JR-16
2020 Benjamin Leroux, Bourgogne, Rouge 6x75cl
Benjamin has been a good friend of ours since his days at Comte Armand, and his powerful, impressive winemaking style shines through in 2020 where concentration meets with backbone and guile in the... Volnay commune. He remembers his first ever visit to the UK back in 1999 where he spent some time staying with Richard Wheeler (Johnny's father, sadly passed away last year), memorable not least for the friendly dispute regarding the relative merits of local Mersea native Oysters versus their French counterparts! Benjamin’s Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans reflects the greatest attributes of this excellent vintage. Density, richness and structure are all to the fore in a cuvée which gets better with every passing vintage.
As Bourgogne Rouge goes, the underlying quality in this one has it already scaling the appellation ladder. Expertly selected pepper-potting of different sites from across the Hautes Côtes and Côte de Beaune, together with village wines from Pommard and further afield, provides Benjamin with the palate on which to create this outstanding introduction to his range. Ripe, heady and full of immediately accessible crunchy strawberry and violet fruit, the very soft tannins and a delightful freshness hold it all together. Smiles all 'round - unmissable!
£102 / Case£17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2019 Domaine de Cambes, Bordeaux 6x75cl
"70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc. Fruit pushed to the edge of overripeness but it works. Bright, dark-fruit notes with toasted overlay. Palate sweet, silky and gourmand, bringing a freshness to the finish. Clearly surpasses its appellation status. " 16 pts., James Lawther, MW, jancisrobinson.com
£185 / Case£30.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2021 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge, Cotes du Rhone 12x75cl
"Very appealing nose, juicy, packed full of berry fruit, leather and spice. Rich layered palate with taut tannins, good freshness and a balanced finish. Needs a bit of time – medium-bodied but attractive dark-fruit cassis-led style.” 16 pts., Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
£165 / Case£13.75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2018 Domaine Anne-Francoise Gros, En Morperay , Moulin-a-Vent 6x75cl
"Very pure and ripe cherries at the core here. Quite a serious structure, building grip and savour but retaining ethereal cherry-blossom fruit in the middle.” 16 pts., Tom Parker MW, jancisrobinson.com
£105 / Case£17.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Domaine Fernand Lecheneaut, Bourgogne, Hautes Cotes de Nuits Rouge 12x75cl
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.
£260 / Case£21.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Domaine Heresztyn-Mazzini, Bourgogne, Pinot Noir 12x75cl
Produced from a single parcel of vines in Gevrey-Chambertin, this lovely, uncomplicated pinot fully expresses the warmth of the 2020 vintage. Delightfully forward cherry and damson fruit combine to... give a rich and ripe mouthfeel with soft yet ever-present tannins. However keen you'll be to open a bottle upon arrival, it will continue to provide great drinking pleasure well into the coming decade.
£280 / Case£23.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Domaine Heresztyn-Mazzini, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru, Les Millandes 6x75cl
This wine comes from a great vineyard scattered with small stones and abutting the grand cru of Mazis-Chambertin. It creates a very elegant and dynamic wine with delicious layers of morello cherry and fresh herbs that are tempered by a delightful freshness and complexity. A wonderful example to be savoured over the next 10 to 15 years.
£510 / Case£85 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2021 Chateau Tour Saint Christophe, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl
"80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 35 hl/ha. Cask sample.
Lively and fresh with red-berry notes. Tension and length on the palate but sufficient fruit to add a bit of flesh. Chalky, terroir finish but nothing tough or exaggerated. Pleasing medium-term drinking." 16 pts., James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
£138 / Case£23 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Le Petit Cheval, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl
"60% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc. 13% of production. Cask sample.
Dark-fruit aroma. Long and linear on the palate, the Cabernet Sauvignon marking the blend (first time this much in Petit Cheval). Crunchy fruit with a firm grain of tannin. Structure for a bit of age." 16 pts. James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
£780 / Case£130 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Jean-Jacques Girard, Savigny-les-Beaune, Rouge 12x75cl
One of Savigny’s oldest domaines, originally founded in 1529. Jean-Jacques has been producing wine here as the sole proprietor since 1998, and with significant recent investment in the cellar and... winery he is producing outstanding wines. With his long experience of viticulture, Jean-Jacques firmly believes that the best wines are made in the vineyard and thus focuses his efforts on optimising the quality and health of the grapes themselves. This effort is reflected in his delightfully supple, elegant and classic wines, with his Savigny and Corton releases of particular note in 2020.
Understandably one of our most popular wines year in, year out, this is yet another status-defying example of outstanding winemaking. Deep, concentrated plum and cherry fruits with floral hints and toasted spicy notes. This is complemented by a lovely, layered structure and is already showing a silkiness to its well-framed tannins. Surprisingly accessible now, it will give huge pleasure upon arrival and equally so when in mid-term drinking thereafter. Don’t miss out!
£230 / Case£19.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate