Red Bordeaux
| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Ormes de Pez | 75cl | £256 per case of 12 | Château Ormes de Pez 2022 / 1 case / 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 | 1 case | Château Palmer | 75cl | £1,200 per case of 6 | Château Palmer 2022 / 1 case / 75cl £1,200 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 | 10 cases | Château Potensac | 75cl | £246 per case of 12 | Château Potensac 2022 / 10 cases / 75cl £246 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes""Aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper and licorice introduce the 2022 Potensac, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy Médoc with a deep core of fruit and powdery structuring tannins. It's built along similar lines to the 2020. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Potensac has an intense bouquet with layered red and black fruit, cedar and light mint aromas. This is a Potensac with purpose. The palate is a little creamier than previous vintages on the entry, but then the tannic framework makes its presence felt. Firm grip, quite fresh and sappy with a fine thread of acidity maintaining poise. This is a superb Potensac. 2026-2042. 91-93 points." Neal Martin, Vinous.com, Apr '23------"The 2022 Potensac is a pretty rich, heady Haut-Médoc. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, new leather, menthol and sage fill out the layers nicely. The 2022 offers a combination of fruit depth and vibrancy that is hugely appealing. This opens beautifully with a bit of coaxing. 2027 - 2042. 93 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com, Jan '25------"Balance and depth to the fruit. This must be the most concentrated Potensac that I have tasted En Primeur, but you can pick out individual characters of sweet blackberry puree, slate, liquorice root, firm tannins, almost drying on the finish but there is juice and the cold ash aspect that is such a lovely sign of Cabernet Sauvignon on gravel. One to look out for. You needed the expertise of consultant Eric Boissenot with press wine I imagine in this kind of vintage, and it works well here. No 2nd wine now here as of this vintage, back to keeping things simple. No Chapelle de Potensac this year. Tasted twice. 93 points." Jane Anson------"One of the best ever with super currants, mint, mineral and iodine. Crushed stones. Medium- to full-bodied, it has wonderful caressing tannins that run the length of the wine. A real Potensac, cabernet-driven, that goes on for minutes. 43% cabernet sauvignon, 36.5% merlot, 19.5% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Drink after 2028 but already fantastic and one of the best values of the vintage. 96 points." James Suckling, Jan '25 |
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| RED | 2022 | 1 case | Château Poujeaux | 75cl | £246 per case of 12 | Château Poujeaux 2022 / 1 case / 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 | 2 cases | Château Rauzan Ségla | 75cl | £440 per case of 6 | Château Rauzan Ségla 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £440 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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| RED | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Roc de Cambes | Magnum | £280 per case of 3 | Château Roc de Cambes 2022 / 2 cases / Magnum £280 per case of 3 |
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| RED | 2022 | 8 cases | Château Roc de Cambes | 75cl | £330 per case of 6 | Château Roc de Cambes 2022 / 8 cases / 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 | 3 cases | Château Saintayme | 75cl | £150 per case of 12 | Château Saintayme 2022 / 3 cases / 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 | 3 cases | Château Talbot | 75cl | £240 per case of 6 | Château Talbot 2022 / 3 cases / 75cl £240 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 | 1 case | La Dame de Montrose | 75cl | £378 per case of 12 | La Dame de Montrose 2022 / 1 case / 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 | 3 cases | Pichon Comtesse Reserve | 75cl | £216 per case of 6 | Pichon Comtesse Reserve 2022 / 3 cases / 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 | 2023 | 3 cases | Château Angludet | 75cl | £288 per case of 12 | Château Angludet 2023 / 3 cases / 75cl £288 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A polished and in-check red with blackberry, dark-chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. It has a medium body, creamy and round tannins and a savory finish. Well done for this estate. Better than 2022. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2023 | 20 cases | Château Beaumont | 75cl | £115 per case of 12 | Château Beaumont 2023 / 20 cases / 75cl £115 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Aromas of sweet cassis and plums framed by a touch of creamy oak introduce the 2023 Beaumont, a medium-bodied, supple, soft and giving blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. While this estate suffered from frost and mildew, for now it retains attractive purity of fruit in an easygoing style. 87-89 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2023 Beaumont has a generous bouquet with a mixture of blackberries, red plums and sous-bois. It's not as powerful as the previous vintage, but there is always a sense of "honesty" about this claret that I appreciate. The palate is medium-bodied with powdery tannins and fine acidity, quite smooth in texture, with a touch of savoriness on the finish. Enjoy it over six to eight years. 88-90 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com ------"Deep ruby/plum-hued, the 2023 Château Beaumont offers up a beautiful nose of red and black currants, leafy herbs, spice, and a hint of flowers. It's balanced, medium-bodied, has some classy, chocolaty oak, and ripe tannins. A rock solid Haut-Médoc, it has outstanding potential, if not a tad more. 88-90 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Notes of dark berry and walnut here. It’s medium-bodied with a grainy texture and some good fruit at the end. 89-90 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2023 | 3 cases | Château Beychevelle | 75cl | £359 per case of 6 | Château Beychevelle 2023 / 3 cases / 75cl £359 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2023 Beychevelle was picked from September 13 through October 6 over 17 days of harvest, partly because of the size of the crop and not having to rush. It has the highest proportion of Merlot under winemaker Philippe Blanc (35%), and it matured in 70% new oak. This has a notably floral and tightly-knit bouquet, leaning a little more toward blue fruit than other Saint-Julien wines tasted from barrel. The oak is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with strict tannins that impart a sense of linearity. Very saline, this is a saliva-inducing Beychevelle, lightly spiced with a structured, almost Pauillac-like finish. Excellent. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2023 Beychevelle has turned out especially well this year, exhibiting a more integrated, seductive style than recent vintages that were constructed in a punchier, more extracted register. Offering up aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pen ink, violets and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit and a classy, suave profile that foregrounds the estate's prime vineyard holdings on the plateau around Ducru-Beaucaillou. It's a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot that represents 50% of the estate's production. 93-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Pure fruit to this, with blueberries, hazelnuts, walnut and blackcurrants. Just like eating grapes at this stage. It has a full body, juicy tannins and a savory finish. Remains vivid and energetic. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"From a château that seems to have hit another gear over the past five to seven years, the 2023 Château Beychevelle is based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, pulled from 60% of the total production, and will see 18 months in 70% new French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by a deep, rich, medium to full-bodied Saint-Julien loaded with ripe red and blue fruits, leafy herbs, truffle, iron, and spring flowers. It's medium to full-bodied, has a remarkable sense of freshness and purity, velvety tannins, and outstanding length. The 2023 hit 13.3% alcohol with a rock-solid pH of 3.67. 93-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2023 Beychevelle is fabulous. As always, Beychevelle includes quite a bit more Merlot than most wines in the appellation, but the Cabernet is especially high here. Inky dark fruit, crème de cassis, mocha, licorice and lavender build in the glass. This juicy, extroverted Saint-Julien has a ton to offer. The combination of fruit intensity, acid and supporting structure is superb. The 2023 is showy, but not at all overdone. Beychevelle remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Bordeaux. It is especially classy in this edition. Tasted two times. 2033-2063. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2023 | 1 case | Château Canon | 75cl | £537 per case of 6 | Château Canon 2023 / 1 case / 75cl £537 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2023 Canon was picked from around 6 September to 6 October at 45hL/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has a perfumed bouquet with pure black cherries and touches of cassis and violet. The oak is beautifully integrated. Perhaps if I have to quibble, it is not quite as complex as the very best recent vintages, but that's a high bar nowadays. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black cherry fruit laced with iodine, and veins of blue fruit. There is a sorbet-like freshness embroidered throughout this Canon, and it delivers a lovely cracked black pepper note on the finish. Excellent. Again. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Finesse and saline limestone character on full display, spiced plum, textural as ever, with finely boned architecture, in the line of great Canon vintages, with density to the black fruits and the mouthwateringly precise tannic grip and oyster shell salinity. 50% new oak for ageing, harvest September 6 through to October 4 (with Merlot going right through until the end, unlike many places, here they really waited). 45hl/ha yield, in organic conversion. Tasted twice. 96 points" janeanson.com------"Wafting from the glass with aromas of mulberries and raspberries mingled with spices, rose petals, licorice and violets, the 2023 Canon is another brilliant wine from a property whose excellence can almost be taken for granted. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's seamless and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins and girdled by lively acids, concluding with a long, mineral finish. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Canon has a pH of 3.42 and it will age in barriques for 16-18 months, of which 50% are new. It is deep garnet-purple in color and sails out of the glass with bold notions of juicy blueberries, fresh plums, and Bing cherries, giving way to hints of black pepper, fragrant soil, and violets. The medium to full-bodied palate shimmers with energetic black and blue fruits, framed by super-satiny tannins and compelling tension, finishing long and fragrant. Absolutely ethereal! 98-100 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent------"This is so elegant and sophisticated already, with a really electric presence and length that goes on and on. It's medium- to full-bodied with an intensity of tannins. It remains weightless and energetic. The pH is 3.41, making this a vivid and lively wine. Currant, orange and stone. Sea salt, too. The limestone soils created a unique wine here in 2023. A blend of 71% merlot and 29% cabernet franc. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2023 | 2 cases | Château Carlmagnus | 75cl | £110 per case of 12 | Château Carlmagnus 2023 / 2 cases / 75cl £110 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2023 Château Carlmagnus is mostly Merlot, offering textbook notes of juicy cherry and strawberry fruit as well as medium-bodied richness and depth on the palate. This charming, forward, easygoing 2023 is going to be best drunk in its youth. 86-88 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2023 Carlmagnus is aromatic and vibrant in the glass. Crushed flowers, red berry fruit, mint and white pepper lend a good bit of aromatic nuance. There's a bit of edginess in the tannin that hopefully will resolve. 87-89 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Fresh acidities, but closes down quickly on the palate with concentrated and intense tannic grip and grilled oak. There are autumnal fruits here, and a limestone scrape, needs a little time to reveal the joy. 89 points" janeanson.com------"Crafted from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 Carlmagnus possesses a somber, reduced bouquet with pleasant notes of spices, dark wild berries, violet and cherries. Less chunky than usual, the wine on the palate is medium to full-bodied, layered and rich with structured tannins and a long but a bit firm finish. It will evolve with grace over the next decade. 89-91 points" RobertParker.com ------"Juicy red with fresh red and dark berries and a hint of citrus peel. Medium-bodied with firm but fine tannins. Crunchy finish. 90-91 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2023 Carlmagnus has a punchy bouquet with iodine-infused block cherry and blueberry fruit, perhaps lacking a bit of definition, but I appreciate the concentration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, powdery tannins, fresh and bright with a very controlled and persistent finish. This is a fine, perhaps earlier-drinking Fronsac. 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2023 | Château Clerc Milon - Pastourelle de Clerc Milon | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Clerc Milon Pastourelle de Clerc Milon 2023 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A salty undertone to the blackberry and terra-cotta character. Dark fruit. Medium to full body, layered tannins and an intense finish. Excellent density. Special this year. 63% merlot, 29% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc, 2% carmenere and 1% petit verdot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2023 | 2 cases | Château Figeac | 75cl | £894 per case of 6 | Château Figeac 2023 / 2 cases / 75cl £894 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2023 Château Figeac is Merlot-dominated but includes 32% Cabernet Franc and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the élevage all in new French oak. Classic Figeac purple fruits, tobacco, leafy herbs, violets, and graphite all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full body, a remarkable sense of purity and precision, fine-grained tannins, and a gorgeous finish. Hitting 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.68, it's a beautiful wine in the vintage that shows the absolute class of this château today. 