DE-95
2020 Chateau Duhart-Milon 4eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 3x75cl
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.
£171 / Case£57 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2017 Henschke, Wheelright Shiraz, Eden Valley 6x75cl
"The epitome of elegance with its sheen of silky, pure red fruits and lissome acidity, in 2017 this Eden Valley Shiraz is closer to Adelaide Hills geographically and in spirit. Medium-bodied, the... beguiling strawberry and plum palate is delicately scented with pink peppercorn, coltsfoot, pine needle and black pepper. Subtle undertones of moss, twig and wattleseed draw you in further. Drinking beautifully now, with soft grainy tannins to the finish and lingering spice. "
95 pts, Sarah Ahmed, www.decanter.com
£495 / Case£82.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Domaine de Chevalier Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"Concentrated ruby red colour, a little subdued on the nose, built with structure and power, concentrated and should age well. Classical, powerful, not exuberant, an impressive Chevalier that has... tannins and fruit and freshness, nothing shouting too loud. As it opens, you see a peony floral edge that is very attractive. Easily among the best in Pessac." 95 pts., Jane Anson, decanter.com
£283 / Case£47.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 La Croix de Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
Deep, intense purple colour with freshness and nuances of graphite and mineral on the nose. Toasted spice follows, with sweeter vanilla tones overlaying an earthy core. The palate is incredibly juicy... with great fruit concentration bringing lovely weight and volume. Tannins are quite fine, integrated and accessible now, defining ripe plum and blackcurrant fruit, with sweeter milk chocolate tones ending with tremendous length and freshness. An out-and-out crowd pleaser.
£179 / Case£29.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Talbot 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
As Chateau Talbot’s third vintage under the direction of Jean-Michel Laporte (ex-La Conseillante) overlapped a trio of consecutive great years in Bordeaux, there was every indication that his 2020... would create as much anticipation as his 18’s and 19’s. That expectation was fully justified with the refinement and elegance this St Julien gem continues show.
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, the vintage shows a floral and fruit spectrum on the nose, with blackcurrant, berry and cassis; lifted, concentrated and fresh, its palate is expansive with a delicious lick of minerality, one whose elegance is matched only by a terrific length.
£240 / Case£40 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2019 Enzo Boglietti, Barolo, Brunate 6x75cl
"This Brunate is very complex, with smoky woodland notes, red cherry, pomegranate and liquorice aromas – a very classic signature. The attack is elegant and super-savoury, with vibrant and well... judged tannins that are extremely sweet, fragrant, and dusty yet integrated with the fruit concentration. It displays brillant acidity considering the warmth of Brunate." 95 pts., Aldo Fiordelli, decanter.com
£280 / Case£46.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2016 Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"This is so young right now, which seems crazy to say for a white wine, I know. But at two years old it has hardly begun to gather us to its side, let alone reveal its secrets. This will clearly have... plenty to show in a few years' time - white peach and pear flavours, and a gorgeous texture of slate caught against saline minerality. This is going to age, and then some..." 95 pts., Jane Anson, decanter.com
£407 / Case£67.83 / 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 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 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 La Mission Haut-Brion Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"Plenty of classic La Mission finesse and balance, touches of cloves and velvety tannins, this is surpremely balanced and elegant, with pummice stone minerality. It is a little taut on the finish in... its tannic structure and no question majors more heavily on the cool blue fruit character than we have seen with this property in recent years. Seriously enjoyable, a total masterclass in cool climate fruit delivery. Easy to recommend. 73% new oak, harvest september 20 to October 8. No frost impact here and very little mildew, meaning the overall yield was up to 47hl/h, extremely generous for the vintage."
97 pts, Jane Anson MW, www.janeanson.com
£1,350 / Case£225 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Montrose 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"Beautiful perfume on the nose, really fragrant and seductive, deep and heady but beguiling too. You get chunky, chewy fruit here - this is round, plump and filling a consequence of the slightly more... Merlot in the blend than usual - opposed to more Cabernet seen elsewhere. It has a luscious appealing fruitiness then the austerity kicks in, with a vein of salinity and minerality, such a linear, quite strict middle where you get severity in the texture giving it some rigidity but you also have such great depth on the mid palate, the layers of fruit and spice that linger giving such a core of flavour. A sense of power, intensity and concentration but also with acidity keeping everything lifted. A stately wine with lots of potential." 95 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£681 / Case£113.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"A brilliant Las Cases in 2021. Quite a savoury nose - dark chocolate covered blackcurrants, like a Black Forest gâteau as well as such signature Cabernet markers - green pepper, black pepper and... mint. This is serious, not as immediately charming or expressive, but grows in stature, expanding slowly while still maintaining a tight, focussed core. Spiced on the tongue, quite marked with sharp fruit that has an almost sour tang to it. You get the Cabernet Franc spice for sure - the highest percentage ever at 15% - alongside structure, length and intention. Acidity is well balanced and the tannins are so fine. Such purity of grape characteristics and terroir markers. Classic in the absolute best sense, there’s no hiding with every detail on show and in time this will be brilliant." 95 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£975 / Case£162.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"An excellent white with precision, flesh and confidence, sure to age well. A ton of white pear and some soft pepper spice keeps up the pace and lift from beginning to end, and the intensity... continues to build after the wine has left the palate - a sure sign of something special happening. A yield of 43hl/ha. Tasted twice. Unusual for me to score the red and white Chevalier at the same level, but both are extremely successful in this vintage." 95 pts., Jane Anson, decanter.com
£398 / Case£66.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
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: En Primeur
2020 Chateau Talbot 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
As Chateau Talbot’s third vintage under the direction of Jean-Michel Laporte (ex-La Conseillante) overlapped a trio of consecutive great years in Bordeaux, there was every indication that his 2020... would create as much anticipation as his 18’s and 19’s. That expectation was fully justified with the refinement and elegance this St Julien gem continues show.
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, the vintage shows a floral and fruit spectrum on the nose, with blackcurrant, berry and cassis; lifted, concentrated and fresh, its palate is expansive with a delicious lick of minerality, one whose elegance is matched only by a terrific length.
£240 / Case£40 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur