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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California | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,792.24 |
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James Suckling (99)Extremely perfumed and floral with lavender, lilacs and violets to the sweet, ripe berries, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Some slate and graphite, too. It’s full-bodied, yet ever so balanced and refined, with super fine tannins that last for minutes. Fresh herbs, such as bay leaf and lemon grass highlight the dark fruit. The quality of tannin is exquisite with wonderful polish and refinement. Lasts for minutes. So wonderful to taste now, but better after 2026. |
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California | 1 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,391.86 |
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Wine Advocate (99)Deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard leaps from the glass with opulent crème de cassis, raspberry tart and black forest cake notions plus underlying cigar box, mocha, licorice and forest floor suggestions. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and decadently generous in the mouth, it has a firm, velvety foundation and wonderful precision, featuring an invigorating lift on the very long, multilayered and provocatively earthy finish. 815 cases were made. |
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South Australia | 1 | 19 (MJ) |
Inc. VAT
£308.44 |
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Matthew Jukes (19)Drawn from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Padthaway, this is nothing short of an awesome Bin 389 and the Cabernet fruit that would have made it into both Bin 707 and Bin 169 had it been imperceptibly finer is shining like a beacon in this wine. The glorious flavours are so perfect and balanced, and there is spectacular refinement here. I have long since stopped looking for the weld between these two noble red grapes in this legendary The Great Australian Red blend because it is second nature for these two varieties to fuse perfectly in this wine. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£979.84 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (97)The 2015 Pichon-Baron has an engaging, complex bouquet of blackberry, cedar, mint and graphite, demonstrating more cohesion and more conviction than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and extremely well-judged acidity that imbues this Pauillac with a sense of effortlessness and class lacking in some of its peers. A stunning 2015 and one of the greatest releases from the estate. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98-100 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£1,298.09 |
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The Wine Independent (98-100)A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is deep garnet-purple in color. After a little coaxing, aromas of blackcurrant jelly, juicy plums, and wild blueberries waltz out of the glass, followed by nuances of red roses, damp soil, tar, and licorice. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound, with impressive tension created by mineral-laced, crunchy black fruit layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and savory. pH 3.8. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 94-96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£3,143.09 |
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Wine Advocate (94-96)From a parcel in the celebrated Clos Poirier, which touches le Montrachet, Morey's 2019 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru mingles notes of orange oil and pear with hints of blanched almonds, dried white flowers, beeswax and struck match. Full-bodied, satiny and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with a deep, textural core, lively acids and a bright, saline finish. As usual, readers should note that this wine is identical to the Bâtard-Montrachet released under the Morey-Blanc label. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 95+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,703.09 |
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Wine Advocate (95+)The 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières is built to age, unwinding slowly in the glass with textbook scents of lemon oil, crisp green apple, white flowers and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's tensile, electric but youthfully introverted, with immense promise for the future but little in the way of immediate gratification. This is a cuvée that needs a minimum of a decade to show its cards in most vintages, and that's certainly the case for the 2017. |
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Rhone | 2 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£502.66 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Getting more than one exclamation in the notes, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de Mon Aïeul is a deep, rich yet vibrant red that offers a kaleidoscope of kirsch liqueur, garrigue, crushed flowers, Asian spices, and cured meats. It's more opulent and sexier than the 2010, fresher and purer than the 2007, has deep, full-bodied aromas and flavors, and a huge finish. It's a sensational, heavenly Châteauneuf-du-Pape that tops out my scale. This cuvée is 100% Grenache that was not destemmed and was aged in 20% demi-muids and the balance in concrete tanks. |
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Champagne | 2 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£933.64 |
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James Suckling (97)Grilled bread with flowers, pears and apples. Lots of perfumes. Lavender and some herbs and nutmeg. The palate is tight and solid with fine phenolics and a long, intense finish. Pure and extremely linear and lively. Sophisticated and thought-provoking. Drink or hold. |
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Castilla La Mancha | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£331.24 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The eponymous red 2022 Ponce was produced with 80% Bobal from granite soils and 20% Moravia Agria from limestone and clay. It fermented with 100% full clusters in open-top 4,500-liter oak vats and finished fermenting and aging in a single 7,000-liter oak vat for 11 months. It has 13% alcohol and a pH of 3.6 with 5.7 grams of acidity. This has something in common with the La Estrecha from this same vintage, with a more ethereal profile, both with changes in the élevage toward larger volumes that give the wines more relaxed, less tight personalities. Complete, balanced and harmonious from very early on, this is a great vintage for this wine. 7,000 bottles were filled in September 2023. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£442.84 |
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James Suckling (95)A wine with lots of ripe berries, verging on dried fruits. Full and chewy with ripe, round, chewy tannins. It needs lots of bottle age. A wine of steel. From biodynamically grown grapes, as always. Better than from barrel. Try in 2018. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94-96 (WCI) |
Inc. VAT
£442.84 |
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The Wine Cellar Insider (94-96)Produced from an assemblage of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this is one of the darkest wines of the vintage. The nose offers ripe dark berries, licorice, clay, minerality and fresh dark berries. Polished tannins, plush textures and layers of sweet, ripe berries fill your mouth. The suave, fresh wine ends with an expansive, rich finish in the mouth. Very successful for the vintage. This is the first year where Pontet Canet began using a percentage of amphore for the vinification. Alfred Tesseron is clearly on a roll. 94-96 Pts |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£442.84 |
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James Suckling (98)A stunning wine for this vintage although it’s still a bit shy on the nose (more spice than fruit showing than now). There’s wet earth, too, but on the palate it’s bursting with ripe yet subtle flavors. Very long and complex finish that goes on and on. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£493.24 |
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James Suckling (99)The aromas to this are really amazing, with a potpourri of spices and dried flowers, as well as redcurrants, sweet plums and even some peaches. Full-bodied with layers of ripe fruit and ultra-fine tannins that spread across the palate in an encompassing yet always elegant and pure way. It’s succulent and unadulterated. Like crushed, perfectly ripened grapes. The length is rather endless. The tannins build. Fabulous young red. 35% in amphora and the rest in 50% new oak and 15% one-year oak. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try after 2028, but an absolute joy to taste now. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98-99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£487.24 |
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James Suckling (98-99)This is integrated, with superb density and beauty, offering blackcurrant, mineral and some bark. Full-bodied, yet so polished and refined. Crushed stone. Lots of expression and texture to this wine. Creamy. Pure and precise. Elegant, yet layered. Slightly plusher than the 2019. Dense, yet agile. Fresh as always. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 50% new oak 15% old oak and 35% concrete amphorae. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98-100 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£497.09 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98-100)A wine to convince you of the quality and ripeness of Cabernet Sauvignon in Pauillac in this 2023 vintage, showcasing superbly supple tannins, great balance, depth and savoury blue and black fruit character, bitter cocoa bean, freshly cut herbs, black tea, fennel, all vivid and with purity of character. There is density here but it is not overt, with heightened raspberry leaf, peony and violet aromatics. Vinified in the newly-completed section of the cellars, in egg-shaped wooden vats and sunken qveri-style clay vats. 50% new oak for ageing, with 35% amphora and 15% one year old barrels. One of the wines of the vintage. New lighter bottle as of the 2022 around 490g, down from 815g in the past, 30 tonnes of CO2 saved just in terms of production. Harvest September 7, one day earlier than 2022, then slow picking through to October 10, later than many in Pauillac - and normal yields of around 40hl/h. |
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Bordeaux | 20 | 93-94 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£131.09 |
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James Suckling (93-94)Beautiful dark fruit with purity and freshness. Medium- to full-bodied, seamless and compact. Outstanding quality of tannins, so fine and dense. It’s muscular and taut on the mid-palate. Lingering, too. Plenty of energy. Close to 2022. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£372.04 |
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Vinous (94)The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a potent, searingly tannic wine that will need a few years to come together. Brooding and backward, even for young Rabajà, the 2017 is painfully young today. It will be interesting to see what time brings. Today, the 2017 is a real powerhouse. Black fruit, menthol, licorice, melted road tar, game and menthol develop in the glass, but only with great reluctance. |
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Porto | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£444.01 |
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Vinous (97)The 2017 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port was picked from August 21 to September 28 under perfect conditions. It has a tightly wound bouquet that requires a lot of aeration. Eventually it reveals fabulous, detailed aromas of cassis, bilberry jam, crushed stone and pressed violets, later hints of orange blossom and quince. The palate is pure class. Saturated tannins, wonderful structure but the headline is the intensity of fruit. I cannot remember a Noval with this penetration, almost overwhelming the senses as layers of effervescent black plum and cassis fruit segue into a spicy finish that fans out like there is no tomorrow. Is this the best Quinta do Noval ever? |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95-97 (TDB) |
Inc. VAT
£473.09 |
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The Drinks Business (95-97)Rauzan-Ségla (Margaux; 75% Cabernet Sauvignon; 25% Merlot; 13% alcohol; a final yield of 38 hl/ha; aging in oak barrels, 60% of which are new; tasted at the property and at the UGCB press tasting; Eric Boissenot is the consultant). A tiny bit of Cabernet Franc was in fact co-vinified with the Cabernet Sauvignon. Mildew damage reduced the amount of Merlot here. This is intensely perfumed and extremely expressive aromatically with the parfumier’s essence of violets and wild hedgerow flowers, rose petals, graphite by the nuclear reactor core-load and a rich deep, dark, cool autumnal fruit. There are also tiny wild strawberries , blood orange, and that gorgeously tender cedar note one so associates with Rauzan-Ségla, dark roast coffee beans and grated dark chocolate. This feels very composed and natural, an object lesson in purity and precision. There is a lovely fleshy softness on the attack, with super-svelte tannins. The mid-palate seems both sinuous and yet linear, precise and focussed but with great concentration and perfect harmony. There’s also a superb natural sweetness. Gentle aeration brings more cassis notes into the mouth and a refreshing sapidity. Overall, there is great plenitude, considerable tension and class without opulence. And in 2021 the wine is more floral than ever. It continues its rich vein of form, with the chewy tannins and lift on the finish hinting at the potential longevity. All the Chanel estates are in their first full year of conversion to organic viticulture, making the final yield all the more impressive. Really superb. |
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Central Valley | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£843.29 |
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James Suckling (98)This is such a beautifully nuanced red with tobacco, dried herbs, wet earth and currants. Some leather and rose petals, too. Full-bodied and chewy, yet refined with great polish. It’s rich and intense at the same time. Very focused center palate. Broad layers of tannin and fruit. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% carmenere, 6% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Better after 2024, but already a joy to taste. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,399.24 |
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James Suckling (97)A very perfumed Sassicaia on the nose with forest floor, citrus and deep dark fruits. Blackcurrants. Cedar and black tea. Some balsamic. Pine needles. Full and very succulent. Really long, structured and complete. Tangy and energetic with a linear line of fresh tannins and acidity. Very Sassicaia throughout. 85% cabernet sauvignon and the rest is cabernet franc. Very attractive now in a youthful and vibrant way, but this will be better in three to four years. Try after 2027. |
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California | 5 | 99 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,946.06 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)Another heavenly wine in the lineup is the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, which comes from Clone 337 and a handful of different blocks in the vineyard. This deep purple-hued beauty has an incredibly seamless, elegant, yet full-bodied style as well as killer notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, wildflowers, violets, white chocolate, and new saddle leather. Flirting with perfection, the tannin quality, purity of fruit, balance, and overall harmony here is just about off the charts. It makes you want to drink the whole bottle, but it should age effortlessly for 25+ years. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 18 (JR) |
Inc. VAT
£211.24 |
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Jancis Robinson (18)Tasted blind. Rich and rather opulent nose. Simple and easy with good refreshing raciness. Could be Rauzan-Ségla? Good and complete. Really zesty. Likely to be VGV. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£856.84 |
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Wine Advocate (98)Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte delivers notes of baked plums, boysenberries and dried mulberries with an undercurrent of cigar box, new leather and bouquet garni. Full-bodied, the palate has firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the maturing fruit, finishing on a stewed tea note. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£2,848.24 |
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Wine Advocate (100)I fussed over scoring this wine more than I'd like to admit—tasting through three samples under different conditions at various intervals and testing my impressions blind against wines in its peer group. Most importantly, I tasted this 2016 vintage against the 2015 vintage over and over again. I confess to a few nights of restless sleep as a result. Ultimately, my decision to award 100 points to the 2016 Solaia came on impulse and with the most natural sense of purpose. I had also given the 2015 vintage a perfect score, and intellectually, it seemed impossible not to pick a favorite among these two stunning expressions. I will also state, outright, that the wines are very different, principally because the 2015 vintage shows more overall opulence and sweetness that extends to the pronounced textural richness of the mouthfeel. The 2016 vintage, on the other hand, is more chiseled and sharp with mineral shadings of campfire ash and graphite at the rim of its dark fruit. The mouthfeel is more streamlined and tight at its core, suggesting that the wine will unfold and soften beautifully with time. I feel like 2015 is the Dolce & Gabbana of the situation and the 2016 is the Armani Privé. The personalities of the two wines are distinct, yet my admiration for each is identical. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,099.24 |
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James Suckling (100)The perfect blanc de blancs. Full-bodied with a lovely framework of acidity and dry fruit, such as apples, pears and peaches. Opulent. Dense and muscular. Yet, it’s balanced and harmonious. Line of acidity at the end. Totally in tune. Superb. Deep and complete. Has everything. One for the cellar. It is the greatest Comte ever. It has everything. A perfect upgrade from two years ago. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 1 | 19.5++ (MJ) |
Inc. VAT
£702.04 |
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Matthew Jukes (19.5++)By contrast to the Bollinger, Comte is not a one-off, nor anything out of the ordinary. It is a label that all committed Champagne lovers adore. Predictable perhaps. But, of course, one thing does vary, and that is the vintage. The ‘worst’ Comte I ever tasted was rather lovely. The ‘best’, and there have been many (1959, 1966, 1996, 2002, 2006) are all sublime and you can now add 2011 to this list. Taittinger always seems to shun the spotlight, unlike Dom Perignon and other more attention-seeking brands and this modesty rather suits this House. I did something that I never do after first tasting my sample bottle. I was so shocked with the sheer class that I sealed the bottle with a simple Champagne stopper and then tasted it again and again over two days. The stress-testing sorts the wheat from the chaff. It is unlikely that anyone who bought a bottle would do this. Still, I like to see how a potentially great wine evolves, opens up, sometimes falls over, and sometimes blossoms over a few days because it gives me an indication of its potential and its true baseline of quality. The fruit is so tense, grand and layered it is remarkable. The flavour, the fizz, the length, the momentum and the overall halo of greatness did not change one iota over nearly 60 hours of being open with no preservation whatsoever. This is a genius, B de B and while it tastes scintillating now, I am confident that it will amaze Comte fans for decades to come. |
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Bordeaux | 25 | 94-95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£300.29 |
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James Suckling (94-95)A medium- to full-bodied red with very fine tannins. It’s firm and structured, showing a bright, dark-fruited character. Focused, with a good center-palate and a lingering finish. Really polished. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£538.49 |
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Decanter (99)Such a seductive soft perfume to the nose, delicate yet generous aromatics of cherry and rose. The palate is juicy and fresh, charming yet energetic with such crystalline purity and balance. Tannins are smooth but softly textured giving nuance to the flavours where refreshing high toned ripe red and black cherry fruit play alongside mint, dark chocolate and graphite. Clearly powerfully but carefully controlled from start to finish giving such a satisfying overall mouthful and lasting impression. Incredible. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,477.50 |
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James Suckling (99)Extremely perfumed and floral with lavender, lilacs and violets to the sweet, ripe berries, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Some slate and graphite, too. It’s full-bodied, yet ever so balanced and refined, with super fine tannins that last for minutes. Fresh herbs, such as bay leaf and lemon grass highlight the dark fruit. The quality of tannin is exquisite with wonderful polish and refinement. Lasts for minutes. So wonderful to taste now, but better after 2026. |
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California | 1 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,140.00 |
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Wine Advocate (99)Deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard leaps from the glass with opulent crème de cassis, raspberry tart and black forest cake notions plus underlying cigar box, mocha, licorice and forest floor suggestions. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and decadently generous in the mouth, it has a firm, velvety foundation and wonderful precision, featuring an invigorating lift on the very long, multilayered and provocatively earthy finish. 815 cases were made. |
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South Australia | 1 | 19 (MJ) |
In Bond
£241.00 |
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Matthew Jukes (19)Drawn from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Padthaway, this is nothing short of an awesome Bin 389 and the Cabernet fruit that would have made it into both Bin 707 and Bin 169 had it been imperceptibly finer is shining like a beacon in this wine. The glorious flavours are so perfect and balanced, and there is spectacular refinement here. I have long since stopped looking for the weld between these two noble red grapes in this legendary The Great Australian Red blend because it is second nature for these two varieties to fuse perfectly in this wine. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£800.50 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (97)The 2015 Pichon-Baron has an engaging, complex bouquet of blackberry, cedar, mint and graphite, demonstrating more cohesion and more conviction than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and extremely well-judged acidity that imbues this Pauillac with a sense of effortlessness and class lacking in some of its peers. A stunning 2015 and one of the greatest releases from the estate. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98-100 (WI) |
In Bond
£1,062.50 |
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The Wine Independent (98-100)A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is deep garnet-purple in color. After a little coaxing, aromas of blackcurrant jelly, juicy plums, and wild blueberries waltz out of the glass, followed by nuances of red roses, damp soil, tar, and licorice. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound, with impressive tension created by mineral-laced, crunchy black fruit layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and savory. pH 3.8. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 94-96 (WA) |
In Bond
£2,600.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94-96)From a parcel in the celebrated Clos Poirier, which touches le Montrachet, Morey's 2019 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru mingles notes of orange oil and pear with hints of blanched almonds, dried white flowers, beeswax and struck match. Full-bodied, satiny and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with a deep, textural core, lively acids and a bright, saline finish. As usual, readers should note that this wine is identical to the Bâtard-Montrachet released under the Morey-Blanc label. |
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Burgundy | 2 | 95+ (WA) |
In Bond
£1,400.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95+)The 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières is built to age, unwinding slowly in the glass with textbook scents of lemon oil, crisp green apple, white flowers and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's tensile, electric but youthfully introverted, with immense promise for the future but little in the way of immediate gratification. This is a cuvée that needs a minimum of a decade to show its cards in most vintages, and that's certainly the case for the 2017. |
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Rhone | 2 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£399.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Getting more than one exclamation in the notes, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de Mon Aïeul is a deep, rich yet vibrant red that offers a kaleidoscope of kirsch liqueur, garrigue, crushed flowers, Asian spices, and cured meats. It's more opulent and sexier than the 2010, fresher and purer than the 2007, has deep, full-bodied aromas and flavors, and a huge finish. It's a sensational, heavenly Châteauneuf-du-Pape that tops out my scale. This cuvée is 100% Grenache that was not destemmed and was aged in 20% demi-muids and the balance in concrete tanks. |
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Champagne | 2 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£762.00 |
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James Suckling (97)Grilled bread with flowers, pears and apples. Lots of perfumes. Lavender and some herbs and nutmeg. The palate is tight and solid with fine phenolics and a long, intense finish. Pure and extremely linear and lively. Sophisticated and thought-provoking. Drink or hold. |
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Castilla La Mancha | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£260.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The eponymous red 2022 Ponce was produced with 80% Bobal from granite soils and 20% Moravia Agria from limestone and clay. It fermented with 100% full clusters in open-top 4,500-liter oak vats and finished fermenting and aging in a single 7,000-liter oak vat for 11 months. It has 13% alcohol and a pH of 3.6 with 5.7 grams of acidity. This has something in common with the La Estrecha from this same vintage, with a more ethereal profile, both with changes in the élevage toward larger volumes that give the wines more relaxed, less tight personalities. Complete, balanced and harmonious from very early on, this is a great vintage for this wine. 7,000 bottles were filled in September 2023. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£353.00 |
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James Suckling (95)A wine with lots of ripe berries, verging on dried fruits. Full and chewy with ripe, round, chewy tannins. It needs lots of bottle age. A wine of steel. From biodynamically grown grapes, as always. Better than from barrel. Try in 2018. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94-96 (WCI) |
In Bond
£353.00 |
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The Wine Cellar Insider (94-96)Produced from an assemblage of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this is one of the darkest wines of the vintage. The nose offers ripe dark berries, licorice, clay, minerality and fresh dark berries. Polished tannins, plush textures and layers of sweet, ripe berries fill your mouth. The suave, fresh wine ends with an expansive, rich finish in the mouth. Very successful for the vintage. This is the first year where Pontet Canet began using a percentage of amphore for the vinification. Alfred Tesseron is clearly on a roll. 94-96 Pts |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£353.00 |
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James Suckling (98)A stunning wine for this vintage although it’s still a bit shy on the nose (more spice than fruit showing than now). There’s wet earth, too, but on the palate it’s bursting with ripe yet subtle flavors. Very long and complex finish that goes on and on. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£395.00 |
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James Suckling (99)The aromas to this are really amazing, with a potpourri of spices and dried flowers, as well as redcurrants, sweet plums and even some peaches. Full-bodied with layers of ripe fruit and ultra-fine tannins that spread across the palate in an encompassing yet always elegant and pure way. It’s succulent and unadulterated. Like crushed, perfectly ripened grapes. The length is rather endless. The tannins build. Fabulous young red. 35% in amphora and the rest in 50% new oak and 15% one-year oak. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try after 2028, but an absolute joy to taste now. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98-99 (JS) |
In Bond
£390.00 |
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James Suckling (98-99)This is integrated, with superb density and beauty, offering blackcurrant, mineral and some bark. Full-bodied, yet so polished and refined. Crushed stone. Lots of expression and texture to this wine. Creamy. Pure and precise. Elegant, yet layered. Slightly plusher than the 2019. Dense, yet agile. Fresh as always. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. 50% new oak 15% old oak and 35% concrete amphorae. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98-100 (JA) |
In Bond
£395.00 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98-100)A wine to convince you of the quality and ripeness of Cabernet Sauvignon in Pauillac in this 2023 vintage, showcasing superbly supple tannins, great balance, depth and savoury blue and black fruit character, bitter cocoa bean, freshly cut herbs, black tea, fennel, all vivid and with purity of character. There is density here but it is not overt, with heightened raspberry leaf, peony and violet aromatics. Vinified in the newly-completed section of the cellars, in egg-shaped wooden vats and sunken qveri-style clay vats. 50% new oak for ageing, with 35% amphora and 15% one year old barrels. One of the wines of the vintage. New lighter bottle as of the 2022 around 490g, down from 815g in the past, 30 tonnes of CO2 saved just in terms of production. Harvest September 7, one day earlier than 2022, then slow picking through to October 10, later than many in Pauillac - and normal yields of around 40hl/h. |
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Bordeaux | 20 | 93-94 (JS) |
In Bond
£90.00 |
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James Suckling (93-94)Beautiful dark fruit with purity and freshness. Medium- to full-bodied, seamless and compact. Outstanding quality of tannins, so fine and dense. It’s muscular and taut on the mid-palate. Lingering, too. Plenty of energy. Close to 2022. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£294.00 |
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Vinous (94)The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a potent, searingly tannic wine that will need a few years to come together. Brooding and backward, even for young Rabajà, the 2017 is painfully young today. It will be interesting to see what time brings. Today, the 2017 is a real powerhouse. Black fruit, menthol, licorice, melted road tar, game and menthol develop in the glass, but only with great reluctance. |
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Porto | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£345.00 |
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Vinous (97)The 2017 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port was picked from August 21 to September 28 under perfect conditions. It has a tightly wound bouquet that requires a lot of aeration. Eventually it reveals fabulous, detailed aromas of cassis, bilberry jam, crushed stone and pressed violets, later hints of orange blossom and quince. The palate is pure class. Saturated tannins, wonderful structure but the headline is the intensity of fruit. I cannot remember a Noval with this penetration, almost overwhelming the senses as layers of effervescent black plum and cassis fruit segue into a spicy finish that fans out like there is no tomorrow. Is this the best Quinta do Noval ever? |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95-97 (TDB) |
In Bond
£375.00 |
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The Drinks Business (95-97)Rauzan-Ségla (Margaux; 75% Cabernet Sauvignon; 25% Merlot; 13% alcohol; a final yield of 38 hl/ha; aging in oak barrels, 60% of which are new; tasted at the property and at the UGCB press tasting; Eric Boissenot is the consultant). A tiny bit of Cabernet Franc was in fact co-vinified with the Cabernet Sauvignon. Mildew damage reduced the amount of Merlot here. This is intensely perfumed and extremely expressive aromatically with the parfumier’s essence of violets and wild hedgerow flowers, rose petals, graphite by the nuclear reactor core-load and a rich deep, dark, cool autumnal fruit. There are also tiny wild strawberries , blood orange, and that gorgeously tender cedar note one so associates with Rauzan-Ségla, dark roast coffee beans and grated dark chocolate. This feels very composed and natural, an object lesson in purity and precision. There is a lovely fleshy softness on the attack, with super-svelte tannins. The mid-palate seems both sinuous and yet linear, precise and focussed but with great concentration and perfect harmony. There’s also a superb natural sweetness. Gentle aeration brings more cassis notes into the mouth and a refreshing sapidity. Overall, there is great plenitude, considerable tension and class without opulence. And in 2021 the wine is more floral than ever. It continues its rich vein of form, with the chewy tannins and lift on the finish hinting at the potential longevity. All the Chanel estates are in their first full year of conversion to organic viticulture, making the final yield all the more impressive. Really superb. |
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Central Valley | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£683.50 |
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James Suckling (98)This is such a beautifully nuanced red with tobacco, dried herbs, wet earth and currants. Some leather and rose petals, too. Full-bodied and chewy, yet refined with great polish. It’s rich and intense at the same time. Very focused center palate. Broad layers of tannin and fruit. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% carmenere, 6% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Better after 2024, but already a joy to taste. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,150.00 |
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James Suckling (97)A very perfumed Sassicaia on the nose with forest floor, citrus and deep dark fruits. Blackcurrants. Cedar and black tea. Some balsamic. Pine needles. Full and very succulent. Really long, structured and complete. Tangy and energetic with a linear line of fresh tannins and acidity. Very Sassicaia throughout. 85% cabernet sauvignon and the rest is cabernet franc. Very attractive now in a youthful and vibrant way, but this will be better in three to four years. Try after 2027. |
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California | 5 | 99 (JD) |
In Bond
£1,603.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)Another heavenly wine in the lineup is the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, which comes from Clone 337 and a handful of different blocks in the vineyard. This deep purple-hued beauty has an incredibly seamless, elegant, yet full-bodied style as well as killer notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, wildflowers, violets, white chocolate, and new saddle leather. Flirting with perfection, the tannin quality, purity of fruit, balance, and overall harmony here is just about off the charts. It makes you want to drink the whole bottle, but it should age effortlessly for 25+ years. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 18 (JR) |
