Archive Releases
15 April 2009
This afternoon kicks off with another Saint Julien second-growth, Château Gruaud Larose, which we can offer at £280.00 IB per case. . . This year's price demonstrates a fair reduction over their 2007 offering – I believe around 20%.
Neal Martin awards (90-92) points, which matches this mornings release from Leoville Barton. "A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. Moderate intensity on the nose, black fruits, a touch of soot, tobacco and smoke. Good definition but needs to coalesce. The palate is medium-bodied, grainy tannins, nice weight and acidity. Fresh and as always, full of character. The finish has a touch of spice and cedar to it – more Cabernet than usual. This is a restrained but nicely focused Gruaud"
We've also added Neal's Pessac-Léognan (Rouge & Blanc) scores/notes and Jancis Robinson's scores/& notes for Pomerol and Saint Emilion. . .
NB: (JH) is Julia Harding MW who tastes/works with Jancis.
This morning kicks off with both wines from the Barton stable – Château Leoville Barton, which has an insatiable following in the UK, is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED at a fabulous price of £330.00 IB per case or £325.00 IB per case if two or more cases are purchased.
Decanter.com awards a very impressive 18.0 points and describe the wine as "Black-red, very good concentration of autumnal black fruits nose, impressively structured fruit, plummy ripeness on the attack, classic firmness on the finish, very good depth and persistence, powerful yet restrained". Drink 2018-30.
James Suckling from the Wine Spectator equally awards an impressive score of 90-93, which is on par with Châteaux Margaux, Pontet Canet and Ducru Beaucaillou, all of which will undoubtedly be a tad heftier in price! "Roses, blackberries, currants and wet earth. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and very pretty fruit. Long and juicy. A delicious wine, very balanced". —J.S.
Château Langoa Barton is available for £240.00 IB per case. 89-92 points Wine Spectator & 17.0 points from Decanter.com who describe the 08 as "Deep purple-red, deep, slightly smoky, slighty briary black fruits nose, both freshness and depth on the palate, elegant concentration of fruit, tannins that will blend in to show an expressive, classy wine". Drink 2015-25.
Yesterday (and I apologise for the lateness of my communiqué) saw the release from the famed first-growth, Château Latour, which we are delighted to offer at £1,590.00 IB per case. Sadly, only 40% of the crop went into the Grand-Vin. As consequence, we're subjected to the same boring and inevitable tightening of allocations via the négociants. Priority will be given to long supporters of this Château however, we're hoping to be in a position to send out a 'general' offer later during the campaign – We may even see some 2nd tranche wine appearing particularly as the 1st tranche allocations were so ungenerous!
Château Latour's second wine, Forts de Latour is also available at £550.00 IB per case. It's a free for all as we're not restricted by allocations.
We've also just added Neal Martin's scores & tasting notes for the appellations of St-Julien and Margaux. The latter appellation is inconsistent to poor although Château Palmer (93-95) is right up there this year, leap-frogging both Chateau Latour (92-95) and Château Margaux (90-92) in this years standing. . .
It's a very different story in St-Julien were we see more consistency in quality. . . Neal's top score goes to the 3rd growth property, Château Lagrange, which receives an incredible (92-95).