Immediate
2020 Fontodi, Flaccianello delle Pieve, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 6x75cl
“The 2020 Flaccianello della Pieve is a blend of Fontodi's vineyards, mostly three main vineyards planted on sites with very dense, heavy rocks. Dark, pliant and inviting, the 2020 is so expressive... today. Black cherry, plum, spice, lavender, licorice and mocha are seamless in the glass. The 2020 is a fine Flaccianello with a bright future. Most of this blend is sourced from three parcels in upper hillside vineyards close to town centre. The 2020 spent a year and a half in barrique (40% new) and six months in cask.”
96 points – Antonio Galloni, June 2023, Vinous.com
£650 / Case£108.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
1995 Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
The 1995 and 1996 Las-Cases are both monumental wines and the former does not disappoint here. It has a spellbinding nose of blackberry, cassis, melted tar and sous-bois with so much vibrancy and... vivacity. The palate is full-bodied with succulent, rounded tannins, enormous depth and power. The finish is beautifully poised and minerally, much more feminine than the ’96. This is a Las-Cases with guile and grace, but it deserves at least 2 hours decanting to open up. Tasted February 2011. 96 pts., Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
£1,250 / Case£208.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Petit-Figeac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl
“Gorgeous aromatic complexity on the nose, floral and bramble fruits. Juicy and so appealing on the palate, the tannins are chalky and fruity at the same time with a beautiful density and... liveliness. Lovely precision on the mid-palate, fruit forward, open, expressive and vibrant with so much freshness shining out of the glass. A joyful expression with mouthwateringly pure strawberry, redcurrant, raspberry and red cherry given structure and frame by touches of oak. I love the lick of slate on the finish with the minerality putting this squarely in St-Emilion. A lovely introduction to Figeac with its own personality. You can drink this now, but has potential to age. Keep a bottle to open when anyone comes over, this will impress!” 94 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£216 / Case£36 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Palmer 3eme Cru Classe, Margaux 6x75cl
"The 2020 Palmer, which was matured in 65% new oak, possesses one of the most perfumed bouquets of the vintage with entrancing, seductive scents of black cherries, wild strawberry, iodine and crushed... violets, all beautifully delineated (as per usual). The palate is medium-bodied with fine but quite firm tannins, lending this Palmer more backbone than presupposed. Blackberry, graphite and touches of liquorice develop with aeration that build towards an assertive, pencil box-tinged finish that nods towards Pauillac. This is a Palmer destined for long-term ageing, so readers should have a cool damp cellar handy. It is a serious Palmer, very different from the previous two vintages, not a mix of the two, but content in just being itself." 96-98 pts. Neal Martin, www.vinous.com
£1,300 / Case£216.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Duhart-Milon 4eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
A lovely earthiness with nuances of cigar and tobacco leaf, forest floor, pepper corn and sweet red currant. Medium-bodied, elegant, silky and fresh, with a beautiful symmetry and balance, along with... freshness, length and purity in the fruits, this is a top vintage for the chateau. 2020 Duhart-Milon is a blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot, and the first vintage made in the new cellars, which for the first time allow for parcel by parcel vinification.
£342 / Case£57 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Gruaud Larose 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.
Highest percentage yet of Cabernet in the blend. Fruit-driven and structured. Plenty of drive from the word go. Builds on the... palate in persistent fashion, the refined tannins giving a long linear flow. Lovely fruit. Delicious now but has ageing potential." 17.5 pts., James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
£347.50 / Case£57.92 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Montlandrie, Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux 6x75cl
Here, Castillon- Côtes-de- Bordeaux punches well above its weight, expressing an opulence and concentration of merlot fruit directly from a grade of limestone and clay to rival some of the best... terroir in Saint-Emilion. The 2020 is a blend of 75% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon and aged in 40% new oak for 14 months and represents one of the best combinations of quality and price we’ve seen in the 2020 en primeur campaign.
£90.50 / Case£15.08 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2021 Domaine Heresztyn-Mazzini, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, Champonnet 6x75cl
Juicy black cherry flecked with black pepper and clove follow the seductive, open aromatics that a whole-bunch fermentation approach provides. Intensely flavoured, firmly structured, finishing long and savoury. Great ageing potential in the 2021. (Mr.Wheeler tasting note)
£570 / Case£95 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 le Clos du Caillou, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Quartz 6x75cl
"Deepest colour of the four Clos du Caillou cuvées (plenty of Syrah). The aromatics are again restrained but there’s an attractive pitch of fruit and a spicy note that grows with aeration. Rich... and sweet, the fruit really concentrated on the palate. Tannins firm but very fine and completely interwoven with the fruit. Another for ageing." 17 pts., www.jancisrobinson.com
£310 / Case£51.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Haut-Brion, Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 3x75cl
"A blend of 71.4% Sauvignon Blanc and 28.6% Semillon, harvested 20th to 27th August and with an alcohol of 13.9%, the 2020 Haut-Brion Blanc slowly unfurls to reveal notes of fresh pears, spiced apple... slices, orange zest and lemongrass, plus touches of wet pebbles, dillseed and baking bread. The medium-bodied palate wears its lightly spicy apple and pear layers with grace and sophistication, supported by a racy backbone and subtly creamy texture, finishing long and mineral laced. It will need time, but there's no doubting it's a knock-out." Drink 2028-2045. 95-97+ pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£1,800 / Case£600 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Echo de Lynch Bages, Pauillac 6x75cl
Produced from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the 2020 this superb value second wine of Chateau Lynch Bages has a firm spine of red fruit with an impressive freshness, intensity and lots of leafy cassis. Plenty of energy, here making for a good early drinking, affordable Pauillac.
£173 / Case£28.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau La Pointe, Pomerol 6x75cl
One of the best offers of en primeur ‘20 and indeed an estate well on the up. Such that when a particular vintage renders the Right Bank the best merlot it has seen in living memory, La Pointe is... doubtless worthy of serious consideration for your drinking collection. 76% merlot, 24% cabernet franc. The vintage 2020 is just magnificent in Pomerol generally and at Château La Pointe in particular. We had rarely seen such fantastic Merlots : beautifully ripe yet not heavy, the fruit was vibrant. As for the Cabernet Francs, they were simply perfect! The 2020 vintage combines the opulence of the 2018 and the elegance of the 2019.
£180 / Case£30 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2018 Chateau Haut-Bailly Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"The 2018 Haut-Bailly soars out of the glass, showing magnificent poise that only grows with time. Sweet, perfumed aromatics, silky tannins and mid-weight structure add to its considerable allure.... Ripe red berry fruit, spice, blood orange, licorice, cedar, tobacco and menthol are all woven together in an effortless, classy Haut-Bailly that delivers the goods. I suppose the 2018 doesn't quite have the explosive energy of the very best years, but it more than makes up for that with its sensual, seductive personality." 97 pts., Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£510 / Case£85 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Domaine du Tunnel, Cornas 6x75cl
Cornas in a most refined and invigorating style. Serious polish and elegance here from an appellation more typically known for its rustic edge. Leafy, sweet & spicy black fruit on the nose with... earthy, mineral tones. On the palate, lovely interplay of sweet black olive and bitter tapenade flavours. Good grip; supremely precise, elegant, long finish. Quite superb. (Mr.Wheeler tasting note)
£225 / Case£37.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2021 Domaine Heresztyn-Mazzini, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru, Les Millandes 6x75cl
From a great vineyard abutting the grand cru of Mazis-Chambertin, here is elegance and dynamism in a wine with sumptuous layers of morello cherry, fresh herbs, and tempered by a delightful freshness and complexity. One to provide intense drinking pleasure over the next 10 to 15 years.
