Red Bordeaux
| RED | 2025 | Château Poujeaux | 75cl | £188 per case of 12 | Château Poujeaux 2025 / / 75cl £188 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Offering up attractive aromas of petals, dark berries and cigar wrapper, the 2025 Poujeaux is medium-bodied, with a sweet core of fruit and lively acids but surprisingly firm tannins that assert themselves on the chewy finish. Perhaps, like the 2022, it will round out with more time in barrel? It's a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot. 88-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Gorgeous aromatics intensity on the nose, lots of perfumed ripe blackcurrants and black cherries with some liquorice and black chocolate. Crunchy and crisp, quite straight and streamlined with the cool acidity driving this wine forward and a layer of chalky, flint and stony texture that lingers on the palate leaving the finish cool and grippy. A little lean and linear, but this should fill out over ageing. Excellent Médoc minty freshness with liquorice and clove spice. A yield of 27hl/ha. 3.78pH. Ageing 16-18 months, 25% new, 45% one year, 30% two years. 92 points" Georgina Hindle, Decanter Magazine------"A serious, balanced Moulis-en-Médoc, the 2025 Château Poujeaux is based on 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot from gravel soils. The nose reveals juicy black cherry, spring flowers, graphite, some minerality, and nicely integrated oak, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a fresh, concentrated mouthfeel and good overall balance. It's very much in the fresh, straight, nicely concentrated style of the vintage and will have a long life. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2025 Poujeaux, which has a little more Cabernet Sauvignon, was cropped at 27 hl/ha. It has a well-defined bouquet with black fruit tinged with freshly shucked oyster shell. Classical in style, honed and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with quite rounded, malleable tannins. Fine acidity, black fruit in the driving seat, with more red fruit emerging towards the refined finish. This is a superb Moulis that will age for many years. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com ------"Textural, balanced and focused with currants and wild herbs on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Well-built with a dense core of red berries and a compact finish with length. Attractive spice undertones. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2025 Poujeaux is fabulous. Right out of the gate, it offers superb fruit intensity and plenty of structure to match. Dark blue and black-toned fruit, grilled herbs, menthol, lavender and licorice infuse the palate with tremendous depth. Broad swaths of tannin add to an impression of somber intensity. Yields were just 27 hectoliters per hectare. That, along with a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon vis-à-vis most years, has resulted in an especially potent Poujeaux. Tasted two times. 92-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Rauzan Ségla | 75cl | £291 per case of 6 | Château Rauzan Ségla 2025 / / 75cl £291 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 Rauzan-Ségla is promising, opening in the glass with notes of cassis, pencil shavings, sweet soil tones and a deft framing of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, bright and layered, it's vibrant and concentrated, with a chassis of fine tannins and a penetrating, youthfully structured finish. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2025 Rauzan-Ségla was picked September 2 to 15 at 29 hl/ha and matured in 60% new oak barrels. This has a slight marine scent on the nose, well defined and marked by pure black fruit laced with violet. Quintessential Rauzan Ségla. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant but firm tannins, just gorgeous caressing black fruit, bright acids that lend an almost sorbet-like freshness and vibrancy to the finish. This is a top-class Margaux and one of the best wines from the estate in recent years. Drink 2031-2060. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Blackberry, dark cherry and crushed stone notes with a medium to full body, chewy tannins and a long finish. Juicy and muscular. Wait and see. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2025 Rauzan-Ségla is totally seamless in the glass. Dark-toned fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice, menthol and dried herbs infuse the palate with tremendous textural depth. The 2025 is of course very young. The year's natural concentration is its most evident signature at this time, but the rest will surely follow. Polished, supremely elegant tannins support the finish. What a stunner. Tasted two times. 2035 - 2065. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"This is luscious and full of wonderfully bright fruits, great concentration, cushion of air underneath, high Cabernet and it comes through in the floral aromatics, clearly a plentiful tannic structure but luscious and layered damson and black cherry. Yes yes yes. 12.10% press wine. 3.62 pH. Tasted twice. 100 years of the Lurtons at Brane. 2034-2044. 97 points" janeanson.com------"Cassis, assorted red and black fruits, spicy wood, tobacco, and graphite all emerge from the 2025 Château Rauzan-Ségla, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% Cabernet Franc that's being raised 18 months in 60% new French oak. It's concentrated on the palate, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, flawless balance, and a great finish. Checking in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.7, it's rockingly good and clearly up with the finest wines in the appellation, as well as the vintage. 96-98 points" jebdunnock.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Roc de Cambes | 75cl | £264 per case of 6 | Château Roc de Cambes 2025 / / 75cl £264 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. Rich, ripe and exotic with confit fruit and toasted notes. Good tension on the palate all the same. Round and gourmand but firmly structured, the tannins grippy on the finish. 16.5 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"The 2025 Roc de Cambes, blended with 20% Cabernet Franc, has a quintessential Mitjavile-style nose with precocious red berry fruit, dark chocolate and subtle minty aromas. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, white pepper mixed with fennel and dried herbs. Good complexity towards the slightly savoury finish, this is an engaging and delicious Roc de Cambes. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Salinity and signature roasted plum fruits, estate signature, a ton of sinew, coffee, espresso, olive pit, great stuff. 100% new oak, September 16 to 18. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Roc de Cambes (80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up a heady mélange of blue and black fruit, gravel, sage, mint, tobacco, dried herbs, new leather and incense. A kick of new French oak adds polish to round out some of the wilder edges. This really explodes on the back end. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2025 is a captivating Roc de Cambes. It's classic François Mitjavile all the way. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A bigger, richer effort than the Domaine de Cambes, the 2025 Roc De Cambes offers ripe cassis, sweet tobacco, and spicy oak on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a ripe, layered mouthfeel and building tannins. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Saint Pierre | 75cl | £186 per case of 6 | Château Saint Pierre 2025 / / 75cl £186 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) does not quite possess the delineation or clarity of the Gloria this year, perhaps summer warmth just impinging on the aromatics more, quite high-toned and opulent. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, powdery in texture, slightly chalky, but it coheres nicely on the finish. Good backbone and plenty of freshness, there is a dash of white pepper on the finish. Excellent. Drink 2030-2055. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Lovely wine, attractive with lift and bright fruits, great quality, sappy, a lot of slate and pumice stone, roasted coffee beans, intense and concentrated, plenty of ageing ability. Yield 20 hl/ha. 2034-2044. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is superb. Crème de cassis, graphite, licorice, cloves, lavender and inky dark fruit saturate the palate. Cabernet Sauvignon speaks with striking intensity from start to finish. This full-bodied, explosive Saint-Julien delivers the goods, big time. Tasted two times. 2033 - 2045. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Exuberant dark fruit. This is structured, with a touch of cedar and polished, fine-grained tannins that are so sophisticated and run the length of the wine. Classy. 78% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Saintayme | 75cl | £123 per case of 12 | Château Saintayme 2025 / / 75cl £123 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Fragrant, creamy vanilla floral and red fruit scents on the nose. Juicy and bright with a nice immediate kick of mouthwatering cranberry and salty raspberries plus a chalky, grippy liquorice base. A little tight still with lots of dried herbs and Cabernet aspects – quite streamlined but with purity and focus. First year of Cabernet Franc in the blend from new plantations that over-performed. Ageing 30% new oak. 2028-2036. 92 points." (GH) Decanter------"The 2025 Saintayme is a gorgeous Saint-Émilion from the Durantou sisters. This is the first year in which the blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc as opposed to the 100% Merlot of past years. Intense red-toned fruit, flowers, citrus and spice—all Franc signatures—soar across the palate. The 2025 is vibrant and so expressive right out of the gate. It's a total delight. 2030 - 2040. 91-93 points. Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2026------"Coming from cooler limestone soils and harvested between September 10th and 18th, the 2025 Saintayme is still resting in 30% new oak. It sports a deep ruby hue as well as classic aromatics of ripe black raspberries, currants, chalky minerality, graphite, and violets. On the palate, it's rich and medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated mouthfeel and outstanding length. I'd certainly be happy with a case or more in the cellar, and the tannins of the vintage are beautifully managed here. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Full-bodied with plenty of flesh and dark fruit throughout. Very attractive richness, with fine-grained, polished tannins that persist through the finish. Solid and unique. 94-95 points. James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2026 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Smith Haut Lafitte | 75cl | £411 per case of 6 | Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2025 / / 75cl £411 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 Smith Haut Lafitte is a very classy, elegant wine. Lavender, spice and mint open first, followed by a burst of black/purplish fruit. Medium in body, with terrific freshness, the 2025 is impeccably done. The lighter style vis-à-vis most years is quite attractive. 