Latest Releases
LEFT BANK WINES
ChÂteau ANGLUDET 2011, MARGAUX
A charming, really expressive ‘Margaux’ wine. Rich, well balanced with a good structure. The chemical analysis of the wine is very similar to their 2010 but it is lighter and more forward. At over 20% less than the 2010 and under €250 a case it is a ‘buy’—to drink before the 2010—from 2015 to 2025.
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €234.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Beaumont, Haut-MÉdoc 2011
One of our well priced favourites that has produced an excellent 2011. Dark berries on the nose with excellent minerality, blackcurrent & cherry fruit flavours. Fine tannins and structure. A wine that will be drinking well when young with good medium term aging potential. Very sensible pricing at 15%+ less than the 2010—excellent value at €10 a bottle in bond.
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €111.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Beychevelle, 4eme Cru ClassÉ St-Julien 2011
Hugely popular in China, where it is known as the 'Dragon Boat Wine' due to the distinctive label, this is a forward style of St-Julien with a fairly high percentage of Merlot in the blend. Lighter than others from the same appellation it will make for elegant and highly rewarding drinking in the medium term.
"Deeply coloured, highly perfumed and sweetly oaked, this is one of the best young Beychevelles I've tasted. It's a gentle, fragrant wine with supple tannins and sweet liquorice and blackcurrant flavours. Crucially, the wine has no hard edges or over-extracted tannins. The Chinese may buy up most of it and who can blame them? 10+ years."—Tim Atkin MW, Score: 94
"Rich, supple, slightly spicy fruit, attractive touch of oak, seductively forward but will age well. Drink 2015-2025."—Steven Spurrier, Score: 17
75cl Bottles, Case of 6: €318.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Caronne-Ste. Gemme 2011, Haut-MÉdoc
This Cru Bourgeois is great value at €111 a case (10% less than the 2010). A fairly concentrated offering this 2011 has lots of blackcurrant fruit on the palate backed up by classic cedar notes and delicious vanilla flavours courtesy of some new oak. For early drinking over the next 2-7 years.
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €111.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Chasse-Spleen, Moulis 2011
One of the leading estates in Moulis that regularly outperforms many of the Médoc's more renowned classed growths. It is a classic cool wine with wonderful Cabernet fruit. Very well priced for a most attractive wine.
"Attractive fragrance of summer berries, clarity and vigour plus elegance, balance and potential." Drink 2015-2025. 16.5 points
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €252.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Fourcas Hosten, Listrac-MÉdoc 2011
Classified as a Cru Bourgeois in 1932, Fourcas-Hosten is one of the finest producers in Listrac. Excellent value at €123 a case – 10% less than the 2010.
"Very attractive fruit for this appellation with currants, minerals and flowers on the nose and palate. Medium body,
silky tannins."—James Suckling.
Drink 2016—2025.
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €123.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Gloria, St-Julien 2011
Gloria is something of an anomaly. It didn't exist at the time of the 1855 Classification and was in fact created in the first half of the 20th Century by Henri Martin from plots of vineyard bought from the best St Julien Chateaux: Léoville-Poyferré, Gruaud-Larose, Léoville-Barton, Lagrange and Ducru-Beaucaillou. The wine is now considered to be easily of Classed Growth quality and represents great value for money.
"This estate continues to go from strength to strength. Another sleeper of the vintage, the 2011 is excellent, possibly outstanding. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by abundant aromas of cassis, forest floor, tobacco leaf and a vague hint of oak. Ripe for the vintage with excellent texture, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and a delicious, savory, broad appeal, this wine should drink well for at least a decade."—Robert Parker
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €318.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Gruaud-Larose 2eme Cru ClassÉ St-Julien 2011
One of the ‘Super-Seconds’ (the best of the Second Growths). It is always classic in style and has a loyal & passionate following in Britain. Well known for its good value the 2011 does not disappoint—almost €100 cheaper than the 2010, it is a great buy.
"A very harmonious wine for the vintage with currants, spices and stones. Full body, with ultra fine tannins and a pretty finish. Delicate yet structured for the vintage."—James Suckling, Score: 92-93
"Rich, supple, slightly spicy fruit, attractive touch of oak, seductively forward but will age well. Drink 2015-2025."—Steven Spurrier, Score: 17
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €516.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Lanessan, Haut-MÉdoc 2011
Hailing from vineyards close to St-Julien this excellent fruit driven left bank will drink well from 2015—2020. A fine Cru Bourgeois, it shows bags of cherry fruit, has fine tannins and a surprisingly long finish.
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €138.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Les Ormes de Pez 2011, St-EstÈphe
Another cracking wine from this excellent & over achieving Château run by the Cazes family of Lynch Bages. It is a rich flamboyant wine with great depth. One of the buys of the vintage. It will be delicious when young.
"Finely expressed cassis fruit, slightly leathery and firm, good ripe middle palate and will show well. Drink 2014-2022."
—Decanter
"The wine shows very pretty fruit with spices and milk chocolate. Full body, with velvety tannins and an attractive finish." 90-91/100 —James Suckling
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €264.00 (In Bond)
Magnum Bottles, Case of 6: €264.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Lynch-Bages, 5Ème Cru ClassÉ Pauillac 2011
One of the most sought after Châteaux in Bordeaux and they have produced an excellent 2011. A very serious wine which will reward patience.
"This has nice weight and intensity, with a solid core of plum, blackberry and cassis that's offset by a racy, spicy frame. Very sleek through the finish, with latent depth in reserve."—James Moleswoth, Wine Spectator; 92-95 points
"Another strong effort produced under the administration of Jean-Charles Cazes (the son of Jean-Michel Cazes, who spent decades building Lynch Bages into one of the most popular Bordeaux estates), the 2011 boasts an inky/purple hue in addition to copious aromas of black currants, incense, forest floor and ink. Deep, rich, medium to full-bodied and layered with supple tannins as well as the vintage's freshness and vibrancy, it should age easily for 20 years."—Robert Parker
75cl Bottles, Case of 6: €480.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Pichon Baron, 2Ème Cru ClassÉ Pauillac 2011
One of the grandest Châteaux in Bordeaux and a star performer since reinvestment in the early 90's. Latour-like in style, Christian Seely's 2011 is a widely thought to be one of the best of the vintage. A great buy at €84 a bottle (IN BOND) which will drink beautifully over the next 15-20 years.
"This splendid Pauillac estate's 2011 exhibits an impressively saturated ruby/purple color as well as notes of spring flowers interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice and background incense and toasty oak. The tannins are firm and the wine is medium-bodied and rich with layers of fruit and extract as well as a long finish. An outstanding example of the vintage, it will need 3-4 years of cellaring."—Robert Parker
75cl Bottles, Case of 6: €504.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Potensac, MÉdoc 2011
A firm favourite of ours and a Château on the up since the Delon family took over in the 70's. This top Cru Bourgeois regularly trumps some of its more renowned neighbours. The 2011 is a lovely wine, more forward in style than the 2010 it will drink wonderfully over the next 3 - 10 years.
"Good cassis fruit, structure and depth, lots of class and good future."—Decanter Magazine, 16.5 points
"A sleeper of the vintage, this blend of 52% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc exhibits outstanding ripeness (13.5% alcohol) as well as a deep ruby/purple color and excellent notes of crushed rocks, red and black currants, licorice and earth. Supple-textured, medium-bodied and nicely concentrated."—Robert Parker
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €111.00 (In Bond)
Château Poujeaux, Moulis 2011
Another great success from this top inexpensive Moulis jewel this renowned for its good value. In the late 1970s Baron Rothschild famously mistook the 1953 vintage for his own Lafite. Highly recommended— not only by us:
"Good depth of black fruits, good structure, tannins quite high, but the fruit will dominate to show complexity as well as weight’. Drink 2015-2021." —Steven Spurrier
"A very attractive medium-weight claret. Plump and polished with no hard edges. Good balance, a touch of spice, smooth, easy and charming." —Farr Vintners, March 2012
"A wine with blueberry and violet character on the nose and palate. Citrus rind too. Intense. Very well done." 90-91 points.—James Suckling, April 2012
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €201.60 (In Bond)
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RIGHT BANK WINES
ChÂteau MÉaume Reserve du ChÂteau, Bordeaux Superieur 2011
Alan Johnson Hill’s 2011 Reserve du Château was one on the highlights of our trip to Bordeaux before Easter—it punched well above its weight and was a far better wine than many 2-3 times the price. The wine is made from the oldest vines at Château Mêaume and is aged in new and 1st year old barrels (from the legendary Le Pin). It has excellent packed Merlot fruit and is fairly forward. It is very well made wine and at €5.00 a bottle it is once again THE BARGAIN of the vintage.
"I am delighted by the very high quality of our Reserve du Château—the wine has delightful concentrated rich fruit from our oldest Merlot vines. It is more forward than the last two vintages and will develop into an expression of what I have always sought to achieve at Château Mêaume…. "
—Alan Johnson Hill
SOLD OUT
ChÂteau Gazin, Pomerol 2011
Gazin lies on the eastern plateau of Pomerol, Bordeaux's smallest and most expensive appellation, where its vineyards adjoin L'Evangile and Petrus. It has a reputation for producing stunning Merlot-based wines but without the astronomical prices that other top wines from this region command. The 2011 is extremely promising but definitely one for laying down. Drink 2016-2028.
"Gazin is normally a big, backstrapping Pomerol as its vineyard sits between Lafleur and Petrus. However, the 2011 is a softer, more gentle effort with a deep plum/purple color and a sweet bouquet of balsam wood, damp earth, black cherry jam, licorice and a hint of tomato skin. Medium to full-bodied and deep."—Robert Parker
75cl Bottles, Case of 6: €294.00 (In Bond)
ChÂteau Teyssier, St-Émilion 2011
Jonathan Maltus’ Château Teyssier 2011 is a much finer wine than we were expecting (and our expectations were high…). It is packed with luscious rich fruit in much the same mould as his 2010. The price is on the button and back down to 2006/2007 levels.
'A powerful, plush Saint-Emilion displaying notes of ink, toasty oak, volcanic earth and hints of chocolate and coffee. Medium-bodied and deep with loads of color as well as fruit.' —89-91 points, Robert Parker. High praise for a wine at €12.50 a bottle (IN BOND)!
‘Good value, amiable, round and classic’...Decanter…much like Jonathan… Drink 2014-2020.
75cl Bottles, Case of 12: €150.00 (In Bond)
150cl Magnums, Case of 6: €150.00 (In Bond)
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