In Bond
£160.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (18)Tasted blind. Rich and rather opulent nose. Simple and easy with good refreshing raciness. Could be Rauzan-Ségla? Good and complete. Really zesty. Likely to be VGV. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£698.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte delivers notes of baked plums, boysenberries and dried mulberries with an undercurrent of cigar box, new leather and bouquet garni. Full-bodied, the palate has firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the maturing fruit, finishing on a stewed tea note. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£2,357.50 |
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Wine Advocate (100)I fussed over scoring this wine more than I'd like to admit—tasting through three samples under different conditions at various intervals and testing my impressions blind against wines in its peer group. Most importantly, I tasted this 2016 vintage against the 2015 vintage over and over again. I confess to a few nights of restless sleep as a result. Ultimately, my decision to award 100 points to the 2016 Solaia came on impulse and with the most natural sense of purpose. I had also given the 2015 vintage a perfect score, and intellectually, it seemed impossible not to pick a favorite among these two stunning expressions. I will also state, outright, that the wines are very different, principally because the 2015 vintage shows more overall opulence and sweetness that extends to the pronounced textural richness of the mouthfeel. The 2016 vintage, on the other hand, is more chiseled and sharp with mineral shadings of campfire ash and graphite at the rim of its dark fruit. The mouthfeel is more streamlined and tight at its core, suggesting that the wine will unfold and soften beautifully with time. I feel like 2015 is the Dolce & Gabbana of the situation and the 2016 is the Armani Privé. The personalities of the two wines are distinct, yet my admiration for each is identical. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£900.00 |
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James Suckling (100)The perfect blanc de blancs. Full-bodied with a lovely framework of acidity and dry fruit, such as apples, pears and peaches. Opulent. Dense and muscular. Yet, it’s balanced and harmonious. Line of acidity at the end. Totally in tune. Superb. Deep and complete. Has everything. One for the cellar. It is the greatest Comte ever. It has everything. A perfect upgrade from two years ago. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 1 | 19.5++ (MJ) |
In Bond
£569.00 |
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Matthew Jukes (19.5++)By contrast to the Bollinger, Comte is not a one-off, nor anything out of the ordinary. It is a label that all committed Champagne lovers adore. Predictable perhaps. But, of course, one thing does vary, and that is the vintage. The ‘worst’ Comte I ever tasted was rather lovely. The ‘best’, and there have been many (1959, 1966, 1996, 2002, 2006) are all sublime and you can now add 2011 to this list. Taittinger always seems to shun the spotlight, unlike Dom Perignon and other more attention-seeking brands and this modesty rather suits this House. I did something that I never do after first tasting my sample bottle. I was so shocked with the sheer class that I sealed the bottle with a simple Champagne stopper and then tasted it again and again over two days. The stress-testing sorts the wheat from the chaff. It is unlikely that anyone who bought a bottle would do this. Still, I like to see how a potentially great wine evolves, opens up, sometimes falls over, and sometimes blossoms over a few days because it gives me an indication of its potential and its true baseline of quality. The fruit is so tense, grand and layered it is remarkable. The flavour, the fizz, the length, the momentum and the overall halo of greatness did not change one iota over nearly 60 hours of being open with no preservation whatsoever. This is a genius, B de B and while it tastes scintillating now, I am confident that it will amaze Comte fans for decades to come. |
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Bordeaux | 25 | 94-95 (JS) |
In Bond
£231.00 |
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James Suckling (94-95)A medium- to full-bodied red with very fine tannins. It’s firm and structured, showing a bright, dark-fruited character. Focused, with a good center-palate and a lingering finish. Really polished. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (DC) |
In Bond
£429.50 |
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Decanter (99)Such a seductive soft perfume to the nose, delicate yet generous aromatics of cherry and rose. The palate is juicy and fresh, charming yet energetic with such crystalline purity and balance. Tannins are smooth but softly textured giving nuance to the flavours where refreshing high toned ripe red and black cherry fruit play alongside mint, dark chocolate and graphite. Clearly powerfully but carefully controlled from start to finish giving such a satisfying overall mouthful and lasting impression. Incredible. |
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