What's New on Cru
At Cru World Wine, we're committed to bringing our customers the best possible selection of fine wines, and that's why we're constantly updating our "What's New on Cru" page with the latest releases and exciting new finds. Whether you're a seasoned wine collector or just starting out on your wine journey, we're sure you'll find something to love on our page.
One of the things that sets us apart from other wine retailers is our commitment to offering our customers unbeatable value. That's why we often offer special limited-time discounts on some of our most popular wines, and you can find these amazing deals on our "What's New on Cru" page. Don't miss out on the opportunity to get your hands on some stunning wines at incredible prices.
Our "What's New on Cru" page is also the perfect place to discover new and exciting wines from around the world. From classic Bordeaux and Burgundy to up-and-coming regions like South Africa and Australia, our selection is sure to delight even the most discerning wine lover. And if you're looking for something a little different, be sure to check out our collection of natural wines - these are wines made with minimal intervention, allowing the true expression of the grapes to shine through.
So whether you're looking for the latest vintage from your favorite winery or want to explore new and exciting wine regions, be sure to visit our "What's New on Cru" page. With our constantly evolving selection and unbeatable value, it's the perfect place to discover the world of fine wine.
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What's New on Cru
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£592.24 |
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James Suckling (96-97)A Pomerol with gorgeous crushed-berry, walnut, hazelnut and chocolate character, as well as a full body with ultra fine tannins that frame the wine beautifully. Extremely long finish. Three super wines in a row since 2018. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,721.93 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2016 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes strutting out of the glass with flamboyant Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and plum pudding notions plus hints of spice cake, unsmoked cigars, menthol, licorice and dusty soil and accented by wafts of tar and black tea. The palate is full-bodied yet incredibly poised and vibrant with amazing freshness and very fine-grained, very firm tannins. It possesses the most provocative earthy sparks, providing arresting depth to the very long, beautifully perfumed finish. Stunning. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£1,691.70 |
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The Wine Independent (100)The 2018 IX Estate is deep purple-black in color. It gives up crushed blueberries, fresh blackcurrants, and black cherry preserves with an evocative undercurrent of licorice, sandalwood, clove oil, and cumin seed plus a waft of iron ore. The full-bodied palate is firm, tightly wound, and so, so intense, featuring exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and opulent. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,721.54 |
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James Suckling (100)Ripe cherries, plums and flowers on the nose. Orange peel, too, together with hints of thyme, bay leaf and sage. Medium-to full-bodied, incredibly deep and fresh, with fine tannins that carry you deep down into the finish. It tells you its great, but makes you spend time in order to understand it. Reminds me of the 1990 Latour. Try after 2027. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 18.5 (JR) |
Inc. VAT
£696.04 |
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Jancis Robinson (18.5)Cask sample. Quite a price! Transparent crimson. Very dense nose with more layers than most of the 2018 red burgundies I have tasted so far. Pretty rich with grand cru density. Very well done. Actually the best Clos des Epeneaux I remember tasting en primeur. Long, rich, opulent but all in a convincing structure. Very long in fact. |
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Burgundy | 6 | 94-97 (IB) |
Inc. VAT
£1,335.64 |
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Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-97)A rich deep purple, super saturated, with a bouquet to match. A full and firm structure with Thomas Collardot’s abundant fruit flowing over the top. A darker fruit with a blackberry note, but not the mulberry which would imply over-ripeness. The 20% whole bunch vinification adds an additional freshness, a slight salinity which works very well. Drink from 2032-2040. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£303.14 |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£303.14 |
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Castilla y Leon | 3 | - |
Inc. VAT
