Saint-Estephe
2018 Chateau Tronquoy-Lalande, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
“The 2018 Tronquoy-Lalande is powerful and also inviting, with layers of dark-toned fruit that envelop the palate. Blackberry, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice, scorched earth and leather all flesh... out in the glass. As it was from barrel, Tronquoy is a dark, somber wine. It has enough sheer richness to develop well for another 10-15 years, maybe more.” 92 pts., Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£120 / Case£20 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Chateau Ormes de Pez, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"Composed of 54% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, to be aged for around 16 months in French oak barriques, 45% new, the 2020 Ormes de Pez has an alcohol of... 13.17%, a pH of 3.69 and an IPT of 79. Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with notes of plum preserves, blueberry compote and Morello cherries, plus hints of graphite, wild mushrooms and sautéed herbs. The medium-bodied palate delivers plenty of herbs-laced black fruits with a pleasant chewiness to the texture and lovely freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note." 90-92 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£112.50 / Case£18.75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 La Dame de Montrose, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"A ton of dark fruits on offer in the form of cassis, bilberry, blackcurrant, brambles of blackberry and raspberry, a ton of spice and sinew. Bitter almond and chocolate notes come in on the finish... and add to the feel of a signature Dame de Montrose. Not the exoticism of 2018, this is more of a return to classicism, closer to the 2019 or 2016. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend." 92 pts., Jane Anson, decanter.com
£175 / Case£29.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Capbern, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"Fragrant with fresh lilac and peonies on the aromatics, fairly high acidities overall with sculpted blackcurrant fruits. A higher level of Cabernet Sauvignon than in recent years after the replanting in the vineyard. 1% Cabernet Franc completes the blend, 3.85pH, 60% new oak." 91 pts., Jane Anson, www.decanter.com
£98 / Case£16.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Le Marquis de Calon Segur, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"The 2020 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, with an alcohol of 14.6%. It is aging for an anticipated 17 months in French oak barrels, 30%... new. Deep purple-black in color, it bursts from the glass with bombastic scents of stewed black plums, crème de cassis and blueberry pie with nuances of violets and licorice, plus a waft of menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of juicy black fruits with plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing spicy. This is a very different style from the grand vin (Calon-Ségur), but also very delicious." 89-91 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£116 / Case£19.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Meyney, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Meyney springs from the glass with lively notes of red and black cherries, cassis and pencil shavings, plus touches of clove oil and bay leaves.... Medium-bodied, the elegantly fruited palate delivers impressively pure black and red fruit layers with ripe, fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing savory. A very impressive showing for what remains a relative bargain!" 90-92 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£120 / Case£20 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2018 Chateau Phelan Segur, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"The 2018 Phélan Ségur is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot, weighing in at 14% alcohol, 3.8 pH and has an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Deep purple-black in color, it leaps... from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, blackcurrant jelly and kirsch, plus suggestions of menthol, Ceylon tea, forest floor and lavender. The medium-bodied palate delivers elegance and impressive vivacity with finely grained tannins and a refreshing line supporting the intense red and black berry layers, finishing long and perfumed."
93+, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, www.robertparker.com
£186 / Case£31 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2022 Chateau Calon Segur 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"The 2022 Calon-Ségur was cropped at 26hL/ha compared to 36hL/ha last year. Matured for 20 months in new oak, it has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and subtle tobacco... scents. The 2022 is tight at first but opens with aeration (winemaker Vincent Millet remarked how the wine was much more expressive the week I tasted it in mid-April compared to the previous week). The palate is classically styled with impressive mid-palate depth. With strict tannins and multi-layered graphite-infused black fruit, this is reminiscent of some postwar Calon-Ségur's I have tasted. I wonder if slightly less vin de presse would have been better? Uncompromising, perhaps that might be its virtue, but it means that patience will be required."
94/96 Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2023
£610 / Case£101.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 La Dame de Montrose, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
A second wine that would embarrass numerous classified growths, the 2022 La Dame de Montrose unfurls in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, rose petals, charcoal and loamy soil, followed... by a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy palate of striking concentration, energy and dimension. Seamless and complete, it's a blend of 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
92-94 William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2023
£189 / Case£31.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Le Marquis de Calon Segur, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"One of several over-performing second wines in this vintage is the 2022 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seamless Saint-Estèphe redolent of minty berries, licorice and rose petals. Lively and penetrating, it punches above its weight."
91-93 Pts., William Kelley, www.robertparker.com
£144 / Case£24 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Chateau Ormes de Pez, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"The 2022 Ormes de Pez is matured in 45% new oak for a planned 16 months. It has a perfumed and floral bouquet, quite sensual for a Saint-Estèphe, developing blue fruit with time in the glass. The... oak is neatly enmeshed. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a high-toned and racy opening. Good acidity, the Merlot (51%) occupies the driving seat and ensures its silky-textured finish, a mote of chalk dust on the aftertaste. Just needs its élevage to knit it all together."
92-94, Neal Martin, www.vinous.com
£130 / Case£21.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 La Dame de Montrose, Saint-Estephe 6x75cl
"Cocoa dusted blackberries and strawberries, you get that deep core, the baked fruit with aromatics touches - more herbal than the grand vin. Quite high-toned, verging on sharp with a real brightness... and vivacity to the red cherry and strawberry fruit. Fruit forward, smooth and direct, with mouthwatering acidity to the fore. You salivate such a lot here - and then get the wet stone mineral notes cleansing the palate. Pierre Graffeuille replaces Hervé Berland here, having arrived in March and taking over fully in October. 3% Cabernet Franc completes the blend." 90 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£158 / Case£26.33 / 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