5eme Cru Classe
2009 Chateau Camensac 5eme Cru Classe, Haut-Medoc 12x75cl
"...Big, ripe, juicy wine, the tannins very solid and dark. It has layers of new wood, power and considerable density." 93 points, Roger Voss
£350 / Case£29.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2005 Chateau Cos Labory 5eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 12x75cl
"One of the finest wines I have tasted from this estate, the 2005 Cos Labory exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue, aromas of road tar, blackberries, creme de cassis, forest floor, smoke, and graphite,... medium to full body, and abundant tannin. It is a complete, dense effort with high tannins in the finish. Once the tannins melt away, it should represent an outstanding example of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030." 89 pts., Robert Parker Jr.
£600 / Case£50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2018 Chateau Batailley 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
The 2018 Batailley, matured in 60% new oak, is almost identical on the nose as I found it in barrel, decked out with attractive black cherries and cassis notes, the cedar element a little heightened... and freshly rolled tobacco notes developing with aeration. Very fine delineation here, and the oak is well integrated. The balanced palate offers fine tannins that frame the blackberry and bilberry fruit. The salinity comes through nicely on the finish, which is less silky than before, but it waves adieu with a long spicy aftertaste. Very fine and very Batailley. 93 pts., Neal Martin, www.vinous.com
£202.50 / Case£33.75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2001 Chateau Clerc Milon 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 12x75cl
"The 2001 Clerc Milon has a lovely bouquet that puts the 2000 in its place with exuberant black cherry and bilberry fruit, estuarine scents and hints of orange blossom and iodine. Wonderful! The... medium-bodied palate offers succulent tannins and vibrant red berry fruit laced with white pepper and cedar. Very harmonious, with impressive weight toward the finish. This is cruising at its peak, and given this showing, it will continue to offer great pleasure. One to seek out." 92 pts., Neal Martin, vinous.com
£900 / Case£75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2018 Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"The 2018 Haut-Bages Libéral is super-impressive right out of the gate. It shows all the depth and intensity I saw from barrel, with maybe a bit more tannic impact. Ripe red cherry, plum, orange... peel, cedar and sweet spice all build in the glass. The 2018 is going to need a few years to come into its own, but it is a gorgeous Pauillac." 94+ pts., Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£168 / Case£28 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2021 Chateau Lynch Bages 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"The second vintage vinified in the Caze family's new winery, the 2021 Lynch-Bages unwinds in the glass with aromas of minty cassis, sweet berries, loamy soil, black truffle and cigar wrapper, framed... by nicely integrated new oak. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and muscular, it's a serious, layered, powerful, youthfully structured wine that will come together beautifully with maturation in barrel." 93-95 pts., William Kelley, robertparker.com
£510 / Case£85 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2016 Chateau Haut-Batailley 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"“The 2016 Haut Batailley has a deep garnet-purple color and aromas of baked redcurrants, red plums and cassis with asphalt, fried herbs and earth. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and chewy with an earthy finish.” 92+ pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£210 / Case£35 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2018 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"The 2018 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fabulous, just as it was from barrel. Strong Cabernet inflections soar out of the glass, giving the wine a compelling aromatic profile laced with the essence of... graphite, dried herbs, menthol and dark fruit. One of the most classic (for lack of a better word) wines in the Left Bank in 2018, Grand-Puy-Lacoste is super-impressive right out of the gate. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is ultimately a wine of tremendous class that remains restrained and aristocratic in breeding. Don't miss it." 96 pts., Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£335 / Case£55.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2021 Chateau Batailley 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
“Deep ruby red and simply oozing with spicy toast and forest berries. From a blend in this vintage of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 2% each of petit verdot and cabernet franc, skilful... work in the vineyard enabled all the varietals to be harvested at optimum ripeness, and the judicious use of new oak has given a superbly balanced savoury texture to the wine – this really is a very classy Pauillac. It is outstanding now and is destined to provide great enjoyment from the middle of this decade until late in the next." Mr.Wheeler Tasting Note
£165 / Case£27.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2021 Chateau d’Armailhac 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"Succulent and softly supple, this has lots of energy and pace with bright red fruits, raspberries and cherries, alongside sweet spices and perfumed nuances. The acidity is so well judged it lifts... the palate and delivers the individual elements with precision and poise, so you get a playful, friendly and upfront wine offering so much pleasure. I love the clarity here too, the sheer chalky and saline texture on the tongue; it feels clean and clear with a pristine quality. This will be a fabulous wine!" 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter,com
£195 / Case£32.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2021 Chateau d’Armailhac 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 3x75cl
"Succulent and softly supple, this has lots of energy and pace with bright red fruits, raspberries and cherries, alongside sweet spices and perfumed nuances. The acidity is so well judged it lifts... the palate and delivers the individual elements with precision and poise, so you get a playful, friendly and upfront wine offering so much pleasure. I love the clarity here too, the sheer chalky and saline texture on the tongue; it feels clean and clear with a pristine quality. This will be a fabulous wine!" 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter,com
£97.50 / Case£32.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2021 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 3x75cl
"The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste if fabulous. Bright and punchy, with terrific aromatic presence, the 2021 is a terrific example of the modern classicism of the year at its best. It’s the sort of wine... that needs years or maybe even decades to truly blossom, and yet all the requisites are there for that to happen. There is something about Grand-Puy-Lacoste that is absolutely striking in 2021. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle. Tasted two times."
94-96 pts, Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£150 / Case£50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2021 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste if fabulous. Bright and punchy, with terrific aromatic presence, the 2021 is a terrific example of the modern classicism of the year at its best. It’s the sort of wine... that needs years or maybe even decades to truly blossom, and yet all the requisites are there for that to happen. There is something about Grand-Puy-Lacoste that is absolutely striking in 2021. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle. Tasted two times."
94-96 pts, Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£300 / Case£50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2017 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Deep liquorice and black fruit on a cool, brooding nose. This follows on the palate, which shows a prominent cedar note and intense, fresh black-fruit character. The... tannins are rich and muscular but well defined. Tightly wound and full of potential, this is graceful and structured with a savoury, long finish. " 17.5 pts., Tom Parker MW, jancisrobinson.com
£326.64 / Case£54.44 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2017 Chateau Batailley 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"Composed of 53% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Alter Ego de Palmer is deep garnet-purple in color and springs from the glass with vivacious black raspberries, black... cherries and crushed blackcurrants notes plus hints of Sichuan pepper, menthol, pencil lead and cardamom. Medium-bodied, the palate is charged with energy, featuring expressive, bright black fruits and firm, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and lively." 92 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£240 / Case£40 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2020 Chateau Haut-Batailley 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot aging in French oak barriques, 60% new, the 2020 Haut-Batailley weighs in with 13.6% alcohol, a pH of 3.85 and an IPT of 81. Deep purple-black in... color, it opens with seducing, beautifully pure notes of blackcurrant jelly, juicy blackberries and warm plums, plus hints of chocolate mint, lilacs and forest floor with a touch of ground cloves. The refreshing, medium-bodied palate gives a great burst of crunchy black berries, framed by finely grained tannins, finishing with a minty lift." 92-94 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertpartker.com
£240 / Case£40 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2020 Chateau Pontet-Canet 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
The 2020 is yet another superb wine from an estate that has hardly put a foot wrong since the mid-1990s. A Château that delivers quality to equal and often surpass that of the super seconds, yet is... available at a much more palatable price tag.
60% cabernet, 32% merlot and 4% cab franc and petit verdot apiece, here is essential Pauillac: lifted, lilac-floral, chocolate and cherry nose; fresh, full-bodied cassis, plum and licorice palate, with layer upon layer of finely grained tannins with a terrific minerality and finish. It’s set for a glorious ageing.
£445 / Case£74.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2021 Chateau Pontet-Canet 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
“The 2021 is the most classically Pauillac Pontet-Canet I have tasted in modern times. Medium in body, with striking aromatic presence, the 2021 screams with character. Grilled herbs, incense,... leather, lavender and plum open with a bit of coaxing, all framed by beams of tannin and bright, salivating acids that give the wine shape and real sense of direction. There's a bit more Petit Verdot in this year's blend, and that comes through in the wine's intensely savory profile. Aging is 50% in new wood, 35% in amphora and 15% in one year-old barrels. The 2021 was impressive all three times I tasted it”
93-95, Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£445 / Case£74.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2020 Chateau d’Armailhac 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 D'Armailhac strides confidently out of the glass with classic scents of cassis, warm plums and cedar chest, plus wafts of pencil lead, bay leaves and... kirsch. The medium-bodied palate has a sturdy frame of chewy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the crunchy black and red fruits, finishing savory. The blend this year is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, with an alcohol of 13.3%." 90-92 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£198 / Case£33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2020 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
Purity and precision have been the hallmarks of this estate under François-Xavier Borie’s stewardship, and the 2020 is no exception. Expressive, delicate yet beguilingly layered and concentrated... on the nose, it follows on the palate with impressive concentration and power, superb depth of juicy black fruit and oh-so-smooth, fruit-coated grippy tannins bringing pinpoint-perfect balance and structure to the whole. The lively acidity brings lifted red fruit notes and carries through on the long finish. Class shines through here, and it is almost surprisingly moreish already at this early stage – though the structure will see it through for many, many years to come.
£304 / Case£50.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2020 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 3x75cl
Purity and precision have been the hallmarks of this estate under François-Xavier Borie’s stewardship, and the 2020 is no exception. Expressive, delicate yet beguilingly layered and concentrated... on the nose, it follows on the palate with impressive concentration and power, superb depth of juicy black fruit and oh-so-smooth, fruit-coated grippy tannins bringing pinpoint-perfect balance and structure to the whole. The lively acidity brings lifted red fruit notes and carries through on the long finish. Class shines through here, and it is almost surprisingly moreish already at this early stage – though the structure will see it through for many, many years to come.
£152 / Case£50.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur