Saint-Julien
2018 Chateau Langoa Barton 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"The 2018 Langoa Barton is succulent and racy right out of the gate. Inky red fruit, sweet floral notes, cedar and spice all mesh together effortlessly. This mid-weight, pliant Saint-Julien is every bit as seductive as it was from barrel." 92 pts., Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£185 / Case£30.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2005 Chateau Langoa Barton 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 12x75cl
£685 / Case£57.08 / 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
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
2020 Clos du Marquis, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"The 2020 Clos du Marquis is composed of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.57%, a pH of 3.76 and an IPT (tannins index) of 84. The Cabernet... Sauvignon was harvested from the 26th to 29th of September, the Merlot from the 11th to the 16th of September and the Cabernet Franc from the 18th to the 29th of September. Deep purple-black in color, it bursts from the glass with flamboyant notes of crushed blackberries, ripe, juicy plums and blackcurrant pastilles, with suggestions of licorice, red roses and espresso. The medium-bodied palate is completely coated with perfumed black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Simply gorgeous." 93-95 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£225 / Case£37.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
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: Immediate
2022 Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"The 2022 Léoville Las-Cases was picked 8-30 September with more infusion than extraction, matured in 84% new oak. Precocious, almost decadent blackberry and blueberry fruit on the nose, there is... something lavish and audacious about this Saint-Julien. There is an underlying estuarine element, a whiff off the banks of the Gironde. The palate is medium-bodied with polished tannins, very detailed, extremely pure, what you might call a "vertical" Las-Cases with fabulous precision on the finish. This surpasses the 2018-2020 trio and to use that clichéd expression, is a "tour de force". "
98/100 Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2023
£1,550 / Case£258.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Chateau Gruaud Larose 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
“It has an impressive bouquet with pure blackberry and raspberry fruit, black truffle and sous-bois scents. I am impressed by its delineation and focus; frankly, these are the nicest aromatics I've... encountered for a while at this address. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins. I cannot remember a Gruaud at this nascent stage that exhibits this level of energy and tension deriving from the Cabernet Sauvignon extracted at the beginning of vinification. There's much more precision here. Mineral-driven toward the finish, this easily surpasses vintages made at the estate over the last decade and more. Perhaps like the legendary Gruauds of old (1982, 1961, 1928, even 1870)? Gruaud reborn”
95-97 pts., Neal Martin, vinous.com (April 2023)
£420 / Case£70 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Connetable Talbot, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"Rich and concentrated fruit, dark blackcurrants, bramble fruit, juicy with a tiny hint of sweetness but quite light and aerial in terms of fleshiness, tannins are super fine and sleek giving this a... taught frame and sense of slick direction. Actually feels really classy and classic, not massively layered but delivers a really enjoyable glass. Excellent. Harvest 9-28 September. Yield of 40hl/ha. 3.81pH."
90 pts, Georgina Hindle, www.decanter.com
£105 / Case£17.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Chateau Talbot 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
“A great effort in 2022 with such excellent precision and detail to the tannins and fruit. Cool blueberries, blackcurrants, cola, vanilla, tobacco and liquorice all give nuance and interest with... fleshy tannins and bright acidity. Great balance of intensity and finesse with such energy from start to finish. Really quite approachable and enjoyable with impressive crystalline aspects and a lovely sense of place. Tasted twice. A yield of 40hl/ha. Ageing 16 months in barrels, 60% new." 95 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£289 / Case£48.17 / 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
2021 Chateau Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"A terrific success, the 2021 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with aromas of blackcurrant, wild berries and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Medium to... full-bodied, deep and seamless, it's concentrated and tensile, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and all the class that an elevated percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon growing in deep gravel can provide. It's the first vintage vinified in the Barton family's new winery, and I suspect that contributes to the ultra-refined quality of tannin this year. The blend is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Tasted three times." 93-95 pts., William Kelley, robertparker.com
£333 / Case£55.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Chateau Lagrange 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
Château Lagrange is 66% Cabernet, 27% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot aged up to 21 months in 60% new oak and is grown across 102 separate parcels on two gently sloping, gravelly hillsides.
Lagrange... is excellent value and of a vintage that is sure to appreciate consistently in coming years. With quality particularly high this year, yields from their impressive 138 hectares are particularly the opposite - a now-familiar narrative during the EP campaign so far. Forest leaf, cedar and a cigar box of florals enhance decent ripeness; creamy, spicy, long and vibrant fruit, it is a wine full of life and surely one to enjoy it at much length in your cellar.
£212 / Case£35.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur 2021 Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"Charming and extroverted, the 2021 Gloria bursts with aromas of cassis, cherries, sweet berries, fresh mint and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's a lively, seamless wine that... wears its heart on its sleeve. This blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc seems likely to emerge as a sleeper of the vintage." 90-92 pts., William Kelley, robertparker.com
£157 / Case£26.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 La Croix de Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
£195 / 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
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 Ducru-Beaucaillou 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
The en primeur release of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou today marks nearly twenty flourishing years of expertise and excellence under the stewardship of Bruno Borie, and a 2020 vintage of remarkable... purity and elegance. Supple and concentrated, it is somewhat lighter on its feet than the 2019 yet possesses a length, refinement and grace reaffirming why Ducru-Beaucaillou, has remained over these twenty years such an attractive proposition for collectors. Though not all critics were able to sample the 2020, plaudits from the The Wine Advocate suggest a similar attraction with 95-97 points awarded.
Collectors will also note this year’s special label design to mark this estate’s tercentenary vintage, which Borie describes as ‘an event in itself’ and one ‘capturing the brilliance, perspectives and energy of the 2020 vintage’.
£960 / Case£160 / 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 2020 Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
Château Gloria vineyard covers 50 hectares of vines in St-Julien of which 65% are cabernet sauvignon, with 25% merlot , 5% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Gloria is unique in that although it is... not a classified growth of the appellation, it is comprised of various vineyards that have been meticulously assembled from classified properties. As are result, the grand vin offers exceptional value for money, particularly when expressed in an equally exceptional vintage as the 2020.
£159 / Case£26.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur