kohler techincal director. Potential upscore in bottle. 97 points" janeanson.com------"A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Lafite Rothschild unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, sweet soils tones, cigar box and lilac. Medium to full-bodied, it's the most tensile of the first growths this year, with a layered, concentrated but youthfully introverted mid-palate, lively acids and a long, saline finish. It checks in at a rather high pH of 3.85, which belies its incisive profile, from a harvest that extended from August 31 to September 24. 95-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Lafite-Rothschild was picked from 31 August to 24 September and apart from the 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, there is 17.5% pressed wine in the blend. The IPT is slightly lower than 2020. There is 13.6% alcohol this year, higher than 2018 and 2019. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, crushed stone, touches of pencil box and undergrowth, very Lafite-Rothschild in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, perfectly judged acidity, linear and focused. Compared to vintages a couple of decades ago, there is mid-palate weight, yet it retains classicism and transparency, while delivering quite a gentle but insistent grip on the finish. Perpetually the most deceptive of First Growth, one should not doubt its long-term potential. 2032-2075. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Château Lafite-Rothschild is based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that was harvested between the 31st of August and the 24th of September. It's a richer, more opulent wine compared to the more classic 2020 (although the pH is higher in the 2020) and has a deep, full-bodied, concentrated profile as well as classic Lafite aromatics of spicy red and black fruits, freshly sharpened pencils, graphite, and tobacco. Deep, rich, and concentrated, it nevertheless stays pure and flawlessly balanced, with ample, ripe tannins and a great finish. It's going to have some up-front appeal by Lafite standards but should still require a decade of bottle age. Director Eric Koher compares this to the 2005, but this modern-day clone of the 1959 is one of the most powerful, concentrated Lafites I've tasted. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A classical Lafite that reminds me of something like the 1986, with its blackcurrant and tobacco character with cedar and hazelnut, but it's so today with its purity and precision. It's really about being Lafite here. Terroir gives great elegance with strength. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Lagrange | 75cl | £237 per case of 6 | Château Lagrange 2022 / / 75cl £237 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Château Lagrange is more mid-weight than I expected, yet it's nicely balanced and certainly elegant. Based on 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot pulled from just 40% of the total production, it has a pretty nose of cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as some floral and spicy nuances. Its oak is nicely integrated, it's medium to full-bodied, and it has fine tannins. The barrel review will seem low if this puts on weight over the course of its élevage. 91-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Lagrange is a bold, racy wine. Dried herbs, tobacco, cedar, mint and incense give the 2022 striking aromatic nuance and vibrancy to match its mid-weight personality. The Cabernet is especially evident in this savory and punchy Saint-Julien that is showing very well today. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com ------"Solid Lagrange with blueberry and blackberry character. Medium body and a tannin structure that unfolds at the finish. Very well done. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com-----"A Lagrange with real depth and restaint, feels so pefectly Left Bank, really impresive, a wine that shows the true possibilities of the vintage. There is a build up of tannins through the palate, but also a juiciness and a gorgeous cassis, bilberry and fresh cherry pit seduction, with huge confidence and clear ageing potential. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Lagrange is brilliant, ranking alongside the 2020, 2019 and 2016 as one of this over-performing estate's finest recent vintages. Revealing aromas of dark cherries, cassis, violets and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a deep core of fruit, beautifully refined but youthfully assertive tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish. It's a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot with a very healthy pH of 3.63. 94-96+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Lagrange was picked between 8 and 30 September, it ages in 60% new oak for a planned 21 months. It has an almost clinical bouquet, with very well defined blackberry and blueberry fruit, graphite and crushed stone. Quite a gap in quality between this and the Fiefs de Lagrange this year. The palate is extremely pure with cashmere tannins, black cherry fruit infused by blood orange, lightly spiced, hints of white pepper toward a very concentrated, fine-boned finish. This will require several years in bottle, but it will be worth waiting for. A serious and very able Lagrange that should not be under-estimated. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Langoa Barton | 75cl | £214 per case of 6 | Château Langoa Barton 2022 / / 75cl £214 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"The 2022 Langoa Barton is vibrant and focused as the best wines are in this vintage. Crushed raspberry, bloed orange, mint, spice and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's a purity to the 2022 that is impossible to miss. I admire its precision and lovely minerality. Langoa could turn out to be one of the Sleepers of 2022 especially among the more affordable wines of the Left Bank. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Langoa-Barton was cropped at 30hL/ha from September 8-23 then matured in 60% new oak. The nose needs a few minutes to cohere, raspberry and dark cherry fruit, bunches of violet, almost Margaux-like in personality. The palate is where the action is at the moment with finely chiseled tannins, a saline undertow, almost briny with a fresh and quite compelling, classically-styled finish. Fine length, this is a Langoa that just like the ABBA song, will go on and on and on. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot vinification, the brilliant 2022 Langoa Barton offers up aromas of dark berries, cassis, violets and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy palate endowed with terrific depth and tension. Polished and penetrating, it should match or even surpass the 2019 and 2016 vintages, and it is sure to be one of the more intelligent purchases of the en primeur campaign. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The Grand Vin 2022 Château Langoa Barton checks in as 56.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new barrels. Medium-bodied and vibrant, with a fresher, elegant, yet still textured profile, it has pure black and blue fruits, some lead pencil, tobacco, and earthy nuances, fine tannins, and a great finish. This 2022 is all about finesse and elegance. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Deep fruit, dark spices and graphite with wide yet polished, linear tannins. Full-bodied and intense with depth and structure. Long and chalky at the end. Big wine. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Larcis Ducasse | 75cl | £433 per case of 6 | Château Larcis Ducasse 2022 / / 75cl £433 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A fleshy, opulent wine, the 2022 Larcis Ducasse bursts with aromas of rich, creamy berry fruit mingled with aromas of licorice, bay leaf and spices. Full-bodied, broad and enveloping, it's a textural, layered wine with a ripe core of fruit, supple tannins and an expansive finish. More dramatic and unabashed than the 2020, this will appeal to readers who place a premium on flamboyant extravagance; but samples tasted later during my visit to Bordeaux exhibited greater freshness and precision. 94-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"You feel the fingerprint of the limestone here, from a team that is never afraid of austerity in a young wine is young. It opens to show creamy black and red fruits, with steely acidity that keeps the ripeness in check. 34hl/h yield, 50% new oak and for the rest 500l casks for ageing. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Larcis Ducasse was picked 13 to 23 September at 34hL/ha. This has quite a rich bouquet with opulent black cherries, boysenberry and blue fruit, vanilla extract and truffle scents. Two samples tasted, the one at the château showing more precision. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet tannins, its flesh belying the structure underneath. Liquorice lingers after the wine has departed. The mineralité floods the finish and articulates its limestone soils with aplomb. This is a seriously fine Larcis Ducasse that exudes panache. 2030-2065. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"This is really precise with a lazer-guided fine tannin structure throughout the wine, and juicy and electric texture. It’s so refined and polished. Endless. Wonderful young wine with a terrific future. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com------"Tasted on multiple occasions and one of the legendary wines in the making from this vintage, the 2022 Château Larcis Ducasse clocks in as 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc that's still resting in 55% new French oak. A hypothetical blend of the 2005 and 2018, it's a deep, powerful, opulent Saint-Emilion offering an incredible array of black cherries, blackberries, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and graphite-driven aromas and flavors. With a rich, full-bodied, expansive mouthfeel, it has ultra-fine tannins, beautiful symmetry in its tannins, acidity, and fruit, no hard edges, and a killer finish. I was lucky enough to taste this on four separate occasions and I thought it had the potential to be a perfect wine every time. 98-100 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Laroque | 75cl | £292 per case of 12 | Château Laroque 2022 / / 75cl £292 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Laroque is bright, focused and full of energy. In this vintage, Laroque is especially refined. Dark plum, graphite, licorice, spice, lavender and mocha are nicely laced together in this gracious, finely cut Saint-Émilion. Bright saline accents lend notable brightness throughout. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A very classic Bordeaux with medium to full body, firm tannins and crunchy character, with a linear nature. Currants and blackberries. Sandalwood, too. Fresh. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Another impressive performance from this estate, the 2022 Laroque offers up aromas of sweet berries, violets, iris and exotic spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered palate with a rich core of fruit that's framed by lively acids, concluding with a taut, chalky finish. Once again, it's the result of a strict selection that sees only 45% of the production released as the grand vin. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Clearly one of the new superstars in the appellation, Château Laroque is located on the cooler, eastern edge of Saint-Emilion and consists of pure, classic upper plateau limestone soils. The estate covers a whopping 54 hectares, which gives director Davie Suire ample flexibility when putting together the Grand Vin. Looking at the 2022 Laroque, it's a blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc from healthy yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare, representing just 45% of the total production, and it will spend 16-18 months in 50% new French oak. This deep purple-hued beauty offers a classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco, and a liquid rock-like sense of minerality. It’s medium to full-bodied, has incredible purity, and ultra-fine tannins. It’s unquestionably another beautiful vintage for this chateau that readers will love. 95-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"You just know that this estate is well placed to succeed in the vintage, and this really does walk the line of ripeness and salinity, such gorgeous definition and vivid energetic fruit. Stretches out through the palate also, has a relaxed confidece to it that is quite unusual in such a full--on vintage. Really impressive, Beaumartin family, David Suire director. 97 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Larrivet Haut Brion | 75cl | £324 per case of 12 | Château Larrivet Haut Brion 2022 / / 75cl £324 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Larrivet Haut-Brion offers up aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry, violet, orange zest, iris and ripe plums, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that's supple, seamless and elegant, its succulent core of fruit framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a floral finish. A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Franc—the most significant portion of this grape variety ever used at this estate run by Bruno Lemoine—this is one of the most interesting wines that this estate has produced in recent years. It matured in 15% amphorae, 50% new barrels and the balance in tanks. 92-94 points." (YC), Wine Advocate------"Broad and structured, but supple and sleek, with fine-grained tannins. Medium- to full-bodied. Hints of coffee beans and cedar. Solid finish. Bright. 93-94 points." (JS) Jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf | 75cl | £990 per case of 6 | Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf 2022 / / 75cl £990 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Tertre Rôteboeuf is surprisingly understated in this vintage, which is quite different from most years. In this warm, punishing dry vintage I expect to find a more opulent Tertre, but the wine instead remains light on its feet, with surprising minerality and tons of energy to play dark red (rather than black) fruit. The 2022 is pretty clenched today, but élevage should help soften some of the angulurity in the contours, Tertre Roteboeuf is once again one of the most distinctive wines in Saint-Emilion. There's a feeling of raw, unbridled power that is impossible to miss. Yields were 35 hectaliters per hectare instead of the more typical 40-45 or so. As usual, there is no green harvest and the entire crop is bottled as the Grand Vin. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Both the suavest and the most exotic cuvée in the Mitjaville portfolio, the 2022 Le Tertre Roteboeuf is a full-bodied, supple and fleshy wine evocative of blackberries, espresso roast, rose petals, spices and smoked meats. Concentrated, refined and seamless, it concludes with a long, aromatic finish. Readers might think of it as a cousin of the 2009 vintage, with its sweetness of fruit but rather ethereal, harmonious profile, which stands in contrast with more overtly powerful years, such as 2020 or 2010. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is very deep in color It has a very intense bouquet with Dorset plum, raspberry coulis, touches of fennel and fresh fig. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with plenty of structure, pure mulberry, blackberry and raspberry fruit, white pepper and curry leaf. It is a more exotic Saint-Émilion, but I would not describe it as exotic. It's just very Tertre-Rôteboeuf. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Coming from an incredible hillside terroir on the eastern side of Saint-Emilion, the 2022 Château Tertre Roteboeuf reveals a dense purple hue to go with a kaleidoscopic array of cassis, blueberries, cherries, acacia flowers, violets, and orange blossom. Always exotic, singular, and overflowing with character, the 2022 looks to be no exception and is full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. 96-98 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château L'Eglise Clinet | 75cl | £1,554 per case of 6 | Château L'Eglise Clinet 2022 / / 75cl £1,554 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A L’Eglise Clinet with tension and class, with dark berries and chalk, salt and spice. There’s hazelnut and ripe seeds with coffee bean undertones. Full and wonderfully long and fresh. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Straight-up gorgeous, I'd put the 2022 Château L'Eglise-Clinet up with the top tier Pomerol in the vintage, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it surpass the 2020 as well. Ripe black cherries, violets, spring flowers, graphite, and tobacco all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Compared to the 2005 by owner Noëmie Durantou (who has done an incredible job taking over the estate after the loss of her father), this rich, concentrated, incredibly impressive Pomerol is going to need 7-8 years of bottle age but will evolve for 30 years in cold cellars. 96-98+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Turns the intensity and exoticism of the vintage on its head, unpacking it carefully, and layering up depth and character. Grilled cedar, fleshy damson and casis fruits, this is all about carefully-considered and delivered juice and flavour. Intense, with balance and carefully-extracted juice, and the precision that you want at L'Eglise Clinet, even in such an ovewheming vintage. 85% new oak, harvest September 3 to 9. Noemie Durantou and Olivier Gautrat. 98 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked from 3 to 9 September for the Merlot and the Cabernet Franc on 5 and 9 September, matured in 85% new oak. It has an exquisitely-defined bouquet with succinct floral, pressed iris and clay notes percolating through the black fruit. With breathtaking focus, these scents seem to cast a spell over you. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins that frame the mineral-laden, peppery black fruit. There's not a hair out of place, exuding the essence of this Pomerol estate with an exceptionally long, intense and paradoxically tender finish. It's a wine that may leave you spellbound...just like this barrel sample. 2032-2075. 98-100 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Léoville Barton | 75cl | £220 per case of 3 | Château Léoville Barton 2022 / / 75cl £220 per case of 3 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Léoville Barton | 75cl | £440 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Barton 2022 / / 75cl £440 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Léoville Barton is a total model of classicism, even in this warm, dry year. All of the Léoville Barton signatures are present, even if the wine is still coming together. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, gravel and dried herbs open nicely in the glass, but it is the wine's energy and overall tension that I find most surprising. This is classic as classic gets. Not interested in making the richest or showiest wines, nor interested in jacking up prices as high as they can be. Readers will find a straightforward (in the best sense of the term) Saint-Julien that captures the best of what Bordeaux can be. Just enough of everything, but not too much of any one thing. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Very polished and poised with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium body with tight and focused tannin tension. Lively finish. Harmonious for the vintage. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Château Léoville Barton is another pretty, elegant wine from this talented team. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, its ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautiful perfume of ripe red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, graphite, and violets. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has fine tannins, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's surprisingly approachable yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up over the course of its élevage. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"One of the stars of the Médoc and a wine likely to equal or surpass its 2019 and 2016 counterparts, the 2022 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with deep aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, spices and tobacco leaf, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate that's vibrant, pure and seamless, with beautifully classy tannins and a long, penetrating finish. The 2022 is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc; and it's the first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting and vinification, along with a number of other technical improvements which translate into enhanced purity and precision. 96-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com-----"The 2022 Léoville Barton was picked between 8 and 23 September at 30hL/ha and matured in 60% new oak. This represents the first vintage that has been vinified using gravity and cuvons (basically vats on wheels!) in their newly-built winery. The nose makes an instant impact with intense black cherry, bilberry and violet aromas. A nuanced estuarine/oyster shell scent emerges with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins, fabulous precision, a killer line of acidity and more mineralité on the finish, that it knows what to do with. This is a precision-tooled Léoville Barton with the sharpness of a samurai sword. The 2022 marks the start of a new and glorious chapter for the Saint-Julien estate, which passes in the slipstream of the 22019 and 2022. It constitutes the finest Léoville Barton that I have tasted out of barrel. Tasted three times. points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Léoville Poyferré | 75cl | £507 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Poyferré 2022 / / 75cl £507 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Léoville-Poyferré is unctuous, deep and super-expressive, but not at all over-done. There's tremendous energy driving through a core of red/purplish fruit. Deceptively medium in body, the 2022 is a potent, statuesque Léoville-Poyferré that will offer many years of exceptional drinking. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Léoville Poyferré has turned out very nicely, offering up aromas of crème de cassis, cherries, violets and creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's ripe but lively, with supple tannins and a long, vanillin-inflected finish. This year, the team began picking their Merlot comparatively early and didn't perform a saignée (tank bleed), given the natural concentration of the vintage, though it remains the most flamboyant and demonstrative of the three Léoville estates, seeing some 80% new oak with malolactic fermentation in barrique for the new barrels. It will be a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Dense and succulent fruit and tannins, beautifully powerful, with fresh acidities, beautifully spicy with notes of black cherries, fresh figs, eucalyptus, rosemary, rose petals and cassis. Muscular tannins shot through with salted caramel sweetness, lifted by saffran and slate. Accomplished, impressive. Harvest September 8 to 28. 80% new oak from 16 different coopers. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Léoville Poyferré was picked 8 to 28 September at 33.4hL/ha and matured in 80% new oak. It has a high IPT of 93 and 14.4% alcohol (half a degree less than the 2018). It is quintessentially LP on the nose, with those extravagant and sensual black and blueberry fruit, intermingling with crushed violet and iris. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very harmonious and focused, perhaps more linear than expected with a velvety-smooth finish. This is a very classy, sophisticated Saint-Julien that may well rest at the top of my banded score once in bottle. 2030-2070. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A very solid LP with black berry, blackcurrant, crushed stone and lavender character. Full and really well structured with a linear length to it. Focused and so polished. Thoughtful. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"I was blown away by the 2022 Château Léoville Poyferré, which is a classic blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Harvest spanned from the 8th to the 28th of September, the vinification is in tronconique tanks (parcel by parcel), and the élevage will span 18-20 months in 80% new barrels. This inky hued beauty offers that rare mix of power and elegance and offers ample cassis and assorted blue fruits, full-bodied richness, an opulent, concentrated, yet flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and plenty of classic Saint-Julien violets, espresso roast, and crushed stone-like minerality. Despite its incredible concentration and depth, it stays beautifully balanced. In a region that seems to only talk about finesse and elegance, it's a relief to still have producers such as this producing powerful, intense, singular wines. Hats off to the Cuvelier family and their team. 97-100 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Les Cruzelles | 75cl | £238 per case of 12 | Château Les Cruzelles 2022 / / 75cl £238 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"More clay in the soils here and there is a lovely balance, fleshy in texture and high impact, but with a ton of interest, dark deep chocolate, gunsmoke, aniseed, fennel, black cherry, lovely fresh acidities. Harvest September 1 to 12, 28hl/h, 50% new oak, Noemie Durantou winemaker. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Les Cruzelles is a wine of notable breadth and texture. Older vines and clay-rich soils yield a Lalande de Pomerol that offers notable resonance. Dark-toned fruit, leather, tobacco, incense, licorice and lavender infuse the 2022 with considerable nuance to match its virile, rather somber feel. Drinking Window: 2025-2037. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Another gorgeous Lalande de Pomerol, the 2022 Château Les Cruzelles is deep ruby/purple and boasts a great nose of ripe darker cherries, cassis, graphite, and flowers. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, it's medium-bodied, stays lively and elegant, and has silky tannins as well as a great finish. It's going to be a hidden gem in the vintage that readers will love to have in the cellar. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Les Cruzelles was picked between 1 and 12 September and matured in 50% new oak. This has plenty of fruité on the nose: small red cherries, redcurrant and wild strawberry fruit, a touch of cedar in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with wonderfu definition and mineralité, dark fruit, hints of black tea and spices, really harmonious and sappy on the finish. Possibly the best Les Cruzelles that I have tasted at this stage and sure to be an unbeatable value-for-money. Drinking Window: 2028 - 2050. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A solid red with blackberry, chocolate, walnut and hazelnut. Medium to full body. Smily face here, thanks to the ripe seeds. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Les Gravières | 75cl | £170 per case of 12 | Château Les Gravières 2022 / / 75cl £170 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Les Gravières, the last vintage under the late Denis Barraud, just comes across a little overripe on the nose. The palate is much better with fine grid layers of black plum and allspice. Gentle grip with touches of dark chocolate on the finish. Hopefully, the aromatics will meliorate during barrel maturation. 88-90 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Revealing aromas of rich cherries, mint and toasty new oak, the 2022 Les Gravières is medium to full-bodied, broad and dramatic, representing a success in a more flamboyant, modern style. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"2022 Les Gravières is a huge, brooding wine. Black fruit, gravel, spice, dried herbs, incense, licorice and scorched earth race out of the glass. This powerhouse Saint-Émilion packs a tremendous punch. Terrific. Tasted two times. 90-93 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Tasted on two separate occasions with consistent notes, the 2022 Château Les Gravières is 100% Merlot harvested between September 14th and 17th from healthy yields of 55 hectoliters per hectare. It's a medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet seamless and balanced Saint-Emilion with lots of meaty, smoky red and black fruits, some tobacco, roasted coffee, and spring flower nuances, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's a beautifully made 2022 with lots to love. Due to the unfortunate passing of owner Denis Barraud in 2023, this estate is now being managed by Denis' nephew, Franck Canal-Descude, with consulting advice from Thomas Duclos's Oenoteam. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Juicy and delicious with hazelnut and berry character. Medium body. Creamy tannins. 92-93 points." James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château L'Evangile | 75cl | £1,338 per case of 6 | Château L'Evangile 2022 / / 75cl £1,338 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Given the young average age of this estate's vineyards, its well-draining soils and the extreme vintage, I was a little apprehensive; but the technical team evidently took the conditions in their stride, harvesting the east-facing side of the vines (which sees the hottest afternoon sun) four days earlier. The resulting 2022 L'Evangile is beautiful, offering up aromas of raspberries, vine smoke, black truffles, violets and gravely soil. Medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, it's seamless and polished, with a bright core of fruit and powdery tannins that temper 2022's inherent sweetness of fruit to sophisticated effect. At this early stage, it appears that the estate's progress with regards to élevage continues too, as Evangile's creamy oak signature is much released, allowing the fruit—and this superb terroir—to take center stage. It's a blend of 82% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Fresh, wonderfully refined and gorgeously polished and long, with very fine tannins. Medium to full body. Crunchy fruit and chocolate, hazelnut and spice. Exciting to see how this tensioned beauty will evolve. Wonderful clarity. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Lynch Bages | 75cl | £635 per case of 6 | Château Lynch Bages 2022 / / 75cl £635 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"One of the vintage's most powerful, muscular wines is the 2022 Lynch-Bages, a full-bodied, broad-shouldered Pauillac that unfurls in the glass with aromas of cassis, cherries, mint, pencil shavings and petroleum jelly, framed by nicely integrated new oak. Liberally extracted, its deep core of fruit is underpinned by an imposing chassis of rich, powdery tannin and lively acids. Always rather forbidding from barrel, Lynch Bages always seems to come together in bottle, and the 2022 has the makings of another success for this address. 93-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Lynch-Bages shows all the classic Lynch layers, but dialed up to the maximum Rich, deep and explosive, the 2022 packs tremendous punch. Sweet dark cherry, spice, leather, menthol, licorice, plum and mocha all open with time in the glass. The tannins are imposing, and yet there is more than enough fruit to balance things out, at least to some degree I expect the 2022 will need a decade to shed some of its tannin, but it is formidable, even in the early going. Impressive. Tasted two times. "This is the third time in history we are above 14% in alcohol, the others were 2018 and 2019" Jean Charles Cazes explained. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com-----"The 2022 Lynch-Bages was picked 12 September, around 15 days earlier than usual until 24 September at around 35hL/ha. Aged for 18 months in 75% new oak, it has a backward nose that demands a lot of encouragement. This is not as immediate as the 2016 or 2019 at the same stage. Powerful blackberry and boysenberry fruit, cedar and light tobacco notes, this feels like an edifice of aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, beautifully balanced, very harmonious yet there is an enormous backbone here that (again) is reminiscent of Mouton. Extremely long on the finish, this will need its barrel maturation to fully knit together and it is going to be a Pauillac for the long haul. 2032-2075. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Full on inky purple in colour, this is sculpted and full of character. Intense, not just a reflection of the vintage but in the increasing concentration found in Lynch Bages over the past decade. Delivers so much character, wtih charcoal, soot, campfire, liquorice, slate, bilberry, cassis. Hugely impressive and complex, will age for decades. As it opens and those fierce tannins loosen their grip a little, the floral character of the Cabernet Sauvignon becomes more clear. It's austere right now, with shoulders and muscles, but I am fully on board. One to wait for. 75% new oak. Harvest September 12 to 24. 97 points" janeanson.com------"Wow. Blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries and flowers. Full-bodied with beautifully integrated tannins that melt into the wine. Persistent and precise. A fantastic wine for the cellar. 66% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Malescot St Exupery | 75cl | £540 per case of 12 | Château Malescot St Exupery 2022 / / 75cl £540 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Malescot Saint Exupéry is dense, powerful and voluptuous. Black cherry, mocha, espresso, licorice and chocolate are all amplified. In 2022, Malescot is quite the extrovert. These days Malescot is not as classic as it used to be, but this is a good showing, even if the alcohol comes through a touch. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Offering up aromas of rich blackberries, cassis, sweet spices, pencil shavings and creamy new oak, the 2022 Malescot St. Exupery is medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a broad attack that segues into a layered core of expressive fruit that's framed by sweet, powdery tannins. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, this is one of the appellation's most flamboyant wines, but it retains good balance and boasts a healthy pH of 3.65. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Malescot Saint Exupery was picked from 19 September until 5 October, stopping over two weekends as it rained. Every parcel contributed fruit to the Grand Vin and there is 14.5% alcohol. Raised in 70% new oak with most of the malo done in barrel, it has a fragrant bouquet with red cherries, raspberry coulis, blueberry and violet scents. The palate has a well-defined entry with sour cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant and touches of marmalade. Not powerful, but harmonious with a silky texture, this is a precision-tooled Margaux that will give 20 to 30 years of drinking pleasure. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com ------"The 2022 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry is gorgeous and certainly a Margaux worth seeking out. Dense purple-hued, with a rich, powerful bouquet of ripe black fruits, melted chocolate, smoked tobacco, and spice, it picks up a beautiful floral character with air, is full-bodied, and has a layered, opulent mouthfeel as well as a great finish. It shows the vintage's building yet velvety tannins and is going to warrant just 4-5 years or more of bottle age, but it's a brilliant wine in the making. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Attractive dark-berry character with blackberries, blackcurrants, walnuts and dark spices. It’s full-bodied, concentrated and dense with a compact and very fine tannin structure that builds up. It’s deep and balanced with violets and pure blue-fruit undertones. Lingering and very polished finish. Structured and firm. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Margaux | 75cl | £3,096 per case of 6 | Château Margaux 2022 / / 75cl £3,096 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Very dark purple color with a ruby edge. So much crushed blackberry and blackcurrant with violets. Exuberant. Full-bodied and very tannic with incredible muscle. This is a thought-provoking wine. The biggest Margaux I have tasted in my career. Seems a little overdone for Margaux. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot and 2% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, 2022 Château Margaux is one of the most powerful wines ever produced at this estate, wafting from the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, dark berries, violets, burning embers, smoked tea and exotic spices. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich, velvety and seamless, with a bright core of fruit and a long, heady finish. With the highest analytical measure of tannins since 2010, and an alcohol level a touch above 14%, this is certainly a larger-scaled Château Margaux, yet at this early stage, everything appears to be kept in check. 96-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Château Margaux represents 40% of the crop this year, slightly higher than recent years, picked between 8 and 27 September. As usual, the Grand Vin demands more time to unfold on the nose compared to the Pavillon. It unveils enticing scents of macerated black cherries, blueberry, violet and hints of orange blossom all delivered with impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with sculpted tannins. A fine-boned and tensile Château Margaux that is quite a remarkable feat given the growing season. Silky smooth and almost creamy at first, toward the finish it reveals a slightly powdery texture, almost swaggering in style. Not a subtle or nuanced Château Margaux, rather, Philippe Bascaules has conjured a First Growth that is dressed to kill. 14.6% alcohol. 2027-2060. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The Grand Vin 2022 Château Margaux checks in as 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc that's pulled from just 40% of the total production. It's a classic Château Margaux with its overriding sense of elegance and purity, yet it's certainly in the style of the vintage with its depth, richness, and concentration. Cassis, blueberries, acacia flowers, and spice all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless, layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. The alcohol hit 14.5, and I suspect the pH is relatively high (which is common in the vintage), yet this remains pure, balanced, and is absolutely show-stopping stuff. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Château Margaux is a total stunner. Ripe, opulent and explosive, the 2022 possesses tremendous depth and textural intensity from start to finish. There's a purity to the fruit that is just striking. The 2022 is a dark, unusually opulent Margaux, with a dense core of fruit, but a good deal of vibrancy to balance things out. Black cherry, lavender, spice and a kiss of new French oak build in the glass, but it is the wine's delineation and intensity that are most captivating. Vibrant saline notes linger on the seamless, supremely elegant finish. Unforgettable. 97-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Stunning in its density and construction, with a gorgeous balance that starts with red rose aromatics and slides into creamy and intense raspberry, damson, loganberry and cassis fruits. The intense structure of the vintage is on display, here with velvety tannins giving shape and contrast by a push and pull of slate, graphite, cloves, turmeric, cardamom and white pepper. Bitter dark chocolate ending, a character of the year but here delivered with a blast of cooling mint leaf. Philippe Bascaules director, harvest September 8 to 27, 25hl/h yield. 100% new oak, to be monitored carefully over ageing because this is the first time they have seen this level of alcohol in the Cabernet Sauvignon. 40% of the crop is into this 1st wine, one of the highest in years. Harvest September 8 to 27. They are slowly changing the row orientation in the vineyard at Margaux, begun last year but a 50 year project, and introducing more Cabernet Franc through field grafting (wanting to get up to maybe 15% of plantings, currently 5%). 98-100 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Margaux - Pavillon Rouge du Margaux | 75cl | £900 per case of 6 | Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge du Margaux 2022 / / 75cl £900 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Pavillon Rouge, which represents 32% of the production this year, has a highly perfumed nose with wilted violets chaperoning the copious black fruit. Wonderful definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine boned tannins. Silky smooth and sensual, with a mineral-driven finish, this sashays along in style. One of the few 2022's whose barrel sample is so seductive I could have eloped with it there and then. 14.8% alcohol. 2026-2048. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com ------"The 2022 Pavillon Rouge is deep and perfumed, wafting from the glass with notions of cherries, raspberry preserve, lilac, violets and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated palate that's deep, rich and vibrant, with a tannic grain that resembles the grand vin this year. It represents just under a third of the estate's production. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Glass-staining inky purple, fleshy damson and cassis fruits with spice and concentration. Captures the spirit of the vintage with plush damson fruits, edges of sweet spices and gunsmoke, but keeps the understated pleasure that Margaux specialises in, with soft peony aromatics. High Petit Verdot in this blend because using the 2% that normally goes into the first wine but is kept out in 2022. No pumping over, with director Philippe Bascaules making the choice to let extraction happen gently, with minimal intervention. 32% of the crop in Pavillon, 25hl/h yield. 60% new oak (although this sample is 100%), and clear need to be cautious with oak during ageing. 94 points" janeanson.com------"Rich and dense with lots of fruit and juiciness. Redcurrants, black berries, strawberries and orange peel on the nose. Full and layered with fine, velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Big presence. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Mauvesin-Barton | 75cl | £150 per case of 12 | Château Mauvesin-Barton 2022 / / 75cl £150 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Château Mauvesin Barton is terrific, with a ripe, medium-bodied, elegant profile as well as impressive cassis and currant-like fruit, some tobacco and graphite aromatics, fine tannins, and a great finish. It’s a brilliant Moulis in the making. 90-92 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Mauvesin Barton is a joy to taste today. Plump, juicy and forward, the 2022 is marvelously seductive right out of the gate. Expressive floral and spice notes lend complexity to the sweet red cherry/plum fruit. Soft, caressing contours add a gorgeous sense of immediacy. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Mauvesin Barton was picked 13 September to 15 October and aged in one-third new oak. It is initially quite backward of the nose and demands encouragement, revealing blackberry, chimney soot and tobacco scents with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, the cedar-infused black fruit tinged with white pepper and pencil shaving. Composed, nothing over-ambitious, yet long and tender on the finish. It is one of the best vintages that I have tasted from this estate that is owned by the Barton-Sartorius family. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A polished and pretty wine with blackberries and cherries. Hints of hazelnut. Medium body. Fine tannins. Long finish. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Montrose | 75cl | £975 per case of 6 | Château Montrose 2022 / / 75cl £975 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSECOND TRANCHE------"The intensity and the depth of expression is clear from the start, with ripe damson and fig fruits, incense and espresso given balance and tension by pomegrante, slate, lemongrass and mandarin rind. Unrolls to show the depth and class of Montrose, has density without shouting, keeping the estate signature and character. The first full vintage for Pierre Grafeuille as estate director, working alongside long time technical director Vincent Decup. 12% press wine, pretty much exactly the same as ever, this really is a vineyard that delivers consistency. 97 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Montrose is a brooding, powerful wine, as it so often is. Huge tannins wrap around a core of dark black fruit, chocolate, leather, spice, menthol and licorice. The new oak (60%) is not yet fully integrated, but then again, the 2022 is a baby. A bit of time in the glass helps the elements come together nicely. Readers will have to be exceptionally patient, as the 2022 is not likely to start drinking well until it is at least 15-20 years old. 96-98 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A very powerful and structured Montrose with steely tannins that run the length of the wine. It's compacted and muscular with an extremely long finish. Graphite and spices in the aftertaste. This should be terrific after the elevage. From organically grown grapes. 66% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Montrose was picked 2 to 22 September comprising all four grape varieties and all the Cabernet Franc, with 13% pressed wine, matured in 60% new oak. There is 14.5% alcohol this year, which is less than 2018. It has an extremely pure nose with black cherries and blueberry. Quite floral in style with hints of blood orange percolating through with time. The palate is very precise with exceptional mineralité and tension. Very focused, superb concentration, with what is becoming Montrose's trademark sense of symmetry and sustained aftertaste, this could be the finest Saint-Estèphe in 2022. 2027-2052. 97-99 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Château Montrose is a classic blend of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 60% new oak from a variety of coopers. Another absolutely brilliant wine in the vintage, it offers a saturated purple hue as well as an essence of Montrose-like bouquet of currants, blueberries, damp earth, violets, graphite, and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, and powerful, it nevertheless has a riveting sense of purity, precision, and finesse that's hard to believe. Given its balance and purity of fruit, as well as the quality of the tannins, it's going to offer incredible pleasure with just 4-6 years of bottle age (a decade would be best) yet be just about immortal if well stored. 98-100 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Montrose is such a compelling wine that assigning it a bracketed score seems a mere formality. A brilliant terroir, impeccable viticulture, perfectly timed harvest dates and judicious extraction have aligned to deliver a monument in the making, reminiscent of a far purer, more precise, modern-day version of the 1990 vintage at this address. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, violets, iris, pencil lead and cigar wrapper, it's full-bodied, deep and authoritative, its velvety attack segueing into a layered, elegantly muscular core that's framed by supple, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, resonant finish. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this only confirms Montrose's status as a de facto first growth and unquestionably one of the contemporary Médoc's very greatest estates. 99-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Mouton Rothschild | 75cl | £3,108 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild 2022 / / 75cl £3,108 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Mouton Rothschild was picked 1 to 26 September with one of the highest Cabernet Sauvignon contents in years, matured in 100% new oak as usual. Very deep, almost opaque in color. It is stubborn on the nose, at first, backward, then opens after 10 minutes with black plum, cassis and violet aromas. It is more voluptuous than the 2022 Lafite-Rothschild which is what you expect. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy and quite strict tannins (the IPT is 76), that frame layers of black fruit laced with tobacco and graphite. Powerful, almost burly, it is perhaps how the 1986 tasted in its youth. A Mouton-Rothschild determined to make a statement and it certainly does that. Feels a bit like tasting Thor's hammer at the moment, but it will just require considerable cellaring. 14.05% alcohol. 2032-2075. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Inky damson colour, with vibrant violet reflections, velvet texture, aromatics less exuberant than the Petit Mouton, but the concentration and depth on the palate is absolutely there, with cocoa powder, grilled coffee bean, olive paste, cassis, bitter black chocolate on the finish as the tannins close in, ready for decades ahead. This walks the line, and is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Clearly needs a long time before approaching, give it the full 10 years and then some. Harvest began September 1, earliest since 1893. 32hl/h yield. 3.89ph, 76IPT, 100% new oak. Harvest overall September 1 to 26. Jean-Emanuel Danjoy director. 49% of production in the Grand Vin, 27% Petit Mouton. 100% new barrels for ageing. 98 points" janeanson.com------"A brilliant wine that likely sits somewhere between the 2019 and 2020 in quality, the 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. Unwinding in the glass with complex aromas of minty cassis, cigar wrapper, violets and subtle hints of loamy soil, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered core of fruit and a fleshy, elegantly muscular profile. Broad-shouldered and seamless, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. This year the grand vin represents some 49% of the estate's production. 96-99 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The Mouton-specific creme de cassis is all there. Al dente, too. The grapes must have been picked at near perfection. Depth and complexity. Black berries, earth, violets and other flowers. Full-bodied yet very hemmed-in with tight tannins, which are precise and polished. You can taste the grape skins and dust of the soil. The length is rather endless. 92% cabernet sauvignon. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Mouton Rothschild - Aile d'Argent | 75cl | £660 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild Aile d'Argent 2022 / / 75cl £660 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Aile d'Argent (which has been bottled under Diam 30 since 2017) has a silvery hue. It is a little contained on the nose compared to some other Médoc whites, gradually opening with beeswax and honeysuckle scents. The palate is well balanced, with crisp acidity, an attractive waxy texture thanks to the Sémillon, with a little oiliness toward the finish. Very fine. 89-91 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Harvested in the month of August, the 2022 Aile d'Argent bursts with aromas of gooseberries, white flowers, lime zest and mango. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, it's a bright, fleshy Sauvignon Blanc-dominant blend that concludes with a saline finish. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Don't expect a big production of the white in 2022, as they saw just 16hl/h yields, mainly because Sémillon had such tiny berries, with high skin to juice ratio making things intense and concentrated. Think mango, pineapple, lemongrass, lime and mandarin zest, with a supple texture, with a delicious, and necessary, kick of bitterness on the finish. There has been a migration towards cooler terroir for the whites, still in their own vineyards either in Pauillac or just over appellation boundary. 45% new oak, 100% whole bunch pressing, zero malolactic (which is not always the case in Mouton), 3.18ph with zero adjustment ('this is not even something we ever discuss'). Harvest August 22 to 30. Second full year of Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy as technical director across the Mouton wines. 94 points" janeanson.com------"So vibrant and minerally with salt and dried apple, peach and pears. Medium to full body. Creamy texture. Some phenolics. Dried fruit skin. Vivid acidity. 3.18 pH. 52% sauvignon blanc, 39% semillon, 8% sauvignon gris, and 1% muscadelle. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Mouton Rothschild - Le Petit Mouton | 75cl | £1,098 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild Le Petit Mouton 2022 / / 75cl £1,098 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is laced with sumptuous red-toned fruit, pomegranate, mint, blood orange and rose petal. Silky tannins wrap it all together in style. Le Petit Mouton captures the exotic side of the year nicely and yet retains terrific energy throughout. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com ------"Representing some 29% of the estate's production this year, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton shares much of the character of the grand vin, offering up a rich bouquet of cassis, dark berries, espresso roast and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered palate that's fleshy and concentrated, with powdery tannins and an expansive finish. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Le Petit Mouton has an intense bouquet with violet infused cassis and blackberry fruit, just a faint touch of Medjool dates in the background. It opens extremely confidently in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. Structured, granular in texture and multi-layered, it's quite difficult to recognize this as a mere Deuxieme Vin. Long on the aftertaste, this is an outstanding Le Petit Mouton. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, RobertParker.com------"You often get powerful colour and texture with Petit Mouton, because it is never afraid to lean into its exuberant character, but this really does take things up a notch. Think chocolate brownies, olive paste, baked plum, damson, cassis, huge structure and phenolics, well integrated, with a plush mouthfeel and velvety tannins. Not easy to say when to drink this, because it is so appealing right now, even as an En Primeur sample, but the amount of tannins are going to safely take it through the years. One of the first wines that made me see the potential greatness of the vintage. Harvest September 1 to 26. 32hl/h yield. 60% new oak. 32hl/h yield. 80IPT. This is a buy. 95 points" janeanson.com------"Tasting more like a Grand Vin than a second wine, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild boasts a deep purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, ripe blackberries, melted chocolate, espresso, and graphite. Rich, opulent, and still balanced, drink this sexy 2022 any time over the coming 15-20 years. The blend of the 2022 is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot that's still resting in 60% new barrels. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The Petit Mouton is more and more structured and intense. It's made for the cellar. Full to medium body. Lively and intense. Solid. 71% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 7% cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Ormes de Pez | 75cl | £256 per case of 12 | Château Ormes de Pez 2022 / / 75cl £256 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Exhibiting aromas of rich cassis, pencil shavings and petals, the 2022 Ormes de Pez is medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit and plenty of powdery structuring tannin. It's a blend of 51% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Ormes de Per is bold, pungent and savory, in classic Saint-Estèphe style. Gravel, cured meats, spice and leather give the 2022 a good bit of aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, with good depth, the 2022 has a ton to offer. This is a terrific showing. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"In line with the rest of the St Estèphe appellation in terms of its plum colour and vivid violet rim, this is already promising to be easy to drink, with supple velvet tannins, cocoa bean, caramel, sweet blackberry fruits, fig tart, patisserie cream, spice red peppers, it retains the appealingly unfussy welcome of Ormes de Pez even with the ripe signatures of the vintage. Blend finished February. Quantity down 40% after hail in June. 45% new oak. 93 points" janeanson.com------""The 2022 Ormes de Pez is matured in 45% new oak for a planned 16 months. It has a perfumed and floral bouquet, quite sensual for a Saint-Estèphe, developing blue fruit with time in the glass. The oak is neatly enmeshed. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a high-toned and racy opening. Good acidity, the Merlot (51%) occupies the driving seat and ensures its silky-textured finish, a mote of chalk dust on the aftertaste. Just needs its élevage to knit it all together. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A juicy and fruity red with blackberry, black cherry and chocolate character. Full and round with freshness and intensity. Very spicy. Black olives, too. 51% merlot, 39% cabernet sauvignon, 8% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Another brilliant Saint-Estèphe, the 2022 Château Ormes De Pez offers up lots of ripe blue and black fruits as well textbook earth, crushed stone, and graphite. Showing more nuance and floral notes with time in the glass, this medium to full-bodied effort has plenty of mid-palate depth, velvety yet building tannins, and nicely integrated background oak. This serious wine is worth seeking out. Tasted twice. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Palmer | 75cl | £1,788 per case of 6 | Château Palmer 2022 / / 75cl £1,788 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"As is the case at neighbor Château Margaux, the 2022 Palmer is one of the most powerful wines this estate has ever produced. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, it offers up aromas of blackberries, burning embers, violets, iris and sweet soil tones, followed by a full-bodied, broad and expansive palate, its velvety attack segueing into a rich and layered core. Supple, seamless and concentrated, it checks in at 14.4% alcohol and a rather high pH of 3.79. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Palmer is a wine of sublime beauty and refinement. Siky, caressing and super-expressive, the 2022 is also one of the most surprising wines of the year in that it does not show the drought or heat of the growing season at all either in its flavor profile or feel. Succulent black cherry, plum, leather, licorice, spice and dried herbs lend notable complexity throughout. The 2022 starts off rather slow and then really explodes on the back end. It is a magnificent wine in every way. 96-98 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Palmer was cropped at just 22hL/ha due to the berries being 25-30% smaller than usual. It bursts forth on the nose with precocious black cherries, blueberry, violet and touches of marmalade and tobacco in the background. Complex and expressive. The palate is structured, with the tannic backbone, that winemaker Thomas Duroux talked about, lending this Palmer a sense of verticality. Hints of black pepper emerge with time, multi-layered, powerful Margaux and yet the IPT is actually lower than elsewhere (76). Quite linear on the tobacco-infused finish which is just quintessential Palmer. Do reserve a bin in your cellar for this and let it gather dust for at least a decade. 14.4% alcohol. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Château Palmer is utterly brilliant, so much so that I questioned in my notes if this would challenge the 2018. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, its mammoth-sized personality offers layers of blue and black fruits, notes of melted chocolate, crushed stone, and spring flowers, building, velvety tannins, and a great, great finish. While many estates commented that they extracted less in the vintage, Palmer went in a different direction and extracted more during the vinifications to provide a solid backbone to match the concentration and power of the vintage. It appears to have worked brilliantly, and hats off to Thomas Duroux for having the confidence to go his own path. He has produced a truly Grand Vin in 2022. The alcohol here is a normal 14.4%, and the pH is a healthy 3.79. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"So much class in the nose with a sophisticated kaleidoscope of dark fruit such as blackcurrants, and spices such as salt and pepper, as well as cloves and nutmeg. Full-bodied. Compacted and dense yet weightless. It opens beautifully. The tannins go on and on with wonderful presence. Salty undertones. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Palmer - Alter Ego de Palmer | 75cl | £402 per case of 6 | Château Palmer Alter Ego de Palmer 2022 / / 75cl £402 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"The 2022 Alter Ego is a deep limpid purple in color. It has a huge bouquet as if someone has shoved a bunch of violets in your face and said "Smell that'. It just doesn't hold back. The palate is medium-bodied, with a sweet, ripe entry, Quite dense, structured and grippy, with a slightly briny finish 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Dense fruits, violet reflections, with a hit of iris, peony and roses. This is a serious wine, with intense phenolics and full extraction that just walks the line, edges of ripe cassis, fig, saffran spice, cocoa bean, grilled campfire notes, dark bitter chocolate and fennel. High drama, maintains estate signature, keeping its own imprint and personality. Harvest September 7 right through to October 5. Blend done by December, yield 23hl/h. 3.73ph. Thomas Duroux director. 92 points" janeanson.com------"A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Alter Ego de Palmer offers up aromas of cherries, wild berries and plums mingled with vine smoke and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, deep and brooding, with a layered core of fruit, lively acids and rich, powdery tannins, it's a gourmand, voluptuous wine that will offer a broad drinking window. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"I always love the second wine from this estate, and their 2022 Alter Ego De Palmer should be terrific. Based on 61% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in 25% new oak, it's a deeply hued Margaux with lots of ripe red and blue fruits, some classic chalky minerality, and floral notes. It shows the vintage's powerful, concentrated style and is full-bodied, with terrific balance. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Alter Ego is a total pleasure bomb. Ripe and sensual with caressing tannins, the 2022 is exceptionally beautiful. Floral and spice top notes lend tons of aromatic presence. More than anything, though, I am so impressed with the wine's exceptional balance. Especially the tannins. Nothing in particular stands out, as the wine's balance is nothing short of magnificent. The 2022 is pure and total sensualty. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The minerality and intensity to this wine is very impressive with blackberry and blue berry aromas and flavors. Salt and pepper. It’s full and linear with a brightness and freshness. Compacted center palate. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Pape Clement | 75cl | £750 per case of 12 | Château Pape Clement 2022 / / 75cl £750 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Pape Clement is shaping up to be a gem. Deep, pliant and layered in the glass, the 2022 possesses notable energy and vibrancy to play off its core of rich, sumptuous fruit. Soft, plush contours wrap it all together. Time in the glass brings out notable energy, especially as the mid-palate opens into the gorgeous, palate-staining finish. The 2022 is unusual in that it is 60% Merlot, rather than the more typical blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted three times. 93-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier delivers aromas of minty dark berries, cherries and ripe plums mingled with hints of licorice, coniferous forest and spices. Medium to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and layered, textured and elegant, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a long, penetrating, long finish. Olivier Bernard and his team have crafted an outstanding wine that will bear a special label commemorating his 40th vinification at this Péssac-Léognan reference point. 94-96 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"Showing how it's done in 2022, Domaine de Chevalier comes in strong with a deep ruby red colour, a vibrant rim, smoked oak on the nose, edges of tar, red roses, liquorice root, and a confident delivery of full-on tannic architecture that frames the cassis and bilberry fruit. Delivers vintage signature in a carefully controlled way, with enough slate, pummice stone, mint and eucalyptus to balance things out and slow down delivery. The fruits are fully ripe, heading towards baked plum and fig, but met step by step with a corresponding cooling flavour. 40th harvest of Olivier Bernard (meaning a special label). 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier was picked from 5-30 September and represents the 40th vintage under the irrepressible Olivier Bernard, who celebrates with a one-off label. It soars from the glass with take-no-prisoner aromatics: perfumed mineral-rich red berry fruit, incense and black truffle. Pessac-like earthiness with an opposing airiness defines many a great wine from this estate. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. Slightly powdery in texture and saline in the mouth, this gets the saliva flowing. However, the arching structure on the finish suggests it will require considerable bottle age. Cellar this for a couple of decades, and you'll be repaid handsomely. 14% alcohol. 2034-2075. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A full-bodied, concentrated, awesome Pessac, the 2022 Château Pape Clément offers up loads of spiced red and black fruits, some leafy tobacco, gravelly earth, and graphite aromatics, building, ripe, polished tannins, and a stacked mid-palate. Beautifully done, with remarkable purity and a great finish, it's going to rank with the crème de la crème of the vintage and is well worth seeking out. 96-98+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Wow. This is incredibly structured and powerful with ultra-fine tannins that are tight and layered. It’s full and powerful with carved muscles of tannins. This will need so much time. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Pape Clement Blanc | 75cl | £588 per case of 6 | Château Pape Clement Blanc 2022 / / 75cl £588 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Sémillon and 2% Muscadelle, the 2022 Pape Clément Blanc exhibits aromas of spices, spring flowers, lemon, peach and hints of jasmine and grapefruit. The palate is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and satiny, with an oaky frame. The finish is long, persistent and elegantly spicy. 90-93 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"If you had to pick one wine that would not be afraid of the excess of the vintage, it would be Pape Clement, and certainly here they have leaned into it without being overpowered. Plenty of citrus, lemon curd, white peach and sage. Structured also, with great balance within the estate signature, helped by an attractive bitter edge on the finish. 35hl/h yield, harvest August 28 to September 2. Tasted twice. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Pape Clément Blanc was cropped at 35hL/ha between 28 August and 2 September and matured in under 20% new oak. It is very fragrant on the nose, with lemon verbena, white peach and honeysuckle scents. Really fine definition and sense of focus. The palate is well balanced, a little steelier and more linear than recent vintages with plenty of tension on the saline finish. This should age well in bottle. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Pape Clement Blanc is a very pretty, exotic white. Drops of Muscadelle in the blend add a very pretty hint of jasmine and lime to play off the richer, riper flavors on the palate. The 2022 offers lovely density and creaminess, with plenty of orchard fruit, marzipan and chamomile flavors, yet also remains light on its feet and wonderfully fresh. Tasted three times. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Château Pape Clément Blanc is another beauty from this team, and if it puts on some weight over the course of its élevage, it will merit an even higher score. Honeyed lychee, minty herbs, melon, and stone fruits define the bulk of the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with good concentration, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. I was able to taste this on multiple occasions with consistent notes. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The purity of fruit is really impressive here with crushed apples, pears and lemons. Some mineral and stone, too. Honeysuckle. Very clear and bright. The palate is full and very direct and focused, with a long, salty dried lemon finish and minerality. Fine phenolics at the end. 63% sauvignon blanc, 35% semillon and 2% muscadelle. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Pavie | 75cl | £1,788 per case of 6 | Château Pavie 2022 / / 75cl £1,788 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Pavie was picked from 19 September to 1 October at 31hL/ha and matured in 75% new oak. The estate now comprises 42 hectares as it has absorbed Pavie-Decesse and Bellevue-Mondotte, ergo, these names are no more. This demonstrates a little over-ripeness on the nose: macerated black cherries, kirsch, cassis and a touch of fresh prune. Does that translate across onto the palate? Actually, no. It is undoubtedly decadent and rich, but it retains balance and delivers a very velvety texture, with mouth-filling tannins. Powerful and yet undeniably harmonious, it feels plush and luxuriant on the finish, with a touch of dark chocolate lingering on the aftertaste. I am intrigued to revisit this after bottling and, because of the aromatics and not the palate, I err on the side of caution, though repouring, it feels slightly fresher. 14.47% alcohol. NB It comes in a specially-designed engraved bottle without a label. 2030-2065. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Wonderfully intense and concentrated, this is an impressive Pavie, muscular, intense and well constructed. It has an exuberance to the aromatics that is striking, with incense, baked damson, milk chocolate and creamy black cherry fruits, almost overwhelming until the limestone fingerprints hit in the mid palate to add tentson and salinity, even a hint of savoury freshness. Powerful, will take the full ten years to come around. 75% new oak. Buno Lacoste consultant. First year with the inclusion of Pavie Decesse and Bellevue-Mondotte, bringing it to 42ha, which is the biggest fully classified footprint, with 30ha on the plateau. Harvest 19 to October 1. 10th anniversary of classification and 25th harvest of Gerard Perse. 95 points" janeanson.com------"Intense aromas of cherries and spices. Full and layered without being heavy. It starts large and rich, but the tension and tannins tighten down. It's structured and powerful. Velvety, edgy tannins. Very salty at the end. Like an unpolished diamond. It now includes Pavie Decesse and Bellevue. Slightly overdone but wait and see. 52% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 18% cabernet sauvignon. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Phelan Ségur | 75cl | £450 per case of 12 | Château Phelan Ségur 2022 / / 75cl £450 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, crème de cassis, sweet berries and spices, framed by creamy new oak, the 2022 Phélan Ségur is medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with plenty of sweet fruit and chewy structuring tannin. It's a persuasive Saint-Estèphe in a more modern, extracted style. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Phelan Segur is shaping up to be a gem. A burst of dark red/purplish fruit makes a strong opening statement. Sweet floral, spice and pomegranate caress the palate. The 2022 is immediately sensual and enging. There is a bit of graininess in the tannin that is the only question mark here. This will be a fascinating wine to follow. Tasted three times 91-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Elegant and well balanced, a ton of St Estèphe signature, this is really impressive, well controlled, wuth purity and depth to the cassis fruits, sweetened by cherry pie, flaky pastry, cinnammon, a welcome bitter finish of aniseed and cocoa beans that gives balance to the overall richness of the palate. There are big tannins but also clean wet stone minerality, and things stretch out through the palate, giving grip and no let up in intensity. 55% new oak, 3.8ph, 28hl/h yield. Blend finished in March, 28l/h yield. Selected native yeasts. 95 points" janeanson.com------"I was lucky enough to be able to taste the 2022 Château Phélan Ségur on multiple occasions, and it always impressed, offering a deep purple hue as well as a ripe, powerful bouquet of darker currant and cassis-like fruits interwoven with leafy herbs, tobacco, and chocolate. A ripe, full-bodied, opulent wine, it has beautiful tannins, a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, and a great finish. It’s going to be as good, if not better, than the 2018 and 2019, and I continue to love what director Véronique Dausse accomplishes at this address. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Phélan Ségur was picked between 14 and 26 September, 9 out of 13 days with one plot immediately after another, using selected indigenous yeasts for around half the production. It was cropped at 28hL/ha with 14.2% alcohol at the moment, the pH is 38. This year contains higher Merlot (56%) due to its higher yield than Cabernet (frost and berry size). On June 20 at 8.15pm, three blocks were hit by hail that was horizontal accompanied by 25mm of rain within 10 minutes. This cost them 30% production overall. "We did less extraction at the end of the alcoholic fermentation and stopped the pumping over two days earlier at 1.010 [which without getting too technical is the Gravity of one liter of must relative to one liter of distilled water] and did more like an infusion." Aged in 55% new oak, it has an enticingly pure bouquet with blackberry and bilberry fruit, blackcurrant, iris flower and light iodine scents. Very intense and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, a liberal sprinkling of freshly cracked black pepper laced over the black fruit. A quintessentially Saint-Estèphe with a structured and very persistent finish. Allowing the wine to open in the glass, it reveals impressive depth (more so than the 2019 and 2020) and precision. This will require several years in bottle, but it will certainly be worth the wait.. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Loads of fruit here. Energetic, with layers of tannins. Full-bodied. It builds at the end and opens like a butterfly. Hints of minerals and iron. Best ever? 56% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Pichon Baron | 75cl | £810 per case of 6 | Château Pichon Baron 2022 / / 75cl £810 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"You are firmly wading through intense, sculpted Pauillac tannins here, gripping from the first moments with their structure and intent. Blocks of intense chocolate, slate, liquorice and black chocolate, this feels vertical and concentrated, could let more light in at this stage but that should come over ageing. Petit Verdot vinified in amphora, and they did a cold soak for every plot this year for the first time. 70% new barrels and 30% from barrels of one vintage. 94 points" janeanson.com--------"An unusually gourmand, sensual wine from this estate, the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron bursts with aromas of crème de cassis, sweet dark berries, licorice, lilac and pencil shavings. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with excellent concentration and a rather rich, supple profile. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, it's the result of sub-block by sub-block picking and cooler than usual fermentation temperatures. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A very structured and racy PB with blackcurrant, stone and black cherry aromas and flavors. Medium to full body with racy and fine tannins that are precise and focused. Elegance with structure. 81% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Pichon Baron is marvelous. It continues a series of vintages that have been absolutely compelling. Bright red-toned fruit, spice, rose petal and blood orange lend considerable brightness throughout. More than anything else, the 2022 impresses with its precision and magnificent balance. 96-98 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Pichon Baron was picked 8 September to 3 October and matured in 70% new dak. It has wonderful precision on the nose, with intense blackberry and bilberry fruit, crushed stone and graphite. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is tensile right from the start. Taut and linear, fresh, quite saline with a nuanced touch of black pepper toward the finish. Real pedigree and sophistication here, this is a magnificent Pichon-Baron that achieves a new level of precision thanks to the more piecemeal Sauternes-inspired harvest in tandem with the new winery. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Pontet Canet | 75cl | £538 per case of 6 | Château Pontet Canet 2022 / / 75cl £538 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes""Vivid plum colour, violet reflections, chewy tannins from the first moments. Loaded with cassis, blueberry and fresh fig fruits, laced through with rosemary, sage, dried herbs, edges of chamomile and fresh mushroom. Tight in its tannic structure, with smoked earth, cinammo, cardamom and lavender. Mathieu Bessonnet technical director, and the 47th vintage of owner Alfred Tesseron, 50% new oak, 35% amphora, 15% one year old barrels, 55 year average age of the vines. Harvest September 8 to 28, with clay used as sunscreen on the grapes to avoid sunburn, and a selection before harvest to drop any shrivelled berries. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Pontet Canet has a pure nose with perfumed blackberry and cassis fruit. It takes time to cohere, evolving light pencil lead notes after 8-10 minutes. The palate has a lovely chalky texture on the entry, and a silver bead of acidity. Perhaps, more complexity than the aromatics suggest at the moment. Fine balance, moderate grip, the mineralité coming toward the final third, it fans out with gusto. There is quite a long residual peppery note on the aftertaste that you can feel after 30 seconds. I have not pulled any punches in recent vintages, when stylistically, I felt that it has veered too far away from Pauillac, for my personal taste. But closely examining this 2022, today, it seems safely within the appellation. 2028-2050. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Pontet-Canet is a surprising wine. Usually much more opulent, especially in warm, dry years, the 2022 comes across as restrained and understated. It is a wine of linear intensity rather than size, marked by notable freshness and a feeling of tension and precision I don't recall seeing in the past. Clean mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly. I very much admire the precision and vibrancy here. Unforgettable. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com ------"The 2022 Château Pontet-Canet is brilliant and should easily be up with the crème de la crème from the Médoc. Based on 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it was vinified mostly in concrete (there's a small part in wood), and the aging is in 50% new French oak, 35% in amphora, and the rest in once-used barrels. It has an incredibly pure bouquet of cassis, graphite, lead pencil, and scorched earth. This carries to a full-bodied Pauillac with a deep, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish. It has the purity, richness, and structure that makes this vintage so compelling and is going to be drinkable with just 4-6 years of bottle age but have an incredibly long life. 97-99+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"What a finish on this Pontet-Canet. So much energy and brightness. It's full-bodied yet so tight and focused with superb fruit and transparency. It is racy and fine with super fine texture. It's like crushed cabernet sauvignon with cassis, tobacco and cigar box. Licorice and spices. Freshness of the seed. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 4% cabernet franc, and 4% petit verdot. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Poujeaux | 75cl | £246 per case of 12 | Château Poujeaux 2022 / / 75cl £246 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Poujeaux offers up aromas of cassis, plums, pencil shavings and sweet soil tones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated palate that opens with a velvety attack, segueing into a firmer, more austere mid-palate and finish that depress my score. If this rounds out with élevage, my review will prove conservative. 88-90 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Poujeaux is very beautiful. Silky, aromatic and elegant, the 2022 is flat-out delicious. Crushed red/purplish berries, mint, blood orange, graphite and spice are all beautifully woven together. Clean mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly. The 2022 is all class. It's as simple as that. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Poujeaux has a perfumed and delineated bouquet: copious black cherries and blueberry fruit, hints of pressed iris and violets. This blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced, impressive focus with fine-grain black fruit. This builds in the mouth. The 2022 Poujeaux certainly repays patience in terms of waiting for the sample to cohere in the glass. Ultimately, everything seems succinctly controlled and, who knows, it may well surpass a delicious magnum of 1953 tasted the previous evening. Tasted three times with consistent notes. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A medium-bodied red with crunchy fruit and tight tannin structure. Juicy acidity coming through. Chewy and solid at the end. Closed and pretty tannins. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Rauzan Ségla | 75cl | £505 per case of 6 | Château Rauzan Ségla 2022 / / 75cl £505 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is a rich, opulent wine that very much reflects the nature of this radiant, dry year. Super-ripe dark plum, cassis, chocolate, gravel, cloves and new leather build as the 2022 shows off its unabashedly opulent personality. Even with all of its intensity, the 2022 retains tons of persistence and energy. It's a fabulous wine in this tricky vintage Tasted three times. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla was picked 2 to 28 September at 30hL/ha and matured for 18 months in 50% new oak. Nicolas Audebert told me that it contains 17% vin de presse which is slightly higher than normal, a combination of 150 separate vinifications. This has a very opulent bouquet with layers of black cherries, créme de cassis and violets. Perhaps just a little too decadent? The palate is medium-bodied with fine balance, grainy tannins, very pure and focused with quite a minerally finish. Long in the mouth. It's just missing that knockout blow at the moment, yet it's still a supremely well-crafted Margaux. 2030-2065. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is a beautifully sensual, charming wine, bursting with aromas of cherries, dark berries and plums mingled with hints of violets, sweet loamy soil and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's fleshy and enveloping, with an ample core of vibrant fruit, supple tannins and a long, succulent finish. The 2022 is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot; and in 2022, the east-facing sides of the vines, which see the afternoon sun, were picked separately, along with anything that showed signs of stress. 96-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Supple texture, thoroughly impressive in its depth and grip, blackcurrant, blackberry, crayon, liquorice, mint, slate, fennel, ink, has confidence and character and just so much class. Brings precision to the exuberance of the vintage, barely puts a step wrong, so concentated and yet delivering slate and lift. Excellent. Tasted twice. 50% new barrels, Nicolas Auderbert director, 50% of production in the first wine. 97 points" janeanson.com------"The freshness and clarity of the fruit is really something with black currants and cherries. Brilliant. Full-bodied, layered and round with polished tannins. I like the intensity and focus with such precision and gorgeousness. Is this the 2016 plus more? 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"This château has been firing on all cylinders of late, no doubt due to the talents of technical director Nicolas Audebert, and a wine that's going to flirt with perfection is their 2022 Château Rauzan-Ségla. Powerful notes of black cherries, currants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and leafy herbs all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated texture, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish. This is a legit great wine that's going to rival the 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Rieussec - R' de Rieussec | 75cl | £228 per case of 12 | Château Rieussec R' de Rieussec 2022 / / 75cl £228 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 R de Rieussec has a fresh bouquet with apple blossom, pear and light gooseberry scents. Fine intensity. The palate is fresh on the entry with grass clipping and gooseberry, touches of kiwi, quite precise on the finish with admirable length. Drink over the next 8-10 years. 89-91 points." Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Sharp and tangy, bright, energetic and so lively in the mouth. Keeps a sense of calm and seriousness, the brightness softens quite quickly with more of a cool, creamy, salty touch at the end and some flinty minerality on the finish. I love the initial brightness and intensity of apple, lemon, peach and apricot fruit before it narrows into a long finish. (Drink: 2025-2032). 92 points" Georgie Hindle, Decanter.------"Saffran, lemongrass, white pepper spice, citrus, flaky pastry, bitter almond sign off, an enjoyable white wine that is full of structure and personality, if soft through the finish. Mathieu Crosnier estate director from this vintage. 92 points." Jane Anson |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Roc de Cambes | 75cl | £330 per case of 6 | Château Roc de Cambes 2022 / / 75cl £330 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Roc de Cambes is a wid, exotic wine that cuplures all the natural intensity of the year Super-ripe black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, licorice, lavender and hard candy all race out of the glass. The 2022 is pretty exuberant, so readers should expect a flamboyant wine that approaches the sort of richness that is often found in the flagship Tertre Roteboeuf. Roc de Cambes is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Mingling aromas of sweet cherries and cassis with notions of licorice, espresso roast and spices, the 2022 Roc de Cambes is medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with a broad-shouldered profile, framed by powdery tannins, and concluding with a chalky finish. This is always the most structured wine in the Mitjaville portfolio. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Roc de Cambes displays a very perfumed bouquet with black cherries and blueberry fruit, more floral than the Domaine des Cambes, iris and peony. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, dark berry fruit laced with white pepper and clove. Hints of iron toward the spicy finish. Very fine. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A bigger, riper, sexier wine, the 2022 Roc De Cambes just about jumps out of the glass with its exotic red and blue fruits as well as vanilla bean, sweet spice, and acacia flower-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has beautiful tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It shows the riper, opulent style of the vintage, yet it has a core of ripe tannins and mid-palate depth that keeps it nicely focused and balanced. It's a gorgeous wine that's unfortunately hard to find in the market. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Roc de Cambes | Magnum | £345 per case of 3 | Château Roc de Cambes 2022 / / Magnum £345 per case of 3 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Saintayme | 75cl | £150 per case of 12 | Château Saintayme 2022 / / 75cl £150 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Saintayme was picked from 17 September to 5 October and matured in 30% new oak. It gushes with quite intense red cherries, kirsch and orange pith scents, lovely definition, simple in a positive sense. The palate is medium-bodied with darker fruit than the nose suggest, quite saline with a black pepper-tinged finish. Enjoy this over the next decade. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2040. 89-91 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"All Merlot from a mix of terroirs, the 2022 Saintayme has impressive darker cherry and blackberry-like fruit as well as medium to full body, a terrific chalky mineral character, ripe yet firmer tannins, and outstanding length. 90-92 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Saintayme is bright, floral and vibrant in this vintage, almost surprisingly so. Crushed red berry frut, rose petal, chalk, mint and white pepper all run through this taut, nervy Saint-Émilion. All the elements are so well balanced. I especially admire the wine's persistence and inner perfume. Terrific. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2037. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Intense muscular contraction to the tannins on the opening beats, the fruit gets creamy as it opens, with vivid raspberry reflections and plenty of mouthwating salinity. This is a pretty serious Saintayme, great quality and great value. Olivier Gautrat alongside Noémie Durantou. Harvest September 17 to October 3 (extremely late for the vintage, because cool clays in a cooler part of St Etienne de Lisse, something you also see in the generous 50hl/h yields), 30% new oak. 93 points" janeanson.com------"So much sea salt and crunchy fruit with berry and grape character. Some orange, too. Medium-bodied, bright and vivid. Lively finish. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Smith Haut Lafitte | 75cl | £683 per case of 6 | Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2022 / / 75cl £683 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte opens in the glass with attractive aromas of cassis, spices, tobacco, graphite and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that is deep and layered, with good depth and powdery structuring tannins that assert themselves on the finish. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot will require some patience, given its somewhat extracted style. 94-95 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte was cropped at 29hL/ha between 5 and 30 September, undergoing half the extraction, aged in 60% new oak for a planned 18 months. It is fragrant and very pure on the nose: beautiful blackberry, raspberry and liquorice. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very elegant and focused, fine-boned with an exceptionally pure and caressing tobacco-tinged finish. This is going to grow to be a wonderful, delicious Smith Haut Lafitte. 14.5% alcohol. 2030-2065. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Inky colour, with vivid vibrant edging, curling and fragrant floral aromatics, plenty of energy from the first kick of peony and mandarin peel. The rich density of the blue and black fruits are set against slate and grippy tannins, giving textural contrast which makes it engaging, together with a saline scrape on the finish. Blueberry, cassis, ink, liquorice root, graphite, pink grapefruit, intensely expressed with a vertical rise through the palate, very much true to estate signature. 29hl/h, 3.65ph, 10% whole bunches fermentation, using a mix of full bunches and stalks that they select after destemming. 33% 1st wine, 4% press used in the blend, harvest September 5 to 30. Fabien Teitgen technical director. 97 points" janeanson.com------"The polish, texture, complexity and patina are very impressive and fascinating. So spicy and interesting with so much going on. Medium body with wonderfully integrated tannins that are cut and nicely chiselled already. Lemon and violet. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc | 75cl | £719 per case of 6 | Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2022 / / 75cl £719 per case of 6 |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Suduiraut | 75cl | £291 per case of 6 | Château Suduiraut 2022 / / 75cl £291 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Amber in colour, with tropical fruits of passion fruit and mango on the opening beats, clear depth of flavour and contrast provided by orange peel and aniseed bitterness, low acidity. Luscious, silky, powerful, enjoyable. Pierre Montégut technical director, 7hl/h yields, 70% new barrels 30% from barrels of one vintage. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Suduiraut is laced with hints of tangerine peel, spice, vanillin, chamomile and dried flowers. It offers a lovely mix of botrytis-inflected flavors and textures while also showing quite a bit of freshness. The 2022 is done in the lighter style the château favors these days. My impression is that it is still coming together, as the wine shows a very slight lack of cohesion that is not typical. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Suduiraut comes from a quick and late harvest in October (three tries between 17 and 27 October with some passerillé grapes in September). Bunches were affected by botrytis but did not concentrate, at least not until a period of wind and warmth. Wild honey, quince and touches of marmalade on the nose, this opens nicely in the glass. The palate is pure and viscous in texture, with marmalade, again, and dried honey. Very open and approachable on the finish. Not profound, but quite delicious. Christian Seely said he drank this for breakfast the previous day - why not? 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"One of the finest Sauternes I've been lucky enough to taste in some time, the 2022 Château Suduiraut is 100% Sémillon that hit 13.9% natural alcohol, with 190 grams per liter of residual sugar. Still resting in 70% new barrels, this monster of a Sauternes offers a huge nose of honeyed citrus, orange marmalade, spice, brioche, and almond paste. Full-bodied, rich, and massively concentrated, nevertheless, it somehow stays flawlessly balanced, fresh, and light on its feet. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Wow. This is incredibly concentrated with such depth and power. Dried oranges. Full-bodied with some phenolic tension that frames the wine perfectly. Dried apricots and peaches. Incredible richness and freshness. Spicy and flavorful. Tastes more like a BA from Germany! 100% semillon. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Talbot | 75cl | £289 per case of 6 | Château Talbot 2022 / / 75cl £289 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Talbot was picked September 9-28 at 40hL/ha, slightly higher than other estates, matured in 60% new oak. Jean-Michel Laporte told me that he did a slightly longer maceration than in 2019 and 2020 during its 3.5 weeks cuvaison. It has a fragrant bouquet, well-defined with black cherries, cassis, iris and touches of brown spice. The palate is well balanced with fine weight and depth, the 13% vin de presse landing backbone. Detailed and focused, it has the same mineral spine as Gruaud Larose nearby. Quite long and lively with a tingle of white and black pepper on the finish. This is a delicious Talbot, but it is the one Saint Julien that needs a little more depth in the middle. Nevertheless, it should age for many, many years and appeal to those seeking classicism in this vintage. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Talbot is another impressive effort from the château. Savory and nuanced, the 2022 its wonderfully energetic in the glass. Dried herbs, incense, tobacco, menthol and licorice all build in a potent, virile Saint-Julien that checks all the right boxes. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Ruby colour with violet reflections, vivid and intense, well sculpted, this is delicious, with texture and heart. There are clear depths to the nuanced blackberry and cassis fruits, great quality, with St Julien balance. One to follow over ageing, this is an impressive Talbot. 60% new oak for ageing. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Talbot is especially impressive, and if it fulfills all its promise, it is likely to emerge as this large Saint-Julien property's most exciting wine since the 1980s. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, blackberries and cassis mingled with hints of violets and pencil lead, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, with a layered core of fruit, rich structuring tannins and a long, lively finish. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot that's being matured in 60% new oak. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The tannins really are integrated and fill out across the palate. The texture is so beautiful and refined. Medium- to full-bodied and crunchy, with lovely texture and refinement. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"Readers will love the 2022 Château Talbot, one of the finest vintages from this château that I can recall. Possessing a gorgeous nose of pure cassis, blackberries, tobacco, and iron, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, and perfectly integrated tannins. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that’s resting in 60% new French oak, this utterly classic, pure, lengthy Saint-Julien will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and have a broad drink window. Bravo. 93-95+ points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Talbot | Magnum | £299 per case of 3 | Château Talbot 2022 / / Magnum £299 per case of 3 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Troplong Mondot | 75cl | £612 per case of 6 | Château Troplong Mondot 2022 / / 75cl £612 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Troplong-Mondot was picked from 29 August when it was 31° Celsius, which according to estate director Aymeric de Gironde, felt cool compared to the rest of summer. The alcohol is 14.9% with the pH of 3.48. It sees no SO2 until it is transferred into barrel. The nose is very attractive and certainly very expressive of its limestone terroir: blackberry, briary, crushed iris petal and light marine scents. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit, quite chalky in texture, that acidic spine governing its overall mouthfeel. Sapid on the finish, this Troplong Mondot builds in the mouth and coats it on the finish. De Gironde and I discussed my previous scores. I always said that he would get better and better during his tenure and this is clearly the case in 2022, the best Troplong Mondot...so far. 2032-2068 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Very attractive aromas of plums and chocolate with hints of raspberry bush and hazelnut. So fresh and even savory with medium to full body. Such a wide tannin structure building up on the palate. Shows depth and length with lots of minerality. Floral. Beautiful already. 85% merlot, 13% cabernet sauvignon and 2% cabernet franc. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Violet edged with an inky core. Expertly delivers the sense of energy that is so key to the best wines in 2022. As powerful as you would expect from these clay-limestone soils, the vintage character shows in dried rosemary and white pepper spice, lacing the fresher blueberry and loganberry fruits. These are big tanins that take a long time to uncurl during tasting and will take a long time in bottle to come around. Contained power, with chocolate block, liqourice, dried roses, delicate but underpinned by menancingly powerful tannins, and a saline twist. Expert construction from director Aymeric de Gironde, carefully containing both the natural power of the soils of Troplong and the natural concentration of the vintage. 50hl/h yield. Harvest began on August 29 through to September 26. Thomas Duclos consultant. Around 3% whole bunch used during fermentation, aged in 55% new oak, 24% one year old, 21% large 2,000l oak casks. 98 points" janeanson.com-----"Clearly the finest wine to date under the new team and direction here, the 2022 Château Troplong Mondot reveals a vivid purple hue as well as sensational notes of black raspberries, cassis, acacia flowers, and graphite, with a beautiful underpinning of chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has flawless balance, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. The purity, precision, and just sheer class are something to behold. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A wine that transcended both my lofty expectations and anything produced at this address in the last 50 years, the 2022 Troplong Mondot realizes all the potential of this striking terroir. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries, exotic spices, bay leaf and orange zest, it's full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with incredible concentration without weight, supple tannins and a seamless, complete profile, concluding with a long, saline finish. All the work of the last few years in the vineyards and winery makes itself felt, as Troplong Mondot's vineyards took the hot, dry conditions in their stride, and the quality of the fruit that they produced has been preserved by a gentle vinification and a discreet élevage, featuring only 55% new oak and some 20% of the volume in large foudres. 98-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Domaine de Chevalier | 75cl | £680 per case of 12 | Domaine de Chevalier 2022 / / 75cl £680 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier is a powerhouse. I don't remember tasting anything like it. Black cherry, plum, graphite, licorice and spic add to an impression of virile intensity. Readers should expect to play the long game, as the tannins are pretty imposing at this stage. That has been the case each of the four times I have tasted the 2022 so far. 93-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier delivers aromas of minty dark berries, cherries and ripe plums mingled with hints of licorice, coniferous forest and spices. Medium to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and layered, textured and elegant, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a long, penetrating, long finish. Olivier Bernard and his team have crafted an outstanding wine that will bear a special label commemorating his 40th vinification at this Péssac-Léognan reference point. 94-96 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"Showing how it's done in 2022, Domaine de Chevalier comes in strong with a deep ruby red colour, a vibrant rim, smoked oak on the nose, edges of tar, red roses, liquorice root, and a confident delivery of full-on tannic architecture that frames the cassis and bilberry fruit. Delivers vintage signature in a carefully controlled way, with enough slate, pummice stone, mint and eucalyptus to balance things out and slow down delivery. The fruits are fully ripe, heading towards baked plum and fig, but met step by step with a corresponding cooling flavour. 40th harvest of Olivier Bernard (meaning a special label). 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier was picked from 5-30 September and represents the 40th vintage under the irrepressible Olivier Bernard, who celebrates with a one-off label. It soars from the glass with take-no-prisoner aromatics: perfumed mineral-rich red berry fruit, incense and black truffle. Pessac-like earthiness with an opposing airiness defines many a great wine from this estate. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. Slightly powdery in texture and saline in the mouth, this gets the saliva flowing. However, the arching structure on the finish suggests it will require considerable bottle age. Cellar this for a couple of decades, and you'll be repaid handsomely. 14% alcohol. 2034-2075 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Wow. This is incredibly structured and powerful with ultra-fine tannins that are tight and layered. It’s full and powerful with carved muscles of tannins. This will need so much time. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Domaine de Chevalier Blanc - Domaine de Chevalier | 75cl | £488 per case of 6 | Domaine de Chevalier Blanc Domaine de Chevalier 2022 / / 75cl £488 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc was picked from 22 August to 1 September. It has an instantly satisfying bouquet as it "launches" scents of passion fruit, lemon rind and patisserie scents, very well-defined and focused. The palate is intense on the entry and impressive in weight and density. Perhaps there's not quite the tension of the previous vintage, but it is long and thickly textured on the finish. Excellent. 2028-2048. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Touch of reduction on the first nose, intense, gunsmoke-filled aromatics, clearly aimed at extremely long ageing. Great quality, stands out for its serious structure, with clove, aniseed and fennel woven through citrus and white pear, has weight and manages to stay on the savoury side of ripe. Needs time and food. Tasted twice. 40th harvest of Olivier Bernard (meaning a special label), 33% new oak. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc offers up aromas of pear, nectarine, crushed mint jasmine and lemon, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate with a mineral-driven profile. It's lively and bright, with a delicate, penetrating finish animated by racy acids. This blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Sémillon, matured entirely in large wooden foudres and 500-liter barrels instead of the traditional barriques, is one of the finest white wines of the vintage, and one of the few that transcends its limitations. 93-96 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is stunning. It exudes textural depth, intensity and pedigree from the very first taste. I imagine it will still be stellar in another few years' time. For now, it is a wine to think about cellaring. Time brings out dried lemon peel, sage, mint, chamomile, salt and crushed rock scents that lend both vibrancy and complexity. In most vintages, the Blanc is either incredibly steely or ample in feel. In 2022, it is both. Tasted four times. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Domaine De Chevalier Blanc brings more dimensions and layers, as well as richness. Based on 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Sémillon, aging in 40% new oak, it has a beautiful perfume of honeyed citrus, subtle tropical flowers, and chalky, minerality nuances. This carries to a medium to full-bodied white with plenty of density and depth, nicely integrated acidity, and a gorgeous finish. I wouldn't be surprised to see this end up in the top handful of whites in the vintage. 95-97+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A deep and layered white with rich and intense structure. It’s full yet agile with so much energy and intensity. Cooked apple, lime zest and nougat with oyster and sea bed undertones. Fascinating already. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou | 75cl | £432 per case of 12 | La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou 2022 / / 75cl £432 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 La Croix de Beaucaillou opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper and fresh mint, framed by creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit framed by chunky tannins, it's a blend of 66% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is super-expressive. The aromatics and tannin show strong Cabernet Sauvignon-inflections, but the blend actually favors Merlot in this vintage, as yields in the Cabernet were on the low side. This serious, potent Saint-Julien is going to need a bit of time to fully come together, but it is certainly impressive. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou contains a lot more Merlot this year as they were compensating for the lack of Cabernet Sauvignon, this Deuxième Vin raised in 80% new oak. It has a delineated bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit. The briary and smoky aromas feel more understated compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and seamlessly integrated oak that lends a silky texture. Very harmonious with an insistent grip (the IPT is 93), it lacquers the mouth long after it has departed. That Pauillac tincture is displayed and defines its precise finish. Excellent, but be warned that the oak will require several years to assimilate fully. Not so far behind the Grand Vin because of the growing season. 2030-2058. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A chewy and polished red with blackberry and blueberry character. Full to medium body. Fine and tensioned. Excellent finish. Salty. Blackcurrants at the end. 66% merlot, 32% cabernet sauvignon, and 2% petit verdot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | La Dame de Montrose | 75cl | £378 per case of 12 | La Dame de Montrose 2022 / / 75cl £378 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Higher proportion of Merlot than usual in the blend, this is deep ruby red in colour and opens to sandalwood, cedar, black pepper and rosemary notes, alongside ripe blackberry and creme de cassis fruits. A lucky vineyard located next to the river at one of the widest points of the Estuary, this is impactful and confident, with the fingerprints of the vintage. 31hl/h yield. 30% new oak. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 La Dame de Montrose represents 43% of production this year and comes from Terrace 3 glacial deposits (the Grand Vin is on Terrace 4 that has more clay). It has a clean and pure bouquet with wild strawberry, boysenberry and light marmalade notes percolating through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a succulent entry, fine depth, slightly powdery texture. There is much more grip on the finish compared to the 2021 last year. Excellent. 2026-2040. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2022 La Dame de Montrose is deep, pliant and rich. All of the intensity of this warm, very dry vintage comes through in the wine's sheer size and ripe, dark profile. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice, spice and espresso are all amplified in this decidedly intense, concentrated La Dame. Qualitatively, there is little question this could have easily been a Grand Vin in a preceding generation. The 2022 is a stunning La Dame. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A second wine that would embarrass numerous classified growths, the 2022 La Dame de Montrose unfurls in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, rose petals, charcoal and loamy soil, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy palate of striking concentration, energy and dimension. Seamless and complete, it's a blend of 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The second wine of Château Montrose, the 2022 La Dame De Montrose, tastes like a Grand Vin. More Merlot-dominated (71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc), the terrific purity in its cassis and blue fruits give way to complex floral, forest floor, and violet aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant, I'd be happy to drink a bottle any time over the coming 15 years. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Wonderful freshness and brightness to this with currants and red berries, as well as chocolate and hints of coffee. Full and layered with round tannins and a fresh and vivid finish. Lemon rind underneath it all. It has lots of length for being mostly merlot. 71% merlot, 23% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot, and 1% cabernet franc. From organically grown grapes. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Les Pagodes de Cos | 75cl | £460 per case of 12 | Les Pagodes de Cos 2022 / / 75cl £460 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Aromas of rich berries, plums, spices and pencil shavings introduce the 2022 Les Pagodes de Cos, a medium to full-bodied, rich and muscular wine that's fleshy and extracted while remaining somewhat fresh and vibrant. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com"A hit of olive, bitter chocolate and salted caramel opens things up here, along with brambled fruits and plentiful tannins. 3.72ph, 20% new oak. Harvest September 7 to 23. 33% of the crop used in Pagodes this year, instead of the usual 50%, with all the rest in the 1st wine. 33hl/h yield. Blend finalised early December. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Pagodes d'Estournel is a very sexy wine. Rich, ample and engaging, the 2022 makes a very strong opening impression. Black cherry, plum, licorice, spice and chocolate are front and center. This flashy, radiant Saint-Estèphe is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Firm, chocolatey tannins sustain the finish. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"This is impressive, big and very structured at the beginning, but then it opens and spreads out with ultra-fine tannins that caress the palate. Really opens at the end and finds its weightless state. Serious. 50% cabernet sauvignon and 49% merlot, 1% cabernet franc. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Pagodes De Cos is head-turning good, and it’s going to challenge the 2009 as the greatest vintage for this cuvée to date. Based on 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, this huge, opulent, full-bodied beauty has terrific purity in its cassis and blueberry fruits as well as notes of graphite, scorched earth, and tobacco. With sweet tannins, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and a gorgeous finish, this is an incredible second wine that readers will love. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Pichon Comtesse Reserve | 75cl | £216 per case of 6 | Pichon Comtesse Reserve 2022 / / 75cl £216 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Réserve de la Comtesse is fabulous. Vibrant and impeccable in its balance, the 2022 is so impressive, mostly because of its balance. In some recent years the Réserve has been quite potent, but the 2022 leans more into the realm of sophistication, and polish. Hints of dark-fleshed fruit, licorice, lavender and spice linger. Don't miss it. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Like a number of second wines from the best classified growths, the 2022 Resèrve de la Comtesse shares much of the personality of the grand vin this year, delivering aromas of blackberries, violets and exotic spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy palate with a rich core of fruit framed by powdery tannins. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Réserve de la Comtesse represents half the total production from the vineyard due to a stricter selection of the Merlot. It has a perfumed, floral bouquet with blueberry, violet and light cassis scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Very sensual with touches of graphite and espresso toward the harmonious finish. You could almost drink this now! 2025-2040 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Fully ripe fruits, smoky and creamy character with charred raspberry and cassis, violet-edged, pencil lead, bitter chocolate, cocoa dust. An impressive wine, tannins close in a little tightly on the finish, with dried rosemary and black pepper spicy translating the heat of the vintage. 31hl/h yield, 3.65ph. 93 points" janeanson.com-----"The second wine of Comtesse de Lalande, the 2022 Pichon Comtesse Réserve is based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Ripe black and blue fruits as well as some chocolaty, tobacco nuances define the aromatics, and it's a rich, full-bodied, velvety textured second wine that's going to drink brilliantly right out of the gate. This is well worth seeking out. Tasted twice. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The density of fruit is serious with blackcurrants, black berries, crushed stone and coffee beans. Yet it’s not heavy and overdone. The palate is full and rich, but also agile and weightless, with tannins that are spread and pretty. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Vieux Château Certan | 75cl | £1,650 per case of 6 | Vieux Château Certan 2022 / / 75cl £1,650 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Firm tannic frame, with ink, graphite, violet flowers and red roses, even hints of black truffles at this young age, a sign of the exuberance of the vintage and one that will no doubt increase with age. A little less Cabernet Franc in the blend than usual because they have one plot uprooted right now. The aromatics are explosing, but things are more serious on the palate, with grip and austerity, and it will need a good eight to ten years in bottle to soften. Beautiful nutmeg and clove spice, with a mouthwatering finish. 35hl/h yield. 65% new oak. Oldest vines date back to 1958. 75% new oak. 96 points" janeanson.com------"A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (very similar to the 2019), the 2022 Vieux Château Certan is a magical wine of exemplary harmony and balance. Offering up complex aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of exotic spices, licorice, iris, violets and loamy soil, it's full-bodied, supple and seamless, its sweet structuring tannins entirely concealed by a multidimensional core of pure, vibrant fruit. This sensual, perfumed Pomerol is likely to rank alongside the 2019 and 2016 in the pantheon of recent Vieux Château Certan vintages. 97-99 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Vieux Château Certan was picked between 6 and 21 September at 35hL/ha and matured in two-thirds new oak. Alexandre Thienpont thinks it is a combination of the 2019 and 2020 and said that the Cabernet Sauvignon, from younger vines, lowered the alcohol (14.4%) and lent perfume. The aromatics are spellbinding with brilliant delineation and a surfeit of freshness. Blackberry, briary, crushed stone and light iris flower scents, vivacious and so energetic. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, very supple tannins, and lashings of cracked black pepper, pencil box and tobacco infusing the black fruit. As Thienpont said, persistent on the finish and gently lacquering the vines. The Cabernet is very expressive this year and so while it is a real Left Bank/Right Bank hybrid, it is, at the same time, quintessentially Pomerol. 2032-2075. 97-99 The 2022 Vieux Château Certan was picked between 6 and 21 September at 35hL/ha and matured in two-thirds new oak. Alexandre Thienpont thinks it is a combination of the 2019 and 2020 and said that the Cabernet Sauvignon, from younger vines, lowered the alcohol (14.4%) and lent perfume. The aromatics are spellbinding with brilliant delineation and a surfeit of freshness. Blackberry, briary, crushed stone and light iris flower scents, vivacious and so energetic. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, very supple tannins, and lashings of cracked black pepper, pencil box and tobacco infusing the black fruit. As Thienpont said, persistent on the finish and gently lacquering the vines. The Cabernet is very expressive this year and so while it is a real Left Bank/Right Bank hybrid, it is, at the same time, quintessentially Pomerol. 2032-2075. 97-99 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The freshness and dynamic sense to the wine is so surprising. Minerally and salty. It's full yet racy. Black ink and oyster shell. Excellent length. 25% cabernet franc, 5% cabernet sauvignon and the rest, merlot. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com------"One of the wines of the vintage, without a doubt, the 2022 Vieux Château Certan comes from healthy yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare and is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Jaw-droppingly good in every sense, its deep purple hue is followed by a massive array of black cherries, violets, red plums, chocolate, and violets. This carries to a full-bodied Pomerol with a voluptuously layered mouthfeel, perfect tannins, and a great, great finish. I never find Vieux Château Certan to have the overt power and structure of Petrus, or the feminine elegance of Conseillante, but it's unrivaled in its texture, seamlessness, and purity. If this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. And I'll be a buyer. 98-100 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Vieux Château Certan is a wine of tremendous sophistication and polish. I expected to see a more opulent VCC, but the 2022 is surprisingly delicate and nuanced. The blend is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, which means all the Cabernets at the château were used in Grand Vin. Perhaps that explains the wine's construction, favoring length, persistence and aromatics more than size. Crème de cassis, lavender, spice and licorice hints linger on the super-expressive finish. There's really not much more to say except that the 2022 is magical. "Real heat started in June," explained Alexandre Thienpont. "We had 15mm of rain over two days in mid-August that really helped. Even so, yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare, so lower than 2020. Berries weighed less than a gram and juice yields were low." 98-100 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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