2033 - 2045. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Smith Haut Lafitte was picked between September 3 and 30 at 28 hl/ha and raised in 50% new oak. It has a well-defined bouquet with mainly black fruit intertwined with Earl Grey, sous-bois and cigar box scents, a much more classical style of Smith Haut-Lafitte compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a subtle tobacco note that percolates through the black fruit, more structure coming through towards the sapid finish with a dash of black pepper on the aftertaste. This will fill out in barrel and should become a refined and quite delicious Smith Haut-Lafitte that will repay time in bottle. Drink 2031-2055. 95-97 points." Neal Martin, vinous.com, May '26------"So aromatic and expressive, with pure currants and mint, plus some chocolate. Fennel too. Wow. Medium- to full-bodied with very deep fruit, fine, velvety tannins and a long, fine texture. The precision and depth are impressive. More fruit-driven than usual. It grows on the palate and is compact at the end. Very cabernet in the end. Almost like St.-Julien and Pauillac in nature. A blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. 97-98 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May '25------"This is so good, so much energy and depth, slate and wet stones holding interest and the palate expands, showing fragrant capsicum pepper, crushed mint, toasted spices, cumin, liquorice, cassis, cocoa bean, fully in the DNA of Smith Haut Lafitte. Harvest 1 to 30 September, and here they paused over that rain of September 23, as did Château Margaux - both estates were richly rewarded for this choice. 50% new oak for ageing. Last vintage of Daniel Cathiard, and expect a label commemorating the remarkable impact he had on this brilliant estate. 2035-2055. 98 points." Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, Apr '26------"One of my favorite wines in the vintage, the 2025 Château Smith Haut Lafitte is based on 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, raised in 50% new oak, 45% old barrel, and 5% foudre. Beautiful darker fruits, scorched earth, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite all define the aromatics, and on the palate, it's full-bodied, with a deep, concentrated mid-palate, beautiful tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. It brings beautiful ripeness as well as a balanced, textured, seamless style. 97-99 points." Jeb Dunnuck, Apr '26 |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Talbot | 75cl | £216 per case of 6 | Château Talbot 2025 / / 75cl £216 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Bright and harmonious, the 2025 Talbot wafts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, violet, cassis, dark cherries and spice, framed by well-integrated oak. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and dense, built around a massive core of fruit framed by structured, youthful tannins and concludes with a somewhat firm, gently bitter finish. It's a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. 91-93 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"This is good quality, this has lovely power, black fruits, edges of enjoyable campfire and grilled sandalwood, enjoyable clear quality. Yield 28 hl/ha. 60% new oak. 2034-2044. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Talbot is a huge, potent wine. Blackberry, gravel, incense, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and dark spice soar out of the glass. Huge swaths of tannin frame it all effortlessly. Talbot is a beast in 2025. It needs time to settle down. 2033 - 2055. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Ruby-hued, the 2025 Château Talbot is a beautiful Saint-Julien based on 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot that's being raised 16 months in 60% new French oak. Its pretty nose of spicy red and black fruits, dried flowers, and graphite is followed by a medium-bodied Talbot with soft tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish. I love its overall balance, and it's an impeccably made, elegant effort that has tons to love. 92-94+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2025 Talbot contains the highest ever Petit Verdot (9%) this year due to more generous yields. Picked from September 5 to 22, a little quicker than expected as Laporte spotted some botrytis, at 28 hl/ha, this is matured in 60% new oak barrels. It has a generous bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit intermixed with mocha and light undergrowth scents, typical Talbot. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well judged acidity, satisfying weight and density on the mid-palate that had been lacking in vintages past. A little more grip on the grainy-textured finish, lightly spiced with a hint of powdered chocolate, if you seek a classic Saint-Julien and, it must be said, often at a reasonable price, then look no further. Drink 2031-2050. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"This is juicy and incisive, with expressive dark fruit and fine-grained, almost grainy tannins. A savory quality in the long finish. Persistent and cohesive. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Château Troplong Mondot | 75cl | £438 per case of 6 | Château Troplong Mondot 2025 / / 75cl £438 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Intensity and power, deep cassis and bilberry fruit, very much in character of this unusual, singular site, olive pit and wet stones, drawn out and slow crawl through the palate, rooted to its sense of place and an extremely impressive wine. Harvest August 28, earliest ever, until September 25, so almost exactly one months. 70m altitude of difference between the lowest and highest part of the Troplong vineyard. 27hl/ha yield (particularly impacted by the heat of the early August wave). 3.43 pH, Aymeric de Gironde director. 2030-2042. 96 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Troplong Mondot is raised in 50% new oak, 40% foudres and 10% in one-year-old barrels. It has a very intense bouquet with black cherries, cassis and iris flower scents, and a hint of inkwell. Very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins, plenty of tension and minéralité. Vivacious and yet linear and correct, it delivers plenty of fruit but in a very controlled fashion. You can feel the tongue tingling on the finish. Classy and sophisticated, this will rank as one of the finest Troplong Mondots to date. Drink 2032-2055. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A very structured wine with blackberry, hazelnut, dark chocolate, violet and some black licorice aromas. Full-bodied but in a reserved way, with super framing of the fine tannins. Elegant and structured. Fun to taste. 13.9% alcohol. 85% merlot, 13% cabernet sauvignon and 2% cabernet sauvignon. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"Since 2020, this estate has been fashioning absolutely brilliant releases, and the pure, graceful 2025 Château Troplong Mondot does everything right. Black raspberry, crushed stone, spicy graphite, and assorted floral notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, beautiful mid-palate concentration, and a great finish. It's one of those rare wines that brings remarkable intensity and depth with no sensation of weight, and this comes closest in style to the 2020. 97-99 points" jebdunnock.com------"The 2025 Troplong Mondot is one of the most finessed wines I have ever tasted here. Dark, ample and explosive, with mind-blowing purity, the 2025 simply has it all. Hints of dried herbs, chocolate, menthol, licorice and blackberry infuse the wine with remarkable concentration and pure power. Even with all its natural richness, the 2025 is not at all heavy. A totally stunning Saint-Émilion, Troplong Mondot is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Harvest started on August 28 (the earliest ever) and wrapped up nearly a month later on September 25, which illustrates how diverse the terroirs are here. Aging was in 50% new oak, 40% 20HL foudre and 10% once-filled barrels. Tasted two times. 2035 - 2075. 97-99 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Picked between August 28 and September 25 (surely one of the broadest ranges in Bordeaux this year, but logical considering the estate's different altitudes and aspects), the 2025 Troplong Mondot is one of the wines of the vintage. Exhibiting a deep bouquet of blackberries and plums complemented by floral accents of lilac, iris and subtle spices, it's full-bodied, deep and dense, with a brooding core of fruit girdled by bright acids and sweet but abundant tannins. A blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, it will rival the 2022, though in vintage signature the two years are very different. 98-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Clos du Marquis | 75cl | £207 per case of 6 | Clos du Marquis 2025 / / 75cl £207 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 Clos du Marquis is a potent, brooding wine. A rush of dark-toned fruit, gravel, incense, licorice, tobacco and scorched earth hits the palate. Cabernet Sauvignon takes the lead, and that very much comes through in the wine's savory character and structural profile. Lavender, mint, dried herbs and chocolate follow as the 2025 gains volume in the glass. There's a lot of wine here. I am looking forward to tasting this in finished form, given its considerable potential. 2030-2040. 90-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Clos du Marquis was harvested between September 8 and 20 at 24 hl/ha and matured in 55% new oak for a planned 16 months. This has a fragrant and intense bouquet, with just a hint of lavender suffusing the black cherry and blackcurrant scents, more blue fruit surfacing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, with a powerful entry, quite precocious licorice-tinged black fruit. A little "heady" in style, I feel that the warmth of that summer comes through more here compared to the Las Cases. Drinking Window 2032 - 2050. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Beautiful deep plum colour, so juicy and mouth watering, with a real energy and momentum, blueberry, cherry pit, love the powerful concentration and sense of lift through the palate, and things really grip as it opens and unfolds. 20hl/h, as with everywhere, 3.65ph, harvest September 8 to 24. 2032-2050. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Clos du Marquis is a serious wine that will reward patience. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, crème de cassis, violets and burning embers, it's medium- to full-bodied, deep and layered, with bright acids and a chassis of ripe, powdery but abundant tannins. The blend this year is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Deep purple-hued and almost glass-staining, the 2025 Clos Du Marquis is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that's being raised 16 months in 55% new barriques. Ripe black and blue fruits, graphite, and a crushed stone-like minerality all define the aromatics, and on the palate, it's full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, with ripe, polished tannins and a beautiful overall sense of purity and balance. It checks in at 13.