2022 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion En Primeur
2022 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion En Primeur: Just released!
Released this morning, 2022 Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc and Rouge will be among the best value offerings from Pessac-Léognan in this vintage. This is a château with a long history, a rather catchy name (!) and under the ownership of a family who have been working hard to take the quality of the wines to the next level since they took over here in 1987.
Larrivet is quite separate to Château Haut-Brion and under different owners, the Gervoson family (also founders of the Bon Maman range of conserves). What does connect them is the gravel soil which is so important to classic Pessac terroir. 'Brion' is a local name for gravel, so both estates sit atop gravel outcrops. Unlike Haut-Brion and most other Pessac estates, Larrivets red wines are dominated by Merlot.
The Gervosons, with Stephane Derononcourt consulting and a Burgundian technical director, François Godichon, are focusing on terroir. The Merlot is fermented in a mix of amphora, concrete and wooden vats. Perhaps for this reason, Larrivet is atypical amongst the other wines of the area, whilst expressing the Pessac character in its own way.
The Wine Advocate scores the 2022 rouge 92-94 points, calling it "one of the most interesting wines that this estate has produced in recent years". The white scores even higher, with 95-96 points from Suckling, who says it possesses "fantastic structure and depth".
2022 Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc offered with very limited availability.
Offered En Primeur, landing in spring 2025.
Magnums available with £15 ex-VAT bottling surcharge, please enquire re other formats.
To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
Château Larrivet Haut-Brion
Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan
In the 1840s Château Larrivet Haut-Brion was cited as one of the leading wines in the commune of Léognan, but by the post-war period, quality had fallen. The Gervoson family (founders of the Bon Maman brand of conserves) acquired the estate in 1987 and have worked hard to restore the estate's reputation. Spread over a hundred hectares, Larrivet Haut-Brion presently has 75 hectares of vines, as well as 13 hectares of grounds, woods, and meadows.
A modernisation programme in the cellar (pneumatic winepress using inert gas, optical sorting of grapes, etc.) and vineyard (detailed soil survey for improved plot-by-plot management), as well as consultancy from Michel Rolland, saw quality restored from the late 1990s. More recently, consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt has worked with the estate.
There is no connection with Château Haut-Brion. "Brion" means gravel in the local dialect, hence this part of the name refers simply to the high gravel mounds which are part of the terroir in Pessac and on which both estates are located (they are not neighours). Prior to 1929 the estate was known as Haut-Brion Larrivet, but changed the name after some pressure from its more famous namesake!
Today, the estate is known for both red and white wines, with the red being something of a bargain. The red vineyards are planted to 55% Merlot (an unusually high proportion for Pessac reds), 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. For the white varieties; to 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon.
The Gervosons have been willing to innovate, using amphora for the Merlot and, famously, they experimented ageing a 55-litre barrel of the 2009 vintage for two years under the sea in the Arcachon Bay.
| RED | 2022 | Château Angelus | 75cl | £2,148 per case of 6 | Château Angelus 2022 / / 75cl £2,148 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"This estate's shift in the direction of gentler extraction and more reductive, less overtly oaky élevage continues, and this extreme vintage only underlines that. Fermented at cool temperatures (20 to 23 degrees Celsius), and with an increasing proportion of the wine's Cabernet Franc component matured in large wooden foudres, the 2022 Angélus wafts from the glass with deep aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of iris, licorice and pencil lead. Full-bodied, deep and seamless, with a layered core of cool, vibrant fruit, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish, it's a brilliant young wine in the making. The 2022 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"So many beautiful primary fruit aromas. Al dente. Peaches. Very floral. Aromatic. Full-bodied and extremely fine tannins with length and beauty that show incredible depth. Superb brightness and reality. Exciting. Cabernet franc freshness and dynamics come through now, even though the blend is 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Angludet | 75cl | £324 per case of 12 | Château Angludet 2022 / / 75cl £324 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The Bordelais machine has already begun to alienate potential consumers with exaggerated claims to the effect that 2022 is "the best vintage ever"; yet there are some wines that do actually appear to merit such hyperbole, and the 2022 D'Angludet is one of them. Offering up deep aromas of inky cassis, plums, pencil lead and subtle spices, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a broad attack, ripe acids and a supple, seamless profile, concluding with an expansive finish. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The intensity of the violet-edged colour extraction is pretty remarkable in the Médoc, and this manages to get the balance right between intensity and appeal, alongside vibrant raspberry, brushed damson and bilberry fruit, given lift by pomegranate and and passion fruit, and a curl of smoked earth. One to look out for, should be great value. 35% amphoras, 65% barrels for ageing. 94 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Angludet | Magnum | £339 per case of 6 | Château Angludet 2022 / / Magnum £339 per case of 6 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Angludet | Half bottle | £349 per case of 24 | Château Angludet 2022 / / Half bottle £349 per case of 24 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Ausone | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Ausone 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Ausone unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and cherries complemented by hints of crushed mint and spices, framed by a lavish patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and rather muscular, it's deep and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by a serious chassis of rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Given its imposing levels of structuring extract, it will require patience. 94-96+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"This is really open with bright and flamboyant aromas of cassis and cherries. Blueberries. Some peaches as well. I don't remember a young Ausone like that. Full-bodied with flamboyant fruit and energy. Very fine tannins. They are there but you don't feel them. Supple but very fruity. And intensely fruity at the end. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Ausone - La Chapelle d'Ausone | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Ausone La Chapelle d'Ausone 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Red berries such as cherries and raspberries. Cassis. Full-bodied, very tight and focused on the palate with a linear acid and tannin backbone. Racy at the end. Contrasty. Plenty of energy. Just takes off. 65% cabernet franc and 35% merlot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Beaumont | 75cl | £120 per case of 12 | Château Beaumont 2022 / / 75cl £120 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Beaumont exhibits somewhat wild aromas of rich cherries and berries mingled with smoked meats and saddle leather. Medium to full-bodied, chewy and chunky, it reflects the limitations of young vines on well-drained soils in a vintage like this. 87-89 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Slightly chewy with fresh blackcurrant and berry character. Medium body. Fresh. 90-91 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Beaumont has a classy bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow, iodine and subtle iris flower scents. The oak is neatly integrated, and it retains delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, fleshy and almost creamy in texture. With good depth and light spice, the 2022 is cohesive on the finish. This will be a thoroughly enjoyable Beaumont that should age well in bottle. Tasted thrice with consistent notes. 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Layers of sinewy tannins and eucalyptus spice. Opens to show baked earth, tobacco leaf and liquorice, cassis fruits laced with espresso, edges of campfire, a good quality wine that has concentration without strangling. Anthony Yaigre director. A value pick. 28hl/h yield. Harvest September 19 to October 5. 92 points." Jane Anson |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Beausejour Becot | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Beausejour Becot 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"With the 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot, this estate has taken another step up the ranks in Saint-Émilion, producing a wine of breathtaking perfume and harmony that will be worth a special effort to seek out. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, violets, lilac, raw cocoa and forest floor, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, with an ample and enveloping core of weightless fruit, beautifully powdery tannins and a long, saline, resonant finish. Recently planted massale selection Cabernet Franc is now producing meaningful yields at this address, so this cépage now represents 22% of the blend, complemented by 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot. The team harvested only in the mornings, picking Merlot from 5-18 September and Cabernet from 13-23 September, sub-block by sub-block. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot has a bit more Cabernet Franc than most years, which comes through immediately in the wine's aromatic profile. Dark, rich and expressive, the 2022 is seriously impressive. Crushed flowers, herbs, mint, blood orange and red-toned fruit all build into a sumptuous, mojestic finish that just explodes on the back end. The 2022 is one of the very finest editions of Beau-Séjour Bécot I can remember tasting It is a great, great wine. 98-100 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Bellefont Belcier | 75cl | £219 per case of 6 | Château Bellefont Belcier 2022 / / 75cl £219 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"This estate's renaissance continues, and the 2022 Bellefont Belcier is both the finest and most elegant wine that the team has produced today. Mingling aromas of plums and sweet berries with notions of rose petals and bay leaf, it's medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of vibrant fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a suave, seamless profile. Readers will remember that this derives from a beautifully situated hillside vineyard, sandwiched between Larcis Ducasse and Tertre Roteboeuf on either side, with holdings belonging to Pavie and Troplong Mondot on the plateau above. The 2022 is a blend of 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Concentrated deep plum colour, beautifully measured capturing the power of the vintage without being overblown. Opens with a burst of fresh red roses and violets on the nose, and the black cherry and damson fruits are shot through with a ton of saffran and turmeric. Mouthwatering sapidity on the finish, this is a brilliant Bellefont Belcier and absolutely one to look out for. 40hl/h yield; 30% new oak barrels for ageing, together with 30% unusual egg-shaped wooden vats, and the rest between one and two year old barrels. Emmanuelle Fulchi d'Aligny techincal director, moving over from Château Angélus, and this is the first full vintage under her direction (just did the blend of 2021). 95 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Château Bellefont-Belcier is a lively, medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion that shines for its vibrancy and purity while still bringing beautiful depth of fruit. A blend of 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a terrific sense of minerality in its red and blue fruits as well as notes of graphite, woodsmoke, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, this ripe, concentrated, yet incredible elegant 2022 stays nicely focused, has fine grained tannins, and outstanding length. Tasted multiple times with consistent notes. 93-95+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Blackberry, iron, hazelnut, crushed stone, hints of salt and spice. Medium to full body. Fresh and vivid. Very sophisticated and classy. The tannins are silky and so fine, but then it opens up at the end of the palate. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Berliquet | 75cl | £274 per case of 6 | Château Berliquet 2022 / / 75cl £274 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Berliquet is super-concentrated, dark and ripe, but also without the forbidding tannins of the past. Succulent plum fruit, mocha, licorice and dried herbs are some of the many notes that grace this gorgeous Saint-Émilion. It will be interesting to see where the 2022 ends up post élevage. Today it is full-bodied and quite opulent. Tasted four times. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Lots of dark and crushed stones with blackberries and black olives. Dark earth. Full-bodied and more concentrated with very intense fruit and chewy tannins. Velvety and slightly rough, but all there. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Dark damson colour, beautiful sense of upliflt and freshness, with mint leaf, sage, wild rosemary, cassis fruits. Slate texture to the wine here, feels carved out and crafted, with edges of austerity that constrict the cassis and raspberry fruit. 44% new oak, 8 amphoras (around 10% of overall), the rest in one year old barrel, 45hl/h yield. Great stuff. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Berliquet is brilliant, bursting with aromas of plums, wild berries and lilac, followed by a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and vibrant palate that's deep and mineral. It's likely to be another of the vintage's more attractive en primeur proportions. This estate just goes from strength to strength—and that's before its new winery has been constructed! One of the most significant changes has been opting to retain higher canopies, which means that the fruiting zone of rows planted along the slope are now shaded, preserving freshness. 94-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Candied cherries, tapenade, violets, and floral notes all emerge from the 2022 Château Berliquet, a medium to full-bodied, seamless Saint-Emilion that brings plenty of ripeness while staying nicely balanced, light on its feet, and elegant. Based on 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, from yields of 31.2 hectoliter per hectare, it will spend 16 months in 44% new French oak, with a portion of the blend aged in amphora. This isn't the most powerful or opulent wine in the vintage, but it's as seamless and graceful as they come. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Beychevelle | 75cl | £418 per case of 6 | Château Beychevelle 2022 / / 75cl £418 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"Silky and supple fruit and texture, this is impressive, with carefully built architecture, and clear ageing potential. Conveys the creamy ripe fruits of the vintage but sets them in a serious tannic frame, with bitter chocolate and slate character. Heat climbs on the finish, but the St Julien fresh mint leaf signoff comes in to keep things balanced. 36hl/h yield, 60% new oak. 93 points" janeanson.com------"Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and cassis mingled with hints of violets and licorice, framed by creamy new oak, the 2022 Beychevelle is medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a fleshy core of fruit framed by rich, unusually suave and polished tannins in the context of recent vintages at this address. It's a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, with a pH of 3.85, quite typical for this address. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The tannins are very well-integrated with lovely bright fruit of currants and blackberries. Medium to full body. Vivid and pretty. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 4% petit verdot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Beychevelle is fabulous. In most recent vintages Beychevelle has been a flamboyant, extravagant Saint-Julien, but in 2022 is its surprisingly vibrant and fresh, almost shockingly so. Ripe red cherry/plum fruit, blood orange, rose petal and spice are all beautifully delineated. More than anything, I admire the wine's freshness and drive, qualities that have not often been present in recent vintages. That makes the 2022 one of my favorite recent vintages here. Tasted three times. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Beychevelle was picked between 12-29 September at 36hL/ha, matured in 70% new oak. It has an intense bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and touches of cassis and violet. Not as ostentatious as some other Saint-Julien wines at this early stage, but delineated, and it positively brims with energy. The palate is medium bodied with sappy black fruit framed by beautifully-sculpted tannins. The 2022 is very harmonious, satin-like in texture, and gently fans out toward the finish. It ends up being one of the most seductive Beychevelles I have tasted from barrel, one not to be overlooked. Chapeau, Mr. White! 14.08% alcohol. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"I was able to taste the 2022 Château Beychevelle on multiple occasions, and it never failed to impress me. Based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that will see 18 months in 70% new oak, it's one of those wines that makes you stop and say "wow" due to its purity, depth, and texture. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as lots of blueberry and black cherry fruits, it's full-bodied and has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, building yet gorgeous tannins, and subtle background notes of crushed violets, flowers, and graphite. This is a sensational effort from director Philippe Blanc. 95-97+ points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Branaire Ducru | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Branaire Ducru 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Branaire-Ducru is a powerhouse, almost unnaturally so for this Saint-Julien, which is usually a more understated wine. A blast of dark plum fruit makes a pretty strong first impression. Licorice, cloves, spice, menthol and chocolate fill out the layers. Readers should expect a concentrated, virile Saint-Julien with compelling aromatic presence. In this warm, low-yielding vintage, Branaire is quite the brooding powerhouse. It will be interesting to see if more finesse develops in time. Impressive. Tasted two times. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A brilliant wine that's the finest young vintage I've tasted at this Saint-Julien estate, the 2022 Branaire-Ducru wafts from the glass with aromas of violets, blackberries, sweet cassis, licorice and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional palate that's succulent, sapid and perfumed, framed by supple tannins and concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. It's a blend of 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot that checks in at a healthy pH of 3.65. Why is it so good this year? In addition to the quality of the vintage, the new gravity-flow winery means fruit can be handled more gently, and picked more precisely, sub-block by sub-block, as the team now have fully 63 vats at their disposal, almost double their capacity through 2020. Given the Maroteaux family's sensible approach to pricing, this is likely to number among the must-purchase wines of the 2022 vintage, and it comes warmly recommended. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The fine and intense tannins are very impressive because they fold beautifully into the wine, with blackcurrants, black cherries, hints of chocolate and hazelnuts. It's full-bodied with tight and focused fruit and a long and classy finish. Fantastic definition to this. Fresh. 60.5% cabernet sauvignon, 31.5% merlot, 5.5% cabernet franc, and 2.5% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Brane Cantenac | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Brane Cantenac 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc, Carmenère and Petit Verdot, the 2022 Brane-Cantenac unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, crème de cassis, black truffles, loamy soil, burning embers and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, terrific concentration and lively acids, it concludes with a long, perfumed finish. This is a terrific 2022 that may rival or even surpass the 2019 if it realizes all its potential in bottle. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A long and very linear red for Margaux with intense freshness and energy. The cabernet sauvignon shows real clarity with blackcurrants and flowers. Crushed stone. Firm and racy with lots of lemon rind and intensity. 74% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 1% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot and 1% carmenere. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Calon Ségur | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Calon Ségur 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Calon-Ségur is another superb wine from this historic Saint-Estèphe third growth that began a comprehensive renaissance the better part of a decade ago. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with hints of fresh mint, burning embers, licorice and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific depth at the core, supple tannins and a long, saline finish. The blend consists of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Vincent Millet observed that "when you tasted the Merlot, you were under the impression that you were tasting Cabernet. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"A very juicy red with redcurrant and creme de cassis as well as hints of nutmeg and cloves. It's full and polished with very pretty tannins that show length and focus. Traditional and typical for Calon with the tannin structure. A little closed today. But serious structure. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Canon | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Canon 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"From an estate that is delivering its greatest run of vintages since the superb Post War series that preceded the frosts of 1956, the 2022 Canon is a magical wine that will be worth every effort to track down. Wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, wild plums and cherries mingled with hints of bay leaf, spices and violets, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with huge levels of concentration, vibrant acids and beautifully refined tannins. Concluding with a long, saline finish, this pure, perfumed and ineffably complete Canon is built for the ages, even if its structural polish is such that it will be approachable at a surprisingly early age. 99-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Endless on the palate with plenty of umami character. So Canon in its nature with plenty of fruit and fine tannins, yet almost weightless. The structure is all there. Electric. Long, long, long. 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cantemerle | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Cantemerle 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Intense in both colour and structure, a wine that knows how to make an impact, and it is carrying itself with confidence. Impressive, full of nuanced cassis and bilberry fruit, with liqourice and smoked earth, hints of richly spiced vanilla patisserie cream showing the ripeness of the vintage. This is good, a little abrupt on the finish with a bitter almond kick. Tight tannins at this point. 40% new oak for ageing. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The finest wine this estate has produced in some time is the 2022 Cantemerle, a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc that bursts from the glass with aromas of sweet blackberries, violets, rose petals and spices. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with an enveloping core of sweet, perfumed fruit framed by supple tannin, it concludes with a long, mouthwatering finish. The pH is a very healthy 3.6 this year, and yields were low at 29 hectoliters per hectare. 92-94 points William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"Currants, blackberries and hints of bark and forest floor. Medium-bodied with creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. Pretty balance to this. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cantenac Brown | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Cantenac Brown 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A solid Margaux with creamy and fine tannins that spread across the palate. Medium-bodied, layered and already delicious. Hints of dried citrus at the end. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"A few years ago, this estate purchased 22 additional hectares in the heart of the plateau of Margaux, including old vine Cabernet Sauvignon that is now making an appreciable contribution to the blend, and that helps to explain why the 2022 Cantenac Brown is so good. Unwinding in the glass with notes of dark berries, plums, charcoal, pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and elegantly muscular, with a layered core, refined tannins and a penetrating finish. The finest wine that José Sanfins has produced to date, the 2022 only improved during the several weeks I spent in Bordeaux. It's a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Capbern | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Capbern 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Notes of dark berries and cherries mingled with licorice and loamy soil introduce the 2022 Capbern, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine framed by ripe, powdery tannins and concluding with a long, somewhat heady finish. It's a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, picked between the 6th and 27th of September. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A firm and tight red with blackberry and currant character. Medium body. Bright and savory. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Carlmagnus | 75cl | £120 per case of 12 | Château Carlmagnus 2022 / / 75cl £120 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Carlmagnus, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, derives from a 20-hectare vineyard on clay-limestone soils. Exhibiting aromas of violet, lilac, smoke and dark berries, it’s medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with a flinty, slightly reduced finish. 88-89+ points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com ------"Firm and structured with medium body. Notes of bay leaf, nut shell and chalk. The tannins are tight and lightly chewy. 91-92 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Chasse Spleen | 75cl | £292 per case of 12 | Château Chasse Spleen 2022 / / 75cl £292 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Chasse-Spleen was showing especially well, bursting with aromas of cassis and plums mingled with licorice and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with levels of texture and mid-palate amplitude unusual at this address in recent years, this supple, charming Moulis should offer a broad drinking window. 90-92+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Beautifully poised and well delivered black fruits here, and this is excellent quality, unusual spices of sweet cinnamon, vanilla bean, turmeric, gourmet edging, with depth and tannic grip. Great stuff, flashes of heat, but a ton of personality, and serious architecture that promises to age well. 40% new oak barrels for ageing. Now contains part of the vines from newly-purchased Château Brillette, with good quality Cabernet Sauvignon from gravel terroir, in place as of this 2022 blend vitage. 93 points" janeanson.com------"Firm and linear with medium to full body and chalky, slightly tight tannins. Hints of walnuts and dark berries at the end. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cheval Blanc | 75cl | £1,440 per case of 3 | Château Cheval Blanc 2022 / / 75cl £1,440 per case of 3 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"One of the stars of the vintage is the striking 2022 Cheval Blanc, a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon that bursts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, cherries and wild berries mingled with mint, orange zest, pencil lead, vine smoke and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's rich and gourmand, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and a long, saline, pungently perfumed finish. Harvest began on 29 August, with all the Merlot picked before the month was out, and the result is a wine that is as vibrant as it is lavish. 97-99+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"This is a wine that soars to new heights with its brightness and weightlessness. The balance of serene fruit that’s perfectly ripe. Full-bodied yet tight and polished where it seems delicate and compressed, with berry, chocolate and walnut character. The finish is endless and poised. Wine of the vintage? 53% merlot, 46% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Cheval Blanc is a lucid, deep purple color. With profound intensity on the nose, this Cheval offers blackcurrant, blue fruit, iris petals, crushed stone and incense aromas. It is blessed with breathtaking delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with seamless tannins. There is palpable verticality in this Cheval, almost "correct" and "strict", yet endowed with stunning depth and complexity. The Cabernets are clearly in the driving seat here and lend it Left Bank allure. Consequently, while it is not the most flamboyant Cheval Blanc I have tasted at this stage, it constitutes a wine for those serious about their Bordeaux. It will give the same satisfaction as when you finish reading a literary masterpiece. 98-100 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cheval Blanc | 75cl | £2,880 per case of 6 | Château Cheval Blanc 2022 / / 75cl £2,880 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"One of the stars of the vintage is the striking 2022 Cheval Blanc, a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon that bursts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, cherries and wild berries mingled with mint, orange zest, pencil lead, vine smoke and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's rich and gourmand, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and a long, saline, pungently perfumed finish. Harvest began on 29 August, with all the Merlot picked before the month was out, and the result is a wine that is as vibrant as it is lavish. 97-99+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"This is a wine that soars to new heights with its brightness and weightlessness. The balance of serene fruit that’s perfectly ripe. Full-bodied yet tight and polished where it seems delicate and compressed, with berry, chocolate and walnut character. The finish is endless and poised. Wine of the vintage? 53% merlot, 46% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Cheval Blanc is a lucid, deep purple color. With profound intensity on the nose, this Cheval offers blackcurrant, blue fruit, iris petals, crushed stone and incense aromas. It is blessed with breathtaking delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with seamless tannins. There is palpable verticality in this Cheval, almost "correct" and "strict", yet endowed with stunning depth and complexity. The Cabernets are clearly in the driving seat here and lend it Left Bank allure. Consequently, while it is not the most flamboyant Cheval Blanc I have tasted at this stage, it constitutes a wine for those serious about their Bordeaux. It will give the same satisfaction as when you finish reading a literary masterpiece. 98-100 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Clerc Milon | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Clerc Milon 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Clerc Milon is beautiful, offering up aromas of cherries, raspberries and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's taut and lively, with a vibrant core of fruit framed by fine, chalky tannins. Its clay-limestone terroir lends it a distinctive signature that sets it apart from the rest of the portfolio. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"Focused and bright with plenty of fruit but oranges and minerals in the mid-palate. Really fresh with a fresh bitterness. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Climens | 75cl | £670 per case of 6 | Château Climens 2022 / / 75cl £670 per case of 6 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cos d'Estournel | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Cos d'Estournel 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Cos d'Estournel unwinds in the glass with aromas of sweet berries, plum liqueur and rich spices, followed by a full-bodied, broad-shouldered and muscular palate that's rich and structured, with a ripe core of fruit and chewy tannins. Harvest dates were relatively early this year, and maturation is occurring in only 50% new oak; yet the 2022's chunky, glass-staining style makes it Ducru Beaucaillou's only rival for the title of most extracted second growth of the Médoc. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"Unique structure to this wine and very Cos with all the spices and dark fruits. Tobacco and cedar. It's starts off full-bodied and flavorful, but continues to unfold in an energetic and weightless way. Savory and primary. Al dente grapes here. Exciting and thought-provoking. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Cos d'Estournel - Goulée by Cos d'Estournel | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Cos d'Estournel Goulée by Cos d'Estournel 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Checking in at a high pH of 3.90, the 2022 Goulée by Cos d'Estournel is a rich, ripe, rather chunky wine redolent of crème de cassis, blackberry preserve and spices. 87-89 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Lovely richness and brightness with redcurrant, chocolate and walnut character. Medium to full body. Juicy tannins. Well done for this estate. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Coutet | 75cl | £348 per case of 12 | Château Coutet 2022 / / 75cl £348 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Tempting dried fruit here with spice and floral character. Full and creamy with attractive acidity and a textural finish. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château d'Armailhac | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château d'Armailhac 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Deep aromas of raspberries, cherries, crushed mint and spices preface the 2022 d'Armailhac, a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated wine that's deep, lively and seamless, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a penetrating finish. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"This is like a baby Mouton this year with blackcurrant, flower, and orange aromas. Medium- to full-bodied with a tight and racy palate that shows persistence and verve. One to watch. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château de Fieuzal | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château de Fieuzal 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting NotesA crunchy and energetic wine from here this year with black berry, black cherry and crushed stone character. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a fine tannin background. 94-95 points jamessuckling.com------"The cumulative rainfall at Château Fieuzal was only 385 millimeters in 2022, compared to 753 millimeters in 2021 and 743 millimeters in 2020. But this did not prevent Stephen Carrier and his team from making a fresh and energetic 2022 de Fieuzal, bursting with aromas of violet, iris, menthol and crunchy wild berries mingled with hints of coniferous forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, it's pristinely balanced and beautifully layered, exhibiting a vibrant palate that's deep, tensile and elegant, concluding with a mouthwateringly mineral finish. This estate is achieving things no one would have thought possible a decade ago. 94-96+ points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château du Tertre | 75cl | £366 per case of 12 | Château du Tertre 2022 / / 75cl £366 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 du Tertre is packed with inky black fruit, gravel, incense, tobacco, licorice and chocolate. Opulent and intense to the core, the 2022 packs a serious punch. That comes through in tannins that are also pretty imposing. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Intense and bedded down, plenty of intent in these tannins, high intensity with liquorice, cocoa bean, slate, blackcurrant and bilberry fruit. Closed in right now, needs to soften over ageing. New owners for the past few years, the Helfrich family, and there are plenty of investments happening at du Tertre right now. 60% new oak. 92 points" janeanson.com------"A big, raw, exuberant, incredibly promising barrel sample, the 2022 Château Du Tertre reveals a vivid purple hue as well as full-bodied aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, spring flowers, and graphite. A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, this terrific Margaux has fine tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. The cellar will be your friend here. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 du Tertre unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums, licorice, vine smoke and petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate of uncommon depth and concentration that nevertheless retains all the estate's signature elegance. Polished and supple, it's a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, which more or less represents this estate's varietal breakdown after its extensive replanting program is complete. This looks likely to emerge as the finest du Tertre in several decades, and it is sure to be one of the better values of the en primeur campaign. 92-94+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"This is really clear and bright. Medium- to full-bodied with a solid tannin structure. Tight layers of phenolics to this. Racy and long finish. Firm and focused. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 23% cabernet franc, 15% merlot and 5% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Ducru Beaucaillou | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Ducru Beaucaillou 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"One of the Médoc's most powerful wines this year is the 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot that opens in the glass with aromas of dark cherries and berries mingled with pencils shavings, vanilla pod and spices. Full-bodied, broad-shouldered and muscular, with a core of ripe but lively fruit underpinned by a chassis of powdery, liberally extracted tannin that asserts itself on the finish, it's a punchy, modern Saint-Julien reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of the 2018 and 2020. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"Some much creme de cassis and blackcurrant aromas and flavors here. Full-bodied with powerful tannins, yet fine and layered. Chewy. You can really feel the thick grape skins here. Excellent length. Tannins spread across the palate. Minerally and crushed stone. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Duhart Milon | 75cl | £378 per case of 6 | Château Duhart Milon 2022 / / 75cl £378 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Duhart-Milon unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cedar box, loamy soil, herbs and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety palate with a broad attack that segues into a lively, nicely concentrated core of fruit, concluding with a youthfully firm finish. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Duhart Milon is racy and explosive right out of the gate. Ripe dark cherry, plum, cloves, licorice, mentro and mocha fill out the layers in a deep, wonderfully expressive Duhart. Firm tannins extend the finish nicely imagine the 2022 will require at least a few years in bottle to be at its best, but it is pretty showy today. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Duhart Milon underwent a short 15 to 18-day maceration and is raised in 50% new oak and the rest one-year-old barrels. It has a very graphite/mint-scented nose that is Pauillac through and through. The palate is fresh and vibrant with fine tannins. This is beautifully sculpted with a vibrant pencil lead-tinged finish reminiscent of Grand Puy Lacoste. The 2022 is a fabulous Duhart Milon that should give 30 to 40 years of drinking pleasure. It's a Pauillac a bit like the late Steven Spurrier insofar that it's a Pauillac always conservatively dressed in a pin-striped suit, but that's the essence of Duhart. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Very Pauillac in its blackcurrant, dark chocolate and walnut husk character. Full-bodied yet compacted. Wet earth, mushroom, earth, black tobacco. Fine and intense tannins. Fresh and complex. 78% cabernet sauvignon and 22% merlot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The Grand Vin 2022 Château Duhart-Milon is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. It brings more richness as well as classic Pauillac character in its lead pencil, graphite, tobacco, and red and black fruit-driven aromatics. With gorgeous richness, a medium to full bodied mouthfeel, and a great finish, this utterly classic, seamless, balanced Pauillac should be snatched up by readers. It's going to give the 2009 a run for its money. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Duhart Milon - Moulin de Duhart | 75cl | £168 per case of 6 | Château Duhart Milon Moulin de Duhart 2022 / / 75cl £168 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Offering up aromas of plum preserve, hoisin sauce, sweet soil tones and spices, the 2022 Moulin de Duhart is medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with powdery tannins and ripe acids, but this sample lacks a touch of precision. It's a blend dominated by 87% Merlot. 87-89 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Moulin de Duhart is a gorgeous second wine. Plump, cicy one expressive, the 2022 will drink well right out of the gate. Succulent red cherry fruit, rose petal, cinnamon and lavender are nicely pushed forward. Pretty savoury and floral top notes add lovely aromatic complexity. The blend is 87% Meriet and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A blend of 87% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Moulin De Duhart has a gorgeous nose of ripe black cherries, tobacco, and earth. It's medium-bodied, with plenty of richness, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's going to offer pleasure right out of the gate yet still have 10-15 years of overall longevity. 91-93 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Such beautiful blackberry, chocolate and hazelnut character here. It's medium-bodied with juicy fruit and a succulent finish. All here for the second wine. 87% merlot and 13% cabernet sauvignon. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Enclos Tourmaline | 75cl | £0 per case of 3 | Château Enclos Tourmaline 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 3 |
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Tasting Notes"This is really something with black berries, black truffle, black olives and orange peel. Subtle yet powerful and structured. Medium body. Goes on for minutes. 3.5 pH with rich fruit.. Superb. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Figeac | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Figeac 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Figeac is a brilliant wine with which to celebrate this property's elevation to Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" status. Wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and cassis mingled with notions of iris, forest floor, cigar wrapper and pencil lead, it's medium to full-bodied, pure and perfumed, with a deep and multidimensional core of fruit, bright acids and beautifully refined tannins. Serious yet civilized, it's the quintessential Figeac, testament to the late Thierry Manoncourt's vision to plant such a large proportion of Cabernet, and on drought-resistant rootstocks. Such is the inherent complexity of Figeac's terroirs that harvest took place sub-block by sub-block between September 1st and 25th. Congratulations are in order for the Manoncourt family, director Frédéric Faye, consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos and all their team. 98-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"This is the earliest ever harvest for Figeac and the fruit is something else. Flowers such as violets. Blackberries. Currants. Cherry blossom. Full-bodied with lovely freshness and depth. Crunchy and juicy. Perfect al dente fruit. 35% merlot , 34% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Giscours | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Giscours 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"With the 2022 Giscours, this estate takes another step up, delivering a deep and characterful wine redolent of cherries, dark berries, violets, peony and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, broad shouldered and layered, it's deep and elegantly muscular, with impressive concentration, abundant but refined tannins and a structural authority reminiscent of the great Giscours vintages of the 1970s. Why is it so good? There are many reasons, but one is the high proportion of old vines—almost 60% of the blend deriving from vines that are over 50 years old—in a vintage that favored vines with deep, well-established root systems. Another is the increasing precision of harvesting at this address: Giscours's old vines are frequently co-planted with younger replacements that have filled any gaps in the ranks over the years; so, blocks are now picked in two or three passages instead of all at once, with the younger vines picked first. 94-96+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Giscours is a regal, sophisticated wine. Succulent red cherry, blood orange, spice, menthol and rose petal lend notable vibrancy and freshness throughout. Most surprisingly, the 2022 remains light on its feet, especially for a wine made from such low yields in a warm, dry year. Over the last few years Giscours has been one of the most improved properties in the Médoc. The 2022 is another step in that direction. Sublime. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"This is a big move forward for Giscours. Full-bodied yet agile and fresh with tannins that are precise and integrated, with great beauty and length. Well-structured and vivid. Extremely fine yet defined tannins, and then it opens like a butterfly. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Gloria | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Gloria 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Gloria bursts with aromas of cherries, sweet berries, petals and spices, framed by a deft touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a succulent, enveloping core of fruit and supple tannins, it's a gourmand but nicely balanced Saint-Julien that will offer a broad drinking window. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A linear and very fine wine with blackberry, blueberry and currant character. Hints of cedar and stone. Medium to full body. Linear and fine finish. Very well done. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Grand Puy Ducasse | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Grand Puy Ducasse 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Grand-Puy-Ducasse exhibits notes of sweet plums and cherries mingled with licorice and spices. Medium to full-boded, taut and chalky, with a sweet, concentrated core of fruit and a penetrating finish, it's a youthfully structured effort that concludes with a somewhat drying finish. 89-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Inky colour, this is impressively structured right from the start, has a ton of dark chocolate, cassis, mint leaf, slate, has structure and character with a fresh cushion of acidity under the fruit. One of the more impressive vintages of this wine, worth looking out for, and should be good value. Hubert de Boüard consultant. 93 points." Jane Anson------"I loved the 2022 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, another Pauillac that shines for its purity and length. Offering lots of red and black fruits, graphite, tobacco, and spicy oak, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, nicely integrated, ripe, fine-grained tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It shows the richer style of the vintage yet has a solid spine of freshness that keeps it light on its feet. 93-95+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Beautiful texture here. Tannins are dense and compact but finely polished and silky. Seamless and even with length and succulence. Medium- to full-bodied. Power with elegance. Endless for this. Finally the best ever. 96-97 points." James Suckling |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Grand Puy Lacoste | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Gruaud Larose | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Gruaud Larose 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The progress at this estate continues with the terrific 2022 Gruaud Larose, a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc that unfurls in the glass with deep aromas of minty blackberries, violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's elegantly muscular, with a broad attack that segues into a concentrated mid-palate framed by supple, powdery tannins. Richer and more brooding than its 2020 and 2019 counterparts, it confirms Gruaud's return to the Saint-Julien élite. Around one-third of the production made it into the grand vin this year, the château's first with organic certification. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Haut Bages Liberal | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Haut Bages Liberal 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"This is a refreshing Pauillac with concentration and character, plenty of appellation signature, slate, liquorice, mint, crushed rocks, has that intense, knitted down vintage signature but softens to show classic balance - sometjing that is unusual in this vintage that is anything but classic. Small concrete eggs for ageing and vinification along with barrels, 45hl/h yield (the highest in all of Pauillac reportedly; impressive for a biodynamic estate). 3.54ph. Impressive, one to look out for. Owner Claire Villars-Lurton has pulled up 1,500 Melrot vines to plant 400 trees over the past few years as part of her extensive agroforestry project. 40% new oak, 40% barrels of one wine, 20% in concrete eggs and amphora. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Haut-Bages-Libéral is lovely, bursting with aromas of blackberries and cherries mingled with notions of orange zest, rose petals and violets. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and gourmand, with lively acids and a bright, chalky finish, its low pH of 3.54 reflects a decade of organic farming and the limestone subsoils that characterize this sector of Pauillac. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Haut-Bages Libéral is shaping up to be a jewel. Bright and aromatic, with notable structure, the 2022 is beautifully put together. Red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint and blood orange all race across the palate. A wine of dynamic energy and drive, Haut-Bages Liberal is super impressive in this tasting. I can't wait to taste this from bottle. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. 93-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Haut-Bages-Libéral was picked from 6 to 26 September and is being raised in 40% new oak, plus 20% in concrete tanks and amphorae. Yields were 45hL/ha, higher than many other estates, which Clare Villars-Lurton cites as a result of their long term application of biodynamic viticulture and use of cover crops. It has an entrancing bouquet with blackberry, briary, crushed stone and light estuarine scents, understated initially but rapidly gaining intensity. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and saline with sculpted tannins, stunning balance and a mineral finish. This is an outstanding, vivacious 2022 from proprietor Claire Villars-Lurton. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Lots of redcurrants and blackcurrants with some cassis as well as iron, tile, stone and hints of dried herbs. Full-bodied with lots of pretty structure and very juicy tannins. Lively and energetic. Exciting to taste. pH 3.54 and with 13.9% alcohol. From biodynamically grown grapes. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Haut Batailley | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Haut Batailley 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the 2022 Haut-Batailley offers up aromas of sweet berries and plums mingled with licorice and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, firm and structured, it's a serious, rather muscular and extracted wine that begins to nod toward its stablemate Lynch Bages in style. 91-93+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Classy and very focused with blackberry and blackcurrant character. The tannins nicely melt into the wine with finesse and weightlessness. Elegant. 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Haut Brion | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Haut Brion 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Haut-Brion shows considerable promise, revealing aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with notions of pencil lead, licorice, tobacco leaf, spices and incense. Full-bodied, broad and seamless, it's rich and muscular, with a deep, layered core of fruit framed by an ample endowment of tannin. This blend of 53.6% Merlot, 35.4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc, the result is a lip-smacking exemplification of controlled power. Analytically, the 2022 possesses a similar level of tannins to the 2010, and a similar pH to the 2009, yet it is more suave and polished than the 2010 at the same stage, and seemingly more dynamic than the 2009. 95-97 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"Currants and cedar with sandalwood and peaches. Fascinating aromas. Violets. Full-bodied with a crunchy and electric palate of primary fruit, with hints of tangerines and citrus. Great finish with structure and polish. 53.6% merlot, 35.4% cabernet sauvignon and 11% cabernet franc. Interesting to have such high merlot in the blend. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Chenade | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château La Chenade 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A focused and polished red with berry, chocolate and walnut character. Medium body. Focused center palate and a fresh finish. Coffee-bean and ripe-seed character. Vivid. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Conseillante | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château La Conseillante 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"This is sensational with extra fine tannins that run the length of the wine. It’s medium-bodied with excellent length and so Conseillante in nature. Silky, silky, silky. Creamy texture. Flowers such as violets at the end. Love this. 87% merlot and 13% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 La Conseillante is a remarkable wine that has the potential to emerge as one of the wines of the vintage. A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc, it unfurls in the glass with deep aromas of black raspberries and mulberries mingled with notions of rose petals, violets, orange zest and mint. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's velvety and enveloping, with a textural attack that segues into a multidimensional mid-palate that's framed by sweet, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Checking in at a very healthy pH of 3.65 and 14% alcohol, it is a beautifully supple, suave wine that retains all this estate's signature elegance but in a slightly deeper-pitched and broader-shouldered format than the profound 2020. Congratulations to winemaker Marielle Cazaux, consulting enologist Thomas Duclos, the Nicolas family led by Jean-Valmy, and all the team at La Conseillante who have firmly established this estate at the very top of Pomerol's qualitative hierarchy in recent vintages. 97-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Gaffeliere | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château La Gaffeliere 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 La Gaffelière derives exclusively from the prime hillside vineyards below Ausone that made this estate so compelling in the early and mid-twentieth century, and the 2022 is the finest wine produced at this address in many a year, surpassing the 2019 and 2020 in quality. Wafting from the glass with incipiently complex aromas of wild berries, violets, lilac, licorice, vine smoke and raw cocoa, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, with a deep, multidimensional and beautifully vibrant core of fruit and polished tannins, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. 95-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"This is serious. Bold and structured with beautiful fruit, which is crunchy and vibrant. Full body. Lots of complexity and depth with a wide and velvety tannin structure. Excellent length. Lots of blue fruits. Touch of whole cluster. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 La Gaffelière is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Refined, sculpted and wonderfully precise, La Gaffelière simply has it all. Hints of lavender, mint, blood orange, spice and black cherry fruit all race across the glass. Clean mineral notes and fine tannins support the finish. The delineation here is simply breathtaking. La Gaffelière is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Élevage is expected to be 19 months in 50% new oak and 50% neutral barrels. The 2022 is another exceptional wine from the Malet Roquefort family. 98-100 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Lagune | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château La Lagune 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Reminding me, like the 2019, of a modern-day version of the lovely 1990, the 2022 La Lagune bursts with aromas of dark berries, cassis, licorice and violets. Medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, it's a broad, sensual wine with velvety tannins and a suave, charming profile. With 13.8% alcohol, it remains classically proportioned, with a rather high pH of over 3.8 likely contributing to its open, giving style this year. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"This is long and fresh with a linear feeling to the rich fruit, showing plums, redcurrants and spices, with chocolate and walnuts. Medium to full body. Fine tannins. This is the first year being certified biodynamic by Biodyvin and furthermore, La Lagune is always excellent in hot years. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Mission Haut Brion | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château La Mission Haut Brion 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A rich and muscular wine that reflects the warmth of the vintage, the 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion reveals aromas of dark berries, cherries and crème de cassis mingled with licorice, spices, incense and spring flowers. Full-bodied, broad and concentrated, it's surprisingly lively despite an elevated pH of 4.0, exhibiting a seamless, broad-shouldered profile with an ample core of fruit framed by rich, powdery tannin. It's a blend of 51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot and 5.1% Cabernet Franc. 94-96 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"This has real al dente fruit character on the palate with lemon rind and blackcurrants with blueberries. Lead pencil and stone, too. Full-bodied with chewy and juicy tannins that are primary and growing quickly on the palate as you taste it. Reminds me of the 1978, but brighter and more precise. 51.7% cabernet sauvignon, 43.2% merlot and 5.1% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Petite Eglise | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château La Petite Eglise 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Chocolate and walnut with hazelnut and berries. It’s full and chewy with velvety tannins and spices. Juicy and salty finish. Savory. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château La Tour de By | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château La Tour de By 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2022 La Tour de By reveals aromas of cassis, crunchy (al dente) blackberries and spices, complemented by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated mouthfeel with a juicy texture and lots of freshness. It's a bit firm on the finish. 88-90 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"Structured and compact and, at the same time, juicy and refined. Medium-bodied. Tannins are polished and fine with vivid fruit character. 91-92 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Lafaurie Peyraguey | 75cl | £360 per case of 6 | Château Lafaurie Peyraguey 2022 / / 75cl £360 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A wine that made me call the winemaker to better understand its composition and which, for better or worse, gives an insight into the conditions facing Sauternes in the vintage. This is 260g/l residual sugar, almost double what you can expect in a typical year, from a 10hl/h yield. Extremely luxurious and luscious, powerful concentration to the marmalade, smoked caramel, apricot puree, white truffle and ginger. It’s impressive, but the contrasting acidity and lift that you find in exceptional Sauternes vintages is conspicuously absent. 91 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a very fragrant, floral bouquet with pure botrytised fruit, wonderful delineation and sense of mineralite. The palate is smooth and sensual, dried honey and quince, lightly spiced with a gentle crescendo on its polished and long finish. This is a very strong follow-up to the 2021. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com ------"Another mind-blowing Sauternes with dense and concentrated fruit, and incredible depth and power. Spices galore. Very sweet. 260 grams residual sugar. Twice the normal year. French TBA? 95% semillon and 5% sauvignon blanc. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Lafite | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Lafite 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Lafite Rothschild unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, sweet soils tones, cigar box and lilac. Medium to full-bodied, it's the most tensile of the first growths this year, with a layered, concentrated but youthfully introverted mid-palate, lively acids and a long, saline finish. It checks in at a rather high pH of 3.85, which belies its incisive profile, from a harvest that extended from August 31 to September 24. 95-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A classical Lafite that reminds me of something like the 1986, with its blackcurrant and tobacco character with cedar and hazelnut, but it's so today with its purity and precision. It's really about being Lafite here. Terroir gives great elegance with strength. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Lafon Rochet | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Lafon Rochet 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The inaugural vintage for winemaker Christophe Congé, the 2022 Lafon-Rochet is an ambitiously styled blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Offering up aromas of crème de cassis, burning embers and loamy soil, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and velvety, with supple, generously extracted tannins and a rather lavish, demonstrative profile. It's a wine crafted to grab one's attention, but if élevage is kind to it, it may make my score seem conservative. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"This shows a terrific tannin backbone with blackcurrants and berries. Medium body. Solid fruit. Vivid. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 4% cabernet franc 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Lafon-Rochet is fabulous. Once again, Lafon-Rochet is the most elegant wine in Saint-Estèphe. There's a bit more richness and mid-palate intensity than in the past, likely a combination of the year and the approach of the new team headed by Technical Director Christophe Congé, who was formerly at Lafite-Rothschild. The 2022 signals a new era for the château that is likely to see a greater focus on selection and a slightly richer style. Even so, the signatures of Lafon-Rochet are evident. It's an exciting time. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Lagrange | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Lagrange 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Solid Lagrange with blueberry and blackberry character. Medium body and a tannin structure that unfolds at the finish. Very well done. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Lagrange is brilliant, ranking alongside the 2020, 2019 and 2016 as one of this over-performing estate's finest recent vintages. Revealing aromas of dark cherries, cassis, violets and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a deep core of fruit, beautifully refined but youthfully assertive tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish. It's a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot with a very healthy pH of 3.63. 94-96+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Langoa Barton | 75cl | £107 per case of 3 | Château Langoa Barton 2022 / / 75cl £107 per case of 3 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"The 2022 Langoa Barton is vibrant and focused as the best wines are in this vintage. Crushed raspberry, bloed orange, mint, spice and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's a purity to the 2022 that is impossible to miss. I admire its precision and lovely minerality. Langoa could turn out to be one of the Sleepers of 2022 especially among the more affordable wines of the Left Bank. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Langoa-Barton was cropped at 30hL/ha from September 8-23 then matured in 60% new oak. The nose needs a few minutes to cohere, raspberry and dark cherry fruit, bunches of violet, almost Margaux-like in personality. The palate is where the action is at the moment with finely chiseled tannins, a saline undertow, almost briny with a fresh and quite compelling, classically-styled finish. Fine length, this is a Langoa that just like the ABBA song, will go on and on and on. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot vinification, the brilliant 2022 Langoa Barton offers up aromas of dark berries, cassis, violets and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy palate endowed with terrific depth and tension. Polished and penetrating, it should match or even surpass the 2019 and 2016 vintages, and it is sure to be one of the more intelligent purchases of the en primeur campaign. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The Grand Vin 2022 Château Langoa Barton checks in as 56.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new barrels. Medium-bodied and vibrant, with a fresher, elegant, yet still textured profile, it has pure black and blue fruits, some lead pencil, tobacco, and earthy nuances, fine tannins, and a great finish. This 2022 is all about finesse and elegance. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Deep fruit, dark spices and graphite with wide yet polished, linear tannins. Full-bodied and intense with depth and structure. Long and chalky at the end. Big wine. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Langoa Barton | 75cl | £214 per case of 6 | Château Langoa Barton 2022 / / 75cl £214 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"The 2022 Langoa Barton is vibrant and focused as the best wines are in this vintage. Crushed raspberry, bloed orange, mint, spice and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's a purity to the 2022 that is impossible to miss. I admire its precision and lovely minerality. Langoa could turn out to be one of the Sleepers of 2022 especially among the more affordable wines of the Left Bank. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Langoa-Barton was cropped at 30hL/ha from September 8-23 then matured in 60% new oak. The nose needs a few minutes to cohere, raspberry and dark cherry fruit, bunches of violet, almost Margaux-like in personality. The palate is where the action is at the moment with finely chiseled tannins, a saline undertow, almost briny with a fresh and quite compelling, classically-styled finish. Fine length, this is a Langoa that just like the ABBA song, will go on and on and on. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot vinification, the brilliant 2022 Langoa Barton offers up aromas of dark berries, cassis, violets and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy palate endowed with terrific depth and tension. Polished and penetrating, it should match or even surpass the 2019 and 2016 vintages, and it is sure to be one of the more intelligent purchases of the en primeur campaign. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The Grand Vin 2022 Château Langoa Barton checks in as 56.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new barrels. Medium-bodied and vibrant, with a fresher, elegant, yet still textured profile, it has pure black and blue fruits, some lead pencil, tobacco, and earthy nuances, fine tannins, and a great finish. This 2022 is all about finesse and elegance. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Deep fruit, dark spices and graphite with wide yet polished, linear tannins. Full-bodied and intense with depth and structure. Long and chalky at the end. Big wine. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Laroque | 75cl | £292 per case of 12 | Château Laroque 2022 / / 75cl £292 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Laroque is bright, focused and full of energy. In this vintage, Laroque is especially refined. Dark plum, graphite, licorice, spice, lavender and mocha are nicely laced together in this gracious, finely cut Saint-Émilion. Bright saline accents lend notable brightness throughout. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A very classic Bordeaux with medium to full body, firm tannins and crunchy character, with a linear nature. Currants and blackberries. Sandalwood, too. Fresh. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Another impressive performance from this estate, the 2022 Laroque offers up aromas of sweet berries, violets, iris and exotic spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered palate with a rich core of fruit that's framed by lively acids, concluding with a taut, chalky finish. Once again, it's the result of a strict selection that sees only 45% of the production released as the grand vin. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Clearly one of the new superstars in the appellation, Château Laroque is located on the cooler, eastern edge of Saint-Emilion and consists of pure, classic upper plateau limestone soils. The estate covers a whopping 54 hectares, which gives director Davie Suire ample flexibility when putting together the Grand Vin. Looking at the 2022 Laroque, it's a blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc from healthy yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare, representing just 45% of the total production, and it will spend 16-18 months in 50% new French oak. This deep purple-hued beauty offers a classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco, and a liquid rock-like sense of minerality. It’s medium to full-bodied, has incredible purity, and ultra-fine tannins. It’s unquestionably another beautiful vintage for this chateau that readers will love. 95-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"You just know that this estate is well placed to succeed in the vintage, and this really does walk the line of ripeness and salinity, such gorgeous definition and vivid energetic fruit. Stretches out through the palate also, has a relaxed confidece to it that is quite unusual in such a full--on vintage. Really impressive, Beaumartin family, David Suire director. 97 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Larrivet Haut Brion | 75cl | £324 per case of 12 | Château Larrivet Haut Brion 2022 / / 75cl £324 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Larrivet Haut-Brion offers up aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry, violet, orange zest, iris and ripe plums, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that's supple, seamless and elegant, its succulent core of fruit framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a floral finish. A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 21% Cabernet Franc—the most significant portion of this grape variety ever used at this estate run by Bruno Lemoine—this is one of the most interesting wines that this estate has produced in recent years. It matured in 15% amphorae, 50% new barrels and the balance in tanks. 92-94 points." (YC), Wine Advocate------"Broad and structured, but supple and sleek, with fine-grained tannins. Medium- to full-bodied. Hints of coffee beans and cedar. Solid finish. Bright. 93-94 points." (JS) Jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc | 75cl | £204 per case of 6 | Château Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc 2022 / / 75cl £204 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Aromas of spices, lemon oil, lime tree, verbena, exotic, menthol and iodine introduce the 2022 Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, seamless and sapid wine with a succulent core of fruit and a penetrating, fresh and saline finish. This blend of 86% Sauvignon Blanc and 14% Sémillon, maturing in 70% new oak and 30% wood tank or foudres, is a strong effort. 91-93 points." (YS) Wine Advocate------"This is solid with dried pineapple, grapefruit and apple character. It’s full-bodied with fantastic structure and depth. Phenolics are all there. Serious. 86% sauvignon and the rest semillon. 95-96 points." (JS) Jamessucking.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf | 75cl | £990 per case of 6 | Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf 2022 / / 75cl £990 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"The 2022 Tertre Rôteboeuf is surprisingly understated in this vintage, which is quite different from most years. In this warm, punishing dry vintage I expect to find a more opulent Tertre, but the wine instead remains light on its feet, with surprising minerality and tons of energy to play dark red (rather than black) fruit. The 2022 is pretty clenched today, but élevage should help soften some of the angulurity in the contours, Tertre Roteboeuf is once again one of the most distinctive wines in Saint-Emilion. There's a feeling of raw, unbridled power that is impossible to miss. Yields were 35 hectaliters per hectare instead of the more typical 40-45 or so. As usual, there is no green harvest and the entire crop is bottled as the Grand Vin. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Both the suavest and the most exotic cuvée in the Mitjaville portfolio, the 2022 Le Tertre Roteboeuf is a full-bodied, supple and fleshy wine evocative of blackberries, espresso roast, rose petals, spices and smoked meats. Concentrated, refined and seamless, it concludes with a long, aromatic finish. Readers might think of it as a cousin of the 2009 vintage, with its sweetness of fruit but rather ethereal, harmonious profile, which stands in contrast with more overtly powerful years, such as 2020 or 2010. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is very deep in color It has a very intense bouquet with Dorset plum, raspberry coulis, touches of fennel and fresh fig. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with plenty of structure, pure mulberry, blackberry and raspberry fruit, white pepper and curry leaf. It is a more exotic Saint-Émilion, but I would not describe it as exotic. It's just very Tertre-Rôteboeuf. 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Coming from an incredible hillside terroir on the eastern side of Saint-Emilion, the 2022 Château Tertre Roteboeuf reveals a dense purple hue to go with a kaleidoscopic array of cassis, blueberries, cherries, acacia flowers, violets, and orange blossom. Always exotic, singular, and overflowing with character, the 2022 looks to be no exception and is full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. 96-98 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château L'Eglise Clinet | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château L'Eglise Clinet 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A L’Eglise Clinet with tension and class, with dark berries and chalk, salt and spice. There’s hazelnut and ripe seeds with coffee bean undertones. Full and wonderfully long and fresh. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Léoville Barton | 75cl | £195 per case of 3 | Château Léoville Barton 2022 / / 75cl £195 per case of 3 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"The 2022 Léoville Barton is a total model of classicism, even in this warm, dry year. All of the Léoville Barton signatures are present, even if the wine is still coming together. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, gravel and dried herbs open nicely in the glass, but it is the wine's energy and overall tension that I find most surprising. This is classic as classic gets. Not interested in making the richest or showiest wines, nor interested in jacking up prices as high as they can be. Readers will find a straightforward (in the best sense of the term) Saint-Julien that captures the best of what Bordeaux can be. Just enough of everything, but not too much of any one thing. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Very polished and poised with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium body with tight and focused tannin tension. Lively finish. Harmonious for the vintage. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Château Léoville Barton is another pretty, elegant wine from this talented team. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, its ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautiful perfume of ripe red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, graphite, and violets. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has fine tannins, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's surprisingly approachable yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up over the course of its élevage. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"One of the stars of the Médoc and a wine likely to equal or surpass its 2019 and 2016 counterparts, the 2022 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with deep aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, spices and tobacco leaf, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate that's vibrant, pure and seamless, with beautifully classy tannins and a long, penetrating finish. The 2022 is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc; and it's the first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting and vinification, along with a number of other technical improvements which translate into enhanced purity and precision. 96-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com-----"The 2022 Léoville Barton was picked between 8 and 23 September at 30hL/ha and matured in 60% new oak. This represents the first vintage that has been vinified using gravity and cuvons (basically vats on wheels!) in their newly-built winery. The nose makes an instant impact with intense black cherry, bilberry and violet aromas. A nuanced estuarine/oyster shell scent emerges with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins, fabulous precision, a killer line of acidity and more mineralité on the finish, that it knows what to do with. This is a precision-tooled Léoville Barton with the sharpness of a samurai sword. The 2022 marks the start of a new and glorious chapter for the Saint-Julien estate, which passes in the slipstream of the 22019 and 2022. It constitutes the finest Léoville Barton that I have tasted out of barrel. Tasted three times. points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Léoville Barton | 75cl | £390 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Barton 2022 / / 75cl £390 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesSOLD OUT------"The 2022 Léoville Barton is a total model of classicism, even in this warm, dry year. All of the Léoville Barton signatures are present, even if the wine is still coming together. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, gravel and dried herbs open nicely in the glass, but it is the wine's energy and overall tension that I find most surprising. This is classic as classic gets. Not interested in making the richest or showiest wines, nor interested in jacking up prices as high as they can be. Readers will find a straightforward (in the best sense of the term) Saint-Julien that captures the best of what Bordeaux can be. Just enough of everything, but not too much of any one thing. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Very polished and poised with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium body with tight and focused tannin tension. Lively finish. Harmonious for the vintage. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Château Léoville Barton is another pretty, elegant wine from this talented team. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, its ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautiful perfume of ripe red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, graphite, and violets. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has fine tannins, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's surprisingly approachable yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up over the course of its élevage. 94-96+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"One of the stars of the Médoc and a wine likely to equal or surpass its 2019 and 2016 counterparts, the 2022 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with deep aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, spices and tobacco leaf, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate that's vibrant, pure and seamless, with beautifully classy tannins and a long, penetrating finish. The 2022 is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc; and it's the first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting and vinification, along with a number of other technical improvements which translate into enhanced purity and precision. 96-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com-----"The 2022 Léoville Barton was picked between 8 and 23 September at 30hL/ha and matured in 60% new oak. This represents the first vintage that has been vinified using gravity and cuvons (basically vats on wheels!) in their newly-built winery. The nose makes an instant impact with intense black cherry, bilberry and violet aromas. A nuanced estuarine/oyster shell scent emerges with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins, fabulous precision, a killer line of acidity and more mineralité on the finish, that it knows what to do with. This is a precision-tooled Léoville Barton with the sharpness of a samurai sword. The 2022 marks the start of a new and glorious chapter for the Saint-Julien estate, which passes in the slipstream of the 22019 and 2022. It constitutes the finest Léoville Barton that I have tasted out of barrel. Tasted three times. points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Léoville Las Cases | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Las Cases 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Léoville Poyferré | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Poyferré 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Léoville Poyferré has turned out very nicely, offering up aromas of crème de cassis, cherries, violets and creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's ripe but lively, with supple tannins and a long, vanillin-inflected finish. This year, the team began picking their Merlot comparatively early and didn't perform a saignée (tank bleed), given the natural concentration of the vintage, though it remains the most flamboyant and demonstrative of the three Léoville estates, seeing some 80% new oak with malolactic fermentation in barrique for the new barrels. It will be a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A very solid LP with black berry, blackcurrant, crushed stone and lavender character. Full and really well structured with a linear length to it. Focused and so polished. Thoughtful. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Les Cruzelles | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Les Cruzelles 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A solid red with blackberry, chocolate, walnut and hazelnut. Medium to full body. Smily face here, thanks to the ripe seeds. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château L'Evangile | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château L'Evangile 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Given the young average age of this estate's vineyards, its well-draining soils and the extreme vintage, I was a little apprehensive; but the technical team evidently took the conditions in their stride, harvesting the east-facing side of the vines (which sees the hottest afternoon sun) four days earlier. The resulting 2022 L'Evangile is beautiful, offering up aromas of raspberries, vine smoke, black truffles, violets and gravely soil. Medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, it's seamless and polished, with a bright core of fruit and powdery tannins that temper 2022's inherent sweetness of fruit to sophisticated effect. At this early stage, it appears that the estate's progress with regards to élevage continues too, as Evangile's creamy oak signature is much released, allowing the fruit—and this superb terroir—to take center stage. It's a blend of 82% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Fresh, wonderfully refined and gorgeously polished and long, with very fine tannins. Medium to full body. Crunchy fruit and chocolate, hazelnut and spice. Exciting to see how this tensioned beauty will evolve. Wonderful clarity. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Lilian Ladouys | 75cl | £174 per case of 12 | Château Lilian Ladouys 2022 / / 75cl £174 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A Merlot-dominant blend, the 2022 Lilian Ladouys offers up rich aromas of dark berries, violets, charcoal and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy palate framed by rich, youthfully firm tannins that assert themselves on the finish. Impacted by hail and with a very elevated pH of 3.95, this is something of a blunt instrument. 88-90 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate with some spice. Medium body. Firm and bright. Polished tannins. Very spicy with nutmeg and cloves at the end. 52% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 8% petit verdot. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com------"Intense colour, marzipan and fennel, caraway seeds, cracked pepper, very classic St Estèphe in that it has just a ton of cassis and bilberry fruit, with chewy tannins that have you wading through the mid palate. This is clearly extremely well made, almost 2010 in feel, with balance and confidence. Due for certifcation organic in 2024, now in conversion. Highest amount of Petit Verdot at this estate, lost around 30% of the crop through hail and frost in northern St Estèphe. 35% new oak barrels, alongside larger sized oak casks for ageing. 93 points" janeanson.com------"From a château that lost 40% of their production due to hail, the 2022 Château Lilian Ladouys checks in as 52% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot. A rich, medium to full-bodied, balanced Saint-Estèphe, it offers pure plum and darker cherry fruits, some chocolate and leafy herb nuances, ripe tannins, and a concentrated, textured mid-palate. It's beautifully done, and I suspect it will represent a great value as well. 91-93+ points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Lynch Bages | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Lynch Bages 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"One of the vintage's most powerful, muscular wines is the 2022 Lynch-Bages, a full-bodied, broad-shouldered Pauillac that unfurls in the glass with aromas of cassis, cherries, mint, pencil shavings and petroleum jelly, framed by nicely integrated new oak. Liberally extracted, its deep core of fruit is underpinned by an imposing chassis of rich, powdery tannin and lively acids. Always rather forbidding from barrel, Lynch Bages always seems to come together in bottle, and the 2022 has the makings of another success for this address. 93-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Wow. Blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries and flowers. Full-bodied with beautifully integrated tannins that melt into the wine. Persistent and precise. A fantastic wine for the cellar. 66% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Malescot St Exupery | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Malescot St Exupery 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting NotesOffering up aromas of rich blackberries, cassis, sweet spices, pencil shavings and creamy new oak, the 2022 Malescot St. Exupery is medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a broad attack that segues into a layered core of expressive fruit that's framed by sweet, powdery tannins. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, this is one of the appellation's most flamboyant wines, but it retains good balance and boasts a healthy pH of 3.65. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Attractive dark-berry character with blackberries, blackcurrants, walnuts and dark spices. It’s full-bodied, concentrated and dense with a compact and very fine tannin structure that builds up. It’s deep and balanced with violets and pure blue-fruit undertones. Lingering and very polished finish. Structured and firm. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Margaux | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Margaux 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Very dark purple color with a ruby edge. So much crushed blackberry and blackcurrant with violets. Exuberant. Full-bodied and very tannic with incredible muscle. This is a thought-provoking wine. The biggest Margaux I have tasted in my career. Seems a little overdone for Margaux. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot and 2% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com------"A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, 2022 Château Margaux is one of the most powerful wines ever produced at this estate, wafting from the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, dark berries, violets, burning embers, smoked tea and exotic spices. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich, velvety and seamless, with a bright core of fruit and a long, heady finish. With the highest analytical measure of tannins since 2010, and an alcohol level a touch above 14%, this is certainly a larger-scaled Château Margaux, yet at this early stage, everything appears to be kept in check. 96-97+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Margaux - Pavillon Rouge du Margaux | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge du Margaux 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Pavillon Rouge is deep and perfumed, wafting from the glass with notions of cherries, raspberry preserve, lilac, violets and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated palate that's deep, rich and vibrant, with a tannic grain that resembles the grand vin this year. It represents just under a third of the estate's production. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Rich and dense with lots of fruit and juiciness. Redcurrants, black berries, strawberries and orange peel on the nose. Full and layered with fine, velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Big presence. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Mauvesin-Barton | 75cl | £150 per case of 12 | Château Mauvesin-Barton 2022 / / 75cl £150 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Château Mauvesin Barton is terrific, with a ripe, medium-bodied, elegant profile as well as impressive cassis and currant-like fruit, some tobacco and graphite aromatics, fine tannins, and a great finish. It’s a brilliant Moulis in the making. 90-92 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Mauvesin Barton is a joy to taste today. Plump, juicy and forward, the 2022 is marvelously seductive right out of the gate. Expressive floral and spice notes lend complexity to the sweet red cherry/plum fruit. Soft, caressing contours add a gorgeous sense of immediacy. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Mauvesin Barton was picked 13 September to 15 October and aged in one-third new oak. It is initially quite backward of the nose and demands encouragement, revealing blackberry, chimney soot and tobacco scents with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, the cedar-infused black fruit tinged with white pepper and pencil shaving. Composed, nothing over-ambitious, yet long and tender on the finish. It is one of the best vintages that I have tasted from this estate that is owned by the Barton-Sartorius family. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A polished and pretty wine with blackberries and cherries. Hints of hazelnut. Medium body. Fine tannins. Long finish. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Meyney | 75cl | £282 per case of 12 | Château Meyney 2022 / / 75cl £282 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Opening in the glass with aromas of sweet dark berries, licorice and petals, the 2022 Meyney is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a fleshy core of fruit girdled by sweet but firm tannins. Pure and taut, it is a strong effort that will require a bit of patience. 91-93+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Impressive concentration here with compact tannin structure. Medium- to full-bodied. Firm and steady with a long, velvety finish. Minerally and crunchy. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"A vineryard that should perform strongly in this kind of vintage, because located right next to the river for air conditioning, with a mix of gravel with clear clay sections to retain freshness, and it's definitely one to look out for. Layers of redcurrant, raspberry and blackcurrant fruits, juicy mouthwatering finish, peony, pencil lead, orange peel, 3.75ph. Certainly this is a great example of Meyney. Hubert de Boüard consultant. A buy. 95 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Montlandrie | 75cl | £178 per case of 12 | Château Montlandrie 2022 / / 75cl £178 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Sea salt and grilled sea weed. Dark fruit, but so umami. Medium to full body with fine and chewy tannins. Crunchy. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Montrose | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Montrose 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A very powerful and structured Montrose with steely tannins that run the length of the wine. It's compacted and muscular with an extremely long finish. Graphite and spices in the aftertaste. This should be terrific after the elevage. From organically grown grapes. 66% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Montrose is such a compelling wine that assigning it a bracketed score seems a mere formality. A brilliant terroir, impeccable viticulture, perfectly timed harvest dates and judicious extraction have aligned to deliver a monument in the making, reminiscent of a far purer, more precise, modern-day version of the 1990 vintage at this address. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, violets, iris, pencil lead and cigar wrapper, it's full-bodied, deep and authoritative, its velvety attack segueing into a layered, elegantly muscular core that's framed by supple, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, resonant finish. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this only confirms Montrose's status as a de facto first growth and unquestionably one of the contemporary Médoc's very greatest estates. 98-100 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Moulin St Georges | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Moulin St Georges 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries, violets and creamy new oak, the 2022 Moulin St Georges is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with powdery tannins and a taut, chalky profile. It should flesh out further with additional élevage. 90-92+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Fresh and framed with a juiciness but also a coolness and brightness. Medium to full body. Very balanced. Well done. Lower pH at 3.52. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"A luxurious feel, with velvety tannins, enjoyable ripe black fruits, gourmet touches of smoked vanilla root and liqourice, all well drawn out through the palate, and providing plenty of estate signature. A well balanced luscious wne with a saline limestone twist. 3.55ph, 100% new oak. 28hl/h yield, smaller than across the rest of the Ausone range because of 50 year old vines planted almost entirely by Alain Vauthier when he arrived 1970. Harvest September 19 to 26. 96 points" janeanson.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Mouton Rothschild | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A brilliant wine that likely sits somewhere between the 2019 and 2020 in quality, the 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. Unwinding in the glass with complex aromas of minty cassis, cigar wrapper, violets and subtle hints of loamy soil, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered core of fruit and a fleshy, elegantly muscular profile. Broad-shouldered and seamless, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. This year the grand vin represents some 49% of the estate's production. 96-99 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The Mouton-specific creme de cassis is all there. Al dente, too. The grapes must have been picked at near perfection. Depth and complexity. Black berries, earth, violets and other flowers. Full-bodied yet very hemmed-in with tight tannins, which are precise and polished. You can taste the grape skins and dust of the soil. The length is rather endless. 92% cabernet sauvignon. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Ormes de Pez | 75cl | £256 per case of 12 | Château Ormes de Pez 2022 / / 75cl £256 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Exhibiting aromas of rich cassis, pencil shavings and petals, the 2022 Ormes de Pez is medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit and plenty of powdery structuring tannin. It's a blend of 51% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Ormes de Per is bold, pungent and savory, in classic Saint-Estèphe style. Gravel, cured meats, spice and leather give the 2022 a good bit of aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, with good depth, the 2022 has a ton to offer. This is a terrific showing. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"In line with the rest of the St Estèphe appellation in terms of its plum colour and vivid violet rim, this is already promising to be easy to drink, with supple velvet tannins, cocoa bean, caramel, sweet blackberry fruits, fig tart, patisserie cream, spice red peppers, it retains the appealingly unfussy welcome of Ormes de Pez even with the ripe signatures of the vintage. Blend finished February. Quantity down 40% after hail in June. 45% new oak. 93 points" janeanson.com------""The 2022 Ormes de Pez is matured in 45% new oak for a planned 16 months. It has a perfumed and floral bouquet, quite sensual for a Saint-Estèphe, developing blue fruit with time in the glass. The oak is neatly enmeshed. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a high-toned and racy opening. Good acidity, the Merlot (51%) occupies the driving seat and ensures its silky-textured finish, a mote of chalk dust on the aftertaste. Just needs its élevage to knit it all together. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A juicy and fruity red with blackberry, black cherry and chocolate character. Full and round with freshness and intensity. Very spicy. Black olives, too. 51% merlot, 39% cabernet sauvignon, 8% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"Another brilliant Saint-Estèphe, the 2022 Château Ormes De Pez offers up lots of ripe blue and black fruits as well textbook earth, crushed stone, and graphite. Showing more nuance and floral notes with time in the glass, this medium to full-bodied effort has plenty of mid-palate depth, velvety yet building tannins, and nicely integrated background oak. This serious wine is worth seeking out. Tasted twice. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Palmer | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Palmer 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"As is the case at neighbor Château Margaux, the 2022 Palmer is one of the most powerful wines this estate has ever produced. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, it offers up aromas of blackberries, burning embers, violets, iris and sweet soil tones, followed by a full-bodied, broad and expansive palate, its velvety attack segueing into a rich and layered core. Supple, seamless and concentrated, it checks in at 14.4% alcohol and a rather high pH of 3.79. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"So much class in the nose with a sophisticated kaleidoscope of dark fruit such as blackcurrants, and spices such as salt and pepper, as well as cloves and nutmeg. Full-bodied. Compacted and dense yet weightless. It opens beautifully. The tannins go on and on with wonderful presence. Salty undertones. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Palmer - Alter Ego de Palmer | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Palmer Alter Ego de Palmer 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Alter Ego de Palmer offers up aromas of cherries, wild berries and plums mingled with vine smoke and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, deep and brooding, with a layered core of fruit, lively acids and rich, powdery tannins, it's a gourmand, voluptuous wine that will offer a broad drinking window. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The minerality and intensity to this wine is very impressive with blackberry and blue berry aromas and flavors. Salt and pepper. It’s full and linear with a brightness and freshness. Compacted center palate. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Phelan Ségur | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Phelan Ségur 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, crème de cassis, sweet berries and spices, framed by creamy new oak, the 2022 Phélan Ségur is medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with plenty of sweet fruit and chewy structuring tannin. It's a persuasive Saint-Estèphe in a more modern, extracted style. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Loads of fruit here. Energetic, with layers of tannins. Full-bodied. It builds at the end and opens like a butterfly. Hints of minerals and iron. Best ever? 56% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Pichon Baron | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Pichon Baron 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"An unusually gourmand, sensual wine from this estate, the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron bursts with aromas of crème de cassis, sweet dark berries, licorice, lilac and pencil shavings. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with excellent concentration and a rather rich, supple profile. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, it's the result of sub-block by sub-block picking and cooler than usual fermentation temperatures. 95-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A very structured and racy PB with blackcurrant, stone and black cherry aromas and flavors. Medium to full body with racy and fine tannins that are precise and focused. Elegance with structure. 81% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Pichon Lalande | 75cl | £804 per case of 6 | Château Pichon Lalande 2022 / / 75cl £804 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is one wine where a comparison with this estate's magical 1982 doesn't appear to be far-fetched. Wafting from the glass with deep aromas of cassis, plums, violets, rose petals, tobacco leaf and pencil shavings, it's full-bodied, supple and fleshy, with a layered, seamless core of fruit that largely conceals its chassis of powdery structuring tannin. Concluding with a long, expansive and beautifully perfumed finish, it's a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that has the potential to equal or even surpass the 2019 and 2016 vintages at this address. It checks in at a very classical 13.6% alcohol and a rather high pH of 3.80. 97-99 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"I love the aromatics here with botanicals as well as currants, blackberries and oranges. Full-bodied with incredible tannins that build on the palate with finesse and focus. Featherlight but always there. Stealth in structure. Very vertical. Savory. Superb. 78% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Pontet Canet | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Pontet Canet 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"What a finish on this Pontet-Canet. So much energy and brightness. It's full-bodied yet so tight and focused with superb fruit and transparency. It is racy and fine with super fine texture. It's like crushed cabernet sauvignon with cassis, tobacco and cigar box. Licorice and spices. Freshness of the seed. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 4% cabernet franc, and 4% petit verdot. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Potensac | 75cl | £123 per case of 6 | Château Potensac 2022 / / 75cl £123 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper and licorice introduce the 2022 Potensac, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy Médoc with a deep core of fruit and powdery structuring tannins. It's built along similar lines to the 2020. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Potensac is super-expressive right out of the gate. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice, and gravel are all beautifully delineated. Pliant and beautifully layered, the 2022 marries density and vibrancy to great effect. There's quite a bit of tannin, but also enough fruit to balance things out. The 2022 is a serious Potensac, that is for sure. Once again, Jean-Hubert Delon and his team made a Medoc that overdelivers big time. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Polished and refined with a deep core of ripe berries with walnut undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins and a lingering finish. Deep and complex. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Poujeaux | 75cl | £246 per case of 12 | Château Poujeaux 2022 / / 75cl £246 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Poujeaux offers up aromas of cassis, plums, pencil shavings and sweet soil tones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated palate that opens with a velvety attack, segueing into a firmer, more austere mid-palate and finish that depress my score. If this rounds out with élevage, my review will prove conservative. 88-90 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Poujeaux is very beautiful. Silky, aromatic and elegant, the 2022 is flat-out delicious. Crushed red/purplish berries, mint, blood orange, graphite and spice are all beautifully woven together. Clean mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly. The 2022 is all class. It's as simple as that. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Poujeaux has a perfumed and delineated bouquet: copious black cherries and blueberry fruit, hints of pressed iris and violets. This blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced, impressive focus with fine-grain black fruit. This builds in the mouth. The 2022 Poujeaux certainly repays patience in terms of waiting for the sample to cohere in the glass. Ultimately, everything seems succinctly controlled and, who knows, it may well surpass a delicious magnum of 1953 tasted the previous evening. Tasted three times with consistent notes. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A medium-bodied red with crunchy fruit and tight tannin structure. Juicy acidity coming through. Chewy and solid at the end. Closed and pretty tannins. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Quintus | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Quintus 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Quintus, one of the best wines produced at this estate, reveals aromas of dark berries, licorice, ripe plum, spices, and hints of graphite. It’s fleshy and concentrated, precise and crystalline, with a tensile, chalky profile, velvety tannins and a vibrant, penetratingly saline finish. The integration of fruit from Grand Pontet recently acquired by the Dillon group means that the blend now contains fully 41.5% Cabernet Franc, bringing more mid-palate structure and amplifying Quintus's limestone-influenced character. 92-94+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Black berry and lead pencil on the nose with fresh flowers. Some rose stems, too. Full-bodied with racy and fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Complex and intense in flavor, it remains full of energy and verve. 58.5% merlot and 41.5% cabernet franc. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Rauzan Ségla | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Rauzan Ségla 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is a beautifully sensual, charming wine, bursting with aromas of cherries, dark berries and plums mingled with hints of violets, sweet loamy soil and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's fleshy and enveloping, with an ample core of vibrant fruit, supple tannins and a long, succulent finish. The 2022 is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot; and in 2022, the east-facing sides of the vines, which see the afternoon sun, were picked separately, along with anything that showed signs of stress. 96-97 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The freshness and clarity of the fruit is really something with black currants and cherries. Brilliant. Full-bodied, layered and round with polished tannins. I like the intensity and focus with such precision and gorgeousness. Is this the 2016 plus more? 97-98 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Roc de Cambes | 75cl | £330 per case of 6 | Château Roc de Cambes 2022 / / 75cl £330 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Roc de Cambes is a wid, exotic wine that cuplures all the natural intensity of the year Super-ripe black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, licorice, lavender and hard candy all race out of the glass. The 2022 is pretty exuberant, so readers should expect a flamboyant wine that approaches the sort of richness that is often found in the flagship Tertre Roteboeuf. Roc de Cambes is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Mingling aromas of sweet cherries and cassis with notions of licorice, espresso roast and spices, the 2022 Roc de Cambes is medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with a broad-shouldered profile, framed by powdery tannins, and concluding with a chalky finish. This is always the most structured wine in the Mitjaville portfolio. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Roc de Cambes displays a very perfumed bouquet with black cherries and blueberry fruit, more floral than the Domaine des Cambes, iris and peony. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, dark berry fruit laced with white pepper and clove. Hints of iron toward the spicy finish. Very fine. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A bigger, riper, sexier wine, the 2022 Roc De Cambes just about jumps out of the glass with its exotic red and blue fruits as well as vanilla bean, sweet spice, and acacia flower-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has beautiful tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It shows the riper, opulent style of the vintage, yet it has a core of ripe tannins and mid-palate depth that keeps it nicely focused and balanced. It's a gorgeous wine that's unfortunately hard to find in the market. 93-95 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Saintayme | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Saintayme 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"So much sea salt and crunchy fruit with berry and grape character. Some orange, too. Medium-bodied, bright and vivid. Lively finish. 93-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Sénéjac | 75cl | £142 per case of 12 | Château Sénéjac 2022 / / 75cl £142 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Sénéjac is one of the best wines that this northern Médoc cru Bourgeois has produced in the last decade or two. Offering up aromas of cherries, dark berries, peonies and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and succulent, with a rich core of fruit, supple tannins and a persistent finish. 90-92 points." WK, Wine Advocate------"Very attractive, crunchy dark fruit with medium to full body and spiced, chocolatey character. Firm and structured with velvety tannins and a lingering finish. Plenty of currant and hazelnut character. 93-94 points." JS, Jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Siran | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Siran 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Siran is a real success, bursting with aromas of sweet berries, cassis, licorice and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy palate. This charming, succulent Margaux is sure to be one of the commune's better value propositions. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"A brilliant quality Siran, full of depth and grip, slate-textured tannins to provide contrast to the ripe black fruits, and help draw out of the naunce in the rich flavours. Has juice and pleasure, and is an enjoyable and quietly confident wine in a year where excess was the easier route. Ageing in 35% new French oak barrels. One to look out for, from the Miaihle family. 94 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Siran is one of the best wines I have tasted from the property. Silky, aromatic and light on its feet, Siran is exceptionally polished. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, chalk and white pepper all grace this exquisite Margaux. Superb. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Attractive berry fruit here with spices and orange peel undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, toned and steady with compact tannin structure. Deep. Long finish with stony minerality. Most structured yet fine Siran I have tasted for a long time. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Suduiraut | 75cl | £291 per case of 6 | Château Suduiraut 2022 / / 75cl £291 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Amber in colour, with tropical fruits of passion fruit and mango on the opening beats, clear depth of flavour and contrast provided by orange peel and aniseed bitterness, low acidity. Luscious, silky, powerful, enjoyable. Pierre Montégut technical director, 7hl/h yields, 70% new barrels 30% from barrels of one vintage. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Suduiraut is laced with hints of tangerine peel, spice, vanillin, chamomile and dried flowers. It offers a lovely mix of botrytis-inflected flavors and textures while also showing quite a bit of freshness. The 2022 is done in the lighter style the château favors these days. My impression is that it is still coming together, as the wine shows a very slight lack of cohesion that is not typical. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Suduiraut comes from a quick and late harvest in October (three tries between 17 and 27 October with some passerillé grapes in September). Bunches were affected by botrytis but did not concentrate, at least not until a period of wind and warmth. Wild honey, quince and touches of marmalade on the nose, this opens nicely in the glass. The palate is pure and viscous in texture, with marmalade, again, and dried honey. Very open and approachable on the finish. Not profound, but quite delicious. Christian Seely said he drank this for breakfast the previous day - why not? 95-97 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"One of the finest Sauternes I've been lucky enough to taste in some time, the 2022 Château Suduiraut is 100% Sémillon that hit 13.9% natural alcohol, with 190 grams per liter of residual sugar. Still resting in 70% new barrels, this monster of a Sauternes offers a huge nose of honeyed citrus, orange marmalade, spice, brioche, and almond paste. Full-bodied, rich, and massively concentrated, nevertheless, it somehow stays flawlessly balanced, fresh, and light on its feet. 97-99 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Wow. This is incredibly concentrated with such depth and power. Dried oranges. Full-bodied with some phenolic tension that frames the wine perfectly. Dried apricots and peaches. Incredible richness and freshness. Spicy and flavorful. Tastes more like a BA from Germany! 