£224.69 |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,183.24 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The youth, freshness, balance and harmony of the 2016 Peñas Aladas Gran Reserva is gobsmacking. The wine is a little shy, insinuating, reticent and a little closed, and it feels younger than it is. It comes from a collection of small plots of some of the oldest vines in the village of La Aguilera in the lieu-dit, or "paraje," that names the wine, in a small valley surrounded by pine, holm and juniper trees, where there is a cold draft of air and the temperature is lower than in the rest of the village. The soils are sandy and intermixed with clay on a marl mother rock. The plants are mostly Tempranillo, but as they are very old vines, there's always a field blend of other varieties—Albillo Mayor, Monastrell, Garnacha, Bobal and Cariñena—all fermented together with full clusters that were foot trodden in concrete vats and indigenous yeasts. Malolactic was in barrel and lasted for 11 months, while the élevage was extended to a total of 55 months (almost five years!). After all this time in barrels, the wine is not oaky at all; it's floral and perfumed, elegant, nuanced and layered. The texture is silky, and it's medium-bodied, with moderate ripeness, 14% alcohol and very good freshness denoted by a pH of 3.41. It has fine tannins that make it nicely textured and fine-boned, with subtle minerality. This should be veeeeeery long lived, as it has the stuffing, all the ingredients and the balance between them to make old bones. Amazing juice. 3,591 bottles and 51 magnums were filled in April 2021. |
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California | 1 | 99+ (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,554.04 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99+)Checking in as a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that hit 14.3% alcohol, the 2012 Dominus is a sensational wine that certainly ranks with the all-time greats of this cuvée and is reminiscent of the 1991. Ripe, flamboyant, and incredibly sexy, it nevertheless shows the classic style of this estate, has nothing out of place and just glides across the palate. Blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedar box, new leather, and an almost garrigue-like character all emerge from this full-bodied, silky, seamless effort that has fine tannin, perfectly integrated acidity, tannins, alcohol, and a great, great finish. Drink it any time over the coming 2-3 decades. It's a tour de force in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and one of the greats. |
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California | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,094.69 |
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Vinous (98+)The 2017 Dominus is one of the truly epic, grand wines of the vintage. Rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous concentration and sheer power, the 2017 Dominus captures all the personality of this site along with the natural opulence of the year. Inky dark fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice, plum, gravel and a host of dark spice notes infuse the 2017 with seemingly endless layers of nuance. Over the last two years I have tasted several hundred Napa Valley Cabernets, both from barrel and bottle. There is no question that Dominus belongs among the elite in 2017; it is simply a breathtaking wine. Certainly readers looking for a Napa Valley Cabernet to cellar should put Dominus at the top of their lists. |
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Bordeaux | 22 | 95 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£433.49 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)Inky plum, far deeper in texture and intensity than the Moulin de Duhart (in contrast to 2022, when both 1st and 2nd wines were intensely coloured). Classical Duhart on the attack, reserved and a little subdued, then in comes the waves of cassis, liqourice root, spiced plum, ink, tobacco and cigar box. High Cabernet in the blend, and it suits the style and character of Duhart. Has a ton of ageing potential, classical styled with precision, fully showcasing the enjoyment of 2023 in the right spots. Around 65% first wine, 45hl/h yield, 15% of press wine. Harvest September 7 to October 3. A buy. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£109.24 |
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Vinous (93)The 2020 Morellino di Scansano Riserva is another compelling wine from Elisabetta Geppetti. Dark and explosive, the 2020 has so much to offer. A blast of dark plum, chocolate, licorice, spice, leather and menthol sweeps across the palate. Readers will find a Morellino of uncommon density and nuance. Superb. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£307.24 |
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Wine Advocate (98+)The 2016 Fontalloro is the best vintage of this landmark wine that I have tasted thus far. This is a very elegant vintage, with more volume in the mouth and precise notes of tar, licorice, camphor ash, resin and Indian spice. In a race between the highly competitive 2015 and 2016 vintages, I give a slight advantage to this wine. The warmer 2015 vintage shows more richness and exuberant fruit. However, this wine from 2016 offers a more focused and chiseled delivery. I am hopeful that this wine will continue to evolve and sharpen as it ages in the bottle. This is a beautiful wine to put aside in your cellar for ten years or more. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£179.09 |
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Drenched in a tradition of viticulture excellence, the Fontanabianca Barbaresco Sori Burdin 2017 is a testament to the mastery of the famed winemakers in Piedmont, Italy. A product of the revered Langhe sub-region, the grapes enjoy a microclimate perfectly balanced between maritime and continental influences. Meticulous hand-harvesting and attentive vinification result in a wine the colour of royal garnet, marked by complex aromatics that meld wild berries, spices, and hints of violet. Aged for two years in large Slavonian oak barrels, its tannic structure is beautifully refined while maintaining the weighty impact desired of such a prestigious Nebbiolo wine. Indeed, it is the pride of Fontanabianca, a family-owned winery with an illustrious history dating back to 1969. The Fontanabianca Barbaresco Sori Burdin 2017 consistently earns accolades for its elegance, potency, and remarkable capacity for longevity. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 17.5 (JR) |
Inc. VAT
£189.64 |
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Jancis Robinson (17.5)Gaiole. 100% Sangiovese. Certified organic. Deep crimson. Enticing, deep red-fruit nose with hints of white pepper and leather. Succulent red fruit, with the finely grained, plentiful tannins unfurling on the finish. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,279.24 |
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Vinous (96+)Good deep red. Knockout, almost liqueur-like nose combines plum, redcurrant, red licorice, marzipan, menthol, tobacco and loamy earth. Large-scaled, broad and deep, with its powerful sweetness leavened by strong minerality and a distinct medicinal reserve. As concentrated as a solid. The slowly building finish shows inexorable length, saturating the palate with salty minerality. I'd bet on this one for the long haul. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£280.84 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)The 2018 Grand Puy Ducasse is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Readers will find a heady, richly textured Pauillac loaded with character. Technical Director Anne Le Naour and consulting oenologist Hubert de Bouärd coaxed tremendous richness from the 2018 while avoiding some of the excesses of the recent past. The result is a wine that delivers on all levels. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mint, licorice, sweet spice and a touch of new oak build into a striking crescendo on the lush, persistent finish. |
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South Australia | 50 | 18 (MJ) |
Inc. VAT
£253.24 |
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Matthew Jukes (18)While Australia is moving to the 2020 vintage imminently, the 2019 Euphonium is being released in the UK now, and this neatly lines up with the single vineyard releases. Thank goodness there is slightly more stock of this cuvée in 2019 because this old-fashioned ‘dry red’ blend is a complete and utter charmer in 2019. Harmonious, pretty, and packed with freshness and brightness, this is a smooth wine that is at its peak right now. I am sure it will hold for a good few years, but it is the only one of these 2019s you can confidently drink now without feeling guilty! Stephen Henschke puts this vintage’s success down to Eden Valley’s later ripening and its natural elegance and higher acid. And, of course, this all plays into Keynton’s hands. This is a seamless wine, and as a lifelong fan of the Shiraz/Cab blend, this wine plays straight into my sweet spot! Considering its price, this is an unmissable 2019 Henschke release, and if you have yet to indulge in these delicious wines, this wine is the place to start! |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£208.84 |
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Vinous (96+)Impressing from the first tilt of the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino makes itself known, with a heady burst of exotic spice and crushed ashen stone giving way to dried black cherries and grilled herbs. This combines the energy of the vintage with the dark balsamic-tinged fruits of Montalcino’s southern reaches, as zesty acidity maintains balance throughout, and flinty minerals saturate toward the close. It finishes long, savory and structured, yet its tannins are more rounded than anticipated, creating both a classic feel, but also leaving a mouthwatering sensation that tricks the taster back to the glass for more. Easily one of the top wines of the vintage, the 2018 is not to be missed. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£881.54 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2021 Vosne-Romanée Aux Brûlées 1er Cru has an exquisitely-delineated bouquet with black plum and raspberry fruit that unfold with each swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly flinty opening, compact, quite peppery with a deepening and rather grippy finish. There is something sultry about this Aux Brûlées, a Premier Cru that will repay 4-5 years in the cellar. |
