Archive Releases

19 May 2009

And now we have the great St-Emilion, Château Cheval Blanc, which is available @ £3,355.00 IB per case. . . (Very limited)

Again, this Château has received consistently high scores/praise from the leading critics' – 19.0 from Decanter, 95-98 from Neal Martin (outstripping Ausone by a point), 92-95 from James Suckling (Ausone just wins the battle this time) and Parker awards 95-97.

It's interesting to note that Parker believes that "In time, the profound 2008 Cheval Blanc will rank alongside this estate's great successes of 2005, 2000, and 1998", which trade for £5,400.00, £7,000.00, £4,200.00 respectively however, it's equally important to point out that the 1998 isn't that "great" – parker awards a mere 93 points!

Neal Martin 95-98
"This has a more understated nose that usual but do not be misled, it has wonderful definition and poise, a sense of natural harmony that had already been perceived on the Second Wine. There is a tertiary scent that is coming from the Cabernet Franc which is superb. The palate is very well a balanced, great vibrancy and tension, super-fine tannins, a little more structure thanks to the Cabernet Franc. PL – "a pixellated wine." Lovely pure raspberry and red cherry towards the poised, fresh finish. This is a wonderful, natural Cheval Blanc".

Robert Parker 95-97
"In time, the profound 2008 Cheval Blanc will rank alongside this estate's great successes of 2005, 2000, and 1998. A harvest that began at the end of September and concluded October 19 has produced a wine with the 1998's complexity and the power of the 2000. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the dense ruby/purple-tinged 2008 reveals an ethereal nose of subtle menthol intertwined with spring flowers, plums, black currants, and sweet cherries. The wine's seamlessness is enthralling, and, despite the late harvest as well as late malolactics, it is already displaying admirable complexity. This is a beautifully complete, full-bodied Cheval Blanc that dances across the palate with the finesse of a world-class ballerina. Analytically, there is plenty of tannin, but it is totally integrated. While the acids are slightly elevated, they are not noticeable. A tour de force! This wine should evolve for three decades or more".

Wow - I'm gobsmacked! Château Leoville Las Cases has just been released at a most unexpected price of sub €100 per Btl (Our cost) In fact, this has to be the first time they've actually listened to the market! As such, and carrying on their good-sprit we're thrilled to offer it @ £900.00 IB per case. . . Everyone including the négociants had money on Las Cases being well over the one thousand mark – How refreshing it is to be wrong!

Steven Spurrier awards 19.0/20.0 (First Growths: only Latour beats it with 19.5) "Superb black-purple, ripe and dense blackcurrant fruit showing the concentration and complexity from a great vineyard, almost seductive at first, then great power, purity and density of fruit, a totally beautiful, impressive wine".

James Suckling awards (91-94) which ties it with Châteaux Mouton, Lafite & Latour. . .
"Wonderful nose of roses, violets, raspberries and black licorice. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and lots of beautiful wood. Excellent". Robert Parker 95-97
"Readers should not be surprised that the 2008 Leoville Las Cases is a great classic as the selection process here is as Draconian as at any of the first-growths. Slightly more than one-third of the production made it into the grand vin, a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Merlot. Yields were just under 38 hectoliters per hectare, and the natural alcohol of 13.4% is among the highest ever measured at this estate. The harvest was very late, between October 6-18, and the result is a wine boasting extraordinarily sweet tannin as well as abundant black cherry and cassis notes intermixed with a prominent underlying minerality. Despite the massive density, concentration, and length, the wine is extremely precise, nuanced, and impeccably pure. This phenomenal effort should be more drinkable in its youth than many other vintages of Las Cases because of the ripe tannins and sweet fruit density. It will need 5-10 years of cellaring, and should last for 40+ years".

Can it match the 2005? Parker's notes and rising scores are an interesting comparison;

2005 Vintage:

• En-Primeur 92-94
• A year on 94-96
• Bottling – 98, which currently trades at £2,000.00 IB per case. . .

Clos Du Marquis (Las Cases 2nd wine) is offered and highly recommended @ £255.00 IB per case. . .

Robert Parker 90-93
"For many years, Las Cases' second wine has been the equivalent of a classified growth in the Medoc. The 2008 Clos du Marquis may be one of the two or three finest second wines I have tasted from proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that came in at 13.5% natural alcohol, it is a pure, deep, full-bodied effort displaying classic aromas of creme de cassis, licorice, and crushed rocks. On the palate, there is a sensational black fruit character, no hard edges, and a seamless integration of all the component parts. This wine should drink beautifully for 15 or more years". What's not to like?

This morning kicks off with the controversial St Émilion, Château Pavie, which we are delighted to offer @ £1,165.00 IB per case. . . The question you must ask yourself is - is it worth the money?

Firstly, it's fair to say that all the leading critics' think the 2008 Pavie is something special – James Suckling places it on-par with Cheval Blanc, above Petrus and just a smidgen behind Ausone. Robert Parker awards a whopping 96-98+ (there's only 4 other Châteaux with a higher score – Lafite, Petrus, Trotanoy & Ausone)

Furthermore, Parker writes "Is the 2008 Pavie superior to the 2005 and 2000?" he correctly points out that it's a wee bit premature to know at this stage however, it's worth pointing out their respective En-Primeur, bottling scores and current values;

• 2000 – En-Primeur (95-96) Bottling (100) Current Price £2,900.00 IB per case
• 2005 - En-Primeur (98-100) Bottling (98+) Current Price £2,500.00 IB per case

96-98+ Robert Parker
"Is the 2008 Pavie superior to the 2005 and 2000? While that is impossible to know at this stage of its development, it will certainly be one of the three greatest Pavies made under the administration of Chantal and Gerard Perse. Cropped at a very low 30 hectoliters per hectare, the final blend is a classic Pavie combination of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 14.5% natural alcohol is the highest ever achieved at this estate. The inky/blue/purple color is followed by a wine with a concentrated, full-bodied texture, a layered mouthfeel, fresh acids, abundant tannin, and a 50-60-year evolution ahead of it. Compared to the enormous, but backward 2005, the 2008 seems even less evolved at a similar stage. Sweet creme de cassis, black cherry, licorice, and smoky barbecue characteristics combine with a liqueur of minerality that resonates from this terroir that is considered to be among the top dozen or so vineyard sites in Bordeaux. This remarkable offering, from a person who has, thankfully, ignored the petty jealousy and unfair criticism of his administration, is another St.-Emilion for your children's children. For the fact-mongers, this cuvee was hand-harvested between October 13-21, with the grapes put in small plastic containers. Everything is moved by gravity flow, and there is no fining or filtration following a slightly longer than normal aging (28-30 months) in oak casks".

Gerard Perse has also released Château Pavie Decesse, which we are delighted to offer @ £945.00 IB per case. . .

94-96 Robert Parker
"Like all the Perse wines, the 2008 Pavie Decesse is a backward, unevolved effort that just recently finished malolactic fermentation. An amazing effort (90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc) that was cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare, it emerges from an 8+ acre vineyard planted in pure limestone whose vines average 47 years (relatively old by Bordeaux standards). The 2008 is another huge, massive, full-bodied St.-Emilion that is even more concentrated than the 2005 or 2000. Sweet notes of blackberries, kirsch, licorice, and crushed rocks are accompanied by an awesomely concentrated, pure, unevolved wine that appears set for 30-40 years of cellaring. It is best purchased by those who are willing to wait at least 10-15 years. This is another brilliant offering from Gerard and Chantal Perse. Are they obsessed? Yes. Are they perfectionists? Yes. As consumers, are we the beneficiaries? Yes".

And finally to Château Bellevue Mondotte, which received an equally whopping 96-98+ from Parker and can be offered @ £1,585.00 IB per case. . . (Tiny quantities available)

96-98+ Robert Parker
"Good luck trying to find any of this wine, even with the worldwide economic crisis. From low yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, this blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the limestone plateau of the so-called Cote Pavie emerges from a 5-acre vineyard planted with 46-year-old vines. As usual, the Perse viticulture is impeccable, with crop-thinning, de-leafing, and hand rather than machine harvesting. This vineyard was harvested on October 20th, and the result is a compelling wine of great depth, richness, and aging potential. The dense purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary nose of charcoal, spring flowers, black raspberries, and creme de cassis. As my tasting notes read, this is "amazing stuff," with incredibly sweet tannins as well as the vintage's freshness and crispness, which makes it very different from recent vintages such as 2006, 2005, 2001, and 2000. This wine should be forgotten for a decade, and drunk over the following 30+ years".