100% semillon. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | Château Suduiraut Vieilles Vignes Grand Blanc Sec | 75cl | £219 per case of 6 | Château Suduiraut Vieilles Vignes Grand Blanc Sec 2022 / / 75cl £219 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Coming from old vines between 45 and 60 years old that are likely to have resisted the heat of the vintage better, this has both complexity and depth of flavour, with juicy white pear, saffron and mandarin zest. Still a richer expression than in fresher years like 2021, but plenty to enjoy, with oyster shell salinity on the finish. 30% in new barrels, 70% from barrels of one vintage 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2022 Grand Vin Blanc Sec Vieilles Vignes is laced with hints of lemon confit, marzipan, ginger, white flowers and white pepper. The 2022 is quite reticent today, which is probably a good sign for its aging prospects. The 2022 has a phenolic like quality that imparts notable structure. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A classic Sauternes with dried peaches, lemon zest and crushed stone character. Full body. Layered and phenolic. Dry at the end. 55% semillon and 45% sauvignon blanc. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"Possibly even better, and a remarkable white in the vintage, the 2022 Château Suduiraut Vieilles Vignes reveals a vivid gold hue as well as an already complex bouquet of bright citrus, caramelized limes, tart melon, and minty herbs. A blend of 55% Sémillon and 45% Sauvignon Blanc that's still resting in 30% new barrels, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, and a great finish. This rich, textured, incredibly impressive white is going to shine on the dinner table. It should benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and drink nicely over the following decade. 95-97 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Talbot | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Talbot 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Talbot is especially impressive, and if it fulfills all its promise, it is likely to emerge as this large Saint-Julien property's most exciting wine since the 1980s. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, blackberries and cassis mingled with hints of violets and pencil lead, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, with a layered core of fruit, rich structuring tannins and a long, lively finish. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot that's being matured in 60% new oak. 93-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The tannins really are integrated and fill out across the palate. The texture is so beautiful and refined. Medium- to full-bodied and crunchy, with lovely texture and refinement. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Tour Saint Christophe | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Château Tour Saint Christophe 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Exhibiting notions of dark berries, blackberries and licorice, the 2022 Tour Saint Christophe is medium to full-bodied and has an enveloping texture with a fleshy core of fruit and powdery tannins leading to a long, rather concentrated finish. This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from vines planted on clay-limestone soil is a real success. 91-93 points" points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com------"Inky damson, beautiful texture and glass staining colour. Smoky reduction on the nose (they do a late malolactic because it begins naturally, so this is not unusual). It clears to reveal intense dark berry fruit, oyster-shell salinity, has tension, depth and character, a little tight at this point, but this is going to age extremely well. 39hl/h , first vintage Grand Cru Classé on the labe, 25% new oak. Emmanuelle Fulchi d'Aligny techincal director, moving over from Château Angélus, and this is the first full vintage under her direction (just did the blend of 2021). 93 points" janeanson.com------"Another great wine from this château, the 2022 Château Tour Saint Christophe checks in as 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc brought up in 25% new French oak. It has a great nose of red plums, cassis, chalky minerality, and spice, and this full-bodied Saint-Emilion is impeccably balanced, with a pure, graceful mouthfeel, fine tannins, and outstanding length. The purity of fruit here is truly terrific. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Iodine, crushed stone, salt, oyster shell, ink pot. Fascinating. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with a firm framing of fruit, with fine tannins and electric acidity. Exceptional. pH of 3.48 with just under 15% alcohol. Still thinking about this. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Château Tronquoy | 75cl | £235 per case of 12 | Château Tronquoy 2022 / / 75cl £235 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Tronquoy (formerly Tronquoy-Lalande) is an especially rich and powerful wine, offering up aromas of dark berries and cherries framed by creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate structured around lively acids and powdery tannins that assert themselves on the vanillin-inflected finish. A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot (which is an atypically high percentage of Cabernet from this estate, especially in a vintage where Merlot delivered better yields), it would appear to be intended to make an impression en primeur, as Tronquoy is now being sold on the place. That's a pity, as this estate's considerable intrinsic qualities would surely have made enough of an impression on their own. 89-91 points." (WK) Wine Advocate------"A fresh and solid TL with currants and cherries. Hints of chocolate and spice. Medium to full body. Juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Lovely richness and depth. A blend of 59% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot and 6% petit verdot. 92-93 points." (JS) Jamessuckling.com------"The 2022 Tronquoy-Lalande comes in a new bottle design with a wax capsule. On the nose, it blossoms without any encouragement with copious black cherries, cassis and blueberry scents. The oak is beautifully enmeshed. It conveys a sense of warmth, but retains sufficient delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins that frame that multi-layered black fruit. One of the spiciest Tronquoy-Lalandes for some time, with a peacock's tail on the finish. This is an outstanding Saint-Estèphe determined not to lie in the shadow of its sibling Montrose. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Domaine de Cambes | 75cl | £230 per case of 6 | Domaine de Cambes 2022 / / 75cl £230 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Domaine des Cambes, from the Mitjavile family, has a very pure bouquet with blackcurrant, wild strawberry and cherry scents, again, very Burgundian in style. The palate is medium-bodied with an almost viscous entry, smooth and sensual, with white pepper and soge hints toward the finish. This 2022 is concentrated and a bit lascivious. 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Offering up aromas of dark berries, berries, espresso roast and toasty oak, the 2022 Domaine de Cambes is medium to full-bodied, layered, fleshy and concentrated, with a sweet core of fruit and a saline finish. It's produced from vines growing on deep, cool clays on the foggy bank of the Gironde and is always more giving than the firmer, more structured Roc de Cambes from higher-altitude clay-limestone soils. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Domaine de Cambes offers tons of saline, infused energy and tension. Crushed rocks, menthol, white flowers and chalk all run through this nervy, nuanced Bordeaux. Time in the gloss brings out lovely inner sweetness and perfume to play of the wine's mid weigh sense of structure. All the 2022 needs is time. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The 2022 Domaine De Cambes (80/20 Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is loaded with ripe black cherries, licorice, dried orange, and floral, spicy aromas and flavors. These flow to a medium to full-bodied red with an elegant, silky profile, supple tannins, and outstanding length. Compared to its sibling, the Roc de Cambes, this is always slightly more elegant and finesse-driven. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Domaine de Chevalier | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Domaine de Chevalier 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier delivers aromas of minty dark berries, cherries and ripe plums mingled with hints of licorice, coniferous forest and spices. Medium to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and layered, textured and elegant, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a long, penetrating, long finish. Olivier Bernard and his team have crafted an outstanding wine that will bear a special label commemorating his 40th vinification at this Péssac-Léognan reference point. 94-96 points" Yohan Castaing, RobertParker.com ------"Wow. This is incredibly structured and powerful with ultra-fine tannins that are tight and layered. It’s full and powerful with carved muscles of tannins. This will need so much time. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| ROSE | 2022 | Domaine Ott - Clos Mireille Rosé | 75cl | £160 per case of 6 | Domaine Ott Clos Mireille Rosé 2022 / / 75cl £160 per case of 6 |
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| ROSE | 2022 | Domaine Saint Andrieu - Clos L'Oratoire Rosé | 75cl | £110 per case of 12 | Domaine Saint Andrieu Clos L'Oratoire Rosé 2022 / / 75cl £110 per case of 12 |
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Tasting NotesPaler in colour than the 2020 and 2019 vintages, this appearance looks like a return to the delicate onion-skin hues of cooler vintages. Very fresh on the nose, lots of cucumber, watermelon and distinct red fruits (raspberry, some strawberry). Less stone fruit flavours and more freshness on the palate than the previous vintage. Still ripe, but with a little more acidity, framing those red fruit flavours beautifully. RKL |
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| RED | 2022 | La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 La Croix de Beaucaillou opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper and fresh mint, framed by creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit framed by chunky tannins, it's a blend of 66% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is super-expressive. The aromatics and tannin show strong Cabernet Sauvignon-inflections, but the blend actually favors Merlot in this vintage, as yields in the Cabernet were on the low side. This serious, potent Saint-Julien is going to need a bit of time to fully come together, but it is certainly impressive. 92-94 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A chewy and polished red with blackberry and blueberry character. Full to medium body. Fine and tensioned. Excellent finish. Salty. Blackcurrants at the end. 66% merlot, 32% cabernet sauvignon, and 2% petit verdot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | La Dame de Montrose | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | La Dame de Montrose 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"A second wine that would embarrass numerous classified growths, the 2022 La Dame de Montrose unfurls in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, rose petals, charcoal and loamy soil, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy palate of striking concentration, energy and dimension. Seamless and complete, it's a blend of 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com ------"Wonderful freshness and brightness to this with currants and red berries, as well as chocolate and hints of coffee. Full and layered with round tannins and a fresh and vivid finish. Lemon rind underneath it all. It has lots of length for being mostly merlot. 71% merlot, 23% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot, and 1% cabernet franc. From organically grown grapes. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Le Petit Ducru de Ducru Beaucaillou | 75cl | £271 per case of 12 | Le Petit Ducru de Ducru Beaucaillou 2022 / / 75cl £271 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Creamy generosity to the blackberry and cassis fruits, showing intensity and depth, knitted down right now, and with clear ageing potential and heavy black pepper spice. Tasted twice, this is an En Primeur wine to its boots, feels young and full of promise. 25ha on western side of St Julien (formerly Lalande Borie until 2018, plus sourcing from across the appellation), 3.77ph, IPT86, 43% new oak for ageing. 91 points" janeanson.com------"Coming from the western side of Saint-Julien and functioning basically as a third wine of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, the 2022 Petit Ducru De Ducru-Beaucaillou is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot raised in a mix of new and used barrels. A beautiful wine, it has plenty of Saint-Julien elegance and purity as well as cassis-driven fruits, notes of violet, spicy oak, and scorched earth, medium to full body, and just a silky, elegant mouthfeel. It's going to drink nicely right out of the gate. 90-92 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2022 Le Petit Ducru has turned out especially well this year, offering up aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with tobacco leaf and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and fleshy palate that's unusually supple and polished. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Le Petit Ducru pulses with notable energy. Graphite, lavender, mocha and licorice play off a core of blue/purplish fruit in this mid-weight, vibrant Saint-Julien. All the elements are so well-balanced. This is beautifully done. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"The fine tannins come through clearly here with black berries and hints of lavender. Medium-bodied with really fine tannins. Medium finish. A blend 75% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon and rest petit verdot. 92-93 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | 2 cases | Leeuwin Estate - Art Series Riesling | 75cl | £240 per case of 12 | Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £240 per case of 12 |
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| RED | 2022 | Pichon Comtesse Reserve | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Pichon Comtesse Reserve 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Réserve de la Comtesse is fabulous. Vibrant and impeccable in its balance, the 2022 is so impressive, mostly because of its balance. In some recent years the Réserve has been quite potent, but the 2022 leans more into the realm of sophistication, and polish. Hints of dark-fleshed fruit, licorice, lavender and spice linger. Don't miss it. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"Like a number of second wines from the best classified growths, the 2022 Resèrve de la Comtesse shares much of the personality of the grand vin this year, delivering aromas of blackberries, violets and exotic spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy palate with a rich core of fruit framed by powdery tannins. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com |
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| RED | 2022 | Vieux Château Certan | 75cl | £0 per case of 6 | Vieux Château Certan 2022 / / 75cl £0 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (very similar to the 2019), the 2022 Vieux Château Certan is a magical wine of exemplary harmony and balance. Offering up complex aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of exotic spices, licorice, iris, violets and loamy soil, it's full-bodied, supple and seamless, its sweet structuring tannins entirely concealed by a multidimensional core of pure, vibrant fruit. This sensual, perfumed Pomerol is likely to rank alongside the 2019 and 2016 in the pantheon of recent Vieux Château Certan vintages. 97-99 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The freshness and dynamic sense to the wine is so surprising. Minerally and salty. It's full yet racy. Black ink and oyster shell. Excellent length. 25% cabernet franc, 5% cabernet sauvignon and the rest, merlot. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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