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California | 2 | 98+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,389.62 |
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Vinous (98+)The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhadamanthus Diamond Mountain District is a heady, hillside wine endowed with an explosive energy that races across the palate from the very first taste. Scorched earth, menthol, gravel, licorice and a good dose of Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot savoriness add weave through a core of dark fruit. The tannins are pretty much buried in this captivating Cabernet from Nigel and Shae Kinsman. |
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Bordeaux | 23 | 96-97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,160.69 |
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James Suckling (96-97)A fine line of tannins runs through this medium- to full-bodied wine. Chocolate, walnut and lead pencil on very fine tannins. Classy and focused, providing elegance with strength. Tight at the end. 78% merlot, 21% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,063.61 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)The 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is Merlot-dominated, checking in as 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It's a more opulent wine compared to Haut-Brion, and the Merlot is front and center here, with ripe, sexy black cherry and redcurrant fruits as well as licorice, scorched earth, cedar pencil, and graphite aromas and flavors. Rich, exuberant, and straight up sexy on the palate, it's full-bodied, has a deep, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and a heavenly finish. Just a prodigious, powerful, off-the-charts expression of this terroir, it actually reminds me slightly of the 2005 (or 1998?) with its mix of sexiness and opulence. This is one of the few 2019s that will make your eyes roll back in your head. It will need 10-15 years of cellaring, but it’s a sensational wine on every level and will have 40+ years of prime drinking. |
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Rioja | 4 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£259.24 |
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Decanter (96)Beautiful nose coconut cream, vanilla and mocha nose. Smooth and mellow on the rich and velvety palate with lots of sweet spices, dates and chocolate-covered currants. Long-lasting and utterly delicious. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£3,847.24 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)On another level and one of the greatest young Bordeaux I’ve ever tasted, the 2016 Lafite-Rothschild is composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot raised in new oak. It takes the classic elegance and class of Lafite and turns the dial up to 11, offering a massive, heavenly array of blackcurrants, cedar pencil, graphite, tobacco, and incense aromas and flavors that soar from the glass. Deep, full-bodied, and flawlessly constructed, with perfectly integrated fruit, acidity, and tannins, this is legendary stuff all the way. It will be drinkable in 7-8 years and keep for 50-75 years or more. Along with Mouton, it’s the wine of the vintage from the Médoc. Hats off to director Eric Kohler. |
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Bordeaux | 11 | 98-100 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£2,975.09 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98-100)This hits you right off the first nose, driven by slate and crushed rocks, setting the tone and the architecture, guiding the fruit through the palate. Cassis, bilberry, tobacco leaf, graphite, crushed mint, finessed and sculpted, this is a gorgeous Lafite, with fine tannins and the squid ink character that seems to be present in all of this stable of wines except Moulin de Duhart. Hidden power, where nothing is too much and yet everything is concentrated, once again proving that the terroir at this particular spot has its own personality that stands out every year. High Cabernet as ever, combined with around 15% press wine. Not the concentration of 2022, but in many ways showcasing the essence of Lafite more squarely, and this will delight anyone lucky enough to own it in future years. 45hl/h yield, highest since 2015, harvest September 7 to 29. 100% new oak. New cellar underway, due for completion in 2027. I am giving it 10 years to begin entering its opening window, a little less than usual but it will make no difference to how long you can cellar it. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93-95 (TDB) |
Inc. VAT
£244.49 |
