Archive Releases
5 May 2009
We kick off today with a host of 'top' releases. . .
First up is Le Gay (Pomerol), which received an enormous score from Parker (95-98) – We are able to offer a miniscule amount @ £650.00 IB per case, offered on a first come first served basis. . .
"Is this the greatest Le Gay since the 1950 and 1947? Maybe. Certainly it is the most awesome wine made by the new administration of Catherine Pere-Verge. The renowned Michel Rolland consults here. Yields in 2008 were frightfully small, and the grapes were harvested in mid-October. The result is a black/purple-colored wine revealing a bouquet of graphite, incense, ink, and stunningly pure, rich dark red and black fruits. Massive in the mouth, with surprisingly good acidity, a boatload of sweet, supple tannin, a multilayered mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts nearly a minute, this phenomenal effort should be drinkable between 2015-2040". RP.
Next up is Château Pichon Baron, which we are delighted to offer and highly recommend @ £510.00 IB per case. . . Neal Martin simply adores the 2008 and awards (94-97), which puts it ahead of many first-growths at five times the price however, Parker slightly favours Baron's neighbour, Pichon Lalande, although still awarding a very impressive (92-94) – Be quick with this one!
"Just 52% of the total crop in the Grand Vin, which is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot from the "historical" part of the vineyard cropped at 35hl/ha. This has a lovely, more restrained nose, blackberry, smoke, touch of cigar box, Very pure. The palate is medium-bodied, very cohesive and lithe, beautiful balance, Very fine tannins, less opulent than usual, conservative but there is a lot of breeding here. Not a powerful Pichon Baron, but there is an ethereal sense of harmony and focus. This is a tour de force Pichon Baron". NM.
The great Sauternes, Château d'Yquem has unusually released early and I have to confess at a rather eye-catching price of £1,900.00 IB per case. . . (Massive reductions over their 07 price – 50+%). The 2008 has received consistently high scores from all the critics' – 95-97 Neal Martin, 18.0 Jancis Robinson & 18.0 Decanter. Half cases are available and we would advise you to purchase them in 37.5 formats.
A few mentionable releases from yesterday:
i. Chateau Gloria @ £190.00 IB per case (90-93 Parker)
ii. Chateau Figeac @ £500.00 IB per case (92-94 Neal Martin 16+ Jancis Robinson)
We're back to Pomerol this afternoon to see Château Clinet released at a super-price of £440.00 IB per case. . . Is it any good? Parker seems to think so and awards a jaw-dropping (94-97). Moreover, Parker says "This is the greatest Clinet since the incredible duo made by the late Jean-Michel Arcaute in 1989 and 1990" (It's worth noting that these vintages sell for £3,850.00 & £1,900.00 per case respectively)
Sadly, there's very little to go around and the demand as expected is HUGE – Sold on a first come first served basis. . .
"This is the greatest Clinet since the incredible duo made by the late Jean-Michel Arcaute in 1989 and 1990. The dense purple-colored 2008 offers up beautiful floral, blackberry, and pen ink-like notes, exceptional intensity, that multilayered texture that seems to be commonplace in the top 2008 Pomerols, silky but elevated tannins, good freshness, precision, and nuance, a substantial size, and an extremely long finish with not a hard edge to be found. It should evolve for 30+ years". RP
Château Feytit Clinet is also available @ £310.00 IB per case. . . Again, Parker (91-93) thinks this Pomerol has produced something special in 2008 – "One of the finest efforts yet made at this estate situated not far from Trotanoy and Latour a Pomerol, the 2008 Feytit-Clinet is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Yields were a modest 34 hectoliters per hectare. The wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a muscular, concentrated, full-bodied style with brilliant purity as well as texture. It is capable of lasting 15-20 years. Consumers should keep an eye on this Pomerol estate"
OK, now I'm struggling to keep up with this afternoon releases. . .
Where do I start?
Firstly, our lunchtime offer for Château Clinet is already SOLD-OUT. . . However, we're hunting for more and will revert if we find some!
Château Branon, a garagiste operation from Pessac-Léognan, which produces a ridiculously small quantity of between 500-600 cases per year, is offered @ £465.00 IB per case. . . Simply adored by Parker who awards a whopping (94-97) points.
"This sensational effort displays massive concentration, extraordinary intensity, and soaring aromatics of roasted coffee, barbecued meats, graphite, blackberries, and cassis, dense fruit, full body, excellent purity, nuance, and unlimited potential complexity as well as longevity. This limited production cuvee, a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, ranks alongside Branon's sensational 2000. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025"
NB: The 2000 & 2005 vintages are currently selling for in excess of £1,000.00+ per case. . .
We consider Chateau Haut Bergey Rouge to be a real bargain at £170.00 IB per case or £165.00 IB per case if 2 or more cases are purchased. Their 2008 has received an super score from Parker (92-94+)
"The earthy, smoky notes intermixed with notions of black fruits and road tar found in this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot are classic Graves traits. Sweet, dense fruit, with tremendous opulence, a layered mouthfeel, and excellent purity, freshness, and ripe tannins are displayed in abundance in this beautifully made offering from proprietor Helene Garcin. It should age effortlessly for 20 years"
This is a very serious wine with a stupendous price tag – What's there not to like?
Back over to the Right-Bank to see Château Monbousquet released @ £280.00 IB per case. . . Another 92-94 from Parker who describes the 2008 as "blacker than a moonless night" & "Loaded with concentration, and perhaps even bigger than the 2005 or even the 2000, this blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon topped off at 14.5% natural alcohol. Sweet, pure notes of black cherries, roasted herbs, forest floor, and toasty oak are restrained, but intense. The wine's purity, another hallmark of this vintage, gorgeous texture, and long finish with sweet tannins as well as more acids than normal, suggest it should drink beautifully young and evolve for up to a decade. This is an incredible offering from an unheralded terroir"
And there's still more. . .
Château Clos L'Eglise is offered @ £525.00 IB per case and quantities' are strictly limited. . .
92-94+ Robert Parker
"An intense yet delicate effort, this Pomerol property had a tiny production in 2008, and the levels of concentration and polyphenols are as high as, or surpass those in 2005, 2001, 2000, and 1998, the most recent top vintages of Clos l-Eglise. The dense purple-colored 2008 reveals a sweet perfume of blue and black fruits, licorice, truffles, graphite, and forest floor. With superb concentration, beautiful intensity, an unevolved, backward style (no doubt due to the late harvest and late malolactics), and high, but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this full-bodied, admirably concentrated 2008 should be at its peak between 2013-2028".
And onto Stephan von Neipperg's offerings. . .
Aiguilhe @ £145.00 IB per case (SUPER VALUE)
90-92 Robert Parker
"A sleeper of the vintage as well as a great bargain, this effort from Stefan von Neipperg's empire is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Like so many of his wines, the grapes are hand-harvested in small plastic containers, there is strict temperature control, a month-long maceration, a Burgundian punch down (pigeage), malolactic takes place in oak, and the wine is aged sur-lie. An inky/purple color is followed by a beautiful bouquet of crushed rocks, black raspberries, and blueberries, sensational intensity, sweet, but high tannins, good acidity, and amazing length, especially for a wine of this pedigree. It should drink nicely for a decade".
Canon La Gaffeliere @ £390.00 IB per case
91-93 Robert Parker
"One of the most consistently high quality offerings from both St.-Emilion and Bordeaux, proprietor Stefan von Neipperg, working with consultant Stephane Derenoncourt, always seems to deliver a beautifully opulent, complex claret that can be drunk young or cellared for 15+ years. I recently had the 1998 and 1990 and, although those two vintages are very different in style, both are classic Canon la Gaffelieres in their complexity, opulence, and richness. The 2008, a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, exhibits a big, sweet nose of roasted herbs, sweet black currants and cherries, licorice, incense, and Christmas fruitcake. Deep, concentrated fruit, full-bodied opulence, beautiful purity, sweet tannins, and fresh acids give this wine a stunning precision as well as amazing depth (because of the low yields). It should drink well for 15+ years".
La Mondotte @ £1,000.00 IB per case
93-95+ Robert Parker
"This backward, unevolved garagiste wine is fashioned from a 12-acre vineyard situated on a beautiful plateau and hillside with clay and limestone soils. Yields were a lowly 24 hectoliters per hectare. The 2008 exhibits beautiful black raspberry, licorice, acacia blossom, and smoky oak notes as well as a rich, full-bodied personality. It appears to have just finished malolactic fermentation, and therefore it is harder to get a totally accurate view of this cuvee. It is likely to improve dramatically with another 12 months of aging. The natural alcohol of 14.5% may be the highest ever achieved at La Mondotte. The tannins are sweet, the wine is profoundly concentrated, and looks set for 20-25 years of aging"