Bordeaux Red

Our long history of buying wines en primeur direct from Bordeaux means we have excellent relationships with the châteaux and negociants. As one of the first UK wine brokers, we buy widely from among our contacts with private collectors, Oxbridge Colleges and other institutions. All wines are priced to the latest fine wine market prices.

E-mail sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk to order

No minimum order. All prices exclude carriage and UK VAT. Wines listed 'IB' (in bond) exclude UK duty. All wines offered subject to confirmation of stock availability, condition and price, E&OE. Full terms & conditions.

RED	2021	2 cases	Château Branaire Ducru	75cl	£340 per case of 12	Château Branaire Ducru 2021 / 2 cases / 75cl £340 per case of 12	IB
		Tasting Notes "66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5.5% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Open and aromatic on the nose with savoury and dark-fruit notes. Supple and fleshy on the palate. Lacks a bit of density but there’s a structure well in place. Competent rather than stirring. Drink 2026 – 2036. 16 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"Well balanced, showcasing the possibliities of the vintage, a little austere in its rose stem and cassis bud character, but it opens up to show finessed blackberry fruit, precisely cut tannins, and has plenty of potential to age. 32hl/ yield, up to 20 month ageing depending on tasting. Tasted twice. 92 points" janeanson.com------"The 2021 Branaire Ducru was picked from September 24, albeit slowly, until October 14, at 32hL/ha. It has quite an intense, dare I say precocious bouquet of bold brambly red fruit that eventually settles in the glass and turns darker. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and a touch of black pepper and tobacco. Quite a marine-influenced Saint-Julien, it fans out gradually toward the finish and exerts a gentle grip. Though not quite reaching the heights of recent vintages, it represents a true articulation of the growing season and of Branaire-Ducru itself. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Having tasted the 2021 Branaire-Ducru six times over the course of a month and a half, I feel confident in saying that it is a beautiful wine that numbers among the vintage's real successes. Offering up aromas of raspberry coulis and red cherries mingled with notions of rose petals, cigar box and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, with a layered core of fruit, lively acids and beautifully powdery tannins. Why is it quite so good? It isn't because a lot of wine was declassified, as around 60% of the estate's production went into the grand vin this year—a touch more than average. Rather, the key factors seem to be waiting to pick despite an alarming weather forecast; the blend itself, which emphasizes ripe Cabernet and the estate's later-ripening Merlot on clay-limestone soils; and the fact that a partially completed new winery means that Branaire already had fully 63 fermentation vats at its disposal to pick and vinify parcel by parcel. The exact composition is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. 93-94+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2021 Branaire-Ducru is sleek, elegant and nuanced. There is more Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the blend than in the 2018-2020 period, when the Merlots were especially successful. As a result, the aromatics are absolutely alluring, but the wine is much less forthcoming on the palate. At 12.9% alcohol, the 2021 is a classically austere Branaire at looks like it will need quite a bit of time to blossom. It is undoubtedly a very pretty wine, even if not fully expressive at this stage. Dark cherry, plum, chocolate, leather and rose petal linger. Tasted three times. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A very pretty wine, showing blackberry and blackcurrant aromas with crushed stone. Medium to full body with layers of fine-grained tannins. Bright and refined. Lots of dark fruit at the end. Solid weight. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com
RED	2021	1 case	Château Calon Ségur	75cl	£420 per case of 6	Château Calon Ségur 2021 / 1 case / 75cl £420 per case of 6	IB
RED	2021	6 cases	Château Canon	75cl	£380 per case of 6	Château Canon 2021 / 6 cases / 75cl £380 per case of 6	IB
		Tasting Notes "71% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Reserved at present. Floral notes as the wine opens. Texturally very elegant, the tannins extremely polished and fine. Compact, concise. Less wow this year but clean and refreshing and enough fruit for ageing. Drink 2028 – 2040. 17 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"The 2021 Canon was picked September 16 to October 6 and matured in 50% new oak for a planned 16-18 months. Around 70% of the vineyard produced the normal yield, which underwent a 50% deselection, yet it still yielded 40hL/ha because the vines did not suffer stress. After mildew, any bunches that showed damage on the stems were removed. Nicolas Audebert told me that there was no concentration or saignée, just a little chaptalization (around 0.5-1.0%, depending on the tank). This has quite a concentrated bouquet of opulent dark cherries, blueberry, violet and just a hint of camphor. The palate is medium-bodied and pliant, with gentle grip, saturated tannins and a judicious touch of spice toward the compact finish. While recent top-flight vintages may well eclipse this Canon, it still stands as a fine addition to the recent roster. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A brilliant wine in the making, the 2021 Canon offers up aromas of cherries, wild berries, licorice, sweet soil tones, raw cocoa, Indian spices and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, it's immensely refined and seamless, with a lively spine of acidity, ripe tannins and a long, penetrating, intensely saline finish. This beautifully balanced Canon is one of the classiest, most complete wines of the Right Bank in this vintage. Tasted four times. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Gorgeous bright plum colour with violet reflections. The epitome of careful, precise, well-spliced winemaking. Sibling estate Berliquet has perhaps more immediate charm, because there is more power running through it, but this is just elegance and finesse personified. Red cherry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, slate, saffron, oyster shell, they have teased out layers of complexity that were not easy to find in the vintage, and there is length also, with pummice stone salinity scraping across the palate. It's subtle, and it's not at the heights of a 2019 Canon, but this will not be out of place in a vertical of the estate. Tasted twice. 50% new oak, 40hl/h yield, harvest September 16 to October 8. Thomas Duclos consultant. 96 points" janeanson.com------"Dramatic, rich and imposing, the 2021 Canon is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Sculpted red purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, sage and crushed rocks all race out of the glass. A heady, vertical wine, Canon is endowed with tremendous concentration and class. The aromatics alone are beguiling, but it is the wine's balance that impresses most. Tasted three times. This is such an elegant and regal wine. 95-97 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A wine full of finesse and class with fantastic length and polish. Medium to full body with ultra-fine tannins that run endlessly down the length of the wine. Blackberry, graphite and spice. Agile and weightless. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com
RED	2021	5 cases	Château Capbern	75cl	£195 per case of 12	Château Capbern 2021 / 5 cases / 75cl £195 per case of 12	IB
		Tasting Notes "70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Focused and direct. Long and linear but juicy as well with fine-grained tannins and a minerally tone that persists. Freshness and balance on the finish. GV? 12.8%. Drink 2027 – 2040. 17 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"Offering up aromas of dark berries, plums, spices, rose petals and loamy soil, the 2021 Capbern is a medium to full-bodied, lively and charming wine with beautifully refined tannins and an impressively penetrating finish. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot that attained 12.8% alcohol. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2021 Capbern was cropped at 36hL/ha with a 20-day cuvaison, and matured in 60% new oak for a planned 18 months. It has an attractive, fragrant bouquet of vivacious black and blue fruit, a lovely pencil box element emanating from the Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, respectable weight and acidity and a saline finish. Not the most complex Saint-Estèphe you will find, but commendable for the vintage and thoroughly enjoyable. (12.8% alcohol) 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2021 Capbern is absolutely gorgeous. The aromatics alone are so alluring. A whole range of Cabernet inflections leads into a core of bright red toned fruit. Dried herbs, mint, tobacco, cedar, crushed flowers and red berry fruit grace this exquisite, vibrant Saint-Estèphe. Bright acids perk up the finish. En primeur samples were taken from new barrels only, but the final wine is projected to have 60% new oak. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A medium-bodied, firm and very fresh red with crunchy black-fruit and bark character. Tight, fine tannins. Mineral and tea-like quality. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot and 2% petit verdot. 91-92 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2021 Château Capbern is rock-solid, with wonderful cassis and an assortment of both red and blue fruits, supported by plenty of floral nuances. It's elegant and has considerable finesse, ripe tannins, and terrific purity. It shows the more charming, mid-weight style of the vintage, yet it's a solid wine that will deliver the goods. 91-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com
RED	2021	3 cases	Château Carlmagnus	75cl	£110 per case of 12	Château Carlmagnus 2021 / 3 cases / 75cl £110 per case of 12	IB
RED	2021	1 bottle	Château Cheval Blanc	75cl	£295 per bottle	Château Cheval Blanc 2021 / 1 bottle / 75cl £295 per bottle	IB
RED	2021		Château Clos L'Eglise	75cl	£654 per case of 12	Château Clos L'Eglise 2021 / / 75cl £654 per case of 12	IB
RED	2021	1 case	Château Cos d'Estournel	75cl	£580 per case of 6	Château Cos d'Estournel 2021 / 1 case / 75cl £580 per case of 6	IB
		Tasting Notes "64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Dark and reticent with a touch of cassis as the wine opens. Linear and firm with a rich but fine tannic frame. Solid through the mid palate and on through the finish. Structured and with plenty of matière. Well within itself so room to develop. 12.7%. Drink 2030 – 2050. points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"The 2021 Cos d'Estournel has an attractive nose, more complex than the Pagodes (as you would expect), graphite and subtle cigar box scents permeating the black fruit and the Cabernet Sauvignon more expressive at this stage vis-à-vis the Merlot. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. One of the most velvety Cos d'Estournel wines I have encountered at this stage, though linear and strict on the saline finish. This is old-school in some ways, and a bit grumpy in its youth – a wine that will oblige cellar aging. A Saint-Estèphe for the patient among you. (12.74% alcohol) 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A firm red with solid, compact tannins. Medium to full body with plenty of blackcurrant, pencil-lead and graphite character. Compact and structured throughout, with a firm finish. Linear and muscular tannins at the end that are very formed and curated. It will be interesting to see how this one evolves. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2021 Cos d'Estournel is very promising, offering up rich aromas of dark berries, plums, exotic spices, loamy soil and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless palate that's impressively vibrant and concentrated, with powdery tannins, bright acids and a long, penetrating finish. Only 53% of the production made it into the grand vin, and the blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Technical director Dominique Arangoïts reports that Cos was spared by frost and coulure at flowering, harvesting between September 23 and October 4, and fermenting a touch hotter than has been the case in recent years, at around 28-29 degrees Celsius. 94-95 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2021 Cos d'Estournel is a wine of real breadth and volume. It is also quite a departure from recent vintages in that strong Cabernet aromatics are very much front and center. Cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, menthol and licorice lend notable complexity to the bouquet. I expect the 2021 will need time to be at its best. Cas is usually much more alluring in its youth than the reticent but hugely promising 2021. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"This vintage, which can be overly straight and austere, benefits from the house style of Cos, where they are happy to add a twist of gourmet glamour, and I am seriously impressed with this wine. It showcases the successful sides of a cool vintage in spades, with bitter black chocolate, cool blue fruits, lemongrass and turmeric and black pepper spices. 55% new oak. 3.79ph. 53% of overall production is for the 1st wine, the rest in Pagodes. Easily one of the wines of the vintage. 96 points" janeanson.com
RED	2021	5 cases	Château d'Armailhac	75cl	£390 per case of 12	Château d'Armailhac 2021 / 5 cases / 75cl £390 per case of 12	IB
		Tasting Notes "63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Fragrant nose with brambly fruit and floral notes. Fresh, fruity and sapid on the palate with grainy tannin in behind. Lacks intensity but zest and energy to compensate. More for the medium than long term. Drink 2026 – 2035. 16 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"The 2021 d'Armailhac, aged in 50% new oak, is the first vintage to be vinified in the new winery, which was completed a month before the harvest. It has quite a strict bouquet, tight and focused, with broody dark berry fruit, pencil box and tar, quite classic in style. The palate is harmonious and smooth with fine tannins, just the right amount of acidity and a sapid finish that lingers in the mouth. Residual graphite notes linger after the wine has exited. Very fine. (13.0% alcohol). 90-92 points" points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Reminiscent of a modern-day version of this estate's delicious 1999, the 2021 d'Armailhac is a terrific wine bursting with aromas of wild berries, cherries, exotic spices and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it's fleshy and enveloping, with melting tannins and an ample core of sweet, succulent fruit. This is a pleasure-bent wine that will offer a broad drinking window. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"First year with the new cellar at Armailhac, and a new technical director, as Lucie Lauilhé has replaced Jean-Paul Paultert, with Paultert retiring after 29 years in the post (Lauilhé was only present for harvest and blending, 2022 will be her first full year). There are big plans for this property, but in 2021 it is playing things a little safe, with juicy balance, delicate tannins, plenty of grip and precision to the raspberry and blackberry fruits, but a little soft on the finish. There is due to be a 2nd wine in the future, which will help with concentration, but the signature of 2021 is evident here. A little more Cabernet Franc, after poor fruit set with the Melrot. 3.73ph. 50% new oak, 60IPT. Tasted twice. 92 points" janeanson.com
RED	2021	1 case	Château Enclos Tourmaline	75cl	£265 per case of 3	Château Enclos Tourmaline 2021 / 1 case / 75cl £265 per case of 3	IB