Latest Releases

07 June 2011

We start this morning with Château Pontet Canet's second wine Les Haut De Pontet Canet which we are delighted to offer and highly recommend @ £285.00 IB per case. This is offered for general sale however, we have to limit one case per customer as quantities available are miniscule... SOLD OUT

We also highly recommend Le Tour du Pin @ £305.00 IB per case . This Saint Emilion property was sold to Château Cheval Blanc where Pierre Lurton's team have really brought this property up to an incredible level. The harvest and vinification are of the same, careful standard as seen at Cheval Blanc.

Over in Pessac-Léognan, Château de Fieuzal 'Rouge' is available @ £295.00 IB per case however, we see little point in recommending their 2010, particularly as the 2009 is still available @ £250.00 IB per case and will be physically available next spring.

Parker describes the 2009 as "The finest I have ever tasted, this is an awesome De Fieuzal, with plenty of lead pencil shavings intermixed with blueberry, black raspberry, and sweet cherries". Against the 2010 "This is a rare instance where an estate's 2008 may be better than their 2010"

Neal (Martin) on the other hand prefers the 2010 (91-93) to the 2009 (86-88)
"The de Fieuzal '10 has a very generous, open-knit, refined and delineated bouquet that really is a treat: so pure and feminine. The palate is displays fine tannins, bright red-berried fruit with good acidity, almost Saint Emilion like towards the fleshy, silky finish. Lovely. Drink 2013-2020+ Tasted April 2011".

Château de Fieuzal 'Blanc' is offered @ £365.00 IB per case

Robert Parker 92-94
"A brilliant effort and one of the great dry whites of the vintage is this honeyed, complex, melony, full-bodied effort that should drink well for 25+ years. Drink 2011-2036"

Neal Martin 92-94
"The de Fieuzal Blanc has fine intensity on the nose with green apple, kiwi fruit and a touch of lime flower. A little closed at first but it unfurls nicely with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine apricot and lime-tinged entry, well balanced with good acidity and vigour towards the finish. What excellent de Fieuzal from an estate that is quietly improving year after year. Tasted March 2011".

At last, some real action from Bordeaux...

The respected Second Growth, Château Gruaud Larose, which has received some fabulous reviews (Parker "the finest Gruaud Larose since the 2000 and 1990" and a whopping 18.0 from Steven Spurrier) is now available @ £530.00 IB per case

92-94 Robert Parker
"This gets my nod as the finest Gruaud Larose since the 2000 and 1990. The opaque purple-colored 2010 exhibits copious notes of Asian plum sauce, spice box, creme de cassis, loamy soil and a beefy/meaty character. It is full-bodied, dense and powerful, with stunning purity and no evidence of brett (a characteristic of the great Gruaud Larose wines made in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s). Given the 2010's tannin profile, it will require 5-8 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades thereafter"

92-94+ Neal Martin
"A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, delivering 14 percent alcohol, the Gruaud '10 has a very intense nose with blackberry, cassis and a touch of oyster shell. The palate is medium-bodied with very svelte tannins on the entry, a sumptuous Gruaud Larose that belies that structured underneath seamless towards the finish. This is a Gruaud Larose that is full of character and should age beautifully over 20 years. This may merit a higher score after bottling, hence the plus sign. Tasted April 2011"

18.0 Steven Spurrier
"Big, typically smoky-spicy Gruaud nose, lots of fleshy fruit, lifted and almost exotic flavours harmonious depth and length, back on top form for the medium-long term. Drink 2018-30".

The rush of releases continues with the delicious Pauillac, Château Haut Batailley, which is available @ £320.00 IB per case

Neal Martin awards a very handsome 92-94 points and describes Haut Batailley's 2010 as "a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. It has what you might describe as a very "natural" bouquet with wild blackberry, raspberry, just a touch of pencil lead and wet limestone. Not an intense nose, but very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with very precise tannins, good acidity, just a little hardness at the front-palate, but this will soften. The backbone is very impressive, the finish very masculine, classic, the Cabernet Sauvignon dominating and imparting great purity and expression of terroir. Superb. As always, one of Pauillac's over-looked gems"

Château Latour Martillac 'Rouge' & 'Blanc' are available at the same price of £220.00 IB per case

Neal Martin 92-94
"The Latour-Martillac has a comparatively broody nose with tertiary, dark berried fruit, touches of black olive and sous-bois. Good definition and very natural. The palate is medium-bodied with assertive tannins on the entry, good weight, quite masculine with firm grip, dense blackberry, raspberry, cedar and graphite towards the finish. Good length. This should be very fine after bottling"

Parker 90-92, Suckling 92-93

Neal awards Latour Martillac's 'Blanc' 91-93
"I must say...I am smitten by this nose. Very peachy with touches of guava and apricot, it is a little "obvious" perhaps, but very attractive. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp entry, good acidity, lacking a little persistency on the finish but compensated by its freshness and vitality. Very fine."