Latest Releases

7th July 2011

At last, we are able to draw this year's En-Primeur campaign to close with our final and most sort after releases...

First up, Château Lafite Rothschild, which James Suckling believes to be already 'prefect' and awards the ultimate score of 100 points. Lafite has released two tranches this year however, allocations have been unnecessarily slashed by as much as 50% therefore, we already have more pre-orders than we have wine. Priority will be given to last year's buyers first @ £12,200.00 IB per case. SOLD OUT

100 James Suckling
"Believe the hype. Lafite is perfect in 2010. The nose is amazing with sweet tobacco, dark chocolate and currants. It is amazing. It's like gazing into the blue sky in wonder after tasting this young wine. Full and powerful with amazing minerals, currants and bitter chocolate. It starts off slowly and then finishes with a bang. This is really layered and wonderful. It goes on and on. Stunning"

20 Steven Spurrier
"Fabulous nose of wild violets, wonderful lissom texture backed by aristocratic firmness, a totally captivating wine for the long term. Drink 2020-50"

98-100 Robert Parker
"This exceptionally rich, thick Lafite came in with the highest level of natural alcohol (13.5%) ever achieved at Lafite Rothschild. To put that in its proper context, the 2009 and 2005 were 13.3% and in the hottest Bordeaux summer ever recorded in over 200 years, the 2003 achieved 12.8%. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, all harvested between October 9 and 14, the 2010 exhibits an extraordinarily dense color, an unctuous texture and sweet black currant fruit intermixed with graphite, charcoal and truffle notes. A director Charles Chevalier told me, between July and the October harvest, Bordeaux had its driest weather since 1949, but it never got excessively hot. Hence the tiny berries, freshness and extraordinary precision of Lafite Rothschild. This superb effort will undoubtedly shut down slightly once it is bottled despite a pH of 3.8. It needs no building up because much of Lafite Rothschild has now become an obsession with the wealthy Chinese and most of it will undoubtedly be consumed before it ever hits its prime. Ideally, it should be cellared for 10-15 years and drunk over the following 50+ years"

95-97 Neal Martin
"The 2010 is a blend of 87.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12.8% Merlot, cropped between 24th September until 13th October, delivering 13.48% alcohol at pH 3.82. Whereas the 2009 Lafite was an immediate "wow", this is far more introspective and broody, particular coming directly after Latour. Deep, dusky dark berried fruit, a touch of cedar and pencil box. Good definition but not as expressive or as vigorous as I was expected. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced with fine but structure tannins, masculine in style, understated compared to Latour. I take a little sip (pourquoi pas?) and there is another annexe of dark cherry and a touch of boysenberry. Hints of cedar and spice towards the dry, tannic finish. This is a Lafite that will grow during its élevage. Drink 2020- Tasted March 2011"

Lafite's second wine, Carruades de Lafite is available @ £3,200.00 IB per case (both the 2008 & 09 vintages are hovering around £3,900.00 IB per case). Demand for Carruades is ridiculous (given that the label design is very similar to that of Château Lafite itself) consequently, we expect this to sell out almost immediately. SOLD OUT

We are also delighted to offer the extraordinary Château Latour (Better than Lafite in my opinion) @ £11,000.00 IB per case however, it's the same story regarding reduced allocations! SOLD OUT

98-100 Robert Parker
"It's too early to know for sure, but the 2010 Latour appears to be a huge and massive Pauillac fruit bomb from this property. With 14.4% natural alcohol, this blend of 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot and .5% Cabernet Franc, director Frederic Engerer told me it is unlike any other wine made at this estate. Possessing abundant amounts of everything, it even eclipses the 2009 in terms of power with a lower pH and higher total acidity. Representing only 36% of the production (making it even more difficult to find than usual, as this is the smallest of the Medoc first growths), it possesses an opaque black/purple color along with an extraordinary perfume of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and cassis liqueurs and hints of white chocolate as well as earth intermixed with vague charcoal and truffle-like components. With unreal concentration, full-bodied power, and a precision, freshness and refined level of tannins that are something to behold, this remarkable offering is one of my personal favorites of the vintage. It will undoubtedly shut down after bottling and enjoy 50-60 years of longevity"

20.0 Steven Spurrier
"Sensational depth of colour, incredible sweetness and ripeness of fruit, but very massive now, a monumental expression of the Latour vineyards. Drink 2025-70"

98-99 James Suckling
"The quality of the tannins and density of fruit is truly beautiful. This is so focused, with purity and beauty. The 1990 Latour came into my head when I tasted this (twice). It starts off slowly and then builds and builds and builds . So intellectual. A superb wine with precision 90.5 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5 percent Merlot, .5 percent Cabernet Franc and .5 Petit Verdot".

19.0 Jancis Robinson
"90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Merlot, and a drop each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 36% of total production. Extremely dark purple. Again, more 'glamour' than I expected. Especially on the nose. Very ambitious and gorgeous. Thick and dense and hugely long term and dry on the end. Spices - something quite Asian about this - a hint of Szechuan pepper. Explosive. Super dry and introvert but with great velvety texture. So introvert and super dry, super Latour. Monumental. The massive fruit lurks underneath the very ripe tannins at the moment. IPT 83, less than Les Forts, but it tastes much firmer. 14.4%"

Latour's second wine, Forts de Latour is also available @ £2,350.00 IB per case SOLD OUT

We have just 2 x Cases of the superb Château Haut Brion @ £7,850.00 IB per case.

98-100 Robert Parker
"Following a harvest that finished on October 10, Haut-Brion produced a 2010 that should turn out to be one of its all-time greats ... an amazing feat given what they have accomplished over recent vintages. A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc that came in at 14.6% alcohol, the 2010 boasts an opaque purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of scorched earth/burning embers, blueberries, black currant liqueur and crushed rocks. Full and opulent with nobility, finesse, purity and elegance, this amazing effort possesses extraordinary levels of extract as well as formidable, but sweet, well-integrated tannins. It requires 8-10 years of cellaring and should drink well for 50+ year"

19.5 Steven Spurrier
"Stunning aromas of beautifully concentrated red fruits, already expressive, even exuberant, a taffeta-like finesse hides great strength for the long term. Drink 2020-45".

Château Mouton Rothschild is completely SOLD-OUT however, we have a small quantity of their second Le Petit Mouton @ £1,550.00 IB per case.

And finally to Château Margaux which is a story in itself... In simple, and to keep it brief, we had to justify and defend, at the behest of the Château, why Z&B should receive with their 2010. Quite extraordinary really. So, we bit our bottom lip (very hard) and obliged with the following "The vast majority of our client base has been buying directly from Stuart McCloskey (the founder & Director of Z&B Vintners) since the 2000 En-Primeur campaign. Those same clients' have shown the same loyal support to Château Margaux for the past nine vintages (during the highs & lows). Consequently, It would be terribly sad (for those clients') to have their allocation lost". Graciously, Château Margaux granted us our continued allocation, however we received a 60% drop and an extraordinary price tag to boot – Most at second tranche. Apologies, we were under the impression that Château Margaux wanted their wine to go to loyal supporters who will nurture their wine and enjoy over many, many years? Come on, who can afford to drink Château Margaux at over £8,000.00+ per case? It's absolute poppy-cock consequently, we graciously declined to deal with the Château (full-stop) as we have no intention of putting up with their greed and prostituting ourselves or our clients anymore.

We have a few busy days ahead allocating some fabulous 2010's and we will contact you all individually.

Our very best wishes

The Z&B Team...