2021 Chateau Laroque Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl
"The 2021 Laroque is very promising indeed, and winemaker David Suire and I agree that it is likely to surpass the estate's 2018 vintage in quality. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of sweet... berries, plums and cherries, framed by a discreet patina of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, with excellent concentration, lively acids and ripe, melting tannins. A blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, it represents 45% of the estate's production and derives from vines more than 50 years old."
92-95 points
William Kelley, www.robertparker.com
£120 / Case£20 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Lagrange 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 12x75cl
"Super-floral on the nose, a celebration of peony, violet and rose flowers. Juicy and supple with a real life-force. The starts off bright and upfront with strawberry and red cherry notes that merge... into a darker, more savoury mid-palate full of slate and chocolate. I like the persistence here, the clarity of the fruit expression and the brightness. It's not the most expansive but the individual elements are so well presented with detail on show. A great effort in the vintage with no drop in the mid-palate, acidity in check and nice floral fruit." 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£407 / Case£33.92 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol 6x75cl
"An exceptional Clinet in 2021. Richly scented, dark and roguish, a touch of sour cherry and perfume to the nose. Round, supple, generous and vibrant on the palate - this has a lifeforce to it with... nuance of red berry flavour and real persistency as well as juicy acidity. I love the upfront nature of this and the really quite vivid and expressive red fruits while the background gives the savoury, menthol, liquorice notes offering depth and wideness - lots of terroir and grape markers in the glass - particularly the high percentage (25%) of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Tannins are firm and supportive with the overall freshness lifting the frame, delivering a full mouthfeel with a density of tannins and black fruit that doesn't dip. Well worked and presented. A touch of wood on the finish but subtle and supportive. You also get the florality all the way through which is just so appealing. Supremely well worked, charming but also confident - I absolutely love it and it clearly stood out every time tasting it - four times in total. 45,000 bottles made, same production as 2020." 95 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£399 / Case£66.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Lions de Suduiraut Sec 6x75cl
"52% Sémillon, 48% Sauvignon Blanc. Previously Le Blanc Sec de Suduiraut, now Lions from this vintage. Round, supple and broad across the palate thanks to all the Sémillon but with freshness as well. Citrus aromatics. Stays a bit on the finish. Satisfying." 16 pts., James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
£65 / Case£10.83 / 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
2021 Chateau Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"A terrific success, the 2021 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with aromas of blackcurrant, wild berries and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Medium to... full-bodied, deep and seamless, it's concentrated and tensile, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and all the class that an elevated percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon growing in deep gravel can provide. It's the first vintage vinified in the Barton family's new winery, and I suspect that contributes to the ultra-refined quality of tannin this year. The blend is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Tasted three times." 93-95 pts., William Kelley, robertparker.com
£333 / Case£55.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Montlandrie, Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux 6x75cl
"Earthy aromas, smoked soil, liquorice, blackcurrant leaf, dark chocolate and violets. This strikes a tone with its vibrancy and energy in the glass, there is such life here, the acidity to the fore... but so well balanced with the crisp fruit and also touches of herbs and dried flowers that give this nuance. I like the upfront, bold nature, really saying; "look at what I've got’" but at the same delivering it so clearly and in balance with that clarity and grip all the way through and a lift - still the juicy strawberry on the finish. Good delivery and persistence with just a touch of green pepper on the finish. 43,000 bottle production. Ageing 50% new oak." 91 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£90 / Case£15 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Beaumont, Haut-Medoc 12×37.5cl
“Pretty, expressive, with a juicy core of cassis and blueberry, hints of cedar and tobacco leaf. A fresh, juicy and creamy texture and plenty of energy, with its long finish and fine-grained, lightly firm structure. Very fine indeed, and a bargain to boot”. Mr Wheeler tasting note
£58.50 / Case£4.88 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Beaumont, Haut-Medoc 6x75cl
“Pretty, expressive, with a juicy core of cassis and blueberry, hints of cedar and tobacco leaf. A fresh, juicy and creamy texture and plenty of energy, with its long finish and fine-grained, lightly firm structure. Very fine indeed, and a bargain to boot”. Mr Wheeler tasting note
£52.50 / Case£8.75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Siran, Margaux 6x75cl
"60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.
Smudgy rim and mid crimson. Not too dense and quite Margaux in build. Fresh with sufficient ripe fruit for the... far-from-excessive acidity. Quite long and subtle with a bone-dry finish. A transparent wine not as intricately woven as the Rauzan-Ségla but a very typical Margaux. A decidedly pretty wine and I know from experience how well Siran can age…" 16.5 pts., Jancis Robinson
£118 / Case£19.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Angludet, Margaux 6x75cl
“Mid crimson. Rather alluring ripe nose. Very soft and round. Not a long-distance runner but a true Margaux-style wine for early drinking. There’s even a hint of an ethereal quality about this.” Drink 2025-2034. 16 pts., jancisrobinson.com
£138 / Case£23 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"Charming and extroverted, the 2021 Gloria bursts with aromas of cassis, cherries, sweet berries, fresh mint and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's a lively, seamless wine that... wears its heart on its sleeve. This blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc seems likely to emerge as a sleeper of the vintage." 90-92 pts., William Kelley, robertparker.com
£157 / Case£26.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 L’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"Lemon, lime, green apples, honeysuckle, pomelo, and flowers open the nose. Creamy, fresh, vibrant and packed with sweet, yellow citrus, the wine is crisp, fresh and juicy on the palate and in the finish." 92 pts. Jeff Leve, thewinecellarinsider.com
£125 / Case£20.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Durfort-Vivens 2eme Cru Classe, Margaux 6x75cl
£260 / Case£43.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 La Croix de Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
£195 / Case£32.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
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 La Lagune 3eme Cru Classe, Haut-Medoc 6x75cl
"70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.
Pretty nose with what appears to be a good concentration of fruit. Pure and precise on the palate, the tannins smooth and rounded. Compact and harmonious with adequate mid-palate fruit and length on the finish. Bravo." 16.5 pts., James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
£157.50 / Case£26.25 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
“The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, picked September 13–23 at 40hL/ha, has a captivating, complex bouquet of yellow flowers, white peach, wet limestone and just a faint hint of elderflower in... the background. The taut palate is well-balanced with a superb line of acidity. Conveying tangible energy from start to finish, this builds in the mouth toward a persistent finish that fans out gloriously. One of the best Domaine de Chevalier whites that I have tasted in 20-plus years.” 95-97, Neal Martin, www.vinous.com
£430 / Case£71.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl
"Gorgeous deep pink purple rim to the glass. The nose is bright and intense, heady with perfumed aromatics and edges of graphite, cocoa and sweet red cherries. Such clarity on the palate, excellent... tension from the get go with beautifully expressed cherry and strawberry fruit that has a soft, ripe fleshy core. The tannins are fine but plentiful, coating the mouth providing the structure and frame. This has such a sense of quiet confidence - it's not shouting so much but gently showing off its many layers of fruit, acidity, minerality and freshness. This really grows on you, expanding and deepening as the flavours travel across the palate, coming in waves. Understated and introverted at the moment but still harmonious and classy. I love it." 96 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£2,550 / Case£425 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Canon Premier Grand Cru Classe B, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl
"Dark chocolate, perfume, violets, wild flowers and bramble berries on the nose, so much going on aromatically. Lovely succulence straight away, the bright acidity giving a mouthwatering effect and... really delivering in terms of vibrant and lively fruit forwardness but with these lovely edges of graphite, slate, bitter chocolate, cream and salinity. So elegant and so refined as well as super stylish. I also love the cooling menthol Cabernet aspects you get all the way through and on the long finish. This has real class, but also an effortless quality to it that is so remarkable. One of the most memorable wines of the vintage! 3.37pH. Both Canon, Rauzan-Segla and Berliquet are excellent achievements this year." 96 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£540 / Case£90 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux, Margaux 3x75cl
"Soft rose-touched blackcurrants, really quite delicate and pretty yet also expressive, the aromas clearly discernible in the glass with a vivid pink-purple rim. So smooth and quite sensuous, you get... the crushed velvet texture and thrashing acidity straight away, giving a round mouth, with these spikes of piquancy from the Petit Verdot. Really quite perfumed too. Vibrant with an excellent aromatic display and so much freshness. It’s on the tightrope - balancing the austerity and the plushness, the richness and the delicacy, the acidity and the structure. Tastes young and sparky, like a racing car ready to go, all energetic and buzzed. A great second wine. 4% Cabernet Franc completes the blend."
£414 / Case£138 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol 6x75cl
£1,368 / Case£228 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux 3x75cl
£720 / Case£240 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 La Petite Eglise, Pomerol 6x75cl
"A dark, serious brooding nose full of black fruits, truffle, rose, violet and dark chocolate. The palate is different however giving succulent and lively red fruits - sweet/sour strawberries and red... cherries, so fresh and sincere, so perfectly presented with the bitter touches balanced against sweetness, racy acidity and fine tannins. An easy-to-like wine, with personality and style and just a feeling of pure joy about it! Not rich, heavy or opulent but taking the most joyous elements from the vintage and putting them the glass, still with structure and depth! Ageing in 70% new oak." 91 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£205 / Case£34.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur