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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 8 | 96-98 (TDB) |
Inc. VAT
£1,056.04 |
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The Drinks Business (96-98)Léoville Las Cases. (St Julien; 80% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Cabernet Franc; 5% Merlot.; 13.2% alcohol; pH 3.71; IPT 77; tasted at the property). If you’ve ever wanted to know what Las Cases’ Cabernet would taste like without (most of) the Merlot, here’s your chance (and you can play the same game with most of the first growths too). The answer, in a word, is wonderful (and please don’t take that as a criticism of Las Cases’ Merlot in any other vintage). This is serene and profoundly beautiful on the nose. Cool, precise, elegant, suave and sophisticated, with an intense and gracious dark purple and black fruit. It is the very epitome of cool-summer Cabernet (Sauvignon and Franc) – and that, in a sense is the point. We have, too, the florality of the vintage – here violets and a more discrete sensation of spring flowers. With air on the nose – and, again, on the palate (especially when one draws in a little air) – there is an utterly divine intense presence of cedar that both envelops and somehow cosets the dark fruit. As beautiful a Las Cases as I have had the pleasure to taste en primeur and, for me, the wine of the appellation in the vintage. Like Margaux and, in a slightly different way, Lafite, it embraces and works with rather than struggles against the characteristics of the vintage. Tranquillity, cool perfection and supreme elegance. I find this quite an emotional La Cases. Stylistically, my favourite ever! |
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Bordeaux | 7 | 98 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,026.29 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)Structured and powerful, this is not as forbidding as En Primeur in many vintages of Las Cases, showing both flesh and florality, but the tannic walls of this great estate remain fully in place, coupled with layers of cassis and bilberry fruits, subtle hints of bitter aniseed, fennel, cola, espresso, squid ink, textured slate tannins. Expect inky depths and unashamed austerity, a wine that will take its time to open, making no excuses for demanding patience. So so good, with a balance and classicism that delivers on the best of the vintage. 80% new oak, 6.6% press wine, 3.79h, harvest September 9 to October 2, 43hl/h yield. First year in the new cellars, with 43.5ha going into the main wine from the historic walled vineyard site. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£697.84 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Poyferré is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot. It's one of the bigger, richer wines in the vintage and has a gorgeous, thrilling, full-bodied style as well as notes of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, violets, and chocolate. While many estates seem to be playing it safe and focusing on so-called elegance and balance, I love that Poyferré continues to make a ripe, sexy, beautifully textured wine that always offers more opulence and sexiness than most in the vintage. Ranking with the crème de la crème of the vintage, this gorgeous Poyferré can be enjoyed any time over the coming 40-50 years. Bravo! |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 98+ (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£872.44 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98+)The Grand Vin 2020 Château Léoville Poyferré, which is released in a stylish black bottle commemorating a century for the Cuvelier family, is reminiscent of the 2016 with its powerful, concentrated, yet vibrant and inward style. Pure crème de cassis, melted chocolate, loamy earth, graphite, and some spicy nuances all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a stacked mid-palate, nicely integrated oak, ripe tannins, and one hell of a great finish. This is another utterly brilliant wine from this team, which has been producing First Growth quality wines for many years now. The blend of the 2020 is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in 80% new barrels, hitting 13.58% natural alcohol and a pH of 3.81. It will benefit from just 5-7 years of bottle age and will evolve for 50 years or more if well stored. Bravo. Tasted multiple times with consistent results. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,215.64 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)Readers looking for the next superstar in Bordeaux need to jump on the bandwagon of Les Carmes Haut-Brion, who have produced one of the wines of the vintage in 2016. The 2016 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion checks in as a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that hit 13.8% natural alcohol and spent 22 months in 65% new French oak. Its deep purple color is followed by a complex bouquet of high-class smoke tobacco, decaying flowers, charcoal, gravelly minerality and loads of sweet black and blue fruit. Possessing full-bodied richness, flawless integration of its acidity, fruit, and ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster finish, this is another 2016 that possess both power and elegance. Do your best to hide bottles for 5-7 years and it will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss it. Tasted twice. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£595.24 |
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Decanter (96)Brilliant wine that continues to impress three years on from the En Primeur tasting, with a creamy but restrained texture, precise black fruits with a spicy undertow. By this point Carmes had the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc on the Left Bank, and had really started to establish its own identity. It was also using a full 40% whole bunch winemaking, choosing only the ripest stems to include in the fermentation tanks, adding a twist of salinity on the finish and ensuring a dip of around 1% in potential alcohol levels at picking (this is a hot site close to the city centre). Owned by Patrice Pichet since 2011, with Guillaume Pouthier joining as director in 2012 - whose experience in the Rhône meant he was not afraid to use stems in winemaking, something traditionally shunned in Bordeaux. This wine shows the success of that approach, giving personality and poise. Needs another few years for the austerity to soften further. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£799.24 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, violets, damp earth, and truffle, it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated, building style that carries ripe, supple tannins, gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits, and an endearing, layered, multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty! |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£1,056.04 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion from barrel, but it certainly brings the goods from bottle. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a smorgasbord-like array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as violets, candied flowers, tobacco, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, flawless balance, and that rare mix of power and elegance that truly great Pessac can deliver. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it checks in behind the magical, perfect 2018 but is very much in the style of the 2016. Readers will love having this beauty in the cellar, and it will evolve for 40-50 years if stored correctly. Hats off to winemaker Guillaume Pouthier for another thrilling wine. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£755.44 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)The 2020 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a total stunner. For the first time I can remember, Les Carmes Haut-Brion marries all of its elements so well that nothing stands out. In the past, the high percentage of Franc and/or the whole clusters were evident. The 2020 is the first modern vintage in which all the elements are so well balanced. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint, lavender, dried herbs and incense all build in a ravishing Pessac-Léognan that will take your breath away. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 93 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£246.64 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (93)The 2018 Lés Cruzelles impressed from barrel. Now in bottle, it has developed quite a precocious, intense bouquet of blackberry and blueberry fruit, a light savory note and earthy scents emerging with time. The palate is just wonderful: exquisitely balanced, quite structured yet not unapproachable, the acidity perfectly judged, with a ferrous note toward the finish. This is as good a Lalande de Pomerol as you will find in this vintage. |
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Bordeaux | 12 | 94 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£290.44 |
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Decanter (94)Stands out from La Chenade in the vintage, with its velvet texture and a more serious sculpted feel overall. Tobacco and liquorice notes besides black cherry and raspberry fruits, good tension, serious but with Lalande-de-Pomerol unfussy appeal. 3.72pH. A yield of 38hl/ha. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£1,432.84 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96)The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£1,498.84 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 93 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£226.49 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)The 2020 Les Hauts de Smith, 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, is plump, juicy and quite forward. Succulent red cherry, cedar, cinnamon and dried flowers are front and center. Bright acids play off the ripe, racy fruit very nicely. Plush tannins wrap it all together in style. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,822.24 |
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Wine Spectator (96)Textbook, with mouthfilling and slightly gutsy black currant, fig and blackberry fruit flavors bound together by singed cedar, iron and tobacco notes. Features a tug of loam followed by a second wave of fruit through the finish. This is just starting to stretch out.—Blind '01/'03/'05 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2017). Best from 2020 through 2040. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 98-99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£949.24 |
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James Suckling (98-99)Blackcurrants, orange peel, flowers and tar with hints of graphite. Full-bodied with a creamy texture of exquisitely polished tannins. It goes on and on. Intense flavors at the end, too, with lead pencil and lots of blackberry. Very classic and precise. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 94-96+ (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£795.64 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (94-96+)The Grand Vin 2021 Château Lynch-Bages ratchets up everything, offering a rich, powerful, almost full-bodied style as well as gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, spice, and hints of cassis. It might be the biggest, richest wine in the vintage and has a great mid-palate, impressive density, building tannins, and a great, great finish. |
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Bordeaux | 13 | 97-98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£533.09 |
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James Suckling (97-98)Blackberry, black cherry, crushed stone and graphite. Lead pencil, too. It’s full-bodied with juicy, chewy tannins. Vertical and layered with lovely length. Quite plush. Chewy tannins at the end. Cabernet sauvignon driven. Showing excellent potential. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 97-98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£508.84 |
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James Suckling (97-98)Solid red with blackberry, blueberry, chocolate and spice. Lots of hazelnut, too. It’s full-bodied with chewy, polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Best of the trilogy vintages? |
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Bordeaux | 12 | 96-97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£263.09 |
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James Suckling (96-97)This has a very deep and beautiful palate with cherries, chocolate, hazelnut and orange peel. Pretty blackcurrants and blue berries, too. Medium body. The finish has gorgeous al-dente fruit at the end and is always subtle. Open tannins. A blend of 58% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot, and 5% petit verdot. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£234.04 |
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Wine Advocate (94)The 2020 Mangot has turned out beautifully, bursting with aromas of cherries, wild berries, rose petals, blood orange and bay leaf. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it's pure and vibrant, with a layered core of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, mouthwateringly chalky finish. This is a brilliant wine that sells for a song and which surpasses many of its more well-known neighbors. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (RVF) |
Inc. VAT
£3,442.84 |
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LaRVF (95)Château Margaux Margaux 1997 |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£3,510.04 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2018 Château Margaux is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, representing 36% of the crop this year. The wine has a pH of 3.8 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal tantalizing scents of crème de cassis, wild blueberries and Black Forest cake with hints of redcurrant jelly, rose oil, dark chocolate and cedar chest plus a touch of star anise. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit, fragrant earth and floral layers, supported by a rock-solid structure of exquisitely ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless backbone of freshness, finishing with fantastic length. This is classic Margaux at its most seductive, although it is, rather amazingly, approachable and absolutely delicious right now. But, to enjoy its full glory, you will want to cellar it for at least 6-8 years and then watch it metamorphize over the next 40+ years. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£3,865.24 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Another utterly heavenly wine from this estate is the 2019 Château Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot coming from a selection of just 37% of the total production. Deep purple, with an incredible array of ripe currants, blueberries, sweet tobacco, sandalwood, and toasted spices, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, powerful, yet incredibly sexy mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. As I wrote in the barrel review, it reminds me slightly of the 2016, but has a touch more sun-kissed profile. It already offers incredible pleasure yet deserves 4-6 years of bottle age and will blow you away any time over the coming 40+ years. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£3,736.24 |
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James Suckling (100)Gorgeous aromas of dark plums and violets. Orange peel, too. Some crushed stone. Bark. Stems. Iron shavings. Full-bodied, but very tight and compacted. The tannins are all here making it very structured, yet they are polished and melted together. Needs years to show all of its greatness. Incredible polish and structure. More structured than the 2019. Try after 2030 and beyond. |
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Margaux
(3x150cl)
2023
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Bordeaux | - | 99-100 (JS) |
Expected Price Range
£2,476 -
£2,941
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James Suckling (99-100)The aromas in this young Margaux are so primary, reminding me of grape must fermenting in the vat, then turning to perfumes and flowers. Violets and roses. Full-bodied but it comes across as so agile and bright, with vivid acidity that makes the wine crunchy and linear. As Alexis, one of the owners of Margaux said, this really shows the DNA of the estate. Weightless. One of the wines of the vintage. 3.6 pH. Blend of 89% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (NM)) |
Inc. VAT
£319.24 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2019 Marquis d'Alesme Becker was very impressive from barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained those engaging aromas of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and a pinch of spice, well defined and quintessentially Margaux. The palate is understated on the entry, smooth and sensual in texture, with gorgeous, very pure red fruit. I adore the harmony of this wine, and the way it sashays toward the finish. Deceptively approachable, this will mature beautifully in bottle. |
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Bordeaux | 10 | 94 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£242.69 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)Grip and tension, with tomato leaf, peony, lemongrass, slate, pummice stone, spiced plum and damson fruit, not the ink of the Cabernet in the northern Médoc, but caressing and full of fragrant pleasure. 45% new oak for ageing, and proof again that this estate is becoming one of the quiet scene-stealers of the Margaux appellation. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 89 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£686.44 |
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Wine Enthusiast (89)Typical of Saint-Estèphe, this wine is totally closed up. It is more tannins than fruit at this stage of its development. But it is obvious that there is fruit there, and that it will develop. But for now, it's a case of watch this space. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 94 (JA) |
Inc. VAT
£210.64 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Bordeaux | 8 | 96-98 (TDB) |
In Bond
£864.00 |
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The Drinks Business (96-98)Léoville Las Cases. (St Julien; 80% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Cabernet Franc; 5% Merlot.; 13.2% alcohol; pH 3.71; IPT 77; tasted at the property). If you’ve ever wanted to know what Las Cases’ Cabernet would taste like without (most of) the Merlot, here’s your chance (and you can play the same game with most of the first growths too). The answer, in a word, is wonderful (and please don’t take that as a criticism of Las Cases’ Merlot in any other vintage). This is serene and profoundly beautiful on the nose. Cool, precise, elegant, suave and sophisticated, with an intense and gracious dark purple and black fruit. It is the very epitome of cool-summer Cabernet (Sauvignon and Franc) – and that, in a sense is the point. We have, too, the florality of the vintage – here violets and a more discrete sensation of spring flowers. With air on the nose – and, again, on the palate (especially when one draws in a little air) – there is an utterly divine intense presence of cedar that both envelops and somehow cosets the dark fruit. As beautiful a Las Cases as I have had the pleasure to taste en primeur and, for me, the wine of the appellation in the vintage. Like Margaux and, in a slightly different way, Lafite, it embraces and works with rather than struggles against the characteristics of the vintage. Tranquillity, cool perfection and supreme elegance. I find this quite an emotional La Cases. Stylistically, my favourite ever! |
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Bordeaux | 7 | 98 (JA) |
In Bond
£836.00 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)Structured and powerful, this is not as forbidding as En Primeur in many vintages of Las Cases, showing both flesh and florality, but the tannic walls of this great estate remain fully in place, coupled with layers of cassis and bilberry fruits, subtle hints of bitter aniseed, fennel, cola, espresso, squid ink, textured slate tannins. Expect inky depths and unashamed austerity, a wine that will take its time to open, making no excuses for demanding patience. So so good, with a balance and classicism that delivers on the best of the vintage. 80% new oak, 6.6% press wine, 3.79h, harvest September 9 to October 2, 43hl/h yield. First year in the new cellars, with 43.5ha going into the main wine from the historic walled vineyard site. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
£565.50 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Poyferré is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot. It's one of the bigger, richer wines in the vintage and has a gorgeous, thrilling, full-bodied style as well as notes of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, violets, and chocolate. While many estates seem to be playing it safe and focusing on so-called elegance and balance, I love that Poyferré continues to make a ripe, sexy, beautifully textured wine that always offers more opulence and sexiness than most in the vintage. Ranking with the crème de la crème of the vintage, this gorgeous Poyferré can be enjoyed any time over the coming 40-50 years. Bravo! |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 98+ (JD) |
In Bond
£711.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98+)The Grand Vin 2020 Château Léoville Poyferré, which is released in a stylish black bottle commemorating a century for the Cuvelier family, is reminiscent of the 2016 with its powerful, concentrated, yet vibrant and inward style. Pure crème de cassis, melted chocolate, loamy earth, graphite, and some spicy nuances all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a stacked mid-palate, nicely integrated oak, ripe tannins, and one hell of a great finish. This is another utterly brilliant wine from this team, which has been producing First Growth quality wines for many years now. The blend of the 2020 is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in 80% new barrels, hitting 13.58% natural alcohol and a pH of 3.81. It will benefit from just 5-7 years of bottle age and will evolve for 50 years or more if well stored. Bravo. Tasted multiple times with consistent results. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JD) |
In Bond
£997.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (99)Readers looking for the next superstar in Bordeaux need to jump on the bandwagon of Les Carmes Haut-Brion, who have produced one of the wines of the vintage in 2016. The 2016 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion checks in as a blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that hit 13.8% natural alcohol and spent 22 months in 65% new French oak. Its deep purple color is followed by a complex bouquet of high-class smoke tobacco, decaying flowers, charcoal, gravelly minerality and loads of sweet black and blue fruit. Possessing full-bodied richness, flawless integration of its acidity, fruit, and ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster finish, this is another 2016 that possess both power and elegance. Do your best to hide bottles for 5-7 years and it will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss it. Tasted twice. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
£480.00 |
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Decanter (96)Brilliant wine that continues to impress three years on from the En Primeur tasting, with a creamy but restrained texture, precise black fruits with a spicy undertow. By this point Carmes had the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc on the Left Bank, and had really started to establish its own identity. It was also using a full 40% whole bunch winemaking, choosing only the ripest stems to include in the fermentation tanks, adding a twist of salinity on the finish and ensuring a dip of around 1% in potential alcohol levels at picking (this is a hot site close to the city centre). Owned by Patrice Pichet since 2011, with Guillaume Pouthier joining as director in 2012 - whose experience in the Rhône meant he was not afraid to use stems in winemaking, something traditionally shunned in Bordeaux. This wine shows the success of that approach, giving personality and poise. Needs another few years for the austerity to soften further. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£650.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, violets, damp earth, and truffle, it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated, building style that carries ripe, supple tannins, gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits, and an endearing, layered, multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty! |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
