Red Bordeaux
| RED | 2025 | Château Haut Batailley | 75cl | £210 per case of 6 | Château Haut Batailley 2025 / / 75cl £210 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Matured in 55% new barrels, the 2025 Haut-Batailley wafts from the glass with aromas of dark wild berries, spices, flowers and licorice, complemented by elegant notes of violet. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s built around a fleshy core of fruit framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, spicy and taut finish. A very fine wine in the making, it expresses a classical Médoc profile, notably with a fresh, subtly mentholated note on the finish. It's a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. 92-94 points." Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate, April 2026------"Good concentration, muscular but sappy texture, waves of liquorice, black chocolate, slow unrolling and depth, impressive. In this vintage, Haut-Batailley is less St Julien in Pauillac, and more squarely showcases the full character of the appellation. 3.7pH. 55% new oak. Harvest September 8 to 18. 2036-2055. 94 points." Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2026------"Medium- to full-bodied with well-placed tannins, a savory element and firm yet fine-grained tannins that add definition. Juicy and precise finish. 94-95 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2026------"The 2025 Haut-Batailley is a brooding young Pauillac with a bright future. Dark and brooding, with tons of vertical energy, Haut-Batailley is quite the powerhouse. Black fruit, leather, incense, licorice, dried herbs and mocha are some of the many aromas and flavors that gradually open in the glass. Readers will have to be quite patient, as the tannins are rather imposing, but there's more than enough fruit density to balance things out. 2035 - 2075. 93-95 points." Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2026------"The 2025 Haut-Batailley was picked between September 8 and 18, matured in 55% new oak. This has a more intense, bolder nose than the Verso, graphite-infused black fruit that is Pauillac through and through. Razor-sharp. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, but there is gentle and insistent grip. Sapid, an Haut Batailley that evokes images of the Gironde Estuary, this is a marvellous contribution to the vintage, perhaps the best under Jean-Charles Cazes. 2031 - 2058. 95-97 points." Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2026 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Haut Brion | 75cl | £1,668 per case of 6 | Château Haut Brion 2025 / / 75cl £1,668 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Such a taut, slate-strewn journey through the palate here, slow burn, love it. An exceptional Haut-Brion, with beautiful toasted cumin and sandalwood notes, cloves, cassis, pomegranate and cocoa beans. Muscular, structured, brooding, this is going to run and run. 59% new oak. 27hl/ha yield. Alcohols among lowest on record, and yet intensely concenrated. 3.72ph Harvest September 1 to 18. 59% new oak. 62% of production in this 1st wine. 2036-2050. 97 points." (JA) JaneAnson.com, Apr '26------"The 2025 Haut-Brion is quite the powerhouse. Black fruit, cloves, new leather, tobacco, chocolate and menthol open before a wave of huge tannins and incisive acids take over. Haut-Brion can be rather dark and somber. That is very much the case with the 2025, a wine that speaks with sepia-toned, baritone inflections. It also conveys more obvious ripeness than La Mission Haut-Brion at this stage. 2035-2075. 96-98 points." Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, Apr '26------"Haut-Brion delivers a red with great structure and length and superb intensity and power. It is a full-bodied red with character and depth, giving it endless length. Muscular yet polished and agile. Juicy at the end. 62% merlot, 26.2% cabernet sauvignon and 11.8% cabernet franc. 98-99 points.". (JS) JamesSuckling.com, Apr '26------"A Merlot-forward blend of 62% Merlot, 26.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11.8% Cabernet Franc aged in 60% new French oak, the 2025 Château Haut-Brion is slightly more dense and structured compared to its sibling, La Mission. Gorgeous black cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and smoke all define the bouquet, and on the palate it's remarkably pure, with polished, serious tannins, and incredible length. Its purity, concentration, and overall sense of class are riveting. 97-100 points." Jeb Dunnuck------"The 2025 Haut-Brion was picked from September 1 (slightly later than La Mission) to September 18 at 29 hl/ha. Aged in 59% new oak, this has a very pure and elegant bouquet with ebullient brambly red fruit, crushed stone, potpourri and touches of Earl Grey. Wonderful delineation and a little more refined than, say, the 2020 or 2022. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, and there is more complexity here than La Mission, more depth and minéralité. Fresh and marine-tinged towards the finish that makes you want to come back. This year, the First Growth has put a bit of distance between itself and La Mission. Drinking Window: 2035 - 2070. 98-100 points." Neal Martin, vinous.com, May '26------"The 2025 Haut-Brion is, as usual, more reserved and austere at this stage than La Mission, unwinding in the glass to reveal notions of dark wild berries mingled with spices, pencil leaf and licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and layered, it’s built around a multidimensional core of fruit framed by structuring yet well-integrated tannins, delivering a notably controlled expression of power and concluding with a long, perfumed, subtly ethereal finish. While still tightly knit at this stage, it possesses considerable depth—IPT (an alaytical measure of tannic concentration) levels exceeding 100, rarely observed—that is perfectly controlled and will require extended cellaring. Recent refinements in the estate’s approach, notably in viticulture, are translating into fruit of greater balance and freshness, even under the warm, dry conditions of 2025. It stands as one of the more impressive renditions of Haut-Brion in recent years. 98-100 points." (YC) Wine Advocate, Apr '26 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château La Chenade | 75cl | £154 per case of 12 | Château La Chenade 2025 / / 75cl £154 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 La Chenade was picked on September 3 and 12 for the Merlot and Cabernet Franc respectively and is aged in 40% new oak. This has more intensity and fruit concentration compared with its stablemate, Saintayme, blackcurrant and raspberry, a touch of iodine coming through with time. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, impressive depth for a Lalande-de-Pomerol, though elegant and harmonious. Just a dash of black pepper towards the finish, a classy offering of a wine that consistently ranks among the best values in Bordeaux. Drinking Window. 2029 - 2040. 90-92 points." Neal Martin, vinous.com, May '26------"Smooth and juicy, clean and clear with a lovely balance and harmony between chalky red fruit and cool, fresh acidity with super fine tannins. Elegant and accessible, a really easy wine to approach here with a less-is-more take. Nothing pushed or overdone. Chaptalised one plot. 85m, 15cf. 13.5%. A yield of 32hl/ha. Ageing 40% new oak. 2027-2038. 92 points." (GH) Decanter, Apr '26------"The 2025 La Chenade is fabulous. Beautifully perfumed and sumptuous, La Chenade is drop-dead gorgeous. The purity of the flavors is just remarkable. Silky tannins add to an impression of total finesse. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, rose petal and a discreet touch of oak linger on the refined, resonant finish. What a delight. 2030-2040 91-93 points." Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, Apr '26------"Always the more pleasure-bent, forward, and supple release from this Lalande-de-Pomerol estate, the 2025 La Chenade sports a deep purple hue as well as a beautiful nose of black plums, blue fruits, graphite, and chocolate, and it has an almost Pomerol-like vibe. It's ripe and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a round, supple mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and tons of charm. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A focused and textural blend of 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc with plenty of precision and freshness. Blue fruit and some peppercorns on the nose, following through to a medium body with chalky tannins. Vivid and flavorful, with a long, grainy finish. 93-94 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, Apr '26 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château La Conseillante | 75cl | £834 per case of 6 | Château La Conseillante 2025 / / 75cl £834 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 La Conseillante was cropped at 30 hl/ha and is matured in 70% new oak barrels, there are no amphoras this year as Marielle Cazaux felt the wine needed the micro-oxygenation. It has a very pure nose with black cherries, blueberry and wild strawberry fruit, just a little Burgundy-like in style. A hint of orange rind loiters in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, a silver thread of acidity, quite linear and strict on the entry, gentle grip with a dash of black pepper towards the finish. A second glass that happened to have been opened for an hour revealed some of its opulence that will surely be enhanced during the élevage. It will deserve four to five years in bottle but will have a long life ahead and will give a lot of pleasure. Drinking Window 2032 - 2055. 95-97 points." Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2026------"The 2025 La Conseillante is shaping up to be magnificent. Rich and luscious in the glass, the 2025 offers up an exotic mélange of inky dark fruit, cloves, new leather, licorice and mocha. This is the first vintage that sees the return of Cabernet Sauvignon, historically a part of the blend from at least 1871 to 1956, when frost devastated many vineyards in Pomerol. The 2025 is impressively deep, but also quite vibrant. I can't wait to see how it ages. It's a superb effort from Technical Director Marielle Cazaux and her team. Cazaux made an immediate impact when she arrived in 2015, starting with a move to lower-intervention farming that was immediately apparent. I will have more to say about that and other related subjects in a separate article we will publish later in the year. Tasted two times. 2035-2065. 96-98 points." Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2026------"Complex already, with blackberry, blueberry, currant and mint aromas that follow through to a medium body with firm tannins and a savory, juicy finish with fresh herbs and an almost rose stem undertone. You can feel the grape skins. Very primary. 87% merlot, 10 cabernet franc and 3% cabernet sauvignon. 97-98 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2025------"Brought up all in barrels with no amphora used in this vintage, the 2025 Château La Conseillante is an ultra-classic Conseillante with a very floral perfume of cassis, assorted red and blue fruits, violets, iris, lead pencil shavings, and graphite. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a concentrated yet focused, juicy, lively mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a gorgeous finish. Checking in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.66, this beautiful Conseillante has the purity and balance to offer pleasure early on yet, like most vintages here, will need 7-8 years to hit its prime drinking plateau. 96-98+ points" jebdunnock.com------"The 2025 La Conseillante is another brilliant wine in the making for this Pomerol reference point. Wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe mulberries and blackberries mingled with hints of violets and truffle, it's medium- to full-bodied, deep and unctuous, with lively acids, ultra-refined tannins and a long, floral finish. It's a blend of 87% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon (from new plantings that already make it into the blend) that attained 13.5% alcohol. Fermentations were capped at 26 degrees Celsius, the coolest ever, to extract selectively, and the entire production is maturing in barriques this year. 97-100 points." William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2026 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château La Gaffeliere | 75cl | £234 per case of 6 | Château La Gaffeliere 2025 / / 75cl £234 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 La Gaffelière reveals an open, expressive bouquet of cassis, with a vivid fruit profile that becomes more floral with aeration. Medium- to full-bodied, it's more reserved on the palate, built around a firm, limestone-inflected structure, with tannins that show a touch of dryness at this stage. The contrast between aromatic generosity and structural restraint will likely resolve with élevage. 90-92 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"A solid red with blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate. Medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Crushed berry, flowers and hints of fresh tobacco at the end. A structured and slightly old school but solid. 55% merlot and 45% cabernet franc. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"Thoroughly enjoyable, iris, juicy bilberry, loganberry, blackcurrant, rich, juicy and measured, has the fingerprint of limestone without being sharp. Clearly will age well, already totally delicious. 3.42 pH. Harvest September 12 to 22. 50% new oak. 2028-2040. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 La Gaffelière undergoes malo in barrel and matures in 50% new oak barrels and the remainder in one-year oak, 12% in demi-muids and 4% amphorae. It continues a strong run of form for this rejuvenated Saint-Émilion, with quite ebullient raspberry and wild strawberry scents, a dash of black pepper and brown spices, the Cabernet Franc shaping the aromatics and giving it a Pomerol-like personality. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, impressive weight, quite peppery and tensile; this maintains density and grip through to the long finish. This is a great wine that has great personality and charm. 2032 - 2055. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A brilliant château that has been producing truly exceptional wines over the last decade or more, the 2025 Château La Gaffelière sports a deep purple hue and a gorgeous perfume of black and blue fruits, minty herbs, graphite, and chocolate, as well as perfectly integrated background oak. On the palate, it's ripe, full-bodied, and concentrated, with a deep, layered style that brings the purity as well as the freshness that's the hallmark of the vintage. It's going to check in near the top of this notable vintage. 96-98+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2025 La Gaffelière soars out of the glass with magnificent intensity. Strong Cabernet Franc overtones and bright saline notes from the clay-limestone plateau are finely sketched with tremendous precision. The 2025 bristles with tension from start to finish. It's a phenomenal wine by any measure. Tasted two times. 2035-2065. 97-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château La Lagune | 75cl | £129 per case of 6 | Château La Lagune 2025 / / 75cl £129 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 La Lagune has a quite ripe and sorbet-fresh nose, mainly red fruit infused with blood orange, even a hint of marmalade. Quite bright, and what seems like a low SO2 vinification. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth tannins, fine acidity, and a dash of black pepper towards the cohesive finish. It just maybe dips a yard or two before the finish line, but this will be a thoroughly enjoyable La Lagune. 2031 - 2050. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A blend of 50% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2025 La Lagune is gourmand and lively, offering up aromas of cassis, mulberries, flowers and lilac. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it's round and fleshy, has good depth at the core and is framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, delicate and floral finish. The estate appears to be moving toward a more precise expression, where purity of fruit and finer tannin definition come to the fore. This is one to follow. 91-93 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"Red and black fruits, dried herbs, tobacco, and some spicy wood all emerge from the 2025 Château La Lagune, a great Haut-Médoc estate that's always worth your time and money. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, graceful mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a good finish. It's a more understated, elegant, balanced, and almost pretty 2025 that should shine with just short-term cellaring. I'd happily buy a case. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Black currants with a touch of violets on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with subtle concentration, charm, freshness and a consistent finish of dark fruit. The wine reveals itself slowly. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Well made, sleek and deep dark fruits, cassis pastille, intense with a cushion of air. A very impressive vintage here, nuanced and well structured. Delphine Frey, Director of the Frey family estates, yield 20hl/ha. Xavier Moragues is the cellar master and technical director, with the estate for the past 18 months. New use of foudres and porcelain jars alongside oak barrels during the ageing, and the vineyard has also returned to its historic 1855 classified surface. 2034-2044. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 La Lagune is fabulous—one of the clear sleepers of the vintage. Bright red-toned fruit, tobacco, cedar, mint and dried flowers convey tremendous intensity with no excess weight. The 2025 is brisk, energetic and loaded with character. Don't miss it. Tasted three times. 2030 - 2050. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château La Mission Haut Brion | 75cl | £870 per case of 6 | Château La Mission Haut Brion 2025 / / 75cl £870 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 La Mission Haut-Brion was picked from August 28 until September 19 at around 23 hl/ha, lower than Haut-Brion, perhaps due to higher density of planting and less competition between vines. There is less new oak, at around 59%, the same as Haut-Brion, down from around 80% in recent years. This has a perfumed bouquet, one of the most floral that I can recall, beautifully defined with black cherries, blueberry and crushed violet scents. The palate is medium-bodied with chiselled tannins, a silver thread of acidity, quite linear in style with a strict, tensile, graphite-tinged finish. Yeah, it has to play second fiddle to Haut-Brion this year, but it is still a great La Mission. 13.6% alcohol. Drink 2035-2065. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Signature finesse coupled with clear intensity and concentration, muscular with a juicy frame and crushed red rose petals on the finish. Huge ageing potential, this stretches out through the palate and delivers finesse and hidden power. 69% 1st wine. 27hl/ha yield. Harvest August 27 to September 19. 59% new oak. 3.73ph. 2035-2050. 96 points" janeanson.com------"A red with lots of muscular tannins that are polished and velvety. It's full-bodied with a chewy mouthfeel and a long and intense finish. Crushed stones, dark fruit and bark at the end. 58.3% merlot, 38.3% cabernet sauvignon and 3.4% cabernet franc. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"A Merlot-heavy blend of 58.3% Merlot, 38.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc that's being raised in 60% new French oak, the 2025 Château La Mission Haut-Brion sports a dense ruby/purple hue as well as juicy black raspberries, currants, smoky tobacco, freshly sharpened pencils, and liquid violet nuances on the nose. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, concentrated, layered mouthfeel, focusing tannins, and beautiful overall balance and length. It's a slightly more inward, focused expression of this cuvée, but that's the vintage, and this has tons to love. I suspect the cellar will be your friend. 96-98 points" Jeb Dunnock, RobertParker.com------"A blend of 58.3% Merlot, 38.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3.4% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 La Mission Haut-Brion reveals a refined bouquet of smoky cassis, dark berries, spices and lead pencil, framed by a deft touch of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and layered, it’s built around a multidimensional core of fruit underpinned by fine, velvety tannins, concluding with a long, perfumed and precise finish. Combining depth with energy, it delivers a textural yet controlled expression of power, with a real sense of freshness. The result is a particularly faithful, charming rendition of La Mission, defined by its elegance and overall precision. 97-99 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2025 La Mission Haut-Brion is one of my early favorites in this vintage. Aromatic and vibrant, with striking purity, the Grand Vin is magnificent. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and cinnamon soar from the glass. Beams of supporting tannin lend energy and shape. In a word: compelling. One of the wines of the vintage. 2035 - 2075. 97-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château La Petite Eglise | 75cl | £219 per case of 6 | Château La Petite Eglise 2025 / / 75cl £219 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 La Petite Eglise is a very pretty, open-knit second wine. It offers fine persistence and balance. I find it just a touch light texturally, perhaps because this vintage includes a bit of fruit from relatively young vines. The 2025 might not quite have the depth or complexity of the very best years, but it comes close. Best of all, it will drink beautifully on release. 91-93 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Apr '26------Sporting a deep ruby/plum hue, the 2025 La Petite Eglise gives up a beautiful array of red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with sappy flowers, chocolate, and graphite on the nose. I love its purity, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a pure, layered mouthfeel and fine tannins. It's almost too good for a second wine. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com ------"So fragrant with Chinese five spice, cinnamon, something sweetly exotic about the spiced touches along with dried flowers and dark bramble fruit. Supple and bouncy, so well executed with such a creamy, smooth texture that really enrobes the mouth in ripe but cool, fresh blue fruit aspects. Chalky, stony touches come in on the finish with a long-lasting floral edged finish. Incredible harmony as it strikes a really great balance between concentration, weight and freshness with no one element overtaking the other. Absolutely delicious with great construction and so accessible – this will give a lot of pleasure. A joyful wine. Ageing 65% new oak. 2030-2044. 94 points." (GH) Decanter, Apr '26 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Lafite | 75cl | £2,082 per case of 6 | Château Lafite 2025 / / 75cl £2,082 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2025 Lafite Rothschild unwinds in the glass with a deep and brooding bouquet of dark berries, violets, rose petals and pencil lead. Medium- to full-bodied, supple and layered, with suave tannins, good concentration and bright acidity, it checks in at 12.5% alcohol and an unusually low (by the standards of recent warm vintages at Lafite) pH of 3.65. Harvest began here on September 2, with the estate's old-vine Merlot beginning on September 3 and the first Cabernet Sauvignon coming in from September 11 (earlier than in 2022), and the harvest wrapped up on September 20. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Deep plum in colour, not as inky as you might find in a vintage like 2O22. Gorgeous, sculpted, jumps out of the glass, showcasing the ability to remain Lafite through so many differing vintage conditions. A ton of depth and character, slate and rosebud, a sappy and highly drinkable Lafite. The last vintage in the old winery, next year will be in the new one (so more vats to do microvinification, and they expect to use Cabernet Franc again. 16% of press wine. Harvest started September 11, until September 20, even earlier than 2022. 27hl/h yields, very small for this estate, one of the smallest on record, but no doubt helped it resist the drought of the summer because these yields were small from the beginning. Eric Kohler winemaker, Eric Boissenot consultant. 2035-2050. 97 points" janeanson.com------"Checking in as 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that's resting in 90% new French oak, the 2025 Château Lafite Rothschild sports a classic, deep ruby hue as well as a complex and classic nose of cassis, spicy wood, tobacco, violets, and graphite. It's quintessential Lafite on the palate as well, with its class, medium to full body, ripe, building, yet polished tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. It checks in at 12.51% alcohol with a pH of 3.65. I love its overall balance, purity, and complexity, and I suspect it's going to continue gaining weight over the course of its élevage. 96-98 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2025 Lafite-Rothschild is powerful and explosive in the glass. Dark cherry/plum fruit, graphite, new leather, graphite, licorice and lavender race across the palate. A Pauillac of mid-weight structure, the 2025 impresses with its tension and deep, layered personality. Even in the early going, the Grand Vin is so vivid, so expressive. I can't wait to taste it in finished form. 2035-2075. 97-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Lafite-Rothschild was cropped at 27 hl/ha between September 2 and 20. Eric Kohler mentioned that, unlike 2022, it underwent a longer maceration than usual because, after 24 days, he felt the wine was at ease with itself and there was no excess. That comes through completely on the deliriously intoxicating nose, replete with nuanced blackberry, bilberry and estuarine scents, all beautifully defined and seamlessly integrated with the 90% new oak that is made from Lafite’s own cooper. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins. It is blessed with extraordinary harmony and it is so well balanced that you almost overlook the weight and minéralité towards the finish. Just a dab of graphite lingers on the aftertaste. This is a very succinct and refined Lafite-Rothschild that I suspect will drink earlier than the 2022, yet will age with equal grace in bottle. I admit that, upon returning to my car, it was only then that I realised what a brilliant wine the 2025 Lafite-Rothschild is destined to become. Drinking Window: 2032-2070. 98-100 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Intense aromas of sweet tobacco, dark cedar, cigar humidor, mushroom, roses, and wet earth follow through to a medium to full body with firm, velvety tannins and a driven, intense finish. Very structured with bones. Reminds me of Lafite from the 1980s. Unique for the vintage. 12.5% alcohol. A blend of 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 1% petit verdot. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Lafite - Carruades de Lafite | 75cl | £852 per case of 6 | Château Lafite Carruades de Lafite 2025 / / 75cl £852 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 9% Cabernet France and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2025 Carruades de Lafite exhibits notes of sweet plums and berries mingled with notions of orange zest, cedar and cigar wrapper. Medium- to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, with powdery tannins, lively acids and a gently chalky finish, it checks in at 12.5% alcohol. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The energy in the glass in immediately in evidence, richly fragrant autumnal berry fruit, great lift through the palate, mouthwatering on the finish, good balance, chalky, slate-filled tannins, classic, balanced, slate and pumice stone, lots of cassis and bilberry fruit, harvest September 2 - 20. 3.8ph. 2029-2044. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Carruades de Lafite is a total stunner. It's a great example of how Bordeaux has come along in the last few decades, in that it could have easily been a Grand Vin from another generation—maybe not from a great year, but from many years. Brisk acids and strong floral overtones immediately convey energy. Hints of lavender, rose petal, graphite and spice box are classic Lafite; all the Carruades lacks vis-à-vis its sibling is the classic Lafite mid-palate. This should blossom beautifully with time, and I would be in no rush to open it. What a delight. 2033 - 2050. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Carruades de Lafite has quite an understated bouquet that needs a little more encouragement than usual. Blackberry, pencil box and light estuarine scents gradually unfurl. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied, with sapid black fruit on the entry, gentle grip, wonderful balance and plenty of freshness and brightness on the finish. What a superb Carruades.Drinking Window 2030 - 2050. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"An incredibly elegant second wine (which is classic Lafite), the 2025 Carruades De Lafite has cassis, raspberries, crushed violets, graphite, and spicy wood on the nose. Based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a very pure, focused mouthfeel, polished tannins, and flawless balance. It checks in at 12.69% alcohol with a pH of 3.62. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A tight and linear red with red currant, sweet tobacco and cedar aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, fine and creamy tannins. Bright finish. Extremely fine texture for the second wine of Lafite. Typical character of Carruades. A blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 9% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Lafon Rochet | 75cl | £138 per case of 6 | Château Lafon Rochet 2025 / / 75cl £138 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Great quality, slate and cassis notes, iris flowers, crayon, fine tannins, muscular and sculpted, if slim through the finish. Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen director of Lafon Rochet and Lilian Ladouys. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Lafon Rachet was picked from September 9 to 23 and matured in less new oak than usual, around 15%, with more foudres, 40%, including around one-third new from Stockinger and Taransaud. I think the influence of the new foudres is tangible on the nose and at the moment just masks a little of the fruit profile. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, classic and a little austere in style, very Saint-Estèphe with an off-dry finish. I would have liked just a little more sustain and complexity, but it delivers an attractive salinity on the aftertaste. 2030-2050. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Lafon-Rochet reveals a fresh, gourmand bouquet of dark wild berries and blackberry, becoming more floral with aeration. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and structured, it shows a firm profile that is less immediately charming on the palate than the nose suggests. It's built around a fleshy core of fruit that is framed by youthful, finely grained tannins and concludes with a delicate, perfumed finish. It should offer both early approachability and solid aging potential. It's a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in a mix of 15% new oak, 40% foudres and 10% concrete. 91-93 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com-----"A serious, focused wine from this Saint-Estèphe château, the 2025 Château Lafon-Rochet offers darker, juicy blue fruits, leafy herbs, graphite, and liquid violets and spring flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied on the palate, it's structured and concentrated, with integrated acidity and outstanding length. Based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot that will spend 14 months in 15% new French oak with the balance in foudre and concrete tanks, it's a solid, more structured, yet still fleshy Lafon-Rochet that's going to benefit from bottle age. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A dense, chocolaty and focused red showing generous fruit and bark on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with ripe, chewy tannins. Textural, with nice concentration and a long, vivid, flavorful finish. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2025 Lafon-Rochet is classy and polished, as it so often is. Readers will find a Saint-Estèphe of nuance, delineation and understated class. Vibrant blue/purplish fruit, lavender, sage and menthol are some of the many nuances that begin to open with some coaxing. This is classic Lafon-Rochet all the way. Tasted two times. 2033-2055. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Lagrange | 75cl | £182 per case of 6 | Château Lagrange 2025 / / 75cl £182 per case of 6 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Langoa Barton | 75cl | £174 per case of 6 | Château Langoa Barton 2025 / / 75cl £174 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 Langoa-Barton is a very racy wine. Plush contours and vibrant dark red/purplish fruit are the signatures. Crushed flowers, cinnamon, red plum, blood orange and dried herbs open nicely in the glass. Floral overtones brighten the finish. This mid-weight, fruity, Merlot-driven Saint-Julien is all charm. It should drink well with minimal cellaring. Tasted two times. 2033 - 2050. 91-93 points." Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2026------"Langoa is very much a wine of the moment, with a sense of energy and punch, and you get that here, juicy and characterful, raspberry and cherry pit, hard to beat in terms of pleasure delivery. Great stuff. Very drinkable wine. Tasted twice, love the energy here. 2034-2044. 93 points." Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2026------"Cropped at a mere 20 hectoliters per hectare, one of the lowest yields ever recorded at this address, the 2025 Langoa Barton offers up aromas of dark berries, pencil shavings, spices and new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, with bright acids and chalky tannins, it's a blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. 92-94 points." William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2026------"The 2025 Langoa-Barton was picked between September 4 and 18 and matured in 60% new oak barrels. It has a lively bouquet with the Merlot in full effect, blueberry and cassis scents, and just a background touch of peppermint. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a lovely caressing texture, very well balanced with a touch of pepperiness towards the persistent finish. What a gorgeous Langoa! 2030 - 2055. 92-94 points." Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2026------"Focused, with volume and drive, it shows aromas of berries, warm spices and some leather. Medium- to full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Structured and compact, with bright fruit at its core. Long, focused finish. 94-95 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2026------"Liquorice and blackcurrant aromas on the nose, smells quite dark and heady and seductive. Almost a sweet, sticky liquorice aspect with some wet stone salinity. Supple and filling with a really wide and ample expression, firm not overly fleshy tannins with a dark vanilla, cedar, tobacco and blackcurrant edge. I like the serious, quite firm concentration here – it still has acidity to lift but this is focused and really quite determined. An impressive Langoa this year with some wood spice on the finish. Really a cool, classic, fresh, hands-off kind of style. This will be great. A yield of 20hl/ha. 95 points." (GH) Decanter, Apr '26 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Laroque | 75cl | £234 per case of 12 | Château Laroque 2025 / / 75cl £234 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Fresh and floral on the nose. Freshness again on the palate but with an elegant texture of tannin. Smooth attack then firm and chalky on the finish. Terroir evident but kept under control. 16+ points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"Notes of dark berries, cassis, spices and licorice, mingled with delicately oaky nuances, preface the 2025 Laroque. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s built around a rich core of fruit that is framed by youthful, structured tannins and concludes with a taut, saline finish. While the bouquet shows a darker register, the palate remains fresh, lending the wine an elegant austerity that should integrate further with élevage. 91-93 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com-----"The balance of savory fruit with fine tannins is already so attractive. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a refined finish. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com-----"Slate and pumice stone, enjoyable slow build of cassis bud, pomegranate, wet stones, thoroughly enjoyable with plenty of expansion and grip, and estate signature. Harvest September 10 to 19. 50% new oak. Yield 31 hl/ha. 3.4 pH. Beaumartin family. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Laroque is a gorgeous, super-elegant wine. Vibrant, salivating acids and beams of tannin are the first signs we are on the clay/limestone plateau in Saint-Emilion's Saint-Christophe-des-Bordes sector. Blood orange, mint, chalk and white pepper bleed into a core of red-toned fruit. Medium in body, with striking energy and tension, Laroque is positively stellar in 2025. This is another superb showing from the team led by Technical Director David Suire. Tasted two times. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Laroque was picked between 10 and 19 September at 31 hl/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has a sublime bouquet with pure black cherry and raspberry scents, crushed flowers and light iodine scents. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, a silver bead of acidity, bright and lively with an elegant and persistent finish. One of the best Laroques so far-the limestone soil really comes through and lends this Saint-Émilion another dimension. Drink 2031 - 2055. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com-----"Another great success and value pick for Laroque. Really aromatically complex. Ripe and pristine black bramble berries on the nose, perfumed and nicely fragrant. Lovely aromatic purity. Smooth and so silky, smooth, svelte as Laroque does so well. Mouthwatering with bright acidity but so juicy – strawberry and cherry with a hint of cranberry and soft accents of dried herbs liquorice and wet stones. Grippy but so charming even at this point. Tension with freshness, perfectly polished and friendly. A yield of 31hl/ha with varying yields depending on the terroir from 25-45hl/ha. 3.40pH. 96 points" Georgina Hindle, Decanter Magazine |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf | 75cl | £774 per case of 6 | Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf 2025 / / 75cl £774 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Inimitable Mitjavile style. Red fruit, blood orange, chocolate and toasted notes – the ripe fruit and those Radoux barrels doing the work. Sweet with a silky texture and perhaps a bit more freshness than usual. Right on-key for followers of this wine. 17 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"The 2025 Tertre Roteboeuf was the only sample taken directly from barrel a la Burgundy. It was picked on September 23 and 24, which, to my knowledge, was the latest among the Right Bank wines tasted during my time in the region. Matured in 100% new ook, it actually has quite a Pinot-like bouquet, with mocerated small red cherries, raspberry coulis, a touch of pencil lead and crushed stone. Nicely controlled. The palate is medium-bodied and, as expected, displays a veneer of new oak. Modest depth, gentle grip, quite lactic towards the finish, with a patina of dark chocolate. Very typical of Tertre-Rôteboeufs style, as always, have a cellar and the patience of a saint. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Tertre Roteboeuf is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Silky and seamless on the palate, with exceptional finesse, the 2025 marries power with elegance in grand style. Crushed flowers, blue-toned fruit, mocha and a kiss of French aak expand in the glass. Tertre Röteboeuf is quite rich and deep, as it always is, but the 2025 also offers superb freshness and energy to match. It's a gorgeous Saint-Emilion in the making. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Cassis, sweet tobacco, graphite, and lead pencil notes all shine from the 2025 Château Tertre Roteboeuf, and it's just brilliant, offering everything you look for in a great bottle of wine. Full-bodied on the palate, it has an elegant, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and that freshness and purity of the vintage. 96-98 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"This is right up there at the top of the vintage, there is still the roasted plum aspect of Tertre Roteboeuf but you feel the juice and salinity of the vintage running through it. These guys stick to their beliefs and their style, and we are all the better for it. 14, 3.8ph. September 23, earlier than usual. 100% new oak. 98 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château L'Eglise Clinet | 75cl | £1,194 per case of 6 | Château L'Eglise Clinet 2025 / / 75cl £1,194 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 L'Eglise-Clinet is totally seamless. Crème de cassis, lavender, licorice, mocha, pomegranate and jasmine caress the palate. Impossibly fine, silky tannins frame the mid-palate. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural richness and all the gravitas that is such a signature here. Gravel, dried herbs, mocha and lavender shape the huge, dramatic finish. 2033-2075. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Luscious dark cassis and bilberry fruits, pure perfume, peony and red rose petals, a standout in Pomerol, there is an enveloping and expansive mid palate with full on fennel and anis on close of play, so good, a wine full of emotion and grace. 75% new oak. Harvest September 4 to 12. Cooler fermentation than usual, not higher than 28C, because thick skins. 3.5ph. 4.5ha, so only 3 tanks compared to 5 normally, 30hll/ha. Olivier Guatraut cellar master with Noémie Durantou winemaker. 2034-2048. 97 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked on 4 and 5 September for the Merlot and the same days plus 12 September for the Cabernet Franc; this vintage matured in 75% new oak. The aromatics are timid at first, but unfurl in the glass, revealing enticing scents of raspberry, wild strawberry, truffle oil and cedar. The oak is beautifully integrated, and it gains delineation with each swirl. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins, one of the most mineral-driven L'Eglise-Clinet wines that I have tasted from barrel, gaining cohesion and poise, with perfectly judged acidity and a gentle but insistent grip on the finish. There is a verticality to this Pomerol that gives it a more cerebral slant compared to the 2022, but it is still quite delicious. That said, I would still give it a few years in bottle. 2033 - 2060. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The definition, freshness and complexity are very impressive already. It’s like a finished wine. It’s medium-bodied with precise and vivid flavors of blackberries and cool olives. Long, energetic and dense yet not heavy. Classy. A blend of 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. 96-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Red and blue fruits, sappy spring flowers, violets, graphite, and chocolate all define the 2025 Château L'Eglise Clinet, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc resting in 75% new oak. Coming from tiny yields with no saignée and very little press wine, the harvest ran from September 4th through the 12th, and the result is a rich, powerful, yet finesse-driven Pomerol with fine, polished tannins and a wonderful sense of freshness. It's going to require some patience, but it will undoubtedly be worth it. 97-99 points" jebdunnock.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Léoville Barton | 75cl | £320 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Barton 2025 / / 75cl £320 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Another wine that will appeal to purists, the 2025 Léoville Barton offers up notes of crème de cassis, violets, pencils shavings and new oak, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, taut and penetrating palate that's racy and youthfully structured, with a concentrated mid-palate that reflects the very low yields (22 hectoliters per hectare) this year. It's a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, harvested between September 4 and 18. 93-95 points." William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2026------"The 2025 Léoville Barton is one of my early favorites of the vintage. It carries all the textural intensity and richness of a vintage with paltry yields. As such, it is not an especially classic Léoville Barton, but it is undeniably gorgeous. Black fruit, gravel, chocolate, new leather and licorice add to an impression of gravitas. As always, there's a healthy amount of press wine in the blend. Readers will have to be patient with the 2025, but there's a lot of potential...2035 - 2065. 94-96 points." Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2026------"Dark ripe fruit and a touch of licorice on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with a firm tannic structure on the palate, showing dark fruit, chocolate and walnut flavors. 95-96 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2026------"The 2025 Léoville Barton was picked between 4 September and 18 September and matured in 60% new oak barrels. This has an exquisite bouquet already, with ebullient blackberry and bilberry scents, beautifully integrated oak, keeping the DNA of Léoville Barton despite the warm summer. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, gentle grip, very pure fruit and a "cool" and focused finish. With lower alcohol, between 13.0 and 13.5%, the terroir really shows through here. Superb. 2034 - 2055. 95-97 points." Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2026------"Beautiful aromas, expressive and open, really fragrant with bright purple flowers and dark cherries. Supple and so energetic, you can feel some tension here with the tension coming from the really quite high acidity matching the soft fleshiness of the dark blackcurrant and raspberry fruit. I love the character, this has personality and focus. Quite a fun and really engaging wine with great balance and plenty of structure and outer bones that should soften and maybe thicken a little over ageing. I’m sure this will be a beauty. Crushed stone minerality on the finish. One of the lowest yields ever at 22hl/ha. 97 points." (GH) Decanter, Ap '26------"Beautiful vintage at Léoville Barton, delivers layer upon layer of crayon, graphite, textural interest and character, we are on another level of St Julien and right at the top of the vintage. Black chocolate and espresso coupled with finesse and fragrance that takes you into the heart of St Julien. A flood of flavour, what a brilliantly judged wine, powerful with air in all the right places. Just a breath below the brilliant 2023 for me. 2034-2044. 97 points." Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2026------"A Cabernet-dominant blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2025 Château Léoville Barton checks in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.6. Crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, liquid violets, iron, and an incredible sense of graphite all define the aromatics of this brilliant, deep, pure, and layered beauty. On the palate, it's full-bodied, inward, and powerfully structured, and reminds me slightly of the 2010 with its deep, concentrated style. It has enormous potential. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Léoville Las Cases | 75cl | £660 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Las Cases 2025 / / 75cl £660 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"One of the most serious, brooding wines of the vintage is the 2025 Léoville Las Cases, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, pencil shavings and creamy new oak, it's medium- to full-bodied, deep and dense, with prodigious reserves of sweet but assertive tannin, lively acids and a long, muscular finish. This will require patience. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2025 Léoville Las Cases is the earliest harvest since 1989, starting on September 5 until September 20. Yields are 23 hl/ha, with a soft extraction using air pumps introduced in 2019, and it was matured in 80% new oak. It is the third vintage made in the new, impressive facility. This has another intense nose, quite flamboyant for Las Cases due to the warmth of the summer, with hints of pencil shavings and cigar box coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied but very concentrated. Real depth and density here, very primal, with an intense, multi-layered finish that coats the mouth. Not a subtle Las Cases, nor should it be, though I aver that it will oblige long-term ageing. Drinking Window 2035 - 2070. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Léoville Las Cases is powerful, tightly wound and very shut down—in other words, classic Las Cases. In some recent vintages, the Grand Vin has shown somewhat softer contours, but the 2025 is really a throwback to a more muscular, classically austere style. It offers tremendous persistence and sheer power, but beyond that, the wine is pretty hard to read in the early going, certainly much more so than any of the other wines in the Delon stable. I expect this will need many years to be at its most rewarding. Based on this en primeur sample, the 2025 is a wine for readers who have actuarial tables on their side. 2040-2100. 96-98 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Deep, violet-hued in the glass, this barrel sample opens with remarkably expressive aromatics of cool blue fruit and ripe cassis, layered with hints of hawthorn and integrated oak spice, signaling this estate's pedigree. The attack is immediate, initially juicy with mid-palate fruit that swiftly yields to a formidable structure. The tannins are powerful (IPT 82), dense and commanding, their presence further accentuated by a relatively low pH of 3.56. At this stage, the balance clearly favors Pauillac styled power over St Julien charm, with the fruit somewhat restrained by the sheer scale of the tannic frame. The Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend combined with low yields of 23 hl/ha due to the tiny grapes harvested underscores the wine’s concentration and depth. Élevage is expected to extend up to 22 months in 80% new oak, a choice that should help absorb and refine the structure. A distinct mineral, saline edge emerges on the finish, though presently dominated by the tannic grip. This is the first vintage produced in the estate’s new six-story cellar, equipped with 120 fermentation tanks in oak and stainless steel (up from 40), enabling highly precise parcel-by-parcel and intra-parcel vinification. The addition of a vinothèque reflects the estate's long-term vision. Under the direction of Arnaud Delon, marking his first vintage alongside his father, Jean-Hubert Delon, the technical precision is evident in the glass. A wine of impressive scale and clear potential, though one that will require patience to fully harmonize. (PK) 2036-2055. 98 points" Panos Kakaviatos, janeanson.com------"The texture is fantastic, with superb aromas of graphite, blackberries and blueberries. Medium- to full-bodied with tannins that are pure and primary, like eating perfectly ripe grapes. It’s the high quality of the tannins. A very classic Las Cases. 82% cabernet sauvignon, 12% cabernet franc and 6% merlot. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com------"Based on a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot that's resting in 80% new barrels, the 2025 Château Léoville Las Cases is one of the wines of the vintage and just has an incredible sense of class, balance, purity, and richness. Harvest began on September 5th, the earliest ever for this estate, wrapping up on the 20th. Cassis, graphite, liquid minerality, and freshly sharpened pencil all define the nose, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a round, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. If this doesn't make your eyes roll back in your head, nothing will. It checks in at 13.65% alcohol with a pH of 3.56. 97-100 points" jebdunnock.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Léoville Poyferré | 75cl | £318 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Poyferré 2025 / / 75cl £318 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Shy and introverted at this stage, the 2025 Léoville Poyferré reveals a somber bouquet of oak, spice, licorice and ripe dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and deep, it’s broad-shouldered and structured, built around a creamy new-oak mid-palate framed by an abundant tannic chassis that carries through to a spicy, oak-influenced finish. 91-93 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2025 Léoville-Poyferré is gorgeous. Rich and juicy, with striking mid-palate pliancy, the Grand Vin shows the vintage at its finest. That is immediately evident in its plush contours and impeccable balance. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, menthol and mocha flesh out in the glass, filling out the layers effortlessly. The 2025 is a sensual Grand Vin. 2035 - 2065. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Léoville-Poyferré was picked from September 8 to 23 at just 20.3 hl/ha, undergoing a six-day cold pre-fermentation maceration and matured in 80% new oak. This is quintessential Poyferré on the nose, quite sensual and pure in style, with layers of ripe black fruit, black plum, a hint of camphor and violet. Wonderful delineation. The palate is framed by fine tannins, beautifully balanced, again quite minerally in style, with a precise and persistent graphite-tinged finish. If you love Poyferré, then you are going to adore this. 2032 - 2060. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Luscious, fabulous construction and grip, a true slow unroll, with waves of orange peel minerality, cocoa bean and espresso, silky texture, great quality, squid ink, yield extremely low at around 20hl/ha but manages to retain an opulent drinkability once you give it time in the glass. An easy one to recommend, and this has so many hidden depths. Harvest September 8 to 23. 3.73 pH. 20.38 hl/ha. 80% new oak. 3.71 pH. Harvest September 8 to 23. Old vines at Poyferre naturally low yields, and with the dry summer, this was the first year since 2011 to do no saignee at all during fermentation because already such natural concentration. 2035-2055. 97 points" janeanson.com------"Beautiful on the nose. Stylish and concentrated, medium- to full-bodied, with freshness and a savory note in the finish. Cohesive and precise, with fine-grained, focused tannins. Very structured at the end. A solid and bracing Medoc. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"Ripe, sexy amounts of red, black, and blue fruits, smoke, tobacco, and scorched earth all define the 2025 Château Léoville Poyferré, a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. It's full-bodied on the palate, with a round, layered, exuberant mouthfeel, plenty of velvety tannins, and ample mid-palate depth. It's a ripe, opulent, beautifully balanced 2025 in the making. 96-98 points" jebdunnock.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Les Carmes Haut Brion | 75cl | £429 per case of 6 | Château Les Carmes Haut Brion 2025 / / 75cl £429 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"I was a little nervous to be honest about Carmes Haut-Brion, worried that this would be too sliced-through with steel acidity this year with the high Cabernet Franc, but I was worrying unnecessarily. It's totally beautiful, sleek, grilled campfire, a ton of momentum and there is a spherical feel through the mid palate, expanding and deepening the fruit flavours. High floral as you would expect, a crush of peony, iris, violet right on the first nose, chalky and slate edge to the tannins, full of energy, 14%abv at picking then whole cluster brought it down to 13%, 3.6ph, 65% whole bunch during fermentation. 38hl/h yield (compared to 24hl/ha yield last year after selection), 70% new oak. 3.59 pH. Harvest September 7 to 19, this is highest levels of Cabernet Franc to date. 2035-2055. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion comes from clay-limestone soils and was picked from September 7 to 19, with a high level of Cabernet Franc (54%) and lower Merlot (17%). This vintage has 65% whole cluster, similar to 2022, raised in 70% new oak barrels, 19% in 18hl foudres and 11% amphoras. This takes time to open on the nose: blacker, darker fruit than the Le C, black plum and touches of iris flower. Very pure, very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins on the entry, crunchy in the mouth, black fruit interlaced with Earl Grey, subtle ash-like notes. Linear towards the finish but very sustained in the mouth, there is plenty of energy in this Les Carmes-Haut-Brion and it should age with style and grace. More sapidity on the finish than the Dead Sea. 13.1% alcohol. Drinking Window 2032 - 2060. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot, one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Franc at the estate and comparable to 2016. It was vinified with 65% whole clusters and matured in 70% new oak. It reveals a complex, harmonious bouquet of pomegranate, iris and peony, intertwined with cassis, mulberries and dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and structured, it’s deep and layered, its concentrated core of fruit framed by velvety structuring tannins, concluding with a long, mineral-inflected finish. Combining tension with an ethereal profile, it delivers remarkable clarity, freshness and elegance. While slightly more overtly structured at this stage than the prodigious 2022, it remains impeccably balanced. 95-98 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2025 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a huge, powerful wine that is going to need many years to come into its own. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, incense, melted road tar and licorice make a bold entrance. Fertility in the Merlots was low. As a result, the 2025 has the highest amount of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon ever, 83% in total as opposed to the more typical 70% or so. Whole clusters, always a part of the approach here, are 65%. Time on skins was 45 days at 27°C (80.6°F) compared to the 35 days at 30°C (86°F) that is more typical. Readers will find an especially deep, potent Carmes, a wine that will need the better part of a decade to shed some of its considerable baby fat. It's a telling example of the vintage, with 1% less alcohol than in most recent years. Today the 2025 is a mere infant. It's another exceptional wine from Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier and his team. 2033-2075. 96-98 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Deeper-hued than the C des Carmes cuvée, with a gorgeous perfume of red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with graphite, leafy herbs, iris, and subtle floral, minty, and almost peppery nuances, the 2025 Château Carmes Haut-Brion is based on 54% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Merlot, vinified with 65% whole clusters. On the palate, it's wonderfully textured and medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered, expansive mouthfeel and ultra-fine tannins. I love its overall balance, it has no hard edges, and while there's plenty of tannins here (IPT 82), they're perfectly integrated and polished. It checks in at 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.59, and this is just loaded with charm and character. 96-98 points" jebdunnock.com------"The precision is so seductive and intellectual, with aromas of fresh flowers, iron, graphite, cedar, blood oranges and black fruit. It's medium-bodied with a compact palate of intense tannins that melt into the wine. Rather weightless in nature. It kicks in at the end with incredible intensity and focus. 13% alcohol. 65% whole cluster. 54% cabernet franc, 29% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot, mostly co-fermented. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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