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The Drinks Business (93-95)Langoa-Barton (St Julien; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon; 36% Merlot; 3% Cabernet Franc; 13% alcohol; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). Another wine that is very true to its own style here. Nutty, with a pleasing ripe natural sweetness to the fruit; a little hint of the oak and a trace (but only that) of vanilla and of grated dark chocolate, almonds and frangipane, alongside the dark plump black cherry and bramble fruit – mulberries too. There is good depth and density to the fruit, which is very pure, though I find the mid-palate a little less defined and precise than with the leading handful of wines of the appellation. My second tasting suggests that’s just a little harsh (and I revise my score up a notch). A great mouthful – with sapid gobbets of fresh fruit. Full and rich, bright and tense. Promising in the context of any vintage and very fine indeed in the context of this one. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£655.18 |
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James Suckling (96-97)Deep fruit, dark spices and graphite with wide yet polished, linear tannins. Full-bodied and intense with depth and structure. Long and chalky at the end. Big wine. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
In Bond
£477.50 |
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James Suckling (96-97)A Pomerol with gorgeous crushed-berry, walnut, hazelnut and chocolate character, as well as a full body with ultra fine tannins that frame the wine beautifully. Extremely long finish. Three super wines in a row since 2018. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,425.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2016 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes strutting out of the glass with flamboyant Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and plum pudding notions plus hints of spice cake, unsmoked cigars, menthol, licorice and dusty soil and accented by wafts of tar and black tea. The palate is full-bodied yet incredibly poised and vibrant with amazing freshness and very fine-grained, very firm tannins. It possesses the most provocative earthy sparks, providing arresting depth to the very long, beautifully perfumed finish. Stunning. |
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California | 1 | 100 (WI) |
In Bond
£1,400.00 |
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The Wine Independent (100)The 2018 IX Estate is deep purple-black in color. It gives up crushed blueberries, fresh blackcurrants, and black cherry preserves with an evocative undercurrent of licorice, sandalwood, clove oil, and cumin seed plus a waft of iron ore. The full-bodied palate is firm, tightly wound, and so, so intense, featuring exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and opulent. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,425.00 |
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James Suckling (100)Ripe cherries, plums and flowers on the nose. Orange peel, too, together with hints of thyme, bay leaf and sage. Medium-to full-bodied, incredibly deep and fresh, with fine tannins that carry you deep down into the finish. It tells you its great, but makes you spend time in order to understand it. Reminds me of the 1990 Latour. Try after 2027. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 18.5 (JR) |
In Bond
£564.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (18.5)Cask sample. Quite a price! Transparent crimson. Very dense nose with more layers than most of the 2018 red burgundies I have tasted so far. Pretty rich with grand cru density. Very well done. Actually the best Clos des Epeneaux I remember tasting en primeur. Long, rich, opulent but all in a convincing structure. Very long in fact. |
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Burgundy | 6 | 94-97 (IB) |
In Bond
£1,097.00 |
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Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-97)A rich deep purple, super saturated, with a bouquet to match. A full and firm structure with Thomas Collardot’s abundant fruit flowing over the top. A darker fruit with a blackberry note, but not the mulberry which would imply over-ripeness. The 20% whole bunch vinification adds an additional freshness, a slight salinity which works very well. Drink from 2032-2040. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | - |
In Bond
£243.00 |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | - |
In Bond
£243.00 |
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Castilla y Leon | 3 | - |
In Bond
£168.00 |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£970.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The youth, freshness, balance and harmony of the 2016 Peñas Aladas Gran Reserva is gobsmacking. The wine is a little shy, insinuating, reticent and a little closed, and it feels younger than it is. It comes from a collection of small plots of some of the oldest vines in the village of La Aguilera in the lieu-dit, or "paraje," that names the wine, in a small valley surrounded by pine, holm and juniper trees, where there is a cold draft of air and the temperature is lower than in the rest of the village. The soils are sandy and intermixed with clay on a marl mother rock. The plants are mostly Tempranillo, but as they are very old vines, there's always a field blend of other varieties—Albillo Mayor, Monastrell, Garnacha, Bobal and Cariñena—all fermented together with full clusters that were foot trodden in concrete vats and indigenous yeasts. Malolactic was in barrel and lasted for 11 months, while the élevage was extended to a total of 55 months (almost five years!). After all this time in barrels, the wine is not oaky at all; it's floral and perfumed, elegant, nuanced and layered. The texture is silky, and it's medium-bodied, with moderate ripeness, 14% alcohol and very good freshness denoted by a pH of 3.41. It has fine tannins that make it nicely textured and fine-boned, with subtle minerality. This should be veeeeeery long lived, as it has the stuffing, all the ingredients and the balance between them to make old bones. Amazing juice. 3,591 bottles and 51 magnums were filled in April 2021. |
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California | 1 | 99+ (JD) |
In Bond
£1,279.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99+)Checking in as a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that hit 14.3% alcohol, the 2012 Dominus is a sensational wine that certainly ranks with the all-time greats of this cuvée and is reminiscent of the 1991. Ripe, flamboyant, and incredibly sexy, it nevertheless shows the classic style of this estate, has nothing out of place and just glides across the palate. Blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedar box, new leather, and an almost garrigue-like character all emerge from this full-bodied, silky, seamless effort that has fine tannin, perfectly integrated acidity, tannins, alcohol, and a great, great finish. Drink it any time over the coming 2-3 decades. It's a tour de force in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and one of the greats. |
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California | 1 | 98+ (VN) |
In Bond
£893.00 |
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Vinous (98+)The 2017 Dominus is one of the truly epic, grand wines of the vintage. Rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous concentration and sheer power, the 2017 Dominus captures all the personality of this site along with the natural opulence of the year. Inky dark fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice, plum, gravel and a host of dark spice notes infuse the 2017 with seemingly endless layers of nuance. Over the last two years I have tasted several hundred Napa Valley Cabernets, both from barrel and bottle. There is no question that Dominus belongs among the elite in 2017; it is simply a breathtaking wine. Certainly readers looking for a Napa Valley Cabernet to cellar should put Dominus at the top of their lists. |
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Bordeaux | 22 | 95 (JA) |
In Bond
£342.00 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)Inky plum, far deeper in texture and intensity than the Moulin de Duhart (in contrast to 2022, when both 1st and 2nd wines were intensely coloured). Classical Duhart on the attack, reserved and a little subdued, then in comes the waves of cassis, liqourice root, spiced plum, ink, tobacco and cigar box. High Cabernet in the blend, and it suits the style and character of Duhart. Has a ton of ageing potential, classical styled with precision, fully showcasing the enjoyment of 2023 in the right spots. Around 65% first wine, 45hl/h yield, 15% of press wine. Harvest September 7 to October 3. A buy. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£75.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2020 Morellino di Scansano Riserva is another compelling wine from Elisabetta Geppetti. Dark and explosive, the 2020 has so much to offer. A blast of dark plum, chocolate, licorice, spice, leather and menthol sweeps across the palate. Readers will find a Morellino of uncommon density and nuance. Superb. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98+ (WA) |
In Bond
£240.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98+)The 2016 Fontalloro is the best vintage of this landmark wine that I have tasted thus far. This is a very elegant vintage, with more volume in the mouth and precise notes of tar, licorice, camphor ash, resin and Indian spice. In a race between the highly competitive 2015 and 2016 vintages, I give a slight advantage to this wine. The warmer 2015 vintage shows more richness and exuberant fruit. However, this wine from 2016 offers a more focused and chiseled delivery. I am hopeful that this wine will continue to evolve and sharpen as it ages in the bottle. This is a beautiful wine to put aside in your cellar for ten years or more. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
In Bond
£130.00 |
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Drenched in a tradition of viticulture excellence, the Fontanabianca Barbaresco Sori Burdin 2017 is a testament to the mastery of the famed winemakers in Piedmont, Italy. A product of the revered Langhe sub-region, the grapes enjoy a microclimate perfectly balanced between maritime and continental influences. Meticulous hand-harvesting and attentive vinification result in a wine the colour of royal garnet, marked by complex aromatics that meld wild berries, spices, and hints of violet. Aged for two years in large Slavonian oak barrels, its tannic structure is beautifully refined while maintaining the weighty impact desired of such a prestigious Nebbiolo wine. Indeed, it is the pride of Fontanabianca, a family-owned winery with an illustrious history dating back to 1969. The Fontanabianca Barbaresco Sori Burdin 2017 consistently earns accolades for its elegance, potency, and remarkable capacity for longevity. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 17.5 (JR) |
In Bond
£142.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (17.5)Gaiole. 100% Sangiovese. Certified organic. Deep crimson. Enticing, deep red-fruit nose with hints of white pepper and leather. Succulent red fruit, with the finely grained, plentiful tannins unfurling on the finish. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96+ (VN) |
In Bond
£1,050.00 |
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Vinous (96+)Good deep red. Knockout, almost liqueur-like nose combines plum, redcurrant, red licorice, marzipan, menthol, tobacco and loamy earth. Large-scaled, broad and deep, with its powerful sweetness leavened by strong minerality and a distinct medicinal reserve. As concentrated as a solid. The slowly building finish shows inexorable length, saturating the palate with salty minerality. I'd bet on this one for the long haul. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£218.00 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)The 2018 Grand Puy Ducasse is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Readers will find a heady, richly textured Pauillac loaded with character. Technical Director Anne Le Naour and consulting oenologist Hubert de Bouärd coaxed tremendous richness from the 2018 while avoiding some of the excesses of the recent past. The result is a wine that delivers on all levels. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mint, licorice, sweet spice and a touch of new oak build into a striking crescendo on the lush, persistent finish. |
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South Australia | 50 | 18 (MJ) |
In Bond
£195.00 |
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Matthew Jukes (18)While Australia is moving to the 2020 vintage imminently, the 2019 Euphonium is being released in the UK now, and this neatly lines up with the single vineyard releases. Thank goodness there is slightly more stock of this cuvée in 2019 because this old-fashioned ‘dry red’ blend is a complete and utter charmer in 2019. Harmonious, pretty, and packed with freshness and brightness, this is a smooth wine that is at its peak right now. I am sure it will hold for a good few years, but it is the only one of these 2019s you can confidently drink now without feeling guilty! Stephen Henschke puts this vintage’s success down to Eden Valley’s later ripening and its natural elegance and higher acid. And, of course, this all plays into Keynton’s hands. This is a seamless wine, and as a lifelong fan of the Shiraz/Cab blend, this wine plays straight into my sweet spot! Considering its price, this is an unmissable 2019 Henschke release, and if you have yet to indulge in these delicious wines, this wine is the place to start! |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (VN) |
In Bond
£158.00 |
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Vinous (96+)Impressing from the first tilt of the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino makes itself known, with a heady burst of exotic spice and crushed ashen stone giving way to dried black cherries and grilled herbs. This combines the energy of the vintage with the dark balsamic-tinged fruits of Montalcino’s southern reaches, as zesty acidity maintains balance throughout, and flinty minerals saturate toward the close. It finishes long, savory and structured, yet its tannins are more rounded than anticipated, creating both a classic feel, but also leaving a mouthwatering sensation that tricks the taster back to the glass for more. Easily one of the top wines of the vintage, the 2018 is not to be missed. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 93-95 (VN) |
In Bond
£725.00 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2021 Vosne-Romanée Aux Brûlées 1er Cru has an exquisitely-delineated bouquet with black plum and raspberry fruit that unfold with each swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly flinty opening, compact, quite peppery with a deepening and rather grippy finish. There is something sultry about this Aux Brûlées, a Premier Cru that will repay 4-5 years in the cellar. |
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California | 2 | 98+ (VN) |
In Bond
£1,150.00 |
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Vinous (98+)The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhadamanthus Diamond Mountain District is a heady, hillside wine endowed with an explosive energy that races across the palate from the very first taste. Scorched earth, menthol, gravel, licorice and a good dose of Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot savoriness add weave through a core of dark fruit. The tannins are pretty much buried in this captivating Cabernet from Nigel and Shae Kinsman. |
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Bordeaux | 23 | 96-97 (JS) |
In Bond
£948.00 |
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James Suckling (96-97)A fine line of tannins runs through this medium- to full-bodied wine. Chocolate, walnut and lead pencil on very fine tannins. Classy and focused, providing elegance with strength. Tight at the end. 78% merlot, 21% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£881.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)The 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is Merlot-dominated, checking in as 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It's a more opulent wine compared to Haut-Brion, and the Merlot is front and center here, with ripe, sexy black cherry and redcurrant fruits as well as licorice, scorched earth, cedar pencil, and graphite aromas and flavors. Rich, exuberant, and straight up sexy on the palate, it's full-bodied, has a deep, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and a heavenly finish. Just a prodigious, powerful, off-the-charts expression of this terroir, it actually reminds me slightly of the 2005 (or 1998?) with its mix of sexiness and opulence. This is one of the few 2019s that will make your eyes roll back in your head. It will need 10-15 years of cellaring, but it’s a sensational wine on every level and will have 40+ years of prime drinking. |
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Rioja | 4 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
£200.00 |
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Decanter (96)Beautiful nose coconut cream, vanilla and mocha nose. Smooth and mellow on the rich and velvety palate with lots of sweet spices, dates and chocolate-covered currants. Long-lasting and utterly delicious. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£3,190.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)On another level and one of the greatest young Bordeaux I’ve ever tasted, the 2016 Lafite-Rothschild is composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot raised in new oak. It takes the classic elegance and class of Lafite and turns the dial up to 11, offering a massive, heavenly array of blackcurrants, cedar pencil, graphite, tobacco, and incense aromas and flavors that soar from the glass. Deep, full-bodied, and flawlessly constructed, with perfectly integrated fruit, acidity, and tannins, this is legendary stuff all the way. It will be drinkable in 7-8 years and keep for 50-75 years or more. Along with Mouton, it’s the wine of the vintage from the Médoc. Hats off to director Eric Kohler. |
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Bordeaux | 11 | 98-100 (JA) |
In Bond
£2,460.00 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98-100)This hits you right off the first nose, driven by slate and crushed rocks, setting the tone and the architecture, guiding the fruit through the palate. Cassis, bilberry, tobacco leaf, graphite, crushed mint, finessed and sculpted, this is a gorgeous Lafite, with fine tannins and the squid ink character that seems to be present in all of this stable of wines except Moulin de Duhart. Hidden power, where nothing is too much and yet everything is concentrated, once again proving that the terroir at this particular spot has its own personality that stands out every year. High Cabernet as ever, combined with around 15% press wine. Not the concentration of 2022, but in many ways showcasing the essence of Lafite more squarely, and this will delight anyone lucky enough to own it in future years. 45hl/h yield, highest since 2015, harvest September 7 to 29. 100% new oak. New cellar underway, due for completion in 2027. I am giving it 10 years to begin entering its opening window, a little less than usual but it will make no difference to how long you can cellar it. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93-95 (TDB) |
In Bond
£184.50 |
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The Drinks Business (93-95)Langoa-Barton (St Julien; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon; 36% Merlot; 3% Cabernet Franc; 13% alcohol; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). Another wine that is very true to its own style here. Nutty, with a pleasing ripe natural sweetness to the fruit; a little hint of the oak and a trace (but only that) of vanilla and of grated dark chocolate, almonds and frangipane, alongside the dark plump black cherry and bramble fruit – mulberries too. There is good depth and density to the fruit, which is very pure, though I find the mid-palate a little less defined and precise than with the leading handful of wines of the appellation. My second tasting suggests that’s just a little harsh (and I revise my score up a notch). A great mouthful – with sapid gobbets of fresh fruit. Full and rich, bright and tense. Promising in the context of any vintage and very fine indeed in the context of this one. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) |
In Bond
£507.50 |
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James Suckling (96-97)Deep fruit, dark spices and graphite with wide yet polished, linear tannins. Full-bodied and intense with depth and structure. Long and chalky at the end. Big wine. |
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