Latest Releases

16 June 2011

Thursday continues with a flood of 'top' releases...

First up is Château Pavie Macquin which received an incredibly high score from Parker (96-98+) and is offered in limited quantities @ £920.00 IB per case

96-98+ Robert Parker
"Although not as potent alcoholically as its 2009 counterpart (14.5% in 2010 versus 15% in 2009), the 2010 is still a very big wine. The final blend was 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon and production was slightly more than 3,400 cases. This black/purple-tinged wine exhibits lots of minerality (from this terroir's clay and limestone soils) as well as the entire spectrum of black fruits. Full-bodied and backward, it's like drinking crushed limestone/chalk when you taste this intense, tannic, powerful wine. It will require 8-10 years of cellaring and should evolve for 35-40+ years"

In Pauillac, and following in Pichon Baron's footsteps is Château Pichon Lalande which is offered @ £1,550.00 IB per case. Their 2010 has received mixed reviews from the critics however, one thing is clearly evident - We are going to struggle to recommend their wine!

92-95+ Robert Parker
"2010 Pichon Lalande: I tasted the 2010 Pichon Lalande on three separate occasions, two consistent and one that underperformed, hence the question mark. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, it reveals an opaque purple color as well as a thick, unctuous style with fresh blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with hints of graphite, herbs and coffee. The vintage's tell-tale minerality is present in this structured, tannic, backward effort. It will require 5-6 years of cellaring and should age for 25-30 years"

95-97 Neal Martin
"A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the nose with blackberry, rose petal, pencil box and a touch of cedar all with very fine definition. The palate is silky smooth on the entry, very harmonious and focused, fine mineralité coming through, sensual and velvety towards the ripe finish. Extremely pure but powerful, this is a precise, brilliantly executed Pichon-Lalande. I bet Sylvie Cazes is hoping that all vintages will be like this. Drink 2016-2040. Tasted March 2011"

18.5 Steven Spurrier...

In Margaux with have Château Lascombes @ £840.00 IB per case... Yes, their 2010 has received a glowing review from Parker (94-97) however, there's much divide amongst the rest: 91-92 James Suckling, 17.5 from both Jancis Robinson & Steven Spurrier. Neal Martin has provided a tasting note but was unable to offer a score!)

Can they honestly justify a 20+% price increase over the 2009?

We are offering 49 x Cases 2009 Château Lascombes at a 'special' price of £660.00 IB per case SOLD OUT

94-96+ Robert Parker
"Midnight oil? Dense black purple to the rim, the 2009 Lascombes has enormous concentration, with loads of graphite, blackberry, and blueberry notes as well as hints of pen ink and truffle. The wine is super-intense, full-bodied, fleshy, and rich. This is another wine that will compete with the 2005, which is certainly the best Lascombes I have ever tasted"

And finally to one of our favourites, Château Haut Bailly which is offered @ £1,030.00 IB per case

95-97 Robert Parker
"Proprietor Robert Wilmers and general manager/winemaker Veronique Sanders have done an extraordinary job at this estate, which has now become one of the superstars of Bordeaux as recent vintages have admirably demonstrated. An opulently styled effort, the blue/purple-hued 2010 offers a sweet kiss of graphite, charcoal, black cherries, black currants and compelling forest floor-like notes. A seamless integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol and oak is found in this full-bodied yet delicate, precise 2010. There is plenty of tannin but it is well-hidden behind the extravagant quantity of fruit. Give it 5-7 years and drink it over the following 35-40 years".

18.5 Steven Spurrier
"Great depth of slightly earthy fruit, a lifted fragrance over great vineyard concentration, more backward than usual with a superb future, a magnified Haut-Bailly. Drink 2015-35".

In Margaux we can now offer Château Rauzan Segla @ £990.00 IB per case...

Their 2010 has received some mixed reviews - Steven Spurrier awards a very handsome 18.5 and James Suckling a whopping 97-98. On the other hand, both Robert Parker & Neal Martin award 92-94 apiece and Jancis Robinson 17.5...

18.5 Steven Spurrier
"Deep expression of complex Cabernet fruit and fine aromatic lift of wild violets, the ripeness backed by perfect tannis, all in depth and harmony, a very exciting wine with a great future. Drink 2020-45"

92-94 Robert Parker
"Only 45% of the crop made it into the 2010 Rauzan-Segla, which is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine has an average pH of 3.6, but at 13.9%, the alcohol is the highest ever measured. The tannin levels in this wine suggest the great 1986 Rauzan-Segla, while the personality of the wine comes close to mirroring the 2005. Dense purple, with hints of menthol, blueberry, black currant and sweet, earthy notes, the wine is full-bodied and displays terrific purity, texture, and overall precision. The tannin levels are high, but the wine balances them out with its impressive level of concentration. This wine will probably need 5-10 years of cellaring when released and drink well for 30 or more years, given the fact that the 1986, at age 25, is still an adolescent"

NB: We have 4 x cases of the 2009 available @ £710.00 IB per case

We have also managed to acquire (Ex-Bordeaux) 20 x Cases @ £815.00 IB per case...

Parker awards a higher score for the 09 (92-95) & Neal Martin a huge 96-98
"Tasted at the chateau and UGC. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, with 10% vin de presse. The Merlot picked from 22nd to 25th September then 28th September until 1st October. The Cabernet picked 3rd October and from 5th until 11th October (no Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot, though ripe, just did not blend well), cropped at 41hl/ha. The nose is well defined, very classic in style with blackberry, black olive, graphite and an intriguing note of woodbines. This is a magnificent Rauzan-Segla, easily the best I have tasted at en primeur. Firstly, it is much more harmonious than usual at this nascent stage, the acidity level is just about perfect, there is a vibrancy that is really enthralling and the poise on the finish ranks alongside that of Chateau Margaux, tasted just before. The finish is very strong, slightly creamy in texture, but also superbly defined and with superb length. Very natural and refine, yet powerful. This may be the best Rauzan Segla that John Kolasa has made. Tasted March 2010".