94-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2023 Figeac is gorgeous. Seamless and vibrant, with captivating elegance, this is an absolute beauty. What I admire most is its exceptional balance. Everything is in the right place. Time in the glass brings out hints of gravel, dried herbs, licorice, tobacco and cedar that add dimension. Although it is early, Figeac is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. 95-98 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A brilliant classic in the making, the 2023 Figeac unwinds in the glass with aromas of cassis and mulberry mingled with notions of iris, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings, burning embers and spices. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with an enveloping core of fruit that's framed by powdery tannins and lively acids, concluding with a broad, atypically mineral finish. It's a blend of 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon that attained 13.5% alcohol. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A blend of 41% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 Figeac has a pH of 3.68 and it is deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out of the glass with out-going scents of black raspberries and fresh blackcurrants, opening out to reveal an undercurrent of pencil shavings, rose bud tea, iron ore, and wood smoke. The medium-bodied palate delivers a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and beautiful tension supporting the taut, muscular black fruits, finishing with a long-lingering mineral firework display. 96-98 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent------"he 2023 Figeac was cropped at 45hL/ha from September 6 until October 5, one of the longest harvest periods ever. It matured in 100% new oak, as usual. My samples included the 5% vin de presse. This has a very perfumed bouquet: red fruit rather than black, iris flower rather than violet, light sous-bois and tobacco scents deriving from the Cabernets. The palate is medium-bodied, and the Cabernets really "sing" on the entry. Black fruit mixes with graphite and light tobacco notes, surging with fresh acidity and real brightness, or what the French call éclat. There’s gentle grip here—classic Figeac from start to finish, with a subtle marine influence toward the close. This will be a wonderful Saint-Émilion that ranks amongst the best wines of the vintage. Chapeau! 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The density and finesse to this is terrific, offering blackberry, dark chocolate, walnut and hazelnut, as well as currant and sandalwood. Orange peel, too. Full-bodied and compact with a superb core of thick, velvet-textured tannins and a juicy finish. Extremely long. 41% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 27% cabernet sauvignon. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Fragrant floral aromatics straight off the bat, peony and violet, and a vibrant juiciness that travels through the palate. Savoury dark fruit character, with flint and textural interest, full of Figeac finesse. 130th vintage of the Manoncourt family at Figeac, and the first vintage where they knew they were Premier Grand Cru Classé A from the start of the season, as it was announced in September 2022. 130mm of rain lower than average over the growing season here, allowing a long slow harvest from September 6 to October 5, 45hl/h yield. 98 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2023 | 1 case | Château Gloria | 75cl | £275 per case of 12 | Château Gloria 2023 / 1 case / 75cl £275 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2023 Gloria presents a deep purple hue. It has a succinct bouquet with black cherries, red plum and pronounced floral aromas that emanate from the Petit Verdot. The palate is medium-bodied with bright blackberry and raspberry fruit, quite a minerally Gloria with a more linear, stricter finish than the 2022, as you would expect. There’s also fine salinity here. This is a classy Gloria that just misses the panache of recent vintages (and of the 2023 Saint-Pierre). 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Love this inky depths of the plummy fruits and deep rich chcolate notes, great quality with depths and balance. Last year of organic conversion. 93 points" janeanson.com------"Blackberries and blueberries with stone and sandalwood undertones. It’s medium- to full-bodied with integrated tannins that are polished and refined. Long finish. Solid and rather muscular. Could move up a notch. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Cassis, violets, spicy wood, espresso, and a kiss of graphite all emerge from the 2023 Château Gloria, an incredibly pure, medium to full-bodied, ripe, balanced Saint-Julien. It shows the pure, elegant style of the vintage, has ripe tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. This château hasn't put a foot wrong in some time, and they certainly did well in 2023. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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