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
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Vinous (95)
Inky ruby. Explosive aromas of red and dark berries are complicated by suggestions of star anise, potpourri and smoky minerals. Rich yet lithe on the palate, offering sweet black raspberry and cola flavors and an intense note of candied lavender. Made in a rich yet graceful style, finishing with superb clarity and length and sneaky tannins that come on late. One of my favorite wines of the vintage and almost shockingly approachable now.Inc. VAT£1,494.41 -
(6x75cl) 2013Wine Advocate (95)
The cream of the lineup and one of the stars of the vintage is the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve le Clos du Caillou. Incorporating more Mourvèdre than normal (a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Mourvèdre), this smokin’ southern Rhône sports a deep ruby/purple color to go with notes of blackcurrants, white pepper, orange liqueur and graphite. Big, full-bodied, supple and elegant, it’s certainly not as massive as some of the greats from this estate (2001, 2005, 2007 or 2010), but hats off to the team for producing a wine of this quality in a difficult vintage.Inc. VAT£486.80 -
(1x75cl) 2015Wine Advocate (97)
Amazingly perfumed and floral, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve is a striking wine, drawn from the sandy lieux-dits of La Guigasse and Pignan. The blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Mourvèdre yields plenty of refined cherry and stone fruit elements, silky tannins and great elegance on the long finish. It's not the biggest kid on the block, just one of the best looking. What a pretty wine!Inc. VAT£109.45 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Lastly, and a perfect wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre that’s brought up in demi-muids. It shows the vintage’s ripe, sexy, yet also concentrated and powerful style, offering full-bodied aromas and flavors of red and blue fruits, Provençal herbs, pepper, and violets. Possessing sensational elegance, perfect balance, and ripe, polished tannins, it’s always the more aristocratic, classy, seamless wine compared to the more exuberant, overflowing with character Les Quartz release. This matches the otherworldly 2001, 2007, 2010, and 2016.Inc. VAT£139.73 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Lastly, and a perfect wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre that’s brought up in demi-muids. It shows the vintage’s ripe, sexy, yet also concentrated and powerful style, offering full-bodied aromas and flavors of red and blue fruits, Provençal herbs, pepper, and violets. Possessing sensational elegance, perfect balance, and ripe, polished tannins, it’s always the more aristocratic, classy, seamless wine compared to the more exuberant, overflowing with character Les Quartz release. This matches the otherworldly 2001, 2007, 2010, and 2016.Inc. VAT£666.80 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
A co-fermented blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Mourvèdre, matured in demi-muids (about 10% of the volume is in amphorae this year), the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve is a strong candidate for perfection. Sourced from the lieux-dits of Guigasse and Pignan, the nose delivers the essence of sandy-soil Grenache, with notes of rose petals, lavender, thyme, cherries and raspberries. Full-bodied and lush, silky and long, it adds hints of toasty oak and salted licorice on the finish.Inc. VAT£726.80 -
Inc. VAT£558.80 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
A candidate for perfection, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre from sandy parcels in Guigasse and Pignan. Alluring scents of crushed stone, floral elements and almost truffle-like complexities accent black cherries and plums on the nose, while the wine is full-bodied and expansive in the mouth yet manages to do that without seeming heavy or overly rich, and the silky finish is near-endless, reverberating with notes of dark fruit and licorice.Inc. VAT£720.80 -
(6x75cl) 2013Vinous (93)
Opaque ruby. Powerful cherry and dark berry scents show superb clarity and lift, picking up smoke and Indian spice nuances with air. Offers palate-staining, spice-tinged black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that show a suave blend of richness and vivacity. Finishes gently sweet and extremely long, with silky, even tannins contributing shape.Inc. VAT£308.69 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97+)
Moving to the tiny production 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz, which is mostly Grenache with around 25% or so of Syrah, it has a rich, full-bodied, dense, and almost backward style to go with powerful black fruits, ground pepper, and violet aromas and flavors. I love its purity of fruit, and it builds nicely with time in the glass, showing more mid-palate depth as well as ripe tannins. It’s a stunning bottle of wine, but patience will be required. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.Inc. VAT£376.40 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97+)
Moving to the tiny production 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz, which is mostly Grenache with around 25% or so of Syrah, it has a rich, full-bodied, dense, and almost backward style to go with powerful black fruits, ground pepper, and violet aromas and flavors. I love its purity of fruit, and it builds nicely with time in the glass, showing more mid-palate depth as well as ripe tannins. It’s a stunning bottle of wine, but patience will be required. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.Inc. VAT£388.40 -
(6x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£398.69 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres is deeper and richer than the base cuvée and possesses terrific notes of black raspberries, blackberry jam, exotic flower, and orange blossom. Full-bodied, polished, elegant and gorgeously pure on the palate, with fine tannin, it's a killer wine. Made from 95% Grenache (the balance is Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Vaccarèse), it too has a decade and more of prime drinking.Inc. VAT£469.61 -
Inc. VAT£266.00 -
James Suckling (92)
There’s a lot of complexity here. Plump, red plums and cherries with some wild herbs and meaty elements. Supple and plush, red-fruit palate. Slick and ripe. Drink or hold.Inc. VAT£395.21 -
Inc. VAT£168.80 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
A blend of 80% Grenache (maturing in demi-muids and foudre) and 20% Syrah (in used barriques), the 2020 Cotes du Rhone Les Quartz was entirely destemmed, yet it offers up seductive floral-herbal notes of rose garden alongside raspberries and cherries. Medium to full-bodied, silky and voluminous on the palate, it finishes long and elegant. It's another terrific wine that should prove relatively affordable upon release.Inc. VAT£132.80 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
Including more Mourvèdre, the 2018 Côtes du Rhône La Reserve checks in as 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvèdre that was brought up all in demi-muids. Almost opaque ruby, with a blockbuster nose of Bing cherries, black raspberries, flowery incense, toasted spices, and dry-aged beef, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture, loads of fruit, and a great finish. The level of purity as well as finesse in this wine, paired with plenty of richness, is something to behold. It way over-delivers for a Côtes du Rhône. In fact, for my money, this is one of the best Côtes du Rhône out there. It’s terrific today yet will evolve nicely for a solid decade. Does Côtes du Rhônes get any better?Inc. VAT£264.80 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
The 2023 Côtes Du Rhône La Reserve Blanc is all Clairette Rose, which is a later ripening variety compared to Clairette and a variety that brings a touch more richness and texture. Beautiful notes of honeyed melon, minty, sappy herbs, and spice all define the aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied white that has a layered, balanced profile, beautiful freshness, and one heck of a finish. This is one Côtes Du Rhône Blanc that would have no problem standing in a lineup of top Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc! Drink bottles over the coming 2-4 years.Inc. VAT£194.75 -
(12x75cl) 2014Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)
The 2014 Clos du Clocher is a rich, intense wine that needs time to come together. There is plenty of depth in the fruit, yet the tannins remain incisive. Smoke, tobacco and grilled herbs lend aromatic nuance to the bold, dark finish. Tasted two times.Inc. VAT£775.79 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)
The 2014 Clos du Clocher is a rich, intense wine that needs time to come together. There is plenty of depth in the fruit, yet the tannins remain incisive. Smoke, tobacco and grilled herbs lend aromatic nuance to the bold, dark finish. Tasted two times.Inc. VAT£94.92 -
Wine Advocate (93)
Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc coming mainly from clay soils on the plateau and aged for one year in oak, 65% new, the 2015 Clos du Clocher springs forth with profound notes of crushed blackberries, black cherries and blueberry compote plus touches of iron ore, bouquet garni, beef drippings and black soil. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated in the mouth, it fills the palate with generous black and blue fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with persistent minerally notes.Inc. VAT£712.75 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93+)