£565 / Case£94.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2021 Domaine Heresztyn-Mazzini, Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes 6x75cl
Sourced from 65-year-old vines, minty notes and a hint of liquorice open up this classic expression of Gevrey in which whole-bunch vinification give its seductive aromatics further lift. The oak... regime is delightfully modest, allowing a greater depth to the wine's dark, cherry-fruit core that is articulated by delicate but firm tannins. An exceptional pinot. (Mr.Wheeler tasting note)
£340 / Case£56.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2021 Claudie Jobard, Beaune Premier Cru, Les Epenotes 12x75cl
The continuation into Beaune of Les Epenots, one of two vineyards in Pommard considered for promotion to Grand Cru status. With the added mid-palate fat and ripeness in Beaune here is a cuvée that delivers superb structure and power, and will age gracefully for a couple of decades. (Mr.Wheeler tasting note)
£540 / Case£45 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2018 Enzo Boglietti, Barolo, Brunate 6x75cl
Bright ruby colour with an orange hue. Plentiful aromatics of cherry, violet, tobacco and liquorice. The palate delivers the same exuberance of the bouquet and shows an abundance of fine,... ripe
tannins. Balanced and harmoniously structured has a long and and vibrant finish. The silty clay soil with little organic matter is responsible for the powerful yet austere structure, the large clay patches give the complexity of flavours and aromas.
£275 / Case£45.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Maison Bleue 6x75cl
“Mostly sourced from les Murets, the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue is a solid effort, with appealing notes of blackberries, raspberries and espresso on the nose. It's full-bodied and rich, yet... streamlined and focused, with savory tones of black olives appearing on the softly dusty finish. It should drink well young, yet age well for more than a decade.” 92-94 pts, Joe Czerwinski, www.robertparker.com, (Drink 2023-2035)
£215 / Case£35.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2018 Enzo Boglietti, Barolo, Case Nere 6x75cl
Bright ruby colour. Alluring aromatics of red fruit, liquorice and some mineral notes. Classically
structured with an exquisite density, the tannins are beautifully evident but fine and very pleasant. The clay portion of the soil is responsible for the robust structure while the clay patches provide for the freshness and balance of aromas.
£275 / Case£45.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Aurelien Verdet, Cote de Nuits-Villages, La Pretiere 6x75cl
From his modest winery hidden off the beaten track in the little village of Arcenant in the Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Aurélien Verdet crafts wines of astonishing purity and precision. A highly... talented young winemaker whose following is growing steadily every year, Aurélien is no exception to the adage that “Great wine is created in the vineyard”. Indeed, he lavishes great care and attention on his 5.5 ha of vines, which he farms organically to produce fruit of superb quality. The winemaking is then all about respecting that fruit to bring the terroir through, which he does with great aplomb. A rising star to watch!
From vines found in Comblachien, very close to Nuits-St-Georges, there is an unmistakable step up in quality here. Reflecting brilliantly why Aurélien Verdet is so highly regrded in the region, his Côte de Nuits Village La Prêtière offers supreme drinking pleasure with a deep and bright aromatic intensity allied to bold and expansive, pure black berry flavours. Like a "concentrate" of pinot noir, this cuvée is completed with lively freshness, structure and elegantly pure tannins.
£135 / Case£22.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2019 Domaine du Tunnel, Cornas 6x75cl
"This is really packed, offering dense waves of cassis, plum compote and blackberry reduction flavors that stay well-defined as they rumble through, with ample cast iron, sweet tapenade, lavender and... bay leaf accents. There's loads of grip on the back end, but it's well-integrated, so just let this unwind in the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2038." 95 pts., James Molesworth, winespectator.com
£200 / Case£33.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Domaine Fernand Lecheneaut, Bourgogne, Hautes Cotes de Nuits Rouge 6x75cl
Offered by Mr.Wheeler for only the third vintage and one of the most exciting recent additions to our portfolio, Philippe and Vincent Lécheneaut’s ten-hectare estate in Nuits-St-Georges was... created by their father, Fernand Lécheneaut in the 1980s. An extensive range of the finest villages of the Côte de Nuits is produced here; we have picked what we think are the best in 2020 - perfect expressions of pinot noir – rich, sumptuous and elegant, these are modern wines made with minimum intervention that combine purity of fruit with stunning terroir expression.
Hautes-Côtes de Nuits have been particularly delicious in the past few, warm, vintages. This example from Léchéneaut is gorgeously moreish and juicy, with excellent ripeness and that spine of acidity that can be expected from vineyards higher up in altitude. Dark cherry fruit and fine-grained tannins combine beautifully here.
