Archive Releases
18 June 2010
This morning sees high-scoring Châteaux Leoville Barton, Langoa Barton, Domaine Chevalier (Rouge & Blanc), Haut Bailly, De Fieuzal (Rouge & Blanc), Malartic-Lagravière (Rouge & Blanc), Smith Haut Lafitte (Rouge & Blanc) released however, I thought I would kick today off with a few of yesterdays top scoring right-banks first...
We have just 2 x cases left of Château Troplong Mondot available which we can offer @ £1,050.00 IB per case (The 2005 trades @ £2,000.00)
Robert Parker 94-97 "I tasted this wine four separate times, with three tastings extremely consistent, and one tasting showing slightly more noticeable and astringent tannin. Do I think it is going to be as prodigious as the 2005? No, but it is a compelling Troplong Mondot, and probably more approachable than the 2005 has been in its youth. This is a large vineyard, nearly 80 acres in size, and part of it had hail damage in May. They are late-harvesters, the Merlots were picked through October 10 and the Cabernet finished October 20, with very low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare, no doubt due at least in part to the hail damage. Alcohols on lots chosen for the grand vin are very high, between 14.5 and 15.5. The wine is inky purple in color, displaying beautiful creme de cassis, licorice, subtle smoke and graphite notes, enormous body, juicy, viscous texture, good vibrancy, a skycraper-like, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a whopping long finish of 40+ seconds. This is a great wine, probably more hedonistic and voluptuous than the 2005, but ultimately a tiny notch below that virtually perfect Troplong Mondot, which still gets my nod as the best ever made. This wine should evolve for at least 30-40 years"
3 x Cases Château Le Gay @ £820.00 IB per case.
Neal Martin 94-96 "A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, picked 26th , 29th September with the Cabernet Franc picked on the 7th or 8th October. The '09 Le Gay has a ripe, blackcurrant, briary, limestone tinged bouquet with very fine definition, opening up nicely with aeration with hint of orange sorbet and apricot. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly chalky tannins, very fresh and well defined with a beguiling sense of symmetry and focus towards the precise finish. Very assured, but so tightly-wound at the moment. You know, I might prefer this to La Violette".
James Suckling 93-96 "Blueberry, sea shell and blackberry aromas. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins, yet polished and cool, with a long, racy finish. Dense, with a solid core of everything"
Today's releases...
There's no doubting that Château Domaine Chevalier has produced something very special in 2009 – We are delighted to offer their "Rouge" @ £540.00 IB per case and their "Blanc" @ £720.00 IB per case.
Robert Parker 94-96 "The finest wine I have tasted from this estate in my 30+ - year career, the 2009 (64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot) from this hallowed vineyard in Leognan was cropped at 45 hectoliters per hectare and came in at 13% alcohol. It reveals an extraordinary, intense, pure, quintessential Domaine de Chevalier style, including silky tannin, dense plum, black currant, black cherry, floral, and graphite notes, terrific acidity, sweet tannin, and a full-bodied mouthfeel with no weight, but admirable precision and freshness. Consultant Stephane Derenoncourt has coaxed out all the elegance and complexity at this great site. A future legend in the making, this could be the best Domaine de Chevalier produced over the last half century. It should drink well for 35-40 years"
93-96 James Suckling, 17.5+ Jancis Robinson & 18.0 Steven Spurrier.
Parker awards their "Blanc" 96-98, James Suckling 95-98 and 18.5 from Steven Spurrier – Tiny quantity available...
Refreshingly, Château de Fieuzal have decided to buck the trend and released their 2009 for a bargain of £250.00 IB per case... Don't ignore this delicious bargain!
Robert Parker 91-93 "The finest I have ever tasted, this is an awesome De Fieuzal" James Suckling 93-96 "Intense blueberry, coffee bean and toasted oak character follows through to a full body, with supervelvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is really excellent. Best Fieuzal in years"
Their "Blanc" is available @ £310.00 IB per case... Robert Parker 92-94, 90-93 Suckling & 17+ Jancis "Lemony, rather suppressed nose. Chalky, mineral finish. This is a slow burner. Bone dry and not at all flashy. Very promising indeed"
**Special Offer** Château Malartic-Lagravière "Rouge" is up next @ £375.00 IB per case... (Market £420.00 IB per case)
Robert Parker 93-95+ "Progress has been ongoing at this vineyard, but proprietor Alexandre Bonnie has hit the proverbial home runs in 2009 with both his red and white wines. The best Malartic Lagraviere I have ever tasted, the 2009 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Cropped at a low 32 hectoliters per hectare, with a modest (by the standards of this vintage) 13.5% alcohol, the wine-s opaque purple color is accompanied by an unctuous texture, extraordinary elegance, lots of licorice, graphite, blueberry, black raspberry, and cherry characteristics, full body, terrific purity and length, and good acidity. This 2009 should easily evolve for 25-30+ years. Bravo!"
Steven Spurrier 18.0 "Black red, superbly concentrated purity of cassis fruit, then fragrant and slightly smoky lift, freshness runs through the precise intensity of vineyard fruit, a brilliantly expressed and focussed wine that needs time to open up"
We are delighted to offer a very limited quantity of Château Langoa Barton @ £450.00 IB per case.
Neal Martin 92-94 "Cropped between 23rd September and 3rd October, a blend of 34% Merlot, 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc, delivering 13.0% alcohol. A deep purple colour. The bouquet has a great purity and sense of nonchalance to it, light and airy, superb definition with black cherries, a touch of cassis and autumn leaves and then with aeration, hints of oyster shell and cockle shell. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a gentle but insistent grip, pure black cherries, touches of cassis and boysenberry towards the focused finish. Good length and breeding. Everything in its right place"
Steven Spurrier 18.0 "Black red, rich, intense black summer fruits, clear and precise with very good natural concentration and depth, expressively elegant, already showing great charm above the firmness"
The following Châteaux will be allocated to last year's buyers' before being released for general sale:
- Chateau Leoville Barton (Be Warned! Allocations are down on last year)
- Château Haut Bailly
- Château Smith Haut Lafitte