The 2016 Clos du Clocher has a rich, opulent bouquet with layers of macerated small black cherries, crème de cassis and violet aromas. There is brightness and vivacity here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, finely judged acidity, a slightly lactic texture and flecks of dark chocolate toward the finish, which fans out nicely. This will need time, but it is very promising. A composed and refined Pomerol from Jean-Baptiste Bourotte.Inc. VAT£563.98 -
(12x75cl) 2017Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2017 Clos du Clocher has turned out beautifully. Rich, ample and voluptuous in feel, the 2017 has so much to offer. Juicy dark cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice and mocha abound in a plush, open-knit Pomerol that has so much to offer. This is such a delicious and compelling wine.Inc. VAT£625.14 -
(12x75cl) 2019Decanter (95)
Ripe dark fruits and dried flowers abound on the nose, aromatic and expressive. Succulent and juicy on the palate but with a really rich, concentrated core of fruit giving intense blackcurrant, blueberry and black cherry flavours alongside coffee bean, dark chocolate and black pepper. Lovely combination of fruit and spice all balanced and given lift by bright acidity and a minty fresh finish. A structured and sophisticated wine with lots to like and lots to give. Totally moreish - one you want to drink now but should probably hold on to. Tasted twice.Inc. VAT£655.15 -
Decanter (94)
Sweet blackcurrants on the nose with wild purple flowers, I could smell this all day. Upfront and energetic, the tannins make the immediate impact coating the mouth in a fine dark chocolate and black cherry powder with a chewiness that is so appealing and a mouthwatering hit on the mid palate. I like the succulence and roundness here, but also the verticality, it goes upwards and sideways - it's not massively weighty but you get the flavour and the texture all around giving structure and definition. There is an ease about this while still delivering depth. Poised at the moment, still with that tannic might, real power. Great preservation of fruity flavours and freshness. This will be excellent in time. A great buy! Started conversion to organic this yearInc. VAT£604.01 -
(6x75cl) 2021Decanter (94)
Sweet blackcurrants on the nose with wild purple flowers, I could smell this all day. Upfront and energetic, the tannins make the immediate impact coating the mouth in a fine dark chocolate and black cherry powder with a chewiness that is so appealing and a mouthwatering hit on the mid palate. I like the succulence and roundness here, but also the verticality, it goes upwards and sideways - it's not massively weighty but you get the flavour and the texture all around giving structure and definition. There is an ease about this while still delivering depth. Poised at the moment, still with that tannic might, real power. Great preservation of fruity flavours and freshness. This will be excellent in time. A great buy! Started conversion to organic this yearInc. VAT£501.89 -
Decanter (97)
A stunning wine in 2022 showcasing star power in Pomerol and delivering one of the appellation’s clear successes. Beautifully fragrant on the nose, fresh and ripe black fruits, purple flowers, milk chocolate, salty stones and liquorice. Smooth, sumptuous and seductive in terms of texture - tannins are beautifully chalky and so well integrated - almost effortlessly supporting the concentrated fruit and giving the confident structure. Focussed and detailed but not tight or tense, really quite a special effort. Energy and mouthwatering acidity is in the background but it’s the texture that’s most captivating, velvety, chalky, ripe, fleshy and refined all at once. It manages to be understated in a year where it was easy to be anything but. I love it. 3.6pH. A yield of 39hl/ha. Harvest started on 7 September. Soft extraction with natural yeasts for fermentation. Ageing 55-60% oak barrels, 30% one wine barrels, and 7% in small concrete tanks and wine globes. Second year of organic conversion. Next year, 2024, Clos du Clocher will celebrate its 100 year anniversary having been founded by Jean-Baptiste Audy in 1924.Inc. VAT£410.38 -
Wine Spectator (94)
The nose shows loads of plum, spice and meat aromas, as well as hints of licorice. It's full-bodied, with firm, yet velvety textured tannins. It's big and rounded. If you can't afford Las Cases, try some of this. Some might call this a second wine, but it comes from a plot of vineyards not deemed worthy of Léoville Las Cases. So it's like its own estate. Best after 2009. 20,000 cases made. -JSInc. VAT£821.80 -
James Suckling (93)
This is a mouthful, with loads of fruit and truffle character. Exotic and wild, but starting to close. Give this five years.Inc. VAT£783.40
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Vinous (95)
Inky ruby. Explosive aromas of red and dark berries are complicated by suggestions of star anise, potpourri and smoky minerals. Rich yet lithe on the palate, offering sweet black raspberry and cola flavors and an intense note of candied lavender. Made in a rich yet graceful style, finishing with superb clarity and length and sneaky tannins that come on late. One of my favorite wines of the vintage and almost shockingly approachable now.In Bond£1,204.00 -
(6x75cl) 2013Wine Advocate (95)
The cream of the lineup and one of the stars of the vintage is the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve le Clos du Caillou. Incorporating more Mourvèdre than normal (a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Mourvèdre), this smokin’ southern Rhône sports a deep ruby/purple color to go with notes of blackcurrants, white pepper, orange liqueur and graphite. Big, full-bodied, supple and elegant, it’s certainly not as massive as some of the greats from this estate (2001, 2005, 2007 or 2010), but hats off to the team for producing a wine of this quality in a difficult vintage.In Bond£385.00 -
(1x75cl) 2015Wine Advocate (97)
Amazingly perfumed and floral, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve is a striking wine, drawn from the sandy lieux-dits of La Guigasse and Pignan. The blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Mourvèdre yields plenty of refined cherry and stone fruit elements, silky tannins and great elegance on the long finish. It's not the biggest kid on the block, just one of the best looking. What a pretty wine!In Bond£88.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Lastly, and a perfect wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre that’s brought up in demi-muids. It shows the vintage’s ripe, sexy, yet also concentrated and powerful style, offering full-bodied aromas and flavors of red and blue fruits, Provençal herbs, pepper, and violets. Possessing sensational elegance, perfect balance, and ripe, polished tannins, it’s always the more aristocratic, classy, seamless wine compared to the more exuberant, overflowing with character Les Quartz release. This matches the otherworldly 2001, 2007, 2010, and 2016.Inc. VAT£135.60 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Lastly, and a perfect wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre that’s brought up in demi-muids. It shows the vintage’s ripe, sexy, yet also concentrated and powerful style, offering full-bodied aromas and flavors of red and blue fruits, Provençal herbs, pepper, and violets. Possessing sensational elegance, perfect balance, and ripe, polished tannins, it’s always the more aristocratic, classy, seamless wine compared to the more exuberant, overflowing with character Les Quartz release. This matches the otherworldly 2001, 2007, 2010, and 2016.In Bond£535.00 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
A co-fermented blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Mourvèdre, matured in demi-muids (about 10% of the volume is in amphorae this year), the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve is a strong candidate for perfection. Sourced from the lieux-dits of Guigasse and Pignan, the nose delivers the essence of sandy-soil Grenache, with notes of rose petals, lavender, thyme, cherries and raspberries. Full-bodied and lush, silky and long, it adds hints of toasty oak and salted licorice on the finish.In Bond£585.00 -
In Bond£445.00 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
A candidate for perfection, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre from sandy parcels in Guigasse and Pignan. Alluring scents of crushed stone, floral elements and almost truffle-like complexities accent black cherries and plums on the nose, while the wine is full-bodied and expansive in the mouth yet manages to do that without seeming heavy or overly rich, and the silky finish is near-endless, reverberating with notes of dark fruit and licorice.In Bond£580.00 -
(6x75cl) 2013Vinous (93)
Opaque ruby. Powerful cherry and dark berry scents show superb clarity and lift, picking up smoke and Indian spice nuances with air. Offers palate-staining, spice-tinged black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that show a suave blend of richness and vivacity. Finishes gently sweet and extremely long, with silky, even tannins contributing shape.In Bond£238.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97+)
Moving to the tiny production 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz, which is mostly Grenache with around 25% or so of Syrah, it has a rich, full-bodied, dense, and almost backward style to go with powerful black fruits, ground pepper, and violet aromas and flavors. I love its purity of fruit, and it builds nicely with time in the glass, showing more mid-palate depth as well as ripe tannins. It’s a stunning bottle of wine, but patience will be required. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.In Bond£293.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97+)
Moving to the tiny production 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz, which is mostly Grenache with around 25% or so of Syrah, it has a rich, full-bodied, dense, and almost backward style to go with powerful black fruits, ground pepper, and violet aromas and flavors. I love its purity of fruit, and it builds nicely with time in the glass, showing more mid-palate depth as well as ripe tannins. It’s a stunning bottle of wine, but patience will be required. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.In Bond£303.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020In Bond£313.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres is deeper and richer than the base cuvée and possesses terrific notes of black raspberries, blackberry jam, exotic flower, and orange blossom. Full-bodied, polished, elegant and gorgeously pure on the palate, with fine tannin, it's a killer wine. Made from 95% Grenache (the balance is Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Vaccarèse), it too has a decade and more of prime drinking.In Bond£350.00 -
In Bond£201.00 -
James Suckling (92)
There’s a lot of complexity here. Plump, red plums and cherries with some wild herbs and meaty elements. Supple and plush, red-fruit palate. Slick and ripe. Drink or hold.In Bond£288.00 -
In Bond£120.00 -
Wine Advocate (91-93)
A blend of 80% Grenache (maturing in demi-muids and foudre) and 20% Syrah (in used barriques), the 2020 Cotes du Rhone Les Quartz was entirely destemmed, yet it offers up seductive floral-herbal notes of rose garden alongside raspberries and cherries. Medium to full-bodied, silky and voluminous on the palate, it finishes long and elegant. It's another terrific wine that should prove relatively affordable upon release.In Bond£90.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
Including more Mourvèdre, the 2018 Côtes du Rhône La Reserve checks in as 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvèdre that was brought up all in demi-muids. Almost opaque ruby, with a blockbuster nose of Bing cherries, black raspberries, flowery incense, toasted spices, and dry-aged beef, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture, loads of fruit, and a great finish. The level of purity as well as finesse in this wine, paired with plenty of richness, is something to behold. It way over-delivers for a Côtes du Rhône. In fact, for my money, this is one of the best Côtes du Rhône out there. It’s terrific today yet will evolve nicely for a solid decade. Does Côtes du Rhônes get any better?In Bond£200.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
The 2023 Côtes Du Rhône La Reserve Blanc is all Clairette Rose, which is a later ripening variety compared to Clairette and a variety that brings a touch more richness and texture. Beautiful notes of honeyed melon, minty, sappy herbs, and spice all define the aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied white that has a layered, balanced profile, beautiful freshness, and one heck of a finish. This is one Côtes Du Rhône Blanc that would have no problem standing in a lineup of top Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc! Drink bottles over the coming 2-4 years.In Bond£143.00 -
(12x75cl) 2014Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)
The 2014 Clos du Clocher is a rich, intense wine that needs time to come together. There is plenty of depth in the fruit, yet the tannins remain incisive. Smoke, tobacco and grilled herbs lend aromatic nuance to the bold, dark finish. Tasted two times.In Bond£614.43 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)
The 2014 Clos du Clocher is a rich, intense wine that needs time to come together. There is plenty of depth in the fruit, yet the tannins remain incisive. Smoke, tobacco and grilled herbs lend aromatic nuance to the bold, dark finish. Tasted two times.In Bond£76.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc coming mainly from clay soils on the plateau and aged for one year in oak, 65% new, the 2015 Clos du Clocher springs forth with profound notes of crushed blackberries, black cherries and blueberry compote plus touches of iron ore, bouquet garni, beef drippings and black soil. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated in the mouth, it fills the palate with generous black and blue fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with persistent minerally notes.In Bond£554.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (93+)