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.57. 93-95 points" jebdunnock.com------"Well framed, focused, textured and refined. Aromas of currants, dried herbs, baking spices and some bark. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins. Nice concentration that remains elegant and in control. Tight tannins. Lively finish. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Clos Puy Arnaud | 75cl | £195 per case of 12 | Clos Puy Arnaud 2025 / / 75cl £195 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 Clos Puy Arnaud feels a little late-picked on the nose, with a very slight acetic element. Revisited at a négociant tasting, thankfully this is not evident. The palate is very sweet, lacking energy and rather monotone on the finish. I actually preferred the previous vintage. A slipped catch? (sic) 84-86 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Dark and somber, the 2025 Clos Puy Arnaud reveals aromas of smoke, gentian, spices and dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, dense, structured and firm, it is built around an assertive tannic frame that leads to a brooding, introverted and somewhat dry finish. This is a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. At this stage, it feels out of step with the estate’s stylistic evolution in recent vintages; this will merit reassessment in bottle. 86-88 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"Bright at its core with a juicy and well-balanced expression. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins. Supple and ripe with a pulpy finish. 90-91 points" jamessuckling.com------"The inky glass staining colour is immediately apparent here, and this holds the fingerprint of limestone lightly, very much a juicy, slate-strewn, tiptoe through the palate kind of wine, with joy and lift, great stuff that is just joyful. Will take a few years to fully soften, but there is so much reserved energy waiting to be released. Highly floral violet and peony, rose stem. This is one to look out for, a buy for me. Malbec and very high Cabernet Franc, clear austerity at this early moment but will be worth the wait for limestone junkies. Harvest September 1/3 in barrels of which 10% is new. 3.30 pH. Thierry Valette, former co-owner of Château Pavie, Nicolas Legrand winemaker. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Clos Puy Arnaud is fabulous. Strong floral and savory top notes meld into dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mocha and spice. The two Cabernets are elevated in this year's blend, adding strong savory accents that are quite pronounced, but there's plenty of depth and richness to pull it all together. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Domaine de Cambes | 75cl | £185 per case of 6 | Domaine de Cambes 2025 / / 75cl £185 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Confit fruit, the ripeness taken to the limit. But structured with fine, grainy tannins. Luscious as in Mitjavile fashion. Will probably hold up better than imagined. 16 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"The 2025 Domaine de Cambes has an open-knit, quite Pinot-like bouquet that leans towards red cherry and white-tipped strawberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, with a punchy, black and white pepper-infused entry that imparts good vigour. Moderate depth, well-balanced, with a vibrant, licorice-tinged finish, this is a fine, flavoursome Côtes de Bordeaux courtesy of the Mitjaviles. Drinking window 2028-2042. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Cocoa bean, ripe fruit, tight tannins, opens up to show firm backbone with eucalyptus notes. 100% new oak. 88 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Domaine de Cambes offers up a heady mix of vibrant red-toned fruit, chalk, cedar, white pepper and dried herbs. This is a serious Merlot with tremendous underlying structure and fabulous balance. Time in the glass releases a whole range of perfumed floral overtones intermingled with a hint of exotic spice and macerated cherry. Drinking window 2028-2040. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A stunning wine for its purity and elegance, the 2025 Domaine De Cambes reveals ripe currants, chocolaty spice, tobacco, and lead pencil on the nose. It's ripe and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a beautifully layered, elegant profile and outstanding length. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Domaine de Chevalier | 75cl | £216 per case of 6 | Domaine de Chevalier 2025 / / 75cl £216 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Beautiful depths, precision and clarity on the aromatics, delivers juice and depth with clarity of cassis and blackcurrant flavour. There is still the grip of the vintage in terms of its structure, but this is an estate where you can feel totally confident that things will widen and deepen over ageing. 3.71pH. Harvest September 3 to 29. 30% new oak. In organic conversion. Derenoncourt Consultants, Olivier Bernard owner working with his sons Adrien and Hugo. Tasted twice. 2030-2040. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Domaine de Chevalier, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, was harvested between September 11 and 26—an unusually early finish—with yields of 35 hectoliters per hectare. It reveals a bouquet marked by oak, with notes of spice, dark berries, lead pencil and licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and deep, it’s built around a substantial chassis of tannins and framed by powdery, youthful structure, concluding with a long, firm and structured finish, reflecting the wine’s inherent density. 93-95 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"The 2025 Domaine de Chevalier was picked from 11 to 26 September at 38 hl/ha with an alcohol level of 12.5%. This is perfumed on the nose with raspberry, cassis and light iris flower scents, just a touch of truffle in the background. You need to wait because this "grows" in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with granular tannins. Very harmonious, quintessentially Pessac, gravel-tinged black fruit, almost pillowy in texture, yet there is certainly decent structure here with just the right amount of grip towards the finish. It will require less bottle age than, say, the 2020 or 2022, yet it is endowed with real complexity and classicism. It is Domaine de Chevalier, after all. 2030 - 2060. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Domaine de Chevalier is a total stunner. The oak imprint is a bit strong, but the 2025 possesses notable richness and textural depth to handle it all. Signature red-toned fruit and floral overtones soar through the layered, expansive close. 2035 - 2075. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The depth of fruit comes through clearly, with a medium body and plenty of berry, chocolate, walnut and bark aromas. Creamy and polished, with a lovely texture and a long and rather endless finish. Soft and precise. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2025 | La Dame de Montrose | 75cl | £162 per case of 6 | La Dame de Montrose 2025 / / 75cl £162 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 La Dame de Montrose is matured in 15% new oak, lower than before and including some foudres and amphorae, and driven by the 82% Merlot. The nose offers red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit, iodine and violet aromas coming forth with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, slightly chalky, fine tension and a surfeit of freshness towards the finish. This will be wholly irresistible once in bottle and it will require minimal ageing to be enjoyed. Drinking Window 2029 - 2042. 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Mouthwatering finish, plenty of slate character, pumice stone, rose bud, iris flowers, ripe but not overripe, clearly this is juicy with some bright fruits, but creamy underneath - a world away from the kind of exuberant 2022 vintage, so take your pick on which style you prefer. August 29 began harvesting the reds for the first time (in 2022 it was September 2), then continued until September 20 so almost one month harvest. Terrace 3 and young plants saw reduced canopy height to manage water stress, but on Terrace 4 (the main estate wine) they were able to work as normal. 30hl/ha yield. 15% new oak, 5% amphora. Lower new oak than usual so slightly shorter ageing is expected. Looking forward to tasting the new Terrace 3 wine which now sits in between La Dame and the main wine, not released En Primeur. 2032-2042. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 La Dame de Montrose is an elegant, gracious wine. Crushed flowers, red-toned fruit, cinnamon and pomegranate lend tons of aromatic presence. The fruit is so bright, focused and forward. This is an especially elegant, refined Dame. The blend is Merlot-driven. Élevage is 75% in French oak barrels (15% new), 20% in foudre and 5% in amphora. 2030 - 2040. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Unwinding in the glass with notes of dark berries, fruitcake and spices, the 2025 La Dame de Montrose is medium- to full-bodied, deep and dense, with a lively and layered core of fruit, supple tannins and a bright, sapid finish. It's a blend of 82% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, incorporating maturation in different vessels (20% foudre and 5% amphora) and fewer rackings to maintain a more reductive profile that is better suited to the Merlot-dominant blend. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A brightness and freshness, with red currants and oyster shells. Medium body, with fine tannins and a crunchy, crisp finish. A blend of 82% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot and 3% cabernet franc. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"A Merlot-heavy blend of 82% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, mostly from clay and limestone soils and resting in 30% new oak with 20% foudre, the 2025 La Dame De Montrose is medium-bodied, round, and supple, with a beautiful sense of elegance. Ripe framboise, juicy currants, violets, and sappy flower nuances all shine on the nose, and it's almost impossible to resist today, with remarkable purity and gorgeous tannins. 93-95 points" jebdunnock.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Les Pagodes de Cos | 75cl | £162 per case of 6 | Les Pagodes de Cos 2025 / / 75cl £162 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 Les Pagodes de Cos is shaping up beautifully, wafting from the glass with notes of blackberries, cassis and licorice framed by a touch of toasty oak. Medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and supple, with good mid-palate density, sweet tannins and a lively core of fruit, it's a blend of 62% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Vivid plum purple colour, fragrant orange peel, with cherry pit, mint leaf and charcoal. Restrained but as it opens you get sandalwood and smoked cumin, totally charming, a ton of bright cassis and bilberry fruits. 3.62 pH. 20% new oak, 29hl/ha yield (the same here as 2024 but for very different reasons). 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2025 Les Pagodes de Cos is fragrant and floral on the nose, with violet and iris petals, and light iodine aromas infusing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, with silky tannins on the entry, very harmonious, with blue fruit and black pepper towards the sensual finish. This will require three or four years in bottle but should mature well aver 15 to 18 years. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2025 Les Pagodes de Cos is a huge, somber wine. Blackberry, gravel, licorice, chocolate, incense and cloves hit the palate with serious intensity. Ample and quite dense, the 2025 is super concentrated from start to finish. It's going to need a few years to shed some of its considerable baby fat. This is a gorgeous Pagodes. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com ------"A blend of 62% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc that's being raised in 20% new barrels, the 2025 Pagodes De Cos is the second wine of this terrific château and is a gorgeous effort that's the equivalent of many a Grand Vin. Ripe currants, cassis, spring flowers, graphite, and smoky oak all define the nose, and on the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, rounded mouthfeel, beautiful balance, and nicely integrated acidity. It checks in at a pH of 3.62 and will shine in its youth yet also age gracefully. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"A juicy and velvety second wine of Cos, with spices and hazelnuts that highlight the dark fruit in this wine. It’s medium- to full-bodied with juicy fruit and a flavorful finish. Shows structure, but is integrated and polished. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot and 11% cabernet franc. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2025 | Vieux Château Certan | 75cl | £810 per case of 6 | Vieux Château Certan 2025 / / 75cl £810 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2025 Vieux Château Certan is not in the mood to show all its cards. Today, the 2025 shows tons of textural richness and body, but not quite the delineation or energy of the best vintages. Black-toned fruit, gravel, incense, mocha and chocolate are generous in the glass. Ripeness feels pushed to the edge, with fruit perhaps picked a bit later than ideal. But this is a barrel sample, with the wine racked just three weeks prior to my visit. I won't be surprised if this shows better from bottle, but today, this is my impression. 2035 - 2075. 93-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Bursting with aromas of violets, crème de cassis, dark berries and creamy new oak, the 2025 Vieux Château Certan is medium- to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with a sun-kissed core of fruit, ripe acids and a dense, unctuous palate, concluding with a heady finish. A blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is quite serious and structured, with sweet tannin, and it checks in at 14% alcohol. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2025 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 8 to 15 at 22 hl/ha and includes two conjoining parcels normally used for the La Gravette. It is raised in two-thirds new oak, the remainder one-year-old. The Merlot sculpts the bouquet with perfumed red cherries, raspberry, cassis and pressed violet scents that gain intensity in the glass. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied, with powdery tannins on the entry. This must be one of the most peppery VCCs that I have tasted, poivre noir from the Cabernet Franc component. Quite structured, with chalky tannins on the finish, almost as if it came from more limestone soil. Not a crowd pleaser like the 2022, but an intellectual, vertical VCC that will flesh out in barrel. 14.01% alcohol. Drink 2033-2060. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Vieux Château Certan is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon that's being raised in 66% new French oak with the balance in once-used barrels. Harvested from yields of just 22 hectoliters per hectare, it hit 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.75. The aromatics are powerful and concentrated, with ripe black and blue fruits, graphite, scorched earth, and violets all defining the nose. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a balanced, layered mouthfeel, rock-solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's a serious Vieux Château Certan that's going to be great, but it's going to need time. 95-97+ points" jebdunnock.com------"Fragrant, full of energy, dense with silky tannins, steals up on you as it opens, and this is a gorgeous wine that deserves attention. Chamomile, cumin, cassis, blackberry, cocoa bean, espresso, fresh thyme, tobacco, layered and luscious. This really stayed with me, and I absolutely recommend it, one of the wines of Pomerol in the vintage. Harvest September 8 to 18. Estate signature, 22hl/h yield, 3.75ph. The first year with Guillaume Thienpont fully in charge, although still working alongside his father Alexandre (who began with his own father in 1985). 2032-2048. 98 points" janeanson.com------"Subtle and pure, with aromas of blackberries, black cherries, pencil shavings and touches of raspberries, flowers, oyster shells and iodine. Medium-bodied with subtle and integrated tannins that run the length of the wine and make you want to drink it. The length and finesse are sublime. A mineral, stone and light cement texture. It grows beautiful in the great finish. 80% merlot, 15% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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