£864.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion from barrel, but it certainly brings the goods from bottle. Deep ruby/purple-hued, with a smorgasbord-like array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as violets, candied flowers, tobacco, and sappy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, flawless balance, and that rare mix of power and elegance that truly great Pessac can deliver. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it checks in behind the magical, perfect 2018 but is very much in the style of the 2016. Readers will love having this beauty in the cellar, and it will evolve for 40-50 years if stored correctly. Hats off to winemaker Guillaume Pouthier for another thrilling wine. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£613.50 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)The 2020 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a total stunner. For the first time I can remember, Les Carmes Haut-Brion marries all of its elements so well that nothing stands out. In the past, the high percentage of Franc and/or the whole clusters were evident. The 2020 is the first modern vintage in which all the elements are so well balanced. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint, lavender, dried herbs and incense all build in a ravishing Pessac-Léognan that will take your breath away. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 93 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£189.50 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (93)The 2018 Lés Cruzelles impressed from barrel. Now in bottle, it has developed quite a precocious, intense bouquet of blackberry and blueberry fruit, a light savory note and earthy scents emerging with time. The palate is just wonderful: exquisitely balanced, quite structured yet not unapproachable, the acidity perfectly judged, with a ferrous note toward the finish. This is as good a Lalande de Pomerol as you will find in this vintage. |
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Bordeaux | 12 | 94 (DC) |
In Bond
£226.00 |
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Decanter (94)Stands out from La Chenade in the vintage, with its velvet texture and a more serious sculpted feel overall. Tobacco and liquorice notes besides black cherry and raspberry fruits, good tension, serious but with Lalande-de-Pomerol unfussy appeal. 3.72pH. A yield of 38hl/ha. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£1,178.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (96)The 2009 Les Forts de Latour is engaging and quite complex on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, hints of brine and freshly rolled tobacco, all very well delineated and gaining vigor with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame layers of black fruit laced with pencil lead and tobacco, very convincing on the finish that has one of the longest lengths of any Pauillac in this flight. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£1,233.00 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 93 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£169.50 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)The 2020 Les Hauts de Smith, 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, is plump, juicy and quite forward. Succulent red cherry, cedar, cinnamon and dried flowers are front and center. Bright acids play off the ripe, racy fruit very nicely. Plush tannins wrap it all together in style. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96 (WS) |
In Bond
£1,502.50 |
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Wine Spectator (96)Textbook, with mouthfilling and slightly gutsy black currant, fig and blackberry fruit flavors bound together by singed cedar, iron and tobacco notes. Features a tug of loam followed by a second wave of fruit through the finish. This is just starting to stretch out.—Blind '01/'03/'05 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2017). Best from 2020 through 2040. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 98-99 (JS) |
In Bond
£775.00 |
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James Suckling (98-99)Blackcurrants, orange peel, flowers and tar with hints of graphite. Full-bodied with a creamy texture of exquisitely polished tannins. It goes on and on. Intense flavors at the end, too, with lead pencil and lots of blackberry. Very classic and precise. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 94-96+ (JD) |
In Bond
£647.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (94-96+)The Grand Vin 2021 Château Lynch-Bages ratchets up everything, offering a rich, powerful, almost full-bodied style as well as gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, spice, and hints of cassis. It might be the biggest, richest wine in the vintage and has a great mid-palate, impressive density, building tannins, and a great, great finish. |
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Bordeaux | 13 | 97-98 (JS) |
In Bond
£425.00 |
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James Suckling (97-98)Blackberry, black cherry, crushed stone and graphite. Lead pencil, too. It’s full-bodied with juicy, chewy tannins. Vertical and layered with lovely length. Quite plush. Chewy tannins at the end. Cabernet sauvignon driven. Showing excellent potential. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 97-98 (JS) |
In Bond
£408.00 |
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James Suckling (97-98)Solid red with blackberry, blueberry, chocolate and spice. Lots of hazelnut, too. It’s full-bodied with chewy, polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Best of the trilogy vintages? |
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Bordeaux | 12 | 96-97 (JS) |
In Bond
£200.00 |
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James Suckling (96-97)This has a very deep and beautiful palate with cherries, chocolate, hazelnut and orange peel. Pretty blackcurrants and blue berries, too. Medium body. The finish has gorgeous al-dente fruit at the end and is always subtle. Open tannins. A blend of 58% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot, and 5% petit verdot. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£179.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94)The 2020 Mangot has turned out beautifully, bursting with aromas of cherries, wild berries, rose petals, blood orange and bay leaf. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it's pure and vibrant, with a layered core of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, mouthwateringly chalky finish. This is a brilliant wine that sells for a song and which surpasses many of its more well-known neighbors. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (RVF) |
In Bond
£2,853.00 |
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LaRVF (95)Château Margaux Margaux 1997 |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£2,909.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The 2018 Château Margaux is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, representing 36% of the crop this year. The wine has a pH of 3.8 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal tantalizing scents of crème de cassis, wild blueberries and Black Forest cake with hints of redcurrant jelly, rose oil, dark chocolate and cedar chest plus a touch of star anise. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit, fragrant earth and floral layers, supported by a rock-solid structure of exquisitely ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless backbone of freshness, finishing with fantastic length. This is classic Margaux at its most seductive, although it is, rather amazingly, approachable and absolutely delicious right now. But, to enjoy its full glory, you will want to cellar it for at least 6-8 years and then watch it metamorphize over the next 40+ years. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JD) |
In Bond
£3,205.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)Another utterly heavenly wine from this estate is the 2019 Château Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot coming from a selection of just 37% of the total production. Deep purple, with an incredible array of ripe currants, blueberries, sweet tobacco, sandalwood, and toasted spices, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, powerful, yet incredibly sexy mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. As I wrote in the barrel review, it reminds me slightly of the 2016, but has a touch more sun-kissed profile. It already offers incredible pleasure yet deserves 4-6 years of bottle age and will blow you away any time over the coming 40+ years. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£3,097.50 |
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James Suckling (100)Gorgeous aromas of dark plums and violets. Orange peel, too. Some crushed stone. Bark. Stems. Iron shavings. Full-bodied, but very tight and compacted. The tannins are all here making it very structured, yet they are polished and melted together. Needs years to show all of its greatness. Incredible polish and structure. More structured than the 2019. Try after 2030 and beyond. |
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Margaux
(3x150cl)
2023
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Bordeaux | - | 99-100 (JS) |
Expected Price Range
£2,476 -
£2,941
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James Suckling (99-100)The aromas in this young Margaux are so primary, reminding me of grape must fermenting in the vat, then turning to perfumes and flowers. Violets and roses. Full-bodied but it comes across as so agile and bright, with vivid acidity that makes the wine crunchy and linear. As Alexis, one of the owners of Margaux said, this really shows the DNA of the estate. Weightless. One of the wines of the vintage. 3.6 pH. Blend of 89% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95 (VN (NM)) |
In Bond
£250.00 |
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Vinous - Neal Martin (95)The 2019 Marquis d'Alesme Becker was very impressive from barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained those engaging aromas of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and a pinch of spice, well defined and quintessentially Margaux. The palate is understated on the entry, smooth and sensual in texture, with gorgeous, very pure red fruit. I adore the harmony of this wine, and the way it sashays toward the finish. Deceptively approachable, this will mature beautifully in bottle. |
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Bordeaux | 10 | 94 (JA) |
In Bond
£183.00 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)Grip and tension, with tomato leaf, peony, lemongrass, slate, pummice stone, spiced plum and damson fruit, not the ink of the Cabernet in the northern Médoc, but caressing and full of fragrant pleasure. 45% new oak for ageing, and proof again that this estate is becoming one of the quiet scene-stealers of the Margaux appellation. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 89 (WE) |
In Bond
£556.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (89)Typical of Saint-Estèphe, this wine is totally closed up. It is more tannins than fruit at this stage of its development. But it is obvious that there is fruit there, and that it will develop. But for now, it's a case of watch this space. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 94 (JA) |
In Bond
£159.50 |
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Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)This is an excellent vintage of Montlandrie, with smoked coffee and cocoa bean, a ton of salinity, powerful blue and red fruits, super juicy on the finish. Enticing curled woodsmoke as it comes out of the glass, slate finish with a scrape of minerality. 40% new oak. Harvest September 30 to October 10. |
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Bordeaux's relatively diverse weather, particularly its rainfall, means that vintage variation can be quite broad between some years. However advances in wine making techniques, technology and investment has meant that many chateaux are still able to create very good wines in "lesser vintages". From the best vintages wines are made that are clambered for all over the world and mature excellently for many years.
This is a selection of some of our favourite vintages from Bordeaux over the last few decades, as well some more recent ones.