The 2016 Clos du Clocher has a rich, opulent bouquet with layers of macerated small black cherries, crème de cassis and violet aromas. There is brightness and vivacity here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, finely judged acidity, a slightly lactic texture and flecks of dark chocolate toward the finish, which fans out nicely. This will need time, but it is very promising. A composed and refined Pomerol from Jean-Baptiste Bourotte.In Bond£450.00 -
(12x75cl) 2017Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2017 Clos du Clocher has turned out beautifully. Rich, ample and voluptuous in feel, the 2017 has so much to offer. Juicy dark cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice and mocha abound in a plush, open-knit Pomerol that has so much to offer. This is such a delicious and compelling wine.In Bond£482.47 -
(12x75cl) 2019Decanter (95)
Ripe dark fruits and dried flowers abound on the nose, aromatic and expressive. Succulent and juicy on the palate but with a really rich, concentrated core of fruit giving intense blackcurrant, blueberry and black cherry flavours alongside coffee bean, dark chocolate and black pepper. Lovely combination of fruit and spice all balanced and given lift by bright acidity and a minty fresh finish. A structured and sophisticated wine with lots to like and lots to give. Totally moreish - one you want to drink now but should probably hold on to. Tasted twice.In Bond£506.00 -
Decanter (94)
Sweet blackcurrants on the nose with wild purple flowers, I could smell this all day. Upfront and energetic, the tannins make the immediate impact coating the mouth in a fine dark chocolate and black cherry powder with a chewiness that is so appealing and a mouthwatering hit on the mid palate. I like the succulence and roundness here, but also the verticality, it goes upwards and sideways - it's not massively weighty but you get the flavour and the texture all around giving structure and definition. There is an ease about this while still delivering depth. Poised at the moment, still with that tannic might, real power. Great preservation of fruity flavours and freshness. This will be excellent in time. A great buy! Started conversion to organic this yearIn Bond£462.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Decanter (94)
Sweet blackcurrants on the nose with wild purple flowers, I could smell this all day. Upfront and energetic, the tannins make the immediate impact coating the mouth in a fine dark chocolate and black cherry powder with a chewiness that is so appealing and a mouthwatering hit on the mid palate. I like the succulence and roundness here, but also the verticality, it goes upwards and sideways - it's not massively weighty but you get the flavour and the texture all around giving structure and definition. There is an ease about this while still delivering depth. Poised at the moment, still with that tannic might, real power. Great preservation of fruity flavours and freshness. This will be excellent in time. A great buy! Started conversion to organic this yearIn Bond£399.00 -
Decanter (97)
A stunning wine in 2022 showcasing star power in Pomerol and delivering one of the appellation’s clear successes. Beautifully fragrant on the nose, fresh and ripe black fruits, purple flowers, milk chocolate, salty stones and liquorice. Smooth, sumptuous and seductive in terms of texture - tannins are beautifully chalky and so well integrated - almost effortlessly supporting the concentrated fruit and giving the confident structure. Focussed and detailed but not tight or tense, really quite a special effort. Energy and mouthwatering acidity is in the background but it’s the texture that’s most captivating, velvety, chalky, ripe, fleshy and refined all at once. It manages to be understated in a year where it was easy to be anything but. I love it. 3.6pH. A yield of 39hl/ha. Harvest started on 7 September. Soft extraction with natural yeasts for fermentation. Ageing 55-60% oak barrels, 30% one wine barrels, and 7% in small concrete tanks and wine globes. Second year of organic conversion. Next year, 2024, Clos du Clocher will celebrate its 100 year anniversary having been founded by Jean-Baptiste Audy in 1924.In Bond£322.00 -
Wine Spectator (94)
The nose shows loads of plum, spice and meat aromas, as well as hints of licorice. It's full-bodied, with firm, yet velvety textured tannins. It's big and rounded. If you can't afford Las Cases, try some of this. Some might call this a second wine, but it comes from a plot of vineyards not deemed worthy of Léoville Las Cases. So it's like its own estate. Best after 2009. 20,000 cases made. -JSIn Bond£649.00 -
James Suckling (93)
This is a mouthful, with loads of fruit and truffle character. Exotic and wild, but starting to close. Give this five years.In Bond£617.00

