Latest Releases

15 June 2011

We thought prudent to recap on yesterday's releases before commencing with today's...

Château Leoville Barton is SOLD OUT

We have seen strong demand for Château Grand Puy Lacoste (97-99 Neal Martin) however, we still 5 cases available @ £680.00 IB per case – Fantastic value! SOLD OUT

This morning starts with the first-tranche release from Château Lynch Bages which we are delighted to offer @ £1,250.00 IB per case. Unfortunately, demand always outweighs supply therefore, this is strictly allocated to buyers' who purchased the first-tranche release last year. The second-tranche release will be allocated (when available) to buyers' who purchased the second-tranche last year. Any remaining stock will be released for general sale. SOLD OUT

95-97 Robert Parker
"Over the last three vintages, Lynch Bages has returned with a vengeance after somewhat listless performances following their brilliant duo of 1989 and 1990. Much of the credit for this must go to Jean-Charles Cazes who has taken over for his father, Jean-Michel, one of the greatest ambassadors Bordeaux has ever had. The 2010 blew me away on each occasion I tasted it during my two week sojourn in Bordeaux. Tannic and concentrated, this huge Pauillac boasts an inky/purple color as well as impressive notes of creme de cassis, smoke, graphite and spring flowers. This dense, seriously endowed, monstrous Lynch Bages is reminiscent of some of the wines made at this estate in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It will require 4-5 years of cellaring and should be drinkable for 3-4 decades".

95-97 Neal Martin
"Tasted at the chateau and at the UGC, the Lynch Bages 2010 is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot raised in 70% new oak. The nose is a little reticent at first, but builds nicely with aeration with blackberry, cassis, cedar, mint and just a touch of honey. Very good delineation. The palate is full-bodied with a firm, almost vice-like grip but with more than adequate fruit to back it up: blackcurrant, cedar, graphite and a touch of tobacco. Very tannic yet fresh towards the finish that will need a decade to reach its drinking plateau. Excellent. Drink 2020- Tasted April 2011".

18.0 Steven Spurrier
"Very good concentration of Cabernet fruits, rich and earthy, vibrant, vigorous flavours and packed with energy, a wine that once again justifies this château's reputation. Drink 2020-40".

98-99 James Suckling
"What incredible precision and clarity here. Currants, mineral, mint and lead pencil. Full body, with super refined tannins and a long, long finish. I am loving this young wine. It just builds on the palate. Goes so long. 79 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 percent Merlot, 2 percent Cabernet Franc, and 1 percent Petit Verdot".


We are also delighted to offer the Pomerol property, Château Clinet @ £1,020.00 IB per case. Demand is high however, available quantities are minuscule!

NB: The 2009 is @ £1,400.00 IB per case

95-98 Robert Parker
"A spectacular success in this vintage, this blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc achieved 15% natural alcohol. Sadly, there are only 3,400 cases primarily because of the small Merlot crop (yields were only 29 hectoliters per hectare). The wine's opaque purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of boysenberries, blueberries, black currants, licorice, truffles and a hint of asphalt. The wine possesses great intensity, a multidimensional mouthfeel, stunning glycerin and richness, and wonderful freshness as well as precision because of the vintage conditions. This massive Pomerol will age effortlessly for 30-35 years. Equalling what Clinet achieved in 1989 and 1990, it is the third successive great vintage for this estate"

94-96 Neal Martin
"Tasted somewhere (but I cannot remember exactly where) the Clinet 2010 has a precocious nose that soon settles in the glass: very pure dark cherry and blueberry fruit with touches of black olive and vanilla, building in intensity but remaining composed. The palate is full-bodied with ripe "clingy" tannins that do not want to let go and yet the texture of smooth and seductive. Don't be fooled by the first half. Those tannins kick in towards the second with a surprising dry, taut, tar-tinged finish. This is a complex Clinet that will really show its true colours after bottling. Well done Ronan! Tasted March 2011"

95-95 James Suckling, 17.0 Steven Spurrier.


In Margaux we have two, third-growth properties available. First up is the highly rated Château d'Issan which is available @ £565.00 IB per case

94-96 Robert Parker
"2010: Emmanuel Cruse has done a superb job at this moated castle on the southern approach to the appellation of Margaux. The dense blue/purple-tinged 2010 reveals notes of violets, blue and black fruits, a striking minerality, excellent purity, texture and length, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and noticeable but sweet, well-integrated tannins. It should drink well in 5-6 years and last 25-35. Drink 2016-2051"

18.0 Steven Spurrier
"Fine fragrant nose, perfect extraction, already beautifully textured, great future, probably the best d'Issan yet. Drink 2016-35"


And finally to Château Rauzan Gassies which is available @ £420.00 IB per case

91-93 Neal Martin
"Tasted three times, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, the Rauzan-Gassies has a very fine bouquet with good purity and terroir expression. There is just a touch of greenness, but there is an attractive floral perfume. The palate is medium-bodied with good tension and acidity, a little light on the finish but I like the focus and the mineralité that has not been seen for a long time. I look forward to re-tasting this in bottle. Tasted April 2011"

One of the 'BIG' releases to date is Château Montrose which we are delighted to offer @ £1,550.00 IB per case...

96-99+ Robert Parker
Jean Delmas believes this is one of the all-time great wines of Montrose, comparable to the 2009, 1990, 1989, 1959, 1947, 1945 and 1929. The 2010 harvest took place between September 27 and October 15, and the final blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that achieved 13.75% natural alcohol, a fraction above the 2009's 13.7%. Somewhat reminiscent of the 1989, only even inkier and richer, the 2010 boasts a dense purple color along with glorious aromatics of blueberries, boysenberries, black currants and a crushed chalk-like minerality. The tannins are less intrusive than I would have suspected for such a young Montrose, but they are unquestionably ripe and well-integrated. Deep, full-bodied and massive, this beauty should be at its finest between 2018-2050

96-98 Neal Martin
"Tasted at the Château, Montrose is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between from 27th September through to 15th October, cropped at 45hl/ha. It has 13.8% alcohol with a pH 3.65. The bouquet is tightly wound at first, pure blackberry, dark cherries, just a touch of coca with very good vigour. Very juicy, quite saturated with a very dense, impenetrable finish. Sinewy, structured and masculine, with a slight saline touch on the aftertaste. This is a great Montrose that will one day be fascinating to compare against the 2009. Drink 2020-2050. Tasted March 2011".

18.0 Steven Spurrier
"Elegant, quite reserved fruit, quite discreet now, will gain in length, but less exciting than 2009. Drink 2020-35".

95-96 James Suckling
"This is really integrated and polished, with a full body and super layers of cashmere-like tannins. Goes on and on. 53 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 37 percent Merlot, 9 percent Cabernet Franc and 1 percent Petit Verdot"

17.0 Jancis Robinson
"53% Cabernet Sauvignon (75% last year! And expected to increase), 37% Merlot, 9% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot. 64% of total production and remarkable for the unusually high proportion of Merlot in the grand vin blend - because of the purchase of vineyard from Phelan Ségur last year (did this help the Phelan purchase of restaurant Taillevent in Paris?) Very deep crimson. Quite different from most of these northern Médoc wines - much rounder and less fresh (presumably because of the Merlot). Very different from classical austere Montroses but soft and charming. As a wine, it is extremely well made with just a little furriness on the finish. As a Montrose it's a bit disconcerting but my mark ignores this. Rather unusual lack of freshness. Just a bit plodding, astringent and sweet on the end. 13.8%"

And to our final release of this morning – Château Branaire Ducru @ £565.00 IB per case.

93-95 Robert Parker
"2010: Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has completed a decade of brilliant performances at this chateau across the Medoc's Route de Vin from Beychevelle and a stone's throw from Ducru Beaucaillou, St.-Pierre and Gloria. A fabulous effort, the 2010's notes of raspberry jam, black currants, crushed rocks and spring flowers are followed by a wine of impeccable purity, medium to full-bodied power, sweet tannin and stunning texture and length. With superb richness and beautiful overall equilibrium, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 25 or more years. Drink 2015-2040"

93-94 James Suckling, 92-95 James Molesworth (Wine Spectator) & 17.5 Steven Spurrier.

Sold-Out list from earlier this morning:

• Grand Puy Lacoste
• Lynch Bages (First Tranche)

NB: 80% of our Château Montrose allocations has already been sold – Please revert ASAP if you wish to acquire a case or two....

This afternoon kicks off with the truly outstanding Château Pichon Baron, which has been released at exactly the same price as Château Montrose, £1,550.00 IB per case.

There's no questions that Pichon Baron's 2010 is fabulous (a sentiment whole heartedly endorsed by the critics') which I suppose goes some way to justify its price tag?

97-99+ Robert Parker
"2010: A prodigious, blockbuster effort from Pichon Longueville Baron, the 2010 is reminiscent of this estate's titanic offerings in 1989 and 1990, but may be even greater with 30 years of longevity. Kudos to proprietor AXA and general director Christian Seeley. It was absolutely compelling on each of the three times I tasted it. Black/purple-colored with super concentration and richness as well as full body, it offers an awesome display of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, camphor and spring flowers. Stunningly pure and unctuously textured with high but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this superstar of the vintage is definitely a wine to purchase as a future. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040"

94-96 Neal Martin
"A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, 13.7% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and total acidity of 3.3gms/L that will be raised in 80% new oak (the remainder one year old). This has a refined, much more understated nose than the 2009 that grabbed you by the lapels. It opens beautifully with aeration, blackberry, a touch of cassis, cedar and graphite, but a little gentler than other Pauillac 2010s at this early juncture. The palate is full-bodied with very fine tannins, good acidity, like the 2009, a Pauillac imbued with great symmetry and focus, very elegant and refined towards the finish that for once reminds me of the Pichon over the road. Very persistent and very "classic" towards the finish. Excellent. Drink 2015-2040+ Tasted March 2011".

18.5 Steven Spurrier
"Wonderfully smoky fruit, quite compacted still with great natural depth of Cabernet Sauvignon and a great future. Drink 2022-45".

18.0 Jancis Robinson...

NB: We have 6 x Cases of 2009 Chateau Pichon Baron @ £1,050.00 IB per case... SOLD OUT

Neal Martin awards a higher score for the 09 (95-97)


In Saint Julien, Château Clos du Marquis is available @ £420.00 IB per case

92-94 Neal Martin
"Cropped at just 36.7hl/ha, the Clos du Marquis is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc raised in 37% new oak, offering 13.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.63. The nose is driven by the cedar-infused Cabernet, one of the most closed noses that I have encountered during primeur. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine, saturated tannins, a little fleshier that I was expecting given the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, but very harmonious on the finish that belies the structure underneath. Drink 2016- Tasted March 2011"

91-93 Robert Parker
"Now essentially treated as a separate estate by Jean-Hubert Delon, and not as a second wine of Leoville Las Cases (whose second wine is now the newly introduced Le Petit Lion), Clos du Marquis has been a shrewd consumer's purchase for almost two decades. Interestingly, the first vintage of Clos du Marquis was introduced in 1902! The 2010, which is an exceptional wine, was produced from the same parcel that always goes into this wine. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, it is a relatively big wine at 13.6% natural alcohol, with loads of black cherries, black currants and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied format. Layered, intense, high-class and complex, this wine should drink nicely for 15 or more years"

Updates first:

• Our last email offer for 2009 Château Pichon Baron is now Sold-Out.
• Château Montrose has just released their 2nd Tranche which is available @ £1,700.00 IB per case...
The 1st Tranche released this morning is now Sold-Out

We are delighted to offer and highly recommend the second-growth, Margaux property, Château Brane-Cantenac @ £635.00 IB per case

94-96 Neal Martin
"Tasted on three occasions, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, raised in 70% new oak delivering 13.5% alcohol, the Brane-Cantenac 2010 has that trademark, very Pauillac style note, the Cabernet Sauvignon defining the nascent aromatics with graphite and cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fully ripe tannins, a little conservative on the entry but fanning out beautifully on the tightly wound mid-palate. Judicious use of the fleshy Merlot to balance out the Cabernet, composed and very harmonious towards the "classic" finish. Tasted April 2011".

93-96 Robert Parker
"2010: After nearly two decades of mediocre performances, Brane Cantenac has been doing impressive work over the last decade. While the 2010 may not eclipse the 2009 or 2005, it is an exceptional wine from proprietor Henri Lurton. A dense purple color is accompanied by a floral-scented bouquet revealing notes of licorice, graphite and red as well as black currants. Layered, rich and concentrated, this impressively constructed, seamless Margaux has plenty of tannin, but it is buried under the extravagant fruit and glycerin. This rich, pure, authoritative 2010 should drink well young yet keep for 25-30+ years. Drink 2011-2041"

18.0 Steven Spurrier
"Beautifully expressed Cabernet fruit, pure Margaux elegance that combines intensity and finesse, long flavours, excellent balance that shows up Brane's specific style. Drink 2016-30. (18 points)"

Château Pape-Clement 'Rouge' is also available @ £1,115.00 IB per case

94-96 Neal Martin
"Tasted three times, the Pape-Clement '10 is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, this has a surprisingly conservative bouquet but with very fine delineation and clarity. Blackberry and a touch of briary. The palate is very well balanced, very fine tannins and superb tension, the acidity lending this great poise and freshness. Good grip on the finish, this is an outstanding Pape-Clement. Tasted March 2011".

96-97 James Suckling & 93-96 James Molesworth (Wine Spectator)

Up next is Château Palmer's second wine, Alter Ego de Palmer which is available @ £515.00 IB per case however, we believe this price is truly bonkers, bordering insulting!

NB: We have a case of the wonderful 2009 available @ £390.00 IB per case...

Pape Clement have released their 'Blanc' @ £1,145.00 IB per case. Yes, it's good however, it would have to be golden elixir at that price!

Both Domaine de Chevalier 'Blanc' & Smith Haut Lafitte 'Blanc' are both excellent and offer much better value...