France
The vast and diverse wine regions of France, each with its own unique terroirs, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques, are a treasure trove.
In Bordeaux, the birthplace of some of the world's most iconic wines, esteemed vineyards such as Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Latour, and Château Haut-Brion produce exceptional red wines, showcasing the art of blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The region is also renowned for its exquisite white wines, with vineyards like Château d'Yquem and Domaine de Chevalier producing legendary sweet wines.
Moving to Burgundy, the vineyards of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Armand Rousseau capture the essence of the region's revered terroir, crafting exquisite red wines from the Pinot Noir grape. Meanwhile, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Coche-Dury are celebrated for their world-class white wines, predominantly made from Chardonnay.
The Champagne region, known for its sparkling wines, boasts illustrious houses such as Krug, Dom Pérignon, and Moët & Chandon, as well as grower-producers like Pierre Péters and Jacques Selosse. These vineyards create exceptional sparkling wines using the traditional method, offering a symphony of delicate bubbles, elegant flavors, and vibrant acidity.
In the Rhône Valley, iconic vineyards like Chapoutier, E. Guigal, and Château de Beaucastel produce remarkable red wines in the northern appellations of Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Cornas, showcasing the elegance and power of Syrah. Further south, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is celebrated for its rich and full-bodied red blends, with Château Rayas and Clos des Papes leading the way.
In Alsace, vineyards such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and omaine Trimbach craft exquisite white wines, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris, expressing the region's unique terroir and varietal character.
These are just a few highlights among the diverse array of wines that France offers. From the Loire Valley's crisp whites and elegant reds to the Languedoc-Roussillon's bold and robust wines, each region presents its own vinous treasures.
France
-
Discover the exceptional Clos de la Bonnette Condrieu Legende Bonnetta 2022, an exquisite white wine from the revered Rhone valley of France. The wine is meticulously crafted by Domaine Clos de la Bonnette, a boutique vineyard renowned for its biodynamically conducted amphora subterranean cuvées. This handmade Viognier varietal boasts an aromatic symphony of apricot, honeyed peaches and a whisper of vanilla spice realised through meticulous fermentation in French oak. Its minerality is reflective of Condrieu's characteristic terroir, unearthing echoes of the granite soils in every sip. The 2022 vintage is a legendary representation of their stellar wine-making prowess, encapsulating a splendid balance between potency and elegance. Its full-bodied, opulent profile, harmonized by a fantastic acidity, leaves unparalleled layers of complexity and length. Clos de la Bonnette Condrieu Legende Bonnetta 2022 is an indulgence for the discerning wine connoisseur seeking a memorable experience.
Inc. VAT£410.00 -
The Clos de la Bonnette Cote Rotie Prenelle 2021 is indeed a symbol of impeccable craftsmanship from a famed winery located in Northern Rhone Valley, France. This superb vintage encapsulates the inherent elegance and complexity unique to the producer's portfolio. Hand-picked Syrah and Viognier grapes from vineyards marinated in schist and iron oxide rich soils are meticulously co-fermented, a testament to the traditional winemaking methods employed. The result is a sophisticated wine, beautifully balancing aromas of dark berry fruits, smoky nuances and a hint of floral undertones. On the palate, it reveals a silky texture tinged with a delicate spiciness, culminating in a lingering, mineral-infused finish. Matured in French oak barrels for 15 months, the Clos de la Bonnette Cote Rotie Prenelle 2021 embodies the winery's commitment to quality and longevity.
Inc. VAT£525.20 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2018 Fleurie from the Clos de la Roilette is showing very well, revealing an inviting bouquet of ripe cherries and cassis mingled with spices, violets and peonies. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, enveloping and layered, with fine-grained structuring tannins, ripe acids and a fleshy core of fruit. Gourmand and expressive, Coudert says the 2018 reminds him of his 2011, an analogy with which I concur.Inc. VAT£343.00 -
(12x75cl) 2021Wine Advocate (94)
Fans of old-school Beaujolais will adore the 2021 Fleurie Cuvée Tardive from the Clos de la Roilette. Bursting with aromas of crunchy red berries, peonies, spices and plums, it's medium-bodied, ample and enveloping, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a pretty, perfumed finish. Despite the challenges of the year, the Coudert family have produced a lovely classic, and it's a wine that's much more drinkable and vibrant than some of the recent banner vintages at this address.Inc. VAT£268.60 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (83)
The 1982 Clos de Sarpe is clearly cut from a different cloth compared to vintages from the 1960s and 1970s. This has more fruit: mulberry, red plum and strawberry, smudged but with commendable presence. There are scents of clove and field mushrooms developing in the glass as secondary aromas take over. The palate is medium-bodied with bitter cherry and tobacco on the entry, the tannins drying a little with a mushroom-tinged, quite piecey finish that cuts away quickly. Drink soon.Inc. VAT£294.00 -
(6x150cl) 1998Vinous - Neal Martin (88)
The 1998 Clos de Sarpe was the first vintage to use 100% new barrels (the previous vintage had been matured in 50% new oak and the remainder in tank). It is also the first year where the Grand Vin came exclusively from the older vines; the younger vines were from the deuxième vin. It has quite a high-toned bouquet with mulberry and blackcurrant fruit, peppermint and a touch of clove. This is far superior to the previous vintages that were aged in tank. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a little more roundness and certainly more generosity than the 1985 or 1990. This does not possess finesse or refinement, but the oak gives the wine cohesion that was missing up until this point. Bottles of perfect provenance will still give pleasure.Inc. VAT£1,505.69 -
(12x75cl) 2012The Wine Cellar Insider (92)
With smoke, stone, plum and coffee notes, the wine offers a structured, powerful, mineral-driven and tannic finish. This is one of the more structured wines of the vintage. 89-92 PtsInc. VAT£740.81 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
An off-the-hook Saint-Emilion, the inky colored 2016 Château Clos de Sarpe is mostly Merlot but includes 15% Cabernet Franc. A beautiful, floral character gives way to more blueberry, raspberry, spice, and cedar notes, and it's medium to full-bodied, fresh, and elegant on the palate, with thrilling purity of fruit. It's still tight and reserved at the moment, with a focused feel on the palate, but has tons of potential. Give bottles 5-7 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 15+. Tasted twice.Inc. VAT£416.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)
The 2018 Clos de Sarpe has turned out beautifully. Rich and unctuous in the glass, yet with terrific freshness, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. There is plenty of the flamboyance Clos de Sarpe fans expect, and yet the 2018 is so measured and vibrant. Inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and blood orange meld into the sumptuous finish. A slight move away from the very pushed style of years past has paid off big time. The 2018 is simply magnificent.Inc. VAT£300.04 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)
I love this estate, and their 2019 Château Clos De Sarpe offers the newer, balanced, elegant style of recent vintages while still bringing beautiful fruit and opulence. Cassis, blueberries, graphite, tobacco damp earth, and violet notes are just some of its nuances, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, awesome purity of fruit, good acidity, and a great finish. It's going to take a decade of bottle age to hit maturity and will evolve for 30 to 40 years. This classic, beautiful, old-school yet pure and balanced Saint-Emilion deserves a place in your cellar.Inc. VAT£479.21 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)
The 2020 Clos du Sarpe is an exotic beauty. Blackberry jam, graphite, menthol, licorice, crushed rocks, incense and white truffle give Clos du Sarpe its exotic profile. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing, but everything about the 2020 is so alluring. The 2020 needs time to soften, but it is compelling.Inc. VAT£88.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)
The 2020 Clos du Sarpe is an exotic beauty. Blackberry jam, graphite, menthol, licorice, crushed rocks, incense and white truffle give Clos du Sarpe its exotic profile. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing, but everything about the 2020 is so alluring. The 2020 needs time to soften, but it is compelling.Inc. VAT£296.38 -
(1x75cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (94)
I continue to absolutely love what this château does, and the wines have never been better. The 2021 Château Clos De Sarpe comes from a single 3.7-hectare vineyard on the eastern portion of the appellation and is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare, with a long 42-day maceration followed by aging in 70% new barrels. Sensational notes of pure crème de cassis and black raspberry fruit, crushed stone, spring flowers, and graphite, as well as a chalky, crushed stone-like minerality, all emerge from the glass, and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, fine tannins, and nicely integrated background oak. It hit 14.5% alcohol and brings more depth, richness, and texture than most in the vintage. I would be thrilled to have bottles in the cellar, and it will ideally be given 4-6 years of bottle age and will evolve gracefully over the following two decades. Hats off to Jean-Guy Beyney and his niece Maylis Marcenat for another brilliant wine. This château deserves more attention in the market today, as they're producing some of the greatest wines from the Right Bank.Inc. VAT£110.93 -
(6x75cl) 2023Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)
The 2023 Clos de Sarpe is fabulous. Deep, rich and explosive, the 2023 possesses tremendous textural density and power to match. A burst of dark-toned fruit, chocolate, new leather, incense and dried herbs hits the palate. This builds beautifully through the layered mid-palate and into the explosive, punchy finish. Clos de Sarpe isn't quite as opulent as it used to be, but it remains one of the most distinctive wines in Saint-Émilion and Bordeaux, for that matter.Expected Price Range£244 - £290 -
(6x75cl) 1999LaRVF (95)
Clos de Tart Clos de Tart Grand Cru 1999Inc. VAT£3,958.81 -
Vinous (94)
Bright, fresh medium red. Shimmering perfume of red fruits, caramel, truffle, porcini and damp earth. Wonderfully vibrant and complex in the mouth, offering terrific precision to the flavors of black cherry, mulch, tar and smoke; there's a faint noble vegetility here that reminds me of a young Romanée-Conti! Tannins are serious and present but arrive late and avoid dryness. This intoxicating, nuanced wine is just rounding into form and should go on for many more years.Inc. VAT£787.20 -
(1x75cl) 2002Vinous (98+)
Bright, deep red. Very pure, youthful aromas of raspberry, garrigue and pungent minerals; this smells like a five-year-old Burgundy. Round and sweet in the mouth, showing excellent volume for the vintage but also captivating tangy acidity to frame and intensify the flavors of red berries, minerals and black mushroom. Wonderfully suave, seamless wine with great class--and incredibly fresh and youthful for the vintage. Finishes with palate-staining persistence and pungent red fruits. This remarkable wine, probably the youngest 2002 I tasted this fall, still has decades of life ahead of it.Inc. VAT£868.92 -
(12x75cl) 2004Inc. VAT£6,549.67 -
(1x75cl) 2004Inc. VAT£559.32 -
Jancis Robinson (19)
Very dark crimson. Meaty, concentrated, wonderfully intense nose that is still very expressive even if on the palate the wine is a little closed with quite tense tannins. Lovely sweet aromas and nicely braced for a glorious future. Still rather dry on the finish but I am very optimistic about this glorious wine – concentrated but expressive.Inc. VAT£1,771.72 -
Jancis Robinson (19)
Magnum. Very firm and bright and almost Cabernet–like! Burly and autumnal and massively round and plush and full of gorgeousness. Very vital.Inc. VAT£2,971.24 -
(6x75cl) 2008Jancis Robinson (19)
Magnum. Very firm and bright and almost Cabernet–like! Burly and autumnal and massively round and plush and full of gorgeousness. Very vital.Inc. VAT£3,369.95 -
(1x75cl) 2009Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2009 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a more intense bouquet than the 2010, although it does not possess the same otherworldly sense of nuance and complexity. Yet it blossoms in the glass, attaining more and more precision, and redcurrant and cranberry scents appear mixed with rose petal and bergamot. The palate is medium-bodied with lovely balance and poise; the tannins are perhaps a little firmer and grippier than the 2010 with a symmetry on the finish that is beguiling. It actually becomes more like the 2010 on the finish so that the two wines end up more similar than you would expect, given the growing season. It is a sublime expression of the vintage.Inc. VAT£825.89 -
(3x150cl) 2009Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2009 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a more intense bouquet than the 2010, although it does not possess the same otherworldly sense of nuance and complexity. Yet it blossoms in the glass, attaining more and more precision, and redcurrant and cranberry scents appear mixed with rose petal and bergamot. The palate is medium-bodied with lovely balance and poise; the tannins are perhaps a little firmer and grippier than the 2010 with a symmetry on the finish that is beguiling. It actually becomes more like the 2010 on the finish so that the two wines end up more similar than you would expect, given the growing season. It is a sublime expression of the vintage.Inc. VAT£3,920.75 -
(3x150cl) 2010Wine Advocate (98+)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2010 Clos de Tart Grand Cru would have been made by angels if not Sylvain Pitiot (angels that had graduated from University of Dijon with a degree in oenology). The nose is so ineffably pure that it is guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye. In a strange way it reminds me of a top Armand Rousseau with its awe-inspiring transparency. The palate is ethereal - divine balance, a gentle grip, a saline edge and poise on the finish that takes your breath away. Iron fist in a velvet glove, etc. This is surely legend in the making.Inc. VAT£4,272.04 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2011 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a distinctly more herbaceous and leafier nose than the 2012. Here we are walking in woodland around mid-October, the damp ground strewn with brown leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly more rustic tannins than the 2012, but there is tremendous depth here and it seems to gain complexity toward the finish that gently fans out. It is another elegant Clos de Tart that will drink over the next 20 years.Inc. VAT£2,629.55 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2012 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has just a wonderful nose with more fruit intensity than the 2013, so pure and feminine with ebullient raspberry preserve and strawberry notes, sheer pinoté! The palate is beautifully structured with fine tannin, tensile, refined and aristocratic. There is a brilliant focus here and an extraordinary sustained finish that leaves you desperate for the next sip. What it shares in common with the 2008 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is that it is predestined to be overshadowed by the 2009 and 2010. That should not be the case - it is a quite brilliant articulation of the Clos. Bon vin!Inc. VAT£2,959.55 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2012 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has just a wonderful nose with more fruit intensity than the 2013, so pure and feminine with ebullient raspberry preserve and strawberry notes, sheer pinoté! The palate is beautifully structured with fine tannin, tensile, refined and aristocratic. There is a brilliant focus here and an extraordinary sustained finish that leaves you desperate for the next sip. What it shares in common with the 2008 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is that it is predestined to be overshadowed by the 2009 and 2010. That should not be the case - it is a quite brilliant articulation of the Clos. Bon vin!Inc. VAT£1,756.38 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2012 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has just a wonderful nose with more fruit intensity than the 2013, so pure and feminine with ebullient raspberry preserve and strawberry notes, sheer pinoté! The palate is beautifully structured with fine tannin, tensile, refined and aristocratic. There is a brilliant focus here and an extraordinary sustained finish that leaves you desperate for the next sip. What it shares in common with the 2008 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is that it is predestined to be overshadowed by the 2009 and 2010. That should not be the case - it is a quite brilliant articulation of the Clos. Bon vin!Inc. VAT£2,769.95 -
(6x75cl) 2013Vinous (95)
The 2013 Clos de Tart Grand Cru was picked from October 8. I prefer the bouquet to that of the more confit-like 2014; this is very fresh and vivacious, offering black cherries mixed with blueberry and light violet aromas, the mineral component more expressive. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit on the entry, tinged with graphite. Shows good weight but tightens up toward the back end, suggesting that it may close down. Quite saline on the finish. Give it 7–8 years in bottle. Tasted at Clos de Tart.Inc. VAT£3,174.35
-
Discover the exceptional Clos de la Bonnette Condrieu Legende Bonnetta 2022, an exquisite white wine from the revered Rhone valley of France. The wine is meticulously crafted by Domaine Clos de la Bonnette, a boutique vineyard renowned for its biodynamically conducted amphora subterranean cuvées. This handmade Viognier varietal boasts an aromatic symphony of apricot, honeyed peaches and a whisper of vanilla spice realised through meticulous fermentation in French oak. Its minerality is reflective of Condrieu's characteristic terroir, unearthing echoes of the granite soils in every sip. The 2022 vintage is a legendary representation of their stellar wine-making prowess, encapsulating a splendid balance between potency and elegance. Its full-bodied, opulent profile, harmonized by a fantastic acidity, leaves unparalleled layers of complexity and length. Clos de la Bonnette Condrieu Legende Bonnetta 2022 is an indulgence for the discerning wine connoisseur seeking a memorable experience.
In Bond£321.00 -
The Clos de la Bonnette Cote Rotie Prenelle 2021 is indeed a symbol of impeccable craftsmanship from a famed winery located in Northern Rhone Valley, France. This superb vintage encapsulates the inherent elegance and complexity unique to the producer's portfolio. Hand-picked Syrah and Viognier grapes from vineyards marinated in schist and iron oxide rich soils are meticulously co-fermented, a testament to the traditional winemaking methods employed. The result is a sophisticated wine, beautifully balancing aromas of dark berry fruits, smoky nuances and a hint of floral undertones. On the palate, it reveals a silky texture tinged with a delicate spiciness, culminating in a lingering, mineral-infused finish. Matured in French oak barrels for 15 months, the Clos de la Bonnette Cote Rotie Prenelle 2021 embodies the winery's commitment to quality and longevity.
In Bond£417.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2018 Fleurie from the Clos de la Roilette is showing very well, revealing an inviting bouquet of ripe cherries and cassis mingled with spices, violets and peonies. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, enveloping and layered, with fine-grained structuring tannins, ripe acids and a fleshy core of fruit. Gourmand and expressive, Coudert says the 2018 reminds him of his 2011, an analogy with which I concur.In Bond£250.00 -
(12x75cl) 2021Wine Advocate (94)
Fans of old-school Beaujolais will adore the 2021 Fleurie Cuvée Tardive from the Clos de la Roilette. Bursting with aromas of crunchy red berries, peonies, spices and plums, it's medium-bodied, ample and enveloping, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a pretty, perfumed finish. Despite the challenges of the year, the Coudert family have produced a lovely classic, and it's a wine that's much more drinkable and vibrant than some of the recent banner vintages at this address.In Bond£188.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (83)
The 1982 Clos de Sarpe is clearly cut from a different cloth compared to vintages from the 1960s and 1970s. This has more fruit: mulberry, red plum and strawberry, smudged but with commendable presence. There are scents of clove and field mushrooms developing in the glass as secondary aromas take over. The palate is medium-bodied with bitter cherry and tobacco on the entry, the tannins drying a little with a mushroom-tinged, quite piecey finish that cuts away quickly. Drink soon.Inc. VAT£294.00 -
(6x150cl) 1998Vinous - Neal Martin (88)
The 1998 Clos de Sarpe was the first vintage to use 100% new barrels (the previous vintage had been matured in 50% new oak and the remainder in tank). It is also the first year where the Grand Vin came exclusively from the older vines; the younger vines were from the deuxième vin. It has quite a high-toned bouquet with mulberry and blackcurrant fruit, peppermint and a touch of clove. This is far superior to the previous vintages that were aged in tank. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a little more roundness and certainly more generosity than the 1985 or 1990. This does not possess finesse or refinement, but the oak gives the wine cohesion that was missing up until this point. Bottles of perfect provenance will still give pleasure.In Bond£1,222.68 -
(12x75cl) 2012The Wine Cellar Insider (92)
With smoke, stone, plum and coffee notes, the wine offers a structured, powerful, mineral-driven and tannic finish. This is one of the more structured wines of the vintage. 89-92 PtsIn Bond£576.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
An off-the-hook Saint-Emilion, the inky colored 2016 Château Clos de Sarpe is mostly Merlot but includes 15% Cabernet Franc. A beautiful, floral character gives way to more blueberry, raspberry, spice, and cedar notes, and it's medium to full-bodied, fresh, and elegant on the palate, with thrilling purity of fruit. It's still tight and reserved at the moment, with a focused feel on the palate, but has tons of potential. Give bottles 5-7 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 15+. Tasted twice.In Bond£326.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)
The 2018 Clos de Sarpe has turned out beautifully. Rich and unctuous in the glass, yet with terrific freshness, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. There is plenty of the flamboyance Clos de Sarpe fans expect, and yet the 2018 is so measured and vibrant. Inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and blood orange meld into the sumptuous finish. A slight move away from the very pushed style of years past has paid off big time. The 2018 is simply magnificent.In Bond£234.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)
I love this estate, and their 2019 Château Clos De Sarpe offers the newer, balanced, elegant style of recent vintages while still bringing beautiful fruit and opulence. Cassis, blueberries, graphite, tobacco damp earth, and violet notes are just some of its nuances, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, awesome purity of fruit, good acidity, and a great finish. It's going to take a decade of bottle age to hit maturity and will evolve for 30 to 40 years. This classic, beautiful, old-school yet pure and balanced Saint-Emilion deserves a place in your cellar.In Bond£358.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)
The 2020 Clos du Sarpe is an exotic beauty. Blackberry jam, graphite, menthol, licorice, crushed rocks, incense and white truffle give Clos du Sarpe its exotic profile. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing, but everything about the 2020 is so alluring. The 2020 needs time to soften, but it is compelling.In Bond£70.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)
The 2020 Clos du Sarpe is an exotic beauty. Blackberry jam, graphite, menthol, licorice, crushed rocks, incense and white truffle give Clos du Sarpe its exotic profile. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing, but everything about the 2020 is so alluring. The 2020 needs time to soften, but it is compelling.In Bond£227.00 -
(1x75cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (94)
I continue to absolutely love what this château does, and the wines have never been better. The 2021 Château Clos De Sarpe comes from a single 3.7-hectare vineyard on the eastern portion of the appellation and is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare, with a long 42-day maceration followed by aging in 70% new barrels. Sensational notes of pure crème de cassis and black raspberry fruit, crushed stone, spring flowers, and graphite, as well as a chalky, crushed stone-like minerality, all emerge from the glass, and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, fine tannins, and nicely integrated background oak. It hit 14.5% alcohol and brings more depth, richness, and texture than most in the vintage. I would be thrilled to have bottles in the cellar, and it will ideally be given 4-6 years of bottle age and will evolve gracefully over the following two decades. Hats off to Jean-Guy Beyney and his niece Maylis Marcenat for another brilliant wine. This château deserves more attention in the market today, as they're producing some of the greatest wines from the Right Bank.In Bond£89.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)
The 2023 Clos de Sarpe is fabulous. Deep, rich and explosive, the 2023 possesses tremendous textural density and power to match. A burst of dark-toned fruit, chocolate, new leather, incense and dried herbs hits the palate. This builds beautifully through the layered mid-palate and into the explosive, punchy finish. Clos de Sarpe isn't quite as opulent as it used to be, but it remains one of the most distinctive wines in Saint-Émilion and Bordeaux, for that matter.Expected Price Range£244 - £290 -
(6x75cl) 1999LaRVF (95)
Clos de Tart Clos de Tart Grand Cru 1999In Bond£3,280.41 -
Vinous (94)
Bright, fresh medium red. Shimmering perfume of red fruits, caramel, truffle, porcini and damp earth. Wonderfully vibrant and complex in the mouth, offering terrific precision to the flavors of black cherry, mulch, tar and smoke; there's a faint noble vegetility here that reminds me of a young Romanée-Conti! Tannins are serious and present but arrive late and avoid dryness. This intoxicating, nuanced wine is just rounding into form and should go on for many more years.Inc. VAT£787.20 -
(1x75cl) 2002Vinous (98+)
Bright, deep red. Very pure, youthful aromas of raspberry, garrigue and pungent minerals; this smells like a five-year-old Burgundy. Round and sweet in the mouth, showing excellent volume for the vintage but also captivating tangy acidity to frame and intensify the flavors of red berries, minerals and black mushroom. Wonderfully suave, seamless wine with great class--and incredibly fresh and youthful for the vintage. Finishes with palate-staining persistence and pungent red fruits. This remarkable wine, probably the youngest 2002 I tasted this fall, still has decades of life ahead of it.In Bond£721.00 -
(12x75cl) 2004In Bond£5,426.00 -
(1x75cl) 2004In Bond£463.00 -
Jancis Robinson (19)
Very dark crimson. Meaty, concentrated, wonderfully intense nose that is still very expressive even if on the palate the wine is a little closed with quite tense tannins. Lovely sweet aromas and nicely braced for a glorious future. Still rather dry on the finish but I am very optimistic about this glorious wine – concentrated but expressive.In Bond£1,470.00 -
Jancis Robinson (19)
Magnum. Very firm and bright and almost Cabernet–like! Burly and autumnal and massively round and plush and full of gorgeousness. Very vital.In Bond£2,460.00 -
(6x75cl) 2008Jancis Robinson (19)
Magnum. Very firm and bright and almost Cabernet–like! Burly and autumnal and massively round and plush and full of gorgeousness. Very vital.In Bond£2,789.00 -
(1x75cl) 2009Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2009 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a more intense bouquet than the 2010, although it does not possess the same otherworldly sense of nuance and complexity. Yet it blossoms in the glass, attaining more and more precision, and redcurrant and cranberry scents appear mixed with rose petal and bergamot. The palate is medium-bodied with lovely balance and poise; the tannins are perhaps a little firmer and grippier than the 2010 with a symmetry on the finish that is beguiling. It actually becomes more like the 2010 on the finish so that the two wines end up more similar than you would expect, given the growing season. It is a sublime expression of the vintage.In Bond£685.57 -
(3x150cl) 2009Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2009 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a more intense bouquet than the 2010, although it does not possess the same otherworldly sense of nuance and complexity. Yet it blossoms in the glass, attaining more and more precision, and redcurrant and cranberry scents appear mixed with rose petal and bergamot. The palate is medium-bodied with lovely balance and poise; the tannins are perhaps a little firmer and grippier than the 2010 with a symmetry on the finish that is beguiling. It actually becomes more like the 2010 on the finish so that the two wines end up more similar than you would expect, given the growing season. It is a sublime expression of the vintage.In Bond£3,248.00 -
(3x150cl) 2010Wine Advocate (98+)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2010 Clos de Tart Grand Cru would have been made by angels if not Sylvain Pitiot (angels that had graduated from University of Dijon with a degree in oenology). The nose is so ineffably pure that it is guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye. In a strange way it reminds me of a top Armand Rousseau with its awe-inspiring transparency. The palate is ethereal - divine balance, a gentle grip, a saline edge and poise on the finish that takes your breath away. Iron fist in a velvet glove, etc. This is surely legend in the making.In Bond£3,544.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2011 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has a distinctly more herbaceous and leafier nose than the 2012. Here we are walking in woodland around mid-October, the damp ground strewn with brown leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly more rustic tannins than the 2012, but there is tremendous depth here and it seems to gain complexity toward the finish that gently fans out. It is another elegant Clos de Tart that will drink over the next 20 years.In Bond£2,172.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2012 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has just a wonderful nose with more fruit intensity than the 2013, so pure and feminine with ebullient raspberry preserve and strawberry notes, sheer pinoté! The palate is beautifully structured with fine tannin, tensile, refined and aristocratic. There is a brilliant focus here and an extraordinary sustained finish that leaves you desperate for the next sip. What it shares in common with the 2008 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is that it is predestined to be overshadowed by the 2009 and 2010. That should not be the case - it is a quite brilliant articulation of the Clos. Bon vin!In Bond£2,447.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2012 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has just a wonderful nose with more fruit intensity than the 2013, so pure and feminine with ebullient raspberry preserve and strawberry notes, sheer pinoté! The palate is beautifully structured with fine tannin, tensile, refined and aristocratic. There is a brilliant focus here and an extraordinary sustained finish that leaves you desperate for the next sip. What it shares in common with the 2008 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is that it is predestined to be overshadowed by the 2009 and 2010. That should not be the case - it is a quite brilliant articulation of the Clos. Bon vin!In Bond£1,454.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Tasted at the pre-dinner vertical to mark Sylvain Pitiot's retirement from the domaine, the 2012 Clos de Tart Grand Cru has just a wonderful nose with more fruit intensity than the 2013, so pure and feminine with ebullient raspberry preserve and strawberry notes, sheer pinoté! The palate is beautifully structured with fine tannin, tensile, refined and aristocratic. There is a brilliant focus here and an extraordinary sustained finish that leaves you desperate for the next sip. What it shares in common with the 2008 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is that it is predestined to be overshadowed by the 2009 and 2010. That should not be the case - it is a quite brilliant articulation of the Clos. Bon vin!In Bond£2,289.00 -
(6x75cl) 2013Vinous (95)
The 2013 Clos de Tart Grand Cru was picked from October 8. I prefer the bouquet to that of the more confit-like 2014; this is very fresh and vivacious, offering black cherries mixed with blueberry and light violet aromas, the mineral component more expressive. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit on the entry, tinged with graphite. Shows good weight but tightens up toward the back end, suggesting that it may close down. Quite saline on the finish. Give it 7–8 years in bottle. Tasted at Clos de Tart.In Bond£2,626.00