£130 / Case£21.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2017 Vintage Port Mixed Case 6x75cl
Croft “The predominantly south-facing Quinta da Roêda provides the cornerstone of this vintage Port, the best from Croft since the 1960s - and it's well priced too. It's surprisingly demure on the... nose with underlying plump, juicy plums and cherries. It's similarly voluptuous on the palate initially - in true Croft style - with a wonderfully ripe, broad tannic core rising in the mouth. It's dense and rather gorgeous all the way through to a fresh, vibrant finish.” Drink 2030-2060. 96 pts., Richard Mayson, decanter.com
Dow's “The 2017 Dow's Vintage Port showed a slight reduction and required more time to really open in the glass. Typical of Dow's it has a more backward and introspective bouquet compared to its peers, scents of blackberry, clove, wild mint, cassis and vanilla, gradually gaining more intensity with aeration. The palate is simply glorious. It is built around a compelling tannic frame that seems finer than any Dow's I have encountered apart from the ethereal 2011. There is so much energy coiled up in this Port, a sense of symmetry that is enthralling and yet you just know that it needs to be cellared for 15-20 years for it to reveal its full potential. For serious Port-lovers. One of the vintages most cerebral offerings. Total production is 5,250 cases.” Drink 2030-2080. 98 pts., Neal Martin, vinous.com
Graham's “…It has an expressive nose, a mélange of red and black fruit, fig jam, dates and touches of clove, aromatics that are very seductive if perhaps just missing the intellectual capacity of the Dow's. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins, a gorgeous Graham's with hints of espresso and cloves that tincture the multi-layered fruit that veers towards black rather than red towards the finish that fans out without a care in the world. This is perhaps one of the more flamboyant Vintage Ports that is likely to drink earlier than the Dow's, yet that takes nothing away from what is a beautifully crafted Graham's. Total production is 5,250 cases.” Drink 2030-2070. 95 pts., Neal Martin, vinous.com
Quinta do Noval “The 2017 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port was picked from August 21 to September 28 under perfect conditions. It has a tightly wound bouquet that requires a lot of aeration. Eventually it reveals fabulous, detailed aromas of cassis, bilberry jam, crushed stone and pressed violets, later hints of orange blossom and quince. The palate is pure class. Saturated tannins, wonderful structure but the headline is the intensity of fruit. I cannot remember a Noval with this penetration, almost overwhelming the senses as layers of effervescent black plum and cassis fruit segue into a spicy finish that fans out like there is no tomorrow. Is this the best Quinta do Noval ever?” Drink 2030-2080. 97 pts., Neal Martin, vinous.com
Taylor's “The 2017 Taylor's Vintage Port comes from their three quintas: Vargellas, de Terra Feita and do Junco, picking commencing at Vargellas on September 1, the earliest since 1945. Now this boasts a bold and more flamboyant bouquet vis-a-vis the Croft with layers of blackcurrant, blueberries, violet and allspice. Wonderful definition here and as it ratchets up through the gears with aeration manages to maintain impressive delineation. The palate is medium, rather full-bodied. The first impression is one of freshness, completely disguising that summer's dryness and warmth, a disarming finesse built around the frame of tannins that would have been impossible years ago. It is a silky-smooth Taylor's, one of the most polished 2017 Vintage Ports with energy and tension flooding through the finish. Aristocratic as ever, totally Taylor's, yet still translating the growing season with aplomb. Total production is 11,500 cases.” Drink 2030-2080. 98 pts., Neal Martin, vinous.com
Warre's“Based on fruit from Quinta da Cavadinha in the Pinhão valley, as well as Quinta do Retiro in the Torto and Quinta da Telhada upstream in the Douro Superior, this is mostly a field-blend from old vines backed by Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. It has lovely open floral aromas, so fresh and aromatic, with a touch of green tea leaf. In the mouth it has an underlying dark chocolate concentration with wonderfully pure, sweet plum and wild cherry fruit, backed by fine-grained tannins. It's wonderfully fresh and lithe, with an expansive finish and near-perfect poise.” Drink 2035-2060. 98 pts., Richard Mayson, decanter.com
£330 / Case£55 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate