DE-93
2020 Chateau D’Aiguilhe, Castillon-Cotes de Bordeaux 6x75cl
"Violet reflections, great clarity of colour and immediate whoosh of salinity through the redcurrant fruits. Powerful and focused with bright berry flavours, it practically defines the term crunchy... fruit, then softens to show creamier black cherry purée as it relaxes in the glass. Really a very tasty d'Aiguilhe from Vignobles Comtes von Neipperg. Extremely moreish. Harvest September 17 – 28, 30% new oak." 93 pts., Jane Anson, decanter.com
£72.50 / Case£12.08 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Quintus, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl
"Exuberant and confident, with powerful damson and black cherry fruit flavours on the nose. Chocolate and liquorice run through the palate from beginning to end, and this is full of signature... St-Emilion glamour. It has a round and supple texture through the mid palate, but the alcohol hides some of the limestone nuance at this point - it will no doubt emerge more clearly with 8 to 10 years in bottle." Drink 2029-2044. 93 pts., Jane Anson, decanter.com
£450 / Case£75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Casa Lapostolle, Petit Clos Apalta, Colchagua Valley 6x75cl
"“Bright, brooding and intense on the nose; dark, heady and ripe black fruits with spiced edges and a subtle florality. Smooth and succulent but punchy on the palate, tannins are silky and well... integrated and do well to underpin the fruitiness and liveliness of the expression. As usual Carmenere is the star with 40% of the blend alongside 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Youthful and exuberant, the team kept leaves on the vines and natural cover crops to cope with the sunlight, heat and lack of water in 2020, and despite the 15% alcohol this has 3.59pH with acidity that lifts the palate and avoids any heaviness. Rich but sleek, this is full of red cherries, cedar spice, soft herbal touches and finishes with a menthol freshness that is lovely. Will improve with age but great for mid-term drinking to enjoy the fresh vibrancy. Ageing 26 months in 225l French oak barrels, 53% new, 42% two years old. From this vintage, the bottles are now made in Chile and are 10% lighter in a bid to increase sustainability.” 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£162 / Case£27 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
“The 2022 Gloria was picked from 12-26 September and matured in 40% new oak, slightly less than the Saint-Pierre. It has a perfumed, floral nose with crushed violet infusing the black cherry and... blueberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with sumptuous tannins that belie the structure underneath. With pure fruit and well-judged acidity, this 2022 is sensual with a persistent and lightly spiced finish. Superb.” 94-96 pts., Neal Martin, vinous
£189 / Case£31.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2019 Chateau Laroque Saint Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl
£120 / Case£20 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2022 Chateau Chantalouette, Pomerol 12x75cl
"Seductive on the nose, floral and perfumed. Gently cushioning tannins give the frame and structure, both chewy and quite stern in terms of minerality, they set the tone for the wine with liquorice,... wet stone, slate and graphite elements all the way through with a chalky velvety texture on the tongue. Feels quite serious but polished, fruit is clean and pure and this feels like it will be easy to enjoy when ready. Retains coolness and freshness, acidity a touch on the low side in relation to the richness and intensity of the fruit and tannins, this is a big broad wine but lots to enjoy." 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£200 / Case£16.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Echo de Lynch Bages, Pauillac 6x75cl
"Blue fruits, subtle perfume, a juicy blackcurrant and stony minerality on the nose. Supple and juicy, a real sense of fun with detail to the fine tannins. Well balanced, gorgeous texture, depth and... characterful. A great second wine still with terroir markers, a salty finish, chalky texture and grippy tannins. Still concentrated and serious, there’s an intensity to the fruit but really well delivered. Will be a beauty.“ 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£195 / Case£32.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Chateau Potensac, Medoc 6x75cl
"Fragranced, black bramble fruit, so scented and aromatic. Crystalline pure fruit, blackcurrants, cherries and plums, with grippy, but super fine and fresh tannins and balanced acidity. You get the... structure - wide, firm, so refined in terms of tannic impression, they're at the fore but so discerning and integrated, really supportive and help to focus the wine from start to finish. Precise and sleek, agile yet concentrated with a lovely cool and juicy core alongside graphite and pencil lead touches. Powerful but polished and ageable. A great buy. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.64pH. 82 IPT. Eric Boissenot consultant. " 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£123 / Case£20.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
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
2020 Domaine de la Chapelle (Paul Jaboulet Aine), Hermitage, La Chapelle Rouge 3x150cl
“Glass-staining purple. Assertively perfumed cassis, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral aromas take on espresso, olive and smoky bacon accents with aeration. Juicy, chewy and energetic on the... palate, offering densely packed, alluringly sweet black and blue fruit preserve, floral pastille, licorice and mocha flavors that become deeper and spicier as the wine slowly stretches out. The floral and mineral notes repeat emphatically on a wonderfully long, juicy and mineral-dominated finish that's framed by building, well-wrought tannins.” 96-98 pts., Josh Raynolds, vinous.com
£750 / Case£250 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
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 Talbot 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"Spearmint and blackcurrants on the nose with some gorgeous perfume too. Excellent intensity of blackcurrant juice, not fleshy, more linear and direct, the lightness of flavour balancing with fine,... just gripping tannins that also offer touches of tobacco and toasted spice flavours. It's overall quite a delicate and well worked wine for the vintage, with gentle fruit persistence and a lifted finish. Will no doubt round out over ageing, giving more density to the really beautifully presented floral-touched bramble fruit. Elegance and class; promising indeed." 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£234 / Case£39 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Alter Ego, Margaux 6x75cl
This exuberant, fruit-driven delight is a near 50/50% assemblage of cabernet sauvignon and merlot with a dash of petit verdot and shows great purity with a structure slightly exceeding those of previous vintages. Therefore, a perfect drinking claret and one quite comfortable spending some good years in your cellar.
£304 / Case£50.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur