RP-95
2019 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Maison Bleue 6x75cl
"A superb Maison Bleue, the 2019 Hermitage La Maison Bleue seamlessly blends cherries and cassis into a purple mashup of fruit carried on rich, velvety waves of texture. Full-bodied and intense, it... finishes complex and savory, adding notes of olive, clove and cedar on the long, luxurious finish. Already approachable, it should drink well through 2040." 95 pts., Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com
£215 / Case£35.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2018 G.D. Vajra, Barolo, Bricco delle Viole 6x75cl
"The 2018 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is not super intense, but it is balanced in its own way. The wine is subdued but complete with softly yielding tannins to support an elegantly streamlined... mouthfeel. Bricco delle Viole is a high and cool growing site in Barolo at 400 to 480 meters in elevation with characteristic Sant'Agata marl soils with fossils. The wine represents a selection of fruit from over seven hectares. With fermentation in steel tank and aging in large Slavonian oak, you are invited to a silky, lifted and beautifully delicate experience with an accessible personality."
95 points, Monica Larner, www.robertparker.com
£345 / Case£57.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2017 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Maison Bleue 6x75cl
"Jaboulet's 2017 Hermitage La Maison Bleue is flat-out sexy stuff, full-bodied, plush and generous without being overripe or unstructured. Licorice, cassis and Asian five-spice powder burst from the... glass in a complex whirl of scents and flavors. Sourced from the eastern end of the appellation, it offers immediate gratification and admirable quality at a fraction of the price of the La Chapelle." 95 pts., Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com
£250 / Case£41.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2016 CVNE, Gran Reserva Imperial, Rioja 6x75cl
“Polished and structured with firm, very fine tannins. Lots going on here, with layers of black fruit, dried spices, graphite, coconut and cracked pepper. Full-bodied and so intense. Keeps going.... Long. The tannins are so fine and so numerous. One of the greatest modern gran reservas. 85% tempranillo, 10% graciano and 5% mazuelo. Try in 2025.”
98 pts, James Suckling www.jamessuckling.com
£240 / Case£40 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2019 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Maison Bleue 3x150cl
£240 / Case£80 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2019 Casa Lapostolle, Clos Apalta, Colchagua Valley 6x75cl
"...It's creamy and juicy, with very high ripeness and a notable absence of herbal notes; it's oaky, smoky and decadent, coming through as luxurious, round, lush and velvety. It's full-bodied and has abundant, small and powdery tannins." 95 pts., Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com
£450 / Case£75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2017 Henschke, Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley 6x75cl
"Hung deli meat, star anise and blackberry adorn the nose of the 2017 Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz. Discerning this is akin to peering over the counter at an Italian deli, with meat, cheeses and... garlic hanging from the ceiling: it's enveloping and welcome. On the palate, the wine is bright and concentrated, with layers of salted blueberry, licorice and staunch (yet fine) tannins. It has flexibility and pliability, but it also has shape and form—all of it encased in a medium-bodied shell. It is savory and lean above all else, with bacon fat adorning all edges." 95+ pts., Erin Larkin, robertparker.com
£675 / Case£112.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate 2017 Chateau Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Léoville Barton charges out of the gate with bold notions of baked plums, crème de cassis and blueberry preserves plus wafts of pencil shavings, fragrant earth... and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black fruit preserves with compelling herbal sparks and a firm, grainy texture, finishing long and lively." 95 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£326.64 / Case£54.44 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 1995 Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
The 1995 and 1996 Las-Cases are both monumental wines and the former does not disappoint here. It has a spellbinding nose of blackberry, cassis, melted tar and sous-bois with so much vibrancy and... vivacity. The palate is full-bodied with succulent, rounded tannins, enormous depth and power. The finish is beautifully poised and minerally, much more feminine than the ’96. This is a Las-Cases with guile and grace, but it deserves at least 2 hours decanting to open up. Tasted February 2011. 96 pts., Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
£1,250 / Case£208.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur