Red Bordeaux
| RED | 2024 | Château Branaire Ducru | 75cl | £159 per case of 6 | Château Branaire Ducru 2024 / / 75cl £159 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Lovely bright plum colour, slim blue and black fruits, coffee bean and cedar oak notes, carefully constructed with balance, a little short on the finish compared to the excellent recent vintages at Branaire. 55% new oak. 41.5 hl/ha, this is the first vintage with the new cellars, François-Xavier Maroteaux owner and new president of the Union de Grands Crus de Bordeaux. 91 points" janeanson.com------"The 2024 Branaire-Ducru offers up a pretty and precise bouquet of cassis, violets and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, supple and suave, with polished tannins and tangy acids, it's a fine-boned, delicate wine from Branaire that was harvested between 20 September and 9 October. It's a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that attained 12.8% alcohol, and it's being raised in a touch less new oak than usual. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Brane Cantenac | 75cl | £213 per case of 6 | Château Brane Cantenac 2024 / / 75cl £213 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2024 Brane-Cantenac exhibits aromas of sweet berries, vanilla pod and toasty new oak, followed by a medium-bodied, fleshy and youthfully tannic palate that's lent a creamy, lactic quality by its malolactic fermentation in new barrels. 89-91. points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Brane-Cantenac was picked between September 17 and October 8. No Petit Verdot or Carménère were included in the blend this year. It was cropped at 46.6 hl/ha and matured in 80% new oak. This has a refined bouquet, understated at first, opening with black fruit, graphite and deft touches of wild mint. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid black fruit on the entry. With fine grip and very fresh, this is a Brane-Cantenac leaning more toward Pauillac in style as it is sometimes wont to do. Lightly peppery on the finish, this is an elegant Margaux that should be broached before its 2020 or 2022 counterparts. 2029 - 2050. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2024 Brane-Cantenac is shaping up to be a gem. Blood orange, crushed flowers, spice, mint and chalk confer notable brightness. The 2024 is marked by a strong red-fruit character, bright acids and mid-weight structure, all of which make for a super-classic, if somewhat nervy, Brane-Cantenac. There's quite a bit of potential here. Tasted two times. Drink 2032-2049. 93-95 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April '25------"A linear and focused wine with blackcurrants, cherries and crushed stones. Medium-bodied with polished tannins. Classy finish. 94-95 points." JamesSuckling.com, April 2025------"Tons of energy, stone fruits, cherry pits, damson, a lovely feeling of fruit that has plenty of life ahead it, fresh and juicy with sapidity. not trying too hard just full of pleasure. Edge of grilled campfire, graphite, generosity, easily one of the wines of the vintage. 11.3% press wine, 3.53pH, 46.6hl/ha yield. Harvest 17 September to 8 October, 80% new oak for ageing. 95 points." Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2025------"The Grand Vin is based on 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc that included 11.3% of press, saw malolactic fermentation in barrel, and will spend 18 months in 80% new barrels. Its deeper ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautifully pure, layered, elegant, and medium-bodied Margaux that has both red and blue fruits, some violet, spicy wood, and cedar pencil nuances, fine, polished tannins, and outstanding length. This hit 12.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.53. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Calon Ségur | 75cl | £360 per case of 6 | Château Calon Ségur 2024 / / 75cl £360 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Beautiful red ruby expression. A slimmer more finessed expression of Calon than in recent years, that gives it less estate signature than some, but this has beautiful cassis bud, rose petals, peony, iris, cocoa bean and graphite. Subtle but with real charm. 3.60 pH. 45 hl/ha. 100% new oak. Vincent Millet director, Harvest 23 September to 9 October. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2024 Calon Ségur was picked from September 23 until October 9 at 45 hl/ha with no breaks between those dates. It then matured in 100% new oak, as usual, for 20 months. This has a well-defined bouquet, with more prominent wood than previous recent vintages, which consequently obscures the property's DNA. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid black fruit tinged with black olive. It's quite lively, with a liberal sprinkling of white pepper and thyme. I admire the freshness of this Saint-Estèphe and there is decent length on the finish. This is not a top-ranking Calon-Ségur, but it should still provide up to 20 years of drinking pleasure. 2029 - 2048. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Deep garnet-purple colored. It's a little shy to start off, needing some swirling to bring out notes of black raspberries and red cherries, followed by wafts of cassis, mint tea, and milk chocolate with a hint of pencil lead. The light to medium-bodied palate delivers very good tension and bright, red berry flavors with savory sparks and fine-grained tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift. 92-94 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent ------"As to the Grand Vin, the 2024 Château Calon Ségur checks in as 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, hitting 13.1% alcohol and a pH of 3.6, all resting in 100% new oak. It brings more richness and depth, with beautiful cassis fruit intermixed with spring flowers, violets, lead pencil, and a terrific sense of minerality. Medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, and reasonably concentrated, it's all about finesse, elegance, and balance. It's a brilliant wine in the vintage. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2024 Calon-Ségur is a terrific effort. A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon (picked late, between October 2 and October 9), 9% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, it unwinds in the glass with notes of plums, cassis and iris mingled with hints of burning embers and incense. Medium to full-bodied, supple and layered, it's suave and seamless, with good depth at the core, powdery tannins and beautifully integrated acids. At pH 3.50 and 13.1% alcohol, it's also one of the most classically proportioned vintages this estate has produced over the last decade. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Calon Ségur is shaping up very nicely. Dark and ample, with terrific balance, the 2024 is another strong wine from the team led by Technical Director Vincent Millet. Readers will find a Calon Ségur of inner strength, its deceptively mid-weight structure notwithstanding. The 2024 is a wine of restraint and class more than power, never a bad thing at this property. The 100% new oak is very nicely balanced, even in the early going. This has great potential. Drink 2034-2054. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A fruity wine that’s approachable but still serious and complex, with cocoa, currants, paprika and berries. Medium- to full-bodied. The tannins are taut, chalky, caressing and superbly knit with the fruit. Really juicy and long, and there aren't any hard edges. 82% cabernet sauvignon, 9% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. 96-97 points" Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Canon | 75cl | £426 per case of 6 | Château Canon 2024 / / 75cl £426 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2024 Canon was picked from September 19 to October 9, a harvest that I witnessed firsthand while joining the pickers on one afternoon. It aged in 49% new oak and 6% casks for between 16 and 18 months. The bouquet is well defined with pure black cherry, raspberry and a subtle marine influence that develops in the glass, though I find the Troplong Mondot tasted alongside has more amplitude. The palate is medium-bodied and pliant with fine tannins and finesse. One bottle at the château had more weight on the finish than others that feel attenuated and missing a bit of substance. 2029 - 2050. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc. pH 3.35. Aging 16-18 months in 49% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored. Prances out to the glass with eager-to-please scents of Morello cherries, fresh raspberries, and bay leaves, leading to hints of graphite and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is subtle and lively with just enough red berry flavors and a chalkiness on the finish. 93-95 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent------"The 2024 Canon is shaping up brilliantly, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, blackberries and raspberries mingled with notions of rose petals and spices. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with tangy acids (the pH is a very low 3.35) and ultrarefined tannins, it concludes with a long, mineral finish. A blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, it's the estate's first year of organic certification. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"This is a gorgeous Canon, with the austerity of limestone on full display, as you would expect in this vintage, but a creamy edge comes in through the mid palate. Clear precision, flesh pared from flesh, peony, peach pit, cherry stone, damson, blueberry, graphite, crayon, pumice, lemongrass, gunsmoke, this has tons of layers and waves of complexity, classical and balanced. 44hl/ha yield, organic certified. 3.35 pH. 49% new oak. Harvest 19 September to 9 October. 95 points" janeanson.com------"The Grand Vin 2024 Château Canon is 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc that will spend 16-18 months in 49% new oak, with a small amount in foudre. Black raspberries, graphite, crushed stone, and violet notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, fresh, has a vibrant, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's a classic Canon with its minerality, focused, elegant mouthfeel, and outstanding length. Tasted multiple times with consistent results. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Structured, balanced and textured, it has aromas of red berries and pine needles. It’s medium-bodied with velvety tannins. Rather seamless. Long, juicy finish with salty limestone undertones. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2024 Canon is superb. One of the standouts of the vintage, the 2024 possesses striking mid-palate depth to match its vertical personality. Chalk, white pepper, mint, lavender, rose petal, slate and blue/purplish fruit all stain the palate. There's gorgeous depth and density here, and yet the 2024 remains a super-classic wine from the property. This is a real stunner. That's all there is to it. Tasted four times. 2034 - 2059. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Cantemerle | 75cl | £193 per case of 12 | Château Cantemerle 2024 / / 75cl £193 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Aromas of sweet blackberries, minty cassis and pencil shavings introduce the 2024 Cantemerle, a medium-bodied, bright and lively wine built around sweet, youthfully chewy tannins. It's a solid effort for this large southern Médoc classified growth. 88-90 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Cantemerle is bold and expressive in the glass. Dried herbs, incense, tobacco, mocha, plum and leather build nicely in a mid-weight Haut-Médoc with plenty of layers and fine overall persistence. There's a good bit of potential here. 89-91 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com ------"The 2024 Cantemerle has a nicely composed bouquet with blackberry, sous-bois and subtle cedar scents percolating through with time. The palate is fresh and vibrant with saturated tannins, a keen line of acidity, well-integrated new oak and a very well-proportioned finish. This exceeds my expectations and is a great success in the context of the vintage. It could end up at the top of my banded score. 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Great quality, sappy, fragrant, savoury Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics. On the palate things open to show squid ink, juice, raspberry puree, liquorice root, really enjoyable, good texture. 48hl/h yield, 35% new oak, Laure Canu director, SMA Group owners. New winery to be ready for the 2025 harvest. 92 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Capbern | 75cl | £174 per case of 12 | Château Capbern 2024 / / 75cl £174 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Deep garnet-purple colored. Shoots from the glass with vibrant notes of fresh red and black currants and wild sage, giving way to hints of graphite, fertile loam, and charcoal. The light-bodied palate is crisp and lightly chewy with bright red berry flavors and an herbal lift on the finish. 87-89 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent------"Enticing aromatics on this wine, soft waves of rose petals, blackberry fruit, crayon and pencil lead, with measured oak use. Acidity puts the tannins into a little overly-focused position on the finish, and the austerity that needs to be softened over ageing. Fairly old school, with charm. 3.60 pH. 45 hl/ha. 60% new oak. 91 points" janeanson.com------"Made by the team from Calon Ségur with the same technique, the 2024 Château Capbern is based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc aging in 60% new oak. It shows the purity and elegance of this team in 2024 with its lively cherry, currant, and juicy cassis fruit as well as a beautiful floral character, medium body, a soft, supple, layered mouthfeel, and ultra-fine tannins. 90-92 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2024 Capbern aged in 60% new French oak for 18 months and contains a little more Cabernet than usual. It has a fresh bouquet with blackberry, cranberry, incense and pencil shaving aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with strict tannins. This is armed with satisfying freshness, brightness and hints of allspice and cumin in the background. This is cohesive on the modest, sapid finish. Although this is not the best Capbern that I have encountered in recent years, it is certainly a decent wine for the vintage. Drink: 2028-2039. 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Made by the team from Calon Ségur with the same technique, the 2024 Château Capbern is based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc aging in 60% new oak. It shows the purity and elegance of this team in 2024 with its lively cherry, currant, and juicy cassis fruit as well as a beautiful floral character, medium body, a soft, supple, layered mouthfeel, and ultra-fine tannins. 90-92 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the 2024 Capbern is a polished classic, offering up notions of cassis, lilac, licorice and pencil shavings, followed by a medium-bodied, supple and polished palate with good underlying cut and grip. It checks in at 12.9% alcohol. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Capbern is a very pretty, delicate Saint-Estèphe. Cabernet Sauvignon takes the leading role in this elegant, nuanced wine. Crushed flowers, spice, new leather, cedar, licorice and incense are all delineated in the glass. Vibrant floral notes reappear on the long, persistent finish. 2026 - 2036. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Good depth on the nose with a juicier palate this year, with a mixture of berries, red peppers and cherries. The chalky tannins are still quite firm and the wine delivers lots of fruit, with a long finish. Tight and tense. 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot. 93-94 points" Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Chasse Spleen | 75cl | £216 per case of 12 | Château Chasse Spleen 2024 / / 75cl £216 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2024 Chasse-Spleen offers up aromas of minty cassis and pencil shavings, followed by a medium-bodied, somewhat firm and taut palate. 86-88 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Chalky, sappy, redcurrant and raspberry fruits, a little dilute through the mid palate, but skilfully balanced with spice and campfire smoke, unfussy and charming, more austere than in recent vintages. 40 hl/ha yield. 88 points" janeanson.com------"The 2024 Chasse-Spleen is perhaps a bit firm, but it offers very good energy and persistence. Expressive savory inflections meld into a core of plum, new leather, incense, spice, tobacco and dried herbs. This mid-weight Moulis is promising. 88-90 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Cheval Blanc | 75cl | £1,650 per case of 6 | Château Cheval Blanc 2024 / / 75cl £1,650 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2024 Cheval Blanc is a blend taken from 37 of the 45 parcels on the property. Dried flowers, mocha, rose petal and blood orange open nicely in the bouquet, leading to an understated mid-palate and a subtly persistent finish. Understated and nuanced, the 2024 offers lovely forward fruit in a soft, accessible style with no hard edges or awkward contours. All the elements are nicely put together, and yet there is no denying the fact that the 2024 is very light. Élevage will be everything here. Drink: 2032-2054. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Lilac, peony flowers, same family of aromatics as the Petit Cheval, same feeling of finesse and precision, but here everything has been taken up a notch, more density, more slate and pumice stone texture. Expect subtle complexity, a wine that steals up on you, impresses in its precision and clarity. July and August just 20mm of rain each month, well below 30 year average, 140mm rain in September, highest since 2006, harvest September 18 to October 3, 3.62ph (3.9ph in 2022), 37 plots out of the 56 in the vineyard are in here. 100% new oak for ageing. Looking forward to seeing after ageing, it has all the elements and bones in place for a totally delicious Cheval. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2024 Cheval Blanc was picked from September 18 until October 3 and aged entirely in new oak with a little dabbling in concrete tanks and amphorae. The purity on the nose is the first facet that you notice with perfumed black cherry, blackcurrant, wild strawberry and touches of potpourri and crushed stone. There is certainly some mineralité here. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly brittle tannins. Very well balanced, this is clearly a Cheval Blanc built in a more elegant, sapid, linear style with a residual pepperiness that lingers in the mouth. It will need just 2 or 3 years in bottle and should drink well for 20 to 25 years. The 2024 is charming and refined. 2029 - 2050. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A blend of 48% Cabernet Franc, 48% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2024 Château Cheval Blanc is one of the stars of the vintage. Unwinding in the glass with notes of minty berries and plums mingled with violets, cigar wrapper and rose petals, it's medium-bodied, suave and complete, with a cool, layered core of fruit, beautifully integrated tannins and a long, aromatic finish. Pierre-Olivier Clouet and his team conducted an aggressive green harvest and also, exceptionally, used densimetric sorting to mitigate heterogenous maturity between and within bunches (a consequence of a protracted flowering), accepting losses to rot in pursuit of full maturity. Yields were 39 hectoliters per hectare at harvest, but some 34% of that was eliminated between sorting and press wine (which is never retained at Cheval Blanc). Of what fermented, however, 70% ended up in the grand vin. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Clerc Milon | 75cl | £275 per case of 6 | Château Clerc Milon 2024 / / 75cl £275 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2024 Clerc Milon was picked from September 24 to October 6 and raised in 55% new oak with just a little more Cabernet than previous years. It has a fragrant bouquet with blackberry, briar and light iodine scents that unfold nicely in the glass, though it's not as vigorous as the top vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with finely cut tannins. It has moderate weight and density, with a pleasing sweetness of fruit that comes through on the finish. This Clerc Milon has an appealing sense of composure and it should age well in bottle. 2029-2055. 91-93 points." Neal Martin, Vinous------"The 2024 Clerc Milon is packed with blue/purplish fruit, lavender, sage, dried flowers and mocha. Juicy and forward, Clerc Milon has a lot to recommend it. Time in the glass brings out gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon savoriness to complement the wine's mid-weight structure. Lovely. Tasted two times. 91-93 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous------"Very well-made, showing warm bread and graphite to the darker fruit. Not quite dense, this is balanced, juicy and supple in the center, showing a mix of black and red berries and cedar in the finish. Medium- to full-bodied, focused and nicely structured. It has fine, firm tannins and a long, nuanced finish. Classic Bordeaux without any sweetness. 94-95 points." (ZS) JamesSuckling.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Cos d'Estournel | 75cl | £510 per case of 6 | Château Cos d'Estournel 2024 / / 75cl £510 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Highly textural, with layers and depth, this shows savoury and slim black fruits, real finesse, beautifully precise and grippy texture, cocoa bean, espresso, lovely quality. This feels genuinely old school in the best sense of the word. Harvest 23 September to 7 October. 3.52 pH. 20% new oak, 46% 1st wine. 2030-2044. 94 points." Jane Anson------"The 2024 Cos d'Estournel was picked from September 23 to October 7 and matured in 50% new oak. This has an atypically powerful bouquet, revealing black fruit laced with graphite and gravelly scents. The palate has a Pauillac-like entry that's fresh but certainly intense. There's plenty of grip in this Cos d'Estournel that's a little sweeter and reassuringly persistent on the finish compared to its peers. It does not deliver the mineralité of a top-flight Cos d'Estournel, though there's certainly much more fruit intensity than you would expect given the growing season. I observed more classicism during my second record, which suggests that the depth of fruit may become more prominent during barrel maturation. Readers should note it displayed more depth and precision on my second visit on the final day in Bordeaux. 2032 - 2065. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2024 Cos d'Estournel is shaping up beautifully. Offering up aromas of sweet cassis, plums, pencil shavings and iris, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and suave, reflecting this estate's pivot to a more harmonious, less aggressively extracted style. With a layered, seamless core of fruit framed by plenty of sweet, powdery tannin, it's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.5% Petit Verdot that checks in at 12.7% alcohol. Cos is an early-ripening terroir, and that clearly played to the relative strengths of the vintage. Harvest here began with the estate's old-vine Merlot on gravel on September 23, concluding with the last Cabernet Sauvignon on October 7. 93-95 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"There is huge depth and lots of intensity from this year's Cos. Quite powerful, deeply colored and dense, but there is freshness. Concentrated and tight-grained, with a full body and a pretty lengthy finish. Quite unique for its broadness and density, with lots of blackberries in the finish. 96-97 points." (ZS) JamesSuckling.com------"The 2024 Cos d'Estournel could very well be one of the wines of the vintage. Bright and vibrant in the g ass, with tons of energy, the 2024 impresses with its vertical structure, depth and overall balance. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, new eather, lavender and mocha are beautifully delineated throughout. The 2024 is super-classic. The modest 12.8% alcohol is notable, especially because that also means there is less extraction of wood. Cos is one of my early favorites in 2024. 2034-2054. 95-98 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous |
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| RED | 2024 | Château d'Armailhac | 75cl | £167 per case of 6 | Château d'Armailhac 2024 / / 75cl £167 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2024 dlArmailhac is a very beautiful wine. Dark, layered and intensely aromatic, the 2024 is so expressive. The percentage of Cabernet Franc from 60+ year-old vines is h-gh -n this vintage, and that very much comes through in the wine's perfume and saline intensity. All the elements are so well integrated. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, cedar and new eather explode on the finish. Tasted two times. 2032-2044. 90-92 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous------"The 2024 Chateau d'Armailhac was picked from September 25 to October 8. It has a slightly distant nose at first that demands coaxing from the glass. This is not its usual outgoing self, though that said, it is well-defined with black fruit and I-ght damp oam scents. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a peppery entry. Th-s lingers nice y in the mouth with fine grip and a p easant roundness that emerges toward the graphite-tinged finish. Give it two or three years in bottle. 2027-2047. 90-92 points." Neal Martin, Vinous------"A fragrant, floral nose with fresh red cherries, berries and touches of cocoa powder and graphite. Bright and poised, this has medium body, vibrant acidity and an expressive finish. No sweetness. Juicier and more classic this year, though not as concentrated. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot and 14% cabernet franc. 93-94 points." (ZS) JamesSuckling.com, April 2025 |
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| RED | 2024 | Château de Fieuzal | 75cl | £240 per case of 12 | Château de Fieuzal 2024 / / 75cl £240 per case of 12 |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Ducru Beaucaillou | 75cl | £528 per case of 6 | Château Ducru Beaucaillou 2024 / / 75cl £528 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2024 Ducru-Beaucaillou is showing well at this stage, unfurling in the glass with a perfumed bouquet of dark berries, flowers, gentian and fresh licorice, interwoven with delicate spicy nuances. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and seamless, it is lively and refined, with somewhat firm tannins leading to a gently grippy finish. This was harvested between September 30 and October 15. 91-93 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Ducru-Beaucaillou matured entirely in new oak, as usual. The 100% new wood slightly impedes on the aromatics at the moment, masking some of the attractive blackberry and cassis scents tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied and, again, the oak is very vocal at the moment. Quite marine-influenced on the finish, this Ducru-Beaucaillou has impressive sapidity, although the key question is how that wood will assimilate in bottle. Only time will tell. 2030 - 2055. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A gorgeously vivid, lifted nose, with floral aromatics, dark berry and cassis fruits, fleshy but understated, elegant and finessed, squid ink, sandalwood, incense, maintains estate signature and is full of pleasure, 100% new oak for ageing, 3.8 pH. Harvest 23 September to 7 October. 95 points" janeanson.com------"Deep garnet-purple in color. Strides out with classic notes of crushed black currants, fresh black plums, and pencil shavings, plus hints of violets, licorice, and black olives with a touch of menthol. The medium-bodied palate delivers a firm frame of grainy tannins and well-knit freshness to support the blackberry flavors and spicy undertones, finishing on a lingering anise note. 94-96 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent------"The 2024 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a sleek, elegant wine. Silky tannins give the 2024 its distinctly mid-weight, lithe personality. Readers will find a gracious Ducru built more on persistence and nervy tension than size or opulence. Blue/black fruits, lavender, cloves, menthol and chocolate open over time. It will be fascinating to see how this ages. 2034 - 2054. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"As to the Grand Vin, the 2024 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is based on 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, resting in 100% new oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by a terrific 2024 that defies the challenges of the vintage. Pure cassis, darker currants, graphite, crushed stone, and sappy violet notes all emerge on the nose. It's medium-bodied, with a beautifully layered, concentrated mid-palate, ripe yet velvety tannins, and a great finish. This classic Saint-Julien will benefit from bottle age and is another brilliant effort from the team. It's one of the richer, more structured wines in the vintage, yet it remains balanced, precise, and never overdone. 94-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Excellent depth with very good concentration. Lots of dusty, small-grained tannins. Densely packed, with nervy minerals, blackberries, dark chocolate, violets and cassis. Full-bodied and very fresh, with a lengthy finish. Structured and tightly framed. Shows good potential. 86% cabernet sauvignon and 14% merlot. 96-97 points" Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Duhart Milon | 75cl | £276 per case of 6 | Château Duhart Milon 2024 / / 75cl £276 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Shows density and balance, with leafy but fragrant aromatics that unfurl slowly, and bright acidity that is not overpowering to the blueberry and blackcurrant fruits. The skill of the Lafite team is clear here, and this is a classically balanced Duhart that will age well. Harvest September 25 to October 4, 32hl/h yield, above the Pauillac average. Moulin de Duhart is not being sold En Primeur. 92 points" janeanson.com------"A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, the 2024 Duhart-Milon was cropped at 32 hectoliters per hectare, and it was here that the Lafite team concluded the harvest. Offering up aromas of cassis and red berries mingled with hints of violets, pen ink, licorice and toasty oak, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, with a round, integrated, charming profile, concluding with a moderately persistent finish. 90-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Figeac | 75cl | £564 per case of 6 | Château Figeac 2024 / / 75cl £564 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc. 31 hl/ha. Cask sample. Spicy nose with a touch of vanilla oak. Lots of freshness. Sweet middle then structure and length, so confirmed Figeac character. Less depth but lovely touch of tannin. Should age and improve given the percentage of Cabernet. 2032-2050. 17 points." (JL) Jancisrobinson.com------"The 2024 Figeac is a lovely classic, wafting from the glass with aromas of blackcurrants, minty berries, licorice and pencil shavings, deftly framed by new oak. Medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with good depth at the core, powdery tannins and a suave, seamless profile, it's a blend of 33% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon that attained 12.7% alcohol. Figeac was one of those estates that took the risk of waiting to harvest, rejecting just over 20% of the crop in the sorting process to produce a compelling wine despite the challenging conditions. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Figeac was picked September 20 to October 5 at 31 hl/ha after sorting, as the natural yield was 36 hl/ha. The château sacrificed 21% of the crop (which I witnessed first-hand when I called in during harvest and toured the reception) and it matured entirely in new oak with 8% vin de presse. That wood is neatly assimilated on the nose with blackberry, raspberry and light pine resin scents, all fashioned with wonderful delineation. Later, a hint of wilted rose petal emerges from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and a keen line of acidity. This is very elegant and classical Figeac in style. There is a little more linearity, but this feels quite effortless overall. Its buvabilité is perhaps higher than other vintages, even if the likes of the 2020 or 2022 might have longer legs. This becomes spicier with aeration, which seems to prolong the finish, especially on my second visit toward the end of my tastings. 2033 - 2060. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"This is very refined with lovely tannins and freshness. Medium-bodied, it has a savory, juicy undertone and a satisfying finish. Some chocolate. A blend of 39% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot and 28% cabernet franc. 94-95 points." JamesSuckling.com------"Vivid plum and ruby colour, clear ripe raspberry and damson fruits, sappy quality, fine tannins. The Cabernet Franc slowly unfurls its floral waves, violets and iris, with white flowers, savoury black fruits, good energy and length. Figeac has shown over and over again that it can deliver wines that succeed and delight in many different kinds of vintage conditions, and it is an estate to have confidence in. 31hl/ha yield, 100% new oak, 8% press, 3.66pH. 31hl/ha yield. They deleafed on both sides for the first time since technical director Romain Jean-Pierre arrived 13 years ago. Harvest September 20 to October 5. 95 points." Jane Anson------"Silky and aromatic, with velvety tannins, the 2024 Figeac is sublime. F oral and savory aromatics meld into a core of blue/purplish fruit, spice, licorice, avender and menthol. All the elements are so well ba anced. The blend is 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, with 8% press wines. Not surprisingly, the 2024 is a very Cabernet-driven Figeac. Production is 60,000 bottles, or 50% of normal, because of low yields and further selection in the cellar. Tasted two times. 2034-2054. 93-96 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Based on 33% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2024 Château Figeac reveals a classic Figeac nose of ripe blue fruits, sappy tobacco, flowers, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, it has a fabulous, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. To have this level of quality in a vintage like 2024 is mind-blowing, and this is one of the top handful of wines in the vintage. 95-97 points" Jeb Dunnock, RobertParker.com------"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2024 Figeac opens with classic notes of cassis, kirsch, pencil shavings, and violets, leading to nuances of mint tea and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate is dense with tightly wound black and red berry flavors, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and wonderful tension, finishing very long with lots of mineral and floral sparks. An absolute triumph in this vintage. Tasted twice with consistent score and notes. 33% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon. 3.66 pH. 96-98 points." Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2025 |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Giscours | 75cl | £213 per case of 6 | Château Giscours 2024 / / 75cl £213 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2024 Giscours was picked from September 19 to October 11 and matured in 50% new oak. It has a forward and generous bouquet with ripe red cherry, kirsch and cassis scents, with a touch of pencil shavings in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with firm and grainy tannins that frame mainly black fruit. Overall, this is a Giscours cut in a classical style, although the finish needs to cohere and muster more precision during its barrel maturation. An enjoyable Giscours for sure, even if it does not reach the heights of recent vintages. This was tasted three times. 2030 - 2045. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Deep garnet-purple colored. Features scents of fresh blackberries and black raspberries with hints of pine sap, pencil shavings, and Provence herbs in the background. The light to medium-bodied palate is light on its feet and vibrant with a lively line and lightly chewy tannins, finishing earthy. 92-94 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent------"A fresh and vivid red, showing blackcurrants, herbs and hints of needles and dried flowers. Medium-bodied. Nicely chewy tannins extend to the medium-long finish, which is bright, firm and linear. A Giscours that shows the elegance and balance of the vintage. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. 93-94 points" Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com------"Plush, impressive colour, with medium to full intensity inky plum. Good quality, feels like a true En Primeur sample with its fragrance, austerity, well built tannins, impressive, sappy, savoury and understated black fruits. Will take its time to show the fragrant heart of Margaux, but it's in there. Alex Van der Beek director. Famille Albada Jelgersma. 35 hl/ha yield. 94 points" janeanson.com------"Based on 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2024 Château Giscours offers beautiful darker currants, cassis, and violets intermixed with classy oak notes. Medium-bodied and nicely concentrated on the palate, it offers elegant tannins, beautiful balance, and impressive length. The harvest was very late here, and it shows in the depth and concentration of the wine. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2024 Giscours has turned out very well indeed. Offering up incipiently complex aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with orange zest, licorice, violets and burning embers, it's medium to full-bodied, with good density and richness, with a layered, rather muscular palate and a long, expansive finish. The 2024 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The estate retained cover crops to amplify the dry conditions in July and August, accelerating ripening, and once again picked by vine age within blocks, bringing in the younger-vine fruit earlier before it could rot. Merlot came in between 19 and 28 September, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was picked very late, between 1 and 11 October. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Giscours is impressive. Elegant and sleek, with fine balance, Giscours is all class. The bouquet alone is so enticing. Small red berry fruit, spice, tobacco, mint and cedar are all finely sketched in a mid-weight, nervy Giscours that is quite showy right out of the gate. There is a bit of edginess in the tannins, but that's not anything that can't be addressed with élevage. A closing burst of aromatics leaves a long-lasting impression. Tasted three times. Drink 2032-2044. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Grand Puy Lacoste | 75cl | £213 per case of 6 | Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2024 / / 75cl £213 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, maturing in 70% new barriques, the 2024 Grand-Puy-Lacoste offers up notes of blackcurrants, pencil shavings, iris and oak, followed by a medium-bodied, pretty palate built around a delicate core of fruit and lively acids, its powdery structuring tannins asserting themselves with gentle grip on the finish. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"As to the Grand Vin, the 2024 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, resting in 70% new barrels. It's a classy, elegant Pauillac with ample red and black currant fruit as well as lead pencil, graphite, and some floral, spicy nuances. It's medium-bodied, balanced, has fine tannins, and tons of soul and charm. It will be a classic Pauillac, and I'd be happy to have bottles in my cellar. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2024 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a light bouquet for this estate, primarily revealing fresh black fruit laced with tobacco and light smoky scents. It is simple but exhibits impressive delineation. You get the feeling that the aromatics are holding something back. The palate is medium-bodied and classic Pauillac in style with all that graphite-tinged black fruit and edgy tannins. This is not a complex Grand-Puy-Lacoste per se, but I admire its balance, charm and gentle grip on the finish. This is classy in an unpretentious way. 2032 - 2048. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Plump and juicy, the 2024 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is pure charm. This is an especially soft, fruity Grand-Puy-Lacoste with good aromatic presence and fine freshness, if not quite the depth or complexity of the very best years. Floral overtones lift the finish effortlessly. This is a delicate, understated Pauillac that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The balance between the 13% alcohol and 70% new oak is sublime. I won't be surprised if the 2024 turns out to be even better from bottle, especially if it gains a bit of mid-palate pliancy in barrel. 2032-2054. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Medium to full intensity inky plum colour, cold campfire and grilled cedar on the opening with vibrant plum fruits alongside, good quality, on the fresh side, but savoury and sappy with plenty of lift. 70% new oak for 17 months ageing. 93 points" janeanson.com------"A very classic Grand-Puy-Lacoste that’s really clear, firm and linear. Mineral, delicate, perfumed and bright, it shows scented red berries and a touch of white pepper. The medium body is rounded by fine, dusty tannins and a long, very juicy finish. 78% cabernet sauvignon and 22% merlot. 95-96 points" Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Gruaud Larose | 75cl | £258 per case of 6 | Château Gruaud Larose 2024 / / 75cl £258 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Gorgeous dark ruby colour with vivid reflections, slow and steady reveal of grilled earth, savoury rose bud, peony, black tea and floral Cabernet finesse. This is a little softer than the recent exceptional vintages of Gruaud, but the fragrant aromatics have a ton of charm, and this shows skilful construction. Harvest 27 September to 8 October, 3.55pH, 31hl/h yield, slap bang on the appellation average, organic certified. 40% of production in this 1st wine. 95% new oak for ageing. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2024 Gruaud Larose shows excellent potential, bursting with notes of cassis, pencil shavings, iris and violets. Medium to full-bodied, suave and seamless, it's ample and pure, with a precise, refined pro-life and good persistence on the finish. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, it is the fruit of a growing season defined by fully 30 organic phytosanitary treatments and a harvest that concluded on October 8. It checks in at 12.4% alcohol and pH 3.77 (for Gruaud, a rather low number). 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Gruaud Larose is very fine. Dark and ample, with gorgeous presence, the 2024 has so much to offer. Dark blue/purplish fruit, new leather, gravel, spice, lavender and dried herbs build effortlessly. Readers will find a Saint-Julien endowed with notable textural depth. The finish is perhaps just a touch narrow, but élevage may very well help with that. Drink: 2034-2054. 92-94+ points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Haut Bages Liberal | 75cl | £270 per case of 12 | Château Haut Bages Liberal 2024 / / 75cl £270 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Leafy and fragrant, attractive quality and you can see the careful construction, just a little tight on the finish. Never the biggest-shouldered wine in Pauillac, but it is juicy and finely boned, good qualty. 3.57 pH. Harvest 24 September to 4 October. 30 hl/ha. 40% new oak. High Cabernet Sauvignon in the vintage, up at almost 95%. 30hl/h yields. 88 points" janeanson.com------"More open and gourmand than expected, the 2024 Haut-Bages-Libéral offers up aromas of dark berries, mulberries, cassis and flowers mingled with delicate notes of menthol. Medium-bodied, structured and dense for the vintage, it's built around firm tannins with a lively mid-palate and a spicy finish. This is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 87-89 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Haut-Bages Libéral was cropped at 30 hl/ha between September 24 and October 4. It's due to be aged for 12 months in 63% new oak barrels and 37% in avoid amphoras. This has a lucid purple hue. The nose is a little timid at first but opens with a few swirls of the glass, revealing blackberry, wild hedgerow and light tobacco scents. The palate is medium-bodied, reserved in style and grainy in texture, with lighter tannins than the previous vintages and a graphite-infused finish. Unashamedly classic Pauillac in style, this is a successful biodynamic wine that has a spring in its step. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2024 Haut-Bages Liberals a classy, polished wine. Silky contours meld around a core of succulent red-toned fruit, white pepper, blood orange and cinnamon. The 2024 is airy and a bit lighter texturally than most vintages, but all the signatures of the property are quite present. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2024 | Château Haut Bailly | 75cl | £345 per case of 6 | Château Haut Bailly 2024 / / 75cl £345 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Savoury, precise and poised, with lovely texture, softly spoken with high floral aromatics, rose petals, peony, fine tannins, drawn out character, long slow build of tension through the palate, unrolling to show white truffle and mint leaf. Tannic grip, estate signature, more softly spoken than in recent vintages, but Haut-Bailly has proved over and over again that it is capable of delivering over the long term, and that it delivers excellence even in challenging vintages - an upscore potential in bottle. Harvest 18 September to 4 October, 30hl/h yield. Gabriel Vialard technical director. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2024 Haut-Bailly is an elegant, classy wine. Soft, sensual contours lend notable charm. The 2024 is an especially aromatic, perfumed Haut-Bailly. Its mid-weight structure is best described as Burgundian, for lack of a better term. Silky tannins frame it all in style. Readers should expect a decidedly understated, quiet Haut-Bailly. 2030 - 2054. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2024 Haut-Bailly was picked from September 25 to October 4 and matured in 50% new oak, possibly with a shorter élevage. As usual, it deserves patience at this stage as it gradually opens and coheres with aeration. This has a perfumed bouquet built around redcurrant, cranberry and wild strawberry fruit. It's quite floral in style with finely delineated touches of freshly-rolled tobacco and wilted rose petal. The palate is creamy on the entry and velvety in texture, with finely chiseled, lace-like tannins. It is very well balanced with one of the few sensual vintages that you will find from this year. This will be much earlier drinking than other vintages, but that does not detract from what will be one of the most pleasurable 2024s to drink. 2030 - 2055. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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